Defense Formation
“Think an old retiree like you can stop me?”
Kim Se-wi glared at Go Cheolmin.
“This should be fun.”
“……”
Kim Se-wi didn’t like that response. Fun? In a situation like this? Was rational thinking beyond him now?
To finish him in one blow, he aimed Dark Hand at the man’s shoulder. It was a feint, meant to draw out a reaction. If Go Cheolmin dodged left, right, or back, the real attack would follow.
Go Cheolmin, who had torn off his shirt and wrapped it around his arm like a towel, caught the Dark Hand and yanked it toward him.
Damn!
Kim Se-wi lowered his center of gravity, but the brute force dragged him forward. Changing tactics, he kicked off the floor and aimed for Go Cheolmin’s throat with his heel.
It was Horyeon Kick, using the heel like a blade.
Go Cheolmin chuckled and lifted the bundled cloth upward, pulling the Dark Hand along with it.
Damn!
Kim Se-wi aborted the kick. One wrong move, and the Dark Hand—his own hand—might get severed.
His stance crumbled, balance lost in an instant, and Go Cheolmin drove a fist into his armpit. As Kim Se-wi reached with his other hand to grab it, Go Cheolmin kicked his gut and retreated.
They glared at each other and clashed again.
The distance between them: barely a meter.
Their exchanges were too fast for the eye to follow.
Choi Muhyun roared as he charged in, unleashing Geumgang Fist.
The signature golden aura of the Moon Shadow Geumgang Heart Technique erupted. Perfect timing—a sneak attack he’d be proud to show his father.
Huh?
Yoo Gwanho slipped past the golden fist like an eel.
It felt empty.
How could a human move with such speed and flexibility?
Hard to believe even seeing it.
Even more astonishing was his approach, swaying side to side at blinding speed. It didn’t feel real. Choi Muhyun tried to activate a defensive skill, but the timing slipped away.
The jackknife plunged toward his gut.
Throwing pride aside, Choi Muhyun dove to the floor and rolled. He didn’t fully evade it.
His clothes tore with a sharp rip.
A chill—the jackknife’s signature—brushed his back.
…Trying to help’s just gonna embarrass me.
Choi Muhyun kept rolling across the floor. No time to check Yoo Gwanho’s position; he just rolled and rolled.
He felt a scorching heat.
Lifting his head, Choi Muhyun spotted an incoming fireball.
Yoo Gwanho flinched and retreated, grimacing. He’d realized stabbing Choi Muhyun’s back would wrap him in flames.
Boom!
The fireball slammed into the floor.
The heat made Choi Muhyun’s face burn. Barely standing, he gave Yoo Min-jeong a thumbs-up.
Whew, he’s insanely fast. No wonder Jun held his own against that monster.
Choi Muhyun glared at Yoo Gwanho.
Yoo Gwanho was looking back—not at him, but past, toward the rear.
Yeom Sang-taek, who’d been watching like a spectator, rushed to Kim Jun’s side. The man was on the verge of collapse; Yeom laid hands on him, casting healing magic.
Choi Muhyun now understood why Kim Jun had broken Yoo Gwanho’s ankle. Without sealing that movement technique, countering—let alone attacking—would be impossible.
Stealthily, Choi Muhyun formed Moon Shadow Rope.
The skill that had given Kim Jun his first sweet victory would work on Jushin’s dealer too. Transforming part of the elongated rope into a lasso, Choi Muhyun felt like a cowboy roping a wild horse.
“I’ve got this.”
Yoo Min-jeong stepped forward.
“Huh? Oh.”
The resolve in her voice made Choi Muhyun nod, though he doubted she could handle it alone.
Debates raged even now on mage vs. warrior matchups, but consensus held: it came down to maintaining distance.
In that light, Yoo Min-jeong beating Yoo Gwanho’s speed seemed unlikely.
Choi Muhyun gathered his inner energy, ready to assist anytime.
