Resurrection Chapter 26 - Hyung, are you okay?

Dungeon 77 is commonly known as . The terrain was shrouded in thick fog, and the ground was filled with bottomless swamps, making it hard to walk.

Even so, among S-rank dungeons, this one had relatively good mobility. Most S-rank dungeons were either blazing infernos or blizzard-ravaged wastelands, where setting foot was a challenge in itself.

The Golden Emperor didn’t seem to like this dungeon much. He sent a message in a sour tone.

―The Golden Emperor complains about having to come here of all places.

I replied calmly, “I know Your Majesty isn’t fond of damp places, but we had no choice. You know why, don’t you?”

Recalling last night’s conversation with Min Gongchan, the Golden Emperor fell silent. I subtly prodded him. “Is what that Min Gongchan guy said really true?”

The Golden Emperor sent a message laced with a sigh.

―The Golden Emperor says he cannot judge whether the man’s words are true or false. However, he agrees that Seo Heesoo could potentially destroy the world. He warns that the power of Wolfhedin, who chose Seo Heesoo, is profoundly ominous and not much different from that of the Black King.

Without realizing it, I narrowed my eyes. “Heesoo hyung would save the world, not destroy it. That’s absurd.”

―The Golden Emperor points out that if you think so, there’s no need to dwell on Min Gongchan’s words.

“That’s true, but…”

―The Golden Emperor says damp places aren’t his taste and retreats, saying he’ll watch Dankflix instead.

“Dankflix? Don’t tell me you’re using my card for a subscription?”

The Golden Emperor didn’t respond. Guess he’s bored of just surfing the net. Dankflix? Isn’t that something old-timers watch for nostalgia?

Since it was better than him meddling in every fight, I decided not to begrudge the subscription. Instead, I tried mapping.

The fog made it uncertain if it would work. But wandering aimlessly in a place like this was a sure way to get lost.

Then, Heesoo hyung, who’d been slowly scanning the surroundings, spoke up. “I don’t think mapping is necessary.”

“Really?”

“For some reason, I don’t think we’ll get lost.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Thanks to Wolfhedin’s blessing, my senses are far sharper than before.”

“Even compared to when you were a holy warrior?”

“Yes.”

A glint sparkled in Heesoo hyung’s eyes as he said this. It was probably the passive skill .

He peered through the fog as if it were nothing, then suddenly looked at me, startled and flustered. “What?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just… anyway, I can see… I mean, I can see clearly.”

I tilted my head but figured he was still adjusting to his new abilities. “Then you lead the way?”

“I will.”

He hurriedly took the lead. I followed his steps.

For a while, the only sound was our boots sloshing through the mud. Soon, the ground gave way to a swampy area.

Seeing the cement-like mud, Heesoo hyung stopped. From here, magic seemed necessary.

“Feather.”

Whoosh!

I cast a spell to make our bodies light as feathers. We walked lightly over the mud, barely leaving footprints. Then, I noticed bubbles rising from the middle of the swamp.

Heesoo hyung immediately warned, “Monster!”

No sooner had he spoken than something massive surged from beneath.

“Grrrrr!”

It was a giant crocodile, its body the same gray as the swamp.

「Protosuchus ★: This massive creature lurking in the swamp has incredible patience. It can go without breathing for long periods, moving from swamp to swamp to stalk prey. In the swamp, it moves swiftly and wields dozens of segmented tails with precision, making it hard to shake off. Killing it is even harder, as its flexible yet tough hide protects its vitals. Once caught in its jaws, you’d better give up on surviving.」

Being lightened, we easily dodged the monster’s ambush by leaping upward. Thanks to Heesoo hyung’s timely warning.

But honestly, even without his warning, I’d anticipated the monster’s appearance. I even knew its type.

Because of last night.

Crack!

The crocodile that attacked us seemed intent on swallowing us whole. It surged from the swamp, jaws gaping wide enough to crunch a person like candy.

Failing its hunt, the beast twisted its massive body and sank back into the swamp. A sudden wave rippled as it vanished beneath the mud. Then, dozens of tails whipped toward us like lashes.

Swish!

They were less like whips and more like countless blades. They targeted us as we descended.

While Heesoo hyung deflected them, the Feather skill’s effect ended. I froze the swamp with magic.

“Frozen!”

Crackle!

A blast of cold turned the swamp into a solid ice sheet. The frozen tails momentarily stopped, and Heesoo hyung sliced several with his greatsword.

Clang!

But most tails broke through the ice and retreated beneath the swamp. On the cracked ice, I clicked my tongue. “It got away.”

“We didn’t kill it, so it’ll come after us if we move.”

I couldn’t respond to Heesoo hyung’s words. From the moment the giant crocodile appeared, my mind was filled with last night’s conversation with Min Gongchan.

“You’re planning to enter Dungeon 77 tomorrow, right?”

“Mind reader, huh? Got a bug in my house or hacked my phone?”

“When you go in, a Protosuchus will show up in the swamp. Looks like a giant crocodile. Don’t just watch its jaws—beware the tails. Unlike normal crocodiles, its tails move in dozens of precise segments, so don’t fight head-on. Its hide is tough, so even your magic sword won’t kill it in one hit. Freeze the swamp, and you can take it out easily.”

“What the…”

“Don’t let your guard down after dealing with it. Once it’s gone, frogs will show up.”

“Frogs?”

“Not regular frogs—obviously monsters, house-sized. They come in swarms with deafening croaks. If their bubbles trap you, you’re done. Hit them with lightning attacks before they surround you and get out.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“To prove my words, obviously.”

“You seem awfully familiar with Dungeon 77, but this alone won’t make me trust you.”

“Hear me out, go to the dungeon, then decide if you believe me.”

I shook my head to push away the memory. Noticing my odd behavior, Heesoo hyung called out, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“No way. I was just thinking of luring the crocodile.”

“That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“If it’s going to chase us anyway, we might as well deal with it now…”

“Something’s coming this way.”

I looked at Heesoo hyung, who pointed into the fog. A faint sound came from there. With a sinking feeling, I pricked up my ears.

“That sound…”

“Sounds like frog croaks.”

“Ribbit, ribbit.”

The distant frog croaks rapidly grew closer. It wasn’t the loud, cheerful sound of a summer stream. It was a painful, piercing noise, almost like a fear-inducing cry.

“Ribbit! Ribbit! Ribbit!”

With sound waves pushing through the fog, a frog the size of a large truck appeared. Its red body, speckled with black spots, marked it as a poison frog.

As if to prove it, it spewed bubbling foam from its body. At the same time, it leaped upward, lashing out its tongue.

Swish!

Heesoo hyung, with remarkable reflexes, sliced the tongue. The severed piece fell onto the frozen swamp, then shot up his body like lightning.

Heesoo hyung kicked and stomped the tongue fragment. Then, aiming his greatsword at the frog falling from above, he shouted, “Slash!”

His weathered greatsword suddenly gleamed sharply. With one swing, the frog, weighing nearly 10 tons, was sliced cleanly in two.

Splat!

Its innards spilled out neatly to both sides.

The frog was bisected right above us, yet not a drop of blood fell. Taking the chance, I prepared an area-of-effect spell and shouted the activation phrase. “Call Lightning!”

Boom!

A sudden thunderbolt tore through the fog, and the approaching frogs screamed. Those struck by lightning gave off an unpleasant smell, flipping over to show their white bellies. The few that escaped the spell’s range fled into the fog.