The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth C.133: The Minotaur’s Dungeon (4)

"Ghraaaa!!”

Aeacus, ridden by Karyl, let out a fierce roar as it charged toward the monsters blocking the labyrinth's path.

"Grrr...!!"

"Kyaah!!”

The gargoyles screeched as they thrust their sharp spears toward him.

Thud...!

But the massive Aeacus, at least twice their size, grabbed one of the attacking gargoyles and smashed its head against the wall at Karyl’s pull of the chain.

The first gargoyle was shattered into pieces, and the other was skewered by Aeacus’ sharp claws.

"Kaaaargh!!"

As Rhadamanthos furiously flapped its wings and spewed fire, the gargoyles were engulfed in flames, their screams filling the air as they turned to ash, emitting a foul odor.

The two monsters displayed immense power as they effortlessly eliminated the gargoyles, which were A-grank monsters. Seeing them in action, it became clear to everyone at the scene how difficult it would be to handle such monsters.

“...”

The people clinging to Rhadamanthos' head were overwhelmed just from holding onto the thrashing beast, but watching Karyl control Aeacus so effortlessly sent chills down their spines.

"Graaahh!!”

Aeacus charged in a frenzy, breaking through the labyrinth walls to forge a path of its own. At first, the monsters of the dungeon rushed at the two, but they quickly became too terrified to approach them.

Karyl steered Aeacus through the walls, pushing forward with its head.

Of course, these two beasts are just one level below Minos, the master of the dungeon. Gargoyles and lycanthropes can’t possibly stop them.

These two monsters were spreading sheer terror through the labyrinth.

The food chain among monsters was more defined and clear-cut than in any other typical ecosystem. The stronger predators were overwhelmingly dominant over lesser monsters, and conversely, the lesser monsters were utterly terrified of anything stronger than them.

That was an absolute law of the universe, which was why dragons were at the top of the food chain.

"Grrr... Grrrr..."

"Grrr...!"

The lycanthropes guarding the passage to the next floor growled and backed away in surprise as Aeacus’ head emerged through the wall behind them. Although wary, the lycanthropes were reluctant to approach the frenzied monster, proving that they were already frightened by its presence.

Thud, thud!

Karyl tapped Aeacus’ head a few times with his foot, prompting the beast to swing its sharp beak at the lycanthropes.

"Kaaak! Khaarghh—!”

As Aeacus let out several thunderous roars, the lycanthropes scattered, too frightened to confront it.

“Hmm.” Karyl nodded once again. Although the lycanthropes had disappeared into the darkness, he could still see their golden eyes fixed on him with curiosity. They were observing the species that defied the absolute rule of fear—humans.

Only humans, created by the gods, could break free from the chain of fear. That was why they could go up against higher monsters and sometimes even give birth to dragon slayers like Kaye Aesir, who had shattered the very top of the food chain.

Paradoxically, humans could also seem infinitely weak and frail. In fact, the gargoyles and lycanthropes had initially attacked Aeacus precisely because there was a human on top of it.

“Move.”

Rustle...

Shuffle—!

At Karyl’s command, the monsters cowering in the darkness hurriedly vanished. Feeling the overwhelming bloodlust of this human whom they had taken for easy prey, they instinctively realized they stood no chance.

Once the monsters were gone, the entrance to the final floor of the labyrinth was visible.

“Beikan, how long did it take us?”

“Not even three hours from the statues where we got the chains to here.”

Karyl nodded.

We’ve been faster than when I first cleared this place in Pharel. Well, knowing the strategy helps... Though I don’t remember every detail of every dungeon, I know all the key points.

Experience didn’t just fade away over time. Having gone through countless trials in Pharel, Karyl had etched into his mind the strategies for all the dungeons up to the prophecy, including the Gray Training Ground and the Minotaur’s dungeon.

Luon is suspicious by nature, but because of Olivurn and Kromen, he’ll eventually mobilize his troops. They won’t stay by the Fonein more than a day or two.

Karyl nodded once again.

But that’s enough for me.

Normally, the final chamber of the labyrinth, filled with hordes of monsters, wasn’t easy to clear. Even before, as a Sword Saint, it had taken him two days to defeat Minos, the final boss of this dungeon.

Therefore, conquering an S-rank dungeon in just a day or two was practically impossible.

The King’s Unbreakable Collar

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But now, having reached the lowest floor of the labyrinth in no time, Karyl looked at the two monsters submitting to him with satisfaction.

He had learned the strategy for this place purely by chance.

Back then, I thought I was going to die. I barely managed to reach Minos' chamber, avoiding getting seen by Aeacus and Rhadamanthos, only for Minos to just summon them both.

Karyl had been forced to retreat, barely escaping with his life after encountering the three monsters at the same time. Of course, after realizing what he needed to do, he managed to defeat Minos on the 978th floor with little effort, but during that first encounter on the 34th floor, handling all three monsters at the same time was simply too much.

As he was fleeing to the lower floors of the tower, Karyl eventually went past the statues and noticed that Aeacus and Rhadamanthos stopped chasing him, seemingly wary of the chains wrapped around the statues. He didn’t miss that fleeting moment.

