Chapter 103: Medusa Raid (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: Medusa Raid (3)
In Greek mythology, Medusa is said to have two other sisters.
The immortals, Stheno and Euryale.
'In truth, they are far stronger than Medusa.'
Because of this, the deities of Olympus, fearing that their immense power might pose a threat in the future, buried the two sisters deep within a volcano.
Burning alive, yet unable to ever die—cursed to hate their own bodies for eternity.
Of course, none of this exists in actual mythology; it is a setting unique to the [Tower of Trials].
But at this point, should one say the original myth has become the lie instead?
'It's ironic, in a way. Well, I suppose that's just how life goes.'
Fiction is adapted into reality.
And to a distorted reality, a fitting strategy must be applied.
Just like right now.
“How dare you... utter those names!”
Rumble, rumble!
A terrifying, murderous aura surged from Medusa's body.
“Ugh!”
“Gasp!”
“W-What kind of mana is this...?”
The surrounding players of the Ssaulabi Guild gasped for breath.
The energy binding their entire bodies was so heavy they could barely lift a finger.
Like a newborn pup facing a tiger.
With just a single release of her mana, the momentum of the battle had already been decided.
Tremble, tremble!
The players hung their heads, not even daring to think of raising their swords and shields.
But there was one exception.
'I can't fall like this.'
Lee Young-kwon grit his teeth so hard they threatened to shatter.
It had only been two months since the arrival of the Tower of Trials.
No matter how much they leveled up and cleared dungeons, they were still greenhorns who had only just shed their civilian skins.
They still lacked the resolve and experience to fight with their lives on the line.
That was why, even in a prestigious guild, not everyone could be brave.
'I know. I know we're still lacking.'
But.
Humans are creatures of adaptation.
When thrown into absurd situations, they grow to meet them.
They couldn't keep whining forever!
“Attack all at once! Do not retreat!”
Lee Young-kwon roared.
As his unique ability, 'General Command', was activated, a golden mist spread around his body.
[The raid's morale increases by 30%!]
[All attack power and defense increase by 10%!]
The dazzling energy swept away Medusa's murderous aura, rallying the raid members.
It was then that everyone gripped their weapons.
“Damn it. We're dead either way!”
“Yeah. We have our pride too. We can't just leave everything to Player Kang Jinhyuk.”
“I beat a thousand-to-one odds to get hired here, you know!”
A barrage of spells flew toward Medusa all at once.
It was an all-out strike, pouring every ounce of their mana into a single blow to end the fight.
Blinding lights flashed in unison.
Boom!
Crash!
A massive crater formed in the marble floor, and debris crumbled down from the ceiling and walls.
Thick dust billowed from the spot, looking as if it had been subjected to a carpet bombardment.
Proof of the immense mana concentrated there.
However.
That was all.
No matter how they unleashed their best skills, it wasn't enough to damage a mythical beast.
“Honestly, humans... what an insolent race. Can you not see that I am currently speaking with that arrogant brat?”
Medusa made no effort to hide her irritation.
A red flame was now blazing from the whip held in her hand.
Whoosh!
The whip lashed out in an instant, heading straight for the tank standing at the very front.
“Urgh?”
The tank reflexively raised his shield.
“You think you can block it? Do I look like an idiot who can only use petrification to you?”
The strength of a serpent, capable of crushing a wild beast's spine in a single squeeze.
That was another ability Medusa possessed.
The whip wrapped completely around the tank's body.
And that was it.
Crunch!
“Aaargh!”
Not just the shield, but his iron armor was crumpled in a single blow.
Naturally, the person inside was also crushed into an unrecognizable pulp.
A thick fountain of blood sprayed.
Drenched in crimson, Medusa warned the players.
Do not mistake your place, mere prey.
“Ugh...”
“T-The tank couldn't even withstand a single attack...”
The morale raised by 'General Command' melted away like snow.
It was only natural.
Their side poured in all their firepower to no avail.
Meanwhile, the opponent crushed their tank with a casual flick of her wrist.
It was a hopeless battle.
Continuing to fight would be like throwing eggs at a boulder.
“Insects, make your exit. You do not even deserve to become ornaments in my temple.”
The whip lunged forward once more.
To sweep away the defeated soldiers who had completely lost their will to fight.
'Is it really impossible, no matter how hard we struggle?'
Lee Young-kwon pressed his lips into a tight line.
But then.
Clang!
The whip, which had been hurtling in a straight line, was deflected by something.
The absurdly heavy weapon was blocked with ridiculous ease.
“Hey. Didn't they teach you in Greek school not to bully the weak?”
Jinhyuk, holding his shield, clicked his tongue.
He had hoped to leave things to Lee Young-kwon to buy some time while he prepared a trap to catch Medusa.
But looking at the difference in their levels, it seemed he would only end up with a mountain of corpses.
“T-Thank you for saving us.”
“I'll handle the angry earthworm. Raid Leader, take your members and get out of the labyrinth. Right now.”
Jinhyuk drew the line once more.
Those who are helpful in a raid, and those who are utterly useless.
He was letting them know which category Ssaulabi fell into.
“...”
Lee Young-kwon trembled with a sense of helplessness, but only for a brief moment.
Stubbornly staying here wouldn't be courage; it would be sheer recklessness.
He was smart enough to know the difference.
“I wish you luck, Player Kang Jinhyuk.”
