Chapter 74

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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– Ranger is fucking amazing.

– Do not ignore King Vanguard ever again.

– But he couldn’t kill it?

– Unable to use strength in a low level dungeon is…

– The skill was flashy though. Cheers.

The skill Ranger showed a moment ago drew everyone’s attention.

Thunder Sniping.

In the guidebook, it was written as a Rank 4 skill.

That its destructive power seemed stronger was probably due to other factors like weapons or stats.

‘It should be at least that much.’

A mere 10,000 out of 300 million.

Those who pierced through competition after competition and rose to the top were the Vanguards.

A being very suitable as an ingredient to clear this dungeon.

Swish.

Boom.

Han-bit, chasing the puppet, continuously poured out attacks.

The only reason he poured out maximum potential power was one.

To avoid Ranger’s suspicion.

Bzzz.

Just then, the electric arrow flying from behind split into dozens of branches.

It was Ranger’s skill.

Kwarururu.

‘I guess I don’t need to worry.’

Ranger, having already decided to kill the puppet, poured out firepower without hesitation.

However, the widely erected walls of the maze became an obstacle.

Whoosh.

The fleeing puppet counterattacked by spewing fire from its mouth.

Han-bit lightly dodged it and gradually narrowed the distance.

Clang.

Bzzz.

The continued pursuit and offense-defense brought the stage back to the center of the maze again.

Whoosh.

Sticking close, Han-bit maintained a close distance while narrowly dodging the puppet’s attacks.

That was extremely bothersome to Ranger.

“If you don’t have the ability, get out of the way.”

Sweeping away Black Dragon and the puppet together is an easy task.

He was ready to risk PK, but the difference in power was already clear.

If so, simply snatching the chance to clear the dungeon could make that guy taste the flavor of failure.

As long as he doesn’t loiter so close.

“You should have caught it in one shot earlier. What kind of Vanguard can’t catch something like that in one shot?”

“I have no reason to be told such a thing by a bastard like you.”

– Triggered. Lol

– Black Dragon, you’ll really die at this rate.

– Uh-oh. Ranger is turning dark.

– That’s just his original personality.

– Being snide to a Vanguard after playing for 1 week is fucking hilarious. Hahaha

Bzzz.

Provoking his anger, Ranger’s skills flew in a bit more dangerously.

This time too, his attacks were blocked by the sharply turning maze walls, but the striking point was getting closer.

Swish.

Han-bit, who didn’t stop his sword, lured the puppet to the floor.

Yet his mouth didn’t stop.

“You are a real Vanguard, right? Taking away the magic book and then failing to clear the dungeon, that would be quite embarrassing.”

“You rat-like bastard.”

– I said stop triggering him. Hahahahaha

– Ranger’s eyes rolled back.

– Look at his prickly personality.

– His manner of speech sounds like a boomer. Lol

“Huu.”

Ranger glared at Han-bit with burning eyes.

The penalty for killing a player is much greater than dying.

Even so, the displeasure and anger filling his inside moved his body.

Even if he pondered it several times, keeping Black Dragon in front of his eyes, his reason was already disappearing into the beyond.

Whoosh.

The black dragon and the puppet fighting a precarious offense-defense gradually headed towards the floor where the magic circle had been.

Agile movements from both sides that did not seem ordinary.

But those minor doubts did not matter anymore.

“Just die together.”

Bzzz.

Along with Ranger’s voice, arrows began to appear in the air above.

The strongest Rank 6 skill he possessed.

Thunder Arrow Rain.

‘That’s it.’

Han-bit, who realized the identity of the technique, clenched his fist.

Because it was exactly the destructive power he was waiting for.

Clang.

Receiving the puppet’s soaring sword, Han-bit confronted it while maintaining his Attribute Manifestation.

The yellow arrows that had already bloomed in the sky.

Vroom.

When the resonance sound rang in his ears and the arrows above started to fall simultaneously.

Smack.

Kicking the puppet’s chest, Han-bit used the recoil to jump backwards.

Then, sticking to the wall, he began to sprint with all his might.

“The way you run away is ridiculous.”

Kwarururu.

Pouring down along with Ranger’s voice, the torrential rain of arrows slammed down covering their vision.

Han-bit, completely focused on running, was barely able to escape the area of effect.

“Huh?”

At the somewhat strange action, Ranger’s eyes followed.

Because there was no need to run away that far.

‘Well, it shouldn’t matter anymore.’

On the floor where the skill had poured down, the completely shattered puppet sprawled.

In other words, it meant he succeeded in snatching the First Clear Bonus of this dungeon.

More than anything else, the fact that he brought disgrace to Black Dragon was joyous.

However.

Rumble.

Suddenly, loud roars echoed from the four ends of the maze.

Turning their gaze, the largest outermost walls were moving.

“What?”

A somewhat strange atmosphere to be a dungeon clearing production.

Ranger, perceiving something had gone wrong, tried to chase after Black Dragon.

At that moment.

Kwarururu.

Suddenly, the entire floor collapsed and a massive torrent of water surged up.

“Tch.”

Reacting quickly, Ranger kicked his foot and jumped into the air.

If he were to fall for such a trap, he wasn’t a Vanguard.

He had such certainty and pride.

But the situation that followed completely deviated from his expectations.

Rumble.

A massive shadow cast from the water torrent of the collapsed floor.

Ranger, instinctively sensing the crisis, drew his bowstring.

Bzzz.

The giant arrow wrapped in electricity swirled and pierced into the water.

It was a Rank 5 skill, Tempest Shot.

