SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 207: Episode

[Frost Queen’s Army Commander Badon Pilameter has cast Frost Storm.]

[The Frost Storm will rage inside the room until all his magic power is depleted.]

The skill he had showcased during the Elenore raid was cast. The Frost Storm, which began to rage near the Cold Jade, headed straight for Balak’s soldiers.

"Kiek!"

A goblin that had strayed from the formation was frozen solid on the spot. The Frost Storm likely had an effect that flash-froze its targets.

’I have to save Inhye’s Divine Teaching. In this situation, Big Dream’s Black Mist is the answer.’

Divine Teaching didn’t have a wide range anyway. Taehyun quickly gave Big Dream his orders.

[A-rank Hero Soldier Lich Big Dream’s special ability ‘Black Mist’ has been activated.]

[A black mist envelops Balak’s soldiers.]

[The Black Mist will be canceled if all magic power is depleted or if Big Dream takes damage.]

Frost Storm was a ranged skill that moved according to the caster’s will. Black Mist was a sufficient counter.

"A futile effort!"

"He’s coming! Ziegfried, Angelina, block him!"

Badon collided with the two keepers.

"Th-this is..."

"He’s too strong! How are we supposed to fight something like this?!" the two cried out in alarm as they watched their shields shatter instantly. They had even cast their skills beforehand, but the durability of their shields was still plummeting.

Badon channeled magic into both fists and rushed toward Ziegfried.

"Shield soldiers, forward!"

"Do not interfere!"

The hundreds of shield soldiers that rushed him were sent flying. With a single kick, Badon forbade any approach. Taehyun bit his lip and ordered support from his ranged soldiers. At that moment, frost crystals formed all over Badon’s body.

[Frost Queen’s Army Commander Badon Pilameter has cast Frost Armor.]

[For a certain period, Badon Pilameter’s total defense increases by three times.]

[For a certain period, Badon Pilameter’s total resistance increases by two times.]

[Frost Armor uses remaining: 1/2]

’You’re kidding me. He has a skill like this?!’

The magic and arrows pouring down on him were instantly rendered useless. While taking the ranged attacks, Badon crushed Ziegfried’s shield. A follow-up attack was already heading for Ziegfried’s forehead. Taehyun quickly ordered Raviz to use her summon skill.

[A-rank Named Guardian Ruler of Space Raviz has cast Summon.]

[White Colossus Shield Soldier Ziegfried has been moved near Raviz.]

"Hah... Hah..." Ziegfried, his life saved at the last second, gasped for breath. He must have felt the fear of death for a moment.

"Angelina, you fall back too. Mederia, cast your special ability."

"Got it."

Mederia, who had been firing magic bullets with focused shots, summoned Pesillyn.

[Special ability ‘Pesillyn’s Advent’ has been activated.]

[For a certain period, the Fairy King Pesillyn descends.]

[Pesillyn’s Advent uses remaining: 1/1]

The King of Fairies appeared and immediately cast her skills, drawing out the other fairies’ abilities.

[Pesillyn has cast Festival of Fairies.]

[The skill efficiency of the fairy race doubles.]

[Pesillyn has cast Blessing of the Fairy King.]

[All stats of the fairy race double for a certain period.]

The fairies’ morale shot through the roof. To drag out the battle with Badon, he had to actively utilize not just his main forces, but all his soldiers. Taehyun moved the shield soldiers that had been knocked back to the front line again and gave Hendy an order.

"You, cast your special ability too."

"Tch!"

"Hurry!"

"F-fine, I get it!" After a moment of hesitation, she enchanted Great Explosion.

[A-rank High Raider Great Mage of Explosions Hendy has cast the special ability ‘Great Explosion’.]

[Explosive power has been enchanted onto the designated targets’ body parts.]

A series of explosions erupted. The shield soldiers, who were being pushed back by Badon’s attacks, began to deal damage using Great Explosion.

"You irritating little pest!"

"Father, in times like these, you must use hit-and-run tactics!"

The two Death Knights followed, harassing Badon with mounted combat.

’Until Frost Armor’s duration ends, I’ll save the limited-use skills of my main forces and create a state of utter bedlam. Let’s see who wins this, Badon!’

A one-man army versus Balak’s two thousand soldiers. A battle with no end in sight continued to unfold.

The moment she moved, Taehyun grabbed her wrist. "Stay put. You can’t afford to waste a single drop of divine power if you’re going to cast God’s Teaching."

"...I understand. But could you let go of my wrist, Taehyun? It hurts a little."

"Tsk. Just rest in the back."

In the heat of the moment, he hadn’t realized his own strength. After sending Inhye to the rear, Taehyun ordered his personal fairies to tend to Grai’s wounds.

[The Basilisk has been slain.]

[The Evil Goblin has been slain.]

[B-rank Named Keeper, Angelina of Pleasure, has sustained a minor injury.]

Meanwhile, Badon pressed his assault, his energy seemingly inexhaustible as he tore through Taehyun’s soldiers. With a weary expression, Taehyun glanced at Big Dream’s status.

[Big Dream’s Mana: 62,452 / 154,200]

Nearly half its mana was gone, yet Badon appeared as fresh as when the fight began. At this rate, the black mist would dissipate long before their enemy tired. Taehyun ordered Kadum to use Hunter’s Eye.

"How much mana is left in his Frost Armor?!"

"Hmm. About half is gone. From the looks of the mana flow, it drains a portion of his own reserves every time he takes a hit."

"What a monster."

