AECS 22

Chapter 22

Monday Dungeon New Record?

It was undoubtedly an astonishing level of achievement.

Back then, articles were written, and public opinion stirred quite a bit.

Tuesday Dungeon New Record?

When Baek Jin-woo’s name appeared there as well, many players began to take notice.

“Baek Jin-woo? Who’s that?”

“Huh? I think I heard that name before. You know, the one who broke Kang Gun-ho’s record after a long time, posted on the community but then quickly deleted it?”

“Oh, that person! Wow, he broke it again this time?”

“He cleared Monday dungeon, then Tuesday dungeon as well… doesn’t seem like a regular ranker. Maybe a hidden master who’s been lying low?”

“And now his records even made it onto the world rankings, which makes it even more meaningful.”

“Yeah, I’m really curious. Which guild or group is he part of?”

Until then, it was just whispers, nothing that fully exploded.

But the next morning…

When he broke Wednesday dungeon’s record as well, everyone had no choice but to acknowledge it.

What had been a minor event on player forums now hit major mainstream media, and articles about Baek Jin-woo flooded platforms like a torrential downpour.

[“Low-Rank Wednesday Dungeon, New South Korea Record Again! 4 minutes 22 seconds—Who is Baek Jin-woo?”]

[“Suddenly Appearing Player! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Consecutive Time Attacks! Tuesday and Wednesday Records Even Hit the World Rankings!”]

[“Player Baek Jin-woo, Will He Aim for Thursday as Well?”]

After the Tuesday dungeon record was broken, the buzz had started to die down, but now with Monday and Wednesday conquered as well…

South Korea was stirring once again.

Of course, Baek Jin-woo himself didn’t care.

“What, all this fuss over something like this?”

• “Right, right. What do they think of our Jin-woo?”

It was impressive in a different way.

Even though he was a veteran player, it was surprising that in the three years since, the level here was still so low.

Honestly, he knew why.

“Lack of leadership.”

There were no old veteran players left in Korea to guide the way.

In countries called summoning powerhouses, if veteran players had led from the beginning, their positions would have been secure early on.

Korea had slightly lost its path and wandered.

Baek Jin-woo didn’t need to step in and fix it.

“I just need to get stronger myself, as usual.”

If his guild, Yubaek, with Yujia by his side, grew as planned, then naturally, the level of Korean players would rise as well.

“Alright, everyone, let’s train.”

Clap, clap!

Baek Jin-woo clapped his hands in the training field once more.

Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Only four days left.

South Korea Player Headquarters

Director’s Office

The director frowned as he looked over the reported articles.

“Who is Baek Jin-woo? I’ve heard the name somewhere.”

His secretary silently sighed as the elderly man adjusted his glasses.

The current player HQ director was very old.

Once a five-term National Assembly member, he had earned his position mostly through influence and name recognition.

“That’s the person Congressman Park Chang-seok mentioned… Do you remember? He said he’d provide information if certain summons were purchased.”

“Oh, the case that Congressman Lim Hee-soo fiercely opposed?”

“Yes, that’s right, Director. He insisted that unless proper information was given first, money couldn’t be spent.”

“But it looks like the info was real, huh?”

The director exhaled through his nose.

‘Damn it, Lim Hee-soo… He’s lost his touch.’

Of course, he himself had been uncertain.

Park Chang-seok was right, but Lim Hee-soo’s point also had merit.

‘But in politics, results matter more than process.’

If they had properly supported Baek Jin-woo this time, the info could have fully belonged to the HQ.

It could have won public praise and more votes.

Sigh.

The director let out a regretful sigh.

Park Chang-seok had offered something good, but Lim Hee-soo had kicked the honey pot away.

“First, secretary.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Contact that player, Baek Jin-woo, again.”

“Directly from us?”

“Yes. Thought he was fake, but he’s real. We need to reach him somehow.”

The secretary tilted his head slightly, but he couldn’t ignore the order coming from the HQ director—the highest authority at player HQ.

“Yes, we’ll attempt contact through our office.”

Thursday Morning

The area in front of the weekly dungeon building looked quite different than before.

Originally, only players came and went, but now, reporters lined up everywhere, obviously trying to capture Baek Jin-woo on camera.

“Ugh, why is everyone making a fuss over there?”

“This building’s already small enough, now it’s unbearable.”

Naturally, existing players were frustrated.

Weekly dungeons could only be accessed inside the Player Zone, so players had to awkwardly pass through the crowd of reporters.

“What’s HQ doing? Shouldn’t they control civilians here?”

“Probably just trying to avoid conflicts over media control and all that.”

“Still, players’ rights need to be ensured. How important is this? HQ really does nothing properly.”

Grumbling, the players had no choice but to enter the dungeon.

Behind them were Baek Jin-woo and the members of Yubaek.

Click, click!

Yujia looked worriedly at Baek Jin-woo fully equipped.

“Are you really okay with this? I tried to clear a path for you, but reporters are impossible to deal with…”

“Well, it can’t be helped,” Baek Jin-woo smiled calmly.

“They’re just here to see me. I can just wave my hand, can’t I?”

He decided to stay positive.

After all, he still had to run the dungeon.

