Chapter 328: 11 Hours Before the Gate Opens (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 328: 11 Hours Before the Gate Opens (3)
Crash...
The island they reached after cutting through the waves.
The shore, studded with blue-tinted crystals, was already completely overrun by a horde of monsters.
'As expected, the Water Dragons are guarding this place.'
Hiding behind a boulder, Jinhyuk scanned the monsters on the beach.
They had reptilian heads and blue skin.
They were the Water Dragons, infamous for their high intelligence and cruelty.
'They even have Armored Drakes with them.'
Jinhyuk's gaze shifted to the massive monsters standing alongside the Water Dragons.
Armored Drakes were medium-sized, five-meter-tall monsters. Though lacking in intelligence, they possessed exceptionally high physical and magic defense.
One could call it a symbiotic relationship with the Water Dragons.
'Or more accurately, they've been tamed by the Water Dragons.'
Given their ability to divide offense and defense between them, the combination of the two was quite formidable.
Just then.
"There's... no word from the other sides," Yoo Jin-ah said softly.
East, west, south, north.
Their original plan was to attempt entry from four different directions, but all communication had been cut off immediately after the teleportation.
Whether they had all fallen victim to the Fish Dragons or were blocked by the thick mist clinging to the sea, he couldn't be sure.
But there was no doubt that their plan had hit a major snag.
This, too, must be Hastings' doing.
He was determined to manifest Shub-Niggurath.
If a transcendent being from the 50th floor were to be unleashed, destroying a world would be child's play.
"For now, we'll proceed under the assumption that the other raid teams didn't survive."
Clinging to a sliver of hope and reacting half-heartedly could cause the entire raid to fail.
Since things had turned out this way, they had no choice but to take the shortest path through the northern route.
"Breaking through the front is too risky. If we make even the slightest noise, every beast in the vicinity will swarm us," Cheon Yu-seong added.
He could feel numerous mana signatures beneath the sand.
What they saw on the surface wasn't everything.
In that case...
"We'll have to split into two teams here."
"Which means you're looking for a sacrificial lamb to act as bait. I have absolutely no intention of falling for your tricks, so count me out of the bait duty," Cheon Yu-seong immediately saw through Jinhyuk's underlying motive.
Seriously, this guy always had to rain on his parade at the most critical moments.
Why did he have to call it "bait" when he could have sugarcoated it?
"Don't worry. I won't make you do it. I'll handle this myself."
At Jinhyuk's words, Cheon Yu-seong's eyes widened.
"To hear such words from your mouth... the sun must be rising in the west today."
"Well, honestly, I can't really entrust this to anyone else. If I leave such a dangerous task to someone lacking in skill, they'll probably lose their life."
"...I cannot simply let that slide. You make it sound as if my skills are inferior to yours."
"Hmm. So, you're saying you're better?"
"Isn't that obvious? If you don't believe me, I can prove it right here and now."
Shring!
Cheon Yu-seong drew his sword halfway.
After receiving the 'Celestial Soul Pill' from the Soul-Chasing Shadow in Murim, his internal energy had risen exponentially.
This time, he would settle once and for all who was superior.
However...
"Well, then I guess I have no choice. I'll have to leave the beach to you."
"Huh?"
"Since you're a stronger, more outstanding, and perfect ranker than me. Seeing you channel your mana just now... whew. I don't think I stand a chance."
Jinhyuk trembled slightly as if he were genuinely terrified.
"The strongest person should handle the most dangerous task. Don't you agree?"
"W-Well, that's true, but..."
Cheon Yu-seong trailed off.
Things had certainly gone the way he wanted, but...
He couldn't shake off a nagging sense of unease.
He felt like he had been tricked somehow.
"Make sure you draw their attention completely on the beach. Don't let a single one follow us. Got it?"
"F-Fine. I got it."
Cheon Yu-seong nodded reluctantly.
* * *
[The unique ability 'Song of the Sword' has been activated!]
"Aaaaargh!"
Cheon Yu-seong clashed with dozens, then hundreds of Water Dragons and Armored Drakes on the beach.
"An intruder!"
"To come here all alone. You've got guts."
"We'll chop you into pieces and feed you to the festival!"
The Water Dragons brandished their tridents.
Thud! Thud!
Splat! Burst!
Crustacean monsters the size of cars erupted from beneath the sand.
In an instant, the number of enemies multiplied.
Yet...
Holding them all off single-handedly like Zhang Fei defending Changban Bridge, Cheon Yu-seong was truly nothing short of the ultimate shield.
Boom! Crash! Rumble!
Cheon Yu-seong slipped through the enemies by a hair's breadth, swinging his sword.
His storm-like sword strikes ruthlessly sliced the monsters in half.
That guy was a monster in his own right.
A monster, yes, but...
Even the strongest couldn't withstand sheer numbers forever.
Less than five minutes after the battle began, the encirclement began to tighten.
"I-Is he really going to be okay?"
Yoo Jin-ah watched Cheon Yu-seong with a worried expression.
No matter how important the mission was, wasn't this far too dangerous?
"Hmm."
Jinhyuk pondered for a moment.
"He'll be about ninety percent fine. Idiots don't die easily, after all."
His life force was tougher than a bull's tendon; even if thrown into hell, he'd find a way to survive.
"And the other ten percent?"
"He won't be fine."
Why ask the obvious?
There was no such thing as a hundred percent in this world.
Jinhyuk grinned.
Then, he quickly made his way toward the path leading inland.
"What are you doing? Are you going to waste the opportunity the Sword Saint worked so hard to create?"
