The gate to the upper level of Pletas exploded. The demons lingering in the middle level instantly surged upward, carving out a path. The average rank of the Demon Realm Grand Army, led by Duke Nikunbel, was S-rank. Normally, the power of high-ranking angels would have been enough to force a stalemate, but the sheer firepower of the SS-rank dungeon soldiers was impossible to withstand.

[SS-rank Hero Guardian, Divine Archer Ramatya, has cast Roaring Thunder.]

[SS-rank Hero Guardian Taybolk has cast Volcano.]

[SS-rank Named Keeper, Nipolgram of the Semicircle, has cast Execution Order.]

Once again, the skills of the SS-rank Main Forces stormed the battlefield. The Evil Dragon Kadumallian had temporarily ceased its Annihilation, but the firepower of these Main Forces was far stronger than anticipated.

"Bwahahaha! I'll tear you all to shreds, you winged freaks!"

"Keep pushing! We'll break through to the upper level!"

"Today is the day Pletas falls!"

Riding that momentum, the demons swept through the entrance. The angels deflected the lava raining from the sky and rushed the Abyss Demonic at the vanguard.

"Sollian! The angels you've slaughtered number in the thousands. This time, we will end you!"

"Well, I see a lot of familiar faces. You pathetic Celestial Race. It seems you still haven't realized why they call me the Abyss Demonic!"

A dark void opened across the white floor. It was the same abyssal skill that had massacred angels in droves twenty years prior. The angels quickly scattered, desperate to escape its range, but the abyss's crushing suction made fleeing impossible. Meanwhile, other mid-ranking demons engaged the four-winged angels, steadily weakening the celestial battle lines.

[The Dungeon Master of Belotin, Seonwoo Jeong, has used Double Amplification.]

[The efficiency of all buffs for the Demon Realm Grand Army is amplified by 2 times.]

With the Dungeon Master's item taking effect, the demons rampaged further into the upper level, dyeing the pristine floor red. Archangel Jeri-el nocked another celestial arrow as she struck down a wave of mid-ranking demons, but the enemy's momentum didn't wane in the slightest. Instead, they joined forces with the SS-rank dungeon soldiers, decisively turning the tide of the battle in their favor. At this rate, the upper level would be entirely overrun. With only the highest level housing the Celestial Crystal Palace remaining, if this line fell, all hope would be lost.

"What on earth is the Archangel Captain doing? We need the Spear of Judgment to stop them, yet there's no response!"

"She hasn't been seen since she left the meeting. Shouldn't we just activate the Spear ourselves?!"

"Ugh. We're in this mess because that's impossible. Only the Archangel Captain can activate the Spear of Judgment. The rest of us aren't even allowed near it."

The Spear of Judgment, a devastating anti-personnel weapon, required the Archangel Captain's immense divine power to activate. No matter how much the other Archangels pooled their strength, unchosen angels lacked the necessary qualifications. Unless it was Kamiel, who had been recognized by the God of Light, Behel, entry into the sealed celestial chamber was strictly forbidden. To resolve this crisis, they had to find her—and fast. Jeri-el glanced up at the gate to the highest level before nocking another celestial arrow.

---

Meanwhile, Duke Nikunbel watched the battle from a distance, smiling with satisfaction.

"At this rate, we'll break through the highest level soon. The Celestial Realm is finished. All that remains are Taehyun and Demon King Kraktio."

"What happened to Demon King Kraktio's mental world?"

"It was dispelled just a moment ago. He likely couldn't find a solution and returned empty-handed. From the start, there was no way an SS-rank Dungeon Master could offer a worthy price for the Dimension Management Authority. Tainworth is destined to fall into your hands regardless, Lord Beirimp. Do not worry."

With Archangel Kamiel incapacitated, the Spear of Judgment could not be activated. Although Eclat had newly ascended to Archangel, she lacked the divine power to even raise her rank. Since Taehyun had invested all his mana stones to stop the Absolute, his Evolution skill would also be unusable. With the Second Evil Dragon's Chain prepared, as long as they breached the highest level, the Dimension Management Authority would naturally fall into their hands. The dark figure beside him flashed its eyes, its desire palpable.

