For Victory

The buildings were sparse, but the expanse of land was vast. Despite the considerable number of users gathered, it somehow felt serene and spacious.

"Ho, not bad."

"Feels good."

Stepping off the gate, Mu-hyuk scanned the surroundings.

Most people were heading in one direction.

"That way, maybe?"

"Let's check it out."

A short while later, as they headed upward.

Signs like that were planted everywhere.

"That's pretty far."

"Eh, 300 meters is nothing."

Still, with so many people, progress was slow. They chatted idly as they strolled leisurely.

"Gotta be a lot of skilled players here, right?"

"Probably."

"Hey, oppa, you're gonna use that dagger, yeah?"

"The one that boosts stats?"

"Yeah."

"It's been nerfed, but I'll use it."

That was the whole ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reason for joining the mercenaries.

"Whoa, I'm so jealous!"

"But its attack power is low, so I wonder if it'll be okay."

"Oh, right, that's a problem."

"Of course, if you can get it to +8 enhancement, it'd be fine."

"Whoa, think it'll work?"

"Gotta try."

The primary goal was to enhance the dagger first. He planned to push it to +8 as quickly as possible, then take his time with armor enhancements later.

"Hey, oppa."

"Yeah?"

"You know those inter-continent warp gates."

"Yeah."

"What happens if they try to use them to move over?"

"Huh? No idea."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Mu-hyuk's curiosity was piqued too.

He'd have to look it up.

"Hold on."

He opened the settings and accessed the Illusion homepage.

A quick search yielded results.

"Found it."

"Already?"

"Yeah, some user just tried using a warp gate and got a message saying it's unavailable due to the war."

"Ah, gotcha."

"No invasions via gates, then."

"Nope."

To cross continents, they'd probably have to come by sea.

With few NPCs skilled in naval combat, he figured most fighting would happen on land.

A moment later.

They arrived at the destination to find a makeshift, rickety platform.

"No one's here?"

"Should we wait?"

"Hmm."

The surrounding users were milling about uncertainly too. Mu-hyuk calmed his companions, deciding to wait it out.

"I'll do some enhancing meanwhile."

"Okay!"

"You got this!"

With their cheers, he set down the White Horse Army's Red Dagger.

Artisan's Enhancement.

Blue and red dots floated up.

Hoo!

After a brief hesitation, he focused on the blue dots and swung the hammer down.

Clang, claaang!

He'd chosen options over raw attack power.

With the final hammer strike.

The dagger went from +6 to +7.

Item info.

He was dying to see how it had changed.

Mu-hyuk's pupils dilated.

"Holy shit..."

The curse slipped out involuntarily.

"Huh? Oppa?"

"Huh?"

"You swore out of nowhere. Did it fail?"

"No, no."

Mu-hyuk shook his head.

"It's good?"

"Yeah, it's good."

Just shockingly so.

Reaction speed. All stats.

Those boosts he'd expected.

But the Plundering Hand special option getting buffed too? From 0.01/0.05/0.1 to this—a 20% increase. Unbelievable.

He'd planned to hold off on +9...

But this felt like the heavens urging him onward.

No choice.

He opened the auction house and bought the needed enhancement materials in advance.

His gold vanished at an alarming rate.

Ugh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my money...!

Already over ten million won spent.

Spending happens in a flash.

Feeling the eternal truth, he activated the skill again.

Artisan's Enhancement.

Consumed materials, picked up the hammer.

Claaang!

Focused on the blue dot again.

Mu-hyuk's complexion wasn't great.

"Dude, you okay for real?"

"Yeah..."

"How many fails?"

"Twelve."

"Damn, what's it at now?"

"+7."

At least not back to +6.

"Money spent...?"

"Eight grand."

"Not eight thousand won, right...?"

Mu-hyuk stared blankly into space for a moment.

Then snapped to.

No time for this...!

He bought more materials and kept enhancing.

Luckily hit +8.

But then... it started slipping.

Can't stop now.

After sinking this much into materials? No way.

Point of no return.

He vowed to push until success.

Fine, let's see who wins.

Grinding his teeth, he consumed more materials.

"Hoo!"

Slamming the hammer with fury and desperation.

As the enhancement hit 100%, Mu-hyuk closed his eyes.

Doran, Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, Kang Ji-yeon.

All four prayed for success, eyes fixed on the dagger. The faint glow began to fade. Absorbed into the dagger: success. Scattered like dust: failure.

"O, oppa..."

Ye-rin's voice, checking the result.

The rest trailed off faintly.

Ah, failed again?

His gut twisted.

"Oppa!"

"Sigh, failed?"

He opened his eyes to see Ye-rin smiling.

"No, success!"

"R-real?"

Mu-hyuk lifted the dagger.

"Ah..."

Truly +9.

Damn, my money.

The spent gold flashed in his mind, twisting his gut again, but he gave thanks for the +9 and checked the options.

Total physical attack: 463.

Reaction speed +10%.

All stats +15.

And.

The special option buffed too.

Perfect satisfaction.

Soon after, a middle-aged knight ascended the platform. Users' eyes naturally turned to him.

"I am Carpe, elite knight of the Hemil Empire."

"..."

No cheers from the users.

"We'll first accept mercenary applications. You've come here to enlist, but if anyone's changed their mind, please step to the left."

No one moved.

"Then all are participating. Line up properly to receive your plaques."

Users didn't dawdle.

They formed neat lines.

"Soldier."

"Yes!"

"Distribute the battle plaques."

"Understood!"

Several soldiers handed plaques to the users.

Mu-hyuk received one too.

While some still awaited theirs, a young knight galloped in from afar.

He mounted the platform and whispered to the middle-aged knight. The knight's face hardened instantly, turning forward sharply.

"Many outskirts have already fallen. The northern sector has taken the heaviest losses. Kaion Continent mercenaries and soldiers are pushing south even now. A nearby small city has been occupied—not by many, so those with plaques, head out first."

A hologram popped up then.

He checked the details right away.

Users' faces lit up with excitement and anticipation.

"Nice, gonna be fun."

"Large-scale war? Obviously. We can just slaughter Kaion users, right?"

"Yep!"

"They drop items?"

"Nah, not PvP."

"Bummer."

"Contribution still rises though."

"Sweet. Time to show off and get famous."

"Do it."

"This time for real."

"Yeah, yeah."

Ignoring the chatter, Carpe bellowed.

"Focus!"

Users fell silent.

"The young knight will guide you. Move out!"

The young knight turned.

"Departing!"

Shouting, he spurred his horse.

"Wha—what?"

"Chase him!"

"Someone summon a warhorse!"

"Me too!"

"Please!"

Some Gangster Necromancers summoned skeleton warhorses, ferrying users.

"Thanks!"

Thus, all with plaques could follow the knight.

Swipe.

The knight glanced back once.

Seeing users keeping up, his eyes gleamed.

"Speeding up!"

Nearly full gallop.

Pabababat.

Kicking up dust toward the occupied small city.

The destination came into view afar.

"Everyone there is an outsider."

"Outsider?"

"Yes, like you all. They occupied and pushed south. Handle them first—possible?"

All nodded at the knight's question.

"Of course."

"Look at our numbers."

"Then, if you would."

"No worries."

Users charged.

"Alright, let's kill!"

"Bastards, invading our turf!"

"Beat 'em!"

"Woooo!"

Drunk on fervor, they stormed the small city.

"Let's follow."

"Okay."

Mu-hyuk and his group hung back. Unsure of the situation, no need to lead.

Survival first—assess safely.

Boom, kwarung!

Suddenly, explosions rocked the city interior.

"Gasp...!"

Fighting had already broken out.