“No. You don’t have to come.”
He didn’t know what that chick drone Mephistopheles whatever-it-was-called had done, but the boss, covered in debuffs opposite to his own, was anything but normal.
The knight on horseback swayed its head and staggered left and right.
Unable to read its master’s erratic behavior, the horse clopped backward.
‘That’s incredible.’
[Activating the skill ‘The Path Revealed by the Ripple (AA)’.]
An aura of water enveloped the blade. The torrents wrapping around the sword whirled with explosive force.
Lee Taemin felt overwhelmed by the energy pouring from his hands.
It was like facing a tidal wave that would swallow everything whole.
‘I don’t think I’ll lose.’
Taemin charged straight at the Ether Knight.
The fierce waves extending from the sword in his hands were like the claws of a savage beast.
The waves soon crashed over the Ether Knight, and together with a whirlpool, the Ether Knight was torn to shreds.
Lee Taemin landed lightly and deactivated the skill.
Ssssh—
In that fleeting instant, he could see the path leading to victory.
A tingling excitement enveloped his body. Lee Taemin spoke, putting force behind his tongue.
“Ether Knight, cut.”
[The ‘Korean Team’ has subdued ‘Ether Knight (Right)’ in Phase 1.]
[The ‘Korean Team’ is advancing to Phase 2.]
—Waaaaaaaahh!!
The cheers of the frenzied spectators burst from the screens. The wide field of the stadium rang with a deafening roar.
The camera hurriedly focused on Gru sitting at the starting point.
Gru, who had been slurping a Pororo drink, flashed a V-sign and smiled brightly.
*
“17 minutes 03 seconds!”
“17 minutes 03 seconds! A new Phase 1 clear record!!”
The commentators cheered, thumped their table, and let out exclamations.
“That was a completely unexpected play.”
“I think it was possible because each player’s individual ability is outstanding. What’s especially amazing is Hunter Lee Taemin. He’s really in peak condition today!”
“Yes, exactly. Player Lee Taemin isn’t falling behind at all compared to Player Gidan or Player Serhi right now. He’s doing the work of more than one person.”
Just then, the highlight screen came up.
The excited commentators praised the players with all their heart and soul.
“Cut! Hunter Lee Taemin still looks fired up. Yes, and now the camera is focusing on Hunter Gru. Our cute little player is taking something out of his bag! What could it be? It’s candy!”
“So adorable. Hunter On Gru is overflowing with composure.”
“Being able to stay unflustered like that is considered a talent in the industry. He really takes after his father, Hunter On Jurim, in terms of guts.”
“Ah, you should be careful with that. Hunter Gru’s fans hate hearing that the most.”
“Oh, really? I’m sorry. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to the fans.”
“Haha! I hope they accept your apology. Ah, now the German team is also hurrying to take down the Ether Knight so they can get past Phase 1. But our team is already stacking team buffs after advancing to Phase 2.”
“The buff options get better as the phase goes up. The Korean team’s pace is looking good.”
“Now, the German team is also advancing to Phase 2.”
“Uh, uh, the Korean team is running. They’re going full tilt. Since Germany is catching up, it looks like they intend to take the Phase 2 boss down immediately. Is this okay?”
“Personally, I’m a bit worried. This isn’t a play that can be done with individual ability alone, right? But after entering Phase 2, Players Gidan and Serhi are moving together. Plus, Player Lee Taemin is continuously stacking buffs in between. If so, it should be sufficiently possible?”
“That’s what I’m saying. Uh, the drone is drawing aggro and bringing the boss over.”
[The ‘Korean Team’ has subdued ‘Cursed Paladin Urveki (Right)’ in Phase 2.]
“Whoa! They took down the first boss with a ridiculous play!”
“Korean Team, first boss of Phase 2 cut! The Korean Team is pulling off the impossible! The physical ability of our rookies is terrifying beyond imagination. They’re showing tremendous potential!”
“Literal DPS domination!! They’re crushing everything under sheer DPS!”
[The ‘German Team’ has subdued ‘Cursed Paladin Urveki (Left)’ in Phase 2.]
“Wow—the German team and the Korean team are fighting a neck-and-neck battle. Between fantastic teamwork and innate talent, whose hand will the goddess of victory raise! A truly suspenseful match continues.”
