As more people entered Normal Mode, the level of the monsters clearly rose.
But it wasn't just the monsters that grew stronger, the people fighting them evolved as well. Not only had their raw strength increased, but their strategies and tools had advanced too.
At the request of the Union, the Pyramid Guild stepped up to the front lines, with the nearby Hutgae-su Guild joining as support.
Even the Cleric Guild, composed entirely of Healing Slayers, offered their aid. (Unlike before, it was now common for guilds made up solely of support-type or healing-type Slayers to exist.)
Lee Yeonseok, a combat Slayer from Pyramid, read the shock data gathered through the Sandbag Sensor.
"Shock value: 2,000! Three Normal Mode combat Slayers should be able to hold this one off easily!"
The three Pyramid combat Slayers each had defensive power around 2,000.
Based on current calculations, defense three times higher than the shock value (≈300%) was enough to withstand an attack safely, assuming no critical hits occurred.
That meant if three of them combined forces, they could endure the blows without taking significant damage.
With Normal Mode, values such as Defense Power, Attack Power, and HP were now quantified numerically, making such estimates possible.
Still, numbers weren't absolute.
Think of it this way, poking someone's stomach with a finger is no big deal, but poking their eye would be serious.
In short, the target area and angle of impact could drastically change how much damage was actually dealt.
At least they could gauge an enemy's approximate power level and prepare accordingly.
As long as a vital spot wasn't struck, HP rarely dropped dramatically, the "300% rule" wasn't meaningless.
"Everyone, remember, protect your vital spots! Our Pyramid Guild is responsible for holding the line!"
"Yes, sir!"
Four combat Slayers of the Pyramid Guild stepped forward.
Thankfully, Pyramid was known for its defense-oriented fighting style, focusing on safety and precision.
Of the four Slayers, three specialized in defensive builds and shield-type equipment.
They swallowed hard and raised their shields.
According to observation, this monster had immense brute strength but low intelligence, similar to an Orc.
It only knew how to attack in direct, linear patterns.
If four of them shared the brunt of a frontal strike, the 2,000 shock would be evenly divided into 500 per person.
BOOM!
The monster's massive arm slammed downward.
All four braced together and managed to block it. One of them took the brunt of the hit, his HP dropped by about 30%, but the Healing Slayers quickly cast Heal.
From the rooftops, terrified civilians clenched their fists.
"They did it! They can fight it!"
"Hang in there!"
"Kill that monster!"
Had this defense failed, the military might have been forced to intervene, even risking civilian damage with lethal weapons.
But the guild coalition, with Pyramid at its core, successfully blocked the assault.
If defense was possible, so was offense.
The Slayers began gathering data on the new green monster, preparing for the world's first "troll" slaying to be captured on camera.
Reporters crept closer, risking their lives to record history.
❋ ❋ ❋
At the Same Time...
While the Slayer coalition fought in Guwol-dong,
former I'UET deputy leader Park Sunghyung, Ha Jongwon, and Hyunseok began their climb up the mountain.
"Sunghyung, just so you know, I still can't control my strength properly."
If Hyunseok wanted, he could open his Combat Field right now and use his Slayer abilities freely.
But he hadn't yet mastered his body.
When he'd first gained 100 Strength, it had taken him half a year to adjust.
Now, he had over 300 Strength, more than triple, yet had barely practiced with it.
"It's fine. There's a reason I only brought you two,"
Sunghyung said with a grin.
Jongwon smirked beside him.
Both trusted Hyunseok's capabilities far more than his own modest words suggested.
Sunghyung opened his Smart Codex, which updated real-time monster data.
Though it wasn't the same species, it showed something similar, only this one had two heads.
"Honestly, Hyunseok could probably solo this."
"Agreed."
When Hyunseok had been in Easy Mode, its monsters were no match for him.
Now, his power outstripped even Normal Mode standards, meaning its monsters wouldn't stand a chance either.
"Still, I can't promise not to kill it accidentally," Hyunseok warned.
