Chapter 218: Episode 218

The Yuda Raid Party. They were renowned throughout the continent, truly the best of the best. Not only did they possess over forty A-rank top-tier raiders, but the rest of their members were also at the B-rank top-tier. As comrades who had been together for years, their trust and coordination were perfect. In particular, the A-rank top-tier raider Yuda was a powerhouse ranked third in the listings. With him leading the raid party, they were a force to be feared.

The mage Asiant. The scout Hiklu. The druid Bency. The swordsman Yuda.

A raid party formed around these four. They covered each other’s weaknesses and had performed remarkably well within Balak, but they also had their shortcomings.

’‘First, they only ever targeted Velvet and never raided other dungeons. Second, they focused on brute force, making them weak in psychological warfare. Third, they invaded Balak’s territory with all their information exposed. Fourth, they used their exclusive items far too late. Fifth, they underestimated me. Sixth, they underestimated me way too much. And seventh, they severely underestimated me.’’

As raiders who had always clashed directly with Seunghoon, it was understandable that they would consider him pathetic. However, that very fact led to their carelessness. In the first place, Balak, unlike Velvet, was composed of territory. It wasn’t a battle fought solely within a dungeon. Yet they had underestimated Balak’s strength, so they were bound to suffer damage in the successive battles.

’‘Not a single one of you will leave here alive. Whatever that bastard Leon’s intentions were, you underestimated me, so you will pay the price.’’

Leon had likely sent Yuda to keep Count Dinen in check, planning to simply observe the outcome. Taehyun had no intention of playing along.

[A-rank Guardian Grai has cast Surging Wave Sword.]

[The Yuda Raid Party’s barrier has been destroyed.]

[Surging Wave Sword usage limit: 1/1]

Amidst the escalating battle, the Priests’ balance was the first to break. With so few of them left and their focus on healing Yuda, it was inevitable.

“The Black Mist is gone anyway! We’ll hold back Kumakuma and turn the tables!”

“Dammit, meteors are falling! There’s no barrier, so dodge on your own!”

“Use all the buff items! They’ll be useless if we don’t use them now!”

The raiders skillfully adapted, splitting their forces. The shield bearers charged toward Kumakuma first. As an S-rank Named Keeper, he was impossible to handle, but his special ability was on cooldown. With Asiant’s support, it was possible to hold out for a while.

“They just keep coming! Don’t you ever get tired of this?!”

Meanwhile, the mages led by Bency took on the A-rank soldiers. They used ice-attribute skills and vine bindings to tie up the soldiers’ feet. And Dares, who had replaced the absent Hiklu, began to destroy the elves’ barriers with the remaining raiders.

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Dares has cast Grimsley’s End.]

[A condensed beam of dark energy is fired in a straight line.]

[Grimsley’s End usage limit: 1/1]

He, like Yuda and Bency, was a raider with two single-use skills. Grimsley’s End pierced through the barrier in an instant, even damaging the elves.

[Direct Vassal Elf has died.]

[Direct Vassal Elf has died.]

[Great Elf Mederia has sustained a minor injury.]

’‘Damn. Still, in terms of raw power, they’re strong. I’ll kill a few of them before Yuda rejoins the fight.’’

As top-tier Priests, they should be able to heal a moderate injury. Taehyun deployed Eclat, who had been on standby in the rear.

[A-rank Named Mercenary Crybaby Eclat has cast the special ability ‘Melody of Harmony’.]

[Temporarily increases the accuracy of all soldiers.]

[Temporarily increases the health recovery rate of all soldiers.]

[Temporarily increases the evasion of all soldiers.]

The tide of battle, which had been turning against them, began to shift. The soldiers, now buffed, charged with a different vigor than before. As a result, Bency, who had been holding back the soldiers, had no choice but to pull out an Effect Conversion Card.

[The Yuda Raid Party has used an Effect Conversion Card.]

[The buffs on Balak’s soldiers are converted into debuffs.]

