500 (4)

It was a characteristic of the Extreme Period.

It was also a trick limited to buffers.

And because it was a trick that worked on plant monsters, it was a method still barely known among hunters.

“What kind of windfall is this…… Does this even make sense, seriously? Just how much does Kang-hoo hyung know? This is seriously crossing the line, isn’t it?”

Park Dong-jae was clicking his tongue as he watched his proficiency explosively rise every time he used buff and debuff skills on plant monsters.

It felt as if he were using a “bug” in a game. However, reality was not a game, so there was no way to roll it back.

That was why his eyes burned even brighter as he used the trick. There was no time to get tired. Even that time was a luxury.

“This is insane, insane…….”

He must not miss even a single plant monster. It might be an opportunity that would never come again.

Kang-hoo had also told Park Dong-jae not to leave a single one behind and to come back after squeezing out every benefit he could.

That was why he was moving far ahead with Ayane, while Park Dong-jae was moving safely.

‘Since Mumyeong’s level rose thanks to Blood King’s Blessing, the party’s stability has definitely increased too.’

Meanwhile, Kang-hoo was satisfied with the dungeon clearing for a different reason from Park Dong-jae.

It was because of the clearly felt stability of the party. The three of them were skilled, but Mumyeong’s presence was significant.

Mumyeong, whose basic abilities had grown significantly through Blood King’s Blessing, steadily performed the tank role for the entire team.

Kang-hoo’s current level was 501.

Therefore, through Blood King’s Blessing, it could have base values around level 250.

And thanks to the items Kang-hoo had equipped it with, it could definitely produce power above that.

Kang-hoo currently saw Mumyeong’s level as about that of a level 300 swordsman. It was a completely different level from before.

He felt proud.

Jang Si-hwan in the original story was certainly the strongest when it came to magic, but his physical ability in close combat was particularly weak.

It was not for nothing that the novel’s readers had given him the nickname “Close-Range Fool.”

The existence of his friend Chae Gwanhyeong offset that, but the weakness he had been designed with from birth never disappeared until the end.

Perhaps it was the author’s greed to make him not a perfect protagonist, but someone with at least one weak point.

At the time, Kang-hoo had thought little of it, and it had been nothing more than another charm point, like putting a mole on a handsome face.

But from Shin Kang-hoo’s perspective as a challenger, it was such a huge opportunity that it felt like fate’s prank.

‘In terms of completion, expandability, and potential, I am definitely above Jang Si-hwan. I can take pride in that part.’

Kang-hoo encouraged himself.

Currently, he also performed the role of a close-range dealer, but he could switch to a magic dealer at any time.

Of course, he was not a completed magic dealer. There were many things to fill in and many parts lacking.

However, what differed from Jang Si-hwan was that he could continuously reinforce his skills using skill plunder.

If he focused on dungeons with many bosses who had magic skills, making up for the lacking parts would be quick.

The pressure he felt was entirely different from Jang Si-hwan, who had struggled quite a bit to secure skills even in the original story.

For Kang-hoo, skills were a “reality” within reach anytime he stretched out his hand.

But for Jang Si-hwan, they were fortuitous encounters that only came when the original author’s “protagonist correction” and luck followed him.

That was why, during serialization, Kang-hoo had heard until his ears were sick of it that the development was authorial convenience.

Because luck and fortuitous encounters were repeated every time, the satisfaction readers felt had gradually decreased.

Repeated luck was no longer dramatic. It was merely a windfall that popped out without plausibility.

“…….”

In a fleeting moment.

As he looked at Ayane’s serious figure, who was constantly devoted to attacking monsters without resting for even a moment.

And Park Dong-jae, who was even sweating coldly as he poured all his ability into the proficiency trick.

He felt that he was not the only one sincere about growth, and he did not feel lonely. It was reassuring.

‘When I think of Jang Si-hwan, who had no choice but to be lonely until the end because he was too unrivaled and lofty…… human Shin Kang-hoo is indeed blessed.’

Many connections came to mind.

There were too many to list one by one.

Even at this moment, the number of connections that would surely clasp his hand whenever he reached out was increasing.

Some among them had become closer, and like now, they were sweating and breathing together in the same space.

Just as small streams gathered to become rivers and seas, he believed people’s strength would be the same.

Before they knew it, they were at the boss section.

With the boss monster ahead of them, Park Dong-jae completely collapsed, so they took a brief forced rest.

While Park Dong-jae rested, Kang-hoo stared at the boss monster standing proudly in front of them.

Its name was Memoria.

In Latin, it was a word meaning memory. Perhaps because of that, everything from its color to its appearance was unusual.

Memoria, which had exactly the same appearance as a mannequin, had no facial features and wore no clothes.

It looked exactly like a mannequin one could see in a department store or clothing shop. The only difference was that it had no face.

As part of an exploratory probe, Kang-hoo sent Mumyeong straight forward first.

Kang-hoo had information about Memoria as well.

This was because, in an area affected by the Extreme Period, even the characteristics of the boss monster changed.

In other words, it meant the main boss monster that had been here before the Extreme Period was not Memoria.

The next moment.

