First Conquest in the Territory War
As Yoo Taejeong stepped through the portal, his vision filled with a barren, parched wasteland.
Immediately after, a barrage of messages popped up simultaneously.
You have entered the Territory War.
Jenix Guild respawn point has been set.
Current party: 0 members.
Jenix Guild headquarters coordinates: Southeast Sector E, Zone 129,33.
"Hmm. Made it in, but... where do I even go?"
According to Park Se-ah's explanation, once units entered the Territory War, they used a one-time headquarters return scroll to teleport. It was for quick defense, but of course, Taejeong didn't have one of those.
He had no clue where to head. Naturally, he called out to Gerard.
"Gerard, if the coordinates are 129,33, where's that? Isn't there some kind of map window or something?"
Maps showing coordinates are only available to staff-level or higher guild members, granted based on castle possession, and limited to unit commanders. Otherwise, you must enter a castle to view it.
"So I don't even know where our castles are right now, huh?"
Affirmative.
"Kinda figured as much. Not too surprised... So what do I do first?"
He'd charged in blindly, but now that he was here, he had no idea where to start. The portal he'd entered through had vanished without a trace. All around stretched an endless plain— no castles, no mountains, no fields, not even a blade of grass.
After a moment's thought, he decided to just start moving. No big deal since death wasn't permanent here.
'Exoskeleton Robot. Booster.'
Summoning the mana-efficient booster, Taejeong began easing away from the spawn point.
The vast, open plain was eerily empty, almost serenely quiet and desolate in a way that calmed the mind.
About an hour after leaving the point, a faint outline appeared in the distance. What started as a vague silhouette sharpened as he approached, revealing itself as a massive mountain.
"Here we go."
After an hour of monotonous scenery, the sight was a welcome change—like stumbling on an oasis after circling a desert.
The mystery mountain took a while longer to reach the base. Lush green trees, familiar soil and rocks—nothing different from the outside world.
Inhaling the mountain air, he began the climb. No dangers in sight on the path up. He'd summoned an 8-barrel Vulcan just in case, but the woods were peaceful, teeming with birds and squirrels.
Blasting past the midpoint, he summited in no time. His eyes narrowed at the view below: a vast lake, dense jungle, and a small castle backed against it.
"A castle in the jungle? Doesn't really fit, does it?"
To observe further, Taejeong descended carefully, keeping the castle in sight. After a long trek down, troops atop the walls came into view.
'About a hundred, roughly...'
Most appeared to be mage-types with staves, spaced out watching the perimeter.
Sizing up the defenses, Taejeong realized the castle was smaller than expected. From afar, it was hard to gauge, but up close by the lake, it was tiny—barely larger than the mansion he'd raided recently.
Park Se-ah had said castles came in small, medium, and large sizes, with importance tied to scale. This was definitely the smallest class, no strategic hotspot.
'Worth a shot?'
Considering the size, location, and hunters' gear, it seemed pushable. He whispered to Gerard.
"Gerard."
Yes, Master.
"We really don't die for real, right?"
He knew, but wanted double confirmation. A mistake could mean mass slaughter. Better to play it safe.
Gerard's response solidified his resolve.
In Territory War, exceeding defense limits triggers automatic respawn at your point. No actual damage is taken.
"Good. First time, so let's play it safe."
With that, he summoned the Protector mech. A flash of light enveloped him, transforming into a massive robot.
Unable to equip heavy weapons in this mode, he switched to close-combat form. The legs retracted, cockpit ejecting with Taejeong inside. He then summoned the Cheonryong-1 MLRS.
With the 36-round launcher mounted, he had Gerard calculate targeting.
"Can't destroy the castle outright. Aim for maximum internal blasts."
Targeting for personnel casualties?
"Eh, not quite casualties... but yeah, like that."
Understood.
With coordinates locked, Taejeong aimed at the castle. 24 guided missiles loaded. Mana-inefficient, but unknowns and first run—no choice. Full barrage it was.
A low murmur escaped his lips.
"Fire."
Rockets streaked from the launcher with shrieks, arcing through contrails to appear over the castle.
The troops finally noticed, murmuring curiously.
"What the hell is that?"
"Huh?"
"First time seeing it?"
Gawking like it was a show across the river—until the first struck the center.
BOOM!
A massive smoke cloud erupted amid chaos and blaring alarms.
But follow-ups devoured everything, turning the yard into pandemonium.
"W-what the hell?!"
"Report! Survivors?"
"Ninety... incoming—argh!"
Reporters and receivers alike vanished in flashes.
"Run!"
"Which wa—ack!"
BOOM! KABOOM!
Clusters of hunters evaporated with each blast. Not just them—the castle crumbled too. Blink, and craters pocked the landscape, structures gone.
"What in the world..."
Caught off-guard, the hunters couldn't respond. Way too massive for such a puny outpost—like lightning from a clear sky.
As panic peaked, the final salvo slammed the core.
KABOOM!
The blast leveled the inner keep, smoke swallowing the castle whole.
Watching from afar, Taejeong tilted his head.
"Why no counter? They saw it coming."
Pondering the wall guards' inaction, he waited for smoke to clear.
Eventually, wind revealed the ruin: walls empty.
"Time to check."
Advancing cautiously, fully armed with radar active. But no threats materialized.
Passing the shattered gate, the devastation inside made him whistle inwardly. Nothing left—like a meteor strike. Craters everywhere, debris vaporized. Only the rear control tower stood intact. Empty inside. Clean sweep.
"What now? Crystal, right? Ah, this must be it."
Park Se-ah said claiming was simple: wipe enemies, touch the occupation crystal—done.
Hand to crystal, it glowed brilliantly. Moments later, windows appeared with chimes.
Jenix has captured Plant Guild's small castle at Southwest Sector White Line 03,161.
Castle functions activated.
Territory points +50 acquired.
Ranking updated: 81st → 81st.
"Oh ho, so that's how it works. Let's see—map and status board, huh."
The activated display showed current position, nearby castles, terrain info. But no Jenix HQ. All red enemy flags; his new green one the only ally.
"Why's our castle missing? Can't have fallen already."
Small castle maps cover only 50km radius. This is Southwest Sector, opposite of headquarters in Southeast. White Line is the outermost edge, so HQ on the far side won't show.
"So Southwest here, Southeast about there?"
Correct. The area you indicated is precisely southeast.
"Hmm. Lots of castles to pass. That mountain range like a spine—gotta cross it. Thirty-plus just there... Can I sneak through undetected?"
Deeper in, enemy guilds got bigger names—higher levels, larger garrisons. Hidden class or not, reaching HQ at fresh level 400 without dying? Slim odds.
"Gonna have to fly?"