The Ainkart Holy Kingdom's preemptive strike. Mihye's betrayal. The B-rank raider Rexner's impending assault. And now, Mihye's venom-laced offer. Everything was spiraling into chaos. His secondary territory, Lasten, was completely out of commission, and Rexner was almost certainly heading straight for the original Dungeon Balak. Though it was his home turf, he was facing a B-rank raid party—an enemy that, according to both Mihye and Junhyun, was on a completely different level from anything he had faced before.

'I don't have enough information on Rexner.'

Even Junhyun knew nothing about his specific skills or abilities. Taehyun was flying blind, forced to confront a superior force with virtually no intelligence.

'This is going to be tough.'

Balak had certainly grown stronger. The fortifications, the traps, and the addition of Grai were all fruits of his labor. But at its core, it was still just a C-rank dungeon. His grand plans of conquering the surrounding region and carving out a territory of his own were now on indefinite hold. First, he had to survive.

'What are my assets?'

He calmly took stock of his forces. First, Grai and the ambush unit. Second, the main force, supported by Riel. And finally, Mederia and the fairies, providing ranged support for both. Those were his pieces on the board. He could supplement them with item-based psychological warfare, but a deep sense of unease settled in his gut.

Rexner was a Player, just like Sebastian had been. He wouldn't fight like a predictable NPC.

'Should I expose Mihye as the traitor?'

His first thought was to contact the Demon World through the A-rank master, Seonghwi. But he couldn't be sure they would act. The demons surely knew the Holy Kingdom had attacked, yet they remained silent. The chance of them intervening was practically zero.

'If not the Demon World, what about Seonghwi's faction?'

Seonghwi was an A-rank Dungeon Master with powerful allies. They would likely fend off the Holy Kingdom's attack with ease. Swallowing his pride, Taehyun decided to ask for help, but the response was a swift denial.

"It seems the Holy Kingdom sent an Arch-Hierarch after us," Seonghwi's voice came through the communicator, laced with grim finality. "Unfortunately, I can't help you. I can only pray you survive this, just as you have before."

An Arch-Hierarch of the Ainkart Holy Kingdom. A being who wielded holy power dozens of times stronger than any normal priest. In the end, Taehyun was on his own.

'How did this happen?' he wondered, his frustration mounting. 'Did Mihye know about Seonghwi's faction? Sending an Arch-Hierarch, even against an A-rank dungeon… that's impossible unless she fed them intel!'

The Arch-Hierarchs were second only to the Pope in the Holy Kingdom's hierarchy. For one to move personally was highly unusual. Taehyun ran his hands through his hair, his mind a tangled mess of variables. The size of Rexner's party, the question of whether his two Guardians could stop a B-rank Raider, the uncertainty of his strategies—it was all a blur.

"Haaah," he sighed, the sound heavy in the quiet room.

"You look very troubled, Master Taehyun," Kinjo chirped, appearing at his side.

"Just thinking too hard. My head hurts," Taehyun muttered. "It's nothing. What is it?"

"A merchant caravan from the Demon World has arrived."

"A merchant caravan?"

He vaguely recalled hearing about such an event. Occasionally, a traveling merchant would visit a dungeon. But the timing couldn't be worse. With Rexner's raid looming, his mind was already at its breaking point. A random event was the last thing he needed.

"…I suppose I should meet them," he said, a sliver of hope flickering within him.

"Yes. I will guide them to the reception room."

"Alright."

As Kinjo scurried off, Taehyun rose and headed for the reception room, clinging to the faint possibility that this unexpected visit might hold a solution.

---

[Lugo Talos]

[Rank: D (Named)]

[Level: 15]

[Class: Merchant]

[Title: Lowest-Rank Demon]

[Affiliation: Gronz Merchant Caravan]

[Skills: ?]

[Special Abilities: ?]

[Strength: ?] [Endurance: ?] [Agility: ?] [Stamina: ?]

[Mana: ?] [Holy Power: ?] [Affinity: ?] [Luck: ?]

The Gronz Merchant Caravan was a small, unknown outfit, a far cry from the ten great merchant houses of the Demon World. They were known for wandering the continent in search of reliable trading partners. This visit was likely an attempt to establish a new route.

"Muahaha," the demon merchant rasped, his laugh like stones grinding together. "A pleasure to meet you, Dungeon Master Taehyun Yoo of Balak. First, allow me to present my wares."

Lugo spread an assortment of goods across the table. Various pieces of equipment and items glittered under the dungeon's light, but Taehyun just sighed, his expression unimpressed.

"Wh-what's wrong?" Lugo stammered. "Are you not satisfied?"

"It's not about satisfaction. I just don't need any of this right now. Besides, I don't have the Zen for this kind of equipment."

"Then perhaps you have something our caravan could purchase?" Lugo asked eagerly. "Iron ore, slaves, or even equipment from fallen raiders would be fine."

The only thing Taehyun had was gear stripped from the raiders he'd killed. He pulled out the collection of items he had yet to dispose of. Lugo's eyes lit up as he began appraising them one by one, eventually selecting a few pieces he wished to buy.

'Isn't that Junhyun's scythe?' Taehyun noticed. He briefly wondered what weapon his rival was using now, but quickly pushed the thought aside. Rexner was the only thing that mattered.

"Do you have any items that could help defend against a raid?" Taehyun asked.

