Assault on the Sphinx
After catching Trakeris and running for another thirty minutes or so, a massive square pyramid loomed into view.
"There it is."
A sigh of relief escaped Park Taemin's lips. He'd used about seven more than expected, but that still meant he'd narrowed the margin of error considerably.
The green light guiding his path vanished as he stood before the pyramid's entrance.
"It's huge. Let's head in."
Stepping inside the pyramid, Taemin immediately scanned his surroundings with care. The walls were tightly packed with enormous bricks, forming a narrow passage less than two meters wide. Torches lined the ceiling in neat rows, providing ample visibility.
Taemin began moving forward slowly and cautiously. In such confined spaces, restricted mobility demanded extra vigilance.
The passage stretched on endlessly. No matter how far he went, it was the same monotonous corridor. Just as tension began morphing into boredom, the end finally came into sight.
Emerging from the passage, he entered a vast plaza—and monsters started appearing in his vision, one by one. They ranged from familiar types to complete strangers, a motley assortment.
"Whew."
Glancing over the plaza's monsters, he activated Arrainba and charged straight ahead. At the same time, the monsters surged toward him en masse.
But their pursuit didn't last long. His speed was simply too overwhelming.
Hunting wasn't his goal, so Taemin poured on full throttle. The monsters fell behind in order of their declining speed, one after another.
In the blink of an eye, he'd crossed the plaza and arrived before a massive door.
This must be the first one.
According to intel from the hunter community, the pyramid held a total of twelve such doors. Passing through all twelve led to the central main chamber, home to the Sphinx itself. Hunters called that place the Sphinx's room.
Without hesitation, Taemin dashed through the door. Glancing back, he saw most monsters had dropped out, with only a few particularly swift ones still chasing.
No need to look back. Just keep running.
He blazed straight through the second plaza, then the third. By the time he passed the sixth door, the number of monsters had surged dramatically.
More bodies meant narrower room to maneuver, but it posed no issue for Taemin.
"Smoke Screen."
Activating Smoke Screen, black smoke billowed from the monsters' bodies in unison. The pursuers and nearby beasts alike went blind instantly.
Ignoring them, Taemin pressed forward relentlessly.
Using skills judiciously to keep moving, he soon passed through the eleventh door.
One more, and it's the Sphinx's room. Still, better loosen up before facing it.
Entering the final plaza's entrance, Taemin downed a potion and triggered Hydeger. His sword blazed with intense light, its edge surging nearly a foot high.
He effortlessly cleaved through five or six charging monsters from behind, then scattered Smoke Screen to butcher the stationary ones.
Deprived of sight, the monsters offered no real resistance. A few flailed their arms blindly, but such feeble swings couldn't even graze Taemin's clothes.
Clearing the plaza like that, he leveled up and scooped up a hefty haul of material items.
Stowing them in his inventory, he took a deep breath and stood before the twelfth door.
It's beyond here. Alright. Stay sharp.
Cranking his tension to max with mind control, Taemin stepped forward carefully.
Exiting the passage into the chamber, his gaze naturally locked onto the central altar. Roughly the size of two rooms combined, the square pedestal held the enormous Sphinx—head buried in its paws, seated.
It's as big as they say. Dump? No, even bigger maybe?
Taemin felt a momentary chill at the Sphinx's overwhelming presence. Of course, he wasn't inexperienced with giant monsters. The Mine's Queen or Underground Hot Zone's Marcus were comparable in bulk.
But this one felt different. Maybe because it was a raid boss.
First, scan it with Insight.
Taemin activated Insight toward the Sphinx.
"Ugh."
Taemin groaned lowly as he peeked at the Sphinx's stats. They were higher than anticipated.
Defense was the standout at a whopping 450. An absurd figure that most attacks couldn't even scratch.
HP was on another level compared to what he'd hunted before. Of course, HP had variables and wasn't an absolute measure of hunt difficulty—but it still weighed heavily.
Plus, its movement speed was high. Taemin led by about 30 on paper, but in combat—not fleeing—that gap was negligible.
Least a few hundred hits...
Running quick mental calcs, Taemin realized this hunt wouldn't be easy.
But retreat? No way. He'd come this far, invested time and effort—and with proper grind, it seemed doable. The 2 billion won prize fueled his confidence and courage.
"A man's gotta go straight."
Resolving himself, Taemin fired up Arrainba and Hydeger.
Sensing his aura, the Sphinx snapped its head up. It arched its back like awakening from sleep, stretched wide—and locked eyes with Taemin.
KROOAAARRGH!
The space-shaking roar made Taemin's body tremble instinctively. But gripping his dagger tighter, he steadied his shaking resolve.
Then the Sphinx's colossal form launched from the altar, barreling toward him.
Dodging its massive forepaw aiming to crush him, Taemin sidestepped and struck at the beast's exposed flank.
His glowing sword sliced precisely across its side.
Shhkk!
A thin red line appeared on the Sphinx's flank amid the slicing sound. Taemin smirked bitterly. He'd poured his full power into that slash, yet it was barely a scrape.
450... Tougher than expected.
No time for disappointment—the Sphinx whirled for an immediate counter.
Taemin twisted away, escaping its range.
DPS is low, so focus fire one spot.
Gauging its defense from that hit, he targeted a leg. Crippling one would gut its attack power and mobility, easing the hunt.
Dodging the next charge, Taemin circled and slashed its leg. He twisted back, waiting for the counter.
It was frustratingly slow hunting, but with one life, caution ruled.
One strike per engagement. That was Taemin's optimum.
Rushing combos risked tangling—and that'd be game over.
But at this rate, when would it fall? Opting for efficiency, Taemin triggered Smoke Screen.
Not sure it'd work, but worth a shot.
Black smoke rose from the Sphinx's golden body. Its charging form halted abruptly.
It worked.
With Smoke Screen taking hold, he unleashed on its leg.
Shhkk! Slash! Swish! Shhk!
KROOARGH!
Blinded, the Sphinx flailed wildly, roaring. But Taemin, fixated on its attacks, landed six clean hits.
As the smoke cleared, he chugged a potion and reapplied Smoke Screen.
This cycle dragged on. Potions limited reps, but smart timing let him carve a massive gash into the Sphinx's right leg.
Still far. Not enough.
Bone exposed, yet Taemin obsessed over that spot. He aimed to sever it entirely, immobilizing the beast.
That alone would be 90% victory.
Thirty minutes of circling and hacking. Finally, bone snapped—the Sphinx crashed rightward.
Front leg wrecked, it couldn't rise.
Taemin unloaded relentlessly. It thrashed in resistance, but downed, it couldn't touch him.
Another thirty minutes passed. The Sphinx lay barely breathing, belly up, half-corpse heaving.
"This ends it."
His dagger plunged into its throat—and raked across. The gasping form slumped limp.
Acquired 113,000 EXP.
113,000 EXP—his biggest haul ever—poured in, but Taemin's focus stayed glued to the corpse.
EXP wasn't his goal.
Come on, come on, come on. Please.
Praying intently, his expression brightened. Amid the rotting carcass gleamed a faint blue stone.
The magic stone.