The Author's POV

"Quickly change this to code black!"

Hurriedly shouting orders, Thomas disappeared from where he was standing.

"...Ah, goddammit! this is more serious than I had expected"

Quickly teleporting back into the black market, Thomas quickly pressed the emergency button causing the whole facility to turn red as alarms started ringing

-Daaaang!

-Daaaang!

-Daaaang!

Taking out his phone he quickly dialed a number

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

"...Hello?"

From the other side of the phone, a cold emotionless voice entered Thomas's ears.

"Boss we have a situation"

"...Explain"

"Dungeon gate 756, Code black, possible dungeon desync"

Pausing slightly, the cold voice said

"...I understand, you will be granted full authority regarding this matter"

-Tak!

Right after saying that, the person on the other side of the phone hung up, leaving Thomas standing there speechlessly.

"Goddamit! Why do I always have to do the dirty work!"

Cursing out loud and stomping his feet in anger, Thomas quickly dialed another number.

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

"Yes?"

Shortly after dialing the number, a male voice entered Thomas's ears. Hearing the voice, Thomas quickly shouted orders.

"Call in all alpha units with a rank F or below"

"...sorry?"

"Do it now! it's an order!"

"Y-yes!"

Suddenly being ordered by Thomas the person on the other side of the phone was left momentarily confused, but as soon as he noticed the urgency in Thomas's voice he immediately did as he was instructed.

-Tak!

Hanging up the phone, Thomas looked around. The whole facility was in a state of lockdown, and the whole place was dyed red as alarms constantly rang through the surroundings.

Pinching the middle of his brows, Thomas sighed.

"...I seriously hope the situation is not as dire as I think it is"

...

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Deep gashes started appearing all over my body as the Demon traced his finger around my body. It felt as if I was being cut by a cold metal knife.

I wanted to move, but I couldn't. It felt as if a massive boulder was weighing down on me, preventing me from moving.

Although the Baron of Everblood was not using his main body, the presence exerted by him wasn't something I could handle.

Baron of Everblood had killed countless experts throughout his whole life. He rose from being e regular demon to against all odds becoming a Baron ranked demon.

Countless sacrifices were made in his journey to the top―He had shed lots of blood throughout his journey to the top. He had also backstabbed demons whom he had once called friends just to be able to reach the point that he was now...

Just now, all that the baron of Everblood needed to do was release the killing intent that he had acquired through countless killings, to completely paralyze me.

Knowing this, I needed to buy myself time to adapt to the killing intent―it's just that it was much easier being said than done...It felt like a looming threat that was similar to a longsword that hung in my heart, ready to pierce it and kill me at a moment's notice causing my body to paralyze in fear.

Very soon, as I felt death coming closer to me, an idea came into my mind as I started speaking

"Aren't you curious as to why I know what you're doing?"

Halting, Baron of Everblood stopped tracing his finger on my body and looked at me

"...Speak"

"huuu, the only reason you haven't killed me yet is because you want to know how I knew you were trying to create a dungeon overload right?..khk"

Tracing his sharp black finger on my neck, a red line appeared. Blood slowly dripped down from the cut, falling onto the cold ground.

"...Get to the point"

"kh...not only do I know that you're trying to create a dungeon overload, but I also know that this isn't the only dungeon you're planning to overload"

Altough I knew that spilling what I knew was stupid, I had no choice. It was either this or death.

I had to buy time...

At least enough to figure out how to get out of this situation.

Moreover, me revealing what I knew to Baron of Everblood wasn't actually that significant of a matter.

to the

demon, I

what I told him to the higher-ranked demons, unless he

There was

long

"!"

-Thud!

soon as I finished speaking, the pressure that enveloped me magnified. My legs, which couldn't withstand the pressure finally gave out, and I knelt on the

Baron of Everblood lifted my body up. My face was only a few

face. The demon's breath was like hot steam. It slowly burned the skin on my face―turning it red.

"...Speak!"

even harder, Baron of

the atmosphere becomes dense

become tighter, I took advantage of the small gap that was created

direction. His already blood red-eyes turned a shade darker as

It seems like someone has

"Huff...huff..."

neck, I heavily gulped for air and glared at

-Click!

"...huh?"

arm flew into the air as Baron of

react in

my

"...damm this!"

my mana...I needed to think

...

seekers, mission

tirelessly working together as they exchanged data. A large screen was at the front of the room, displaying rows upon rows of data for the entire team inside

multitude of clocks – displaying everything from the current time to the time every entrant has been

hands leaning on the table, an individual who had a headset and microphone

entered dungeon 756 [Red

looked at the monitor in front of him where multiple camera views could

a

"Roger!"

...

Only the sound of the wind rustling through twisted, shrubby trees, could

white-clad individuals materialized

-Voom! -Voom! -Voom!

teams, do a

"Alpha unit 70154, Check"

"Alpha unit 62584, Check"

"Alpha unit 75894, Check"

"Alpha unit 48334, Check"

"..."

"..."

confirmed―Alpha mission operation captain turn on

-Click!

ring on his arm spoke "Camera activated, taking measurements―trying to gain contact with dungeon guardians who had entered

-khhhhh

coming from his

"Unresponsive"

Alpha teams

"Alpha teams, move!"

all the white-clad individuals followed the captain deep into the

...

-shua!

Pfffff

materialized in front of the Baron of Everblood and black blood slowly fell on the floor. Gripping my sword tightly, I applied more pressure on the handle of my sword that stabbed his body.

can actually

body, Baron of Everblood cruelly smiled as he slowly pulled the sword out

'Tch...you immortal bastard'

nonchalant behavior as if a sword stabbing his body

-Pam!

felt a massive force on my stomach forcing me to

Baaarf!

buds were engulfed in a

"kaaahhh..."

-Clank!

actually thought you had a chance

hear the sound of metal hitting the ground. Each time I heard the sound

My only chance at fighting

Baron of Everblood who was slowly approaching me with a wide grin plastered on his face, seemingly relishing my

teach you what happens when you piss

...

"...What's this?"

-Alp―khhh st―s rep...t

the slightest by the fact that the radio signal was getting disrupted, all of the alpha teams members stood rooted where they were as their

slowly approached them. It felt as if an avalanche was approaching them

Soon it enveloped them.

suffocating cloud that reduced the visibility of everyone inside of it to almost nothing in a matter of

-khhhhhhh

wind, only the static sound

...

"Ahhhhhhh!"

bent at a weird angle, I screamed in pain. It felt as if a wave of

are only just beginning, don't disappear on

lips as he looked down on my body which was

seemed to take enormous pleasure at my suffering, I hatefully glared in

was actually fake. It was merely a part

I was looking for his weakness,

in the world had a weakness, the demon king

used to operate his body. I knew exactly what his weakness was, yet I faced a new problem, I didn't know where

his body in multiple places, but it was to no avail as it always regenerated

my reach, I lost all

we

..Hm?

midst of despair, like a shining ray of hope.