Ambush Backfires
The users who had been slaughtered by Mu-hyuk, along with their Hayashi Guildmates, were enduring a tense, silent vigil deep in the Triple Wolf habitat.
"Damn it, the staff got sold after all!"
"Tch, couldn't snag it?"
"Yeah, some psycho bid 450 gold on it. Fuck."
It was enough to make anyone curse. Over 4 million won vanishing in an instant—that kind of loss stung.
"And they sold the dungeon too?"
"Rumor has it went for over 20 million won."
"Hah, pisses me off. For real."
"Let's smash the bastards when they come out."
"Obviously. Stealing our stuff?"
"Just wait 'til they show."
They glared at the wooden boards sealing the entrance for a long while. A heavy silence followed for quite some time.
Then, someone's arrival shattered the quiet.
"Ah, Guild Master, you're here?"
"Still nothing?"
"Yeah, they should be out any minute now."
"We'll kill 'em the second they emerge."
"Right, probably just a mid-tier guild at best. We'll hit 'em first, YapYap."
"Got it!"
"Like I said before, you gotta strike first since you're not in our guild. Then, when they try to hit you back, duck behind us. We'll take the aggro instead."
"Of course. That's how we make it self-defense."
"Exactly. Then we wipe 'em out."
At least half the users would drop something decent.
"And 24 hours later, we do it again—rinse and repeat. We'll strip every dungeon reward they got."
The guild master grinned, envisioning the haul.
Everyone chuckled along.
At that moment, the Hayashi Guild Master glanced at the users who'd clashed with Mu-hyuk.
"You guys held it down."
"Nah, no big deal."
"If it weren't for that psycho, you'd have reported straight to me, right?"
"Damn right. We found the dungeon, were about to report it, then bam—that freak shows up and slaughters us. Guy was insanely strong; we were shocked."
"Yeah, I should've checked my messages sooner."
The guild master clicked his tongue in regret.
"Anyway, keep up the good work."
"You got it, Guild Master."
As the guild master moved to the opposite side, they flashed rotten smirks.
"Fooled him good."
"That guy's a pro."
"Basic stuff."
Suddenly, a gust of wind howled in.
Whoooosh.
The blast swept away the boards and obliterated the dungeon entrance.
"Guild Master!"
"I see it. Everyone, get ready!"
A burst of light followed. From it emerged 50 users.
It was the Hizgon Guild, fresh from clearing an 80-level special dungeon.
Yet Guild Master Taewol showed no surprise. He stared calmly at Hayashi Guild, as if he'd known all along.
That's when user YapYap stepped forward.
"Hey, feel good stealing our dungeon and clearing it?"
"……."
"Deaf or what? Cat got your tongue?"
Still, silence.
"You little shit! Answer me!"
YapYap charged at Taewol. Taewol sidestepped effortlessly, shifting to the flank as guildmates from behind encircled him.
"Wh-what...?"
This wasn't the plan.
Surrounded? No way.
YapYap's face paled as he scanned the ring. Attacking first here meant instant death—no escape.
"G-get out of the way?"
He glanced desperately at the Hayashi Guild Master behind.
"Ahem."
The guild master coughed awkwardly and stepped up.
Plan B: talk shit.
"I'm the Hayashi Guild Master."
"So?"
Hayashi's forehead twitched.
Taewol ignored it, pressing on.
"I'm in a great mood. Cleared the dungeon, scored massive loot. So, beat it while I'm being nice."
"Y-you bastard!"
Hayashi took the bait instead.
But he held back from striking—still thinking.
Taewol sneered and bellowed,
"Vice Guild Master!"
"Right here!"
Voices echoed from all sides.
Hayashi whirled, scanning wildly.
"Wh-what...?"
Over a hundred users had them surrounded.
"Trash who camp outside dungeons like dogs."
"Y-you...!"
Hayashi ground his teeth.
Taewol shouted,
"I, Hizgon Guild Master Taewol, declare war on Hayashi Guild!"
'Hizgon' Guild has declared war on 'Hayashi' Guild.
Hayashi Guild has the right to refuse the declaration, but doing so will cost 50% of your guild's capital to Hizgon Guild. Accepting means the loser forfeits 70% of their capital, but the winner claims everything from the enemy.
Hayashi gnashed his molars.
Guild war?
From Hizgon Guild?
