Hard Mode in the Winter Tundra
The Winter Tundra theme spanned from the 11th to the 20th floors of the Black Tower. We'd returned to the place that had nearly become our graveyard.
Upon entry, a message window floated into the air before us.
You have entered the 11th floor on "Hard" difficulty.
Achievement Conditions: Defeat 2 large beasts and 10 medium or smaller beasts.
Failure Conditions: Total party wipe.
Confusion spread across the mercenaries' faces. They gripped their weapons tightly, scanning the surroundings.
"Hard? We're on Hard mode?"
"Captain, didn't you pick the wrong one?"
"They didn't even give us time to choose earlier."
"Let's just bail like this. It's too dangerous."
"Quiet."
Pyo Yeojeong silenced the mercenaries with a low voice.
"It means our abilities are up to Hard level."
"......."
"Probably thanks to these rings. Means we can clear it."
"R-Really?"
"Higher difficulty doesn't make them stronger. It just means more beasts to kill."
Pyo Yeojeong drew her Claymore greatsword, nearly as tall as she was. She was clearly trying to boost morale. Of course, I could see right through her panic—the faint tremor in her voice, laced with bits of dialect.
The captain pressed on, hiding it as best she could.
"It's good training, right? Lots of real combat practice. What do you think, Vice Captain?"
"Whatever the captain says."
"You guys?"
"...We'll follow the captain."
Satisfied with the response, Pyo Yeojeong nodded.
"Basic strategy stays the same. Start from the southern coniferous forest and sweep clockwise."
The 11th floor offered high freedom to climbers. East had trolls, west yetis, north glacial birds, south frost wolves. We could pick our prey. Our initial plan was south for frost wolves—on normal or below, clearing a cave of a mother and pups met the conditions.
"Hit the coniferous ravine cave first. That bags one large and seven small in one go. Then to the small pond for a large yeti."
"Got it."
"Move out."
At the captain's order, the scout squad took off. Combat and support squads followed. Normally, we'd send combat alone, but today we needed to drill cold weapons. Support squad, armed with guns, backed them up.
"This gonna be okay for real?"
Intak whispered, voice low. He was anxious, understandably. Just regular folks with spears and swords hunting giant wolf packs?
"Normally? No."
"...."
"What scares me is Yeojeong planned this even before she knew about the rings."
If I weren't awakened. If we didn't have mana barrier rings. I'd have talked her out of it. Stabbing wolves with spears instead of arrows? Cavemen wouldn't even try that.
"...B-But we got rings now. And we trained hard."
"True."
Still, I felt okay because: shieldbearers who'd trained hard during downtime; artifacts blocking damage for 3 minutes; spears and swords to stab flanks while someone drew aggro; support squad with guns behind; and me, the secret weapon no one knew about.
"Everyone, battle ready!"
We'd reached the wolf den entrance. Sensing us, the wolves waited outside.
Puuk—!
A shieldbearer blocked a charging wolf as blades stabbed from the sides. Solid field-veteran form. Small frost wolves dropped fast.
"Focus! Mother wolf's coming soon!"
Pyo Yeojeong cleaved the last wolf's neck with a heavy overhead swing and shouted.
"Front! Phalanx formation! Rear! Fire net!"
"Any rings expended?"
"None!"
They reformed. Combat squad made phalanx at the cave mouth; support split to the wings.
Thud thud—!
Heavy footsteps shook the ground. Out came a wolf with a head man-sized. Big enough to smash phalanx with one kick. Its howl scattered birds skyward. Legs went weak on instinct.
"Hold!"
At the captain's cry, fighters dug heels into snow. The mother frost wolf charged, churning snow.
"Javelins!"
Dozens flew at its head. Half bounced off hide; half sank into soft spots. It thrashed in pain but didn't stop—though its momentum faded.
"First rank, spears low! Thrust!"
Pushuk!
"First rank, recover! Second rank! Thrust!"
