Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Dungeon Breakthrough Event
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Chapter 141
Yuseong was diligently hunting in Arc, just like always.
It had been quite some time since he started hunting monsters in areas far beyond his level. His plan had succeeded, and his leveling speed was terrifying.
By now, the regular field mobs roaming this region posed no threat, so he was delving into dungeons to hunt monsters.
If he kept at it steadily like this, he’d reach the front lines in no time. Even the viewers watching his stream were sticking out their tongues in amazement at his leveling pace.
He had just completely cleared one of the dungeons known to be the easiest in this area and was about to ramp up the difficulty when—
“Hmm?”
Yuseong had stopped by the city for a quick resupply, and his eyes caught sight of something unusual. People were gathered in the city center.
“What’s that?”
[Huh? You don’t know, Yuseong?]
He still had his stream running. Confused, Yuseong got explanations from his viewers. With everyone chiming in at once, it was a chaotic mess, but he could still make sense of it.
‘So, basically, it’s a dungeon breakthrough event?’
Arc often hosted these large-scale events. Sometimes Utopia organized them internally, or companies sponsored them for advertising with Utopia’s cooperation.
This one was exactly what it sounded like: a dungeon breakthrough event.
Identical dungeons would open in the central plazas of every outpost in Arc. People would compete to see who could clear the deepest floors.
[You should’ve gotten a system notice.]
“Hmm, a notice...”
Yuseong opened his message window. There it was, right at the top.
“Yeah, there it is. I don’t usually check them, so I missed it.”
He’d checked a few times at first, but the minor notices weren’t important, so he’d stopped paying attention altogether. Besides, the strategy guide would notify him of anything crucial.
[LOL yeah, that makes sense.]
[How many people actually check notices anyway?]
[It’s been a pretty big topic online, though.]
Yuseong was one of those people who didn’t even browse the internet. More precisely, he couldn’t.
‘I’ll have to check it out next time I head to that world.’
He’d already grown quite accustomed to that world, and the time he spent there—and how often he could go—had both increased.
If it were back then, he might’ve spent any internet time eating more delicious food or taking in more sights instead. But now, he had the spare moments to check online.
‘I should join the event, right?’
It was an obvious chance to boost his visibility.
[You gonna participate?]
“Of course. That’s it for today’s stream, then.”
Streams were not allowed during dungeon breakthroughs. No recording devices of any kind were permitted inside.
It was all to keep things as fair as possible. Of course, they couldn’t stop people from talking, so some info would leak out inevitably.
Yuseong headed straight to the shop to gear up. He stocked up on potions and ammo—consumables. Fortunately, any items used or destroyed inside the dungeon would be restored upon exit.
Once fully prepared, Yuseong returned to the event site.
“Hey, isn’t that Yuseong?”
“He’s joining the event?”
“How far do you think he’ll make it?”
Curious gazes turned toward Yuseong. He approached the dungeon entrance. At some point, the crowd around him vanished—he’d entered the dedicated zone.
“Welcome!”
An NPC standing in front of the dungeon greeted him energetically.
“Player Yuseong. Here for the event, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You can enter anytime! Good luck for a great record!”
The NPC cheered him on with programmed pep and charm. Yuseong didn’t spare it a glance as he stepped inside.
A vast cavern opened up. An iron door that looked like the exit stood opposite. And in the center of the cavern lurked a familiar monster.
Giant Sewer Rat.
‘How long has it been?’
The first monster he’d faced when starting Arc. Memories of his old self surfaced, and Yuseong let out a smirk. Back then, it was a desperate struggle just to survive day by day—nothing like his current life of abundance and hope.
He absently touched his mouth.
‘Was I smiling?’
His facial muscles had moved unconsciously. Yuseong felt a bit unsettled by his own change.
‘Back then, I only smiled at good food or loot.’
Was this the effect of having some leisure?
‘Not a bad thing, I guess?’
People in that world laughed, cried, got angry, rejoiced—expressing a full range of emotions.
‘Yeah. If I’m going to live there, it’s better to show more emotions.’
Accepting the change positively, Yuseong drew his sword.
‘Waste of ammo to use my gun on Giant Sewer Rats.’
He couldn’t restock ammo until he exited the dungeon. Better to conserve as much as possible. Sure, if he took damage and had to use potions, it’d defeat the purpose—but Giant Sewer Rats weren’t a real risk.
‘Can retry as many times as needed. If I don’t like it, just do it over.’
Yuseong charged at the Giant Sewer Rats.
-Screeech!
