Pilseus's class was Dark Knight. Since he had entered the dungeon alone without a Bounty Hunter or a Magician, identifying traps in advance was difficult. The item they had to be most wary of was the Special-type Radar. While a normal radar could map the dungeon's structure, a Special-type Radar secured vision of an entire room.

[S-rank Named Mercenary Bruder of the Plague has cast Black Plague.]

[An infectious disease begins to break out from within Balak.]

Field mice poured out from the final room. The Black Plague, which spread through host animals, was a highly fatal infectious disease to human Attackers. Even the Absolute, who managed his stamina and fatigue through Necrotic Energy, wouldn't be able to avoid infection.

[Pilseus has entered the 4th room.]

Soon, Pilseus stepped into the room where the soldiers were stationed. The Colossus Soldiers, who had first appeared on the Revived Plains, stood waiting. However, they weren't the only SS-rank soldiers summoned.

"Hehehe. The smell of a human. How long has it been since I caught this scent? I'll devour you and make the Evil Dragon's Energy mine!"

Monsters emerged from the forest. They were sentinels that reigned as the highest-tier monsters in the Demon World, second only to demons. They were the Rulers of Monsters, the Balrogs.

[Balrog]

[Rank: SS]

[Level: 53]

[Class: Warrior]

[Title: Ruler of Monsters]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 32]

[Favorability: 12]

[Obedience: 34]

[Skill: Demonic Energy Emission, Sphere of Extinction, Ruler's Threat, Nightmare Claws]

[Special Ability: Berserk]

[Strength: 121] [Endurance: 74] [Agility: 85] [Stamina: 79]

[Mana: 54] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

Although their relationship stats were a mess, considering they were warriors who could even wield mana, the Balrogs were the best soldiers. Dozens of Balrogs emitted Demonic Energy, threatening the Absolute. Meanwhile, the Ambush Soldiers hiding in the forest secured their line of sight and began looking for an opening.

[SS-rank Soldier Balrog has cast Sphere of Extinction.

[SS-rank Soldier Balrog's special ability 'Berserk' has been activated.]

[SS-rank Soldier Balrog has cast Nightmare Claws.]

Spheres of Demonic Energy were fired from all directions. The Balrogs dug in from the left and right, aiming for his neck, but their attempts were swiftly thwarted by his blade. Pilseus lightly resisted the Demonic Energy and swung his sword straight ahead. The monster's horns were sheared off like paper, and the Balrog's body was sliced in half.

"Th-This human punk!"

"Rawr!"

"I'll kill you!"

Over forty Balrogs went berserk. They were strictly at the top of the monster food chain. No matter how much Evil Dragon's Energy he harbored, they couldn't back down in front of a mere human. However, Pilseus was an Attacker who had transcended the bounds of humanity. Having already cut down the God of Nature, Ameria, and standing on the threshold of becoming a demigod, there was no way mere top-tier monsters could handle him.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast AoE Sword Draw.]

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast Dark Baptism.]

The Dark Knight's skills were cast in quick succession. The area-of-effect skills, made even stronger through Necro-Engraving, brought the Balrogs' berserk rampage to a halt. Heavy thuds echoed as about half of them collapsed in an instant. The Balrogs standing behind hesitated, unable to charge again. Just then, arrows shot out from within the forest.

The Ambush Soldiers, who had been waiting all along, immediately revealed themselves and lunged at Pilseus's rear.

[Fenrir of the Flash has cast Heart Extraction.]

[Red-Horned Centaur has cast Wild Marksmanship.]

[Black Lizardman has cast Tenacious Bite.]

They were Ambush Soldiers who had previously been low-grade but had reached A-rank through Evolution. They hadn't been very useful on the Revived Plains, but in the forest environment inside Balak, they were in their element. A flurry of metallic clangs rang out as the arrows were deflected in droves. The hesitating Balrogs, seeing reinforcements appear, charged again to show their dignity. However, the moment the Absolute swung his sword, they realized that thought was pure arrogance.

"Gaaah!"

