After passing the entrance of the Dungeon, a dense forest unfolded before them.
“Everyone, get ready. We are about to enter a new area.”
Past the previously explored zones, a new territory was finally coming into view.
Therefore, the Guild Master instructed the guild members to be fully prepared so they could respond quickly to any situation.
A moment later, a rustling sound echoed.
The B-rank Assassin who had gone out to scout returned from his mission.
“Guild Master! We’ve discovered Trolls. It’s a small group of three, and no others were spotted nearby!”
They had finally found a pack of Trolls.
Since the size of the group was small—only three—it was the perfect number to test the B-rank parties that had received buffs.
“Is that so? Perfect. Teams 6, 7, and 8 will each take one. I’ll provide support whenever things look difficult, so fight without worry.”
Team 1 was led by the S-rank Choi Kang-hyuk, while Teams 2 through 5 were led by A-rank hunters, including the Vice Guild Master.
Teams 6 through 15 consisted entirely of B-rank hunters.
Choi Kang-hyuk intended to gauge exactly how much a team made up solely of B-ranks could handle.
“Yes, sir!”
“Let’s go!”
As Teams 6, 7, and 8 stepped forward to face the Trolls, the remaining teams followed closely behind.
Shortly after, a thunderous roar erupted.
“Kuoohhhhh!”
Having spotted the Hunters of Changcheon charging toward them, three massive Trolls exuded an intense force and let out a powerful cry.
If they were the B-rank hunters of the past, they would have been crushed by the sheer intimidation of a Troll’s roar.
However, thanks to the War Cry cast by Sung-jun, their fear had been erased, and their fighting spirit was amplified to the limit.
The roar had no effect on them.
“Whoa! I don’t feel intimidated by their roar at all!”
“We have Kim Sung-jun’s buffs! Kill those damn Trolls! Kill them!”
The B-rank hunters, possessing abilities comparable to A-ranks thanks to Sung-jun’s buffs, rushed toward the Trolls without a moment of hesitation.
“Wait until the aggro is caught!”
Of course, rushing in without hesitation didn’t mean they were attacking recklessly.
As the Tanks began to pull aggro first, the damage dealers waited until enough threat was generated.
“Kwaaaaakh!”
*Boom! Crash! Bang!*
The B-rank Tanks blocked the Trolls’ powerful attacks without much difficulty.
“Oh! This is doable! I can block their attacks! Hahaha!”
Their Strength, Agility, and Stamina had increased by a staggering 40,000 points, and their Defense had also risen.
Unlike before, the Trolls’ attacks didn’t feel threatening.
“Now! We’ve pulled enough aggro! Everyone, attack!”
As soon as the Tanks gave the command, the damage dealers began their full-scale assault.
*Swish! Whoosh! Bam!*
*Boom! Bang! Thud!*
The battle began in earnest, and the Changcheon hunters fiercely pressured the Trolls.
“Haha! My attacks are working! They’re actually working on these guys!”
“This is easier than I thought. Their health is dropping fast!”
Technically, their health wasn’t dropping “fast,” but it was decreasing steadily.
However, for these B-rank hunters who previously couldn’t deal any significant damage to Trolls, it felt fast in comparison.
It was the same for the other parties.
Meanwhile, Choi Kang-hyuk, who was watching the battle from a distance, expressed his surprise at the unexpected performance.
“Hah! It’s actually working. A party of B-ranks can actually take on an A-rank monster like a Troll.”
Jang Chae-sung smiled as he looked at Choi Kang-hyuk.
“What did I tell you? Didn’t I say we could easily conquer an A-rank Dungeon as long as we have Kim Sung-jun’s buffs? Unless some variable occurs, the battle will end just like that. If so, I think we can proceed with splitting the teams as originally planned.”
The reason Choi Kang-hyuk had brought fifteen teams—mobilizing as many B-ranks as possible—was that he planned to split the teams and hunt separately if Sung-jun’s buffs proved effective enough for them to deal damage.
Now that he had confirmed B-ranks could handle Trolls, he decided to execute the plan.
