Chapter 8

Chapter 8.

 

Ma Do-hyuk’s jaw dropped.

‘Just what kind of person is he?’

At first, he had thought the man was simply arrogant—someone who had showed up at the interview just to brag about his artifacts.

However, Lee Ha-kyung’s skill and courage were enough to make anyone’s head spin. Even Ma Do-hyuk himself had been forced to hesitate and retreat in that situation, hadn't he? It was a moment of such immense danger that one had to consider the possibility of the raid failing.

Yet, Ha-kyung had charged toward the Gear Crusher and succeeded in a counterattack.

Ma Do-hyuk stood there with a dazed expression. Soon, he heard the voices of others.

“Wow! Just who is that guy? How is such a crazy performance possible?”

“I heard his name is Lee Ha-kyung, but I’ve never heard of him before.”

“They say he obtained seven artifacts. What’s amazing is that he isn't part of a guild; he works alone.”

“Is there even a reason for that? With that level of skill, he’d have a free pass into any of the top four guilds.”

The other melee dealers were just as shocked as Ma Do-hyuk. But at that moment, a voice like a thunderclap rang out.

“Go back and pop the bubbles first! The stun effect won’t last very long.”

Sure enough, just as Ha-kyung said, system messages appeared.

[Gear Crusher is regaining consciousness.]
[Gear Crusher’s rage meter is rising rapidly.]

Once the status ailment ended, a brutal onslaught would surely follow. They had to rescue the Raiders’ Awakened before then. Completing a raid without the core guild would be an incredibly difficult task.

“Let’s move quickly!”

“Run!”

The melee dealers finally snapped out of it. They ran toward the backline and swung their weapons repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Ha-kyung scanned the Gear Crusher’s entire body. To an onlooker, it might have looked like he was doing something pointless, as he was simply moving around and stabbing random spots.

However, there was a clear reason for Ha-kyung’s actions.

‘There are almost no weaknesses. Its entire body is incredibly hard.’

At first, he thought it would be easy to handle. Since it was a machine, he assumed it wouldn't be able to move properly if he just broke a few parts. However, the Gear Crusher was no ordinary robot.

Ha-kyung quickly realized the true nature of this creature.

‘The armor just makes it look like a machine. There is an unidentified monster inside.’

It felt like a monster wearing a steampunk skin. It seemed there was only one way to defeat it. Suddenly, someone spoke to Ha-kyung.

“Do I need to create a weak point?”

The person who approached and asked was Ma Do-hyuk. His usual blunt tone was gone, replaced by a surprisingly respectful manner.

Ha-kyung answered readily.

“Its defense is immense. I think that will be necessary.”

Ma Do-hyuk nodded at the brief explanation. Then, he immediately began to charge in alone.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

Ha-kyung reached out as if to stop him but only grabbed the air. There was no time to stop him, and even if he tried, it didn't seem like the man would listen. It looked reckless, but Ma Do-hyuk’s attack was surprisingly effective.

Clang!

[The Gear Crusher’s outer shell is torn by ‘Piercing Rupture Strike’.]
[The defense of a specific area is extremely lowered.]
[The Gear Crusher regains consciousness due to the impact.]

Whirrrr!

“Beep-beep! Beep!”

The Gear Crusher, which had been stationary for a while, woke up instantly. Immediately after, the brutal hammer attacks resumed.

Swoosh! Boom!

“Agh!”

Ma Do-hyuk, who had been pouring out attacks like a berserker, was sent flying. He looked like a baseball hit by a clean swing.

For a brief second, the eyes of the flying Ma Do-hyuk and Ha-kyung met. With a meaningful smile and a raised thumb, the man disappeared into the distance. Ha-kyung couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

‘Was he always that kind of character?’

It felt as though the man was saying this much was nothing. Though it was absurd, Ha-kyung focused on the fight. The wound created by Ma Do-hyuk’s sacrifice was the key. He would only be able to win if he concentrated his attacks there.

Ha-kyung was about to strike when it happened.

Boom! Bang!

Beams of light in various colors flew in from behind. Soon, with a thunderous roar, the Gear Crusher began to stagger. Turning his head, Ha-kyung confirmed that the backline was back in action.

‘They succeeded!’

