Chapter 124. Cumulonimbus [Tempest Fence]

[Tempest Fence] [Recommended Level: Lv.450]

Rift information popped up.

Even before the players made their move.

Many had predicted that the protagonist of [Tempest Fence] would be Tianxia Tongyi. Or perhaps Shining.

It couldn't be helped.

There was currently no emerging force threatening the prestige of those two guilds.

Gaon, Inazuma, Berserker.

The Giant Alliance had been tackling other rifts for days now.

"We're not giving up on Tempest Fence."

"Same here. We don't wanna be sidelined."

"Gaiber's recovery comes first."

The other major guilds were no different.

If they got caught between Tianxia Tongyi and Shining for no reason, forget leveling up—they wouldn't even scrape together any experience.

But then.

"Lee Hoyeol. No, why is Hoyeol-nim here in this backwater rift...?"

Lee Hoyeol had appeared in the [Tempest Fence] rift.

With an enormous legion of spirits in tow!

Whatever was going on...

The netuber players' faces lit up.

"Holy shit. No idea what's happening, but this is no joke. That?"

"Spirits we've never even seen in Arcana!"

"Thanks to Hoyeol-nim, we're getting a real treat for the eyes."

Hoyeol's mere appearance was joy beyond words.

And spirits on top of that?

Wasn't this spectacle surpassing even the Tianxia Tongyi-Shining rivalry?

Soon, viewer chats flooded in.

Netubers lived by reading the room.

And besides, who'd be crazy enough?

No one dared approach Hoyeol without permission.

"Of course. The most important thing is propriety, isn't it?"

Besides, the situation didn't call for it.

Hoyeol standing tall before dozens of spirits.

It made for a far more striking picture from afar.

The netubers simply voiced their awe.

"...Why did he come to this rift?"

"Those robed figures next to him must be Mage Tower mages, right? Only they can summon spirits."

"He's not here to hunt at his level."

Of course, the questions lingered separately.

But the curiosity didn't last long.

Hoyeol soon parted from the group and moved forward.

He approached a [Tempest Scarecrow].

"Huh? He's just here to hunt?"

Rumors pegged Hoyeol's level at a whopping 900.

Compared to that, the [Tempest Scarecrow] was merely Lv.450.

Hell, even slaughtering hundreds of thousands wouldn't raise his level...

So why was Hoyeol targeting the [Tempest Scarecrow]?

Shing—

Only after Hoyeol raised his sword did people start piecing it together.

A netuber player and explorer.

"Ah, I get it now!"

Yusra Kingdom. Golden Palace Square, corner in front of the Golden Calf Tavern.

Park Hwigang, watching the stream on the screen, was one of them.

"Tempest Scarecrows are counter-type monsters!"

The knowledge of an explorer who'd roamed Arcana Continent far and wide!

"They can transform into the most troublesome type against whoever they're facing. Of course, they can only shift to one type at a time, so a well-composed party isn't too bad..."

As you could see, Hoyeol was solo.

Of course, with that insane level gap, one scarecrow was no issue.

Hoyeol's movements brimmed with leisure.

Gulp—

Glug—

Rackid emptied a keg of beer in one go.

The rookies gathered here might not notice.

But he could see it.

The even more refined sword aura from Hoyeol.

And not just wielding that kind of sword aura.

Having the top mages from that monstrous Mage Tower? That's cheating!

Even the irregular Colosseum would ban that.

"Tch. Keeps all the cool shit to himself. That guy."

Growth enough to make Rackid petty.

Unaware or uncaring of Rackid's burning envy.

Park Hwigang continued, face flushed with excitement.

"But when a swarm of Tempest Scarecrows rushes in, it's a different story. No matter how the player acts, one will perfectly counter their attacks!"

As stated.

Tempest Scarecrows were counter-types.

Party hunting was recommended even for singles.

What if they surrounded you instead?

"Level aside, it gets seriously exhausting."

