The Central Fortress Defense

The fourth-floor mission area was a rugged mountain region dotted with rocks of all sizes. The transferred players glanced around, checking on one another.

"Hey, aren't you Yu Jinho?"

A man who looked to be in his mid-twenties pointed straight at me.

*Already someone who recognizes me. Nice.*

"If it's Yu Jinho, isn't he the guy who completely shattered all the records up to the third floor?"

"Wow, guess we'll just ride his coattails this round."

The other players chimed in, agreeing with the man.

All nine of them were now focused on me. This kind of atmosphere was actually perfect if I wanted the mission to go smoothly.

-If one is the contractor of Yeo, it is only natural to draw the gaze of others.

"Yeah, yeah."

I brushed off Nyx's comment and looked over the players matched to my team.

"Since you already know who I am, this should be quick."

"Quick?"

"I'll handle the central path alone."

*Three-Way Defense.*

Just as the name suggested, the core of the fourth-floor mission was stopping the Orc army advancing along three separate paths.

The left and right flank players couldn't move between paths. Only the player assigned to the center could travel to either side.

In exchange, the number of Orcs pouring down the central path was equal to the combined total of both flanks.

In other words, twice as many.

"You're saying you'll block twice the amount by yourself?"

"Even if you did break all those records..."

"Isn't this a bit too arrogant?"

The players immediately pushed back.

Well, that was the normal reaction. The standard strategy for clearing the fourth floor was to concentrate all forces in the center, repel the main Orc wave, then split off to support the flanks.

If the team's average power was lacking, they would abandon the side paths entirely. As long as the center held, it was still possible to pass.

Given how many Orcs there were, the three fortresses provided a significant defensive advantage to the defenders.

If the central path collapsed too easily, the mission would fail about eighty percent of the time.

"Well, I'm not making this offer for free."

I slipped one of the rings off my finger.

*The Mouth of Gluttony.*

It was the Legendary-grade ring I'd received from Baal.

"If even one fortress falls, I'll give you this ring."

A translucent window displaying the information for *The Mouth of Gluttony* floated before the players' eyes.

"L-Legendary?!"

"A real Legendary item..."

"Yu Jinho, weren't you unaffiliated with any guild?"

"His family could be rich, you know."

The players began murmuring among ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠themselves.

*Fair enough.* It would be hard for them to believe someone could obtain a Legendary item this early in the tutorial or on the lower floors.

"Mors, can you come out?"

-Of course.

*Vrrrrrm!*

Space split open as the merchant appeared. The gnome, Mors, gave an exaggerated bow in his ridiculous pose.

"You called, Master Yu Jinho?"

"Can I buy one of the Tower's contracts?"

"Thirty CP, yes."

"Damn expensive."

As soon as I paid the CP, Mors broke into a wide grin.

"Thank you, valued customer!"

"Just hand it over."

"Yes, yes!"

Mors pulled a yellowish parchment from his pocket.

Without hesitation, I filled out the contract.

-If even one central fortress falls, the ownership of *The Mouth of Gluttony* will be divided equally among the other team members.

-If Yu Jinho successfully defends all central fortresses, each team member will pay 30 CP.

"Does this build some trust?"

The players scanned the contract, their eyes widening.

"It's real. There's no loophole."

"Tower contracts are absolute."

"Disconnecting mid-mission is an option, but logging back in triggers forced enforcement."

"No real downside, right? Thirty CP stings a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit, but..."

Subtle glances were exchanged among the players. The atmosphere made it clear they didn't believe I could actually hold the fortress.

"Since you're going this far, I'll accept the contract."

"I'll trust you too."

*They're not trusting me. They just want the ring.*

"Thank you for believing in me."

I curled only one side of my lip in response to their so-called trust.

-Your smile reminds me of a withered flower.

Nyx's sigh-laden voice brushed past my ear.

* * *

Central Fortress One.

A five-meter-high wall blocked the path leading into the plateau. Five magic ballistae were mounted on top, designed to automatically fire the moment an Orc entered their range.

"Um, Master Yu Jinho?"

"You're still here?"

Mors, who had followed me, pointed at the fortress.

"Hehe, it seems difficult to hold it alone, yes."

"Stop beating around the bush."

"You can spend points to reinforce the fortress."

The core of the fourth-floor mission was how many Orcs you could hunt. By spending the points earned from killing them, you could purchase buffs or strengthen the fortress.

"I'm broke, though?"

"For a valued customer like you, I can offer credit, yes."

"I'll just take the sentiment."

"You might actually end up having to hand over the ring according to the contract!"

"If I didn't have the confidence to hold it, I wouldn't have started this in the first place."

I meant it.

I had to break every single record while climbing the Tower from now on.

Orcs?

I'd take on as many as they wanted to send.

"If you're really that curious, watch from the wall."

I pointed at the fortress behind me.

"Still..."

