Summoning the Bait Doll
…….
Right after Hanbit took the lead, the maze conquest proceeded far too smoothly. The monsters they encountered died at an absurdly fast pace. Watching the scene with a mix of envy and frustration, Yeonwoo finally spoke up.
"Hyung, this is straight out of a web novel, right?"
-Roper, you cheater.
-If the novel spelled out the whole maze, it'd be a total flop;
-Maybe no one finds it 'cause it's a flop work?
-Yep, agreed
Talk of the novel quickly dominated the chat again. Hanbit, striding forward confidently, swiftly defused the situation.
"The novel didn't go into detail either. We're just lucky, that's all."
"If this is luck, just buy a lottery ticket, hyung."
Yeonwoo shot him an incredulous look.
"Hurry up and come on."
Hanbit picked up the pace once more. As they kept slaughtering monsters, his level rose naturally.
[Your level has increased by 2.]
[2 Stat points have been granted.]
Pressing on through the maze, he finally reached the last wall. There stood a single blue door.
"Let's go."
Kugung- He pushed with force, and the door creaked open slowly with a heavy groan. Beyond it lay a steep spiral staircase.
"Kinda feels like a trap, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. You go first."
"Me? Wait, hold on…."
Grinning, Hanbit shoved Yeonwoo's back toward the stairs. Though he resisted at first in panic, he soon gave up and set foot on the steps.
"Why are these so damn high?"
They climbed forever, but the top was nowhere in sight. Hanbit just leisurely kept pushing Yeonwoo's back.
"Whoa!"
Yeonwoo finally reached the last step and let out a startled cry. The floor was made of transparent glass, revealing the entire maze they'd traversed below.
"What the hell is this?"
"Architect's taste."
-How'd they even do that;
-Super high lol
-Black Dragon says: Dungeon designer was a perv.
-Snack-munching map maker jumps in shock;
"Oh, the prize money."
Glancing at the screen, Hanbit remembered the challenge mission. He immediately hit the success button.
[Challenge mission succeeded.]
[623,000 won prize money received.]
"Thanks, everyone."
The donations had piled up to over 600,000 won in no time. In high spirits, Hanbit pushed Yeonwoo's back again.
"Let's go. Watch out—some spots might break."
"How am I supposed to be careful when you're shoving me?!"
The two cautiously stepped onto the glass floor and moved forward.
"Whoa, this is insane. Hyung, you found that path in one go?"
Yeonwoo gazed down at the complex maze and sighed. Even without monsters, escaping without a single dead end was impossible.
"And what's this?"
Reaching the center, they stood in a square-marked area. A unique magic circle was etched there.
"The spot to summon the boss."
"Summon?"
"No separate boss room here. It's like a ritual—you call it out."
This dungeon had a boss, but its structure was nothing like the challenge dungeons.
"Where does it appear if we summon it? Fighting here seems risky."
Yeonwoo tapped the glass floor worriedly. Hanbit stepped into the square space and pointed below.
"It'll show up in the maze. Get ready."
Ding-
[Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.]
[Heartless bastards entering the maze.]
Turning his head, Hanbit spotted a crowd at the maze entrance in the distance. Rainzer led the pack, charging inside without hesitation.
"The maze footage is probably up on the community by now, huh?"
"Yeah, it's spreading everywhere. They'll follow it."
As Yeonwoo said, all the players began methodically following the maze path. Their darting eyes suggested they had videos playing right in front of them.
"They're fast. So fast."
"It's not that they're fast—it's that we're too late to summon the boss now, right? What're you gonna do?!"
Hanbit cheered leisurely while Yeonwoo grabbed his shoulders and shook them. From afar, it was a truly baffling sight.
'They're all in.'
The players who'd entered the maze had nearly reached the central area. No one remained at the entrance.
"Time to start."
"Huh? Even if we summon it, we'll just lose out—we can't kill it before they steal it… Hyung!"
Shuk-
Hanbit crouched and touched the magic circle on the floor. A brilliant light flashed, triggering changes.
Ding-
[Irtelroger's Aquarium Log]
Selecting food is crucial. The aquarium's owners are picky eaters, so use bait to prepare excellent meals. Satisfy them, and rewards will follow.
'Nailed it, as expected.'
The message was familiar—identical to the horrific memory from his past, word for word.
"What does this mean? Bait—like those monsters below?"
-Concept's solid;
-Who's the owner?
-That silhouette from the passage earlier?
-King God Fish whoa
-Now feeding monsters too;
-Kill all maze mobs?