No, Hoyeol already seemed caught in that fatigue.

Tempest Scarecrows had swarmed around him before he knew it.

Only then did Rackid's lips curl up.

'Yeah. Suffer a bit. Time to rumple that smug pose.'

Rackid, quick on the uptake in combat.

From Park Hwigang's explanation.

Even Hoyeol wouldn't have it easy, he figured.

"Time to dirty up that pretty face."

Kahaha!

But the boisterously laughing Rackid didn't know.

How many wells Hoyeol had dug in the meantime.

How many escape holes he'd carved.

Even swarmed by counter-types.

They couldn't surpass the variety of Hoyeol's magic, [skills], {natural} abilities.

"Th-that's ridiculous!"

Even excluding [{Strange}}].

Thus, even surrounded by countless Tempest Scarecrows.

Hoyeol's ingrained dignity remained utterly unruffled.

Thud!

In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, Rackid shot to his feet.

From looks to power.

"Unfairness has its limits. That damn...!!"

...

There's a limit to the surprises too!

From the Quirnburk Mechanical Tower.

To the new World Tree's emergence.

Demon King suppression.

Realizing Hoyeol was involved in every incident.

He thought he'd been shocked enough already.

Who knew more shocks awaited?

Fwoosh—

Flames billowed from flared nostrils.

The Fire Drake snorted.

"So shocked I can't even say I'm hungry, Payan."

The Fire Drake was right.

Perhaps the food in his belly had fainted from shock.

His constantly growling stomach had gone quiet.

'Still...'

Payan Lot looked at Hoyeol.

Skillful use of magic and {natural} abilities via spirits? Nothing surprising.

Hoyeol was the Mage Tower's chief mage, after all.

What shocked Payan was, as expected, the swordsmanship.

'Even without an eye for it, I can tell.'

Tempest.

One of Arcana Continent's top ten mysteries.

A region even the Explorer Federation hadn't fully surveyed.

Especially the creatures that appeared—utterly bizarre.

Even the scarecrows at Tempest's outermost fence.

'They're pretty tricky.'

Average swordsmanship couldn't even scratch a Tempest Scarecrow.

In other words, Hoyeol's skills were no joke.

"I told you? Those rumors are true!"

"The great lineage thing?"

"Exactly! How else could he do that?"

...Why was he tuning into the chirps?

Payan, his own thoughts weren't much different.

Above all, Payan knew the importance of talent.

'Hate to admit it, but that's why bloodlines matter.'

Heirs of renowned mage families across the continent's regions.

Most Mage Tower mages were like that.

There were rare exceptions like Senior Banggrit, but...

They were few and far between.

'Even Chief Marcelo's abilities stem from his family heritage.'

But even bloodline power had limits.

A mage family couldn't produce a swordmaster wielding sword aura.

Nor the reverse...

Knowing that.

The questions about Hoyeol only grew.

"...Isn't he a bit too versatile?"

Seemed like he had all the good stuff.

*

...Lately, my ears have been itching a lot.

But I can generously understand.

Everyone's probably wondering what mischief I'm up to.

'Lv.900? Me?'

Rumors were the problem.

I, the person involved, hadn't said a word.

Yet somehow, my level had become at least 900.

A burdensome overestimation.

No, lately, with experience piling up so fast.

It was a number that made me doubt if it was even possible.

'Of course, I can't reveal the truth myself.'

Even if I brushed it off as my tiring personality.

Someone would persistently ask.

Just disclose your ranking info, then.

Then I'd shove my status window in their face instead of answering.

Publicly revealing my private ranking info to the world?

Sure, not hard.

No, it'd be good.

Clearing up needless misunderstandings early is best for everyone.

But seeing [Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo] on the player rankings?

I'd rather die first...

'Might actually die of shame.'

Yes, this wasn't Grandfell's pride.

It was mine, Lee Hoyeol's pride at stake.

'Better to hit Lv.900 then.'

