Chapter 89

◈ Chapter 89. Blossoming in the Swamp (6)

[The Predator's Swamp].

Standing before the rift that had formed on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The most confident among them were the members of the strongest European guild, Bohemian.

"It's just been bad luck until now."

"Yeah! Not only the mage towers, but the rifts have only appeared on the Asian side. It seems the balance is finally starting to even out."

"Actually, it was either Asia or Russia, right? Whether it's Moscow or Hokkaido, just thinking about that cold makes me shiver. I thought I was going to freeze to death in the shower. Really."

They received full support from the European Union (EU).

Thanks to that support.

The initial atmosphere was not bad.

Gyver, the top-ranked paladin and guild master of Bohemian, even smiled.

"When the rift conquest is over, everything will return to normal."

One of those things was the guild rankings.

Bohemian, which had consistently held the third place after Shining and Tenka Toitsu, was confident they wouldn't be caught up.

Even if the latecomers were Inazuma from Japan and Gaon from Korea.

How much could players from those small countries really achieve?

Even with national support, they couldn't catch up to the EU-backed Bohemian.

However, something went wrong.

Bohemian lost their long-held third place.

To Inazuma in fourth and Gaon in fifth.

"Good luck doesn't exist in the Colosseum."

Yeah, Gaon just had luck.

Gyver believed that.

So when the Predator Zone appeared as a rift.

He expressed his overflowing confidence.

"Gaon, and even Tenka Toitsu...!"

Like Bohemian, the large and small guilds supported by the EU.

With the rift appearing in their home ground, Europe, Gyver used every card meticulously.

"Master, my mana is at its limit!"

The support players positioned at the rear.

Gyver sent them out of the rift like interchangeable machine parts.

"Team 2, entering immediately."

Effectively, a coalition of dozens of guilds.

Thanks to the high-level players selected from there.

The level of the players who were substituted in was not far behind.

They were more than capable of providing support from the rear.

[Level Up.]

Amidst the full support.

Gyver and the Bohemian guild members focused solely on monster hunting.

This steep experience gain was a rare occurrence.

"Time to restore some pride, right, Gyver?"

Gyver nodded silently.

Yeah, in this rift, it was okay to be overconfident.

Shining and Tenka Toitsu.

They weren't showing the same overwhelming hunting speed as Bohemian. Yeah, if this continues. Gaon and the like would never be able to challenge the rankings again...

"Lee Ho-yul entered the rift?"

Wait, who entered?

Lee Ho-yul!

Snap!

At the mention of that name, Gyver's forehead veins bulged.

It was a name that couldn't help but irritate him.

'That guy is the reason Gaon took the third place.'

The various kinds of luck that followed Gaon.

The biggest luck was Lee Ho-yul.

In the Kingdom of Yusra, in the Frost battle.

Gaon had greatly benefited from allying with Lee Ho-yul.

'The Berserkers are the same.'

The guild rankings that fluctuated in the top 10.

Although they weren't yet considered serious competitors.

Berserker was also an EU-supported guild.

'Britain's Second Sun is no longer part of the European Union.'

Berserker was the second-largest guild in the EU after Bohemian. Therefore, Gyver couldn't help but be sensitive to Lee Ho-yul's appearance.

'What could he be missing that he entered this rift?'

Even if it's the Predator Zone.

This rift would be too easy for Lee Ho-yul.

Clearly, there must be another purpose.

'...Could that other purpose be...?'

Perhaps related to Gaon or Berserker.

Or another guild?

Drip, drip.

Suddenly, beads of sweat formed on Gyver's forehead.

'I must take responsibility for my words.'

Receiving massive support.

He had to produce results worthy of that support.

Anxiety began to sprout in Gyver's heart.

"I'll speed up the pace. Team 1, re-enter!"

"Team 1 hasn't fully recovered their mana yet, right?"

"It doesn't matter. From now on, it's a speed battle."

Then a message appeared.

[Someone has made a contract with a spirit.]

"!"

It's Lee Ho-yul.

The purpose was to make a contract with a spirit.

For a moment, he thought it was fortunate.

'...Did he know there was a spirit here?'

Indeed, Lee Ho-yul is impressive.

However, it wasn't surprising that Lee Ho-yul was impressive.

Therefore, Gyver focused on the following message.

A significant experience and drop rate buff.

Gyver's face lit up.

'The decision to speed up was correct.'

Faster progress than any other guild.

Thanks to this, Gyver reached the center of the swamp.

And he witnessed it.

"A gift from the gods."

An opportunity to claim a huge reward!

At the center of the rift, monsters were fighting each other.

The analysis team's voice rang in his ear.

-They appear to be a Ragged Giant and a Black Iron Eagle.

The information from the update.

[Ragged Giant: Level 600]

[Black Iron Eagle: Level 600]

Two 600-level named monsters.

They were engaged in a fierce battle.

A battle as intense as their level.

Both seemed to have taken considerable damage.

Gyver licked his lips.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Yeah, this was an opportunity to hunt both named monsters.

In a normal situation, dealing with one would be challenging. But they were focused on each other. If we take advantage of this, we can wipe them out.

'However, before they are taken away.'

With the experience and drop rate buff active.

Other guilds would also speed up.

We can't miss this opportunity.

Top-ranked paladin.

A skill obtained as a reward for a class quest.

[Paladin's Blessing] activated.

Whoosh!

A golden light began to emanate from Gyver.

Gyver shouted.

"Gather around me. Charge!"

A buff to attack and defense for nearby allies.

