Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Future Foresight
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‘At first, they must have thought it was more efficient since there weren’t enough high-level hunting grounds.’
The high-level hunting grounds that appeared initially weren’t even sufficient for the kingdom-affiliated players.
So, they monopolized them as if it were only natural.
After that, the number of high-level hunting grounds gradually increased.
Each kingdom’s royal family used them first and then distributed the leftovers to massive guilds friendly to their nations.
They figured it was best to toss scraps to obedient dogs.
High-level hunting grounds kept multiplying.
But the royal families of each nation never lifted their monopolies.
Even when hunting grounds overflowed, they only allowed their own loyal hounds to hunt.
‘Greed for power ended up weakening humanity’s overall strength.’
It was the king’s loyalists, not the talented ones, who got the chance to grow.
In other words, talented individuals in mid-sized guilds or operating in small parties were deprived of their growth opportunities.
Hunting grounds continued to steadily increase.
Yet the royal families’ policies never changed.
The result?
‘A catastrophe unfolded.’
The royal families of each nation believed they had perfect control over high-level players’ hunting grounds.
But that was a huge mistake.
In the end, the Monster Wave erupted.
The Atlantis kingdoms suffered devastating losses.
‘Monsters must be killed on sight.’
Why?
Because the Demon King’s army continuously poured monsters into the Atlantis dimension through gates.
The one holding them back was the Gaia System.
But the Gaia System had its limits.
‘It only buys time while humans grow stronger.’
If the Gaia System could perfectly defend against the Demon King’s army invasion from the start?
There would have been no need to create Players in the first place.
Nor would they have brought in reinforcements from allied dimensions like Earth.
‘They got too complacent.’
The Demon King’s army invasion had dragged on for so long.
There had been crises a few times.
But the Atlantis kingdoms overcame them brilliantly.
The Gaia System kept sending reinforcements from other dimensions.
Despite the endless war, the royal families didn’t collapse.
On the contrary, they grew even more prosperous, and royal authority strengthened.
That very fact lulled the monarchs into complacency.
As a result, the Atlantis dimension’s rulers became numb to the current situation.
They no longer saw monsters as vanguard invaders sent by the Demon King’s army.
They viewed them as prey to bolster royal power and enrich their kingdoms.
Players grew stronger by hunting monsters.
Those strengthened Players solidly backed royal authority.
Magic stones brought tremendous progress to human life.
What if monsters suddenly vanished and magic stones became unavailable?
It would shatter the economic foundation of the Atlantis kingdoms.
Magic stones had become like oil to Earth’s humanity.
The royal families amassed enormous wealth by monopolizing those magic stones.
‘At a time when they should have been struggling for survival, they dreamed of abundance.’
The price was bound to be devastating.
‘The royal families only thought about their own survival.’
That’s why they created this system.
It wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.
Superhumans called Players had appeared.
The emergence of superhumans posed a lethal threat to each nation’s royal families.
After swiftly co-opting and suppressing them to gain control over Players.
Suddenly, Earth’s reinforcements arrived, preaching democracy, socialism, constitutional monarchy, and such ideologies.
The royal families needed the power to control Players just to ensure their own safety.
‘The best way was controlling high-level hunting grounds.’
What did that achieve?
It preemptively blocked the birth of uncontrollable high-level Players who might rebel.
‘It’s too rotten.’
It would have been better if everything had collapsed back in the early invasion days.
But it didn’t.
The royals and nobles remained intact, monopolizing vested interests.
On top of that, massive guilds formed by reinforcements from other dimensions like Earth chose to join hands with the establishment rather than resist it.
‘It has to be torn down.’
Only then could humanity as a whole survive.
But toppling it recklessly?
That would just cause internal strife, handing a gift to the Demon King’s army.
‘The best option is mutual destruction with the Demon King’s lackeys.’
It wasn’t just massive guilds that had allied with the Demon King’s army.
Some in key positions in each nation had done the same.
‘It’s plenty feasible.’
In his previous life, he’d been backstabbed often because he didn’t know.
But now was different.
‘First, I need to build my own strength.’
For Kang Hyun-soo to grow stronger?
‘Filling all six hundred summons with top-level ones comes first.’
Filling them with monsters was impossible for now.
But.
‘Filling them with Players is entirely possible.’
Kang Hyun-soo watched as Luzabenu’s castle gates opened in the distance.
Zhonghua Guild’s elites emerged in grand fashion.
‘It won’t end in a day or two.’
It was a war between massive guilds.
It probably wouldn’t conclude easily.
And in that war.
‘Countless high-level Players will die.’
This was humanity’s civil war.
The goal of reducing the Demon King’s lackeys was there, sure.
‘Zhonghua Guild is on humanity’s side, no matter what.’
Troublemakers, granted.
But.
‘This won’t harm humanity.’
On the contrary, it would bring huge gains.
Removing the poisonous mushroom called Cabal Guild.
Weakening the headache known as Zhonghua Guild.
On the surface, it looked like both humanity and the Demon King’s army losing strength simultaneously.
However.
‘My intervention changes everything.’
If Zhonghua Guild and Cabal Guild’s elites were reborn entirely as Kang Hyun-soo’s summons?
It would eradicate the Demon King’s lackeys and weaken the troublemaker while.
‘Humanity’s strength actually increases.’
