Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Leader Arrives
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A week had passed since Kim Cheonjae left the city.
The day of the decisive battle had arrived, but he still hadn’t returned.
One of the Korean players at the hideout approached Ma Jeongwoo and asked,
“Will our plan really work?”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Well…”
“It’s not too late even now. If you want to back out, say so ahead of time. We’ll pull you from the national showdown.”
“……”
The man who asked returned to his seat.
Kim Ria, who had been released from prison, walked over.
“Uncle Jeongwoo.”
“What?”
“Can’t the infected ones… be turned back?”
Ma Jeongwoo pulled out a cigarette in frustration and lit it.
“Yeah.”
“Ha…”
“The Z Virus vaccine can’t eliminate the X Virus. Plus, they’ve been infected too long to reverse it anyway.”
“So what happens to the people in there?”
“They’ll die in three days… or turn into zombies and come after us.”
“……”
[System Message]
[Conquest Game will begin in 1 hour.
[All players belonging to the fifth round, please prepare for the game.]
[As of now, Korean military units are summoned to the front of the ‘Conqueror’s Tomb’ city.]
[As of now, Chinese military units are summoned to the front of the ‘Conqueror’s Tomb’ city.]
[As of now, Japanese military units are summoned to the front of the ‘Conqueror’s Tomb’ castle.]
Ma Jeongwoo checked the system message and shouted loudly.
“Then let’s all get ready!”
The Korean players began gearing up.
Ma Jeongwoo glanced at the air and muttered,
“Group.”
________________________________「Player Group of ‘Kim Cheonjae’」
-Kim Cheonjae: Poor (Yellow)
-Ma Jeongwoo: Good (Blue)
-Yoo Sora: Good (Blue)
-Michael Beach: Good (Blue)
[Good (Blue): Vitality 90%+]
[Normal (Green): Vitality 75%+]
[Poor (Yellow): Vitality 50% or less]
[Critical (Red): Vitality 15% or less]
________________________________
“……Don’t be late, Kim Cheonjae.”
* * * * *
Armies from each nation began gathering in front of the city where the fourth round’s main event was unfolding.
To the south: the Korean army led by Major Kim Juncheol.
To the west: the Chinese army, dressed like something out of a wuxia flick.
In front of the castle: the Japanese army, clad in outfits from the colonial era.
Finally, at the north gate appeared the man called the referee for this round.
Whoooosh— Whoooosh— Whoooosh— Whoooosh—
A man riding a black dragon.
Kim Jeongjae.
As he flew through the sky and landed atop the castle, all players inside the city were forcibly teleported outside.
Everyone except the Japanese.
[All players waiting in the city are expelled.]
Flash!
They were moved to their respective nation’s position.
Korean players to the Korean soldier NPCs.
Chinese players to the Chinese soldier NPCs.
Japanese players to the Japanese soldier NPCs.
Where the Korean players arrived, a massive iron gate loomed, tall enough for giants to pass through, firmly shut.
The gatekeeper had vanished.
As they scanned the situation, chaos erupted at the west gate bridge where the Chinese players were gathered.
Even before the game started, players infected with the X Virus had begun attacking their own side.
Krrraaak. Kraaaaaak!
-What the hell are these guys? Why’s their skin purple?
-Aaagh! My shoulder! My shoulder! This zombie bastard bit me!
-Huh? Isn’t that Wang Chaoling? Why— Arrrgh!
Just as Kim Ria had said.
The reason the so-called weakest Japanese players kept winning every game.
Mass infection using the virus.
They turned enemy prisoners into virus test subjects, then attacked like this.
Dirty, underhanded bastards, as expected.
Most Chinese players were already in a panic.
But a few among them, familiar with the situation, swiftly beheaded the infected players.
Ma Jeongwoo looked around.
Sure enough, a few infected among the Korean prisoners too.
Without hesitation, he swung his axe and took them out.
Crack!
“Everyone, careful not to touch their blood!”
About a dozen with purple skin.
As Ma Jeongwoo moved, the army followed.
Major Kim Juncheol swung his sword.
Whoooosh—
Thwack!
Rather than slicing, he struck them with the flat of his blade, sending the infected players flying.
The X Virus zombie’s body floated up and plummeted into the ravine below.
