The Prince Who Absorbs Abilities With a ‘Click’

Chapter 10: A friendship that promised eternity

[An intruder has appeared in the dungeon!]

At just the right moment, an intruder appeared.

“Good timing.”

This was the second time an intruder had appeared in the dungeon, but it was the first time I saw it firsthand.

Curious about how the dungeon’s defense worked, I immediately picked up my smartphone.

[The dungeon defense system is now active.]

[You, the master, can directly command the dungeon. Would you like to command?]

“Of course I will.”

If I was just going to watch, why bother playing the game?

When I tapped the screen, the dungeon’s structure unfolded in 3D, like a strategic map from a game.

It was like watching CCTV, with views of various areas appearing on the screen.

‘Is that the intruder?’

The entire dungeon layout, along with the intruders marked by red dots, was visible at a glance.

When I zoomed in, I could see the intruders more clearly.

There were three intruders—two men and one woman.

The men each held a sword and an axe, and the woman appeared to be a mage, holding a staff.

‘They don’t look like soldiers, maybe adventurers?’

The lack of uniformity in their gear indicated they weren’t soldiers. Of course, they weren’t private soldiers of any noble either.

They were probably an adventurer party.

‘I should have been outside the imperial palace at least once.’

Anyway, they proceeded forward, maintaining a cautious stance.

At that moment, the mage, who had been carefully inspecting the walls, stepped on a trap placed on the floor.

[One of the intruders stepped on a trap.]

[The intruder’s HP and morale are reduced.]

“She stepped on it?”

It was the moment when the trap I set through the black market merchant activated.

The mage, caught in the iron spike trap, staggered as the spikes pierced her ankle.

“So, how do we deal with this?”

She had been injured by the trap, but the intruder had not been defeated yet.

Then, a new alert appeared.

[It is now your turn. Please issue a command.]

[What strategy would you like to use?]

▶ Use monsters to repel the intruders

▶ Show mercy to the enemies

▶ Surrender

‘So this is how it works.’

There was only one choice available to me from the start.

“This is definitely the first one.”

There was absolutely no reason to show mercy to the intruders who broke into my dungeon.

And surrendering? That option wasn’t worth considering.

Once I made my selection, the next step began.

[Displaying available monsters.]

On the right side of the screen was a list of monsters I could deploy.

【Skeleton Gunner (C)】

Status: Combat Ready [HP: 100%]

Abilities: Precision Shot, Wand Wave

【Skeleton Knight (D)】

Status: Combat Ready [HP: 100%]

Abilities: Sword Swing

【Mimic (D)】

Status: Lurking [HP: 100%]

Abilities: Perfect Camouflage, Ambush

【Orc (D)】

Status: Combat Unavailable (Stomach Ache) [HP: 60%]

【Goblin (F)】 × 3

Status: Combat Ready [HP: 100%]

Abilities: Group Attack, Canned Lid Torture

…

…

“…?”

There was something strange among the list of monsters.

‘What is Wand Wave and Canned Lid Torture?’

Wand Wave was an ability of the Skeleton Gunner. And Canned Lid Torture was an ability listed for the Goblins, something I had never heard of.

‘And the Orc is unable to fight because of a stomach ache?’

I guess it’s a game thing. Such penalties exist, huh?

At least the only monster that was unfit for combat was the Orc.

‘Should I start with the Skeleton Gunner?’

I wasn’t sure about the skill level of the intruders.

Since they had fallen into a trap, they didn’t seem that strong, but it was always safer to be cautious.

“I can’t let my gold go to waste, I can’t let them just take it.”

So, I deployed my strongest monster, the Skeleton Gunner, who was also the dungeon’s master.

The command was simple.

I just needed to drag the screen with my finger and issue an attack command to the monster.

[Monster placement complete.]

[The Skeleton Gunner waves its wand at the intruders.]

[The enemies are confused!]

A strange song echoed inside the dungeon.