That instant, seven Fire Arrows launched.
They streaked toward Yoo Gwanho, who zigzagged relentlessly. As he backpedaled, they curved to pursue.
Choi Muhyun was speechless.
This isn’t a dungeon. Spamming magic like that… she’ll burn through mana, maybe even trigger disorder. What’s her plan?
He shifted slightly to check Yoo Min-jeong’s face.
No pallor, no dulled eyes. She looked composed, even relaxed.
How?
He recalled the strange flames on her hair and clothes, and the earlier explosion. No time to ask, but she’d clearly burst that heat, breaking the acupoint strike.
Level up?
Level-ups sometimes brought odd phenomena.
Choi Muhyun remembered his own: from Level 8 to 7, blinding gold light enveloped him, inner energy nearly doubling.
Maybe that was proof Yoo Min-jeong had advanced a rank.
She was currently a Level 6 fire dealer.
Level 5 now…? That stung his pride a bit. Level 7 to 6 was catchable; 5 was another story.
Yoo Gwanho, fleeing the pursuing Fire Arrows, hurled his jackknife at them.
It flew on its own, colliding with a pop. Singed but intact, it smashed the rest and returned to him.
Yoo Min-jeong didn’t flinch.
A smile tugged her lips as she spread her arms wide. Crimson fireballs formed in each palm.
Double Fireball!
The right one flew first.
Yoo Gwanho stood firm until the last second, then vanished with his signature footwork.
Choi Muhyun expected the second fireball. But Pink’s dealer twisted her extended right hand. The fireball, about to hit the floor, arced and chased him.
Choi Muhyun marveled again.
Fire Arrows with auto-targeting, now controlled Fireballs too. Not homing like arrows, but pursuit by those destructive orbs would chill any foe.
Yoo Min-jeong smiled and lobbed the left fireball.
It flew straight at Yoo Gwanho’s face.
Caught between two fireballs, he was trapped.
Then Yoo Gwanho grinned wide.
Choi Muhyun thought, Crazy bastard.
But he retracted it. Yoo Gwanho veered right—toward resting Kim Jun. The blazing orbs followed.
“Dodge!”
Choi Muhyun yelled.
Startled, Lee Taeseop and Yeom Sang-taek hauled Kim Jun aside.
Yoo Gwanho charged Kim Jun.
The pursuing fireball.
Choi Muhyun glanced at Yoo Min-jeong. Arms extended, straining to control it—not easy. One was impressive; two was expectedly tough.
“Hoo.”
Exhaling, Choi Muhyun wedged between Kim Jun and Yoo Gwanho, instantly erecting Geumgang Barrier.
Yoo Gwanho’s cold gaze grazed him, fixed on Kim Jun.
The fireball struck the barrier.
Boom!
Pushed back a meter, but the first was blocked. The second was the problem.
Kaboom!
The barrier shattered. But no searing burn—the pinnacle of pain.
Lee Taeseop stood beside him. A pale green shield before him had caught the spillover as the barrier crumbled.
He knew from the TV show King & Queen: this guy was Raider King. TT7 slated for Cheonhondan. Why here? Not urgent now.
No introductions needed.
They knew each other. Choi Muhyun nodded at Lee Taeseop; he nodded back.
“Muhyun!”
Choi Muhyun whipped around.
Yeom Sang-taek pointed at Yoo Min-jeong.
Dodging a Fire Arrow, Yoo Gwanho’s jackknife grazed her side. Blood soaked her clothes fast—deep wound.
Choi Muhyun bellowed and charged.
Lee Taeseop guarded Yeom Sang-taek and Kim Jun, anticipating a rush.
The bastard was too fast.
Geumgang Fist, Geumgang Kick—no Moon Shadow Geumgang Heart Technique attacks landed. He adapted to her Fire Arrows and fireballs, chuckling as he struck back viciously.
Wounds multiplied.
