I Won't Tolerate That!
Sanjeong Lake entrance road.
Jang Deok-gu stood alone, blocking the orc main force. Behind him lay the collapsed bridge, the dry riverbed exposing its severed flow. He positioned himself before it, ready to greet the orcs like a Jangpanpa warrior.
The orcs didn't charge recklessly. They seemed to sense the mines laid before them. Pathetic in number compared to the horde, but they'd succeeded in their role as the first barrier line.
Draw them along the riverbed into the valley.
Jang Deok-gu's gaze fixed on the massive orc towering amid the pack—the general-grade one Kang Moo-hyuk had warned about. A monster brimming with feral savagery in its eyes. He knew he couldn't let his team face this beast.
Soloing it would take at least an A- rank for a clean kill. Impressive for an orc.
Of course, with its army, it wouldn't fight alone. Proper party setup to handle the escorts first, then take it down.
The orc general barked orders to a nearby orc. One stepped cautiously toward Jang Deok-gu, eyes on the ground—wary of the mines.
Scouting it out?
As the orc entered range, Jang Deok-gu slipped a hand into his pocket and pressed a detonator.
The blast ripped away the orc's lower body. A destructive force beyond standard mines, but the orcs hadn't grasped the gap between North Pocheon and Cheorwon yet.
Mistaking mana stone bombs for mines, the orcs flinched and hesitated. The general ordered another. Unlike before, this one plunged into the minefield without pause.
Jang Deok-gu detonated it instantly.
Consecutive blasts hurled the orc away. The general sent two next.
You wanna go?
Jang Deok-gu gritted his teeth and pressed the detonator at the ruthless command. One left in his pocket now.
He saw the general's game.
"Sneaky bastard."
It was willing to sacrifice dozens as offerings to break through.
No easy hunts, huh. Time to gear up.
Jang Deok-gu drew his five-segment staff from his waist. Grooves in each clicked together like magnets, forming a long pole. He unsheathed his short sword and connected it the same way, crafting a spear.
Crossed on his back: two short, broad scimitars. Longsword slung behind his hip. Daggers and throwing knives hidden at ankles and waist.
Unlike hunters with one main and a couple subs, he was overarmed.
Full kit after ages. Should've prepped if I knew I'd solo an orc army.
Taking time to don, yet this wasn't even complete armament.
Not widely known—barring villains—but those in the know called him "Weapon Master."
No weapon he couldn't wield, mastering most at high levels.
Joo Se-ah's arsenal—from boxing and shields to swords, spears, daggers, even oddities like tonfa—stemmed from him.
Prepped, he slammed the spear into the ground.
He eyed the object lying there. What he'd boasted to Kang Moo-hyuk about using to lure the orc army.
Tried it by accident once, never on purpose. Wonder how they'll react.
Meanwhile, an orc approached. He triggered the last detonator. More entered the field—no more blasts.
Luck's run dry. Not even for show.
The lead orc passed safely, turned, and roared triumphantly at the general.
Jang Deok-gu yanked the spear and cleaved its neck. Headless, it staggered, spraying green sap.
Monster fluids drenched him—a familiar soak. He wiped his face with his sleeve and thrust at the next emerging orc, piercing its gut. As it grabbed the shaft, he swung it into the third.
Blunt orc force tore its belly, spilling guts. The impact-staggered orc got its skull pulped by Jang Deok-gu's rush and punch.
All in a blink.
Overwhelming even by orc standards, yet the general stayed calm, sending more.
Having cleared the vanguard, Jang Deok-gu leaped back to position.
"Keep crossing the line, and I got no choice. Gotta cross too."
He scooped up the fallen object.
A pole topped with crudely woven bits—vaguely wreath-like.
The general eyed the suddenly raised totem intently. Branches, grass clumps, unidentifiable flesh...
"Kwaaaargh!!"
Jang Deok-gu smirked and snapped it.
Gong Du-ri couldn't hold back curiosity, asking Kang Moo-hyuk.
"So, what's Party Leader Jang planning? You seem to know."
Kang Moo-hyuk frowned, recalling his chat with Jang Deok-gu.
Too many variables. Might not go as planned. Hell, too damn risky upfront.
He'd considered it briefly but discarded it—brutal on the user.
If the guild master were here, she'd pull it off.
Still, no better provocation. Whether Jang could manage it? Unknown.
He sighed.
"Probably desecrating their totem."
"Totem?"
"Monster studies in gate research. Orc totems fascinated some scholars—deep dives beyond theory."
One even tried communicating via totem.
"Asked a friendly guild master for help, entered with it. Accidentally broke it."
"And?"
"Every orc in the gate swarmed to kill him. Hunters dropped them, but they fixated—only him. He died; entrants wiped."
