Chapter 90 – Skull (６)

The reaction was explosive.

A fight against an unseen Boss Monster always gets players buzzing.

And the battle itself was flashy enough.

More than that, the way it was fought was unlike anything seen before.

A Mage, with no Tanker or Healer, climbing atop the Boss Monster’s body, unleashing dazzling magic all on his own.

In no time, people started declaring themselves fans of this nameless Mage.

[In real life, they call that a Battle Mage, right?]

[Battle Mage? Sounds familiar.]

[Didn’t that hot-shot mage Baek Gijun or whatever get mentioned recently?]

[What’s that, you weeb?]

[Realtards, please live your game lives for once.]

[Can we please ban real-life talk?]

A Battle Mage’s combat, needless to say, sets everyone’s hearts ablaze.

After all, what kind of Mage charges straight into enemy lines and unleashes a flashy, overwhelming torrent of firepower no other class can rival?

What’s more, Gijun’s combination of Strong Wind and Fireball was a form that didn’t exist in the game.

As a result, heated debates had already started about what exactly his skills were.

[What even is his class?]

[That’s definitely a new Class.]

[And what about his skills?]

[Those skills are ones we’ve never seen before either.]

[I heard he’s an ultra-elite secret agent Saint guild raised?]

[Truly lives up to the title of secret agent… lol]

By now, even the misunderstandings about Gijun were being accepted as established fact.

The ones who got the biggest thrill from this were the ViewTubers.

Those who’d captured Gijun’s battle footage were raking in no small amount of donations.

And they renewed their resolve.

“I’ll keep covering you with all I’ve got! Please subscribe and hit like!”

There were even those who vowed to chase after Gijun for the rest of their lives.

But not everyone was thrilled.

“…What the hell is this bastard?”

The Guild Master of Skull.

There was no way he was happy with this situation.

Right when the assault on Saint Guild was unfolding smoothly, that bastard had to go and start the next Raid.

He even pulled off a few reversals to finish it cleanly, drawing a swell of praise.

“Where the hell did they dig up a monster like that?” he growled.

The irritation was impossible to contain.

As if he didn’t already have enough reason to hate those Saint pricks.

Now they’d dragged in some freak from god knows where.

Monopolizing the Tartaros content wasn’t enough — they were trying to mint a new star too.

“If this keeps up, we’re in real trouble.”

If those bastards completely locked down Tartaros,

and if they actually turned that player they’re grooming into a bona fide celebrity…

“We might not have a place left to stand.”

At least until now, Skull Guild had managed to push back against Saint Guild and keep their own meal ticket secure.

But if things kept going this way, they’d be squeezed into a corner.

Parade a new star out front for publicity, and more and more people would flock to Saint’s banner.

And Tartaros was the same story.

Guilds like Skull — Saint’s declared opposition — wouldn’t even be allowed to set foot on that ground.

In other words, to get into Tartaros, you’d have to side with Saint Guild.

Maybe there was still hope for the fence-sitters or the ones clinging to neutrality.

But for Skull Guild? Their position was only shrinking.

That left just one answer.

“We have to stop them.”

They had to stop that star from being made.

And further — they had to stop that Quest going on right now.

“That Quest — it’s definitely tied to Tartaros.”

The Guild Master of Skull was certain of it.

The circumstantial evidence was too clean a fit.

The Quest had started the moment Hera and that unidentified mage, who’d both been in Tartaros together, came out of it.

“If they can’t finish that Quest, they won’t be able to push the Tartaros conquest any further either.”

Finished thinking, he sent a message to someone.

Then he bit down hard on his lip.

“We might not be able to beat you, but we’ve got enough strength to wreck whatever you’re trying to do.”

After all, they had no image to protect.

Saint, though? That was different.

They’d always responded with gentlemanly restraint, clinging to their reputation.

They’d never even used direct force against Skull Guild.

“That hypocrisy and pretense — it’s going to trip you up now.”

*

[Ring of the Primordial Branch]

-Equip Restriction: Level 200

-Grade: Unique

-Defense +100%

-Attack Power +100%

-Magic Attack Power +100%

-HP +100%

-MP +100%

-All Stats +30

A Level 200-restricted Unique-grade ring.

No special abilities attached, but it was more than enough.

Attack Power, Defense, Magic Attack Power, HP, and MP — each boosted by 100%.

And a flat +30 to all stats on top of that.

‘I’m getting stronger — and fast.’

Now, as he felled the Lord’s fragments one by one and the Sain-geom’s orbs multiplied, he was growing at an explosive pace.

He had already blown past Level 200.

[Name: Jun]

[Class: Flame Seeker]

[Title]

-Dragon Slayer

>Grade: Legendary

>Attack Power +100%

>Magic Attack Power +100%

>HP Recovery Rate +50%

>MP Recovery Rate +50%

>Max HP +300%

>Max MP +300%

>All Stats +20

[Level: 216]

[Strength: 1+336]

[Agility: 1+336]

[Stamina: 1+346]

[Magic Power: 774+720]

[Special Stats]

-Fire Affinity: 200

Level 216 already.