A skill that deals continuous damage to enemies.

The effect was outstanding, as befitting a class quest reward.

"Wow! This is Gyver's skill!!"

"The effect is significant."

"Indeed, he's not just a top-ranked player for nothing."

The boost to morale was an added bonus.

Swish!

Following Gyver's command.

A barrage of arrows and attack skills.

Players charging forward with Gyver in the lead.

"Let's take out the Ragged Giant first!"

Taking advantage of the Black Iron Eagle's distraction.

Flap!

"?! "

However, that plan was dashed by the Black Iron Eagle's wing flap.

The Black Iron Eagle flew into the air, changed direction, and targeted the rear support players.

Gyver's mind went blank.

"What the...?"

The monsters that were just fiercely fighting each other.

Suddenly combined their forces to attack them.

"Damn...!"

Gyver urgently shouted.

"Everyone, retreat! Protect the rear!"

A hasty retreat.

The momentum of the charge was gone.

Damn, this was a humiliation.

Gyver gritted his teeth.

'I admit I was hasty.'

But my judgment wasn't wrong.

Isn't this pattern too much?

This was a trap.

A trap so clever that anyone could fall into it...

*

...Wow, they fight fiercely.

It's true that in the Predator Zone, monsters fight each other even when there are no players. They really are trying to kill each other, aren't they?

With a noble gaze.

The nymph, who had been watching, spoke.

"What should I do, Ho-yul?"

Spirits generally don't like fighting.

However, a contract spirit is different.

Apart from the contract terms, a spirit is influenced by the contractor's nature. In short, my influence is the reason for the nymph's quick situational awareness.

Let's see.

Floating on a lotus leaf in the swamp.

I observed the situation.

'Soon, we'll reach the center of the swamp.'

According to the nymph.

The fighting in the center is even more intense.

Because of the loot in the center.

'As evidence, from here on, they start grabbing each other by the collar.'

Players are secondary.

Monsters are engaged in fierce battles.

'Actually, if I could...'

I wanted to join the fight.

Both are weakened.

I wanted to hunt both and take the experience and loot.

'This isn't just a matter of taking the loot, but a matter of sound judgment.'

Honestly, who could turn down such an opportunity?

However, as much as I am obsessed with fighting.

I am also obsessed in another way.

I told the nymph.

"It's a battle of pride."

Yeah, I'm obsessed with pride...

To prove their strength and claim the loot.

The monsters that have gathered in the Predator Zone.

Their actions are justified by Granfel's pride.

Moreover.

"Joining their battle would be a violation of pride."

Taking advantage of a gap to strike from behind?

Without a reason that aligns with pride.

I absolutely cannot take the loot.

The nymph elegantly bowed her head.

"Indeed, I understand your meaning. I will keep it in mind."

Don't make that enlightened expression.

The pleading echo in my heart was brief.

I let go of my hesitation.

'I don't have the confidence to hunt honestly.'

Actually, I don't even have the energy to try to take the loot.

Most importantly, the mana drain from the contract with the nymph was a burden.

The nymph would also contribute in battle, but the extent of that help was unknown.

'I have never seen a spirit before.'

The only ability of the nymph I have confirmed is the blessing that promoted the growth of the blue pheasant.

Even that alone made the contract with the nymph a significant achievement.

Why, because I got the idea for the 'Herb Cultivation Method' from it.

However, I am not satisfied with just that.

At that moment, I witnessed it.

A skill, completely different from magic.

The spirit's {Nature} ability...!

This was also mentioned in books on spiritology.

'For other mages, but for me...'

The meaning was simple.

An increase in the variety of quirks I can use.

I witnessed the potential of quirks in the previous rift.

'The rift fragment that couldn't be penetrated by magic alone.'

That magic wasn't just any magic.

It was a pure magic from the Magic Tower, one of the best in terms of destructive power.

I penetrated the rift fragment that even that magic couldn't.

With [Aesthetics] and [Magic] combined into [Quirk].

'[Quirk] can be {Quirk} or {Quirk}.'

To put it simply.

{Nature} also became a hole in the flesh, a well dug.

A well that doesn't dry up easily!

"It's like the eye of a typhoon."

That's as far as my stray thoughts went.

I nodded at the nymph's words.

My appearance, fitting the description of 'leisurely'.

The closer we got to the center, the more often we saw monsters fighting each other. They were too busy fighting to pay attention to low-level players like me.

I was actually grateful for that.

'Level is important, but so is loot.'

Most importantly, I needed to confirm.

The Predator Zone.

The loot that attracts named monsters.

It seemed to be something that had a hold on them.

As if they were under a status effect.

'The probability that it's a demonic item is not low.'

Yeah.

If there's even a slight possibility of demonic involvement.

Granfel's pride cannot stand idly by.

'Really, I end up doing tiring things.'

Soon, we reached the center of the swamp.

I saw players.

Players who seemed to have messed with something they shouldn't have.

'This could have been a big problem.'

A zombie giant and a giant eagle.

Players who were helpless against the two monsters.

People think alike.

'It seems I was the one who put my thoughts into action?'

The result was a lot of hard work.

'I could have ended up like them.'

Those players had companions.

I was alone.

'Without properly enjoying the experience and drop rate buff...'

Without much resistance.

I would have ended up in the afterlife.

Literally, I would have died doing good for others.

Even the relief in my chest was insufficient.

I said boldly.

"The price of taking pride lightly is high."

The nymph nodded.

"You are correct."

Then she looked at