The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 208: Chapter 209: The Undying Trolls

Several rings unfolded around the central sensor.

Data began appearing across the display.

The technicians immediately began examining the readings, comparing them with the information collected from the Gate before the Titan Guild’s subjugation operation had begun.

One of them suddenly frowned.

"Director."

Seung-ho approached.

"What did you find?"

The technician pointed toward the dimensional projection.

"The Gate’s external structure is normal."

Seung-ho’s expression remained serious.

"Then why was I rejected?"

The technician hesitated.

"That’s the problem."

He enlarged the projection.

"The dimensional connection itself is being obstructed."

Seung-ho’s eyes narrowed.

"Obstructed?"

"Yes."

"By what?"

"We don’t know yet."

The technician adjusted the analyzer again.

"The obstruction doesn’t appear to be part of the Gate’s natural structure. It’s actively interfering with the connection between the interior and the outside."

Seung-ho stared at the readings.

"Can you determine where it’s coming from?"

The technician ran another scan.

Several distorted readings appeared across the display.

His expression changed.

"From inside."

Seung-ho’s eyes hardened.

"Inside the dungeon?"

"Yes."

He pointed toward the readings.

"Something inside is preventing the dimensional connection from functioning properly."

Seung-ho remained silent.

That was far more serious than a simple Gate fluctuation.

The dungeon itself was already abnormal.

It wasn’t a normal A-Rank dungeon.

The Titan Guild had entered specifically because the Gate had been classified as an exceptionally dangerous A-Rank dungeon, and the subjugation force had been assembled accordingly.

Yet now something inside was actively interfering with the connection between the dungeon and the outside world.

Seung-ho’s expression became colder.

"Can we establish another connection?"

"No."

"Can we force one?"

The technician immediately shook his head.

"We don’t recommend it."

"Why?"

"If something inside is deliberately obstructing the dimensional connection, forcing it open could trigger an unpredictable reaction."

He looked at the readings.

"The Gate’s structure could destabilize."

Seung-ho’s gaze returned to the Gate.

He didn’t waste another second.

"Connect me to the Titan Guild."

The assistant immediately reached for the communication device.

"Yes, Director."

The secure connection was established within seconds.

A voice answered.

"This is Park Tae-hyun."

Seung-ho spoke immediately.

"Guild Master Park."

"Director Han, why did you call?."

"There has been an abnormal development with the Gate."

Park Tae-hyun’s tone became serious.

"What happened?"

"The dimensional connection is being blocked."

There was a brief silence.

"Blocked?"

"Yes."

Seung-ho looked toward the analyzer.

"The Gate’s external structure remains intact, but something inside the dungeon is actively interfering with the connection."

Park Tae-hyun’s voice became heavier.

"Can you determine what it is?"

"No."

Seung-ho answered without hesitation.

"But it’s not a normal Gate phenomenon."

He looked toward the blackened electrical traces moving across the surface.

"Something is preventing the outside world from establishing a connection with the interior."

Park Tae-hyun remained silent for a moment.

Then he asked,

"Can you open the Gate?"

"No."

Seung-ho’s expression hardened.

"I attempted to make contact myself."

He looked at his hand.

"The Gate rejected me."

The silence on the other end became heavier.

"Rejected you?"

"Yes."

Seung-ho continued.

"And considering the nature of this dungeon, I don’t think we should attempt to force our way inside."

Park Tae-hyun’s tone became firm.

"How long has this been happening?"

"Only recently."

Seung-ho looked toward the technicians.

"But the obstruction is already strong enough that we cannot establish a dimensional connection."

Another silence followed.

Park Tae-hyun finally spoke.

"How is the team inside?"

"We don’t know."

Seung-ho’s expression became serious.

"We’ve lost external access."

The Guild Master didn’t answer immediately.

Then his voice came through clearly.

"Understood."

A pause.

"I’m coming personally."

Seung-ho nodded.

"How long?"

"Approximately twenty minutes."

"Come as quickly as you can."

"I will."

The communication ended.

The assistant looked toward Seung-ho.

"Guild Master Park is coming."

"Yes."

Seung-ho turned back toward the Gate.

The faint electricity continued crawling across its surface.

TZZZT...

His expression remained grim.

"This isn’t normal."

He looked toward the technicians.

"Keep monitoring the Gate."

"Yes, Director."

"Understood."

Seung-ho stared at the Gate.

The Titan Guild’s strongest personnel were still inside.

And whatever was blocking the Gate was doing so from within.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Inside the dungeon, the battle had reached a critical point.

