SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 193: Episode

His eyes darted across the chaotic scene. The raiders, having used Barrett to launch Inhye into the air, were now finishing off the siege soldiers along with Deshkar. The harpies he had deployed for vision were useless against the remaining barriers. They had even set up a Movement Tunnel on the cliff, and now all his forces there were destroyed. Rabiz was critically injured, Inhye was isolated, and Deshkar’s damage was critical. Three of his core units were in mortal danger.

"She’s out of the fight now. If we capture this bitch, Balak won’t be able to move its soldiers anymore."

"Ooh, she’s pretty cute. And that outfit is practically screaming, ’take me.’ Not my type, but I can have some fun."

"Looks like she can’t use her binding skills anymore. Let’s shackle her quick!"

Rabiz, a support mage, was especially vulnerable in close combat. Moreover, she was critically injured. Taehyun broke into a cold sweat as he saw the raiders pull out a set of shackles—the same kind he’d seen at the Demon Realm Auction, designed to seal all skills and enslave the target.

"The marker is set—" Kadum reported.

"Damn it, too slow!"

Kadum, who had Position Shift, had managed to set the marker, but the shackles were already halfway on.

"Master, if the Ability-Sealing Shackles are fully applied, items won’t work on her either!" Riel warned.

"I know! Rabiz, summon Inhye!"

"Under... stood," Rabiz gasped.

On the verge of losing consciousness, she pushed away the Raiders and cast her summon skill.

[A-rank Named Guardian, Ruler of Space Rabiz, has cast a summon skill.]

[Top-tier A-rank Raider Eleonora has been summoned.]

Inhye, who had been near Deshkar, was instantly teleported to Rabiz’s side. The flustered Raiders tried to break through the Divine Precepts, but nearly half of her divinity remained. One of them pointed at Deshkar, and their target changed. Taehyun urgently activated Position Shift, but at that exact moment, an archer on the cliff cast a skill.

[Top-tier A-rank Raider Dunsheon has cast Arrow of Destruction.]

[The torso of the Rock-Throwing Golem Deshkar is pierced.]

[Arrow of Destruction Usage Limit: 1/2]

Deshkar, who had boasted such a massive frame, collapsed.

[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used Position Shift.]

[The positions of Rabiz, Eleonora, and Deshkar are changed to the previously saved location.]

Position Shift succeeded, but Taehyun couldn’t feel relieved. His eyes were fixed on the Raider who had been giving orders. He was one of the ones who had hidden their information. Taehyun gritted his teeth and used True Identity.

[Using True Identity on ?-rank Raider ?.]

[All of ?’s disguises and transformations are dispelled.]

[Information Manipulation Detected]

[Manipulated information is being restored.]

As expected, both disguise and manipulation had been applied.

[Charon Deike]

[Rank: A (Top-tier)]

[Level: 67]

[Class: Enchanter]

[Title: Tarantula Raider]

[Affiliation: Tarantula]

[Stress: 1]

[Status: Enjoyment]

[Relationship with Comrades: None]

[Description: A top-tier A-rank Raider who has lived inside dungeons for several years. After joining the Tarantula faction, he has continuously built up his performance within dungeons to raise his rank. He has now come to attempt a raid on Balak with ?.]

Charon Deike. It was undoubtedly the leader of the second raid party, the one who had seen through everything and was giving orders from the back. As a member of the Tarantula faction, he must have been steadily accumulating power within dungeons.

’So you’re enjoying this?’ Taehyun’s thoughts were a low growl. ’Of course you are. Everything is going exactly as you planned.’

The harpies were dying off. On the Revived Plains, he had been utterly defeated by the raid party. No, to be precise, he had lost to one man: Charon. It was a rage he hadn’t felt since facing the Eleonora Raid Party.

[Kadum has returned to Balak.]

[The High Elves have returned to Balak.]

[Rabiz has returned to Balak.]

[Eleonora has returned to Balak.]

[Deshkar has returned to Balak.]

Just then, Kadum and the High Elves returned with the wounded. Taehyun stared at the disconnected screens before going to meet them.

"We will return to the forest now," Sapaella said coolly. "Hmph. Whether it’s human bastards or dungeon soldiers, they’re all equally weak."

Kadum and the High Elves, having brought the injured this far, turned back toward the forest. Meanwhile, Riel and Inhye were already tending to Rabiz.

"Her injuries aren’t as severe as last time," Riel assessed. "But even with potions, it will take a few days to heal."

"I’ll help," Inhye offered. "Let’s move her somewhere else for now."

It seemed their intention had been to capture her from the start, so they had at least spared her life. The two of them removed the half-fastened shackles and carried Rabiz away.

Left alone, Taehyun looked down at the last of his fallen soldiers.

"U-Uwooo..."

Deshkar, no longer in his giant form, was writhing in pain. His damage rate had far surpassed its limit. Death was unavoidable. Taehyun watched the mud-like substance of its body flow apart and let out a heavy sigh.

"You worked hard. Rest now."

"Uwoooooo," Deshkar seemed to cry out.

Taehyun turned his back completely and returned to the Master Room.

[Rock-Throwing Deshkar has died.]

A message popped up, but he didn’t look back.

---

Day 2. The two raid parties finished their encampment and stopped at the entrance to the Silent Forest. They had dealt with all the siege soldiers the previous day. Now, they just had to pass through the forest to reach the dungeon itself. Tarik checked his items, hesitating.

"I guess we should use the radar detection net."

"No, there’s no need," Charon said dismissively. "We’ll get hit whether we use it or not."

"R-Really? But our side gave up a lot of information yesterday. Plus, Charon, even your identity was revealed. Shouldn’t we be thoroughly prepared?"

