Solo Max-Level Newbie
chapter-158

Chapter 158: Choosing a Faction (2)

Woong!

With a bright light, a new figure appeared.

Ryao Wei.

He was the second-in-command of the Zhonghua Guild.

“Mr. Ryao Wei!”

Maria greeted Ryao Wei warmly.

Due to the randomly assigned traits, the current players were scattered in small groups.

That’s why they desperately needed even one more strong power.

Ryao Wei also let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew. It’s lucky I ended up with such capable people…”

But then.

While speaking, Ryao Wei’s words trailed off as he noticed Jinhyuk, who was distractedly looking elsewhere.

“Is he also here?”

“Yes. I’m not exactly thrilled, but it seems we have no choice but to work together.”

“That… is so.”

Grind.

The sound of gnashing teeth seemed particularly loud.

It was natural to feel anger, being in the place chosen because of its absurd difficulty.

However, since the situation was so desperate, they couldn’t freely blame anyone.

‘I’ll tolerate it for now.’

The Zhonghua Guild and Samurai Guild were already in cahoots with ‘Moorim,’ a massive force.

For this faction selection alone, it meant they had a comparative advantage like no other.

In the end, no matter how skilled a veteran player was, they would be completely tied down this time.

Thinking this way, the frustration inside him eased up a bit.

“Hm. Hmm. Hmmmm.”

Unaware of their thoughts, Jinhyuk hummed a tune and surveyed the labyrinth’s entrance.

The main theme of this labyrinth was ‘guarding the tombs of the ancestors.’

Naturally, countless traps awaited inside.

‘Tired tales of invaders disturbing the rest of the dead kings shall be met with death. Something like that.’

Just then.

“We are going in now. Player Kang Jinhyuk, please join us.”

Maria called for Jinhyuk.

With Jinhyuk’s inclusion, they started to delve into the details of the raid.

“First, a brief explanation. There are six of us in total: one tank, two melee damage dealers, two ranged damage dealers, and one support healer.”

The number was woefully insufficient, but fortunately, the balance was somewhat maintained.

The formation wouldn’t collapse all at once.

“Let’s move carefully and proceed step by step. I’ll stay at the back to check for traps since I have the most experience with labyrinths, so please follow my commands.”

“Alright.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Damn it. Even though it’s the 25th floor, it’s not impossible if we do as we’ve done so far.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The tank took the front, with the melee and ranged damage dealers taking up their positions behind.

Despite the small numbers, the formation seemed rather solid, thanks to each individual’s outstanding abilities.

And then.

Seeing this, Jinhyuk smirked to himself.

‘Textbook strategy.’

But that was all.

The traps in this place weren’t the kind you could survive by simply being prepared.

Of course, since they’ve never been here, they wouldn’t know such facts.

‘Let’s see how it goes.’

Jinhyuk silently advanced.

In utter silence, so profound that even heartbeats were audible.

Everyone was on high alert, not knowing when or where the traps would be triggered, reaching a peak in tension.

Right then, as Maria at the rear passed between two statues.

Kukukukuku!

Suddenly, the ground shook violently.

It was a trap.

“I’ll put up the shield!”

Maria shouted.

The tank raised his shield high, and the damage dealers crouched down, ready to leap at a moment’s notice.

They didn’t know what type, but instinctively they felt something significant was about to happen.

[Vermin who invaded the ‘Valley of the Forefathers,’ heed my words!]

A grating voice echoed throughout the valley.

The noise came from above, from precisely where the two statues stood.

“Monsters…?”

“No, it’s not moving at all.”

Maria decisively drew the line.

The statues stood still as if nailed to their spots. At least they didn’t have to fight those colossal giants.

But still, why?

Maria’s face was colder than ever, her whole body gripped by a dangerous aura.

Something was wrong.

The situation was… alarming.

At that moment.

[Graverobbers need a punishment befitting them. Let’s see your wretched bodies withstand the wrath of kings!]

From the sword held by the statues, a translucent wave of energy erupted.

Patsatsatsatsat…!

There was no avoiding it.

The wave’s breadth was too wide, forcing the players to absorb the impact of the light.

“Kuagh!”

“Aaaack!”

[Physical and magical defense values will change to 0!]

[The probability of suffering critical hits increases by 100%!]

[All resistance to piercing attacks disappears.]

[Resistance to the 5 elemental properties vanishes entirely!]

[All unique defensive abilities and skills become……]

The multitude of status windows that appeared were like a death sentence being read out.

“The shield’s magic… I can’t feel the magic at all.”

Maria mumbled desperately.

If only that light had been an attack, it would have been better. The debuff given by the statues was that despairing.

“This… How can this be…?”

“Such absurd constraints… If we fall for even one trap, it means we’re dead.”

Moreover, given that they could feel waves of similar types far away, it was clear that other players teleported to different locations were in the same dire situation.

