45
Chapter 45: Getting Worse and Worse
To him, unfamiliar with games, the two characters for class change were extremely foreign.
What kinds of skills he could obtain from a class change, and how stats would be applied, and so on.
There was nothing he could know in advance.
However, one thing was certain.
If he underwent a class change, he would become stronger than now in some way. That one thing was definite.
The problem was that he had to deal with 100 enemies of Level 10 or above.
'About the level of those I dealt with yesterday... perhaps?'
Dong Bong-su thought that Level 10 opponents would be about the level of the ordinary squad members of the Heavenly Wind Group he fought yesterday. He estimated that Go San-gong, who was the squad leader, was probably around 15 or 16. Though it was a rough guess, it would probably be roughly correct.
When he hadn't killed a few of those he met on the ship, he had already gone from level 7 to nearly level 8, and after that, when he killed Go San-gong, he became level 10 in one go.
The basis for thinking this way was all in yesterday's merciless experience point increase and level up. And that thought was accurate.
The New Murim Online system had recognized the Heavenly Wind Group members he encountered yesterday as levels 9-11, and had recognized Go San-gong as a level 16 'mob.'
'A hundred Martial World people at the same level as those I encountered yesterday... It won't be easy.'
If this were the real Murim Online, this class change quest would be very easy.
But this place wasn't real Murim Online, it was New Murim Online. Not virtual reality but an actual world. Not killing a mere hundred 'mobs' but having to kill a hundred 'people' of the Martial World.
It would definitely not be an easy task.
However, it was something that had to be accomplished.
Become stronger. Become more advantageous for survival and hunting. Survive longer and continue hunting to become even stronger. An infinite loop like a formula.
To continue that, it was absolutely!
Something that had to be done.
With closing the Quest Window, Dong Bong-su finished confirming all the changes that came with becoming level 10.
Beep-
Right at that moment when the familiar mechanical sound from closing the window was about to be heard.
Pung!
A roar came from far away. A volume that rang out clearly even through the fairly thick door of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall. Quite far, but definitely a considerably loud sound.
The location where it occurred was.
'That place from yesterday!'
Considering the direction the sound came from, the place where something was happening was the Emperor King Hall.
'It's started.'
Dong Bong-su realized that the Namgung Family had taken the bait he had scattered yesterday.
Murmur, murmur sounds came and outside quickly became noisy. The guests staying at the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall must have heard the explosion and rushed outside.
Now what he had to do was confirm how well the Namgung Family had taken the bait. Though it seemed his warning had worked on the Namgung Family, the danger that Do Heo-ok would bring wasn't completely over yet.
If the Namgung Family was unexpectedly weak or Do Heo-ok's faction was unexpectedly strong, despite the warning he had given with difficulty, there was a possibility the Namgung Family might be pushed back, wasn't there?
Also, perhaps the Namgung Family's response might be unexpectedly sloppy. If so, the same result as the former could occur.
If that were the case, for survival,
'I'll have to devise the next method.'
Dong Bong-su simply adjusted his appearance, opened the door and went outside.
***
Do Heo-ok came out to the temporary reception hall early in the morning.
"Have you heard about the Three Holy Lights?"
"Three Holy Lights?"
Having heard the story about the Three Holy Lights from the family's lower-ranking warriors who had come out first, he immediately left the temporary reception hall and personally went to the southern Water Gate where the ship was.
Since such a thing wasn't in the First Stratagem's plan at all, he came to check. However, the ship was thoroughly guarded by Heavenly Thunder Squad members and Heavenly Wind Group members, so he couldn't confirm anything.
If the Three Holy Lights were really something like heaven's blessing, wouldn't there be no reason to hide the ship? No, shouldn't there have been no need to guard it so tightly from the beginning? And that from him, the person involved?
Something had gone wrong. It seemed to have gone very wrong.
Do Heo-ok was returning to the Emperor King Hall with quick steps. He intended to go to the Emperor King Hall quickly and give notice to the four shadows to flee.
Do Heo-ok considered the Three Holy Lights to be their mistake. He judged that those four shadows definitely made some mistake while escaping from that ship yesterday, and the result might be the Three Holy Lights.
Pak-pak-pak.
It was just as he was using Movement Technique to pass in front of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall.
"Look here. Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"
A man in his thirties with a refined appearance urgently blocked Do Heo-ok's path. Behind the man, about thirty sturdy warriors wearing blue clothes with the characters 'Limitless' embroidered large on their chests were following. It was none other than Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members.
'Why is the Limitless Sword Form here at this hour?'
Do Heo-ok naturally knew them well. The important fact right now was why the Limitless Sword Form was blocking his path in a group this early in the morning.
'Don't tell me, me!?'
Do Heo-ok instantly thought they had come to capture him. It wasn't a matter of instinct or prediction. He simply realized that, connecting it with the Three Holy Lights, the plan had gone awry, and perhaps even the fact that the Four Shadows were hiding in his room might already be exposed.
"I heard there was a light blessing for my and Sister Hye's wedding from this direction, so I was checking and returning to the guest hall."
Even so, Do Heo-ok dealt with Namgung In calmly. Nothing was certain yet. There was no need for him to step forward and say 'I'm a spy.'
Looking at him like that, Namgung In said with a cold expression.
"I see. So what did you find when you checked? Was it really a sign of blessing?"
