74 - Rainzer's Pretty Skilled
- Rainzer's got some moves.
- Don't underestimate the vanguard, dude.
- But you couldn't kill it, right?
- Can't use your power in a lowbie dungeon...
- The skills looked flashy, though. Let's have a drink.
A moment ago, the skill Rainzer had unleashed captured everyone's attention.
Thunder Sniping.
The guidebook listed it as a 4-rank skill. Its destructive power probably seemed even greater due to factors like his weapon or stats.
‘Gotta be at that level.’
Out of 300 million players, only 10,000 had clawed their way through that brutal competition. These were the vanguard.
Perfect materials for clearing this dungeon.
Whoosh-!
Boom-!
Hanbit, chasing the doll, kept pouring on the attacks. There was only one reason for unleashing maximum power.
To dodge Rainzer's suspicions.
Crackle-!
At that moment, an electric arrow flew in from behind, splitting into several strands. Rainzer's skill.
Kaboom!
‘No need to worry.’
Rainzer, having already resolved to kill the doll, unleashed his firepower without hesitation. But the wide maze walls got in the way.
Fwoosh-!
The fleeing doll spat fire from its mouth in retaliation. Hanbit dodged it effortlessly, gradually closing the distance.
Clang-!
Crackle-!
The relentless pursuit and exchanges pulled the action back to the maze's center.
Huff-!
Sticking close, Hanbit barely evaded the doll's attacks while maintaining close range. It grated on Rainzer's nerves.
"If you can't hack it, get out of the way!"
Sweeping away both Black Dragon and the doll would be easy. He was prepared for the PK penalty too, but the power gap was clear. Even if it meant losing the dungeon clear, he could make the guy taste failure—as long as he didn't hover so annoyingly close.
"Should've taken it out in one shot earlier. What kind of vanguard can't even one-shot that?"
"I don't have to take that crap from you!"
- Ouch, that stung. lol
- Black Dragon, you're gonna get wrecked for real.
- Whoa. Rainzer's going dark mode.
- That's just his personality...
- Roasting the vanguard after leeching for a week is hilarious. lmao
Crackle-!
Provoked, Rainzer's skill came flying more dangerously. It hit a sharply bent maze wall again, but the impact point was getting closer.
Whoosh-!
Hanbit didn't let up on his sword, herding the doll toward the floor. His mouth kept running too.
"You really vanguard material? Losing the magic book and failing the clear? Sounds embarrassing."
"You little rat...!"
- Stop poking him. roflmao
- Rainzer's eyes are spinning.
- Look at that prickly temper.
- Talks like a boomer already. lol
"Hoo."
Rainzer glared at Hanbit with blazing eyes. The penalty for killing another player was far worse than death itself. Yet the boiling displeasure and rage moved his body. No matter how much he'd agonized, with Black Dragon right there, reason had already flown far away.
Huff-!
The close-quarters clash between Black Dragon and the doll drew them toward the magic circle on the floor. Both moved with unnatural agility. But petty doubts didn't matter anymore.
"Just die together."
Crackle-!
With Rainzer's words, arrows began materializing in the air above. His strongest 6-rank skill: Thunder Arrow Rain.
‘There it is!’
Recognizing the technique, Hanbit clenched his fist. It was exactly the destructive power he'd been waiting for.
Clang-!
Blocking the incoming doll's sword, Hanbit held his ground with Attribute Manifestation active. Yellow arrows had already formed overhead.
Bzzz-!
As a resonant hum pierced his ears and the arrows began plummeting, smack-!
Hanbit kicked the doll's chest, using the recoil to leap back. Then he hugged the wall and sprinted with everything he had.
"Pathetic, running away!"
Kaboom!
Rainzer's voice rang out as the arrow storm poured down, blanketing his vision. Hanbit, focused solely on running, barely escaped the blast zone.
"...?"
Rainzer's eyes followed the odd movement. There'd been no need to flee that far.
‘Whatever, doesn't matter now.’
The skill's impact site held the thoroughly wrecked doll. He'd successfully stolen the first clear of this dungeon. Above all, humiliating Black Dragon felt great.
But then.
Rumble-!
Suddenly, massive booms echoed from all ends of the maze. Turning his gaze, he saw the outermost walls shifting.
"...?"
It didn't feel like the usual dungeon clear cinematic. Sensing something had gone wrong, Rainzer chased after Black Dragon.
That instant.
Kaboom-!
The entire floor collapsed, and a torrent of water surged up.
"Tch!"
Rainzer kicked off nimbly, leaping into the air. Getting caught in a trap like this wouldn't happen to a vanguard. He was certain, brimming with pride.
But the unfolding events shattered all expectations.
