Chapter 244
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: Template Counterplay
Vik hurriedly pulled away, but the drill's rotation struck paydirt.
-Wha, what...!
But Toolbo gave Vik no time to panic.
Even a minor wound, the impact that pierced its shell dealt damage to Vik and created a clear opening.
Seong-un was well aware that Hegemonia used pre-made creations known among Lost World players as "templates."
In truth, templates were always excellent.
Lost World players claimed that most templates featured the ultimate destroyer, the ultimate annihilator, the ultimate parasite, and the like, and Seong-un agreed.
Just looking at the current situation, he was confident that Hegemonia outperformed Manseonjeon in the capabilities of average creations.
This was only natural, as templates weren't simply system-provided. They were the most popular top-tier creations among those crafted by countless players using the "Creation Helper" asset, and especially those proven over time to have the highest versatility.
Creations with inferior performance were discarded by players in pursuit of victory, selected only the exceptional ones.
Of course, rankings shifted slightly with the game's meta, but Hegemonia always chose the optimal template for each situation.
There were no flaws in Hegemonia's play.
'That's precisely why.'
Seong-un thought that Hegemonia would fly into a rage if she heard that.
For some reason, he could almost hear her voice.
'She'd definitely call it nonsense.'
But it wasn't entirely off-base.
There were plenty of players who performed similarly to Seong-un, if a bit less skillfully.
Counterplay.
Since the opponent always made the optimal choice, countermeasures were naturally possible. Even the ultimate creations had counters.
Tough shells could be irreparably damaged once breached, speed came at the cost of inflexible turning, and countless tentacles meant each one lacked individual strength.
Biological entities always had physical limits, and perfection didn't exist in the physical world.
Seong-un could immediately picture the template creature Hegemonia would deploy next.
He could counter by creating something similar, but there was a better way. Among Manseonjeon's apostles was one with creation-like abilities, almost like a player.
When Seong-un mentioned the incoming threat, the madman Toolbo came up with an idea on the spot.
Seong-un was more than satisfied; it was not only functional but cool as well.
"Hup!"
Toolbo yanked two levers in the cockpit with all his might.
The walking mech's massive right hand clamped down on Vik's tentacles.
Though they were slick by nature, they couldn't escape the friction of the palm coated in DuDuBa rubber.
Vik sensed its impending doom.
-Th-this can't be...!
"...happening! Take a punch from Big Boy No. 1!"
The left arm's drill spun furiously once more, embedding itself into Vik's shell.
Foam and shattered shell fragments swirled in the vortex created by the drill.
'Is it over?'
Seong-un acknowledged Hegemonia's play.
Hegemonia always made the relatively correct moves. For higher win rates, she stuck to proven methods. Purely by probability, her win rate should be higher.
But the game's meta—trending tactics and builds—changed daily.
While one player sought the highest-probability option within an established strategy, another hunted for its counter.
Of course, Seong-un agreed that counterplay was mere idealism.
In truth, for every meta follower, there were those crafting opposing strategies, wildcards, absurd builds.
And all but one counterplay got devoured by the meta.
'Ignoring the meta is foolishness.'
Hegemonia seemed to perfectly replicate the meta among such players.
Quick situational awareness and judgment, masterful multitasking, undefeated in small-scale tactics.
If everyone used the same strategy, Hegemonia could crush them with skill alone.
Honestly, Seong-un thought even he would be at a disadvantage fighting her the same way.
Yet, precisely because of that, Seong-un believed seeking independent counterplay held meaning.
Countless players ignored the meta for unique plays, but it was those deviant strategies that shifted the meta and stole victories from top meta slaves.
Seong-un gladly embraced the foolishness, sacrificing potentially higher win rates like other innovators.
But Seong-un differed from others.
He could refine unfinished strategies to completion, and even with lowered win rates, he remained number one.
Screw propellers erupted from the back of Toolbo's walking mech, launching it above the water's surface.
Toolbo then leaped onto the deck of the wooden transport ship that Vik had briefly shielded.
-Boom!
As their guardian vanished and a new colossal walking mech appeared, the Union Kingdom marines on deck fell silent.
"...Enemy! Fire!"
A hail of bullets rained down.
Big Boy No. 1 swept the deck once with its spinning drill, but as the gunfire intensified, Toolbo hesitated, shielding the cockpit.
Union Kingdom army troops waiting inside the transport ship swarmed out haphazardly.
"This drill has its limits..."
At that moment, a flash pierced the clouds overhead.
Toolbo's eyes gleamed as he locked onto it.
