Chapter 100 – Gray Temple (4)

Slash!

The iron shield was shredded like paper as the highly compressed flame touched it.

“The magic-infused shield got cut down in one go?”

“Ack! What is this laser!”

Like they said.

This was a flame laser that cut things down instead of burning.

The problem was that there were hundreds of people and the flames came from all directions at the same time, which further reduced the distance. It seemed extremely difficult to avoid all of them.

‘H-how did this happen?!’

Takeshi was shocked as he looked at Jin-hyuk.

Jin-hyuk had been the person who said that the left side was the right choice. Holding on to those words, Takeshi hoped that this wasn’t a murderous trap and that there was a way to solve this.

However, Jin-hyuk avoided his gaze.

“Oh my. Whoever was the person who brought us straight into hell. Isn’t this the fault of the captain?”

And naturally, the responsibility was shifted.

Takeshi felt like he had been hit with a hammer/

But there was no time to regret it.

“H-how do we avoid this?”

They now had to avoid this, not prevent it.

Since even the tanks’ shields couldn’t stand it, the fire around them couldn’t be stopped.

“Shit!”

“Everyone run!’

The players of the Samurai Guild quickly moved.

Their ankles or knees, no matter what was injured or how much they sweated, those players ran to avoid getting killed.

‘Well, newbies…’

Jin-hyuk smiled at the sight and took out a black scroll from his subspace inventory.

The seal on it was promptly released.

Woong!

[The first job change quest of the Barrier User begins.]
In order to become a barrier user…

Various explanations were given through the status windows, but Jin-hyuk skipped all of them since he didn’t have to see them.

As long as he knew what to do, there was no reason to read them.

‘It is about embodying the barrier for the sake of changing jobs. It is as easy as lying down and eating cake.’

Jin-hyuk concentrated magic on his fingers.

Psss!

A pure white spark appeared on the tip of his finger. Soon after, large colorful patterns emerged in the air.

It was a barrier with runes on it.

[The barrier ‘Insufficient Physical Barrier’ is activated!]
[You have achieved the first condition of the quest!]
Although the modifier of ‘insufficient’ was attached, the barrier itself was pretty sturdy.

‘There is a limit to what can be used until we get the job.’

In order to use the real barrier skill, he would have to stay in the library on the Tower’s first floor and study the runes for at least six months.

Of course, using a barrier in battle would take even longer.

Even Jin-hyuk, who was immersed in the game, took five years to learn the last level of ancient runes.

‘Right…. It isn’t a good field.’

It wasn’t classified as an unpopular job for nothing.

He chose virtual reality to escape from reality, but no one enjoyed studying.

“P-player Kang Jin-hyuk, what are…”

“Magic… is it?”

“No. It feels different from what we usually see.”

Lee Young-kwon and the rest of the players were shocked at the runes that appeared on the barrier. They had previously seen barriers that were sometimes activated using skills.

This was the first time they saw a real barrier activated using runes. However, that sentiment didn’t last long.

Because the stream of fire was now approaching them.

“Any skill or ability is useless against that. We need to move.”

Lee Young-kwon threw his shield away to lighten the weight. But then…

“It is fine. You can all just stay still.”

Jin-hyuk folded his arms in a relaxed manner while he looked at the barrier that was forming into a cube.

“St-stay still? What do you mean?”

Lee Young-kwon asked, but Jin-hyuk just smiled.

And at that moment.

Kwakwang!

The stream of fire hit the barrier.

“Kuak!”

“Ack!’

The players screamed as they feared their bodies would be cut down once the barrier dropped.

But…

“Uh?”

“What is this? We seem fine?”

There wasn’t a single scratch on the surface of the barrier.

No, it wasn’t at that level.

The stream of fire stopped at the surface of the barrier and was now heading in the opposite direction. It was now directed towards the Samurai Guild players who were jumping and running away.

“Ah. Sorry! It is going there.”

Jin-hyuk slightly raised his hand and apologized.

“No…”

Lee Young-kwon was shocked. The rest of the people watching this scene were also surprised.

“T-that is.”

“I cannot believe it. There must be players who have reflector-type skills.”

“As I thought… S-rank is different.”

They knew that Jin-hyuk was amazing from his various videos.

Korea’s 16th S-ranker.

He was a warrior who defeated the guild master of the Black Cloud guild as well as Chun Yuseong.

He was also the person who cleared both the 4th and 5th floors.

Just listing his achievements would make people go crazy.

However, seeing it with their own eyes was an entirely different feeling from watching the video.

Ba-dump!

Everyone’s hearts began to beat rapidly. This was the sense of stability they could feel from being next to a top ranker.

There were deadly lasers in front of the barrier, but none felt even a little bit of danger.

And at that moment.

“I’ll see you soon.”

Jin-hyuk moved as if he was getting out of the barrier.

“Ugh!?”

“W-wait, player Kang Jin-hyuk! Wait!”

“Uh?”

“The trap isn’t finished yet.”

