Chapter 100: Guild War (1)
“Divine Archer, Divine Archer… Guild Master Kim Minwoo, we've heard your thoughts loud and clear! Now, is there any epithet you'd like to bestow upon Awakener Park Siwoo over there?”
“An epithet? I don't even have one yet.”
“Well, that killed the mood. Come to think of it, Guild Master, you don’t have an epithet either. Here’s hoping you earn a flashy one today. Now then, guild masters, please declare the guild war!”
['Guild War' has been activated!]
[It's a showdown between Ilsung Guild and Lavish Guild!]
[Please set the detailed conditions!]
There were standard rules for public guild wars.
Namely, the barrier battle mode.
['Barrier Battle' has been set!]
['Body Barrier' has been granted!]
[If the barrier is destroyed, you will be automatically ejected from the match.]
The effect was simple.
A barrier equal to your current health was provided.
If the barrier broke, you were out.
The advantages were plentiful.
Since the system officiated, there was no risk of losing your life.
Even if you unleashed a powerful attack that pierced the barrier, the moment it shattered, your body would teleport outside the arena, preventing any accidents.
Who would slash throats and kill in a guild war overseen by broadcasters in front of 200,000 spectators?
That kind of scene was rare even in unofficial guild wars.
‘Even with the barrier, it feels like real combat.’
The barrier enveloped the entire body.
Depending on which body part was targeted, the barrier's depletion rate varied wildly.
For example, if you hit a vital spot?
The barrier drained much faster.
A shot to the brow? No matter the barrier's size, it was an instant kill.
Of course, countering with skills or deploying a defense shield could alter the judgment.
In any case.
With the system officiating, no unfair elements could interfere.
The only difference was that no one died.
He returned to the two others' side.
Seo Yerim was staring straight at him.
“… Divine Archer? How could you say that? It's embarrassing.”
“Better than Bow Sage, isn't it?”
“Well, sure, but…”
“No need to feel burdened. With your skills, Yerim, you're more than qualified for that epithet.”
He had seen it in the Giant's Land and was convinced.
Not just her weapon—she was a true Divine Archer in skill.
That's why he planned to boost Seo Yerim's reputation right here.
Honestly, she was the only seasoned Awakener in Lavish Guild.
‘The only one worthy of an epithet is Seo Yerim.’
Epithets were titles earned by veterans who'd rolled around in the Awakener world.
That's why neither Park Siwoo nor he had one yet.
It required not just fame, but time as well.
[1 minute until Guild War starts.]
[Positions will be relocated.]
Their positions shifted to opposite ends of the arena. Both guilds began preparing for the battle ahead.
* * *
Broadcast Network 3.
The top commentators from all three networks gathered. They were here to handle the commentary for this guild war.
Choi Yong-jun, who had just interviewed the two guild masters, kicked things off.
“Hello, viewers. This is caster Choi Yong-jun. Expectations are sky-high for this guild war. Especially Lavish Guild's momentum—it's something else, right?”
“Exactly. When the news first broke, everyone called it a reckless challenge. Even we commentators thought it was too hasty. But now? Things have changed. The polls reflect that too.”
“Fifty-fifty odds. That's how impressive their performance in Giant's Land was. A total storm.”
―Lmao For real.
―Storm is right lol
―Today's matchup is gonna be lit af.
Countless messages flooded the live NewTube broadcast.
25 million real-time viewers.
Normally, you'd need a top-tier world-class guild war to draw numbers like that—an absolutely massive figure.
It meant not just Korea, but the whole world was watching. Lavish Guild's feats had been utterly insane.
Nodding to the other commentators, Choi Yong-jun continued.
“And there's another hot issue. Guild Master Nam Cheolmin—what's his epithet? Bow Ghost.”
“Right. It's from how ghost-like his archery is. No wonder he's Korea's top archer.”
“But he claimed Seo Yerim will dethrone him today? What do you two think?”
“Hmm… She didn't change classes on a whim. She must have talent with the bow. But enough to threaten Nam Cheolmin's throne? I'm not so sure.”
“I agree. Divine Archer? Maybe someday. But after switching classes just a month ago? I can't imagine what it'd take to earn that.”
―True. Isn't Divine Archer higher than Bow Ghost?
―Yea. God > Ghost lol
―Sword Sage took like 7 years of grinding. Sage is one thing, Divine? Hmm…
―Lol but if Kim Minwoo said it that confidently, he's got something up his sleeve.
―Maybe big brain move. Pre-naming a sick epithet for later?
“Oh, right as I speak, both guilds have moved to the arena ends. Ilsung Guild is rolling out buffs first in prep time.”
“Buffs! Crucial stuff. And what’s Ilsung known for? Money, right? They’ve got tons of key buffer classes.”
“Yep. Shaman ancestor totems, paladin's radiant light, priest blessings, druid bear momentum, warlock soul enhancement—a barrage of buffs.”
