Chapter 179
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: EP.179 Raid Party in Crisis
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"Huff... huff... huff."
Three deep breaths.
Then Hyun-ah pulled something out from inside the box where the pillar of light had vanished. It was a Diamond Ticket, granting an item with a Gear Score between 601 and 800.
"...Ja, jackpot."
"D-Does that really drop from a Grade 6 monster too?! I thought it was only for special Grade 7 variants?"
"Beats me. It's my first time seeing a Diamond Ticket in my life."
"I've only read about them in books. That iridescent glow... It has to be a Diamond-grade ticket. It makes Platinum look downright shabby."
The team members erupted in admiration as they stared at the ticket in Hyun-ah's hand, almost in unison.
It wasn't quite on the level of a Legend-grade class stone, but a Diamond Ticket was still an incredible reward. Especially since it was known to drop only from Grade 7 monsters.
Why it had appeared here was a mystery, but the raid members found their answer through the pillar of light.
"Hmm."
"As expected..."
Even so, their gazes turned toward their raid leader, Minguk, who was guiding them. The pillar of light had appeared, yet he remained as composed as ever.
"Looks like even a Diamond Ticket isn't enough to surprise the raid leader."
Yuna whispered. Tanya jumped right in.
"Unlike ordinary guys, he's got some real nerves on him. Makes him even more appealing, though..."
"Anyway, to shock our raid leader, we'd probably need a Master or Challenger Ticket at least."
In any case, acquiring the Diamond Ticket meant a boost to the raid's overall power.
Of course, gear exceeding 【Gear Score - 600】 could only be equipped by 6-star heroes. But Team GGW already had heroes who had reached 6-star.
And there were others ready to ascend to 6-star today or tomorrow.
At any rate, the Diamond Ticket's luster was on another level compared to a Platinum one. Unlike the Platinum drop, this one naturally drew the eye with its majestic sheen. It was clear there was a real difference in rank.
"Here."
Hyun-ah held out the Diamond Ticket she'd obtained from the box to Minguk.
Minguk's eyes filled with puzzlement at her action. Normally, she was the one who tore the ticket as the star of the moment.
"You're not ripping it?"
"I already pulled the pillar of light, didn't I? I think that's enough to fulfill my duty as Cheonho-dong's Lucky Girl."
Hyun-ah wore a proud expression, satisfied with her contribution.
Minguk chuckled at the sight and took the Diamond Ticket. He figured she either knew or didn't know that he was the real hero behind making her Cheonho-dong's Lucky Girl.
Anyway, ticket in hand, Minguk recalled the item he'd searched for on his Hero Pad and tore it immediately.
'Come on out! Staff of the Guardian of Order!!!'
The item Minguk wanted was the Staff of the Guardian of Order.
A weapon with a Gear Score of 795, it boosted intellect and mental power. To its owner, it reduced incoming damage and added about 10% of healing from recovery spells as a DoT effect.
Its effects were practically on par with a Unique class weapon, making it the top choice among elite healer heroes.
"Ooooh!"
With a pop, the roulette wheel appeared, drawing gasps from several of the women.
The wheel's border shimmered with an iridescence that put Platinum to shame. Numbers from 605 to 795 were scattered haphazardly across it, ratios be damned.
"Let's spin it right away."
With that, Minguk grabbed the wheel's arrow and gave it a mighty spin.
The outcome was predetermined, of course, but his comrades watched the wheel with uncharacteristically serious expressions. A big win here would elevate their own value tremendously.
And so, it spun through Gear Score, equipment slot, and class.
The wheel turned three full times, and ultimately, the Staff of the Guardian of Order appeared in Minguk's hand, just as he'd hoped. Quest rewards were truly magnificent.
"Congratulations, Raid Leader!"
"This is a real spec upgrade. And if the sisters hit 6-star too..."
"We could challenge 【A - 5】 dungeons."
Minguk tucked away the Staff of the Guardian of Order as he spoke to Yuna.
The raw-spec weapon from China? He'd auction it off once this crisis ended. No standout options, but the high Gear Score should fetch a decent price. Demand was questionable, though.
"【A - 5】? Even so, can we really take down Grade 7 monsters?"
Yuna's face fell in shock at Minguk's words.
Grade 7 monsters in difficulties above 【A - 5】 were darkness beasts that only the world's top heroes—the aces of each clan—could face.
Considering Grade 8s appeared in 【S】-rank dungeons, Grade 7s were simply the strongest foes typical heroes could handle.
Naturally, raid parties tackling Grade 7s consisted solely of humanity's guardians, battle-hardened veterans of the war against the darkness monsters.
"Obviously not right now."
Minguk said, stroking Yuna's head.
Team GGW needed more time to face Grade 7 entities. All members had to reach 6-star hero status first, and they'd need enough dungeon experience to endure a long 【A - 5】 clear.
Gear specs had to improve too, of course.