Groooar-!
From the crumbling floor's waters rose a colossal shadow. Instinct screaming danger, Rainzer drew his bowstring.
Crackle-!
A massive arrow wrapped in electricity spiraled into the water. His 5-rank skill, Tempest Shot. In a dungeon at this level, it could wreck the map itself.
Yet.
Splash-!
The shadow that should have died burst through the currents without pause.
"What the...!"
Looking down, Rainzer's eyes widened. A gigantic fish with jaws agape. The name tag floating above made him doubt his eyes.
[Boss: Aquarium's Resident (Lv.500)]
"Urk!"
Something was very wrong. Rainzer scanned for escape routes in the terrain. But the maze walls had all crumbled and sunk.
Splash-!
The fish lunged, jaws wide for him. Sensing death, Rainzer bellowed at Hanbit, climbing stairs far away.
"Black Dragon!"
***
"Black Dragon!"
Rainzer's furious shout was quickly swallowed by the waters. Hanbit, who'd glanced outside, resumed climbing the stairs.
"Guy's got a short fuse."
- Your fault, you maniac. lmao
- Never saw that vanguard bait plan coming. Fuck.
- Rainzer's too pissed to sleep tonight.
- Lv.500 for real?
- Aquarium? More like graveyard. whoa
"But it's not my fault, right? They chased me."
- Kinda is tho?
- Fr, who invited them?
- Who held a knife to their throat?
- They came to steal the clear and suck honey anyway.
- Honey went to the apex predator fish. lol
- Rainzer's hilarious tho. lmao
- ???: Die together!
Whatever Hanbit's plan, the choices were all theirs. If they felt wronged, they should've scouted better. Nothing else to say.
"Hyung! This is insane!"
Reaching Juyeonu, he practically yelled in excitement. Looking down, the flooded maze teemed with fish. Players were getting deliciously devoured. Only a few remained.
"But the clear was about luring prey, right? Using people okay?"
"Player or monster, doesn't matter. If they bite the bait, they're food. Gotta be strong like the vanguard, though."
The level-unknown bait doll was a tool to screen food for the resident. Detect enough destructive power to meet conditions, and it summons. Viewing it from above was Irtelroger's Aquarium's twisted hobby.
Even so, since it was a game, non-vanguard could probably clear too. Rewards unknown.
‘That first time was nightmare fuel.’
He'd entered via the aquarium fish entrance. Figuring out the maze, decoding sign riddles, he'd gone down, fought the doll—and got chomped by the emerging resident, ending that loop. The pain was bad, but the absurdity lingered.
Splash-
The feasting fish gradually sank. As the last, the resident, vanished, alarms rang.
Ding-
[Dungeon cleared successfully.]
[Special rewards for first clear.]
[Rewards enhanced for exceeding clear conditions.]
[Achievement: Aquarium's Banquet unlocked.]
[Rewards enhanced for first achievement.]
[Rewards distributed by party contribution.]
[Received 1,000,000 gold.]
[Received Soul Horn Flute (4-rank Unique).]
[Received Fire Polish (3-rank Unique).]
[20 stat points granted.]
[300,000 EXP gained.]
[Level up by 4.]
[4 stat points granted.]
"Whoa, rewards like this again?"
- For real?
- Just clear dungeons all day?
- Agreed. Vanguard necks ripe for chopping.
- Fact: Dungeons get brutally harder up ahead.
- This one's easy af, that's why Rainzer failed?
- Lmao fr
Not a single lackluster reward. Seemed like you could get seriously strong just dungeon crawling. Truly strong, that one thing alone.
"How much did you get?"
"About 10 percent this time."
"...Contribution system's too harsh, no?"
"Otherwise buses everywhere. We killed some mobs and searched the maze hard to get this much."
Juyeonu nodded like it was obvious. Like episodes, the reward structure was merciless. Fair, since you reap what you sow.
"What's Soul Horn Flute? First time hearing it."
"Buff item. Needed for next episode."
[Soul Horn Flute]
Rank: 4
Grade: Unique
Description: A horn flute that emits soul-shaking sounds. Enhances abilities and mental strength of lifeforms in a certain range.
Only obtainable here. Useful in Ifrit's story ahead. Enables near-perfect clears, you could say.
"Let's head out first."
"Yeah. Off to Ifrit now?"
"Depends on privileges... Ah."
Something clicked in Hanbit's mind mid-sentence. After a moment's thought, he messaged Kim Jaeha.
「Got time? Can you log in?」
Long radio silence. Probably too swamped to even check messages. If no reply, might have to visit in person.
Ding-
Closing the chat, Hanbit turned to the camera.
"Avant-garde, if you're watching, hit me up."