Magical Girl Linlinlin♥

Believe in the power of love ♬

The power of darkness will retreat♬

The light of peace will surround you ♥

“W-What is this…?”

Lisa, who was limping on one foot, turned pale as she stared at the scene.

It was a song in an unknown language.

She didn’t know what the song was, but the entire situation was so bizarre.

The green Skeleton wore a strange crown on its head and held an odd staff in one hand.

The staff itself looked bizarre as well.

A pink staff with hearts? Even as a mage, Lisa had never seen such a thing.

The overall atmosphere completely crushed their morale.

“W-What should we do…?”

Kane muttered, his hands trembling as he held his axe.

It was just a skeleton, it seemed.

But the strange atmosphere made him hesitate to attack first.

The color, the crown, and a pink staff? Which skeleton has ever worn a crown and wielded a pink staff?

He had hunted many skeletons in the past, but this was something new.

“L-Let’s run!”

Finally, unable to control his fear, Kane screamed and turned to flee.

“Stop! Kane!”

Ren shouted in panic, but it was already too late.

Bang— Bang—

The sound of a piercing shot rang through their ears, and a hole was made in Kane’s head.

He probably didn’t even realize he was dead, so fast was it.

“Kane…?”

Ren’s voice trembled. His companion, who had been alive moments ago, was now dead.

He didn’t even have time to scream before he lost his life.

“Ren, this is…”

Lisa said in a trembling voice. Her face had drained of color after the recent events.

“It seems the opponent is a Lich.”

“A Lich…?”

Ren was startled by Lisa’s declaration.

If it really was a Lich, stepping into this dungeon had been a huge mistake.

“…And not just any ordinary Lich.”

Lisa’s explanation continued.

“The problem is, I didn’t see it use any magic.”

Furthermore, there was no trace of mana being used.

No, there was no trace of mana at all from the opponent.

That could only mean one thing.

“Maybe…the opponent has surpassed the limits of magic.”

At those words, Ren’s face turned ashen.

If it was a great mage who had reached the peak of magic, the opponent wouldn’t be just an ordinary Lich. It could be an Arch Lich, something far beyond that.

A chill ran down his spine.

That’s when it finally clicked. Now he understood why the Empire’s soldiers had come all the way here but hadn’t eradicated the dungeon.

Should they flee now?

However, Lisa couldn’t run because of her injury.

And more than that, if they tried to escape, they would probably die like Kane.

‘Coming here from the start was a mistake!’

Ren regretted it.

He wondered if his own greed had driven his companions to their doom.

But not all was lost to despair.

“If there’s still hope…”

Lisa paused for a moment. Her hand gripping the staff was trembling.

“There is a way to trade with the dungeon’s master.”

Trade.

It’s about revealing each other’s cards and making a deal.

This was a method often used by skilled adventurers, where both sides benefited.

At the end, the dungeon’s master might beg for their life in exchange for valuable items, or vice versa.

In this case, it was the latter.

The ones begging for their lives were Lisa and Ren.

“A dungeon’s master with intelligence can negotiate.”

The opposing dungeon’s master must have intelligence to trade, but fortunately, a Lich is a highly intelligent monster.

“Especially a Lich… they are greedy for magical research.”

Here, Lisa placed her last hope. Then, slowly, very slowly, she kneeled.

“Lisa…?”

Ren blinked in surprise at her sudden action.

Why was she suddenly kneeling?

But Lisa was resolute.

“There’s no way for all of us to survive other than this.”

She bowed her head deeply, touching her forehead to the ground.

The cold sensation of the dungeon floor met her forehead.

“O great wizard…”

Lisa’s voice trembled, but she continued as respectfully as possible.

“Please…have mercy on this humble mage. I will serve you for life, so please, at least spare my companions…”

“Lisa! What are you saying!”

Ren interrupted Lisa and shouted.

All of this was something Ren had brought upon himself.

