Chapter 9: 701st Wave (2)
[The 701st Monster Wave is starting.]
I stared blankly at the Status Window for a moment.
The play screen of MonMonMak, perfectly recreated in hologram.
A maze made of dots, and tiny monsters moving inside it.
“Why is this here…?”
I muttered softly at the sudden appearance of the game screen.
Countless questions circled in my mind.
But I couldn’t dwell long on unsolved questions.
[Prepare! The 701st Wave will begin soon!]
The announcement of the invasion appeared again.
It felt strange.
The MonMonMak I remembered didn’t constantly flash messages about invasions.
But now the Status Window kept blinking insistently, urging me to play.
It made me anxious.
So I muttered,
“What happens if I fail to stop this wave?”
In MonMonMak, it was obviously game over.
The moment a Monster Wave crashed into the Audience Chamber and destroyed the Lord, everything reset.
Then, whether you had spent currency or not, everyone started over from the same starting point.
But now?
Since it was linked to my skills, MonMonMak was no longer a game—it was reality.
That meant if I failed to stop the current Monster Wave…
[If you fail to repel the invasion.]
It could directly affect the present reality.
[The Dream Lord’s Castle will be captured, and all your abilities will disappear.]
Exactly as I had anticipated.
But immediately after, another message in the Status Window made me gulp.
[Also, the world will be destroyed.]
“…What?”
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
My breath hitched.
If I failed to stop the dot-formed Monster Wave, the world would be destroyed?
What kind of insane penalty is this?
The world would be destroyed over a single game?
Yet I couldn’t tell if this Status Window was telling the truth, or if it was lying just to push me to play.
[In 9 minutes and 23 seconds, the Monster Wave will begin. Prepare for the invasion!]
The countdown had already started, and the top of the dot screen kept flashing the message.
For now, all of this was undeniably reality.
And truth or not, I adapted to it.
“How do I control this?”
I gazed at the maze represented in dots and rubbed my earlobe.
But nothing responded.
Hesitantly, I reached out and touched the Status Window.
At the same time, the dot screen rippled like waves.
It seemed control was done by touching the screen directly.
“Check the troops…”
Not only the control method had changed.
Information that previously required clicking each button now appeared just by muttering.
[Check the current Monster troops defending the Dream Lord’s Castle.]
But there was no time to rejoice at the simplified controls.
[You can deploy a total of 5 monsters.]
[Deployable Monsters: 1 Goblin Slave, 3 Goblin Fighters, 1 Ogre Berserker]
After checking the monster list, I reluctantly licked my lips.
All the monsters I had cherished until the 700th wave had completely disappeared.
Well, that was natural.
At the 700th Wave, all the monsters defending the Castle had perished.
If the Lord hadn’t awakened and massacred the wave, I could never have cleared it.
“Okay, the Ogre is understandable… Are the Goblin Fighters the three Goblins I captured before?”
Monsters sent to the Castle as Magic Stones revive as defending monsters.
Even if they weren’t hired as summons, they counted as defense troops.
Still, the troops were insufficient.
“What about the Lord?”
If the Lord were available, the situation would be completely different.
A cheat character that wiped out countless waves in one shot!
But the Status Window that appeared soon after was utterly disappointing.
[The Dream Lord and Butler are unavailable resources.]
I bit my lip.
Thorough.
Though it had moved from the computer to the Status Window, MonMonMak was still merciless.
On top of that…
‘I only have 130 Gold.’
The in-game currency needed to hire monsters had disappeared.
Gold that once numbered in the thousands was gone; I now had only 130 Gold earned from the previous Magic Stone sales.
And as soon as I checked my Gold, this message appeared.
[You cannot hire new monsters immediately after receiving a wave notification.]
In other words, I couldn’t hire and deploy new monsters now.
I would have to repel the upcoming wave with just 5 monsters.
“Check Wave Information.”
I murmured softly.
Yet, it had to be done.
Instead of complaining about the situation, devise a strategy to overcome it.
A principle that applies in life also applies in games.
[The 701st Monster Wave consists of 60 monsters.]
The number was smaller than expected.
At the 700th Wave, the monster count had exceeded 200.
But MonMonMak is a terrible game.
Of course, there’s a reason.
[Includes 40 Wyverns, 10 Wyvern Riders, and 10 Half Drakes.]
As expected.
Wyverns are 5-star beasts, the riders are 6-star beasts, and the Half Drakes, although 6-star, have stats above 7-star level.
“Stop these with Goblins and an Ogre?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Indeed, it was a trash game.
But you know what?
Even trash games throw something irresistible, making players hold on despite cursing it.
So people keep playing even though they know it’s trash.
[As the sole player, you receive special perks.]
That’s why people can’t forget the frustration.
[For this wave only, you may select one defensive structure and one item. Items are granted to all defense troops. Only one item can be equipped per slot.]
“Ugh, dirty game.”
I smirked while reading the message.
This is the reason I keep playing MonMonMak.
***
The Castle, corresponding to the dungeon in MonMonMak’s Defense Game, is basically a square structure.
Inside, corridors and rooms give it a maze-like appearance, like an ant colony.
Monster Waves pour in through the northern main road.
After passing the Castle Gate, they split through four corridors to invade.
From there, it’s up to the player.
The player must block each path in multiple ways to prevent monsters from reaching the Audience Chamber.
You can control wave movement and inflict damage by creating Trap Rooms.
Or deploy monsters for attrition battles through the Barracks specialized for deployment.
