Chapter 35
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Hidden Expert
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Kwajik!
An ice snowman monster shattered against Hyun-ah's shield. Monsters lunging at the massive greatsword wielded with wide swings were bisected in an instant and slain. They were all ordinary monsters from the special dungeon of illusions, rated at [B – 9] difficulty.
Since they were just regular monsters and not boss-level threats, even newbie heroes could handle them solo without much trouble. Sure, ordinary people without mana powers would struggle, but fresh recruits from Hero Academy could take them down easily as long as they overcame their fear.
Paaat!
Minguk's healing ability activated toward the tank, Hyun-ah, whose health had dipped slightly. The damage she'd taken from the monsters was negligible, so there was no real need to expend mana on it.
But to practice his newly equipped skill, Minguk formed hand seals every time a teammate's health dropped. He'd drilled it endlessly before entering the dungeon, but nothing beat using it in real combat while moving.
Mana recovered on its own over time anyway, so it was no big deal. As they pushed deeper into the dungeon, smashing snowman monsters left and right...
"Raid Leader! Found one!"
Yuna, positioned on the right flank of the party formation, held up a small, sparkling blue fragment. It was the illusion fragment—the only way to summon the dungeon's sole boss monster and unique entity, the Ice Queen – Anisa.
Everyone quickly gathered around Yuna.
"We need ten of these, right?"
So-jeong stared at the fragment in Yuna's hand as she spoke. It looked like a piece broken off a giant key, gleaming there.
Minguk's GGW raid team had entered the Illusion Dungeon near Seoul's Boramae Park about ten minutes ago. In that time, they'd taken down just over twenty snowmen. So, in the end...
"Looks like each of us needs to bag around forty to piece together one key."
"Exclude the healer Raid Leader, though. So fifty each for the rest of us?"
A snowman charging from behind with icy fangs was cleaved clean in half by Kim So-jeong's greatsword.
It was baffling how such a tiny body could produce that kind of power. Heroes who wielded mana—or mana power—truly defied common sense.
"How about a bet on who collects the most illusion fragments? Oh, and naturally, the healer Raid Leader's out."
Kim So-jeong rummaged through the snowman's icy remains, then turned to the group with a grin.
"Sounds fun! A Lucky Girl from Cheonho-dong like me can't sit this out!"
While the others showed interest, Hyun-ah shouted with the most enthusiasm.
Hey, if they could make a mindless grind fun, it was all good. The team dove into smashing snowmen with renewed vigor, while Minguk diligently practiced his new hand seals.
In the end, Ye-rin claimed victory in the bet. While Hyun-ah, Yuna, and So-jeong each nabbed two fragments, Ye-rin snagged a whopping four—double theirs.
"That means I win, right? What's my prize?"
Clearly thrilled with her win, Ye-rin eyed the losers expectantly.
"Hmm."
"...We didn't really think that far ahead."
The rookies, who'd jumped in without a plan, exchanged uneasy glances before subtly turning to Minguk.
"The Raid Leader picks the prize. For the bet."
"...Huh?"
Minguk blinked in surprise at suddenly being put on the spot. His eyes met Ye-rin's.
'Oh no...'
Her expectant gaze meant he'd have to cough up something. Just then, he caught So-jeong puckering her lips suggestively.
"Ah!"
An idea hit Minguk. Perfect timing—he'd skipped it during the Flame Leg – Ifrit raid too.
"We skipped pecks last raid, right? Let's say a peck for this one, and if we one-try it again, it's a kiss. Deal?"
"Yes!!!"
"Ugh, if I'd known, I'd have gone ham on these things..."
"But we're all in Minguk oppa's cartel anyway, right? I'm not... not jealous or anything."
Ye-rin's voice echoed through the Illusion Dungeon the moment she finished speaking. It was just as he'd figured—this world's men were truly blessed. Of course, it came at the cost of massive sacrifices from past generations battling darkness monsters to the death...
Either way, it was a heartwarming end where everyone got a reward. And then, at the center of the Illusion Dungeon, the Ice Queen – Anisa made her appearance.
* * *
"The key is movement. You have to know exactly where you are on the battlefield and where those ice orbs spawn."
Minguk stressed the importance of positioning to his team once more. Precise movement—aka moving—was the core of conquering this raid.
The boss of the Illusion Dungeon, the Ice Queen – Anisa, loomed in everyone's view. Knee-high ice walls encircled a wide area around her, but according to strategy videos, once heroes entered, those walls turned into a barrier trapping them inside.
