Chapter 461

Oh Jin-ho’s guess was correct.

The scouting team that returned safely reported that they had discovered a dungeon.

“The mana waves are extremely strong. It’s definitely at least A-class.”

Choi Gwang-muk, the leader of the scouting team, spoke with certainty.

He too was a mechanized awakener.

Unlike Oh Jin-ho, who had modified his body for combat, Choi Gwang-muk had parts suited for exploration.

Attached to his chest was a mana detection device developed independently by the Western District. Using that device, he could locate sealed or hidden dungeons.

“Are you sure it’s A-class?”

“That’s the minimum estimate. It could be something higher.”

“So we might be looking at an S-class.”

“Yes. The question is whether our current forces can handle an S-class dungeon.”

Up to A-class, they could manage.

The Bloody Raid Team had been formed with A-class dungeon raids in mind, gathering mechanized awakeners accordingly.

The problem was an S-class dungeon.

The Bloody Raid Team had never cleared one before.

Their leader, Oh Jin-ho, was A-class. The scouting team leader, Choi Gwang-muk, was B-class, and the rest were B and C-class.

Enough power for an A-class raid, but far from enough for an S-class.

“If it really is an S-class, we’ll need to bring in reinforcements.”

“But going back to Neo Seoul will take a lot of time.”

Sending a messenger back, organizing new forces, and returning here would take ages.

Meanwhile, those remaining would be wasting time here in the desert.

If nothing happened, that would be fine, but the scent of humans might attract beasts.

The longer they stayed in the desert, the lower their survival chances would drop.

Choi Gwang-muk spoke quietly.

“What if we ask him for help?”

“Lord Zeon?”

“Yes. With him, our combat power would be tremendous.”

“Would he even accept? We’re not exactly on good terms with him.”

The Western District had clashed with Zeon once before.

Though the situation had been smoothed over, their relationship was far from friendly.

“Still, there’s no harm in asking. If we offer him a good share of the loot and guarantee his freedom to operate in our district, he might agree.”

“Hm.”

Oh Jin-ho nodded.

It made sense.

He rose from his seat and walked toward where Zeon was.

Zeon sat alone at the edge of the camp, gazing down at his hands.

Sensing someone approach, he clenched his hand lightly and looked up at Oh Jin-ho.

“What is it?”

“I came with a request.”

“It’s about the dungeon the scouting team found, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. How did you know?”

“It just seemed obvious.”

“Then I’ll get straight to the point. Please lend us your strength this once. You can name any reward you want. We’ll also guarantee your freedom to operate in the Western District.”

“Is that really within your authority?”

“I’m ashamed to say this, but yes. I hold enough influence for that. If I ask, even Director Kim Hyun-su will approve.”

“Hm.”

Zeon stroked his chin and studied him.

Oh Jin-ho’s expression was earnest.

His entire body was machine, devoid of anything human, yet that desperate look in his eyes showed there was still a trace of humanity left in him.

“Alright. Since you’ve welcomed me into your camp, it’s only fair I repay the favor.”

“Truly? Thank you.”

“However, I’ll only intervene if things get dangerous. Consider me an insurance policy.”

“That makes it even better.”

A bright smile spread across Oh Jin-ho’s face.

If Zeon led the raid, their share of the reward might shrink, but if it was only an A-class dungeon, they wouldn’t even need his help. And if it turned out to be S-class, having Zeon as backup meant they risked nothing.

Smiling, Oh Jin-ho returned to his men.

Left alone, Zeon opened his hand. On his finger gleamed a blue ring.

It was the Ring of Purification, a gift from Akaid.

A dragon’s final power had gone into creating it.

Naturally, it was no ordinary item.

Dungeon raids were nothing new to Zeon. Even an S-class dungeon didn’t faze him.

What mattered more was understanding the Ring of Purification fully.

He hadn’t once needed to use it on his way here.

He could guess at its effects, but the only way to know for sure was to test it.

And what better place to test it than a dungeon? That was why he so readily agreed to join the Bloody Raid Team’s expedition.

‘Besides, there’s nothing waiting for me back in Neo Seoul anyway.’

Zeon lay back on the sand and closed his eyes.

To clear a dungeon tomorrow, he needed to be in perfect condition.

---

“Check all your parts.”

“Make sure weapons are fully loaded.”

“We need more ammunition.”

“Mechanics, double-check your tools.”

From early morning, the Bloody Raid Team’s camp was bustling.

They were doing the final equipment inspection before entering the dungeon.

Preparations for mechanized awakeners were very different from those of ordinary awakeners.

For normal awakeners, innate abilities came first, weapons second.

For mechanized awakeners, the performance of their mechanical parts mattered even more than personal power.

Depending on the parts installed, their strength could change drastically, so the work was much more demanding.

Oh Jin-ho raised his voice.

“The minimum estimated rank is A. Focus your loadouts on firepower. Mechanics, bring plenty of spare parts.”

“Yes!”

