Chapter 39: The Gatekeeper’s Demise

Theresia was unaware that the avenger, soon to become her nightmare, was already drawing near.

At this moment, they had reached the boss room on the 100th floor.

Having successfully navigated it twice before, Theresia and her team were significantly faster this time.

From the 70th floor onwards, the strength of the monsters within the labyrinth had not significantly increased.

However, the annoying traps and magical defenses multiplied exponentially. Meanwhile, the value of the monsters and potential treasure drops within the labyrinth remained largely the same as on the 69th floor.

Conquering labyrinths below the 70th floor required a coordinated effort from various types of top-tier adventurers.

Yet, the effort expended was clearly disproportionate to the rewards gained, which was why few dared to venture into labyrinths below the 70th floor.

Theresia, however, had “milked” the Elf Queen for seven years, receiving whatever gold and equipment she desired. This allowed her to reach the 100th floor in a remarkably short time.

Outside the formidable gate, the expedition members took a brief respite after a lengthy process of gathering the conditions required to open it.

Lola seized this opportunity to voice a question that had been puzzling her. “Theresia, didn’t you say you already had a knight? Why isn’t he with you for such an important expedition?”

‘I only said I had a knight to make you give up.’

Naturally, she couldn’t reveal the truth. She couldn’t allow Lola’s unwarranted hopes to rekindle.

“He, he certainly came along. However, some matters on Dragon Island required his attention, so we arranged a specific time to meet. Originally, I had intended to wait for his arrival before setting off, but since the appointed time has passed and he hasn’t appeared, he must be dealing with something crucial.”

“If he manages to catch up shortly after we enter the labyrinth, he’ll certainly join us as soon as possible. But it seems the situation on Dragon Island is indeed thorny. I also told him that if he arrived too late, there would be no need to exert himself coming down. He should be waiting on the first floor for our good news now.”

Lola looked enlightened. “I see, then he…”

Lola attempted to ask more questions, but Theresia, knowing that the more one spoke, the more loopholes appeared, immediately stood up. “Our rest period has been long enough. Let us begin.”

The tall, imposing gate guarding the passage was adorned with bizarre patterns, outlining terrifying and twisted designs.

After collecting 666 three-eyed wolf spiders scattered across the 100th floor, their legs and eyes were removed and placed along the strange patterns on the gate.

Only then did this gate, resembling an entrance to hell, slowly creak open.

Theresia’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. The boss of this floor was even more detestable to dragons than the black panther on the 73rd floor.

Setting aside the bizarre method of opening the gate, Theresia had once dismissed her team members and attempted to force the gate open, even using her true Black Dragon form.

The gate had indeed opened, but behind it wasn’t the boss room. Instead, a terrifying cascade of iridescent slime, like an ocean pouring in, gushed into the labyrinth, filling every corner until the slime reached knee-height.

The slime itself was harmless, but its sticky texture and peculiar stench left Theresia’s team unable to face anyone for two months.

Theresia, in particular, had endured the full brunt of it.

For two months, she couldn’t stomach a single bite of food.

Especially after Theresia’s violent attempt, a leisurely voice had echoed from behind the opened gate.

“Foolish, barbaric, and filthy adventurer! Only those with both courage and wisdom may enter this gate. As for the reckless ones, hehe, the slime will fill your belly.”

Damn it!

It even knew how to taunt!

This was no ordinary gatekeeper boss. It demanded an overwhelmingly powerful strike.

The space behind the violently opened gate wasn’t the boss room at all, but another empty chamber specifically designed to store slime.

It was clearly placed there, anticipating that someone would try to force their way through.

Malice, an abundance of malice.

Killing a dragon was one thing, but this boss aimed to crush their spirit.

Theresia had made up her mind: if possible, she would capture this gatekeeper boss alive.

She would keep it by her side, making it truly understand how the Black Dragon earned its reputation for being utterly ferocious!

Even before the gate fully opened, a deep, rock-like voice slowly emanated from behind it. “Brave adventurers, having endured countless hardships, you have proven…”

Theresia mercilessly cut him off. “Proven our wisdom and courage! Stop being so long-winded! It’s not the first time we’ve met. Let’s just skip to the second phase.”

The voice from behind the gate was clearly displeased at being interrupted. “Absolutely not! This is the procedure, and procedures are regulations, and regulations are order, and order is… Anyway, it simply cannot be skipped.”

Theresia sneered. “It’s the same old routine every single time; my ears are practically calloused from hearing it. What’s the point of an aged relic showing off? Just bury it with yourself! A thousand years from now, if your grave is plundered, you might actually contribute to history. After all, your value dead far surpasses your value alive.”

