Chapter 137
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: EP.137 A Crisis Looming Right Before Us
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‘What the hell? Who’s that?’
The androgynous voice ringing in his ears belonged to someone Han Minguk had never heard before.
Minguk glanced around. But all he could see were his teammates celebrating their raid victory.
Even Giselle, who had been terrified by Garuda's appearance, seemed to have forgotten the threat for now. She was chattering away with Yuna, basking in the joy of the raid's success and hoping for a possible 【Class Stone (A) Ticket - Legendary Grade】.
“Not like I'm starved for kills or anything. Did I hear wrong?”
Minguk shook his head.
He must have been too focused on the monster fight. As he turned his attention to the reward chest with that thought, it came again.
"...I won't let you get away with this!"
The voice filled with resentment made Minguk freeze. A chill ran down his spine, his hairs standing on end with pure malice directed at him.
But looking around, there was nothing to see.
‘Ppuu!’
Less than a second later, Ppuu's response came.
“No need to worry, Minguk. This is just Garuda venting its frustration at you for your outstanding performance. It's nothing more than a tantrum from a pathetic creature whose plans have been thwarted.”
‘You say it's nothing to worry about?’
This guy. Talking big because it's not his problem?
Minguk's face twisted unpleasantly. He'd heard enough about the terror of the Twelve Calamities to make his ears ring.
In short, they were the final bosses of the darkness monsters threatening humanity's safety in this world. And one of those Twelve Calamities had singled him out.
‘Wait…?’
Once they left the dungeon, that monster Garuda might be waiting outside with its massive beak.
“No, truly no need to worry. This is just the rage of a foolish being whose plans failed due to your brilliance. No need for pointless concerns. Garuda can't move right now anyway.”
‘So, we could just ignore its clones and bolt back to Korea?’
“No. If this persists… I estimate Garuda could locate you within half a year.”
Minguk swallowed a curse rising in his throat at Ppuu's follow-up.
In the end, they had to smash every one of Garuda's clones. And inevitably, that terrifying Twelve Calamity monster would burn with vengeance against him.
“Why are you guys doing this to me?”
“I believe in your abilities, Minguk. With your skills, dealing with something like Garuda should be no problem at all.”
“Ah….”
If Ppuu were in front of him right now, he'd want to punch it.
Objectively, his growth rate was already insane. The world media buzzing about it was proof.
But it still wasn't enough against monsters like Garuda. He needed to unlock 【A】 difficulty ASAP and boost his and the team's specs and gear scores.
Why? Even though it wasn't a game, it felt like a time-attack challenge with a ticking clock.
“Eee-yah?!”
As Minguk sorted his thoughts, Hyun-ah—the self-proclaimed, now officially dubbed Cheonho-dong Lucky Girl—opened the chest. She pulled out a Platinum Ticket and a Yellow-grade Stamina Crystal.
It was a solid haul, but maybe the shock of the 【Class Stone (A) Ticket - Legendary Grade】 had set expectations too high? Hyun-ah looked disappointed as she checked the rewards.
“Whoa! Still got a Platinum Ticket! That's worth a fortune.”
“And a Yellow Crystal too!”
Her teammates' praise and cheers lightened her mood, and she soon joined in the celebration.
“Next raid is also a 【B - 1】 difficulty dungeon.”
Minguk said curtly, checking his Hero Pad. They could use a break, but Garuda's warning had him on edge.
“Where to?”
“Northwest sector, 【B – 1】 dungeon.”
In response to the question, Minguk expanded the Hero Pad's screen into a large hologram for the team.
The GPS map showed nearby temporary dungeons: blinking green dots and red ones.
Red dots were dungeons currently being raided; green were unattempted ones with time to spare on their timers.
Thanks to Garuda's appearance and yesterday's China Heroes Association announcement, five dungeons nearby were already under assault. Everyone was ditching Vietnam to handle the spread and hunt ‘Garuda's Clones’.
“Will Garuda's clone show up again?”
“Beats me…”
Minguk shrugged at Yuna's question.
Still, he'd prefer if one did appear. He wanted to wipe them out fast and drain Garuda's power.
Plus, that voice after the last fight still chilled him to the bone.
“Entering.”
The new 【B – 1】 dungeon was a vast plain battlefield.
