*
Hunter TV Live Chat
ON: Broadcasting
- Hey, you f***ing Hyeonak bastards, give us Jeong Chaerin
- Why's a kindergartener in the starting lineup while Chaerin's on the bench? Is this even a country?
- Sports betting at Totonono bit.totonono.kr
- Disband Hyeonak, make it happen
- >>What's important is an unbreakable heart>What's important is an unbreakable heart>What's important is an unbreakable heart<< As long as Gru, who got selected as a starter, keeps an unbreakable heart, we'll be fine, right? Gru fighting, Gru fighting, Gru fighting🐥
- Hyungs, I think I'm going crazy
- On Jurim is damn incompetent too
- Gidan, Serhi, you gotta beat these punks with a stick to raise them right, but you let them run wild so this is what happens
- Mister, it's the 21st century now, what do you mean a stick
- Huh??
- ?
- Mr. Cameraman, please film the Korean team~~ You're only filming Germany, jeez
- Set, cheer up!!❤❤
- Huh?
- ??
- What's going on?
- Huh???
- What is it?
- Uh…
- ?
- ?
*
"Hyung, is this really the right call?"
Standing alone at the starting point, Lee Taemin asked a dumbfounded question through his earpiece.
[Serhi: Why?]
[Gidan: Taemin, this is the right call!]
Serhi's curt reply and Gidan's answer brimming with mischief came one after another.
When Taemin looked to the side, he saw Gru stuffing a snack into his mouth like a hamster and chugging a Pororo drink.
[On Gru: Oppa, why are you like that?]
Gru, who had set up a camping chair and table at the base, munching on snacks and drinks while fiddling with a tablet, looked up at Taemin and blinked blankly.
……Why doesn't anyone get it?
Lee Taemin suppressed the frustration welling up inside him and spoke.
"So the plan was for the three of us to split up and stack team buffs, right?"
[Serhi: Yeah. So move. You wanna lose?]
At Serhi's reply, Lee Taemin let out a deep sigh and moved his feet toward the forest for now.
Tat tat tat—behind the running boy, the chick drone, 'Mephisto Series MK.3,' flapped along.
The drone passed Taemin and headed deeper into the forest.
Glancing at it, Lee Taemin lowered his voice and said,
"Wouldn't the German team be moving all together?"
[Gidan: That's exactly why we shouldn't all move together! Right, Jurim hyung?]
[On Jurim: You guys said you'd handle it yourselves.]
[Gidan: Yessir!]
[Serhi: Gidan and I will clear the boss first and come to you. Just grow big for now.]
[Gidan: We'll come help, so wait for us, Taemin~]
Lee Taemin lightly bit his lip.
Their words about going straight to take down the Phase 1 boss without even stacking team buffs were filled with certainty.
Yeah, those two will pull it off. They're amazing S-ranks. Even if I'm not!
He had thought there wasn't much of a strategy since practice, but.
'……But did it really have to be *nothing* at all!'
At this rate, it was practically a contest of individual skill.
- Grrrr
Right then, as a mud-type monster, a ghoul, rose from beneath the ground, Lee Taemin drew his twin swords.
He swung both arms lightly, and the twin blades cleaved the ghoul into thirds.
['Korean Team' accuracy +1.]
['Korean Team' attack power +1.]
['Korean Team' evasion +1.]
Beyond the team buffs he had obtained, team buffs from Gidan and Serhi's kills came in one after another.
It was practically fast, but…….
'Not enough.'
Once Phase 1 ended, even Gidan and Serhi would realize how wide the gap with the German team had become.
And the fact that this was too much for Lee Taemin—who had only been maintaining his A-rank rookie status through the output of an SSS-rank magic stone earring—was painfully clear.
Suddenly, the crushing despair of being a weakling incomparable to Gidan and Serhi weighed down on his chest.
'If only Jeong Chaerin would come, somehow…….'
Then they'd have four dealers, but the situation would be much better than now with a drone crammed in.
Since the drone couldn't even receive team buffs, the Korean team was structured to fall further behind as time passed.
If his and the drone's poor performance continued, Gru would inevitably be substituted with Jeong Chaerin.
