Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: The Sister's Shadow
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'Did he just suppress the Power of Order with sheer force of will?'
Ledin Bial Oser was baffled, but there was nothing to be done about what had already happened.
'At least we've successfully surrounded the bastard.'
A voice came from behind Ledin.
-And the power isn't completely ineffective against him either.
It was Ul, the creation of the two gods.
Ul resembled a serpent and was granting Ledin the abilities he lacked.
For instance, the miracle he called the Power of Order was channeled through Sokseon and Changryu.
From Sokseon came the form of the power, and from Changryu, the faith resource.
'So it is having an effect?'
-Yes. It's still shaking his body even now. He's suppressing the miracle with his own strength for the moment, but once that accumulates, even he won't be able to handle it.
Ledin felt a glimmer of hope.
'The formation is set. For Rakrak to break out, he'll have to take heavy losses.'
Rakrak undoubtedly possessed the overwhelming power to wipe out Ledin and the knight order in one go.
But unleashing such power required a large wind-up or consumed vast amounts of energy.
'And this formation was designed specifically by Lord Sokseon to kill apostles like Rakrak.'
Inside the formation, he would have to fight the knight order nonstop, and breaking out would require exposing a major opening.
Ledin thought to himself.
'From the moment the formation was complete, the battle was already won. Die, Apostle.'
Crampus teleported to Wisdom and Jangwan.
"The situation isn't good. How about your side?"
Wisdom glanced at Jangwan before turning back to Crampus.
"I thought it was fine, but apparently not. You first."
Crampus said,
"The Black Scale Army and Asbestos Army have clashed. Even though the Asbestos Army was pre-positioned, the Black Scale Army's momentum was so overwhelming they couldn't hold them back. Our assumed first defensive line has already been breached."
"What about the Asien Castle walls?"
"Fortunately, the Black Scale Army doesn't seem intent on challenging Asien Castle again. Having already destroyed the south wall, they probably see no need for a siege. They're heading west."
"They're looking for defensively advantageous positions, then. Wasn't there a good spot among the second defensive lines?"
Crampus pulled up the map.
It was densely marked with markers and notes for this battle.
Crampus zoomed in on the southwest sector and nodded.
"Here. Matches the Black Scale Army's direction."
"Can you hold them?"
Crampus gave a wry smile at the question.
"...Honestly, I don't know. Nebula's interference is too severe. Even without their creations, miracles keep pouring in from somewhere—our units get swept by miracles right before charges, and detached squads are spotted in advance... So I thought Nebula was focusing their power on that front and this side would be better off. Was I wrong?"
Wisdom said,
"Partially good."
The spot Wisdom pointed to was where Rakrak, Ledin, and the holy knight order were fighting.
The holy knights' numbers were dwindling one by one, but an actual battle was underway.
While preparing for the Asien Castle battle, Crampus had learned that Wisdom had spent Jangwan's experience on creating an apostle.
Crampus didn't mind the attempt itself.
The issue was how efficient it would be and whether it would yield the intended results.
But to Crampus now, it all looked promising.
"Not bad for something hastily thrown together just to catch Rakrak, right?"
"More than not bad. The goal was just to tie his ankles, but at this rate, we might actually take him down. Assuming my calculations aren't off."
"Really? Then why 'partially' good?"
Jangwan, standing beside them, spoke up.
"Looks like we weren't the only ones thoroughly preparing for this fight."
On the surface, the Asien Castle battle appeared to be solely a showdown between Crampus and Seong-un.
And Crampus had acted as if he intended to use it merely as a diversion for Wisdom and Jangwan's fight, just like in the early alliance war.
True to that intent, only Black Scale had arrived at Asien Castle.
Of course, Black Scale had brought far more massive gunpowder weapons than the three players had anticipated, foiling the plan for Shindanyeon's and Asbestos Army to pour out and encircle them.
Asien Castle had no choice but to endure five days of helpless bombardment.
Wisdom still thought it was manageable.
Though Black Scale's firepower exceeded expectations, the moment the walls fell, the covertly maneuvering Asbestos Army gained their chance to overwhelm them.
Wisdom, Crampus, and Jangwan saw this Asien Castle battle as their shot at a reversal.
"The Ironclad Army has appeared."
"Ironclad Army? They just crossed the border?"
"No. If they'd only crossed the border now, we could clean up Black Scale first. They're right next door in the northeast. Visible to the naked eye soon."
As players' overall divinity levels rose, failures in scouting became more common due to divinity-blocking skills.
The alliance's three players had focused on Black Scale and executed accordingly, missing the Ironclad Army's movements.
"Numbers?"
