Snake Formation and the Nuclear Threat
A business card with just a name and phone number plainly printed on it.
‘Yang Hee-seon? What kind of grandma is she?’
“See you again.”
The old woman grinned and strode off, swinging her bag.
Kim Jun tucked the card into his back pocket and returned to the alley, retying the sandbag wedged in the corner around his body.
He emerged from the alley and broke into a run, his mind already turning over how to tweak his training regimen.
Running early in the morning felt refreshingly invigorating.
Even better was how easily he overtook the people running ahead of him.
No one jogging along the Han River could keep up with Yoo Min-jeong's pace. The defeated glances they shot as she breezed past tasted like sweet chocolate.
The classical melody ringing in her ears.
A sharp violin leading the Passacaglia.
It felt like the music itself was blessing her sprint!
After finishing her jog, Yoo Min-jeong headed to the parking lot. She turned off her music, grabbed a towel from the car, and wiped her neck. That's when a man in training clothes approached.
“You run really well.”
A smile handsome enough to pass for a movie star.
“Do I?”
Yoo Min-jeong smiled back.
“Uh, if you have time, how about a cup of coffee with me?”
“No time.”
“Ah, not now, but later…”
“No time later either.”
Sliding into the driver's seat, Yoo Min-jeong drove out of the lot with a sly grin.
She'd kick a truckload of guys like that, but the lingering pleasure of his friendly approach stayed with her like an aftertaste.
Then, an annoying carrier popped into her head.
If that guy was the sun, Kim Jun's looks didn't even qualify as the moon.
“He's an asteroid. An asteroid.”
Yoo Min-jeong burst into laughter.
Glancing at her watch, she pictured Kim Jun still racing toward the guildhouse.
Wonder how far along he is.
She abruptly U-turned, then questioned why she even cared and U-turned again.
Arriving at the guildhouse, Yoo Min-jeong stepped out in high spirits, bag in hand. As she entered, she felt eyes on her and looked up.
“Master?”
Go Cheolmin sat midway up the metal stairs to the master room, waving down at her.
“Come up for a sec.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, got something to talk about. Before the others show. By the way, Jun's running late today.”
Go Cheolmin scratched at the flesh between his side and hip with his nails as he headed up to the master room.
Yoo Min-jeong tilted her head. Go Cheolmin had never called her up that early in the morning.
Something big must be up.
Being recognized as a core raider felt great, but his casual worry about Kim Jun instead of noting her early arrival was a bit disappointing.
Well, Master's just a gruff uncle type.
As Yoo Min-jeong entered the master room, the scent of green tea wafted into her nose.
Master drinking green tea this early? Must be serious.
Yoo Min-jeong tensed.
“You know the dungeon opening's been decided, right?”
“Of course.”
Yoo Min-jeong couldn't hide her excitement.
She could never forget the Devils Day catastrophe from the grade disturbance, but for a raider, dungeons were destiny.
“You gotta pass the test first.”
“Test?”
Go Cheolmin explained how struggling guilds had borrowed funds from the Dungeon Association, leading to the appointment of inspectors.
He also warned her that the Association, desperate to prevent another Devils Day, might revoke licenses from weak guilds via these tests.
Yoo Min-jeong absorbed the shock and spoke.
“How many guilds are in the test?”
“32.”
“...That's a lot.”
“More collapsed from Devils Day.”
“I see.”
Not just Jushin—even giants like Cheonhondan had wobbled, but small guilds with just one or two teams had mostly vanished. Knowing the situation well, Yoo Min-jeong approached it realistically rather than angrily.
“When's the test?”
“Three days. Your team should breeze through it. What I want is promotion.”
“License upgrade, right?”
“Yeah.”
Go Cheolmin grinned widely.
Having to take a test as a level 6 dealer was annoying and humiliating, but a higher license grade meant... access to tougher dungeons... She'd take that test as many times as needed.
That's what Yoo Min-jeong thought.
Descending from the master room, Yoo Min-jeong headed to the showers, stripped, and turned on the water.
Cold water cascading over her body.
Her mind sharpened.
She had to pass the test—not just pass, but with top scores, ideally first place.
That would upgrade the license.
Rushing through her shower, Yoo Min-jeong pondered how to break the news so the team would buckle down and train like it was real combat.
That's when Kim Jun stumbled in, panting hard. His whole body was soaked in sweat.
He collapsed on the floor and closed his eyes.
Yoo Min-jeong approached and looked down at him.
“Get up.”
Kim Jun opened his eyes.
Yoo Min-jeong's features loomed larger and closer than usual. Her big eyes gave her a somewhat monstrous vibe.
