Chapter 123: Cursed Land (2)
The three dots on the map drew closer.
It seemed the guild members were smartly adjusting their directions.
As they pressed forward across the pitch-black ground.
‘Hm?’
They ran into a group of awakeners.
Judging by their looks, they seemed to be from the American side.
“Hello.”
He greeted them.
“Kim Minwoo?!”
The three awakeners’ gazes locked onto him.
His exploits had spread far and wide overseas. The records he’d set so far were proof enough.
He’d set a world record starting from level 1.
When he was known as E-rank, he’d cleared an A+ gate.
And that wasn’t all.
He’d smashed a guild’s first-string forces with just three people.
It could be luck once.
But repeated proof was skill.
On top of that, he’d plastered massive ads in Times Square to boost his fame.
It wasn’t strange that the American awakeners’ eyes sparkled like they were meeting a superstar.
“Kim Minwoo?! I-I’m a huge fan!”
“Even fans from another dimension. I’ve gotten pretty big, huh.”
“Merhen, Cedric! You too!”
The warm chat didn’t last long.
They quickly turned professional and got serious.
“…You know how things are going, right, Minwoo?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“What’s your plan?”
“We offer sacrifices. To the black magicians.”
Their eyes sharpened at “sacrifices,” but softened instantly when he added “black magicians.”
“Same goal, then. If you’re okay with it, we’d love to team up…”
The American awakeners’ eyes turned pleading. They hadn’t faced the black magicians yet, but they had a sense of it.
From the ominous land to the monster slumbering inside.
The black magicians who’d claimed this place weren’t pushovers.
When in doubt, assume the worst to live long.
Running into Kim Minwoo in that situation?
He was a lifeline.
At least more trustworthy than the black magicians demanding sacrifices—fellow Earthling and all.
“Sounds good.”
He nodded readily.
He had to fight those black magicians anyway. More allies were always better.
‘They all seem decent enough personality-wise.’
Making it through the qualifiers meant they were top-tier A-ranks.
Naturally, they’d pulled in plenty of talented people for later.
Kim Minwoo knew them somewhat. That’s why he accepted so easily.
“Let’s go.”
For nearly half a day, they kept picking up awakeners they found and merging groups.
Three Americans, one French, one Indian.
Before they knew it, their party had ballooned to five.
As a bonus, there was one unpleasant piece of news.
“…I lost response from my teammate.”
“…Same here.”
The French guy and the Indian. He’d wondered why they were scouting alone so vigilantly.
The responses on their maps had vanished.
‘They’re already on the move?’
Sticking together came first.
Soon, every member of Lavish Guild gathered in one spot.
Each with their own cute little bumps attached.
Seo Yerim first.
She’d rounded up a bunch from other countries—about seven.
Park Siwoo brought five, a bit fewer.
“Bro!”
Park Siwoo came running right over.
“As expected of you, bro. I knew you’d gather everyone. I did good, right?”
“Yeah. You’re a bit of a showoff.”
“Ahem. Our guild’s reputation is something else. The second I said I was linking up with you, they all begged to party up.”
He seemed even prouder of his guild now.
“Siwoo.”
“Yes, bro.”
“What’d you buy from the shop?”
“Light bombs. That weird bear doll kept sending odd signals, so I just grabbed some.”
Park Siwoo’s prelim rank was 3rd.
Over a million points meant two bombs.
Seo Yerim had snagged light bombs too—three of them.
‘Add my six…’
The Korean party now had 11 light bombs total.
Kim Minwoo nodded in satisfaction. Soon, all twenty awakeners gathered.
Americans, French, Japanese, Canadians, Filipinos, Indians…
Nationalities were a total mix.
Didn’t matter.
‘They all speak the language.’
That’s why the prelims made language a thing.
Without it, things would’ve been a mess.
“Glad to meet you all. Kim Minwoo here.”
The awakeners nodded.
Among them, no one else matched his fame or skill for leadership.
Well, there was that mystery figure with 15 million points…
“Uh, hold on.”
Sophia, the American mage, shot her hand up.
Her eyes sparkled as she asked.
“The number one spot—is that you?”
Everyone’s eyes filled with intense curiosity.
They’d all wondered inwardly.
Too awkward to ask outright, but she’d opened the door.
Now just the answer.
All eyes fixed on Kim Minwoo’s mouth.
“Yes, it’s me.”
Cleaner than expected.
He admitted it straight.
“…For real?”
“Yes, for real.”
“…How?”
“Probably did well?”
Her cheeks puffed at the vague reply.
She didn’t press further.
Curious as she was, she was a seasoned awakener. She knew the vibe.
Prying more would be rude bordering on offensive.
Him admitting first place was a bonus already.
Her eyes sparkled.
‘He really got 15 million points?’
Could be a lie, sure. But if it was, who took first?
Divine Archer maybe.
No rebuttals, so probably not.
Some third-party Korean outsider?
Nah, Kim Minwoo hiding his strength for first was way more believable.
‘Either way…’
15 million was off the charts.
Intriguing.
Very.
Not just Sophia. Most awakeners there felt it.
‘For real?’
‘If real… total freak…’
Roughly that vibe.