On the live broadcast screen.
Brilliant auras poured over Ilsung Guild members. Those buffs had to boost stats by at least 50%.
That was the power of a well-composed guild.
“Now, Lavish Guild. Guild Master Kim Minwoo is summoning his undead horde as usual. Huh? What's that?”
A hovering camera zoomed in.
On the enlarged screen, a woman in a wide-brimmed hat stood beside Kim Minwoo.
“Looks special? Not undead… human-like?”
“But she can't be human. Lavish Guild has three participants. That means summon…”
―Wtf? Cedric aside, another one?
―Undead stronger if they look human, right?
―Yea. The more lifelike from life, the stronger. Lich and Death Knight have flesh over bones lol
―Her looks scream top-tier lol she's gonna wreck
―Reason for guild war her?
Then.
The woman, staring at the camera, smiled sweetly and waved.
―Can't help but smile lol
―Cute af lmao
“Match starts in 10 seconds as we speak. Oh, Guild Master Nam Cheolmin is drawing his bowstring!”
“Aiming right at Guild Master Kim Minwoo, obvious from the position.”
“What's the scariest job? Early-game archer dropping from afar! Arena's huge, right? Good archers outrange mages!”
“Exactly. No matter how many summons the necromancer calls, what then? Kill the summoner, summons vanish!”
“That's Bow Ghost's claim! I'm shooting you. Try blocking!”
Bow Ghost Nam Cheolmin.
His actions were blatant provocation.
But the arena was vast.
Nam Cheolmin's effective range covered the whole thing.
And his epithet was Bow Ghost.
He handled the bow like a spirit.
An arrow barrage was incoming from the start.
Buffed by guildmates, stats jacked-up arrows.
Even blocking with summons had limits. A Bow Ghost would exploit any gap effortlessly.
To counter this…
The broadcast split-screen: half Nam Cheolmin, half Seo Yerim. Her ornate bow gleamed in hand.
“Cool bow. Skill summon, right?”
“Yes. Like Park Siwoo's weapon, it's an achievement skill.”
“Rumors about Yerim. Sparred with Sword Sage.”
“What happened?”
“Kept quiet, but said to be impressive. Internet rumors, so not 100% reliable.”
“Oh! As I speak, Seo Yerim draws her bow too!”
A gleaming mana arrow formed on the string.
“Guild War… begins!”
“Nam Cheolmin unleashes dozens of arrows at invisible speeds!”
“High-Speed Barrage! His S-grade achievement skill! Terrifying—one blink and it's a storm!”
“His trademark. Official record: Bow Ghost fires 100 in 3 seconds!”
“And buffed now? 100? Try 200!”
Arrows filled the sky, arcing precisely at Kim Minwoo's position.
And it didn't end there.
Nam Cheolmin kept firing High-Speed Barrage.
Swoooosh!
Mana-charged arrows hurtled terrifyingly fast.
But…
Kim Minwoo didn't budge, calmly looking up at the sky.
“Huh? Guild Master Kim Minwoo not dodging?”
“Summons idle too? Betting on Seo Yerim? She's drawn her bow.”
“Over 500 arrows! Time's short! They accelerate falling!”
“How block that with arrows?!”
Then.
Kim Minwoo and Seo Yerim locked eyes. He smiled and nodded.
Before the match began, his words echoed through the arena.
—Let's flip the script. For real.
Show who the real archer was.
The stage was set.
Perfectly.
Backing out now would be foolish.
‘That skill from earlier looked good.’
Archers had keen sight.
From end to end, she saw Nam Cheolmin's every move.
He'd fired arrows at insane speed.
Standardized motions.
A skill.
Seo Yerim mirrored him exactly.
That instant.
[Overwhelming talent mimics the skill!]
[A new skill is created!]
[Skill: High-Speed Barrage (S) created!]
Skill acquired.
Her hands blurred into hyper-speed.
Mana arrows auto-generated.
No quiver needed, so her draw-and-fire was twice Nam Cheolmin's speed.
Commentators gasped.
“… Huh?”
“What?”
“Isn't that High-Speed Barrage?”
“… Copied the skill?”
Even more arrows than Nam Cheolmin's flew.
Hers collided midair with his descending ones.
“Insa… insane…!”
“Bow Ghost's arrows… all deflected! Crashing powerless!”
The arrowheads barely grazed one another, but Nam Cheolmin’s arrows lost their momentum and plummeted.
Seo Yerim's? Unfazed, they climbed higher.
Targeting Nam Cheolmin dead-on.
Arrow vs. arrow block.
World-rank feat already, but…
“Saved all her own, turned his to scrap. Possible?!”
“Technically, yes. Precise trajectory calc from shot… but… really? Countless factors?”
“Insane…”
Commentators swallowed hard.
Divine Archer.
Those two words flashed in their minds.