It was as though the solution had been left there just for him.

In fact, dungeons always offered clues about how to slay their masters. For instance, if the Twin-Headed Eagle was lured into the narrow passages of the dungeon it dwelled in, it could no longer spread its wings, giving its hunter an opportunity to kill it.

It wasn’t known if the gods themselves had left those clues in order to give humans a fighting chance.

Well, if they’re the ones who created these damn dungeons, they don’t deserve any gratitude for their arrangements.

Karyl wanted to leave this dreadful place as soon as possible.

“Minos!!” Karyl shouted, stepping forward as he descended from Aeacus’s head.

The final part of this labyrinth, Minos’ chamber, was dark and gloomy, though it lacked the stench of rotting corpses like Aeacus and Rhadamanthos’s cages.

Through the darkness of the cave, Minos looked like a mere specter as he sat on his throne, which lacked any royal grandeur.

[It has been a long time.] A low, eerie voice echoed.

Wearing a tarnished, rusted crown, Minos moved his gray, corpse-like lips.

[To think that living beings have managed to come all the way here...]

Though his lips moved, the voice didn’t come from his throat. Startled, the group looked up as they realized his voice echoed in their minds.

“Grrrr...”

“Ghraa—!”

As Aeacus and Rhadamanthos flinched at Minos’ voice, Karyl yanked on the chains he was holding.

“Tsk—!” Karyl clicked his tongue as the two monsters became restless.

"Squee..."

The creatures whimpered, curling up between Minos and Karyl as if unsure of what to do. Watching his minions submit to a human, Minos spoke up with a stern expression.

[So, there is someone who recognizes my chains. You are worthy of coming here.]

“Of course. It was quite the effort, but it's something I’ll never forget.” Karyl shrugged, speaking to Minos as if to a friend.

Is he fearless or just mad...?

How can he be like this?

The air feels so heavy it’s hard to breathe...

Is Master really unfazed by this monster?

It wasn’t just Viola and Greys; Beikan and Kinu were also taken aback by Karyl’s demeanor. They didn’t fully understand his exchange of words with Minos, but that wasn’t important. What mattered most was that they finally realized the stark difference between themselves and Karyl.

This isn’t a fight we can join.

As warriors, it was a blow to their pride, but the first thought in their minds was that they would be a hindrance to Karyl.

"Ssss... Ssss..."

The two giant snakes perched on Minos’ shoulders flicked their tongues toward Karyl, seemingly wary of him.

Minos rose from his throne, the snakes coiling around his waist, and grabbed his inverted war hammer.

“We just conquer the dungeons that appear on the continent. Nothing more, nothing less. We're humans, and you’re monsters.” Karyl waved his hand dismissively, as if watching a predictable play unfold. “Do we need any other reason to come here?”

[I was granted the rule of the world by the gods.]

“Don’t pretend to be human,” Karyl sneered. “Or rather, have you been granted that authority specifically because you’re not human? Indeed, your world is different from mine. You see, I’ve never encountered a god before.”

[You insolent brat!] Minos growled, glaring at Karyl.

“Do as you wish. Whether you uphold rules or govern, it doesn’t concern me. Let me tell you something you seem to be unaware of. Rules exist to be broken.”

Clang—!

Karyl drew his Freezing Talon. The others shivered slightly as the cold air spread throughout the chamber.

“The rules set by gods are for you to follow. We humans act according to our will.”

[You will be one of the countless humans who have vanished here.]

“We’ll see about that,” Karyl sneered sharply.

[Your arrogance knows no bounds,] Minos retorted, his expression growing more fierce.

“I’m getting bored of this. Know your place. Even if you can speak our language, you’re just another monster in a dungeon.”

Step... Step... Step...

As Karyl slowly walked toward Minos, he reached inside his cloak and pulled Agnel out. The two weapons made of Clear Distilled Water vibrated as if challenging Minos’ power.

“I’ve grown tired of hearing the same words from you. I’ve taken your head countless times over the eons, and yet you utter the same thing every time like a puppet.”

Every time Karyl had faced Minos in the Pharel Tower, the monster had said the exact same things, making Karyl feel an uncanny sense of déjà vu as he ascended the tower. And even in the dungeons Karyl hadn’t cleared in his past life, Minos had welcomed all of his victims with the exact same words.

These dungeons are just replicas of the ones from the tower.

That made victory attainable here. Karyl had faced every dungeon that had appeared and would appear in Pharel.

“And I always told you the same thing.”

Pointing his sword at Minos, Karyl spoke in a low voice.

“There’s nothing more to say. I’ll send you off cleanly, so go and tell your god about me.”

[How dare you!!]

For the first time, the seemingly fearless ruler of the Minotaur’s dungeon was shaken by Karyl.

“You think you can judge humans?”

Even if he had to face Minos a thousand times, Karyl would tell him the exact same thing he had told him on the 34th, 238th, 675th, and 978th floors.

His vow had never changed.

[GRAAAHHH!!]

“Go to hell!”