Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Band Seizure
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“Arghhh!”
Kim Da-hye adjusted her scope while listening to the screams echoing through the forest.
Weight 14 kg, length 1440 mm, ammo used 50BMG (12.7x99 mm NATO), effective range 1,800 m.
[Barrett M82A1].
In her hands was the Barrett, the most powerful anti-materiel sniper rifle of the modern era.
“One down.”
Thanks to surpassing level 40, Kim Da-hye’s mana bullets could now injure even an average A-rank hero.
With her characteristic dazed expression, she searched for the next target through the scope.
“…She took it.”
Goo Dong-hwan wore a dejected look.
He had gotten permission from Kye Soo-ji and was planning to go at it properly with that guy named Lee Sung-hyun.
But Kim Da-hye had been the fastest.
“Gun? It’s Kim Da-hye!”
The opposing team members panicked and hid behind nearby trees.
But it was futile.
Boom—bang—boooom—!
With noise more fitting for a cannon than a gun, the trees exploded.
Naturally, the heroes hiding behind them screamed from the massive impact.
“Damn it!”
Goo Dong-hwan looked urgent.
Kye Soo-ji felt the same.
If they stayed put like this, Kim Da-hye would snatch all the prey.
The two, who were particularly competitive, charged toward each other without a word.
Just three people.
Far too few to wipe out an entire team.
But they could do it.
Thanks to their overwhelming levels, battle sense.
And honed real-combat experience.
The three dove into the flock like wolves among sheep.
They rampaged freely, beginning their hunt.
And soon after, they secured the band on Lee Sung-hyun’s arm.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded.
He had been a bit worried, but the battle had ended far more smoothly than expected.
‘Taking the initiative was good, and Da-hye’s ambush was solid.’
The surprise attack in an unexpected way had clearly flustered them, even from here.
If they had stayed just a little calmer, things would have gone much better for them.
‘Well, with a team leader like that, sloppiness is to be expected.’
Seo Woo-jin chuckled.
‘At that level, though…’
He figured he could handle it solo.
Of course, top-tier teams would be pushing it.
Even aside from Baek Si-woo’s team, some had members as strong as Goo Dong-hwan or Kye Ji-soo.
But at the level they had just dismantled, he could manage alone.
He’d need to seize the initiative with a preemptive strike, though.
In any case, securing one band in the first battle gave him some breathing room.
“Wow, we knew it already, but they’re seriously strong.”
‘Alchemist’ Park Min-seong let out an exclamation while watching the fight.
“They’re top-tier among heroes. Probably in the top ten?”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
Envy flickered in Park Min-seong’s eyes.
As a non-combat class, he couldn’t help but romanticize battle.
He had become a hero in another world, yet here he was brewing potions. No wonder he felt jealous.
“‘Alchemist’ is a great class too. Depending on how you grow, you can be a huge help in war.”
It wasn’t empty flattery.
Seo Woo-jin saw potential in Park Min-seong.
It was faint now, but with proper nurturing, he could outshine any class.
“Thank you.”
Park Min-seong smiled warmly.
He seemed to think Seo Woo-jin was just consoling him.
‘He’ll come to realize it in time.’
No need to convince him now.
Time would show him his own value.
“Woo-jin!”
Just then, Kang Byung-gyu shouted.
“They’re coming again!”
He glanced back.
The assault team’s battle was already over.
“Then shall we see how the defense holds up?”
Seo Woo-jin looked around at his teammates, preparing for the incoming fight.
“What the hell…”
“Only seven of them! So why can’t we break through?”
Seo Woo-jin didn’t step in.
The enemy team couldn’t even reach the hilltop.
Lee Ji-ah and Yoo Hong-seol stood at the front, blocking the path, while Jin Tae-seong rained down all sorts of elemental magic from behind.
Their coordination, honed in Heldein, was shining.
And on top of that…
Clang!
Park Min-seong’s ‘abnormal status potions’ were putting in solid work.
“Argh! Athlete’s foot on my feet!”
“S-so… sleepy…”
“Snap out of it, you idiot! Falling asleep here?!”
The effects didn’t last long.
Just ten seconds or so.
Even shorter for higher-level foes.
But that was enough.
The unexpected ‘abnormal statuses’ scattered their focus, preventing any proper fight.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the remaining heroes steadily whittled down their numbers.
“Heh.”
Seo Woo-jin felt like he was watching an auto-farm.
Attacks and defenses handled automatically without him lifting a finger—it was almost boring.
Everyone’s faces were bright.
They were truly feeling their own prowess, so how could they not be pleased?
All but one.
Everyone except Kim Woo-ram.
‘I can’t even join the fight.’
It wasn’t incomprehensible.
Lee Ji-ah, Yoo Hong-seol, and Jin Tae-seong were longtime comrades.
Their teamwork flowed organically, like water.
Squeezing in between wasn’t easy.
But standing around doing nothing was still a problem.
Seo Woo-jin sighed and headed down.
“Huh? Woo-jin, where you going?”
Kang Byung-gyu, who had been guarding the summit while escorting Team Leader Seo Woo-jin, asked.
“Gonna do something about that guy.”