['German Team' has suppressed 'Priest Riella (Left)' of Phase 1.]
"Ah……."
A regretful sigh burst from Lee Taemin as he checked the digital watch displaying the minimap and the opposing team's movements.
[Gidan: Whoa, Germany sharpened their knives.]
[Serhi: They've got four over there.]
[Gidan: You think we're gonna lose because of that?]
[Serhi: Not at all.]
"Not at all?"
Just as Lee Taemin asked back in disbelief at Serhi's light answer.
['German Team' has suppressed 'Sad Crown (Left)' of Phase 1.]
"Already?"
Unlike Lee Taemin, who clenched his teeth at the sinking feeling in his chest, Gidan smirked.
[Gidan: Taemin, don't worry. Danni hyung has no intention of losing.]
Do these people even realize we're falling behind?
As he moved his twin blades faster in urgency.
Clop, clop.
At the sudden sound of hoofbeats, Lee Taemin raised his head.
At the same time, the chick drone 'Mephisto MK.3' flapped into view and landed before him.
Fwhoooo—!
"Huh?"
Directly behind the drone—that is, right before Lee Taemin's eyes—a glowing arrow was aimed at him.
Blue Ether gushed out like steam between the gaps of the knight's armor who sat upon a steed with a drawn bow, revealing an immense oppressive pressure.
'Ether Knight?'
It was the final boss of Phase 1.
Usually, it was the strongest boss of Phase 1, defeated after killing Priest Riella and Sad Crown to consume all team buffs.
'Why is it here?'
The place where Lee Taemin stood was not where the Ether Knight spawned.
Then…….
The drone must have drawn its attention and led it here!
Clearly, the Ether Knight had chased after the drone with bow drawn to catch it.
Fwhoooooooo—!
Ether was gathering at the arrowhead.
By the time Lee Taemin grasped the situation, the drone shot upward as though trying to save its own skin.
"Huh?"
A bewildered voice popped out.
'It's dumping aggro on me and leaving?'
Right then, all the Ether had gathered at the arrowhead.
'It's firing!'
Lee Taemin crossed his twin swords as if to defend his body.
Fshooooong—!
The Ether Knight's arrow flew in fast.
It was the very moment Lee Taemin squeezed his eyes shut.
The chick drone's eyes flashed brightly, and translucent feathers softly fluttered down atop Lee Taemin's head.
[Attack power increases by 150%.]
[Defense increases by 300%.]
[Accuracy increases by 100%.]
Countless buffs were activated.
Pat!
The arrow enveloped in Ether touched the surface of the twin blades and then—pop—like a deflated balloon, its light died out and vanished.
The immense defense from the drone's buff had nullified the Ether Knight's attack.
In a situation where he couldn't help but be astonished, Lee Taemin's mouth fell open.
"What the hell is this?!"
[On Jurim: Watch your mouth.]
[Gidan: No bad words!]
"Ah! I'm sorry! Gru, sorry!"
[On Gru: Mm?]
When Gru asked back in puzzlement, unable to understand why he was apologizing, Jurim added, 'Taemin used a word he shouldn't have.'
[On Jurim: It's a word you shouldn't learn. Got it?]
[On Gru: Okaaay.]
Gulped. Meanwhile, Lee Taemin swallowed his saliva.
Because he could feel an intense energy enveloping his entire body.
It was then.
[Serhi: Riella cut.]
['Korean Team' has suppressed 'Priest Riella (Right)' of Phase 1.]
[Gidan: OMG.]
[Serhi: Told you we wouldn't lose.]
At this, Gidan spoke in a voice completely stripped of laughter. It seemed his competitive spirit had ignited.
[Gidan: Crown cut.]
['Korean Team' has suppressed 'Sad Crown (Right)' of Phase 1.]
The two who had easily slain the two bosses changed direction.
The dots that had been split above and below on the minimap were moving toward Lee Taemin in the center.
[Gidan: Taemin, we'll be right there. Wait for us.]
[Serhi: On my way.]
At their words, Lee Taemin gripped his twin swords tightly. His body trembled slightly.
"No. You don't have to come."