Chapter 16
As Junhyeok pulled aggro, Kang Jicheol the trapper's voice echoed again.
"The bind will break soon!"
Sangjin's voice followed immediately.
"Choi Junhyeok! What the hell are you doing? Get out now!"
Sangjin saw Junhyeok's actions as pure recklessness.
No rookie who'd never experienced virtual combat would dare try tanking unless they had a death wish.
But even if it were bravado, it was too late.
"Too late. The aggro's already on me."
Sangjin's face contorted in disbelief.
While aggro didn't accumulate like stacked stones during prolonged hunts, this was still the aggro he'd maintained for hours as a self-styled veteran in this beginner zone.
How could a first-timer steal it in under five minutes?
It defied all logic.
"What? Aggro already? How...?"
Junhyeok snapped back at Sangjin's stunned tone.
"Not the time for chit-chat. I'll hold it, so kill the Mantis fast if you're worried."
"Tch! You suicidal bastard! You'll get yourself killed!"
"Suicidal? I'm fighting to live. Now let me focus on tanking."
Junhyeok raised his shield just as the True Decker broke free with a thunderous roar.
KRRROOOOAR!
WHOOSH! CRASH!
THUD! BOOM!
Though slower than other monsters, the True Decker's attacks remained formidable.
The party saw Junhyeok's actions as rookie recklessness, but couldn't stop him - without his tanking, they'd face annihilation.
Their only hope was him surviving while they hunted the Mantis.
Junhyeok, however, had other plans.
"Shall we begin properly now?"
He grinned ferally at the True Decker, awakening his dormant extrasensory perception.
ZZZZIIING!
A buzzing tinnitus filled his skull as every cell in his body reignited.
'Yes... This sensation. Finally.'
The awakening he'd known countless times before regression, now reborn.
As Junhyeok held the True Decker's aggro, Sangjin reassessed.
'That lunatic... Fine. Damage control first.'
Doubtful of Junhyeok's stamina, Sangjin barked orders.
"Chulmin! Wonjin! Flank the Mantis while I tank!"
The two moved swiftly, their earlier panic subdued.
"On it!"
"Damn it Junhyeok! Hold on! We'll crush this mantis bastard and bail you out!"
Junhyeok scowled at Chulmin's concern.
"You know who I am? I'm the legendary Choi Junhyeok! Focus on your damn DPS!"
Chulmin played along with the bravado.
"Right. We'll blitz it like lightning."
As they repositioned, Sangjin shouted to ranged attackers.
"Ranged DPS! Can you hit from here?"
"-Blocked by the True Decker! We need rooftop access!"
"Then move! The Mantis' shields are nearly down! Spam skills on my mark - forget Force conservation!"
Normally they'd preserve energy, but urgency ruled.
Sangjin focused on tanking the Mantis' scythe-like forelimbs.
KREEECH!
Each metallic screech set his teeth on edge.
SWISH! CRACK!
Even a veteran like him struggled against its speed.
'Gods, switching from True Decker to Mantis mid-fight...'
The whiplash between F-grade's slowest and fastest monsters was brutal.
Hyesoo's voice interrupted his concentration.
"Oppa... What about your heals?"
"Leave me be! Focus on Junhyeok!"
But moments later, light enveloped Sangjin anyway.
'Heal? I told her-'
"Moon Hyesoo! I said focus on Junhyeok!"
Her reply stunned him.
"No need to rush. Junhyeok-ssi doesn't even require healing."
Before Sangjin could explode, Donghyuk cut in.
"Hyung! Junhyeok's tanking perfectly! Dodging everything like a veteran!"
Sangjin's mind reeled.
A rookie out-tanking him?
"Don't bullshit me! Our lives depend on this!"
Multiple voices confirmed:
"We swear! He's toying with the True Decker!"
Against all logic, Sangjin relented.
"Fine! We'll proceed standard protocol. Melee withdraw, ranged hold positions!"
If true, they could avoid risky maneuvers.
If false... they were already doomed.
Junhyeok danced with the True Decker, senses alight.
Every dodge, every block flowed like water.
'Welcome back, old friend.'
His regressed body finally synced with centuries of battle memory.
The real hunt had just begun.
