Another Whale Joins the Fray (4)
Never thought I'd be the liberal arts guy saying this. Science is supreme. The nonstop messages were proof enough.
A whopping level 350 monster. The destructive power from that charge had to be immense. Literally. Just grazing it would mean instant death for me.
But power like that comes with equal recoil.
Count Ascura's Knight afflicted with Stun.
Count Ascura's Knight afflicted with Stun.
Count Ascura's Knight afflicted with Stun.
...Around then, I recalled the fight with the soldiers.
Back then, I used reversal magic to collapse the wall here.
But in this situation... it didn't seem like a good call. Especially with so many players around.
To block the knights' charge, I'd piled up even bigger, thicker stone walls. The fallout from them crumbling would be massive.
"I don't know what it is, but...! Attack it first!"
"Our chance! Cut off their air for good!!"
Players tangled with the knights. No way for me to pull off advanced tech like collapsing the walls without hitting players.
If I could, I wouldn't have bothered stacking those walls—I'd have just swept them away.
So...
I thought differently. The biggest disadvantage right now was the terrain.
An open battlefield favors cavalry.
Indeed, aside from the direction I'd raised the walls...
Clop-clop-clop—!
"Damn it! It's coming again! Everyone, grit your teeth!!"
Charge, retreat, charge again. The mounted knights were rampaging freely. Players' formations were crumbling fast.
"Their antics are utterly arrogant."
Couldn't just stand by and watch. Right—I'd change the terrain to disadvantage the enemy.
No hesitation. Scan, interfere, manifest. The process was lightning-fast.
Rumble-rumble-rumble—!
Stone pillars erupted from the ground. Soon, pillars dotted the plaza everywhere.
Neigh-neigh-neigh—!
The horses panicked. Their movement restricted.
Not intentional, but some pillars directly hit knights.
Count Ascura's Knight afflicted with Fracture.
Count Ascura's Knight afflicted with Stun.
...I checked my remaining mana.
This is only natural.
Efficiency talk only applies in normal situations. Level 91. Mana at a measly 42 points. With that, I'd flipped the battlefield entirely.
Meaning my mana was about enough for one cup of green tea.
From here, all I could do was use reversal magic to collapse walls and pillars without hitting players.
Not bad, though. Grandfell's pride might disagree, but I never planned to mix it up with those knights anyway.
Well, more precisely, I had... but that thought vanished.
"These bastards have insane toughness? So tenacious."
"Damn. Bleeding's up. Healer, help!"
"These monster fucks. Even off their horses, they're no joke?"
All at least level 300, right? Even top players struggling. Proof of the knights' strength.
Could I tangle with them?
Predator-Prey Relationship effect active...
With Natural Enemy... one-on-one maybe possible.
But this was a battlefield. Foes changing every second. Me, alone without allies.
So not bad. No—pouring all mana into reshaping the terrain? Best call I could make.
Proof in the messages.
Contribution to Count Ascura's Knight kill recognized.
Contribution to Count Ascura's Knight kill recognized.
Contribution to Count Ascura's Knight kill recognized.
Arcana's experience system. Players gain EXP based on kill contribution.
Arcana's decade-plus dominance? Backed by a fair system, as you see.
My contribution? High, for sure. Triggered decisive debuffs on knights. Blunted their momentum visibly.
Proof in more messages.
Every player kill, another line. Proof piling up.
I spectated from this proving ground. Even with mana drained.
Maybe I can copy that too...
Writhing diligently.
...
*
Level 376. Player ranking 6th. Lightning Spear, Hisagi Kazuma, thought.
Where'd that monster pop from?
First, the outfit screamed extraordinary. Unarmed in a rift? Even he couldn't relax in new rifts. Unknown threats lurked.
Especially with demons appearing here.
Mental resistance gear's essential, right...?
Yet no earrings, necklaces, rings.
Flutter—longcoat billowing in wind. Click—confident shoe heels echoing.
As if he needed none. Fearless expression. No tension whatsoever.
Indeed, the man's confidence had solid backing.
"!"
Blocking charges with walls. Not enough—pillars everywhere in the plaza.
Hisagi grasped the intent instantly.
...Neutralizing cavalry mobility.
As aimed, knights' movement hampered. Some debuffed too.
Hisagi still puzzled.
What's his deal?
Class, name, mana pool, even level—unfathomable.
At least he's not Gaon...
If that monster were Gaon...