His greed had killed their companion Kane, and now Lisa was trying to sacrifice herself.

He couldn’t bear to see it. He couldn’t allow it.

If something happened to Lisa, Ren felt he would hate himself for the rest of his life.

Despite Ren’s shout, Lisa finished her plea.

“Please spare my companions, and take me instead, O great wizard!”

“No! Lisa is innocent! I will serve you! Please spare her!”

Ren also knelt down.

Lisa’s face showed clear signs of surprise at his actions.

And just as surprised as Lisa was, so was the Skeleton Gunner.

“……”

The Skeleton Gunner didn’t understand the situation.

He was not a Lich. He was a gunner who used firearms.

But being called a great wizard was ridiculous.

If his head weren’t a skull, a look of confusion would have been clearly visible on his face.

Of course, as the dungeon’s master, the Skeleton Gunner had the authority to listen to their words.

That was, of course, unless there was a higher being he served.

“……”

Without saying anything, he looked down at the humans.

The atmosphere didn’t match the lively tune flowing from the wand.

What should he do?

The answer was clear.

The god who watched over the dungeon and him had already given the command to repel the intruders.

Even though he hadn’t heard direct words, the Gunner could feel it.

‘…They do not wish for mercy.’

With that, their fate was sealed.

But they remained still in place.

There was no need to waste bullets while they were not moving.

If it weren’t for the Gunner’s evolution, he would have wasted bullets. But now, he had plenty of knowledge of firearms.

Instead, the Gunner went to the back and brought a box.

It was a Mimic.

However, the Mimic’s appearance resembled that of a treasure chest.

The Gunner placed the Mimic in front of the human named Lisa.

“T-thank you…”

Lisa, unaware that the box was a Mimic, bowed her head.

She accepted the box as a ceremonial gesture from the master who acknowledged her.

Without knowing anything, Lisa opened the box.

Kyaaak!

When she opened the box, something sprang up like a spring, shrieking.

It was a zombie head without a body.

It had been an item given to Kain by Kang Ha-yoon, and Kain had placed the zombie head in the dungeon.

And the Skeleton Gunner had simply kept it inside the Mimic.

“Gyaaak!”

Lisa, bitten by the zombie, screamed.

“L-Lisa!”

Ren rushed toward her, but it was too late.

Lisa’s skin gradually became pale, turning gray like a rotting corpse.

The vitality disappeared from her eyes, and they became dull and ashen.

“Lisa…?”

Ren was startled as Lisa changed strangely.

The zombies Ren knew were the weakest monsters.

Naturally, being bitten wouldn’t have a huge effect immediately.

But what was happening to Lisa?

It hadn’t been long since she was bitten, but Lisa’s appearance was changing strangely.

“Lisa… no…”

“Ren…”

A voice came from Lisa’s mouth. It was her final desperate gasp.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

Ren embraced Lisa, who had changed because of him.

But as he held her, Ren couldn’t see her face.

A moment later, a strange smile spread across her face.

“Kuoooo-”

Making a bizarre sound, she revealed sharp teeth.

Chomp-!

Lisa. No, what had been Lisa, bit into Ren’s neck.

“Ugh!”

There was no time to evade.

Her teeth sank deep into Ren’s neck.

Ren tried to run away from her, but his feet wouldn’t move. His body refused to listen.

Instead, his consciousness began to blur.

“Ah…”

Memories were fading.

Memories of Kane, memories of Lisa, all of them were disappearing.

At the same time, Ren’s skin began to turn pale like Lisa’s.

How much time had passed?

The beings that had once been Lisa and Ren began to wander the dungeon, making strange cries.

Now they could be together forever, as long as the dungeon existed.

It was an eternal friendship that couldn’t be achieved in life.

It was a friendship found only in death.

Magical girl Linlin♥ Linlin♥

Now, let us all be together♪

Let’s become eternal friends♬

In the quiet dungeon, only the song of the wand echoed.