Dungeon & Commander (73)
Baek Seungtae was surprised by his own words. But he quickly convinced himself there was no way a carrier could wield the Thunder Brain Sword.
"Raider? Say that and you'll get buried. Better watch your mouth out there. Things are tense enough with that Daily Raider article."
"I'm not that stupid. Anyway, you're a raider. You can't be a carrier."
Kim Jun just laughed it off.
After a moment of silence, Baek Seungtae spoke up.
"You'll need help from your teammates."
"What do you mean?"
"The Dungeon Association recognizes ownership of items recovered from dungeons if someone dies or loses them. But carriers are exceptions. Unless someone on your team claims you as a member, you'll lose the Thunder Brain Sword and Legio to the Association."
"Legio?"
"You found this too, right? I'll use it until you join a team."
"Thanks for the advice."
Kim Jun meant it. Taming the Haren Saurus had been hell, but gaining an ally in Baek Seungtae made it worth it.
A short while later, the two rode off on the Haren Saurus.
The drinking water had run out.
Choi Muhyun felt stinging glares as he drank from the bottle.
Do Jin-yong of Blue Lightning stared at him with desperate eyes.
His own thirst lingered, but Choi Muhyun walked over and offered the nearly empty bottle.
Do Jin-yong snatched it without a thank you and gulped it down. So parched he didn't even notice his thirsty teammates like Seo Sang-cheol and Lee Hyo-jeong.
The Blue Lightning raiders, having left their carrier at the gate, suffered from dehydration.
An Seong-ho's team carrier Joo Hyun-cheol had protected the storebacks, allowing some relief, but the prolonged stay had everyone uncomfortable and thirsty.
No clock, but Choi Muhyun figured at least seven hours... maybe over ten.
Kim Jun, where the hell are you and what are you doing?
Then An Seong-ho's team's buffer Lee Seung-jin shouted.
"Look over there!"
Everyone turned to where he pointed.
A faint white pillar should have stood... but now a red one glowed.
They all knew what it meant. Gate closure imminent—hurry back.
Gate durations varied by raid, determined by experts analyzing data.
Next was blue: closure. Even running like mad, it might already be shut.
"We have to go now!"
"Stay here and we're all dead."
"Pink Team Leader, let's head back."
They were bound by Absorption Tree roots.
Choi Muhyun walked to Yoo Min-jeong, who stared grimly into the darkness.
"What do we do?"
"...Not sure."
"He'll come back for sure."
"The gate's the problem. If it closes, even if he returns, we're all dead."
"I won't leave alone."
Choi Muhyun showed his resolve.
"Me neither."
Yoo Min-jeong said it, but her mind raced elsewhere.
Lives here rested on her hands.
Teammates aside, she had no right to drag even enemies to death.
She gazed at the reddened pillar.
Im Seung-hyun's North Face team never came. Her plans to counter them were wasted.
Yeom Sang-taek read the exchange from Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun's faces.
We need to get back fast.
Sweat poured as he expanded his detection range. Spreading mana 60 meters opposite the gate had exhausted him long ago.
But no rest. No desire for it.
"Ah, there is a way."
The voice came from nearby.
Startled, Yeom Sang-taek turned to find An Seong-ho, leader of Gwanpo Guild.
He approached, suppressing impatience.
"You have a way?"
"Slim chance, but better than waiting."
"What is it?"
"Spirit summoning."
"...That's mid-level magic."
"Low-level spirits aren't hard. Summon one with keen smell, track the storeback scent, find the carrier."
It sounded plausible; Yeom Sang-taek stepped closer.
"You can summon it?"
"Talk to Min-jeong. I don't want to wait here and get trapped."
"Got it."
As Yeom Sang-taek turned, An Seong-ho lunged, dagger to his throat.
The cold blade chilled his neck; Yeom Sang-taek froze silent.
"Everyone freeze!"
An Seong-ho yelled.
Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun stiffened seeing Yeom Sang-taek captured.
"Release my team. Or he dies."
An Seong-ho sweated coldly. Drained by the Absorption Tree, he mustered remaining strength for the dagger.
As Choi Muhyun stepped forward, An Seong-ho pressed the blade; blood trickled, staining leather.
"Wanna see him die? Come closer."
Choi Muhyun raised hands and backed off.
An Seong-ho glared at Yoo Min-jeong.
"I admit targeting your team. But holding us hostage till closure? You agree it's wrong."
"So?"
"Lost interest in raid goals. Just want my team out alive. Release us, we'll leave quietly."
"No guarantee you won't attack."
"Lost my dealer! Chasing that Kim Jun bastard got him killed! Second tank's injured. Protecting my team is all I can handle, got it?"
An Seong-ho screamed madly.
"O-our team too! Release us, we'll vanish."
Do Jin-yong chimed in.
"Bullshit. Blue Lightning's intact. Dangerous if freed. Can't trust you anyway."
An Seong-ho sneered at Do Jin-yong, eyes on Yoo Min-jeong. Demanding decision.
Then a voice from behind.
"Why so noisy?"
An Seong-ho instantly recognized it.
"...Baek Seungtae?"
