I'd expected another maze, another layout... But this was a radial chamber. Chests, loot, and items arranged neatly around the perimeter. And the door to the sixth circle sat right at the opposite end — visible from the entrance.
First time I'd walked into a level where the exit was in plain sight.
But one thing was the same as every floor before: a single entity waited inside.
Except this one seemed human.
"I don't believe I know your name, young man," he said. Calm. Casual.
Black mustache. Purple robes. A wrapped turban like the desert kings from old Mali — the kind you'd see in history books.
'Do I kill him to move on?'
I narrowed my eyes.
'Is this an illusion? That'd be a first.'
I was so focused on the man that I hadn't registered how warm the air was. How easily it filled my lungs, brushed against my skin through the slits in my visor. Almost like a summer day in the schoolyard.
"Young man?" He asked again, tilting his head as he leaned against his pillows.
"..."
"Not much of a talker, hm?" He let out. "Understandable... Someone of your caliber must have seen your share of horrors."
I flinched, stepping back.
'What does he know? Who is he?'
"Ah, you must have so many questions. I did not mean to startle you. You wish to move to the next level, do you not?"
"..."
I gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod. Swallowed.
"Hm. Great! Come, come. Have a seat. Let us talk. I have a proposal for you. And it will be much easier for the both of us if you cooperate."
"..."
'He hasn't attacked me yet. If he does... I'll die, and try to kill him after I revive.'
With an inhale, I walked toward the man. Sat several meters away from him. Away from his pillows.
He sighed.
"I'd have preferred if you sat next to me... Unlike that Wolfbeast, I don't bite!" He chuckled.
"But..." He glanced at my armor, top to bottom, as I sat on my knees.
"I'd reckon you don't mean to remove that any time soon, so perhaps it's best you stay away from my pillows. They're quite expensive silk!"
"..."
'I have no idea what to say. What is he going for? What am I supposed to answer?'
"Anyway, anyway — would you like something to drink? I have fresh water!"
"Get to the point."
The words came out before I could stop them. My body wanted to twitch. I kept it still.
"Restless, aren't we?" He smiled. "Well, you must excuse me. You're the first being I've had the pleasure of speaking to in over a thousand years! If you don't count that Wolfbeast and the goblin who can only bark or growl or... screech."
"How?" I asked.
"Well, I've been trapped here by—"
"No."
I narrowed my eyes.
"How did you know there was a goblin and a mutt in the upper levels? Your door should be locked. And how can you hear their screeching and growls?"
I clenched my fist. My heart thumped loud in my ears.
"..."
"...Persistent brat." He clicked his tongue.
"Though, I understand your impatience. Allow me to introduce myself."
He straightened.
"I am the master of this dungeon. Lord Azhar. The one in control of all the monsters within these walls."
"My specialty... is Mind Control."
As he said those words I stood up and dashed backwards, glaring.
'Am I being controlled right now?!'
"Oh, no no no, don't you worry young man." He chuckled as he shook his head slowly.
"If I was trying to control your mind..." He narrowed his eyes as he glared at me.
"You'd KNOW." He said with a smile.
"We're not at that phase just yet. Now, will you please listen to what I have to say?"
'...'
'Yet, he says.' My fist clenched.
'What does he mean by mind control? What does it do? How will I know?' I stayed frozen near the corner.
"I tell you what," He sighed, "You listen to what I have to say, and I swear to you, I will tell you how my power works. How does that sound?"
"...Why would you do that?" I asked.
"Because..." He took a deep breath, "I am so lonely. Please, young man. Hear me out." His face looked at me.
He looked tired.
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Reminded me of my mother telling me she'd make me the best miso soup I'd ever eaten after returning from a late-night shift.
My shoulders loosened as I approached the same spot, sitting on the ground.
"...Fine." I let out as I straightened myself.
"Thank you," He said, "As a reward for your kindness, I shall answer your questions truthfully."
"First. I am a level 701 Mage. I specialize in Mind Control. There's a lot of details there, but you're not here for that."
"The Goblin, that Skeleton and the Wolfbeast you've fought, as well as the beings in the floors below us are all under my control spell. Thousands of years ago,"
He wistfully looked up.
"...I ruled this world. And was on the verge of ruling the ones beyond it. No one exceeded my prowess. The mightiest warriors fell to my charm..."
Then, his expression soured.
"And that's when those FUCKING Gods... Decided to intervene. Sealing me in this dungeon for all eternity. Making me unable to leave."
I blinked.
"You've been on the outside of this place?"
"Why, yes. I have."
"Then, do you know how the outside world is? Levels, threats."
"OH? You've slain my Wolfbeast... And you don't know that yourself?"
"...."
"... No."
"Hmmmm... Alright. It is difficult to say," He said as he rubbed his chin, "In my time, no one came close to my level of power. But that was in MY time. Today, level 701 could very well be normal... Or, they still didn't find a way to surpass it. I simply cannot tell you with certainty."
'Then, I shouldn't risk using [Dungeon Gateway] just yet. The guards of the royal palace could be leagues stronger than me or even him.'
"But, young man, seeing as you came from the opposite direction... And seeing as you've slain my Wolfbeast... Surely, you have it, right?"
"A skill that lets you escape this place?"