“It seems we can do that. Then, as planned, we will group five parties together to form three separate teams.”
There would be three teams in total, with five parties per team.
S-rank Choi Kang-hyuk would lead one team, and four A-ranks—including Vice Guild Master Jang Chae-sung—would split into pairs to lead the other two teams.
While they discussed their future plans, the Trolls began to fall.
“Kuehhhh…”
*Thud!*
“It’s over! We got them!”
“Haha! We took down a Troll! We killed an A-rank monster!”
Although it took much longer than dealing with a B-rank monster, the fact that B-rank hunters had successfully hunted an A-rank monster was extremely encouraging.
‘At this rate, we might actually be able to clear the Dungeon before the first-entry benefits expire.’
Choi Kang-hyuk felt a surge of hope.
***
Meanwhile, while watching the Changcheon hunters fight the Trolls, Sung-jun’s group shared their thoughts.
“So that’s an A-rank Troll. It’s no joke. It must be at least 5 meters tall. The pressure is insane, too. If it weren’t for Sung-jun’s buff, I feel like I would’ve been overwhelmed by that aura.”
True to its A-rank status, the Troll’s physique was massive, and its presence was formidable.
Even at a glance, its 5-meter-tall frame and the pressure emanating from it were intimidating.
Without the War Cry Sung-jun had cast, Gwang-taek and Yu-seon would have been suppressed by that force.
“But Sung-jun, we were fighting B-rank monsters just the other day, right? How can the difference between a single rank be this big? This is on an entirely different level than the Crimson Tiger we fought.”
When they faced the B-rank Crimson Tiger, they didn’t feel such a massive gap.
In fact, they felt it was manageable.
But standing before an A-rank Troll felt completely different.
Even with Sung-jun’s buffs, they didn’t feel confident about hunting it.
“I’ve heard that the gap between Dungeon monsters grows larger with every rank. Especially as you get into the higher ranks, the difference widens significantly. The only reason you didn’t feel that gap with B-ranks was because my buffs were enough to overwhelm them. If you hadn’t had the buffs, you would’ve felt a significant difference then, too. An A-rank goes without saying.”
The reason Gwang-taek and Yu-seon didn’t feel overwhelmed during the B-rank Dungeon Break wasn’t because the Crimson Tiger was weak, but because Sung-jun’s buffs were that powerful.
On the other hand, there was a limit to overcoming an A-rank monster through buffs alone.
“Still, I think we could manage one somehow. But if two or three are bunched up, it won’t be easy.”
“We won’t have any reason to come to an A-rank Dungeon for a while after today anyway. For now, we should focus on leveling up by clearing C-rank Dungeons. Then, when it’s time to move up to B-rank, we’ll reinforce our strength by adding more members.”
Unless it was a special case like this, Sung-jun’s party wouldn’t frequent A-rank Dungeons. Currently, C-rank Dungeons were the most efficient for their current abilities.
Thus, they planned to level up in C-rank Dungeons before moving to B-rank at the right time.
Sung-jun intended for that time to be when all his skill levels reached a certain threshold.
Of course, if his class level rose to S-rank before then, they would move up immediately, but Sung-jun believed it would be faster to bring all his skills to a certain level first.
At that moment, Choi Kang-hyuk approached them.
“Hahahaha! Kim Sung-jun! Thanks to your buffs, even the B-ranks can now face Trolls. I’m going to split the teams into three. Your party will move with my team. Do you have any objections?”
Having decided to split the force, Choi Kang-hyuk wanted to keep Sung-jun’s party with him.
Sung-jun had no objection to that, but he did have one condition.
“No, let’s do that. However, I have one condition. From now on, whenever a group of Trolls appears, my party will take one of them, no matter how many there are.”
Since they had come all the way to an A-rank Dungeon, they couldn’t just stand by and watch.
While fighting a whole group was impossible, they felt they could manage at least one.
“Oh? Does that mean the three of you intend to hunt a Troll yourselves?”
“Yes, I think we can handle at least one. Is that possible?”
Choi Kang-hyuk pondered for a moment before nodding.