“But looking at this carefully… our Korean Team’s Hunter Lee Taemin has a personal buff on him, doesn’t he?”
“Huh? What do you mean? Isn’t the Korean Team all dealers right now?”
“Well… I think it’s probably the drone. Every time the drone flies back and forth, Player Taemin receives a buff, and the boss gets a debuff, that kind of pattern.”
“Do you mean it’s not an ordinary drone?”
“Yes. I think we should inquire with the coaching zone. Please wait a moment.”
*
Hunter TV Live Chat
ON: Live
— omg is 17m 3s for real?
— 1703!
— 1703, Hyeoneak had it all planned out
— ->>The important thing is a heart that never breaks<< As long as selected Gru’s heart doesn’t break, isn’t that all that matters? Gru fighting Gru fighting Gru fighting🐥 wtf is this??
— Even the spammer is surprised at 1703 lolololololol
— lololololololol so funny
— Hyeoneak is invincible and On Jurim is “God”
— Hyeon-men
— Sports betting is TotoNono bit.totonono.kr
— This works?
— If I may be so bold, all Hyeoneak antis should turn themselves in and commit seppuku gg
— The Hyeoneak anti inside me is gone. I was just briefly possessed by Satan. I am now reborn as a Hyeoneak fan
— My heart for Hyeoneak never broke, I just wavered for a moment
— Ooh ooh Hyeoneak antis switching sides ooh ooh ooh
— Highlights are up
— Whoa they insta-killed that? insane
— Gidan and Serhi are just on another level
— Gidan so good!❤❤❤
— Hyeoneak’s physical is crazy lol
— Look at the drone bringing the boss to Lee Taemin lolololol acting on its own
— Wait, Lee Taemin soloed the last boss of Phase 1?
— Where did the guys saying Lee Taemin’s form dropped go lol
— My apologies,,
— Taemin, I’m sorryyy!
— Repent!
— So this is a celestial battle. My chest swells with awe.
— Wait, Lee Taemin, isn’t that drone power?
— Bullshit, no way
— The commentator’s talking about the drone
— The drone gives buffs? Wasn’t it an additional attack drone?
— What, is the drone brand new?
*
Gru rolled a round candy around inside his cheek, humming a tune as he operated a pink tablet.
Boop boop boop—
Inside the tablet, a chick warrior was shown hunting monsters with his companions like a pixel game.
‘Let’s go!’
Gru firmly pressed a skill that looked like a game UI.
[Party member ‘Lee Taemin’ has received a buff.]
Inside the tablet, the companion character raised both arms and struck a pose as power surged through him.
Mephisto Series Mk.3 Support Type.
It was a new version that Gru had created by incorporating a game interface into his tablet to enable direct control.
People say the chronic problem of the Korean Team is a lack of support.
So if the support line is lacking?
‘Then I’ll just make one!’
That was the mindset with which it had been made.
‘I’m glad it turned out even better than I expected.’
Smiling in satisfaction, Gru propped his face up on both arms on the table and looked at the top-right corner of the tablet, which displayed the drone’s information.
[Mephisto Series Mk.3 (Grade Undetermined)]
[Measuring Grade…….]
‘It’s taking a while……’
It seemed to be because he had packed this drone with various functions, including buff options.
Maybe the grade could only be measured once he used ‘that thing,’ too.
He had been told to deliver the results to the coaching zone the moment the grade measurement finished.
“Hmmm……”
It was just as Gru was contemplating whether to use it for the grade measurement.
[The ‘German Team’ has subdued ‘Wolf Butcher (Left)’ in Phase 2.]
[The ‘German Team’ is advancing to Phase 3.]
[The ‘Korean Team’ has subdued ‘Wolf Butcher (Right)’in Phase 2.]
[The ‘Korean Team’ is advancing to Phase 3.]
Germany took the lead by a hair’s breadth as Phase 2 ended.
Then Gidan’s voice came through the earset.
[Gidan: Gru-Gru, ready?]
“Huh? Already?”
[Gidan: Yeah yeah. Germany’s tempo is faster than I thought. Taemin, join us over here.]
[Lee Taemin: Huh? Right now? What are you planning to do?]
[Gidan: Something fun!]