After a brief silence, the gatekeeper boss unleashed a furious tirade. “How do you know I only have one routine? This is only your third visit! I’ve composed a hundred different ones! But how many years have passed, and you’ve only entered fewer than ten times, even with new people each time?!”

“Furthermore, what do you mean ‘aged relic’? This is tradition! If you lack culture, speak less. I know vile dragons like you are all brawn and no brains, and as you age, your muscles grow while your brain atrophies into a cerebellum. If you won’t listen, there are plenty of other adventurers who will. If you don’t want to see me, you can eat slime; that’s more suitable for you!”

Theresia retorted without mercy. “Heh, preparing such things only indicates your twisted psyche. After all, any intelligent creature with a normal mind would feel sick just collecting that stuff, yet you can brazenly talk about it and have gathered so much. This makes me suspect that collecting ‘shit’ is your hobby.”

“Oh, considering your specific species is still unclear, perhaps that substance is your food. My apologies, I insulted your way of life. As for what happened before, I am broad-minded. I treat perverts equally, for judging you is not our duty. Sending you to hell for judgment, however, is my job.”

When the gate fully opened, a colossal demon, dozens of meters tall, stood majestically behind it, like a living mountain.

Two massive, curved horns extended backward from its forehead, like ancient warrior helmet decorations, lending it an air of grandeur and dominance. Its deep, piercing eyes burned with crimson flames. Its skin, as if steeped in ink, shimmered with an eerie and profound violet glow.

Behind it, two enormous pairs of wings unfolded, each beat capable of stirring up fierce gales, as if threatening to tear the sky apart. These wings were covered in obsidian-like feathers that glinted faintly, refracting cool, mysterious colors under the violet flames.

If one ignored the mouth currently engaged in a shouting match with the most wicked of dragons, this combination of handsomeness and dominance would undoubtedly have instilled a terrifying sense of oppression in all present.

Unfortunately, it possessed a mouth perfectly suited for mockery.

Of course, the actions of the ‘most wicked of dragons’ also shattered their preconceived notions. Who would have thought that a being usually so aloof, dominant, and radiating a terrifying aura could be so skilled at insults?

For a moment, everyone except Theresia was at a loss for what to do.

After all, the two were locked in a fierce ‘clash,’ and the palpable tension in the air made it impossible for outsiders to intervene.

The gatekeeping demon’s large eyes took in the reactions of everyone present.

He knew that the ultimate boss atmosphere he had painstakingly cultivated had been utterly ruined by this crude, barbaric, and brainless Black Dragon, Theresia.

The demon erupted in fury, abruptly rising from his throne, pointing a monstrous finger at Theresia, and bellowing, “You stupid dragon, I’ll fight you!”

“Fight your mother! Everyone, charge!”

Theresia raised her arm, and the entire team surged forward, representing courage, justice, and wisdom, launching an assault against the evil demon.

However, the grand scene lasted for less than three minutes.

In just three minutes, this demon, who had appeared capable of destroying the world, lay dramatically on the ground, seemingly on the verge of death.

Everyone felt quite unsatisfied, primarily because the demon was indeed overly ostentatious.

Even if Theresia hadn’t given them a strategy, rushing forward would have, at most, added another three minutes to the fight.

“Brave adventurers, rejoice! You have defeated—ugh!”

Without waiting for the demon to finish speaking, Theresia, with utmost coldness, shoved a custom-made, extra-large spear into its mouth, completely stuffing it shut.

She then spoke in an utterly wicked voice, “Heh, don’t worry, it won’t hinder you from entering phase two. This spear is merely to block your incessant mouth and to humiliate you.”

Immediately, the demon seemed to be filled with rage beyond its limits, then its body exploded into a burst of light, scattering in all directions with extreme speed.

Theresia, however, had already anticipated this.

Lola, who had been secretly preparing since entering the guardian room, began to exert her power.

She raised her elven staff, conjuring a verdant barrier, attempting to block the purple light particles.

However, the light particles passed through the barrier without any obstruction.

Lola was greatly alarmed. She knew that the magical barrier she had erected could simultaneously block matter, energy, and souls, yet it had proven completely ineffective.

Hmph, but she still had another trick up her sleeve.

“I’ve marked the location of every light particle!”

Theresia, though somewhat disappointed, quickly regained her composure. But upon seeing Lola’s marked map, her smile froze.

The entire 100th floor looked as if it had been filled with billions of ants.

Lola’s markings were, to put it mildly, exhaustive.