Fourth Dungeon: Ancient City Foreign Matter

## Fourth Dungeon: Ancient City Foreign Matter Summary

[Entering Single Player Dungeon…] (Ch 237)

[Difficulty: Fourth Dungeon]

[Background: Professor Herbert is preparing for an archeological excavation in the ancient city of Isogu. He has heard about your skills and reputation, so he invited you to join his team as a bodyguard. ]

[Main Mission: Explore at least 20% of the ancient city of Isogu in 4 weeks.]

[Temporary language pack, disappears upon exiting the dungeon.]

[Clothing, backpack, weapons, items, and attributes remain unchanged, Temporarily changed appearance, disappears upon exiting the dungeon.]

[Inspecting firearms and grenades… Weapons do not match the current year, Damage reduced by 50%, Handgun Reloading Speed +1 seconds, Sniper Reloading Speed +30 seconds]

[Hint 1: This is your fourth official dungeon. You can fail the Main Mission, but you will have to pay 400 Points as a penalty, and your highest attributes will drop by 1. If your points are insufficient, the system will deduct from your equipment. If your equipment is insufficient, you will fail.]

Kieran spawned within a small single person room, where he saw a newspaper that introduced a gold rush within Isogu city, and a Professor Herbert that was planning an excavation and was hiring bodyguards. Kieran went downstairs, to find that the majority of the first floor was being occupied by heaps of Herbert’s books. As Kieran reached the main floor, he heard Herbert arguing with some thugs that were trying to threaten Herbert into hiring them for the bodyguard position so they could plunder the city of its gold. Herbert argued back with them, saying he would never hire them; Kieran stepped in before the thugs could harm Herbert. Kieran quickly knocked out the thugs, then officially claimed the bodyguard position. Herbert mentioned his personal bodyguard and caretaker, Pierre, had gone to the City Hall to retrieve government funding for the exploration and the thugs had arrived soon after Pierre left. Kieran took the thugs into the basement, which he altered into an interrogation room; just as Kieran was going to start interrogating the thugs, an explosion sounded from upstairs. Kieran grabbed the thugs, and ran outside after making sure no one else was inside the burning house. Kieran found Herbert unconscious outside.

When he woke up, Herbert was not upset to see his house and books burned down, but instead was happy to see his theories were proven correct by the attempt on his life; Herbert claimed that Isogu had Guardians that, when someone was about to uncover the secrets of Isogu, would emerge to bury the secrets again. Kieran woke up the thugs, and started taunting them with the burned house, saying their employer did not care about their lives, and that Kieran had saved them by bringing them downstairs. The thugs finally started talking about who hired them. They revealed that Hook, the right-hand man of Chief Officer Calkin, had hired them to cause trouble for Herbert. Herbert said he had met Hook before, that he was the leader of a smuggling organization and they were on bad terms. Kieran started investigating the explosion, and found the tracks of the people who caused it, but they suddenly stopped with no clues on where they went or how they left without making any more tracks. Kieran told this to Herbert, and the Professor said that the Guardians of Isogu have flying abilities, which explained the missing tracks.

Soon, wagons containing a police officer and Herbert’s students, Harold, Cohen, and Joanna arrived. The police officer was Chief Officer Calkin, who asked to hear what happened; Kieran started explaining.

[Sub Mission Unlocked: The Troublesome Chief Officer]

[The Troublesome Chief Officer: Chief Officer Calkin has a bad reputation. Herbert does not like talking to a man like him, so he’s hoping that you can explain the situation to Calkin on his behalf. Try your best to get more information out of Calkin. This will affect your relationship with Herbert, Harold, Cohen and Joanna!] (Ch 240)

Kieran asked Calkin about his relationship with Hook, and Calkin was going to deny everything when Kieran used the [Half-Dead's Gaze]. Was able to resist the [Fear], but still took some damage; Kieran was about to use the ring on him again, when Calkin admitted to knowing Hook, and agreed to bring Hook to them. Herbert and the students were impressed with Kieran’s work, and as the students introduced themselves, Herbert started delegating tasks to set up a campsite as they still had three days until their departure.