The Giant Sewer Rats bared their sharp incisors and lunged at him.
Crack!
He drove his sword into the forehead of the lead rat. It let out a dying screech and collapsed. The others seized the opening to swarm him.
But Yuseong swiftly yanked his blade free and swung at the rest.
-Screeech!
-Grah! Graaah!
For a brief moment, the cavern echoed with the rats’ screams. But it didn’t last long.
Giant Sewer Rat corpses littered the ground at Yuseong’s feet.
Rumble!
The iron door opposite swung open. He’d cleared all the monsters—the path to the next floor was open.
Yuseong checked his HP in the status window. He hadn’t taken a single hit, but better safe.
‘All good.’
His red HP bar was full, untouched.
Yuseong descended to the next floor.
For a while, he cleaved through obstructing monsters using only his sword. He hadn’t encountered anything yet requiring his gun.
It was after descending a few more floors.
‘That thing.’
Yuseong was mildly surprised. A single monster blocked his path. A familiar face.
‘The Relic of the Hidden Sage.’
The very first bonus boss he’d hunted.
‘Didn’t expect them to throw in bonus bosses too.’
But the surprise faded quickly. He’d beaten it at level 10. Now, nearly four times that level, there was no reason to fear it.
‘Gun time?’
He hesitated briefly, but his hand never reached for his holster. Bonus bosses were said to be about 10 levels above the recommended challenge level.
Meaning this one was around level 20. He could handle that with a sword.
Whoosh!
Yuseong charged first. The Relic raised its halberd high and rushed him.
Boom!
Sword met halberd. Back then, he’d poured every effort into dodging that halberd. Now, the Relic staggered, unable to withstand Yuseong’s blade.
‘Weak.’
It was certain. The Relic was no longer a match for him.
Bang! Bang!
Yuseong dominated in power and speed. Unlike before, the Relic flailed helplessly, dragged around by his strikes.
Thud!
Moments later, Yuseong’s sword plunged into its torso, and it fell.
The door to the lower floor opened.
‘Definitely stronger now.’
Even if it was just a game character and not his real self, it felt good.
After that, Yuseong continued downward, felling monsters with his sword.
He first drew his gun against goblins. He handled them decently with his sword, honed from upper floors, but fighting endlessly without skills was tough.
Thwack!
A goblin’s short sword jabbed at his coat. The custom Cooking Day coat absorbed most of the damage, but it was a sign it was time for his main weapon.
Yuseong tossed his sword aside and drew from his holster.
Bang-bang-bang!
Flames spat from the barrel in bursts. The goblins charging fiercely snapped their heads back and crumpled.
The iron door opened.
Casually reloading his spent magazine, Yuseong headed down.
Once he started using his gun, his clearing speed skyrocketed beyond comparison.
Not just trash mobs—even bonus bosses he’d beaten before and ones from distant regions he hadn’t appeared.
But none slowed him. Yuseong carved through like a hot knife.
Past floor 50, though, he began taking damage. Monster levels spiked sharply. Still, using special ammo and skills, he pressed on steadily.
His advance halted at floor 58.
Thud!
A massive arrow slammed into his torso. Several more stuck in his arms and legs. HP drained rapidly. Yuseong clicked his tongue.
‘End of the line here.’
His red HP bar vanished, and his vision shifted. He was back in the cityscape before entering the dungeon.
Dungeon entrance.
Yuseong checked his inventory first.
‘All restored.’
As promised, items were back to pre-entry state. Armor durability fully repaired.
‘A few more tries?’
No item loss anyway. Plus, post-50 floors featured monsters he’d likely face later. Good to get experience now.
Yuseong turned and reentered.
* * *
Event results updated live on the Utopia homepage.
The instant a player fell, their cleared floors, ID, level—and guild if applicable—posted.
Naturally, focus was on top ranks with deepest clears.
But as always, some scrolled down out of curiosity.
Some spotted Yuseong’s name. They spread the word, and it went viral fast.
Yuseong’s final clear wasn’t impressive. Top rankers had breached 100 floors, some even deeper.
Yuseong peaked at 61.
The issue was his level.
Most who reached 61 were level 60+. Lowest was 55. Yuseong? Just 41.
Utopia had stated pre-event: floors matched recommended levels. Floor 1 for Lv1, 10 for Lv10, 100 for Lv100. So 61 was for Lv61.
Yuseong had cleared nearly 20 floors above his recommended.
The internet filled with awe for him once more.
And Willie glared at those reactions with cold eyes.