One-Man Siege (3)

Suddenly, the male mage right next to him cast Detect, sweeping his eyes over the surroundings. Even though he'd confirmed multiple times that his 8-star Stealth was safe before entering, the moment still made him flinch in shock.

'Fuck! That scared the shit out of me.'

It was a kind of occupational hazard for thieves who relied on stealth—instinctively jumping at that shout.

Not every mage user maxed Detect to 5 stars; it was a massive waste of skill points. So in sieges like this, only a few specialized users kept it at 5 stars to periodically check for stealth users infiltrating. This mage unit had long range and devastating firepower, but they were fragile and vulnerable to assassins.

"Ah, are you gonna keep firing half a beat late? Focus! Fuck, Uncle! How many times have I told you if I can't lock on IDs properly, just reroll as a warrior? Why'd you pick mage with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that skill level? You can't even hit shit and just die searching for targets every time!"

"Sorry! I'll focus!"

"S-sorry! I'll concentrate!"

What a bitch... She played all meek in front of Darius, but in the heat of a siege, her true colors showed. Game or not, what kind of mouth was that to an elder?

'No matter how I look at you... you're gonna learn the bitter taste of life today and finally shape up.'

Boom boom, bang! Pop, pop! The siege-side users pouring endlessly through the breached inner gates suddenly pulled back, forming ranks with the defense side and letting the explosions die down. When the inner gate first broke, they'd ridden the momentum into a chaotic melee. But seeing the defenders hold firm without crumbling, they'd switched to textbook strategy: form up, then attack.

'Taeseong Guild really is on another level. Even though the enemy isn't rabble, Taeseong's so organized and solid. Especially having so many rankers—it's a huge gap I didn't fully appreciate.'

The reason people grinded levels day and night to become rankers: the level-based "hit rate" and "evasion rate" bonuses. In Taitonic, you had higher hit and evasion against lower-level users and mobs than your specs suggested. Conversely, lower levels missed more, even with superior stats, making it hard to win. This correction system wasn't quantified on-screen, but every player knew it.

That's why a ranker tanker in a siege like this could shine like a one-man army.

"Come at me, you punk-ass nobodies!"

Il Do Yang Dan. Darius wasn't visible, but as expected, he was here for this key castle. As a tank-melee DPS build, he stood out at the Taeseong vanguard, slashing away.

Whoosh! Whoosh! His opponents from the rival guild couldn't keep up with the blood loss, retreating fast—some collapsing dead mid-withdraw. Beyond levels, that Legendary weapon from last time was clearly top-tier. But his tankiness was just as impressive; attacks that would've killed any other knight a hundred times over were shrugged off with heals and shields. Like a zone guardian rooted in place, the perfect tank-DPS stood smack in the plaza's center—a sight that might've impressed Sandro if he'd been a knight himself.

'Impressive, sure. But it's all gear, levels, and heals... Got any real control? With all that pay-to-win and Darius's help, you should've learned humility instead of acting like a total asshole. From today, you'll regret making an enemy of me for life!'

The skirmishes tapered off, leaving the plaza with thousands facing off across an invisible line. A few arrows and spells flew, but it fell eerily quiet, like a pre-arranged breather. Remaining siege time: just over 20 minutes. If siege-siders died in the upcoming clash, no way they'd reform this formation, even without resurrection debuffs. This next fight would decide Bernstein's fate.

Taeseong knew it too, watching tensely as the siege ranks thickened.

How many minutes of standoff? Finally, with all siege forces assembled, vanguard tanks and rear DPS advanced in sync.

No better moment to crash the party.

'Here it comes... the fight that decides this siege. And my debut stage to flip my life upside down!'

His heart raced, but no second thoughts now. He knew stepping forward meant no return to his peaceful past!

"Hey! Hurry the fuck up! Goddamn it, you're making me curse! Not the rear—focus single-target on the front tanks! If tanks fall, the paper dolls behind die on their own, got it?!"

Hong Dang Mu, all sweet with execs before, was now cursing like a queen bee.

'But... haven't you been cursing non-stop?'

Grateful for Taeseong's execs being such pricks—no guilt in smashing them mercilessly!

"Hey, your mouth's way too foul. No wonder you ran out of kill-rights with an attitude like that."

"Wh-who's there? Who just ran their fucking mouth?!"