Puuk—! Pushuk puushuk—
Into its gaping maw. Between exposed neck tendons. Spear tips plunged. It slowed more. Stumbled once—then crashed. Boom—ground trembled.
"Confirm kill."
"...Kill confirmed."
Tension broke. Combat squad sprawled in snow, savoring survival. Support skinned wolves, gathering loot.
"Good prep. How'd you whip 'em into shape in days?"
"They had basics. Hard work did the rest."
Pyo Yeojeong gulped water, sweat plastering hair to forehead despite the cold.
"Rest here?"
"Snow's picking up. Can't stay long."
"Catch breath first. Move in 30."
She silently agreed.
"I'll start a fire."
I had squadmates gather nearby branches. Meanwhile, I pulled a thin iron rod and hammered it. In under a minute, the tip glowed red. Touched prepared tinder—flame caught quick.
"Kids, spread the fire."
"Why you always do it like that? We got lighters."
"...Just 'cause."
Romance, y'know. 30 minutes passed. We marched again. Target: west small pond, yeti hunt. Short trip normally, but...
"Weather's worsening."
"Next fight'll suck."
"Dunno if we can blitz it. Movements feel sluggish."
Steps slowed more than expected. Weather turned while resting. Feet sank deep in thickening snow; flakes blurred vision. We lost bearings a few times, correcting course. Front-rear gaps widened naturally. Poor visibility made combat squad's rear hazy.
"Rear, pick up pace! Front, slow down! Rear's lagging!"
Yelled forward to slow them. But no response—instead, they sped up.
Damn...!
Rings or not, we couldn't scatter. Combat and support protected each other. Split up, ambushes could pick us off. Then Intak returned from front comms.
"Vice Captain! Front got yeti ambushed! Gotta link up now!"
"What? Support! Speed up!"
"Wolf pack approaching from rear!"
"Why wolves here?!"
Fuck that. We were sandwiched instantly. Quick call needed.
"Suppressive fire! Keep wolves off!"
"Yes!"
"Priority: link with front! No slowing!"
All squads ran. Linked with combat quick. Bad shape. Formation broken; everyone fought yetis freestyle. Barriers popped everywhere. One fizzled out expended.
"Ringless, fall back!"
"Fighting retreat to rally! Support, cover fire focus!"
Wolves breaching lines; yetis swinging huge fists. Heavy snow shortened sightlines—suppressive fire limited. 3 minutes, all remaining rings gone. We wouldn't last.
Take out the head.
Untied pouch at waist. Felt the weight as I charged in.
"Where's the leader?!"
"11 o'clock! Chasing Captain Pyo!"
Yeojeong, why're you always chased...! Headed that way. Spotted leader yeti quick—head two sizes bigger. Pyo Yeojeong, ring spent, just fleeing.
Focused mana. Linked nodes, slammed power in—hammer vibrated.
"Hey Pyo Yeojeong! Just run!"
"You lunatic! Why're you here?!"
"I'll handle it—ring gone, bounce!"
Just go. Then I can fight free. But clueless Yeojeong hesitated, pointless fighting.
Haa... whatever.
Grabbed her collar, hurled her back.
"Eek?!"
Sounded like someone tumbling through snow behind. Now, focus.
"Grroooar!"
Yeti bellowed, spittle flying. Sorry, no direct fight. Gathered max mana, slammed ground diagonally.
Kuuuung──!!!!
Shockwave fanned out. Yeti staggered, knees buckled.
One-shot not enough?
Leader shook head, dazed. No time. Had to end it. Charged.
Whoom—
Dodged snowy fist with forward roll. Next, quaked its knee again.
Kuung──!!!!
Recoil launched me airborne into snow. Yeti gasping, barely hanging on. No waiting. Poured remaining mana into its massive head—smashed down.
You have cleared the 11th floor on Hard difficulty.
Returning in 1 minute.
Message before my eyes. Everyone seeing it, probably. Collapsed, drained.
"Wh... What the hell are you...?"
Pyo Yeojeong stood before me, eyes shaky.