Mutual Annihilation
“Phew. I'm really chugging these today.”
Carpe emptied another potion bottle, fully restoring his HP that had bottomed out.
He then stood before the door leading to the next stage.
A golden door. The final gateway to the boss room of the Flame Spirit Haven.
Come to think of it, Kate logged out. Now I can summon up to two retainers.
“Oh, yeah?”
The Flame Spirit Haven was a special area limited to a total of four people.
But with Kate gone from the previous battle, Carpe could now summon one more retainer.
“Perfect timing. Just two left.”
Mukhyang and Tina were currently on cooldown from being resummoned after dismissal.
The only available summons left were Mirage and Gillian, so there was no need to agonize over the choice.
“Still, it might be better not to summon right now. No need to show our hand early.”
Good call. In PvP, the one who hides more cards usually wins.
“I hope they get careless thinking it's just one guy.”
But honestly, he doubted it.
A top-ranked player who'd seen it all would account for that. Getting caught off guard would actually be disappointing.
“Phew.”
He hadn't even opened the door yet, but he felt way more tension than against Kate.
Could he really win?
Would his skills hold up against the pinnacle of 500 million RaSe users?
To be honest, odds are slim to none. Unlike Kate, Gunter's build is specialized for wars and PvP. Not that he's weak at hunting—Legendary hidden class makes him a jack-of-all-trades.
“What kind of broken-ass job is that?!”
……You saying that? His job might be busted, but compared to yours, it's cute as hell!
“Ugh. I figured it'd be tough. Checked the official rankings earlier—level 150.”
Rank 6 Kate was 136, so Gunter was a solid 14 levels ahead.
Rank 2 was 144, making Gunter's pace utterly dominant.
Probably mid-3rd job quest. Bet that's why he's here.
“Oh, right. 3rd job at 150.”
Yeah. If he finishes his 3rd job here, win chance is straight zero. Not like 0.0001%—just zero. Dead loss.
“……If he's in the middle of the 3rd job quest?”
Hmm. Single digits, maybe?
“Monster.”
Can't use two retainers, World Tree's blessing already spent. Even with your busted self, this is rough. At level 100, maybe 50/50.
Cheonma smacked his lips, sounding almost as disappointed as Carpe.
Anyway, you're fighting regardless. Not your style to back down if it looks like a loss.
“Heh. You finally got my number.”
Carpe grinned, clenching and unclenching his fist repeatedly.
His heart pounded with tension and excitement.
Who knows? Maybe the boss and Gunter are still fighting inside. Backstab 'em and... boom, rank 1 slayer!
“……Your nickname's all wrong, hyung. Should've been Demon Lord, not Heavenly Horse Lord.”
Or how about this? He solos the boss but burns everything out, groggy as hell. Potions gone, no recovery... and you swoop in for the finisher!
“Read too many novels and got sick of 'em, so now you're writing your own? That contrived plot'll get you flamed by readers, author-nim.”
Just talking possibilities. At least it's not zero.
“Then let's check it out.”
Carpe took one final deep breath.
Then—
BAM!
He flung open the boss room door with force.
“Ugh. Why's it so damn hot?”
Unlike the stage against Kate, the boss room brimmed with insane heat.
Body hindered by extreme heat.
A notification for 'heat-induced physical penalty' flashed, but Unlock dispelled it effortlessly, as always.
“Ah.”
A vast open space filled with scorching heat.
In the center stood a tall man equipped with a massive greatsword.
Before him lay the shattered remains of what seemed to be the guardian—a giant flame golem.
Solo clear. That guy's a beast.
The man glanced at Carpe, then slowly approached.
Not a single piece of his gear was intact—scorched, broken, or melted beyond recognition in places.
It spoke volumes about the battle's ferocity.
“Heard some fighting outside...”
His voice was deep and gravelly, oozing macho vibes.
“Bit rude on first meet, but mind if I confirm something?”
“……”
Carpe stayed silent, but the man didn't mind.
“Taking your silence as a yes. What happened to the woman outside?”
“Gone now.”
“I see. Well done. That's answer enough.”
The burly man scratched his chin awkwardly.