Reading the text, Yeonwoo and the viewers arrived at the same thought. The ragworms and such they'd fought—all labeled as "bait." It was natural to assume they needed to hunt them first.
Wung-!
Suddenly, the magic circle vibrated intensely. The moment the tremor stopped…
Shuk-!
The magic circle vanished from sight.
***
"Huh?"
"What the—?"
In the central area of the aquarium maze, players following Black Dragon's clips halted abruptly. A magic circle had suddenly appeared on the floor.
Wung- Lines and patterns filled with bright light. Some players approached to inspect it.
"Saw it on the stream—Black Dragon touched it or something?"
"Just put his hand on the circle, right?"
"Message said to gather bait too?"
Many kept checking Black Dragon's stream. The content was simple, but the circle's purpose was a mystery.
"Put bait here?"
"Drag one over and see?"
"'Satisfy them'? Ragworms enough?"
Questions and guesses flew wildly. But the calm didn't last.
"Almost done drawing."
"What's gonna come out?"
The circle finished its final border line. The instant it formed a perfect circle…
Hwaruk-!
A fierce pillar of fire erupted from it.
"Gah!"
"What the fuck?!"
Startled players scrambled back. Seureuk- The fire pillar faded under their gazes. When it fully vanished, something appeared.
"…What is that?"
"A doll…?"
A towering brownish humanoid figure. Flames wrapped its body, and a red orb on its chest glowed brightly.
[Elite: Bait Combat Doll (Lv.???)]
The clear name tag above its head. The hesitant players realized simultaneously—this was the key to clearing the dungeon.
Shuk-
Silence fell, tension spreading. The monster's level was hidden, but considering the surrounding mobs, they figured they could take it.
Cheok-!
Glancing at each other, the adventurers gripped their weapons. Eyes locked on the still doll, which held a sharp sword wreathed in fire.
The moment its foot stepped outside the circle…
Tat-!
Everyone attacked at once.
Shik-! Kwa-gwang-!
A barrage of active skills flew with massive force, intent on one-shotting it. But…
Shyik-!
The doll, which should have died, vanished from view.
"Up there!"
A sharp-eyed player pointed skyward. Looking up, they saw the doll clinging to the upper maze wall.
"…What?"
"Tch. Agility type, huh."
"Ugh, fast ones are annoying."
Its nimble moves drew complaints. As an Elite, superior agility in its level range was expected—agility specialists were always tough.
"Melee, herd it my way. Ranged, snipe."
"We'll spam magic. Safer."
"Who learned assassination skills? First strike, whatever it takes!"
Players coordinated with their parties. But a man rendered it pointless.
"Don't touch it."
Rainzer stepped forward slowly, halting the players. His bowstring was taut, but not yet aimed at the doll.
'It has to move.'
Black Dragon was still paused above on the maze wall. Rainzer watched him closely—expecting some weird trick.
'That's definitely the key.'
He'd planned to finish the maze but instinctively chose the circle. The message on Black Dragon's stream had demanded food preparation. Hunting monsters played to his strengths.
Hwaruk-!
The doll on the wall flickered its flames, scanning below. Tension hung in the awkward silence.
Jeobeok-
Footsteps approached from behind.
"What, no one's grabbing it?"
Black Dragon strolled in casually, sword dangling. He scanned the packed players coolly.
"You think we'll fall for your scheme?"
"Never schemed like that."
Probing, Black Dragon just shrugged it off. Then he eyed the doll on the wall.
"Whatever. Do what you want."
He assumed a stance like he couldn't care less. Huwuk-! Hwaruk-! Wind swirled around him, fierce flames enveloping his form—beautiful, unlike the doll's.
'That's the real deal.'
Rainzer was certain. Black Dragon's attack was no imitation—a sure-kill strike harnessing full spirit power.
Shuk-
Black Dragon tilted his blade, preparing. The instant he swung at the doll…
Shyik-! Ping-!
Sword aura and Rainzer's arrow launched together. Pajik-! Yellow lightning wrapped the arrow, exploding into a massive orb that blanketed the wall.
Kwagwagwa-!
The shockwave spread devastating electricity. Black Dragon's sword aura amplified it.
"Urk!"
Onlookers recoiled from the intense light and heat. But…
"Tch."
The target doll had already peeled off the wall. Tadat-! It raced along the maze walls at high speed.
In the chaos, Hanbit moved first. Tat-! Kicking off, he swiftly gave chase. That burning zeal to kill it first was genuine.
Convinced once more, Rainzer gripped his bow and followed close behind.