Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Genesis Unit's Folly
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"What the hell is this Genesis Unit or whatever?!"
"Telling us to clear out of the citadel out of nowhere!"
"Right? They brought in NPCs and started massacring everyone in the citadel."
"Please fix this fast!!"
GM Johan, the administrator in charge of Parta, rushed toward the city amid the sudden flood of calls.
The moment he arrived, he couldn't help but panic at the barrage of protests from the dozens of players gathered in the square.
- S-Seniors! What do we do!!
-What's going on? What is it? Parta?
-Yeah, the guy with the cushy job looks like he's about to cry.
Johan barely managed to calm the shouting crowd as he hurriedly posted in the chat window.
-Big trouble right now. Some clan called [Genesis Unit] brought mercenary NPCs and took over the citadel.
-Huh? What does that mean?
-Why the citadel?
-No idea. They brought NPCs from the Central Continent and killed and drove out all the players.
-Whoa…… insane.
-To come from the Central Continent here takes at least two days even with portals…… totally planned, right?
The chat window buzzed at Johan's message.
-[Genesis Unit] Those guys were doing all sorts of shady business on the Central Continent…… guess they've gone this far now?
-Shady business? What kind?
-Like loan sharking. Lending money to people with interest.
-Hmm…… not that weird?
-The problem's their customers. Mostly people who died in the Labyrinth Tower and dropped their gear……
The chat went silent for a moment.
Everyone was waiting for the Central Continent admins.
-Rumor is all the customers died near the portal where floors start. You know portals have no monsters around them normally.
-No way……
-Yeah. Someone deliberately took them there.
-That was them? Wow, trash.
-But it's just suspicion, no hard evidence……
The chat lit up with [Genesis Unit] talk, but Johan grew more anxious.
-Seniors…… even if [Genesis Unit] is whatever, can you help me out first……?
He pleaded in a near-tearful state.
-Just let it be.
That was when it happened.
-T-Team leader's here!!
-No issues in Central Continent West!
-No issues in Dark Forest East!
Reports poured in from the admins at GM Dane and Team Leader Ko Jun-cheol's arrival.
-Forgot the top admin policy?
-This game isn't made by us. We collect playstyle data, and [Ethan] decides quests and update timings in real-time.
-……I know. That's why admin powers are minimized.
-So what's the problem?
The chat froze at his words.
-Leave it to the players.
-But…… how are Parta's people supposed to stop mercenaries brought from the Central Continent?
-Right. It's not like the Labyrinth Tower where similar levels gather.
-Parta's average level is around 25 tops. No way they can handle level 50 NPCs……
The subordinates voiced concerns at Team Leader Ko's words.
-Then the ones who can stop them need to move.
-……Pardon?
-The top 10 clans haven't moved yet. Watch their response first. And…… if it escalates beyond what they can handle, we intervene then.
His subordinates couldn't argue further.
-But getting from Central Continent to newbie zones takes at least two days. Complaints will pile up meanwhile.
-Admins aren't gods serving player convenience.
The team leader's reply was cold.
-Whether it takes two days or three, that's for players to solve.
-Um…… Team Leader!
-Sigh, still something to say? I said hands off.
-That's not it.
Team Leader Ko checked the ID of the last subordinate messaging him.
It was Johan, Parta's admin who opened the chat.
-Then?
-Th-The [Genesis Unit] that took the citadel…… they've been wiped out.
-What now? You were begging for help moments ago?
-They were definitely there……
Johan trailed off, sounding confused himself.
-……They're all gone now.
The chat stirred again at his report.
-Who did it? Any top 10 clan members in the newbie zone?
-No. No players spotted in newbie zones. However……
-Spit it out.
-An NPC named Kahira is at the citadel. Müllenga pilgrim, level 65.
-……Kahira? Why an NPC? Related quest?
-Yes. A wandering NPC searching for rifts…… looking for the [Red-Eyed Orc] that appeared as an illusion because spawn conditions weren't fully met.
-Alone?
-Well…… there's a player.
-Who?
The chat grew chaotic at the final reveal.
-Level 20 warrior [Khan].
His name was unfamiliar, but no one didn't know who he was.
-The player who can't log out.
"……You crazy bastard!!!"
The executive swung his sword with all his might.
"You fuck……! Stay back!!"
"Newbie zones are nice. Not just no PK, but level restrictions keep high-level players away too."
Woojin deflected the executive's slash and spoke in a cold voice.
Ridiculous.
This attack should have been sharper, fiercer……
But the moment fighting the gray wolf felt more terrifying to Woojin.
A real life-or-death battle.
They pull this crap because lives aren't on the line.
And he was the same.
Bam―!!!
His attacks grew even bolder than before.