Lee Young-kwon gave a brief bow.
* * *
Medusa did not move until the entire raid had retreated.
Her gaze suggested she couldn't care less about prey she had no interest in.
Instead.
All of her attention was focused on Jinhyuk.
“Was that 'angry earthworm' comment directed at me?”
“Haha. I was a humanities major, so I have trouble telling reptiles and annelids apart. They both crawl around, so aren't they basically the same?”
“Oh? Angering me means you won't die a peaceful death. Yet you intend to keep flapping your gums?”
“Sorry, but I don't have the slightest intention of dying here. Actually, I don't think it's even dangerous enough to kill me.”
Jinhyuk smirked.
In contrast, Medusa's face contorted into an even more menacing expression than before.
The reason he was intentionally provoking her?
Simple.
The final condition to change classes to a Barrierist.
Capturing a boss monster alive inside a barrier.
And for that...
[Medusa activates Lv. 19 'Gorgon's Domain'!]
Hummmmm!
Mana expanded, wide enough to encompass the entire temple.
Yes. It was essential for Medusa to activate this skill.
'...Hook, line, and sinker.'
A skill that maximized attack power at the cost of slowing down her characteristically erratic movements.
'Gorgon's Domain' was a double-edged sword.
Of course, from Medusa's perspective, she probably believed a mere human's movements couldn't inflict a single scratch on her.
Having turned countless people into stone statues, she was bound to be overflowing with confidence.
'But you know what they say, right?'
If you've done nothing but win.
It's only because you've been lucky with your opponents so far.
“You shouldn't get cocky just because you've been stomping newbies.”
“Arrogant brat! I will melt you alive and devour you!”
Medusa spat a purplish liquid.
With the buffs from Gorgon's Domain stacked, the acid possessed enough potency to instantly corrode anything it touched.
'As expected, she's aiming for the legs.'
Was it because she preferred her prey fresh?
Medusa always targeted her opponent's legs.
Jinhyuk concentrated mana into both of his legs.
Tap!
As the 'Sword Demon Emperor Stepss' manifested, Jinhyuk's figure vanished like smoke.
Jinhyuk moved above Medusa's head a step faster than the acid could splash onto the floor.
Having perfectly taken her back, Jinhyuk extended his palm.
Hummmmm!
Ancient runes began to manifest in the air.
[Barrier 'Coffin of Sealing' is activated!]
Naturally, creating a barrier capable of trapping a boss monster required a fairly intricate formula.
That was why he hadn't favored using barriers in combat until now.
No matter how veteran of a player Jinhyuk was, adjusting the arrangement of runes and the amount of mana before changing classes was no easy task.
A blue film enveloped Medusa.
“Do you really think a glass wall like this can stop me?!”
Medusa swung her whip as if it were laughable.
Crash!
With a deafening roar, one side of the barrier shattered.
'Hmm.'
As expected, buying just a few seconds wasn't enough to construct a barrier to trap a boss.
He would need minutes, not seconds.
In that case...
Jinhyuk deactivated 'Sword Demon Emperor Stepss'.
At the same time, he used 'Giant's Grasp' to strengthen his arm.
Snicker.
A mocking sneer escaped Medusa's lips.
To Medusa, enhancement-type abilities that merely increased strength were incredibly easy to deal with.
“A head-on clash, is it...”
Her expression softened slightly, and her tone grew gentler.
It wasn't that she had abandoned the idea of killing him.
It was more like she intended to take her time, play with him, and then devour him.
Her intention was clearly conveyed even through her reflection on his shield.
“It seems your days of buzzing around like a fly are over.”
“Just speak normally. That fake tone doesn't suit you.”
“Fufu. Don't be so cold. I only snapped because you poked where it hurt.”
Medusa smiled sweetly.
“But what do you plan to do by strengthening that fragile arm of yours? Surely you don't think you can defeat me just by using a single skill?”
“Fragile?”
Jinhyuk tilted his head.
Well.
He had only used this skill once before, but it was far from fragile.
Above all, with both his Gap stat and adaptive stat active right now.
Giant's Grasp was far from a skill that merely increased grip strength.
'Far from it indeed.'
Jinhyuk slowly reached out.
His fingers touched a pillar.
At that exact moment.
Crack!
His fingers dug into the stone, and a pillar over five meters tall was ripped out entirely.
“It seems you're quite confident in your strength, milady. Coincidentally, I'm not one to lose in a contest of power either.”
So let's see.
Which of us can play wilder.
“Y-You brute...!”
Medusa looked up, her expression filled with disgust.
* * *
Crash!
Thud!
Whenever Jinhyuk swung the pillar, Medusa shattered it with her whip.
It was a simple clash of raw power.
Clearly, it was.
It should have been, but...
'What is this?'
Medusa felt a strange sense of incongruity.
A sticky doubt clung to her entire body.
The reason was soon revealed.
'...There's no killing intent in his attacks?'
Indeed.
The pillar her opponent swung was faithful only to the act of swinging; there wasn't the slightest hint of determination to kill his enemy.
Come to think of it.
Could it be?
Medusa's pupils narrowed.
“You sly bastard...!”
Along with her sharp shriek.
She saw her opponent smiling brightly from behind his shield.
“You're not completely stupid, but what a shame. You should've realized a bit sooner.”
Jinhyuk activated the card he had prepared.