The Troll King remained at the center of the enormous chamber, surrounded by the countless High Trolls that had completely sealed every possible route toward it. Its enormous body radiated an oppressive aura, and the sheer pressure coming from its presence was enough to make even the A-Rank members of the Titan Guild hesitate before advancing.

Jang Hyuk-soo tightened his grip around his sword.

"We’ll create an opening."

He looked toward the mages.

"Focus your attacks on the High Trolls directly in front of us. Don’t waste your mana trying to damage the Troll King from this distance. We need a clear path for the frontliners."

Chae Soo-ah nodded.

"Understood."

Joo Min-ho raised his staff.

"I’ll concentrate the first attack on the center."

Yoo Ha-rin stepped farther to the side.

"I’ll cover the right flank."

The three mages began gathering mana simultaneously.

The temperature within the chamber changed.

Fire gathered around Min-ho’s staff.

Ice formed around Soo-ah’s hands.

Lightning crackled between Ha-rin’s fingers.

The High Trolls immediately noticed.

Several of them roared and began moving forward.

"Now!"

Min-ho released his spell.

"Inferno Breaker!"

A massive wave of fire tore across the chamber.

At the same moment, Soo-ah released a freezing blast that spread across the ground, while Ha-rin fired a concentrated spear of lightning through the center of the flames.

The three attacks collided with the front ranks of High Trolls.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The chamber shook violently.

Fire swallowed the battlefield.

Ice spread across the stone floor.

Lightning tore through the smoke.

For several seconds, the path ahead was completely obscured.

Jang Hyuk-soo immediately raised his sword.

"Advance!"

The frontliners moved.

Seo Kang-ho charged first with his shield raised, followed closely by Nam Tae-jin and Jang Hyuk-soo. The B-Rank warriors followed behind them, attacking anything that attempted to close the newly created opening.

The first High Troll emerged from the flames.

Jang Hyuk-soo’s sword struck its chest.

SHRAK!

The blade opened a deep wound.

Nam Tae-jin immediately followed with a powerful punch that sent the creature crashing backward.

BOOM!

Another High Troll rushed forward.

Seo Kang-ho intercepted it with his shield.

CLAAAAANG!

The impact shook his entire body.

He pushed forward.

"Move!"

The B-Rank warriors attacked from both sides.

One spear pierced through the High Troll’s shoulder.

Another weapon struck its knee.

The creature staggered.

Jang Hyuk-soo stepped inside its guard.

His sword flashed.

SHING!

The High Troll’s head was severed.

It collapsed.

"Keep going!"

The party advanced.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though their strategy was working.

They were cutting through the High Trolls one after another.

The mages continued attacking from behind, creating openings whenever the monsters attempted to surround the frontliners.

The A-Rank Supporter continuously reinforced the party, increasing their speed, strength, and resistance against the overwhelming aura.

Yet the deeper they advanced, the more difficult it became.

There were simply too many.

Every High Troll they defeated was replaced by another.

Jang Hyuk-soo finally saw the opening he had been waiting for.

"The boss!"

He pointed toward the Troll King.

"Push through!"

The frontliners attacked with everything they had.

Nam Tae-jin struck one High Troll across the face.

BOOM!

Seo Kang-ho drove another backward with his shield.

Jang Hyuk-soo cut through the next.

The B-Rank warriors followed immediately behind them.

They finally reached the outer edge of the Troll King’s position.

Jang Hyuk-soo raised his sword.

"Everyone!"

He took a deep breath.

"Attack together!"

Five A-Rank Awakeners moved at once.

The Supporter strengthened them.

The Mages released their strongest spells.

The Assassin moved toward the flank.

The entire party attacked the Troll King simultaneously.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The chamber disappeared beneath a storm of fire, ice, lightning, steel, and overwhelming physical force.

For several seconds, nobody could see the Troll King.

Then the smoke began to clear.

Everyone stared.

The Troll King was still standing.

Its enormous body was covered in wounds.

Blood ran down its torso.

Several pieces of its armor had been destroyed.

But the wounds were already closing.

The flesh knitted itself together.

The broken skin regenerated.

The Troll King slowly raised its head.

Then it smiled.

A deep, guttural laugh echoed through the chamber.

The party froze.

Joo Min-ho’s expression became pale.

"Is..."

He swallowed.

"Is it laughing at us?"

Yoo Ha-rin stared at the creature.

The Troll King laughed again.

The sound reverberated through the chamber.

It wasn’t simply amusement.

It was mockery.

