Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Placement Test (2)
Translation: godtl
'A bridgehead...? You've got to be kidding me.'
Kim Si-mun's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the information window floating in the air.
A bridgehead.
Commonly referred to as a "checkpoint," this type of map varied slightly in environment and shape depending on the instance, but fundamentally, it always took the form of a fortified position on a bridge.
In Defense mode, players summoned at the bridgehead had to prevent enemies from crossing the bridge.
In Offense mode, it was the opposite—players had to break through the checkpoint and cross the bridge themselves.
This was common knowledge Si-mun had learned from countless player streams, as well as the firsthand accounts of Kim Si-hyeok and Go Mal-suk.
The problem was—
'Why is this showing up here?'
Checkpoint-type maps only appeared for players ranked Platinum or higher.
This wasn't the kind of map that should appear at the Bronze level—or even at Silver-rank, for that matter.
'Could it be because of my MMR?'
After a moment of contemplation, Si-mun shook his head.
'No, that's too much of a stretch.'
No matter how fair the MMR system was, it wouldn't do something as insane as drastically increasing the Arena's difficulty just because of one player.
At most, it would match him with Platinum-ranked players or higher—
'Wait.'
His eyes widened as the realization struck him.
"That's it—the matchmaking!"
"Huh?"
Kim Min-hyeong, who had been following behind him, voiced his confusion, but Si-mun was too absorbed in his thoughts to pay attention.
'Actually, it makes perfect sense, doesn't it?'
The Arena had selected a total of 50 participants and imposed the condition of forming five-person teams—but nowhere did it say that these teams had to compete against each other for clear times.
In other words, finishing first didn't determine ranking.
And aside from the immediate provocation from the Scorpion trio—
'Those three never should've been matched in the placement test bracket to begin with.'
Just looking at Choi Gi-yeol, their leader, it was obvious he didn't belong at this level.
The only reason they'd been taken down so easily was because they'd run into Kim Si-mun—an eight-ton truck of a player.
By pure skill alone, they were undoubtedly candidates for higher ranks.
'The same goes for Mr. Kim Min-hyeong. This team's overall level exceeds the placement test bracket.'
If the other teams' objective zones were also [Corrupted Goblin Bridgehead], then this team would undoubtedly come in first.
But as that thought settled in, Si-mun pressed a hand to his forehead.
'The other teams' objective zones might not be [Corrupted Goblin Bridgehead].'
Which was why there was no "first clear" ranking in this team match.
"Ha... It really is fair matchmaking."
So fair it was almost annoying.
Not that he regretted dealing with the Scorpion Guild trio.
There was no need to.
'A team is better off without members like that.'
As they neared the bridge's entrance, the sporadic torchlights beyond and—
"Kee-kik!"
"Kee-rat!"
—the grotesque, distinctive laughter of goblins reached his ears. Si-mun clenched his fist tightly.
'At least the rewards will be worth it.'
The fairness of the matchmaking extended to the rewards as well.
If the conditions were more difficult than other teams', the clear rewards would be proportionally higher.
'Actually, this works out better for me.'
His level might be low, but for someone like Si-mun—already a monster lurking in the depths—this was a situation that encouraged growth.
In fact, the Galaxy Arena itself probably wanted him to get out of this bracket as soon as possible.
'Wipe them all out and take every last kill reward—'
"Ah."
Letting out a brief sigh, Si-mun turned his head.
"Hey, Mr. Kim Min-hyeong?"
"Yes?"
Kim Min-hyeong, who had been waiting quietly behind him, looked up.
"By any chance, are you eager to secure kills?"
"Kills?"
Kim Min-hyeong blinked, then glanced briefly across the bridge before shaking his head.
"No, I just cleared the tutorial. Goblins are too much for me. I'd prefer to just safely secure the clear rewards."
Did Kim Min-hyeong realize—
"That's a relief. Then let's plan our strategy accordingly."
—that an eight-ton truck had just flashed before his eyes?
Kee-kik.
An unpleasant laughter.
To be precise, it was the distinctively nasal sound unique to goblins.
"Kee-kik! Shift change!"
"Kik, finally!"
The two goblins on guard duty cheered as they climbed down from the watchtower.
"Kik, hate guard duty. So boring."
"Stupid! This place is the best. Boss is in a bad mood, kik!"
"Yeah. Stupid. Gonna get scolded. Kee-kik."
