Chapter 49: The 21st Floor Staircase War

Labyrinth 21st Floor.

This was the place where lightning attribute monsters, the Lightning Goblins, appeared, and the trial would only begin once a total of ten Hunters gathered.

[You have entered Labyrinth 21st Floor.]

The message vanished, and the scenery of the 21st floor came into view.

Black storm clouds covered the sky.

Lightning struck in all directions.

Flash!

Kugugung!

Thunder roared majestically.

“Dokkaebi?”

“Huh? That’s really a dokkaebi.”

Turning my head at the call for me, I saw Hunters bearing the Korean Flag.

One man and two women.

The two women rushed toward the man wearing a Dokkaebi Mask, their eyes wide as if admiring a celebrity.

“Are you the dokkaebi I know? The one who smashed Jeonghwamun.”

“Yes. I am that dokkaebi.”

“Waaa! How? I’m really a fan.”

“Me too. Could you please sign something for me? I brought paper and pen for a fan.”

Scammers pretending to be me appeared.

Should I be happy or annoyed?

For now, I watched quietly.

How far would they go?

“Here you go. So, what are you two doing today? If you’re free, how about tackling the trial together and grabbing a nice dinner afterward?”

“Oh my, really?”

“We’re free.”

“Then give me your numbers. I’ll contact you.”

Typical groupies.

If they hadn’t worn the Dokkaebi Masks, I wouldn’t have cared, but since they were impersonating me and doing this kind of thing, I couldn’t just stand by.

Those women must really think they met the real dokkaebi.

“Dokkaebi?”

“Guys! It’s dokkaebi!”

“Sniper hit confirmed. Damn, kill him!”

Suddenly, Chinese Hunters appeared and charged toward the fake dokkaebi.

Five Chinese Hunters.

They all drew weapons and charged simultaneously, and the fake dokkaebi stepped forward with a sword.

He sliced one Chinese Hunter quickly.

But he couldn’t avoid the ensuing attacks and died on the spot.

“Kuh!”

The fake dokkaebi slowly disintegrated into dust and disappeared from the labyrinth.

The Chinese Hunters frowned.

“Damn. Is this thing really dokkaebi?”

“Isn’t it fake?”

“Something’s really off… Wait, there’s another one wearing a mask over there?”

Only now did the Chinese Hunters see me, and their murderous intent flared up again.

“Fireball.”

I conjured a fireball and hurled it at the Chinese Hunters.

Pewong!

Pewong!

They were wiped out before they could even close in.

After the Chinese Hunters vanished, silence fell over the labyrinth.

The female Hunters stared at me, dumbfounded.

As if unable to believe it, they looked back and forth between the autograph in their hands and where the fake dokkaebi had died.

Screeeek!

They tore up the autograph they had received from the fake dokkaebi.

“You’re the real dokkaebi?”

It was almost funny to say I was the real one, so I simply said what needed to be said calmly.

“You got no autograph, no phone number, and no hitting on anyone. When you get outside, spread the word. So no more victims get tricked.”

“…So cool.”

“I think I’m really falling for you.”

What’s there to fall for.

“Then I can tell everyone I met the real dokkaebi, right?”

“Do as you please.”

“Make sure you win the Stair War today and punish those evil criminals!”

“How did you know about that?”

“It’s been on the news all morning. Korea’s dokkaebi is aiming for the master of the 21st floor’s Stair War.”

So that’s why the fake dokkaebi appeared, and why the Chinese Hunters attempted the sniper hit.

I suddenly realized just how much attention I was drawing.

Shuuaak!

Two Hunters of different nationalities appeared, signaling the start of the labyrinth trial.

[Trial of Labyrinth 21st Floor]

• Eliminate all monsters and find the path down to the 22nd floor.
• Lightning Goblin Warriors 0/50
• Lightning Goblin Archers 0/30
• Lightning Goblin Mages 0/10
• Time limit: 5 hours.