[Sub Mission: The Troublesome Chief Officer (Completed)]

[Sub Mission Unlocked: Sifting Through Bodyguards!]

[Sifting Through Bodyguards: You’ve won Herbert’s trust, so he’s asked you to deal with one more matter. To repay the trust he has placed on you, you need to carefully sift through those who replied to the bodyguard recruitment ad. Be careful though! Some of them might have ill intentions!] (Ch 241)

That night, they had set up campfires and were eating dinner as Kieran watched Herbert work on his studies. Joanna asked Kieran about previous battles and Kieran asked Harold about Isogu’s history. As they talked, Calkin returned with news that Hook was dead. Kieran did not trust Calkin’s innocence in this incident, but left with the officer after ensuring that Joanna and Harold’s bodyguards were enough to ensure Herbert’s safety while he was gone. Kieran and Calkin rode in a luxurious carriage that was obviously outside of Calkin’s paygrade, while Calkin explained that he went to Hook’s hideout to find it abandoned. Calkin went to one of his source’s homes, to find both his source and Hook dead inside and compared their bodies to “blooming flowers”.

They arrived at the house, and the wagoner who opened their door for them had a horrifically burned face, with flesh that was falling apart. He attacked Kieran, and Kieran jumped out of the carriage as Calkin started mutating into a similar zombie-like monster. Kieran shot both the wagoner and Calkin dead. The game system implied that they were still alive, not some sort of undead creature, as they dissolved into a green bubbling goo. Some police officers, attracted by Kieran’s gunshots, approached, and Kieran hid and escaped towards Calkin’s source’s home. As Kieran approached the house, he saw another figure heading toward the same building, and Kieran followed the figure. Kieran followed them inside the house, which reeked of blood, and hid from the figure who was so large and bloated they had trouble walking through the hallway. The figure had a parcel in his possession, which Kieran was sure they didn’t have before entering the building. Kieran was about to attack the figure, when another person broke into the house through the ceiling, and stole the parcel from the figure. Kieran grabbed the parcel with the [Deceiver's Key], and checked the contents while the large figure attacked the man. The man returned quickly and demanded Kieran give him the parcel; Kieran obliged, as it only contained jewels and cash, things of no interest to him. After tossing the parcel to the man, Kieran saw inside the room where the smell of blood originated from and saw dozens of headless and limbless bodies being suspended in the air by meat hooks.

Kieran pulled out his gun, threatening the man, and the man similarly pulled out a sword, but before they could fight the blood on the floor started glowing green. The man threw aside his sword, and warned Kieran to run as they both fled the building. They escaped in time to avoid a giant explosion that destroyed the entire property and left a crater in the ground. Kieran returned to the building and recovered the still living bloated man, and escaped before the police arrived.

Kieran arrived back at the campsite and set the bloated man down before telling Herbert everything that had happened. The next morning, a group of fully armed people arrived at the campsite, which startled Joanna and Harold, but they were just people interested in the bodyguard position. Kieran had already tied up the still unconscious bloated man, and left the protection of Herbert to Harold. Kieran managed the mercenaries, after breaking the hand of an insubordinate man to assert his dominance over the group. Kieran finished his display of power by using [Dead-Man’s Gaze] on the group; everyone except for a red-haired woman carrying a large box, Contly, was affected. Kieran watched the candidates, as the sub mission indicated that some of the candidates would have ill-intentions, and Kieran noticed a few people acting suspiciously. Kieran ignored them, and had Bill and Cass, Joanna and Harold’s bodyguards, catalog the candidate’s weapons and administer some tests to speed up the selection process. Kieran saw the mercenaries split up into firearm users and sharp weapon users, and was suddenly reminded of Guntherson from [The Failed Great Detective], who was born in the age when the popularity of firearms overtook the popularity of swords, and Guntherson was left as the last living person from the age of shard weapons; Kieran was overwhelmed with empathy and pity for the life Guntherson had to live and wondered if he would have chosen death or a pitiful life.

