Chapter 298
Chapter: 298
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 298
>Chapter Title: Code Zero (3)
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>Seongjin’s party raced forward at a blistering pace, already halfway through the central maze. They hadn’t encountered a single crisis—no traps triggered, not even an alarm.
And it didn’t stop there. With precise instructions guiding their flawless teamwork, they had cleanly swept away every mob they met along the way!
‘This can’t be pure luck!’
Dexter adjusted his crooked goggles as he ran, his mind racing.
How many branching paths had they passed already? To navigate a maze that constantly shifted without a fixed route, never hitting a dead end, and progressing so smoothly?
‘Yi Seongjin, what the hell are you?’
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
Dexter gazed at the small mountain goat charging ahead with dignified strides, its cute footsteps echoing.
Come to think of it, this guy was the son of the highest authority in the Delcross dimension, right?
‘I figured he was just some spoiled brat relying on his father’s power, pulling scams without a care...’
But maybe there was more to it.
Once they logged out, he’d have to ask the elders about this kid in detail. Dexter resolved himself.
[This is getting too easy, isn’t it?]
[Stay sharp! We can clean them up on the move!]
[No room for complacency, but Guroop’s right—it doesn’t seem like we need to overdo the tension!]
At this rate, once they reached the boss room, they’d only need to worry about attacks from the remaining two directions.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief with that thought, but surprisingly, Seongjin—the one leading them—didn’t look so pleased.
“There are slight discrepancies popping up...”
“Huh? Newbie, what’d you say?”
“Nothing.”
Seongjin waved off Owen before turning to Dexter.
“Even if we’re faster than expected, time’s still tight. You know that, right?”
“...”
Dexter had been thinking the same thing.
They’d chosen defense for the sake of the party’s safety.
Pushing forward while smashing mobs that gathered en route. Then, after fully clearing the maze, holding a defense against the mobs that swarmed afterward.
If they had enough firepower and luck followed, which was faster was obvious.
‘He’s right. Defense time won’t vary much no matter how many times we do it. The key to our plan’s success is how fast we clear the maze at the start!’
From ‘shameless con artist’ to someone with odd talents and a sharp mind.
Dexter’s view of Seongjin was subtly shifting before he knew it.
[Guroopbaraguroop bigurooploop.]
Flash!
Seongjin’s eyes gleamed strangely again as he called for Guroop.
[Longbow squad next? Perfect! This body’s on it!]
Just being summoned, the bizarre ranger understood Seongjin’s words perfectly.
Wiggle-waggle.
He grabbed the bowstring with a ridiculous dance-like motion that could’ve been preparation.
[Going full power! Brace for impact!]
Right then.
Rumble-rumble!
An unexpected change hit the dungeon. No sooner had they spotted the distant squad than the maze shifted a beat too early.
[...?!]
[Whoa! Blocked off!]
[Fall back for now, Guroop!]
[What? It’s shifting too fast?]
Rumble...
By the time the maze settled, the orc longbow squad across the passage had already locked onto them.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Arrows rained down the moment the path opened.
[Damn...!]
Longbows were deemed inefficient in tight dungeons.
But in a straight corridor where closing distance was impossible, no arrow barrage was more threatening.
[Guroop! You need to hit them first! Even if we shield and advance, we won’t last long without clearing the ‘condition’!]
Shield warrior Titi thrust her shield forward and shouted, but Guroop shook his hair fiercely in refusal.
[Impossible here! Longbows outrange me! I need to push closer!]
Makes sense—Guroop’s weapon was a composite bow modded for power over range, the obvious choice for dungeons.
[Then what? Charge in like this?]
[Ask the wise Dexter! Got an easy strat?]
[Uh? Well...]
Dexter stared at the arrow curtain with a troubled look.
‘What’s this? The maze shift created a long straight path by chance. Now the orc longbow squad’s unleashing their long-range special skills. Can a maze even make space like this?’
Worse, their skill cooldowns were bizarre—the arrows felt densely packed.
“Their eyes are turning red...”
“...?”
Dexter turned at the mutter beside him. Seongjin was rubbing his eyes with a hoof, looking grave.
“Eyes? What eyes?”
“Theirs—they’re getting redder. You don’t see it?”
Dexter peered across in confusion, but the orcs’ fierce glares looked no different from before.
They were always red, right? What changed?
“But why do you keep rubbing your eyes? Something hurt?”
“No, it’s noise...”
“Noise?”
Owen gripped his axe and stepped forward.
[Why’s everyone panicking? We’ve had easy wins lately, but we can’t eat cake every time, right?]
[Owen?]
Maybe from years on the front lines, he showed no agitation.
[No point wasting time on tricks. Stick to the basics. Titi escorts Guroop as close as possible. Once in range, Guroop slips the shield and unleashes arrows!]
Titi eyed the front worriedly.
[But the moment Guroop drops the shield to attack, he’ll be exposed to their special skills.]
[Don’t sweat it. I’ll go with you.]
Owen rolled his shoulders, smirking.
[Right timing hits, I’ll War Cry first to draw their aggro.]
War Cry.
Basic aggro skill for melee warriors.
[...]
Silence fell as they stared at Owen. It was straightforward, but two big issues.
Titi’s shield protected only Guroop. And War Cry wouldn’t fully redirect the orc longbows’ heavy attacks.
Meaning Owen was volunteering to tank arrows bare-handed, drawing fire to himself.
[What’s wrong? It’s fine. Bound to happen in defense anyway...]
Tap!
[...Gah!?]
Mid-cheer, Owen clutched his forehead from a sudden hit and toppled.
‘...What?’
The blow shaved off some HP. For a split second, he thought it was a stray orc arrow.