Never heard of 'em.
Or had he?
Hard to say.
But no way they cracked top 30. He'd memorized those cold.
Glancing around: about 150 total. The 50 who just exited, plus 100 ambushers.
That was all, probably.
Hayashi had over 400 members. These 200 here were their elite.
Numerical edge. Bluffing at best.
Fine, let's do this.
He accepted instantly.
'Hayashi' Guild has accepted the war.
Attacks erupted with the message.
"Die!"
"You fuckers!"
"Hraaah!"
Battle exploded.
But things went sideways fast.
"What the—?!"
"The hell?!"
Hizgon started overwhelming Hayashi.
The 100 who'd encircled weren't all. Another 200 lurked farther back.
The moment Hayashi accepted, they charged in. Hizgon's dominance was inevitable.
Hayashi's failure to scout properly sealed their fate.
"Right on plan."
Hizgon's Guild Master Taewol and vice exchanged grins.
At the same time,
Mu-hyuk had arrived at the Archer Guild. The vice guild master led him to the master's office, where five users already sat.
They eyed the newcomer Mu-hyuk, smirking at the sword on his belt. Mu-hyuk ignored them in turn.
"Oho, so you're Mu-hyuk."
"Yes."
How'd he know my name?
"Heard plenty from the Mercenary Captain. Sit."
"Ah."
As Mu-hyuk took a seat, the Archer Guild Master introduced himself.
"You probably know, but I'm Simon, head of Archer Guild. Got a secret job needing top archers. Secrets are best kept close, but needs must—I'm handpicking elites like you to handle it."
A covert op with a small elite team.
intriguing gig.
"Prepared a test. Pass it, you're in. Quick rundown: show off gear, skills, whatever. Just no outside help."
Outside help.
Mu-hyuk met Simon's gaze.
"I can summon."
"Summons count as skills—fine. But they gotta use bows and arrows."
"Understood."
The others nodded.
"All good?"
"Yeah."
Meet the Archer Guild Master
[New Quest: 'Archer Guild Master's Test' unlocked.]
Simon stood.
"Alright. Let's go."
He led them to an empty private training ground. Ten steel dolls stood there.
Simon turned.
"Simple test: shatter those ten steel dolls in under a minute."
Confident smirks all around.
"Piece of cake."
"Easy."
Simon grinned. "Who first?"
"Me."
A man with a compact shortbow stepped up.
Shortbow user?
Mu-hyuk watched curiously.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
The man nocked an arrow. A blue-glowing shaft flew, slamming into a doll and erupting in frost.
Crackle.
The doll froze solid.
Another arrow followed, shattering it.
Boom!
The explosion rocked the ground. A green arrow streaked next, blanketing the area in mist.
Then a piercing shot lanced through the cloud like lightning, embedding in a doll's core.
"Whoa, impressive."
"Not bad."
The observers judged him.
Damn good, yeah. Pure archer build—expected.
"Stop."
Simon's call. Minute up.
Whoosh.
Wind cleared the smoke.
Some gasped in awe at the four intact dolls enduring the barrage. Others groaned—four survivors after that?
"Six."
"……."
The shortbow user stayed silent.
"Close, but no. Next?"
Silence lingered.
Footsteps.
A woman with a massive crossbow emerged.
"I'll go."
Petite, 160cm tops. Flowing hair. Stunning.
"Starting."
"Go."
She loaded, cranked, aimed like a rifle, and fired.
Thwang!
The shot's sonic boom rattled the air.
Crunch.
Doll pulverized.
"Hm."
She frowned, reloaded. A white-glowing bolt pierced clean through one doll into another.
"One." Ten seconds gone. Fifty left.
Her next arrow turned violet—big skill.
It split mid-flight into dozens, peppering the nine remaining.
Thud thud.
One, two, three seconds...
Boom! Bang! Kra-kaboom!
Chain explosions ripped through.
Dust rose, but she reloaded calmly.
Wind parted the haze as she fired again—penetrating shot skewering another.
"Six."
Four left.
Thwang!
One more down.
"Seven. Stop."
But the minute flew by mercilessly.
Mu-hyuk frowned.
All over 80 levels. Elites.
And they flopped.
These were made to be broken, right?
He watched the last two. No passes.
"Last one."
"Yes."
Mu-hyuk finally stepped forward.