"Ah, of course! If you look here, we have everything from suicide bombs to…"

"Haaah. Never mind," Taehyun cut him off, seeing nothing but junk. "I'll just sell these."

"Well, if you say so. Understood. Muahaha."

The deal was concluded quickly. Taehyun sold a few pieces of raider equipment and got nothing useful in return.

"If you wish to purchase anything in the future, please contact us immediately," Lugo said, leaving a communication device on the table. "We can deliver via teleportation magic."

The demon departed, clearly hoping for future business. Taehyun stared down at the device and sighed.

"I wonder if there will even be a 'later' to buy anything."

---

It was six days until Rexner's arrival.

Having found no solution with the merchant caravan, Taehyun returned to the original Balak. He needed to survey his own territory one last time, searching for any advantage he might have missed. The same sharp anxiety he'd felt before Sebastian's raid returned, but this time, there was no trace of arrogance or complacency.

"Master Taehyun," Riel suggested, her voice calm and steady. "Before the raid party arrives, perhaps it would be wise to invade the nearby villages to earn some Zen? Or we could clear the Ice Palace again."

"Attacking the villages risks losing soldiers, and I need every last one of them at full strength," he countered. "The Ice Palace, though… Hmm. That might be possible."

"Yes. If you send a contingent of soldiers to accompany me, I will see it done."

"I'm counting on you."

Taehyun teleported Riel and a squad of soldiers to the Ice Palace before returning to Balak.

---

It was four days until Rexner's arrival.

Taehyun spent the time squeezing every last drop of information he could from Junhyun. He learned little about Rexner's specific abilities, but he did make some progress.

First, Rexner's appearance and style. He favored a massive greatsword and always wore white gloves, suggesting he was a Holy Knight who excelled in close-quarters combat. The gloves likely provided a simple boost to his holy power.

Second, his raiding tactics. He was known for using disguise and transformation items to engage in psychological warfare. Taehyun would have to find a way to see through the deception while conserving his own limited-use items.

Third, his known feats. According to rumor, Rexner had once single-handedly fought three B-rank Guardians at the same time. If true, even Grai, a Hero-class Guardian, would be in for a desperate fight. Having the ranged support of Mederia might not be enough to guarantee victory.

Fourth, his skills. This was the biggest unknown, but Junhyun had shared a chilling rumor. "A raider who fought alongside him said that one moment, Rexner was standing still, and the next, the monster was in pieces before he even saw him move."

Taehyun's initial guess was a speed-related skill, but he couldn't be certain. It could just as easily be a unique Holy Knight buff. He couldn't afford to jump to conclusions.

Finally, his party composition. Rexner always raided with the same fixed group of members, which included other Holy Knights and Priests. Junhyun had personally scouted them and confirmed their numbers at approximately fifty.

With this fragmented intelligence, Taehyun began to formulate a desperate plan.

---

With one day left until Rexner's arrival, nothing had changed.

The information from Junhyun was still too vague to build a solid strategy around. He walked the perimeter of his dungeon daily, surveying the terrain, but it all felt futile. A man who could take on three B-rank Guardians alone, backed by a veteran party of fifty. No matter how he looked at it, he knew he wouldn't find a weakness until they were face-to-face.

He spent the Zen that Riel had earned in the Ice Palace on more exclusive items.

'If this is how it has to be, then I'll meet them head-on and adapt.'

Information was scarce, so he would have to rely on real-time tactics. These raiders were on another level; they would react quickly. He would have to keep them off-balance with psychological warfare until he could find a clear path to victory.

'He uses disguises, so that's the first thing I'll break.'

Taehyun summoned every last soldier from his secondary dungeon. Soon, his entire army stood assembled before him, flanked by his two Guardians.

"Apologies for the delay," Kinjo said, bowing.

"Tomorrow is the day," Riel added, her expression resolute.

The two Supporters had arrived, completing their ranks.

"I look forward to it," Grai boomed, a warrior's grin on his face. "If these enemies make my lord so anxious, they will surely be entertaining."

"Oh, they'll be entertaining, alright," Taehyun replied grimly. "They might even kill you if you're not careful."

"That in itself is an experience."

Taehyun envied Grai's composure. He allowed himself a small, humorless smile as he surveyed his forces. Goblins, Imps, Wild Dogs, Orcs, Lizardmen, Fenrirs, Trolls, Wyverns, and Fairies. The army he had built from nothing.

'This is everything I have.'

Many of them would die tomorrow. The thought was unfortunate, but he felt no deep attachment. He clenched his fists, the image of Mihye's mocking smile flashing in his mind.

'I will survive this. And when I do, I'm coming for you. I'll wipe that arrogant smirk right off your face.'

---

On the day of Rexner's arrival, a line of figures in white robes appeared on the horizon of the barren plains. The man at their head strode forward and slammed a large, ornate cross into the dry earth.

A soft hum filled the air as the cross began to glow, bathing the surrounding area in a gentle, holy light. The man knelt, offered a brief prayer, then rose and cast back the hood of his robe.

"Is this the way to Balak?" he asked, his voice calm and authoritative.

"According to the map, yes."

"I'm rather looking forward to this."

The man—Rexner—issued a series of quiet commands. With practiced efficiency, his followers began planting similar crosses across the plains. Soon, fifty of the symbols dotted the landscape, and an immense wave of holy power washed over the entire region.

"Good," Rexner declared. "Let the raid on Balak begin."

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