The bloated man then woke up, scaring Joanna, and Kieran walked over with [Lightning Tiger’s Finger] gathering electricity onto his hand. The electricity scared the bloated man, who shrank back non-threateningly, and Kieran tried to communicate with him though the bloated man could only respond with grunts and shakes of his head. Herbert then stepped in, and successfully communicated with the bloated man after coaxing words out of him; Kieran realized his bloated tongue just made speaking difficult. Herbert gave the bloated man some food, and told Kieran that if he was wanting to do some information gathering, Kieran could ask Cohen to do it while he did his newspaper delivery job. Kieran asked Cohen to gather information in exchange for some combat training lessons later.

Kieran asked Herbert again about Calkin and the wagoner, who died into a pile of green goo, and Herbert theorized they were an ancient race called the Night Race who was supposedly eliminated by Neegor Dynasty armies 1,500 years ago. Kieran went back to the mercenaries where the selection process was happening, and noticed a commotion. Kieran felt malicious gazes, yet ignored them as he approached the scene. Kieran started attacking as he was attacked by three mercenaries who Kieran had already previously marked as ill-intended. They fired bullets and slashed a weapon at Kieran, which Kieran took head on, displaying his strong defense; Kieran shot a [Blade Kick] at the three mercenaries, killing them and revealing their green blood and deformed faces. Kieran wondered why the Night Race might be targeting Herbert, and concluded that,because of their resistance to sharp weapons, the Neegor Dynasty must have invented a weapon capable of fighting the Night Race, and the Race was trying to stop Herbert before he found this weapon. Kieran got the [Crushing Spiked Club] from the dead Night Race.

After the fight and Kieran’s display of strength, the number of candidates halved as they left after being intimidated by Kieran, allowing Bill and Cass to administer the tests even quicker. Eventually two passed; the red-haired bounty hunter Contly, and a middle-aged mercenary named Lorl. Kieran introduced them to Herbert, as the bloated man cowered in fear of Kieran, and Bill and Cass rested for the rest of the day. That night, Cohen and Pierre returned with wagons, horses, hounds, and other supplies. The whole camp was smitten with the well-trained hounds as Cohen told Kieran that he was unable to find any information, and said that the City Council wanted Herbert to leave for his expedition immediately or else they would take back their sponsorship. Kieran told Cohen and Pierre about the Night Race, and he theorized that there was someone with great power within the City Council that was a member of this race, who was wanting to save Night Race lives by having Herbert, Kieran, and everyone else leave quickly. Herbert was not upset, and gathered everyone to leave immediately.

Kieran walked in the front of the convoy, until he found himself covered in darkness, and he couldn’t hear the horses and carriages behind him anymore. Kieran was trying to see if he fell into an illusion when many skeletal hands grabbed his legs and bound him where he stood. Using [Tracking], Kieran could see a cannon a few meters away, which was clearly made specifically to kill Kieran. Kieran used [Reckless Rush] to escape from the hands and trampled over the unlit cannon and the people manning it. One Night Monster escaped, and was trying to run away from the Rhino mirage, when it resolved to kill Kieran along with itself; it started glowing with green flames, but Kieran backed off when the [Reckless Rush] ended and the Night Monster ended up exploding without Kieran in the blast zone. Kieran picked up the [Pitch Black Ring] and then heard gunshots, which led him back to the convoy. When he arrived, he saw a squad of people shooting at the convoy as Pierre defended, and Kieran decided to use this as an opportunity to test Contly and Lorl’s loyalty. Kieran was shocked to see that the traitor was not the two new bodyguards, but rather a kitchen maid and Harold’s wagoner, Bill. Kieran killed both of them before they could attack Pierre. The three students were shocked at Bill’s betrayal, especially Harold, but Pierre praised Herbert’s decision to recruit Kieran as Kieran used his [Infantry Spear] to slaughter Night Monsters.  Kieran dodged the explosions as they died, then returned to the convoy. Kieran, learning from Bill and the kitchen maid, requested they test every member of the convoy to see if there were any more Night Monsters among them.

