The First Hunt – Engaging the True Decker

It took approximately twenty minutes of travel for Sangjin’s party to reach their first designated point.

Positioning himself on the second floor of a four-story commercial building, Sangjin immediately began issuing orders.

“Jang Daejin. Reconfirm the monster’s location with Mapping.”

“Understood. Mapping!”

As soon as Sangjin’s order was given, Daejin promptly cast his Mapping skill.

“Where is the monster?”

“It’s one block ahead from here. It’s currently obscured by buildings, but if we secure a good sniping point, luring it shouldn’t be a significant issue.

However, the distance between the two monsters remains close. If there’s an error in our sniping timing compared to the other party’s, there’s a risk of both monsters converging on one side.

For now, the key seems to be aligning the sniping timings of both parties as precisely as possible.”

Sangjin nodded once at Daejin’s explanation, then turned his head to look at Kang Jicheol, the trapper.

“Hmm… Jicheol. Install traps here, here, and here.”

As Sangjin indicated the trap locations with his finger, Jicheol loudly affirmed and swiftly headed to the first floor.

“Understood!”

Next, Sangjin looked at one of the damage dealers.

“Seo Yejin. Move to the sniping point. Your destination is the rooftop of the villa building ahead.”

“Yes.”

Seo Yejin, a ranged dealer whose main weapon was a bow, moved immediately after Sangjin’s order was given.

“Yongwook, take position on the third floor of that building. Donghyuk, go up to the third floor of this building and position yourself.”

Kim Yongwook and Lee Donghyuk were also ranged dealers who used bows, much like Seo Yejin.

However, while Seo Yejin specialized in sniping, Kim Yongwook and Lee Donghyuk were proficient in rapid-fire at mid-range.

“Okay!”

“Roger!”

As Kim Yongwook and Lee Donghyuk moved to their designated spots, Sangjin addressed the remaining party members.

“Hyesu, wait here. Cheolmin and Wonjin, follow me downstairs.”

Moon Hyesu, the healer, took her position on the second floor because it was slightly more conducive to healing than the third floor.

“Yes. Still, since it’s a Trudeker with low attack power, today should be a bit easier. Well, the damage dealers might suffer, though. Hehe.”

Even if the hunt took a long time, the low attack power meant the damage inflicted on the tank wasn’t very significant.

In other words, it was actually easier for Moon Hyesu, as a healer, to manage her Force.

Of course, for the damage dealers, it would be a grueling task.

Cheolmin and Wonjin grumbled, seemingly annoyed at the mere thought of fighting a Trudeker.

“Ugh, a Trudeker… I wonder if our Force will last.”

“Haa, I haven’t even started, and I’m already tired. How long will it take to break through all that shield? Tsk.”

Ignoring their complaints, Sangjin shifted his gaze to Junhyuk.

“Choi Junhyuk, you stay here with Hyesu. I’d prefer to send you to the third floor for better observation, but I’m worried about Hyesu.

If any unforeseen problems arise, protect Hyesu.”

Observing the battle was certainly better from the third floor than the second.

However, since Moon Hyesu, the team’s lifeline healer, was on the second floor, Sangjin had incidentally asked Junhyuk to protect her.

“Ah, yes. Hopefully, no problems occur, but if a dangerous situation arises, I’ll do my best.”

“Alright! Everyone, move out!”

As Sangjin, Cheolmin, and Wonjin descended to the first floor, Junhyuk approached the window and meticulously surveyed the outside.

Buildings were densely packed nearby, and the alleys were narrow.

For a large Trudeker, these geographical conditions would inevitably restrict its movement.

‘A narrow area against a Trudeker… The positioning is quite good.’

Choosing terrain advantageous for combat, depending on the monster’s type, size, and temperament, was also a task for the tank, who acted as the party leader.

This was because the battle could become easier or more challenging depending on the terrain and the hunting method employed.

From that perspective, Junhyuk considered Sangjin’s choice to be quite sound.

Meanwhile, Sangjin, having exited the building, scanned his surroundings, roughly picturing how the battle would unfold in his mind.

Just then, Jicheol, who had finished setting all the traps, hurriedly approached Sangjin.

“All traps have been set.”

“Ah, good. Then wait over there. Stay alert, as we don’t know when we’ll need to deploy the binding traps.”

In the event of an emergency, binding traps were a crucial means of buying time for the party to evacuate. Therefore, Jicheol, as the trapper, had to be fully prepared to be deployed at any moment, even if he wasn’t directly participating in the main combat.

“Understood!”

As Jicheol replied and immediately entered the commercial building, a radio call came in from Yejin.

–Oppa. I’m ready. We can start anytime.

“Really? Then set your frequency to 125 and stand by.”

Sangjin had briefly coordinated with Seungnam before they set out.

Especially in this case, where the initial sniping timing between the two parties was critical, they had pre-arranged a common frequency to use.

“Cheolmin and Wonjin, go over there and get ready.”

Sangjin pointed to a spot some distance from their current location, and Cheolmin and Wonjin swiftly moved.

“Yes.”

Typically, damage dealers prefer the monster’s sides over its front, and its rear over its sides.

The reason was simple: attacking from the side, and even more so from the rear, inflicted greater damage.

Having already visualized the battle with the True Decker in his mind, Sangjin had calculated the optimal positions for the melee dealers to naturally target the True Decker’s rear, considering his own tanking position and the monster’s size, and then moved them there.

Having completed all preparations for the True Decker hunt, Sangjin immediately set his frequency and spoke.

“Hyungnim. Do you hear me?”

