Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Pure Revolution
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In this case, it leaned more toward egalitarianism, favored interference play that shook things up from the inside over direct combat, and with preparations already in place, Choi Seong-un's Pantheon seized the moment without hesitation and launched an attack through revolution.
There were various responses available to the defending side in situations like this.
The first was 'no response,' which could be considered a common method.
If they simply let the revolution happen, a modern social structure would take hold, but the problem was the significant internal turmoil that came with the process.
It went beyond just changing the system—if relations soured between hostile races leading to interspecies crimes on a racial scale, or ethnic nationalism spread rampant, or an uncontrollable new government emerged, or the nation splintered into even more fragments, that spelled trouble.
Choi Seong-un knew Hegemonia's United Kingdom wouldn't opt for no response.
'They know I'd exploit even the slightest opening. Besides, Hegemonia hasn't chosen no response much in their playstyle so far.'
In Seong-un's personal view, it was because Hegemonia hated to lose.
No response was a strategy, but doing absolutely nothing against an opponent's attack just felt like defeat.
As Seong-un predicted, Hegemonia employed a revolution countermeasures strategy.
Not only swiftly rooting out the core revolutionaries but also ferreting out anyone who might show interest, solidifying class consciousness even further, and ruthlessly purging revolutionary elements while bracing for a drop in production.
All effective strategies, with proven win rates.
Revolutions often triggered what was commonly called a 'paradigm shift.' If successful, the attacker claimed the new paradigm, effectively living in a post-revolution world where nations already leaning toward egalitarianism gained the advantage.
Conversely, failure led to a backlash where forces like monarchists or ethnic nationalists seized the paradigm, putting them at an advantage.
Though it was give-and-take, the revolution instigators didn't always hold the edge, so players flexibly chose based on their style, methods, and the in-game situation.
However, Seong-un boasted higher win rates in the late game compared to early Lost World playtime.
While average players floundered amid countless variables, Seong-un maintained stable operations, maximizing every piece at his disposal.
Moreover, with real-time play and an unusual alliance in this round, he could execute those details even better.
'I'm confident in the revolution strategy.'
Strategies in the game spread like wildfire once discovered, but this revolution-related one was relatively recent—uncovered around the last month of playing Lost World on Earth—and even top rankers hadn't fully grasped what Seong-un was doing.
It wouldn't be strange if Hegemonia lacked a counter.
Seong-un said,
"That's the strategy."
"...What do you mean, that's the strategy?"
Leaning back in his chair, Seong-un replied,
"Just as there's a no-response strategy that ignores a revolution, the revolution side can also go no-response."
"Like leaving the protesters alone?"
"Exactly."
Eldar pursed his lips into a thin line, deep in thought.
"But won't Hegemonia's apostle crush those protesters any moment now? They're mobilizing the army instead of wasting faith resources right away, but even if the protesters survive by luck, I doubt Hegemonia would hold back then."
Seong-un smiled.
"That would be perfect."
"...Perfect?"
Seong-un said,
"Don't worry. Hegemonia absolutely won't lay a hand on those revolutionaries. Sure, they'll agonize over it plenty, but in the end, they won't."
It played out exactly as Seong-un said.
Hegemonia had her status window open, deliberating whether to summon her apostle or not.
'What should I do?'
She was already striking at revolutionaries in other regions under imperial influence.
The only issue was the other Pantheon players defending them fiercely.
But she couldn't touch the revolutionary protesters right in front of her.
'If I intervene here...'
Hegemonia thought.
'...it would mean denying a pure revolution in the name of divine will.'
In Lost World, revolutions always bore the fingerprints of players.
Almost without exception.
Of course, massive revolutions could spawn minor ones in their wake, some growing naturally without player meddling.
But if a defending player tried to quash a revolution, the attacking player would swiftly intervene—with miracles, protective creations, and eventually apostles.
Thus, most revolutions were 'impure' to the defender.
Fortunately, impure revolutions gave defenders solid logic to counter.
They could indoctrinate their subjects to view 'revolution' itself negatively, branding all dreamers as corrupted.
Once that clean schism was done, it became a contest of player prowess—and Hegemonia usually won.
'But a pure revolution is different.'
One that went untouched had ballooned to a considerable size.
At this point, attackers typically revealed themselves as the revolution's backers.
But neither Seong-un nor the other Pantheon players had touched it.
Meaning these were genuine pure revolutionaries.
'I can't smash them with my own power. If I do...'
Hegemonia furrowed her brow beneath her horned helmet.
'...the survivors among these pure revolutionaries will become apostates.'
Not revolutions tainted by other gods, but if even pure mortal ones were blocked, the dreamers would lose faith in the Wrathful One.
Of course, Hegemonia believed she could handle it.
She thought she could eliminate both pure and impure revolutionaries cleanly.
But these revolts had unpredictable timelines and were hard to control fully.
If revolutionary seeds sprouted somewhere, they posed a risk.
And if all those revolutionaries turned apostate, it would be disastrous.
'No response would just change the system, not their faith. It'd favor Nebula's board position, but the game wouldn't end.'
Hegemonia slowly clenched and unclenched her right hand.
Her gauntlet clanked.
'But if pure revolutionaries survive by any chance, I'm done for.'
Moreover, her own priest was among those revolutionaries.
Unlike those led by already-apostate Pantheon players, culling her own faithful believers directly came with penalties—a bad choice.
'If only I'd spotted it sooner... or if they were smaller... why now...'
Hegemonia thought it might be her lucky break.
She'd nearly crushed them out of inertia otherwise.
'Right, there's still a chance.'
Hegemonia closed the apostle summon window.
'If I just keep my hands off, it'll end itself.'
Hegemonia gazed at the army marching toward the city.
Once Seong-un finished explaining, Eldar nodded.
"It all makes sense, but... there's a problem here."
"Problem?"
"It's fortunate Hegemonia isn't intervening personally, but Lost World progresses on its own even without interference... If we don't stop that army, it looks dangerous."
Seong-un nodded.
"It will be dangerous. We could end right here."
"What are you counting on, then?"
Seong-un said,
"But modernity is dawning, isn't it? The scale of violence an individual can wield is starting to balance out."
Sarcho said,
"You prepared all this?"
"There are plenty of retired soldiers among the factory workers. With guns around, I figured they could use them anytime. Hoped we wouldn't need to, though."
What Dain had prepared was a list of firearms stockpiled in the city—planned without telling Sarcho.
Not just a list, but with exact locations. Once the 'second method' was set, Dain swiftly divided the protesters into strike teams.
Targeting security forces, armories, and shops selling hunting or self-defense guns.
Some handed over weapons willingly, but most didn't—the protesters used numbers and pre-planned tactics to seize them forcibly.
In the process, city guards were disarmed or fled beyond the walls.
And they captured the mayor, councilors, influential nobles, and capitalists in the city.
Dain, awkward at first in command, exuded a unique charisma that drew followers, bolstered by weeks of preparation, making her seem a capable leader.
Sarcho said,
"But we don't have enough guns. Even fighting from the walls, they're trained soldiers—we're just some ex-military. Will it be okay?"
Dain replied,
"Of course we can't fight with guns alone, comrade."
"Then?"
"I said earlier we'd be remembered forever in death, but we've come this far—we can't afford defeat. We're not leaving embers; we're becoming the wildfire that engulfs the world."
Dain thumped Sarcho's chest with her only hand.
"Get it? Our comrades held no iron, yet this nation slaughtered them all. That wasn't enough, sure. But if we lose again, we can't assume they'll make the same mistake."
Sarcho nodded slowly.
"I... understand."
"Ready for anything?"
"Yes."
"No, don't answer—think it through."
Dain said,
"Comrade, you're a priest. Even if your god rejects you, can you still fight for us?"
Sarcho closed his eyes briefly and looked up.
No divine voice came.
"I'll fight. But I won't become an apostate."
"..."
Sarcho met Dain's eyes.
"The Wrathful One watches impartially. I believe His will might be with us."
Dain grinned fiercely.
"Good. Maybe. I hope so... truly."
Dain led Sarcho, the revolutionary protesters—now better called the revolutionary army—into motion.