Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Fisherman's Gain (2)
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Kang Hyun-soo's greatest concern was.
‘The Earth King Kyung Wi-gang and the Flame Knight Jamie reaching a moderate compromise.’
More politician than warrior, the Earth King Kyung Wi-gang might propose a truce to the Cabal Guild after saving face.
The Flame Knight Jamie might accept the Zhonghua Guild's truce offer after displaying Cabal's power adequately.
‘They even have a convenient scapegoat.’
Zhonghua Guild's vice guild master, Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong.
They could just pin the blame for starting this war on Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong and call it a day.
In truth, the odds of Zhonghua Guild and Cabal Guild calling a truce were low.
Zhonghua Guild was a corpse without its pride.
Cabal Guild wouldn't want to miss the chance to flaunt their power now that they'd drawn their swords.
But.
‘Even that slim possibility must be uprooted.’
Only then would Kang Hyun-soo, the one who sparked the war between Zhonghua Guild and Cabal Guild, remain hidden.
‘If the Earth King Kyung Wi-gang and the Flame Knight Jamie try to resolve this war through talk, I'm in big trouble.’
As they coordinated their stories, they'd notice something off.
Then?
They'd hunt for whoever pitted them against each other.
Of course, the chances of Kang Hyun-soo's identity being exposed were slim.
But the best outcome?
‘Eliminate even that possibility entirely.’
If the fight between Zhonghua Guild and Cabal Guild ended in some half-hearted draw?
Kang Hyun-soo's plan to take out the future troublemaker and the Demon King's minion together would go awry.
‘Hurry up and move, come on.’
Kang Hyun-soo desperately hoped Zhonghua Guild's vice guild master, Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong, would stir up trouble.
And fortunately, Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong.
Granted his wish.
* * *
“Assemble the forces now!”
Zhonghua Guild's vice guild master, Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong, issued the order.
“Wouldn't it be better to wait until the guild master and main force return?”
“Are you suggesting we hunker down in Ruzabenu like turtles while they steal our hunting grounds? Those mid-tier guild scrubs who couldn't even look us in the eye before are laughing at us now. If this drags on, those mid-tier guild bastards might side with Cabal Guild.”
The executives opposing Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong's argument fell silent.
He wasn't wrong.
“But Cabal Guild didn't just send 500-600s. The odds are high they've got high-level players and rankers lying in ambush.”
In fact, it was 99%, not just high.
“Ambush? If they've dug one, we'll turn it against them. This is our familiar hunting ground, not theirs. What, scared after one loss?”
The executives ground their teeth at Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong's pride-stinging words.
Truth be told, the first battle's defeat had badly bruised their egos too.
If they opposed here?
They'd be branded cowards, their faces dragged through the dirt.
“No, sir.”
“We can turn their ambush into our trap.”
The battlefield was their home turf hunting ground.
They had a solid shot at victory.
“Then prepare to deploy.”
“Yes, sir!”
In the end, preparations for a massive counterattack began.
‘If I sit still, I'm done for.’
Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong clenched his molars.
He'd rallied the executives by invoking mid-tier guild excuses and the hunting ground advantage to stroke their pride and order the assembly.
But the real reason for mobilizing and launching a full counterattack was to preserve his position.
‘Once the guild master returns, I'm finished.’
He might die at the furious Earth King Kyung Wi-gang's hands.
Even if not, he'd have to relinquish all the power he currently held.
Sure, as a named player, he'd get some respect even without power, as long as he kept his life.
But respect or not, he'd drop from issuing orders as a general to just another foot soldier following them.
If the war with Cabal Guild continued in that state?
‘I'd be thrown into the thickest of the fighting.’
If the guild master, Earth King Kyung Wi-gang, ordered him to lead from the front?
Devil Vanquishing Spear Jin Gu-pyeong would have no choice but to obey.
‘I need to rack up a major achievement before the guild master returns.’
Win a big victory?
No worries about keeping his seat.
His power would only grow.
Another crushing defeat?
His odds of dying at the enraged Earth King Kyung Wi-gang's hands might rise a bit.
‘But nothing changes.’
Sitting tight meant downfall was certain anyway.
In that case, it was right to make a last desperate stand for that faint glimmer of a comeback.
* * *
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the air as human clashed against human.
‘They've finally moved.’
A bright smile bloomed on Kang Hyun-soo's lips.
He'd worried when they'd act.
But they'd jumped right into it.
‘And with some real strategy too.’
Zhonghua Guild didn't charge blindly like before.
They entered the hunting ground disguised as mid-tier guild players in unmarked clothes.
Then they massacred Cabal Guild players in unison.
‘Now no one can tell Zhonghua Guild players from mid-tier ones.’
Kang Hyun-soo could guess Zhonghua Guild's aim.
‘Cabal Guild players will attack mid-tier guild players.’
It didn't matter if Cabal Guild players held back against mid-tiers.
They could just disguise as mid-tiers and attack Cabal players instead.
‘Didn't expect them to ditch their guild marks out of pride.’
Things must be pretty desperate.
‘While telling themselves it's just a tactic.’
Obviously.
“Shall we get moving too?”
At Kang Hyun-soo's words, Song Hana and the Fighting Emperor, who'd been briefed in advance, nodded.
It was against giant guild players, but there was no hesitation.
Their foes were the Demon King's minions contracted with demons.
