Elizabeth (2)
You have selected Unique difficulty.
Special challenge tasks have been activated.
Exterminate heretics for 45 days. Mission fails upon death.
His blackened vision regained its color, and the murmurs of the crowd around him reached his sensitive ears.
Does it start right away this time?
The clanking of metal. A musty stench assaulting his nose. The fishy smell of blood mixed with acrid smoke.
Yun-seok opened his eyes amid it all and took in his surroundings.
"One, two, three, four, five, six…."
In a spacious barracks that could easily hold dozens, a man standing on a bed quickly scanned the room, counting heads.
"A total of twenty-three…."
Was this man another recreated figure like Wellington or Kanna from that previous mission? But the shout that followed proved otherwise.
"We're a bit short of the average headcount, but don't worry too much. It just means we have more skilled folks here. Can you all guess what difficulties everyone picked?"
He asked the group about their difficulties. With that, Yun-seok realized it too. All twenty-three people in this barracks were challengers.
"You look familiar. Did you come here already knowing about this mission?"
In response to one challenger's question, the man nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. A clan senior who picked Unique difficulty filled me in on the details. From now on, we'll be fighting in this war as one mercenary company."
Proficiency was 7 days, Expert was 15 days, Unique was 45 days. Naturally, his explanation skipped the Normal and Apprentice difficulties. Challengers couldn't pick anything below Proficiency starting from the 10th floor anyway.
"For the record, I picked Unique."
The man, who had naturally taken charge of the situation, revealed his difficulty first. Then….
"Unique? That's welcome news."
"Looks like I won't be the last one standing at the end of this mission."
A beastkin wielding a massive double-headed axe and an elven woman with a staff muttered their responses.
"Did you two pick Unique as well?"
They nodded emphatically to the man's question, and he nodded in understanding.
"No wonder our numbers are less than half of what I expected. That explains it. What about the rest of you?"
"…Proficiency."
"I specialize in fire and healing magic. Expert difficulty. Nice to meet you all."
By now, Yun-seok wondered if all mission trials were like this. Or was it just this man creating the atmosphere? Either way, they shared brief info as they saw fit.
Yun-seok stayed silent until the end. The man smiled softly and asked him.
It reminded him of a college club president from his university days.
"That leaves just you. Could you at least tell us your difficulty? So those who might be left behind can prepare a bit."
His tone was polite, and the request seemed reasonable. Last time, Yun-seok had hidden his to avoid attention, but no need this time.
He answered honestly. Though he skipped mentioning he was from the Duel trial.
"Unique difficulty."
"…Really? Ah… no, that was rude of me. Sorry."
Just hearing it from his own mouth wrapped up the tally—though Yun-seok had no idea how accurate the stats were. Unique: 4, Expert: 9, Proficiency: 10.
Judging by the challengers' reactions, such a luxurious ratio was rare, even if the numbers were low.
"Alright, one last bother. An officer will come soon asking who's the mercenary captain. Mind if I raise my hand?"
Some frowned, others tilted their heads. But after his pitch—claiming prior info from a senior, vowing to do his best so everyone survives—most reluctantly nodded.
As things wrapped up…. BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked outside the barracks.
"Assault!"
"Battle stations!"
Soldiers rushed past the open entrance.
"Looks like it's starting. Everyone, stay calm and wait. The person I mentioned will be here soon."
His confident tone carried weight. Even those skeptical followed naturally, thanks to his relaxed expression.
"Who's the captain here? Why are you still lounging around in this situation?"
Soon, an officer in uniform spotted them while running by, stormed in, and bellowed.
The man approached as if he'd been waiting.
"I'm the captain. What's the matter, sir?"
"You call that a question? Can't you see? The heretics! Those damned bastards are here!"
"Understood. We'll prepare to deploy."
The officer clicked his tongue, looking displeased.
"Mercenaries, always playing it safe. What's your company's name?"
"Red Wolf Mercenary Company."
He answered promptly. No way a real name existed for a challenger-made unit—it was probably his invention. Lame naming sense.
"Red Wolf, huh. I'll be watching you. Don't screw around. Got it?"
With a final threat, the officer left.
"You all heard that? Let's gear up and deploy. Gotta fill the quota."
Though he said that, there was nothing to prepare. They'd been ready to fight since entering the trial.
But one challenger asked—the elven woman who'd picked Unique.
"You knew it'd play out like this. Why make an enemy of that officer on purpose?"
Yun-seok had wondered the same. Everyone awaited his answer.
The man grinned sheepishly.
"Bad blood is still blood."
"Not sure I follow."
"Mid-level Trinity Army officer, Revec Tsriman. The guy who just left is one of this trial's special challenges. He'll come back after the battle, looking for any excuse. Better not give him one. Alright, let's move!"
Following him out of the barracks, Yun-seok truly awoke to the reality.
"…."
Of what war in this world really meant.
Vast plains stretched to the horizon. Mysterious black meteors plummeted onto the fields—not one or two, but dozens, repeatedly.
WHOOSH!BOOM!BOOM!
That must've been the explosion from the barracks. Massive craters formed on impact, magic circles etched above them, and demons poured out.
"Aaaagh! God save us!"
"Kill the filthy heretics!"
The barracks sat on a high ground at the plains' edge, giving Yun-seok a clear view of the enemy legions surging below.
