Clash with the Nameless Gatekeeper
If that thing was a summoning stone, it would be a bit of a hassle for me.
I could see inside through the drone camera, but the dungeon's complex layout meant the straight-line distance for sniping was limited to about 11-12x magnification.
The problem was that if the summoning came in legion form, I couldn't use chain or penetration shots. It might hit Cheon Seung-hyuk, Yoon So-i, or the mech guy nearby.
"They all look insanely strong, yo. Just let 'em handle it on their own, Captain?!"
Even to my eyes, with those high-rankers there, I didn't have much to worry about.
"Maintain recon only."
"ROGER." "I'll always be ready, Captain!"
If a fight broke out or something unexpected happened, I'd consider intervening then.
The issue was friendly fire identification. It'd be best if it didn't come to that.
But I had to think about the alternatives too.
One thing came to mind. I did get something as a reward... but I'd never used it before.
For now, I'd just watch the situation.
『Beware the moment the golden gem is inserted.』
Message received from Unregistered, relayed verbatim.
A warning message from the Hunter Management Bureau popped up in front of Cheon Seung-hyuk's eyes along with those words.
"......"
Yoon So-i and MARK-67 had mentioned that this altar formed a barrier but could also function as a summoning stone.
Unregistered must have been worried about that too.
Overwhelming combat prowess combined with this level of analytical skill.
"Thanks for the advice."
With Yoon So-i and MARK-67 providing holy and defensive support, Cheon Seung-hyuk inserted the golden gem into the altar.
- Clunk.
In an instant, the altar's socket made a bizarre noise as it sucked in the golden gem.
Immediately, a low whiiirrr... hummed as the altar began glowing purple. Forewarned of the danger, Cheon gripped his holy sword with both hands, ready for anything.
Even with sanctuary deployment and defense mode active, he had no intention of letting his guard down.
The altar glowed purple for a while before returning to normal. The only change was the golden gem now embedded in its center. Then,
- Shoooong!
"!!!"
Suddenly, the barrier shooting up from the altar's center flickered off. Like a beam projector slowly powering down.
"......" All that remained was the [Jackal Mask] hovering mysteriously in the air above the altar.
"Everyone, fall back. I'll approach."
Especially keeping Yoon So-i—the key to every fight—completely out of harm's way, Cheon Seung-hyuk stepped forward.
"Jackal Mask recovered."
Reporting to Baek Moon-seong and Kim Chun-gyu, he reached out to retrieve the Jackal Mask. At that moment,
- Thud!
Something grabbed his wrist from behind. "!!!" It was a hand in tattered leather gloves, frayed in places, and an stench more foul than the dungeon itself assaulted his nose. But that wasn't the only problem.
- Crack.
The sound of Cheon Seung-hyuk's arm bone breaking. Terrifying grip strength.
"......"
Pain shot through him, but he ignored it, channeling Lion's Verdict into his right hand for a backhand strike. But,
- Thud.
The fist brimming with red murderous intent was easily blocked. Crunch—it tried to crush his fist with raw power. The moment Cheon identified the blocker,
'A skeleton?'
- Grrr...
Blue flames blazed in its eye sockets—a skeleton.
The skeleton Nameless blocked the punch effortlessly with one hand, then hurled Cheon Seung-hyuk like a ragdoll tossing a child.
"!!!"
- KABOOM!
"Cheon Seung-hyuk Hunter!"
"......Extremely dangerous. At least equal rank."
To protect Yoon So-i first, MARK-67 reinforced the defensive line without intervening. Mechanical clanks sounded as small missiles inside the 67 model locked onto the skeleton Nameless.
"Expecting heavy resistance. Requesting long-range bombardment support."
At that moment,
- Vroooom...
Nameless, having thrown Cheon, blurred forward at impossible speed, appearing before MARK-67 and Yoon So-i.
- Shing!
The black blade—like the abyss itself—swung at Yoon So-i. MARK-67 threw up a metal barrier, but Nameless's speed was too much; it couldn't fully neutralize the damage heading her way.
- KABOOM!
But the black blade never reached Yoon So-i. Cheon Seung-hyuk had returned, blocking it with his holy sword. Screeech! The clash of blades shook the altar area.
'At least Swordmaster level.'
Cheon, a warrior walking the swordsman's path, sensed it. This skeleton Nameless was at his level—or higher.
【Attack Type】
White Tiger Overlord Sword
- Grrrrrind...
A murder art manifested by sacrificing over half his stamina and offering blood as tribute. Cheon's body turned red, then began emitting bright white light.
"I'll... handle it. MARK-67, don't intervene. Protect Yoon So-i..."
Overwhelming power surged through him, slurring even his words. Seeing the aura, MARK-67 scooped up Yoon So-i and retreated, then opened a capsule to cage her like a parrot in iron bars.