“You’ve got ten minutes. Finish everything by then.”

“Understood.”

“Huu.”

After issuing orders, Oh Jin-ho took a deep breath.

He always felt tense before entering a dungeon.

His goal was simple: clear it with minimal casualties.

Then his gaze turned toward Zeon.

Unlike his busy subordinates, Zeon looked exactly the same as yesterday.

‘He must be carrying everything in a subspace.’

He had no backpack, yet he could take out hot meals and camping gear at will.

Without a subspace item, that was impossible.

Oh Jin-ho felt a twinge of envy.

Subspace items were exceedingly rare and hard to come by.

Even the Western District possessed only a few, and the Bloody Raid Team hadn’t been assigned one.

For mechanized awakeners like him, they were the most desperately needed items of all.

With one, they could easily carry parts, ammo, and weapons.

But he quickly shook off the thought.

No point longing for something that couldn’t be had.

It was time to focus on the raid.

Choi Gwang-muk reported,

“Captain, all preparations complete.”

“Good. Move out. Lead us to the dungeon.”

“Yes, sir. Follow me.”

Choi Gwang-muk and the scouting team took the lead.

The main force followed, and Zeon moved at the very rear.

The dungeon lay thirty kilometers from the camp.

“Here it is.”

Choi Gwang-muk pointed ahead.

Two stone pillars jutted out of the sand, and between them stood a stone gate.

It was the dungeon’s entrance.

Standing before it, Oh Jin-ho muttered,

“I can definitely feel strong mana from here.”

“Yes. The waves are intense. The boss inside must be powerful.”

“Remind everyone to stay alert. The moment we enter is the most dangerous.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Choi Gwang-muk relayed the order to the others.

Oh Jin-ho was the first to step inside.

The first moment in any dungeon was always the riskiest. No one could predict what lay within.

That was why he entered first—out of a leader’s sense of duty.

The main force and scouts followed him in turn, with Zeon as the last to enter.

‘This feels ominous.’

The mana inside was wild and turbulent.

It had been a long time since Zeon felt a dungeon with such violent energy.

A momentary sense of floating washed over him, then the scene around him changed.

He blinked at the sight.

An alien sight surrounded him—everything was made of metal.

Walls, pillars, and ceiling, all forged from an unknown alloy.

On the walls were engraved ornate patterns, and on the pillars were carved the shapes of humans and beasts alike.

On the ceiling, a radiant divine being looked down upon the world below.

Oh Jin-ho, who had entered first, spoke.

“It looks like we’re inside some kind of temple. The carvings and paintings all show people worshiping the figure on the ceiling.”

“Yes. I think so too.”

Zeon nodded.

Having raided a temple-type dungeon before, he didn’t find it strange, but the Bloody Raid Team was clearly shaken—it was their first time seeing such a place.

“My god, a temple?”

“What kind of god is worshiped here? A temple made entirely of metal?”

“If we took even a bit of this metal outside, we’d make a fortune.”

In this era, quality metal was scarce.

The awakeners of the Western District were desperate to find metals suitable for mechanical parts.

To their eyes, this temple looked like a colossal treasure vault.

It was impossible not to be excited.

Oh Jin-ho barked out,

“Calm down, you idiots! Is this all it takes to lose your heads? We’ve only seen the entrance, and you’re already drooling? Are you that worthless?”

“No, sir!”

“Sorry, Captain!”

His roar snapped them back to their senses.

Oh Jin-ho looked at them sharply and continued.

“Defeat the boss first, then you can take all the metal you want. So stay sharp.”

“Yes, sir!”

Zeon couldn’t help but feel impressed.

For mechanized awakeners, this sight would tempt anyone, yet Oh Jin-ho managed to keep his reason perfectly intact. That was no small feat.

Then it happened.

Krrrng!

A metallic growl echoed from the far end of the corridor.

The Bloody Raid Team immediately prepared for battle.

Thud! Thud!

Heavy footsteps approached, revealing wolves made entirely of metal.

Not one or two, but dozens of them, glaring with killing intent from the opposite side.

―Kwaaang!

―Keuong!

Without warning, the metal wolves attacked.

Oh Jin-ho shouted,

“Engage!”

Tududududang!

As soon as his command ended, the mechanized awakeners at the front opened fire from their arms and shoulders.

They fired special ammunition designed for great beasts.

Massive bullets capable of piercing thick hides collided with the metal wolves, scattering sparks in every direction.

Chunks of metal tore away from the wolves’ bodies under the barrage. Any ordinary creature would have fallen, yet the metallic beasts seemed unfazed, feeling no pain.

They leapt straight into the mechanized awakeners’ line of fire. The awakeners did not falter, continuing their bombardment to hold them back.

Then, the ones equipped with close-combat parts charged forward.

At their head was Oh Jin-ho himself.

“Let’s show them how we fight, you bastards!”

Pakakang!

Oh Jin-ho and the giant mechanized awakeners slammed into the metal wolves head-on.