"Alright, listen up." Charon picked up a few pebbles from the ground and began his explanation. "First, let’s consider the items both sides have left. Balak already used Position Shift on the Revived Plains. We, on the other hand, only used a Vision Expansion Scroll. Vision items are important, but Position Shift is a trump card, second only to a neutralization ability. Since he used it prematurely, the only thing he should have left is a return item."

"We didn’t catch that bitch Rabiz yesterday, but we did injure her," he continued. "Even if she has potions, it’ll take a good three or four days to heal. That means no more movement skills. And even if she uses a return item, the casting time for the portal makes it tricky to use effectively."

As he spoke, he arranged the pebbles on the ground, and soon, a circle had been drawn in the dirt.

Charon called the circle the Forest of Silence, placing pebbles inside to represent Balak’s soldiers. "Taric, think about it. They could be killed the instant before a return item activates. Would he really risk his main forces by deploying them so deep in the forest?"

"Hmm. I suppose not."

"Exactly. They also have to defend the dungeon’s interior. Imagine the headache if they lost their main forces over a simple mistake. At most, he’d deploy the High Elves and an ambush unit. Now, on the other hand, what’s our disadvantage?"

Unlike Balak, the raid party had only used a Vision Expansion Scroll. Furthermore, they had already revealed some of their limited-use skills to take down the siege soldiers and Deshkar. First, there was Kalos’s Mobility Tunnel. Having been used once, it was no longer available. Second was the dungeon’s Arrow of Destruction. Although the skill had two charges, they needed to conserve it.

"Of course, that bitch Eleonora used a one-time skill too, but now that my information is out, their primary targets have likely been decided."

"I see. Charon, you could be in danger, too. Should we use the Peacock, then?"

"No. Even if we use the Peacock to gain vision priority, the High Elves will still be out there."

"Th-Then what about using both the Detection Net and the Peacock?"

"That’s not it, either. We must protect our ranged raiders and bounty hunters above all else. I hear the High Elves have a range and vision that even the Detection Net can’t pick up. What we need to do now is this."

The large pebbles that represented the raid party were swept away. In their place, Charon tossed down several smaller ones.

"We make it so easy for Balak to pick us off one by one that he won’t even see the need for a vision item. If our forces are scattered like this, Taehyun Yoo will surely think we’re abandoning some of our comrades to break through the forest."

"Definitely."

"Even if he uses vision priority, he’ll only catch one of the scattered groups. Now, from here, we have two choices."

The small pebbles slowly began to circle the area. Taric swallowed, his throat dry as he watched.

---

[The raid party has entered the Forest of Silence.]

[The raid party has entered the Forest of Silence.]

[The raid party has entered the Forest of Silence.]

[Charon’s raid party has entered the Forest of Silence.]

A series of messages appeared. Simultaneously, Taehyun’s mind began to race. The raiders had split into eighteen groups—an unusual strategy from the very start. ’Charon Deike. He’s definitely more skilled than I anticipated. To think a raider like him exists within the Tarantula faction. I need to revise my assessment.’

He had only been wary of the S-rank raider, but the others were proving to be quite formidable as well. Currently, fourteen High Elves, Kadum, Hyena, Loqueen, and the ambush unit were deployed in the Forest of Silence. He had originally planned to deploy other main forces, but Labiz’s injury and their use of Position Transfer had been too great a blow. In truth, he had hesitated to deploy Hyena and Loqueen, but the terrain left him no choice.

Taehyun toyed with the Vision Priority item before setting it down.

"Master, are you not going to use Vision Priority?" Riel asked.

"It’s pointless. Even if I use it, it won’t affect the other scattered groups. They haven’t used a Detection Net, which means they know the High Elves’ range. They’re baiting me, wanting to be picked off one by one. I have to make a decision here."

He had Hyena set up traps all over, but this strategy rendered them useless. The raid party would likely choose one of two options. Taehyun glanced back and forth between the Item Nullification and the Radar Detection Net. Just then, the High Elves began to spot the raiders.

[High Elf Benipper has discovered the third group of raiders.]

[High Elf Neru has discovered the fourteenth group of raiders.]

[High Elf Saphaela has discovered the seventh group of raiders.] 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The raiders appeared from every direction. Taehyun’s eyes gleamed as he made his decision. "Hyena. From now on, place Electric Traps and Binding Traps at the locations I designate."

—"Understood, Master."

"Loqueen. Change the class of all your dolls to scouts and have them recon the areas beyond the High Elves’ sight."

—"Yes. I understand."

"Kadum. Use Hunter’s Eye to monitor the group that Charon has joined."

—"I will."

The three of them moved upon receiving their orders. Taehyun gave Loqueen one more command and moved the ambush unit. Their first target was the thirteenth group, which contained the most ranged raiders.

[B-rank Centaur has activated Mobile Shot.]

[C-rank Evil Goblin has cast Precision Shot.]

[B-rank Raider Roanus has cast Shield of Earth.]

Since there was no fight for vision, a perfect ambush was impossible, but it didn’t matter. The shield inevitably began to crack, and the other raider groups were moving just as he had predicted. The raiders slowly began to break through on the opposite side. However, that was merely a feint.

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Kadament has cast Piercing Gaze.]

[A-rank Raider Dominic has activated Sage’s Gaze.]

[B-rank Top-Tier Raider Holgadin has cast Mana Detection.]

Their true objective: hunt the High Elves. The various raider groups deployed a wheel formation, gradually closing in toward the center. Taehyun watched the pursued High Elves and smirked. "Let’s see how you like it, you bastards."

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