The Aquarium's Hidden Maze
“Whoa……”
-Holy shit, this is straight-up cheating.
-That guy's sparring with Baldor again? Total respect.
-Instead of spamming likes, grind one more time.
-Info) Someone cleared it.
-But no idea who.
The frontal path, wide open like a gaping maw, was now piled high with frog corpses. Hanbit clapped Yeonwoo on the back and kicked off.
“Run.”
“Wait… let's go together!”
Tat-!
Yeonwoo reacted late, starting a beat behind. At the same time, a horde of pursuing monsters screeched from the rear—kikik-!
Hanbit, ahead, ramped up his speed and cleaved through the frogs charging from the front.
“Ugh, seriously!”
Yeonwoo, scrambling to keep up, was too busy just chasing.
“Hyung! Can't you use that move one more time?”
“Nah, saving it. Just run.”
He could gather the wind again, but no need right now. Better to leave some monsters trailing behind.
“Another fork!”
Yeonwoo's voice rose as the path split again.
Sruk-!
Hanbit sliced the frog at the entrance and darted left, spinning around. He extended his hand and chanted.
“Fire Burst!”
Boom-!
The hurled fireball slammed into the ceiling at the fork, exploding. Boosted by his heightened intellect, its power was far greater now.
Kwarung-!
The ceiling couldn't withstand it and collapsed. The structure, laced with glowstones, was weak to fire—the results were explosive.
Kiek-!
The frogs chasing them were buried under the massive debris crashing down.
Gurgle-
A few still twitched, clinging to life, but they couldn't move.
“Fire Burst!”
Boom-!
Kwarung-!
Another blast brought down even more rubble. Silence fell from the now fully blocked passage—no more monster noises.
[Experience gained: 38,000.]
[Level up: +1.]
[Stat point granted: +1.]
“No way……”
-That fireball got huge lol;
-Fantasy magic is OP.
-Sylph:?
-Salion:?
-Fact) Spirit mages wish they could.
[LittleWizard donated 20,000 won.]
[Believed in you. ㅠㅠ]
[FlameCharisma donated 77,777 won.]
[Fire's the best, as always.]
It'd been a while since he'd cast magic on stream—familiar viewer names popped up. Once he learned new spells in Ifrit, maybe magic would play a bigger role again.
Ding-
Then, a slightly different donation pinged.
[HappySmile donated 1,000 won.]
[No reactions in this stream?]
-?
-What, you didn't cast it yourself lol
-NAGA
-Shut up and watch Black Dragon play. That's the reaction.
-All the info drops so far = 10 years of reactions.
-But kinda curious.
-Yeah fr, first blatant reaction request.
Yeonwoo had mentioned it too, but longtime viewers wanted everything from the game itself.
“Hm.”
Judging by donations alone, anything would go over well. Luckily, what viewers craved aligned perfectly with what Hanbit wanted to show. Info and strats were part of that package.
After a brief think, Hanbit decided.
“I'll do what I'm best at over reactions. Still tons of strats and skills to show.”
-Agreed.
-Support.
-We'll handle the clowning.
-Drop one more hidden skill and you could run for president.
-Fr, voting.
-Dragon Balls to Congress!
Viewers overwhelmingly backed him. Most were drooling over hidden skills.
“But… is smashing that okay?”
Yeonwoo eyed the collapsed passage.
“So many players outside. Blocking it buys time, right?”
“True. Anyway, left path's correct?”
“Straight shot to the end. Fewer monsters now.”
“Sweet.”
Yeonwoo nodded happily, but Hanbit mulled a different angle.
‘Gotta lure 'em this way.’
Simple reason for wrecking the path: guide pursuing players left. Rainzer, at least, would bulldoze through here for sure.
If he took the trap-filled right path, the plan crumbled.
“Let's go.”
They pressed into the left passage. Scattered monsters popped up—child's play.
“Huh?”
Soon enough, they hit a dead end.
“Hyung, this the last one?”
All around: inky water, depth unknown. Hanbit glanced down and grabbed Yeonwoo's arm.
“Let's go.”
“Huh? Go where… ugh!”
Tat-!
Before Yeonwoo finished, Hanbit leaped. Yeonwoo got dragged along.
Splash-!
They plunged in with a huge splash. Hanbit swam under the ledge they'd stood on. There, a translucent barrier guarded another passage.
Thud-!
Grabbing the wall, he shoved Yeonwoo through first, then slipped in himself.
“Hyung! Thought I was dead!”
Yeonwoo yelled, stepping into the passage. Hanbit just curiously inspected his soaked clothes.
“Whoa, we actually get wet.”
“…That level of detail doesn't surprise anymore? Anyway, what's this place?”