"You made an exclusive contract with me. Isn't it better to see my true ability with your own eyes?"

"You really should have mentioned that before we signed the contract."

Mors pouted as he climbed up the fortress wall.

-That one still doesn't fully understand the true nature of his contractor.

"He'll learn soon enough."

What kind of being he had signed an exclusive contract with. And that cheap tricks like offering credit wouldn't work on me.

The moment the system message ended, the base of the plateau became noisy.

"Gruk, gruk."

"Smash fortress."

Creatures roughly two meters tall with green skin, bulging eyes, and muscular bodies that would make a bodybuilder jealous appeared.

Orcs.

Twenty of the monsters known as beginner-slayers revealed themselves.

-Oh ho. Those ones have quite solid muscles.

"Is that your type, Goddess?"

-How impudent! You dare insult Yeo with that three-inch tongue of yours!

"I didn't even say anything weird?"

While bantering with Nyx, I extended my right hand. Mana gathered at the red gem.

A fireball formed above the ring and flew toward the Orc pack.

*BOOM—!*

Thick black smoke engulfed several meters ahead.

-Did you finish them?

"If they were that weak, I wouldn't even be worried."

I shrugged.

As if answering me, the Orcs burst through the smoke and charged forward.

"Gruk!"

"Hunt that human first!"

One dead, five injured.

Only the one at the center of the explosion had died. The rest suffered various wounds.

-They are much sturdier than the small ones we saw on the first floor.

"Way stronger than goblins."

-Those muscles aren't just for show, it seems.

"One Orc can take on ten goblins, after all."

That was when they used poison needles, of course. In terms of pure physical ability, even twenty goblins couldn't beat a single Orc.

The normal strategy would be to use the fortress's firepower for support while repelling the Orc waves, but...

Why bother following the standard plan?

I kicked off the ground, closing the distance in an instant.

"That's outside the ballista range!"

Mors's shout came from behind, but I ignored it.

I wasn't about to let the ballistae steal my kill count.

"Gruk!"

The lead Orc grabbed the axe hanging at its waist.

*Whirr—*

The axe spun in a wide arc as it flew toward me.

Dodging it would be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easy, but that was exactly what the Orc wanted.

The first throw was meant to buy time. A suppression shot to let the rest of the pack finish preparing their own throws.

So instead of dodging, I used the *Blood Claw Technique* to smack the incoming axe away.

"Gruk!"

"What's wrong? Not going according to plan?"

I charged straight at the Orc that had just thrown its weapon.

The Orc widened its nostrils and swung both arms, but its panicked strikes couldn't reach me.

*BOOM!*

I rammed my raised shoulder into it. The impact sounded like an explosion.

The Orc, struck with the full force of *Fierce Charge*, exploded into dozens of bloody chunks.

Flesh and blood sprayed everywhere.

*Looks like I won't get to experience the stun effect.*

"Gruk!"

The Orc pack roared in fury and rushed me.

Glaives, short spears, double-bladed axes.

True to their combat-specialized race, they attacked me with a variety of weapons.

"Doesn't even feel like a warm-up."

Their attack patterns were so obvious I didn't even need my sixth sense.

Creating openings in that storm of attacks wasn't difficult.

*Clang!*

A light flick of my right hand altered the trajectory of one Orc's weapon.

"Gruk?!"

The redirected axe flew toward another Orc.

The Orc that got attacked by its own kind quickly pulled back its extended spear to block.

By slightly altering their attack trajectories, I had completely nullified their coordinated assault.

-You calculated the trajectory, power, and speed of every strike before deflecting them!

Nyx's impressed voice echoed in my ear.

Instead of replying, I unleashed the first form of the *Blood Claw Technique* with my right hand.

*Fierce Tiger Blood Claw.*

As my nails slashed diagonally, green blood sprayed a beat later.

The Orc's body was sliced into pieces. Even its tanned leather armor couldn't stop my qi-infused claws.

"Gruk!"

One Orc let out a rough breath and swung its glaive.

*Decapitation.*

A red aura shimmered along the blade.

It was a skill aimed at the neck. Deflecting this one wouldn't be enough to change its path.

If I dodged outside its range or counterattacked, I'd lose the initiative I'd worked so hard to seize.

"That would be inconvenient."

*Shhhk!*

Darkness surged from beneath my feet.

Using the power of *Polar Night*, five blades of darkness targeted the Orc that had just swung its glaive.

*Clang!* Two blades deflected the glaive.

The remaining three stabbed deep into the Orc's nape, heart, and groin.

"Grrrk..."

The Orc collapsed.

It had managed to protect its neck and chest, but blocking the blade that went for its crotch was too much.

It gave up something else to save its life.

What a guy.

-My partner, you must press the attack before the other Orcs regain their composure.

Yeah, yeah. I know.

"Don't worry. I'll finish this in two minutes."

*Shing!*

I straightened my elongated nails.