In a dungeon in this level range, it was a lump of power capable of even destroying the map.

But.

Splash.

The unknown shadow that should have died pushed up the water current without the slightest hesitation.

“What the.”

Looking down, Ranger widened his eyes.

What revealed itself was a massive fish with its mouth wide open.

The name tag floating above its head made him doubt his eyes.

[Boss: Aquarium’s Resident (Lv.500)]

“Ugh.”

Something was wrong.

Ranger hurriedly looked for surrounding topographical features to escape.

But the maze walls that had been standing tall were already all collapsed and submerged.

Splash.

The fish’s mouth attacking his body.

Sensing death, Ranger let out a shout towards Han-bit, who was climbing the stairs far away.

“Black Dragon.”

***

“Black Dragon.”

Ranger’s voice filled with anger was quickly buried by the current.

Han-bit, who had briefly glanced outside, began to climb the stairs again.

“He’s a man with a lot of anger.”

– It’s because of you, you crazy bastard. Lol

– I couldn’t even imagine a plan to scam the Vanguards. Fuck.

– Ranger won’t be able to sleep tonight because it’s unfair.

– Is level 500 for real?

– It wasn’t an aquarium, it was a graveyard.

– FR lol

“But it’s not like it’s my fault? They followed on their own.”

– I… guess so?

– For real, who told them to come.

– Did someone threaten him with a knife?

– Since they came to suck honey stealing a walkthrough anyway.

– The one sucking honey was the predatory fish. Lol The way Ranger is so funny. Hahaha

– ???: Just die together.

Whatever Han-bit’s plans were, the choices and decisions were all made by the players themselves.

If it feels unfair, they should have looked into it better, was all that could be said.

“Hyung. This is freaking awesome.”

As he approached Yeon-woo, his excited voice raised.

Looking down, the maze full of water was already filled with fish at some point.

The players are being eaten deliciously.

Even so, only a few are left now.

“But the walkthrough was finding the prey. Is it okay to use people?”

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s people or monsters. Once you get caught by the bait, you become prey. Of course, they would have to be as strong as a Vanguard.”

The bait puppet with an unknown level is a tool to evaluate food for the resident.

A structure where the resident is summoned if it senses destructive power and satisfies the conditions.

Making it so you overlook it like this from above was Irteloger’s hobby and preference.

Still, considering it’s a game, wouldn’t it be possible to clear even if it’s not a Vanguard?

He didn’t know how much rewards would drop.

‘It was truly terrifying back then.’

The route he initially entered this dungeon was through the entrance for the aquarium fish.

Somehow navigating the maze and interpreting the conditions written on the signpost, he went down and faced the puppet.

And he got chewed up and eaten by the resident that appeared as the floor collapsed, thus ending that regression.

The pain was painful, but it was so absurd that it didn’t leave his head for quite some time.

Splash.

The fish continuing their meal gradually disappeared into the water.

And when the resident, who stayed until the end, disappeared, an alarm rang.

Ding.

[You have successfully cleared the dungeon.]

[A special reward will be given for the First Clear Bonus.]

[Rewards will be increased according to exceeding clear conditions.]

[Achievement: Acquarium’s Banquet achieved.]

[Rewards will be increased for First Achievement.]

[Rewards will be distributed differentially according to party members’ contribution to the clear.]

[Received 1,000,000 gold.]

[Received Horn of the Soul (Rank 4 – Unique).]

[Received Fire Abrasive (Rank 3 – Unique).]

[Received 20 stat points.]

[Gained 300,000 experience points.]

[Level has increased by 4.]

[Received 4 stat points.]

“Wow, do you get rewards like this again?”

– Is this real life.

– Couldn’t he just go around beating dungeons?

– Agreed. He’d catch up to Vanguard’s necks soon.

– Fact: As you go further up, the dungeons get fucking hard.

– Except here, where it’s so fucking easy that Ranger can’t even clear it?

– FR lol

Exquisite rewards with nothing to pick on.

It really felt like he could become strong enough just by clearing dungeons.

Although it would exactly be just getting stronger.

“How much reward did you get?”

“This time it came out to be about 10 percent.”

“Isn’t the contribution evaluation too strict?”

“Otherwise, bussing would be rampant. It’s because I caught some monsters and diligently looked for the maze that I’m getting this much.”

Yeon-woo nodded as if it were natural.

Just like the episode, it was a fairly ruthless reward structure.

Of course, taking as much as you efforted is a natural thing.

“But what is this Horn of the Soul? It’s my first time hearing it.”

“It’s a buff item. We need it for the next episode.”

[Horn of the Soul]

Rank: 4

Grade: Unique

Description: A horn that produces a sound that shakes the soul. It strengthens the abilities and mental power of creatures within a specific range.

The Horn of the Soul that can only be obtained in this dungeon.

It is an item that will be used quite usefully in the story of the next city, Ifrit.

Should I say it allows a nearly perfect walkthrough.

“Let’s go out for now.”

“Okay. Are you going to Ifrit now?”

“I’ll decide that after seeing the perk. Ah.”

Continuing his words, something came to Han-bit’s mind.

After pondering for a moment, he sent a message to Kim Jae-ha.

[Are you perhaps able to log in if you have time?]

A contact cut off for quite a while.

He seemed so busy he didn’t even have time to check his messages.

If there’s no reply this time either, shouldn’t he go find him in person?

Beep.

Han-bit closed the message window, turned his gaze to the camera, and said.

“To Mr. Avant-garde, if you’re watching, please give me a call.”