"Yes—"
I shut my mouth, but it was too late. It felt so natural to just nod along.
"Yes.... Ahhhhhhhhh~.... I see.... Yes...................."
He looked relieved, almost ecstatic.
I knew it, in my heart.
I made a mistake.
"Oh, I can't leave this place even if I wanted to. But you asked just how I know about the beasts beyond this level, and how I can hear their screeches and growls... See... When I control a mind... I can see and feel what they feel if I so desire... Ahhh... I could... Through you... I could... Finally leave this dungeon... Experience this world..."
'KILL HIM. NOW!!'
With a growl, I activated [HARD SWING] in full force, swinging a fist toward him.
But just before I could land it...
His palm was gently placed against my helmet. Purple light emitting from his fingertips.
"Remember how I told you, boy, that you'd know if I tried to control your mind?"
"Hrrgn...!"
'I... Can't stay awake..!! He got me..!!'
"See... if your Resistance stat is low enough... Which..." He grinned. "It IS... Then that's when I can do my real magic."
His fingers pressed harder against my helmet.
"A shame, boy. I'm just an ordinary man with a limitless mana pool. You would've been able to kill me with your strength had you been a miniscule of a second faster..."
"Now, where was I...? Ah, yes."
"To truly control a mind, you must first break it. Shatter it into so many pieces that the owner cannot recover in time. And in that gap — that beautiful, fleeting moment of emptiness and broken psyche — I slip in; preventing your psyche from rebuilding itself."
"See... If given enough time, the human mind can recover from anything. Amazing, is it not? I just... Rob it of that time."
His smile widened.
"You really are a youngling. An inexperienced, moronic brat," He tilted his head. "If you've truly conquered the Final Circle, you should have left even if the world outside was uncertain! I USED TO RULE IT! YOU WERE ARROGANT TO ASSUME I'M WEAKER THAN THAT WORLD THAT MOST DEFINITELY IS FILLED WITH WEAKLINGS..."
"Child," his voice softened.
Purple light flooded my vision.
"Now you will give me the freedom I've longed for so many years...!!!"
"Behold... [Visions of Death.]"
I died.
A blade through my throat. Choking on blood.
I died.
Burned alive. Skin peeling off in sheets.
I died.
Drowned. Lungs filled with black water.
I died.
Crushed. Couldn't feel anything below my neck.
I died.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Days passed. Weeks. Then months. Then... More. Every death a new method. Every death vivid, complete. It hurt.
I felt my bones break. I felt my organs rupture. I felt my skin melt and my eyes burst and my brain cook inside my skull.
Over and over and over.
And then I opened my eyes.
Lord Azhar stood before me, smiling.
‘Right… I’m still fighting him.’
"Now then... Let me see the world from the inside of your mind—"
I took a step forward.
"..."
His smile faltered.
I took another step.
"...What are you doing?" He asked.
Another step.
"Stop. Stay where you are." His voice wavered. "You should be broken. You SHOULD be broken!"
Another step.
"VISIONS OF DEATH!"
Purple light flooded my vision again.
I died.
Impaled through the chest.
I died.
Eaten alive.
I died.
Terminally ill,
I died.
Frozen solid, conscious the entire time.
I opened my eyes.
‘Right. I’m still fighting him.’
Took a step forward.
"No... No, no, no—"
"VISIONS OF DEATH!"
I died. Years of deaths. I could keep track better now.
I opened my eyes.
‘I remember I’m still fighting him.’
Stepped forward.
"VISIONS OF DEATH!"
I died.
‘Fight..’
Stepped forward.
"STOP! STOP IT! WHY WON'T YOU BREAK?!"
I died.
‘Fight.’
Stepped forward.
Azhar scrambled backwards, knocking over his pillows, his silks, his treasures.
'Impossible... To not fall after so much torture... This boy... This man...' Lord Azhar thought as I kept walking.
'He walked through death so much... They've... They've made an acquaintance, haven't they...?! His mind was broken long before he came here..!!'
He pressed himself against the wall.
"STAY BACK! I AM LORD AZHAR! I RULED THIS WORLD! I—"
My hand closed around his throat.
His eyes went wide.
"W-Wait— We can negotiate— I can give you power— I can give you—"
I twisted.
CRACK.
His body went limp.
I let him drop.
"..." Looking at his corpse.
Then I rolled my shoulders and turned toward the door.
"...I should increase my Resistance."
I glanced back at the body as it started dissipating. And as I looked around, all the treasures, all the decorations, all the food and furniture dissipated as well. All that was left were just a few torches on the wall.
"Wouldn't want to get stuck in that kind of spell again."
[You HAVE SLAIN The Guardian of The Seventh Circle
[YOU HAVE GAINED EXPERIENCE: 723,354,123,992,109!]
[32% ---> 84% Experience to level up!]
[Item Obtained: Mana Stone (EX)]
[Item Obtained: Cooldown Stone (EX)]
[Item Obtained: Gold Coin x15,000 (B)]
[Item Obtained: Super Life Elixir x9,000 (SS)]
[Item Obtained: Never-Ending Fresh Water Gourd x1 (A)]
[Item Obtained: Diary of Azhar x1]
'... He wasn't lying about the fresh water.'