Chapter 28
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Newbie Team 4
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The briefing continued even as they headed to the dungeon. Given the opponent they were facing, no amount of repetition felt like enough.
"The Flame Wheels will drop starting from your position as the tank, Hyun-ah. Don't forget—you have to move faster than anyone else when they come down. I'll give the orders, so react immediately."
For two days straight, she'd been panting and dodging balls that Minguk hurled at her. Hyun-ah nodded as if she understood, gripping her weapon tightly.
"If Flame Wheels come rushing in during a Flame Breath, abandon your attacks on the monster and focus solely on dodging the wheels—even if it means giving up damage. No matter what, I'll take responsibility for the team's survival, so don't worry about your HP."
For this raid, Minguk had switched his skill setup to single-target heals, DoT heals, and shields. All B-rank skills—the highest grade a one-star hero could equip. He'd borrowed the necessary skill stones from the clan. It wasn't hard; he'd just use them well and return them.
This setup was all to prepare for Flame Breath. Strategy videos mostly emphasized the danger of the Flame Wheels, but in Minguk's view, the Ifrit's true terror was its Flame Breath, which dealt massive damage to the entire raid.
On top of that, it used Flame Wheels mid-Breath, forcing the healer to dodge wheels while restoring the team's HP. It demanded tricky movement and sharp instincts, but Minguk was confident he could handle it.
"...Wow."
Ye-rin whistled at the raid leader's brimming confidence. Even coming from another woman, it sounded cool—but from a guy, it sent shivers down her spine.
"Are you the GGW raid team from R's clan?"
"Yes, I'm the raid leader, Han Minguk."
The "Flame Bridge" was located in Cheonho-dong, Seoul. Maybe because heroes avoided it, the dungeon timer hovered between six and seven hours. The government official guarding it looked relieved to see them.
Minguk set his Revival Stone and entered the dungeon right away. As soon as they stepped in, scorching heat pressed down on their skin.
"It's right up ahead."
Just inside the entrance, a monster blazing with flames came into view. The Ifrit. No other mobs appeared during their approach—this dungeon held only the Ifrit waiting for heroes.
"One Try—going in."
"If we One Try it, does the raid leader give us a kiss?!"
"On the lips."
"...Uh, um."
Ye-rin had tossed out the teasing question to lighten the mood, but Minguk's instant reply made her unconsciously touch her lips. He flashed her a small, enigmatic smile. Felt like he'd just added extra motivation for a successful clear.
And with that, the battle began.
"Kyaa!"
Hyun-ah, charging toward the Ifrit, froze instinctively as her surroundings erupted in light. Minguk's shout rang out behind her.
"The battlefield's shifting, just like in the strategy video! Don't panic!"
"G-Got it!"
Hyun-ah nodded and sprinted toward the end of the bridge. There, the Ifrit spewed hot flames, awaiting the heroes. To a normal person, the heat would be agonizing—but to mana-wielding heroes, the fire inflicted no damage.
But the moment she swung her weapon at the Ifrit, Hyun-ah had to rethink that.
'It's hotter than I thought?!'
Every swing wrapped her arms in the Ifrit's flames. Even with mana shielding her body, one slip could mean burns. Blocking its attacks engulfed her body in fire too.
"Nngh...!"
Hyun-ah grimaced against the searing pain. That's when warm mana enveloped her—Minguk's shield. The flames parted around it, harmless now.
Her scorched skin regenerated almost instantly. Minguk's DoT heal had finished casting and begun wrapping around her.
Having shielded and DoT-healed Hyun-ah and melee dealer Kim Sojeong, Minguk quickly checked the shield's duration on the tank's accumulating damage.
The Ifrit's stats were indeed rated lower than a typical grade-3 monster; the shield, which seemed ready to shatter, held for about five seconds. Even overlapping with Flame Breath, it should last two or three.
Finishing his calculations, Minguk scanned the team's positions—for Flame Wheels and Breath.
"Ye-rin! Further forward! Sojeong, to the right! Stand midway between center and right!"
Surprisingly, Yuna had positioned herself perfectly. Looked like all that drilling paid off. The team adjusted per Minguk's orders, and right then—the Ifrit inhaled deeply.
"Flame Breath!"
Hands flew into motion. Mana surged into Minguk's new staff. He cast the quickest shield from his equipped skills.
A shield enveloped him in an instant, then Ye-rin and Yuna. That's when the Ifrit unleashed its fiery breath. Scorching heat rocked the bridge.
"Grrraaah!"
The unexpectedly fierce wind and heat staggered the team. Felt like a massive fan blasting right in their faces. Only tank Hyun-ah held her stance.
The Ifrit's intense breath scorched everyone simultaneously. But Minguk, Ye-rin, and Yuna—already shielded—took no damage.