"Ugh!"

"S-Such power from a mere human!"

The Balrogs, as well as the Ambush Soldiers, were slaughtered. Pilseus's eyes emitted a red glow as he looked at the lone remaining Balrog.

"Y-You. I am the Ruler of Monsters, Bal...!"

Just as it was emitting Demonic Energy, its consciousness was cut off. At the same time, the screen inside the Master Room was dyed blood-red, announcing the end of the battle.

'Even forty Balrogs couldn't inflict much damage, huh.'

Even the Rulers of Monsters were utterly powerless before the Absolute. Ambush Soldiers had been deployed alongside them, but they were annihilated instead, meaning the fourth room had been breached. Taehyun's eyes darted around, examining the locations where traps and installations were placed.

---

[Mana Blocking Trap has been activated.]

[Blocks the Attacker's mana for a certain period of time.]

[The Necrotic Energy used in place of mana has been blocked.]

The original Balak was divided into a two-forked road structure. Although the total number of internal rooms was fifty-eight, he ultimately had to face Pilseus through thirty-four rooms.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast Battlefield Madness.]

Soon, a new skill was cast. The Absolute crisscrossed the entire forest, beginning to dispose of the waiting soldiers. The Hobgoblins popping out of the bushes used stealth to aim for his back, but they were soon chopped to pieces and lost their lives. With this, the fourteenth room was also completely annihilated. However, exactly two people were hiding in the corner, waiting for their moment.

'He hasn't used a radar yet, let alone a Special-type Radar. There might be higher-tier radars, but the important thing is that we haven't been spotted yet.'

Just then, Pilseus started heading toward the corridor. The field mice born through the Black Plague revealed themselves from the bushes and bit into his legs.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has been infected with the Black Plague.]

[The infectious bacteria has entered its incubation period.]

The Black Plague, which caused a massive pandemic in Europe around the fourteenth century, begins to show symptoms after an incubation period of two to six days. Following the advice of Hyena, who had regained some of her memories, Taehyun ended up using Bruder, but waiting idly for the incubation period was risky. Moreover, the Necrotic Energy was also a problem. However, a single word from Seungpil solved those issues.

'First, temporarily block the Necrotic Energy being used in place of mana through the Mana Blocking Trap.'

Bruder's Black Plague was even more potent than the modern symptoms. If the Necrotic Energy could be blocked for just a certain period, infecting him would be simple. Now, the problem would be the trap to bind him. Once his Necrotic Energy was blocked, Pilseus personally swept away the swarm of field mice and resumed his steps. Just then, arrows were fired right in front of him.

[S-rank Attacker Hera's Sealing Trap has been activated.]

[S-rank Attacker Hera's Binding Trap has been activated.]

[S-rank Attacker Hera's Electric Current Trap has been activated.]

[S-rank Attacker Hera's Illusion Trap has been activated.]

The shooting traps were activated simultaneously. Pilseus, whose resistance had also decreased as his Necrotic Energy was blocked, flinched temporarily before starting to resist.

"Bruder. Cast Sea of Deadly Poison and Swamp of Agony."

"I will cast them immediately!"

Soon, the Plague Ghoul revealed itself. Bruder looked at the Absolute resisting through his equipment and stats, and gifted him with two types of agony.

[S-rank Named Mercenary Bruder of the Plague has cast Sea of Deadly Poison.]

[S-rank Named Mercenary Bruder of the Plague has cast Swamp of Agony.]

The corpses of the field mice melted away. Pilseus, who was in the midst of escaping the traps, was afflicted with advanced poison and let out a roar of madness. It was truly like the threat of a monster, but it was practically no different from a scream of pain. Taehyun shouted right before the traps' effects wore off.

"Now!"

"I told you I had it ready!"

Preparation for only one thing. The Mana Blocking Trap that blocked mana for a certain period. Before the Necrotic Energy he was using in place of mana could be utilized again, they had to quickly extract his shadow.

[S-rank Attacker Hera has cast the special ability 'Trap Control'.]