Horrifying just to imagine.
Key point: he wasn't Gaon. Wouldn't move solo if he was. Gaon's confusion visible too.
Anyway, opportunity.
Hisagi seized it. Class: Spear Magician.
Crackle—!
Lightning coiled his spear. Lightning Spear. True to the moniker, he crossed the field.
"Grrr..."
Barbarian innate skill, Rage. Nam Taemin breathed beast-like under its effect.
Gaon members watching him said,
"Perfect setup for Master to rampage now, huh?"
"Dunno who that is, but should we say thanks?"
"Thanks? Survive first!!"
Gaon's famed players. Levels matching fame.
High levels meant experience. Experience meant sharp eyes.
Indeed, as they said.
Sudden walls and pillars shattered knights' formation. Melee chaos.
In chaos, Nam Taemin unmatched.
Whoosh—!
Pure instinct. One-handed massive greatsword swings. Not enough—climbed pillars, pounced knights.
Nam Cheolmin's voice in his ear.
-Taemin. You can't hear me now, but...
Couldn't help it. Itched to say.
-...That's the guy I told you about!
Initially skeptical. Nah, no way. Repeated endlessly.
But had to admit.
-How could I forget that face? The man who saved me from demon possession.
Matched perfectly. Even the impeccably formal attire, like back then.
-...But honestly, still don't get it. How...?
Couldn't guess the class. In Line 4 rift, he'd hunted imps with daggers. Bows too.
Understandable. Both physical—Strength and Agility.
-Sudden magic? What the...?
But magic relies on Mana. Class needing Strength, Agility, Mana? Never heard. Even if, inefficient. Points limited.
-Thought high mental resistance at imp stage. Never imagined real magic!
That normal magic? Screen showed plaza at least double soccer field. Man filled it with massive walls and pillars!
Not enough.
Pillars collapse on knights!
Timed pillar collapses attacking knights too.
-What do you all think?
Nam Cheolmin mobilized analyst knowledge. Arcana lore he knew. Fellow analysts' views too.
Still, no guess.
-Not analyst-like, but no clue, Taemin.
One certainty.
-...We gotta snag him, bro. Whatever it takes.
Even if not, avoid hostility. No good clashing with that player.
Look now?
-Brothers double-dipping aid. What do you call this?
Without him, casualties inevitable. Gaon or Inazuma.
His feats shifted the battle. Solo battlefield-changer.
Value incalculable.
-But damn, Inazuma saw too.
Inazuma had many Koreans. Some poached from Gaon.
Not conditions—Inazuma aggressively recruited Korean players, even at cost. Japanese gov backing public knowledge.
Why Nam Taemin gritting at Hisagi.
-So no yielding.
That moment.
"!"
Nam Taemin's reason returned. No yielding. Only those words sank in sane.
What? Instantly clear.
Nam Taemin grinned.
"10-0? Deal. Let's see what else you throw in."
Same time.
Netuber Park Hwigang's chat exploding.
Gaon vs Inazuma. Mystery player intervening.
Netuber broadcasting from start.
Rumors spread, nearly 70k viewers for Park Hwigang.
Numbskull-inducing numbers, yet...
"Whoa...!!"
Park Hwigang too stunned by the scene to check.
"Everyone seeing this? They're almost done winning!"
Few knights left, ragged remnants. Players victorious.
"Knew from first sight he wasn't ordinary, but..."
This much! Plus, Park Hwigang and early viewers knew: he hadn't gone all-out.
Yeah, hadn't drawn his weapon. The one that one-shot Count Ascura's soldier.
Park Hwigang cautiously,
"...Feels like he's just watching, right?"
Yes. Raised walls and pillars, then minimal movement. As if EXP and loot irrelevant.
...What's his identity? Natural focus on the man.
Thud—last knight down.
As if synced.
Korean? Then...
Think I'll lose him again? No way.
At least ask his name.
All eyes on him. Lone in plaza center.
His expression unchanged. As if massive attention natural.
*
Amid questions, I thought,
...Tired.
Avoid squeezing mana dry henceforth. Aftereffects brutal.
No mana recovery gear, probably.
"What's your name? Guild? Korean?"
Answering easy. But intolerable.
Beyond Grandfell's prickliness. I wanted to collapse from exhaustion.
Yet no proper gear. Mana depletion staggering me.
They had to grab me like this?
"No decorum whatsoever."
I added coldly.
"Thus, no questions."