"Got it!"
Something enormous and metallic plummeted onto the wooden transport ship.
-Thud!
So heavy was it that the massive vessel rocked violently, sending Union Kingdom soldiers at the railings tumbling overboard.
Seizing the lull in gunfire, Toolbo scooped up the fallen metal hunk with the walking mech and hoisted it high.
It was a sword.
A colossal sword matching the walking mech's nearly 10-meter height.
"Time to show why this guy's called 'Big Boy'!"
Toolbo slammed down with Big Boy No. 1's right arm onto the deck.
─┼
Rasdasil Coast.
Fortunately, the Union Kingdom's capital had been sacrificed, destroying the most threatening coastal fortress.
Yet that didn't mean the landing forces were safe.
Naval gunfire battles between the two nations raged on, and distant Empire trench lines continued relentless bombardment.
Luckily, distance thinned the barrage, but it wasn't something to dawdle through idly.
Moreover, whirlwinds rampaged ceaselessly along the southern coast where the Sky Fortress had crashed.
'Ankarde must be down there.'
The Sixth Apostle of the Wrathful One, Goblin Bwunda, scowled toward the Sky Fortress before spotting transport ships on the confirmed-safe horizon suddenly sinking.
'What a mess.'
Bwunda shook his head to refocus, shoving the backs of soldiers who only reached his chest and urging them on.
"What are you waiting for? Run! Stay here and you're dead!"
As if understanding—or perhaps because one of Manseonjeon's gods dropped a shell aimed at Bwunda specifically—
"Down!"
Bwunda's eyes widened as he swung his six-tailed bat toward an empty area with all his might.
-Clang!
The shell struck by Bwunda's bat detonated in midair after flying a dozen meters, its fuse jarred by the impact.
Seeing this, Bwunda laughed heartily.
"If you're alive, charge!"
The landing force's goal was the western hills below, terrain that could somewhat block curved artillery fire.
No time for reorganization—just catch a breath, then advance with incoming walking mechs and tanks, each unit straight into the Empire's trench lines.
'But holding this many troops intact already...'
Bwunda thought that, then dismissed it as needless worry.
The war was waged by the Wrathful One.
He needed only to embody that wrath itself.
In Lost World, Goblins were treated as a troll variant like Rakshasas.
Such races shared traits: large builds, immense strength, somewhat brutish faces.
Like trolls' ferocity or Rakshasas' cruelty, Goblins had their own temperament.
Goblins felt little fear or anxiety.
They seemed emotionally uncontrolled and laughed often.
Hegemonia liked Goblins for this.
Thanks to it, they were among races that fought to the end in wars. Less outright savagery, more emotional numbness.
And Bwunda was exceptionally odd even among Goblins. Rather than mere low fear, he derived pleasure from such chaos, diving headfirst into situations others avoided.
Of course, such individuals existed subtly, nothing surprising.
But Bwunda always emerged unscathed.
If Seong-un used Toolbo to shatter or flip the board, Hegemonia's wildcard generator was Bwunda.
Then it happened.
A massive explosion rang in Bwunda's ears.
-Boom...!
Black smoke billowed from the western hills where the Union Kingdom landing forces had rushed, accompanied by blasts.
Chunks of black soil, rocks, and what were once soldiers pelted Bwunda's body and fell away.
"...What!"
As the entire Union Kingdom force faltered, Bwunda triple-jumped across the sky.
After soaring dozens of meters, he slithered low to the blast site and spotted a fleeing soldier.
Bwunda grabbed the soldier by the collar and hoisted him up.
"What happened?"
"A-ambush!"
"Hmph!"
Bwunda dropped the soldier and plunged into the still-smoking area.
Scaling a small hill, he spotted a line of Empire soldiers hiding behind rock piles.
They looked stunned by the sudden appearance of the Wrathful One's apostle.
"You're the special forces!"
Their uniforms made it obvious.
Like the Union Kingdom, the Empire maintained elite special operations units distinct from regulars for infiltration and special missions.
These trained Empire troops scattered upon seeing Bwunda.
"No use!"
Bwunda swung his bat, intent on smashing heads one by one.
But a sudden bullet aimed at his eyes forced him to flinch and block with one hand.
A voice rang out in that instant.
"I'll hold this one! Hurry the operation!"
Bwunda opened his eyes and recognized the silhouette.
"Hmph, the old fox, eh."
Manseonjeon's Sixth Apostle, Special Forces Obin Mabru, aimed his rifle and said,
"Long time no see, big guy."