SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 274: Episode

The dungeons were not yet fully operational. No warning message would appear for an outside intruder. Dinen—no, ’Gelix’—must have exploited that fact when he placed the three steles inside.

[Doom Skeleton Mage Haguru has died.]

[S-rank Named Soldier, Knight of Nightmares Grizzle, has sustained a critical injury.]

[A-rank Hero Soldier, Knight of Death Granzle, has sustained a critical injury.]

His main soldiers were falling. Hamolten and Hasla’s arrival had turned the tide, but his forces were still taking heavy losses. With three steles remaining, he had no choice but to send his original main forces into one of the dungeons alone.

"Aahhh!"

"Dammit. I never heard anything about a main force like this... Gack!"

Of course, the dungeon where Hamolten and Hasla had been deployed was cleared out in an instant.

’Let’s end this now, Dinen Pradio.’ At last, their long, bitter rivalry was coming to a close. The relentless development of the western territories, all facilitated by Balak, had undoubtedly been for the sake of this Control Stele. Once he dealt with Dinen Pradio and Gelix, the only major enemy left on the continent would be Leon.

[S-rank Raider Aishala has died.]

[The tenth stele has been destroyed.]

[S-rank Raider Deaconsen has died.]

[The twelfth stele has been destroyed.]

The Control Stele. Its ability to seize a dungeon was unexpected, but the plan was destined to fail. In fact, it had already collapsed. Taehyun glanced at the synchronization rate—ninety-seven percent—and issued his final command to Hamolten and Hasla.

"Use the teleportation circle inside the dungeon to move instantly!"

—’I know, you damn Guide!’ Hamolten shot back.

—’We are on our way, Guide!’ Hasla affirmed.

Each dungeon in Balak’s territory was linked by an internal teleportation circle. Only the fourteenth stele remained. A mage, an S-rank Raider, was guarding it, but he was being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

"You will never destroy it!" the mage, Madron, shrieked. "You will all become Lord Dinen Pradio’s subordinates and be controlled by him!"

"If that happens, I won’t be able to make the pretty women my concubines. Kuma!" Kumakuma roared.

"Still talking about women in a situation like this?" Riashu snapped. "You’re pathetic. If you have time for that, go make a crack in the barrier! Now!"

Goaded by her nagging, Kumakuma slammed his body into the barrier. But it was so sturdy he couldn’t even make a dent. Maourate and Gotman, attacking from the flanks, unleashed a torrent of skills to no avail.

[The Control Stele is activating.]

[Synchronization Rate: 99%]

The synchronization rate hit ninety-nine percent. Growing more frantic, the main forces redoubled their assault, but it was useless. Madron, safe inside his barrier, sensed victory and spread his arms wide.

"This is the glorious moment we finally take over Balak!" he cried. "Though a mere dungeon, it will serve as a stepping stone for Lord Dinen Pra—Gack!"

His triumphant laughter was cut short as something pierced his abdomen. A gaping hole had appeared in the barrier that had so steadfastly protected him. Madron looked up, his face a mask of disbelief.

"As I’ve said time and again," Hamolten’s voice echoed calmly, "barriers and shields are useless against this old man."

"Kh. Kukukuk," Madron coughed, blood sputtering from his lips. "It seems there was an unexpected power here. But it’s too late. The stele is still...!"

"I failed to mention it earlier," Hamolten continued. "The ancient magic arrow I just fired also has the ability to pierce. You might want to take a look behind you, young man."

An arrow that could pierce both a barrier and a man was not a simple spell. Madron glanced down at the hole in his stomach, then slowly turned his head.

[The fourteenth stele has been destroyed.]

The great stone pillar crumbled. With it, Dinen Pradio’s ambitions turned to dust. Madron collapsed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

"To end like this... It can’t be. This can’t be happening."

"When a plan you’ve prepared for so long falls apart, a sense of emptiness washes over you," Hamolten said, his tone almost gentle. "I’m sure you’re no different."

"Lord Dinen Pradio was my benefactor," Madron whispered. "He took us in when we were orphans and gave us the lives we have today. To fail to grant his wish... It’s unbearable. I can’t stand it!"

"Tsk, tsk. Do you still not realize you were simply being used? To be driven into a deathtrap like this... there was no affection left. Farewell, foolish young man."

Another ancient magic arrow materialized and flew true. Madron felt it pierce his heart as he collapsed to the ground.

[All Control Steles have been destroyed.]

[Synchronization has stopped at 99%.]

[Control of Balak has failed.]

The long battle was over. He had thwarted not only Hyacinth’s raid party but Dinen Pradio’s grand scheme as well. Taehyun, who had been watching from the Master Room, let out a long sigh of relief and rose from his seat.

—’I’ve found Dinen Pradio and Gelix,’ Hamolten reported.

"Don’t capture them," Taehyun replied. "Wait there."

—’Understood.’

Hamolten’s magic detection was on another level, boasting a range that far surpassed ordinary mages. He could sense beings not only within Balak but far outside its borders as well. Kadum and the High Elves, already dispatched, would surely find them. Taehyun left the Master Room, determined to sever this bitter connection with his own hands.

---

—’...The communication isn’t working. That’s the fifth one now.’

Dinen Pradio slowly raised his head. The crimson magic that had saturated the sky above the territory was gone. It could only mean one thing: the failure of a plan years in the making.

"Have the heavens truly abandoned me?!" he roared at the empty sky. "How can they be so indifferent? How can the plan I prepared to take revenge, to reclaim everything I’ve lost, collapse so meaninglessly—!"

The lion wailed. The beast that had once ruled the West was now a pathetic creature, crying out after losing its last chance.

"I cannot accept it! I will not accept it! Something must have gone wrong. It must have!"

