Clash at the Twin Ogre Basin
Mu-hyuk had no idea.
Even though he'd been completely immersed in Illusion while paralyzed from the neck down, no one could know every corner of this vast world.
Moreover, a level 38 dungeon.
He just needed 5 percent more experience to level up.
How could he not be tempted?
"Eh, we can't go anyway."
"Tch. Yeah, true."
"But where is it?"
"Central ogre hunting ground."
"What? Isn't that where the Twin Ogres spawn?"
"Yeah."
"Crazy. What kind of level 38 dungeon is in a place like that?"
Twin Ogres.
Monsters equivalent to level 50.
They weren't in the 100,000 ranker tier, but they were prey for the top 1,000,000 rankers— the elite 0.1 percent in a game played by a billion people worldwide.
Those in the 100,000 ranker tier were the ultra-elites at 0.01 percent. Just those numbers showed how impressive they were and how massively popular Illusion truly was.
"But didn't Phoenix Guild occupy it?"
"Ugh, those dirty bastards."
"You know what's funny, though?"
"What?"
"They've been holding it for a whole week already, but no one's gone in."
"Just holding it for a week?"
"Yeah, they must've sent in an exploration team or something, but it seems like it's taking a while."
"Tch, might as well never come out."
"Should we make our own guild while we're at it?"
"Don't even think about it. A sparrow chasing a stork just tears its own leg."
"You bastard, even when you're... "
Mu-hyuk stood up.
The forest of ogres, central area.
He knew the location now.
First things first—hit level 38.
He summoned skeletons and hunted ogres.
A little over two hours passed.
Finally, he filled the remaining experience and reached level 38.
Mu-hyuk reverse-summoned his skeletons and headed straight for the forest center.
The spawn area for ogres was still crawling with players.
Thanks to them, Mu-hyuk reached the central zone without any ogre interruptions.
This is it?
It was just one step away, but the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The moment he entered the center, a heavy pressure bore down on his shoulders.
Twin Ogres?
He turned his head, but nothing was there.
What the...?
With questions swirling, he cautiously moved forward.
It didn't take long to spot them.
The overwhelming numbers of Phoenix Guild members.
*
Dozens of Twin Ogres were charging at them.
Yet they remained utterly composed.
"First squad, handle it."
"Yes, sir."
The first squad leader and his members stepped forward.
Over a hundred of them, all in the mid-to-late 40s level range.
"Squads 1 and 2, prepare!"
A bit of time passed.
"Attack!"
Countless spells and arrows painted the sky.
Kaboom!
They slammed into the Twin Ogres.
The shockwave surged upward.
Dust billowed into the sky, muffling the Twin Ogres' roars.
And that was just the start.
The whipping wind forced heads down, and the short but thunderous explosions left a lingering daze in their minds. It was pure, overwhelming spectacle.
"Whoa..."
Even Mu-hyuk's eyes widened.
He'd seen grander scenes in videos, but this was his first time witnessing it live.
He couldn't pull himself away.
"Squads 3, 4, 5, and 6, advance!"
"Raaah!"
It wasn't over.
Sword- and shield-wielders charged at the Twin Ogres like enraged bulls trampling a herd.
The already battered Twin Ogres, ravaged by massive damage, crumpled one after another under the onslaught.
"Hold!"
It was over in seconds.
"Recover the Twin Ogre secretions first."
"Yes, sir."
Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed.
Twin Ogre secretions. They could summon every Twin Ogre within a 1 km radius.
The creatures instinctively headed toward the scent.
Just knowing that made them impressive. Top players were already growing based on their unique intel.
"Recovery complete."
"Good. Fall back."
As the first squad returned, the Phoenix Guild leader nodded.
"The three exploration team members will return soon. Once we know the dungeon's nature and rewards, I'll select entrants accordingly. Keep in mind it'll mostly be promising low-level prospects since it's a low-level dungeon."
Mu-hyuk, watching from between the tree trunks, furrowed his brow.
This'll be tough...
There wasn't a single gap to exploit for the dungeon.
Wait a bit longer?
Or find another way?
As he pondered, it happened.
He flinched.
Raising his head, the Phoenix Guild leader's face zoomed into Mu-hyuk's view. The man was staring right at him.
Meanwhile.
Mu-hyuk, locking eyes with him, immediately turned away.
No way in.
No matter how he thought about it, there was no path into the dungeon. It sucked for a level 38 one, but what could he do?
Resigned, he started to leave the ogre center when sudden commotion erupted behind him.
What now?
Unease crept in.
They wouldn't be coming for me, right?
