ACT 2 Flood, Hell River (I)

Doppelganger?

Ark asked as he checked the information window.Even after seeing it with his eyes, he couldnt understand what had happened. All the information Ark knew about the doppelgangers passed through his head.In fact, the biggest reason the kingdom had for initiating martial law and closing the checkpoints was because of the doppelgangers.There was an outbreak of doppelgangers stealing the faces of travelling merchants and hiding in villages to eat the residents. But most of those incidents disappeared after martial law was initiated and the checkpoints closed. Ark had never seen an actual doppelganger so far

Then Alan also brought some doppelgangers into the secret dungeon?

Ark hurriedly looked around.Ark saw that of the dead Avenger members also had their bodies turn to dough.

They werent simply mixed in.Alan and all of the Avengers were doppelgangers.

The doppelgangers wouldnt have selfishly copied Alans appearance. Then the doppelgangers transformations must be due to Alans order. If thats the case?

This situation was a trap made by Alan?Ark thought of something and the hairs on his body suddenly raised.Alan had the doppelganger transform into him to lure Ark here!

The detachment should build a defense around Shambala and I!

Ark yelled before looking at Curio.

Curio, use satellite surveillance mode and look for Alans position!

Eh? Eh? U-understood!

Curio flew down from the ceiling and used satellite surveillance mode.There was only one reason Ark could think of for Alan to use the doppelganger to lure Ark to the battlefield.It was to hide behind the doppelganger for a surprise attack on Ark. So Ark immediately switched to a defense formation to prepare for Alans attack.However, the demons were the only ones to attack Arks group.

I cant see him.There is no signs of Alan on the battlefield.

Nothing? Thats impossible..

Ark became even more baffled after hearing Curios report. Why did Alan lure Ark to the battlefield if not to attack him? If it wasnt to lure him then why did the doppelgangers transform into him and exposed themselves?No, this was a good chance so where on earth was Alan?

Something..it must be something obvious. Whats going on?

-Kuaaaa!

Ark worried about it while attacking the monsters coming from all directions.Although the confused Cyclops were still running wild, sooner or later they would end up being surrounded by thousands of demons.

Jeez, what are you doing? This is the middle of enemy territory! Dont just stand there!

Shambala shouted as he fought the encroaching demons.However Ark couldnt easily decide his next move.Ark couldnt grasp Alans scheme for removing him for the fortress so he couldnt easily move.

It is imperative that I determine Alans location!

Curio, search the 60th floor thoroughly using satellite surveillance mode. Find Alan!

Ark shouted when he suddenly heard.

-Ark-nim, there is a surprise attack!

Boramaes voice shook his eardrums sharply. Ark flinched and looked at the fortress as he asked.

-Surprise? Surprise attack? What does that mean? The demons crossed the walls from outside?

-It isnt from outside. From behind..is it the Avenger guild!

-Avenger? That..

What did that mean?The Avengers suddenly appeared in the fortress out of nowhere?But Ark was surrounded by demons and couldnt properly determine what was happening inside the fortress.The situation wasnt calm enough for him to ask.

Everybody gather around me!

Ark shouted after hearing Boramaes words.At the same time, he used Demonic Distortion and dozens of cursed japtem flew from his bag.Ark used Demonic Distortion and swapped with the group of demons gathered by the wall. Even if he wanted to move inside the fortress, there were no demons inside for him to switch with.So Ark and the detachment suddenly appeared in a fierce battlefield.

Damn, theres nowhere to place my foot.Torrential Sword!

Maintain defense formation and retreat to the fortress. Riposte!

Ark, Shambala and the soldiers pushed back the demons and retreated to the fortress. But he couldnt see the Avengers that appeared inside the fort anymore.

Boramae, what the hell happened?

Ark ran up to Boramae and asked.Then Boramae answered with a puzzled expression.

It happened so suddenly that I dont understand the situation myself. Those guys appeared behind the fortress and headed towards the Hell Door. I belatedly discovered them but couldnt chase after them with so troops because of the demons attacks. And Ark-nim also left some troops to guard the Hell Door so

Where did those guys appear?

T-that is

Did they appear inside the fortress? Do you know how? The 60th floor is a valley! It is impossible to come here without climbing over the walls! Even if they used some inconspicuous method, hundreds of Avengers crossing the walls should be noticed

Ark shouted when he winced and shut his mouth.Then he looked around with stupid eyes before running somewhere. He rushed to the place where the Cyclops had thrown the giant maggots and examined the bodies of the dead Kurak.A desperate light filled Arks eyes as he saw the dead bodies.