A minor twist: that power would be wholly subordinate to Kang Hyun-soo as an individual.
‘Commander’s Blessing.’
Kang Hyun-soo used the Commander’s Blessing skill on a summon based on a Zhonghua Guild 700-level Player.
[Using Job Skill Commander’s Blessing – F-Rank.]
[Stats have been permanently consumed.]
Whoosh!
A brilliant light enveloped the summon’s body.
[The summon has been strengthened.]
‘The stat consumption is pretty heavy.’
The amount of stats consumed was more than expected.
Probably because the summon’s base stats were quite high.
But thanks to that?
[Job Skill Commander’s Blessing – F-Rank has grown to E-Rank.]
The rank rose after just one use.
‘It increased.’
The enhancement limit rose from 1% to 5%.
Not only that, the number of summons that could be enhanced doubled from ten to twenty.
‘Too bad the cooldown only dropped to four hours.’
But it was fine.
Just twenty hours.
A little over half a month of investment.
And he could strengthen all twenty summons.
* * *
“It was really Zhonghua Guild’s doing?”
Cabal Guild’s Guild Master Jamie asked with a furious expression.
“Yes. Zhonghua Guild brooches were found on the attackers’ bodies. Also, Zhonghua Guild elites attacked our retreating members.”
“Only one survived?”
“That’s right. We could have been wiped out if things went wrong.”
“Prepare all forces for deployment. We’re hitting Zhonghua Guild.”
“What about the Descent Ritual?”
“No choice. Postpone it.”
“They’ll be furious.”
“You want us to just take this lying down? Zhonghua Guild doesn’t know the meaning of restraint. If we stay quiet this time? Do you think they’ll back off obediently?”
Jamie’s deputy guild master couldn’t say a word.
“They’ll see us as easy prey and go even wilder. If they attack, the Descent Ritual is off anyway. Anything wrong with what I said?”
“Nothing.”
“Then prepare immediately. Wipe out Zhonghua Guild in the shortest time possible.”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
Cabal Guild’s elites were swiftly assembled.
And word reached Cabal Guild that a large Zhonghua Guild force had entered Cabal territory.
‘My choice was right.’
If Jamie had hesitated even a little?
They might have been ambushed before assembling.
“Let’s go.”
Jamie led the already gathered Cabal Guild elites to confront Zhonghua Guild’s massive army.
* * *
Zhonghua Guild and Cabal Guild marched their full forces toward the battlefield.
At that moment, Kang Hyun-soo.
Had infiltrated Dion, the great city in Ramphazil Kingdom that served as Cabal Guild’s main base.
‘Where could this guy be?’
There was only one reason he’d infiltrated Dion.
To find the Player who possessed the skill Kang Hyun-soo was targeting.
‘He’s not a big threat right now, but for the future, it’s best to eliminate him.’
That way, he could monopolize the skill himself.
And that skill would.
Become a weapon to persuade Players like Song Hana and Fist Emperor to join his command.
‘Non-combat type, so he wouldn’t be deployed to the battlefield.’
Kang Hyun-soo searched every corner of Cabal Guild’s guild house in Dion.
Something impossible under normal circumstances.
But with most elites deployed, it was feasible now.
The remaining elites were busy guarding Dion’s walls against potential Zhonghua Guild ambushes.
How long did he search?
Finally, his target entered Kang Hyun-soo’s sight.
‘Replica.’
Kang Hyun-soo activated Replica.
[Using Unique Skill Replica – B-Rank.]
[One stack is consumed.]
[Creating Replica of Sturdy Body – D-Rank.]
[Replica Skill Sturdy Body – F-Rank has been created.]
[Replica Skills possess 100% of the original’s capabilities.]
……(continued)……
Kang Hyun-soo kept activating Replica.
Most of the target’s skills boosted physical abilities or defense.
‘No way it takes all my stacks, right?’
Replica had reached B-Rank, increasing stacks to twenty.
Twenty was a lot, but.
In a way, it was quite few.
‘If it comes to that, no choice.’
He’d subdue him alive, drag him out of the guild house.
And haul him around until stacks recharged.
‘A bit risky, though.’
Even if Cabal Guild was emptied out, carrying baggage while strolling around carried some risk.
If caught?
Cabal Guild elites on Dion’s walls would swarm him for sure.
That’s when it happened.
[Using Unique Skill Replica – B-Rank.]
[One stack is consumed.]
[Creating Replica of Future Foresight – E-Rank.]
[Replica Skill Future Foresight – F-Rank has been created.]
[Replica Skills possess 100% of the original’s capabilities.]
‘Got it.’
On the fourteenth stack, he obtained the desired skill.
‘Farewell.’
Slash!
Kang Hyun-soo’s sword lightly severed the opponent’s neck.
For someone with a cheat skill like Future Foresight.
It was an utterly pathetic end.
‘Though calling it a cheat is debatable.’
Kang Hyun-soo checked the Future Foresight skill info.
[Future Foresight – F-Rank]
- Active Skill
-Replica Skill.
-Foresees future events.
-Cooldown: 365 days
The cooldown was a full year.
But a cheat skill that could foresee future events.
‘Full of traps, though.’
Endure that long cooldown to use it, and.
‘You might just see something ridiculous like straining hard on the toilet.’