Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Corrupted Wave (1)
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“Grrrrraaaah!”
The predator’s soul-stirring howl struck the corrupted monsters charging forward without restraint.
The corrupted monsters were at least level 250, but some power that ignored levels was infused in that cry.
Krrk.
Some twitched their bodies, while others completely lost their minds. There was no physical damage, but that single blow shattered the momentum of the corrupted wave.
“Th-that, that bastard!”
The one most affected, however, was Molok, who had been directing the corrupted wave.
Since the commander who should control them had his spirit shaken, the rest had no choice but to suffer even greater influence.
“Barrage!”
Boom!
Before he could regain his senses, a missile-like barrage flew toward the vanguard.
The vanguard monsters, struck defenselessly, had their flesh explode and bones shatter.
They recovered quickly, but Rokan charged in even faster.
“Rift Attack, Frenzy!”
He descended into their midst like Superman, sweeping the surroundings with gale-force slashes in an instant. At the same time, he unleashed tremendous power. Berserk had activated.
“Whirlwind!”
Ten consecutive strikes against them—no corrupted monster or anything else could withstand it. The moment they touched the axe blade, they didn’t just get sliced; they exploded.
Each of Rokan’s blows carried terrifying power.
‘Heh heh heh, you really do need to use your head!’
No matter how much of a monster Rokan was, how was such a feat possible?
The reason lay right where Rokan had been waiting.
[Title ‘First Knight’ effect: ‘Chivalry’ is activated. All stats increase by 10% during defense battles.]
[Title ‘First Occupation Force’ effect: All stats increase by 20% during defense battles.]
[Title ‘First Occupation Force’ effect: Attack and defense increase proportionally to the numerical disadvantage against enemies.]
The path where the corrupted wave was charging. Right there stood a shabby little shack. It was a personal house that Rokan had built in anticipation of their direction.
The moment the corrupted monsters recognized that house, the ‘Defense Battle’ quest triggered.
Since it was defending a personal house, the rewards were practically nonexistent, but Rokan hadn’t wanted rewards in the first place—he’d aimed for the title effects. So it didn’t matter.
“Grrrrraaaah!”
Having crushed the vanguard, he unleashed a mad cry infused with Berserk’s aura, sweeping over the enemies once more.
“N-No…….”
An even more violent reaction than before.
Molok felt the fear he’d buried deep inside resurface as his own mind reeled.
This wouldn’t do. He couldn’t let the pieces he’d prepared for his grand undertaking vanish like this.
He needed to completely revise the plan.
“Avoid that bastard! Change direction!”
In truth, Rokan had only taken down a mere dozen or so.
He still had nearly 3,000 troops left, and there were even stronger monsters in the rear, but having already lost heart, he instinctively ordered a retreat.
It was also because killing Rokan once wouldn’t change anything. Unlike them, who would be done for if killed, the visitor Rokan could resurrect as many times as he wanted.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
In the meantime, Rokan rampaged through the corrupted monsters, smashing the backs of their heads as they fled, displaying godlike prowess with his ever-increasing attack speed and critical hit chance the more he attacked.
“Good, good. That way it is.”
Moments later, covered head to toe in blood, Rokan flashed a satisfied smile as he watched the direction the corrupted wave was fleeing en masse.
What he’d intended from the start wasn’t the total annihilation of the corrupted wave, but diverting their path.
And that intention had worked perfectly.
“Those little shits are in for a scare.”
The direction Molok and the corrupted monsters were heading was none other than the undead territory.
This place, Eblain, was on the border between the two factions. It wouldn’t be strange no matter which faction or race’s territory they headed toward.
If someone saw Rokan’s actions, they might say why hand over such a massive world event to the Black Dragon Legion, but that would only prove they didn’t know their enemy’s level—or their own place.
A small number might be manageable, but 3,000 corrupted monsters were beyond what current players could stop.
“If I’d clashed head-on properly, even I would’ve had a tough time.”
Of course, if he spammed Berserk, he was confident he could take down a hundred or two hundred per clash, but even then, it would take dozens of fights.
Considering Berserk’s aftereffects, he’d have to wage guerrilla warfare for days to secure any real victory. For others, it was even worse.
Even top players would struggle against just one or two, let alone 3,000 charging at once. It was a catastrophe.
“Unless master-rankers step up, dozens of territories would fall in no time.”
At least the cities had high-level guards and knights, but even they couldn’t stop a corrupted wave.
When enemy faction players invaded, guards would respawn endlessly, but when monsters came via events like this, they had to rely solely on the initially spawned ones.
That was why the world event notice stated: ‘Failure to defend may result in loss of territory.’
If they pushed all the way to the capital, there might be forces to stop them, but until then, they’d be helplessly pushed back.
“Now all I have to do is sit back and watch the show.”
