Blazing Peak (2)
This raid dungeon was the Blazing Peak.
True to its name, it unfolded in an extreme volcanic environment.
Amusingly, the gate leading into the dungeon was set up in a mountainous area.
Stepping into this lush expanse of verdant foliage led straight to a volcano with rivers of hot lava flowing down its slopes.
"One final check right before entry. Each squad, confirm your comrades' conditions."
At Robert's calm words, the team members turned to each other and began their inspections.
Check, check, check.
It had been a nonstop series of checks from the moment they left the guild until now.
The Night Team hunters wore impassive expressions, as if it were routine.
Tzzzz.
Kim Sun-woo lightly circulated his internal energy to assess his physical condition.
He'd pulled all-nighters for days practicing martial arts in the database, but a good night's rest the previous day had restored him to peak form.
His new gear showed no issues, and the Black Flow Sword at his waist exuded its usual commanding presence.
"......"
Robert's sharp gaze, which had been scanning the team, landed on Kim Sun-woo.
The Blazing Peak was a C-rank dungeon, but it wasn't as dangerous as other C-ranks.
It was just right for a first training raid.
Normally, they'd bring a support team of low-rank hunters, but in the Blazing Peak, they'd only get in the way—so the assault team was operating solo.
Kim Sun-woo, with his decade as an F-rank hunter in joint raids, knew the lay of the land better anyway.
"Everyone's good. Let's enter."
With Robert's command, the 22 hunters crossed the gate together.
The lineup consisted of two C-ranks, six D-ranks, and fourteen E-ranks.
Even among main assault teams, there was a clear hierarchy of skill.
Parties made entirely of A- and B-ranks were rare enough to count on one hand.
Only top-tier guilds could field such rosters.
Mugung Guild's elite squad mixed A-, B-, and C-ranks, led by Guild Master Han Kang-sik.
The rest were evenly spread across B- and C-ranks.
A-ranks were practically strategic weapons on their own, so public opinion held that they were more efficient solo.
Robert shared that view.
'A solid few beat a mediocre crowd.'
From their perspective, he was in the same boat.
But he had no intention of settling for team leader.
Promoting to B-rank within the year was his primary goal.
Flash!
The air shifted the instant they entered the gate.
From the mild breeze of the mountainside to the acrid stench of volcanic fumes.
A scorching gust slammed into their faces.
Blackened earth, fissures spewing lava, gently rising slopes, and far above, a towering peak.
Flash!
From the sky-scraping summit, waves of lava churned and rained down toward the slopes.
A sight perfectly matching the name Blazing Peak.
Facing this harsh environment for the first time, Kim Sun-woo wiped sweat from his brow.
'Without artifacts, I'd be cooked the moment I stepped in.'
They'd barely taken their first steps, yet the atmosphere was already ominous.
The main assault team and high-rank hunters must frequent places like this.
A quick glance back showed the hunters nodding casually, chatting as if it were nothing.
"Whew, still as brutal as ever."
"Entry route looks like D-Route. Not bad."
"We'll set up base camp before advancing. Stepping on a dummy trigger could draw monsters."
"Got it."
Raid durations varied wildly by dungeon.
Some wrapped in hours, others took a day, two, or even a week.
The Blazing Peak usually took two to four days.
With luck, the shortest route to the boss at the peak's end could cut that short.
"This spot looks good. Base camp here."
"Got it! Everyone, move!"
At Robert's designation, the hunters sprang into action.
Roles were pre-assigned.
Some stood guard while others assembled gear into a camp.
No amateurs—the tents for twenty rose in thirty minutes.
Flash!
A mage erected barriers around the tents and detection spells for enemy approaches, completing the base camp.
Thud.
Having stowed all but essentials, the hunters emerged lighter, ready to go.
"Sun-woo, you familiar with the Blazing Peak?"
"Five starting routes, right? We're on D-Route now. Relatively easy, but watch for Red Drake triggers. That's what I remember."
"Spot on. Worst case, the ground crumbles—no camp, not even advancing. We're lucky this time."
"What's a trigger, though? It just says be careful—no details."
"Random."
"......Random?"
