Assassins (1)
The enhanced Solar Blade was ridiculously powerful, to the point of being disconcerting.
It was already a blade that could slice through anything it touched, and now its range had been extended too. That said it all.
"You're already armored to the teeth with that cheat trait, and now it's even stronger?"
"That's how it turned out."
The others had also reached LV.40 and unlocked new traits.
Chae-young could now charge up to ten short-range teleports per minute, limited to 10 meters each. But synergizing with her cooldown reduction effect, it seemed pretty useful.
"Fits a raid leader perfectly. You can join any party spot in a flash, no matter where."
"I got Slow Revival too."
A healer player who'd gained the trait to instantly revive the dead inside Babel Tower beamed widely.
That trait was insanely strong—every healer position probably picked it as a must-have. Our party's stability just shot up even more.
"I got Phasing Arrow. Fires an arrow that passes through a designated ally."
"I took one that makes my ice golem bigger. Now it's 10 meters tall, can mount turret-like stuff on its shoulders, and summons yetis."
The party's firepower had skyrocketed. It felt like we'd become historically strong.
"I wanna test it out on the next floor right now, but let's rest for today. Can't burn through our stamina."
"Got it."
And so we disbanded, scheduling the next floor raid for a few days later.
Truth be told, I had a bit of a gripe. All my traits worked for the Valkyries too, so if they wrapped that long spear in Solar Blade and hurled it, the performance would be no joke.
'Can't wait to show it off.'
Unfortunately, I'd have to wait a few days.
I prepped to clock out and exited Babel Tower. It was still morning. Thanks to the Valkyries' efforts, we'd wrapped up early.
'Maybe swing by the market on the way home.'
They say the higher you climb in Babel, the more your sense of time numbs.
Sometimes, tens of minutes outside feel like just a few inside.
'...Yawn. Haven't been sleeping much lately? Kinda sleepy. Better nap before shopping.'
With fatigue piling up and left unchecked, drowsiness hit hard. Even tough players needed sleep—lack of it wasn't healthy. So I decided to head to the dojo first for a quick nap.
"Mmph!?"
That decision made me drop my guard, letting the ambush through.
Someone appeared from behind and clamped a cloth over my nose and mouth. The smell screamed anesthetic solution.
Kidnappers? Anyway, it didn't faze me.
'Doing this in broad daylight?'
I was stunned by these bold kidnappers' audacity. Looking around, not a single pedestrian in sight.
What the hell? Even with the bad economy, downtown Seoul couldn't be this deserted.
'Player trait.'
Had to be like that field from the hotel last time—the one that trapped people inside.
Dangerous... Dangerously so. My fingertips trembled.
Why would players target me? No clue, but...
'I'll kill them.'
I'm human too, so killing someone didn't sit right. But if they were players threatening me, no reason to hold back.
"Why isn't he passing out?"
"'Cause LV.45 players resist poison like radiation. Shoulda studied up more before coming."
"...Fuck, already LV.45? Intel said LV.30."
Whoever ambushed me from behind couldn't finish their sentence.
I'd grabbed them with raw strength and slammed them forward.
"Gaaack..."
Boom—! A brick block shot up then crashed down. I'd thrown too hard.
The nameless attacker, taking the full brunt of that freakish power, wasn't fine. Bones shattered across their body—instant death.
'My first murder.'
No real emotion. Inside Babel, it'd be a penalty, but out here? No big deal.
Moral numbness from the grind? Or just the tension? Whatever.
The confining field hadn't collapsed. More attackers incoming.
"Target's resisting. Call in backup now."
"Roger. Knights eternal!"
Exactly three minutes after dropping the first, new assailants popped up from spots around the commercial building.
Everywhere I looked, LV.50+ players galore. At least eleven, plus some low-tier grunts.
"What? He's just LV.45. You couldn't nab him even with a sneak attack? You worthless shit-tier fucks..."
"Typical thieves. Waste of heals. Go wrap yourself in bandages instead."
"Hey, asshole, you deaf? Get up!"
Ah, they hadn't grasped the situation. Guess I'd spell it out.
"He's dead. Skull hit first on impact."
"A LV.50 thief killed by a noob...? Fuck! Heal!"
They tried healing light, but the downed guy stayed dead. Probably needed revival.
Not feeling charitable enough to let them cast it.
"Valhalla."
Healer steps right up front? How dumb can you get.
Higher level than me, but skill? Nah.
"Where the hell are we?!"
"Beats me."
Sealed their Great Heal trait, closed in fast, swung my fist.
No need for the scythe. Higher level, sure, but healer stats are low. One-on-one, no chance.
Park Hyunwoo!
Killed the healer, Valhalla ended, headless corpse flew back.
One assailant who'd missed the show stabbed from behind. Dodged barely, but the blade grazed my side. Legs wobbled, vision went white.
"Got him! Stabbed!"
"Corpse works fine! Lure that bitch Ryu Ga-eul and..."
"Ah, so you're after me because of Master."
Honestly, no winning this. Outnumbered by higher-level players.
But running? I'd die sooner.
"Valkyrie sisters, help me."
[Understood, Champion.]
Two Valkyries charged, spears wreathed in Solar Blade.
That long arc severed two assailants' heads, cauterizing instantly.
"Counter with summons!"
Some had summoning traits. Moments later, a house-sized boar appeared, tusks shearing a utility pole.
"Charging."
Boar kicked off the ground, leaped. The shockwave launched me airborne.
Vision flipped 360 degrees. I yelled to the Valkyries.
"Ignore me—kill the other players!"
They swung, slicing two more. Better than expected.
'But they won't last.'
They dropped four players fast, but foes were vets. Regrouped quick, traits firing back at the Valkyries.
Meanwhile, a few piled on me. Blocked with Amodius's Scythe, but level gap showed—pushed back hard after a few clashes.
"You little shit. Woulda spared your life if you'd surrendered clean from the start."
Damn... Without the poison, I could've taken two or three more. Knew it was bravado, but stopping here? Pride wouldn't allow.
Summoned rope to bind one, slashed another with the scythe. Side wound healed, but poison lingered. Trait-enhanced toxin, no doubt—enough to corner even radiation-proof me.
"Done?"
Bam—!
Thick fist to the gut. Fuck... Only Master's allowed to hit here.
"I'll sever your ugly head and toss it at your master's feet."
"Haa..."
"Don't worry. No one outside can help you here. Field's perfectly sealed."
"Really?"
"Yeah, obviously..."
"Wild Hunt summon."
Shit, shoulda said that sooner. No suffering then.