From Song Hana's perspective, wanting to return to Earth.
From the Fighting Emperor's, needing to protect his homeland.
Demon King's minions were enemies to eliminate ASAP.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Kang Hyun-soo's group clashed fiercely with Cabal Guild players.
Outnumbered.
But the fight was so one-sided it screamed overwhelming dominance.
‘As expected.’
Song Hana and the Fighting Emperor had skills transcending levels from the start.
And now their stats were boosted 15% by Commander's Blessing and Commander Appointment.
For normal players?
They'd struggle to adapt to the sudden stat surge—more power, less finesse.
But Song Hana and the Fighting Emperor were exceptions.
The extra stats were no hindrance as they fought flawlessly.
‘It was a 600-level party.’
Kang Hyun-soo activated Battalion Formation.
Ten players revived as summons.
“Let's go.”
Song Hana and the Fighting Emperor nodded and followed Kang Hyun-soo.
“Aaagh!”
“Help!”
Blood winds howled wherever Kang Hyun-soo's group passed.
Kang Hyun-soo's summons kept multiplying.
Then.
BOOM!
A huge explosion erupted nearby.
‘It's starting.’
The mana wave was so intense it made his whole body tingle.
Far beyond what a 500-600 level skirmish should produce.
“Stay sharp. We might face ranker players.”
“Got it.”
“Can't wait.”
Song Hana and the Fighting Emperor's battle spirit didn't waver at Kang Hyun-soo's warning.
If anything, the prospect of fighting rankers ignited their fighting spirit.
Thud thud thud thud!
They arrived swiftly to find two Zhonghua Guild rankers facing off against two Cabal Guild rankers.
The Zhonghua rankers tried to disengage.
But Cabal's wouldn't allow it.
‘Cabal has more rankers.’
Two-on-two for now, but give it time?
‘Reinforcements will come.’
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Kang Hyun-soo's prediction hit the mark.
A Cabal Guild player shrouded in purple aura rushed to join the fray.
‘Can't let them link up.’
Kang Hyun-soo's group blocked their path.
BOOM!
First clash.
Even combining forces, Kang Hyun-soo, Song Hana, and the Fighting Emperor were pushed back.
‘Ranker.’
As expected.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Cabal Guild ranker aggressively pressed Kang Hyun-soo, Song Hana, and the Fighting Emperor.
‘Strong.’
One against three, yet Kang Hyun-soo's side was on the back foot.
But the real issue was.
The other ranker player charging from afar.
‘They travel in pairs after all.’
Cabal Guild used 500-600 level players as bait.
Then reeled in the biters with.
Ranker players operating in two-man teams.
‘Joining up incredibly fast.’
Might even be four-man teams, Kang Hyun-soo thought.
BOOM! BOOM!
“Who the hell are you? Never heard of Zhonghua Guild having scrubs like you.”
The Cabal Guild ranker hurled questions leisurely amid his barrage.
One against three, but he was dominating.
Soon his partner would join.
Then it was a one-sided win for his side.
“What's it to you?”
The Cabal ranker's eyebrow twitched at Kang Hyun-soo's curt reply.
“Loyal to Zhonghua Guild to the death, huh?”
He'd asked because despite low levels, their combat sense was sharp.
As far as Cabal knew, Zhonghua had no such rookie talent.
A spark of curiosity led to the question.
Maybe even recruitable.
“Surrender peacefully. Quit Zhonghua and join Cabal. You might live.”
“Bullshit.”
But with that arrogant attitude?
He had to rethink.
“Ha! Kicking away your own fortune—fools. If death's your wish, granted.”
Offended by Kang Hyun-soo's curse-laced response, the Cabal ranker unleashed a frenzy on the group.
But their defense was rock-solid.
And each clash with Kang Hyun-soo's blood aura destabilized the purple aura, preventing a finishing blow.
Vampiric Aura working perfectly.
Tap!
The other Cabal ranker charged at Kang Hyun-soo's group.
That instant.
Whoosh!
Vast mana surged behind the Cabal ranker fighting Kang Hyun-soo's group.
‘What?’
Sensing unease.
Swoosh!
A blade sharp with sword intent flew in.
“Urk!”
The Cabal ranker twisted away swiftly.
Slash!
But he couldn't avoid a long gash along his side.
It didn't end there.
He dodged the lightning-fast attack from behind.
But failed to evade Kang Hyun-soo's blade coming head-on.
Stab!
A cold blade pierced the Cabal ranker's heart.
“Gah!”
The purple-aura-spewing Cabal ranker breathed his last.
[You have achieved a remarkable feat.]
[Title granted: Slayer of a Player 500+ Levels Higher (B-Rank).]
In that moment, Kang Hyun-soo, Song Hana, and the Fighting Emperor claimed the same achievement.
“What the—?”
The Cabal ranker about to join was thrown by his comrade's sudden death.
But.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
No time to recover as a blue-aura-wrapped sword-wielding monster charged.
‘Still useful as ever.’
Zhonghua Guild's named player, Sword Ghost.
The summon based on Sword Ghost had incredible combat power.
‘And great for ambushes too.’
Kang Hyun-soo activated Battalion Formation.
Whoosh!
The Cabal ranker just killed revived as a summon.
‘Go!’
At Kang Hyun-soo's command, the newborn summon.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Shrouded in purple aura, charged at his former comrade.