Chapter 132 – Reward of the Blue Shell Turtle  

Only after stepping outside did Min Do-jun finally have the time to examine his rewards.  

[Top-tier Random Box]  

– Type: Consumable  

– Grade: S  

– Effect: Randomly obtain an A~S grade item  

– Usage Restriction: Level 3,000 or higher  

– Description: A meticulously wrapped gift box. It contains an unknown present.  

This was the pinnacle of random boxes.  

‘The level restriction is high, but the fact that it can yield an S-grade item isn’t bad.’  

However, since there was also a chance of getting an A-grade item, he couldn’t be entirely pleased.  

[Skill Grade Transcendence Stone]  

– Type: Consumable  

– Grade: S  

– Feature: Consumable item  

– Description: An item that raises the grade of an A-rank skill by one level, allowing you to experience an S-rank skill in advance.  

As the description stated, this item could elevate an A-rank skill to S-rank, letting him use it ahead of time.  

‘This is even more welcome than the random box.’  

The ability to upgrade a desired skill to S-rank in advance was a significant advantage.  

‘I’ll think about which skill to enhance later…’  

Min Do-jun then turned his attention to the last item he had acquired.  

[Rune Turtle Shield]  

– Type: Shield  

– Grade: S  

– Defense: 24,000 (+14,124)  

– Effect: +300 Magic Power, Additional Defense equal to 300% of Magic Power  

– Durability: 27,000/27,000  

– Usage Restriction: Level 3,000 or higher, Vitality 1,500 or higher  

– Description: A shield modeled after a turtle’s shell. Surprisingly lightweight and sturdy.  

Min Do-jun couldn’t help but be surprised by the shield—because it had a magic power option.  

‘Magic power on a shield is rare…’  

Most tanks focused on strength and vitality, so they had no use for magic power. Naturally, shields with magic power were ignored in the real world.  

‘But it could be useful for me.’  

Min Do-jun’s primary weapon was a one-handed sword, which meant he could also wield a shield. However, he hadn’t used one until now because:  

‘It’s just cumbersome. It doesn’t help much.’  

Since he could simply dodge attacks, he never felt the need for a shield.  

‘Besides, there were vitality restrictions, so I couldn’t even equip one even if I wanted to.’  

But now, things were different. With the buff from Battlefield’s Avatar, his vitality could reach up to 4,000.  

‘Now I can use it without issue.’  

There was no downside to using it.  

‘If it boosts my magic power, I’m more than willing to equip a shield.’  

Not only did it enhance magic power, but its defense was also excellent.  

‘An additional defense equal to three times my magic power? That’s huge.’  

Currently, with his buffs, Min Do-jun’s magic power was 4,408. Including the shield’s bonus, it would rise to 4,708, and the amplified defense would exceed 14,000.  

‘With just this shield, I can easily block most attacks.’  

However, since the usage restriction was level 3,000 or higher, he’d have to stash the shield away for a while.  

‘I also got three S-grade magic stones, so the rewards are more than enough.’  

Each magic stone was worth 1.5 billion, making this haul overwhelmingly generous.  

‘Ah, I also got achievements.’  

[Achievement – Solo S-rank Boss Hunt!]  

– Condition: Hunt an S-rank boss solo  

– Reward: +5,400,000 EXP  

[Achievement – Solo Boss Hunter!]  

– Condition: Hunt bosses of all grades (F~S) solo  

– Reward: +15% damage dealt and -15% damage taken when fighting bosses alone  

One provided EXP, while the other was a buff-type reward.  

‘Perfect. This will be useful for boss hunting.’  

Upon accepting the EXP reward, his level instantly rose by 3.  

—

“Excuse me, Hunter Min Do-jun.”  

The party members called out to him as he led the way.  

“Thanks to you, we escaped the boss room. We’re truly grateful.”  

“If it weren’t for you, we would’ve been trapped there.”  

“That’s right. We might’ve all frozen to death.”  

He hadn’t defeated the boss to receive their gratitude, but it didn’t feel bad.  

‘They should be thankful. I could’ve killed them all and taken their traits.’  

If he hadn’t stepped in, they would’ve died trapped in the boss room anyway. He could’ve slaughtered them, taken the boss solo, and left.  

‘And no one would’ve been able to prove it.’  

But this was nothing more than self-justification for his own greed. It was no different from a murderer holding a knife, saying, “I could’ve killed you, but I spared you.”  

‘No matter how consumed I am by vengeance, I can’t kill innocent people.’  

They were still human beings—not just walking traits.  

‘Even if they’re no help, as long as they don’t harm me, there’s no need to kill them.’  

Min Do-jun had always lived by one principle:  

‘Those who deserve to die, die.’  

Even if it was just another form of self-justification, this standard allowed him to distinguish himself from a mindless killer.  

‘If I start killing innocent people just to steal their traits…’  

He would abandon the bare minimum of human morality, and at that point—  

‘I might become a monster.’  

He’d be no different from a murderer.  

‘Not that I’m far from being called one already.’  

With a self-deprecating smile, Min Do-jun turned his head and said:  

“No need for thanks. Just keep up so you don’t get lost.”  

Under the pretext of guiding them, he continued slaughtering the lizards, monopolizing the kills.  