Looking up in shock, the little goat glared murderously.
[You always pull this crap?]
[...Newbie?]
[And you nag others not to die, take care of themselves, all that BS? Total hypocrite!]
The rebuke was sharper than ever.
[No, Newbie. No choice, right? You shouldn’t damage party members in a pinch!]
Owen protested fiercely, but instead of words, another flick came flying.
[You deserve it!]
Tap!
[Ow!?]
Owen rolled on the floor again, clutching his forehead in bewilderment.
What? Just a flick, but can’t dodge? And it hurts this much?
Slither—beside him, a potion bottle wrapped in hair approached.
[HP recovery potion. Drink?]
[Ah. Thanks, Guroop.]
Seongjin eyed Owen pitifully as he chugged it, then turned to Titi.
[Titi. War Cry’s range? Can it hit them from here?]
The quick shield warrior nodded.
[Of course. It’s for wide fields mainly.]
[No need to escort Guroop in close. You and this idiot shield up here and cast it.]
[But Seongjin. Even if we draw aggro from afar, if Guroop gets closer, they’ll switch targets. War Cry’s strong, but not enough to ignore a close enemy.]
[But mid-switch, their arrow curtain will have a gap.]
Seongjin drew his beginner sword and called.
[Guroopbaraguroop bigurooploop. Follow me.]
[Guroop?]
[...?]
Before anyone grasped it—
Tap!
The goat kicked off hard and yelled.
[Ceiling run like before! Get behind them first!]
[Hey! Newbie!]
Owen scrambled up late, shouting—
Tap!
Seongjin was already on a wall relief, twisting to dodge an arrow, then leaping to the high ceiling.
Tap!
He landed at the passage corner—a blind spot barely escaping the arrow wall.
[...Dangerous!]
An orc archer spotting him loosed at the corner—
Clang!
Anticipating it, the goat parried with his sword, then leaped to the next lower corner. He’d nailed the tricky spot for bows.
Tap!
As everyone gaped at the acrobatics, the lady ranger brightly leaped.
[Got it! Leave it to me!]
Guroop’s was simpler—wall-climbing was his specialty.
Swoosh!
Aiming with arm and hair, he wiggled his remaining arm and legs grotesquely up the wall effortlessly.
‘...!’
Syncing with Seongjin, they zigzagged ceiling corners. Seongjin hid behind when he reached up, then darted opposite when down.
Slither—
Their movement was smooth as bugs crawling the ceiling.
‘...What the hell!?‘
Dexter gawked at the unimaginable sight, but the other silent villains seemed used to it.
[Newbie chews everyone out then dives in himself? What’s the plan?]
[Owen. Worry later—focus! Guroop’s entering range soon. Pull their aggro properly once so he can skill!]
After that, it was straightforward.
War Cry shook the passage. Orc archers distracted for that 1-second gap.
[Now!]
At Seongjin’s signal, ceiling-stuck Guroop yanked and released with hair.
Pew! Whiiiish!
Gurk...!
A massive whoosh—the lead orc archer died instantly. The arrow pierced and severed its throat perfectly!
[Yes!]
Condition cleared!
Confirming the mob melt, Seongjin kicked off the wall one last time.
Tap!
He softly landed behind the flustered orc squad, priority targets confused. Pure wall-running had flanked them.
Then it was melee spacing.
Seongjin kicked the nearest’s cumbersome longbow, exposing the carotid, and stabbed.
Stab!
Gack!
Critical hit—HP dropped two-thirds instantly.
Thud-thud!
But other orcs’ arrows finished it. Before they loosed, Seongjin yanked the knife, using the orc as shield.
Slither—
Bottomed HP melted to light. Cover gone, but Seongjin had charged in, stabbing another’s heart.
Stab!
[Newbie! Too risky! Don’t go solo!]
[Seongjin! Wait!]
Owen and Titi burst in behind, flipping the fight. They slaughtered like maniacs.
Thud! Smash! Spurt!
Owen pulverized heads one-shot with cracks, Titi swung her shield like a weapon, flattening archers.
The orc squad was wiped in seconds.
[This is...]
Dexter approached slowly, dazed at the anticlimax.
Fine for the others. But what’s Yi Seongjin? Moves like that? Delcross elite spawn?
Sensing Dexter’s suspicion, the bloodied-sword goat sheathed casually.
[All low-level mobs, right? Attacks predictable, no fancy skills. Simple AI—easy to handle.]
[...]
True—C-rank dungeon mobs were basic. No elite/boss complexities like skill absorb or damage reflect. Not much to calculate.
But.
‘Suspicious. You’re too suspicious!’
Dexter vowed to dig into him later.
* * *
No more snags after.
Maze shifts occasionally mistimed attacks, but they kept smooth offense.
Following Seongjin guaranteed no wrong turns. Time under estimate.
Dexter thought all smooth sailing. Except Seongjin’s mutters.
“Still within manageable range, still...”
Each time, unease gripped Dexter. Guy with inhuman feats repeating that unnerved everyone!
And unfortunately, reaching the boss room made it real.
Screee—
Alarm pierced ears as boss room opened abruptly, a massive orc bursting out.
Groooar!
“...Orc King? Why now?”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each heavy step shook the dungeon.
Dexter’s mind blanked too. What? What’s this? I never...
[Everyone, snap to it!]
A voice pierced, jolting him.
[We planned for three-way attacks from the start! Right?]
[Seongjin...!]
[Central clear, so just sides, boss—three fronts!]
Dexter couldn’t speak.
No, Seongjin. Boss is different. AI different. Not simple rock-paper-scissors!
Yet Seongjin’s words carried strange power stirring Dexter’s chest.
[Just run defense as planned! Leave the rest to me!]