The 9-Second Hell Beast
That night.
The largest RaSe community site, RaSe IpVen, erupted into a heated debate over an unexpected bug controversy.
Posts on the free board were updating by the second.
The controversy centered on none other than the Hell Beast, the boss monster of the starter city Leisin.
It was about the newly updated personal record for the Hell Beast.
9 seconds.
The board was on fire because of this utterly incomprehensible number.
The board flared up momentarily, but public opinion quickly tilted toward "it's a bug."
No matter how hard they tried to accept it, 9 seconds made it impossible.
But just as the Hell Beast bug hype was dying down, fresh fuel was added.
RaSe IpVen boasted the highest user count among all Korean internet communities.
With so many users, every type of person was there, and bait links popped up dozens or hundreds of times a day.
Titles like "Legendary Loot Video!" led to wholesome old man fishing pics—too stale for even comments.
Still, some clicked "just in case."
As soon as a new video hit from the channel that topped best videos in a single day yesterday, all talk of bugs vanished—attention shifted entirely.
IpVen users rushed to the link.
The new video on Cheonma TV was a short one, about a minute long.
But the reaction it sparked was massive.
Like last time, it was first-person POV.
After entering the Hell Beast dungeon and a short wait, the Hell Beast emerged from the magic circle.
As the prep phase ended, the Hell Beast charged! But the video's protagonist dodged as if anticipating it.
Then the player lunged in.
Stab.
THUD.
And that was it.
The protagonist stabbed with his sword, and the Hell Beast collapsed like a lie.
Users rewatched endlessly, baffled, but only question marks piled up over their heads.
The board exploded, with many denying reality.
About 30 minutes after upload, detailed analysis posts started appearing.
RaSe vet who's grinded full-time since launch. Breaking down this video.
Sword looks at least Hero grade. Check the blade closely—faint gold tint?
That's the 3-star skill Striking.
Also a bluish hue—probably water or ice enchant.
Hell Beast is fire attribute, so it shredded.
Thrust to throat caused breath backlash, melting internals for one-kill. That's the truth.
No matter the analysis, reactions stayed negative, frustration mounting without clear answers.
But one thing was crystal clear.
An unprecedented monster had appeared.
Countless eyes turned to Cheonma TV.
"Urghhh."
Jeonghun woke early, washed up simply, left home.
Fueled up hearty at a nearby pork soup joint, then logged into RaSe sharp!
You have logged in.
-You here?
"Yeah, logged in. Nothing happened overnight... wait, something did, huh."
Cheonma's face screamed "this guy's mouth is itching like crazy right now."
-Yeah, something unimaginable. Let's move first.
"Good call. Crowded now."
Carpe hadn't returned to the city after the dungeon yesterday—instead logged out right away. So still near the dungeon.
"Tank and DPS ready! Priest shows, we go!"
"Oh, rogue? Nah, rogue's meh... No traps in this dungeon anyway."
"LFG lvl 20 priest. No gear check!"
"Shield from reinforced skeleton drop! God-tier options!"
Ruana's Pit bustled like a marketplace with LFGs and merchants.
"Oh yeah, quest clear turns it normal dungeon, right."
Dipping a foot at the pit's edge triggered: "Enter Rare-grade dungeon Ruana's Pit?"
"Wild."
His actions birthed a new dungeon, and folks around it laughed, partied, enjoyed the game.
A tickle in his chest—not bad at all.
-This should do.
Away from the pit, player count dropped sharply.
Cheonma scanned around, then told Carpe what happened last night.
-...That's how it went.
"Outta nowhere. Room suddenly?"
-Yeah. Room.
"Wait, isn't that for management/building or nurturing sims?"
-Absurd, right? Imagine how I felt getting appointed manager outta the blue.
"Absurd, but... good thing, yeah?"
A space for retainers, managed by Patron Spirit.
Absurd even for Cheonma, but so what.
Key was it helped.
"So, how exactly, and how much?"
-Bet you'll freak. Better see yourself than hear. Status probably changed too.
"Really? Status!"
Status popped up—sure enough, bottom had new "Room(New!)" entry.
Tap tap.
Alerts flooded his view.
Explaining the Room origin too.
You have met the minimum retainer count.
You have achieved the minimum conditions to unlock Room. Room space unlocks upon meeting specific conditions—a hidden feature.
• Retainer count 3+ (Achieved)
• 8-star+ crafting skill (Achieved)
• 8-star+ scouting skill (Achieved)
• Max affinity with Patron Spirit (Achieved)
"Whoa, what's this?"
Hidden conditions, huh.
Each one tough on its own.
-...This damn game's endless waves.
"Tough, but surprising you never hit all."
-Did each separately. Never all four at once.
Cheonma regretted nearly hitting three on second regression.
Once per day, player may teleport to Room.
Teleport now?
"Huh? I can teleport to Room too?"
-Then see for yourself. More impactful.
"Not like you to hype. If I'm meh, you'll be embarrassed."
-Hmph. Brace to faint.
"Going."
Accept—pop!—Carpe warped instantly.
"...Whoa."
Unlike "Room," it was outdoors, not indoor.
-Cool, right?
"Definitely. Worth bragging."
A massive Western-style mansion straight from comics loomed.
He'd spawned in its "garden."
"Garden? Nah."
No bushes or plants—just barren dirt field.
"Kyuu!"
"Welcome, my liege."
"...You guys, whatcha doing there?"
"As you see."
The other two retainers greeted from the dirt field.
But so unlike Carpe's imagination, he was speechless.
Tistania in light clothes sans heavy armor, straw hat, massive plow on shoulder.
"Farming."
"Kyuu!"
"...Farming?"
"Yes. See."
Stab!
Tina plowed deep; Mukhyang pulled acorn from cheek pouch, planted it.
Pat-pat soil with tiny hands, then watered with Spell of Eight's water attribute.
"..."
"Mukhyang wanted acorn tree, so helping. Building retainer bonds is vital."
"Kyuu! Kyu!"
"Yes, Mukhyang. Fun for me too."
"...Right."
Ancient empire homunculus and Epic pet teaming for acorn farming...
"Feels off, but if they like it, fine."
Shelve "acorns go in forests, not fields?" for now.
-Kek. Don't despair. Acorns now, but growth means ultra-rares like World Tree fruit.
"Mukhyang, that's enough for today. Farming's fine, but true knight prioritizes liege's escort."
"Kyuu kyuu!"
Mukhyang scampered to Carpe's shoulder. Tina smiled softly at the sight.
"Now, guided tour."
Mansion tour began.
Inside way bigger than outside.
-Freaked when manager alert opened the door.
Chased out Mukhyang, then shocked.
Outside was a whole other world.
-Other players see this, jaws drop.
Cheonma had foamed in disbelief.
This otherworld brimmed with facilities galore.
-Some unusable yet, but soon.
Training hall and lab for retainer EXP/skill ups.
Vegetable patch and orchard for magic mats/basics.
Mine for metals, etc.!
"And this, liege will find most intriguing."
Tina opened a door.