What the Hell?! The Temple Assault

Vulcan burst out of the forge, yelling, "What the hell?!" He activated Dragon Eye to scan the situation in an instant.

He pinpointed the direction of the explosion and rising flames, his face twisting in fury. "Which crazy bastards are attacking the temple?"

It was none other than the direction of Roona's temple. Even for a small village, it was home to a fair number of priests. And Roona's priests weren't like those from other temples who just hung back providing support—they were frontline fighters, blessed with powerful divine power, the very definition of "Combat Priests."

Attacking them? In the middle of the village, no less? It was unbelievable.

But it was happening.

Sensing something off, Vulcan fired up Dragon Eye again, sweeping his gaze across the village.

"Monsters!"

Black shadows flickered around the temple. But the commotion wasn't limited there—screams and roars echoed throughout the village. Monsters were invading.

"This is…!"

-Looks like they're using monsters to draw attention. Pain Eaters, huh?

The monsters weren't anything special—just the usual types lurking around the village outskirts. But they had no reason to charge into a village swarming with guards and players. Tud nailed it immediately: Pain Eaters were herding them in.

Thanks to the statues Vulcan had set up yesterday, the Pain Eaters died on contact with the village barrier. But the damage was done—the monsters had already breached.

Their agonized howls drew out the guards, sparking fights everywhere.

-Head to the temple. The rest is just a distraction.

On paper, the guards had the level edge. But sheer numbers were the problem. There were tons of monsters, and most players were logged off for the night, leaving defenses thin.

They were holding for now, and reinforcements would arrive soon. But in the meantime, monsters were slaughtering villagers—who had zero combat ability.

Vulcan hesitated for a split second, then gritted his teeth and bolted toward the temple. He could minimize casualties there, but the monsters would get cleaned up eventually. The real threat was whatever these bastards were after at the temple.

The belated Main Scenario Quest update validated his choice. 'Tiran's death?'

But it also warned that this wasn't a walk in the park. Failure hinged on a High Temple Knight like Tiran dying? That meant someone dangerous enough to threaten her had shown up.

"What the hell are they expecting a lowbie like me to do?!"

Like last time, the quest seemed to scream "just fail it and call it a day." Vulcan spat curses as he sprinted full-tilt toward the temple.

"It's collapsing!"

"Everyone, evacuate!"

Rumble—!

By the time Vulcan arrived, the temple was crumbling. It couldn't withstand the relentless barrage.

"Death's hammer upon the heretics who defile Lord Roona's domain!!"

"Guh?! Their resistance is fiercer than expected!"

"My strength… it's not working right!"

The attackers weren't faring much better. Their plan hadn't accounted for Vulcan's statues buffing the whole village into a sanctuary. Roona's buffs empowered the priests, boosting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their combat prowess far beyond normal.

The assailants had come in force expecting an easy stomp, but their dark powers backfired under the buffs, leaving them struggling.

"Find her! We need that bitch to use the Grail!"

"Grab any others just in case! Kill the small fry!"

Facing Roona priests was a nightmare. Unlike other orders' backliners, these guys trained their bodies relentlessly. Buffed to the max and charging with holy skills, they thwarted the attackers' plans.

If the knights from the inner keep arrived, it'd be over. So they shifted gears—from total wipeout to securing their objective first.

'That's their game.'

Vulcan clocked it: they wanted to snatch Sharon and bolt. The Holy Grail, a Roona relic, wasn't for just anyone—it needed her.

Hence the backup plan to grab more priests. 'I can forgive them messing with NPCs, but touching my rewards? Hell no!'

If the temple got trashed, his hard-earned quest rewards would vanish. He charged in without hesitation. Power might be short, but he'd guard his own by any means—stakes be damned.

"Blessing of Strength!"

Normally, he'd support the priests. Everyone there outleveled him by dozens—his role was creating openings, picking off small fry.

But Vulcan stayed cool. No reckless dive. He burned vitality for self-buffs, observing enemy movements.

This wasn't solvable by sniping minions.

"She's not here!"

"Must be underground. Clear it all out!!"

Boom—crash!!

The attackers hammered the temple relentlessly, like they knew its layout. Demolishing walls wasn't enough—they blasted debris hunting Sharon.

"Found her!"

Jackpot. But an unwanted guest crashed the party.