No one could stop him just by blocking the way.

He didn’t care about the surrounding attention.

It had always been like this.

Even at school, no matter what anyone said, he had been obsessed with Battle of Summoners.

Now, it’s the dungeon.

That’s all he needed to focus on.

“By the way, is the filming going well?”

When he asked, Yujia immediately replied.

“…It’s amazing. We were all admiring it ourselves. Especially the scene of the golem climbing the mountain… How did you even find that route?”

“Probably only veteran players overseas know it.”

Specifically, only those who had been playing for over eight years.

This route was discovered by Rachel, and around that time, it had spread through the community.

“Phew, anyway, I trust you’ll handle it. I’ll go ahead then.”

Baek Jin-woo greeted Yujia and the members and confidently strode through the crowd of reporters.

Perhaps because his identity was public, most reporters recognized him.

“There he is!”

“Baek Jin-woo!”

“Take the shot!”

Amidst the flashing cameras, Baek Jin-woo kept his eyes forward.

Specifically, towards the building—the glowing blue entrance of the weekly dungeon.

“Not even a ranker, yet you succeeded in the time attack! What’s your secret?”

“Where did you get your information?”

“Is it true you were rumored to be a veteran gamer?”

Ignoring the barrage of questions and microphones, he steadily walked forward.

HQ had at least stationed guards to prevent reporters from approaching players.

“Can we expect a new record in this low-rank Thursday dungeon?”

Only to this question did he nod and reply,

“Yes, of course.”

Click, click, click!

Amidst the crazed flashing, Baek Jin-woo dove into the Thursday dungeon.

Dungeon Rewards Recap

• Monday & Wednesday Dungeon: Runes
• Tuesday Dungeon: Refining Materials
• Thursday Dungeon: Skill Books

Skill books allow players to assign skills to their summons.

Of course, there are no unique skills for summons, and no latent skills can be unlocked by Hun-gyo.

Still, useful skills exist, making this a dungeon worth running consistently.

Remember what was said before?

Sunday Dungeon isn’t necessary.

That’s because Thursday Dungeon alone is enough to supply skill books.

Sunday Dungeon gives skill books too, but it’s a bit tricky; Thursday is easy.

“Nothing special here.”

It’s just a dungeon where you fight a boss focused purely on defense 1:1.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Boss Monster Appears!]

Entering Thursday Dungeon, the boss immediately appears.

A gigantic Earth Golem.

As large as a Titanium Golem.

• GRRRRAAAH!

Roaring mightily, swinging its massive earth arms.

Despite its appearance, its defense is immense; ordinary attacks barely scratch it.

“Normally the core unit here is a B-rank White Wolf.”

A cost-effective unit with single-target defense reduction skill.

However, Baek Jin-woo didn’t bother with the White Wolf.

“Just hit it with a nuke combo.”

His team for this run: Lamba, Hun-gyo, Pok-ryong, Titanium Golem, and Wind Hawk.

“Phew, we shouldn’t release this video.”

It was just a video of wiping the boss with an elite team—no need to publicize.

Just reduce defense with White Wolf and then hit with a nuke combo—that’s the best method.

This method was already well known in Korea and closest to the world record.

“But still, we have to break the record.”

A more detailed approach reveals the Earth Golem has a weak spot: its head.

For most players, this is tricky.

It’s too big to hit the head easily.

But there’s a way.

“Titanium.”

• GRRRRAAAH!

The Titanium Golem read the players’ intentions, bent its knees, and presented its shoulders.

Hun-gyo, Lamba, and Pok-ryong climbed up.

Thud…!

The heavy Golem lifted again, colliding with the Earth Golem.

BAM!

Hun-gyo leaped gracefully, swinging his arms violently.

CRASH!

Extreme swordsmanship shredded the Earth Golem’s head in an instant.

RUMBLE!

Like thunder, the dungeon shook from the massive cracking sound.

With Lamba’s attack speed buff and Wind Hawk’s speed buff, Hun-gyo’s movements became sharper.

The faster the attack speed stack, the quicker he moved!

Meanwhile…

FWOOSH!

Pok-ryong’s Dragon Wave!

“Actually…”

Later, only Pok-ryong would enter Thursday Dungeon alone.

A fully trained Pok-ryong?

Even EX-rank bosses could be cleared in 1 second.

Considering entry and exit animations, roughly 10 seconds.

Theoretically, 8,640 skill books could be extracted in one day.

Anyway, for JinuGod’s Yilcheon and EX-rank summons with past memories, low-rank Thursday Dungeon was a piece of cake.

[Boss Monster Defeated!]
[Dungeon Clear!]
[Clear Time – 00:05:10]

“Nice.”

Another South Korea record!

The previous average of 6 minutes was reduced by over a minute.

“Hun-gyo is really overpowered.”

He knew it ever since Hun-gyo defeated a C-rank Shadow Elf single-handedly.

His growth speed was incredible.

“One more time!”

After defeating the Golem again and running auto-battle, Baek Jin-woo finally exited the weekly dungeon.

On the way out…

“Excuse me, are you Player Baek Jin-woo?”

Two HQ staff in neat uniforms approached him.