Assault in the Gorge

Not long after they set foot in the gorge, the monster assaults came one after another.

“Prepare for battle!”

Ha Jung-woo's shout reverberated thunderously through the gorge. At the same time, the hunters drew their weapons and began activating their skills.

The monsters pouring down from both ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sides were mostly yetis like the ones they'd seen before, but there were two new types as well. Both were bipedal monsters, each wielding massive spears and swords.

Taemin immediately activated his Heart's Eye toward them.

The monsters' stats were only slightly stronger than the saber-tooths.

As Taemin was checking their stats, the battle began.

Whirrr!

Numerous golden threads embroidered the air, flying toward the monsters. It was the mage support spell, Rings of Binding.

The hunters mercilessly thrust their swords into the monsters frozen by the magic.

Slash! Thunk! Swoosh!

The monsters were no match for the hunters. Ha Jung-woo's formation perfectly countered their advance.

But that didn't last long. Soon, an urgent voice echoed from somewhere.

“Ambush on the right flank! There are too many!”

At their cry, the support team looked to the right. An enormous horde was pouring out from who-knows-where.

In panic, one sorcerer summoned an omnidirectional spell toward them. His startled comrades quickly took him down.

A blinding flash erupted in the air, launching a massive fireball.

“Are you insane? I told you not to use magic here. Don't you know an avalanche would end us all?”

“S-sorry. I panicked...”

As they bickered, the right flank formation crumbled, and monsters began flooding in en masse.

The support team's dealers rushed over, but there were just too many.

Ha Jung-woo scanned the area, eyeing the most open squad.

“Squad 3! Squad 5! We need support on the right!”

At his call, four knights from Squads 3 and 5 moved to the right. But it still wasn't enough.

On flat ground, maybe—but with them charging down from above, blocking the horde was impossible, let alone fighting.

Right then.

Taemin, who had been slicing through monsters to help, started climbing the slope by stepping on their bodies.

No solution from below, so he planned to draw aggro and cut them off at the waist.

Desperate voices rang out behind him.

“What are you doing?!”

“It's dangerous!”

Ha Jung-woo and the others tried to stop Taemin from breaking formation, but his figure was already midway up the slope.

'Made it up, but how do I handle these guys?'

Taemin considered smoke, but with them packed so tightly, it would be useless. It'd just block vision while their bodies stayed intact, and they'd all slide down anyway. Not great for drawing aggro.

So, only one option.

'Hunting's all about the grind, after all.'

With that thought, Taemin plunged into the horde. He swung his sword in all directions.

Every red arc in the air felled three or four monsters, spewing blood.

He hadn't formally trained in swordsmanship, but his 30% evasion turned him into a near-martial arts master.

Dozens charged at once, but not a single clean hit landed.

Taemin's movements far transcended theirs.

And at some point, all the sliding monsters focused on him.

Aggro secured.

He immediately dashed along the slope's ridge. The monsters clustered, chasing him.

Watching from below, Ha Jung-woo was dumbfounded. Taemin was still alive.

'He's not dead?'

When Taemin vanished into the horde, Ha Jung-woo had already mentally listed him as KIA.

Even top hunters couldn't fight properly on such a steep incline—especially against that many. Getting swept up usually meant no corpse left.

Yet here he was, emerging unscathed, leading the monsters and pulling off a one-man rampage.

Unbelievable.

Sure, plenty of hunters here could one-shot them. But fighting a massive horde? Rare.

Especially that many—practically nonexistent.

As Ha Jung-woo gawked, the right-flank pressure visibly eased.

The others had fought hard, but Taemin dragging away nearly half made it possible.

Soon after, all monsters were subdued.

Taemin finished up too, having slain every last one. He descended the slope with light steps.

As he arrived, the hunters applauded.

“Whoa, Taemin. Awesome! I'm impressed.”

“What the hell was that performance?”

“How'd you do it?”

“Incredible. Man, I thought you were a tiger.”

Most gave him thumbs up. A few eyed him enviously—their own skills looked pathetic by comparison.

But they'd cleared the hurdle. Good enough.

With things settled, Ha Jung-woo regrouped everyone and resumed marching.

Subsequent fights were smoother. Two assaults, one ambush. Having experienced it, the hunters stayed calm and methodical.