“That’s not difficult. But I can’t promise to let you do it every time. I’ll decide after seeing you hunt once.”
As much as he needed Sung-jun’s help, he was willing to accommodate most conditions, but not if it significantly hindered the hunt.
He planned to observe them first to see if it affected the overall hunting speed of the team.
“Understood.”
Sung-jun didn’t intend to be unreasonable.
He believed it was possible, but that was just a guess.
He would only know for sure after clashing with a Troll.
And so, Sung-jun’s party joined Choi Kang-hyuk’s team and officially began the Dungeon conquest.
***
At the headquarters of the Genesis Guild, which vied for the top rank in the country alongside Changcheon.
Joo So-jung, the Guild Master of Genesis and one of only two S-rank hunters in the country, known as the Sorceress of Hellfire, looked puzzled after receiving a report.
“What? Changcheon mobilized a large number of B-ranks to conquer an A-rank Dungeon? Why? B-ranks shouldn’t even be able to damage an A-rank monster. They wouldn’t have taken that many just for support or distraction.”
Until now, Changcheon had been slowly clearing the Dungeon with Choi Kang-hyuk at the lead, supported by four A-ranks and a few B-ranks.
Because of that limited roster, their completion rate was only 28% despite their best efforts.
Hearing that they suddenly brought a large number of B-ranks was naturally baffling.
To this, Vice Guild Master Joo Seung-jin—an A-rank Tank and her younger brother—spoke with a serious expression.
“You saw the B-rank Dungeon Break video I sent you, right? The healer in it, Kim Sung-jun. I heard he joined this expedition.”
The fact that Sung-jun was participating in the A-rank Dungeon conquest with Changcheon was already common knowledge among those in the loop.
Joo Seung-jin pointed out that the healer who performed exceptionally during the B-rank break was now involved.
“Kim Sung-jun? He seemed impressive, but it’s an A-rank Dungeon. It’s incomparable to a B-rank. How much of a difference can one person make?”
She had confirmed through the video how impressive Sung-jun was.
But that was against B-rank monsters.
A-rank monsters were a completely different story.
Joo Seung-jin shook his head at his sister’s comment.
“It’s not something to dismiss so easily. You haven’t received his buffs, so you don’t know, but it’s truly incredible. He boosts hunters below A-rank to a level comparable to an A-rank in an instant. That’s likely why Choi Kang-hyuk brought so many B-ranks. With Kim Sung-jun’s buffs, they’ll be able to land effective hits on the Trolls.”
Since Joo Seung-jin had personally received Sung-jun’s buffs during the last Dungeon Break, he could easily anticipate the power the B-ranks of Changcheon would display.
“Hmm, a single buff can make someone perform like an A-rank? Is that really possible? Besides, isn’t Kim Sung-jun a healer, not a buffer?”
“Right, he’s a healer. But he’s definitely not an ordinary one. I heard he underwent an irregular evaluation during his re-awakening test yesterday. Anyway, if Changcheon succeeds in this A-rank Dungeon conquest, Kim Sung-jun will be responsible for over 90% of that success.”
At Joo Seung-jin’s words, Joo So-jung’s expression became serious.
“So in your opinion, Kim Sung-jun is that important?”
“Yes. That’s why we need to prepare as well. If those Changcheon bastards succeed, we can’t just sit still, can we?”
Joo So-jung looked surprised.
“Are you suggesting we resume the conquest of the A-rank Dungeon in Suwon that we’ve put on hold?”
In terms of overall strength, Genesis was roughly equal to Changcheon.
In fact, they were arguably superior in terms of offensive power.
However, Genesis lacked a crucial A-rank Tank. Among their five A-rank hunters, four were damage dealers and one was a healer.
That was why they had stopped their solo attempt at the A-rank Dungeon and postponed it.
“We’ll have to wait and see, but if Changcheon succeeds, it means we can also clear an A-rank Dungeon as long as we have Kim Sung-jun’s help.”
If Changcheon could do it with Sung-jun, Genesis could too.
Thus, they intended to monitor Changcheon’s success and, if they did succeed, borrow Sung-jun’s power to clear their own A-rank Dungeon.
