Chapter 16: Giants of the Great Dunes

Upon entering the dungeon, they performed their party ritual and began moving according to plan. The hunt proceeded smoothly. Having prior experience, they could afford a more relaxed pace than before, and whenever Rauders or the like latched on, he nipped the danger in the bud using his enhanced Hydeger.

The destructive power of Hydeger at max level exceeded expectations. It could even pierce the carapace of a Scorpion, which it hadn't scratched before—a monumental leap forward.

Meanwhile, Choi Dong-chan watched Park Taemin with eyes full of envy. As someone who knew full well the importance of movement speed, he couldn't help it. With that kind of speed, one could hunt solo without issue. Sure, potion consumption would rise, but solo play meant hogging all the items, so it wasn't much of a drawback.

"If I combined that speed with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a Dragon Core, I could go full musou mode solo."

Choi Dong-chan smacked his lips, but the odds of that happening were slim. To outfit gear for that level of speed would cost tens of billions at least. No, even with money, speed gear was impossible to find.

In the early days, demand for speed gear wasn't high thanks to Haste, a relatively low-level speed buff available early on. But once mid-level dungeons opened and item raids ramped up, things changed.

Raid. Hunter raids fell into two categories: those for experience and those targeting high-value gear. Regular fields didn't drop pricey items, and growth hit limits there too. That's when field-inner dungeons came into play.

And the key to using those dungeons? Movement speed. Raid sites lurked deep in fields, distances beyond imagination. Even the Great Dunes Pyramid took over a week on foot—higher dungeons were worse.

In short, faster speed meant two or three raids while others did one, boosting chances for experience and rare items. Speed gear prices skyrocketed, and now supply couldn't meet demand.

After another loop gathering monsters, Park Taemin herded them toward where Choi Dong-chan and the others waited. As the distance closed, Choi Dong-chan raised his hand. Spotting the signal, Taemin turned sharply.

Song Min-ji's magic followed.

Boom boom boom!

Explosions rocked the rear, system chimes for experience gains ringing chaotically.

Each magic blast felled anywhere from a few to over a dozen monsters. The stragglers clustered, halted, and Taemin looped again to gather them. Repeating this swept the wave clean.

"Great job again, Taemin."

"You too."

With monsters cleared, they collected dropped materials from the corpses. After a quick regroup, the party pressed to the next hill.

Diligent hunting brought them past the final stretch to the summit of the nineteenth hill, overlooking the vast dunes ahead.

Choi Dong-chan checked everyone's status and inventory space. Like last time, inventories brimmed with materials.

"No one's got room left. What do we do? Ditching wings might free some up."

"I'm fine either way. We can keep going or head out. But since we're here, might as well grab a few more. I'm curious too..."

At Taemin's response, Choi Dong-chan turned to Song Min-ji and Park Seung-mi.

"You two?"

"Doesn't matter to me. Wings don't sell anyway."

"Me too, oppa."

Gathering opinions, Choi Dong-chan decided.

"Then until potions run low. We can trade wings for space. It's two o'clock now. Eat here, rest, then go."

They sat, pulling out packed food. The scorching sun made it unappetizing, but calories were essential for stamina.

"Ugh, stuffed."

Taemin finished first, moving aside to sit and gaze at the endless wasteland, lost in thought.

What beasts wait down there?

Choi Dong-chan said dune monsters rivaled trucks in size. Was it true? Taemin couldn't fathom it—TV never showed such things.

Gazing expectantly, someone sat beside him.

"Whatcha looking at?"

It was the party's maknae, Park Seung-mi.

"Oh, Seung-mi. Just... the front. Curious about monsters down there. Never seen 'em."

"Yeah... You'll be shocked at first. They're huge."

"Yep."

"How old are you, oppa?"

"Huh?"

The sudden "oppa" flustered him.

"Not oppa? You can't be younger than me. I'm twenty-one."

"Ah... Twenty-nine."

Park Seung-mi sounded surprised.

"Whoa, you don't look it. Thought early-mid twenties..."

"Really? First time hearing that. You three seem close—known long?"

"Yeah, Dong-chan oppa and noona middle school friends. Met me later. About a year together? I'm the baby, so treat me like a dongsaeng."

"Haha, even so... only two days."

"So? We'll see each other often. Just today?"

"Not that, but... Seung-mi it is?"

"Sure, oppa."

Her bright smile nearly made him reach out.

Cute.

"So, oppa's real job? Really a drinker?"

Taemin smiled, correcting her.

"Not drinker—Il-sala-ja."

"Right. What's its trait?"

"Hm. Not tank... Melee DPS? Still figuring. Ass... assassin, maybe?"

As he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nearly said it, she jumped up. He shut his mouth.

"Time to go, oppa."

"Yeah."

Regrouped and ready, they descended toward the dunes, first steps in.

Just running with Haste. Finally, the wasteland revealed its first monster.

A Menos—iguana-like, bipedal behemoth. As Choi Dong-chan said, its size stunned Taemin soul-deep. Dinosaur vibes.

A bit back, Choi Dong-chan addressed the party.

"Same as always. Recover if someone's hit mid-fight. Taemin, join attacks like I said. Deceptively fast for its bulk—careful, or we're toast."

"Got it."

"Go!"

Choi Dong-chan charged. Others followed, skills prepped.

No dedicated tank, so highest-level Choi Dong-chan opened with Mega Blade to grab aggro.

Shing!

Crescent white light burst from his greatsword.

Thud!

Direct hit. Menos roared, charging him. Park Seung-mi heeled from behind; Song Min-ji bombarded from afar.

As they traded aggro and attacks, Taemin timed his approach nearby.

Up close, Menos exuded different menace.

Fucking huge.

Where to strike? He targeted the left leg—easiest.

His pale-blue dagger slashed the thigh.

Slash!

Long gash. Fatal for others, but dwarfed by its mass. Still, it reacted—foreleg swung from Choi Dong-chan toward him.

That instant, Choi Dong-chan's red greatsword cracked its back. Incoming fireball smashed its head.

Boom!

Flailing amid assaults, Taemin slashed the thigh again. Flesh split crosswise, chunks flying. Bone exposed, yet it thrashed wildly.

But briefly. Cumulative damage tilted it right.

Seizing it, his dagger severed the leg again.

Finisher. Tendons snapped; massive Menos crashed down.

Choi Dong-chan ripped its belly; Taemin's dagger plunged its skull.