[Sifting Through Bodyguards] was completed (Ch 253)

Now safe, Kieran continued to lead the convoy until they were close to Isogu City. they hadn’t been attacked since that night, and everyone was nervous that the Night Monsters were setting up a trap for them at Isogu. Contly suggested that someone scout out the city before the whole convoy entered to ensure their safety, which caused Kieran to grow suspicious of Contly, who had been silent for the whole journey until now. Kieran believed she was referring to himself when she said “someone”, but then she clarified that she wanted to be the one who scouted; Lorl requested to join the recon team also. Kieran and Pierre realized that their intention was not to scout, but to abandon the convoy as it looked like things were getting dangerous. Pierre was angry at them, but gave them permission to leave; the two quickly parted from the convoy. Herbert was not angry, saying he had no right to endanger someone’s life against their will. Herbert looked at Kieran, asking if he was willing to stay, and Kieran assured Herbert that he would not be abandoning the convoy, gaining everyone’s favour. Herbert, knowing the danger of the excavation, had Cass take the student back to one of the small villages they had passed through on their way to the city. The three students protested, but eventually agreed to leave when Herbert asked them to deliver a letter for him.

Kieran, Herbert, Pierre, and the bloated man continued with horses and light luggage as Cass left with the students and the carriages. Before the four of them went into the city though, Kieran did scout out the city as Cotly had suggested. As Kieran sneaked through the city, he saw several abandoned campsites, still filled with assorted supplies. After analyzing food that had been left half-eaten, Kieran concluded that the city had been abandoned a week ago; Kieran returned and learned from Herbert that 1,500 years ago, the Neegor Dynasty had also just suddenly vanished one day. Having proof that the Neegor Dynasty existed, Pierre tried convincing Herbert to end the excavation before it turned any more dangerous, but Herbert pressed on. Kieran theorized that the Night Race, knowing they cannot defeat Herbert’s convoy, escaped into Isogu with the intention of having Herbert lead them to the weapon they wanted to prevent Herbert from discovering.

[Sub Mission Unlocked: Finding the Lost Monument]

[Finding the Lost Monument: The Neegor Dynasty’s greatness was undeniable. The item left behind by them was enough to strike a chord in any being’s heart, including the Night Monsters’! The Night Monsters could not solve the riddle of the Neegor Dynasty, so they needed an expert! Herbert is the one. Help him find the lost mystical item!] (Ch 255)

Kieran then led them back to the abandoned campsite he had previously scouted, and they saw for themselves how it looked like everyone had just vanished. They took some supplies, and as they were about to enter the city, they saw a sign written in a juice that looked like blood that said “go back”. Herbert believed that it was written by the Guardians of Isogu City, and they continued despite the warning. They crossed through a forest, still not seeing anyone, and reached the entrance to Isogu City. Herbert explained that the whole city was a castle, palace, and a fortress at the same time, and gave a rough introduction to the city’s layout.

[Isogu City Exploration +1% through Herbert’s Narration]

[Main Mission: Explore at least 20% of Isogu City within 4 weeks, Completion 1%] (Ch 256)

As they walked and Herbert talked about the history of Isogu City, they heard a rattling sound and smelled a rotting stench. Pierre guided Herbert and the bloated man away as Kieran scouted; Kieran eventually saw a giant 50 meter-radius pit filled with rotting, skeletal corpses and hyenas that were feasting on the remains. Kieran realized the corpses were the missing gold miners, and also realized, after seeing them devoid of any flesh or organs, that the Night Monsters were predators of humans. The hyenas noticed Kieran and attacked; although they were much stronger than normal hyenas and were glowing green, Kieran killed them all with the [Infantry Spear]. Herbert asked Pierre to get some kerosene to burn the corpses as Kieran explained that he believed the Night Race used some sort of illusion or drug to control the miners, and this pit was intended to display their strength to Herbert. They set the pit on fire and prayed for the miners as it burned for hours.