The monster had endured everything they had thrown at it and was now looking at them as though their strongest attack had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Chae Soo-ah’s fingers tightened around her staff.

"That’s impossible."

She looked toward the wounds that had already disappeared.

"We hit it with everything."

Nam Tae-jin’s breathing became heavier.

"And it didn’t even fall."

The Troll King slowly lifted its enormous weapon.

Its aura expanded.

The entire chamber seemed to become heavier.

The High Trolls surrounding them began roaring.

Their bodies radiated an even more intense pressure.

Jang Hyuk-soo’s expression became grim.

"Everyone, don’t panic."

He raised his sword.

"We still have a way forward."

One of the B-Rank warriors looked at him.

"Captain..."

His voice trembled.

"Do we?"

Jang Hyuk-soo remained silent for a moment.

The Troll King took one step forward.

BOOM.

The stone beneath its foot cracked.

Another step.

BOOM.

The pressure increased.

The party instinctively stepped backward.

Jang Hyuk-soo gritted his teeth.

"Yes."

His voice was firm despite the fear visible in his eyes.

"We only need to kill the boss."

Another member stared at the surrounding High Trolls.

"But how are we supposed to reach it?"

He pointed toward the monsters blocking every route.

"There are too many."

Another B-Rank Awakener swallowed hard.

"And those aren’t ordinary Trolls."

He looked toward the enormous creatures surrounding them.

"Those are High Trolls."

Jang Hyuk-soo’s expression tightened.

"I know."

The party regrouped.

They formed a defensive circle, with the five A-Rank Awakeners standing toward the outside while the B-Rank members, Mages, Supporter, and Assassin remained inside the formation.

Their weapons were pointed outward.

The High Trolls surrounded them.

The Troll King remained behind its subordinates.

It didn’t attack.

It simply watched.

And then it laughed again.

Joo Min-ho’s hands began trembling.

"It’s laughing at us."

Nobody contradicted him.

They could all feel it.

The Troll King wasn’t treating them like opponents.

It was treating them like prey.

Chae Soo-ah’s breathing became unsteady.

"How are we supposed to fight something like that?"

Yoo Ha-rin looked toward the enormous monster.

"We can’t even hurt it properly."

Nam Tae-jin clenched his fists.

"We’re all A-Rank."

His voice became quieter.

"Even with all our strength..."

He looked toward the Troll King.

"...we can’t kill it."

The realization spread through the formation.

They had been fighting at their absolute limits.

They had coordinated every attack.

They had used their strongest abilities.

And yet the Troll King remained completely unharmed in any meaningful sense.

Jang Hyuk-soo looked around at his party.

For the first time, there was genuine fear in his eyes.

"Stay together."

He tightened his grip.

"If we lose the formation, we’ll be killed."

The High Trolls slowly began moving closer.

Their enormous bodies blocked every possible route.

The Troll King watched them from behind.

Another laugh escaped its throat.

The sound seemed to echo endlessly.

Ares stood at the center of the formation with Ji Won.

He had been watching everything quietly.

The party had done everything correctly.

They had attacked efficiently.

They had maintained their formation.

They had used their abilities intelligently.

But none of it mattered against this overwhelming difference in power.

Ares sighed softly.

"It can’t be helped."

Ji Won glanced toward him.

"Tae-ho?"

Ares looked toward Jang Hyuk-soo.

The Raid Leader was still holding his sword, trying to keep the others calm despite the fear spreading through the party.

Ares stepped forward.

"Captain."

Jang Hyuk-soo turned.

"Yoon Tae-ho?"

Ares looked at the Troll King.

"Would it be alright if I interfered?"

Several members immediately looked toward him.

Jang Hyuk-soo’s expression changed.

"What?"

Ares continued calmly.

"I think I can help."

Jang Hyuk-soo shook his head.

"You’re an E-Rank Healer."

His voice was serious rather than dismissive.

"A single attack from one of these High Trolls could kill you."

He glanced toward the monsters surrounding them.

"Don’t take unnecessary risks."

Ares remained calm.

"I understand."

Jang Hyuk-soo frowned.

"Then stay behind the formation. We’ll find another way."

Ares looked toward the Troll King.

"I’d prefer to deal with it myself."

The party stared at him.

Ji Won’s expression became tense.

"Tae-ho..."

Ares glanced at him.

"Don’t worry."

Ji Won swallowed.

"Are you sure you’ll be fine?"

Ares smiled faintly.

"Yes."

He looked around at the countless High Trolls.

"Just leave it to me."

