The Crushing Mana Waves
“Urp...!”
A group of sixty players was midway up Mount Hiei when one suddenly clamped his hand over his mouth and dry-heaved.
But no one questioned him or reacted with surprise.
“W-Wait. This is...!”
“No joke... Ugh!”
“U-Uwaaack—!”
Others around him started showing the same reaction in droves.
No, some were even worse off—vomiting up their guts, collapsing to their knees, or passing out entirely...
The cause was all too obvious.
This... this is a wave reading of 20,000...?!
They're insane... We haven't even entered the gate yet...
I... I can't do this...
The mana waves crashing down like a tsunami the moment they neared the summit.
That terrifying turbid energy mercilessly crushed everyone climbing the mountain.
For reference, none of these were scrubs. Every single one was an elite handpicked from major guilds across nations—the lowest rank among them was A-rank, and even those were top-tier A-ranks rivaling S-rank prowess.
...No way. Absolutely not, this is impossible.
This is way beyond what an A-rank can handle...
If even they were giving up before trying, what more was there to say?
Most cowered like mice before a cat, but a tiny few remained unfazed.
“Wow, it's been ages since I've felt chills like this.”
“It's as intense as they say.”
“About 100 meters left to the emergence point at the peak?”
“From here on, everyone else stands by. They won't last.”
These were the eight mega-rankers selected as the first assault team, chatting calmly.
Well, technically seven mega-rankers plus one high ranker, since Miura Kei had dropped to the second team and Choi Kwang-hyun had joined the raid party.
“Mr. Choi Kwang-hyun, you okay?”
“My resistance to waves is mega-ranker level! Don't worry!”
“You say that, but you're sweating bullets...”
“Ahem! It's just been a while since I climbed a mountain—it's hot! Hot!”
Who sweats like that from a casual hike? I stifled a laugh at Choi Kwang-hyun's adorable bravado.
'Is it really okay to bring him?' 'Sung Hyun-sook' worries!
He'll be fine.
Swapping Miura Kei for Choi Kwang-hyun in the first team drew tons of skeptical looks. Fair enough—a top-40 player when they were already short on mega-rankers? Even if it was based on sparring results, many worried it tanked our clear rate.
Of course, that was just talk.
Anyone going in faces the same hell.
They didn't know what Full Moon Canyon really was.
Choi Kwang-hyun, Miura Kei, even Jayden Goliath—it wouldn't matter.
A certain mechanism inside made everyone's suffering equal. Strength gaps? Irrelevant.
As I mentally reviewed Full Moon Canyon's traits,
“From here on.”
Jayden Goliath, raid leader for this joint op, turned to the trailing group and raised his voice.
“Everyone except the first assault team, stand by. Pushing further will just create stragglers.”
His words translated in real-time via cutting-edge comms gear, and relief washed over the second wave's faces.
“Once we enter, the wave intensity will stabilize. Hold out for an hour per the plan, then second team proceeds in sequence.”
「.......」
Drenched in sweat, they silently stared at Jayden and his seven teammates.
Not resentment at the order—no reason for that.
Just,
How are they stone-faced in this storm?
Ender 7, mega-rankers... seeing it hits different.
Even Choi Kwang-hyun barely hanging on is a beast.
Awestruck by the gap, words failed them.
(Though Choi Kwang-hyun was the weak link... still, his grit amid monsters deserved respect.)
Gazes naturally shifted from him to the man beside: Hwang Jae-min.
What's that guy's deal?
Five years in, and I'm dying—him? Casual stroll.
Wave resistance must be innate...
League's secret weapon?
Questions, awe, suspicion swirled around me briefly before converging on one feeling.
We're... losing to a rookie awakened months ago?
The inferiority anyone would feel.
Thud-.
Meanwhile, our eight reached the summit.
And, rumble—.
We let out hollow laughs and swallowed hard.
The gate loomed like a city wall.
“...Up close, it's insane.”
Louis Gardel, US rank 16, craned his neck.
“Size-wise, second to the black one from the apocalypse?”
“From below, optical illusion makes it touch the sky.”
China's Jin Han-ryang and Xiao Lin chimed in.
“...Hoo.”
“...Damn.”
US rep Viola Dash sighed; Russia's Alexei Nazarov muttered a curse.
I, Korea's rep, calmed myself: Just a bit longer.
One reason I risked my life in Full Moon Canyon:
The day you kids return to normal isn't far.
To restore the chimera children. Nothing else.
“Let's go.”
With raid leader Jayden Goliath's heavy words,
eight players plunged into the purple gate.
The alien sensation of crossing dimensions hit instantly.
- What do you do first upon entering a gate? Grasp the field concept, then convene.
