War Ignites at the River of Lamentations
The main 3rd District of the Central Battlefield. Among the hottest hotspots in the territorial war, this district was split east and west by a massive river.
Once called the River of Lamentations in the past, it was the grave of countless hunters and an unavoidable gateway for any push into the center.
At the starting point of the upstream section, where the river was a mere hundred meters wide, two castles faced each other across the water.
"Stuck here doing jack shit is boring me to death. Any unusual activity or something?"
It was Kim Youngho muttering from the control tower, his body slumped lazily. He was also the overall commander of the Western Front and a member of the Invincible Guild, ranked 8th in Korea's official rankings.
In response to his question, one of his subordinates stretched with a yawn.
"Same old, same old. Like the saying goes, this place is basically rigged Go-Stop."
"That's exactly the problem. It's all the same crap everywhere, just farming points, but we get dragged here every time for nothing. If I'd gone hunting instead, think of the cash."
"What can we do about it? We just follow orders from the higher-ups. Unless the deputy commander levels up or racks up some achievements to snag a key position."
"Man, if those bastards across the river lost it and poked us, that'd be perfect. A golden chance to shine."
"Pfft, you confident you could hold them off?"
"Hey, you punk. I've been too lenient lately, and now you're treating your superior like dirt."
"Dirt? Nah, they deserve it. It's the Gold Lion Guild, ranked 6th, after all."
"Gold Lions vary. The commander over there? I hear he's not even level 600. That's something I could handle. Plus, he's a Paladin, and I'm a Berserker."
"One-on-one, sure, you'd probably win. But that's not happening. Considering our guilds' relationship..."
Just as he dismissed it as idle chatter.
A massive roar echoed from somewhere.
Kaboom!Boom!
"W-what the hell!?"
Startled, Kim Youngho shot to his feet and yelled. His subordinate stared back, equally baffled.
Locking eyes, they bolted outside, where even louder explosions rang out from all directions.
Kaboom! Boom!
The earth-shaking blasts rattled the troops. The captains calmed the hunters, and soon an officer rushed toward Kim Youngho.
"Deputy commander!"
"What? What's going on?"
"You need to see this from up top."
Following the officer to the ramparts, Kim Youngho opened his mouth to ask again—then froze at the sight of the burning castle ahead.
Thick smoke billowed from the Gold Lion Guild's fortress across the river. It was so massive it seemed to swallow the entire structure, with continuous explosion sounds.
"What the hell are they doing over there?"
"No idea. There was a sudden blast, and..."
"No way... are they under attack?"
"What!? No chance. Who'd dare mess with Gold Lion? All top-ten guilds are at the main battlefields. Plus, this is their turf."
"Then what, they're putting on a show? Dammit. Get the comms orb now. We need to report to HQ..."
"Whoa! Look over there!"
"Huh?"
Kim Youngho's gaze followed the officer's pointing finger into the sky.
Something unidentified hurtled toward them at high speed.
Before they could react.
The objects slammed into the castle in an instant.
Kaboom!
A colossal blast engulfed them in a flash of light. Chain explosions followed, turning the internal forces to dust.
* * *
Gold Lion Guild headquarters.
Having received the urgent report about the incident at the River of Lamentations' upstream, Gold Lion Guild Master Choi Cheol-ho repeated in disbelief.
"They really attacked our castle?"
"Yes. It was a total surprise; they couldn't even fight back."
"Why the hell would they...?"
"Not sure. They say it happened in the blink of an eye. What should we do? If it's real, this is basically a declaration of war."
"Hmph. Stand by until I give further orders."
"Yes, sir."
Once the man left, Choi Cheol-ho activated his comms orb and contacted someone.
Moments later, after a few flashes, a voice responded from the other end.
-Oh? What's the Gold Lion boss doing calling at this hour?
"Got a question. Heard anything about the upstream River of Lamentations?"
-News? What's with the random question?
"One of our castles got hit. Our guys say you lot were behind it."
-What? Is this some new joke?
"I'm not messing around. No way a mid-sized castle commander acts alone. Why break the agreement?"
-I have no clue what you're on about. Where is it?
"The two castles facing each other at the end of the first upstream branch."
-Hold on. I'll check and get back to you.
"Mistake or not, you'll take responsibility."
-Keep pushing, you want a fight?
Startled by the sudden call from Gold Lion, Invincible Guild Master Jo Young-min sent a subordinate to investigate.
"What'd they say?"
"Comms aren't connecting."
"Not connecting? Didn't we distribute the orbs?"
"We did. But the status board shows..."
"Shows what?"
"It looks like someone's already taken it."
"What? Who the hell dares take an Invincible Guild castle...?"