Next, DoT heal on Sojeong; single-target heal on tank Hyun-ah. Once Hyun-ah stabilized, Sojeong got healed too—all wounds mended.
'So it really is just grade-3?'
Minguk recast shield on Hyun-ah while eyeing the boss. The supposedly deadliest pattern, Flame Breath, was manageable with a single shield—its power underwhelming. The gale was a hassle, but mana let them move through it.
Moments later, Minguk spotted the Ifrit raising its hand. Giant wheels spawned on the bridge: right, left, center—in that order. Fast, but predictable sequence.
"Flame Wheels!!! Right! Left! Center! Hold center till the left wheel passes, then dodge left!!!"
Dodging right from late-spawning center risked getting hit by returning wheels.
No eyes in the back of your head—better check behind by turning than risk wheels rolling past and looping back.
"Yah!"
"Dodged it!"
As if they'd practiced plenty—which they had—the team evaded the first Flame Wheels flawlessly, despite it being their debut.
Now for adaptation. Could they dodge wheels mid-Breath? How many mistakes? That decided victory or wipe.
"Center! Left! Right! After left wheel passes, dodge there—then once center wheel loops back, regroup center!!!"
Keep dodging right, and you'd get crushed looping back to center. Safer to use left wheel as rear cover, move after center loops.
Speed was key. But the next Flame Breath hindered movement. Chaos brewed, but Minguk kept focus—one slip could wipe them all.
He spotted Hyun-ah floundering. Lost her position battling the Ifrit; the fiery gale disoriented her senses.
"Oh Hyun-ah!!! Run to Sojeong!!!"
Hyun-ah checked Sojeong's spot at his call and bolted. Flames scorched her from behind, but no time to care. The wheel grazed her former position by mere centimeters.
"Back to start! Yuna! Opposite side!!!"
This time, Yuna was lost.
But tuned to his voice, she spun and leaped skyward at his shout. Safe passage. Breath and Wheels passed without losses.
Yet tension etched every face.
Hyun-ah and Yuna especially—despite the hot winds, chills ran down their backs. They'd nearly died. Without Minguk's lead, 100% wipe.
The Ifrit's HP had dipped just 15%. Dodging patterns left dealers with little damage uptime. More rounds ahead.
"Eek!"
Blocking the Ifrit's flames with her shield, Hyun-ah parried. Hot, but manageable with heals. Her mind, though, was a mess.
'Where? Which way?'
Flame Wheels—that damn thing. Mid-battle with Ifrit, one lapse and you'd miss the timing. Outside practice room, she'd be dead hundreds more times.
"Oh Hyun-ah! Back!!"
Minguk's sharp voice pierced her ears. She whirled. Sojeong ran alongside. Moments later, wheel rolled through her old spot.
"Then original positions!"
Sudden stop threw her off-balance. She recovered quick, dashing back. Ifrit loomed ahead—no choice. Arms crossed, she plunged through its body.
'Ah?!'
Perfectly timed—Minguk's shield hit. She escaped major damage. Shield shattered from flames, but DoT heal followed, soothing the burn.
"They say guys usually have better spatial awareness... Looks true. How does our raid leader grasp everything?"
Kim Sojeong, face full of awe, swung her greatsword. Each mana-charged strike pierced the Ifrit, flames erupting around.
"Yeah."
Dodging those flames, Hyun-ah thrust her weapon too. The monster's eerie cry bored into her ears. Bitter feeling welled. They should dodge without his calls...
Minguk's genius control kept them alive—any other leader, multiple wipes. Everyone had been corrected twice over.
And he juggled Breath/Wheels while healing. True to his word pre-raid, he covered perfectly.
"This skill level's not enough..."
Hyun-ah bit her lip. Special variant or not—just a three-star. She needed to improve. To stay with this ace raid leader.
"11%! Focus!"
Amid it, the Ifrit's HP dwindled. A final shriek—and its flames crumbled to ash.
Beep!
Tob defeat of 'Flame Bridge – Ifrit' has been completed.
1 Achievement Point awarded to Hero Pad.
Hero Compendium entries have been updated.
"We got it?"
"Wooooaaah!!!"
Confirming the Ifrit's demise, Yuna threw up her arms in victory. Her bow flew skyward, clattering to the ground.
Sojeong, armor soaked in sweat from battling heat, stripped off her top and chucked it. Plopped down, huge breasts jiggling, pink nipples exposed—but she couldn't care less.
The others collapsed similarly. They'd won, yet covered in soot like beggars.
Minguk lifted his staff one-handed, patting his shoulder like some old uncle. One-Trying a special Ifrit? Looked like no big deal.
Ambling over slowly, he spoke in a casual drawl.
"See? No sweat."
Hyun-ah and Sojeong laughed hollowly. Ye-rin scowled openly. Even Yuna—loyal to Minguk on raids—couldn't hide her expression.