140 - Servant Lord's Token Unleashed

Two entities already inside. The notification window made it clear.

Guessing who they were wasn't hard at all.

"Gotta be The Sun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guild members, right?"

After all, Cheonma only knew about this info because of them in the first place.

-Yeah. Probably the guild master himself. Heard he's challenged this place a ton. Guess it's right around that time.

"Talk about timing... They after the spirit core too?"

-Nah. They're just following their job quests, so they don't know what's here yet. The spirit core wasn't info The Sun dug up—it was something I found personally.

"Oh yeah?"

According to Cheonma, he'd gotten word of this hidden area called Flame Spirit Haven during his third regression loop, and beat The Sun to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it in the fourth.

-And even inside, the core was tucked away in a hidden spot. Pretty tricky to find, so they probably haven't spotted it.

"Well, that's a relief then."

-Yeah. No need to sweat even if they got here first.

But no one knows how the world turns.

There was always a chance dumb luck might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lead them to the core.

Carpe was about to head in without delay when a sudden question hit him.

"Hyung. Isn't this kinda weird? They must know it's a four-player limit since the alert popped up."

-Probably. Alert shows it clear as day.

"So why not fill all four slots to block other players? Why just two?"

-Hm. Who knows. Internal guild drama maybe?

"Guild drama, huh... Anyway, lucky break for me."

Now just one thing left to worry about.

Which familiar to bring?

Carpe slapped a hand on the entrance and triggered Unlock.

But the four-player limit stayed firm. Had to pick one after all.

"Ugh. No dice again. This damn Unlock—no clue how it even works."

-If it fired every time you wanted, the game's balance would be toast. EXP caps gone, daily login limits nuked. You'd be living the free server dream.

"Exactly! That's what I'm gunning for!"

-You're insane.

"Anyway, no Unlock, so gotta choose one."

"My liege. Entrust it to me. Be it spirits or minions of some lofty being, I'll cut them down, no matter who."

Road. You're itching for it too, huh? Ants didn't cut it.

"Kyuuu!"

"Yaaawn. Sleepy."

Everyone except the naturally lazy Mirage was pushing to join him.

-Buncha battle maniacs. Picking up habits from their owner? What's the play?

"Hmm."

After a moment's thought, Carpe decided.

"Hyangi. You're with me."

"Kyukyukyu!"

"...Hyangi? Then I can trust her with it. Shame, but I'll stand down."

Heh heh! Can't argue with the magic squirrel prof. Road, good luck out there!

"Master. Be careful. You too, Hyangi."

Carpe nodded, then sent everyone but Mukhyang back to the Room.

Why Mukhyang? Simple.

Elemental affinity.

As the name Flame Spirit Haven implied, flame spirits were the main monsters inside.

Better utility from Mukhyang's eight elements over Tina's light or Gillian's dark.

-You sure? Might need a frontliner tank.

"Thought about that... But neither's a pure tank anyway. Better to focus on DPS."

No clue how far the first two got.

Carpe wanted max speed.

-Fair call. Flame spirits hit hard but aren't speedy. Your reflexes can handle it. Swap summons during cooldowns if you need a tank later.

"Right? Whew. Heading in."

"Enter."

Carpe nodded, and the scenery shifted in a blink.

"Ugh. Hot."

The moment he entered the haven, blistering heat slammed down. The twentieth floor was warm, but this was another level.

Hot air choking your lungs—that's what they meant.

"Like lava's flowing nearby... Whoa, it actually is?"

The Flame Spirit Haven was a massive cave, with a river of flames snaking along the floor.

Various debuff alerts flashed on entry, but Unlock wiped them clean.

"As expected. God Unlock. Solid performance."

-...Weren't you just bitching it doesn't trigger when you want?

"Hah? Talking smack where God Unlock might hear...?"

But even with Unlock's heroics, the heat lingered.

"Whoa. Real sauna vibes. Only in God Game would they sim this."

-Heh. Lucky me, I don't feel it. Jealous?

"I'd roll in shit before envying a ghost. Heat's just a minor annoyance."

-...

But Carpe didn't have to tough it out long.

"Kyukyit!"

Mukhyang scampered up his body.

And triggered the ice element of Spell of Eight near his neck.

A cool chill soon enveloped Carpe entirely.

"Good call bringing Hyangi. Thanks, buddy. Acorns till you burst when we get back."

"Kyukyukyu!"

Carpe tickled her chin, and she squeaked happily.

An iron door loomed at the cave's end—probably the way forward.

-Through the door, more areas like this. A few clears lead to the boss room.

"Simple enough..."

Then it happened.

Flame spirits began bubbling up from the lava river.

Floating orb low-grade spirits ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and hulking lizard mid-grade ones.

Low-grades outnumbered them, but at least ten mid-grades too.

"Whoa. Mid-grade spirits? These were bosses in Wind Cave."

And ten at once?

Leagues beyond Ruana-level stuff.

Ant Hell Dungeon really felt high-level now.

-Obviously. Don't compare to Wind Cave low-grades. Even same tier, these are way stronger.

"Figures. Over level 100 zone."

And way more numbers.

Carpe clenched his fist, bracing for a tough fight.

"Here we go!"

Pop!

Blue Dragon Step launched him at the nearest low-grade.

He swung fast. Thwack! It flew back.

"Ice Arrow!"

The follow-up arrow nailed it.

Clean combo, but Carpe kept going.

No way a much higher-level mob drops in two hits.

As he prepped Wind Cutter—

"...Huh?"

-What? No way.

Incredibly, the low-grade crumpled after just two hits.

Stunned, Carpe scanned around.

Something was off.

The flame spirits trembled in panic and fear.

Total one-eighty from their initial hostility.

-What the hell...

Even Cheonma hadn't seen this coming.

No lore he knew had spirits react like this.

But the cause was obvious.

Carpe's ring glowed blue, radiating overwhelming presence.

"...Holy shit."

-No fucking way. Defense shred and guaranteed crits?!

The world's strongest's gift unleashed fury on the flame spirits.

"What is this? Item desc didn't mention this!"

-Some items unlock powers in specific situations. Damn, guess Servant Lord's Token was one. Epic options seemed too tame.

"For real?"

Carpe pulled up the item info right away.

"No kidding?"

Just as Cheonma said. The token now sported a second option.

"Second condition makes sense now, but the first? When'd I meet a top-grade ice spirit?"

No memory of that.

-Beats me. Not in my recall either.

"Heh. Only one answer then. Unlock forced it open. God Unlock strikes again!"

-...Doubt it's Unlock this time.

Cheonma questioned it, but details didn't matter now.

"Hyangi. If you please."

"Kyukyu!"

Mukhyang flipped in midair, icing over Carpe's gauntlets.

"Hya!"

Blue Dragon Step again, lunging at a low-grade.

Swinging fist.

Splat—!

"Kya! One-shot city!"

-Whoa. Luck overflowing again. One-shotting a level 100 zone like it's nothing!

Carpe's free ride was back on.

The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw