2.

For days, the event was all anyone could talk about.

"Everyone's talking about the event," Seora remarked. "Of course. Even non-players can't help but be interested. The amount of money changing hands is substantial."

It was an event for players, but it captivated everyone—because it was all about money.

"A 1-star Special-grade weapon alone can fetch at least a few million, and if you're lucky, tens of millions. How can people not be interested?" Even as she spoke, her face was etched with concern. Seora was a player, too. The prize was tempting, but the reality of breaking through the competition was daunting, even for the vice master of the Jeong Cheol Guild, the third-ranked guild in South Korea with a future brighter than ever. "There was an event once where a 5-star Legendary accessory was released, and the number-one ranker paid around thirteen billion for it, even covering the taxes."

"Thirteen billion," Buja breathed. "That's an incredible amount."

Hearing the story, it certainly seemed plausible. No matter how much money players earned from dungeons, their expenses were just as high. The fixed costs of running a guild were beyond what ordinary people could imagine. The hospital operated under the Jeong Cheol Guild's name alone cost several times more than a regular one, since everything inside had to be tailored for players, and most of those resources came from dungeons.

Above all, for guilds and players, high-grade items were a measure of their power. They were life itself. They were a second chance. Just as Buja was more curious about the stats of a 5-star accessory than the astronomical sum of thirteen billion—a number with so many zeros he couldn't even grasp it—players prioritized items over money. That's why everyone had to consider participating, knowing full well the competition would be immense.

"Is there any support from the guild?" he asked.

"There is, but it won't be easy," she admitted. "We'll prepare as much as we can, but since we're a small, elite guild, it's hard to help with dungeon clears. Players using their personal assets will have a distinct advantage."

"Hmm, that makes sense. That's the most common method, right?"

"Entering the dungeon just in time for the clear to get the points," she confirmed. "It's the simplest but most effective way."

Fair play. Equity. Such words had long ceased to apply, even in games. A fair and reasonable competition had no bearing on the outcome, especially within the hologram system. It didn't care when, where, or how quickly a player cleared a dungeon, or whether they did it alone. All that mattered was the score. Were you in the dungeon when it was cleared? Over five years and countless events, players had learned this truth.

"If things get too heated, it might be better to just buy the item outright, don't you think?" Buja suggested.

"Item prices will rise accordingly, but that's likely to happen," she agreed. The number of players who would challenge the rankings by paying for clears was extremely limited. It was a strategy for the wealthy who weren't constrained by money, but simply couldn't acquire Special or Legendary items because they were never on the market.

"I'll have to give it a try," Buja said with finality.

"You could probably aim for the top ten," Seora encouraged. "If you plan around clearing Unique or Special dungeons."

"I'll make a plan and let you know."

"Okay, I'll do my best to help. Events like this are a win-win for both the guild and the player." It was a worldwide event. Rewards aside, just having one's name on the public ranking would provide an unbelievable boost in recognition. "Still, with your name value, I'll try to plan a route for first place."

"I'll come by whenever I have time, too," she promised.

He didn't have to ask to know she would be busy. It was a time when they wanted to be together, having just confirmed their feelings for each other, but he simply nodded. As much as he cared about their budding relationship, the Legendary-grade item box was undeniably tempting. He planned to give it his all. He had joked about getting first place, but in his mind, he was already formulating a plan.

"Ah!"

As he was planning and seeing her off, Buja realized he was missing the most important detail. "I should probably get some equipment and dungeons in advance before the event. I'll have to go to the Dungeon Shop tomorrow."

As he spoke, Seora shot him a strange look. Then, remembering he had been away for a while, she corrected him.

"It's tomorrow."

"What?"

"The start of the event," she clarified. "Today is October 31st."

His gaze unconsciously drifted to his phone, which had been tossed aside.

"Huh."

Roughly twenty-three hours were left until the event began.

* * *

The event drew so much attention not just for its rewards, but also for its sudden announcement.

—Lmao, they're giving us barely two days' notice for an event like this?

—Are they telling us to prepare or not? Devs are trolling.

—Honestly, for a large-scale Legendary event, two days is generous. Last year, they just dropped it on us day-of.

—Damn, I should've bought some dungeons if I'd known. Ugh!

It was an event that made every industry related to dungeons smile. Items, dungeons, players—the value of everything skyrocketed. Players who had been saving money just for an event like this now bought items tailored for it. Others purchased gear they had been eyeing to get better results and even better rewards. Naturally, item prices soared, and previously unsold items were now impossible to find. All before the event even started.

On the last day of October, the streets that should have been buzzing with Halloween were eerily quiet. Players and everyone involved with dungeons were working day and night to prepare. The price of dungeons, in particular, more than doubled.

—The ones with easy clear conditions have at least doubled, some even tripled in price. It's insane.

—What's with the price of essential items? Are potion prices at the Dungeon Shop really 1.5x higher? For real?

It was a festival and a hell. For the players.

—Ugh, guess I can't run dungeons for a month.

—Seriously, are they running this event so we can clear dungeons or so we can go broke? For players just trying to make a living, running dungeons now is a net loss.

—Yeah, go get a part-time job. A month of grinding IRL will get you five grand easy.

Amidst the chaos and complaints, the ones who survived were the players who adapted. They knew this, so even if they complained, they didn't refuse. Over the past five years, countless players have proven that refusing to participate changed nothing. Adapt and grow, or give up and fall behind. Two days. What mattered most was how much one could prepare in the given time.

"Still, it's a relief I came back before it started." For Kim Buja, the rushed nature of the event was a blessing in disguise.

The rising prices of dungeons and other necessities were not a problem for him.

"The Gold Shop sells potions, at least," he reminded himself.

Even if he didn't use gold, he had plenty of cash. Besides, only players running Normal or Rare dungeons stood to lose money; from the Epic-grade onwards, it was impossible to lose money even if you tried. The important thing was the strategy.

"Including travel time, if I clear three Epic dungeons a day…"

Above all, Buja's mindset was the same as the top-tier players: items took precedence over money. This conviction had become unshakable the moment he'd put the Legendary Crystal Necklace around his neck. So he measured himself not against the riff-raff, but against the players who would be gunning for first place with seemingly impossible strategies.

"Thirty points a day. If I mix in some Uniques, at least fifty."

Of course, it wouldn't be easy. In any competition, the winners were always those who defied common sense. There was no way others couldn't imagine what he could. He needed a route that broke the mold.

"What if I only go for Specials?"

The worst-case scenario was someone securing at least six parties capable of clearing a Special dungeon every single day. That would mean earning a staggering 600 points every two days.

"If it comes to that, I'll just have to give up."

It wasn't impossible. There was no rule stating that a dungeon he could clear alone couldn't be cleared by a party of elites. Players were creatures of profit. However, if someone possessed that kind of financial power and connections, the competition itself would be meaningless. Such a person would likely be participating for the thrill of it, pouring money into the event rather than trying to buy the item directly.

That's why he would compete, but not go all-in. Competition was always a battle with oneself. You run toward your own goal. If you place the reward of victory at the end of that path, you can win, no matter what others do. And for that, Buja set his sights on the Legendary dungeon he had once given up on.

"I'll farm, build up to clearing Special dungeons, and then deliver the finale."

The picture was forming in his mind. It was a dungeon he had to conquer eventually. This event provided the motivation and a clear path to focus on.

"It's been a while since I've done any enhancing."

Gold Enhancement was the crossroads that would determine whether he could achieve his goal in this event. His heart pounded, and a fire ignited within him.

"Let's see who wins this time, you bastard," he growled, the memory of that one-percent chance flooding back.

3.

Time flew by. Despite it being a large-scale event, the tallying began as soon as November arrived, riding the coattails of the Halloween festivities. The heat of the competition was palpable even to those outside the dungeons.

—Whoa, what's up? Why are the roads so empty today?

—I mean, there are less than 30 million players in the whole world, so why does it seem so deserted?

—I haven't seen a single player walking around with weapons.

The number of players directly competing in the event was small compared to the total player population. But for those participating indirectly, the next month would be just as relentless. For the first time in a while, people could enjoy the quiet of streets devoid of players, but with it came a sharp, underlying tension.

—Whoa, I went to check out a dungeon in a deserted area and almost got my ass kicked by some scary-looking beefcakes.

—Try not to do anything that could be misunderstood. People are gonna be on edge during the event.

Players were the type to draw blades over a few pennies. They wouldn't let anyone who interfered with their shot at a priceless item get away with it. The intensity of the competition was clearly reflected in the event status.

[Event Status]

▶ 1-Star

→ 1st: MacArthur (Lv 10), 13 points

The status board only showed the top ten, but what the non-participants really wanted to know was who would be number one. It wasn't just about who would own the priceless item; for most people, the event was a showcase. Who was the most eye-catching player? Who was the most capable, clearing the most dungeons in the given time?

The race had begun. A day and then two days passed. The names of top rankers and rising stars began to populate the rankings.

But Kim Buja was not among them.

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