Jang Hyuk-soo stared at him.

"What exactly do you mean?"

Ares reached toward his side.

Darkness began gathering around his hand.

Ji Won’s eyes widened.

Ares looked at him.

"Don’t tell me you’re going to summon that one."

Ares shook his head.

"No."

The darkness condensed.

A black blade slowly emerged from the shadows.

The surrounding light seemed to disappear as the weapon took shape.

The Eclipse Devourer appeared in Ares’ hand.

Ares looked down at the blade for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Just watch."

Before anyone could respond—

Ares disappeared.

He vanished from the center of the formation.

The nearest High Troll barely had time to turn its head.

SHING!

A black line appeared across its neck.

Its head separated from its body.

Ares was already gone.

Another High Troll turned.

Too late.

SHRAK!

Its chest opened.

Another.

SHING!

Another.

SHRAK!

Ares moved through the formation of High Trolls like a shadow.

The monsters attempted to attack him.

They couldn’t.

His movements were simply too fast.

One High Troll raised its weapon.

Ares appeared behind it.

The Eclipse Devourer passed through its neck.

Another attempted to strike from the side.

Ares stepped beneath its arm.

His sword flashed upward.

The creature collapsed.

The party members could barely follow his movements.

All they could see were flashes of black light and enormous bodies falling one after another.

"What..."

Joo Min-ho stared.

"Impossible..."

Chae Soo-ah’s eyes widened.

"How can he move like that?"

Yoo Ha-rin looked toward Ji Won.

"I thought he was an E-Rank Healer."

Nam Tae-jin’s expression had completely changed.

"He’s been hiding his strength from the beginning."

Jang Hyuk-soo stared at Ares.

His grip around his sword loosened slightly.

"Such power..."

Ares continued moving.

One High Troll.

Then another.

Then another.

The battlefield became filled with falling bodies.

Within moments, the enormous formation of High Trolls surrounding the party had been reduced to scattered corpses.

Ares stopped.

He stood among them with the Eclipse Devourer resting casually at his side.

Silence filled the chamber.

The Troll King remained still.

For the first time, the smile had disappeared from its face.

Its eyes stared directly at Ares.

A low growl escaped its throat.

"Grrrrrrrr..."

The sound was deeper than before.

The Troll King slowly tightened its grip around its enormous weapon.

Ares looked at it.

Then—

The Troll King roared.

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

A violent aura exploded from its body.

The chamber shook.

The corpses of the fallen High Trolls suddenly began moving.

Ji Won’s eyes widened.

"W-what?"

One of the High Trolls twitched.

Then another.

Their wounds began closing.

Severed heads returned to their bodies.

Broken bones reformed.

The dead monsters slowly pushed themselves back onto their feet.

Joo Min-ho stared in disbelief.

"They’re..."

He couldn’t finish.

Chae Soo-ah’s voice trembled.

"They’re reviving."

Another High Troll stood.

Then another.

Within seconds, the monsters Ares had just killed were once again standing around them.

Ji Won’s face went pale.

"Impossible..."

He stared at the High Trolls.

"How can that monster do that?"

Jang Hyuk-soo’s expression became rigid.

"Is this really the power of a Troll King?"

He looked toward the enormous boss.

"That isn’t just an ordinary S-Rank..."

The Troll King roared again.

The revived High Trolls surrounded the party once more.

Ares appeared beside them.

Jang Hyuk-soo immediately turned toward him.

"Yoon Tae-ho!"

Ares looked at him.

"How did you do that?"

Another member stared at him.

"I thought you were an E-Rank."

Ares raised the Eclipse Devourer slightly.

"Save the questions for later."

He looked toward the High Trolls.

"These creatures will continue reviving as long as the Troll King remains alive."

The party members stared at him.

"So even if we kill them..."

"Exactly."

Ares nodded.

"They’ll return."

He looked toward the Troll King.

"As long as the boss remains alive, these High Trolls will keep coming back."

The realization made the situation even worse.

Jang Hyuk-soo tightened his grip around his sword.

"Then we have to reach the boss."

Ares nodded.

"Yes."

He looked around the chamber.

’I could kill all of them with a single strike.’

His eyes moved across the terrified party.

’But with all these people watching, I can’t do that.’

’If I erase the entire battlefield in one attack, they’ll realize immediately that I’m far beyond anything an E-Rank Awakener should be capable of.’

Ares lowered the Eclipse Devourer slightly.

’I’ll have to deal with this carefully.’

The Troll King raised its weapon.

The revived High Trolls roared.

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