Knowing that.

I hunted the charging [Tempest Scarecrow].

[Natural Enemy] not activated.

No doping with elixirs for a pure power test.

Good call pulling the sword first, Hoyeol.

Screw loose class.

Demon hunter.

'Fast.'

Even maxing strength and agility via class quests.

I'd dumped all level-up points into magic.

[Tempest Scarecrow: Lv.450]

Pure stats alone, hard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to keep up.

And this thing was tricky as rumored.

'Counter-type. Gains resistance to your attacks.'

Swish—

Sword aura unleashed.

Max power strike, and it tanks it.

"I shall praise thee."

Even Grandfell deemed it worthy.

Indeed, top ten mystery Tempest.

A unknown region even in Arcana Continent.

But no better opponent for me.

"Thou hast the knack for defense. However."

Hummm—

Magic manifesting with the sword strike.

Block one? Pour out two.

If another charges?

"Canst thou block this as well?"

Just pour out one more.

How many wells had I dug?

Dozens? No need for [{Strange}}].

'Worthy foes.'

Even with my screw-loose demon hunter class, absolute stat superiority.

My total stats outpaced same-level players by about 100 points.

'Class quests and elixir boosts.'

How's that, the fruits of my struggles.

Plop plop—

I murmured to the crumbling Tempest Scarecrow.

"Not bad as a warm-up."

Calm words belying surging emotion.

Others might not acknowledge.

"A warm-up foe, as you said."

Even if High El didn't get it.

I knew it myself.

True progress blurring my vision with tears, Hoyeol...!

No more groveling against same-level monsters.

I wanted to savor this achievement longer.

But my nape prickled.

Turning, I saw Payan and the mages.

Told to commune with spirits after ages.

Why stare holes through me?

I didn't know why.

Fine.

Can't keep them waiting forever.

Time to head back to the Mage Tower.

Rumble—

For some reason.

Cumulonimbus blanketed the rift sky in an instant.

I straightened my attire and advanced.

"The heavens wail."

Good no one to hear.

Heaven weeping? I'd beat it to it.

Anyway, hurry.

[Warmth] buff isn't omnipotent—won't block rain...

.

.

The first to sense it: top fire spirit, Fire Drake.

The crouched Fire Drake rose.

"Payan. Ominous energy."

Payan belatedly scanned around.

And noticed.

The 'alien spirit' presences lingering.

Payan's pupils trembled faintly.

'...This presence?'

...Dark spirits!

Spirits even Senior Spirit Mage Payan had never witnessed.

So Payan could only recall spirit lore knowledge.

Payan recalled the conditions—and flinched.

Forgot in the fuss.

"Damn...!"

This was Tempest's domain.

And the tricky second condition too.

Affinity.

Thanks to spirits summoned by Payan and the mages.

The [Tempest Fence] rift overflowed with it.

Payan slipped a hand into her sleeve.

"Idiot."

Not snacks.

She drew a magic tool, a wand.

Distracted, overlooked the risk.

Payan bit her lower lip.

"...Disqualified as senior spirit mage."

Like the Fire Drake.

The spirits had sensed the omen too.

Skilled mages seemed prepared.

But apprentices were visibly flustered.

Payan felt responsibility.

'At least keep the adventurers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out of it.'

Anything but tarnish the Mage Tower's reputation.

Hated causing a scene, but unavoidable.

Dark spirits were 'alien spirits'.

'Ordinary folk can't even commune...'

Yes.

Alien mana.

Only those wielding 'compatible mana' from black magic could attempt communion with dark spirits.

Those with such 'compatible mana'...

'Among who I know, only Senior Matis.'

But Matis wasn't here.

So Payan gritted her teeth.

"Gotta drive them off."

"Understood, Payan."

"Full power. Can't let adventurers get dragged in."

But Payan's grim resolve proved needless.

Here was a possessor of 'compatible mana'.

Surpassing even Matis.

Clack—