“Sigh, where did a healer like that even come from? Fine, I get it. Like you said, let’s first see if Changcheon succeeds. If they do, we’ll try to contact Kim Sung-jun then.”
Whether something previously impossible would become possible with Sung-jun’s help remained to be seen, but she judged it was worth watching.
“I heard Choi Kang-hyuk personally stepped out to contact Kim Sung-jun. So, if this expedition is successful, you should personally step out too, Sister.”
Joo So-jung looked flustered by her brother’s suggestion.
“What? Me? Personally? Is that necessary?”
She was an S-rank hunter, often referred to as a “one-person strategic weapon.”
She questioned whether she really needed to move herself.
“Yes, it is. If Changcheon succeeds, they will become one of the very few guilds in the world to clear an A-rank Dungeon solo. At that moment, we’ll have to hand over the title of the country’s top guild to them. Would you be okay with that?”
Currently, it was difficult to say whether Changcheon or Genesis was superior.
However, if Changcheon succeeded this time, it was certain they would be ranked number one in the country, surpassing Genesis, which had yet to clear one.
Joo So-jung’s expression contorted slightly.
“Ugh, I definitely can’t stand that. I can’t accept losing to that guy, Choi Kang-hyuk.”
Choi Kang-hyuk of Changcheon and Joo So-jung of Genesis were very conscious of each other.
Perhaps because they were the only two S-ranks in the country, they had a strong tendency to hate losing to one another.
“That’s what I’m saying. If they fail, that’s fine, but if they succeed, we must succeed as well. To do that, we need Kim Sung-jun. Just as Choi Kang-hyuk moved personally, you need to do the same.”
There was no helping it.
Given the situation, she couldn’t simply refuse.
“Sigh, fine. If the situation calls for it, I’ll do it.”
When Joo So-jung agreed, Joo Seung-jin wore a satisfied smile.
***
Changcheon’s Dungeon conquest was proceeding smoothly.
In particular, Team 1, led by Choi Kang-hyuk, was tearing through the Trolls with unstoppable momentum.
Choi Kang-hyuk, who had been fighting alongside his guild members, was now taking on a Troll entirely by himself.
*Crackle!*
*Boom!*
“Kuehhhh.”
Choi Kang-hyuk, having defeated a Troll alone, looked down at the sword in his hand.
‘This is incredible. Can a single buff change things this much? My attacks are faster and more powerful than usual. Because of that, Trolls don’t even feel threatening anymore. Of course, I could handle one alone without the buff, but it wouldn’t be this easy.’
Being an S-rank strategic weapon, he could defeat a Troll solo if he had to.
However, it wouldn’t have been without a struggle.
But with Sung-jun’s buff, the hunt had become much easier.
Having received buffs from other buffers before, Choi Kang-hyuk hadn’t expected much, but after experiencing Sung-jun’s, his mindset had completely changed.
‘Is this what a real buff is? Everything I knew as a “buff” until now wasn’t even worth the name.’
Thinking that, Choi Kang-hyuk looked toward Sung-jun.
Sung-jun’s party had also already taken down a Troll.
‘Regardless, they are impressive. For only three people to hunt a Troll in the same amount of time as a full party… I heard they were both B-rank, but even without the buff, they seem like they could easily be A-rank.’
Just like them, the other B-ranks had also received Kim Sung-jun’s buffs, but their performance was notably more outstanding.
It was as if they were A-ranks who had received his buffs.
It made sense, as Gwang-taek and Yu-seon were not only receiving the All-in-One buff but also Enchantment buffs.
Not knowing this, Choi Kang-hyuk couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Troll hunt complete!”
“We’re finished here, too!”
The hunters of Changcheon raised their morale after quickly taking down five Trolls.
“Good work! At this rate, we’ll finish clearing the Dungeon by tomorrow.”
If they maintained this speed, they could clear the entire Dungeon by the next day while still getting enough rest at night.
It was a pace made possible only by Sung-jun’s joining, allowing the B-ranks to perform far above their rank.