You could even twist paths endlessly to stall waves.
“The Castle itself is fully reset.”
Each corridor now has a Trap Room and Barracks in pristine condition.
It’s too late to build new structures.
‘Even if I could build new rooms immediately, they’d be useless.’
Trap Rooms and Special Rooms interact, so careful placement is crucial.
Barracks now would be pointless.
No monsters to place.
No matter how item-powered Gono is, he can’t take down 10 five-star monsters at once.
[In 1 minute, the Monster Wave will begin. Prepare!]
I pushed the flashing message to the corner.
“Did all this in 5 minutes… I guess I really am a veteran.”
In 5 minutes, I had arranged the optimal deployment in the current situation.
Then.
[The 701st Wave has begun!]
New dots appeared from the north.
Wyverns with demonic wings, bipedal Half Drakes, and mounted knights.
Smaller than Dragons but terrifying Half Drakes.
A total of 60 monsters swarmed the Castle Gate.
Normally, they’d split through four paths.
But,
[The Monster Wave was blocked by the ‘Infinite Barrier’!]
Monsters couldn’t pass the Castle Gate and hesitated.
Blocked by the ‘Infinite Barrier’.
After checking the wave composition, the list of structures and items appeared.
Naturally, a plan formed in my mind.
First,
[Infinite Barrier]
[Defends against Monster Wave intrusions. Consumes 1 durability per hit. Current durability 100/100]
A massive green barrier dot stood before the Castle Gate.
As long as it held, the Monster Wave couldn’t invade the Castle.
‘Perfect timing.’
Despite its grand name, the ‘Infinite Barrier’ is only useful in early stages.
The reason: it has a harsh penalty.
[The Infinite Barrier can only be installed when Castle troops are 2-star or below.]
It’s a temporary, last-ditch structure for low-level troops.
And one decisive flaw:
[1 Wyvern deals damage to the ‘Infinite Barrier’! Durability decreased by 1.]
[1 Half Drake deals damage to the ‘Infinite Barrier’! Durability decreased by 1.]
If durability drops to 0, the barrier collapses, and monsters flood the Castle at once.
Periodic repairs are necessary.
60 monsters attacking in rotation take 3 seconds.
In just 3 seconds, the barrier’s durability dropped to 40.
How to repair it?
[Tap the dots to repair the Infinite Barrier.]
You must tap the dot screen at least every 3 seconds.
[Infinite Barrier repaired.]
As long as my fingers moved, this wave couldn’t even set foot in the Castle.
The Drakes, frustrated by the near-unbreakable barrier, flailed at the entrance.
And toward them, suddenly, silver projectiles flew.
[1 Wyvern received 1 damage from ‘Goblin Fighter’!]
[1 Half Drake received 1 damage from ‘Goblin Fighter’!]
[1 Wyvern Rider received 6 damage from ‘Ogre Berserker’!]
The Castle’s defense troops had started attacking.
Normally, a 1-star Goblin couldn’t damage a 6-star monster.
Meaning: it’s all item-powered.
[Hakan’s Spoon: A Grade]
[Rest fatigue regularly. If fatigue accumulates, even the spoon can kill.]
[Monsters wearing this item can deal ranged damage regardless of their star rating.]
Yes.
Those silver projectiles flying at the Drakes were spoons thrown by Goblins beyond the barrier.
I watched the screen with satisfaction.
“Damage is tiny, but it’s something.”
Except for Gono and the single Ogre with max item power, the other three fighters only had spoons.
These had to chip away at dozens of monsters.
‘Based on MonMonMak’s calculations, it’ll take about 60 hours to clear.’
By the way. ‘Basically, SCB attached to the Barracks to block the entrance.’
The problem: SCB was mine.
The Monster Wave was hundreds of Ultra Lurks.
And only 5 Marines behind the Barracks were attacking… Actually, 4 Marines, plus Marine version Jim Rayna.
‘Anyway, my role is to work.’
My job was simple:
Until the Goblins killed each monster one by one.
Dadadadadak!
Tap the Infinite Barrier every 3 seconds to maintain it.
Thanks to this, the 60 Drakes were stuck at the entrance, panicking.
[1 Half Drake received 30 damage from ‘Goblin Slave’!]
Getting hit by spoons and clubs, I couldn’t help but smile.
Yes, this is it.
I tapped the barrier at regular intervals, turning my head.
Having regained composure, thirst struck me.
I stood up to drink water.
“Huh?”
I tried to stand.
But my body wouldn’t move.
Like sticky spiderwebs holding every joint.
And the dot screen beside me flashed.
[Other actions are restricted during play.]
“Just focus on the game?”
At this pace, I’d have to devote 60 hours to defense.
Restricted movement.
Tapping the dot screen every 3 seconds for 60 hours.
An ordinary person might despair.
But instead, a smile spread across my face.
“Yes, this is MonMonMak.”
This was why I hadn’t let go of this cursed game in 7 years.
A game that imposes endless absurdity, igniting human stubbornness to the extreme.
Yet, the end always brought fitting rewards.
Thus, MonMonMak, though the worst game in the world, was far from the most ridiculous.
Dadadadadak.
[Infinite Barrier repaired!]
[Infinite Barrier repaired!]
…
[Infinite Barrier repaired!]
Tapping the dot screen continuously, a smile on my face.
Remaining taps: 71,940.
Remaining time: 59 hours 57 minutes.
“This is doable.”
I was truly the last madman of this trash game.