As they continued into the city, Herbert explained the social classes, and they entered a mansion of a noble. Herbert took down notes, and they continued exploring the city. After a week, Kieran had explored 15% of Isogu, but they were no closer to finding the weapon. That night as they ate dinner, Kieran felt many gazes in the dark, but they were not attacked; this proved Kieran’s theory that the Night Monsters were waiting for Herbert to find the weapon for them. Then, Herbert soundlessly gestured to the group that he had successfully uncovered the location of the weapon. The next day, they continued exploring as usual to prevent the watchful Night Monsters from catching on to their discovery. They reached a Knight’s house that they had already previously visited, and opened a secret underground entrance within the house. The Night Monsters immediately caught on and were chasing after them, but Kieran used an explosive to block the entrance. When they were safe from falling rocks, Kieran and Pierre set up more explosives as a trap for if the Night Monsters tried digging up the buried passage they went through.

[Sub Mission: Find the Lost Monument (Completed)]

[Found the Lost Monument, Isogu City Exploration +3%]

[Main Mission: Explore at least 20% of Isogu City within 4 weeks, Completion 18%] (Ch 259)

Inside the Hall, Kieran saw a giant statue of an Eastern man sitting plainly. Kieran looked at it, and noticed the statue was looking up at the ceiling; Kieran followed its gaze and saw writing on the ceiling. Kiera was unable to read all of it, but what he could read spoke of fire, sorrow, and destruction. The explosive trap Kieran and Pierre set went off, showing the Night Monsters were near, and Pierre hurried Herbert to tell them where to blast their next tunnel. Herbert, who was in a daze when he comprehended the meaning of the runes, ordered Pierre to blow up the tablet the runes were written on, and he burned his own notes. Herbert revealed that the Night Monsters were in possession of the weapon all along; whichever human uses the weapon to kill Night Monsters will become a Night Monster themselves.

[Herbert elaborated on Isogu City’s secrets, Isogu City Exploration +3%]

[Main Mission: Explore at least 20% of Isogu City within 4 weeks, Completion 22.5%]

[Main Mission Completed!]

[Player will leave his fourth dungeon in 5 minutes…]

[Please take whatever items you wish to keep with you.]

[Note: Any items that exceed the maximum weight will be discarded!] (Ch 260)

Herbert and Pierre went to the statue, where Herbert learned there was a secret exit, but Kieran stayed in the hall with the excuse that he would sacrifice himself to stall the Night Monsters and protect Herbert, Pierre, and the bloated man as they escaped. The Night Monsters flooded the hall and surrounded Kieran as the Night Race Leader started taunting Kieran with how he would torture Kieran and Herbert. The Leader revealed a glowing rainbow crystal, saying it was his secret weapon that would allow him to take over both the Night Race and all humans. When Kieran saw the crystal, his mind was flooded with an overwhelming desire to own it.

As different desires, fears, and impulses consumed Kieran’s mind, a Creature of Desire was formed over Kieran’s head; it was a giant mass of limbs that came together with an eye in the center and had rows of chainsaw-like teeth that threatened to devour Kieran as he stood in a daze, staring intensely at the crystal. Impressed with the Creature of Desire that Kieran’s mind summoned, the Leader decided to spare Kieran’s life and instead turn him into a Night Monster. Creature of Desire inserted tubes into Kierans body to change his DNA into that of a Night Monster, but as it went deeper into Kieran’s body, the [Knights of Dawn Body Tempering Art] activated, resisting the change. Excited at the resistance, the Leader amplified the power of the crystal, until Contly attacked him.

The Leader, Bartos, easily blocked the Guardian Contly’s attack and injured her. Then Lorl used a special dagger to sever Bartos’s hand that was holding the crystal from his body; Lorl kicked the crystal away before Bartos could grab it with his other hand. The crystal was kicked toward the wall next to Kieran, and Bartos used his telekinesis to alter its destination to prevent it from shattering against the wall. The crystal then landed on Kieran’s chest, penetrating deep into his heart. [Knights of Dawn Body Tempering Art]  started working extremely hard to fight against the power of the crystal that was invading Kieran’s heart, and the intense pain finally woke Kieran from his daze.

