Massive Level Up

As countless notification chimes echoed around him, Han Seol-ah landed beside Yoo Taejeong.

"You okay?"

"What the hell was that?"

Seeing his somewhat dazed expression, she offered an apologetic smile.

"You got a little spooked, huh? Sorry about that. I was just running a light test."

"A test?"

"Gotta check the bare minimum qualifications, right?"

"Then you could've said something beforehand... Wait, no—more importantly, what was that stuff you smeared on me?"

"Oh, that? Harpy hormones. Not super useful on its own, but monsters go absolutely feral for it. You saw, didn't you? They came swarming out of everywhere."

Taejeong bristled at Han Seol-ah's nonchalant explanation.

"I almost died! And you didn't have to vanish like that."

"No choice there. I'm at the level cap, so if I stick around, all the mobs hide. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with the harpy hormones."

"So all that superhuman strength stuff earlier was bullshit too, then."

"Nah, not at all. You dodged like a pro. Without that stuff, you wouldn't have lasted even that long scrambling for your life."

Her absurd logic left Taejeong utterly speechless. Without the hormones in the first place, he wouldn't have needed to run at all.

This woman's missing a few screws, right?

Han Seol-ah patted his shoulder sympathetically, as if she got it all.

"Still, you held out pretty damn well for a rookie. Even I didn't last this long back then. That skill you used earlier? Nice one. I was gasping for air, running till my lungs burned."

"You went through this too, sis?"

"Ages ago. I still remember it clear as day. I cursed up a storm like I'd never curse again. Swore a hundred times I'd rip them apart if I survived. But now it's just a fond memory. You didn't curse me out or anything, right?"

"Me? Nah, I'm a clean-living guy by nature."

"Knew it. You look pure. Oh, right—did you level up a bit?"

"Feels like it, yeah. Hang on... Whoa. What!?"

Taejeong rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he checked his status window. His level had shot up to 300.

"What's up?"

"Three... three hundred."

"What? That's it? What was it before?"

"145."

"Hmm. Guess the debuff kept you from racking up more. I wanted to give you a bigger gift. What now? No time for another round."

"No, this is... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's like hitting the jackpot already."

"For real? Glad you like it. Alright, shall we head back to HQ?"

With Han Seol-ah's help, Taejeong escaped the dungeon and returned to the yacht.

"Hold up, gotta lock in the coordinates."

While she synced the coordinates, Taejeong reviewed his new skills.

The 150-level jump had unlocked a total of seven skills. A radar marking nearby targets. Protector Armor as an expanded suit. A radiator cannon with over five times the flamethrower's output. A monstrous Vulcan cannon firing a thousand rounds per minute. The evolved Turbo Booster. And mines that could be buried in the ground.

But the one that caught Taejeong's eye most was the last one: Cheonryong.

Range, power, area, speed—this skill's insane.

Cheonryong's multiple launch rockets packed more firepower than anything Taejeong had wielded before. Top-tier damage, up to 12 shots a minute—an amazing skill. With a staggering 3km range and the widest kill zone of any weapon or skill yet.

Wish I could test it right now.

Taejeong itched to summon the weapons and fire them off. How did this one feel? What about that? How much better were the upgrades? Half excitement, half anticipation.

And gratitude swelled for Han Seol-ah, who'd made it all possible.

Just minutes ago I wanted to throttle her, but it was all part of the plan. No wonder they say you can't judge a book till the coffin’s closed.

As Taejeong reflected, a portal shimmered into existence in midair.

"What's that?"

"Sorry for the wait. The damn thing kept rejecting the coordinates."

"Who?"

"Some guy. The pickiest one in our club. Let's go."

With that, his body floated up—whoosh—and he was sucked into the portal.

He emerged in what looked like a study, someone's office. Before he could gawk at the unexpected space, a man in a chair sighed and spoke.

"Can't you follow procedure for once?"

Han Seol-ah flopped onto an empty sofa with a weary groan.

"Why bother with detours when porting straight here's so comfy? No one's coming anyway."

"Rules exist to be followed."

"Yeah, yeah. Got it. I'll remember next time..."

"And who's that with you?"

"Yeah. Checked him out myself—solid kid."

"Kid? Gotta admire that trashy charm of yours. Yoo Taejeong, right?"

Taejeong nodded at the man's question.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm Seo Jin. Leader of this sorry club."

