Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 208 - 180 Artorias (8000-word merger)_2

Chapter 208: Chapter 180 Artorias (8000-word merger)_2

But unexpectedly, he had actually come face to face with the real thing here!

Dal’s expression became excited, and he opened his mouth to speak.

But what could he say?

About modern affairs? That they were living well now surely meant that the Abyss had been suppressed, which would definitely comfort the other party.

The Fran Undead Team? If Artorias knew that such a group of people revered him and carried on his legacy, what kind of expression would he show?

The people’s reverence for him? Well, he was probably already used to being respected, but saying these things would likely make him happy.

However.

When the pervasive dust cleared and Dal truly saw Artorias’s figure, the words he had brought to his lips were abruptly stuffed back down.

A black aura was emerging; Artorias’s body was trembling.

Something was very wrong with him, extremely wrong!

His left arm dangled unnaturally, swinging listlessly with his movements, seeming completely powerless, as if...it was broken!?

Not only his left arm, his entire armor was covered with wounds!

Bites from monsters, slashes from claws, attacks from magic, and more were unnatural dents from bludgeoning! These scars, blended with the mottled armor over time, had caused a great transformation in the knight’s disposition—desolate, tragic.

He looked as though he had received an incurable serious injury?

His arm was broken, his armor was damaged, his Big Shield was gone, and even his companion Shif’s whereabouts were unknown. This sight was so disheartening that one would be reluctant to associate him with the valiant Wolf Knight from the paintings.

However, these were not the main point. The most alarming thing was—the Abyss.

Why was the Abyss emerging from Artorias!?

"How could this..."

Dal spoke with difficulty, retreating involuntarily. Why retreat? Was it the fear of the Abyss’s power or the reluctance to accept the reality he was seeing?

What he had been looking forward to was meeting the spirited Wolf Knight, listening to his teachings, feeling the ancient legends.

Why did he have to witness this incomprehensible scene!

His sword-wielding hand trembled, the sword’s tip clattered to the ground, and the jarring sound made Artorias’s sanity slip for a moment. He swung the Great Sword fiercely, flinging the monster’s corpse towards Dal!

Danger!

Dal dove to the side just in time to avoid the monster’s impact.

But this tremendous force hit the decaying walls of the arena, causing the rear of the building to collapse, completely cutting off his retreat.

But now he had no time to think about escape because Artorias was charging at him.

Jumping, spinning, and slashing his sword, as agile and savage as a wolf, Artorias performed a move Dal had seen countless times in his memory—the Wolf Jump!

He was going to die!

Watching the Great Sword about to cleave his face, Dal’s body wouldn’t even allow him to react, his mind barely registered the danger signals.

He was going to die right there—

"Bang!"

A tremendous force suddenly struck his abdomen, and Dal was hurled through the air like a battered sandbag, crashing heavily into the wall.

"Cough, cough..." Blood spurted from his mouth. He clutched his belly, trembling continuously, but his gaze turned toward where he had just been.

He saw clearly what had just happened.

In the nick of time, Artorias had reversed direction, not only failing to hit, but instead kicking him away, completely distancing him from danger, which was himself.

"Leave!" This time, Artorias roared at Dal to drive him away.

Dal looked at him absentmindedly. Ordinary people, when eroded by the Abyss, often go mad instantly, especially when such a vast amount of Abyss was present, but Artorias was still able to suppress it with his will, even if it was a fragile balance that could be broken at any moment.

What a strong will that must be.

Dal clearly knew that he should leave.

His presence not only couldn’t help suppress the Abyss but would only cause more trouble. Even the slightest collision of the sword blade with the ground could lead to a loss of control.

He needed to run, to run as far away as possible, to a place where he wouldn’t disturb Artorias.

But...

A thick fog completely enveloped the arena. Dal was very familiar with this—it was the Fog Gate that appeared in the Sain Dungeon when entering the Boss Monster’s room.

That meant, he simply couldn’t leave!

Dal looked at the Fog Gate, feeling that if there were an intelligent Observer in Sain Dungeon, they must be mocking his helplessness at this very moment.

Seeing his idol corrupted by the Abyss, constantly in agony, what could be more pleasurable for a Sadist?

He clenched his teeth; the pain made him more alert. A bold and reckless idea gradually took shape in his mind.

"I always feel I’m slow, or should I say, low in emotional intelligence, always unable to help, but this time..."

Dal leaned on the Fran Greatsword, staggeringly standing up, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with bits of flesh.

Truly worthy of Artorias; one kick had nearly killed him. Who other daring fools would challenge him?

"Go...quickly..." Artorias seemed about to lose control again. He was angry—why wouldn’t Dal leave? Was he waiting to die?

He had always been waiting for someone strong enough, someone who could eradicate the Master of the Abyss.

That’s why he was guarding this place—not only to fend off those who strayed into danger but also waiting for the person of destiny. At that time, he wouldn’t need to suppress the Abyss anymore and could ask that person to grant him a death befitting his status.