Chapter 28
Over two hours had passed since the hunt began.
Zerus's stamina was already nearing its limit.
At this rate, the hunt would clearly end within 20-30 minutes at most.
This was why Jonghoon, the healer, wore an expression of utter disbelief.
"...How is this possible?"
The average hunting time for Zerus was four hours.
While this could vary depending on party composition and skill level, one certainty remained—no veteran party could finish it in under three hours.
The reason was simple: aggro management.
No matter how much aggro the tank generated, accumulated damage from dealers would eventually cause aggro to slip.
This necessitated periodic breaks where dealers stopped attacking to reset aggro values.
The average was four resets, though rookies might need five or six, each consuming about ten minutes.
Four resets alone wasted forty minutes.
Moreover, dealers moderated their attacks to prevent aggro loss.
All these factors combined to create the four-hour average per Zerus.
Yet Junhyeok was shattering this common sense.
"The dealers are going all out without a single aggro reset, and the aggro holds? Does that make any sense?"
Beside Jonghoon, mapper Kang Sungmin added with a pale expression:
"And that tanking? He's evading or deflecting nearly every attack. His health's only dropped about 10% even now. I'm watching it unfold and still can't believe it. How can anyone dodge such brutal strikes?"
Junhyeok's overwhelming aggro management stemmed from his core awakening and bracelet effects:
20% skill efficiency from his core plus 50% from his bracelet created a 70% boost, drastically enhancing Shield Attack and Oppression's aggro values.
Unlike tanks solely focused on defense, his consistent basic attacks maintained aggro without resets.
To the unaware party members, this was naturally astonishing.
As Jonghoon and Sungmin marveled at Junhyeok's tanking, the hunt reached its climax.
"Not much left. Conserve skills for the next hunt—focus on basic attacks."
At Junhyeok's order, dealers ceased skill usage and switched to normal strikes.
Thud! Bang! Wham!
Though slower than skill spamming, they attacked freely without aggro concerns, maintaining decent damage output.
After about ten minutes...
ROOOOAR!
Zerus finally collapsed with a thunderous roar.
BOOM!
Its body dissolved into white particles,
leaving behind Zerus crystals, byproducts,
and a crimson Awakening Stone.
"Gasp! A D-DPS Awakening Stone!"
Worth at least 1 billion won (≈$850k) at auction—an extraordinary drop.
"No way! My first DPS stone in over a year of hunting! Incredible!"
Though DPS stones had slightly higher drop rates than support types,
they remained exceptionally rare overall,
especially from F-rank monsters like Zerus—so scarce that some hunters never saw one before leaving novice zones.
"Off to a great start. Let's collect the loot first," Junhyeok said as party members emerged from the management office.
"Speaking of which—a mere 2 hours and 40 minutes?" asked ranged DPS Jo Ahreum with disbelief. "Are you really a first-awakened? Even veterans couldn't achieve this speed."
Junhyeok shrugged. "I splurged on aggro-boosting gear. Cost a fortune, but it paid off."
"But what gear could eliminate aggro resets entirely—"
"Just got lucky. Let's discuss the next hunt. It's 10:30 AM—awkward timing. Hunt another or eat early?"
The standard routine involved starting at 8 AM and finishing around noon for lunch with other parties. But their early completion disrupted this schedule.
Veteran healer Kim Jonghoon nodded. "Check the target's location first. If nearby, we hunt. If far, lunch first. No need to rush after hitting the jackpot already."
"Then let's proceed. Mr. Sungmin—map please."
Mapper Kang Sungmin immediately cast his skill.
"Mapping."
Bzzzt!
As the map materialized, members scrutinized it.
"This one looks suitable. Ten minutes on foot."
"Agreed. Though the species matters... but with Junhyeok's tanking, it's irrelevant."
Map skills revealed locations, not species. A Mantis-type could spell trouble—but nobody doubted Junhyeok now.
Junhyeok's first hunt concluded smoothly.
Three monsters slain in a day. Total earnings: 1.012 billion won, including the Awakening Stone.
Junhyeok claimed over 300 million, while Changu secured nearly 100 million.
"Hyung! 100 million! I've never touched this much money!"
Junhyeok smirked at Changu's excitement.
"Enjoy it. Won't be this easy again. Awakening Stones are rare here—you know that."
"Of course! Haha! Who cares? I'll consider this my lifetime luck spent! This is why awakened are respected!"
"Right. Head home first—I have an errand. Buy two chickens for Eunjeong and Euncheol on your way."
Junhyeok arrived at the training center—a simulation room.
The counter clerk greeted him urgently.
"Welcome!"
"One person. Five hours. No data recording."
After payment, Junhyeok entered Room #3.
The space divided into a control room and combat arena.
"Simulation settings: Zerus, urban terrain, solo." He reconfigured skills on a tablet.
"Equip tank passives, one stun, mapping, then focus on DPS."
Beep!
"Combat begins in 1 minute."
Junhyeok summoned a luminous bow—
Twang!
—as virtual Zerus roared.
Thwip!
A light arrow struck its face.
CRACK!
"Rapid Fire! Critical Shot!"
After three shots, he swapped to a glowing sword.
Zerus lunged with crushing blows—
WHOOSH!
—but to Junhyeok's heightened senses, they moved in slow motion.