Robert nodded serenely at Kim Sun-woo's question.
"Step on a rock pile, make too much noise, smell blood—they wake up. That's why you watch every detail on this route. Still, as dragons, they're tough opponents......"
Tough hides, sturdy bones, overwhelming power and mass that crushed rock effortlessly, and superheated breath.
One of the Blazing Peak's top threats in terms of conquest difficulty.
The rewards weren't even great, so avoidance was the norm.
Even encountering one would drain stamina and supplies.
"Everyone, stay sharp. Report anything off immediately."
The Night Team began ascending the peak.
The entrance was a gentle slope—not bad terrain.
Unless you slipped into a nearby lava flow.
Whoosh!
Another heat wave rolled in.
The higher they climbed, the fiercer the heat.
Far beyond what ordinary humans could endure.
A few breaths, and your insides would cook.
"......"
No one showed strain.
All were pros who could handle this with ease.
"Su-ah, you okay?"
"A bit hot, but fine. Came prepared."
Sweating Han Su-ah grinned at Kim Sun-woo's question, flashing her bracelet.
No guild mark—priest artifact.
A.M. initials caught his eye.
Essential Armory, the Hermes of artifacts.
Even with his settlement, he couldn't afford one.
True to her lineage, she was well-equipped.
'No need to worry.'
She probably had more artifacts.
With healing and buffs, excessive concern was unnecessary.
Nodding, he returned to formation as Robert spoke.
"Well done. Checking team status is a leader's duty."
"How's the Night Team?"
"No issues. They're trained to report anything unusual. They know one overlooked detail can doom us all."
Robert's faint smile radiated unmistakable pride and trust.
......Can I build a team as reliable as Robert's?
Kim Sun-woo trudged on, vaguely picturing his future team.
Thud.
At some point, the slope leveled to near-flat.
Kim Sun-woo halted, scanning around.
'The raid guide definitely said......'
The ground rumbled suddenly, rock chunks erupting upward.
Thud. Thud.
A 3-meter humanoid rock mass slowly rose.
"Granoss! Everyone, careful!"
Granoss.
The most common monster in the Blazing Peak and volcanic zones.
Made of local granite and such, they overwhelmed with durable bodies and sheer mass.
Boom!
A rocky arm slammed the ground.
But the hunters had anticipated it, leaping aside.
Thud. Thud.
Not just one Granoss.
More rose everywhere, red eyes glaring at the hunters.
"Three per group on Granoss! Sun-woo, support the others!"
Per Robert's orders, hunters grouped in threes, engaging the Granoss one by one.
Rock monsters took damage from blades, so most weapons were maces or flails for blunt force.
Whoosh, thud!
After a Granoss strike, there was a brief opening.
Hunters exploited it masterfully, smashing joints and weak points.
Crack.
A Granoss with shattered legs collapsed forward.
Then they hacked relentlessly.
Tat-tat-tat!
Kim Sun-woo dashed through the hunters.
'They're handling it well.'
No real support needed.
Veterans of this dungeon, they had the upper hand.
So his role was...
Shiiiik!
New Granoss rose beyond the engaged ones.
Kim Sun-woo kicked off toward them, thrusting his sword.
Slash-slash-slash!
Weapon limits? Overcome with skill.
The Black Flow Sword tore the Granoss apart, reducing them to primal rubble.
"......Whoa, you're good."
"Martial arts, right?"
"Don't get me started. Our team leader's initiation..."
"No chit-chat during raids."
Robert's stern glare made them flinch and refocus.
Shiiiik!
Then fireballs plummeted from the sky.
Born of lava, floating high and raining it like bird droppings—a Flamewing appeared.
"Flame Division! Dodge!"
An unexpected ambush.
Hunters clustered behind shieldbearers.
But some couldn't escape, pinned by Granoss.
"......!"
Desperation etched their faces.
Granoss strike or incoming lava?
Two sharp whistles pierced the sky.
Thud! Thud!
The falling lava clashed with finger winds, bursting like fireworks midair.
"Whew."
Kim Sun-woo flicked his fingers cowboy-style and flashed a grin at the hunters.