Chapter 200 – The Cave of Trials
If you have a tanker, the first trial is something you can clear efficiently.
‘If you draw the monsters’ attention with a Taunt skill, or if you have a knight’s protection skill like An Sang-cheol, you can block it easily.’
But that doesn’t mean only a tanker can clear it.
‘The point is simply not getting hit by the monsters for ten minutes.’
Before the monsters appeared, Ryu Min raised his scythe and lifted his gaze upward.
He could see massive stalactites decorating the cave ceiling.
Slaaash—!
The scythe, stretched out like a whip, cleanly sliced through dozens of stalactites.
“What are you do—”
THUD— THUD— THUD— THUD!
The huge stalactites slammed into the ground, blocking the cave path like iron bars.
Only then did John Delgado shut his mouth, finally understanding the Black Scythe’s actions.
‘D-don’t tell me he’s planning to block the monsters with stalactites?’
They’d ended up trapped behind a stalactite “barrier,” but the effect was undeniable.
“Grrrrr! Woof, woof!”
“Hisssss!”
Werewolves and lizardmen that had been trying to enter the cave were stopped cold, unable to approach.
They could see prey, but couldn’t reach it.
The monsters strained to break the stalactites, but it was hopeless.
Stalactites in the other world had enough weight to drive themselves into a cave’s stone floor.
They wouldn’t break so easily.
‘And he cut those stalactites that easily…?’
Watching the Black Scythe slice them as smoothly as tofu, it was impossible to even guess how high his damage was.
“The first trial is basically over. Let’s all just rest for ten minutes.”
As the Black Scythe spoke casually and dropped to the floor, the others sat down one by one, following his lead.
‘Unbelievable. Who knew it could be cleared this simply.’
John clicked his tongue internally and sat down as well.
Monsters only ten meters away were frothing at the mouth and raging, but it didn’t feel dangerous.
The stalactites were packed so densely there wasn’t even a gap for them to slip through.
After a somewhat noisy ten minutes, a message appeared.
[You have succeeded in the First Trial.]
[This team’s cumulative damage is 0.]
[As a success reward, the door to the next trial is now open.]
Ruuuumble—!
The cave wall shifted, and the blocked path opened.
When he turned his head, the monsters that had been raging as they tried to break through the stalactites were gone without a trace.
“Let’s go.”
The party moved after Ryu Min.
John Delgado was curious what the second trial would be, but the others already knew.
They’d heard it all through the prophecy.
After what felt like about a hundred steps, a wide cavern opened up before them.
“Is this it? The second trial area.”
As John predicted and approached with the party, a message appeared, just as expected. <Second Trial>
└Exterminate 100 Second Trial Golems within 1 hour
└On Success ▶ Next Trial Opens
└On Failure ▶ One party member is erased through voting
[Second Trial Golems are special monsters against which ranged weapons and magic do not work.]
[If you kill 100 golems within the 1-hour time limit, the trial will end.]
[Conversely, if you fail to defeat 100 by the time the limit ends, it will be considered a failure.]
[If you fail to overcome the trial, one party member is erased through an internal vote.]
‘Special monsters that ranged weapons and magic don’t work on…?’
The mission itself was simple, but the monsters wouldn’t be.
‘Doesn’t that mean archer and mage classes can’t do anything?’
As John read the explanation, he suddenly thought of Darksoul, a Messiah member.
If that sniper were here, he’d have to sit around sucking his thumb.
[Monsters will appear in 10 seconds. All parties, prepare for the monsters’ emergence!]
As John was reading, the Black Scythe stepped forward again.
“Everyone, fall back behind me. I’ll kill the monsters.”
At his words, the party members retreated without complaint.
In this situation, there was no one else who could kill them besides the Black Scythe.
It was practically a fight only a melee dealer could take.
‘As for [Jephi] and those [dumbasses], they aren’t holding weapons so I can’t even tell what class they are…’
Judging by the fact they weren’t holding weapons, they didn’t seem like melee dealers.