"The rear castles say attacks came from across the river—uncertain, but it looked that way."
"What? How many castles across the river?"
"Just one: Gold Lion's, facing us."
Jo Young-min's face twisted at the report.
"So this bastard took our castle and is trying to pin it on me? Does he think I'm some haystack he can fool?"
Fuming, Jo Young-min immediately called Choi Cheol-ho back.
-So, found out anything?
"Hey, you bastard, you think this is funny?"
-Bastard? What the hell did you eat?
"Cut the bullshit. Why'd you hit our castle, you shameless prick? You come over, take it, and then what? We attacked? You think we're pushovers? How'd a kid like you climb so high without fixing your brat habits? Act your age, you pathetic old fart."
At Jo Young-min's brazen reversal, the seething Choi Cheol-ho finally snapped.
-You really wanna die? I said it's no joke. This isn't something you brush off.
"That's my line. Hundreds saw your guys attacking from the rear. Keep bullshitting, and let's go all out."
-Oh ho, showing your true colors now? Think you can handle us? I gave you breaks for old times' sake, and you stab me in the back?
"Yeah? Let's see a real stab this time. And honestly, what do you even have? Strutting around with a few extra castles. I was sick of seeing your face anyway—perfect timing. Let's shake up the rankings for real."
-Fine. I'll knock you out of the top ten. Suffer the humiliation.
"Piss off, asshole."
Jo Young-min cut the comms irritably and ordered his subordinate.
"Get the chief commander and all staff in here."
"You really going to war with Gold Lion? Shouldn't we investigate more...?"
"What's left to investigate? You think some lunatic could hit two top-ten guilds at once?"
"True, but still..."
"No. That prick needs his nose cut down. Thinks he's hot shit because we treated him nice. Time to set the hierarchy straight. Summon them now."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Central District 112,90: Invincible Guild's medium castle occupied by Jenix.
"6th there, 8th here. This is where the real heavyweights start. Gotta be careful now."
After crossing the Myeongdo Mountains and seizing castles in a straight line, Taejeong spotted two medium castles facing each other at the river's upstream.
Only seven castles on the way here, so two in one spot was irresistible temptation—like finding the last buy-one-get-one deal.
He hid on a nearby hill and struck them one by one. Inside, he realized they were top-ten guild outposts.
From here on, no games. Further conquests could delay linking with the main force.
"Pushing out 8th and 6th solo... what a guy I am."
Not their main forces, but top-ten weight was no joke. Korea's premier guilds, leading the nation.
Taking down two alone? International news material. And by a level 400 hunter, no less.
"Anyway, no time to gloat. Better bail before trouble."
Taejeong skipped mines here; top-ten reinforcements wouldn't fall to them.
Soaring high again, he cruised east at full speed.
Playtime over—time to regroup.
Ignoring all visible castles, he pushed straight ahead.
Then.
Kuooo!Kaboom! Boom!
An earth-shattering roar echoed.
So immense even explosion-hardened Taejeong halted in shock.
"What the hell was that?"
Scanning around yielded nothing suspicious.
Another sky-splitting blast shook the heavens.
Kaboom!
This time, precisely left. Beyond the horizon, massive black clouds swirled.
Curious, Taejeong hesitated, then approached slowly.
There loomed an enormous castle unlike any before, with vast armies locked in siege warfare.
Another blast—and thousands of lightning bolts from the black vortex hammered the castle.
Kaboom!
Flashes vaporized defenders. Walls crumbled, and hunters poured through like a flood.
But defenders held firm. A high-level hunter blocked the breach, slicing dozens with one swing.
Atop the castle, a telephone pole-sized ice spear launched skyward at the lightning caster.
But it failed. Dozens of ground hunters flew up, shielding with suicide barriers.
The barely surviving caster summoned more lightning—until a black gate ripped open behind him. A knight with a massive light greatsword emerged, cleaving the mage.
His triumphant smirk faded as ground spells pelted him, erasing him like his victim.
Elsewhere: sinkholes, fire pillars, black whirlwinds devouring hundreds—total chaos.
Watching it all, Taejeong couldn't look away from the spectacle.
"This is the real deal's war."
Unknown affiliations, but one thing clear: titans he couldn't touch.
"My feats are nothing. The scale's on another level."
Amazed yet convinced—Han Seol-ah alone was monstrous. Level gaps explained it.
Half-mesmerized, his fist clenched suddenly.
The desire to grow surged.
'Yeah. Can't get cocky over a few castles. Gotta grow more, get stronger. At least match them to protect myself and qualify for the Club.'
Taejeong reaffirmed his renewed resolve.