Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Dragon Sighting in Torn Bach
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The news about Torn Bach sent the community into absolute chaos.
But just as Woojin had planned, some were seizing the chaos as an opportunity.
The unprecedented sight of famous raid groups converging on Torn Bach had everyone buzzing with excitement.
The mood shifted in an instant.
Even those who hadn't dreamed of heading to Torn Bach started showing interest under the guise of sightseeing.
"Massive movement underway to Torn Bach right now!!"
"The advanced portals in the five kingdoms have hit their limits! Regular portals have over ten thousand simultaneous users!"
"Estimated headcount over fifty million! Ethan's report warns of potential freezing in Torn Bach!"
The management team was swept up in the sudden uproar as well.
One-sixth of the three hundred million concurrent players were flocking to Torn Bach.
"Contact the tech team and max out available servers! No lag during combat—absolutely not!"
"Got it!"
"We could see massive casualties. Have some admins stealth into Torn Bach ahead of time!"
"Yes, sir!!"
"Man, the second management team's in a frenzy."
Amid the chaos, one man leisurely brewed a mix of coffee in the bustling office and handed it to Ko Jun-cheol.
It was Baek Min-hyeok, team leader of the first management team.
"...If you're so chill, at least send some manpower."
Ko Jun-cheol snatched the cup with a scowl at the smirking man.
"Haha, we're in charge of the Labyrinth Tower, you know. Can't spare anyone with quite a few people inside already."
"You look like you're just slacking off."
"Perks of being the team leader."
"Team leader my ass. Then what am I?"
"Must be 'cause you're that good, hyung. That's why Ethan specifically put field management in your hands."
"Flattery will get you..."
Ko Jun-cheol downed the coffee in one gulp.
"Anyway, a dragon showing up in a Monster Wave that wasn't in the original plan... Gotta be the Dragon Lord quest, right?"
"Probably. Khan's in Torn Bach."
Ko Jun-cheol pulled up one of the floating windows.
Khan's movements were being reported in real-time there.
"Crossed to the central continent under level 50. Looks like they force-fed him the quest leading to the Fairy Forest."
"Fairy Forest? Don't tell me... They're starting the second scenario?"
"Not sure yet. But revealing the hidden fairy race means changes are kicking off in-game for sure."
The fairy race was a key element in the second scenario update, Ulldin's Revival.
'Quest acceptance in Evil Tail is basically up to the player by default. Forcing it without their input...'
Ko Jun-cheol pondered as he stared at his monitor.
"Looks like Ethan's tapped him as a Forerunner."
"Hard to believe. Picking a player who just hit level 50..."
Forerunner.
Among the 1.5 billion users, those Ethan deemed qualified to lead Evil Tail's main scenario.
Ethan occasionally intervened directly in their play for the scenarios he planned.
"Third time forcing a quest on him, right?"
"Yeah."
The first was Keruga.
Ethan had made him the Labyrinth Tower's conqueror.
"Maybe the second one led to this. The scenario slowed when that guy quit."
Ko Jun-cheol nodded at Baek Min-hyeok's words.
Everyone agreed Keruga was the tower's top dog now, but it wasn't always so.
Keruga was famous for overwhelming dungeon clears, but there was another known for sniffing out hidden quests.
"Pathfinder Baal."
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd uncovered and cleared most of the quests known in the community.
But two years ago, Baal suddenly quit.
No one knew why.
Quest clear rates had plummeted since.
'He found hidden spots in the Goblin Nest and shortcuts in the Blood Cave too...'
Ethan might have selected him as Baal's replacement.
"...We'll have to watch."
It wasn't welcome news for Ko Jun-cheol.
The logout incident had finally quieted down—if this guy brought it back to the surface, it was trouble.
One slip, and the user data loss post-Blackout could leak.
"Think... he'll subdue the black dragon?"
"Who knows. Success or failure, both problematic... But it's Ethan's mess. All we can do is server management."
