Chapter 93

As the Kraken stretched out its tentacles and probed the area where the group had been, they had already moved silently to a new position.

Pherdikion pursed his lips.

‘Rune, what are you planning to do?’

‘I have something prepared just in case.’

Rune, with an inscrutable expression, gave a slight smile.

In the darkness and silence, everyone waited quietly, and then Rune opened his subspace pocket.

Swoosh!

Thud!

What emerged was a massive jar intricately carved with patterns.

The Kraken, startled by the sudden loud noise and appearance of the large jar, quickly retreated.

‘Oh! This is the jar I got from Uncle Jed!’

Heimi mouthed silently.

Rune raised his index finger to his lips again, warning them not to make any noise.

Then, he signaled for them to follow him and hid behind the jar.

The group, taken aback, followed suit one by one.

Duran, the last to join, carefully entered to avoid making any armor noise.

“Ugh...”

Amelia, covering her mouth with one hand, frowned in disgust as the vibration was felt.

The Kraken, seeing inside the jar, greedily shook its large head and was gradually sucked in.

“Alright. Dura, close the lid.”

Following Rune’s command, Dura immediately rushed to close the jar’s lid.

Clang!

Bang! Bang!

Crack!

Rattle!

The Kraken’s tentacle, which had not managed to get inside, was severed between the lid and the jar’s opening.

The severed tentacle twitched like a thick fish.

“Wow... Rune, did you know it would fit right in...?”

Amelia asked in amazement.

Clearly, having grown up without ever properly seeing marine monsters, she was cautious but hopeful that her guess was right.

Rune nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. Since it has the characteristics of an octopus and a squid, it can’t resist shiny things or places like this jar.”

This trait often led to accidents where the Kraken would try to squeeze into a large ship on the sea, causing it to sink.

‘This is called a trap fishing. Despite Jed’s annoying personality, the quality of his items is reliable.’

The 'Sealing Jar' was designed to only open when a certain amount of mana was channeled into the central magic stone after it was closed.

As ordered, the massive Sealing Jar had successfully trapped the Kraken.

However, if left alone, it would break free within an hour.

Naturally, Rune had prepared for this.

‘I put the ‘Box of Dark-Tainted Blissful Fragrance’ inside the jar.’

The box was filled with anesthetic and hypnotic glue to relax muscles and cloud the mind.

By now, the Kraken inside the jar must have lost its strength and was struggling weakly.

‘Moreover, using the fragrance box will increase its loyalty to me. Although one use won’t have a significant effect, it should be enough to prevent it from harming me.’

Amelia looked worried and fidgeted.

“Is, is this it? No, no thrashing... or, will it not harm us?”

“It’s fine. It won’t have the energy to break free now.”

The artifact, which had shown its effect even on a Red Dragon like Pherdikion with just a lemon candy, was working.

The intermittent thumping from inside the jar had quieted down.

Rune immediately placed his hand on the jar’s bottom and began absorbing the darkness within.

‘Good. I’ve almost gathered all the power of the Dark Clan.’

Rune finished the absorption with satisfaction.

Everyone, taken aback by the sudden resolution, stared wide-eyed until Pherdikion spoke first.

“Rune, did you know the boss was a Kraken?”

“No way. I don’t have any precognitive abilities.”

Rune replied naturally to Pherdikion’s skeptical question.

“Remember, bro? The scroll I made before. I actually asked Christina for Kraken ink to use as mana ink. But, she said it had disappeared because it originally lived in the deep-sea field.”

Recalling the conversation with Christina, Rune continued.

“While we were purifying the water region field, we encountered transformed anchovies and flatfish, and other marine and shellfish monsters. The only one that seemed like a proper monster was Leviathan. So, where are the other monsters?”

The thumping and vibrations from the jar gradually subsided.

Rune smiled.

“Maybe it’s related to the corrupted <Cursed Dungeon>. I asked Christina about deep-sea monsters just in case, and learned that Krakens have a tendency to hide in places like jars.”

‘Actually, I confirmed this through inherited knowledge.’

If the Kraken wasn’t in the dungeon, he would have considered the possibility that Amelia’s parents, who had succumbed to madness, had fled far away, feeling threatened by the Blue Dragon’s lair.

Pherdikion frowned at his bold younger brother’s words.

“It was a trap made specifically for the Kraken.”

“Well, even if it wasn’t a Kraken, it’s a jar that can hold any large monster, so it could be useful anytime.”

Rune’s ability to handle darkness and the trap for large monsters gave him confidence in any situation.

‘When we actually came to the dungeon, not only the Kraken but other deep-sea monsters were also drawn to the ‘Fairy Path’.’

However, there was no need to mention this fact.

Pherdikion, looking somewhat disappointed, muttered.

“If you had mentioned it earlier, I would have helped.”

“Well... I didn’t think it was necessary to mention...”

Pherdikion’s gaze turned fierce, and his probing eyes followed Rune persistently.

‘He’s upset again. Fortunately, he didn’t ask too deeply about the jar trap.’

Christina’s intention in providing information about dangerous monsters like the Kraken was closer to a warning to avoid them if possible.

However, Rune used her information to create a jar trap to capture the Kraken.

If Christina saw what Rune had done, she would probably shake her head and say that no one listens like him.

‘But, it seems like he wanted to help me. I should comfort him.’

Rune shrugged and tapped the jar, then pulled out a thick rope from his pocket.

