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System Error: The Imp Who Shouldn’t Exist (Web Novel) - Chapter 62: Den Below
Chapter 62: Den Below
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
Chapter 62: Den Below
The stink hit first. Humans.
Azakh-Turs thoughts lashed through the Brood Link, ordering Pain, Panic, and Snare to keep feeding. His body had knitted itself whole, Demonic Will long spent, but the blood still caked him thick, skin steaming, scars raw. A grotesque sight for the intruders now staring at him.Boss! Stay still, Ill heal you right
Why did you disobey me?
His voice cracked across the cavern, low and edged. Lynn froze, the glow fading from her palm as her hand faltered. John avoided his gaze, eyes sweeping the walls instead.
After waiting a while, we we thought to explore. There was a chest, so we
Johns elbow cut her off.
So I thought it best to find you. That way you can claim it before the dungeon ends.
Azakh-Turs brow tightened.
Why didnt you take it yourselves?
John answered, his memory of the sight still crawled up and down his spine.
Its in an Elderwarren den."
That, at least, made sense. His irritation simmered, but not enough to kill them. Not yet. Loot mattered. Chests werent bound to the Network; every dungeon spat out its own kind of spoils. Treasure chest was just the name slapped on them.
You chose correctly. Wait here while i finish my task.
[Recommendation: User should evaluate performance metrics.]
'Fuck off. Still getting used to this human shit.'
He glanced over his shoulder, bloodlight flaring around him...screeches answered. Wet, tearing sounds rising from the broods feast. Lynn flinched, John stiffened.
Don't be scared. They're my summons.
He turned back to where the Scorchclaws had been guarding, the pile of twisted railcars scorched black. His final reward...
But his prize, what had drawn the party of humans there in the first place, was gone.
Where is it? Where's the Fae-fire?
Lynns head jerked.
Fae-fire?! Here?!
It was.
His temples bulged, veins black under his skin. The floating ember that had anchored the Sentinelsvanished.
Fae-fires not just flame. Its half alive. If you dont claim it right after killing the Sentinels, it flees. Surprised you didnt know that.
Lynn gestured at the smoldering heaps of bear flesh, her voice too steady, her eyes too level. Azakh-Tur didnt like it. She stared into his demon shape without flinching, speaking as if they were equals.
Thats what subordinates are for.
The brood skittered over. Pain lumbered, Panic hopped, Snare was shoved, tripped, tail-yankedlowest rung made clear.
'Did we know that?'
[Affirmative. Data present in Wohan Seo-jins memory.]
'And you didnt share?'
From his chest Grimm drifted out, glow dimmed, eye sockets fixed uneasily on the humans.
[System assumed User had full memory access. Adjusting log: memory access remains partial. Future clarification protocols will be updated.]
Azakh-Tur narrowed his eyes. The system sounded almost compliant. Too soft. Too careful. Lately, it had gone quiet more often, and that wasnt comfortit was a warning.
He shelved it for later. Survival mattered now.
He turned to the brood.
When we reach the main tunnelshide. Move only when I command.
They grinned and growled in unison, dripping gore from their jaws.
Now, tell me about this treasure.
Lynn lit up, bouncing closer at his side. Her voice carried a sharp edge of excitement as she began to explain.
The tunnel at the top of the waterfall had broken off into a side branch, after a few dozen feet, the stone floor caved in to reveal a pit beneath. An Elderwarren den spread wide below, and at the back of it, bones lay heaped, feces piled. And sprouting among the decay, glowing pale against the rot, was a clutch of Deathcaps. Rare. Valuable. Worth blood.
As her story unfolded, his body shifted with each step, flesh folding, bone reshaping.
[Minor Shifting // Activated]
[Slot 2 // Wohan Seo-jin]
The demon peeled away, leaving the man to walk beside her.
The Twinback Growths ripped free with low, guttural screams before settling against his spine. Their wet croaks echoed in the cavern, cutting off only when the flesh set into place.
Lynns cheeks flushed red. Even in the shadow of blood and ruin, she stared openly at the body now walking beside her...human skin stretched over a frame that wasnt quite human, but something more.
B-boss I thought you might want these.
John unshouldered a pack, dragging it to his front. He pulled free folded clothes, spotted and stiff with blood. The stench carried their sourceraided off his dead former allies.
He earned points for that. Seo-jin smirked.
Not a bad start.
Johns grin was sharp, proud.
Without hesitation, Seo-jin stripped the ruined trousers from his body. System light consumed the scraps of cloth as they hit the ground. John looked away quick. Lynn didnt.
Her eyes locked on him, breath caught, face burning red.
So big
She almost reached for it before she stopped herself.
Jeans went on. Black shirt pulled tight, pocked with small tears. The twinback growths twitched in annoyance at being covered, hissing faintly until he forced them into sleep. Better hidden than questioned...for now.
