Continental War (4)

The clustered necromancers and summoners.

Their HP pools were similar to those of mages, and their defenses matched as well.

It wasn't for nothing that necromancers were called the weakest in close combat.

To them, Sword Cry was nothing short of a catastrophe.

"Wh-what kind of damage is this...?"

"Is this damage from a level 330?"

"Gahk!"

The Chinese users who had rushed in to protect the necromancers panicked.

The splash damage reaching them defied all common sense.

And China witnessed the horrific result right before their eyes.

Including Wei, every necromancer and summoner turned to dust and scattered.

Shuaaa—

Watching his allies disperse into powder, Je-gal's face hardened coldly.

'The advantage of 100 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠men.'

They had fielded 100 more players than Korea.

Yet over 100 of them had died in an instant.

Everyone present shared the same thought.

Je-gal pointed at him with a trembling finger stained by rage.

"Kill him."

Yes, Crazy Rookie's plan had succeeded. But everyone there knew it.

He seemed to possess strength far beyond his level. That was it.

China's rankers were the same.

This was enemy territory, and the greatest threat was right here.

The average level of the other Chinese users was between 370 and 380.

Considering Korea's users were around 360 to 370, it was overwhelming.

And Riu shone as world rank 19, number 7 in China.

"Calm down, Je-gal. The outcome won't change. He'll be torn to shreds, so you can vent your anger then."

Riu smirked and aimed his spear at Hyun-soo.

In that instant, concentrated power exploded from him.

"Exploding Spear."

As Hyun-soo staggered, engulfed in the explosion, a chain reaction detonated.

Kwa, KWAANG-!

Ordinary users at Hyun-soo's level would drop below 40% HP if hit directly by his Exploding Spear.

In other words, this one attack would leave him in tatters...

'...?'

Riu panicked.

'What the hell is this guy?'

The day Riu was most shocked was when he fought China's rank 1.

So overwhelmingly powerful and magnificent that he felt like a rookie.

And today, the second shock.

The damage he inflicted.

Only a mere 15% HP loss.

China's rank 1 had taken only 10% damage back then.

But China's rank 1 was level 421, while this guy was in the 330s.

And soon, Riu's face filled with even greater horror.

An unimaginable power surged from him, incomparable to before.

***

Hyun-soo's chest boiled as he eyed the approaching Chinese users.

His muscles endlessly relaxed and contracted.

Black energy swirled around his Supreme Blade, fueled by the damage he'd just taken.

Hyun-soo had crossed the line between life and death countless times.

They all had one thing in common: NPCs or monsters.

He'd never clashed with the world's top powerhouses.

But.

'I trust the path I've walked.'

In that moment, a small spark ignited from Hyun-soo.

Flames scattered from his lowered sword, coalescing into a rippling blaze.

At that instant, seven close-combat specialists charged in simultaneously.

-Killing the necromancers was impressive, but diving into the heart of enemy territory? Reckless for sure.

-It's no different from suicide.

-Maybe Crazy Rookie sacrificed himself for his homeland...

"Ghost Step."

-...!

-...!

Exactly 17 strikes. Hyun-soo returned to his original spot, leaving afterimages.

Peulleok—

The users who approached him were flung back or slashed, screaming in agony.

Riu's eyes widened. He glanced at another group.

Fifty assassins moved toward him.

China specialized in assassins.

Far stronger than Korea's, thanks to serving under the Legendary King of Assassins.

Tatata—

They swirled from all directions.

Appearing and vanishing repeatedly, gripping daggers in reverse grips—Riu couldn't take his eyes off Hyun-soo amid their swift movements.

'Their strength comes from real combat experience.'

Possible because China was called the land of martial arts.

In that moment.

Riu doubted his own eyes.

'His aura changed?'

His sword arm drooped.

A body that looked endlessly light. Slightly hunched waist, and piercing beast-like eyes gleaming through the gap.

The moment the assassins thrust in.

Peok—

His hand blade struck the intruding assassin's throat.

Toe, head, body's flexibility—all reached their peak.

Peo, peopeopeot—

Hyun-soo evaded every attack like flowing water.

The presence dwelling within him: Spear Heaven Ben.

Ben and Barad each had distinct strengths.

Barad overwhelmed foes with explosive power and mighty Sword King's Swordsmanship.

But Ben's advantages stemmed mostly from skill.

A veteran who had lived 25 years longer than Barad, who was only 40.

Having reached physical limits, skill was his only path to growth.

Yet now, Hyun-soo's body was far younger.

Riu doubted his eyes.

Six assassins fell. From that position, twenty more assassins launched themselves.

In that instant.

Hwaaaaak—

With a gesture from Hyun-soo, they were all seized mid-air.

'Telekinesis?'

He lightly kicked off toward the frozen, immobilized group.

Like a wuxia peak master stepping on air, the assassins were slaughtered one by one.