"Although it is the 17th dimension, if outside intervention is impossible, I should be able to increase my divine power using this place as a base. First, I will summon Dimensional Travelers and corrupt them one by one. After that, I will invade other dimensions and become the ruler of them all!"

If he swallowed dimensions and ascended to the highest echelon, he would earn the right to challenge the Supreme God's divine power. If he reconstructed his true body using the remaining Dimension Management Authority, he could fully regain his original divine power. Although he would eventually have to face the entire Divine Realm Paonir, here in Tainworth, it wasn't an impossible task. Duke Nikunbel nodded at Beirimp's ambition and glanced toward the SS-rank Dungeon Masters.

"Hmm. What do you plan to do with them? I promised to gift them a piece of the dimension, but they might become a hindrance."

"I plan to annihilate them the moment I obtain the remaining Authority of the Dimension. It is only natural to discard useless cards. They might aim for betrayal, so it would be best to keep the revocation of their Dungeon Master qualifications in mind as well."

"Understood."

Beirimp fell silent.

Two unfathomable eyes stared straight at the Duke. Although Nikunbel had been taking orders and executing this plan for a whopping twenty years, his loyalty might be a lie. If the Duke was secretly using him to become a Dimension Manager, Beirimp himself could be the first target for annihilation.

'I managed to siphon off a portion of my divine power right before the restriction was placed, but in my current state, taking this guy on would be too much. If he shows even the slightest sign of betrayal, I will immediately switch to another body and aim for the Dimension Management Authority.'

Gradually, the Archangels' divine power began to dwindle. If the SS-rank Dungeon Masters used their exclusive items, they would soon break through the upper level entirely. Recalling the divine power inherent in his current form, Beirimp gave an order.

"Prepare the Evil Dragon Kadumallian's Annihilation. We will wipe out the Archangels in one fell swoop."

"It seems it has just enough mana charged to cast it twice. I will have it prepare immediately."

He was referring to the Evil Dragon stationed in the rear with the siege-type soldiers. It had consumed most of its Necrotic Energy, but the Annihilation skill alone could inflict devastating damage on the Archangels.

[SSS-rank Guardian, Evil Dragon Kadumallian, has cast Annihilation.]

[Sentences the designated targets to death.]

[Unaffected by skills and special abilities during casting.]

Receiving the signal, Kadumallian opened its massive jaws wide. The angels, already suffering from stat debuffs due to the Evil Dragon's Energy, sensed the immense mana gathering and recoiled in horror.

"I-It's the Evil Dragon's Annihilation! Everyone, dodge!"

"A barrier! Cast a barrier instead! We have to block it somehow!"

"Ugh. We can't evade because of the demons!"

Dark clouds loomed over the battlefield. This was the same mana that had instantly annihilated top-tier angels back in the middle level. Although the Archangels were personally trying to secure escape routes, most of the celestial forces were tied down by the demons. Just then, the entire upper level began to glow a deep, ominous red.

[Balak's Domain has been declared.]

[All stats of Balak's soldiers are doubled.]

[No entity can leave the domain until the battle ends.]

The crimson-dyed sky, the magic circle spreading across the entire upper level, and the restrictive barrier forming around them... The system-exclusive domain that had been cast on Partisan during the Holy Kingdom invasion was manifesting once again.

"I-Is this the event-exclusive magic circle?!"

"What are you doing?! Dispel the domain at once!"

"...An authority conflict is occurring. It seems there is no other way but to cast it simultaneously."

"No way!"

There had never been an authority conflict before. Although they were interfering with certain rights using the game system as a medium, the event magic circle had already been verified during the Holy Kingdom invasion. The fact that access was denied despite this meant that an equal authority was at play. Beirimp stared at the highest level gate in disbelief. At that exact moment, the Evil Dragon, having fully compressed its mana, fired Annihilation.

With a deafening boom, a blinding beam of light shot precisely toward hundreds of angels. As the entire battlefield flashed white, the angels braced for their inevitable end. However, as the seconds ticked by, they felt neither pain nor the sensation of being erased. The angels opened their tightly shut eyes in bewilderment.