Monsters appeared over the hill.

“Can we go first and fight?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

They wanted to fight, so I didn’t stop them. I sent two Korean Hunters and the foreign Hunters forward first.

Lightning Goblin Warriors charged at the front.

Behind them, mages and archers rained down arrow and lightning attribute magic.

The Korean Hunters ignored it and charged forward.

Sizzle!

Sizzling!

The magic dissipated harmlessly against their armor.

No effect at all.

‘Huh?’

The Korean Hunters swung their weapons as they ran.

Lightning Goblin Warriors were swept away.

Thunk!

Thuk-thuk!

“Wow, this is really effective.”

“Worth the money spent on enchantments.”

The excited Korean Hunters wiped out all the goblins in front of them.

The foreign Hunters looked on in shock.

“What’s that?”

“Are Korean Hunters really that strong?”

“Seems like an item effect.”

“Let’s ask them when we can.”

The Korean Hunters approached with pride, and one foreign Hunter asked them.

“Do you know where you got that equipment?”

“It’s the basic gear sold by the Association.”

“Really? But how…”

“Ah, it’s enchanted.”

“Where?”

“You know the Golden Tower in Korea? They do enchantments there that increase attribute resistance and add attribute effects. We enchanted the armor with lightning resistance and the weapons with earth attribute.”

“You can choose what you want instead of it being random?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“About 100 million Gold per piece, I think.”

“…Korea… the Golden Tower in Korea.”

“If you go there, there’s a Tower Master named Yoo Seolha. She’ll help if you ask.”

So our Tower Master has been working hard making money.

That explains her fatigue.

I should send her a fatigue recovery elixir soon.

[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]

[Hidden Piece Achievement rewards granted.]

[Dungeon conquest rewards for the discoverer’s nation increased.]

[Trial success rewards for the discoverer’s nation increased.]

[You have accumulated twenty-two Hidden Piece Achievements.]

[Chance of Level Stones appearing in Red Dungeons increased by 2%.]

The whole world’s focus was on the dokkaebi’s actions.

All hunter-related media broadcast Korea’s situation live.

• A message just appeared announcing the 21st floor has been cleared.
• Will dokkaebi challenge it today?
• If they don’t take this chance, another nation will. If Korea aims for the 21st floor, today’s the best day to challenge.

Lee Changgeon watched the world’s reactions through a huge TV.

Most of the global media expressed negative opinions. China especially poured out harsh criticism.

• Korea is way too cocky. Dokkaebi? He’s just a new Hunter barely climbing to the 21st floor.
• But isn’t he the one who defeated Jeonghwamun?
• I heard Jeonghwamun wasn’t in good shape at the time. Korea burst in suddenly; he fought while injured and lost. Basically trash.
• I see. So you think Korea has no chance?
• Of course. Korea will never win the Stair War. Do you know the crime syndicate holding the 21st floor?
• I only know it’s a new organization called Messiah.
• Messiah killed Antonio, one of Italy’s Twelve Constellations. Not only that, they killed the heads of the criminal groups Guns and Shot and Dark City.
• Really? Is all of that true?

It’s all true.

That information was supposed to remain classified by the World Hunter Association, but China blatantly exposed it.

“Wonder if they can handle the backlash?”

So far, many things have been overlooked because of China’s name.

But they’re pushing reckless moves one after another.

If they go any further, the World Hunter Association will have no choice but to punish them.

• What happens if Korea fails?
• China will challenge next. They’re already fully prepared. If Korea fails, China will strike immediately.
• I see. Which Hunters do they have ready?
• An elite S-rank raid party led by Kim Muhyeok, the Swordmaster’s Disciple.

Kim Muhyeok.

A name I’d forgotten for a while.

“They’re desperate to drag Korea down to the bottom.”

If Korea fails and the Hunters taken from Korea conquer the 21st floor, it’ll cause a massive morale crash.