Yeonwoo shook his head, scanning the tunnel. Totally different vibe—walls and floor of hazy glass, like being underwater.
“Path to the main dungeon. Upper one's just the entrance.”
“For real?”
-This is the path?
-How'd they build this?
-Irtelroger? He made it?
-Insane skills;
-Dev: lol;
ㄱㅅ
Yeonwoo crouched, peering around in awe. Unique dungeons aplenty, but man-made? Unheard of.
“Difficulty-wise? Frogs suggest boss mid-30s?”
Yeonwoo guessed from other dungeons. But designer was Irtelroger. What reactions to those absurd strats? Kinda exciting.
“Not super hard. Got the clear in my head.”
“That's the problem. Outside players are foaming at the mouth. They'll copy you straight up.”
Yeonwoo recalled the entrance chaos. Hanbit glanced at the camera, feigning worry.
“Kinda concerned. Rewards here's pretty good.”
“For real? Then hurry and clear!”
Yeonwoo urged, eyes wide. But Hanbit's goal stayed the same.
‘More the merrier.’
Path was easy. Greedy players would dive into the competition. No—they had to. This dungeon cleared on others' sacrifices.
Rainzer especially—he needed to show.
“You leave this visible on purpose? Kinda cool.”
“Designer's intent. Built it sturdy.”
Yeonwoo kept marveling at the undersea tunnel vibe. But the thrill faded quick.
“Huh?”
Yeonwoo froze, stepping back from the wall. He pointed ahead.
“…What's that?”
“What?”
Hanbit approached the glass, focusing. Far off, a faint silhouette writhed.
“Fish? Sea's got monsters too.”
“Monsters? Then this is dangerous!”
-Sea monsters are no joke lmao
-Aquarium meaning this?
-Bulletproof glass fine
-But plot twist. Glass shatters.
-Dead's peaceful.
Slither-
The dark silhouette rippled closer now.
“Th-that's coming here, right?”
“Nah.”
“You don't know! Run deeper…”
Panicked, Yeonwoo bolted. Hanbit yanked him back by the collar.
“Run and it collapses.”
“Huh? You said it's sturdy!”
“Did I?”
“No……”
Ten minutes of such banter later, they reached a left-right fork.
“Split up?”
“…Joking?”
“Yeah. Left.”
-Lmao Roper's terrified.
-Split and he'd bawl;
-I'd shit myself too.
-Already shitting.
Hanbit led pale-faced Yeonwoo left. Five minutes in:
“Whoa.”
Massive blue walls loomed ahead. Floor dotted with sparkling coral-like growths.
“This the maze? Total aquarium vibe.”
Yeonwoo recalled the entry message.
[Entering Dungeon: Irtelroger's Aquarium.]
Fish silhouettes beyond translucent walls, this maze scene—explained the name. Space between paths was wide, not too complex.
“I'll lead here.”
Suddenly confident, Yeonwoo stepped up boldly. Hanbit checked chat—outside players hadn't entered yet.
-Rainzer controlling outside lol
-They listen so well;
-Black Dragon spooked 'em?
-Nah, plotting solo again.
‘Extra cautious, huh.’
Hanbit's suggestion: don't enter till he cleared the maze. Rainzer was enforcing it himself. Head must be boiling, yet cautious. Probably recalling Atsbel's spellbook fiasco. Smart guy—could burst in anytime.
Anyway, time to rattle the outside vibe a bit.
“What, you good at this?”
“I'm no slouch at using my head.”
-Confidence from?
-Maze needs brains?
-Gotta memorize wrong paths too?
-Cameraman strikes back.
[LowSpender registered a 77,777 won challenge mission.]
[Clear the maze = success.]
“Oh, LowSpender, thanks! Watch this.”
Backed by donation, Yeonwoo strode forward proudly. Hanbit messaged viewers.
[You give if I clear?]
-Lmaoooo
-Instant doubt;
-No chance.
-Roper's the one.
[LowSpender donated 10,000 won.]
[Deal.]
“Hyung!”
Yeonwoo caught on, voice rising.
“You first anyway. No expectations.”
“Fine, I'll prove it. Behold the reborn NewRoper.”
Some weird switch flipped—Yeonwoo's eyes blazed as he took point. Hanbit followed, checking chat.
“Where first?”
“Right-hand rule? Hug the outer wall and work in.”
-O.
-Forensic science whoa
-He pull it off?
-Believe?
Solid theory from confident Yeonwoo—chat warmed up.
“Just watch. Did solo challenge dungeons first try too.”
Yeonwoo, smug quick, wall-hugged rightward.
“This way here……”
Seemed systematic. After five minutes:
“Smell something?”
“Smell?”
“Like dirt……”
Tilting his head, he rounded a sharp bend.
And.
Wriggle-
A man-sized lugworm stared back.