“Why?”
“Cool down slowly so your muscles don't seize. Better overall conditioning too. And from now on, avoid running on roads with cars. Too dangerous.”
“Your face is huge.”
Kim Jun stood, shuddering past a shivering Yoo Min-jeong, and headed to the showers.
Yoo Min-jeong glanced around, then checked her face in the wall mirror.
What's huge? If anyone's smaller-faced than me, step up. Simulator Kim Jun's better anyway. At least he's obedient there.
An idea struck Yoo Min-jeong.
Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek, and Kim Jun each warmed up and trained differently. Tanker, buffer, carrier—their dungeon roles demanded varied methods.
But the warm-up phase could be unified. That would give the team more cohesion.
When Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek arrived and Kim Jun emerged from the shower, Yoo Min-jeong shared the idea. Her expectation of enthusiasm proved wrong.
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek looked indifferent.
Kim Jun was pretending not to hear.
“This is an order as team leader.”
Their expressions changed at that.
Better.
Yoo Min-jeong smiled. She'd tell them about the test after training—decision made right then.
“Formation Snake.”
Yoo Min-jeong called out.
The team's formation instantly shifted to an S-shape.
Tanker Choi Muhyun advanced, buffer Yeom Sang-taek moved to his left rear, and team leader/dealer Yoo Min-jeong took his right rear.
Carrier Kim Jun settled at Yoo Min-jeong's left rear—the snake's tail.
Formation Snake was still under research by the Dungeon Association and major guilds.
Fast and flexible for any change, but it demanded near-perfect teamwork for real combat.
Easy for small teams, yet scalable—more powerful with larger groups if mastered.
The snake danced forward.
“11 o'clock, one Silveryus approaching.”
Buffer Yeom Sang-taek shouted.
“Reverse Triangle.”
Yoo Min-jeong ordered the defensive shift.
The team halted.
Yeom Sang-taek pressed beside tanker Choi Muhyun, Yoo Min-jeong covered behind him, and carrier Kim Jun fell in behind her.
Silver light gleamed from the Silveryus charging into the light's reach through the darkness.
The dinosaur-like monster's skin was coated in silver.
Geumgangbyeok formed.
The faster-charging Silveryus raised its foreleg. Its weapon: razor claws.
Silver claws scraped the Geumgangbyeok.
Boosted by Yeom Sang-taek's Help magic, Choi Muhyun didn't budge.
Yoo Min-jeong fired fire arrows at that moment.
Three arrows arced differently, embedding in the neck, chest, and flank. Flames clung to skin and innards.
The Silveryus didn't last long.
“Extinguish.”
Yeom Sang-taek cast Anti-Fire on it at Yoo Min-jeong's word.
The flames died down.
“Carrier.”
“Okay.”
Kim Jun dropped his storeback, dashed forward, and jammed the digger into the still-smoldering chest cavity.
Usually, you'd fix it internally and extract by hand, but Kim Jun twisted the digger to rip out the core—and pulled it free entirely.
Yoo Min-jeong was impressed inwardly.
Under three minutes. Even for a relatively easy core like Silveryus, that's insanely fast.
Kim Jun retreated with the bloody core, stowed it in his storeback, shouldered it, stood, and looked to the team leader.
Yoo Min-jeong nodded.
Maybe he really is the world's strongest carrier. Still, that attitude needs fixing. And why's Yeom Sang-taek suddenly buddying up? Gotta push harder.
“Move out.”
Monsters with keen senses might swarm here.
The team brimmed with confidence.
Yoo Min-jeong felt that intangible power. Now she understood why her father said raiders shone as part of an organization, not alone.
As they moved, Choi Muhyun subtly extended a hand back; Yeom Sang-taek slapped it lightly.
Down-five!
A raider bond in dungeons—celebrating victories like a high-five.
Surprisingly, Yeom Sang-taek and Kim Jun exchanged one too.
Yoo Min-jeong was convinced the team was united at last—but realized something was missing. Tanker, buffer, carrier: their synergy was flawless, trust palpable.
The issue... was the dealer. The team leader.
Why no down-five for me? Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek... even Kim Jun won't extend a hand.
Then Yeom Sang-taek yelled.
“1 o'clock, two Pyro-sauruses approaching!”
Yoo Min-jeong frowned.
Pyro-sauruses had fire attributes—tough to handle. Go Cheolmin knew, yet included them.
Is he screwing with me?
The formation shifted without her order.
Reverse Triangle.
