The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 74

-The Ranger's a madman;

-Don't underestimate the advanced player.

-But he didn't kill it, right?

-Being weak in a low-level dungeon is...

-His skills were flashy. Let's have a drink.

The skill the Ranger had just displayed had caught everyone's attention.

Thunder Sniping.

The guidebook described it as a 4-rank skill.

Its seemingly greater destructive power must be due to other factors like weapons or stats.

‘I need to be at that level.’

Only 10,000 out of 300 million. These were the advanced players, those who had climbed through that level of competition.

They were the perfect candidates as materials to clear this dungeon.

Swish-!

Kwang-!

Hanbit, chasing the doll, continued to unleash attacks.

The reason he poured out all his maximum power was only one. To avoid the Ranger's suspicion.

Crack-!

At that moment, the electric arrow that had flown from behind split into several branches.

It was the Ranger's skill.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-!

‘I don't need to worry.’

The Ranger, who had already made up his mind to kill the doll, poured out his firepower without hesitation.

However, the wide maze walls became an obstacle.

Whoosh-!

The fleeing doll retaliated by breathing fire.

Hanbit easily dodged it and gradually closed the distance.

Kang-!

Crack-!

The continuous pursuit and exchange brought the stage back to the center of the maze.

Whoosh-!

Hanbit, who was close behind, narrowly avoided the doll's attack and maintained close range.

It was too irritating for the Ranger.

"If you can't do it, get out of the way!"

Killing both the Black Dragon and the doll was an easy task.

He was ready to accept a PK as well, but the difference in power was already clear.

Even if he lost the chance to clear the dungeon, he could make the guy taste defeat.

As long as he didn't loiter around so close.

"You should have killed it in one shot. How can an advanced player not even kill something like that?"

"There's no reason for me to listen to such nonsense from you!"

-He's riled up. lmao

-Black Dragon, you're going to die for real;

-Oh, oh. The Ranger is going dark.

-That's just his personality...

-It's hilarious to see someone who's only been playing for a week talking down to the Ranger.

-rofl

Crack-!

Provoked, the Ranger's attacks became more lethal.

Although his attack was once again blocked by the crooked maze wall, his aim was getting closer.

Swish-!

Hanbit, who didn't stop swinging his sword, guided the doll towards the floor.

Even so, his mouth didn't stop talking.

"You're really an advanced player, right? It would be embarrassing to lose your spellbook and fail to clear the dungeon."

"You damn rat..."

-Stop provoking him. lol

-The Ranger's eyes are bloodshot;

-Look at his grumpy personality.

-He sounds like an old man from the way he talks. lmao

-Lol for real

The Ranger looked at Hanbit with hatred in his eyes.

The penalty for killing a player was much greater than death itself. And yet, the unpleasantness and anger that filled him moved his body.

Even after thinking about it several times, seeing Black Dragon right in front of him, his reason had already disappeared.

Whoosh-!

Black Dragon and the doll, who were engaged in a precarious battle, gradually moved towards the floor where the magic circle was.

Both sides showed unusually agile movements.

However, the minor doubts didn't matter anymore.

"Just die with me."

Crack-!

As the Ranger's voice echoed, arrows began to appear in the upper void.

It was his strongest 6-rank skill.

Thunder Arrow Rain.

‘That’s it!’

Hanbit clenched his fist, recognizing the technique.

It was exactly the destructive power he’d been waiting for.

Kang-!

Hanbit blocked the incoming doll's sword and maintained his stance while activating his attribute.

The yellow arrows had already formed in the sky above.

Woong-!

As a resonant sound filled his ears and the arrows above began to fall en masse,

Paak-!

Hanbit kicked the doll in the chest and used the recoil to jump back.

Then, he clung to the wall and ran with all his might.

"How laughable you are, running away!"

Kwa-kwa-kwa-!

With the Ranger's voice, a shower of arrows poured down, completely obscuring his vision.

Hanbit, who had been focused solely on running, was finally able to escape the area of effect.

"...?"

The Ranger's eyes followed Hanbit's strangely odd behavior.

There was no need to run so far away.

‘Well, it doesn't matter now.’

On the ground where the arrows had poured down, the completely destroyed doll was sprawled out.

In other words, he had succeeded in stealing the first clear of this dungeon.

More than anything, he was happy that he had humiliated Black Dragon.

But…

GRRRRR-!

Suddenly, a huge roar echoed from all ends of the maze.

When he looked, the largest outer wall was moving.

"...?"

It was a strange scene for a dungeon clearing sequence.

Realizing something was wrong, the Ranger tried to chase after Black Dragon.

At that moment.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-!

Suddenly, the entire floor collapsed, and a huge wave surged up.

"Tch!"

Reacting quickly, the Ranger kicked off and jumped into the air.

If he were to be caught in such a simple trap, he wouldn't be an advanced player.

He had that kind of confidence and pride.

However, the following situation was completely out of his expectations.

GRRRRR!

A giant shadow loomed over the surging water from the collapsed floor.

Instinctively sensing danger, the Ranger drew his bow.

Paak-!

A giant arrow wrapped in electricity plunged into the water in a swirling motion.