A defense-type he'd experienced before. Minguk pulled up the name and strategy method on his Hero Pad, memorizing it as he quickly formed assault teams.
“Defense-type dungeon. Dealers will be ranged-focused. And Tanya…”
“I'll sit this one out!”
Tanks had to dash around pulling aggro, so nimbler Hyun-ah fit better than Tanya.
Fortunately, Tanya had no complaints about Hyun-ah main-tanking.
“strategy starting.”
With prep done, Minguk infused mana into his staff.
As the five heroes crossed the safe zone into the battlefield, a mana barrier sealed off the outside waiters from the fighters.
- @#%$%
Right on entry, Minguk spotted a red-skinned little monster gnawing something with crunching sounds. Spotting them, it raised a blowgun to its mouth.
Minguk reflexively began chanting.
As poison darts launched from the blowgun, a mana shield enveloped the group. The discolored darts bounced off and hit the ground.
“Everyone, careful! Prioritize blowgun holders!”
At Minguk's command, attacks flew at the Hob Goblins. Mere regulars, not bosses—they shattered under the dealers' assault.
Eyeing the fallen darts, Hyun-ah said,
“Paralysis poison darts, huh? Gotta watch out. Hero Pad says if hit, you can't move properly without mana control. Strong toxin—paralysis lasts a while.”
“One hit when tired and you're done?”
Hyun-ah nodded at Jung Ye-rin's question.
“Probably.”
The aftermath was obvious. Goblin humanoids, like orcs, were pros at violating women. Paralyzed? You'd fall to corruption for sure.
- Kekek! Kep!
Like the last dungeon, this one seemed goblin-heavy, a proving ground-style defense. As the characteristic cackles heralded their charge, Minguk chanted nonstop.
Good thing—their paralysis darts were blockable by his shield, per prior experience.
Hob Goblins at 【B – 1】? Just basic mobs.
Unlike his early days, Minguk's Gear Score now topped 400. His shield was no longer amateur-hour.
‘Just cover the tank properly, and we're golden.’
Shield the dealers to nullify darts, focus-cover Hyun-ah, and no issues.
“I'll cover hard—go wild.”
Minguk said seriously, eyeing the mad-rushing Hob Goblins.
No joke—like world-first kill stakes. Until Garuda was off his back, he'd raid for real.
“Their strategy speed is insane, right?”
Shiranui Mai marveled at the translucent dome over the grassy plain, mismatched yet fitting.
Team GGW's max was 【B – 1】.
Yet they mowed down general bosses like it was lower difficulty—unstoppable.
The outside heroes watching knew who to credit.
“…Our raid leader really is a genius.”
“I agree with Hero Kim So-jeong. Having such a man as your national hero is Korea's great blessing.”
“Yeah. His name's even Han Minguk—Republic of Korea.”
The Hero Pads showed Minguk's contribution at S nearing S+.
Perfectly managing tank Hyun-ah's HP without a hitch, timing shields flawlessly on dealers—it was healer textbook perfection.
And when slack? He staff-whacked goblins in melee, impressing the watchers anew.
Giselle gaped at the live-updating Hero Pad logs.
A top global prospect with pride in her skills, but Minguk's play? Impossible to match, even in death.
“Even a genius…”
Leading while performing like that? Cheat-level. But undeniable reality.
“Could our raid leader take down a Twelve Calamity?”
Giselle murmured, eyes briefly shadowed with hope.
Silence fell. Minguk was amazing, sure—but the Calamities that terrorized humanity were beyond words.
One dissented.
“Obviously. Follow the raid leader, and Garuda? We'd smash it easy.”
Choi Yuna, brimming with faith. And she wasn't done.
“Think about it. He's had his hero cert and led raids for half a year. Already crushing 5th-grade specials and those tricky Garuda clones?”
Yuna rapid-fired at Giselle, then paused—all eyes on her.
“A-hem. Point is, stick with the raid leader, and we can clear 【A - 1】, even 【S】.”
“…Yeah, maybe.”
Giselle hoped it came true.
Meanwhile, the assault team flawlessly defended their objective, counter-annihilating Hob Goblin hordes.
And….
“Lucky? Or unlucky?”
The final round boss? ‘Garuda's Clone’ from the prior dungeon.
"Back off. Don't touch it. Kill my children, and you die too!"
The androgynous voice—presumed Garuda—echoed in Minguk's head again.
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