Then.
Clap!
A palm slap echoed. Kim Minwoo smiled faintly at the gathered stares.
“Shall I explain the plan?”
“The plan…”
“Save as many awakeners as possible, catch the black magicians, sacrifice them. Not bad, right? But ending there feels kinda lame, no?”
“…?”
“Easy jobs always give easy rewards.”
…Easy?
Smashing the black magicians who’d kidnapped their comrades?
Normally, even Kim Minwoo would seem arrogant.
But 15 million points blocked that thought.
Would he get that for free?
No.
He was hiding more.
A lot more.
“You all know? Hit a million points, special shop unlocks.”
“Uh…”
“Y-yeah, sure…”
Awakeners who hadn’t even neared a million mumbled awkwardly. Ignoring it, Kim Minwoo continued.
“Bought some good bombs there. Throw ’em, boom—light explodes. Solid power. My guild grabbed some too, so we’ve got plenty.”
Eyes grew serious. At first, they thought for black magicians, but he’d called those lame ages ago.
“You’re saying… we go for the monster sleeping here?”
“You all catch on quick. Nice.”
“…You heard its roar, right…”
“That’s why I’m saying this.”
He figured it was doable.
Sure, way stronger than Duke Timorn.
But 11 light bombs.
Duke went down in two. Why would this underground one be different?
11 light bombs + two guildmates + all these awakeners.
Plenty of firepower.
‘Even if variables pop up…’
They had a nuke variable too.
No friendly fire, so worst case, just blow it.
‘I’d rather save it.’
Wasteful here.
Anyway.
To hunt the monster, convince the awakeners.
Everyone knew unsealing was risky. Do it solo, backlash outside.
Reveal the score for that.
15 million points.
Must’ve gotten perks.
Perks like that make the monster doable, right?
Remind them it’s a winnable game.
“Hmm…”
Awakeners pondered.
‘Kim Minwoo’s not wrong.’
Hunt black magicians and the sealed monster?
‘Huge rewards possible.’
Koreans take the big prize, sure—they prepped tools.
Still tempting.
‘He’s confident, that’s why.’
Big crumbs fill you up.
“Alright! I’m in.”
Sophia jumped first.
Soon, all agreed.
“Then let’s go bag some black magicians.”
Faster than hunting stragglers.
Catch ’em all, no sacrifices needed—safety guaranteed.
They’d pinpointed locations via map lights.
All blinked out heading one way right before dying.
‘High chance they’re there.’
The awakener group moved out.
* * *
The Chinese awakeners captured by Mortan.
A day later, uncontainable joy lit their faces.
Stigma in their hearts, power shot up vertically.
Groups they’d struggle with? Smashed instantly.
“Bro, this is insane!”
“…Don’t get too happy. Who knows what those black magicians did.”
Even Liu Wei couldn’t fully hide his excitement.
‘How’s this possible?’
Ten caught already, body still fresh.
Fighting pumped dopamine like crazy.
Whole body itched.
‘Wanna fight.’
Vent this overflowing power.
Too excited was bad, but…
‘This much is fine.’
Good thing, really.
Prove use, keep fighting orders.
Better overflowing zeal than none.
Then.
Liu Wei’s pupils narrowed.
His hawk-like eyes caught the approaching awakener group.
Leading was a very familiar face.
‘…Kim Minwoo.’
Liu Wei ground his teeth.
Remembered that smug attitude from prelims.
If not for that damn bear doll, he’d have crushed him.
If alone, he’d charge now.
But unlike previous grabs, this was a proper group.
Easily over twenty.
Overpowered by stigma or not, three vs. that was suicide.
‘Hold. Alert black magicians, then move.’
Mortan and strong ones.
With them, nothing uncatchable.
No—had to.
Survivors outside? Traitor talk everywhere.
‘Perfect. Wipe them…’
Already ten grabbed.
Down Kim Minwoo’s crew, rest are scrubs.
Hunting eases.
“Let’s go.”
Liu Wei turned.
At the temple soon after, he bowed deep to Mortan.
“Found them. But over twenty strong…”
Mortan’s eyes gleamed.
He’d heard from them about intruders.
Total fifty.
Twenty was the biggest pack.
‘Faster cleanup than thought.’
Worth moving personally.
He stood.
“Let’s go.”
Black magicians and Chinese awakeners moved.
“Found ’em. Come as you will.”
Mortan’s form turned transparent in a blink.
Liu Wei shivered watching.
‘That old monster—what is he?’
Even ‘Hawk’s Eye,’ a druid skill, saw nothing.
‘Perfect invisibility?’
Terrifyingly potent. Backstab success 100%, right?
Felt right path again.
Better bow to that freak than fight.
‘Closing distance by now.’
Sure enough.
Mortan appeared right in Kim Minwoo’s face, hand thrusting.
Speed too fast for normal awakeners.
Black mana cloaked his hand.
Liu Wei’s eyes lit.
‘Kim Minwoo, you’re done…’
Then.
Just before black magic burst, mana on his hand vanished clean.
Slash!
A neck flew skyward in an instant.
“What the—?”
―I dunno. Idiot?
Merhen shrugged as she said it.