-Kieeeek!!!
Kim Juncheol asked Ma Jeongwoo,
“Is Cheonjae safe?”
“Yes.”
“……Good.”
Kim Juncheol said his piece and returned to his position.
Silence fell over the entire area before the castle. Tension hung heavy. No one spoke.
They eyed each other, swallowing hard.
Monster cries echoed from the ravine below. Strange noises came from the forest too.
Every player gathered outside the city wore expressions thick with tension.
Ma Jeongwoo kept staring toward the forest.
“Kim Cheonjae…”
[Main game of this round will begin in 10 seconds.
10
9
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[As of now, the fifth round’s main event begins.]
[Attack: Korea, China (Challengers)]
[Defense: Japan (Conquerors)]
[Attack team: Plant your national flag atop the castle in the city called ‘Conqueror’s Tomb.’]
[Defense team: Prevent enemy flags from reaching the castle top.]
[Time limit: 120 minutes]
Bang!
With the sound of fireworks, a Taegeukgi flag and armband appeared in Major Kim Juncheol’s hand.
National emblems appeared above everyone’s heads.
Boom!
The iron gate blocking the castle entrance swung open with a massive roar.
Kim Juncheol looked at Ma Jeongwoo.
“Who should I give this armband to?”
Ma Jeongwoo reached out to take it, then shook his head and pulled back.
“Give it to Cheonjae when he arrives.”
“Understood. Then we’ll hold position until Cheonjae arrives.”
A massive boom echoed from inside the city.
Boom!
The Chinese and Japanese were already clashing.
Ma Jeongwoo shouted,
“Everyone, follow me!”
The Korean players began advancing into the castle behind him.
Smoke rose here and there inside the city, accompanied by roaring cheers.
They moved swiftly toward the castle.
Eyes burning with resolve.
This was their chance to unleash all the pent-up emotions against those bastards.
Kim Juncheol asked Ma Jeongwoo,
“And Cheonjae?”
“……Not yet.”
They moved as slowly as possible. The start and end of this entire plan depended entirely on his power.
Near the castle, players from the two warring nations came into view.
The Japanese were fiercely defending the castle.
Samurai at the entrance, rifles firing from the windows.
The Chinese had shield bearers up front, slowly advancing while hiding bodies behind them.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The ground shook with their synchronized footsteps.
They knew the Chinese outnumbered them, but not to this extent—filling the space before the castle.
At least a thousand.
New players must have arrived to replace the dead.
Piiiing—
A missile sound from atop the castle.
Boom!
It landed amid the advancing Chinese shield bearers.
-Argh!
The explosion cracked their formation. But only briefly—other Chinese quickly filled the gaps.
“Kim Cheonjae, hurry up…”
Ma Jeongwoo had a gut feeling.
This time, the Chinese might actually take the castle.
The numbers were overwhelmingly in their favor.
Watching the battle, Ma Jeongwoo shouted,
“Prepare for combat!”
The Korean alliance players gripped their weapons at his command.
-Cheonjae hasn’t arrived yet, and we’re fighting?
-This isn’t the plan you told us.
“Plans change with the situation. First, we need to stop the Chinese from taking the castle.”
Kim Juncheol, observing, backed Ma Jeongwoo up.
“If they take the castle before Cheonjae arrives, it’s all over. In war, mixing too many opinions leads to defeat—so follow his lead.”
Ma Jeongwoo nodded.
“Then here’s the plan. Right now, the Chinese are only sending warriors to breach the entrance. Archers and mages are holding back.”
He pointed to the rear of the Chinese forces and continued.
“Take out those waiting archers and mages, and it’ll break their momentum big time.”
Kim Ria asked,
“Don’t we need to avoid fighting the Chinese? They’re dealing with the Japanese soldiers.”
“And after? The Chinese will take the castle.”
“Oh…”
“Our goal isn’t peace. It’s taking that castle.”
* * * * *
Ma Jeongwoo charged with his axe raised.
Korean alliance players followed behind.
They struck the Chinese rear, who were focused only on the front.
The Chinese archers and mages, caught off guard, panicked at the sudden attack.
-What the—! Where’d these guys come from?
-No way, Koreans over there?
-Aaagh! S-save me!
