Record of a Thousand Lives

Chapter 167

Only a few minutes had passed since the party arrived at a desolate, abandoned mining town. The area had a powerfully eerie atmosphere, as it was covered in thick white smog.

Iris squinted and said, “The air tastes strange here.”

“It’s coal dust. It’s not good for your health to inhale a lot of it,” Henrick said while looking around.

The buildings were all old and worn-down, and most of their windows were broken. Perhaps that was the reason why the town was so desolate that not a single person was in sight.

“This looks like an abandoned town,” Henrick said.

Shaneth nodded while looking at the map and replied, “There’s a huge mine behind this town, but the mine’s development was so difficult that only a portion of it was built before it was abandoned. That’s why the miners and the settlers all left this place. Hmm… The name of the abandoned mine is crossed out from the map, so I can’t really read it. It just says ‘Kolo’ something…”

“What business do we have then in this town that feels as if undead are going to suddenly pop out of it?” Henrick grumbled.

Kang Yoon-Soo pointed at the large mine and said, “We’re going into the abandoned mine.”

“Why?” Henrick asked.

“To get to the Dragon of Destruction’s lair,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“…”

Silence filled the air for a moment, before Henrick broke it by saying, “These days, I have a new dream.”

“What is it?” Shaneth asked.

“I dream of dying a natural death,” Henrick replied.

“I hope it’s not an impossible dream. I’m sure our lifespan is going to be shortened by extreme stress even if we make it out of that place in one piece,” Shaneth replied.

“Having our lifespan shortened is much better than being eaten by a dragon alive,” Henrick grumbled.

Iris trembled nervously as she said, “Dragons are scary.”

Shaneth comforted her by saying, “The Ignus Dragon was on our side in the desert, Unni, so maybe this time...”

Kang Yoon-Soo suddenly interrupted her and said, “We’re going to fight against the Dragon of Destruction this time.”

Henrick took out his sculpting knife and asked, “Anyone want to leave their last words?”

Tears started welling up in Iris’ eyes as she said, “I want to eat a mountain of meat pies and apple pies before I die.”

Henrick sighed, then started to carve Iris’ words into a wall of a building. Meanwhile, Kang Yoon-Soo started to walk toward a hill.

Shaneth asked, “Where are you going?”

“There’s someone I have to meet first,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“Who is that?” Shaneth asked.

Kang Yoon-Soo looked back at his party members and said, “The walking dead.”

***

Dawn broke, bringing with it the distinctive scent of cold morning air.

Kang Yoon-Soo stood alone atop the hill, checking the details of the request he had received from the goddess—to eliminate the one who should not exist on the continent. Then, he checked the details of the legendary quest he had recently received.

[Legendary Quest—Secret Jewel Mines]

[You have defeated countless strong monsters and achieved a feat on par with the Ancient Heroes.]

[You may be able to discover the traces of the jewel mine that the Ancient Heroes discovered long ago.]

[The Secret Jewel Mines are filled with mountains of precious jewels!]

[You will gain peerless fame if you manage to find the Secret Jewel Mines, provided that news of your feats spreads across the continent.]

+There are 67 jewel mines scattered across the continent.

+You will need to obtain a golden compass from a treasure hunter if you wish to find a large jewel mine.

+This quest will connect to other quests of varying difficulty depending on which jewel mine you discover.

Kang Yoon-Soo had to find a large jewel mine if he wished to enter the lair of the Dragon of Destruction. That was one of the main reasons why he was trying to enter the abandoned mine. He thought, ‘The lair of the Dragon of Destruction?is dangerous.’

However, that did not mean Kang Yoon-Soo had not made any preparations for it. He examined the bone in his possession that emanated a sinister aura—it was the King of the Underworld’s Summoning Bone, which he had obtained from the trial. It was the item he had only managed to obtain in his final life after killing all of the demons in the final trial.

Kang Yoon-Soo carefully read the details of the King of the Underworld’s Summoning Bone as they appeared on his wrist device. He thought, ‘It’s amazing no matter how many times I read it. It really is?worthy?of a reward that was?only obtainable by?clearing all of the trials.’

The King of the Underworld’s Summoning Bone was extremely dangerous, but it was such an unbelievably strong item that even Kang Yoon-Soo was surprised by it. He was certain that there would definitely be an opportunity for him to use it in the lair of the Dragon of Destruction.

Kang Yoon-Soo placed the King of the Underworld’s Summoning Bone back into his backpack and waited until the beings he had been looking for appeared.

A sinister black fog started to spread through the area. It was thicker and darker than coal ash, and conveyed a very different atmosphere from the fog that had previously covered the desolate town. The fog was so sinister that it went beyond merely feeling eerie; there was something vicious and dangerous about it. The scent of danger hung in the air, and it was as if the fog could transport those in it into a different world.

Vicious snarls emanated from the fog, which was so thick that Kang Yoon-Soo could barely see anything in it.

“Gruooook…!”

“Kuaaaak…!”

They were the cries of the dead, and the sheer viciousness and hostility they conveyed was impossible for the living to match.