"How dare filthy scum set foot in this sacred place!!!"

"Gahk!!"

Tiran, the temple's guardian, emerged. Mid-interrogation underground, she'd been absent—now she one-shotted searchers. One punch, one down.

Assailants were Lv 80-100 fodder, but the heavy hitters were 200+. Still, no match. The Lv 300+ High Temple Knight dominated like a whirlwind.

"Huh?"

But even she had limits solo. While she rampaged, numbers let others eye the underground entrance.

"Screw it, whatever!"

Probably to snag Sharon. Her escape wouldn't fail the quest, but Vulcan clenched his jaw and blocked the path, scanning below.

Sharon might distract Tiran, creating an opening for danger.

"…The hell?"

Something weird in the basement.

"Interrogation room or gym?!"

Sharon, shackled, was… lifting weights? Roona zealots turning questioning into workouts. Classic.

"No wonder it's taking forever. Insane."

-Typical Roona trash idea. 'Healthy body, healthy mind' or some crap? Nah, there had to be more. But with these lunatics… maybe not.

Absurd they'd think weights reformed her. Whatever.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"Kill him!!"

Shock over, enemies attacked—path blocked.

"You think your levels scare me? I ain't going down easy!"

Huge level gap. But Vulcan had experience. He'd fought higher-level mobs endlessly—no panic. He read their moves, paths perfectly.

"Tch."

He parried, slashing back. Overwhelming levels, but debuffs on them, buffs on him—evened odds.

He blocked well, but damage slipped through. Halved defense couldn't nullify fully. Artful dodges piled micro-hits.

"Guh! Tough little shit!"

They took more, but shrugged it. Vulcan's precise strikes nearly crit, but low attack power fizzled. If strength options activated… but no, vitality-heavy gear.

Overwhelm defense? Roona's aegis might let him tank, but their hits capped under 30% HP—no gamble.

Even naked, math said no. Frustrating.

"Beat him down! Beat him down! Beat him down!"

"What the—?!"

Lucky break: Tiran rampaging limited his foes to three. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Fear of her noticing, probably. Manageable.

Mid-100s—not 200s. Still a gap, but if they reinforced… Vulcan used Dig to seal the hole with dirt. Rock-hard, but temporary—bought time.

'Shoulda gone down and barricaded?' Nah.

'I got this.'

He eyed his hands. Confidence surged.

"Come on! I'll dismantle you slow!"

Work hammer in hand. Armor Break via Repair skill. Low attack? Shatter their defense.

No Artisan's Prayer—higher fail chance for real "repairs." Looked pathetic.

"You dare mock us?!"

"We'll grant your deathwish!!"

Provoked, they charged. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Vulcan shifted defensive.

'Step left, three paces.'

Side-stepped charging Dark Knights—disrupt lines. Mismatched levels meant poor coordination. Bought 2v1.

'Don't give space.'

Half-beat dash. Low agility, but close-range timing trumped. Side attacker lost rhythm—1v1.

Clang!

Angled sword block, shoulder barge. Invade space, block follow-ups, sidestep others.

"Repair."

Point-blank hammer swing. No power needed—durability drain.

"Die!!"

Gap exploited, but Vulcan spun tight with grabbed foe—like waltzing. Balance breaks deterred allies.

Hammer danced. Crack—shatter!

Dozens hits instant. Armor crumbled to scraps. Panic in their eyes.

"That changes nothin'…!"

They thought so. Chestplate gone, but his weak hits? No killshots. Short-term flail; endurance favored them.

-Now.

"Judgment Strike."

"!!"

Boom!!

Vulcan anticipated. He knew damage woes best—bound them improv-style, but limits loomed. All-in: Burn most HP for one big hit.

One-shot kill. Variables—gap, buffs—mucked calcs. He dumped HP into Judgment Strike. Success.

"EXP tastes sweet today."

Explosive levels, intimidated foes—but his HP? Rock-bottom. Gloria Saga didn't full-heal on level-up.

A few solid hits = death.

"D-Don't bluff!"

Bluff worked—they saw the insta-kill.

"Wanna test if it's bluff?"

-It is a bluff, but…

Brief standoff. Vulcan smirked. Was bluff—now not.

"If you won't come…"

-Not for a bit.

"I'll come to you."

Berserk on the Berserker Longsword triggered.