Episode 48: Elf Fortress (1)
Hyun-ah steeled herself.
It took a full six hours in the training room.
Seeing her changed expression, Oh Hyun-woo was convinced.
“Ready to embrace it?”
“Yeah, I’m… ready.”
“No! Again! You’re not Astaroth yet!”
Her eyes shifted instantly.
“How impudent! This Lady Astaroth is always, everywhere, the epitome of perfection! A mere peasant like you could never comprehend!”
Clap clap clap!
Hyun-woo applauded her transformation.
“Perfect! Now it begins. No matter which summon comes from the ticket, you can handle it alone, right?”
Hyun-ah nodded.
She’d already heard the background of each summon from Hyun-woo.
Whatever came, she’d adapt.
“Then… I’ll summon.”
She inserted the ticket into her summoning book.
A gust of wind flipped the pages automatically.
Flip flip flip!
As the final page turned, a black mist filled the training room.
《Summoning ‘Black Warhorse Calix’.》
‘Black Warhorse Calix’, Theo’s subordinate.
Clad in black armor with horse-mane-like fur at the collar, his armor bore an engraved demonic head.
Wielding a massive two-handed sword effortlessly in one hand, he glared at Hyun-ah with undeniable arrogance.
“…”
Hyun-ah flinched momentarily.
His chiseled, marble-like features, wild dark hair, and piercing eyes—blending a scholar’s intellect, a knight’s conviction, and a wolf’s ferocity—fixed on her like prey.
Calix broke the silence.
“…You offend my sight.”
Despite the insult, Hyun-ah stayed composed.
Hyun-woo had warned her: never lose the battle of wills with these summons.
“Answer, wench. Who are you to summon me?”
Hyun-ah met his gaze without answering.
Calix raised his greatsword to her throat.
Her eyes flared.
“Vile cur, failing to recognize your master? I took pity on a stray dog without its owner, yet you bare your fangs, ignorant of gratitude?”
“What?”
“What of your vaunted chivalry? Rusted? Laughable! I thought your unyielding oath of loyalty somewhat endearing.”
“Such venomous words. Could you be…?”
“Begone. I’ve no need for a dog that can’t recognize its master. You’ll never see me or your precious Theo again.”
“…!”
As Hyun-ah turned away, Calix dropped to one knee, showing respect.
“Forgive my foolishness, Lady Astaroth. I mistook you in your changed form.”
“Your groveling is amusing, so I’ll forgive you this once. But remember—there won’t be a second.”
“Yes!”
“Return.”
《Black Warhorse Calix is reverse-summoned.》
As Calix vanished, Hyun-ah trembled, gasping for breath.
“Huff… huff… I thought I’d die.”
Hyun-woo clapped for her.
“You didn’t die, Hyun-ah! Like the old days?”
“Oppa… do I have to use this tone every time?”
Grinning ear to ear, I answered.
“Yup.”
***
After leaving the training room, Hyun-ah and I went separate ways.
I headed straight to a dungeon; she went home to recover her battered psyche.
I get it—I’m still not used to this either.
‘Hang in there, Hyun-ah. I’ll keep pushing too.’
Where? In the dungeon!
Since my self-imposed withdrawal, I’ve been grinding all my summons to level 100.
RPGs start at max level, right?
‘While I’ve been grinding, the fortress raid’s been stagnant.’
Korea’s progress remains sluggish.
Even without Deathside’s interference, it’s not looking good.
Let’s see how other countries are doing.
‘Oh? Germany’s number one?’
Germany was a powerhouse in Legend Seven’s game days.
I know them well from PVPing with my alt account.
‘They’ve got some real talent.’
Germany favors unpredictable, flashy plays that throw opponents off.
China prefers speed, using “lawnmower” tactics—fast summons that don’t give enemies a turn.
Japan’s the opposite, focusing on high resistance to block debuffs, building steadily.
‘I used to have so much fun with PVP back then.’
No need for chit-chat—just jump into matches.
Testing out deck builds was a blast.
There was a time I played my Astaroth account more than Lucifer because it was so fun.
‘Countries that kept up with the game are adapting well to new content.’
Their metas and deck-building must be thriving.
Some combos might even surprise me.
Korea’s obsession with efficiency and fast growth feels lacking.
The fortress clear’s stagnation might stem from decks too specialized for the Tower of Strife.
I’m not the only one frustrated.
《Time remaining for Elf Fortress Raid: 46:32:43》
[Clear reports pouring in from advanced nations, while Korea’s stuck?]
[Time’s running out! 48 hours until dungeon break… Is the Raid team doing its job?]
The media’s in full swing.
Time’s really running out.
The community’s no different.
- When’s Unknown Adventurer’s withdrawal ending?
└ Dunno, Tower of Strife drama’s old news. What’s he up to?
└ Lost interest and went abroad?
└ Can’t blame him. They scapegoated him for the endgame content vanishing.
└ Please come back, GOAT…
With public sentiment heating up and my prep done—
【Illusion of Annihilation】
Description: When a fourth afterimage forms, activates Thousand Shadows regardless of turn.
Thousand Shadows: Four afterimages additionally attack Azas’s target.
Time to tackle the Elf Fortress with a powered-up Azas.
People will be shocked seeing him.
His abilities are no joke, and rankers might recognize him as the ‘Tower of Strife Floor 100 boss’!
Maybe even overseas players will take notice.
I can’t stay in hiding forever.
Above all, the artifact from clearing the fortress—a revival artifact—has too many uses to let slip.
‘Alright, it’s decided.’
Time to hit the stage—the blazing-hot Elf Fortress.
No one will deny the value of ‘Adventurer Oh Hyun-woo’.
***
When Hyun-woo arrived at the Elf Fortress, less than two days remained.
Whether out of fear of public backlash or struggling with cleanup, Deathside, Sword Realm, and Fire God were silent.
Radiance-led challengers pushed forward, but progress was minimal.
The new content’s high difficulty and need for varied deck compositions were tough.
Elves excelled in swordsmanship, magic, archery, spirit arts, and summoning, making them tricky to counter.
Korea’s adventurers, with less diverse decks, struggled.
“It’s him! The Unknown Adventurer!”
In this desperate situation, Hyun-woo appeared.
Reporters swarmed with microphones, brimming with hope.
“Are you resuming adventurer activities?”
“What did you do during your withdrawal?”
“Do you have a plan for the Elf Fortress?”
“Any comment on the Tower of Strife Floor 100 incident?”
“Who asked that last one? Drag them out!”
Amid hope, expectation, slander, and envy, Hyun-woo spoke calmly.
“As a Korean adventurer, I’m here to do what needs doing.”
“Is this an official return?”
“Yes.”
“Any specific plans for the fortress?”
“I’ll prove it with results. For now, I’m focusing on the raid. Excuse me.”
After a brief interview at the entrance, Hyun-woo strode toward the dungeon.
‘Alright, let’s start again.’
***
《Entering Elf Fortress.》
《PVP is forcibly enabled in the Elf Fortress.》
《No penalties for initiating PVP without consent in this area.》
PVP warnings greeted me upon entry, but they’re irrelevant now.
No one’s left to interfere.
Even if some hold grudges, they’ve been fighting elves for five grueling days.
Exhausted, they wouldn’t pick a fight unless suicidal.
The Radiance members ahead showed no hostility.
“It’s the Unknown Adventurer. First time seeing him in person.”
“Is his withdrawal over? Hope he joins the raid team…”
Humility’s key in times like this.
I bowed to them.
Even if their skills lack, those fighting on the front lines deserve respect.
“Thank you for your hard work. I got here easily because of you.”
“Oh, uh… haha.”