Choi Muhyun held center, Yeom Sang-taek bolstered with Help beside him. The Geumgangbyeok looked thicker, stronger.
Flames from the Pyro-sauruses scorched the barrier's outer face red-hot.
Yoo Min-jeong grimaced and unleashed her still-unmastered spell. Fireball—if it worked, it'd ignore attributes and blast the Pyro-sauruses.
The glowing mana exploded with a bang.
“Ugh.”
The 14% success rate spell's failure cost dearly. Her back buckled; blood trickled from her mouth.
“You okay?”
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek asked together.
“...Don't worry.”
Yoo Min-jeong forced herself up.
The Pyro-sauruses vanished into darkness, circling wide for another approach.
“One Pyro-saurus at 7 o'clock.”
Yeom Sang-taek again.
Choi Muhyun glanced between Yeom Sang-taek and Yoo Min-jeong.
Yoo Min-jeong looked skyward.
“Master, that's enough! End it!”
“Keep going.”
Go Cheolmin's reply.
Mana backlash choked her chest; she collapsed, speechless.
The team leader was hurt, unable to command. Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek hesitated.
Kim Jun stepped up.
“Turning, Help, Geumganggwon.”
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek spun.
Yeom Sang-taek pressed beside Choi Muhyun, channeling Help. Choi Muhyun inhaled deeply, assuming the Geumganggwon stance.
Incoming flames closed: 7 meters, 5, 3.
Choi Muhyun slowly thrust his fist; golden energy swirled forth.
It pierced the flames, smashing the Pyro-saurus's neck. The head twisted grotesquely; it convulsed and stilled.
“Yahoo!”
Yeom Sang-taek cheered.
Choi Muhyun hugged him, then rushed to Kim Jun, yelling in joy. Kim Jun beamed too.
Yoo Min-jeong watched from the floor, alone.
She'd half-expected the Fireball failure. But Choi Muhyun's Geumganggwon killing a Pyro-saurus? Unthinkable. Son of the strongest tanker, Choi Min-su.
I'm the daughter of the greatest raider, Yoo Wan-seop.
Yoo Min-jeong rallied.
Can't quit here.
She cast healing on herself and stood slowly. Clapped. Choi Muhyun reacted.
“How was it?”
“Perfect. You guys were awesome.”
Yoo Min-jeong thumbs-upped. It stung inside, but she hid it.
Yeom Sang-taek's joyful face twisted. Only Kim Jun noticed.
“What's up?”
Kim Jun whispered, approaching.
“S-something massive is coming. Th-this aura... first time.”
Yeom Sang-taek shuddered.
Rare for a raider to panic so in simulation training.
“Direction?”
“...2 o'clock.”
Yeom Sang-taek muttered.
Kim Jun eyed Yoo Min-jeong.
Her gaze was steady.
She caught on quick.
“What's going on?”
“Unknown monster approaching from 2 o'clock.”
“Why're you reporting it?”
Yoo Min-jeong glanced at Yeom Sang-taek's terrified face late.
She glared upward. Go Cheolmin's prank again.
She wanted to storm out and confront him, but he was master. Even in small Uramata, authority mattered.
Choi Muhyun started trembling.
“This aura... it's that, it's that.”
The tanker collapsed, legs giving out.
Yoo Min-jeong sensed the overwhelming power through the air too, but Choi Muhyun's cowering pissed her off.
Raiders risked life in dungeons. They must stay calm no matter the monster.
That's raider basics. Yeom Sang-taek and Choi Muhyun lack it.
Looking up naturally, Yoo Min-jeong startled at Kim Jun blocking her, sweating bullets.
Kim Jun's gritted-teeth face looked ghostly.
He forced his mouth open, voice strangled.
“D-don't move. No matter what.”
Muffled tone.
Then, the monster entered the light.
A small, glaring yellow form.
Yoo Min-jeong stepped back instinctively.
Nuculataurus! No doubt. Why's it here?
The burning-calf-like Nuculataurus circled Yoo Min-jeong slowly. Like a curious fawn straying from the herd.
Never seen one in Jushin's sim training.
Major guilds like Jushin had strict curricula; monsters limited by raider grade.
Sudden urge to catch it surged—irresistible.
Yoo Min-jeong fired seven fire arrows—her mana max—and they struck the stationary Nuculataurus.
“...No!”
Kim Jun.
A flash erupted. Everything vanished.
Go Cheolmin waited, arms crossed.
The team stood before him outside the simulator.
“What the hell was that?”
Yoo Min-jeong demanded sharply.
“I've got something to say too.”
“What?”
“Why'd you touch the Nuculataurus?”