“Hmm. Was gonna tell her the plan changed. Shame.”
“Plan?”
“Yeah. Plan was to down the boss and scout with her. Can't now.”
Despite being strangers, Gunter spoke casually, like to an old friend.
“Belated intro—Gunter Lauhel.”
“Call me Fist Demon.”
“Oh ho. A celeb. Makes sense Kate lost. Shame. Such a shame. Haven't felt this bummed lately.”
Gunter kept muttering “shame.”
“What's so shameful?”
“Lots. First, missing Kate vs. Fist Demon. Must've been epic. She was jealous of you.”
“Jealous?”
Carpe blinked at the unexpected word, and Gunter chuckled like it was hilarious.
“She denies it, but she's proud of Permafrost. Seeing someone else use her signature skill? She was pissed.”
“……Didn't seem like it.”
“Haha. That's what makes it fun. Probably venting somewhere now. Wish I'd seen it. But the real shame...”
Gunter sighed deeply, mismatched with his image.
“...is missing a fight with someone this fun-looking.”
“……What?”
As Carpe questioned the cryptic words—
Gunter's toes began turning gray.
“Huh? No way?”
“Embarrassing, but that guardian was tougher than expected.”
Whoosh.
The gray spread, crumbling to ash.
“Thought I could take it, but surprise phase. Went for flesh to break bone strategy.”
“And?”
“Got the bone, but flesh wound went deep. Haha.”
Gunter laughed sheepishly at his own words.
“……Holy.”
Carpe let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Cheonma had joked about groggy state—this was even more absurd.
Mutual destruction?!
“Special burn skill. Burn pots and heals did nothing.”
“Still taking burn DoT?”
“Yep. Was burning when you entered. HP just hit zero. Quest cleared, main goal done... but such a shame.”
Gunter was a bigger battle maniac than Carpe.
He genuinely lamented missing the unknown strong foe.
Now nearly half his body was gray.
“Knew your type at a glance. Bet you were hyped for this too.”
“……”
“All my yapping was basic courtesy. Sorry to disappoint. Next time, for sure...”
With that, Gunter fully crumbled to ash and vanished.
Carpe stared blankly for a moment, then muttered.
“Life really is unpredictable. Never saw this ending coming.”
Damn. Even I’m impressed. Boss and Gunter mutual KO? You got a 10-star Patron Spirit like 'God of Freebies' or something? Handouts on handouts now.
“Freebie... yeah, freebies rock, but.”
What was this mix of thrill and regret?
“Phew. No point dwelling on what's gone.”
Carpe rummaged where Gunter vanished.
No drops. Same for the flame golem spot.
“Cheap bastards.”
Gunter wasn't PK'd, so low drop chance. Golem loot probably looted pre-death.
“Freebie perfection denied!”
Perfection? This is just the start. See that?
“Huh? Where?”
Deepest corner there. And that direction too.
Carpe checked where Cheonma indicated, scanning carefully.
Soon, he spotted a tiny red gem embedded in the wall.
Barrier stones hiding a secret passage. Destroy 'em all, path opens.
“Whoa, you spotted this? How'd you find something so small?”
Carpe pressed the red gem hard in admiration.
It crumbled without resistance.
“Huh? Broke it, but no change?”
Smash every one in here. One ain't enough.
“Ah. How many?”
Total 77.
“……Pardon?”
Carpe double-checked, but no change.
77 fingernail-sized stones in a space the size of an elementary school field?!
“Insane. How'd you find this hidden piece?”
Desperation finds a way.
“Scary... Explains why The Sun missed it first.”
Don't remember all, but rough spots. Should be quick. Oh, there's one.
Carpe smashed stones as Cheonma directed.
About 30 minutes later—
All 77 barrier stones destroyed.
Whoosh.
A sand vortex formed in the center—like the Ant Hell Dungeon descent.
Carpe jumped in without hesitation.
“Oh?”
He landed and spotted a treasure chest.
“Kuh. This is the best part.”
Carpe grinned, placing his hand on it.
“Unlock.”
Unlock activated.
Click.
The Ant Hell Dungeon exploration bore fruit.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw