Magical Thief (1)

Though Tayen didn't bother dividing monsters into strict grades, by the standards of other games, the rock golem was an "elite" mob.

"To think an 11th-level newbie took one down in just about ten hits...!"

I'd had a rough idea, but seeing it happen for real hit different. Back in my beginner days, I'd barely scraped past level 30 and had to beg my way into a party just to down one of these things.

Suddenly, the sneers from Il Do Yang Dan's crew and Darius's icy contempt flashed in my mind—stuff I'd almost forgotten about.

"So that's how the rich kids have been playing from the start...? And they had the nerve to look down on weaklings and lowbies like they were superior?"

Now, better late than never, I'd gathered similar resources and hit restart. Even I couldn't help getting excited about this fresh start on the leveling grind.

"Wonder how quick it'll take me to catch up... How soon till I get to carve you all up at my leisure!"

I steeled my resolve like that, methodically awakening and dismantling golems from the rock piles scattered across the field.

Flash!

Shwaa!

"Whoa! Another level-up already?"

How many hours had I been hunting nonstop? I'd been swinging my sword like a maniac, downing mob after mob, and when I finally checked my status window, I had an extra skill point waiting.

"Level 28 already? I've been dumping everything into mana and ignoring other stats, so I didn't even notice how fast I'd climbed. Alright, let's put this into Magic Missile then."

I opened my status window, assigned all my spare stat points to mana, then clicked the Magic Missile skillbook I'd stashed in my inventory.

Most of Tayen's skills came from skillbooks like this. Job-specific ones were rewards from job quests after picking your class. Some players skipped quests and bought books with gold, which led to others grinding quests just to sell them.

Anyway, all that flashing from my level-ups must've drawn eyes. A guy from a nearby party—chatting and hunting all cute—spotted me standing still and wandered over.

"Hey, you! Been watching you for a bit. You're soloing, right?"

He was a warrior character named CoolGuySeojun.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Oh, just... looks like you're geared up nice for leveling. But rock golems hit hard—even solo, you gotta take those HP regen breaks like just now, yeah? We've got a healer who's already maxed healing at 5 stars. Wanna join? With all these golems around, it'd be way more efficient together. Plus, solo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gets boring!"

"Sorry, I prefer solo. Appreciate the offer, but I'll stick to pots and grind alone."

Peeking behind him, I saw an archer and healer who'd finished their first job change. He wasn't wrong—partying up could mean faster mob pulls and heals for quicker clears.

But I had no need for that.

Right now, I'm burning cash like it's nothing.

Superior HP pots going for over 20 gold a pop. I was chugging them without a second thought, keeping full HP even in nonstop hunts.

The elite don't have 'HP regen breaks' in their hunting playbook.

Back in the day, I'd skimp on pots, plop down when HP dipped low, and wait it out. But now, playing the whale just a short while after starting? Those hard times felt like ancient history.

"Ah, you're loaded, huh? Thought you were resting up. Mind if I ask how long you're planning to hunt?"

"Probably another three hours or so... Why?"

"Damn, you've been at it a while and still going strong! We're wrapping in two, so we'll hunt off your route to avoid overlap. Powerlevel on!"

"Thanks. You too."

Maybe it was a casual invite, 'cause CoolGuySeojun shrugged and headed back without pushing.

Something feels off. Party invite's fine, but why ask my hunt time? Did I stand out too much?

The chat was straightforward, almost too much so—and that made my gut twist.

Call it gamer's intuition from years in the trenches.

Smells like a gank setup.

Could be nothing, so level up fast first. Even Shadow Step would let me handle it easy.

This spot was prime for early exp, so sticking despite the risk beat hunting elsewhere. Level 30 was coming soon—the first job change, where you pick your class in Tayen. Better rush it, grab thief skills, than bail now.

Rumble... boom, rumble... boom!

With levels under my belt, golems fell easier and faster than when I'd arrived. Exp requirements rose, but so did my speed—leveling pace held strong.

"Yes! Level 30! Can't believe how the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exp bar flew up—even seeing it is unreal!"

Another 30 minutes of focus, and I'd hit my first milestone.

Compared to three years ago, grinding from 10 to 30? This was damn near 100 times faster.

Six skill points total up to 30. I pumped three into Continuous Slash—the go-to DPS skill everyone maxes at 5 stars—and one into Shield, which I'd max anyway.

Surprising bit? A thief learning Magic Missile. But I'd planned this since deciding on magic shield.

Melee DPS without staves usually skipped magic commons—without amp, damage relied solely on INT, tanking efficiency. Waste a point, and you're trash tier. Nobody tried hybrid lightly.

But soon, I'd wield the Holy Sword. Even at 1 star, it'd punch like 4 stars. Worth spreading points on good commons.

Magic Missile at 4 stars fires four shots instantly—perfect for aggroing scattered mobs to speed farms. In PvP, that 0.2s stun per hit interrupts charges or casts beautifully.

With Holy Sword and mana-focused legendaries covering me, INT would skyrocket. That's the math.

Later, folks'll riot calling 1-star = 4-star broken. But that's how the item's built—what can ya do? Jealous? Get your own divine gear or kill me and take it.

Even busted items depend on the user—like F1 cars, lap times vary by driver.

Skills too. Hoard 'em all you want; timing them perfectly in the right spots? Top-tier control only.

I'd designed a character to max Holy Sword efficiency, confident I'd master the skill buffet.

Just never dying ain't enough... to claim the throne!

To solo-shatter Taeseong Guild without a scratch? Needed an unthinkable build.

This hybrid thief was my best, ultimate tech tree.

The sixth point from 30 reopened my grayed-out Shadow Step.

Long cooldown, short range—but for gank defense, top unique to grab first. Stealth? Useless mid-fight, and 1-star gets pierced by 1-star detection easy.

Stats and skills set, I dove back into rock piles for more golem farming.

Worried for nothing? That party's just grinding normally—no new users around.

A couple more parties in the basin, but CoolGuySeojun's was the last holdout—others bailed, leaving it quiet.

Could see them clear: chit-chatting during breaks, nothing sketchy.

Fine by me if it stays peaceful—more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exp for everyone.

Wasn't hoping for drama anyway, so I relaxed into the grind. Higher level meant pulling close clusters I'd avoided before—now handling two at once.

Solo main my whole career, I always scanned surroundings mid-hunt.

Then, a faint, familiar rumble hit my ears—impossible distance.

Kaboom!

Right-rear rock pile merging—not awakened yet, but I'd clocked it.

Quick scan: golem forming, no users visible.

Here we go!

One ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way unmanned rocks turn golem: stealth/invis player aggro via vibration (not sight). Golems pre-empt stealthers.

Stealth means thief! High-level assume?

Worst-case gank build I'd feared.

Other highbies? I'd spot 'em first.

That clicked—I ditched my two golems, bolting basin's edge.

"Thugs much? Ganking in newbie zone?!"

"Guys! He noticed—chase him down!!"

They reacted instant—hiding thief dropped stealth, yelled to CoolGuySeojun's party.

He Shadow Stepped to my golem-aggroed spot, buffed speed to pursue.

His ID: CoolGuyJjuho. High-level called by Seojun, no doubt. Blood-red "Murderer" status. PK fiend.