Clash in the Second Zone
Tap, tap. Tap, tap.
Kim Jun was sprinting along the wall to break through the path blocked by a horde of slimes.
A slime suddenly spat at him.
Truth be told, slimes didn't have mouths per se, so calling it spit wasn't entirely accurate... but that vicious bodily fluid deserved the name.
A thick green liquid splashed onto his arm.
His leather armor sizzled and melted away.
The moment he barely squeezed through the slime pack, he tore off the sleeve of his leather armor and flung it away. Checking his arm, he saw a coin-sized burn mark above his elbow.
An alarm blared.
The simulator had a menu to set a time limit and notify when training ended. So... five minutes had already passed, meaning those monster-like people had entered the relic and begun their pursuit.
No time to rest.
Kim Jun picked up his pace.
He had to escape the First Zone first.
According to the detailed report from the Association's scouting team that had thoroughly explored the relic in the Sokcho Dungeon, the interior was divided into three major zones.
The First Zone was the area where training had taken place so far, teeming with zombies, slimes, and various other monsters, but relatively safe. Advancing as a team could minimize casualties, though the odds of acquiring items were extremely low.
Of course, mana vortices—phenomena where anomalies occurred—dotted the First Zone as well. But their positions rarely changed, and each vortex's characteristics were fixed, making them relatively easy to handle.
After blasting the zombies away with Cheon Noe Byeok, Kim Jun finally broke free of the First Zone.
As he entered the Second Zone, the air quality shifted. It felt much heavier, more humid.
The Second Zone, where items were hidden everywhere, demanded caution like navigating a minefield.
The monsters that popped out were far stronger.
Above all, the mana vortices shifted constantly, sometimes erupting suddenly to wipe out an entire team.
Gravity inversion, sudden downpours, plunging lightning, vacuums—the Second Zone forced constant vigilance with its array of phenomena.
A change rippled seven meters ahead. Hot mana swirled violently, its power shockingly intense.
Boom!
An explosion erupted as if high-yield bombs had detonated simultaneously across the floor, walls, and ceiling.
The ground beneath his feet trembled.
But the walls didn't crumble, nor did the ceiling collapse. It was an explosion from abnormally clumped fire-attribute mana.
Stay outside the blast radius, and you were fine—but get caught in the vortex, and you'd lose a limb.
Kim Jun waited a beat.
Most vortex zones pulsed like geysers, spewing hot fluids periodically.
Know the pattern, and crossing was no issue.
Got it.
Confirming the mana intensity from the Flame Vortex, Kim Jun dashed across the spot.
Then, a voice echoed from behind.
"Found you."
Whipping his head around, Kim Jun spotted Choi Min-su grinning.
Striding forward confidently, he frowned at the heated air. As the fire-attribute mana spun furiously, flames began sparking everywhere. The Flame Vortex would pin Choi Min-su down for at least a minute, maybe two.
Kim Jun exhaled in relief.
If Choi Min-su had arrived just a bit sooner... he would've crossed the Flame Vortex in seconds.
"Using the vortex to buy time, huh?"
"Gotta give it my all."
"Won't be easy."
Winking at Kim Jun, Choi Min-su drew a deep breath, his chest expanding slightly.
He advanced in that state.
Flames engulfed him instantly, licking hungrily at his entire body.
"Huh?"
But the scorching heat halted about a centimeter from his skin. It seemed like a skill protecting him with exhaled internal energy—a barrier he'd never seen before.
Forgetting to flee, Kim Jun stared.
Sensing the gaze, Choi Min-su spoke.
"This is a skill called Cheon Gan Bang... Whoa!"
The moment his internal energy wavered, the barrier shattered. The Flame Vortex's heat swallowed him whole.
Boom!
The mana detonated.
Choi Min-su, at the vortex's entrance, was hurled back into the wall.
Kim Jun realized too late. That powerhouse tanker wouldn't have let a skill drop mid-cast from mere speech if he'd used full internal energy from his dantian.
But with the test limiting him to 20% internal energy, Choi Min-su's casual habits had backfired, costing him face spectacularly.
"I'll head out first."
The mana vortex halting Choi Min-su's advance was hugely encouraging.
Drawing on his training, Kim Jun began scouting vortex positions. Second Zone vortices moved, but they followed predictable patterns.
First up: the Portal Vortex.
The one from Brave's Raid Center open test that had teleported him elsewhere in the relic.
For when Yoo Wan-seop or Yang Hee-seon charged bravely but got overwhelmed—time to escape.
Mok Honbo couldn't shake Yoo Wan-seop's Phantom Walk. But a Portal Vortex... that could fling him anywhere random.
It was all about endurance anyway.
Didn't matter where in the relic he ended up.
He mapped not just the Portal Vortex, but the lightning-crackling Lightning Vortex, the gravity-heavy Gravity Vortex, the suffocating Vacuum Vortex, the insect-swarming Bug Vortex, the vine-constricting Creepers Vortex, the gale-and-rain Storm Vortex, and more—committing their positions to memory.
