The Endless Horde
About an hour after slaying the Ice Golem and pressing onward, the hunters finally reached the central plaza.
As expected, the plaza was impressively vast. Eight massive caves gaped along one wall, giving the eerie sense that something might burst out at any moment. In the center stood a lone monster, quietly tilting its head as it watched the hunters approach.
"That one's harmless—no need to worry about it. See that wall over there? We'll set up there. Everyone, move out."
At Ha Jung-woo's command, the group shifted to the side opposite the cave-riddled wall.
"Healers and mages, take the inner positions. Warriors and knights, form up around the perimeter as we planned back at base. Mark a three-meter radius around your spot as your attack zone. Yeah, you on the left—shift a bit further sideways. Perfect, that's it. Excellent. This is the textbook wave formation. We've packed it tight, so even if a couple spots open up from injuries, we can cover two or three. More than that, and we're in trouble. But if we hunt properly, no one gets hurt—so relax, stay focused until the wave ends."
Taemin took his position as he listened, and Ha Jung-woo approached him.
"If things get dicey, mind laying down some smoke? The monsters themselves aren't tough, but in a prolonged fight, accidents happen—especially with so many greenhorns."
"Got it. I'll drop it when the time's right."
With the formation set, Ha Jung-woo strode toward the central monster.
"Kill this guy, and the real fight starts. Everyone, heads up!"
At his shout, Yoon Ji-young and Kim Hana loaded fire magic, while the other mages and healers began buffing the frontliners.
Soon, Ha Jung-woo's sword cleaved the monster's neck.
Slash!
Thud.
As the lifeless corpse rotted away, the cavern shook like an earthquake. At the same moment, monsters poured from the eight forward caves.
Thud thud thud—!
Hundreds of monsters charged toward the group, their pounding footsteps shaking hearts. The frontline warriors and knights raised swords and blades, gripping tighter.
As the horde crossed the center, the mages unleashed their pre-loaded spells in unison.
Whoosh!
Roar!
The strongest fire spells exploded across the plaza. Dozens of monsters caught in the blasts died instantly, crumbling to ash—but it was just the beginning.
Dozens more burst through the smoke, baring fangs and claws as they lunged fiercely.
The frontliners clashed head-on.
Slash! Thwack! Swish!
Each hunter faced two or three at once, yet they held firm. Every flash of light from their blades sent clinging monsters tumbling in heaps.
The beasts' defenses were far weaker than field mobs, so even knights with modest damage output dispatched them effortlessly.
From the rear, sorceresses disrupted the center lines with magic, while healers focused on heals and buffs, ready for any casualties.
Overall, a smooth fight.
One spot shone brightest: Taemin's left flank.
While others stuck to a three-meter radius, Taemin covered others' zones too, handling three men's worth solo. Wide ranges usually invite gaps, but his sky-high speed and fluid moves left none.
Seo Ji-hoon, next to him and monster-less(?), watched in awe, tongue-tied.
As expected... this guy's on another level.
No time to gawk—Ji-hoon helped his neighbor. With each shift covered, the left flank processed monsters more easily.
9,600 EXP
12,100 EXP
9,600 EXP
9,600 EXP
12,100 EXP
8,900 EXP
9,600 EXP
12,100 EXP
12,100 EXP
8,900 EXP
9,600 EXP
12,100 EXP
EXP notifications chimed endlessly. With twenty hunters slaying simultaneously, they racked up at least 100,000 per second.
This pace... it'll be massive.
Lost in the zone, Taemin savored the slaughter. He'd felled countless beasts, memory blurring from the tally.
Yet the rear caves brimmed with more—no empty space.
Hunters held strong overall—no weak points, no injuries yet.
Time flew; battle hit mid-phase. Most upleveled once or more; lower-level ones twice or thrice.
Taemin hit LV.44 with three levels. Three nonstop hours, plaza still swarmed—like a breached dam, endless monsters surged from eight caves, crashing like a tidal wave only to scatter like leaves before the hunters' blades.
Ferocious momentum, but the ironclad formation wouldn't yield easily.
Another hour. Fatigue slowed movements. Weak foes, but hundreds per hunter drained stamina inevitably.
Healers' blessings helped, but limits loomed.
When the hell does this end?
Just one sip of water...
Five minutes' rest, that's all.
Four hours nonstop. Monster count unchanged.
Repetition bred stray thoughts; formation frayed—mostly wave newbies, visibly worsening.
Ha Jung-woo bellowed at those inching forward.
"Hey! You there—hold position!"
Some snapped back, refocusing. Temporary fix.
Five hours in, minds and bodies diverged. Weapons swung, but spirits floated vacant.
Ha tried again—then a right-flank hunter missed a side lunge, flew back. Nearby distracted ones followed like dominoes.
"What the—?!"
"They're breaking through!"
Defenders ejected, right flank crumbled to chaos instantly.
Recovering hunters plugged gaps futilely—overwhelming influx.
Healers, mages, even strong fighters endangered.
Right collapse panicked left too.
"Hyung! Right side's breached!"
Taemin, mid-slash, whipped around. Right-liners perpendicular to center, barely holding—precariously.
Couldn't abandon post.
"What now?"
"Hold here first—"
"Kyaaak!"
Taemin glanced back at the scream, sighing in dismay.
"Damn."
Right-breakers infiltrated, hitting left's support healers.
Mages bound some, but numbers overwhelming—annihilation risked.
"Ji-hoon, stick to the wall."
No point holding with innards compromised. Taemin activated Arrainba, dashing to encircled healers.
Slicing through, he cleared their ring rapidly. Monsters fell; trapped hunters emerged unscathed—nearby knights' force armor protected.
"Thank you."
Freed healers reformed, supporting.
Flanks gone, melee devolved to brawl. Taemin's smoke useless against the crush.
This is bad.
Taemin eyed the weakest spot: center, Ha Jung-woo and crew in dire straits.
Clearing around, he asked:
"Now what?"
"Need to reach entrance—but can't. Too many to carve path. Told you to focus... Smoke not working?"
"Tried multiple times. Useless."
Chatting, they felled dozens more. Sheer, grotesque volume.
"Won't work. Must force a path or we're dead."
Ha bellowed skyward:
"To the entrance! It'll hurt, but focus fire on me!"
Nearby hunters clustered, punching forward. Healers and sorceresses tailed; rear with Taemin's aid followed.
Progress glacial—hundreds swirling, no easy feat.
Then, rear cries:
"No!"
"Unni!"
Taemin and Ha turned. Yoon Ji-young snared by a monster's claw, hoisted airborne.
Guarding rear with two knights, she missed the side attack—leg grabbed.
Knight reached—too late, she soared into the swarm, shielding last-second before vanishing.
Taemin bolted reflexively.
"No, hyung!"
"Taemin-ssi! Come back!"
Ji-hoon and Ha yelled, but he was gone.