Considering he hadn’t even cracked Level 100 before entering Tartaros.

Gijun’s leveling speed was just as absurd.

After all, taking an ordinary User from 100 to 200 usually took at least three months.

Once I finish the Sain-geom at this rate, I’ll be able to fight the Lord on even footing.

If he kept growing at this pace, that was beyond doubt.

By then, it wouldn’t just be his Level and Stats—he’d be wielding the true power of light.

Not far now.

He was already more than halfway there.

Only two attributes remained.

Wind and Fire.

As luck would have it, those were the two elements Gijun relied on most.

And then.

[Thank you.]

The tree’s voice reached his ears.

[A gift, for freeing me.]

The voice was faint, yet carried a sense of freedom.

The tree’s gratitude toward Gijun was unmistakable.

[The canyon where the storm begins. Go there.]

The canyon where the storm begins…

The name said it all.

Wind attribute was next.

[When you reach it…]

The tree’s words stopped there.

Ku-woong!

With that, the tree’s dried trunk split in half and crashed down.

…

For a moment, his heart felt heavy.

*

Now, Gijun had arrived at the Forest of Prostra.

After hearing his account, Prostra spoke.

“Tough work. I didn’t expect the corruption to have spread that far.”

Prostra’s face was bitter.

“It means the evil’s power has grown that strong. I can feel it too—time is running short.”

Gijun nodded.

“Soon, the other Lords will awaken too. If that happens… it won’t be an easy fight.”

“I’m ready.”

Gijun had steeled himself for this.

He knew the fight against the Lords was his alone to carry—he was the only one with the Sain-geom.

Which meant he couldn’t rely on anyone else.

This was something he had to do on his own.

“Truly magnificent.”

Hera had come to stand beside him without him even noticing.

The Forest of Prostra was closed to all but the permitted.

But the Saint guild members aiding Gijun under Prostra’s leave were granted entry.

“To have already advanced this far. Your skill is genuinely astounding.”

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to the Saint guild’s support.”

Gijun glanced at the Saint guild members as he spoke.

There was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice.

Without the Saint guild’s help, pushing through this Quest at such speed would have been impossible.

“And though it wasn’t my intention, I’ve gained quite a bit of renown thanks to you as well.”

That fact didn’t sit badly with him.

After all, everyone in this world craves attention.

It wasn’t that Gijun had wanted to hide his identity to avoid the spotlight.

He’d only done so because being a Superhuman weighed on him.

But this was bound to come out sooner or later.

Gijun was certain of it now.

Sooner than later, game and reality would collide into one.

And when that day came, his true nature would inevitably be exposed.

Perhaps it was better to prepare little by little, like this, ahead of time.

“And it seems I’ll need to ask for your help once more.”

Gijun said.

At that, Hera’s face lit up.

“Just name it. If it’s within our power, we’ll gladly assist however we can.”

Hera, too, truly took joy in helping Gijun.

Thanks to him and the public Quest he was running, Favorability toward the Saint guild had surged.

Countless players had joined with the Saint, pledging to build the game the guild dreamed of together.

From her standpoint, aiding Gijun was no different from aiding the Saint.

“Next, I need to head to a place called the Ravine Where Storms Begin.”

“The Ravine Where Storms Begin… Please grant me a moment. I’ll locate it as quickly as possible.”

“Yes. I hate to impose, but I’ll leave it to you.”

“Not at all. Please don’t feel burdened. And perhaps…”

Hera started to say something, then stopped and closed her mouth.

“…?”

Gijun was curious, but he didn’t press.

He trusted Hera had her reasons for being careful with her words.

“For now, I’d better get back to my duties. The moment I find a lead, I’ll let you know immediately.”

With that, Hera left the Forest of Prostra.

“Everyone, good work out here.”

Gijun exchanged brief pleasantries with the Saint guild members, including Horpa.

*

Once outside the Forest of Prostra, Hera sent a message somewhere.

[I think the Skull will make a move soon.]

She had been keeping a close watch on the Skull guild.

Given their track record, it was only a matter of time before they tried to interfere.

It wasn’t as if they’d held back entirely up to now, but they must know they’re cornered by this point.

They’d definitely escalate into a more aggressive offensive.

‘Most likely… they’ll try to directly interfere with Master Jun.’

That interference would surely be an attack on Gijun himself, an attempt to ruin his Quest.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Hera was determined to block the Skull Guild from mounting such interference, no matter what.

[If the Skull Guild intervenes this time, I will authorize the use of physical force.]

Until now, the Saint Guild had refrained from using physical force.

That was its operating policy.

But this time was the exception.

If they tried to obstruct Gijun, the Saint Guild would not stay idle.

[Please have the 1st Knight Order stand by for deployment.]