This is..!

Ark murmured as he bit his lip.The demons all-out attack, the doppelgangers transforming into Alan to lure Ark out..the whole situation was for only one purpose.To allow Alan and the Avengers to infiltrate the fortress!Thats right. Like Ark said before, there was no reach for Alan to reach the Hell Door unless he passed through the fortress.The walls had various devices on them while the sky was blocked by the metal lattice.And even if some monsters crossed the walls, the Hell Door was defended by 400 elite members. There was no way for even an ant to enter the Hell Door unless the fortress fell.At least thats what Ark thought. But there was a gap. No, to be exact a gap had been made.Thats right. This battle had proceeded under Alans scenario from the beginning.

The attack on the fortress wasnt to prevent us from building it up.

That was what Ark had thought at the time.When Ark saw the strategy of the Cyclops and Kurak, he just thought that Alan was impatient.In fact, the strategy of throwing the Kurak into the fortress wasnt meaningless. It dealt damage to the fortress and the Kurak also shaved away some of the soldiers health.

But the Kuraks main purpose is different.

Main purpose?

The Kurak was used to secretly transport Alan and the Avengers.

Ark muttered sharply.

Transport? What..huck! D-dont tell me?

Shambala who was looking confused suddenly flinched as he saw the Kurak. He ran to the one of the Kurak and wielded his dagger.The side of the Kurak was split and revealed a large, empty space.The stomach of the Kurak was large enough that 10 adult men could sufficiently hide in it.

Unbelievable!

Shambala finally understood the situation.The Kurak were huge demons dozens of metres large. And they possessed the habit of swallowing their prey.Alan used this habit of the Kurak.Alan had divided the Avengers into units of 10 and put them inside the Kurak.Then the Cyclops had thrown the Kurak inside the fortress.Ark thought Alan was trying to damage the fortress and deliberately lured them to the rare of the fortress. The rear of the fortressright on the doorstep of hell.

At this point, Ark had already lost the battle against Alan.Alan had used Ark to help him infiltrate right to the door of hell.

However, there was a checkpoint Alan and the Avengers still had to cross before they could enter the Hell Door. It was the 400 elite members that Shambala had selected to protect the Hell Door.

Around 50 Kurak had fallen into the fortress before Ark had neutralized the Cyclops using Confusion. If he calculated that there were 10 in each Kurak, that was 500 Avenger members. If those many enemies launched a surprise attack then they could penetrate the elite crew.However, Arks group was inside the fortress.If Alans group conflicted with Ark then they would receive the concentrated attack of 1,500 people. If Alan died in battle then the situation would end.That was why Alan lured out Ark using the doppelgangers.

This is Alans plan. He knew that the doppelgangers would be discovered by Curio after the Cyclops became confused. Then I would obviously move out. And I would take some troops with me to deal with the doppelgangers. Meanwhile they can take care of the elite troops guarding the Hell Doordammit!

Ark cursed and kicked the Kuraks body.Thats right. While Ark and Shambala were dealing with the doppelgangers, Alan and the Avengers had strolled right through the door into hell.It was like the Trojan Horse in the myths.

Damn, then what did we do all that work for?

What happens now? We should pursue them immediately.

Boramae started calling for soldiers.

I will only pursue them with Shambala and the selected detachment.

Huh?

Weve only been able to stop the 6,000 monsters with 2,000 troops because of the fortress. The moment we give up the fortress then well become the demons prey. We have to defend the fortress until the very last moment.

This was also a part of Alans plan.Even if Ark read Alans movements, he would only be able to mobilize 400 people.Alans plan to tie up the ankles of the soldiers had worked.

Looking at the Kurak, Alan should only have 500 people. If I catch him before he floods the Hell River then I can win against those numbers. Shambala and the detachment will enter the Hell Door with me. Boramae, this is Alans plan so the attack from the demons will strengthen form now on. Defend this fortress unless I give any orders.

He didnt have time to consider various situations any more.Ark immediately led Shambala and the detachment through the Hell Door.It had been 5 minutes since Alan and the Avengers pass through the Hell Door. Yet when he had previously entered the Hell Door, he hadnt seen any device to make the river flood.He hadnt seen anything at the crystal temple that he destroyed.

Then the device which will flood the Hell River must be hidden somewhere. Hopefully Alan will wander around trying to find the device.

This was Arks only hope.But even those expectations were crushed when he passed through the Hell Door.

