The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 206: Chapter 207: The Troll King’s Domain: High Trolls

The party continued deeper into the dungeon.

After the battle in the enormous arena, nobody spoke much.

The previous encounter had consumed a considerable amount of their stamina, even though the Trolls had ultimately been defeated without any serious casualties. The frontliners had several minor injuries, and the healers had already begun treating them while the others checked their weapons and remaining supplies.

Jang Hyuk-soo walked at the front of the formation, his expression serious as he continued studying the dungeon around them.

The deeper they went, the colder the environment became.

The stone walls gradually changed from the rough formations they had encountered earlier into something much more deliberate. Large sections of the corridor appeared to have been carved rather than naturally formed, and faint traces of mana could be felt running through the walls.

Ares noticed the change immediately.

’We’re getting close.’

He expanded his perception.

The flow of mana ahead was becoming considerably denser.

More importantly, there was a presence somewhere beyond the corridor.

A very powerful presence.

Ares narrowed his eyes.

’So this is where they’re hiding.’

Ji Won noticed his expression.

"Tae-ho, did you sense something?"

Ares glanced toward him.

"Yeah."

"The mana ahead is considerably denser than what we’ve encountered so far."

Ji Won’s expression became serious.

"You mean the boss?"

"Probably."

Jang Hyuk-soo overheard the conversation and slowed slightly.

"You sensed something?"

Ares nodded.

"There’s a powerful presence ahead."

Hyuk-soo looked toward the corridor.

"You can tell? That maybe the difference in ranks"

The Raid Leader’s expression hardened.

He immediately turned toward the party.

"Everyone, stay alert. We’ve already encountered several inconsistencies in this dungeon, so don’t assume the information provided by the Association is completely accurate."

They continued forward.

The corridor eventually became wider.

Then the walls opened into an enormous passage.

At the very end stood a massive door.

The entire structure was made from enormous slabs of dark stone reinforced with thick metal bands, while several ancient-looking symbols had been carved across its surface. Faint blue mana flowed through the markings, occasionally gathering around the center before disappearing again.

The door was enormous.

Even the Titan Guild’s strongest members looked small standing before it.

Hyuk-soo stopped.

"This should be it."

One of the A-Rank Awakeners approached the door.

"The boss room?"

"Most likely."

He placed his hand against the stone without pushing.

A faint vibration immediately traveled through the surface.

The Awakener pulled his hand away.

"There’s a considerable amount of mana behind it."

Another member looked toward Hyuk-soo.

"How much?"

"I can’t determine the exact amount."

The Awakener frowned.

"But it’s considerably stronger than anything we’ve encountered so far."

The party became silent.

Ji Won looked at the door.

"Could the boss really be that strong?"

Hyuk-soo didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked toward the rest of the party.

"We knew this dungeon wasn’t behaving normally."

He glanced at the massive door.

"If the information is correct, we’re supposed to find the Double-Headed Troll inside."

One of the A-Rank Awakeners shook his head.

"I don’t think that’s what we’re going to find."

"Why?"

"Because the monsters we’ve encountered so far were already stronger than their recorded classifications."

He tightened his grip around his weapon.

"If the same pattern continues, there’s a good chance the boss is stronger than what we were told."

Hyuk-soo nodded slowly.

"I agree."

He looked toward the door again.

"But we’ve come this far."

His voice remained firm.

"If we retreat now, the dungeon will remain uncleared, and if the stability threshold is reached, the consequences won’t be limited to the people inside this dungeon."

The party understood immediately.

If the A-Rank Gate collapsed, the monsters within it would be released into South Korea.

The surrounding cities would be exposed.

The number of casualties could become impossible to predict.

Hyuk-soo took a slow breath.

"We proceed carefully."

He looked at every member of the party.

"No unnecessary risks. Stay within formation, watch one another, and if the situation becomes impossible to control, we withdraw immediately."

The party nodded.

"Understood."

Ares remained silent.

He looked toward the massive door.

The presence behind it was becoming clearer.

’As I expected.’

Ares’ eyes narrowed.

He could already feel the pressure leaking through the stone.

Hyuk-soo stepped forward.

"Everyone ready?"

The party members raised their weapons.

The tank positioned his shield.

The mages began gathering mana.

The healer prepared her support spells.

Ji Won moved closer to the rear formation.

Ares remained beside him.

Hyuk-soo placed both hands against the massive door.

"Then let’s find out what’s waiting inside."

He pushed.

The enormous door began opening.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR...

The sound echoed through the corridor.

A wave of cold air swept outward.

The party immediately felt the difference.

The mana pressure beyond the door was enormous.

Hyuk-soo continued pushing until the opening became wide enough for the party to enter.

The chamber beyond was vast.

Far larger than the previous arena.

The ceiling disappeared into darkness.

Massive stone pillars extended upward along the sides, while the floor was covered with faint markings that formed enormous patterns beneath their feet.

And at the center of the chamber—

someone was waiting.

The party stopped.

Their expressions changed.

Ares’ eyes narrowed.

At the very center of the enormous chamber stood a massive figure.

A Troll.

But it was considerably larger than the Trolls they had fought before.

Its body was covered in thick gray-green skin, while enormous muscles stretched across its arms and chest. Several scars covered its body, and two massive horns curved upward from its head.

A gigantic weapon rested against one shoulder.

The Troll King.

And he wasn’t alone.

Dozens of Trolls stood behind him.

Then hundreds.

