The First Day's Reckoning
The first day of the promotion match has concluded.
Compiling the performances of each faction and player.
Korea – Attack +40%, Defense +30%, Speed +30% (Total 10 stacks)
Buildings destroyed: None
China – Attack +10%, Defense +20%, Speed +10% (Total 5 stacks)
Buildings destroyed: None
Laos – Attack +10%, Defense +10%, Speed +10% (Total 3 stacks)
Buildings destroyed: None
Kill Count
1st: Yu Jinho – 132
2nd: Lee Jiyoung – 37
3rd: Ping Lei – 24
……
Players would be redeployed to the battlefield after one hour.
Other participants had racked up respectable kill counts by felling the respawning enemies, yet none came close to Yu Jinho's overwhelming dominance.
“That is precisely why we must form an alliance.”
Ping Lei approached the Laos faction's lines stripped of all armaments, clad only in his bare flesh.
His sole objective was the Korean team.
More precisely, to hunt Yu Jinho.
“How can we trust those words?”
“At the very least, we are capable of holding a conversation, are we not?”
Ping Lei wore a cynical smile. The Laos representative frowned at the sight.
“Is that man truly Unranked?”
Yu Jinho had been overwhelmingly powerful—strong enough to face both the Chinese and Laotian players simultaneously and return unscathed.
Ping Lei inclined his waist slightly, leaning forward.
“If things continue like this, Laos is guaranteed to finish third, correct?”
“Regrettably, I cannot refute that statement.”
The Laotian players were the weakest of the three nations. If China poured everything into securing second place, Laos would be the first to be eliminated.
“I wish to defeat Yu Jinho. That is why I am making this proposal.”
Ping Lei ground his teeth. The humiliating defeat at the start of the promotion match! The constellations that had once watched over him now regarded him with cold derision.
That was not all. He himself had personally suggested this promotion match to Zhang Wufei, the great figure of the Nine Dragons Syndicate. If he failed to defeat Yu Jinho, he would have to return everything he had received as investment. Moreover, the value of irrecoverable items such as elixirs and skills might have to be repaid through a lifetime of slavery under the Nine Dragons Syndicate.
‘I cannot accept such a future!’
Ping Lei ground his teeth once more. After receiving the supreme unique ability called Clone, he had walked the path of the Royal Road. He could not stop here.
“It seems we have no other choice.”
The Laos representative forced a bitter smile. He soon extended his hand toward Ping Lei.
The two clasped hands.
* * *
The sun rose over the horizon.
Minions produced from the barracks advanced along the path toward the canyon.
We headed for the canyon connected to China.
“Will the nests no longer spawn?”
“I’ve already claimed all the essences. We need to head to the main front to raise our kill count.”
The only way to increase contribution points in the promotion match was by killing opposing players. We had boldly racked up kills on the first day, but the same trick would not work twice if our enemies were not fools.
“At times like this, the standard approach is best.”
A standard approach, you say? How strange it sounds coming from you, my partner.
“Why is that?”
Occasionally, you should reflect upon yourself.
I shot a sidelong glare at the chiding Nyx and joined the procession of minions.
“Will you be participating in the lane battle today?”
A man approached and addressed me. He seemed familiar……
Who was he again?
“Baran Guild. I was selected as their representative for this promotion match.”
Lee Jiyoung whispered quietly into my ear.
After regressing, I no longer bothered remembering anyone except those who would make names for themselves in the future.
I nodded my thanks to Jiyoung and replied nonchalantly.
“You were the representative for the promotion match, correct?”
“Haha, it is an honor that you recognize me, Player Yu Jinho.”
“Today, we intend to target the Chinese line.”
“In that case, would it be acceptable to reduce the number of players deployed to the Chinese line and focus on Laos instead?”
“You seem to trust me quite a bit.”
“If not Player Yu Jinho, who else could wreak havoc upon the Chinese faction and return unscathed?”
The Korean team representative wore an untroubled smile.
“Thanks to you, this promotion match has been far too comfortable for us.”
“Well, do as you please.”
“Thank you for accommodating our request.”
The Korean team representative withdrew most of the players heading toward the Chinese canyon and redirected them toward Laos.
Only about ten remained on this side.
“You are quite bold to trust me and make such a decisive move.”
“Master, what do you mean?”
“Think about it. Even if I performed well, pulling away most of our forces to Laos……”
Lee Jiyoung let out a sigh at my words. She looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
“Master, sometimes you fail to properly recognize your own standing.”
“What?”
“You broke the highest record in Unranked and have been freely rampaging across this battlefield.”
“That is because I am exceptional.”
“Do you believe those people would fail to recognize your greatness?”
My standards were always calibrated to my previous life. Thus, while I considered my current achievements remarkable, I also felt there was still a long way to go.
“Jiyoung, leave out the ‘greatness’ part.”
“But it is the truth!”
