Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Mini Dungeon (1)
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Choi Hanpoong gripped a spear of moderate length.
The spear's long reach made it an excellent choice.
"I'll take the same one."
Eun Jua selected a spear as well.
'These two don't hesitate.'
Dokgo Hyun was extremely pleased.
The pair had calculated how to fight efficiently in sync with his skills and chosen mid-sized spears.
Knowing that made Dokgo Hyun proud as squad leader.
"Heh heh. I'll go with this."
Kang Osu picked a bundle of throwing daggers.
The throwing daggers, shaped like the hidden weapons from wuxia novels, came in bundles of twenty.
Kang Osu had also settled on something that synergized perfectly with his [Clone Beast Summon] skill.
"Hmm."
Unexpectedly, Dokgo Hyun took a little longer.
Dokgo Hyun stood with his hand on his chin, scrutinizing the weapons.
"What will our young squad leader pick?"
"Ahem, when you're not sure, spear's the best. Sword after that."
"I've heard the same."
While the three murmured, Dokgo Hyun was channeling mana into his eyes to inspect the weapons.
After staring until his eyes ached, he reached his conclusion.
'They're all just plain normal weapons.'
An artifact would show at least a faint trace of mana flow.
But everything on the racks was ordinary gear.
'Then this one.'
Clang...!
A hefty two-handed greatsword.
That was Dokgo Hyun's choice.
"Greatsword, eh?"
"Hmm, power's unmatched, but handling it..."
"I heard you need full plate armor to wield a two-hander properly—especially gauntlets for support."
Kang Osu, Choi Hanpoong, and Eun Jua offered their thoughts one by one.
All solid points, but Dokgo Hyun had his reasons.
"I've got an artifact."
Dokgo Hyun decided now was the time to reveal it.
"Venom Knife. Generates deadly poison on the dagger blade."
"Dagger artifact, so you went big with a normal weapon on purpose?"
"First reason, yeah. Second... getting used to it."
"Huh? Used to what? Different weights?"
"Heh heh. Secret for now."
In truth, Dokgo Hyun already had a plan in mind.
'Lee Hyun-jun's artifact. The Solid Cutter—I want to snag it someday.'
Not just beating the area's top dog, Lee Hyun-jun, but stripping his artifact afterward and using it himself.
Fumbling with a greatsword-sized artifact like the Solid Cutter when the time came would defeat the purpose. So he wanted to practice with something similar in advance... that was reason two.
"Can swap weapons too? Nice."
Dokgo Hyun's face lit up.
"Alright, everyone—hold your weapons out, tips toward me. Got something to test."
All pointed their weapon tips at Dokgo Hyun.
He activated only [Venom Mode] on the Venom Knife.
Sss.
Using the side of the now-green Venom Knife, he gently coated his allies' weapons.
'It works!'
Their weapons turned green too.
In that instant, the green faded from the Venom Knife and Dokgo Hyun's mana dipped—but it quickly restored.
"Whoa, incredible, Dokgo Hyun! Deadly poison buff, right?"
Eun Jua exclaimed in admiration, and Dokgo Hyun nodded.
"Yeah. Can't detox without an antidote potion, so handle with care..."
Swoosh.
The deadly poison buff faded soon after.
Dokgo Hyun scratched his head.
"Ah, doesn't last long."
Choi Hanpoong was still impressed.
"I've thought it before—you're way too versatile for your age. Bigger squad might've been more efficient?"
"Nah, Mr. Choi Hanpoong."
In practice, Venom Knife buffs for teammates topped out at these three.
Mana drain was heavy, duration short.
In a larger squad, members would've hounded him nonstop: do this, do that.
His style needed a tight four-person elite.
"Anyone not hungry yet? Let's drill linked positions."
With three hours plenty, Dokgo Hyun planned 90 minutes for training, meals, and rest.
"Basic formation—go!"
Choi Hanpoong and Eun Jua up front.
Dokgo Hyun mid-guard.
Kang Osu rear.
Front line spread wide, not clustered shoulder-to-shoulder.
That way, mid Dokgo Hyun could [Instant Acceleration] through—or Kang Osu could throw.
"Next: herding formation!"
Tat!
"Back to basic!"
Taat!