Their chances of surviving in the labyrinth had now dwindled to almost zero.

It was obvious.

The tank that should have been leading boldly.

The sub-dealers who should have layered shields and buffs just in case.

The main dealers who should dive into enemy lines, relying on just one survival skill.

They all had lost their wings, so to speak.

That’s why.

No one present.

Realized that one of their party had disappeared.

***

“Cough. Ugh, what a damp air…”

Having entered the labyrinth, Jinhyuk looked around.

Left, right, front, back.

In the darkness, he could only rely on dimly glowing algae on the walls to guide him.

Yet, there was no hint of anxiety on Jinhyuk’s face.

‘If getting grazed means death, then I just need to avoid being hit. Simple.’

He wondered why nobody else had realized that.

If they had, they wouldn’t be so despondent.

Ah…!

‘It would be impossible for others to make a no-hit run here.’

In hindsight, it seems he was the one who had missed the obvious.

Always a problem to think only in terms of his own standards, he mused.

As a gesture of reflection, Jinhyuk bowed shortly toward the entrance of the labyrinth.

Out there, players would still be panicking, clueless about what to do.

Just stumbling around in the most important early part of the area that the factions were closely monitoring.

‘It seems like securing the first place public merit point is already a done deal.’

Jinhyuk stretched his body then picked up a pebble he found on the ground.

He then threw the pebble into the inner parts of the passage.

Whooom!

The pebble, flying in an arc, didn’t go far.

Kwakwakwakwa!

Boom!

Kwaang!

Where they thought was solid ground collapsed like sand.

From the walls, dozens of fire arrows and ice spikes crossed paths.

All this happened in less than a second.

‘A player without defensive capabilities trying to pass through here is near-impossible.’

Even if they avoided the wave, surviving these traps was no easy feat.

And these were just the traps set up at the entrance.

As one went deeper, the traps would become more powerful and patterns more complex, so the quest could be considered a failure already.

However.

That was the tale for the average player.

‘It’s a different story for me.’

Jinhyuk approached a nearby wall.

Carved with complex runes and ancient text, the stone wall held secrets.

‘It should be around here…’

Brushing away cobwebs and dust with his palm, the engraved letters became clear.

‘Found it.’

His well-earned instinct hadn’t faded, even after a long absence.

And thus, no matter how high the floors went, a veteran player’s advantage never diminished.

Like now, finding backdoors even in places known for their extreme difficulty.

To reinterpret the enchantment that constructed the labyrinth, Jinhyuk also activated ‘Moon’s Mark.’

[‘Moon’s Mark’ responds to the ancient language!]

A soft light emanated from the tattoo on his shoulder.

Simultaneously.

Part of the solid wall cracked.

A blue line started to trace along the wall.

The line soon formed a rectangle.

[A passageway to the Tombs of the Ancestors reveals itself.]

[You may choose only one door per person.]

[Time remaining: 0h:0m:60s]

Five doors materialized.

Above each door was a symbol representing one of the five elements, all emitting fiercely intense light as if alive.

Jinhyuk scanned the symbols one by one.

Fire, water, earth, wind, light.

No matter which he chose, the path wouldn’t be easy.

After all, those passageways led to the named monsters representative of the five elements.

Naturally, fighting one of them with nerfed defenses would mean risking life in a fierce battle.

Yes, the probability of death would be overwhelmingly high if there were a fight.

‘If… there’s a fight, that is.’

…Now 40 seconds.

The sands inside the hourglass descended quickly.

Time was running out.

Jinhyuk clenched and unclenched his fist.

10 seconds.

The moment to decide was approaching.

Yet, Jinhyuk remained motionless.

Instead, he summoned his Fang and Twin Dragon Sword from the subspace inventory.

And at that very instant.

[Time has completely expired.]

The sand finished its descent.

“Kieeeee!”

With a fierce roar, something started emerging from the five doors.

By not making a selection, the monsters inside were all released at once.

Hwarruk!

The first to emerge was a fiery element breathing flames, a Salamander.

Less than 1m in size, but as an essence of fire, even a Salamander alone was a formidable entity.

“How dare a mere human set foot here. I’ll roast you to the bone and swallow you whole.”

The Salamander flicked its tongue.

“Are you threatening me? Saying you’ll kill me?”

“My mission is to eradicate intruders. And if the subject is less than vermin,” the Salamander replied, “I will incinerate without mercy.”

“…Is that so?”

Jinhyuk glanced down.

Then.

“Yip!”

Sweet Potato raised its tail high, as though incensed that its master was being threatened.

Kukukukukuku!

The atmosphere vibrated violently.

Above the monsters were legendary spirits and essences.

And atop all the food chains was the most formidable lifeform.

The Ancient Species.

[Sweet Potato activates Lv4 ‘Blaze’!]