Max Talent Player

In this winner-takes-all dungeon, there were three islands and three paths, and on those three paths were three Iron Horns total. As a side note, there was another drop, Iron Rhinoceros Remains, but Kang Somyi got that.

Every time an Iron Horn was acquired, a dungeon-wide notice would be sent to every Player. In short, this was a dungeon where Players could track their opponents getting Iron Horns, and where the System would award only one team the final reward.

‘The System will ultimately present a way to steal those Iron Horns.’

Hyukjin could roughly guess what that was. There was probably going to be a GVG (Guild vs. Guild) field. It was also possible that the hitherto accumulated contribution in clearing this dungeon and factors like the order of Iron Rhinoceros acquisition would grant some bonuses.

[Iron Rhinoceros’ Iron Horn has been obtained. 2/3]

Hyukjin checked with a whisper.

–Was that Black Crow?

–No. We’re currently hunting the Iron Armadillo.

It wasn’t Black Crow, which meant it was Blood and Iron Lion. There was one horn left. Less than five minutes later, another dungeon-wide notice rang out.

[Iron Rhinoceros’ Iron Horn has been obtained. 3/3]

[3 Iron Rhinoceros’ Iron Horns have been obtained.]

[Unlocking ‘Furuima Beach’.]

Hyukjin sensed the ‘field’ expanding through Eye of Perception. Kang Somyi felt it as well. The entire field was growing larger.

“Follow me,” Kang Somyi said.

Giantgod Guild followed her lead. After killing the Iron Rhinoceros, no real other monster had shown up.

“Somyi, do you think a GVG field will be opened?”

“What?” Somyi stopped walking, looking back to face Hyukjin. “I wasn’t saying anything because I wasn’t sure, but I have my suspicions.”

“Go on.”

“I get the feeling that the beach that just opened has a special setting. I need to check it from closer up.”

“And you’ve determined that there’s a high chance this special setting is a GVG field, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

For a moment, Somyi found herself at a loss for words.

‘The heck, is this guy an explorer?’

He wasn’t. Kim Hyukjin definitely wasn’t an explorer.

‘So why? How?’ Somyi asked internally, unable to wrap her mind around the enigma that was Kim Hyukjin. She shook her head and continued walking through the forest, weaving through the old trees.

“Be careful. This tree bark is highly poisonous.”

Her guidance was excellent. Following her instructions, Giantgod Guild made their way carefully towards Furuima Beach.

“Can someone cut these away?”

“I’ll do it,” Yeonseo volunteered, coming forward. Blocking their path was a tangle of vines so thick you couldn’t see through them.

Yeonseo swung the Demonblade, Asura.

“Hiya!”

Her movements were swift. Wherever her sword slashed, leaving a blue trace in the air, vines tumbled to the ground, the cut ends extremely clean.

Somyi was able to see Shin Yeonseo’s true value.

‘Whoa. She’s not just a swordswoman with a pretty smile.’

Somyi knew the other woman had won a ton of fans with her extremely pretty smiling eyes, but it also occurred to her that those smiling eyes had somewhat overshadowed Shin Yeonseo’s remarkable skill with the sword.

‘But man, she’s really pretty.’

She moved almost as if she were one with the sword. It wasn’t flashy. Each movement was concise, crisp. She swung, slashed, retracted, and repeated. As she watched Yeonseo work, Somyi was once again convinced.

‘This guild is the real deal.’

It was the powerhouse among powerhouses, even stronger than Taeguk Shield. She felt as though she had confirmed that with her very own eyes.

Once the vines were cleared, the ocean came into view.

The hot, burning sun. Pure white sand. Seagulls flying overhead. An emerald blue sea. Gentle waves breaking on the white beach.

A general notice rang out.

[‘1 Party’ has reached Furuima Beach’.]

They had merely gone from one field to another, but a dungeon-wide notice was triggered. Hyukjin asked again, “Is there a GVG set up?”

“No. I don’t feel one right now. It seems to simply be an ordinary—no, peaceful-looking beach.”

Somyi extended her senses, scrutinizing the vicinity. She pressed her face into the sand, sniffing it like a dog, and even tasted the sand and seawater.

“There aren’t any immediate settings in place right now. But I do think this is a field that can take on additional settings.”

Hyukjin smiled.

‘In that case, we’ll get a scenario quest via Intermediate Administrator.’

It seemed to be that kind of dungeon. The progression was very different from the Nanba Terminal Dungeon Hyukjin knew. He had already experienced the future changing many times over, but the dungeon configuration itself changing like this was a first.

‘Someone has to have meddled with it.’

That someone could be Jackson, a Guardian, or even the System acting independently. It might have even been influenced by the ‘Mapmaker’ Cha Jihae.

[‘1 Party’ has reached Furuima Beach’.]

Blood and Iron Lion, headed by Song Junghye, arrived.

[‘1 Party’ has reached Furuima Beach’.]

As soon as all three parties were gathered on Furuima Beach, Senia appeared before all the Players. Her wings moved with the grace of a beautiful swan slowly flapping its wings, lifting her feet slightly off the ground with a gentle flap.

Several Players in Blood and Iron Lion, not to mention Black Crow, exclaimed in admiration. The sight of Senia rising slowly into the sky was enough to inspire unconscious reverence.