It seemed they had made good use of the time Ha-kyung had bought them. Soon, the tanks, who had received care from the healers, returned as well. Everything was falling back into place.

Then, a calm voice was heard through the Whisperer.

“Ahem! Thank you for helping us overcome that crisis, Mr. Lee Ha-kyung.”

It was the voice of Choi Hyun-ki, the guild master of the Raiders. The sudden praise made Ha-kyung feel awkward for no reason.

‘Isn't he being a bit too public about this?’

He wondered if there was really a need to go that far. For some reason, the masters of Black Water and Chang-un came to mind. Yoon Chang-ho and Ryu Jae-wook had also been generous with their praise.

The atmosphere of the raid team shifted subtly. Everyone began to engage in the fight more actively. In particular, the Awakened of the Raiders changed the most.

Ha-kyung glanced back at Choi Hyun-ki.

‘If he did that on purpose, he’s truly impressive.’

He had motivated the guest members while simultaneously issuing a warning to his own subordinates. He was essentially asking them why they couldn't perform like that. It was no wonder the Raiders guild members were moving so diligently.

Of course, Ha-kyung didn't pay it much mind.

‘Your internal affairs are none of my business.’

Right now, defeating the Gear Crusher was the priority. The moment the long-range attacks paused, Ha-kyung rushed in. He intended to savagely tear at the weakness Ma Do-hyuk had created.

Fwoosh! Slash!

The blade, reinforced by Abyss Refinement, was driven violently into the opening. A violent reaction followed.

“Beep-bee-bee-beep!”

An alarm far more frantic than anything before it rang out. The Gear Crusher’s glowing red eyes glared at Ha-kyung. His attack must have been incredibly painful.

[The Gear Crusher’s rage meter has reached its limit.]
[Gear Crusher Ultimate Skill Deployment: Great Rampage]
[An unstoppable wave of Abyss energy has been detected.]

Enveloped in a yellow aura, the Gear Crusher swung its arms wildly. At first, its attacks didn't reach the far walls. Because of that, the backline had been able to deal damage and provide care relatively comfortably.

But things are different now.

Rumble!

“Aaaah! The attacks are reaching all the way here!”

“Get out of the way!”

The raid team’s backline turned into a scene of chaos. The tanks were trying their best, but it wasn't very effective. The Gear Crusher’s aggro was bouncing around unpredictably. It seemed the monster had completely lost its mind due to Ha-kyung’s strike.

‘Urgh! How is it moving that fast?’

The Gear Crusher was a boss that boasted a massive body. Being heavy, it was naturally supposed to be somewhat slow. It usually took time for it to accelerate.

But now, it seemed to have completely cast off those limitations. The pressure Ha-kyung felt was immense, especially since he was the one aiming for its weakness.

‘I have to move forward, even if it’s dangerous.’

The raid team’s backline was currently shattered. Under the insane wave of attacks, even the tanks were struggling. He had to stop the Gear Crusher’s solo rampage somehow. If they took the full brunt of this ultimate skill, the damage would be too great even if they won. That would interfere with the final boss raid.

Ha-kyung trusted the sensory amplification of Soul Brand.

‘I see a gap.’

He boldly dodged the Gear Crusher’s sweeping arms. Instead of retreating, he narrowed the distance between them. Follow-up attacks came, but he dug in even deeper. The flickering aura of the Great Rampage brushed against his cheek, but every attack missed him by a hair’s breadth.

Still, it wasn't as if there was no damage at all. The yellow energy covering the Gear Crusher pulverized anything it touched, even slightly.

[Reactive Magic Armor Activated]
[Impact is converted into mana.]
[Cloak of Command Activated]
[You are immune to pain.]

Thanks to the energy of the Great Rampage, his artifacts activated. Ha-kyung’s entire body became filled with mana and Abyss energy. Finally, he reached the Gear Crusher’s weakness—the hole Ma Do-hyuk had punched through.

The grayish energy surging from Ha-kyung’s karambit grew even stronger.

“Cha-hat!”

He moved with a sharp shout. During the motion, the blade gradually took shape. When Soul-Sever was half-deployed, Ha-kyung’s attack pierced the Gear Crusher’s abdomen.

Immediately after, a massive shockwave exploded.

Crunch! BOOM!

The tanks positioned around the Gear Crusher were all blown back at once. The power was that immense. However, Ha-kyung did not fall.

