Debuff Master

“Huh? Gosran-nim?” Siegfried immediately recognized her.

How could he fail to recognize her? She was the one who became his manager the first time he formed a party, and he ran into her a couple of times after that, too.

“Long time no see! How have you been? You suddenly disappeared last time,” Siegfried said while recalling that she disappeared after the incident at Mount Kunlun.

“Ah, that... I had some stuff going on. I’m sorry for disappearing without saying anything,” Gosran replied with an apologetic smile.

“No need to apologize. Stuff happens.”

“Anyway, it’s great to see you again, Siegfried-nim!”

“Yes, it’s great to see you again too.”

“I heard you’ve gotten quite popular.”

Siegfried waved his hand while grinning and replied, “Come on~ I’m not that famous! Hahaha...”

“You are! See? Everyone recognizes you and wants to party up with you.”

“I was just mentioned a few times here and there recently, that’s all.”

“You’re still as humble as ever.”

“Haha! I have nothing to be humble about,” Siegfried replied. Then, he secretly flashed his Rune of Insight at her.

Gosran was still the same Frost Mage, but there was something strange about her level.

“Level 291?! Y-You were a Ranker?!” Siegfried screamed after seeing her level. Anyone above Level 290 was worthy of being listed on the ranking page, and Siegfried assumed that she was probably a Ranker by now.

“No, I’m not a Ranker.”

“Really? But your level is...”

“You know that being a Ranker doesn’t mean anything, right?”

“Still...”

Gosran was right. Being a Ranker was not an accurate indication of anything nor was it reliable. Being a Ranker in BNW only meant that the Adventurer possessed a higher level than others, and that was it.

Still, a Ranker was still a Ranker, and they could not be underestimated.

“But Level 291 is still amazing...”

“I think you’re amazing too. You’re already Level 260 in just a year! That’s really amazing!”

“...”

“Hohoho!”

Siegfried had a hard time accepting Gosran’s praises as praises.

‘Tsk... Just what the hell did she do? How did she reach Level 291 when I’m only Level 260? Hmm. Something’s fishy...’ Siegfried was certain that she was not a normal Adventurer. Her leveling-up speed was definitely odd when compared to his growth this past year.

Siegfried had to go through all sorts of troubles to reach Level 260, so how did she reach Level 291 in such a short period of time?

‘There’s definitely something... Is she hiding her true powers?’ Siegfried decided to keep an eye on her after coming to the conclusion that she might have the ability to deceive the Rune of Insight.

“Siegfried-nim.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to hunt together? For old time’s sake?”

“Should we?” Siegfried didn't refuse the offer. Not only were they old comrades, but he was also curious about the secret to her abnormal growth.

“Then, I’ll form the party. You just relax.”

“Eh? And let you do all the heavy lifting?”

“We already did this before, right? Hoho!”

“Y-Yeah, I guess...?”

“I’ll be right back.”

Gosran had already turned around and left before Siegfried could say anything else.

***

Gosran managed to gather the best possible party in less than ten minutes. All of them were at least Level 280, and some of them were even famous Adventurers.

“Two Tankers, one Magician, one Healer, and one Buffer.”

“Oh!”

“This is Siegfried-nim, everyone. Well, I guess you already know him,” Gosran introduced him to the party members.

“Hello, Siegfried-nim.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Oh! I never imagined that I’d get to meet you!”

The party members warmly greeted Siegfried, which was a stark contrast to how the high-level Adventurers used to treat him before. There was no need to mention what kind of treatment he had been receiving back when his ID was still Tae-Sung, but he was also ridiculed even after becoming Siegfried back when he was still low level.

However, things had changed. Siegfried’s level had become quite high, and he was now renowned as a skilled gamer as well. In other words, Siegfried was in a position where other Adventurers would be willing to die just to party up with him.

“Kyu! I didn’t know you’re famous, owner punk!”

“Whoa... Everyone seems to love you, hyung-nim.”

Hamchi and Seung-Gu chimed in as well.

“Ah! Stop that!” Siegfried lashed out at them with his face flushed. Then, he angrily stomped into the Great Jungle.

“Shall we?” Gosran smiled and asked the others.

***

Ding!

A message popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes as soon as he entered the Great Jungle.

[Alert: You have lost the buffs of your title Ruler of the Great Jungle!]

[Alert: You must reclaim the Ishuka Ruin to regain the buffs of your title!]

Perhaps it was due to the fact that the Ishuka Ruin had been occupied by monsters, but Siegfried lost the buffs from his Ruler of the Great Jungle title.

‘Tsk...’ Siegfried clicked his tongue out of disappointment.

[Ruler of the Great Jungle]

[A title awarded to whoever rules the Ishuka Ruin.]

[Type: Title]

[Rating: Legendary]

[Effect: Level +30 in the Southern Great Jungle]

It was normal for him to be disappointed, as the title gave a whopping thirty additional levels from just being in the Great Jungle.

‘Haa... I guess there’s nothing I can do about it...’

However, he knew that there was no point crying over spilled milk, as the Ishuka Ruin had already been occupied by monsters. freewebnove l.com

‘First things first...’

It was then.

Rustle!

Siegfried grimaced after noticing something moving near them, and he was not the only one who noticed it.

“Kyu?!”

Hamchi was the most sensitive among them, and his ears instantly perked up.