Within the fog, Kang Yoon-Soo could barely make out the silhouettes of rows of living dead. One by one, they slowly emerged, revealing their hideous appearances. They had blood-red eyes and reeked of rotting flesh, and their vicious snarls conveyed their desire for the flesh of the living. The horde of undead was innumerable, and it was a mystery as to where all of them had come from.

The horde continued to shuffle toward the abandoned mining town, digging in the rubble while snarling and screaming, and the sight resembled a theater in which one could watch the madness of the dead unfold.

An average person would have already felt their skin crawl as a strong chill went down their spine if they saw such a scene, but Kang Yoon-Soo walked toward the dead without a hint of hesitation in his footsteps. He shouted in a loud, commanding voice, “I have come.”

The walking dead suddenly turned and glared at Kang Yoon-Soo with gazes full of hostility, their eyes trembling uncontrollably.

“Kuaaak…!”

“Kaaaaak…!”

The thousands of undead suddenly charged as quickly as they could toward Kang Yoon-Soo, all the while snarling and letting out screams that sounded like metal screeching against metal.

Suddenly, the one at the forefront, who seemed to be the most powerful among the undead, called back in a booming voice, “We greet our lord! Kang Yoon-Soo!”

***

The party was dumbfounded by the sight before them.

“He went alone… but how the hell did he come back with more than seven thousand in tow…?” Henrick wondered.

“That’s because… It’s Kang Yoon-Soo?” Shaneth responded.

“There are a lot of undead,” Iris said in amazement.

The abandoned mining town was packed with the undead. The Death General Kalriven stabbed its sword into the ground and kneeled down in front of Kang Yoon-Soo, shouting, “My lord, and the rightful heir who freed us from the chains that shackled us to the Castle of the Dead! I, a knight unworthy to see your face, dare to stand before my master in greeting!”

The undead all bowed their heads toward Kang Yoon-Soo and shouted.

“Kuaaak…!?My lord…!”

“Kuooo…!?Lord…!”

It seemed as if the undead horde would already have burst into tears if they were living humans.

“What relationship does Kang Yoon-Soo have with these undead for them to show such loyalty toward him?” Iris asked.

“Hmm… It’s a bit of a long story…” Henrick said, rubbing his chin.

The undead horde had once belonged to one of the Ancient Heroes—the Ultimate Necromancer, Nakron. However, they had been sealed by a holy man from the church after Nakron’s death, and were thus bound to the Castle of the Dead.

The only way to release them from the Castle of the Dead was to conquer the Winterkill Ruin. That was the reason why Kang Yoon-Soo had tricked them into believing that he was the successor to Nakron, in order to receive the quest from them. Afterward, when he successfully managed to conquer the Winterkill Ruin during his journey, the seal on the Castle of the Dead had been lifted.

That was the reason why the Death General Kalriven and the undead army had voiced their unshakable loyalty toward him.

“It feels as if it happened not long ago, but it happened quite a while back now that I think about it,” Shaneth said.

“Well, our journey has been no ordinary one,” Henrick grumbled.

The two sighed at the same time when they remembered how arduous and perilous their journey had been so far.

Kang Yoon-Soo said in a deep, commanding voice, “I’m glad to see you all as well.”

“My lord!” Kalriven exclaimed, sounding as if it might burst into tears at any moment.

“However, I have a request for all of you before we enjoy our reunion,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

“What do you mean by a request? The grace you have shown is already far more than enough for us. Please! Command us as you see fit; we will follow whatever command our lord gives!” Kalriven exclaimed, its voice filled with loyalty.

“I hope you’ll be able to join me in the battle I’m about to start,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

We are ready to offer everything we have to our lord, but…” Kalriven trailed off, its expression hardening. Then, the Death General continued in a voice filled with shame, “We will not be able to obey that command…”

The undead behind the Death General seemed to be deeply saddened as well. The skeletons noisily clacked their jaws, and the ghosts swam through the air while wailing.

However, Kalriven tried its best to maintain its composure as it said, “We are the undead raised by the Ultimate Necromancer, Nakron. Nakron-nim always wanted to raise the corpse of a dragon when he was alive, then turn it into the strongest undead, the Deathless Dragon. That is why we are currently on a mission to fulfill our previous master’s wish of raising the Deathless Dragon. The reason why we appeared in this place was to locate the lair of a dragon. It is a shame, but I will have to apologize to my lord. This is our sworn mission, and we will not be able to participate in any other battle until we have successfully fulfilled it.”

Kang Yoon-Soo nodded in response and said, “I understand your concerns, Kalriven. Nakron was your master, whom you devoted your loyalty to as well.”

“My lord! I thank you for your graceful understanding!” Kalriven exclaimed while bowing even lower.

“That’s the exact reason why you guys will have to participate in the battle I’m about to fight, though,” Kang Yoon-Soo added.

“What do you mean, my lord?” Kalriven asked with a hint of confusion on its face.

Kang Yoon-Soo stared intently at the Death General before declaring in a booming voice, “I know the location of the lair of the Dragon of Destruction, and I’ll be going there myself!”

“The Dragon of Destruction!” Kalriven and the rest of the undead exclaimed while shaking nervously.

