Mark Server (3) – Rising Tensions
The server status displayed in the top-left corner of the screen upon logging in read:
Server Status: Erosion Rate — Continent 1: 2%. Continent 2: 2%. Continent 3: 7%
Crime Rate — Continent 1: 8%. Continent 2: 12%. Continent 3: 26%
At some point, the players on Continent 3 began steadily pushing up the erosion rate. Of course, their crime rate climbed as well while they backstabbed one another to steal artifacts, but the surge was more than enough to put every player on the other continents on high alert.
Because of that—
(Quick note for full-HP readers — Cap-gun: a toy gun that uses gunpowder.)
At first, players treated artifacts as lucky finds while exploring or leveling. No one went out of their way to hunt them. But as intercontinental pride turned it into a contest, the search for artifacts intensified. Since strong mobs often guarded the relics, each continent developed its own method.
Continent 1 summoned airships. Ten of them swept the map, and whenever they spotted a likely spot, they transmitted coordinates to the city so a retrieval team could collect the artifact.
Continent 2 had most players form parties of five, summon Spirit Kings, and send pairs of them across the entire map.
Continent 3 simply used their overwhelming numbers, spreading out in a single line and combing the land through sheer manpower.
While everyone was obsessed with raising the erosion rate, a pink current flowed across the hidden continent.
———
Strictly speaking, agreeing to help Kuronyang had broken the rules. The original plan allowed only one person to participate, so changing that rule for her sake required discussion with the viewers and players. The final agreement was:
1. Rusty may not participate in any events as a player. He may only spectate as staff.
2. This exception applies only this once. No further exceptions allowed.
3. Assistance to Kuronyang is limited to a full diamond armor set. (Weapons and accessories are unrestricted.)
Rules one and two were connected. Since I had sacrificed my own playable character to create this exception, there would be no character left to sacrifice again. Rule three was my own suggestion. Kuronyang was the star of this event, so helping her with everything would have reversed our roles. I wanted to keep my involvement minimal.
“So… do you understand now?”
“Then… didn’t you make way too many sacrifices, oppa? I’m sorry…”
After chatting for a while, we grew close enough to drop formal speech. She started calling me “oppa” (I had insisted; I figured I deserved at least that much after everything), and I decided to call her “Koo-nyang.” It was a cute shortening of her name, and it also meant “young lady” in Chinese, so it felt fitting.
(The Jipsadan’s jealousy was intense.)
“Hehe. It’s hilarious how the chat explodes every time you call me oppa.”
“Don’t tease the Jipsadan too much. They’re the ones I’m most grateful to.”
The way she shot me a sideways glance was adorable. I wanted to savor the moment a little longer, but I was only supposed to be support, so I swallowed the feeling.
After that, I slowly taught her tips and tricks while we farmed. Combat, however, was another story.
“Hng… Sorry, oppa. I’m really bad at this…”
“…Koo-nyang. Let’s just hunt the strongest mob we can find. We need to get you some decent gear so I can stop worrying.”
Just like the chat said, her biggest problem wasn’t lack of skill—it was personality. She hated hitting things, even in a game, so she closed her eyes every time she swung. If the mob moved even a little, she missed completely. Since I couldn’t fix that habit right away, the next best thing was to surround her with the sturdiest armor possible.
“You know that once you’re in full diamond, I won’t be able to help you anymore, right?”
“Ah… right… that’s true…”
She looked so dejected that I felt sorry for her, but as a streamer who had made a promise to the viewers, I couldn’t break it or look for loopholes.
“So let’s try our best to get you a good piece of armor—something dropped by a mob—before you finish the diamond set.”
“Okay. I’ll do my best too.”
She clenched both fists with determination. It was cute.
Server Status: Erosion Rate — Continent 1: 13%. Continent 2: 10%. Continent 3: 17%
Crime Rate — Continent 1: 9%. Continent 2: 27%. Continent 3: 29%
Server Status: Erosion Rate — Continent 1: 39%. Continent 2: 33%. Continent 3: 27%
Crime Rate — Continent 1: 13%. Continent 2: 42%. Continent 3: 39%
The “war is the answer” theory spread like wildfire through the community. Players who bought into it began testing the waters, forming small infiltration teams to slip into enemy continents and strike altars to see what would happen.
Thus began a bloody struggle between infiltrators and defenders. With Continent 1’s airship fleet making any approach nearly impossible, infiltration attempts against them dwindled. The conflict narrowed into a two-way war between Continents 2 and 3.
Then one day, Continent 3’s gamble—sending a large force as a disposable pawn—paid off spectacularly.
Server Status: Erosion Rate — Continent 1: 39%. Continent 2: 33%. Continent 3: 27%
Crime Rate — Continent 1: 13%. Continent 2: 42%. Continent 3: 39%
Server Status: Erosion Rate — Continent 1: 39%. Continent 2: 32%. Continent 3: 27%
Crime Rate — Continent 1: 13%. Continent 2: 42%. Continent 3: 39%