Strategy Briefing and Hide-and-Seek in the Fog
"Here's the rough outline of the battle."
Kang Hanbit laid out the big picture of the fight against the Snow Drake. He covered its characteristics and behavioral patterns, weaknesses, and even its threatening skills and phases without missing a beat. Some had seen the battle footage revealed during the episode, and as veterans familiar with subjugations, they picked it up quickly. Now came the crucial part: individual and team assignments.
"I'm assigning each of you a number for easier commands. Bear with me on this. For reference, the numbers are based on your raid application order."
Kang Hanbit sent messages to the 28 vanguard members, including Luna and Rapina, each containing tailored instructions. Next to their names were numbers, followed by detailed team compositions and individual roles listed out.
"...You wrote all this up?"
"Why's it so damn detailed?"
The vanguard stared at their materials in a mix of shock and disbelief. They all knew Black Dragon was knowledgeable about this world, but they'd pegged him as just well-read. No one had expected this level of analytical prowess and battle-hardened strategy. Some had even joined thinking they could score some angle using Luna's name.
"We've got plenty of time, so I'll go over each one in detail. Especially the five who came with Rapina—pay close attention."
The materials had been finalized from evening till dawn. He'd gotten the names of Rapina's five scouts late morning and added notes since then.
"For efficiency, I'll drop the honorifics. Starting with Number 1, Luna. You'll be on Team 1 as the detached unit, positioned at the Snow Drake's rear..."
The briefing kicked off with Luna. It delved into roles, positions, situational skills, and key cautions—highly specific stuff. The explanations stretched late into the night, with plenty of back-and-forth Q&A dragging it out.
"I didn't know my skill could be used like that. What about this approach?"
"For the 3rd and 5th pattern warnings, wouldn't it be better to squeeze in some DPS?"
"From that last fight, tanks didn't seem to matter much. What if we stack everyone who can dodge on one team?"
Some offered counters to Hanbit's skill interpretations. Others puzzled over optimal DPS timings from experience. A few suggested raid comp changes based on the episode's Snow Drake. Their initial skepticism melted away as the briefing progressed. They weren't doubting anymore—they were hunting the best path to victory. Reading their resolve, Hanbit answered each point, winning them over.
"Let's wrap it up like this, then. We'll adjust on-site as needed. Head to the castle in 30 minutes—finish prepping."
Hanbit stepped down from his makeshift podium. The vanguard naturally grouped into teams right after.
"Fancy us teaming up like this."
"First time since becoming vanguard?"
"Reunions later. For the left-wing pattern, I'm thinking this—what do you say?"
They were frontline elites, but true collaboration was rare. Large-scale ops with top picks weren't common either—rivals made better colleagues than teammates.
"Black Dragon."
As Hanbit checked his inventory, someone approached. Turning, he saw a kind-faced man.
"Ah, Odin."
Odin, Number 19. Hanbit had seen his face in videos, but this was their first chat.
"Got a question?"
"Nah, just wanted to say hi. Your briefing was shockingly thorough—left me speechless."
"...Glad you think so."
No flattery in Odin's praise. Like his interviews, the guy seemed genuinely transparent, without a hint of malice.
"First off, thanks for sharing that off-limits zone info. Without your攻略, we might still be fighting the guardian golem."
"You'd have cleared it soon enough without me. Word is you're insanely talented."
"Embarrassing, but yeah, I know I've got game chops. Still, I haven't shaken up RP's ecosystem like you."
Odin acknowledged his talent but drew a clear line from Black Dragon. Hanbit was well aware he'd upended RP's balance.
"Just got a bit lucky. Knew this world before everyone else."
"Ah, the original novel. I'd love to read it, but... I think your strength goes beyond that knowledge. How many could convince this crew of stubborn vanguards?"
The teams buzzed with lively discussions, reviewing and confirming Hanbit's materials.
"Definitely a rare sight. They're all leaders in their own teams."
Luna sidled up, chiming in. With only 10,000 vanguards worldwide, mid-tier meant top 6,000—leadership was inevitable.
"Didn't expect Luna to recruit for someone else."
One thing many players, Odin included, found baffling: Luna posting a raid call on Astra for Black Dragon.
"There was that article once. Headline like 'Chaebol Vanguard Hates Entangling with Normies More Than Death' or something."
Luna knew the public image. She just didn't care enough to engage.
"I do what I want—that's my motto. With Black Dragon... we've got a secret deal going."
"...Secret deal?"
"Yup."
Luna grinned, mixing truth and tease. Odin pondered seriously, but their bond started with auction info trades—nothing grand.
"Anyway, you earned my trust. I'll give it my all. Starting with this."
Whoosh—Hanbit opened his inventory, pulling out a black box, bell, and horn flute. He tossed the latter two in without hesitation.
Ding—
[Ringing Awakening Bell confirmed.]
[Soul Horn Flute confirmed.]
[Begin crafting Chaos and Confusion? (Yes/No)]
The message felt more warning than guide.
"This the tools for that buff item you mentioned?"
Odin recalled the briefing. The vanguard's eyes turned their way.
"Random craft tool, right?"
"What if it fails? Gotta hunt new ones?"
Questions flew. But Hanbit knew the outcome—the materials already factored in the buff's effects.
"Let's craft it."
Ding—Hitting 'Yes' made the message vanish. The box soon stirred.