So when combat started, it was do or die: either Anisa fell, or the entire hero team did. A true deathmatch.
'Revival Stones being a thing was a godsend.'
Revival Stones, which saved mana-wielding heroes' lives, hadn't been discovered right when the darkness monsters appeared. The mind boggled at how many heroes must have died farming monsters before then.
Anyway, they'd popped one Revival Stone before entering. Price-wise, sending rookies into a dungeon was a massive loss. But clans, the nation, and the Hero Association footed the bill.
Humanity needed seasoned heroes to beat back the darkness monsters for survival. Revival Stones were the safety net for training them.
Clans weren't throwing money at rookies blindly either. High-grade dungeons where top heroes shone yielded loot of immense value.
"When combat starts, vibrations will hit, and the ice walls will shoot up like a barrier around us. Stay calm. Tank, grab aggro on the boss immediately. Everyone else, form an S-formation and hold position. And Hyun-ah."
"Uh, yeah? I mean, yes?!"
Hyun-ah, who'd been mentally rehearsing Anisa's patterns, whipped her head toward Minguk.
"Right at combat start, an Ice Spear flies. Pop Heavy Defense—your B-grade tank skill that boosts equipped gear defense—and brace. Grab aggro first, though."
"Got it."
"Alternate Heavy Defense and Life Up—B-grade tank skill that ups max HP—every time she launches an Ice Spear. If timings get messy, I'll call it out from there."
"Understood!"
Knowing Minguk would handle surprises eased Hyun-ah's nerves, and she shouted her reply. All she had to do was hold aggro and focus—that was tanking 101.
"Like we planned: divide the field wide. 10 o'clock is So-jeong, 2 o'clock Ye-rin, 5 to 9 o'clock Yuna on ice orb duty."
For the raid's deadliest pattern, the ice orbs, Minguk assigned coverage zones to his three dealers. It prevented mix-ups and ensured precise clears.
It also stopped anyone from shoving orb duty onto others.
"If anyone gets iced in prison, I'll move or redirect as needed. But..."
Minguk's gaze lingered on So-jeong, Yuna, and Ye-rin's faces.
"If any of my team gets trapped, I'll be very disappointed as Raid Leader."
The three dealers nodded solemnly at his not-quite-threat.
Minguk had drilled it pre-raid: avoid Ice Prison at all costs, even if it meant skimping DPS. Anisa's pattern locked you down for a whopping 30 seconds.
Moments later, Minguk and the team hopped the knee-high ice walls. A biting chill swirled over them, followed by cracking sounds as transparent ice walls erupted sky-high, sealing every direction.
"Feels like we've stepped into an ice arena."
"No way a jump gets us out."
Agile dealer Yuna poured mana into a leap at the wall but shook her head, nowhere near half its height.
"It's her or us. One or the other..."
So-jeong gripped her greatsword tighter, psyching herself up. Stage set—it was go time.
"Tank! Aggro!!!"
At Minguk's call, Hyun-ah charged forward without hesitation. The other dealers held attack, moving with her.
Anisa's opening Ice Spear had to hit the tank. Plus, time for the tank to secure aggro.
Anisa fixed her icy glare on the approaching hero, raising her right hand. Chill winds gathered above it, forming a massive icicle. Ice Spear.
"Hraaaah! Heavy Defense!"
Her gear flashed as the skill activated, boosting defense on five slots—everything but weapon, rings, and earrings.
Hyun-ah's tankiness spiked accordingly. Then the Ice Spear slammed into her.
"Kyaaaah! H-Healer!!!"
Her piercing scream rang across the battlefield.
Even with the defense skill and shield up, the impact launched her airborne. The hit spot throbbed like a skewer had pierced it.
Tears welled instantly. The kind of pain that made you scream for heals on reflex.
But the agony faded quick. Minguk's heal restored her HP, erasing the pain. Another skill topped her off perfectly. He recalled the damage she'd just eaten.
'40%.'
Even with defense up, it chunked hard. Slack off, and he'd earn the infamous "healer who drops tanks" rep. But this was just a test run to gauge Ice Spear damage.
'Sorry, Hyun-ah...'
Minguk had skipped shields and instant heals to measure raw damage. From it, he could now predict Anisa's attacks.
"Tank has to eat every one."
Anyone else would've been near-death or insta-gibbed. Aggro control was priority one.