The return trip was clean. The tunnels had already been cleared, nothing left to slow them down. The brood clung to the ceiling overhead, silent, unseen. John and Lynn kept glancing up, uneasy. Monsters shouldnt move that quiet.
They made it there easy, headed deeper, and stood over the ledge that overlooked the den below. He motioned the brood back, keeping only Lynn at his side. Better not to test how sharp the Elderwarren noses really were.
Her whisper broke the dark.
There. At the back.
He followed her hand. Black soil, bone piles, slick stoneand there, clustered low, glowing faint gray. Deathcaps.
Ever eaten one?
The casual question made her flush, but she answered.
Wouldn't dare. Got stuck in a dungeon once, years ago. Two parties tore each other apart over a patch. Couple of them ate a capone grew twice his size and butchered the other group.
And the other?
Exploded.
He grunted.
Useful either way.
Eight caps. Thick-stemmed, broad-crowned, toxic with promise. Seo-jins memories uncoiled with some effort, dragging the details across his mind. An A-rank resource. A single cap could bankroll his entire gang for a month. Alchemists bled for them, mages desired them for spell reagents. Direct consumption was the gamble, miracle or death. Rarely used raw unless desperation left no choice.
Eight caps meant something. This den was old. Large. The bones alone spoke to years of feeding. He counted rows of small shapes, then stopped. Too many.
'How many?'
[Thirteen adults. Three hundred forty-five kits. Significant power source detected in central burrow.]
His teeth clicked.
That would be the Matriarch. This is the boss room. You did better than I thought.
Ignoring her gushing reaction, he looked her over for a moment.
Whats your cap?
He didnt bother with tact. She didnt bother pretending to care.
B. I can share my profile
Her panel flared open, finger hovering to confirm before his voice cut her flat.
No need. Have you unlocked your class tree?
This time the flush wasnt hormonesit was shame.
Not yet.
His brows knotted.
Your stats are sitting at E. If your shards B-rank, you shouldve already cracked your tree. Unless
His tone sharpened.
Youve been potting.
Her eyes flicked, caught.
If I wasnt at least E-rank, the Dead Hands wouldnt tak me. I couldnt risk solo runs, and no woman parties without a backer. I had no choice. But since joiningI swearI havent touched a pot.
Her voice stayed low, but the strain was carved into it. Everyone knew the truth of pot-leveling: hollow gains. Shards dulled. Classes stunted. Power that grew crooked, slower, weaker. And usually reserved for the rich.
He let it hang, then dismissed it.
As long as you prove useful, I dont care how you do it. Wait here.
Leaving her stunned, he turned and headed back toward John and the brood. He found the man looking one breath from collapseuntil Seo-jins eyes met his. Relief lit his face like hed just been spared the axe.
Panic. Stop licking him.
The broodling whined, dragging his tongue back as John wiped his bald head with a sleeve. Snare shook his skull at his brother, then stepped forward.
Do you need us, Broodfather?
A smile cut across his face, anticipation stirring in his chest.
We found the boss room.
Knew it.
John clamped a hand over his mouth too late. All three broodlings turned, eyes burning, before looking back to their master. Seo-jin let him sweat, then leaned in.
Whats your cap?
The man paled. Cleared his throat.
E.
Disgust ran through Seo-jin. That was the end of the line for Johns shard. Maybe with another he could climb again, but destiny didnt seem to favor this one. Most likely not worth the trouble.
Youll stay here.
Relief poured out of John like hed been unstrung.
Thank you uh, broodfa
The broodlings snapped.
Not for you!
Shut your rat-fucking mouth!
Only we can say it! You say boss. Only boss!
John froze, nearly pissing himself, stammering.
Sorry! Sorry! Yes, boss! Only boss!
Seo-jin let it ride a moment longer, enjoying the fear bleeding off the man, then turned away. He had no time to waste. Leading the brood to the lip of the den, he gave his order.
Snare. Youll be main for this.
The new spawn stiffened, eyes wide. Seo-jin didnt give him room to answer.
You need levels. Pain, guard him. Every wound he takes, Ill return to you twice over. Panicyou stick to Lynn. Shell be joining the raid.
He checked his cooldowns, eyes hard as he shifted to Snare.
Youve got ten minutes to build a plan for the four of you. Dont waste it.
Snare was already lost in thought, lips moving as he counted below. That pleased him.
What about you?
Lynns voice cut through like a dropped glass. The brood bristled, glaring. They didnt like her addressing him directly. Through the link Seo-jin felt itpure hostility. He smiled inside.
Ill fight. But dont rely on me. If youre about to die, I wont save you. Any of you. When the boss showsIll take it.
They began to settle, the brood sharpening, Lynn getting serious and holding her ground. Panels opened across his vision. AP to spend. Rewards to claim. Growth to weigh.
His heart hammered steady, not from fear. From hunger.
'My first dungeon boss.'
His eyes fixed on the den below. Past the bones. Past the filth. To the faint red glow pulsing from the center.
He smiled.