It was a 5th rank skill, Tempest Shot.

It was a lump of destructive power that could even destroy the map in a dungeon of this level.

However…

Chaak-!

The unknown shadow, which should have died, pushed through the water without hesitation.

"What the...?"

Looking down, the Ranger's eyes widened.

A giant fish with its mouth wide open appeared.

The name tag that floated above its head made him doubt his eyes.

[Boss: Aquarium Patriarch (Lv.500)]

"Ugh!"

Something was wrong.

The Ranger frantically searched the surrounding terrain to escape.

However, the tall maze walls had already collapsed and sunk.

Chaak-!

The fish's mouth lunged at his body.

Sensing death, the Ranger shouted towards Hanbit, who was climbing the stairs far away.

"Black Dragon!"

* * *

"Black Dragon!"

The Ranger's angry voice was soon buried in the water.

Hanbit, who had glanced outside, started climbing the stairs again.

"He's a hot-tempered guy."

-It's all your fault, you crazy bastard. looool

-I never imagined you'd steal the Ranger’s clear. lmaaooo

-The Ranger won't be able to sleep tonight.

-Is it really level 500?

-It wasn't an aquarium, it was a tomb;

"But it's not my fault, is it? They came after me."

-That's... true, isn't it?

-Who asked them to come?

-Who threatened them with a knife?

-They were just trying to steal the clear too.

-The one who's stealing the honey is the fish eating monster. ㅋㅋㅋ

-But the Ranger is so funny. ㅋㅋㅋ

-???: Just die with me!

Hanbit’s plan was one thing, but ultimately, each player made their own choices and decisions.

There was no other way to put it but, “If you’re upset, you should’ve done your research.”

“Hyung! This is awesome!” Yeonwoo approached him, his voice filled with excitement.

As he looked down, the maze, now filled with water, was teeming with fish.

The players were being devoured. There were only a few left now.

“But wasn’t the objective to find bait? Can we use people?”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a person or a monster. If you take the bait, you become food. Of course, the advanced players need to be strong.”

The level-unknown bait doll was a tool to identify food for the patriarch.

It was designed to summon the patriarch once it sensed enough destructive power to meet the conditions.

Irtelroger's hobby and preference were to make players look down like this from above.

Even so, considering it was a game, wouldn’t it be possible to clear it even if you weren't an advanced player?

It was uncertain how much the reward would be, though.

‘That was truly terrible.’

The first time he entered this dungeon, it was through the entrance used by the aquarium fish.

He figured out how to solve the maze, interpreted the sign, and went down to face the doll.

Then, the floor collapsed, the patriarch appeared, and he was eaten, ending that run.

It wasn’t just the pain; it was so absurd that it stuck in his head for a long time.

Splash-

The fish that were continuing their meal gradually disappeared into the water.

And when the patriarch, the last one to remain, disappeared, an alarm sounded.

Ding-!

[Dungeon cleared successfully.]

[A special reward will be given for the first clear.]

[Reward increased due to exceeding clear conditions.]

[Achievement: Aquarium Banquet achieved.]

[Reward increased for achieving the first achievement.]

[Rewards will be distributed according to party members' contributions.]

[Received 1,000,000 gold.]

[Received Soul Hornpipe (Rank 4-Unique).]

[Received Fire Tempering Agent (Rank 3-Unique).]

[Received 20 stat points.]

[Received 300,000 experience points.]

[Level increased by 4.]

[Received 4 stat points.]

"Wow, do we get rewards like this again?"

-Is this real?

-Can't he just clear dungeons and make a living?

-Agreed. He could easily take out the advanced players.

-Fact: The higher you go, the harder the dungeons get.

-Is this place so hard that the Ranger couldn't clear it?

-Lol real.

The rewards were all excellent. It really felt like you could become strong just by clearing dungeons. Well, just becoming strong, that's all.

"How much did you get?"

"I got about 10% this time."

"...Isn't the contribution calculation too strict?"

"It has to be otherwise, people would just piggyback on others. I got this much because I at least killed some monsters and actively searched the maze." Yeonwoo nodded as if it were obvious.

Just like in the episode, the reward system was quite ruthless. It was only natural to receive rewards according to one's efforts.

"But what's the Soul Hornpipe? I've never heard of it.

"It's a buff item. It's needed for the next episode."

[Soul Hornpipe]

Rank: 4

Grade: Unique

Description: A hornpipe that emits a sound that stirs the soul. It strengthens the abilities and mental fortitude of living creatures within a certain range.

A Soul Hornpipe that can only be obtained in this dungeon.

It will be a useful item in the next city, Ifrit.

"Let's go out first."

"Yes. Are you going to Ifrit now?"

"I'll think about it after seeing the special rewards... Ah."

Something came to Hanbit's mind as he continued speaking.

After thinking for a moment, he sent a message to Kim Jaeha.

[Are you available to log in if you have time?]

It had been a long time since they had been in touch. It seemed like he was so busy that he didn't even have time to check his messages. If he didn't get a reply this time, he might have to go find him directly.

Beep-

Closing the message window, Hanbit turned his camera and said, "Avantgarde, if you're watching, please contact me."

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]