“I would like to represent all of the Intermediate Administrators here in conveying the next scenario quest.”

Senia’s direct involvement told Hyukjin everything he needed to know.

‘The first team to get an Iron Horn is given a bonus.’

It was the same for the Intermediate Administrators. Giantgod was the first to obtain an Iron Horn, and Giantgod’s guildmaster was Kim Hyukjin. Senia was the Intermediate Administrator with an exclusive contract with Hyukjin. That was why she was currently representing all the Intermediate Administrators in informing the Players of the next stage.

“...of this scenario. To summarize, the Players must obtain the Iron Horns of the other teams through GVG. This scenario will come to an end when one team acquires all three horns and shows them to me, the representative Intermediate Administrator.”

It was as Hyukjin expected.

[A GVG setting has been added to Furuima Beach.]

GVG, a battle between guilds. Like in PVP, GVG fields had a resurrection effect. But Furuima Beach wasn’t a normal case.

“If a Player dies or is defeated in GVG, they will be forcibly ejected from the Nanba Terminal Dungeon.”

In addition—

“Players who are killed will lose a random amount of EXP. In the worst case scenario, it is possible to be reverted to level 1.”

Senia’s explanation continued.

“Finally, the first team to have obtained an Iron Horn is given the right to decide the GVG order.”

* * *

* * *

According to Senia’s explanation, the GVG here had a specific format. It wasn’t a battle royale with all the teams going at it at once, but one team against another, tournament style.

Hyukjin sent a whisper.

–Please give it your best effort.

–...Are we first?

Mark wanted to run. His assessment was that Blood and Iron Lion and Black Crow were on equal footing. One misstep, and they might get wiped out. They were mercenaries, and none of them wanted to fight with the risk of being reverted back to level 1.

–However, you don’t have to win.

–What?

–You don’t have to win, so work hard.

Total party wipe was one way to end the GVG, but you could also surrender. If Mark, the leader of Black Crow, declared surrender, the GVG would end.

–Work… hard?

–Yes.

Mark was sure of it. Kim Hyukjin was up to something again. They didn’t have to win. That meant they could put a little more focus on defense, that there was no need for them to overdo it. They could approach this battle more safely.

–Harass them as doggedly as you can while still staying safe. You can do that, yes?

–We can.

Instead of overextending themselves in offense, they could distract Blood and Iron Lion while focusing on defense.

Meanwhile, Song Junghye was biting her lip. “That little traitor…” she growled under her breath. She believed it was because of Kang Somyi that Giantgod was able to get an Iron Horn so quickly. She swore to kill the treacherous explorer once they were out of Nanba Terminal Dungeon. “Prepare for battle.”

Hyukjin put Giantgod last, using the special bonus to pit Black Crow against Blood and Iron Lion first.

To her credit, Song Junghye did try using her head.

“Are you interested in making a deal with us?”

“What kind of deal?”

“Give us your Iron Horn. In exchange, we’ll pay, be it in Coins, cash, anything. We can discuss the details later.”

Mark shook his head.

“I apologize. We have no intention of making a deal.”

There was no way they could make a double cross with the Black VIP right there watching.

With that, the battle between Black Crow and Blood and Iron Lion began.

* * *

Song Junghye thought something was strange.

‘These guys… aren’t they being a bit passive?’

It felt like they weren’t putting out their full power. On top of that, they were really going out of their way to harass Jackson, an explorer. It also seemed like they mistakenly thought he was a priest. Something was weird, but in the end, Blood and Iron Lion secured the win.

“We declare surrender,” said Mark.

A few of their Players had sustained serious injuries, but no one had died. Mark heard a whisper from his employer.

–Well done.

–Thank you. We’ve completed our commission and will be going back now.

–Yes.

Mark and the rest of Black Crow were ejected out of the Nanba Terminal Dungeon.

“The victorious party will have all of their status abnormalities and wounds treated and will be restored to peak condition,” stated Senia.

As she spoke, the dungeon’s settings took effect. Song Junghye went from breathing hard to smiling.

“Excellent. I didn’t expect this.”

Honestly, Hyukjin hadn’t expected the opposite team to get fully healed, either. He scratched the back of his head in incredulity.

Once the US Players who could be said to be in the top 3 were gone, Song Junghye’s true colors came out.

“Kim Hyukjin. I want to kill you right this second.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“But I’ll offer you a deal.”

“The conditions?”

“I’ll spare you and Kang Somyi.”

Hyukjin could only laugh, dumbfounded. “That’s all you’re offering? You’re still Song Junghye of Sungshin. Is that really all you can come up with?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Compare your numbers to ours. Did you think this GVG had a participation limit?”

There wasn’t.

“We certainly would be on the back foot if we just fought normally.”

“So just be good and hand over your Iron Horn. I don’t want to sit here wasting time for no reason, either.”

“Why? There’s a time limit for getting the fleet, huh?”

Song Junghye flinched.

“So there is one,” Hyukjin confirmed. He snickered. Song Junghye’s face reddened slightly, but she quickly schooled her features into calm.

“Fine then, rest in peace,” she spat, her face already twisting into a victorious smile.

A smile that froze when Kim Hyukjin pulled out three items with his right hand.