And [Democracy], who had cast buffs, went without saying.
‘My summons can do melee damage too, but…’
He doubted the Black Scythe would “include” him.
‘Yeah. Better to leave it to the Black Scythe and clear fast instead of butting in.’
If a Level 90 like him stepped up, it should be easy.
That was when—
Ruuuumble—!
From every direction, stone fragments piled up like towers, forming five golems.
Each easily over three meters tall—bigger than expected—but it didn’t matter.
In front of the Black Scythe, they were nothing more than rocks.
WHAM! WHAM!
Rumble—!
Had even two seconds passed?
The golems collapsed, even though they’d only just been created.
‘I expected it, but… to kill them this fast…’
The Black Scythe’s scythe moved too fast to track with the naked eye.
All anyone could see was a blur passing by and the golems collapsing with a crash.
‘He attacked from a distance like a whip, but the golems still died. In one hit, too.’
Because a scythe was categorized as a melee weapon, it seemed the system didn’t recognize it as a ranged attack.
John, staring at the experience messages popping up, couldn’t help admiring it.
[You have defeated a Second Trial Golem!]
[EXP +1.53%]
[Gold +600]
[EXP +1.53%]
[Gold +600]
[EXP +1.53%]
[Gold +600]
…………
…………
‘Even in a party, we’re getting this much EXP and gold…?’
That meant the golems were far stronger than he’d imagined.
And yet the Black Scythe sent them back into nothingness the moment they spawned.
WHAM— WHAM— WHAM!
Crash—!
Killing 100 didn’t require an hour.
It took barely over two minutes.
[You have succeeded in the Second Trial.]
[This team’s clear time is 00:01:59.]
[As a success reward, the door to the next trial is now open.]
Ruuuumble—!
A hidden door on one side of the cavern opened, revealing a path.
“Let’s go.”
Following the Black Scythe led them into another cavern. <Third Trial>
└Exterminate 100 Third Trial Golems within 1 hour
└On Success ▶ Next Trial Opens
└On Failure ▶ One party member is erased through voting
[Third Trial Golems are special monsters against which melee weapons do not work.]
[If you kill 100 golems within the 1-hour time limit, the trial will end.]
[Conversely, if you fail to defeat 100 by the time the limit ends, it will be considered a failure.]
[If you fail to overcome the trial, one party member is erased through an internal vote.]
[The golems will be summoned inside the cavern shortly.]
The third trial was also “defeat 100 monsters.”
The difference was that these golems were immune to melee weapons.
‘So this time, we can only kill them with ranged weapons or magic?’
John couldn’t use either, so there was no place for him to step up.
He had no choice but to rely on someone else—and naturally, his eyes went to the Black Scythe.
He was the strongest mage John had ever met.
“I’ll do it.”
When the Black Scythe stepped up again, John felt reassured.
He thought they’d clear the third trial without trouble as well.
But the buffer didn’t seem to think so.
“Huh? Black Scythe, you can use magic too?”
Maybe she hadn’t seen him use magic despite calling him an ally, because she asked like that.
“I can. I learned it recently.”
“Ah.”
After leaving only that, Democracy retreated.
Seeing how she didn’t press with questions, she must really trust him.
[Monsters will appear in 10 seconds. All parties, prepare for the monsters’ emergence!]
When exactly ten seconds passed after the message disappeared—
Just like before, five golems formed around them.
And the moment they did—
BZZZZZZZT—!
The Black Scythe’s lightning spread in all directions and struck the golems.
Naturally, it was a one-shot.
‘Even seeing it again, he’s so damn strong…’
Seeing the skill that had wiped out thirty of John’s summons in one blow, John swallowed dryly without realizing it.
In the end, the third trial was cleared in a bit over two minutes as well.
[You have succeeded in the Third Trial.]
[This team’s clear time is 00:02:02.]
