Chapter 98: Giant Dungeon (1)
Ilsung Guild and Lavish Guild.
The moment news of the guild war between the two guilds broke, articles began pouring in.
[(Breaking News) Lavish Guild's flashy debut match? Ilsung Guild challenged! Will blood spill in a sibling rivalry?]
[(Breaking News) Reason for guild war revealed: scale of Ilsung's investment!]
[(Breaking News) Is Ilsung bold or insane? Betting 60 trillion on 20% stake in Lavish Guild…]
―?? Ilsung Guild vs. Lavish Guild?
―Yeah, at Sangam Awakener Arena. But what's with the investment amount? lol
―20% stake for 60 trillion? Didn't they buy 10% for 5 trillion last time?
―Right. But back then, it was just an F-rank record and nothing else. It's way different now.
―Cleared an A+ gate, Sword Sage joined. But 60 trillion? Do they even have that kind of money…?
―Ilsung has that much cash stacked up. They're cash-rich lolol
―3 trillion per 1% stake; insane;
―Kim Minwoo's market value alone is 100 trillion, you idiots lol
―Is Ilsung for real? Did they price it based on those national pride fanboys? lol
―Sorry;; I didn't expect them to value him at 100 trillion level… My chest swells with pride…
―Isn't this some tax loophole? Guild investments aren't treated as gifts, right?
―Dunno. Could be a tax dodge or not. But there'll definitely be backlash. Seems like they're overpaying…
―That's why the guild war? If they really take down Ilsung's first string, 60 trillion would be a bargain, no?
―100% stake at 300 trillion? That's world 1.5-tier guild value lol Ilsung is like 2.5-tier lol
―Sigh tsk, tsk. You gotta look at potential. Taking down Ilsung's first string means they could clear S-rank gates with just three.
―Yeah. High potential commands a premium—that's the way of the world. If they pull it off, the backlash will die down.
―Can they even win? Ilsung's perennial 5th place, but they're an impenetrable wall to lower guilds. They fight better than you think;;
―If they're exceptional, sure. But those three? Without Sword Sage, they're rookies awakened less than three months ago?
―They've got a shot. Kim Minwoo's summons tank, and in the meantime, the archer picks them off lolol
―What shot lolol One priest prayer and all undead crumble lolol
―Yeah. And guild master Cheolmin-ju is an S-rank achievement archer, you know? Korea's top-tier archer as breakfast?
―Kim Minwoo gets sniped immediately, everything reverse-summoned.
―Yeah, the archer will block all arrows with arrows lolol
―Watched too many movies? Hitting arrows with arrows? You think that'll work? lolol
―Kim Minwoo wields a sword well. He'll deflect them himself. I'm more worried about Siwoo; what rank is he really lolol
―For real lolol He'll probably be the first out. His level's not even that high.
―They think they're good 'cause we keep praising them lolol I'm A-rank and this is blatantly hopeless. Go home.
―Agreed. Wait a few more months. Kinda disappointing; momentum killer right when they're soaring.
Public opinion was largely the same.
Lavish Guild?
Sure, full of potential.
They cleared an A+ gate, stacked with super rookie talents.
But so what if the lineup's good. Seo Yerim joined less than a month ago.
She's barely switched to archer.
They haven't even had time to gel as a team.
Meanwhile, Ilsung Guild members?
Veterans who've synced up anywhere from years to decades.
Packed with high-rankers, top-tier gear.
Perfect synergy too.
Even if lower-tier, they've cleared S-rank gates multiple times.
That's the power of Korea's 5th-place first string.
And they're facing them?
No matter how tough an A+ gate is, it doesn't compare to S-rank.
This crossed the line, no matter how you sliced it.
It looked like guild master Kim Minwoo throwing a desperate hail mary.
That's why opinion was so negative.
Then.
[(Breaking News) Lavish Guild enters A-rank gate 'Land of Giants'! Assault team: just 3 members…]
Another breaking news popped up, heating things up.
―This their first guild activity? Practicing synergy before the war? lol
―Guild war in two days and they're syncing now? Chest swelling…
―Won't the guild war get canceled? Land of Giants map is narrow, but clear takes 3 days?
―Nah. Top-10 first-string could half-day it.
―First-string means 30-man full party, right? It's three guys lol
―They can bail midway. Good they're practicing now.
―Check gate clear time to see if they've got a shot.
―Half-day clear and it's legit.
―Half-day my ass lolol Stop chugging that national pride kool-aid ffs lolol
―Ah, is the bubble bursting like this?
―At least it was fun while it lasted? Cheers for now~
* * *
A scorching desert.
Sand-swept dunes stretched out.
Soon, the undead horde set foot on the sand.
Specters and skeleton swarms.
Cedric and Merhen too.
Thousands assembled in seconds. Cedric scanned around, his gaze landing on Seo Yerim.
―Changed classes?
“Yes. Kind of happened…”
―Good for you. Congrats.
“You've changed a bit too, Cedric.”
―That was the weird form. Park Siwoo, long time.
“Yes!”
The kid saluted energetically.
Then he eyed Merhen.
“But who's she…?”
―Legion commander like me. Merhen. Mage.
Merhen nodded.
“Wow, she's really undead? Looks totally human.”
―… Yeah. Banshee.