A smile crept across Ma Jeongwoo’s face.
It was too easy hitting them from behind.
“Halt.”
A booming voice rang out.
A long-haired man in a blue robe flew in and swung his sword.
Slash—
Clang!
Ma Jeongwoo’s axe met his sword in midair.
“……You the Chinese leader?”
“Yeah. And you must be Korea’s.”
The man in the blue robe eyed Ma Jeongwoo’s arm.
“The armband?”
“Don’t have one. I’m not the leader.”
“……Where’s your leader?”
“Not here yet.”
He pushed the axe away and sheathed his sword.
“Don’t interfere. We didn’t come to fight you.”
“What if we don’t want to? We need that castle too.”
“Ridiculous. With your numbers, you can’t even breach their gate.”
“Won’t know till we try.”
Tension crackled between them.
The blue-robed man scoffed.
“With that meager force?”
“……”
“We’ve got over a thousand soldiers here. All level 20 and up.”
“So?”
The blue-robed man looked down at Ma Jeongwoo dismissively.
“Small nations should act accordingly. Better not spill unnecessary blood.”
“……”
Thud!
The ground shook hard.
The blue-robed man looked around.
“What was that…”
Thud!
It shook again.
No— it kept shaking. Something massive was heading their way.
-Bwooooooo!
An elephant trumpet sounded from the south.
Ma Jeongwoo let out a relieved sigh and said to the blue-robed man,
“Hey, you.”
“……?”
“Get ready. Our leader’s here.”
Dong-! Dong-! Dong-! Dong-!
Drums began pounding.
Then, animal cries echoed from nearby.
-Hiiiik. Hik. Hiiiik.
Tatatata!
Nine hyenas burst from an alley.
-Woof! Woof woof!
“H-hyenas? Why are they here…”
Ma Jeongwoo gripped his axe handle tight and grinned.
“Who knows.”
The hyenas circled rapidly, scouting the area.
Then a massive tiger strolled in leisurely.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
A man riding atop it.
Kim Cheonjae flashed a grin.
“Hey! Sorry I’m late.”
* * * * *
Ma Jeongwoo waved.
“Why’re you so damn late, you bastard!”
“Ah, sorry. Had to prep a bit.”
“Ha… Anyway. All prepped?”
“Yeah. Take a look.”
Four rhinoceroses lumbered out of an alley, massive bodies in tow.
Li Kerou and her men rode atop them.
-Good to see you!
-We meet again, folks. Jeongwoo, right? Whoa, and there’s Beer Captain Sora too!
-That American I arm-wrestled is here!
Michael beamed.
“Hello!”
-Hello, American!
Li Kerou’s men, excited, pounded the drums harder.
Doong-! Doong-!
Behind the rhinos, four giraffes poked their necks out from between buildings.
Tiny skeleton soldiers— monkey-sized— rode in huge numbers on their backs.
“Kim Cheonjae, what the hell are those?”
“Skeleton suicide bombers. Took time to assemble ’em—that’s why I’m late.”
“……You’ve got all kinds of shit.”
I pointed to the elephant following behind.
“Charge!”
Thud! Thud!
The ground quaked with each elephant step.
Kim Juncheol, watching, approached me.
“Cheonjae.”
“Long time no see.”
“Armband’s here.”
“……Thanks.”
I took the armband and put it on.
[As the nation’s leader, lead the ‘Korea’ players in the fifth round.]
[Victory in the showdown grants additional leader rewards.]
A Taegeuk emblem fluttered above my head.
“Let’s go, everyone!”
I swung Dragon Fang high.
Li Kerou’s men drummed even more vigorously.
Dong!! Dong!! Dong!! Dong!!
-Uoooooh!!
-Kim Cheonjae’s here! He really came back!
-Finally… Can we move to the next round this time…
My summons and the Korean alliance surged forward together.
The ground trembled.
Bang! Bang bang!
Japanese gunfire rang out, wary of us.
At my appearance, the Chinese players stirred in confusion.
The blue-robed man shouted at me,
“You the Korean leader?!”
“……Yeah.”
He wore the Chinese armband— no ordinary guy.
‘……Pathetic.’
Riding the great tiger, I looked down at him and beckoned.
“Scram. You’re in the way.”
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