Before long, they reached the gorge's end.

Ha Jung-woo, eagle-eyed and scanning, addressed the lined-up hunters.

“We're almost there. Let's set up camp here.”

Relief washed over their faces. They'd marched and fought for 16 straight hours. They wouldn't admit it, but they were dying to collapse.

“Tents first, over by that gentle slope.”

At his order, they opened inventories, pulling out gear.

Basic field tents to cheap one-touch ones—colors galore.

Soon, thirty tents dotted the ground.

“Everyone hungry? It's 10 PM now. Eat and prep by 11:50 PM. Lights out at midnight.”

They scattered to sit with friends. Taemin found a spot, unpacking his food: ham, sausages, bread, milk—all quick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eats.

As he opened one, Yoon Ji-young approached.

“Why eat alone?”

“Huh? Just... everyone else has their groups.”

“Mind if I sit?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

She sat, unpacking her bundle. Tiered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bento boxes led a parade of dishes and food.

“Share this. Way better than bread.”

“Whoa, what's all this?”

“What'd I say about hunting?”

Taemin grinned. “Rice power.”

“Exactly. You burn so much energy—gotta eat hearty to recharge. Here.”

He took her chopsticks without protest.

“Thanks. Dig in.”

As they started, another joined: Ha Jung-woo, raid leader, bento in hand.

“Room for one more?”

“Sure. There.”

Taemin pointed ahead. Ha eyed the bento dramatically.

“Whoa, can I really?”

“Yeah, eat.”

Yoon slid one over. He popped a kimbap roll, thumbs-upping wildly.

“So good. Best kimbap in five years. Haha.”

“For real? Taemin, eat up.”

As they ate, Ha glanced at Taemin after a few more bites.

“Saw your skills on the way. Insane. Even top B-ranks couldn't pull that. You were amazing back there.”

“Haha, no big deal. Just did my usual.”

“Nah, my eyes don't lie. Haven't seen many A-ranks, but B's plenty. I'm almost there myself... Your speed and moves? Unmatched. You could solo farm till the cave, easy.”

“Cave that tough?”

“Individually weaker than field mobs. But numbers... insane. Jaw-dropping. That ambush? At least fifty times more. Boss too—strong. Stronger than Philadia Mountains' Green Wyvern by multiples. We'll decide post-waves, but yeah.”

Taemin recalled the Green Wyvern from the peak. Low level then, but four-digit defense? Monster. Stronger than that? Curiosity piqued.

“Tougher than wyvern? Huge.”

“You did wyvern raid?”

“Nah, saw one while hunting.”

“Gotcha. Power-wise, 3-4x at least. We could dismantle Green Wyvern with half the team. This boss? Full force, still no quick win. If lucky, you'll see it.”

Chat continued post-meal. Time passed; Ha checked his watch, standing.

“About time. Sleep for tomorrow. Everyone, prep. Squad 1 on watch first. 1 hour 50 min shifts, 10 min handoff—2 hours per squad. Squad 1, start us off.”

They packed up. Taemin tidied, entered his tent.

Curled in his sleeping bag, sleep wouldn't come. Too damn cold.

'Didn't notice moving, but brutal.'

He scattered dozens of hot packs inside, zipped to his chin, curled up, and tried.

Soon, after tossing, he drifted off.

How much time passed?

“Min...ssi...”

A faint voice opened his eyes. Then clearer.

“Taemin, shift time.”

“Ah, yeah. Coming.”

Forcing heavy lids open, he grabbed two hot packs and stepped out.

Bone-chilling cold enveloped him.

“Ugh.”

A groan escaped involuntarily. Yoon Ji-young, already up, rubbed her arms.

“Freezing, right?”

“Kinda.”

“Hot pack?”

“Got 'em.”

“Okay, I'll wake others.”

“Sure.”

As she headed off, Taemin hunched, scanning.

'First out?'

Waiting, something felt off about the unfamiliar backdrop.

Then it hit him.

“Sun's down.”

He looked up reflexively. Amid black sky and stars, a full moon illuminated the land.

Sun was up when he slept—night had fallen in hours.

He'd cleared countless dungeons, hunted endlessly, but never seen night like this.

Especially not this stunning snowy one.

'Moonlight, snow falling, stars... atmosphere's killer.'