"…."
Tens of thousands, at least. Smaller than humans, but larger ones dominated, exuding overwhelming presence.
Exterminate, huh….
The scale was insane. Demons: tens of thousands. Humans: over hundreds of thousands. They clashed at the plains' boundary.
Yun-seok pondered how many died every minute amid the flow.
"Haven't seen action like this in ages—gives me chills. First war this big?"
"Whoa, that's gotta be the Trinity Church's holy legion from the old tales!"
Unlike Yun-seok, the interdimensional challengers seemed right at home. Even as frontline units got shredded, forcing closer fights, they showed excitement over tension.
The man shouted to rein them in.
"Focus on surviving, everyone. You'll see—we can't turn the tide. Survival first, aid key figures second. That's the goal."
His words made sense. Thirty challengers couldn't sway this war.
"Hold the line! Somehow! The holy knights are coming!"
Was it a surprise attack? Or just how wars worked here? Chaos reigned—pure dogfight. Demons charged, soldiers blocked. Commands bellowed, flags waved, but disorder swallowed them.
"Our turn soon."
"Support classes, center up!"
No orders needed; challengers formed ranks naturally. Melee fighters ringed the outside, protecting mages and archers within.
Soon, the line broke, demons reaching them.
"Banner of Vitality!"
"Jungle King's Blessing!"
Mission veterans had AoE buffs, stacking endlessly on the group.
"Yeah, that's it! Haaah!"
"Explosive Slash!"
"Demons from Killian? No joke."
They swept small fry easily. Tough ones? Team up without ego. Injuries? Central magic blasts saved them. Impressive teamwork for strangers.
They sync like pros despite being new to each other.
Fighting alongside others felt awkward to Yun-seok, but he pulled his weight without disrupting.
But….
"What the hell! When do they stop coming?!"
"My mana’s almost dry. Gonna meditate—cover me!"
After 1, then 2 hours, fatigue set in. Demons grew stronger too. Their godlike dominance among regulars hit limits.
"Just hold a bit longer! It's almost over!"
Without the acting captain's endless encouragement, desertion might've happened.
"Yeah, but when?!"
"Said the saintess arrives and it's done. She was due by now, but…."
As he answered irritably, unable to hide his doubt….
SHWOOOM!
Pure white light erupted from the ground—not just here, but across the vast plains.
Challengers panicked, but regulars rejoiced.
"It's the saintess!"
"God, a miracle…!"
Even limbless, gutted soldiers knelt weeping. Soon, holy white flashed like lightning. When it faded, demons were gone.
Challengers sighed in relief, thinking it over.
"Thirty more minutes, and we'd have lost someone."
"Way harder than I thought…."
Just day one. Even Proficiency meant 7 days of this. They griped about the brutal opener, worrying ahead.
The acting captain rallied them back to camp.
"Hear that horn? Recall signal. Head back and rest. Next battle's tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow morning… music to my ears. By the way, we haven't introduced ourselves. Name's Kang Dae-un."
"Milllion Rohanden. Call me Miller."
Post-battle, challengers warmed to Miller. Skilled and informed—natural. A few seemed salty, but he handled reports, supplies as rep, so no complaints.
"They expect us to eat this?"
"Anyone good at cooking? I'll supply ingredients!"
Back at barracks, they ate, chatted till next fight. Some scouted info—like Yun-seok.
"Stop, stop…! Aaaagh! Aaaaah!"
Screams echoed despite battle's end. Not all from wounded.
"Hahaha! Hurts, huh? Does it hurt?!"
Wooden stakes dotted the area, prisoners bound to them, soldiers grinning around.
"Mad? Then summon a demon like before!"
Some pelted stones—mild. Others stabbed with spears or torched them.
Disgust rising, Yun-seok approached.
"Who are they?"
"Heretics. But… who're you?"
The soldier eyed him oddly, asking back.
"Passing mercenary. Saw prisoners—oddity. Only saw demons where I was."
"Ah, makes sense. Holy knights caught these hiding at summon altars, calling demons. Useless heretic scum alone."
"Heretics—Trej an Cult?"
The soldier's eyes sharpened.
"Heretic's a heretic. No need for their savage name."
"Got it."
Yun-seok turned away. Then—SLASH! A prisoner's head rolled.
"Who did that?!"
Soldiers raged like kids robbed of toys.
"…."
Ignoring them, Yun-seok wandered camp. Bound prisoners' heads fell everywhere.
Soon, no tortured captives remained. He returned to Miller.
"Ah, you…."
"Choi Yun-seok."
"From Murim?"
Yun-seok nodded vaguely, then asked. Confirmed: heretics were Trejan Cult. One question burned.
"Elizabeth Lorwen. Know her?"
"…One of two types. Heard ahead like me, or history buff. But Murim? Nah…."
Miller's tone hardened, eyes wary.
"How'd you know? Unique pick—got info like me?"
Yun-seok shook his head.
"Overheard while walking. Curious, so asked."
Miller relaxed, smiling as usual.
"Ah, gotcha. She's famous, after all."
"Why the surprise?"
"Liberation Witch Elizabeth Lorwen—she's this mission's final extermination target. Terrifyingly strong."
"…."
Looked like the 14th-floor mission had Elle as the final boss.