"40,000."
Changryu had a few priests, but Mangul Army wasn't at Asien Castle. Shindanyeon Army was only 5,000, and Asbestos Army 20,000.
Jangwan said,
"The Ironclad Army is heading for the gap in the walls where Black Scale made the breach. They intend to seize the castle."
Crampus said,
"We're short on defenders. Need to pull the Shindanyeon Army back inside."
"Not sure that's feasible."
Wisdom gestured toward the wall breach.
As Crampus looked puzzled, beyond the walls, Seong-un's creation Slatis and Wisdom's creation Ostrow were battling, splattering blood. The blood spraying from the two behemoths formed small streams flowing downhill.
"In that state, any defenders we send in would be useless. We have to block them from outside somehow."
"...So that's the situation."
Crampus summarized,
"Black Scale Army advances toward defensive positions, projecting firepower with Nebula's aid, while the Ironclad Army hits our lines from outside with overwhelming numbers. The two behemoths and two apostles are locked in combat with unknown outcomes."
Crampus looked at the two players.
"Any ideas?"
Wisdom started some gesture and opened his mouth, but Jangwan spoke first.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
Jangwan said,
"We can't stop Black Scale now because of Nebula's support. No matter their momentum, they can't bulldoze through pre-set defensive lines indefinitely. If we hold them with minimal forces, we can redirect the rest to block the Ironclad Army. Then, if we win even one of the behemoth or apostle fights, the tide turns. We retake Asien Castle, seal the wall breach, and hold out in a siege until Mangul or Asbestos reinforcements arrive."
Crampus nodded.
"Solid plan. Ignoring the fact that it's unrealistic unless Nebula suddenly backs off."
Wisdom said,
"It might be possible."
"What do you mean?"
Jangwan answered.
"I can do it."
Crampus shook his head.
"No, you can't."
Aside from learning about the apostle creation, Crampus had recently discovered something else.
Jangwan and Nebula were actual relatives—cousins.
"You think Nebula will stop just because their cousin shows up?"
"No need to stop the fight entirely. If they just don't issue any commands while I talk, that's enough. That alone tilts the game in our favor. And there's a story I haven't told. About me, Nebula, and Nebula's little sister."
Crampus said,
"Spill it."
Jangwan said,
"Not that shocking, but Nebula was a pro gamer before Lost World. And they had a little sister. The problem was she was very frail—frequent minor illnesses, and even a major one."
"Sorry, but no time for long stories, Jangwan."
Jangwan nodded.
"Don't worry. It's ending here anyway. ...The sister died from illness."
Crampus let out a short "Hm."
"The issue is Nebula was at a pro tournament and couldn't be there for her final moments. One they didn't even need to attend. The sister wanted to see her big sibling at the end, and Nebula knew it. After that, Nebula retired."
Crampus said,
"...Could well be Nebula's trauma. But what does that have to do with you, Jangwan? Sounds like sibling stuff."
For a moment, Jangwan—Choi Seo-yoon—wanted to scream no.
But she held back.
These two didn't need to know.
"I knew Nebula's sister well. Very... close. Knew her looks, speech, tastes—all of it."
"So?"
"That's why we'll do this."
After hearing Jangwan's explanation, Crampus and Wisdom exchanged glances.
Then they agreed to the plan.
While operating, Nebula—Seong-un—turned at the presence.
There was a small figure in a lion mask.
"...Jangwan?"
"Sorry, but my name isn't Jangwan."
Jangwan removed the lion mask.
What appeared was a woman who looked about two years younger than Seong-un, but with similar eyes and ears.
"Oppa, it's me. Your little sister Jiwoo."
Seong-un alternated between his open system window and the woman claiming to be Jiwoo.
Then he stared at her intently.
"...Jiwoo? Choi Jiwoo? How the hell are you here..."
Jiwoo—or so Jangwan claimed—thought it had worked as intended.
No long explanations needed.
She looked exactly like Jiwoo in life.
Lost World, now reality—anything could happen here.
Jiwoo and she resembled each other enough due to blood ties; no major avatar changes required.
Grow hair past shoulders, heighten a bit, tweak nose and jaw—that sufficed.
If anything, a dead sibling appearing was more believable than a cousin showing up.
Jangwan said.
Now it was time to achieve the goal.
"Oppa, can we talk?"
Seong-un hesitated, then bowed his head.
"Uh, what, Jiwoo? Hold on, just a sec? Oppa’s kinda busy."
He began tapping the system screens faster than usual, trying to recover the flow lost in that brief exchange.
Jangwan wanted to scream.
'What kind of bastard is like this?'