"AI's great and all, but frustrating times like this... Stuck twiddling thumbs."
Crunch.
Ko Jun-cheol crumpled the empty paper cup and eyed his monitor.
Players swarming Torn Bach.
And Yujin's figure facing off against the black dragon.
"...Can't just sit on my hands."
He tossed the cup in the trash, resolve hardening in his voice.
"Hold on just a bit longer!!"
"Bring every trap from the village!! Set them up under the walls!!"
Boom!! Crash!!!
Monsters poured through the gap in the collapsed wall from the black dragon's attack.
The breach was a hazard, but people turned it into a kill zone, mowing down monsters.
Rooooar―――!!
Cheers erupted from the rear.
"The raid groups are here!!!"
Defenders spotted the flags and whooped in joy.
It should've taken half a day at least, but using advanced portals—reserved for kingdom elites—they arrived in under a few hours.
"Look!! Norn Raid leading the charge!!"
Advanced portals required the king's permission.
Which meant top-tier skill.
Grind―――!!!
Ten players in gleaming golden armor swept orcs and lizardmen aside, charging into the village.
Worthily, the raid that conquered floor 7, second only to the Phoenix Unit.
Kaboom――!!
Glancing the other way, monsters shredded like paper across the field.
"Red Bloom's Jin Horun's here too!!"
Blue aura cloaked the fists of the hidden class Monk, blooming over the battlefield.
Rumble......!!!
The ground quaked like an earthquake, sharp pillars erupting from fissures.
[...Gah! Kek!!]
[Kyaaak――!!]
Monsters skewered on the spikes screamed.
"Whoa..."
"That many at once..."
Astounded by the massive spell they'd never seen, eyes locked on him.
And the Red Tower mages.
One in red robes stole the crowd's gaze.
"I-Is that Suzuki Hana?!"
"No way!!"
"The Crimson Witch in Torn Bach!!!"
Her appearance ignited frenzy.
"We can win!!"
"Let's take down the dragon!"
With her and the others, the non-dragon monsters cleared in a flash.
Weapons thrust skyward, battle fervor ignited.
Boom―――!!!!
But excitement was short-lived.
A massive black dragon foot slammed down on the cheering crowd.
"Argh...!!"
"S-Save me!!!"
Whoooosh―――!!!!
The dragon blasted breath at the screaming players, flaunting its power.
The breath incinerated half the village.
Hundreds inside vanished without a trace.
"...Insane power."
"Stronger than rank-3 mass magic 'Hell Fire,' I'd say."
The Red Tower mages clicked their tongues at the devastation.
"Figures. It's a dragon, after all."
Unlike the flustered group, Suzuki Hana spoke calmly.
"Analyze the black dragon's attributes first. No need to rush in. Let those guys handle the heavy lifting."
"Understood."
"Scout spots to activate the magic circle. No matter what, we cut off that dragon's breath."
"Yes!!"
She bit her lip, glaring at the black dragon.
'Phoenix Unit suddenly cleared floor 10 after failing forever. Serin must've snagged that dragon magic stone from the auction house.'
Mages were key to floor 10, so Red Tower prepped too.
But the surprise dragon magic stone threatened not just the floor, but their top mage spot.
Hearing of the black dragon in Torn Bach, she saw her chance.
She had one target.
'Better than a dragon magic stone? A dragon heart, obviously.'
But they weren't the only ones biding time.
'Rush in now and you're dead. Wait till its HP drops.'
'Who'll step up first?'
They eyed each other warily, reading intentions.
To shove someone else forward.
'Norn Raid, probably. Strongest group here.'
'They can't refuse without losing face.'
'Move. Come on... move.'
'Hah, trying to use us as cannon fodder? Dream on.'
No one dared advance before the black dragon.
Tap.
That was when.
"What are you all doing? If you're just gonna stand there like wallpaper, get out of the way."
Woojin's words lit the fuse.