The leisurely smile disappeared from Do Heo-ok's face.
Considering Namgung In's cold expression and detached tone, all of this, there was no longer any room for doubt.
Do Heo-ok finally detected that things had completely gone wrong.
The expression of Do Heo-ok, who had professed fairness and justice, changed completely in an instant. His eyes and eyebrows that had drawn pleasant curves, the corners of his mouth that had always held a smile, were now all unified in straight lines.
That appearance looked infinitely cold-hearted to the eyes of Namgung In and others.
However, Namgung In gave Do Heo-ok, who wasn't answering, a moment to make excuses. For him too, there was still no evidence that Do Heo-ok had completely deceived the Namgung Family.
But even after that, there was no answer from Do Heo-ok. Finally, Namgung In delivered the decisive blow to Do Heo-ok.
"Since you've confirmed nothing, you have nothing to say. I'm sorry, but you'll have to come with us to the Emperor King Hall for a moment."
"......Does that mean I've done something wrong?"
"Well, I don't know that either. All suspicions will naturally be resolved if you come with us to the Emperor King Hall."
Do Heo-ok's expression hardened further.
Along with that, Do Heo-ok's heart was also gradually hardening. To eliminate all of these people.
If he just decided to, he could easily kill about thirty members of the Limitless Sword Form. Even if the Form Head Namgung In was among them......
Do Heo-ok's nose lightly wrinkled in a smile as he briefly examined Namgung In.
'To think a Form Head is only this much. There won't be a problem.'
He couldn't be his match.
Clench. Clench.
Do Heo-ok repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists a couple of times. He was gauging the timing to attack Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members.
Just as Namgung In, feeling a strange sense of discord from that appearance, was slowly bringing his hand toward the sword hanging at his waist.
Boom—!
An explosion sound came from far away in the direction of the Emperor King Hall and a pillar of fire shot up.
At the sudden explosion, the gazes of Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members were drawn that way, though only very briefly.
Right at that moment.
Do Heo-ok's hand moved first.
The Thunder Clap Blade that had been hanging diagonally on his back was drawn, and a bolt of lightning fell on the wide front yard of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall, more precisely where Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members were standing.
It was precisely the First Form of the Latter Four Forms of the Thunder Clap Blade Technique, Thunder Clap Charge.
Crackle! Creak!
The Thunder Clap Energy from Do Heo-ok's blade split the ground and struck Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members. Having their attention momentarily drawn elsewhere, they were unable to properly respond and were hit directly by Do Heo-ok's lightning-like attack.
Bang!
With a loud sound no less than the sound from the Emperor King Hall moments ago, Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members were thrown in all directions.
"Euak!"
"Keuaak!"
"......!"
A single blade strike.
With one slash of Do Heo-ok's blade, half of the Limitless Sword Form members who had come to capture him perished. Among that half, those who died screaming at least left corpses intact, so they were relatively better off. The other half among those directly hit by the Thunder Clap Energy couldn't even scream and turned to ash, scattering in the air.
However, even those who didn't die weren't in a position to feel relieved. Most of the Limitless Sword Form members who had instinctively drawn their swords and blocked some of the Thunder Clap Energy at the moment of crisis couldn't endure the aftermath and fell into a combat-disabled state, and Namgung In was no exception.
Drip… drip..
He too had suffered internal injuries from the attack he received unknowingly. Judging by the black blood flowing from his mouth and his face white as a sheet of paper, it went without saying that the depth of his internal injuries was not slight. If he hadn't been reaching for his sword in that brief moment, he would probably already have stopped breathing.
"Wh-what!?"
"What is that?"
"Isn't that person Young Master Do? But why?"
Because of the explosion sound moments ago, many people staying at the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall had already come outside and were witnessing this scene. There was no way for them to know what was happening.
However, one common expression appeared on all their faces.
Bewilderment. That was precisely it.
If it made sense for the bridegroom to suddenly slaughter his in-laws' warriors and kill his elders, wouldn't that be even stranger?
Among the guests were of course Dong Bong-su and Tang O, and Danri Jiang-hae, who had become an Outside Surname Disciple of the Namgung Family yesterday, was there too.
"Uuok!"
Finally, Namgung In spat out a mouthful of blood he had been holding in his mouth onto the ground. Though his face showed he had many things he wanted to say, Namgung In was already in a state where it wasn't easy to utter any words. All he could do was look up at Do Heo-ok with bloodshot eyes. That was all.
On the other hand, Do Heo-ok raised the Thunder Clap Blade high above his head once more with his usual fair and just face.
A bit of the ashes of the Limitless Sword Form members who had turned to ash from the Thunder Clap Charge moments ago brushed past his face. The ash met the breath Do Heo-ok exhaled and soon scattered futilely in the air, and some were swept by the morning breeze and fell despondently onto the surface of Chaohu Lake.
Plip… plop.
Could that have been the signal?
Do Heo-ok brought down the Thunder Clap Blade again. With a bluish flash, Thunder Clap Energy surged like a raging torrent toward Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members once more. Having no strength left to block it, they could only stare blankly at the Thunder Energy rushing to engulf them.
BZZZT—CRUNCH!
Now in just a moment, it would be a critical moment when the Limitless Sword Form that came to capture Do Heo-ok would be annihilated in reverse!
There was one human with a brown cloth leaping into the scene like the wind.
'Tang O.'