Chapter 101 – Medusa Raid (1)

1. 50% of the raid must be killed by the traps.

2. One person from the raid must clear the trap without suffering damage to obtain the ‘Burning Flame’.

The fire-breathing snake was a trap that was activated when both of these conditions were met at the same time.

“The interesting thing is that this one is named. The other guys in the labyrinth should be aware of our existence by now.”

“W-what do you… no!”

Maeda’s pupils dilated rapidly as he listened to the explanation.

Still, he was quick to notice it.

“Right. This means that we will have to deal with not just this one but also Medusa at the same time.”

Unlike the other labyrinths, the Gray Temple had the characteristic of a moving boss monster, not one that stayed in a single room.

Well, just by looking at the stone statues near the entrance, it was easy to infer that Medusa was freely moving in here.

Of course, no matter what kind of possibilities they had thought of, they couldn’t have expected a named monster and the boss to come at the same time.

At that moment.

A sharp sound rang out.

“Kiik!”

It was ten meters tall, large enough to reach the ceiling of the labyrinth. The blazing red snake looked at the players as it flitted its tongue.

Well, it cannot be helped.

It must have wanted to interrupt them when it saw them talking.

“Right. Even if we didn’t act out, we were going to come for you.”

Jin-hyuk raised his head.

[Fire Breathing Snake
Level: 55
Description: Medusa’s pet snake. Its whole body is made of flames, so no physical attacks will work on it. Additionally, it can breathe fire that its body has built up, and in a narrow place, it has the power reminiscent of a dragon’s breath, so be careful.]
Jin-hyuk activated the ‘Eye of Gluttony’ as he read the detailed description. Level 55 was on the low side but not something he could just simply look down on.

This was because he could only deal damage using magic attacks, and it also had a breath attack that worked well in this narrow space.

“I-I haven’t prepared yet.”

Maeda’s voice trembled.

The Samurai Guild raid team’s current state was near destruction. It was impossible for them to deal with the snake now.

Far from taking up a formation, no one even had the strength to lift a weapon.

“Uh…”

Takeshi also had an expression on his face as if he was about to lose consciousness from fear.

It seemed like he didn’t see this scene in his vision.

Fine…

This seemed to be sufficient for Jin-hyuk to take charge in the direction.

“Now that we have grasped the topic, shall we head back to doing the calculations?”

“What? What calculations?”

What was he so surprised by?

The relationship between the two had been decided, and now was the time to write a contract.

“Hand over the Shield of Perseus. Wouldn’t it be better for me to use it than someone who doesn’t know how?”

Pearls on a pig’s neck were a waste, especially if their lives were at stake.

What Jin-hyuk suggested was a chance for them to live.

However, Maeda was not willing to accept those words.

“W-what bullshit! What is this…no, damn it! You must be some kind of idiot to think I would hand relics over for free!”

“Is that so?”

Such a pity.

Still, he had been given a chance as a human. It wasn’t like Jin-hyuk was the one kicking him forward.

“Then, the shield will be taken from your corpse.”

Jin-hyuk coldly drew a final line. At the same time…

Kukuku!

The moisture in the air began to evaporate.

Their lips were becoming dry as their skin paled. Even the vision through their eyes was beginning to blur.

A fireball manifested itself in the jaws of the snake.

[‘Fire Breathing Snake’ activates Lv15 ‘Spear of Destruction’!]
“A-avoid it!”

Maeda exclaimed urgently. But where would they even escape?

This was a straight passage.

“Ackkkk!”

“S-save me!’

The human instinct of survival at any cost and the reality of no chance of survival were mixed together.

At that moment.

Kwakwakwang!

The red sphere was condensed into a single point and launched out.

“It is… coming!”

“Just how is…”

“This is bad.”

Lee Young-Kwon and the other players of Fathers of Fighting Guild were shocked.

It seemed like nothing could stop the fire from coming, but at that moment.

[Lv8 ‘Glacier Formation’ is activated!]
A large ice crystal appeared in front of them.

Jin-hyuk.

The pure white runes took on a bluish glow when Glacier Formation was applied over the barrier.

The skill’s defensive properties were being used.

This wouldn’t block a real dragon’s breath, but it would surely stop the breath of a mere snake.

The members of the Fathers of Fighting guild would be safe with this.

“Shit!”

Maeda also hid behind the Shield of Perseus.

Psss…!

The relic’s effect was activated as a pink curtain spread around Maeda.

But…

The range was too small compared to Jin-hyuk’s barrier. This thing would barely be able to protect two or three people.

Everyone took a deep breath.

At the same time, fear spread through them.

Chik!

A thin haze rose from the ground.

The players of the Samurai Guild, who were turned into lumps of charcoal, were scattered like handfuls of ash.

It had happened so quickly that none of them even felt pain. However, it was probably fortunate that they died so quickly.

“Uh…. Ack!”

Maeda screamed at the horrendous burns on his body.

At least he had some mana left, so his life was fine, but any other ordinary player would have stopped breathing right away.

“See, I told you. It will be better to hand over the relic you don’t know how to use.”

