Shattering the Unbreakable Record
[Challenge Dungeon Cleared.]
[Final Record Achieved: 19 minutes 24 seconds]
[1st place ranking updated.]
Messages popped up one after another the moment the boss died. First place. He'd claimed the record that had stood unbroken for a year in just a single attempt. The viewers' reactions to that shocking result crashed in like waves.
- lmao
- Hater suppression complete.
- It actually got broken. Holy shit lol
- Info guy's been playing for 4 days.
- 1-try clear with Plona. For real?
- How the hell?
- Runner-up Kim Hanseop sobbing.
- Yeah, no re-challenge possible, right?
- Must be pissed after grinding his life away. lol
The name of the previous top ranker naturally came up. It made sense they'd be shocked—it was the fruit of immense time and effort.
Ding-
[First clear rewards based on ranking distributed.]
[Received 300,000 gold.]
[Goblin Spirit Necklace (3-rank Unique) distributed.]
[10 stat points granted.]
[Experience gained: 50,300.]
[Level up by 5.]
[5 stat points granted.]
The reward messages kept rolling in. Considering the monster levels and dungeon difficulty, it was only natural.
"Mission success, right? Pressing it."
Hanbit finally relaxed his body and hit the mission success button.
[Challenge mission succeeded.]
[Prize money of 10,393,000 won received.]
"Whoa, that's a ton."
- lmao
- Safe investment bros in ruins.
- Lots of folks gunning for one-on-one lessons?
- That's me.
- Choke ending.
The prize money had piled up massively, seen as a safe bet. Factoring in the corporate sponsorships that came as simple donations, it had already surpassed 30 million won.
"Heh."
The memory of his intern days flashed by again, drawing out a hollow chuckle. Could anyone ever get used to this unreal revenue structure? The future still felt impossible to picture.
"Plona, come on in."
Hanbit turned toward the entrance and called out to Plona, who was standing there with her mouth agape.
"Ah, yeah!"
The girl snapped to attention and scurried over.
"That was so pretty!"
"Pretty?"
"Yeah! The green wind swirling around... it felt warm and cool at the same time. Amazing!"
"...Ah."
Hanbit caught on and raised a hand, extending one finger. The wind gathered on his sword dispersed and converged above his fingertip.
Chirp-!
The wind spirit Sylph, having fulfilled its role, reverted to bird form. Even the young girl could see it clearly.
"Sylph!"
Chirp-!
As Plona raised her voice and spread her hands, Sylph fluttered lightly and landed there.
Hanbit turned away from the two and headed to the spot behind where the boss had died.
- Chest dopamine incoming.
- Go go go
- Plz junk loot.
- Junk without praying.
- Spoiler: Goblin warrior bones.
- Fr, just piles of bones.
Another goal of running the dungeon: the treasure chest that opened after defeating the boss. The chat didn't hold out much hope for good rewards, but junk items had their uses too.
Shh-
Hanbit approached the wall and stood before the wooden chest on the floor. He reached out and slowly lifted the lid.
Creeeak-
A brilliant golden light burst from the chest's interior with the wooden groan.
Flash-!
Catching him off guard, Hanbit reflexively stepped back. Fixing his gaze forward warily, he spotted something floating above the open chest.
- Whoa.
- Golden light?
- No way.
- Plz god
- Don't do this to us.
The chat heated up with the all-too-predictable twist.
'That's...'
A round object wrapped in golden light. Recognizing its shape, something clicked in Hanbit's mind. He stepped closer, reached out, and grabbed it.
Ding-
[Acquired Earth's Essence (3-rank Unique).]
[Acquired Spirit Stone (3-rank Chronicle).]
- Holy shit
- 3-rank Earth's Essence?
- Wait, Spirit Stone too?
- Chronicle legendary. lol
- Where'd the 2-rank fancy bone go?
- Shitstorm incoming.
The two items from the treasure chest caused pandemonium. They were far beyond what anyone could expect from this dungeon's rewards. Compared to the 2-rank junk that 99% of players got, it was a jaw-dropping outcome.
'Didn't expect this here.'
Hanbit gazed at the translucent round gem in his hand. A spirit stone, rarely formed by accumulated remnants of spirit power. Smaller than his palm, but its clarity and form marked it as solid quality.
As he inspected it, he glanced at the chat and tossed out a casual question.
"Spirit stones are good, right?"
- ?
- You asking cuz you don't know?
- Selling this?
- Lawsuit incoming.
- You think elemental enhancement is shit?
- That's over 3k.
- Chronicle grade? Billions.
- My wallet hurts so bad;
The responses matched his expectations. Spirit stones let users harness spirit power more fully. Like past ordinary adventurers, players mostly used them for elemental enhancements. But their value went way beyond that.
'Earth's Essence is nice too.'
Earth's Essence, material for armor crafting. No immediate plans to use it, so selling was an option. With the Unique grade attached, it was guaranteed a floor price at least.
Ding-
[Ppeokkugi donated 1,000 won.]
[Sudden surge in Challenge Dungeon challengers.]