Kim Jun closed his eyes briefly.
The Second Zone's full layout sprang to mind.
Current vortex positions, crystal clear.
He predicted their spots in five minutes. Ten minutes out, too.
His observed patterns weren't perfect yet. Predictions wouldn't be 100% accurate.
Kim Jun wasn't disappointed.
Real combat never offered certainties anyway.
Double-checking the Portal, Lightning, and Storm Vortices, he headed to a large central area in the Second Zone.
"Not as far as I thought."
Choi Min-su emerged from the left passage.
"Got something to rely on, huh."
A voice from the central passage.
Yoo Wan-seop.
"Looks like he's grasped the Second Zone's quirks. Planning to use the vortices tactically."
Yang Hee-seon stepped out from the right.
So deflating that Kim Jun's legs nearly buckled. He hadn't collapsed, but his ace in the hole felt exposed far too easily.
He pondered briefly.
Fighting them head-on? Zero chance of winning.
Better to run? For even one more minute, bolt back to the Portal Vortex now.
He still eyed Choi Min-su, Yoo Wan-seop, and Yang Hee-seon. Logic screamed flee, but he couldn't pass up this precious shot at facing them.
"You three aren't thinking of ganging up on a rookie like me, right?"
First, prick their pride to avert the worst.
"Of course not."
Choi Min-su stepped forward decisively.
Kim Jun advanced slowly, locking eyes. His heart pounded.
Facing Korea's top tanker! He might not last a minute, but it was worth it.
"Got a question."
"Shoot."
"Why am I the only one tested? Shouldn't the whole Pink Team go through it?"
Kim Jun lobbed the question to buy time, hunting for an "angle."
Choi Min-su—friend's dad, national tanker icon—had shown steady interest even during his carrier prep. Fighting style, strengths, weaknesses, team lead record: mining that data for a breakthrough needed just a bit more time.
Turning, Choi Min-su glanced at Yoo Wan-seop.
"You know why."
Kim Jun feigned innocence, tilting his head innocently despite the inner flinch.
"No clue."
"Fine, I'll spell it out. Info helps sometimes, poisons others. Especially if you can't handle it. The guild master's prepping this test means the raid's dangerous—accept that, and your team's at least 30% weaker."
"And me?"
"You thrive in crises, kid."
Yang Hee-seon chimed in slyly.
"Still don't get it."
A little more time.
"A lion leading ten sheep versus sheep leading ten lions—which wins?"
Yoo Wan-seop asked.
Kim Jun knew the answer. It highlighted a leader's value.
A great leader elevates the weak.
A poor one drags down the strong.
Gauge the team lead, gauge the team.
That's when the method hit him.
* * *
Not bad.
Facing objective inferiority without blind flight, standing tall—that alone deserved praise.
But spotting fierce resolve in Kim Jun's eyes and stance, Choi Min-su grew wary.
Team leads must stay cool.
Sacrifice pride for the team if needed. Charging without results in mind? No leadership qual.
Impressive guy, but green as a commander. Maybe Wan-seop designed this test for exactly that.
Choi Min-su gathered internal energy.
A hitch.
Simulator capped at 20%—more awkward than expected. Masters had moves ingrained; the shortage made motions stiff.
His hands glowed white.
Myeol Ok Su.
Kim Jun summoned the Thunder Brain Sword. As he gripped it emerging from space, sparks crackled wildly.
Even in defeat—even if it canceled Pink Team's raid—he'd give his all here. That was the kid's will.
Slightly disappointing.
He hadn't expected 30 minutes of pure evasion, but nor a Don Quixote charge from the start. Couldn't he shatter expectations with something new?
"Come on."
"Yes, sir."
Kim Jun closed the gap with Mok Honbo's Tan step, thrusting the Thunder Brain Sword.
Impeccable form—solid base, fluid upper body. The thrust's timing was genius.
Yeon Ga Shipil Geom, First Form: Yeon Yeop!
Deploying Pa Cheon Bo to sidestep, Choi Min-su watched the blade pierce ten centimeters from his chest. Sparks flew from the tip.
The sword spun suddenly.
Kim Jun extended it, unfurling Cheon Noe Byeok.
Charging this fiercely from the jump. Retreating a step, Choi Min-su thrust both palms forward.
Fierce palm force erupted, forming an iron wall. The shockwave of Cheon Noe Byeok scattered left and right.
"Pa Cheon Jang Beop! Impressive as ever."
Yang Hee-seon.
Bowing slightly to the Crazy Buffer, Choi Min-su pressed with Pa Cheon Jang Beop.
Pa, pa, pa-pa.
Alternating palms swept wide—perfect evasion impossible. Kim Jun's Mok Honbo struggled to escape.
His expression under the onslaught was a sight.
Kim Jun would gain much from this bout.
Experiencing Pa Cheon Jang Beop would spark interest in advanced skills... and prompt hunts for faster, handier footwork.