Baek Seungtae crossed the boundary into light, grinning at An Seong-ho and Lee Seung-jin. Tears nearly fell, but he held with a smile.
Yeom Sang-taek shoved An Seong-ho free.
Choi Muhyun charged like a boar, but a familiar voice halted him.
"Still here?"
Choi Muhyun stopped dead, turning.
Kim Jun approached, digger in hand, unfamiliar sword at belt. Choi Muhyun trembled speechless in shock.
"Kim Jun!"
Yeom Sang-taek ran, hugging and sobbing.
Yoo Min-jeong approached; Yeom stepped aside. She stared silently, then punched.
Thwack!
Kim Jun tumbled back.
Rising, he rubbed his jaw, looking at Yoo Min-jeong—not upset at all.
"What happened?"
"Sorry. Taming the Haren Saurus delayed me."
"Be careful next time."
"Yes, Team Leader."
Kim Jun saluted.
Choi Muhyun walked up, silently punching Kim Jun's gut. Kim Jun doubled over, kneeling, groaning.
"Act solo once more, I'll kill you."
"...Never again."
Kim Jun took Choi Muhyun's hand, standing. He read his friend's eyes.
"North Face didn't come. Plan to defeat separately and exit is bust. What now?"
Yoo Min-jeong asked her advisor as leader.
Kim Jun eyed Do Jin-yong and An Seong-ho alternately, then grinned at Yoo Min-jeong.
"Ever picked your nose without touching?"
"...What?"
"Let's do it this time."
Kim Jun whispered.
Im Seung-hyun looked up at the reddened pillar. In this dark dungeon, its lighthouse glow would soon turn blue.
Who'd have thought this outcome.
He stifled laughter.
Neutralizing Uramata's Pink Team under Yoo Min-jeong and killing carrier Kim Jun would cost raiders' lives or severe injuries.
But Blue Lightning's Do Jin-yong and Gwanpo's An Seong-ho team hadn't returned, even with closure near.
If the gate shut, leaving only North Face safe, perfect. Uramata Guild folds, Cheonroe Association crumbles from raid fallout.
Then Hanmu Dan absorbs both. Dirt cheap.
Im Seung-hyun's lip curled.
First tanker Kim Geun-muk approached.
"Cheonroe's carrier's there. What now?"
"Kill him."
One carrier spared is fine, but sole survivor amid team wipe felt off.
"I'll handle it."
"Do it."
Im Seung-hyun watched Kim Geun-muk whisper to second tanker Lee Nak-young. Two tankers on one carrier: easy.
Throat dry. Craved cold beer, imagining its slide down. Crispy chicken too—heaven.
As tankers neared Cheonroe carrier Park Taek-jin, buffer Yang Mi-hee eyed Im Seung-hyun.
"40 meters ahead—raider team!"
Im Seung-hyun shook head at Kim Geun-muk: spare the carrier.
He approached the buffer.
"Sure?"
"...Speed says not monster."
"Got it."
Im Seung-hyun bit his lip. Ruined at the last? Who survived?
Uramata?
"Diamond formation!"
North Face formed up instantly.
Dealer Im Seung-hyun prepped attack magic. If Yoo Min-jeong or Choi Muhyun, strike first.
Into the light boundary: Do Jin-yong and An Seong-ho.
Shocked, Im Seung-hyun canceled; mana feedback stung his gut, bearable.
"What happened?"
"...We got hit."
Do Jin-yong looked bitter.
"Hit how?"
"Pink Team."
"S-so just you two survived?"
"But Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun? They'll rot in here. Injuries too bad to reach in time."
An Seong-ho said mournfully.
Im Seung-hyun regretted their survival but deemed it better than expected. Teamless, they'd face guild wrath and blame.
You're done, both of you.
An Seong-ho's smugness especially pleased him.
Then Do Jin-yong's fist slammed Im Seung-hyun's solar plexus.
Even paranoid, he couldn't dodge.
Breath cut, gasping, flung back. He saw An Seong-ho charge and topple buffer Yang Mi-hee. Tankers Kim Geun-muk and Lee Nak-young just watched.
What the hell are those bastards doing?
Then Pink Team rushed in snake formation like entry, untouchable speed.
Kim Jun with storeback trailed, winking at Im Seung-hyun with a grin.
"...Catch that bastard!"
Im Seung-hyun roared.
Tankers advanced, but Do Jin-yong and An Seong-ho blocked. Low-level, unskilled Kim Geun-muk and Lee Nak-young fell back under assault.
Im Seung-hyun rose, glaring at the leaders.
"What the fuck?"
"Happy we didn't return?"
Do Jin-yong retorted.
"...What?"
"You sneaky prick."
Do Jin-yong walked into darkness, soon returning with team. Behind, Baek Seungtae supported Kim Jang-woo, with Lee Seung-jin and Joo Hyun-cheol.
Im Seung-hyun realized.
"F-forgot our goal?"
"Pathetic to the end."
An Seong-ho spat, heading to his team.
As Blue Lightning and An Seong-ho's team entered the gate slowly, North Face could only watch helplessly.
Then the pillar turned blue.
"Team Leader!"
"...Let's go."
Im Seung-hyun rushed his team to the gate.