The first thing Kieran saw when waking up was the giant Creature of Desire hovering over his head, which Kieran thought to be an illusion until he noticed the tubes penetrating into his body. He then noticed the crystal sticking out of his chest. The game’s battle log told Kieran that his [Knights of Dawn Body Tempering Art] had gone through an evolution through what he had been through, and Kieran was grateful that the skill had saved his life. Kieran also noticed his HP was low, so he used the [Scale of Blessing] to heal, though he could not prevent the continuous damage he was suffering from. When Kieran used the [Scale of Blessing], though, the rock skin that it grants covered his chest and the crystal, and the crystal started acting up again, trying to alter Kieran’s body and soul with more vigor. Fearing this, Kieran used three Golden Attribute Points on his Spirit until he couldn’t feel the effects of the crystal on his soul.

The consciousness within the [Tessirot’s Blessing], Tessirot’s soul, attacked the crystal and made the crystal vibrate, widening the wound and making blood gush out. The Creature of Desire blocked the attack with its body, and fused with the crystal to make a counter attack. Rainbow coloured arrows hit the black rock that Tessirot shot; the rock decreased in size form the arrows, but still had enough momentum to splinter the crystal when it hit. [Tessirot’s Blessing] fell apart when the rock that held its consciousness broke, and Kieran was left bare-chested, his chest wound exposed. The splintered crystal shards that fell to the ground dissolved in Kieran’s blood which was gushing onto the floor.

Bartos was very angry at this, and fought Lorl with the strength that this rage brought; Lorl was sent flying into the wall of the cave, and he was consumed by the collapsing rocks. Bartos, still angry, started choking Contly until he was interrupted with an explosion and was trampled by the [Reckless Charge] Rhino mirage. The [Lionheart]’s [Lion’s Courage] brought strength back to Contly, and she used the special dagger to cut off Bartos’s other hand. Kieran and Contly ran toward the secret exit by the statue as Kieran shot at and threw grenades at Bartos. Looking at the Battle Log, Kieran knew that his last grenade had killed Bartos. As he and Contly ran, he entered a treasure room and ran toward the golden coloured Legendary item, the [Arrogant Word] sword, and grabbed only the lightweight magical items [Piercing Dagger] and [Skeleton Ring], knowing his injured status would decrease his carrying capacity. When the [Lionheart] buff ended, Kieran went back to being Heavily Wounded, and he was horrified to see his chest wound rapidly crystalizing, covering his entire body.

[Fourth Dungeon: Ancient City Foreign Matter]

[Dungeon Type: Open World]

[Dungeon Difficulty: Average]

[Main Mission: Explore at least 20% of Isogu City within 4 weeks]

[Mission Completion: 100% (Rating: F)]

[Sub Mission 1: The Troublesome Chief Officer!]

[Mission Completion: 100% (Rating F → E)]

[Sub Mission 2: Sifting Through Bodyguards]

[Mission Completion: 100% (Rating E → D)]

[Sub Mission 3: Find the Lost Monument!]

[Mission Completion: 100% (Rating D → C)]

[Battle Performance: Very Active (Rating C → B)]

[Exploration Performance: Good]

[Special Rating 1: Herbert, Pierre, Harold, Cohen and Joanna survived (Rating B → A, Rep+1)]

[Special Rating 2: Eliminated the Night Race leader, Bartos (Rating A → S, Rep +1]

[Special Rating 3: Acquired the special Legendary item Eye of the Chimeras inside the dungeon, Rating increased greatly (Rating S → Z, Rep+3)]

[Acquired Title: The most essential natives of the dungeon world survived, You have acquired the title “Guardian”]

[Guardian: When equipped and protecting others, Defense +20%; You will be extra popular with anyone who is in need of protection!]

[Final Player Rating: Z!]