“Right. It is dangerous to leave now.”

They all pointed out how the players of the Samurai Guild were dying.

They were all trying to avoid the flame that was killing them, but they could not hold out for long.

“I am incredibly good at timing, so don’t worry. Besides, if we dodge 300 times in a row without taking damage, we can get an item.”

The item was called [Burning Flames].

The challenge would give out special items, which would be helpful later, and this was a decently high-end copy…

Well.

Was there a person brave enough to challenge this?

Jin-hyuk smiled and looked around.

“It is… fine.”

“Kang Jin-hyuk, best of luck.”

“We will just watch from behind.”

Even if they were told that they would get an item, they didn’t feel the urge to step out of the barrier. Newbies these days have no guts.

Clench!

Jin-hyuk loosened his joints and walked out the barrier. Dozens of the flame streams were gathering, but it simply looked cute in a veteran’s eyes.

The fast-tempo music began playing in his head.

‘Drop the beat!’

Jin-hyuk began to move in earnest.

‘Three to the left, three to the right, next I run and I forward and roll, right?’

They were gaps that a person could barely pass through.

This time he decided that he needed to break through despite a single mistake leading to death.

Yet, the tension in Jin-hyuk’s face wasn’t something other humans would show.

“Haha… I have nothing to say.”

Lee Young-kwon mumbled with a disappointed expression.

He had proved his worth in the arena on the 5th floor. He had even received expectations from various media outlets.

‘I cannot imagine this.’

He could see and feel the precise movements and confidence.

Beyond all that, there was simply an attitude that showed he enjoyed all this. At this moment, he thought that there would be no one else who would excel beyond this man.

‘This was why team leader Kim Gitae said we should be willing to take losses.’

Lee Young-kwon had been told one thing before coming in here.

A request to give up all the benefits they could get from this raid.

At first, Kim Gitae also said he wanted to place a condition advantageous to the guild, but soon decided this was the right choice for the bigger future.

It was a story that was hard to accept.

Rewards, honors, exclusivity.

Who would believe if the second largest guild in Korea had to give up this much?

There were many cases of large groups that showed their greed, but where would you find a case where those groups gave up the advantage.

But the reason…

‘The higher-ups are wise.’

Lee Young-kwon was able to realize it.

The flames were extinguished after 30 minutes.

‘The sweat was worth the reward.’

Jin-hyuk fiddled with a strange-looking red jewel.

It was the [Burning Flames].

‘That went quite smoothly.’

Everything had gone as planned.

Now, if they dealt with the Medusa, all the materials needed to make ‘that item’ would be gathered.

There wasn’t much left to reach the goal.

But…

‘How many people survived?’

Jin-hyuk put the item back into his subspace and moved his gaze to the Samurai Guild.

“Huk. Huk. Huk.”

“My… my arm! I have no arm!”

“Ackk! Yo… Yoshida is dead!”

“Damn it! Look for the injured and the dead right now! I mean, don’t move the injured!”

The situation wasn’t good. Not a single one was fine among those who had come with such confidence.

Only the excellent Maeda and Takeshi, who had been desperately protected, had left the trap with minor injuries.

Watching those burned-out faces was the best.

Even more so if they were arrogant.

“May the souls of the deceased be in peace. This barrier is only for 30 people, so we cannot let them come in unless we send ours out.”

Jin-hyuk approached the Samurai Guild and offered his heartfelt condolences.

“This… you damned bastard!”

Maeda jumped up.

Perhaps because his eyebrows had been scorched by the heat, but Maeda gave out a fragrant smell.

“Uh?”

“Do not say ‘uh’ with that innocent expression! The fact that none of the Koreans were hurt means that you knew about the existence of the trap and prepared for it. Am I wrong?”

“Well. I kind of knew. But is that a problem?”

“Is-is that a problem? Are you actually saying…!”

“That is what I am saying! Accept that you insisted on coming into the labyrinth to which the Fathers of Fighting had rights. Also, I don’t know why you are mad at us when you were the ones who followed the decision of a veteran who went up to the 30th floor.”

“Shut up! Even so, people were dying right before your eyes, and you didn’t even bother saying them. You have no sympathy for people!”

Sympathy?

That was bullshit. Being able to spit out such words in this kind of place made him look like an idiot.

But…

He could understand it.

“Normally, when one goes through so much radiation, their minds go hazy.”

The movies showed that once a person was exposed to radiation, they might turn into superheroes. In reality, you’re more likely to end up with leukemia and go bald.

That was how hard life was.

“… what?”

Maeda was at a loss of words.

With a blank face, he pondered on what he needed to say for a few seconds.

“How dare you say such things. Have you lost it? Don’t you know that this is a diplomatic situation!”

“Diplomatic situation?”

Jin-hyuk looked down on him.

The guy must have misunderstood something.

“I am not a politician.”

Diplomacy and all that shit were something that only the upper-class people cared about.

Finally…

“You shouldn’t be talking to me. The trap isn’t done yet.”