“Huh?”

Gosran seemed to have heard it as well, judging by how she reacted and gripped her staff.

‘She heard that, too? I guess she’s not Level 291 for nothing,’ Siegfried didn't miss the fact that Gosran had reacted as well. A player’s senses would become more sensitive the higher their character’s level, allowing them to hear even the faintest of noises once their level was high enough. BNW would amplify any noises around high-level Adventurers for them to pick it up.

‘She’s definitely not someone ordinary—’

Siegfried’s thoughts of Gosran were interrupted by a rustling noise.

Rustle! Rustle!

The rustling noise grew louder and louder.

“Prepare for combat!” Siegfried shouted and readied his +13 Horse Fly.

“Huh? Combat?”

“What are you talking about...?”

“Is there an enemy somewhere?”

The party members were perplexed, but they immediately prepared for battle despite the doubts. They weren't high-level Adventurers for nothing, and their experience was telling them that anything could happen in these kinds of places.

Exactly five seconds later...

“Kireuk! Kireuk!”

“Kieeeee!” freewebn(o)vel

“Kwaaaak!”

The Great Jungle Fire Ants emerged from behind the bushes and attacked the party.

However, there was something strange about these ants. If Siegfried's memories were serving him correctly, then these ants had become larger than before.

[Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ant]

[A fire ant inhabiting the Southern Great Jungle]

[An unknown energy has mutated it, making it grow in size.]

[It has potent venom. Anyone bitten by it could instantly go into shock.]

[Type: Neutral Creature]

[Level: 200]

[Note: These ants move in swarms to hunt. Running away is advised when faced with these creatures.]

[Warning: It will vomit its venom and explode before dying. Fighting them from close combat is tantamount to committing suicide.]

The Great Jungle Fire Ants were only Level 50 before, but they suddenly became Level 150 to Level 200 for some odd reason. They had grown exponentially in size as well.

“Damn it!” Siegfried screamed and hurriedly transformed his +13 Horse Fly into a spear. Then, he placed down Shadow Swamp to slow down the Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants.

Seuruk... Seuruk...

The fire ants slowed down, but that was not the end of it. Their shadows rose up from the ground and formed a barricade in front of them, and the fire ants couldn't approach Siegfried and his party members.

“Focus them down from range!” Siegfried ordered before using Lightning at the fire ants.

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

The Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants gave a ton of experience points.

Puuuk!

Siegfried skewered one of the fire ants with his spear.

Boom!

The fire ant exploded and unleashed its venom all over the place.

Splat!

Shockingly, saying that the venom was potent ended up being an understatement.

Pshhhh...!

“Huh?” Siegfried muttered and tilted his head in confusion after seeing the venom corrode his Quad-Turbo Shoulder.

His party members reacted the same.

“Argh!”

“H-Hey! My armor!”

“What’s with this crazy damage?!”

They managed to kill the Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants quite easily, all thanks to Siegfried’s Shadow Swamp, but the venom that the fire ants had unleashed upon exploding flew at least ten meters in all directions, corroding everything it touched.

Thus, the party couldn't remain unscathed even though they did their best to keep a safe distance from the ants.

“This is bad...” Siegfried muttered with a grimace. He racked his brain for a few seconds before activating Discharge and amplifying the slow effects of Shadow Swamp. Then, he turned to his party members and shouted, “Let’s get out of here! Our defensive gear won’t make it if we keep fighting these ants!”

And that was how the first battle of Siegfried’s party ended—it ended in a tactical retreat to avoid damaging their defensive gear. It was clear as day that their expensive gear would soon crumble to pieces if they got hit by more venom.

“Kyu! Hamchi has a bald spot! What do I do, owner punk?!”

Unfortunately, Hamchi was hit by the venom, and the venom corroded his soft fur, resulting in a bald patch.

“Pfft!”

“KYAAAH! Why are you laughing?! Do you think this is funny?! Kyaaaah!”

“You’re going to start balding soon, dude.”

“KYAAAAA!”

“Hey, go rage somewhere else,” Siegfried said as he pushed Hamchi back. Then, he looked at Seung-Gu and said, “It’s time for you to earn your keep.”

“Yes! Hyung-nim!”

Seung-Gu summoned the Iron Golems and put them into Siege Mode.

“Three! Two! One!”

The fifty Iron Golems aimed their cannons at the slowed Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants.

“FIRE!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A rain of fire descended upon the fire ants.

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

They successfully killed the horde of Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants that they had encountered without any casualties or further damage, and it was all thanks to Siegfried’s Shadow Swamp and Seung-Gu’s Iron Golems.

“Whoa... That’s very impressive...”

“Did you see that firepower?”

“He can command fifty Iron Golems? That’s wicked sick!”

The party members flocked around Seung-Gu and spared no praise for him.

“Ah, well... Haha! T-Thank you...!” Seung-Gu replied while blushing slightly. This was his first time receiving acknowledgment from others, so he felt really good right now.

It was then.

“Hold on,” Siegfried suddenly said. Then, he narrowed his eyes and pointed at where the Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants were and asked, “What’s that? What is that shining object?”

He was not the type of person who could curb his curiosity, so he immediately activated his thrusters and flew toward the Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants—rather, Siegfried flew toward the remains of the Mutated Great Jungle Fire Ants.

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