"Retreat formation!"
Pa!
They drilled the three core formations: basic, herding, retreat.
Might seem overkill for four people.
But dungeon challenge with four skilled players? This practice would pay off.
"Ugh, wiped out."
"Tell me about it. Even with stamina buffs..."
Choi Hanpoong and Eun Jua panted.
Stamina stats up, yet exhausted—not using it efficiently.
'They haven't mastered [Mana Circulation Technique] yet?'
"You guys seem to pour full power into every move. Try easing off."
Life-or-death habits had them always maxing out.
Dokgo Hyun advised dialing it back.
"Trust the stats. No need full-body strain to lift or reposition."
A few more reps, and their movements smoothed out efficiently.
"Plus, layer on [Mana Circulation Technique] for extra gains."
Dokgo Hyun shared personal tips; Choi Hanpoong and Eun Jua absorbed it.
Kang Osu picked it up fastest.
"I think I've got [Mana Circulation Technique] down."
Kang Osu said.
He saw it as extending efficient movement.
"Check this."
Kang Osu channeled mana to his fingertips—then into the throwing dagger.
Inanimate object, so mana didn't fully penetrate, but it held temporarily.
"Hup!"
Whoosh!
He hurled it from afar.
Thunk!
Buried deep in the wall—handle barely visible.
"Better? More punch than raw strength."
"As expected. You're a natural, Brother Osu. Spot on."
"Haha, compliments don't suit you, leader."
Kang Osu teased; Dokgo Hyun scratched his head.
"Ahem. Time's iffy for more drills. Eat up?"
Leader's word—they agreed instantly.
Dokgo Hyun hit the kiosk: 'A. Meals & Rest'.
'Choice matters.'
"Vote on this one. Pick your fave."
Unanimous pick.
"Number two! Korean set!!"
"..."
Squad 41 always had similar tastes, minimal friction.
Music to a leader's ears.
"Why the set, if I may?"
Nuances differed.
"Balanced recovery for stamina and mana—key priority."
Eun Jua's take.
"Filling but easy to digest! Pig BBQ looks tasty, but pre-fight nerves..."
Choi Hanpoong's view.
"Fortune cookie tempted, but too gamble-y. Trained hard—stick safe, balanced recovery for next stage."
Kang Osu's reasoning.
"I'll add: all your points are spot-on."
Dokgo Hyun chimed; they chuckled.
"Korean set it is!"
Pa!
A low table and cushions appeared—perfect for floor dining.
Thud!
"Dig in!"
"Itadakimasu!"
The four-person feast began.
Click clack...
TV Girl, alone in the gym, headed backstage.
Supporters from Management Bureau waited there.
They handled squad monitoring, following supervisor orders.
Human-looking, but not 'current Earthlings'.
"Good work."
One supporter offered coffee.
"Ah, thanks."
TV Girl took the cup, brought it to her screen-like face.
Slurp.
Coffee vanished into the screen.
The supporter watched, still fascinated every time.
Post-sip, TV Girl asked.
"Situation report?"
"Five squads rushed in blindly, impatient. Rest playing it cautious with time."
Ample limit screamed trap to some.
Chilled on prep/rest, thinking it'd kill them—barreled into dungeon instead.
"No wipes, but heavy losses there."
TV Girl noted.
Dungeon monsters generally weaker than players.
Careful play? Zero casualties, full clear possible.
But traps and ambush mobs meant rushers would bleed members.
"How's Squad 1?"
"Squad 1—Lee Hyun-jun's solo act?"
"Yeah."
"Total freak."
Supporter grumbled.
"Thought he was just a psycho farming coins off allies at first. Guy's a workhorse."
Lee Hyun-jun trained solo in the lounge.
Varied drills; now handstanding on one thumb for push-ups.
To the clueless, insane finger strength... but
Whooo...
[Airflow Dominion] tweaked winds to lighten load, holding the pose.
Top-tier skill mastery and confidence required.
Next drills? Wild.
Fake backward fall, wind burst behind to flip up kicking.
Eyes shut, sense objects via air currents.
Air-step jumps into sword thrusts.
Spin-slashes, disengage, [Repeat Playback] sword winds on old spot.
Training fit for superhuman players.
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