Awakening (3)
Lee Se-jin let out a small sigh of relief in the CEO's office at Pureum Corp.
User Hyun-soo was nurturing a wolf's egg.
The wolf's egg was a special one where the creature that hatched depended on the nourishment rate.
213 hours, 33 minutes, 12 seconds remaining.
'Hyun-soo already exceeded 50% nourishment rate before.'
At 50%, a boss monster-grade wolf would hatch.
And there was a time limit to raise that nourishment rate.
Now, it was just over 7 days left.
The nourishment rate was also tied to the diplomacy score.
The way to raise it in the first place required demonstrating immense power as a noble or leader.
Thanks to Hyun-soo's diplomacy score surging in a short time, the total nourishment rate had reached this level.
Nourishment Rate: 71%.
It was an astonishingly high nourishment rate.
At 80%, the hatchling would rival one of the legendary monsters, Fenrir.
But that wasn't what worried Lee Se-jin.
'If it exceeds 80% nourishment rate...'
A divine beast might be born.
There was no guarantee even at over 80%, though.
In fact, it might be impossible even past 90%.
After that, it entered the realm of the supercomputer Ares.
Whether Ares would permit a divine beast.
'To reach that point, he'd need an astonishingly high nourishment rate that would surprise even Ares.'
That's why Lee Se-jin had grown anxious when Hyun-soo's diplomacy score skyrocketed twofold upon reaching the POW camp.
But he predicted it was impossible.
'The Whirlwind Unit was on the brink of death, and all the POW camp soldiers and Hell Cradle soldiers perished.'
On the other hand, over 60 enemies survived, and crucially, Kun was alive.
But as he watched Hyun-soo forge a massive cleaver on the screen, Lee Se-jin's eyes widened in shock.
Red inscriptions cooling on the blade's surface.
Fight Desperately to Live Fight to Die to Survive
Fight desperately and you shall live; fight to survive and you shall die.
Lee Se-jin's heart pounded.
Was there any Korean who didn't know those words?
"Admiral Yi Sun-sin...!"
Lee Se-jin gazed at the completed sword with ecstatic eyes.
Yi Sun-sin's swords came in various types, including the massive Changsu-do cleaver.
The original Changsu-do came in pairs.
One of them was over 2 meters long and weighed more than 5kg.
Yet, looking at the forged cleaver, Lee Se-jin felt puzzled.
'One sword to win in such a hopeless situation?'
Then, Lee Se-jin jumped to his feet.
"B-buff?!"
The five Whirlwind Unit members.
All of them were powerhouses exerting knight-level strength in the 290s.
But they were halted by their mana-heart incompatibility.
What about their pure skill?
Most kingdoms had countless territories.
Among those vast territories, great heroes represented each region.
In other words, quasi-named NPCs existed.
A prime example was the Sword Saint.
Yes, the Whirlwind Unit's prowess rivaled the Sword Saint.
"If I imbue mana-wielding power into those who can't handle mana...?"
They would surpass themselves.
But what baffled him was Ares, the supercomputer, granting buff capabilities.
A buff was inherent to a class's unique power.
And Lee Se-jin understood.
Fight Desperately to Live
Fight with the resolve to die, and you shall live.
The Whirlwind Unit burning with such spirit and will.
And the cleaver inheriting that will.
Hyun-soo's cleaver meeting his vassals made it possible.
Lee Se-jin revised his thinking.
'How far will the diplomacy score rise?'
And how far will the wolf egg's nourishment rate go?
Bwooooong-!
Kan and the Whirlwind Unit members felt like they heard that sound.
The mana heart that required mana.
The sound of their mana hearts, which had despaired in mana-less bodies, breaking open as mana rampaged.
Siiiizzz-
Steam rose from their bodies.
Mana rampaging from their toes manifested as effects.
Blue mana swirled around their bodies, silencing the surroundings.
Their recovered bodies stepped forward.
Break but Do Not Yield
You found a breakthrough in a desperate crisis.
Completed artifact effects are 8% superior.
A great general from a small nation.
One cleaver forged by our lord.
We had hoped.
Someday to wield mana.
So we learned mana circulation techniques we couldn't even emit and how to operate them.
"Huuu."
Exhaling, powerful blue mana poured out.
Their lord's voice came from behind.
"Sweep them."
Kan and the Whirlwind Unit's eyes turned ice-cold.
Over 60 assassins approached in varied positions.
Seven assassins closed in on Kan alone.
Kun furrowed his brow.
'How are these dying men...?'
But it was too late.
One assassin already targeted his throat.
But Kan's twisting wrist struck first, impaling the assassin.
Thud-
"Kuhk!"
At Kan's sword tip, the knight's privilege he never formed in life.
Aura rippled.
The power he trained for life, fearing he'd die without using.
Dozens of genius Whirlwind Unit members created it, now fully inherited by the five survivors.
All five manifested it simultaneously.
Like a Flame
A power like a flame that flares briefly and vanishes.
Fwoooosh-
This was the Whirlwind Unit's tactical swordsmanship deployed together.
About 25 assassins ensnared in the true essence of their swordsmanship.
The Whirlwind Unit sliced them with minimal, concise movements.
Fwoooosh-
As they shook off their blades, the 25 assassins turned to ash and scattered.
"...!?"
15 seconds.
14 seconds.
They knew their lord Hyun-soo's Emergency Forge had an activation time.
Like a River
Like a flowing river, they cleaved enemies in a straight line.
Their target: Kun.
Kun unwittingly stepped back.
Like beasts baring fangs after waiting, they revealed their ferocity.