And he pressed forward.

Riu couldn't believe his eyes.

'What am I seeing right now?'

This was absurd. He acknowledged the massive power-up. But this defied logic.

"Magic—pour on the magic!!!"

Kuhoooo—

A mage unleashed a flame spell toward Hyun-soo.

In that moment, they witnessed a sight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unlike any they'd ever seen.

Hyun-soo was just as stunned.

Ben's true form, unknown even to him.

Shwaaaa—

A supple sword flowed into the roaring inferno.

That sword gently quelled the scorching flames.

"The magic... vanished?"

"Dispel-type skill?"

"But no mana was felt..."

And he moved.

"Block him..."

Je-gal realized the target was him.

"Block himmmm!"

He was the most crucial figure here.

Like a soccer team's manager.

Terror gripped Je-gal.

In a previous interview, Je-gal had said:

'Korea? Three hours is plenty. Without I-hwan, it's a nothing country.'

A Chinese reporter had tossed in an amusing question.

'You mean you'll toy with them?'

'Who knows?'

Not denying it was enough to draw global condemnation.

But the backlash wasn't huge. It was justified.

Yet a fierce tiger had lurked in that small nation called Korea.

His movements scattered the wolves like a Baekdu Mountain tiger ripping through a pack.

Facing the tiger targeting him, Je-gal drowned in fear.

And before he knew it, that tiger held its sword to Je-gal's throat.

'Unbelievable.'

He had pierced 30 meters through level 370-380 users!

In that instant.

Chaegang—

One spear deflected Hyun-soo's sword, and one blade pierced his abdomen.

The sword's wielder was Sword Emperor Fond.

The strongest ranker among those present.

World rank 4, Fond.

In China, they called him the closest to heaven.

And Riu's spear was mighty too.

Hyun-soo had taken heavy damage pushing this far.

"Cough—"

Fond twisted his sword.

"...Not bad."

Fond was genuinely surprised. Hyun-soo's skill just now rivaled top-10 world rankers.

Fond saw through it.

"Aiming for MVP, are you?"

Biseok—

Yes, if that display had continued, it might've been possible.

"Your power's gone."

But the power dwelling in him had vanished.

Puhwaaak—!

Fond pulled his weapon free, and Hyun-soo flew back again.

But Fond's speed vastly surpassed Hyun-soo's.

Chaegaaaang—!

In mid-air, the two endlessly traded blows.

Each clash etched wounds across Hyun-soo's body.

Fond was overwhelmingly dominating him.

"I'll handle this alone."

He told Riu, who tried to intervene. Fond was gunning for MVP too.

Killing the most active Crazy Rookie would bring him closer.

It was instantaneous.

A level 421 user.

Fond, China's most supported player—his sword pierced Hyun-soo's abdomen once more.

Puuuuuk—!

"...Overdoing it."

Fond whispered.

"Charging into enemy lines like this—know some shame. You're embarrassing me."

His voice dripped with contempt, like viewing a bug, crushing the man's pride.

His twisted hobby.

Trampling and breaking those with some fame worldwide.

Then, suddenly, Hyun-soo started laughing.

"Uhhehehehehe."

"...?"

Fond faltered.

That bizarre laugh didn't match his earlier demeanor.

In that instant, he sensed a trap in the laughter.

'No way?'

Fond's eyes widened.

He'd seen the first Calamity hunt video recently.

He hurriedly distanced himself from Hyun-soo, assuming a defensive stance.

'Where? Where's it coming from? There!'

In that moment.

From Korea's fortress, an arrow transcending Hyun-soo's Trinity shot forth.

Fond desperately mustered all his power.

An absolute invincible shield formed before him.

This shield would block even that arrow piercing all.

Finally.

Paaaang—!

The arrow flew. And struck Fond directly...

'It passed?'

Fond's thoughts froze briefly.

A direct impact sound echoed from behind.

As he snapped back to reality.

Suddenly, a dragon appeared in the sky.

An outstretched hand snatched Hyun-soo, swiftly retreating to Korea's lines.

Fleeing at light speed.

Fond's head slowly turned, sensing ominous vibes.

"......"

Taking in the scene before him, Fond's face twisted grotesquely.

His breath quickened, heart pounded, massive rage surging.

'Crazy Rookie...'

On a distant cliff, a figure had smashed into the rocks, their remains scattered in a gruesome state.

In Continental War, without survivor status, whispers, party chat, war chat—everything was impossible.

Yes. Crazy Rookie never fit that laughing image anyway.

The laugh was just to distract Fond.

And as Crazy Rookie reached the castle wall, he flashed Fond a small smile.

That laugh echoed in his ears.

'Uhhehehehehe.'

'This... this fu...'

Fond raged like never before in his life.

'You fucking bastaaard!!!'

It was the moment China lost their most vital figure, Je-gal.