He wouldn’t have to die if he had just handed it over. Yet he still went and dug his own grave?

“If you want to resent someone, blame yourself.”

Sympathy?

Jin-hyuk didn’t have such things since they were the ones who had crossed the line.

Moreover, his ‘Cold Heart’ nature made him even more merciless to his enemies.

Perhaps all of these defensive skills were just to save himself.

To survive. To climb to the top of the Tower and prevent the destruction of mankind. He had to get rid of everything which would bring trouble to him.

‘We can have a break until the next breath comes, so before that…’

Jin-hyuk approached Maeda just before he lost consciousness, and the cold air was blown into the shield that had fallen on the ground.

Thick smoke rose from it.

The shield’s surface, which had turned red to the heat, became cold.

[Shield of Perseus
Acquisition Difficulty: S (Red)
Description: A hero of mythology. This was a relic used by Perseus against Medusa. Although it is a shield that boasts overwhelming defense power, Athena, the owner of the shield, also values the qualification of the person using it. Depending on the player’s skill and potential, the shield’s stats are applied differently.]
This was why, despite being a relic used by a god, it had been unable to stop the breath of a snake.

‘Only those who have proven themselves can use the shield. Well, this is what it means anyway.’

Jin-hyuk grabbed the shield tightly.

It felt hot, and he could feel the magic from the shield rising to the fore.

The shield was responding. Unlike just a moment ago, it roared joyfully at having met the right owner.

It was then.

“W-what are… you?”

Takeshi, who had no wounds, thanks to being behind Maeda, opened his mouth.

His voice trembled.

He couldn’t help it.

He had used his skill to see what happened ahead, but he couldn’t even get a glimpse of the future of Jin-hyuk.

‘No matter how imperfect the ability is, even the slightest glimpse of the future has to be shown.’

No matter how it looked, he should be able to see something, even if it was from a few hours or a few decades.

But for some reason, Jin-hyuk’s future was dark, as if covered by a black curtain.

He didn’t know why.

What was certain was that this man was unlike any other player he had ever met.

“Answer me. You. What do you have to do with this Tower?’

“Why? It is strange that you don’t know despite having the ‘eye’.”

Jin-hyuk smiled.

“…! You know about my abilities?”

Seeing through a unique ability was something no one had information on until now.

So what was this?

“I cannot… believe this. That power, that ability. It isn’t something humans can have. Right. No matter how much I think, it is impossible.”

“Right.”

Jin-hyuk shrugged his shoulders and casually added another sentence.

“Because I am one of the beings at the top of this Tower.”

One of the beings at the top of the Tower.

Takeshi had to think for a moment until he came to a realization.

“No…!”

Was it that?

If it was, then everything made sense. That absurd power, those abilities that he possessed.

And even the future he was unable to see.

‘He isn’t a human… but a god.’

Through his ability, Takeshi had seen the gods in an unknown place within the Tower.

Those beings whose atmosphere and voices were enough to strike fear into anyone.

It was a scene so far away from reality. He hadn’t told anyone in the guild, but he was sure he would eventually meet one of those beings in person.

A human body could not deal with such a meeting. The feeling of going against a God, beings that could turn a human’s existence into nothing.

Ba-dump!

His heart began to pound loudly as his body felt like it would collapse.

“I-I dared to do such…”

Takeshi shook his head with a pale face as his body began trembling in fear.

‘Puah!’

Jin-hyuk, who saw this, barely held back his laughter.

He almost laughed out loud.

‘After all, if you peek into the upper floors, you are easily deceived.’

The Gods were bullshit.

‘If I were a God, would I be going up one floor at a time?’

Wouldn’t he have just created an elevator from the 1st to 50th floor and moved up at high speed?

They said that if you had a defective mind, then the body would suffer. He now realized that adults said those words for a reason.

Jin-hyuk calmed his expression.

The only reason why this guy had a position in the Samurai Guild was that there was a use in him being able to see the future.

Ah.

Wait a minute. Before that…

“Kiiik!”

The second breath was fired.

A terrifying fire once again approached them. However, this time Jin-hyuk stopped it with one light gesture.

[‘Possible Attribute Barrier’ is activated]
[You have achieved the second condition for the 1st job selection.]
Kwaang!

Ice and fire collided.

This was only possible due to the link between Jin-hyuk’s skill and his barrier. In the eyes of Takeshi, however, this was the power of God.

“T-this…!”

“Don’t be surprised by this much. Can I ask you another question?”

“O-Of course!”

“I came down because I was curious about the ecology of humans, but there are many things I don’t know. And the rules of The Tower are quite annoying. No matter how much of a God I am, it doesn’t let me move on my own will. I mean, there is a constraint restraining my power.”

There was nothing funnier than saying that the rules don’t help him to avoid annoying questions from the opponent.

And he wouldn’t even realize.

‘What does he even know to realize I am lying?’

This plan had so much plausibility that anyone would believe it.

Anything he said would work if this guy believed in God.

“In that sense, I would like to ask for a favor.”

Jin-hyuk brought out the main point with a smile.