"O-Oh, right. Let's go."
Yoo Jin-ah led the Ssaulabi Guild.
Soon, the raid team left the shore and entered the forest in the interior of the island.
Step.
How long had they been walking?
Having a brief moment of respite, Jinhyuk used 'Gluttony's Eye' to inspect Yoo Jin-ah's status window.
Ring!
——————————————————
Name: Yoo Jin-ah
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Level: 77
Strength: 45, Agility: 55, Stamina: 46, Magic: 88
Stat Points: 0
Class: Tamer
Unique Ability: Mentra Taming
Skills: 'Customized Feed' Lv17, 'Multiple Communion' Lv16, 'Amazon's Reins' Lv15, 'Javelin Throw' Lv13, 'Noble Sacrifice' Lv11
——————————————————
[Copy Condition: Yoo Jin-ah has had a deep affection for animals since childhood. In fact, before the Tower of Trials appeared, she worked as a zookeeper, and after its appearance, she awakened as a Tamer who could use taming skills. To copy Yoo Jin-ah's unique ability and skills, you must show her that you genuinely care for monsters or summoned beasts. (The copy condition will be met once her favorability reaches 100%.)]
[Current Favorability: 0%]
The unique ability 'Mentra Taming'.
This ability, which could tame even the most ferocious beasts, would be incredibly useful not only for this raid but also for climbing the Tower in the future.
In particular, if it synergized with his existing 'Communion' ability, it would likely allow him to tame even higher-tier species.
A strange gleam flashed in Jinhyuk's eyes.
He had to get his hands on this.
To do that, it would be best to score some points with her using his summoned beasts.
Conveniently, he could sense a scouting party consisting of Water Dragons and Armored Drakes not too far away.
"Yoo Jin-ah."
The magic-class players of the Ssaulabi Guild also sensed the presence a step late.
"Is it the enemy?"
"Yes. There are five of them. The same kind we encountered on the beach."
"We have no choice but to break through."
Due to the dense vegetation, they couldn't bypass them.
Above all, the raid team didn't have enough time to waste searching for a detour.
If there was any consolation, it was that their numbers were small.
Shring!
Clank!
Various weapons were drawn.
The tanks moved to the front, while the damage dealers positioned themselves in the rear.
However, just as the raid team was preparing for an ambush...
"Would it be alright if I handled this?"
Jinhyuk stepped forward slowly.
"You, Player Kang Jinhyuk? Personally?"
"We'd be grateful if you did, but wouldn't it be better to conserve your mana?"
Everyone voiced their concern.
After all, Jinhyuk was the absolute core of this raid.
It was in everyone's best interest for him to fight the island's boss in peak condition.
"Don't worry. The mana consumption won't be significant."
"But if you fight them directly, you won't be able to avoid consuming mana..."
"True. That's why I plan to fight like this."
Hummmmm!
"Salamander."
At Jinhyuk's call, Salamander emerged from the subspace, flicking its tongue.
"Oh? A fire spirit beast?"
Seeing a rare spirit beast, Yoo Jin-ah looked on with eyes full of curiosity.
[Yoo Jin-ah's favorability has increased by +10.]
[She expresses her admiration, believing that only humans with pure hearts can form contracts with spirit beasts.]
'Nice. As expected, cute spirit beasts are the best for this.'
"Master. We're here."
With Undine joining in, a perfectly matched pair of spirits was assembled.
However...
"W-What are you going to make us do this time?"
"We can't handle anything too hard. We used so much power last time... we almost died."
Salamander and Undine clung to Jinhyuk's trouser legs, whimpering.
To anyone else, he looked like a completely abusive employer.
"Player Kang Jinhyuk..."
[Yoo Jin-ah's favorability has decreased by -20.]
[She is slightly disappointed, as the spirit beasts look as though they are routinely abused.]
Instead of rising, his favorability had plummeted into the negatives.
Twitch.
A thick vein throbbed on Jinhyuk's forehead.
"Haha. Guys. Why are you acting so out of character? Have you already forgotten how well I've treated you?"
"Huh?"
"M-Master treated us well? Us?"
"Act like you usually do. Then there won't be any problems. None at all."
Jinhyuk warned them, his smile never wavering.
In life, one always encounters crossroads.
A moment of choice where one must decide which path leads to survival and which leads to death.
"Ah! Right. Master always feeds us high-grade flames and gives us a warm, fluffy bed to sleep in."
Fortunately, Salamander sensed the danger thanks to its draconic instincts.
"Master, did you eat something bad? You always scold us, nag us, and work us to the bone. Treated us well? My foot. Did you dream that up?"
Undine, however, did not.
"Goguma."
"Mogi?"
"Handle her."
"Mogi!"
Chomp.
Saluting with its short leg, Goguma bit Undine's leg and dragged her behind a boulder.
"Eeeek! I'm sorry! I made a mistake!"
A pitiful voice echoed.
But it was only for a moment.
"That was a bit unsightly. They're still in training, so please understand."
"Can that single spirit beast really handle five of them?"
"Well, they might look cute, but they're not pushovers."
He had shown enough of a clown show; now it was time to change the mood.
"Salamander."
Jinhyuk's tone shifted.
Simultaneously...
Whoosh!
The look in Salamander's eyes changed as well.
The playfulness vanished.
The heat grew increasingly intense as its mana began to condense into a single point.
Thud! Thud!
Its four legs dug firmly into the ground, as if bracing for an impending storm.
And at that very moment...
[Salamander activates Lv10 'Flame Road'!]