Hallasan's Fortress Falls
About a hundred kilometers from the White Line lay a massive mountain range. This place, originally nameless, had been dubbed Myeongdo after Hallasan established a reconnaissance outpost there years ago.
It served as a key stronghold dividing the southwest, northeast, and central zones, home to over two hundred castles belonging to mid-tier guilds. Unlike other areas where ownership changed hands frequently, there was one exception here—a fortress whose owner had never changed. That was Hallasan's mid-sized fortress, located at the heart of the range.
Hallasan, ranked 16th among guilds, controlled a vast territory stretching from the central battlefield to the northwest and southwest. In this region, they reigned as absolute overlords.
Though it was just a reconnaissance outpost, it was a Specialist's fortress. Its influence was far from negligible. Touching it meant declaring war, and that spelled total annihilation.
Now, a lone man was entering that very fortress.
He faced no resistance as he ventured inside, murmuring in satisfaction at the sight of the devastated castle.
"Even the mid-tier ones put up a decent fight. Yeah, this is what you'd call a proper castle."
The voice belonged to Yoo Taejeong.
He had been flying over the mountains on his Blaster, aiming to cross quickly, when he spotted a castle unlike any he'd seen before. Compared to the small ones he'd passed, this was at least five times larger—a true fortress. Nestled deep in the mountains, it brimmed with an enormous garrison. He couldn't just fly by; he wanted to test the limits of his power.
The result was a resounding success.
With 24 guided rockets and 12 standard ones—36 in total—he obliterated everything inside in under five minutes. Taejeong strode in triumphantly and placed his hand on the occupation crystal.
Jenix has seized mid-sized castle 33,192 in Southwest District, owned by Hallasan Guild.
Castle functions activated.
Acquired 500 territory points.
Ranking updated: 79th → 74th
"Whoa, five spots at once... Wait, what? Hallasan?"
Confirming the ranking update, Taejeong's eyes locked on the top message.
Hallasan. A guild he couldn't possibly forget.
"This was their place? No wonder it looked so impressive."
Taejeong recalled the incident at the Myeongdo Hotel two weeks ago—the scouting attempt that nearly ended in his death. It was the first and last time a major guild had left him with such a unique memory.
Encountering them here stirred unexpected emotions. A touch of fondness, perhaps? Even after snatching a rank-16 guild's castle, he grinned ear to ear. It felt like undeniable proof of his abilities.
"I don't know how crucial this spot is, but it's Hallasan—they wouldn't skimp on defenses, right? And I wiped it out in just three minutes. This class is straight-up broken."
He'd known it all along, but this was overkill. By now, he'd claimed eight castles, killing at least five thousand people in the process.
If this had happened outside, it would've been catastrophic for the enemies—a division-level force for his allies.
"That's why they call it Hidden. Now I get why they were so desperate to recruit me."
Feeling grateful for his class once more, Taejeong finished rigging the mines and exited the castle.
Crossing the range into another plain, he beheld countless castles dotting the horizon. Denser than before, each one tempting him to strike.
Casually taking the visible ones would net another dozen or so. Tough choice.
"Hey, Gerard. If I snag all these and head back to base, mana gonna be an issue?"
I can't say exactly, but continuously summoning mechs and firing rockets would drain your current potions.
"What if I use guns?"
One-shot kills would halve mana consumption or less. But safety isn't guaranteed.
"Meaning I could get hit."
Affirmative. Your firepower is immense, as you've seen, but without a mech, just the suit can't reliably block enemy skills. And if you die, you respawn from the start—wasting time and saved mana.
"Roughly, with my defense, up to what level can I tank?"
Basic skills up to level 400 are manageable. But Special Moves or higher are extremely dangerous.
"So I can tank up to my level... That's huge, right? A jumpsuit and underlayer matching full gear defense? Is this stuff that good?"
The suit you're wearing is made from the toughest, most durable material before new space alloys emerged.
"Huh. Anyway, can't take 'em all—gotta go for cost-efficiency, then."
Not sure what cost-efficiency you mean.
"Big castles, obviously. Mid-sized give ten times the points of small ones. Mana efficiency doubles at least. Plus, there aren't that many mids."
Decision made, Taejeong targeted only mid-sized castles from then on.
Progress was smooth. Overwhelming range and firepower made sieges a breeze; hunters fell helplessly to unfamiliar attacks.
One by one, major guilds' castles fell under Jenix's banner.
Meanwhile, as Taejeong razed the neighborhood, the central-south region was in full emergency alert.
The peace pact had kept it tranquil, but now allied castles were getting smashed. Leaders from seven guilds gathered at Orix Guild's main castle.
In the Orix headquarters conference hall, Kim Byung-tae, Orix's master, sat at the head with the alliance's top brass. Faces grim, they eyed each other with suspicion.
Reading the room, Kim Byung-tae finally spoke.
"What do you all make of this situation?"
Responding first was Yoo Yeon-seok of Fiat Guild, allied with Orix.
"What to think? External invasion. This area's been too peaceful for a year. With World War looming, hyenas are circling. Happens every season—not surprising."
Baek Seong-hyeon, Stargate's raid captain and third in line, bristled.
"Not one, but most guilds here hit? Just 'seasonal trouble'?"
"Got intel, then?"
"No. But we know Fiat took zero damage."
Yoo Yeon-seok smirked at the aggression.
"Sounds like you're accusing us."
"That's how it sounded?"
"Hey, you seem pissed at me..."
Thud!
"Sorry to interrupt, but isn't it weird? We're not far from Fiat—why us only?"
The interrupter was Crasion Guild's rep, already suspecting Fiat. Solid grounds.
"Fiat's current ranking?"
"42nd."
"Close call."
"Meaning?"
"World War cutoff is 50th. Anyone knows that. 42nd? Gotta be nervous."
"So you're suspecting us? Better have proof, or own the consequences."
Tension iced over. Then another poured cold water.
"By that logic, everyone's suspect."
Prince Guild's low-rank exec spoke up. Crasion's rep glared.
"Excluding us, you're all 50-60th prelims. Tempting, right? And 50th changes rewards—Cracion's closest."
"What!? Think words prove it? We lost two!"
"Can't confirm, so who knows."
"Oh? Kicking us out? We let your backwater guild in, and this is the thanks? Got guts?"
"Big misunderstanding. We could climb anytime—didn't care to. Want war? Fine. But know this: we don't fall alone."
"You rootless..."
Fists nearly flew when Kim Byung-tae intervened.
"Calm down. Not why we gathered. Our alliance this fragile? Sure, losses hurt some. But it'll come out eventually—who'd gamble here?"
Cracion's rep pressed.
"Your take, leader? No one's strong enough here. Who dares?"
"Pondering it. North attack would've tripped intel nets—no sign. Scouts to majors out; wait a bit."
As the meeting dragged, someone burst in.
"Chief of staff? What's up?"
"Big trouble."
"What?"
"Declaration of war hit the alliance."
Chaos erupted—first since formation.
"Declaration? Who dares?"
"Well..."
"Spit it out."
"Hallasan."
"What? Why...?"
"Misunderstanding. Their Myeongdo range outpost."
"The one they hunkered in years back?"
"Got hit. We're suspects."
Kim Byung-tae muttered in disbelief.
"Makes no sense. Raid Hallasan over one mid-fort?"
"High-level hunters there, apparently. Prep now, anyway."
"What the hell..."