Finally, Choi Muhyun realized: he could have inflicted lethal blows but toyed with them deliberately.
His aura differed when targeting Kim Jun.
It’s because… I’m my father’s son. Yoo Min-jeong’s Yoo Wan-seop’s daughter. He never meant to kill us. His target’s Kim Jun.
In that moment, Choi Muhyun saw through Yoo Gwanho’s scheme.
Exposing gaps on purpose to separate him and Yoo Min-jeong from Kim Jun. Rushing back, a jackknife blocked his path.
Yoo Gwanho headed for Kim Jun.
Lee Taeseop blocked with Woowon Barrier. Green shield up. Yeom Sang-taek stood by the tanker, hand on shoulder, casting helper magic. The barrier’s color deepened noticeably.
That won’t hold! He’s no monster—he’ll flank and strike from behind.
Grinding his teeth, Choi Muhyun rushed to help, but it wasn’t enough. Should’ve learned footwork sooner. The heart technique had an excellent one.
Moon Shadow Step.
Soundless movement like moonlight shadows—top 100 movement skills per Dungeon Association, but too hard; he’d never tried.
Unlike monsters, Yoo Gwanho smirked, grazed the green shield, and slipped behind.
Now he’d hit the exposed rear, take out Lee Taeseop and Yeom Sang-taek, then Kim Jun.
Yoo Min-jeong fired Fire Arrows, but the jackknife intercepted.
Choi Muhyun glanced at the guild master.
Locked with Kim Se-wi, no spare to help Kim Jun.
Then, from behind Lee Taeseop and Yeom Sang-taek, Cheonroegeom thrust out, targeting Yoo Gwanho’s chest. Yeon Ga Shipil Geom’s first form, Yeon Leaf. Perfect angle and timing forced him back.
“Kim Jun!”
Choi Muhyun shouted at his friend.
Kim Jun raised Cheonroegeom.
“Defense formation!”
Choi Muhyun got it instantly. The leader calling his team. Emotion surged, eyes nearly tearing. He dashed to the tanker spot.
Yoo Min-jeong took rear dealer position.
Side felt empty. Choi Muhyun eyed Lee Taeseop. Hesitant but he joined.
Reassuring.
Proper defense formation needed double tankers.
Yeom Sang-taek grinned to buffer spot by dealer.
Kim Jun stood behind dealer and buffer.
Choi Muhyun glanced at lone Hwang Myeong-su. No core extraction needed, but solo was risky; better join as carrier.
Yoo Gwanho circled at distance.
Kim Jun leaned to the tankers’ ears and whispered.
“Like with that punk team leader earlier—the Medici leader—make a Moon Shadow Rope trap. As sturdy as possible. Can’t match his speed, but traps at chokepoints will catch him easier. You got this?”
Choi Muhyun burst laughing at “punk.”
Next instant, shock: Kim Jun had watched his actions amid fighting Yoo Gwanho.
“Possible, but that punk’s sharp. Takes time too.”
“There.”
Choi Muhyun nodded at Kim Jun’s pointed spot but couldn’t grasp why. Trusting the plan, he began weaving Moon Shadow Rope bit by bit.
That voice drew Kim Se-wi’s attention.
“Defense formation!”
Taking a thigh kick from Go Cheolmin, he checked Kim Jun. The scattered fighters against Yoo Gwanho rallied to him. They’d fight as a team.
Ridiculous.
But grasping the implication late, rage boiled over.
To Choi Muhyun, Yoo Min-jeong, etc., Kim Jun should be a newbie Raider fresh from awakening tests—a “junior.” Yet at his command, they snapped to positions like it was drilled.
Kim Jun was already the team’s core.
Uramata’s guild master knew—endorsed it. The guild recognized him as team leader.
Proper guidance grows kids right.
If the guild master taught straight, this wouldn’t happen.
Don’t blame Kim Jun.
Go Cheolmin was the true villain!