His stamina, resilience, and mana were all on another level. Taehyun threw more melee soldiers into the fray, trying to buy as much time as possible. Just then, Badon broke through the lines and lunged for Hyena, who was busy launching traps from the rear.

"Rabiz, use your summoning skill!" Taehyun yelled in alarm.

"It’s still on cooldown, Master."

"Dammit! Focus all defensive buffs on Hyena!"

At his command, a stream of enhancements enveloped her.

[A personal fairy’s buff has been cast on Hera.]

[A personal fairy’s buff has been cast on Hera.]

[A personal fairy’s buff has been cast on Hera.]

Dozens of defensive buffs layered over her. Unfazed by the soldiers swarming him, Badon slammed his fist into Hyena’s abdomen.

[A-rank Raider, Hera, has sustained a moderate injury.]

Her body crumpled, falling among the Evil Goblins. A moderate injury, even after being fortified by dozens of buffs.

Kadum, watching from the side, scowled. "Hey, Taehyun. That was a poor decision. You focused all the buffs on a single Raider, so during the cooldown, the other soldiers were left exposed and..."

"Get out of my way!"

"Whoa, what’s wrong?!"

His eyes were cold and hollow, his face a frozen mask, his hands trembling. The calm strategist who had been facing Badon was gone. In his place was a man who shoved Kadum aside and sprinted toward Hyena.

"M-Master, I’m sorry," she choked out.

"It’s fine. Don’t talk. Just be quiet." Her face was ashen as she coughed up blood. A single glance was enough to see how serious it was. Taehyun gathered her collapsed form into his arms and produced a medium-grade potion. "Swallow this. Slowly."

"...But."

"That’s an order. Drink."

"I understand."

The potion trickled down her throat. At least the injury wouldn’t worsen. Taehyun stroked her hair and called for Inhye.

"What is it?"

"...Heal Hyena."

"But you just told me to conserve my divine power..."

"Please," he said, his voice raw.

His eyes, now filled with desperation, were a stark contrast to before. Inhye could only nod. Entrusting Hyena to her, Taehyun immediately returned to his command post.

---

That single command had sent the situation spiraling. The soldiers who missed the buff cycle were overwhelmed and cut down. His losses were already catastrophic. They had been on the back foot even with support; a tactical error like that had made a massacre inevitable.

When Taehyun returned, Kadum confronted him. "At this rate, we’ll all be slaughtered. Do you have any idea what you’re doing?"

"Hmph. If you want to argue, wait until this is over... Ugh."

The words had barely left his mouth when Hendy’s body flew past him. She struggled to her feet, glaring at Taehyun. "I can still fight! Don’t you underestimate me!"

"Did anyone say you couldn’t? Hah. Just fall back for now."

"L-Let go of me! I have to help Chedor!"

"Enough. Just stay out of it."

Grabbing her by the robes, he had her dragged to the rear. Taehyun watched the battlefield with a grim expression. Near the Frozen Jade, the rampaging Badon was effortlessly holding off four of his main fighters, showing no signs of fatigue.

"Too slow!" Badon roared.

"Kuh! This bastard... it was the same last time! I’m no match for him!" Sihan cried out, barely managing to control the waves of energy. The machine-gun-like barrage of fists was too much to counter with skills alone.

Badon cast Frost Armor again, preparing for another onslaught. That was his second and final use of the skill.

"Ugh... I don’t think my mana can hold out much longer!" Big Dream groaned, its power finally waning from maintaining the black mist.

Taehyun chewed on his thumbnail, his mind racing. ’Dammit, what do I do? If only I could use a special item right now.’ Unlike in the Temple of the Subterranean Race, special items were prohibited inside Yuslan’s Ice Palace, likely because they were ineffective against its guardians.

"Gah!"

At last, even Grai sustained a moderate injury. Badon must have learned his attack patterns over the course of the battle.

"What’s next?" Badon taunted. "Are you going to keep stalling over there, Taehyun Yoo?"

Taehyun remained silent.

"How dare you use my master to forge an alliance with Antelos. I have not forgotten that day!"

"...An alliance?"

The name Antelos sparked a memory. It was true; he had used Songyi to form an alliance between Balak and Antelos.

’Wait a minute. If that’s true, then even though he was summoned here, he isn’t one of the original guardians of the Ice Palace, is he?’

Badon Pilameter. Commander of the Frost Queen’s army, but his primary duty had been defending Antelos from Raiders. His summoning must have been compulsory. He was, without a doubt, still affiliated with Antelos.

A slow, cunning smile spread across Taehyun’s face as he pulled something from his inventory.

"You find this amusing?" Badon sneered. "What’s so funny?"

"Ah, thank you," Taehyun said. "Thanks to you, I just realized something very important."

"What is this nonsense?"

"Antelos and Balak are allies, it’s true. But not for much longer."

The Information Manipulation Item in his hand flared to life.

[The Information Manipulation Item has been activated.]

[The affiliation of all soldiers will be changed from Balak to Free Status.]

Allied dungeons couldn’t attack each other or use special items. Badon was likely bound by his dual affiliation to both the Frost Queen and Antelos. Therefore, if Taehyun temporarily severed his own affiliation, breaking the alliance, he could use his items freely. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He then produced an Effect Reversal Card, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "You said you no longer had to worry about what your master thinks. Same here. With this, your master will never know who killed you. Now, let’s begin."

He then unleashed God’s Teaching, the trump card he’d been saving. Summoning the mercenary Raimond, Taehyun activated the card.

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