The newly relieved goblins sneered as they watched their kin returning to the distant stronghold.
Just as they were turning their bodies to take their respective positions—
Whoosh.
"Kik?"
A sudden gust of wind made the two goblins tilt their heads in confusion.
Crack.
In an instant, something coiled around their necks, killing them on the spot.
"Hup."
Though he must have snapped both goblins' necks in a swift descent,
not a single sound arose from the feet of the ambusher, Si-mun.
"Hah."
With a goblin head tucked under each arm, Si-mun glanced down at his legs.
[Black Panther's Body Tissue]
Completion: 12%
The transmuted body tissue of a Black Panther.
It allows the replication of a Black Panther's physical abilities.
A status window floated clearly above his legs.
A race that only appeared from Platinum-rank onward.
Among the beastfolk, the Black Panther was renowned for its stealth.
Though its completion rate was 3% lower than the Ogre's—perhaps because it was a higher-tier species—
its innate excellence meant its physical capabilities remained formidable even at an incomplete stage.
And the result was precisely this.
I didn't expect even those sharp-eared goblins to be completely oblivious.
People often mistakenly believed goblins were a race anyone could beat down.
Of course, that wasn't entirely wrong.
Standing no taller than a child of 10 to 13 at most,
their scrawny, muscle-bare frames could easily be dealt with by an ordinary human wielding a weapon.
Hadn't that been proven time and again even in his past life, after the official Arena began?
But the moment their keen senses and blood toxicity came into play, the story changed.
Especially their hearing—those bastards were freakishly sharp.
Perhaps it was due to their long, elf-like ears.
Goblins possessed such exceptional hearing that they were far more sensitive than one might imagine, rendering most ambushes useless.
Of course.
But I guess they were no match for a Black Panther's stealth.
How could mere goblins contend with a species surpassing even Ogres?
Carefully, Si-mun set down the two goblin corpses he had been holding.
"Honestly, maintaining multiple body transmutations is still tough."
Currently, Si-mun hadn't just transmuted [Black Panther's Body Tissue] into his legs.
When he raised his arms, another status window appeared—[Ogre's Body Tissue].
Si-mun shook his head at the displayed "Completion: 7%."
"Even after reducing the completion to 7%, maintaining it is this exhausting?"
Then, a cheerful voice echoed from his chest.
-Oppa, aren't you even a little surprised you succeeded in multiple body transmutations?
It was the Philosopher's Stone.
"I practiced before joining the Arena, remember?"
-But not with body transmutation.
"Same difference. It's just like switching from writing with your right hand to your left."
Si-mun shrugged as if it were nothing.
-......
The Philosopher's Stone fell silent.
Well, strictly speaking, since it had no visible face—
Is this oppa actually insane?
It was utterly dumbfounded.
Even with my influence and the Obsidian Tablet's help, they're just supplementary tools at best...
No matter how much of an absolute advantage the Philosopher's Stone provided for transmutation, it was still just a tool.
Its effectiveness ultimately depended on the skill of its wielder.
I've always felt it, but this oppa severely underestimates himself.
Multiple transmutations were akin to multiple incantations.
Like drawing a circle with your right hand and a triangle with your left.
For any "normal person" attempting it for the first time, mistakes were inevitable.
Multiple incantations were notoriously difficult to master without practice, and many never succeeded in their lifetime.
Naturally, the same applied to multiple body transmutations.
Hey, Opta. I think you've finally met your true master.
The Philosopher's Stone muttered to the Obsidian Tablet, now fused with it, before speaking up.
-So, is this how you'll operate from now on? Focusing on ambushes?
"No. I've already burned through half my Transmutation Power, so that's not feasible."
Releasing the body transmutations in his arms and legs, Si-mun propped up the goblin corpses one by one.
Then—
Thud.
Squelch.
He transmuted the watchtower's floor, impaling the goblins' corpses like skewers.
From a distance, they would appear to be standing guard, perfectly still.
"Mr. Kim Min-hyeong, you can come in now."
As Si-mun gestured outside after finishing his cleanup of the watchtower—
"Ghk!"
Kim Min-hyeong, startled by the two taxidermied goblins, covered his mouth and stepped inside.
"Y-You took them out without making a single sound..."
"Yes. Ah! Don't step in the blood on the floor. Even though your equipment is C-rank, you never know."
"Got it."
