Raided The God’S Warehouse [EN]: Chapter 617

As time passed, more and more people gathered in the Diablo Guild’s residence.

These weren’t people seeking rest between trials.

They were those who had completed the Trials of the Upper Heavens, up to the 89th floor, and were preparing for the 90th floor trial with Valhalla.

Surprisingly, the Diablo Guild was successfully ascending those trials, which even the giant guilds of the Ninth Shelter had repeatedly failed, without a single dropout.

“But shouldn’t we start simulating the 90th floor soon?”

“I agree. The strategy seems too simple.”

Some guild members, who were resting or continuing their personal training in the residence, voiced their concerns.

Soon, all guild members would arrive at the residence, but there was no concrete plan for the 90th floor raid with the Valhalla Guild.

They asked Yoo Seo-ah, who was passing by, about it.

“Ah…”

Yoo Seo-ah scratched her forehead, looking troubled.

“Well, the strategy is basically what you’ve heard. Although we’re allies, it’s less of a true collaboration and more of assigning areas to each of us, like we did with the Cheonghae Guild.”

“Wasn’t it different last time? It seemed like Valhalla had devised a more comprehensive and well-structured strategy.”

“Well… um, would you like to come with me?”

“Huh? Where to?”

“You’ll understand when you see it.”

Perhaps she had picked up Se-un’s motto of ‘action over words’? Yoo Seo-ah led them away without further explanation.

“The residence has become incredibly large.”

“At first, you could see the edge of the residence from the center.”

“Since merging with Cheonghae, it’s become so large that you can’t even see the outer edges.”

Now, Diablo’s residence had grown so much that it was hard to think of it as just a residence. It took a long time to reach the outer edges like before.

Yoo Seo-ah led them across barren land, past a river flowing from the Cheonghae side, and up a seemingly high hill before stopping.

“See over there?”

“What is that…?”

“Wow…”

The scenery beyond the hill was like stepping into a completely different world.

Dozens of craters dotted the landscape, as if meteorites had struck.

That alone was amazing, but what was even more astonishing was the condition of the craters.

“Doesn’t the residence usually lack weather effects or unique terrain? What’s going on…?”

Some craters were as black as if they had been scorched by fire.

Others were cracked and parched, as if they had suffered a severe drought for centuries.

Still others were filled with water, forming small lakes.

And some were even covered with transparent ice.

The diversity of the craters was truly remarkable.

It looked more like a trial ground than a residential landscape.

The answer Yoo Seo-ah gave was even more unbelievable.

“Se-un made them.”

“The Guild Master did?”

“I heard he sparred with Valhalla’s leader. Though it hardly looks like the aftermath of a sparring match.”

“I know the Guild Master is amazing, but I didn’t realize he was this amazing…”

Diablo guild members had often seen Se-un training or sparring in the residence.

Especially when he used magic during spars, the power was so immense that the ground trembled, but it had never reached this unbelievable scale.

The environment before them looked more like a disaster caused by a god than something created by a human.

“So, is that why the strategy has been simplified and we’re not doing simulations?”

“Yes. Valhalla’s leader assessed Se-un’s combat power and concluded that a detailed strategy wouldn’t be very meaningful.”

“Well, this is already beyond human capabilities. I don’t know what the 90th floor is like, but if they get hit by an attack like this, they won’t even leave a trace.”

Dozens of craters, each marked with different elemental attributes.

The guild members tried to imagine the kind of attack that could create such devastation.

Honestly, they couldn’t fully grasp it, but it was clear that no monster could withstand such an assault.

“The focus of the raid has shifted. Originally, the focus was on successfully completing the trial itself…”

“At this point, the Guild Master could probably raid it alone, right?”

“Yes. So, the focus has shifted to improving our own capabilities rather than just succeeding in the trial.”

“Ah… That sounds familiar.”

“The Valhalla Guild might be a little surprised, but this is how we’ve always done things.”

Except for the tutorial and the very early trials, Se-un had always operated this way.

He left the Diablo Guild to their own devices, focusing on his personal growth from a distance.

At first, there were complaints, but not anymore.

‘Because all of that was for us.’

If Se-un had helped with everything from the beginning, the Diablo Guild would have become accustomed to a ‘safety net,’ which is the opposite of what the Tower demands for growth.

If they had reached this point relying solely on his protection, they would have eventually failed and fallen, no matter how strong he was.

The fact that they had grown this far, the fact that they had endured this far, was all thanks to Se-un’s approach.

“So, I was wondering if we could do a simple simulation among ourselves. What do you think?”

“Seo-ah, by yourself?”

“Yes. Even if we’ve become this strong, we can’t rely on Se-un’s help and hold him back. We have to endure… no, we have to win on our own.”

In the 80th floor trial, the Diablo Guild endured the attacks of the demons.

That alone was satisfying, but they couldn’t be complacent.

Yoo Seo-ah’s goal this time was to achieve victory.

And not just to endure, but to actively push through the trial.

Of course, acting like that would reduce stability, and someone could get seriously injured, or even face a life-threatening situation.

“Okay.”

