The Fall of Paradox
It had already been three days since he started tuning into Illusion TV again.
In that time, he'd drawn up plans for village construction and requested warrior and archer guild leaders from the Hemil Empire.
He'd expanded the inn and built various other structures.
He'd steadily continued item enhancements and gone hunting in his spare moments.
He'd borrowed a scroll from the knight captain to raise his stats in the prison.
Village management, hunting, enhancements, prison runs.
He'd spent time so packed that even two bodies wouldn't have sufficed.
All of this would undoubtedly reach the Paradox Guild, but he didn't care.
He had already overwhelmed them with sheer skill in their first war.
Moreover, they were weakened by penalties, their stats reduced. The second war would end in defeat for them as well.
As those penalties stacked, they'd flounder in a quagmire of chaos.
"Whew, time really flies. In just one more hour, it'll be guild war time again, huh?"
"It's because you're so busy."
"You were insanely busy, yeah. But if Paradox loses again this time, shit's gonna hit the fan."
"More than that—they'll all go half-mad."
Sung Min-woo chuckled with him when Yerin approached.
"Oppa, oppa!"
"Yeah?"
"I just drum again today, right?"
"That'd be great. You did so well last time. If you feel like fighting, though..."
"Nah, nah. Large-scale battles like that aren't my thing."
"Got it. Take care today, then."
"Hehe, sure!"
After chatting, he headed to the prison for a bit.
Thud, thud.
Shouts erupted in time with his footsteps.
Though this time, they carried a different meaning.
"Boss, just let me live this once!"
"I quit Paradox Guild! I quit, I tell you!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"Please, please spare me!"
"I want to join Mu-hyuk-nim's guild!"
Ignoring their pleas, he swung his dagger.
The malice accumulated on the Red Dagger transfers to the character.
Knowledge (0.1) increases.
The stat gains from them were still too sweet to pass up.
Whew, all dead.
Just then, the guild war start message appeared.
3, 2, 1.
With a flash of light, he was transported to the battlefield.
"Alright, let's sweep 'em like last time!"
"Sounds good!"
"Charge! Rawr!"
Ten thousand summons appeared, rampaging across the plains.
Their synchronized movements to the drumbeats were a spectacular sight once more.
Mu-hyuk handled the Paradox users emerging from the side gate with some of his summons.
They were using the same strategy as before, but Paradox couldn't hold them off.
Boom!
They reached the castle gate in an instant.
Crack.
After smashing the door, they poured inside.
"What? This is too easy."
"Yeah, no challenge at all."
The Paradox Guild was already broken in spirit.
After dealing with those inside the castle, he headed for the throne.
Unlike the first time, Taiken was guarding it with top rankers.
Well, it wouldn't change anything.
Attacks from archers and mage NPCs rained down.
Boom boom boom!
As expected of top rankers, their movements were no joke.
He dodged what he could and only raised his shield for unavoidable hits, focusing on defense.
With multiple priests behind them spamming heals, they weren't going down easily.
"Hmm."
Clumped together, they were stronger than expected.
Of course, he wasn't too worried.
In cases like this, just prioritize the priests.
With overwhelming numbers on his side, Mu-hyuk freely closed in on them.
Wind Step.
Followed by Power Dash.
Boom!
Slipping into the priest group in a flash, Mu-hyuk massacred the low-HP healers.
"Damn...!"
"You bastards!"
Top rankers without priests weren't that scary.
After wiping them out,
he finished off the last one: Taiken.
Victory.
Once again, Mu-hyuk claimed the throne.
*
The moment defeat hit, Taiken closed his eyes.
"Haa..."
Letting out a sigh, he opened them to see the hologram.
You have returned to your original location.
The throne has been seized.
The war between Second Guild and Paradox Guild ends.
Paradox Guild has lost.
You receive a penalty for defeat (all stats -10%). Lasts 2 weeks.
Penalties have stacked.
Checking funds based on guild members' levels.
30% of funds transferred to Second Guild.
The second defeat.
Some members had quit, and with stats down 10%, their overall power had plummeted.
He'd tried raising mercenary fees to attract more, but strangely, they showed even less interest than after the first war.
Because of that, they'd lost the second war pathetically. This defeat would shrink Paradox further.
How did I build it up like this...!
He couldn't let it end like this.
He'd apply for another guild war.
Mercenaries were no use.
Members were in disarray.
No choice.
Time to ask the count.
"I'll head to the count for a bit."
At his words, the slumped guild members looked up.
"Ah...!"
"You're asking the count?"
"Yeah, can't stay like this."
"Ooh...!"
"Great thinking!"
Their eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope.
"About 30 minutes. Wait here."
"Yes!"
Taiken headed to the Hemil Empire and entered the castle.
He met the count he'd known and requested aid, but the man looked troubled.
"Hmm, I'm under pressure from Duke Amur right now."
"You mean...?"
"Hard to help."
"No way...!"
"Handle this yourself. That's what being allies means, right?"
Taiken ground his teeth.
Crunch.
His fist clenched involuntarily.
He wanted to kill the count right there, but that would make him a Hemil Empire criminal, doomed to flee forever.
You dog bastard.
Taiken stood and left the office without a bow.
"Tch, rude punk."
He ignored the count's mutter.
Haa...
But telling the guild members hurt more.
He steeled his expression and returned.
"You're back!"
"Guild master, the result...?"
He fell silent amid the questions.
The room quieted.
"Hard to get help."
Disappointment crashed over them.
"N-No...!"
Despair after faint hope cuts deeper. Knowing this, Taiken shut his mouth tight.
No words could fill that void now.
He sensed it instinctively. Third war, fourth—they'd lose them all.
"Guild master, maybe disband the guild...?"
"I won't allow that."
"..."
"Quit if you want. I won't stop you."
But he'd never forget quitters' faces.
Paradox Guild's motto: Return blows a thousandfold.
Taiken started it.
*
Illusion TV revealed Mu-hyuk had formed Second Guild and warred with Paradox.
The devs had already spotted the issue.
But fixing the system required time.
In the meantime, Mu-hyuk formed a third guild and warred with Paradox again.
Overwhelming victory.
He established a fourth guild and fought another guild war.
He crushed Paradox mercilessly.
Regardless of the controversy, the battles continued.
The fifth.
When they lost even that one,
"I'll disband the guild."
Taiken finally spoke.
He couldn't endure anymore.
Penalties had stacked five times, stats down 10% each.
Hunting stalled, growth halted.
Guild war focus built stress, fraying nerves.
And above all...
Few members remained.
"Good work, everyone."
"Guild master...!"
"This is really the end?!"
"We gotta get revenge!"
"Fuck, why'd I stick around this long!"
Their cries stabbed his heart.
Taiken paused in silence.
He memorized the remaining members' faces.
Yeah, no mistake.
Defeated by Mu-hyuk, leading to disbandment—but no regret on Taiken's face.
He'd armored with grit to survive, crushed foes to avoid contempt.
Stepping on others to rise higher—same in reality or Illusion.
Knowing that, he'd played more ruthlessly, coldly.
And got crushed by someone stronger.
That was it.
Just that, like everyone else.
Because he lacked power.
Because he was weaker.
Only natural.
Taiken accepted it.
Get stronger myself.
For now, small group hunting only.
"Shut your mouths, you punks."
"Guild master...?"
"I'll move with a small crew."
"Ah...!"
"Hunt like mad."
When strong enough later, he'd reemerge.
"Follow if you can endure."
Then, no defeats.