Lee Changgeon curled his lips at China’s calculated scheme.

“No matter what, it won’t go your way.”

At that moment, a new message appeared before Lee Changgeon’s eyes.

[A Korean Hunter is challenging the master of Labyrinth 21st Floor.]

It’s started.

As Korean and foreign Hunters tackled the trial, I went out alone to secure the challenge ticket by finding the Hidden Piece.

[You have completed the trial of Labyrinth 21st Floor.]

[Trial reward: 21 Magic Stones (C) granted.]

[You have acquired the Hidden Piece on this floor.]

[You have obtained a Stair Challenge Ticket.]

[Using the challenge ticket allows you to challenge the master of the stairs.]

I tore up the challenge ticket I held.

Screek!

Shuaaaak!

A brilliant white light burst forth and transported me to the battlefield.

[The master of the 21st floor selects restrictions.]

[In the Stair War, the challenger receives double damage from all attacks.]

The message disappeared, and the scenery of Labyrinth 21st Floor came into view again.

The place where I had just been.

Alone, I stood on the land beneath the black sky streaked with lightning.

[The battle mode is Defense.]

[The challenger must find the entrance that the master of the labyrinth is defending on the 21st floor and occupy it within the time limit.]

[Time limit: 2 hours.]

Finding the entrance wouldn’t be difficult.

Beyond the hill lay a wide plain where the location could be easily found.

“Double damage on all attacks.”

The Apostle of the Thunder Dragon God must have known I was going to challenge alone and chose this restriction.

This was something I hadn’t anticipated.

“Took a hit, huh.”

But I was ready.

A big one.

Using Haste magic, I pushed off the ground and climbed the hill.

From the hilltop, I saw the battlefield.

A small tower stood in the distance, with four figures around it.

They all wore blue hoods, hiding their faces.

I slowly approached where they stood.

“Welcome, Successor of the Lord. Welcome to Hell on your own feet.”

Calmly, I activated Golden Dragon Eye first.

[Lower Apostle of the Thunder Dragon God (?)]

The one greeting me was an Apostle of the Thunder Dragon God. Lower Apostle means between A and S rank.

Despite that, his confidence must have had a reason.

I turned my gaze to those behind him.

[Antonio (S), Twelve Constellations]

• Antonio is one of Italy’s Twelve Constellations.

He looked bored.

• Overall stats: S
• Potential: S
• Possessed items: Bartol’s Axe (S), Top-tier Pan-Grade Armor Set (S), Set of Artifacts of Strength (S), Weight Reduction Ring (S)
• Skills: Earth Dragon Step (S), Earth Dragon Heart Technique (S), Earth Dragon Walk (S), Diamond Invulnerability (A)… Contract of the Thunder Dragon God (S).

I never imagined Antonio, who was supposed to be dead, would be here.

The ones behind him were the heads of Guns and Shot and Dark City.

All S-rank Hunters with specs rivaling Antonio.

‘Where’s the Dragon’s Body?’

Are they going to sacrifice these guys?

Or are they just stalling for time until they summon it?

“Everyone here was thought dead. Do you even resurrect the dead?”

“I asked for some cooperation in advance. I need them to catch you. As you can see, I’m too weak right now. It’s the First Hunter’s Sorrow.”

“First Hunter?”

“Krkrkr. You don’t need to know.”

The one in the blue hood chuckled and leapt back toward the tower.

The three behind him stepped forward and drew their weapons.

An axe, a gun, and fists.

“Sorry, but you’ll have to die here.”

“Idiot. Why explain to the enemy? Just kill him.”

“Let’s finish quickly and go to another world.”

Seeing the enemies’ murderous intent flare, I summoned my Guardians.

Orcs and Goblins.

Lophenheim and Fryra.

Even Anne, Queen of Witches.

The Guardians who could fight took their places beside me.

I cast Dragon’s Blessing on them.

“You take those guys up front. I’ll handle the Apostle.”