In short, personal skill, class rank, gear score—all had to align for a Grade 7 raid.
'Not that it matters right now.'
Team GGW had to face Gale Baranoras tomorrow at the latest.
According to Ppuu, only a few days remained until Baranoras's forward base was complete.
They'd already pinpointed the dungeon where Baranoras spawned. Once preparations were ready today, they'd dive straight into tries. No time to dawdle.
"Let's keep pushing the clear."
Riding the high from the jackpot item, Staff of the Guardian of Order, Team GGW blitzed through the dungeon relentlessly.
Along the way, they snagged the desired stat Green Crystals from Grade 6 special monsters, allowing Kim So-jung and Shin Na-yeon to ascend to 6-star as well.
Luck had favored them beyond expectations, bolstering their strength for Gale Baranoras.
"The weather's absolute shit."
A persistent drizzle had turned the ground into a muddy hellhole no one would want to step into.
Raiding dungeons in this would guarantee colds for everyone. Not that heroes caught colds.
"Do we really have to raid on a day like this?"
A stunning blonde with exhaustion hollowing her eyes and cheeks glanced at the woman lounging beside her.
The woman fiddling with her Hero Pad was Chloe Castel, France's hero and the Imperial Guard's chief dealer.
"Bridget, if you've got the guts to tell that story from earlier to Vietnam's people yourself, I'll put in a word with our raid leader."
"You want me to get flamed for life? Ugh, on a day like this, I should be rolling around all day with some sturdy-dicked guys..."
"Tell me about it. No men around, just heroes—it's suffocating."
"Yeah. At least we'd have eye candy, but nope."
The other Imperial Guard heroes chimed in with Bridget.
"If you're that desperate, just bite and suck each other."
Chloe clicked her tongue at her juniors' chatter. But their response was something else.
"Right? Should've packed a strap-on if I knew... Regretting not bringing some exotic Eastern flavor."
"That's why we need a Happiness Man system like the Germans or Italians."
"It's a total betrayal of France's liberty, equality, and... well, you know. And how much help would those guys even be?"
Chloe grumbled irritably.
She was just as stressed and pent-up from the nonstop dungeon grinds. But with Hoabin turned into the front lines after the Dungeon Break, no single men were around.
Not entirely true—some existed, but they all had partners. Raid members or heroes' boyfriends. Touch them, and you'd spark instant drama.
Then Bridget's eyes widened.
"Oh! There's a decent guy! How'd I forget him?"
"...Who?"
Everyone perked up at Bridget's sudden outburst. Chloe included.
"Duh, GGW's Han Minguk, the raid leader. GGW's basing out of Hoabin too, right? Forgot already?"
"Huh?"
Chloe's eyes lit up at Bridget's words.
Just as she said, Korea's GGW raid team was in Hoabin. Their packed schedule had made her brain-fart it away.
Actually, more likely because he was a hero, not some random guy, she'd never seen him as sexual potential.
Either way, Chloe had met Minguk just days ago with Bridget in tow, over the Blue Drake issue.
"What's GGW's schedule today? They already head out for dungeons?"
"I'll check!"
One hero snapped to attention and tapped her Hero Pad briskly. Searching SNS and intel on GGW.
The others followed suit, moving in perfect sync, hoping for scraps from a male hero encounter.
"If France's people saw the Imperial Guard's true colors..."
Chloe shook her head at the sight. Moments later, disappointed groans filled the air.
"Aw, wiped. They headed out early morning for clears."
"But the raid leader's a guy, right? Shouldn't he take it easy? Why so grindy?"
"No kidding."
Chloe felt the same pang of regret, even if she said otherwise.
Just spending time with a male hero would heal her—no skinship required. Though skinship would be better.
Even without Bridget's reminder, Chloe felt her body aching unbearably in this state.
'Vietnam's Dungeon Break isn't wrapping up anytime soon.'
They needed an outlet for stress. Finally, Chloe declared:
"After today's clears, I'll go meet Han Minguk myself. So get ready to raid, quick. Our vaunted Imperial Guard can't lag behind some distant juniors who dove in at dawn."
The Imperial Guard heroes sprang into action at her words.
And at that moment.
'Difficulty's around 【A – 6】. Anyway, Gale Baranoras dropped to Grade 6, right?'
'We can summon Garai, Garuda's right-hand man among the 12 Disasters.'
Defeating him should finally calm Vietnam's outbreak.
"This dungeon feels off somehow."
Facing Garuda's forward base where Gale Baranoras lurked, So-jung voiced her unease. Her melee dealer instincts for danger were sharp.
"It's a 【A – 6】 dungeon. Probably one of the tougher ones."
Hyun-ah, by contrast, seemed unfazed.
With Revival Stones and their genius raid leader Minguk, failure wasn't even on her mind.
"Revival Stones set!"
Moments later, Minguk and GGW confirmed the setup and entered Garuda's forward base. The critical battle against Garai's minion had begun.