[Calculating Fourth Dungeon Rewards…]

[Final Fourth Dungeon Player Rewards are as follows…]

[Points: 30,000; Skill Points 20; Golden Skill Points: 2; Golden Attribute Points: 2]

[Acquired Special Dungeon: Primordial Invasion]

[Acquired Specific Dungeon Reward: Herbert’s Note]

[Player is Heavily Wounded, do you want to get healed up? Yes/No?]

[Heavy trauma detected around player’s heart area, Healing will cost 100,000 Points and 10 Golden Attribute Points…]

[Player has insufficient Points!]

[Player has insufficient Golden Attribute Points!]

[Player has special organ “Devil’s Heart’, Transplant available, Transplant will cost 50,000 Points and 5 Golden Attribute Points…]

[Player has insufficient Points!]

[Player has insufficient Golden Attribute Points!]

[Extra healing plan detected, Healing plan will cost 30,000 Points and 3 Golden Attribute Points…]

[Do you want to heal up? Yes/ No?] (Ch 264)

Kieran instantly said yes to the systems offer to heal him, as his entire body below the neck had been completely crystallized, but he was unable to afford most of the treatment plans. Finally he was able to afford the last one, and at his affirmation, the [Devil’s Heart] floated over to Kieran’s chest and entered through the wound after the crystal over it shattered. Kieran’s crystallized heart and the [Devil’s Heart] battled for dominance in Kieran’s body; the Creature of Desire formed, and a winged demon made of sulfuric fire also formed.

Kieran, immobilized within his lobby could only watch as the two monsters fought; but as he resented the feeling of helplessness, he fought against the crystal and fire that immobilized his body. As Kieran fought, the crystals dug into his flesh and the fire burned his skin and boiled his blood; Kieran was in agonizing pain but kept inching forward towards the system's healing light. As he moved, more bits of crystal splintered and broke off his body, until his neck was freed, and he very slowly raised his arm. Kieran could feel the consciousnesses within his legendary armours, the Rhino, Lion, and Primus the Crocodile, as they similarly fought against the crystal and fire. Kieran used [Primus Crunch], shattering the crystal on his arm, and reached inside his chest to squeeze the two hearts that were battling inside of him. As Kieran squeezed his two hearts, the Creature of Desire dissipated while the sulfuric demon turned to stone.

Kieran thought back to his overwhelming empathy toward Guntherson, and remembered how he thought of the last Knight as “the abandoned child of time”. Kieran remembered how he had given himself an ultimatum within the dungeon, to “die a glorious death, or live a pitiful life”, and in that moment Kieran chose death. At his resoluteness, the system’s green healing light shrouded Kieran and fused the two hearts within Kieran’s chest into one unique heart. (Ch 265)

## Fourth Dungeon: Ancient City Foreign Matter Received Items

[Name: Crushing Spiked Club]

[Type: Sharp Weapon (Heavy Arms)]

[Rarity: Magical]

[Attack: Strong]

[Attributes: Crushing Lvl1]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: Strength D, Sharp Weapon, Heavy Arms (Master)]

[Able to bring out of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: If you want to use this metal spiked club, you need to have both the technique and the strength to wield it!]

[Crushing: Lvl1: Able to crush Light Armor (Weak or Common Defense), inflicts a certain level of Damage to Medium Armor (Strong Defense)] (Ch 251)

[Name: Pitch Black Ring]

[Type: Accessory]

[Rank: Magical]

[Attack/ Defense: None]

[Attributes: Silent Darkness]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: None]

[Able to bring out of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: This is a replica of a great item!]

[Silent Darkness: Create supernatural darkness in a 50-meter radius from you, blocking any light sources and sounds, No Attack, twice per day] (Ch 253)

[Healing Completed!]