“Banshee? Nothing like what I know. You're stunning.”
―… Thanks.
“Just stating facts.”
Cheeky Park Siwoo greeted first, then Seo Yerim and Merhen exchanged hellos.
“Uh, hi.”
―Hi.
Faces familiarized.
“Alright, everyone. Let's hunt.”
The undead army and three humans marched the desert.
Moments later.
Seo Yerim, divine bow drawn, narrowed her eyes.
Her vision zoomed like a telescope, spotting far ahead.
Giants clustered in the distance.
“There, mobs. Four total. Priest, mage, warrior, knight. One each.”
“… Damn, archer OP.”
Park Siwoo muttered in awe.
No surprise—nothing visible where she pointed.
Just endless desert.
“Eh, that's archer basics.”
She shrugged, eyeing Kim Minwoo.
“So, Minwoo. Hunt plan? Want me to snipe one?”
“Think you can hit?”
“Yep.”
He nodded, pleased at her confidence.
How do you judge a top archer?
Usually by this.
‘Effective range.’
Range is an archer's alpha and omega. Seo Yerim teetered on the edge of elite.
Divine bow's massive buffs.
Extended vision, mana arrows flying farther than physical ones.
Sure, some S-rank archers match her.
‘But that's temporary.’
Potential gap too wide.
How do you beat an SSS-rank divine bow archery genius?
“I'll take the priest.”
“Okay.”
Bowstring taut. Mana arrow nocked.
Then.
Pew!
A faint whistle as the arrow flew.
Far-off giant pack.
A tiny hole pierced the giant priest's skull. Blood erupted; it crumpled dead.
Instant kill.
Panicked giants charged the arrow's origin.
Near-4m behemoths.
Each step whipped sand into storms.
Thud!
Thud!
“Grab more?”
Seo Yerim asked calmly, facing the snarling rush.
Helmed warrior and knight tricky.
But leg shots would cripple them before arrival.
“Once the pack grows. Siwoo.”
“Yes, bro.”
“Show me how much you've grown.”
“You'll be shocked.”
Grinning, Park Siwoo summoned his holy sword. White light, blade in hand.
“Here I go!”
Level-150ish swordsman charged three level-400+ giants.
[Giant mage casts Root Bind (A)!]
[Giant warrior casts Provocation (A)!]
[Giant knight casts Right Angle Slash (B)!]
Warrior's taunt.
Sword crashing at the pulled position, roots binding feet.
Clean combo.
Even solid A-rank swordsmen couldn't shrug it.
But Park Siwoo.
‘SSS-rank swordsman.’
Taunt hit due to level gap.
Body pulled toward shielded warrior.
Sword and magic poured in.
In a flash, he leaped, kicking the shield.
Midair root dodge, lightly parried knight's blade.
Slash!
Holy sword carved the giant knight.
Warrior desperately held aggro. Pity—taunt has cooldown.
Post-taunt warrior: paper-thin for seconds.
Exactly.
Slicing incoming spells or dodging, Park Siwoo demolished the knight.
Predicting taunts flawlessly—pure SSS-rank.
Knight soon collapsed. Next: interfering mage.
―Graaaah!
Lone warrior raged to the end.
‘Tough break.’
Warriors below DPS tier? Just meat shields.
Final warrior fell.
Three down in just over 3 minutes.
Park Siwoo, wiping giants, grinned over.
“How's that? I hold my own?”
“Better than martial artist days. You were a poke-poke noob then. Grown some?”
“Gate grinding nonstop—gotta show for it.”
Nod.
Rough skill check done. Time for party play.
Merhen, Cedric, Dolsae joined them.
“Sync up, everyone.”
They nodded.
Then: hyper-speed advance.
Pack spotted.
Priest sniped mid-charge, dead.
Mages? Merhen gestured—shields shattered.
Bonus: bloodied collapses.
Knight and warrior packs: Dolsae, Cedric, Park Siwoo.
Stalwart Dolsae tanked frontline barrage; seamless duo strikes bloodied giants down.
Four.
Eight.
Twelve.
Pack size swelled—no change.
From twelve, Merhen and Seo Yerim added active suppression—that was it.
‘This is auto-farm level?’
Just 2 hours.
Mid-zone long passed. Specters and skeletons unused.
Kim Minwoo idle too.
No blocks.
‘Maybe wrap in 2 more hours?’
Too fast—problematic.
Four hours total.
[Gate boss 'Giant Prince Operian' falls!]
[Gate clear rewards granted!]
Boss trashed, gate cleared. A-rank boss dragged mobs annoyingly.
Whatever.
EX + four SSS—how win?
Skull fodder exploded; core intact.
Park Siwoo beamed.
“Man, three-man clears rock. 10 levels in 4 hours. Sweet!”
“Yeah. So, another lap.”
“Huh?”
“Everyone's mana and stamina full. Time you leveled more.”
They exited; faced slack-jawed reporter swarm.
No wonder.
4-hour clear unthinkable.
Not even peak—full summons would blaze faster.
“K-Kim Minwoo! Quick interview…!”
“Later. Be right back.”
No chance to reply—they dove back in.
“Huh?”
“Uh?”
“What…”
Left in spring chill, reporters gawked mutually, dumbfounded.