Their intention was to break the momentum, even if only temporarily. But it was a futile gesture.

[An Effect Conversion Card has been used.]

[The debuffs on Balak’s soldiers are converted into buffs.]

Balak also had an Effect Conversion Card remaining. Taehyun checked the health of the Basilisks and once again gave an order to Eclat.

[A-rank Named Mercenary Crybaby Eclat has cast Melody of Blessing.]

[Increases the defense of all soldiers.]

“Dammit! What’s with all these buffs?!”

“They’re so tough my attacks aren’t working! What do we do?”

“Tie up their feet as much as possible! This is all the soldiers Balak has left!”

With the buffs stacked, the raiders were flustered. Some were even panting, having exhausted all their mana. But not all of the main forces had appeared yet.

“Unfortunately for you, the buffs don’t end here. Hey. It’s your turn.”

“After all that time torturing me, now you’re throwing me into battle? This is too much. Seriously.”

“Stop grumbling and get out there.”

At Taehyun’s urging, a raider revealed himself. A man who once belonged to the Tarantula faction. It was Charon Deike.

—

“Pathetic humans. I will slaughter you all!”

“I have no interest in men. Kuma!”

“Nothing personal, Yuda Raid Party.”

Main forces appeared from all directions. Starting with Cheder, Hendy, and Eleonora from the North, followed by Death Knights, Liches, Trappers, Hunters, and High Elves. It was a number of forces unimaginable for a typical A-rank dungeon. They had once fought against them, but now they were all part of Balak. Charon sighed and cast his skills.

[Aura of Agility has been cast.]

[Aura of Agility has been enchanted on all soldiers.]

[Temporarily increases the agility stat of all soldiers.]

First, Aura of Agility.

[Aura of Stamina has been cast.]

[Aura of Stamina has been enchanted on all soldiers.]

[Temporarily increases the stamina stat of all soldiers.]

Followed by Aura of Stamina. A total of four buffs were now stacked. Just looking at the Hellhounds rampaging like monsters proved its effectiveness. Charon watched the battle from a distance. Just then, another light was bestowed upon the soldiers’ bodies.

[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used a buff item.]

[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used a buff item.]

[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used a buff item.]

This time, it was five buff items. Considering they would stack with the existing buffs, the soldiers’ stats would undoubtedly rise even higher. Charon trembled at Taehyun’s ruthless tactics.

“He’s a merciless bastard, pushing them this far. Even A-rank top-tier raiders won’t be able to withstand this. Sigh. Am I to be bound to a place like this from now on? I just want to die.”

“Then shall I kill you right here, right now?”

“…Hey. I’m not an enemy.”

The girl known as the Trapper was suddenly aiming her bow at him. Charon immediately raised his hands, breaking into a cold sweat. Hyena pointed to the ongoing melee and threatened him.

“Go fight now. You are to risk your life for our Master.”

“I’m an Enchanter, a support class. Don’t do this.”

“Even an Enchanter can throw a punch. Get going.”

“…You’re joking, right?”

—

[Dares has been caught in Pandemonium.]

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Dames has cast Sphere Explosion.]

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Cheder has cast Wave Splitter.]

[Rapasolu has died.]

Slowly, his comrades were dying. Dares, whose neck was sliced by a Death Knight; Rapasolu, who was killed by an arrow from a hidden elf; Dames, whose limbs were severed by Cheder’s Wave Splitter. Including the other comrades, it was safe to say the battle was already lost.

’Suddenly, he remembered Leon’s request.’

“This is a personal matter, so I’m asking you this favor. Yuda, please raid Balak. It’s okay if you fail. I’m just trying to evaluate its capabilities.”

“You abandoned me and my father—no, the entire Noah family—and ran away. I’m still lacking in so many ways. Your little brother is asking you. You’ll do it, right?”

