Burying the President's Hounds
Hyunwoo was way too strong!!! Taking on players higher level than me is tough enough. Facing two at once? That's practically suicide.
One was LV.62, the other LV.65.
Traits numbering two or three more than mine. Meaning they had way more options I lacked. I had to fight while accounting for all that.
And their gear? NIS agents meant at least Unique items as a given.
So, neutralize their command and thought functions before they can activate traits.
I triggered Valhalla right away, summoning two Valkyries at once. Training had drilled the quick chaining of those traits into me.
The trait to seal: infinite stealth passive. Just as the opponent moved to select his own trait, the Valkyrie didn't miss that split-second opening and thrust her spear.
Spear pierces shoulder!
Puk!
The spear flew straight through his shoulder. The agent still seemed clueless about what had hit him.
"Ah?"
No amount of training lets you shrug off a limb getting torn off. The agent grimaced and screamed, creating another opening.
That was my chance to drop him in seconds.
I used the method Master taught: subdue without killing.
Precise angle, exact force—grab the head. A slight misalignment here turns him into a vegetable.
Eh, the healers can fix that. As long as it's not instant death.
Excellent craftsmanship.
Wood-crack!
Luckily, he didn't die. Thanks to my careful force control, I paralyzed his limbs without killing him.
Opponent combat-ineffective, Valhalla conditions met—deactivated.
"One down in seconds? Sword Dragon indeed. You crazy golden bastard."
The remaining foe was no pushover. But Valhalla's cooldown hadn't reset yet.
Diogenes' Bow (Unique)
All projectiles miss their target.
Spotting the famous obsidian axe in the Valkyrie's hand, the agent prepped for projectiles first.
Deadly thrown weapons sealed. He seemed relieved, realizing it.
"You should surrender."
"Think your master'll save you if you hold out? Yeah, maybe three minutes... I'll KO you and take you hostage first."
"Pretty aggressive for NIS."
My words made the agent flinch. Huh... bluff landed. NIS black ops get insane training, but apparently not for this.
"You just dropped your guard."
Guard down induced. I reached out, grabbed his face, and shook hard front-to-back.
Manga technique—worked like a charm. Brain vibrating thousands of times, slamming the skull.
Definitely stronger. Beating two higher-level players with PVP experience.
Leagues above those knights from before.
Government secretly pumping budget into them, after all.
And I beat them.
"Hm? You won."
"Ah... Master, you're here."
No sooner had I knocked them out than Master emerged from the brush.
Proves these guys were legit skilled. Scratches on Master's face.
"Ambushed?"
"Nay? I ambushed, yet was countered. See? Blood's drawn."
"To counter your ambush... monstrous skill."
"Could not overwhelm with mere level. Had killing been the goal, ten seconds apiece."
Master opened Loki's prank box, dumping the stunned agents out in a heap.
"Brought the shovel?"
"Of course."
Knocking them out wasn't the end. Plenty left to do.
With the prepped shovel, I dug deep pits, burying the agents one by one—necks out for air, of course.
"Won't the dirt crush their chests?"
"Underestimating player bodies? Past LV.50, tougher than any Earth beast."
True enough. Stripped of gear and buried, they didn't die.
Regen was solid too. The one I vegetable'd blinked awake after a bit.
"Guh..."
"Awake, eh? So, the President sent you?"
"Torture...?"
"I've tried it a few times. Even players can't escape buried to the neck. Strength's irrelevant—pressure pins every finger."
Plus injuries made moving hell.
"Your answers decide torture or no."
"Just kill us."
"Nah, won't kill. President's orders, right? Kinda friendly with that lady. Killing her pawns'd wreck her face."
Agents clammed up. Whatever—Master pulled a weird hammer from the surprise box.
Pink pwing hammer, ribboned up. Effects clear soon enough.
◈ Hammer that silenced the Trickster God, Loki. Not to be confused with Mjolnir.
◈ 0.1% chance to turn struck target into fireworks. Effect stacks repeatedly.
◈ Current probability: 5%
Pure variety show weapon. Epic? Sure, stack it right for guaranteed insta-kill, but still.
"Shall we begin?"
"What're you doing! That weapon..."
"Oh? You know it. Fun fact: fireworks keep their wits. Feel every bit of the boom."
"Stop, you bastard! Sword Saint resorting to filthy tricks?!"
"That's how I got this strong."
Whoa... first time seeing Master's face that vicious.
Thought it before, but yeah—obey Master always.
Two bits of intel squeezed from the NIS agents.
First: current President, player who beat every opposition lawmaker bloody. Wants Ryu Ga-eul in check.
Knows she's ally, but uncontrolled power's a worry.
"Dumbass. Dumb... Thought she was sharp. Yale grad, right?"
"Yeah."
"Smart folks do dumb shit sometimes."
"Guess so."
Second: to control her, sent agents hunting her home.
Both failed. Poked the sleeping tiger's nose hair.
"Your plan? Storm the Blue House, grab her by the scruff?"
"Not that foolish."
"President that strong?"
"Not really."
Hold up—beat lawmakers in assembly, but scared of President?
"Frankly, could erase her now. Holding back 'cause her special forces irk me."
"What level?"
"Varies. Wrong matchup, even I'd struggle. Won't budge unless President's gone."
Something to rein in Master's rampages. News to me.
"Eh, not worth the rage. No anger issues here."
"Feels like you do."
"Hm? What was that?"
"Nothing. You're right, Master."
But today's mess guaranteed fallout. If I were President, leave the guy who wrecked my limbs alone? Nah, grudge ops incoming.
Whatever. Future problem.
Right now mattered. I walked to Master. Her slender arm snaked around my waist.
"Scared? It's fine. Sis'll protect you."
"Sigh... when did I say scared?"
"I'll protect you. Hyunwoo, trust sis completely."
Then Master kissed me. Deep, deep...
Seemed we'd crossed into no-turning-back territory.