[Player 2567 has acquired Fusion Heart…]

[Fusion Heart will replace the original heart of the player…]

[Name: Fusion Heart]

[Type: Organ]

[Rarity: Above Epic]

[Attributes: 1. Devil Transformation, 2. Desire Summoning, 3. Backlash]

[Effects: 1. Fiery Sulphur, 2. Eye of Evil, 3. Body of Evil]

[Prerequisites: Constitution A, Spirit S]

[Remarks: This is a fusion organ fused with the heart of a human, the Demon Lord, and the Creature of Desire. Its power is indisputable. but so is its backlash. As the owner of this organ, you will not just need a powerful body, but you will also need a powerful will! The organ will grow stronger after your battles, but if you do not grow with it, you will become a puppet made of flesh and blood!]

[Devil Transformation: This power has been granted to you by your new heart. When activated, you will take the form of the Demon Lord, duration: one minute, one time per day]

[Desire Summoning: Your new heart has granted you control over the Creature of Desire. When activated, you can summon the Creature, duration: one minute, one time per day]

[Backlash: Your heart allowed you to survive, but it was the product of an accident, created before you could truly adapt to it. Every time you activate Devil Transformation or Desire Summoning, it will consume one Golden Skill Point per use]

[Fiery Sulphur: Burning flames will follow the lineage of the devil like a shadow. When you cast Fire Element Spells, +1 Elemental Damage, extra Sulphuric Poison will be added to the spell. Any requirements, such as gestures, incantations or materials of Fire Element Spells will be down to half. If the spell fails to be cast, you will only suffer a quarter of the Magic Repulsion]

[Eye of Evil: The Creature of Desire was rooted deep inside your heart. Summon Eye of Evil, formed by the Creature of Desire, to fight for you, duration: three minutes, two times per day]

[Body of Evil: The combination of the Devil and the Creature of Desire, also known as chaos and sin. 200 extra HP, Stamina, Medium Tensile Skin acquired (100 Damage from Strong or weaker attack absorbed), Medium Devil Skin ( 200 Damage from Strong or weaker attack absorbed, extra Defense against Fire and Explosions); When facing Holy Element Attacks, you will suffer 150% Damage, Special counter items will deal extra Damage to you (including but not limited to blessed objects, holy objects etc.)] (Ch 266)

[Name: Piercing Dagger]

[Type: Weapon]

[Rarity: Magical]

[Attack: Common]

[Attributes: Armor Penetration Lvl1]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: Strength F, Sharp Weapon, Dagger (Master)]

[Able to bring out of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: If you want to control this metal-crafted dagger, you will need both technique and strength!]

[Armor Penetration Lvl 1: Able to pierce through light armor (Weak or Common Defense)] (Ch 266)

[Name: Skeleton Ring]

[Type: Accessory]

[Rarity: Magical]

[Attack/Defense: None]

[Attributes: Dead Control]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: None]

[Able to bring out of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: This is a replica of a great item!]

[Dead Control: You are able to control one to three dead bodies at once and make them fight for you (the bodies’ attributes cannot surpass F+), duration: one minute, two times per day] (Ch 266)

[Name: Arrogant Word]

[Type: Sharp Weapon, Heavy Arms]

[Rarity: Legendary]

[Attack: Powerful]

[Attributes: 1. Arrogance, 2. Wildness]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: Strength B- Two-Handed (B+ Single-Handed) Sharp Weapon, Heavy Arms (Master)]

[Able to bring out of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: Arrogance will only understand the arrogant ones!]

[Arrogance: When the sword slashes at an enemy, +1 Strength or Agility for the next attack]

[Wildness: When facing an enemy twice your size, Stamina consumed -30%. When facing an enemy five times your size, Stamina consumed -60%. When facing an enemy 10 times your size, Stamina consumed -90%, Attack +1] (Ch 267)

## Fourth Dungeon: Ancient City Foreign Matter Learned Skills

[Knights of Dawn Body Tempering Art: Knight’s Focus, Baptism of Desire changed through concentration…]

[Knight’s Focus: Everyone has their own specialty, but not everyone can persevere; Spirit +1, Knight’s Persistence (When you persist regarding something, you are willing to sacrifice yourself in order to succeed; 200 HP ignited, +2 Levels in Spirit, duration: 1 second, no cooldown)] (Ch 262)