- Damn, tons already. lol
- Entrance fee rugs go go
Hearing that, Hanbit checked the RP community. The latest posts showed his dungeon clear being relayed in every format imaginable.
'Three days left.'
The cumulative entrance fees for the Challenge 1st place holder over a week, settled next Monday. With the dungeon already popular, the added hype should stack even more fees.
With that anticipation, Hanbit walked back to Plona.
"Time to head out?"
"Ah, yeah! And here, take this!"
The girl beamed and rummaged in her bag, pulling something out.
"Thanks for saving me!"
A red-leaved herb in her small hand. Taking it triggered a message.
[Quest completed.]
[Acquired Red Herb (1-rank Common).]
[Experience gained: 500.]
The quest to clear the dungeon while protecting Plona. The girl hadn't suffered a single scratch in the process. And that perfect result manifested differently.
Ding-
[Achievement: Perfect Protector unlocked.]
[Linked quest opened.]
[Quest]
Successfully rescued Plona. Return to the Adventurer's Guild with her.
Objective: Visit Adventurer's Guild
Reward: Sub-quest unlocked
"Sub-quest?"
- ?
- Sub-quest why?
- Story continuation?
- Wtf is this;
He'd read about sub-quests in the guidebook. Unique elements that enriched main quests. Rare, but player actions could sometimes alter the story's direction. Most had no impact, though.
'Perfectly designed.'
Rescuing Plona and stopping by the guild was his plan from the start. It was a key branching point for future events. If it showed as a quest, it aligned with the developers' intent. Or maybe the goddess behind them.
"Let's go."
"Yeah!"
Shaking off the thought, Hanbit left the dungeon with Plona.
***
"We’re out!"
"Really first place?"
"Told you he'd show here!"
Players still swarmed the entrance. Many had already headed into the dungeon, but plenty waited for Black Dragon to emerge.
"Hyung!"
Yeonwoo, who'd been checking the stream, rushed over excitedly. He jabbed at the holographic screen in the air.
"This is insane! How'd you snag first?"
*Ranking 1st: Black Dragon (19 min 24 sec)
2nd: Kim Hanseop (19 min 25 sec)
3rd: Nowaki (19 min 38 sec)
…
The updated ranking had taken effect perfectly. Seeing it firsthand felt fresh.
- Absolute beast.
- Talent beyond Odin emerging;
- Even saved Plona. lol
- Black Dragon was busted just from skills.
- Kim Hanseop itching for re-try? Big ups.
- Nah, level too high, can't.
[Ttalkak donated 1,000 won.]
[1-try clear.]
The viewers, confirming the record visually, got even more hyped. Half compared him to vanguard Odin, the rest mocked the fallen 2nd place Kim Hanseop.
"Told you I'd get first."
"Not on that level! Forget Kim Hanseop—even Odin couldn't pull it off! My messages and phone are blowing up right now!"
Yeonwoo added that contacts from big corps and others had exploded. With Odin mentioned nonstop, the guy must be some prodigy player.
"Handle that yourself. Let's head to Edlen first. Party invite incoming."
"Ah, sub-chapter popped too, right?"
Yeonwoo nodded and accepted the party request. Plona, who'd exited with them, vanished outside. Probably a system thing—reappearing back in town.
Hanbit checked the hologram once more and turned toward the city.
"Let's go."
***
"Ugh..."
Right after entering Edlen. Plona naturally reappeared at Hanbit's side.
"What's up?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
The girl, shrunken and tense, shook her head while clutching her bag strap tight. He knew exactly why she looked so uneasy.
'Discrimination's bad here too.'
Slum dwellers were treated like near-untouchables. Not just nobles—even average commoners saw slums as livestock pens. And no one knew that better than slum residents like Plona.
"It's fine."
Hanbit took her hand gently with those words.
Chirp-!
Sylph, reading the mood, flapped its wings playfully. Thankfully, Plona's expression eased, and she nodded quietly.
"Hyung, what's that gimmick?"
Yeonwoo, hanging back a bit, sidled up and asked.
"What're you on about?"
"First time seeing someone treat an NPC like that. Hidden quest gimmick or something?"
- Fr, something's up.
- Suspect everything.
- Walking strategy guide.
- Just tore up my guidebook screaming.
- Adventure A sobbing.
- But srsly wtf;
- Guidebook all wrong?
- From praising it to flipping 180. Insane
The absurd suspicion spread to doubting the guidebook author. Hanbit's actions, starting from Atsbel's magic, had veered completely off the guidebook. With results showing extreme differences, suspicion was natural.
'Not wrong, exactly.'
Adventure A's info had plenty of errors. The sheer volume was suspiciously vast, piquing curiosity. He'd love to chat if they ever met.
"No answer? Real gimmick?"
"Quit with the gimmick talk. We're here."
During the exchange, they'd reached the Adventurer's Guild entrance.
"Let's go in."
"...Yeah."
Plona beside him still looked tense. Hanbit gripped her small hand and stepped inside slowly.
That instant.
[Moving to cutscene.]
The message appeared, and his vision went black.