“Dura, let’s take the jar.”

Clank!

Dura, nodding, skillfully tied the rope around the massive jar with his bulky, gloved hands.

The durable rope, enhanced by magic, was securely wrapped around the jar and fixed to Dura’s back.

Flash!

Amelia, looking up at the jar that seemed as tall as a three-story inn, clapped her hands.

Dura, with his sturdy build and immense strength.

However, the jar was so large and heavy that Rune was somewhat concerned.

‘Even with the lightening spell on the jar, the Kraken’s weight isn’t light. I feel a bit guilty.’

Unlike Leviathan, which was in a brain-dead state with no chance of revival, the Kraken was a living creature in a coma.

Unfortunately, it couldn’t be stored in a subspace pocket.

Fortunately, Dura seemed to have no difficulty carrying the jar, but Rune was still concerned.

‘Let’s get back as quickly as possible. Once we take it, I’ll study it as a mana ingredient, and it will be a good gift for Christina.’

Rune began to absorb the small bits of darkness around him.

The darkness within his body greeted each other.

The power connected like a puzzle, and a harmonious dark purple flow formed a complete rule.

The gathered darkness began to form a single pattern in front of Rune.

“Hmm. Master Rune, something seems strange.”

Clank!

A purple mana pattern floated in front of Heimi and Dura.

The power of the seal, like silk, seeped into their bodies as a blessing.

Amelia, watching this, exclaimed in amazement.

“Rune... That, that’s... the Seal of Darkness, right?”

The Seal of Darkness, beginning to bloom in Rune’s hand, was a strange pattern intertwined with black and purple, from which a quiet darkness rose.

It seemed like a new night was being born from the darkness emanating from the pattern.

Rune held the seal in his hand.

At that moment,

“Ah, my tails!”

Heimi, her eyes wide, turned her head to see her two tails swaying.

Dura’s transformation was more subtle and weighty.

He grew larger, and his aura became even more formidable, making him look like a commander leading an army rather than a mere knight.

“Pip!”

Bakuya, intrigued, flew around the grown Heimi and the strengthened Dura.

“Wow! Heimi, you have two tails now!”

Hugging her black tails, Heimi exclaimed happily.

Dura’s presence became more dignified, and his previously gloomy green eyes now held a sense of authority.

Amelia and Pherdikion congratulated them with admiration.

“Everyone... really, thank you.”

“When the master grows, the followers are also affected. Well done, Rune.”

Amelia, genuinely pleased, clapped softly, and Pherdikion, with his arms crossed, nodded approvingly.

“Thanks to all of you. Thank you.”

Next, Rune turned his gaze to Amelia.

“It’s your turn now, Amelia.”

Amelia, holding her spear, nodded with determination.

With all the darkness now gathered by Rune, it was time to turn the <Cursed Dungeon> back into the <Dungeon of Waves>.

Taking a deep breath and stepping forward, Rune handed her a gem he had prepared.

“Here. This will help.”

“...Thank you. It’s beautiful. Such a large and... clear pearl is... my first.”

The pearl shimmered like a star. Rune nodded and added an explanation as Amelia admired it.

“It’s coated with Bakuya’s tears.”

To the wide-eyed Amelia, Rune explained simply.

“Phoenix tears have the effect of removing all poisons and burning away impurities.”

“Pip!”

Bakuya, understanding that she was being talked about, raised one of her white wings.

Finally, Amelia, taking the pearl cautiously, whispered softly.

“I see... Thank you, Rune. Bakuya.”

Holding the large pearl in both hands, she closed her eyes.

“Purify.”

Whoosh!

A clear white light surged forth, following her command, and spread through the deep sea.

Rune watched the gentle wave of light spread, feeling as if he were witnessing the dawn of a new era.

The pure, soft light and warmth gently caressed the groaning monsters and creatures in the dungeon and deep sea.

The beings suffering from madness, the decaying sea and rocks, and the coral reefs.

As if nothing had happened, the sea became calm and clear, awakening from the dying darkness.

Those who had been moving by curse and resentment, though already dead, finally lay down and fell into rest.

They recalled the young Water Queen and were grateful for the peace.

‘Impressive.’

She truly looked like an elder of the Water Clan.

As the light gradually subsided, the mermaid opened her eyes.

Stumbling with blurred vision, Lamel quietly approached and supported Amelia, who was about to fall.

“Good job.”

“Sis, you were so beautiful! So cool and queen-like!”

Rune and Heimi, who had been watching, each said a word, and Pherdikion, with his arms crossed, added his own comment.

“You could do it when you put your mind to it. Just like an elder.”

It was his way of giving praise.

Rune, nodding in agreement with Pherdikion’s words, thought to himself.

‘After all, she had been practicing for centuries to purify the darkness she had harbored.’

Amelia had, without intending to, undergone a life-risking, centuries-long seclusion.

Surprised by the unexpected praise, Amelia took a deep breath and smiled quietly.

“Everyone... thank you.”

Her gaze swept over each member of the group.

Then, she closed her eyes, looking somewhat relieved, and took a deep breath.

At that moment, a small light flickered in front of Amelia.

It was a ‘Fragment of Memory’ given to her as a reward for clearing the dungeon.

Opening her eyes and seeing it, the girl held the fragment in her hand.

“I can feel it. I’ve known this place... for a very long time.”