Reinforcements barely cleared. A dying hunter's report spread it; else, lost history.
Later, even exploited that scholar's curiosity and hunters' sacrifices.
Post-incident, hunters used totem destruction scaled to orc numbers. But reckless assaults caused heavy losses—tactic obsolete now.
"Wait. He's doing that against hundreds? Even as guild master's master, can he tank it?"
"Dunno."
"Huh? You don't know?"
Gong Du-ri stared oddly. Kang Moo-hyuk never admitted ignorance on hunters/monsters—or showed it.
"No info on Jang Deok-gu hunter."
Kang memorized guild files: staff skills/careers; hunters ranks/weapons/skills/tactics—self-evaluated.
One blank: Jang Deok-gu.
A+ rank. Ujungdo vets especially fear him—that's it.
Asked guild Ujungdo alums early on—no connections then. Doubtful answers anyway.
External probes yielded zilch—like deliberate blackout.
Even considered Mr. Jo, but Joo Se-ah intervened.
No questions asked. If she flagged it, reason enough.
Considering her ties to Jang, Kang dropped it. No needless drama amid building guild master trust.
He shelved the nagging thoughts.
"He said it 'cause he can handle it. Trained the world's Joo Se-ah, after all."
"Crossed the line. Your move?"
Jang stomped the totem fragments, then hurled and smashed a spare.
"Kwaaaagh!"
The general bellowed in rage.
Eyes flashing, it snatched an orc's axe and hurled it at Jang.
Distance ample, but it flew faster, truer than expected.
Half-step dodge—enough.
Axe buried deep, handle-end up. Power to terrify most hunters.
"Solid effect..."
He gripped the buried handle.
Biceps bulged; axe slowly rose.
Man-sized blade, hefty—yet he spun it deftly.
"Just in case, hammer the nail?"
Shoulder reared back. Mana enveloped him, granting superhuman flex, strength, rigidity.
Arm whipped like a trebuchet. Maxed senses targeted the general—he flung.
General grabbed the prior orc by the scruff as shield. Axe shattered its skull, momentum carrying to general—but slowed, easily dodged.
Orc brains and blood splattered watermelon-style. General tossed the limp corpse; surrounding orcs tore into it like meat.
"Kwaaaagh!"
Rage-roar reached Jang.
Demoralizing to average hunters; he just frowned.
"Dinner later."
Cannibalism: declaration of total war.
General chewed orc flesh, glaring.
Jang tapped his earset, opening general channel.
"Incoming guests. Prep the welcome."
"Th-those orcs or ants? Swarming black."
Baek Hyeong-gyu gaped, face twisting at the valley horde chasing Jang.
"What'd he do to rile 'em so?"
Na Dong-pa donned his helm beside him.
Eyes ablaze at charging orcs, he sighed worriedly. Glanced back: modest but steep waterfall, gates closed—no flow. Beyond: Sanjeong Lake, Kang at the lot.
"Plan holding so far?"
Na advanced shield-up. Five tanks formed a wall. Dealers stepped back flanks; rears: ranged.
Twenty total.
Valley-narrowed, but dust-mites to hundreds.
Short-staffed; needed reserves for waterfall blast evac. Jang merging 1-2 parties enabled "half-raid" (20-man).
"Group hunt after ages."
Earthquake stomps. Body-numbing war cries head-on—hunters steeled.
"Don't die! Dinner on me tonight!"
Na's shout; orc army crashed in.
Gong Du-ri wanted earplugs. Hand hovered on mute repeatedly.
Voice alone conjured the frenzy. Screams, groans real-time. Titan days, hunts felt distant; now, next-door slaughter.
Kang Moo-hyuk eyes down, listening. Anxious inside, patient outside.
Fingered detonator awaiting signal.
Press 1, retreat. 10-sec, 2.
Rehearsed mentally endless times.
Then—
Body reacted; he yelled into earset, finger on button.
"Detonating! Evac prep!"
Press 1, order retreat...
What? No boom?
Pressed again—no dam reaction.
He gauged blast from mana mine experience—massive roar due.
Snap—Kang flung command vehicle door open, stormed out.
Waiting Choi Mi-ran, Kim Seong-hyeon eyed puzzled; ignored, aimed at dam, mashed button.
"Damn it!"
Whirled to driver's seat.
"Everyone in!"
They boarded clueless at sharp bark.
"Party leader... detonator glitch, seems."
"Checking direct. Hold just a bit longer."
Ignition; accelerator floored. Heavy command rig lurched forward.
Checked a dozen times. Why?
Hunter lore: raids derail from go. But detonator fail's ripple? Catastrophic—not mere slip.
"If this goes south..."
Lots die.
Kang clenched teeth.
Even if I die, I won't tolerate that!