"Who else? Someone here to fix your shitty attitude. Luitus, summon!"

A massive magic circle etched across the wide rooftop. With it, a brilliant, vivid glow—unseen in this siege—burst from the circle.

And just like that, he merged with the summoned Luitus.

"Wh-what the hell is that?!"

"A t-titan?!"

From the already high rooftop, the 6-meter titan's view laid the inner castle bare. Thousands clashing below, mages on the roof—all heads snapped up to him.

Thousands of eyes at once. Adrenaline surged like when he grabbed the holy sword, but it felt good. Thrilling, even.

'Yeah! I chose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this life, and now I'm living it! My boring old days are done for good!'

Not dreaming of celebrity fame. Just escaping meaningless days. And now, he'd stepped boldly into excitement by choice. No room for errors in what followed.

Feeling the merge complete, he swung at Hong Dang Mu's spot—basic attack canceled into skill for a motion-efficient "basic-cancel" adapted to titan.

"Gahhh!"

Paper-thin mages: twenty in Glory Sword's range crumpled to ash. No shields up in their "safe" bombing spot.

Hong Dang Mu survived the extra basic hit, though—ranker skill real, mana shield tanking the AoE solo.

"Where'd this bullshit come from?! Everyone, attack! Focus-fire this fucker quick! Quic—"

Mages recovered, spells incoming—but he ignored, smashing down at her again.

"B-blink!"

She blinked away! Max 20 meters, though—and unluckily toward the main keep entrance. Sandro would've blinked off the roof for fall damage if needed.

Boom! Luitus charged like a battering ram, slamming her into knights at the door—scattering them all.

"B-block it! Tank for me!! Shield!"

"Shut up! All of you die! These cheap fucks!"

Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! One syllable per strike—five hits, and she was gone. No ranker tanks a titan's piledriver knocked down, let alone a mage!

A bit late, but shielded—then swept his long arm over the corpse spot. Drops already sparkling from the knights and mages.

'What? Jackpot!!'

Killing her felt great, but her Legendary accessory drop—pricier than weapons—stood out among junk.

Boom boom boom! Stunned by overachieving on his first strike, but no time to gawk.

Shield ate the rooftop mages' barrage, but arrows from opposite roofs pierced through.

To rampage properly, clear ranged first. Kicked off knights at his feet, swung at remaining mages.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Glory Sword! Swoosh! Swoosh! Like swatting flies—none survived a swing. Cooldowns brought ten-plus down at once.

Acquisition logs flooded in.

'Insane... Even if Taeseong has tons of murderers, siege drop rates are lower, right? Should've joined sieges sooner!'

No wonder hundreds of spectators and looters swarmed sieges. Though killing them penalty-free made looting rare.

Tanks or healers wouldn't drop this easy, but mages? Paper.

Even planned to hit mages first for low HP.

Last few jumped off fleeing—the rooftop cleared.

Shield kept titan HP at 90%. Top HUD: 40 seconds elapsed. Plenty of time.

'Perfect spot—super visible. Just right?'

PK "justification." Key to joining this siege. Random murderers got universal hate. But no one blasts guild war kills as PK.

So he'd declare his cause publicly, no matter the rush.

Positioned Luitus at the railing, overlooking the plaza, he bellowed:

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Players! Broadcasters! As you guessed, I'm Magnum03, the guy who nabbed the holy sword the other day! Lots of questions, but time's short—here's my official stance!"

His sudden shout halted fights; arrows ceased. Everyone froze, eyes on him—like magic.

He felt it all.

"I've been a casual solo player all along—no guild ties, just a regular user despite the rumors."

Anyone spotting him later would attack blindly for the sword. But he couldn't enemy the whole game.

"That said, I harbor deep grudge against Darius and Taeseong execs' tyranny—I was powerless before. So Magnum03 declares before you all!"

Chasing top ranks would eventually expose him. Prep now.

No reckless rampages or villainy. He needed lines to hold—limit enemies to public tolerance. Avoid being the people's enemy.

Reason for this siege: broadcast his stance worldwide.

"From now on, my foes are only Taeseong and allies! I swear! If you don't attack first, I won't touch you. I'll fight just Taeseong till game end—or they fall first. With this holy sword Taeseong unleashed on Taitonic!"

Like Darius at the coronation, he raised the blade high.

Then leaped his massive titan frame toward the plaza.