## Chapter 161 – Dungeon Survival
[Hacking successful.]
[You can hack the tablet for 30 minutes.]
I used the hack to examine the tablet, wondering if there might be something hidden that I didn’t know about.
‘The tablet itself is ordinary. There’s nothing hidden.’
I wasn’t disappointed since I had expected this.
‘The real deal is the network that this tablet can access.’
[You can hack the Dungeon Survival Reforged network for 20 minutes.]
I grinned.
Even without the tablet, information about the network was appearing before my eyes. Information that others couldn’t see.
‘The tablet has a location tracker. That means I can use the hack to find the tablet’s location within the dungeon.’
Each team is given one tablet. It’s likely with the leader, and team members usually don’t stray far, so I can pinpoint their location.
‘I can also find out information and the location of Kang Seok-soo’s team.’
Kang Seok-soo’s team. Their official team name is ‘Aqua Stone,’ an easy-to-remember name.
Kang Seok-soo’s team is currently heading to the nearest food distribution point.
‘This… I can know in advance where the food will be delivered.’
During the Dungeon Survival, all the food distribution locations within the dungeon are predetermined. Originally, this information was given 30 minutes in advance, but now I can know it whenever I want.
‘And that’s not all. I can know the locations of monsters within the dungeon, hidden treasures, and even future events.’
It’s an astonishing amount of information.
‘I can even see the situation in the studio.’
I could see it through the cameras installed in the studio. There were celebrities and a few professional hunters watching the screens and talking. Judging by their low energy, they’ve been filming for quite a while.
‘I can also see the cameras installed within the dungeon.’
A smile crept onto my face. This is a much bigger advantage than I had imagined.
And I could see which team currently had the most survival points.
The first place was Aqua Stone, Kang Seok-soo’s team.
They have a total of 521 survival points, 200 points more than the second place. Looking at their record, it seems they actively used their team member Choi Sa-hyun’s ability, ‘Detection,’ to find and hunt monsters in the dungeon.
‘I can’t let them know that I can hack. I need to use this information as naturally as possible.’
I shouldn’t use it in a way that’s too obvious. Otherwise, they’ll suspect me.
‘Alright, let’s take action.’
I woke up Han Ha-rin, who was sound asleep on the bed.
“Senior, Kang Seok-soo’s team has left. Wake up. We need to move too.”
“……”
Han Ha-rin quietly opened her eyes and sat up. Her slightly dazed face showed undeniable fatigue. It was only natural since she hadn’t slept and had only been having sex all night.
“…Did you find some kind of method?”
“There’s only one way for us to win. We have to eliminate everyone else.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
Logically, it’s a difficult task.
This dungeon is very large, and there are traps and monsters. If they decide to run, it’ll be hard to catch them. But I can see the situation within this dungeon like the back of my hand through hacking. Even if they’re hiding, finding them is no problem.
“It’s only the first day. There are plenty of opportunities.”
We left the resting area before 6 AM.
The current survival points of the Gukcheon Hunter team are -962.
They’re in last place by a huge margin.
***
“Today is the second day of Dungeon Survival Reforged. On the first day, two teams and one individual were eliminated, leaving 143 survivors. I think there are fewer eliminations than expected. What do you think, Mr. Hong Soo-won?”
The MC, Jo Seok-hoo, asked Hong Soo-won. Hong Soo-won is a somewhat biased commentator, but his experience and analytical skills as a hunter are genuine.
“That’s natural. Dungeon Survival has only just begun. It’s the first day, so the hunters would have been cautious. As time goes on, the competition will become more intense. There’s a high chance of mass eliminations on the third or fourth day.”
The purpose of Dungeon Survival is ultimately to watch the battles between hunters. Monster hunting? You can find countless monster hunting videos just by searching the internet.
What viewers are looking forward to is the real battles between hunters.
“After we switched shifts yesterday, something interesting happened. The Aqua Stone team and the Gukcheon Hunter team encountered each other in the resting area. We don’t know what kind of conversation took place inside, but the Aqua Stone team set up camp outside the resting area and waited for the Gukcheon Hunter team to come out.”
It wasn’t that surprising. This was also what the production team intended.
“It’s a strategy they had to use. The Aqua Stone team has three members, and the Gukcheon Hunter team has two. They have a numerical advantage, so they can be confident of victory. Moreover, Hunter Kang Seok-soo has even set up magic traps around the area. If they fight, they can be sure of victory. And even if they don’t fight, the Gukcheon Hunter team has no choice but to receive a penalty. In fact, the Gukcheon Hunter team chose to receive the penalty instead of fighting. As a result, the Gukcheon Hunter team is as good as eliminated. With -962 survival points, it’s safe to say they’re done for.”
There was someone who refuted Hong Soo-won’s words. It was Baek Ji-eun.
“Well, even though their survival points are in the negative, the Gukcheon Hunter team is not an easy team to deal with. One person was eliminated, but both of the remaining two are powerful nature-type ability users with lightning and gravity, and they can even use mana. It’s too much power to say they’re finished.”
“Huh… What can two people do when they’re not even three?”
“They can do a lot. We’ll have to see what choices the Gukcheon Hunter team makes in the future.”
Jo Seok-hoo changed the topic before their argument could escalate further.
“It’s almost 11 AM. Starting from the second day, we have events prepared. Today, the event will take place one hour later, at 12 PM.”
***
11:30 AM.
A notification popped up on the tablet.
〉 In 30 minutes. At 12 PM, Treasure Skeletons will appear.
〉 There will be a total of 10 Treasure Skeletons, and they will roam around the dungeon for 1 hour. Hunt the fleeing Treasure Skeletons!