Kim Min-hyeong cautiously approached Si-mun's side, his eyes still wide with shock.
Then he asked.
"But... will this really work?"
At Kim Min-hyeong's question filled with anxiety, Si-mun nodded and replied.
"I took a quick look before the ambush—their weapons are just stones and poison darts."
Having already synthesized the Black Panther's physical abilities, Si-mun had completed his reconnaissance of the bridgehead earlier.
"Those won't be able to pierce your armor, Min-hyeong-ssi. Just follow the plan as we discussed."
At Si-mun's confident voice, Kim Min-hyeong nodded.
"Understood."
Even if it was leather.
A C-grade crafted armor wouldn't be pierced by mere stones and poison darts.
"Then let's go."
"Uh..."
Kim Min-hyeong, who was about to dash out, hesitated.
"But... are you really going to be okay alone?"
There was only one reason for Kim Min-hyeong's hesitation.
It was Si-mun's plan.
The strategy Si-mun had devised was simple.
Kim Min-hyeong would draw as much aggro as possible to gather the goblins.
Then Si-mun would handle the rest.
"Yes. It's fine."
"B-but! Even though I'm only level 2, having an extra hand would—"
Kim Min-hyeong's face was filled with unease and guilt.
It was only natural.
Though he had already witnessed Si-mun's power during the tutorial.
Weren't they ultimately players in the same boat, having just completed the tutorial?
"Just drawing aggro is enough. The more aggro you pull, the safer I'll be."
"...Understood. If you ever have the time, please visit the Seongsam Guild. I'll make sure to repay you."
"Sure."
Si-mun answered with a light smile.
Of course, he had no intention of ever visiting the Seongsam Guild.
"Then I'll head out now."
With a determined expression, Kim Min-hyeong nodded and immediately charged forward.
And then.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
In the dim evening.
As the sun nearly set over the bridge, a thunderous battle cry echoed.
Naturally, a lone human sprinting while shouting drew an enormous amount of attention.
Ding-ding-ding!
"Kikik!"
"Human! A human!"
"A human's invading!!"
Along with the noisy bell sounds, foul voices surged.
"There he is!"
"Kikik! Alone? He's alone!"
"The human's insane! Shoot him!"
Stones flew from slings and crude slingshots made of long cords.
Small poison darts poured from long tubes.
Nearly 50 goblins attacked from all directions.
A downpour of stones and poison darts.
One.
Tat-tat-tat!
Against the C-grade armor, they merely made sounds like roasting beans.
"RAAAAH! Is that all you've got?! You morons!"
Kim Min-hyeong tanked the hits with his entire body and sprinted toward the marked destination ahead.
Then.
"Kikikik! Stop him!"
"Kik! Human. Won't get past!"
A dozen goblins clad in crude wooden armor gripped spears and blocked Kim Min-hyeong's path.
"Human trapped!"
"Kill him! Kik!"
From behind, the sides, and now the front.
In an instant, Kim Min-hyeong was surrounded by 60 goblins.
Thanks to his B-rank trait, Quick Movement, and high Agility, he nimbly dodged, but—
Tat-tat-tat!
'Ugh... It's getting tough now...'
Kim Min-hyeong's movements gradually slowed.
It was only natural.
After all, it wasn't easy for a mere level 2 player to endure the onslaught of 60 goblins.
Wasn't his job class inherently more offense-oriented than defensive?
Eventually.
Thud.
"Argh!"
A stone struck the back of his neck where his armor couldn't fully protect.
But Kim Min-hyeong gritted his teeth.
Covering his neck as much as possible, he evaded and charged forward.
"Kikik!"
"He's dead! The human!"
Goblins lined up in formation ahead, raising their spears.
With his B-rank trait-enhanced speed, he might have been skewered right then.
Yet Kim Min-hyeong charged like an enraged bull.
There was only one reason.
'More... MORE!'
The destructive force of the 8-ton truck that would soon arrive.
Having experienced it firsthand, Kim Min-hyeong threw his entire body into it.
"NOWWWWW!!"
As if answering his conviction.
RUMBLE!
The heavens shook.
"Ki... kikik?"
At the sudden thunderous roar, the goblins looked up.
In their vision, a small, white rod split the sky.
Then—
"Strike them down."
A clear voice followed the command.
"Astrapē."
The white rod transformed into dozens of lightning bolts.
CRACKLE-BOOM—!!
They scorched the parched earth.