Chapter 11-3: Spear and Shield
At dawn, Jagen and Big Bo climbed the hill behind their house.
Whooosh.
Jagen stared at the swirling dark matter in his palm.
"Dark Bolt."
Zzzap!
The dark matter transformed into an arrow.
It flew and shattered a boulder.
"Damn it," Jagen muttered, shaking his hand nervously. Magic still felt unfamiliar to him.
"Huff... huff..."
Big Bo finally reached the hilltop, lagging behind. Jagen kicked the panting man with his foot.
"Get up. Go do 50 pull-ups on that bar." Jagen pointed at the rusty exercise equipment scattered around – typical for a neighborhood hill.
"F-fifty?" Big Bo's eyes widened.
"Hey, you're an Awakened too, dumbass."
"Well yes, but... my body isn't exactly lightweight..."
Jagen grabbed Big Bo by the scruff and dragged him to the pull-up bar before throwing him forward.
"Fail and you're dead." Jagen sat on a nearby rock after his brief threat.
Chaos Walker.
Jagen searched for information about this class. As Isaac had boasted, it was completely unprecedented in the Raider world where countless classes existed. Having a unique class wasn't special – popular classes were more advantageous due to accumulated research and shared knowledge.
"First spell is Dark Bolt... somewhat similar to Dark Mage types then."
Dark Bolt was a basic spell for Dark Mage classes. Most mage-types possessed some form of projectile attack magic – fundamental techniques that shaped and discharged magical energy.
"Goddamn Isaac."
Jagen was furious. Naturally he preferred warrior classes. Isaac definitely knew this.
To you, my life is just a game.
Isaac had deliberately given him an unfamiliar class – moreover, one with zero existing information. Jagen would have to research everything from scratch.
All I've got is this body and that pig.
Jagen watched Big Bo struggling through pull-ups with his 100+ kg frame – a comically pathetic sight.
"No breaks. Keep going."
Pew!
Jagen shot a Dark Bolt beneath Big Bo's feet.
"Eek!" The momentarily resting Big Bo scrambled back up in panic.
"This is crazy. How can someone have absolutely zero talent?"
Jagen had tested Big Bo thoroughly recently. Everyone had at least one or two talents...
Not this pig.
Combat sense, strength, reflexes, magic aptitude... nothing stood out. No, everything was below average.
"Even actual pigs are supposed to be smart, sigh..."
Jagen couldn't figure out how to utilize Big Bo at all. He bit his nails with downcast eyes, shadowy darkness swirling around his gaze like his magical energy.
What am I even doing? I'm still too weak. This isn't enough. Need to get stronger. Strong enough to make those bastards kneel before me again and show them exactly who I am.
Big Bo finished his pull-ups but froze when approaching Jagen – the man sat with an expression like he'd just murdered someone.
What kind of person is our Captain really?
Big Bo's unanswered questions multiplied daily. Jagen's attitude, actions, contact with gods... nothing about him seemed normal. He couldn't possibly be a recently Awakened Raider.
Three days later:
"Let's go. Dungeon," Jagen announced.
Big Bo paused while cooking morning ramen:
"Huh? Gathering a raid party?"
"Just us two."
Big Bo's face paled:
"No way! I don't wanna die yet!"
BAM!
Jagen flipped the dining table. Chopsticks clattered to the floor as chilling fear filled the room. Furniture had been overturned daily since Jagen arrived.
"Wanna die here? Or come along?"
"Just... just let me finish my ramen."
Jagen nodded sharply then added as if remembering:
"I want two eggs."
●
Even low-rank dungeons required minimum six-member parties. Ten was standard when possible for optimal EXP distribution. Higher ranks needed large-scale raids.
"But an F-rank with just two... I don't even know how to fight properly!" Big Bo whined.
Jagen smacked his head:
"Learn by fighting."
"That's how people die!"
"Then that's our limit."
Jagen smirked before crossing arms at the dungeon entrance.
Their gear was excellent after looting and selling previous raid items.
"Ten-member parties would be safer, Captain."
"Grow like others and you'll stay trash forever," Jagen coldly stated.
The traitorous Seven Dragons sit atop everything. To reach them, I must grow exponentially faster.
Splitting EXP among ten members meant slower growth. Ten dungeon clears with ten members equaled two clears with two in growth terms.
"Don't worry. I'm not fated to die in shitholes like this."
Jagen boldly entered. Big Bo followed, hypnotized by Jagen's strange aura. Somehow following this man made him believe he could achieve something too.
Selfish, cruel, arrogant bastard...
Yet Jagen's retreating figure looked oddly reliable.
●
Dungeons – humanity's sole remaining enemy. In the 20th century, the divine race solved all human problems: food, resources, inequality. Alien technology created utopia. Now only dungeons remained.
They appeared suddenly, grew, and upon reaching critical mass, polluted land while spawning monsters. Natural disasters requiring human warriors called Raiders. Modern weapons useless due to medieval syndrome – fighters used swords and magic inside. Not out of noble duty, but personal desire. Dungeon byproducts brought immense wealth. Collectors hoarded unusable rare items. Some even taxidermied flawless monster kills. Dragon horns became prized stamina boosters.
"Carry two shields. Won't have you attacking anyway," Jagen said, taking Big Bo's sword. The steel-armored man now resembled a moving fortress.
"Ugh... so heavy."
"You think you could dodge even if mobile?" Jagen smoked dismissively.
"Well no but..."
"F-rank won't kill us. Probably."
"Probably?!"
Big Bo anxiously eyed the dungeon tunnel. His first real combat after always being baggage.
Jagen tossed his cigarette and drew his twin-headed ogre blade.
"Move it, Bigo. Take point."
"O-okay..."
Big Bo advanced with trembling steps.
"Ya idiot! Faster! Our rations'll run out before monsters get us!"
Jagen shoved as if kicking, sending Big Bo tumbling inside.
"Ugh..."
Big Bo rose groggily then froze at unfamiliar stench.
"Kee-kee!"
Five goblins cocked their heads. They stood only chest-high but carried real blades.
"AAAAGH! CAPTAIN HELP!"
Big Bo screamed.