〉 By catching the Treasure Skeletons, you can obtain survival points, food, and information.
〉 The locations of the Treasure Skeletons will be displayed on the map in real-time.
It was an event prepared by the organizers.
Treasure Skeletons. The name sounds grand, but they’re actually just beggar skeletons. The survival points you can get are 100, and the food is enough for one meal for a team. The information is hints about things hidden throughout the dungeon.
‘100 survival points are meaningless to us. I have hacking, so I don’t need information, and the only thing that’s useful is the food.’
I was a bit hungry. The mushrooms we found in the forest were tasteless and not enough to fill us up.
“…This is intended to make the hunters fight each other.”
Han Ha-rin immediately noticed the organizers’ intentions after seeing the Treasure Skeleton event.
“The charm of Dungeon Survival is, after all, the practical battles between hunters.”
“Skeletons are F-rank monsters. If we find them first, we can catch them easily.”
“No. They’re not ordinary skeletons, so it’ll be difficult.”
I know the information about these Treasure Skeletons.
The Treasure Skeletons are skeletons summoned by a B-rank necromancer hunter. They’re incomparably stronger than ordinary skeletons. You can think of them as being at least D-rank monsters.
Han Ha-rin stared at me intently and asked.
“You’re planning to use the Treasure Skeletons as bait, aren’t you?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“You said it in the early morning. That you’d eliminate all the competitors.”
“It’s more likely than trying to gather survival points.”
“You know there’s a flaw in this plan, right?”
A flaw.
She’s talking about how we don’t know who will follow the Treasure Skeletons. A powerful team like Kang Seok-soo’s, or more than 10 hunters, could be aiming for the skeletons.
This plan is something that only a team like Kang Seok-soo’s, with overwhelming confidence in their abilities, could use. We’re a strong team too, but there are only two of us.
“It’s okay, Senior.”
I know who the hunters nearby are through hacking. Kang Seok-soo’s hunter team is quite far away. Among the hunters nearby, there’s no one who can stop us.
Of course, I can’t tell her this fact.
“I’m pretty lucky.”
〉 12 PM!
〉 The Treasure Skeleton event begins!
〉 10 Treasure Skeletons are roaming inside the dungeon! Catch them faster than anyone else and obtain treasures!
I looked at the tablet.
A total of 10 red dots appeared on the map and were moving. It was definitely indicating the Treasure Skeletons.
For reference, the blue dot indicates our location.
“Senior, there’s a Treasure Skeleton nearby. I told you I’m lucky.”
“Then we can execute the plan as scheduled, right?”
“Yes, Senior.”
I looked around. There was one association staff member filming us from a distance.
‘Kang Seok-soo’s team has five association staff members filming them. We only have one.’
It was clear that the organizers had almost decided on our elimination.
‘In a survival, the last one alive wins.’
We moved in the direction of the Treasure Skeleton.
Soon, we found the Treasure Skeleton.
The awkwardly moving skeleton was carrying a bundle on its shoulder. That’s where the information and food are.
“……”
“……”
Han Ha-rin and I exchanged glances, communicating our intentions, and began to follow the skeleton while holding our breath.
Three hunters appeared. Two were holding swords and shields, and one was wearing gauntlets.
“Found it! It looks like we found it first. We’re lucky, huh?”
“Instead of talking, just catch it. I’m starving.”
“There’s no time to dawdle. Other hunters will be gathering soon. We know we have no chance if we fight head-on, right? We need to survive as long as possible and look for opportunities.”
The three hunters stopped chatting at some point and approached the skeleton while minimizing their presence.
The skeleton hadn’t yet realized the hunters’ presence. Since it wasn’t a real monster but a skeleton controlled by a hunter, it was a bit dumb.
I timed it and raised my hand. Han Ha-rin nodded after seeing my signal.
“Kuek?!”
“W-what is this!”
“My body suddenly…!”
Han Ha-rin’s gravity field was pressing down on their bodies. Their bodies became heavy, making it difficult for them to move easily.
The skeleton turned around, saw the hunters, and started running away in a hurry.
‘The skeleton can’t run far anyway. Now is the time to focus on these guys.’
I, who was hiding in a tree, grabbed my sword and jumped down towards them. I swung my lightning-infused sword at the hunter wearing gauntlets first.
Zzzzzzzzzzt!
“Kuaaaaa! It’s an enemy! Help me!”
The blade couldn’t pierce the hunter’s body. An energy protect was protecting his body. There was no electrocution either.
‘But it’s certain that he’s taking damage from the lightning.’
I generated even more lightning. Blue lightning flowed over his body.
“You bastard!”
“What do you think you’re doing to us!”
The hunter’s two companions swung their swords at me. But they were too slow because of the gravity field.
‘I’m also within the range of the gravity field, but I can use mana.’
When I used mana, my body became lighter.
Yeongcheon Style Advanced Technique, Hanroe (Cold Lightning).
When I swung my sword, lightning spread in all directions.
Originally, Hanroe is a technique that releases sword energy and lightning simultaneously. I can’t release sword energy yet, so only lightning is spreading.
“Kuaaaa! Damn it! Your ability is a cheat!”
“I-it’s so t-tingly…!”
The three hunters soon collapsed on the ground. The energy protect on their shoulders changed from blue to red.
I watched their backs as they disappeared with the association staff member and thought.
‘Those guys seem weird.’
They were grinning even though they were eliminated. It didn’t seem like they were serious about participating in Dungeon Survival from the start.
‘Well… I guess there are guys like that too.’