Jiyoung cried out in excitement. I groaned inwardly. The Lee Jiyoung from before my regression had not been like this. She had viewed everything with cold eyes and never displayed emotional fluctuations. There was a reason she had been called the Wall of Lamentation.
How many times had I felt estranged by Jiyoung’s lively demeanor after regressing?
Her reverence is truly remarkable.
“She might simply be well-mannered.”
Judging by how she treats me, that does not seem to be the case.
Jiyoung, who had been walking behind us, quickened her pace.
“Summoned being over there, you are not badmouthing me, are you?”
……she said, glaring at Nyx with narrowed eyes.
Look at that insolent creature. Her gaze toward you and toward me is clearly different!
“Goddess, please show a little leniency with your broad heart.”
Hmph. Recognize that the only mortal equal to me is you.
Nyx deliberately turned her head away in a sulky manner.
Good grief. Why were these two acting like children?
Upon entering the canyon, the Chinese minions came into view. Their physiques appeared smaller than those of our allies. With more than twice the accumulated buffs, the difference was evident even in their size.
However……
“There are fewer of them on China’s side.”
Is there a problem?
“They would not have the luxury to withdraw their main forces after suffering such a harsh defeat.”
Heavenly Eye
I fused the Eagle Eye and Observation Eye to create this demonic eye. It rapidly scanned the levels of individual Chinese players through mana waves.
Their levels hovered around average at best.
In other words, the players deployed to this canyon were not their main forces.
After being thoroughly beaten on the first day, they had redeployed their main forces elsewhere?
“They plan to crush Laos first and secure at least second place.”
Strategically, it is a sound decision.
“That will not do.”
I shook my head. My goal in this promotion match was not merely to take first place. It was to crush the budding talent of Ping Lei, who would grow into China’s great evil. I had no intention of allowing him to gain recognition.
Yet he intended to profit by avoiding me?
“Jiyoung. You need to head to the Laotian front.”
“Will it be all right to leave this canyon empty?”
“China’s main forces will be over there.”
With Jiyoung’s skill, she might not be able to subdue Ping Lei, but she could certainly hold him back. Most of Korea’s forces, excluding myself, were also concentrated toward Laos. China’s plan would not succeed.
“Master, please do not overexert yourself.”
“What is there to overexert?”
Only the dregs of China’s forces remained. I alone was sufficient.
After confirming that Jiyoung had left the canyon, I stepped forward. The minions clad in red cloaks immediately assumed combat stances upon my approach.
Melee minions armed with axes and shields.
Mage minions wielding crystal staves from the rear.
Thirty in total.
“……”
“……”
The minions attacked in silence, without so much as a single battle cry. They were living magical weapons forged within the castle—literally soulless beings that moved along the designated lines according to orders.
Originally, they were not targets for Devour. However, since I had changed classes to Predator, it was worth attempting.
Before that……
Skull Hand
Mud Trap
The two spells activated with a slight time difference. Their deployment location was behind us—precisely in the direction where our allies’ minions were advancing.
“Player Yu Jinho, what is the meaning of this?”
“Stay still. I am managing the minions’ stamina.”
The blue-robed minions floundered, trapped in the swamp. To make matters worse, they were immobilized by bones sprouting from the mire. If both sides’ minions clashed, our side would suffer casualties as well.
“If we want to punch a hole in China’s flank, we need to preserve our stamina.”
Only minions could damage the first fortress or castle walls. Preserving our minions was essential to inflict maximum damage on China.
Therefore……
“I will handle those guys myself.”
Inferno
To maintain the skill, mana must be continuously consumed.
Whoosh!
Flames bloomed from my right hand and spread in a fan shape. The fire painted a five-meter radius orange.
Inferno, extracted from the essence of an imp.
Inferno
Grade: ★
Classification: Active
Emits flames forward. Injecting mana extends the skill’s duration.
Consumes a small amount of mana.
It was a channeling skill, like Earth Spike, maintained by continuously supplying mana. Though technically an area-of-effect spell, it was generally shunned by fire-attribute mages. A five-meter range from the caster. Any mage weak in close combat who allowed an enemy within that distance was in 100% danger.
I was the exception.
The red-robed minions willingly entered the range of Inferno and collapsed to the ground. Nearly half of them evaporated in an instant.
“That bread-eating bastard is using sorcery!”
“If it were not sorcery, why would the minions be falling?”
The Chinese players finally began to move, a step too late.
“Are you not tired of that ‘sorcery’ nonsense?”
Whether in my past life or now, the Chinese were consistently unpleasant. I severed the mana supply to Inferno and prepared my counterattack. With a fierce charge, I closed the distance in a single step.
Fierce Tiger Blood Claw
I swung my greed-enhanced, razor-sharp claws diagonally.
Swish!
Metal swords were severed. Sturdy armor was torn apart like paper. Droplets of blood bloomed like beads of sweat—all from the bodies of the Chinese players.
“I will finish this quickly and clean up.”
Ping Lei, whatever schemes you may have, they will be of no use.