Seungnam’s voice immediately responded to Sangjin’s question.

–Oh, yes. Are you all ready?

“Yes, we’re completely ready here. How about you?”

–We’re ready too. Will you do the countdown?

“I will.”

Seungnam, having yielded the countdown to Sangjin, instructed his sniper to prepare.

–Myeongcheol. Sangjin will be counting down, so get ready.

–Okay. Roger.

Upon hearing that Seungnam’s party was also ready, Sangjin immediately began the countdown.

“Then let’s begin. Three! Two! One! Snipe!”

As Sangjin’s sniping command was given, Yejin, who had been drawing her bowstring on the villa rooftop, immediately cast her skill and released the string.

Thwip!

As Sniper Shot, a quintessential ranger-type sniping skill, was cast, a glowing arrow that had been held by the string rapidly shot towards the True Decker.

Whoosh!

Thud!

The arrow of light accurately struck the True Decker’s glabella, but it didn’t inflict any significant damage.

It merely chipped away a small portion of the immense shield enveloping the True Decker’s hide.

Kwooohhh!

Naturally, the attacked True Decker went into a frenzy, thrashing wildly.

–True Decker hit! Moving to the next point!

Seo Yejin, having successfully sniped, immediately began moving to her next position.

Simultaneously, word came from Seungnam’s party’s sniper that they had also successfully lured their target.

–Mantis snipe successful! Moving to the next point!

With both snipes succeeding almost simultaneously, the closely positioned True Decker and Mantis were each split apart and began moving towards their respective lure zones. Seungnam quickly spoke to Sangjin.

–Fortunately, we succeeded in luring them without any major incidents. See you tonight. Be careful.

“Yes, Hyungnim, you be careful too.”

After speaking, Sangjin immediately switched the frequency to party-exclusive.

Meanwhile, the True Decker, lured by the sniper, lumbered forward, seemingly agitated, dragging its massive body.

“It’s coming soon. Everyone, prepare!”

Sangjin aimed his large square shield forward, gripping the sword in his hand with all his might.

Thump! Boom! Bang!

Each time the massive True Decker moved, the traps Jicheol had set exploded without fail.

And a moment later, the full-scale battle between the True Decker and Sangjin began.

The True Decker ran forward with slow steps, spotted Sangjin ahead, and swung its blunt, hammer-like fist.

Whoosh!

Thump!

However, the attack was relatively slow, allowing Sangjin to effortlessly evade it. He immediately swung his shield and cast a skill.

“Shield Attack!”

Thud!

Shield Attack, which increased threat value to draw the monster’s aggro, was Sangjin’s first offensive move.

The True Decker, which had been chasing Yejin, changed its target to Sangjin and unleashed a fierce barrage of attacks.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Boom! Roar! Crash!

Though the True Decker swung its fists, slammed them down, and launched relentless attacks, Sangjin evaded them, blocked with his shield, or subtly deflected them, all while occasionally landing his own strikes.

“Overwhelm!”

Swish!

As he used Overwhelm, another aggro-generating skill, a faint light swept across a certain area, as if a wave of energy was spreading in all directions.

Kwooohhh!

The True Decker, its aggro now focused, became even more frenzied, fiercely pressing Sangjin.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Crash! Thump!

Even though the True Decker’s attack power was considered weak, this was only in comparison to other monsters; it was by no means negligible.

However, its attacks were somewhat slower than the monsters they usually faced, which allowed him to tank with a bit more composure.

After some time had passed, Sangjin immediately issued an order.

“Melee dealers, prepare!”

–Roger!

–Understood!

And about thirty minutes after the battle began,

‘Shield Attack!’

He used Shield Attack again as its cooldown ended, further increasing the aggro rate.

Thud!

Kwooohh!

“Melee dealers, attack!”

Simultaneously, Cheolmin and Wonjin, who had been positioned and hidden, immediately burst out and began attacking the True Decker’s rear.

“Die, you bastard!”

“Ah! Damn it. Just looking at this guy’s back already exhausts me.”

Thud! Wham! Thud!

Cheolmin and Wonjin’s fierce attacks repeatedly struck the True Decker, but they all bounced off, blocked by its shield.

While they couldn’t inflict damage directly on the True Decker’s body, they were steadily chipping away at the shield covering its skin.

Another ten minutes passed with the melee dealers clinging to their target.

“Ranged dealers, prepare!”

–Yes!

–Okay!

Sangjin, judging that he had drawn enough aggro to prevent the monster from running off, ordered the ranged dealers to prepare their attack.

And after another five minutes,

‘Overwhelm!’

He cast Overwhelm once more as its cooldown ended, perfectly securing the aggro.

Swish!

“Kwooohhh!”

The True Decker, completely ignoring the melee dealers attacking from behind, focused all its fury on Sangjin.

“Ranged dealers, attack!”

As Sangjin’s attack command was given, the ranged dealers, positioned on their respective buildings, simultaneously began their assault.

Whoosh! Swish!

Since all three, including the sniper Yejin, were rangers, arrows of light were simultaneously fired from three points: both flanks and the front.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With melee dealers attacking from behind and ranged dealers attacking from both flanks and above the front, the True Decker thrashed its body wildly, as if in a frenzy.

Kwaaaahh!

However, it struggled to move as desired.

Its movements were restricted by the narrow terrain.

“Maintain normal attacks until further orders!”

Although aggro was secured, if powerful skill attacks were continuously unleashed, there was no telling when the aggro might shift.

Therefore, it was common practice to chip away about a third of the shield with normal attacks before gradually introducing skill attacks.