"Listen carefully. I'm not repeating this."
The whole group started to clump up as Minjae expanded the built-in mapping system.
"The Dungeon is divided into 6 different areas: The Main Nave, Left and Right Wings of the Chapel, Bell Tower, Underground Crypt, and the Gardens where we were just at.
With two fingers, he motioned them onto the UI, immediately zooming to where they were.
"Right now, we're closest to the right wing and Bell Tower, which gives us two main advantages."
"First, the right wing has relatively easy mobs to clear. Park Ara, I want you to stay there for a while and level up."
"Got it," she nodded before slightly tilting her head. "How long should I stay there?"
"You'll be our late-game carry, so just stay safe. If anyone tries to provoke or bait you into the main nave, don't fall for it and just run," Minjae said decisively before swiping the screen to the side.
"Now, for the Bell Tower—" he started.
"You want me there, don't you?" Hyunwoo cut in, zooming in on his own without any input. "The Bell Tower has the high ground advantage and has line of sight into the Gardens."
Not bad, his gamesense is actually pretty decent.
"You're right," Minjae confirmed. "I want you to stay here and try to annoy anyone who comes into the Gardens, most likely their Scout. If they start farming there, try to steal as many kills as you can."
Hyunwoo nodded, already mapping his path to the Bell Tower.
Minjae turned to the two remaining Players. "Park Minseok, be the 'midfielder', help Park Ara farm and rotate to the Gardens if Hyunwoo sees anyone."
"Why the hell should I listen to you?" Minseok remarked. "How do I know you're not just making us look bad so you can take that recruitment spot for yourself?"
"Tch…" Minjae immediately walked up and grabbed him by the collar. "You think I'm as petty as you are? Get a fucking grip. If you wanna even THINK about getting to the next round, you'd better listen to me."
"Fuck, get off of me. Fine, I get it. This better not be bullshit."
"Good," Minjae said, already looking back at the map.
"Uhm…" a small voice accompanied with a light tap on Minjae's shoulder got him to turn around.
Kim Jiwon, who'd now lost all of her bravado, was now looking like a lost puppy.
Is she…scared of the place? Well, it is kind of scary but how could you aspire to be a Player if you're scared of this?
"Uhm…" Jiwon repeated, "where—where should I go? With Ara right? To help her farm as we usually do?"
Minjae closed his map, already sure of the plan that he was about to execute. "Nope, you're coming with me."
"Wha—what?" Jiwon blinked, completely caught off guard by the announcement. "I'll just be a burden to you, I really think I should—"
Minjae stepped forward and firmly placed both hands on her shoulder. She flinched a little but avoided eye contact.
"Look, I was scared on my first scrim as well. But once you do it enough, it'll get better. Everyone's gotta pull their weight if we wanna win."
That seemed to restore a bit of her confidence, as she slowly nodded and repeated what Minjae said but slowly under her breath.
"Everyone know what to do?"
All at once, the group nodded. Minjae exhaled a sigh of relief before turning once toward the main Cathedral.
"Then, let's win."
***
Minjae and Jiwon moved through the Cathedral quickly, stepping past the Gardens and into arguably the most important area of the entire Dungeon—the Main Nave.
It stretched out before them like the hollowed-out corpse of something that had once been sacred. Rows of wooden benches lay scattered across the stone floor, overturned as if a violent struggle had torn through the hall long ago.
Between the benches lay scattered remains, mostly bleached bones and half-tattered robes that hinted at what this place used to be.
But at the far end of the room, where the altar was, lay the number one objective of this Dungeon: The Fallen Archbishop.
Suspended just above, wrapped in layers of pale strands, was a massive cocoon, pulsing faintly as if the thing inside it was still alive. Jiwon covered her mouth, holding her breath as if even the slightest sound might wake whatever was inside it.
"Relax," Minjae whispered. "It's not active yet. We've got about five minutes until shit really hits the fan."
"I—I really don't like this. Why are we even here, Minjae-nim?!"
He didn't answer, eyes immediately scanned the area until it locked onto the altar—more specifically, the top of it. Where he expected there to be a key was completely gone.
I knew it. He really did send someone here.
"Come on, let's go."
"Wha—?!"
Minjae grabbed her wrist and pulled her along before she could protest, making their way to the side of the nave. After walking for a few seconds, they'd finally found it.
A small hatch that led downward was already wide-open. Minjae slowed as he approached, shaking the ladder that led down to test structural integrity.
But as he did, faint echoes drifted upward. Two voices could be heard below, echoing through the area.
"…There's someone down there," Jiwon whispered instinctively.
"Quick, follow me," Minjae whispered as he slid down the ladder in one smooth motion.
"Ohh…I hate this…" Jiwon frowned but did as she was told, copying his movement and nearly tumbling downwards if not for Minjae catching her.
Immediately, her eyes widened as she realized where they were. At first glance, it might've looked like a wine cellar, with two rows of wooden racks lined neatly against the walls, stacked from floor to ceiling.
But instead of wine bottles…each and every shelf was filled with skulls—hundreds, maybe even thousands of them.
"Don't tell me…" Jiwon whispered.
"Don't talk now, and use the built-in text system. We're trying to be sneaky here," Minjae responded.
"But yes…"
"We're in the Underground Crypt of Amon…and we're not alone."