[Shadow Confinement is moved to the 14th room.]

[Trap Control Usage Limit: 1/2]

Finally, the steles fell to the floor. Pilseus, having just escaped the traps, came into contact with the steles and tried to step back. At that moment, the steles glowed and summoned a shadow.

[Shadow Confinement has been activated.]

[Binds the shadow of SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus.]

[The effect is dispelled when the large stele is attacked.]

It was a shadow that perfectly projected his current state. Only then did Pilseus grasp the effect and try to destroy the stele, but Hyena's Trap Control was one step faster.

[S-rank Attacker Hera has cast the special ability 'Trap Control'.]

[Shadow Confinement is moved to the 58th room.]

[Trap Control Usage Limit: 2/2]

As the stele disappeared, the shadow disappeared with it. Belatedly, the effect of the Mana Blocking Trap wore off and the Necrotic Energy began to operate again, but they had achieved their original goal. Taehyun immediately summoned the two of them through Raviz and headed to the final room.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No problem. We pulled it off perfectly."

"Yeah. Good job."

Hyena, having returned safely, gave a thumbs up. Just as she said, they had succeeded in moving the shadow without a single scratch. Taehyun patted her head and checked the shadow.

[Pilseus's Shadow]

[Necrotic Energy Blocked State]

[Black Plague Infected State]

[Advanced Poison Applied State]

Unlike the main body where the Mana Blocking Trap had worn off, the shadow remained in its previous state. With this, they could inflict continuous damage through the shadow. Taehyun deployed some of the waiting Main Forces to the final room and firmly gripped his pocket watch.

'I don't know how high your Necro-Engraving will go, but let's give it a try. Let's see if you annihilating me is faster, or if you dropping dead first is faster. We'll only know the result by watching.'

Bruder's Black Plague was the worst infectious bacteria that began its activity in just two days. So far, it was only the damage from the advanced poison and the Main Forces, but the moment the symptoms appeared, the shadow's resistance would drop to its lowest. Thus, the Main Forces each attacked the shadow, increasing the amount of damage.

---

Day four of the schedule. The Absolute's room clearing speed had gotten faster. Now, there was one day left until the Black Plague symptoms appeared. With the shadow's equipment itself also belonging to the SSS-rank, they had to slow him down as much as possible.

[The effect of advanced poison is being applied.]

[Continuous damage is increasing.]

The pain and damage the shadow received were being transmitted entirely to the main body. Taking his life through the shadow's stele was impossible, but pushing him to his limits would be possible.

[Pilseus has entered the 22nd room.]

[Dungeon Master of Grandal, Seungpil Seo, has cast Will to Protect.]

[SS-rank Soldier Death Worm has cast Predation.]

The earnest obstruction of the internal conquest began. The Main Forces had already been deployed in every room after the twentieth. They had no choice but to scatter their forces to buy time, but for now, this was the best option.

"Gaaah!"

"Tch. You monster. Alright. Let's see what you've got!"

"It's hard to even consider you human anymore. Well, it's not my place to say as a Fallen Knight."

Soon, a clash occurred. Seungpil and Modoel took a switching stance and began to withstand the pressure at the vanguard. Just then, a sixth skull appeared above the Absolute's head.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus's Necro-Engraving Stage 6 has been applied.]

[Neutralizes all entities currently within the field of vision.]

[Proficiency of all skills increases twofold.]

[Vision increases twofold.]

[All elemental powers increase twofold.]

It was the sixth awakening. Pilseus unleashed his boiling Necrotic Energy as it was, bringing the Main Forces to their knees.

"Ugh. Th-This is?!"

"Gaaaah!"

"This is driving me cra..."

With the area-of-effect sword draw cast at the end, the room fell silent. With this, the twenty-second room was also cleared.

[Dungeon Master of Grandal, Seungpil Seo, has died.]

[Fallen Knight Modoel has died.]

[Death Worms have been annihilated.]

Taehyun checked the deceased soldiers and Main Forces one by one as he turned his head to another screen.