[Achievement – S-rank Monster Hunter!]  

– Condition: Hunt 100 S-rank monsters  

– Reward: +460,000 EXP  

Along the way, he picked up minor achievements, but he wasn’t the only one benefiting. The party members also gained something valuable—information about the boss room.  

‘Once the raid is over, they’ll probably sell the boss room’s location.’  

He knew how they operated but had no intention of stopping them.  

‘It’s not like the boss room will be accessible anytime soon.’  

The stone gate leading to the boss room had already disappeared.  

‘It won’t reappear for at least six months.’  

It would’ve been nice if dungeons always had bosses, but unfortunately, sub-dungeon bosses had a six-month respawn timer. The stone gate would only reappear then—and in a different location.  

Still, the mere fact that a boss room existed in the Oasis was valuable information in itself.  

‘Of course, they’d need proof for it to be credible.’  

By the time six months passed, he’d already be S-rank and tackling higher-level dungeons. He had no lingering greed for a boss he’d already defeated.  

—

After hunting lizards and moving around, they eventually returned to the starting point.  

As the promised two hours passed, the scattered party members began regrouping. Leader Oh Yoon-sik also arrived on time.  

‘Hunter Min Do-jun… Did he make it back alive?’  

Oh Yoon-sik, who had been subtly concerned about him since their confrontation, spotted Min Do-jun belatedly.  

‘As expected, he survived…’  

Noticing the clear signs of battle on Min Do-jun’s appearance, Oh Yoon-sik smirked inwardly.  

‘That’s more like it. No matter how strong he is—enough to slice apart Sand Worms—he wouldn’t have had an easy time against enhanced lizards.’  

Even he had struggled against those lizards. Did Min Do-jun really think he could take them down effortlessly?  

‘The “2x stronger” claim might be true, but it seems his skills still fall short of mine.’  

Feeling a sense of superiority, Oh Yoon-sik puffed out his chest proudly.  

“Is everyone here?”  

Once most had gathered, Oh Yoon-sik took a headcount.  

“Team B is missing one person?”  

“Well… There was an unfortunate accident…”  

“Our team also lost one member…”  

Upon checking, Teams B and C had each lost one member.  

“The monsters were tougher than expected.”  

“The EXP isn’t even comparable to the Sand Worms.”  

“That person… They were right. It really felt like the monsters were twice as strong.”  

At someone’s remark, the party’s attention shifted to Min Do-jun.  

They remembered—how he had warned them not to enter the Oasis during the day, even confronting the leader.  

“Just to confirm… You said it before we entered, right? That the monsters would be twice as strong if we went in during the day.”  

“Yes.”  

“How did you know that?”  

“It was in the guide I read. The Oasis is better tackled at night.”  

“Sigh…”  

The party members let out regretful sighs.  

“I never thought they’d actually be twice as strong.”  

“He was right.”  

At the time, they had dismissed his words, but he had been correct.  

The daytime was dangerous.  

“We should’ve listened to him…”  

If they had entered at night, they could’ve hunted more easily and efficiently.  

“And no one would’ve died.”  

But regret was futile now. The battle was over, casualties had occurred, and the gains were meager.  

“If only the leader had agreed back then…”  

Someone muttered under their breath, but hunters had sharp ears.  

Of course, Oh Yoon-sik heard it too.  

‘Damn these b*st*rds…’  

One by one, the party members turned to glare at him—their eyes accusatory, as if questioning why he hadn’t listened to Min Do-jun.  

Oh Yoon-sik was flabbergasted.  

‘When they were the ones whining about the heat and begging to go in, and now it’s my fault?’  

Sure, as the leader, the final decision was his, but given the circumstances, who wouldn’t have chosen to enter the Oasis?  

Had even a single person believed Min Do-jun’s warning back then?  

It was unfair, but arguing here would only undermine his authority as leader. Years of experience taught him to swallow his pride and focus on the task at hand.  

“…Let’s head out now. I’ll guide you to the exit.”  

Following the raid guide, Oh Yoon-sik led them toward the exit.  

After about three hours, they finally emerged from the dungeon, eagerly anticipating the desert’s scorching heat to warm their chilled bodies.  

But—  

The sun had already set, and only the shadow-cloaked desert greeted them.  

“Ugh… It’s cold.”  

The desert’s drastic temperature swings were common knowledge, but this place was especially extreme.  

“E-Everyone brought cold-resistant gear, right? Put it on quickly.”  

“I’ve been wearing mine since the Oasis.”  

“And it’s still freezing. Ugh.”  

After enduring the Oasis, this cold was unbearable—like being stranded in the Arctic naked.  

Of course, Min Do-jun, ever prepared, remained unfazed.  

‘I could endure this cold for hours.’  

Thanks to the Elixir’s effects, he could even spend the night in the desert if needed.  

“Ugh, this won’t do.”  

“Leader, shouldn’t we go somewhere else? This is unbearable.”  

“We still need to find the Pyramid Dungeon, so hang in there a little longer.”  

If they could enter the Pyramid—the remaining sub-dungeon—they could escape the cold.  

The party members nodded, hoping to find it quickly.  

But not everyone agreed.  

“That won’t work.”  

Once again, Min Do-jun stepped forward to object.  

“The Pyramid shouldn’t be entered at night.”