Chapter 19
「Rainbow Effect」.
The name of the buff Jaegun used.
To be precise, it was a multi-layered composite buff.
A combination that applies numerous buffs simultaneously to create additional effects, unknown to most low- or mid-level raiders.
The Rainbow Effect applies at least seven buffs, and up to over twenty.
Different sequences produce varied additional effects, but deciphering these formulas is notoriously complex.
Even those who crack a formula often find it inefficient.
Major guilds guard efficient combinations as top-secret assets.
Some mages devote entire lifetimes to unraveling them.
‘The casting time’s excessive… duration barely a minute. And it drains my mana dry. Even with these risks, few Rainbow Effect combinations are worth using.’
Jaegun knew only one viable formula—
the Ragnaf Guild’s version.
‘Rainbow Effect… Ragnaf-style 「Falcon’s Blessing」.’
‘Falcon’s Blessing’ enhanced physical capabilities,
particularly vision, hearing, and reaction speed—honed like a hawk tracking prey.
‘Never thought I’d need this again…’
Since surpassing four-digit stats, Jaegun had abandoned the Rainbow Effect.
A single mage’s mana couldn’t meaningfully boost his already monstrous attributes.
Jaegun smirked,
grabbing Chunsik’s hair and pressing a blade to his throat.
“Chunsik. Still think you can kill me?”
Chunsik couldn’t meet his eyes,
ensnared by the vortex-like pupils before him.
An uncanny aura seeped from Jaegun’s body,
wreathed in inexplicable darkness.
“You… what are you?”
Chunsik stammered instinctively.
Jaegun chuckled, shoulders shaking.
His shrill laughter prickled the air.
“Does it matter? Choose: die here or submit!”
“Sub…mit?”
Jaegun sheathed his blade and crossed his arms.
‘I won’t play your game, Isaac.’
By logic, slaughtering them all was safest.
‘I’ll be no one’s puppet.’
Isaac of Chaos craved sacrifices—the Black Tiger Raid Team’s blood to sate his god.
This thirst had initially turned them against Jaegun.
‘But I’ll claim the Black Tigers instead.’
A dangerous gamble. Recruiting former enemies invited betrayal.
Yet without risk, growth stagnated.
‘No time for caution. To gain, you must gamble. My way. And I know how to handle traitors.’
Chunsik stared up,
already plotting:
‘Feign obedience. Kill him later. Madman—thought he was clever? Submit? Joke’s on him. Once the 1st Unit arrives…’
His mind whirred as he lowered his sword and bowed.
“Chunsik. I hear your scheming.”
Jaegun tapped his temple mockingly.
“N-no! I’ll keep my word! Spare us—”
“Lies. You’d stab me the moment I blink. Admit it.”
Chunsik blanched,
eyeing his discarded blade as Jaegun’s prismatic wings dimmed.
‘Once that light fades…’
“Your submission’s price?” Jaegun cut in. “Within a year, I’ll make Black Tiger a guild. You’ll lead it.”
The radiance vanished completely,
Jaegun standing relaxed, unguarded.
(Tremble)
Chunsik’s pupils quivered.
His jaw trembled.
“A… guild?”
The Black Tigers neared guild status—but Chunsik knew the truth:
They’d never breach that wall alone.
The barrier was insurmountable.
Just maintaining the Black Tiger Raid Team's status quo was exhausting day by day.
"Bullshit. You think a low-level nobody like you with no experience can talk about guilds?" Kim Chun-sik spat with emotion.
Ja-geon laughed.
He knew exactly how difficult it was to establish a guild - it wasn't something achievable through ordinary effort.
"I know things you don't. You don't actually think grinding levels is enough to build a guild, do you? Look at this mess. Useless effort is worse than doing nothing, you idiot."
Kim Chun-sik gnashed his teeth. "What if we don't make guild status within a year?"
"Then you can kill me. Not that it'll ever come to that." Ja-geon drew his thumb across his throat in a slashing motion.
Thud, thud.
Turning around, Ja-geon kicked the unconscious Big Bo awake with several sharp taps of his foot. Big Bo's neck was twisted at an odd angle as he suddenly sat up.
"Wh-what happened, Captain?" Big Bo asked while wrenching his neck back into place with a sickening crack.
"It's over... probably." Ja-geon felt the murderous intent radiating from behind him. His fingers twitched toward the sword at his waist.
Kim Chun-sik glared fiercely at Ja-geon's back.
I could kill him now. It's possible. That strange buff is gone. The fat shield-bearer is badly wounded. A mere mage like him - I could take him by surprise. No need to humor this nonsense. End it here and return to normal life. I'll raise the Black Tiger Raid Team to guild status myself.
Beads of sweat formed on Kim Chun-sik's forehead as his fingers twitched spasmodically.
Could I really elevate the Black Tigers to a guild? Is he serious?
He gasped for air, rationally believing Ja-geon must be lying, yet sensing something in Ja-geon that the Black Tigers lacked - something that might be their key to becoming a guild.
"Huff... huff..."
After long deliberation, Kim Chun-sik quietly grasped his sword... then sheathed it with a metallic click.
Ja-geon did spare me and my men. He's no fool.
For now, he decided against attacking.
"I'll take my leave first. Ah, and from now on, you should use honorifics when addressing me," Ja-geon said, observing Kim Chun-sik's actions before exiting the dungeon with Big Bo.
Kim Chun-sik didn't move a muscle until they were gone, his face twisted in complex emotions.
"We're alive! Captain, we survived being marked by the Black Tiger Raid Team!" Big Bo jumped for joy outside the dungeon, simply happy to be alive despite not understanding what had transpired - including whatever agreement Ja-geon and Kim Chun-sik had reached.
"Keuk, kekeuk."
Ja-geon covered his mouth as laughter spilled out.
I'm Shin Ja-geon. The best. This gamble succeeded too - I never fail. I'll rise quickly like before. You traitorous bastards... I'll remind you exactly who I am. This time I'll put my blade to your fluttering hearts.
The laughter wouldn't stop. Kim Chun-sik had acted exactly as predicted - every move within Ja-geon's control.
As expected, I'm the one who dominates, not the dominated. These fools are just stepping stones and disposable pawns.
A shiver ran down his spine as excitement surged through him, leaving him physically aroused.
"Cap...tain?"
Big Bo recoiled upon seeing Ja-geon's expression again - that shadowed face with bared teeth, smile dripping malice and eyes devoid of warmth.
That look again...
Big Bo forced himself to stay calm.
It's fine - trusting the Captain has never failed me before... He handled this well too.
Though he considered fleeing Ja-geon's side dozens of times daily, Big Bo remained:
What could I possibly accomplish alone without him?
It was only because of his captain that he contributed anything at all - too terrified to leave despite everything.