From inside, Yoon So-i cast 【Holy Type】 Praise, supporting Cheon's HP. It was dropping in real-time despite being halved already.
That technique alone could kill the user. He'd heard it was incomplete, but it seemed near perfection now.
- Rumble...
Overwhelming killing intent clashed between Cheon and Nameless. Even the ground's stones and dust flew into the air.
"......Let's begin."
"Grrr..."
- CLANG!
In an instant, the two warriors exchanging blows blurred across the area, sword strikes blooming everywhere too fast to follow. Each clash wasn't metal on metal but KABOOM...—massive explosions.
Crackle. Nameless's leg was slightly sliced, bone fragments and dust scattering. Meanwhile, Cheon's blood splattered everywhere.
Yoon So-i and MARK-67 could track the warriors' fight with their eyes. It looked evenly matched, with Cheon slightly pushed back,
"No. He'll lose."
The skeleton regenerated instantly on hit, while Cheon took damage beyond Yoon's healing capacity. He'd been using White Tiger Overlord Sword too long.
Even MARK-67 saw Cheon falling behind. Worse, Nameless's regeneration wasn't some unique trait.
Cheon's top attacks—White Wood Lotus, Giant's Sword, Lion's Verdict—interwove and assaulted perfectly, but
Nameless parried them all with basic swordsmanship. Meaning this skeleton was stronger than rank 1.
Yoon began preparing her supreme holy heal. Her prayer chant echoed softly. KABOOM... KABOOM... The whooshes drowned it, but she focused.
After more clashes, Nameless unleashed a massive sword beam at Cheon.
"!!!" It perfectly mimicked Cheon's own Giant's Sword.
"......Interesting."
A flicker of surprise, but no one understood Giant's Sword better than Cheon.
Twist. He deflected the beam sideways with a subtle twist, then countered with a basic thrust twisted toward Nameless,
- Shiiiing!
Cheon activated his holy sword. "......" Nameless dodged the thrust laced with holy light, but Cheon spun, unleashing White Wood Lotus sword path, pouring it all onto Nameless.
- KABOOM!
The area filled with filth and dust. Amid aerial combat, Cheon landed on the dungeon floor.
"......Huff. Huff."
Already damaged by White Tiger Overlord Sword, spamming high sword arts left him visibly exhausted. But even he couldn't tell if his attacks landed properly. However,
"Grrr..."
Nameless's beastly growl leaked from the dust. "Tough bastard." Cheon checked his holy sword's activation time with a wry expression. Not much left, but enough for a few more moves.
The problem was stamina; even with Yoon's overwhelming heals, his total HP was slowly dropping against this foe. Nameless's, meanwhile, dipped to one or two bars before regenerating.
Then,
【Holy Type】 Seraphim's Holy Flame
Whoosh! Golden flames violently enveloped Cheon. No heat—just divine grace purifying all fatigue.
Yoon had finished her long chant, unleashing Seraphim's Holy Flame, continuously pouring max heals.
"Hoo."
Cheon's HP shot near full; White Tiger's penalty barely scratched it.
This was why their duo could aim for world #1. The overwhelming warrior backed by the ultimate healer began syncing perfectly.
"You know the duration. It's short—end it around the holy sword's time."
"......Got it."
Then,
- CLANG!
"!!!" Dust scattered, revealing Nameless's full form.
The blazing blue eye flames now coated its body in purple pixels, forming a barrier over the bones. HP full again, Nameless spoke its first words.
"......Blood Sea."
- Shaaa!
Overwhelming killing intent arrayed around Nameless. Reaching Cheon, denser than Lion's Verdict, it prickled under his skin.
- Viiiing... Clank.
MARK-67, focused solely on protecting Yoon, ramped defenses up several levels. It now looked like he'd imprisoned her eternally.
Only Seraphim's Holy Flame burned. Such a tight defense might limit further support, but MARK-67's judgment was sound.
- Rumble...
Pressure denting the steel barrier protecting Yoon. Bare-handed, Cheon endured, shaking and regripping his holy-light-emitting sword.
"Let's begin."
But Nameless, who'd wielded the black blade in his left with only basic forms, shifted into a new stance.
"!!!"
Left hand on the black blade, assuming a preparation Cheon had never seen. As a swordsman, he couldn't predict the incoming strikes.
'So now it's the real fight.'
Then,
- Ding!
A system alert rang in Cheon, MARK-67, and Yoon's ears. A small, neat window appeared.
[Title 'Savior' effect activated]
[Join as ally of 'Unregistered'.]
"!!!"
All three showed surprise.
A message they'd never seen. No one had mentioned such a function. But most shocking was the name before "ally"—Unregistered.
[Agree] / [Decline]
"......Bastard. Whatever you are, quick to help."
Cheon Seung-hyuk's lips curled into a subtle grin.