"...You must accept it," Gelix said, his voice weary. "No, ’accept it’, Dinen Pradio. You are no longer a lion. You are nothing but an old, sick beast."

"Shut up, Gelix! You dare look at me with those eyes as well? I am Count Dinen Pradio. I will not die here!"

"I never wanted this," Gelix lamented. "I just wanted to secure a position under you and live a life of comfort. But look at this. I’m in this mess because of you. Now I can’t even run away!"

He couldn’t stand the thought of rotting away as a branch manager in some backwater town. He had fought and clawed his way up, not for high status, but simply for a life where he could look down on others. But everything had gone wrong the moment he threw in his lot with Dinen Pradio. True, neither of them had anticipated Leon van Noah, but Dinen had acted with such foolish arrogance. This outcome was inevitable.

Gelix smiled bitterly as Dinen Pradio raised his sword, his eyes burning with hate. "I’m destined to die anyway. Dying by your hand now won’t change a thing. Do as you please, Dinen Pradio. I have only one regret: that I ever chose to follow you. If I could take that back, I wouldn’t have ended up like this."

"Cut the crap, you ungrateful bastard!" Dinen snarled. "I recognized your petty tricks, I raised you, I fed you, and now you don’t even recognize your master!"

"You arrogant fool. Your problem has always been that pride and arrogance. Hah. Now that it’s come to this, I suppose I was nothing but a simple idiot myself."

"Shut up! Didn’t I tell you to shut up!" Dinen Pradio charged, sword held high. Gelix closed his eyes, awaiting the end.

Just then, a hunter landed silently between them.

"I can’t let you die on your own terms," Kadum said coolly. "Wait. Taehyun Yoo will decide your fate himself."

"...That hunter from before," Dinen muttered.

"So it ends like this after all," Gelix sighed.

It was Kadum, the man they had blackmailed into helping them capture the High Elves. His appearance as one of Balak’s main forces meant their location was exposed. Dinen Pradio and Gelix turned their heads in unison.

"Good to see you again," a familiar voice drawled. "Is this the first time since the succession ceremony? You’ve been well, I hope?"

The black hair and eyes of a demon. The same sneering smile that had grated on his nerves since their first meeting. The Dungeon Master of Balak had come in person. Taehyun gestured for Kadum to step back, his gaze fixed on the two men.

"How does it feel to be a loser?" Taehyun asked conversationally. "You got beaten by that bastard Leon, and now you’ve been beaten by me. Care to share your thoughts?"

"Grrr! Yoo Taehyuuuun!" Dinen roared, lunging forward.

"Whoa, whoa, you calm down a bit." Kadum easily subdued the enraged count. Taehyun turned his attention back to Gelix.

"So? How do you feel?"

"There’s nothing much to say," Gelix replied, his shoulders slumping. "This long, bitter rivalry of almost two years... it’s your victory, Taehyun Yoo. I brought this upon myself with my poor choices."

"That’s right. Your mistake was siding with that fool in the first place. Just look at him. He’s completely forgotten everything you accomplished and is just throwing a tantrum."

"Hah. Don’t make me laugh," Gelix said. "If you came here to mock me, then just kill me. I know you have no intention of letting us live."

He was right. Taehyun had no intention of forgiving the men who had schemed to seize his territory. However, he held Gelix’s abilities in high regard. He had come to sever a long-standing tie, but his target was only one man.

"You’re an exception," Taehyun said. "It would be a waste for you to end here, wouldn’t it? I’ll give you one more chance. This time, swear your loyalty to me."

"I appreciate the offer, but I’m tired," Gelix said with a sigh. "I need to rest. This ending probably signifies my limits."

"Ah, I misspoke," Taehyun corrected him with a thin smile. "Of course, you don’t have a choice. You won’t just swear loyalty; you’ll be forced to."

"...My, what a nasty personality you have." Resigned to the fact that a peaceful rest was out of the question, Gelix obediently raised his hands.

Taehyun smirked and turned back to Dinen. "That’s why I told you. It wasn’t you using Balak, but Balak using you. Now, let’s finally sever this connection."

From the trees above, High Elves drew their bows. Dinen, pinned by Kadum, struggled and glared at Taehyun.

"You baaaastard! I will never forgive you! Even in death! Even in death, I will curse you! Yoo Taehyuuuuun!"

"Normally, I wouldn’t kill you so easily," Taehyun said, his voice laced with pity. "But you look so pathetic, a lion who’s lost everything. There’s no need for me to torment you further. This is a peaceful end, isn’t it? Farewell, Dinen Pradio."

"Kuaaaah! I won’t accept it! I won’t acc—!"

The thud of arrows striking flesh cut him off. Mocked to his very last breath, Dinen Pradio met a futile end. Another thread in a long, bitter tapestry had been cut. First Junhyun Cha, now Dinen Pradio. All that remained were Duke Peyton, Leon, the Resistance, and the Holy Kingdom.

"What should I do with the body, Taehyun?" Kadum asked.

"No need to burn it. Throw it to the dungeon soldiers for feed."

"Will do. Ah, and that guy Turner and his comrades seem to be waiting for you."

"Well, I’ll have to deal with them, too. First..." As Taehyun turned to Gelix, a message suddenly flashed before his eyes.

[A-rank Top Raider Hera’s critical injury has been healed.]

[Injury status has changed from critical to minor.]

[Hera’s amnesia has been partially recovered.]

It was about Hyena. He stared at the last message, then immediately checked her status again.

[Status: Amnesia (Partially Recovered)]

A completely unexpected recovery. The shock from Perun’s armor-piercing round must have been the trigger. A sense of foreboding washed over Taehyun as he began to head back to Balak.

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