"Nice to meet you. Yoo Taejeong. And thanks for the hotel thing."

"Don't thank me. I was just doing a favor for someone."

"Huh?"

"Anyway, why do you wanna join the club?"

Taejeong paused at the question, then fired back.

"Can I be straight?"

"Suit yourself."

"If you're joining one, might as well pick the best, right? Human nature."

"The best, huh."

"Plus, it sounds cool."

"Simple—I like it. But our club's no ordinary guild. It's a band of folks with a shared purpose... call it a task force. Entry's strict. You gotta align with our goals, risk your life sometimes. Need enough power to protect yourself, at minimum. Sadly, you don't even meet that bar. No entry."

"......"

An unexpected twist. No entry? Then why drag him here? Taejeong glanced at Han Seol-ah on the sofa, baffled.

Sensing his look, she turned to Seo Jin.

"Just let him in. We're always short-staffed."

"Leader's call."

"I know. But he's come this far—look at my face and make him a temp member or something."

"Han Seol-ah, one more word and you're dispatched. One-year term this time."

"Dispatch? I just got back! No way. Okay, zipping it."

She mimed zipping her lips and buried her nose in a book, avoiding Taejeong's eyes.

What? No approval, no plan—she just dragged me here?

Before the absurdity sank in fully, Seo Jin spoke again.

"But I do have another proposal."

"Another one?"

"There's a guild I'm close with. Unrelated to the club—wanna build your strength there? If you hit the minimum quals later, we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can talk entry then."

"Where?"

"You've probably heard. Jenix."

"Jenix... huh?"

Taejeong reacted on reflex. It was Jo Yong-seok's guild, from the recent hunt.

What the—how's this connect?

As he puzzled out the pieces, Seo Jin extended a hand.

"First off, thanks. For saving my sister."

"Sister... no way, one of those girls back then was..."

"Ju-ah's my little sis."

"Ah."

Now the insane puzzle clicked for Taejeong. Why this powerhouse group had his back blindly. Payback.

"She begged me to watch over you—said you seemed reliable. Should've refused by the rules, but first time she's asked like that. Couldn't say no."

"Got it."

"So, what'll it be? You need a guild anyway, and Jenix ain't bad. No reason to linger where you are. Unless you crave top-ten prestige, seems solid."

"Well... Jenix was on my list already. So if I power up there, you'll reconsider?"

"If your goals match and you've got the strength."

"Then Jenix it is."

"Smart choice. Terms and treatment won't disappoint."

Taejeong saw no downside. Jenix wasn't top-tier, but it was a general-rank powerhouse—in the top 100 at least. And the leader called it a close tie. Subtle support, plus his sister as a member? Long-term win.

Yeah, no loss. Might even be better now. Joining the club like this? I'd just be dead weight. Power up there first.

As Taejeong steeled himself, Seo Jin eyed Han Seol-ah.

"Seol-ah."

"Yeah?"

"One more favor."

"Drop me at Jenix? Sure. Ready, kid?"

Portaling out with Han Seol-ah, Taejeong took the yacht back to land.

"What was that portal, anyway?"

"Loop Covert. Encrypted space-jump portal."

"So that's the teleport I've heard about."

"Not your average one. Near-impossible to track or jam. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Costs dozens of times more than regular teleports. High upkeep. Only I use it in the club."

"Moneybags, huh?"

"Nah, I'm probably the broke one."

"And you ride it?"

"Too much hassle otherwise. Six checkpoints minimum. Smart call, though."

"On what? The guild?"

"Yeah. Jenix beats the club. All headaches here—no freedom. Always on the job."

"Then why try recruiting me...?"

"Oh, that? Just."

"......"

Reaching land, they portaled straight to Jenix HQ via her summon.

"Hey, old-timer."

"Ah, miss."

"Been a while? Year?"

"About that."

"Whoa. Your hair's thinning—what, too much stress? Who's not listening? I'll chew 'em out."

"No, no. Age catching up, heh. But what brings you suddenly...?"

"Oh, this guy. Leader's orders: induct him."

"The leader? Any relation...?"

"Jin's in debt. Don't ask—just process him."

"Have a seat. I'll get tea."

"Nah, gotta bounce now."

"Already? Stay longer."

"Wanna, but this kid's got backlog 'cause of me."

She summoned a portal on the spot.

"Oh, he's Hidden class—treat him right. Relying on you, old-timer. Work hard, kid. See ya."