The zombies hugged the undead next to them, and the witches shook uncontrollably while biting their nails.

“The Dragon of Destruction is the most dangerous and the most powerful dragon in the history of the entire continent! To think my lord plans to invade that dragon’s lair…! It is far too dangerous, my lord!” Kalriven exclaimed.

“That’s exactly the reason why I’m going,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“What… do you mean, my lord?” Kalriven asked hesitantly, looking very confused.

“You have to raise the strongest undead, the Deathless Dragon, to fulfill the wishes of the Ultimate Necromancer, Nakron. So, you’ll need the corpse of the most powerful being on the continent to fulfill that wish,” Kang Yoon-Soo explained.

“My lord… Do you mean…?” Kalriven asked, gulping nervously.

Kang Yoon-Soo nodded in response and said, “I’ll kill the Dragon of Destruction.”

As his party members watched from the sideline, their faces turned ghastly pale when they heard his declaration.

“What the hell did that bastard say just now…?” Henrick asked, his face looking as if he had aged a decade in a split second.

“Please tell me I’m the only one who misheard him…” Shaneth began with a hint of hope in her voice.

“Shaneth, please bake me another pie right now…” Iris said, tears welling up in her eyes.

The undead seemed as if they would be tearing up too, if only they could—albeit for a different reason.

“Oh my goodness…! My lord…!” Kalriven exclaimed in surprise. The Death General could not help but be left in awe by its master’s ambition. It bowed deeply, and all of the undead kneeled at once.

“I, Kalriven, might have lost my life once, but I will devote my entire being to my lord, and assist my lord to my last breath!” Kalriven exclaimed loudly.

.

Kang Yoon-Soo had successfully obtained an undead legion of 7,827 troops, but that did not alleviate his nervousness at all. He thought, ‘Everything will be over?if?I relax?for even a moment in?the lair of the Dragon of Destruction.’

The lair of the Dragon of Destruction was a place he had actively avoided even after regressing hundreds of times, but he now had to go there even if it meant risking everything.

‘It’s because this is going to be my final life,’?he thought. The Demon Lord was going to appear much earlier, and he needed to grow stronger as quickly as he possibly could.

However…

‘I can’t guarantee our survival even if I use all of my knowledge from my previous lives…’?Kang Yoon-Soo thought.

The Dragon of Destruction was on a different level compared to all of the enemies he had faced so far. It was a monster that had the strength to destroy the entire continent on a whim if it wanted to.

‘We’ll have to run away?immediately?if things don’t go according to plan,’?he thought, steeling his resolve.

He had declared he would kill the Dragon of Destruction solely to raise the undead legion’s morale. Additionally, he had no other way to mobilize the entire legion than to make such a bold declaration. The Death General Kalriven’s loyalty could fall and lead it to betray him in the future because of what he was about to do, but it was the best option he had at the moment.

‘I have to retreat if things?go south?in the lair of the Dragon of Death, even if this is my final life. Otherwise,?I might not only lose my life, but the lives of my comrade as well,’?he thought decisively.

They had already stocked up on supplies in the previous city, and they were fully prepared for the journey ahead of them.

Kang Yoon-Soo pointed at the abandoned mine that had the sun shining behind it, and signaled the start of their most dangerous journey yet by saying, “Let’s enter the abandoned mine.”

***

Deep within the first floor of the Kolod Abandoned Mine…

A crazed dwarf madly swung a pickaxe while shouting, “Yahoo! It’s a mineral! It’s a mineral, I tell you!”

“It’s always fun to mine! It’s a shame that we can’t get a cold mug of beer after, though!” another dwarf shouted.

Under the mind control of the mine’s owner, hundreds of dwarves dug through the mine for minerals and jewels. No one on the outside knew of their existence as they dug through a secret mineshaft.

At that moment, even as the dwarves were mining away excitedly with their pickaxes, the sound of footsteps noisily reverberated throughout the mine shaft.

“Alright! Intruders!”

“Wahaha! I’ll get to blow off some steam!”

The crazed dwarves were actually glad to encounter intruders, and they rolled up their sleeves in preparation for combat. Fighting was as delicious to them as the food of their hometown, and their muscles were extremely strong and tough due to the time they had spent swinging their pickaxes. Additionally, in a mine, dwarves were as powerful as elves would be in a forest.

“Wahaha! Let’s kill to our heart’s content!”

“I’ll be the first to crush their skulls!”

“Sometimes, blood hits the spot harder than beer!”

The crazed dwarves foamed at the mouth while cheering. Even though they were extremely confident in their ability to destroy the intruders, however…

“H-Huh…?” the dwarf at the forefront exclaimed as he was suddenly grabbed by a pair of rotten hands. Then, dozens of hands suddenly shot out of the darkness and grabbed the dwarf, dragging it into the shadows.

“Aaaak! Noooo!” the dwarf screamed, and the stench of blood filled the entire mineshaft.

The footsteps grew louder as the intruders finally made their appearance.

“Kuoooook!?Our lord has commanded us to kill every single one of them…!”

“Kaaaaak!?I shall offer my life for the will of my lord…!”

An unending wave of undead swept through the mineshaft like a tidal wave.