The entire chamber was filled with them.

But these weren’t ordinary Trolls.

Their bodies were larger.

Their mana was considerably denser.

Their physical presence was enough to make the entire chamber feel smaller.

High Trolls.

Hundreds of them.

The party froze.

One of the B-Rank warriors whispered,

"...There are too many."

Another stared across the chamber.

"Those aren’t ordinary Trolls."

His grip tightened around his weapon.

"High Trolls."

The Archer slowly lowered her bow.

"How many are there?"

Nobody answered.

There were simply too many to count at a glance.

Several hundred.

Maybe more.

Jang Hyuk-soo’s expression became grim.

"This wasn’t in the report."

One of the A-Rank Awakeners shook his head.

"No."

He stared at the army before them.

"There’s no way this was an ordinary boss chamber."

Ji Won’s face had gone pale.

"Tae-ho..."

Ares remained calm.

"Stay behind me if necessary."

Ji Won nodded.

"U-understood."

The party took several cautious steps into the chamber.

Then—

BOOOOOOM!

The massive door behind them suddenly slammed shut.

The sound echoed through the entire chamber.

Everyone turned.

The door was sealed.

Hyuk-soo immediately rushed toward it.

"Wait!"

He placed his hand against the stone.

Nothing happened.

He tried pushing.

The door didn’t move.

Several others joined him.

"Can you open it?"

"No."

Hyuk-soo’s expression hardened.

"Then we’re trapped."

The party slowly turned back toward the chamber.

The High Trolls had not moved.

Neither had the Troll King.

They were simply watching.

Smiling.

The sight was unsettling.

One of the B-Rank warriors swallowed.

"They’re..."

His voice trembled.

"They’re smiling."

Another member stared at the creatures.

"Why aren’t they attacking?"

Nobody knew.

The Troll King remained motionless at the center of the chamber.

His enormous mouth slowly curved upward.

Then—

he laughed.

A deep, guttural sound echoed throughout the room.

"GRRRR... HAHAHAHAHA..."

The sound alone sent a chill through the party.

The High Trolls slowly raised their heads.

Then their mana erupted.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The entire chamber shook.

The pressure was overwhelming.

A violent wave of mana spread outward from hundreds of High Trolls simultaneously.

The party members immediately felt their bodies become heavy.

Several B-Rank warriors staggered.

The Archer nearly dropped her bow.

One of the Mages took a step backward.

"What... is this pressure?"

Her voice trembled.

The Healer’s face became pale.

"I can barely breathe."

The Tank planted his shield against the ground.

"Everyone, stay together!"

His arms were trembling.

The A-Rank Awakeners struggled to maintain their footing.

Even they could feel the difference.

This wasn’t the pressure of ordinary A-Rank monsters.

There were hundreds of High Trolls releasing their mana simultaneously.

And behind them stood the Troll King.

His presence alone was heavier than all the others.

One of the A-Rank Awakeners gritted his teeth.

"Those creatures..."

He stared across the chamber.

"How can there be this many?"

Another A-Rank member swallowed.

"We can’t fight all of them."

The mage’s breathing became increasingly unstable.

"Even if we defeat some, there are too many."

The healer looked toward Hyuk-soo.

"Raid Leader..."

Her voice trembled.

"Should we retreat?"

Hyuk-soo looked toward the sealed door.

Then toward the hundreds of High Trolls.

His expression was grim.

"We can’t."

"Why?"

"Didn’t you see? The door is sealed."

He tightened his grip around his weapon.

Silence.

The Trolls continued staring at them.

Ji Won’s hands had begun trembling.

And an entire dungeon capable of collapsing into South Korea if they failed.

Ji Won swallowed hard.

’I’m scared.’

His eyes moved toward Ares.

The fear didn’t disappear.

But it became easier to breathe.

Because Tae-ho was there.

He had seen things that should have been impossible.

He had watched Ares defeat monsters far beyond his supposed rank.

And no matter how dangerous the situation became, Ares had never shown fear.

Ji Won clenched his fists.

’If Tae-ho is here...’

He took a slow breath.

’...then maybe everything will be alright.’

Back at the front of the formation, Hyuk-soo raised his weapon.

The pressure continued increasing.

The High Trolls began growling.

The Troll King slowly lifted its massive weapon.

Hyuk-soo looked at his party.

Everyone was afraid.

He could see it.

Even the A-Rank Awakeners had become tense.

But he couldn’t allow panic to take control.

"Listen to me."

His voice remained firm.

"If this dungeon collapses, these creatures won’t remain here."

Everyone looked toward him.

"They’ll come out."

Hyuk-soo tightened his grip.

"And if even a portion of this army reaches the surface, South Korea will suffer catastrophic casualties."

The party became silent.

He continued.

"That is why we cannot afford to lose our heads."

His eyes moved across every member.

"We’re Titan Guild."

His voice became stronger.

"We were chosen because we’re capable of handling situations other parties cannot."

He raised his weapon.

"So whatever happens next, we fight together."

The party members slowly tightened their grips.

Nobody looked confident.

Nobody looked fearless.

But they stopped backing away.

The High Trolls continued smiling.

The Troll King watched them.

And somewhere behind the formation, Ares remained completely calm.

’As I expected.’

His eyes narrowed.

’This dungeon was never designed for an ordinary A-Rank party.’

The pressure continued rising.

The Troll King slowly opened its mouth.

A deep roar began building inside its chest.

And the entire chamber waited for what would happen next.

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