He cautiously glanced back.
Swipe.
It wasn't what Mu-hyuk expected. The entire Phoenix Guild, including Guild Leader Haru, seemed thrown into chaos.
"We're under attack!"
"Battle formations, everyone!"
Only then did Mu-hyuk grasp the situation from their shouts.
Battle? Monsters?
But he shook his head at the shadows emerging in the distance.
Players.
Vast numbers overwhelming the gathered Phoenix Guild members.
The moment he saw them, Mu-hyuk's eyes lit up.
*
He spotted one player hiding between the trees, but since the guy turned away upon eye contact, he didn't dwell on it.
Right now, priority was waiting for the exploration team to exit and shoving prospects into the dungeon.
"Hm?"
Then, presences surged from all directions.
He whipped his head around, scanning the surroundings.
What the...?
Nothing visible.
He raised his hand.
Shh.
The entire Phoenix Guild fell silent.
The air grew heavy.
But the strangest part was the silence.
In these mountains?
No monster roars.
No bird cries.
Mass player assault?
The thought ended as—
Crunch...!
Of all places, they surrounded the central basin.
At a glance, far more than the 300 Phoenix Guild members here—over 500 at least—emerged from the basin encircling the center. All wearing identical cloaks. The emblem told him exactly who.
"Guardian Guild...!"
He hurriedly opened the guild window.
Called all members to the ogre forest via chat.
But...
Can we hold until reinforcements arrive?
He shook his head fiercely.
We have to.
He couldn't let this discovered dungeon slip away so pointlessly.
"Everyone, battle ready!"
He bellowed with force, steeling his resolve.
*
Phoenix Guild's exploration team would emerge soon. And right then, Guardian Guild appeared with clear hostile intent.
Mu-hyuk figured the chaos of this fight might give him a shot at slipping into the dungeon.
Just get inside.
People waiting when he exits?
Doesn't matter.
Suicide right after grabbing the clear reward.
After death?
Log back in after 24 hours, respawn at the nearest village temple. Helmet hides his face.
It was the perfect way to screw them over while fast-tracking his growth.
Sure, they might chase him later. But it was worth the risk.
The team being gone over 10 days meant high difficulty for sure.
Maybe a special dungeon—or better.
Greed was inevitable.
It's mine.
If the chance came, that is.
Swipe.
Mu-hyuk closed the distance a bit more, then climbed a suitable tree. He crouched on a branch, suppressing his presence as much as possible.
"Charge!"
Guardian Guild rushed Phoenix.
Over 500 charging at once was intimidating enough.
In school, a class topped at 40, a grade at 400 if ten classes.
Lining them up on the field for a principal's view drew awe—but armed adult players charging with killing intent?
It went beyond awe to crushing pressure.
Phoenix members felt it now, facing twice their number barreling down with weapons raised.
This was virtual, death meant nothing, physical pain minimal.
But mental chaos and psychological shock? Unblockable.
"Damn...!"
The Phoenix Guild leader shouted urgently.
"All squads, commence attack!"
Only then did the squad leaders prepare.
"First squad, squads 1 and 2, ready!"
"Second squad, squads 1 and 2, ready!"
The mages from the first and second squads of all five units began their spells to blast the enemy.
A massive mana flow soon pulsed from everywhere.
"Attack!"
Spells filled the air.
Arrows flew.
Guardian Guild mages, scattered in pairs protected by melee classes, finished casting swiftly.
Two mages extended hands.
"Stone."
"Strength."
Simple 1-circle spells.
But effective.
Huge stones formed, then buffed with strengthening magic.
They solidly blocked incoming arrows and endured spells.
As stones neared breaking—
"Shield."
Shield magic on the stones prevented shattering.
They recast, summoning another stone for double layers.
Strength and shield on the new one to brace for more.
Kaboom!
Explosions everywhere.
Dust rose.
But—
Whoosh.
Guardian Guild's casualties were minimal.
"Charge!"
"Raaah!"
Buoyed, they accelerated.
Phoenix members maintained formation tensely, loosing arrows nonstop.
When distance closed too far, they unleashed melee.
Weapons clashed in unison.
Clang! Clang!
Skills flew wildly.
The battle of over a thousand was awe-inspiring.
Too engrossed?
Both guilds fixated solely on each other.
Mu-hyuk couldn't look away either. Then, snapping to, he turned toward the dungeon entrance.
Eh...?
A player emerged from there.
They came out...!
Phoenix's exploration team had cleared the dungeon.
No time to waste.
He leaped from the tree and sprinted for the entrance.