Swish—The black box floated, spinning in place. Then faster.
Whoosh—! Swish—!
The accelerating spin mesmerized the vanguards. After about a minute, a message popped up.
Ding—
[Found a clear light amid chaos and confusion.]
[Crafting greatly succeeded.]
[Obtained Transcendent Sound Orb (6-rank - Saga).]
'6-rank... Saga.'
The name matched expectations, but the grade was a wild card. Hanbit checked details.
[Transcendent Sound Orb]
Rank: 6
Grade: Saga
Description: A rare item born from chaos and confusion. Shatter to bless all players in range. Grants keen senses; all stats +50%. Effect lasts 30 minutes.
'This'll do.'
Minus the numbers, it matched his memory. He shared the info.
"...All stats 50%?"
"And 30 minutes?"
"This is the buff we get?"
Stats grabbed attention first. Then more reactions.
"But what's 'keen senses'? Separate from stats?"
"Like intuition?"
"Yeah, crisis detection vibe."
Rare phrasing for items. Some vanguards knew it.
Hanbit nodded, elaborating.
"Think of it as filling stat gaps. Heightens reactive senses to danger."
The isekai orb had done exactly that—sharpened senses to threats. Vital for survival in real fights.
"Time's up."
Amid chatter and Q&A, the 48-hour grace period neared its end. Hanbit addressed the group.
"Head to the castle entrance now."
***
Crunch—
Midway up the snow-blanketed mountain, Black Dragon's raid stopped before a new terrain. It screamed "path to the castle."
"All the way to the gate."
Scanning around, Hanbit led inward. Other players appeared from the start, thickening as they went.
-So many people wtf;
-Like a damn town square.
-I'm here too….
-Me too lol….
-Missing this would be stupid right?
-Agreed.
The stream had run nonstop since leaving Ifrit. Raid rumors spread like wildfire, drawing crowds. Numbers exploded at the castle entrance.
"There they are!"
"No way Black Dragon really assembled that raid?"
"Watch your mouth. They just came for Luna's name."
The swarm was impenetrable. Mixed emotions—envy, jealousy, doubt—from average players eyeing untouchable vanguards.
"Even more packed than I thought."
"Makes sense for such a hyped subjugation."
Luna and Odin figured the same. Didn't matter anyway.
"But... is Haemu not coming?"
Rapina glanced around cautiously. Haemu hadn't shown by briefing's end. No sign in this mob either.
Then.
Swirl—Mist bloomed at the castle entrance, rapidly spreading.
"Huh?"
"What the?"
"Content intro cinematic?"
Players gawked curiously. Ten minutes to Snow Drake—early flair wasn't weird.
But the vanguard reacted differently.
"This is..."
"That guy's fog, right?"
"Wasn't he joining the raid?"
Those who clocked it sounded baffled.
Swirl—The mist thickened. If the gate opened now, it'd flood inside.
"Haemu's fog."
Luna whispered. Hanbit nodded, brushing it lightly.
"What's his play?"
"Think hide-and-seek."
Odin approached from behind.
"Hide-and-seek?"
"Yeah. Rare trick he pulls to gauge foes. I failed, for reference."
-?
-Haemu?
-Haemu??
-Top vanguard here?
-Wtf Black Dragon….
-Hide-and-seek sounds brutal lol;
-How tf do you find him there?
-Just burn it down?
Haemu's name dropped the chat into chaos. Korea's top vanguard packed punch.
"If we don't find him... does it fade?"
Rapina eyed the creeping mist. Odin shook his head.
"Locked me in for a full day once. It'll thicken too..."
Swirl—The mist writhed mid-sentence. Nearby figures fragmented into dozens, scattering.
'Impressive skills, per intel.'
Haemu's fog didn't just block sight. It scattered light for illusions, plunging the area into chaos—that was the point.
'Hide-and-seek, huh.'
Odin failed it. Tough for the uninitiated.
But not Hanbit.
Bahan, fog skill creator—he'd lived that life.
"This... how long..."
"Haemu... skill... where..."
"Sound's..."
Angry player mutters warped. Panic spread.
'Five minutes left.'
Snow Drake soon. Late entry was fine, but chatting with Haemu mattered.
Whoosh—Hanbit scanned fragments. Key was mist density. Mana-fog clustered subtly near the user. He spotted the faint warp.
Huff—Wind gathered at his legs. Eyes up, he kicked off.
Thud—!
His body shot to a high wall ledge. New skill: Wind Leap.
Clunk—Grabbing a jut, he peered down. Haemu's fog blanketed thick, dwarfing human height.
Top-tier indeed.
Swirl—Focusing on motion. Ignore player flails, natural winds.
Swirl—Far from center, mist rippled softly. Not artificial—smoother curve.
Convinced, Hanbit infused denser wind into his wall-gripping legs.
Boom—!
Blasting straight, power and wind propelled him at blinding speed.
Whoosh—!
Target reached in a blink.
Crack—!
Pre-landing grab pierced dense fog, snagging something. Tough hide under skin. Despite force, no budge.
"Didn't expect you'd find me this fast."
A man's voice from the fog. Whoosh—!
Mist swirled skyward, clearing vision. Before him: white-haired Haemu, top vanguard.
Glance—Haemu eyed his gripped collar.
Satisfied grin.
"You pass, Black Dragon. I'll play your tune today."