Memoria, which had confirmed Mumyeong entering its recognition range, immediately created something in the air.

‘A mana-shot pistol?’

It was a mana-shot pistol that looked almost identical to Ayane’s. Something that had not existed had been newly created.

Click!

The way Memoria aimed the mana-shot pistol at Mumyeong was so perfect that there was no need to doubt its professionalism.

Bang!

Soon, a gunshot rang out.

The magic bullet launched from Memoria’s mana-shot pistol pierced Mumyeong’s shoulder in an instant.

With that level of penetrating wound, it should have been injured, yes, but it should not have immediately disappeared or died.

However, what followed along the magic bullet’s trajectory was the problem. A “killing ray” existed.

The place the magic bullet pierced through was struck second by the connected killing ray, causing a problem for Mumyeong.

The parts exposed to the killing ray began to melt.

As if strong acidic liquid had been poured over the wound, the area around it quickly melted away and vanished.

“…….”

Mumyeong disappeared just like that.

Starting from the wound, every reachable part vanished suddenly, as if erased by an eraser.

One hunter suddenly came to mind.

‘Brigitte François.’

She was a French sniper gunner.

Although she was in the same position as Ayane, she was a more extreme hunter than Ayane.

For example, if Ayane was the type who constantly maneuvered and adjusted position while targeting enemies.

Brigitte was the type who settled into position and staked everything, no, even her soul and fate, on a single shot.

In other words, if the single blow that carried everything failed, there was no next. Of course, she had never failed so far.

Brigitte’s sniping skill was exactly like that. A magic bullet and killing ray were linked as one set.

From the victim’s perspective, once they were pierced by the magic bullet, death could not be avoided. It could be called 99.9% certain.

‘It seems to be using other hunters’ skills. Probably in a form assisted by the system.’

He had grasped it to some degree.

If this was a concept where it took some data inside the system, turned it into a skill, and used it…….

There was no meaning in trying to define and predict Memoria’s concept. Improvisation became most important.

‘I’ll have to be tense.’

Memoria had chameleon-like characteristics that could not be classified as close-range or long-range.

Even if it was only an exploratory probe, if they were not tense, they could be taken down in one blow.

Kang-hoo’s body tightened fully.

The other members were the same.

Gulp—.

The sound of dry saliva being swallowed was heard.

“That medicine, you seem to be taking it more often than usual lately. Are you okay?”

“There’s no need for you to worry. We both take medicine anyway, you and I. Ah, since yours is drugs, are you worse off?”

“Are you being serious, or are you teasing me……?”

“I’m telling you not to meddle, Gwanhyeong.”

At that time.

Jang Si-hwan was talking with Chae Gwanhyeong in his office.

As Chae Gwanhyeong had said, Jang Si-hwan had recently been taking medicine more frequently.

“Is it hard?”

“Yeah. It’s hard. By the way, the Glory Alliance too, and those Myeongga bastards too. They’re quite a headache.”

“They’re trash-like bastards.”

“Lee Ye-rin officially stated that she’s on our side, but somehow I’ve got a bad feeling about it.”

Jang Si-hwan’s narrowed eyes were directed at the complete map of South Korea displayed on the monitor in front of him.

The marks symbolizing the Jeonghwa Guild and its friendly forces had been overlaid in red. Seoul was the center.

And there were blue marks symbolizing hostile forces, and those marks were in several places.

Myeongga in Gangwon-do, the Glory Alliance in Busan, and The Abyss in northern and northeastern Gyeonggi…… it was subtly taking the form of encirclement.

What kept bothering Jang Si-hwan was precisely the direction of Daejeon, which could be called the midpoint among them.

As Lee Ye-rin’s Cheong-an Mercenary Corps had recently brought down Heuksaja and even driven Eclipse out of Daejeon.

Now, the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps had become the undisputed hegemonic guild of Daejeon. There was no room for disagreement.

Externally, the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps had clearly drawn a line with the Glory Alliance and had not set itself against the Jeonghwa Guild.

However, Jang Si-hwan kept suspecting that the clever Lee Ye-rin had other thoughts.

The reason was simple.

Because he would have done the same.

If the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps maintained a pro-Jeonghwa stance, whether intended or not, it would become the front line.

If the Myeongga Guild in the Gangwon region and the Glory Alliance in the Gyeongsang region tried to push up, they would ultimately have no choice but to pass through Daejeon.

Of course, this did not mean they would physically have to go by land. It was not like an old-fashioned war.

However, if a pro-Jeonghwa guild was in Daejeon, it would inevitably be bothersome for those targeting Seoul.

It meant that a mid-to-large force capable of helping immediately in an emergency was attached right to the south.

Conversely.

The moment the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps stood in the anti-Jeonghwa line, the Jeonghwa Guild’s throat would immediately be threatened.

As if Chae Gwanhyeong had thought of something plausible, his eyes glittered.

Jang Si-hwan did not even look at him, but Chae Gwanhyeong was already speaking next.

“Why don’t we just take Cheong-an for ourselves at this opportunity? They lost a lot of strength fighting Heuksaja, and things are chaotic, right? When else will we get a better chance than now?”