I recalled Jayden's post-clear interview from my past life.
- Terrain changes strategy—desert or plains? Scan features fast, huddle for briefing. League manual basics.
He'd chuckled wryly there.
Not amused—more like,
- But that place... Ten seconds in, all common sense shattered.
Resigned, self-mocking.
You have entered the dungeon 'Full Moon Canyon'.
Due to field traits, all movement-related skills are sealed.
Boom—!
Ear-splitting blasts assaulted us the second we entered the night canyon. I got why Jayden had laughed in disbelief.
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' worries for the well-being of 'our son♡'!
Mom, who'd drilled me all night in her sanctuary under "family training," worrying? Enough said.
And rightfully so.
Boom—!
Boom—!
“Damn! Right off the bat!”
“Lord have mercy...”
Gigantic fire pillars erupted from the ground everywhere, welcoming us.
Alexei screamed; Louis prayed, pale. Even mega-rankers lost composure.
Jayden's interview flashed by:
- Terrain scan? Briefing? No time. Dodge endless pillars first.
But the issue was...
Rumble—!
- Dodging wasn't easy. Felt like the dungeon itself willed our deaths.
Earthquake underfoot, ground heaving. Balance impossible as it threatened to collapse.
Relentless pillar barrages amid chaos.
“Everyone, careful!”
Jayden shouted, sensing doom from the start.
Boom—!
Boom—!
Rumble—!
Irregular tilts, constant shakes. I barely dodged a nearby pillar, biting my lip.
One dies here first.
The one with the perfect skill for this.
Got to save them.
I activated Divine Living Armor's first effect.
Regain footing first.
Transforming into defensive gear suited to the current field environment!
Whooo—!
Purple glow enveloped my black bodysuit and coat. Subtle change—disappointing at first, but...
“Not bad.”
Sensing the effect, I smirked.
The barrier cushioned quake shocks like padding. Even as ground cracked, I held steady.
Pillars still need dodging manually...
Quake-immune? Piece of cake.
Now, survey surroundings.
Glancing at Choi Kwang-hyun:
“Ha! What a dungeon—chaos from the entrance!”
He nimbly endured, shockwave expert.
No worries there.
Others? Safe. I knew.
Except one.
“Eek! Uwaa...!”
China's mega-ranker, Xiao Lin—most precarious, our sole savior.
“Xiao Lin!”
She looked over, panicked. No time for replies.
“Shoot one arrow straight up—now!”
“Huh?! Why suddenly—!”
“No time! You're the only one who can...?!”
Then.
Thud—!
I bolted forward mid-sentence.
Rumble—!
Her footing swelled as I tackled her—simultaneous.
We rolled; boom—!
Pillar where she stood.
Without me, ashes.
“H-Huff...!”
Xiao Lin paled, then composed:
“Th-Thanks to you, I—.”
“Thanks later. That request?”
“S-Shoot skyward... right?”
“Exactly where I'm pointing.”
I indicated a night sky spot.
Dungeon: Full Moon Canyon.
No full moon visible—cloud-shrouded, obviously.
“Strongest shot. Disperse all clouds.”
Moon hidden; disaster till revealed.
Options: endure hour for natural clear, or force it.
Latter wiser.
Want to Sky Soarer's Ascent up myself, but...
Movement skills sealed. Cursed dungeon—not meant for clearing.
“Hurry!”
“O-Okay!”
She drew bow lightning-fast, no arrow—pulled string, qi gathered.
Whiii—!
Air screamed, qi arrow formed.
Released—boom—!
Shockwave; arrow streaked like lightning, shredding clouds utterly.
Xiao Lin fist-pumped at fragments.
“D-Done...!”
“Well done.”
Casual praise, but inwardly shocked.
...Half-doubted, but she pulled it off. True mega-ranker beast.
Clouds gone, moon emerged—rumble...
Rumble...
Quakes ceased like lies. Pillars too.
“S-Stopped...?”
“Hell. Thought I was dead.”
“Just me? Felt like living earth, not quake...”
Others regained calm.
Xiao Lin gawked: “Y-You knew it'd end with sky shot...?”
Ding—!
Moonlight temporarily suppresses 'Full Moon Canyon'!
'Full Moon Canyon' enters sleep state!
“Wait, what?”
“Suppressed? Sleep state?”
“No way...”
“...Sleep's for living things, right?”
Rankers puzzled at messages.
"Living" ground calmed, then "suppressed" notice.
Mega-rankers weren't fools.
- Full Moon Canyon defies logic.
Jayden's past interview resurfaced.
- The field itself is a living boss monster. Sensible?
Yes.
Full Moon Canyon: dungeon and boss name.