Chapter 20 – The Curse of the Catacombs

Joon-ho strode deeper into the Wailing Catacombs, the lingering mist clinging to his form like a second skin. The whispers of the dead grew louder, each voice layered atop another—pleading, weeping, cursing.

"This place is designed to break people."

A normal climber would already be shaking in fear, their mind fraying under the relentless pressure of the specters' presence.

But Joon-ho?

He had endured worse.

The faint glow of abyssal energy still pulsed from his dagger, a remnant of the Abyssal Fragment he had consumed earlier. The spectral creatures—Wailing Spirits, Tormented Shades, and Hollow Guardians—were now vulnerable to his attacks.

He would use that advantage while it lasted.

His steps were silent as he weaved through the narrow corridors, eyes scanning for signs of movement. The layout of the catacombs wasn't random—it was a labyrinth, designed to confuse climbers, leading them into traps and ambushes.

But Joon-ho's memories from his past life were still intact.

"There should be a chamber ahead—a mini-boss."

Sure enough, as he advanced, the fog thickened. The air grew colder, and the whispers stopped.

Then—

A low growl.

Joon-ho stopped. His grip tightened on his dagger.

Something was waiting for him in the dark.

—

Mini-Boss: The Bound Warden

A massive iron door stood before him, rusted and barely holding together. Carved into its surface were hundreds of names, etched in a language long forgotten.

Joon-ho exhaled and stepped forward.

The moment his fingers brushed the door—

BOOM!

It exploded outward, shattering into pieces. A hulking figure surged through the opening.

Towering at nearly four meters, The Bound Warden was an undead knight, its entire body wrapped in cursed chains. Glowing runes were carved into its decayed armor, and in its hands—a massive, rusted cleaver.

Its eyes, glowing with sickly green fire, locked onto Joon-ho.

Then, it roared.

—

[Mini-Boss Encounter: The Bound Warden (Level 35)][Warning: High Physical Resistance. Cursed Aura Active.]

—

"Physical resistance, huh? Then I won't rely on brute force."

Joon-ho reacted instantly.

[Phantom Step] Activated.

His body blurred as he dashed forward, slipping through the monster's blind spot. His dagger shot out, aimed for the gap in its armor—

But the Warden anticipated it.

A chain lashed out from its body—faster than expected.

Joon-ho barely managed to dodge as the chain sliced through the air, carving deep gashes into the stone floor. He clicked his tongue.

"It reacts quickly. Adaptable. And those chains—"

Another strike came.

Joon-ho twisted his body mid-air, flipping over the attack. His dagger struck out again—this time at the Warden's glowing runes.

CRACK!

A chunk of armor shattered. The runes flickered unstably.

"That's the weakness."

Joon-ho's eyes gleamed. He needed to break those runes.

The Warden seemed to realize this and roared again.

The chains on its body snapped loose, extending into the air and turning into whips. Each one moved with unnatural precision—like serpents hunting their prey.

Joon-ho's vision narrowed. He was outnumbered. He had to take control of the fight.

—

Breaking the Chains

The chains struck from all sides. Six of them.

Joon-ho moved.

He twisted, **sidestepped, spun—**his reactions were at the absolute limit.

The third chain nicked his shoulder.

The moment it touched him—a searing pain shot through his entire body.

—

[Cursed Bindings Applied: -5% Movement Speed]

—

"Tch. Even a graze applies a debuff?"

Joon-ho ground his teeth, but he didn't stop.

He had already marked his target.

As the Warden lifted its cleaver for a downward smash, Joon-ho disappeared.

[Spectral Dash – Blink]

He reappeared behind the Warden, mid-air.

His dagger descended.

[Judgment Strike – Focused Piercing.]

The blade drove into the center rune.

—

CRACK!

—

The rune exploded, sending shockwaves through the Warden's body. The chains around it rattled violently, their movements slowing.

"One more."

Joon-ho didn't hesitate. He landed, spun, and struck again.

The second rune shattered.

The Warden's body convulsed.

Its chains collapsed to the ground, losing their unnatural movement.

"Now it's vulnerable."

Joon-ho didn't give it a chance to recover.

—

[Fatal Execution] Activated.

—

A dark aura coated his blade.

Joon-ho dashed forward, a blur in the mist, and drove his dagger straight through the Warden's head.

—

[Critical Hit!][Mini-Boss Defeated!]

—

The Warden froze. The green fire in its eyes flickered—then vanished.

With a final, heavy groan, the massive undead knight collapsed. Its cursed chains disintegrated into dust.

Silence.

Joon-ho exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

"Too slow. I could've cleared that faster."

A golden notification window appeared.

—

[You have defeated The Bound Warden!][Rewards Unlocked:]

Cursed Warden's Sigil (A) – Grants resistance to cursed effects.15,000 Tower Coins.+4 Stat Points.**

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