“You’re the third-ranked A-rank raider. Raiding a place like Balak should be easy for you, right? It’s fine if you destroy it completely. Balak’s usefulness has diminished anyway. Creating an opportunity like this is enough. Even if he survives…”

His one and only younger brother, whose attitude had changed completely after Leopard’s passing. Although they weren’t blood-related, he still felt a sense of responsibility. He had been practically abandoned and ignored by the nobles and the royal family, but he definitely carried guilt. Yuda recalled Leon’s final words and pushed himself to his feet.

’‘…Yes. Perhaps you were the one who drove me to my death. But I can’t bring myself to hate you. I just feel sorry for the comrades who trusted and followed me, only to die.’’

Small moments of carelessness had led to this situation. Perhaps he had grown arrogant from focusing only on Velvet for so long. Yuda raised his sword toward the center of the soldiers.

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Yuda is casting the Spear of Longinus.]

[The magic sword Fragarach amplifies the mana.]

[Sacred divine power is gathering with the mana.]

[Spear of Longinus usage limit: 1/1]

“The Yuda Raid Party may be disbanded as of today, but I will leave our mark. I will show you now that all our hardships were not in vain.”

A combination of divine power and mana. A power that no one had dared to wield began to reveal itself. Yuda looked at Bency, who had been taken down by the Hunter.

“Thank you for following this foolish raid leader. And I’m sorry, Bency.”

“Heh. As if. I have no regrets about my choice—”

He collapsed with a smile lingering on his lips, his heart pierced through. The Druid of the North had met his end. Yuda looked at the Hunter charging toward him and smirked.

“Too late, you fool.”

“Th-this is—!”

Finally, Fragarach was swung. Balak’s soldiers were rushing him, but it was too late.

[The Spear of Longinus is fired.]

The Spear of Longinus was already shooting out from the blade in a straight line. Yuda muttered as his vision slowly faded.

“You sons of bitches. Take this and get lost.”

’Thud.’

—

[The Spear of Longinus has been fired.]

Yuda’s second single-use skill was cast. The Spear of Longinus, imbued with both divine power and mana, shot out in a straight line like a laser. Its target was none other than the center of Balak’s forces—the very place where most of his main units were located. Taehyun looked at Hyena inside the barrier and shouted urgently.

“Raviz, summon all the main forces right now!”

“My mana depletion hasn’t recovered ye—”

“Damn it! Everyone, deploy maximum barriers! Use every last bit of holy power to stack them!”

As the world seemed to flicker before his eyes, dozens of barriers materialized.

[Barrier Damage Rate: 10%]

[Barrier Damage Rate: 30%]

[Barrier Damage Rate: 50%]

Then, the Spear of Longinus struck.

“Taehyun! I don’t think we can hold out much longer!”

“Our subordinate fairies are sharing their holy power, but I think we’ve reached our limit!”

“Am I going to die the moment I’m thrown into battle?!”

The damage rate climbed instantly, and the barriers began to shatter. Taehyun watched Hyena on the screen, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow.

’‘No. I have to save her. She can’t die!’’

Suddenly, memories from a flashback surfaced. Through the clearing haze, a silhouette slowly came into focus. It was the unmistakable figure of someone he knew.

“Ku, kuma! This power is too much for me to handle alone!”

“Ugh. Same here, Dungeon Master.”

“No matter what skills we throw at it, it’s useless! What do we do?!”

Taehyun clutched his head, thoughts racing, and gave an order to Sieghardt.

Ugh. “I’m counting on you, Sieghardt.”

“…For my lord!”

With that, Sieghardt broke off to the left, raising his shield with a grim expression.

[A-rank Keeper Sieghardt, Gatekeeper of the White Giant Star, has cast Come to Me.]

[He will intercept the designated skill.]

[Come to Me Usage Limit: 2/2]

The skill had only one use left, and now it was being cast again. Sieghardt watched the Spear of Longinus hurtle toward him and smiled bitterly. “I have no regrets. I have devoted myself to my lord.”

And so, Yuda’s trump card pierced the left wall and shot harmlessly into the sky.

—

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