"W-What happened? The Evil Dragon definitely fired Annihilation."

"Were we not hit?"

"L-Look over there! A human shield-bearer is blocking Annihilation all by himself!"

A lone man stood firm, blocking the devastating beam of light with his shield. He struggled to withstand the force of Annihilation before finally shoving his shield forward with a mighty heave.

[SS-rank Hero Keeper, Balak's Myth Zighart, has cast Mana Suppression.]

[Forcibly annihilates skills that utilize mana.]

[Mana Suppression Usage Limit: 1/2]

The limited-use skill exclusive to SS-rank Main Forces was unleashed. The four Dungeon Masters were utterly flustered by the sudden appearance of a Balak soldier.

"W-What's going on? There was no mention of a Main Force like that existing in Balak!"

"He should have lost most of his Main Forces to Pilseus! Where on earth did he pull a unit like that from?"

"Damn it. That guy is one thing, but Balak's Domain is also extremely annoying. Doubling the stats of Balak's soldiers? I've never even heard of such a massive area-of-effect domain being declared!"

Having used veto items to opt out of the Holy Kingdom invasion, the event magic circle was entirely unfamiliar to them. Furthermore, with the dungeon soldiers unable to leave the barrier, even their exclusive items had become unusable. In this situation, they had to completely abandon any tactics that relied on widely dispersing their troops. They scrambled to issue orders to their Main Forces, designating Zighart as the primary target. At that moment, massive boulders began to rain down from the highest level gate.

[SS-rank Named Soldier, Rock-Throwing Titan Golem Deshkar, has cast Mana Stone.]

[Throws mana-infused boulders into a designated area for a set period of time.]

It was a second SS-rank Main Force.

---

[Demon Realm's Domain has been declared.]

[All stats of demons are doubled.]

[No entity can leave the domain until the battle ends.]

Finally, the Demon Realm's exclusive domain was declared. Duke Nikunbel and the God of Desire, Beirimp, must have caught on by now. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Remember this well. The moment a Dungeon Master... no, a human exercises the Dimension Management Authority, your soul, Taehyun, will be bound to the Divine Realm. Have you ever heard of a Dimension Traveler? Even after the final condition is met, you probably won't be able to live a normal life."

He had drawn his blade solely for revenge. The Dimension Management Authorities were already interlocked, making any further system interference impossible. Even if he ended up bound in servitude to the Divine Realm after the final condition was met, he had no regrets. He stood here now to be compensated for all the suffering he had endured to return to modern Earth since his early days as a Dungeon Master, and to prove that his grueling efforts had not been in vain. He would teach them the true meaning of the dungeon called Balak—the very dungeon they had toyed with.

'Balak, which danced to the tune you set, has grown this much. Watch closely what I do with the items and equipment you gave me, with the Main Forces you gave me, and with the special abilities you handed me.'

First, two of his Main Forces roared to life. Zighart, the shield-bearer of the White Giant Star who had sacrificed himself against Yuda's Spear of Longinus, and Deshkar, the rock-throwing golem who had been defeated by the Tarantula raid party. Although they had gradually been overshadowed by the newer dungeon Main Forces, the fact that they were the bedrock of Balak's power could not be erased.

"To be able to step onto the battlefield once again for my Summon... There could be no happier day than this!"

"RAAAH!"

The two aided the bewildered angels, freely unleashing the devastating abilities of SS-rank Main Forces. Taehyun stroked the Demonic Orb in his hand, his eyes scanning the silhouettes materializing above the summoning circle.

"Oh my god. What happened? I was definitely..."

"Hehe. Is that it? Have I finally become an immortal who defies even death?!"

"T-This isn't a dream, right? To think I'd see you again, Taehyun."

Familiar voices rang out. These were Main Forces whose identities he could distinguish even without seeing their faces. He could never forget those who had so fiercely devoted themselves to Balak. Taehyun checked the amount of mana being absorbed from the orb and spoke.

"It's your turn now. Go teach those bastards exactly what kind of dungeon Balak is."