Overwhelming.
Whirlwind Falling Leaves.
Unstoppable.
No words could describe their power, shocking the king of the pack, Kun.
Power was like that.
One knight defeating dozens of soldiers.
Overwhelming power crushes far greater numbers.
Every assassin in their path was sliced as they advanced straight.
Swoooosh-
Red Dragon Squad members scattered in their wake.
2 seconds.
"Wooooah!"
Kan and the Whirlwind Unit, wills ablaze, broke through the Red Dragon Squad protecting him, drawing closer.
Kaboom-!
They pierced the hearts of the Red Dragon Squad blocking their path.
Gulp.
Kun swallowed dryly without realizing.
He felt relief.
Shimmer-
The cleaver in Hyun-soo's hand scattered like a mirage.
The swirling blue mana around them vanished.
"Huff huff."
Kun panted.
Back to normal.
Kun couldn't believe how many they'd killed.
50 Red Dragon Squad members lay in ashes.
Hyun-soo's Emergency Forge of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's cleaver was unfortunately Unique grade.
Hyun-soo had worried.
Whether a Unique artifact could turn the tide.
But watching the Whirlwind Unit unleash tremendous power, he realized one truth.
'They were heavenly troops if only they had mana.'
Diplomacy score rises.
Diplomacy score...
Massive diplomacy score in short time.
Future diplomacy score will be tallied at end of all situations.
Hyun-soo couldn't simply rejoice at the rising diplomacy score.
'It rose because we killed many Red Dragon Squad members.'
Conversely, if all POWs died, that score could vanish.
But Hyun-soo felt relief.
'Now it's winnable.'
Nine Red Dragon Squad left. And leader Kun.
With those numbers, unlike before, victory was possible.
Then.
You overcame crisis and slew many Red Dragon Squad in short time.
A new story will begin soon.
Hyun-soo's face twisted.
New stories were double-edged swords.
'Great rewards if successful.'
But equally dangerous crises followed. Hyun-soo didn't know what this one was.
'If only that person came...'
Hyun-soo recalled the one he met before coming here.
But he pushed the thought aside quickly.
Swoosh-
Hyun-soo charged at Kun. He couldn't let him kill the mana-less Whirlwind Unit.
"All Whirlwind Unit, escort POWs and withdraw now!"
"Yes!"
Kun didn't bother stopping the Whirlwind Unit.
His rage boiled toward Hyun-soo more.
"Because of a puny worm like you...!"
Two nations nearing peace. All his subordinates here dead!
And Hyun-soo was pathetically weak compared to Kun.
Clang clang clang-
Endless clashes continued.
The nine surviving assassins struck relentlessly, Kun joining.
HP drops below 65%.
HP drops below 54%.
A man so easily killable ruined everything.
But now, he showed no more tricks...
Then Hyun-soo's eyes flashed. He never gave up.
"Ghost Step."
He activated the cooldown-refreshed power.
Krunch-
Kun saw it.
Two on his left.
Two above Hyun-soo.
Three behind Hyun-soo.
And finally, once at himself.
Twaaaang-!
Kun blocked the slash, rage surging.
In an instant, seven subordinates bled out, then Hyun-soo lunged.
"Y-you...!"
Smirk.
Watching Hyun-soo fight like a cockroach refusing death, light gleamed on Kun's dagger.
Mystical power dwelled, Kun's dagger piercing Hyun-soo's chest twelve times in five instants.
Puk puk puk-
Blood spurted from his body.
He glared at Hyun-soo kneeling, clutching wrists, gasping.
'I want to give this bastard despair... this damned worm...'
Soon, Kun was elated.
He saw figures emerging from hills.
Phewww-
One arrow flew, piercing a POW.
"Keurk!"
Murderer Guild.
Red-hooded members, mostly archers, had arrived.
High-level ill-mannered users' arrows rained on POWs.
Puk-
Puk puk puk-
"Kya aaak!"
"U, uwaaak!"
"Kuhak!"
"Guk!"
POWs massacred.
Whirlwind Unit couldn't counter arrows from everywhere.
Archers on hills and horizons, drawing bows.
Archers perfect for massacres.
"Look."
Kun said to Hyun-soo clutching his wrist, eyes bloodshot.
"You've lost."
Stunned for 4 seconds.
Striking his pressure point stunned him briefly, Kun wanting him to witness the massacre in despair.
All Murderer Guild members drew bows skyward.
They activated Double Shot or Triple Shot.
With that.
Shwa shwa shwa-
Over a hundred arrows arced skyward.
Indiscriminate rain on children, women, elders, men.
"Waaah!"
Amid child's cries, Kun reveled.
Then.
"No, I haven't lost."
Hyun-soo smiled.
Kun couldn't comprehend the smile.
That instant.
Piiiing-
Kun felt an inexplicable ringing in his ears.
Shaking his head violently, he stepped back to regain senses.
Regaining composure, he looked at the hundred arrows overhead.
Phewww-
Then, a single arrow from somewhere slipped between them, igniting massive flames.
Fwooooosh-
All hundred arrows burned.
Stepping back, Kun gazed afar.
His senses captured one man standing distant.
Click.
He loaded an arrow into a mysterious bamboo tube.
'Composite bow?'
He nocked an arrow on the white bowstring.
Kun sneered. Distance: 500m.
No arrow could reach 500m.
That instant.
Thwiiiish-!
Blink of an eye.
An arrow struck his chest dead-on.
Hummmm-
"Kwaa aak!"
Kun flew back 12m.
And a notification reached Hyun-soo.