Chapter 45
Kang Jieun glared at Bae Deoksu, who had accepted the worst possible monster territory assignment, and demanded sharply, "What is this supposed to mean? What exactly were you doing while other guilds were securing safe hunting grounds?"
Under Jieun's scolding, Bae Deoksu glanced at Junhyeok and replied, "We tried to do the same, but when Taebaek's Lee Daesu heard Hunter Junhyeok was joining us as our tank, he forced this area on us..."
Lee Daesu of Taebaek also operated primarily in Gangnam's high-level zone. Coincidentally, his hunting schedule overlapped with Genesis's. Upon hearing Junhyeok would be acting as a mercenary for them, he deliberately assigned Genesis the territory with two clustered monsters.
"Ha! What? Are you seriously saying that? Unacceptable. I'll go confront him myself."
Though Junhyeok had experience tanking five monsters simultaneously, hunting grounds always carried unpredictable risks. Jieun believed safer, single-target hunts were preferable.
As Jieun moved to confront Lee Daesu's party, Junhyeok stopped her. "It's fine. I'll handle the tanking."
Jieun looked shocked. "You'll tank two at once? I know you've handled five before... but are you certain?"
"After last time, I know I can manage. Extending the initial aggro phase should suffice."
Truthfully, five had been overwhelming, but with Taebaek's later support reducing it to two, he'd gained confidence. Hence his offer.
"Hmm... Wouldn't playing it safe be wiser?"
"No major risks. If variables arise, Hunter Bae Deoksu can co-tank. Besides," Junhyeok grinned, "you requested to see my tanking in person. I should make it worth your while."
This being his first mercenary job - an unnecessary request made solely to observe him - he intended to deliver a memorable performance.
Jieun sighed. "If you're that confident... Very well. I'll trust you."
"Leave it to me. Shall we go?"
Junhyeok and the Genesis party members began moving to their assigned location.
Departing from Dogok-dong Middle School (Gangnam's high-level zone base camp), Junhyeok's party soon arrived at Yangjae Station intersection.
"Both are Karkans," said Ranger Seong Dohoon. "They're close enough that sniping one would likely draw both."
Junhyeok shook his head. "No sniping."
The party looked puzzled. "But—"
"Their positions are ideal. I'll draw aggro directly." Meaning: He'd charge straight into the monster cluster.
"Ah!"
"Attack order follows my engagement sequence. Master Kang Jieun will handle positioning." After brief instructions, Junhyeok drew his sword and shield, advancing slowly before suddenly dashing toward the central Karkan!
Thud!
Closing the distance instantly:
'Shield Attack!'
Wham!
After securing the first Karkan's aggro, he pivoted to the second.
Swish!
The second Karkan turned its head—
Crash!
A leg strike secured its aggro as Junhyeok retreated to the intersection's center, both monsters in pursuit.
For ten minutes, he maintained perfect aggro through Shield Attacks and Domination (an AoE taunt/suppression skill) before ordering calmly: "Melee DPS begin attacks. Light auto-attacks only."
From a nearby building's second floor, Jieun watched breathlessly. "Incredible... Videos don't capture this intensity."
Bae Deoksu stared slack-jawed. "How?! Perfectly dodging simultaneous D-grade attacks from two targets?!"
"This isn't just reflexes," Jieun murmured. "It's like... he anticipates each attack."
"Impossible! D-grade attack speeds transcend F/E-grades. Even with pattern recognition, perfect evasion against two targets defies human limits!"
"That's why he's called an Irregular."
The unspoken truth hung heavy. While ordinary Awakened hesitated at such feats, Irregulars redefined possibilities.
"To last an hour against five of these... He's a monster."
Though inferior to Lee Daesu, Bae Deoksu remained an A-rank 3rd Awakening Tank. Yet Junhyeok's performance seemed inhuman.
"And he's only 1st Awakened. If he reaches 2nd Awakening, he might solo tank C-grade monsters. Something even Jonathan Curtis can't do outside rotations."
Since the Cataclysm, no tank had soloed C-grades. An established rule now trembling before an Irregular.
Twenty minutes after melee DPS began attacks:
"Ranger-type ranged DPS commence auto-attacks."
-Archers firing.
-Roger. Auto-attacks initiating.
Archers on rooftops unleashed volleys.
Twang!
Thunk!
With ranged attacks supplementing melee, shield depletion accelerated.
'My senses have sharpened since tanking five.'
Though observers saw frantic dodging, Junhyeok felt utterly relaxed. Monster strikes seemed sluggish, every motion predictable.
Boom!
Crash!
The Karkans' wild blows only cratered ground harmlessly.
'Aggro's stable. Time to intensify.'
Despite using only basic skills, his enhanced efficiency maintained ironclad aggro.
"Melee DPS activate skills. Master Kang Jieun, commence attacks."
"Already? Shield's barely at 10%!"
Normally, skills awaited 50% shield depletion to manage aggro.
"No aggro concerns. Focus on force management."
As melee DPS unleashed skills, Korea's #2 damage dealer - Sorceress Kang Jieun - joined the assault.
Kaboom!
Three hours later:
Groooan!
Thud!
The first Karkan fell, dissolving into light. Only loot remained.
"Skill card! And a DPS Awakening Stone!"
The dual drop alone exceeded daily quotas. Party members brightened visibly.
"Prioritize compact valuables. Resume attacks immediately - aggro's secured."
Meanwhile, Bae Deoksu stood speechless.
"This defies logic. No aggro phases? How?!"
By standard metrics, this hunt should've taken five hours. They'd finished in three.
"Even Jonathan Curtis uses aggro phases!"
Jieun shrugged. "He's an Irregular. That explains it."
Reality demanded acceptance. When Irregulars broke rules, witnesses could only repeat:
"...This makes no sense."
The mantra continued, echoing through the impossible made manifest.