"How'd you even find this thing?"
"Ah, a guy named Lee Myunghoon, a friend of Jongwon's. Bit of an eccentric."
"Eccentric?"
"Yeah. Apparently, discovering a Dungeon counts as an achievement now. He's obsessed with hunting them down, traveling the whole country. That's how he found this one."
"And the monster?"
"He said it wasn't rampaging, just lying on a rock... taking a nap."
"A nap? A monster?"
That was unprecedented. Monsters didn't rest openly.
Which could only mean one thing:
"It's the dominant one in the area."
Just like when they'd fought the Twin-Head Orc, this was likely the apex predator.
"If this works… I might earn my first achievement reward in Normal Mode."
He caught himself getting excited and quickly shook his head to refocus.
"Shh, we're close," Sunghyung whispered.
They arrived.
"Let's start with a Sandbag test. Jongwon, throw it."
Safety first, no matter how confident they were in Hyunseok's power.
If the creature's might exceeded expectations, they'd retreat.
The green giant might be strong, but it wasn't fast.
Jongwon hurled the Sensor Sandbag.
It struck the monster squarely.
THUD!
The creature stirred, bellowing in fury,
its twin heads roaring as it threw wild punches into the air.
"Shock value, approximately 4,500," Sunghyung read aloud.
"Hyunseok, what's your defense stat?"
Hyunseok scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh... that's... complicated."
Sunghyung smiled faintly.
"I won't ask further. Just handle it."
"Go on," Jongwon yawned. "Just smash it and be done."
❋ ❋ ❋
Aftermath — The World's First Troll Slaying
The monster was later classified as a Troll, possessing not only overwhelming strength and stamina, but also an extraordinary regeneration ability.
Unlike raw defense, regeneration meant that even weaker attacks were effectively meaningless.
Only high-impact strikes could overcome its recovery.
Fortunately, with Pyramid maintaining aggro, the coalition of ten combat Slayers managed to wear it down, successfully slaying the Guwol-dong Troll.
However, with so many contributors, the reward distribution became murky.
The Korean Union stepped in to mediate.
<"The Guwol-dong Troll — A Triumph for Korean Slayers!">
<"World's First Recorded Troll — Korea, the Vanguard of Slaying!">
<"Thirty Heroes Shine Under the Pyramid Banner!">
Usually, to predict Korea's future, people said to "look at Japan ten years ago."
But in Slaying, it was the opposite, now the world looked to Korea.
Every phenomenon born in Korea began spreading abroad.
Then came the next revelation:
<"Twin-Head Troll Appears — Shock Value 4,500!">
<"While Eyes Were on Guwol-dong, Another Bloody Battle Unfolded!">
<"Deep in Bukhansan — a Desperate Duel to the Death!">
The Monster Codex officially updated, the Twin-Head Troll was slain.
The registration name? Park Sunghyung, Chairman of the Korean Union.
<"The Might of Korea's Union Leader!">
<"A National-Level Slayer Makes His Mark!">
<"Who Fought Beside Him in Secret?">
Rumor had it that the Union had mobilized thirty elite Slayers for a life-or-death hunt.
In truth, there were four.
Or more accurately, one.
But gossip always inflated.
To avoid civilian interference or injury, the truth was obscured.
Stories spread of heroic, self-sacrificing Slayers who had fought and died in secret.
A myth was born.
The Korean Union's prestige soared.
Park Sunghyung's name reached new heights.
He publicly credited Ha Jongwon, the famed Solo Orc Slayer, as one of his teammates, securing Jongwon's reputation once again as Korea's top Slayer.
As for the mysterious "unnamed Slayer"…
People loved him even more.
A hidden hero, unseen but legendary.
And so, with the rise of the Trolls, and the birth of the Twin-Head Troll,
the true beginning of Normal Mode had arrived.
<"The Evolution of Normal Mode — This Is Just the Beginning!">
<"The World Changes Again — Starting from Korea!">
(End of Chapter 25)
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