He nodded toward Kim Woo-ram.
“You sure? If the team leader moves and we lose a band…”
Kang Byung-gyu trailed off, tilting his head.
He had reflexively voiced concern, but no matter how he thought about it, Seo Woo-jin losing a band seemed impossible.
If anything, he’d be the one taking them.
“Yeah, go careful.”
He just let him go.
Seo Woo-jin smirked and approached Kim Woo-ram.
“Hey.”
Kim Woo-ram flinched at the sudden call.
“What’re you doing just standing there?”
“Well…”
“We’re not your damn chauffeur. You’re not planning to just stand by and grab the spoils, are you?”
He deliberately poked at him.
The expected reaction came.
“I was just about to attack?”
He gripped his spear tighter.
But that was it.
He hesitated, unsure where or how to strike.
“If you don’t know, throw a potion or something. Better than standing still.”
Kim Woo-ram bit his lip at Seo Woo-jin’s cold words.
He looked furious, but Seo Woo-jin had no intention of letting up.
“If you hate that, hit their flank. They look weak. Totally out of it.”
Kim Woo-ram’s eyes sparkled.
Or seemed to.
His bangs hid it.
But like he’d found a lead, he kicked off the ground and launched toward the direction Seo Woo-jin indicated.
“What’s this guy?!”
The heroes spotted the sudden intruder Kim Woo-ram and scrambled into defense.
With his lacking spear skills and combat experience, blocking him didn’t look hard.
But their attention shifting there created another opening.
“Now!”
At Yoo Hong-seol’s shout, Lee Ji-ah clenched her fist.
“Shock Punch!”
A ridiculously childish skill name.
Not particularly threatening.
But its effect was tremendous.
Booooom—!
Everything in front of Lee Ji-ah started shattering.
Trees burst like dry kindling, and the heroes flew back, unable to withstand the impact.
“Tae-seong oppa!”
At the same time, Jin Tae-seong from the rear cast his spell.
‘Fire Whirl’.
A fire-attribute magic specialized in destructive power.
Whooooosh—
A whirlwind of flames swept the battlefield.
“Arghhh! Fire! Put out the fire!”
That was the end.
Most lost the will to fight and collapsed, and Yoo Hong-seol finished off the rest with her indifferent twin blades.
“Huff—pant!”
Kim Woo-ram was panting heavily off to the side.
Even after such a brief skirmish, he looked exhausted.
“Control your breathing.”
Something Ailin always emphasized.
Seo Woo-jin passed it on to him.
“Th-that, huff, what…”
He was trying to steady his breath, but it wasn’t easy.
“Breathing is your lifeline. No matter how strong you are, unstable breathing means you can’t sustain a proper fight.”
Seo Woo-jin had experienced it countless times.
That’s why he could say it firmly.
Watching Kim Woo-ram’s flushed face as he forced his breathing under control, Seo Woo-jin nodded.
‘At least he listens on the surface.’
Considering his rebellious attitude at first sight, he’d seemed like the type to ignore everything…
But after tasting real bitterness, he at least pretended to listen outwardly.
That was enough.
Seo Woo-jin turned and headed down.
His target: the enemy team leader.
He had put out the flames on him and collapsed, utterly spent.
“…Seo Woo-jin.”
A grinding of teeth.
He seemed quite indignant about the loss.
But Seo Woo-jin just shrugged, snatched the band from his arm.
“Good work.”
He bowed politely, then turned away.
‘Now two.’
Including his own, that made three.
Enough to place in the top three.
* * *
“Argh! It’s Baek Si-woo’s team! Run!”
“Protect the leader! Protect the leader, you bastards!”
It was total chaos.
They had charged out aggressively, only to face Baek Si-woo.
They tried to flee in shock, but it was too late.
His friends and teammates had already formed a encirclement.
“Four now.”
“Easy, too easy.”
For the elite friends, it was honestly a breeze.
They crushed every team they met and took their bands.
Not a single defeat—they advanced triumphantly.
“It’ll be over quick, Si-woo.”
Seong Yu-ra said with a smile lighting up her face.
Just two hours into the training.
Yet they had already dismantled nearly half the teams.
At this rate, five hours wouldn’t even be needed.
“Yeah. But don’t get complacent. Strong ones are still out there.”
Baek Si-woo said, thinking of Seo Woo-jin.
“Pfft, we’re still stronger.”
Seong Yu-ra scoffed.
She dismissed Seo Woo-jin’s win over Baek Si-woo in sparring as luck.
A fluke victory.
Sure, Seo Woo-jin was stronger than expected, but not on their level, she thought.
Baek Si-woo didn’t argue.
He’d change his mind once they actually faced him.
“How about we go find that old man’s team while we’re at it? Knock him down a peg now.”
Seong Yu-ra suggested.
“Crush them so they never climb back up. His team looks all average—should be easy.”
“…No need to rush. It’s heading that way anyway.”
Baek Si-woo glanced to the side.
There stood Seo Woo-jin and his teammates.
As if they had anticipated this, not a hint of surprise on their faces.
Baek Si-woo’s gaze drifted slightly downward.
Seo Woo-jin held five bands in his hand.