And that was exactly what Rokan wanted. Inflict massive damage on the Black Dragon Legion while reaping equal benefits for himself.
“Cancel.”
Canceling Berserk to endure the aftereffects, Rokan slowly and stealthily trailed behind the corrupted wave, heading toward the Black Dragon Legion’s territory.
* * *
“Did you hear? There’s chaos in the dead guys’ den right now.”
“Chaos? What chaos?”
“Just got a message from a friend. Apparently, a horde of insane monsters came rushing in. At least a few hundred, but more than that—their levels are over 260.”
“April Fools’ today or what? What bullshit is that?”
The surrounding skeletons scoffed at the skull-headed thief whose body was riddled with holes.
You had to make believable lies. Sure, there was an event notice about some corrupted wave, but who’d buy such an absurd fib?
Though faceless, the near-scolding words made the first skeleton thief scratch his skull. Even he thought it sounded ridiculous.
Maybe he died from poor control while hunting and is making excuses, he thought. Just then, one of the players heading out of the village for hunting stopped dead, blocking the path.
“Hey, move it.”
“Wh-what the hell is that?”
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.
Irritated glances swept over the guy blocking the already narrow entrance, but soon everyone turned their eyes. A vibration shook the earth from far away.
Something enormous was coming.
“Gasp! Monster wave!”
“Jackpot! World event!”
“Sweet. Let’s farm hard. Quick, guild message!”
The initial reaction was excitement.
Their first world event. What amounted to a festival in normal games was right before them, so they aimed to cash in big.
They immediately messaged their guilds and contacts, calling for assembly. To fight together, or monopolize it.
But it didn’t take long to realize how arrogant that thinking was.
[Magical power prevents use of teleportation spells.]
[Quest ‘Village Defense Battle’ begins.]
[Failure may result in village destruction.]
“Wh-what……”
As the corrupted monsters came into visible range and the defense quest triggered, the waiting Black Dragon Legion players’ reactions shifted.
From anticipation and confidence to horror and fear the moment they grasped the enemies’ true scale, names, and levels.
“Insane.”
“No way this is real.”
“It’s really the ‘Corrupted Wave’……”
[Corrupted Thornvine Whip Rosov][Lv 261]
Confusion hit when a high-level monster prefixed with ‘Corrupted’ stood firm at the front, assumed to be mere trash mobs.
Even their full party couldn’t guarantee victory against just that one, yet similar or stronger ones lined up beside it.
They charged with bloodshot, murderous eyes.
“Everyone to the walls! Stop the enemies and protect Kosonobol!”
[Kosonobol Lord’s knights and soldiers have joined.]
Normally reassuring, but in this situation, it offered no comfort. Archers filled the walls, mages began casting, yet no one believed they could stop this.
The level gap was huge, and even with players, they were outnumbered.
“Hey, bail! This is hopeless.”
“Who doesn’t know that? Teleport’s blocked—where to?!”
“Damn it. Didn’t read the quest. Fleeing tanks reputation. Better die fighting!”
“Who the hell called for backup?!”
Fleeing wasn’t an option either. Turning tail or running to the opposite gate would tank reputation and make allies attack them.
Might as well fight to the death and take down at least one more. If they snagged a couple, loot might cover the loss.
“Vermin clinging to life against death. I’ll slaughter you all!”
Then, a bizarre roar erupted from deep in the enemy lines.
It was Molok, grinding his teeth after escaping Rokan.
A mix of scorn and rage toward undead trying to live despite being harbingers of ruin echoed out, triggering changes in the corrupted monsters’ ranks.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.
A herd of bull-like Corrupted Mad Devil Cows stepped forward.
Building charge from afar, they slammed into the gate with devil-horn battering rams.
Boom!
The gate and wall built to defend the village. Even enhanced by corrupted power, one hit didn’t break it.
But what if it wasn’t just one?
Boom! Boom boom boom boom! Crack.
As if for this purpose, the herd struck in sequence, cracking the sturdy gate.
The fissure widened and lengthened, ultimately shattering it completely.
“Kill! Destroy everything!”
At Molok’s command, the corrupted monsters poured into the village.
“Kaaack!”
“Guards! Guards!”
One-sided slaughter. Nothing more, nothing less.
Cornered players screamed for guards, but none appeared. Soldiers, knights, and mages who’d climbed the walls with the lord achieved little.
Some could handle a corrupted monster one-on-one, but not multiples.
In the chaotic melee, no such matchups formed—they were butchered before using their power.
[Village defense battle failed.]
[Kosonobol Village destroyed.]
From most players and NPCs slain to quest end, it took mere minutes.
All too easily, ridiculously fast, a key Black Dragon Legion forward base village fell. Molok pressed on to nearby villages. Conquest wasn’t their goal.
Then, a step behind the tsunami-like wave, Rokan arrived.
[Human Viscount Rokan has occupied Kosonobol Village.]