Stepping forward powerfully, Woojin dove into the executive's guard.
Clang―!!
He parried the sword upward, making the executive stagger.
Now.
Whoosh―!!!
But Woojin's strike narrowly missed.
He was a mid-tier player active on the Central Continent, after all.
"What are you idiots doing?! Shoot him now!!"
Whiiish……!!!
In that instant, sharp arrows flew from the opposite battlement toward Woojin.
Thud―!!
The arrow embedded in the battlement with a dull sound.
"Punk! Don't know how you did it, but you think we can't kill you?!"
The executive yelled as arrows flew.
Thud thud thud……!!
Two mercenaries charged Woojin from both sides of the circular battlement, while the third kept shooting to pin him down.
"Yeah?"
Then Woojin sliced his own arm with his sword.
"……?!"
His body vanished again amid black mist.
The executive couldn't help but panic at his sudden disappearance.
[Hungry Mark used.]
▶ Mark applied to lancer Byon.
▶ Steals 1/3 of highest stat (Strength).
▶ Your Strength +25.
▶ Lancer Byon's Strength -25.
Level 50-ish, and 25 points?
Woojin looked at him with slight surprise as more points rose than expected.
Thanks a bunch.
"All-in on strength, huh."
Kaboom―!!!
Blue sparks erupted from Woojin's blade, severing the executive's leg clean off.
"Arrrgh!!"
The mercenaries, bewildered searching for the vanished man, saw only red blood spray.
As he held his sword to the screaming, rolling executive's neck, a red warning appeared.
"I'd die too if I don't kill you."
Losing the freshly stolen stats would be a waste.
"K-Keh!"
Woojin grabbed the executive by the nape.
Whether from boosted strength or the lost leg lightening him, he lifted the man effortlessly with one arm.
"W-Wait……!! What are you doing!!"
Using the executive like a shield, Woojin charged at the oncoming mercenaries.
"D-Don't shoot!! Fuck……! Don't shoot!!"
The three mercenaries halted, nocking arrows at the rushing Woojin, but the executive screamed madly.
"Right. I can't kill you…… but their arrows can."
Woojin gripped his nape harder, as if urging more screams.
"Hey, look! These guys drop stuff when they die, unlike others."
Kahira's voice echoed from below the citadel.
The two [Genesis Unit] members blocking her were long turned to ash.
She fiddled with their dropped gear and shouted up at the battlement.
"I'm a lowbie like you said, so death's no biggie for me…… but you're different. Level 50+ drop gear in newbie zones."
"Urk……! Ack……!!"
"Don't wanna die like dogs? Tell me. Who's backing you guys?"
"Crazy fuck……! You think you'll get away with this!!"
True to his rank, the executive didn't crack easily.
Thwack―!!!
Then it came.
A handaxe flew from somewhere, piercing the executive's head and sailing past Woojin.
Thud―!!
It embedded in the pavilion pillar he'd scoured all night, stained with the executive's blood.
"Oops, threw a scavenged one figuring it'd do…… but he died."
Kahira climbed the battlement, scratching her head sheepishly.
Thud.
The executive's body slumped lifelessly.
Whoosh……
His corpse turned to ash instantly, items emerging from the dust.
"You lot. Your payday's dead. Keep going? I don't mind."
Kahira swung her hammer sideways like a bat― swoosh!
"……"
The mercenaries exchanged glances at her arrival and lowered their bows.
"Even mercenaries don't come from Central Continent to Dark Forest for this crap? Trash."
She yelled after the vanished group.
"You alright?"
"Of course. It was a fight they started. I just acted per doctrine."
She inspected items from the dead executive.
"Oh, this looks decent. What do you think?"
So that's why his strength was high.
Woojin nodded at the belt Kahira handed him.
C-grade…… need Labyrinth Tower floor 3 minimum to get one……
Unexpected loot.
The surging power was palpable even to him.
Base 45…… so +13 or so.
Level 2 boost equivalent.
One-time effect, so saving it for later would yield more…… but
Usable only to 55 anyway. Better use while I can.
Decisive, as always.
The reason he survived countless competitions.
"Hmph, wasted time on worthless fools."
The citadel was silent with [Genesis Unit] gone.
"Dawn's almost here…… still some time left."
"Searched all last night, nothing. Barely any time now, what……"
Woojin gave a wry smile at Kahira's listless words and yanked the handaxe from the pillar.
That was when.
"……Huh?"
The blood on the pillar where the handaxe had been evaporated in thick black smoke.
A ringing notification.
Kahira's eyes widened too; it wasn't just for Woojin. They stared at each other.
Fwoosh―!!!
The pavilion pillar burst into flames.
Thud―.
Behind the burning pillar, red glowing eyes.
The Red-Eyed Orc.