"I'm Taking Over Because You're Too Frustrating"
"I'm stepping in because you're frustrating." What does that mean?
Simply put, it's my declaration of monopoly. All the rock giants popping up around Guro-gu—the Soul Golems—are mine.
Just in case my point didn't get across clearly to these idiots, I drove it home.
"So don't touch my prey. I'm asking nicely."
That should make it crystal clear, right?
Of course, I'm not clueless about the rules of this business. What I'm doing right now is basically stealing their rice bowl.
Guro-gu is their guild's territory. Claiming the right to clear monsters without prior discussion with them goes against industry etiquette.
As expected, their team leader-looking guy snarled back with a ugly mug.
'A perfectly fine city is turning into a wasteland, and you've got time to quibble over that?'Sung Hyun-sook clicks her tongue!
'Totally spot on.'
Mom's right. This isn't the time to worry about industry etiquette.
This is the infamous Guro-gu Incident—one of the major events etched in my memory.
A whole city nearly vanished from the map of South Korea.
'It was way beyond what these idiots could handle.'
In the end, the Guro-gu Incident wrapped up thanks to the intervention of one S-rank player, Choi Kwang-hyun. But not without massive casualties.
'Not this time around.'
I heard a massive rumble from the abandoned building and wondered what was up, but I never expected today to be the day the Guro-gu Incident kicked off.
'Even big events are hard to pin down to the exact date.'
In the end, I snuck onto the scene while Yoo Soo-yeon rushed back to the Association, breaking a sweat in the process.
That's when the idiot team leader bellowed.
"If you wanna claim clearance rights, get our approval properly first! We're even willing to cede 2% or so—"
2% my ass. Not worth hearing out to the end.
Thwack!
I ignored the incoming bullshit and kicked off the ground again, leaping forward.
Landing spot: the golem's nape!
Crackle!
The moment my body touched its surface, intense electricity wrapped around my skin.
But no matter how fierce the current tried to devour me, it was useless against me.
Spirit King's Favor (Fire) activated!
Status ailment Electrocution nullified!
It stings a bit, but my trait kicks in right away. Thank you, Spirit King!
Grab the back, and you're 99% there.
Soul Golem
Classification: Monster
History: Creation of the 'Fallen Priest'. A rock giant born from the souls of the dead.
Always surrounded by an electric barrier.
Skills:
* None
Disposition:
* Extreme caution / Fear
Core Location:
* Crown, where the soul is stored
As you can see, their weak point is the crown. More precisely, the core embedded like a brain beyond it... but hitting the surface is enough to damage it plenty.
Like this!
Thwack!
My clenched fist smashed into the golem's crown, tilting its body forward.
Before its limp head hit the ground, tap! I used the falling body as a springboard, hopping up to target the next one without pause.
One down, crunch! Next.
Thwack!
It was less hunting and more repetitive labor, steadily thinning their numbers.
But as I watched them dwindle, I felt disappointment instead.
Why? Because...
Defeat 100+ C-rank or higher monsters.
📍 Progress:14 / 100
When I took down the first golem, this Sudden Quest popped up out of nowhere.
'Phase 2 unlocked!'
That's the biggest reason I declared monopoly on these idiots.
'No EXP or level-ups until I complete the Sudden Quest.'
So, 'my only option is to knock out as many as possible right here.'
I paused my leaps to catch my breath, steadying my surging mana fueled by exhilaration and fighting spirit, and assumed my stance.
But then?
[Grrooooh!]
The one I'd targeted next quickly covered its crown with a stone fist.
'Smart little bastard?'
No big deal—prey was everywhere. I eyed the one beside it, and whoosh! It locked eyes with me and protected its crown with both hands too.
...Guess they're not total rockheads.
The <Stealth> skill wasn't sponsored for you to use it making stew!Sung Hyun-sook is frustrated!
"Stealth? Oh!"
Mom's a genius! Even her son has to admire that battle sense.
Shh.
I activated <Stealth>, turning my body transparent.
Suddenly,
[Grroo...?!]
[Grraa...!?]
The golems panicked, flailing and scanning around.
Seizing the gap!
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
I jammed my fists into the exposed crowns of the defenseless golems.
Weaving through the dense pack, every lethal strike felled them one by one.
[Graaaah!]
The panicking golems screeched like screams, swinging wildly at empty air.
Being toyed with by an invisible foe must be terrifying.
But it's fun for me, so who cares.
I kept hunting meticulously and swiftly, ensuring their blind swings didn't accidentally dispel my <Stealth>.
Then, out of nowhere.
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' sighs!
"Sigh? Why all of a sudden... Huh!?"
BOOM!
"...?!"
A fireball came flying from my blind spot, slamming into the golem I'd just reserved.
Startled, I dropped <Stealth> involuntarily.
My mind blanked for a second.
"What the hell are you standing around for, you bastards! You gonna keep watching with your thumbs up your asses?!"
Damn, those worthless idiots.
I was so into smashing golems that I didn't notice their pathetic interference.
They must really hate losing their rice bowl, unloading a barrage like morons.
'I get the sentiment...'
Understanding is one thing. Forgiveness is another.
Well, if they'd actually killed some decisively by butting in, maybe.
[Graaaah!]
[Groooar!]
Instead, they just stirred them up. The golems, revived since their crowns took no damage, charged at the idiots.
"The crowns! Aim for the crowns!"
The quick-witted idiot team leader yelled orders, flailing wildly, but all he got back were his minions' wails.
"It's hard to pinpoint just the crowns!"
"Even if I try climbing their necks like that guy, the electricity...!"
"Aaaagh! Stay back, you fuckers!"
Knowing the theory doesn't help when practice is always tough.
In the end, the idiots got swept away helplessly by the bull-rushing golem horde.
"...Sigh."
What a pathetic sight. Why take unnecessary risks?
Amid the one-sided beatdown,
"Uwaaaagh!"
A golem's massive stone fist flew toward the face-down idiot team leader.
I had no intention of saving him, but...
Crack!
I was nearby, so I took it down.
The team leader, barely alive, stared blankly at the crumbling golem, then looked up at me.
His lips trembled.
"Th-thanks..."
"No thanks needed."
Time for a proper warning.
I pierced his pale eyes with my glare.
"I won't say it a third time. I'll handle all the monsters here, so stay out of it."
"...!"
He gulped, choking on air.
His face drained of color as he nodded frantically.
"G-got it..."
"Thanks for understanding now."
Hard to stay stone-faced, so I smiled and patted his shoulder.
And strictly speaking...
These idiots weren't total hindrances. They pulled aggro solid.
Thanks to them, I didn't need to burn mana on <Stealth> to scatter the golems' attention.
"Let's keep going."
Slipping through the chaos, I casually felled more golems.
It was chaos upon chaos.
The worst outbreak in recent memory was shocking enough... but a young player of unknown identity, without proper gear, casually cleaning it up? Astonishing, beyond relief.
The netizens' reactions said it all.
And some petty anger and criticism too.
Awe and admiration for the young man, fury and scorn for BlueBird. Followed by suspicions and guesses.
Rumors swirled about his identity, debates raging.
Netizen detectives wouldn't sit idle. Rather than wait for media, they'd uncover it themselves.
A few minutes later,
A post went up on a major community site claiming to reveal the young man's identity.
Similar titles had popped up before, mostly baseless guesses or clickbait.
But this one,
backed by highly credible attachments and solid logic from the OP, hit hard—even skeptics who entered expecting bait got floored.