[As a success reward, the door to the next trial is now open.]
‘Thank god. Because the Black Scythe can use magic.’
If the party had been made up of classes that had no ranged weapons and couldn’t use magic, then what?
They would have struggled miserably in this third trial.
‘They’d probably have been playing tag with golems for an hour just to avoid dying.’
And after enduring an hour, they would’ve had to vote to kill one party member.
Because that was the only way to move on to the next trial.
‘There have to be parties that got erased by voting in this section.’
Thinking that, John followed the Black Scythe through the hidden door.
Instead of another large cavern, a narrow passage appeared, and then a message popped up.
When John read it, his eyes widened. <Fourth Trial>
└Help the angel and win the battle
└On Success ▶ Final Trial Opens
└On Failure ▶ One party member is erased at random
He thought it would be another monster-killing trial, but it wasn’t.
‘Help an angel?’
As John stared in confusion, an explanation appeared.
[An angel and a demon will appear ahead shortly and point their blades at each other.]
[By default, the demon is stronger, making this an unfavorable battle for the angel.]
[If you help the angel and secure victory, the trial will end.]
[However, for this trial only, attacks and skills are prohibited, and you cannot interfere in their battle in any way other than support skills.]
[Therefore, the only way to help the angel is through support skills.]
[Use skills to overturn the unfavorable battlefield!]
[If the angel is killed by the demon, it will be considered a failure.]
[If you fail to overcome the trial, one party member is erased at random.]
John, who had played plenty of games, immediately caught the intent.
‘Ah, I get it. This time it’s a trial that tests support capability.’
This time his gaze didn’t go to the Black Scythe—it went to Democracy.
It was a relief the team had a buffer.
‘If she casts that set of three buffs, she can flip an unfavorable battle in an instant.’
Thinking they’d clear smoothly again, John was caught off guard when the Black Scythe, as always, spoke.
“I’ll handle it. All of you just watch.”
‘What? Again?’
This trial tested support—so didn’t that mean the Black Scythe wouldn’t have the ability?
Before John’s question could be answered, the trial began.
“Die, you crazy angel bitch!”
“You filthy demon bastard!”
An angel and a demon had appeared before them, blades aimed at each other.
The problem was, in both strength and technique, the angel looked severely outmatched.
‘How is he going to help? He shouldn’t have any support skills—’
John’s doubt cleared the moment he saw the Black Scythe move.
Whoooom—!
Warm light wrapped around the angel.
‘Ah! He had First Aid.’
First Aid, a common skill, was still a support skill.
The problem was that First Aid’s effect was usually too weak to be considered real support.
‘It’s a skill that, at best, just stops bleeding, bu—’
Mid-thought, John had to doubt his own eyes.
First Aid, which he’d dismissed as nothing special, healed the angel’s torn wounds in an instant.
‘What? Since when was First Aid that good?’
No—there was no way.
John knew, because he’d used it, just how pathetic First Aid normally was.
There was no way it had healing power comparable to an actual heal, like this.
‘Then what the hell is that?’
The angel, who had been in danger under the demon’s attacks, revived under the Black Scythe’s periodic treatment and started fighting fiercely.
“Guh—!”
“Die! Dieeee! You demon bastard!”
At last, the angel’s sword pierced straight through the demon’s chest.
The angel, who had been losing, turned the tide and won.
[You have succeeded in the Fourth Trial.]
[As a success reward, the door to the final trial is now open.]
Once again, they passed a trial thanks to the Black Scythe.
‘What is this… there’s nothing for me to do.’
John laughed hollowly and, as usual, followed after the Black Scythe.
No—he was about to.
‘Huh? What’s he doing?’
The Black Scythe, who John expected to move immediately, was standing there blankly.
His eyes were fixed on empty air, like he was reading a message.
John’s guess was correct.
A message had appeared in front of Ryu Min.
[You have completed the Sub Quest!]
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