What on earth?

Ark muttered with a foolish expression. When Ark first came here, the Hell River had been right in front of the entrance. But now the Hell River in front of him was divided in half just like Moses divided the Red Sea.And a long passage stretched in the centre of the divided Hell River. One word floated in Arks head at the sight of the divided Hell River.

Hell Stone!

The Hell Stone was the mysterious artifact Alan had seized from Shangri-La. According to the information from the History Crystal, the Hell Stone had the power to control the Hell River. The Hell Stone parting like the Red Sea was due to the Hell Stone.

..Is it already too late?

The Hell River hasnt flooded yet!

Shambala tapped Arks shoulder while he was making a hopeless expression and ran down the passage.Ark followed Shambala using Sprint and muttered.

Yes, its stillnot over yet!

So they ran down the passage created by the split hell river. When the passage widened, an even more amazing scene appeared in front of them.At the end of the Hell River was the black crystal temple!The black crystal temple had been replicated at the end of the passage.And before the crystal temple..

Alan!

Ark cried out as he rushed down the passage towards the crystal temple. The person standing before an altar turned around.

Its too late.

Alan, the man wearing black armour muttered. Timosi and the 500 Avenger members were gathered around Alan.But Ark and Shambala werent looking at them.

W-what is going on?

One of the soldiers muttered with a puzzled voice.Ark flinched and took a step back as he saw a huge object in front of Alan.

Dukong, dukong, dukong, dukong.

A huge black heart was in front of Alan.It was a huge heart at least 10 metres in size!The heart was placed on the altar that was carved in the shape of a beast like an offering. The crystal temple vibrated with each pounding of the heart. Arks group was 100 metres away and they could clearly feel the vibration.Ark gazed at the heart warmly before beginning to talk.

You figured out my purpose and came here. But the heart is already in my hands.

Heart? Your purpose is the heart?

What was he saying?Alan made an absurd expression after seeing Arks bewildered look.

What? You didnt know about the heart? Then..aha, you thought I came all this way just to flood the Hell River and submerge Nagaran. Kukuku, what silly behaviour. I overestimated you. I thought youve changed but youre still just a little bug trembling for money. Well, okay. I will step on the bug and kill it.

Youre still chattering on. As you said, I dont know your purpose. But Im not interested. If youre going to keep on talking about your purpose then that will change. Talking like that is a big mistake.

Ark smiled and muttered.In fact, Ark had thought Alans purpose was to flood the Hell River. Then it wouldve been the end if Alan arrived at the altar first.But if Alan kept on talking about the heart then it changed. The heart that was 10 metres large was more like a structure then an item.In other words, a user would be unable to put it in their bags. The fact that Alan was watching the heart meant he couldnt place it in his bag.If Alans purpose was to flood the river then he wouldve already achieved it. However, it would be more difficult if he wanted to seize the heart.It meant Ark just had to snatch the huge heart.

If I stop him from getting the heart then I can prevent the river from flooding!

That was the reason Ark recovered his spirit.Then Alan giggled and said.

I know what youre thinking. But didnt I already say it? Youre too late.

At the same time, an intense glare occurred behind Alan. And intense sparks spread over the huge black heart and it disappeared.Ark, Shambala and their group couldnt understand what had happened. Wormer who was watching from behind ran out and shouted.

Ah! T-that..thats mine? It is my quantum transmitter that was located at my secret base!

Thats right. The device hidden behind the heart was the quantum machine that Wormer invented.The quantum machine had moved the heart somewhere else. But how did Alan get his hands on the transmitter?The answer was simple. Ark and Wormer had trapped Alan in the underground base.When they visited the base again later, Ark and Wormer found that all the inventions were smashed. The thing they hadnt considered was that Alan smashed all the inventions to hide that he stole the quantum transmitter.

Thats right. Alan ignored the troops and headed straight to the heart because he had the quantum transmitter. Damn, is he going to flood the Hell River now?

Ark considered the situation and quickly shouted.

Everybody, the target is Alan! Kill Alan!

I said it was too late.

Alan said as Ark and Shambala flew towards him.Alan laughed and laid a black stone on the altar. Then the altar made of bone split in half and revealed a lever.Alan pulled the lever and smiled.

Kukuku, this is my gift to you. Your ruin.

A red warning message appeared in front of Ark.

-The Hell Altar has been used!

The Hell Altar is the device to flood the Hell River.When the device is used, the magic of the Hell River will go out of control and will gradually rise. It cant be stopped until the whole area is flooded.