The guild members who followed her nodded.

If they became complacent now, a greater danger would arise later.

It was better to take a step forward now, even if it seemed dangerous, to prepare for the future and make safer, wiser choices.

“That’s what we wanted too.”

And this was probably the sentiment shared by all Diablo guild members.

* * *

Before long, all the guild members returned to the Diablo Guild.

A perfect climb with not a single death.

Of course, some were carried back with serious injuries due to the high difficulty of the trial, but it was at a level that Lee Ha-neul could fully heal.

The skills that had grown as the floors increased, and the more diverse and potent medicinal herbs, had made her healing remarkably advanced.

“I am ready!”

“Has your equipment been serviced?”

“The Diablo blacksmith’s skills are amazing! They not only serviced it but also enhanced it. I’ll be able to last longer today!”

In the meantime, Se-un and Brynjar’s sparring continued.

No, it was almost embarrassing to call it sparring.

Se-un practiced various attacks, and Brynjar was completely focused on defense, having given up on attacking.

Thanks to this, Brynjar’s defense skills were improving more than ever since entering the Tower.

Although most of the 9th circle magic [highest level of magic] was wide-area magic, so the power wasn’t concentrated on individuals, he was still enduring 9th circle magic.

“Yoo Seo-ah, we’re ready for training too.”

“We were supposed to be with the Valhalla Guild today, right?”

“Yes, we received word that they’re ready too.”

“Let’s go right away.”

“Yes.”

Others weren’t just idly waiting either.

During group training, even non-combat personnel like Go Chang-seok and Lee Ha-neul participated.

Just because they were non-combat personnel didn’t mean they could only be protected by someone else.

More than anything….

“Hehe, I’ve been waiting. Let’s go quickly!”

“Wow, training!”

“Shall we use the mobile artillery this time?”

“Great!”

Non-combat personnel were also serious about training.

Rather, as non-combat personnel, they were even more enthusiastic to experience the moment when their abilities were useful in battle.

“Valhalla! Are you ready!”

“Ooh!”

“Drink up! Today, we take a step closer to Valhalla!”

“Ooh!”

The Valhalla guild members, lined up in formation, drank something, and their bodies heated up.

A kind of berserker state.

It was a preparatory action for them, who were sponsored by Asgard [realm of Norse gods], to receive the power of the constellations [powerful celestial beings] more deeply, and an act of drawing out their basic physical abilities.

“Let’s go!”

Doo-doo-doo-!

The training, no, the battle between the Diablo Guild and the Valhalla Guild began.

As this was the sixth mock battle, the two guilds were fully aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so not only combat power but also strategy was very important.

Kugung!

The two guilds collided.

The sound of spears and swords clashing echoed everywhere.

Especially from the Valhalla side, there was a roar that could break one’s will just by hearing it.

But….

– The Guild Master ‘Jeong Se-un’s’ power of fear affects the guild.

Now, Se-un could easily withstand even the pressure of the Demon Gods.

And of course, that power was imbued in the guild members, lightly brushing aside the pressure of the roar.

Instead, they stepped forward more confidently, threatening the Valhalla Guild.

“You are amazing. It’s hard to believe that you are a new guild that has been climbing the Tower without stagnation.”

“Thank you. The Valhalla Guild is also amazing. There are no weaknesses.”

“Rather than having no weaknesses, Diablo seems to organically fill each other’s gaps well.”

“We’ve always been together since the tutorial. Everyone is like family.”

At first, the Valhalla Guild was superior. They were more experienced and comprised higher-level experts than the Diablo Guild.

However, as the mock battles continued, the balance of victory and defeat shifted significantly.

From the second game onward, they started ending in a draw, and in the fourth game, the Diablo Guild finally won.

From the fifth game, the Valhalla Guild fought even more vigorously, but the result was not easily reversed.

An unbelievable outcome.

The person who was working as Brynjar’s secretary understood why the constellations of Asgard had instructed them to join hands with a new guild like Diablo as they fought against them.

“It’s almost time.”

“Honestly, it feels strange. The 90th floor seemed like an insurmountable wall, but now it feels like we’ve found a door in the wall.”

“But if we go through the door comfortably, our skills will eventually stagnate. We have to break the wall with our own strength somehow.”

“I agree.”

The day of the 90th floor trial raid was not far away.

Everyone was aware of this and was honing their abilities or servicing their equipment, making their final preparations.

“The Tenth Shelter must be beautiful, right?”

“Judging from the circumstances, it seems like heaven will appear. I wonder if it’s a more beautiful place than Plaka.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too.”

* * *

And so, a few days later.

“Euhahaha! Valhalla! Are you ready?”

“Ooh!”

“Finally, the day of the decisive battle has arrived! Today, we will cross the great wall and take a step towards the great Valhalla!”

“Ooh!”

“Now, you say something too!”

Brynjar pushed Se-un forward.

Since Se-un didn’t usually say much on such occasions, he grabbed the handle of Durandal [his sword] again this time and uttered a concise word of encouragement.

“Let’s go.”

Just one step to the Tenth Shelter.

One step left.

Chapter 618