‘I’m cutting all the way up!’

Griting his teeth, he concentrated all his strength into his arms. Then, the cracks starting from the weakness spread rapidly.

Crunch! Screeeech!

Finally, a grayish beam of light erupted explosively. Ha-kyung’s ultimate skill, Soul-Sever, was completed inside the Gear Crusher’s body.

As he soared into the air, he quickly turned his body.

Slice!

With a sharp sound, the Gear Crusher’s head was thrown back. Ha-kyung’s sword strike had torn through the creature’s neck. The burning yellow energy faded rapidly. The Gear Crusher’s massive body staggered before collapsing with a thunderous roar.

Thud!

As the heavy frame crashed down, nearby structures shattered and crumbled.

[You have defeated the Dungeon Guardian, Gear Crusher.]
[As a reward, you have received the ‘Berserk Sledgehammer’.]

“Phew...”

Ha-kyung let out a long sigh. It had been a series of heart-stopping moments. Especially when the Raiders Guild was neutralized, he thought it might be the end.

After catching his breath, Ha-kyung put away his karambit. Cheers erupted from all directions.

“Yes!”

“I knew we could count on him!”

“Wow! He didn't obtain seven artifacts for nothing.”

“He got those rewards because he has the skill to match. I’m ashamed that I was jealous until now.”

“Right. Everyone was saying he was the illegitimate child of some guild master and got carried to get those items.”

“Ahem! Not me.”

The Awakened individuals each threw in a word of gratitude toward Ha-kyung. Most of them were guest members. On the other hand, the members of the Raiders Guild were just standing there, staring blankly.

Ha-kyung, however, didn't care either way.

‘Where did the reward drop?’

He was searching the Gear Crusher’s corpse. Just then, a few Awakened brushed past him. They were Raiders guild members. They were frantically searching the Gear Crusher’s remains.

Watching them, Ha-kyung found it absurd. He let out a hollow laugh.

‘Do they even have the conscience to do that?’

In this raid, the Raiders Guild hadn't played much of a role. They had brought a lot of long-range dealers and healers, but their sustained damage was shaky, and their care was unstable. They had even been rendered combat-ineffective by the oil cannon.

As Ha-kyung frowned, Ma Do-hyuk suddenly grabbed the Raiders guild members by the scruff of their necks.

“Look at these bandits. Their eyes are bloodshot trying to scavenge the rewards first.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“If someone saved you from nearly dying, shouldn't a thank you come first? You ungrateful pests.”

Ma Do-hyuk swung his fist without a moment's hesitation.

Thud! Bam!

At first, it didn't seem like he intended to beat them severely. However, the attitude of the Raiders members was the problem. They had demanded to know why he was acting this way, which seemed to have triggered the Abyss Beast.

As Ma Do-hyuk’s punching grew worse, a cough was heard from behind.

“Ahem! That’s enough. I’m sure they’ve learned their lesson by now.”

It was Choi Hyun-ki, the guild master of the Raiders. A chilling light gleamed in his narrow eyes. A grim atmosphere took hold, as if a fight might break out at any second.

However, it didn't last long. It was because Ha-kyung picked something up from the Gear Crusher’s wreckage.

“If possible, I’d like to go and rest quickly.”

A golden object was spinning around his finger. it was the dungeon key that would allow them to proceed to the next stage. Ha-kyung immediately opened the door behind them.

Click! Rumble!

The heated atmosphere cooled instantly. Ha-kyung’s action had changed the mood. Soon, he vanished beyond the door.

“...”

“...”

Neither Ma Do-hyuk nor Choi Hyun-ki could say anything. They no longer felt like being confrontational. Eventually, the two of them let out hollow laughs.

“Heh! He’s as interesting as he is skilled.”

“Ahem! I agree. I should seriously consider recruiting him.”

Ma Do-hyuk looked at Choi Hyun-ki with an incredulous gaze. It was a look that seemed to ask why someone like Ha-kyung would ever join the likes of the Raiders. Regardless, Choi Hyun-ki merely shrugged his shoulders.

“What? Do you think I can’t do it?”

Ma Do-hyuk shook his head and walked away. Ha-kyung had no interest in any of it. 

It felt as though everyone was dreaming their own different dreams.