Chapter 174
Chapter 174
Chapter 174: Siege Warfare (2)
Translation: godtl
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Eight heads rolled across the ground.
"To think they'd dare spout nonsense about this and that when they should be begging for a carry,"murmured the impeccably dressed pretty boy.
"Pathetic weaklings are always so revolting."
Yuto looked down at the eight heads with eyes full of contempt.
Then—
-OMG!
-Holy shit... instant annihilation!
-Yuto-kun lolol what a cool guy~
-But is this okay? That's teamkilling.
-We only had ten players to begin with. This is a bit...
Si-mun's chat window exploded with messages.
But since everyone had witnessed the utter depravity displayed by those eight players—
-They declared they wouldn't participate in the arena first. They brought this on themselves.
-#22 Even if we'd spared them, they'd just leech later or pull some reverse-trolling.
-Facts. The trolling potential was razor-sharp.
-For real. Those bastards can't help but get cocky when they think they can win lol.
-There are especially many like them in Gold and Platinum tiers.
-Just a bunch of credit-stealing thieves. Better off without them.
Rather than condemnation for teamkilling, the majority of responses were favorable toward Yuto's actions.
And it wasn't just the viewers.
[Constellation Black Goat bursts into laughter:"Hoho! The little one has quite the vicious hand? I like it."]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon sends a sticky gaze:"It's not just his hands—his aura and looks are exceptional too."]
[Constellation Zeus smirks slyly:"As expected of Heavenly Demon, you understand refinement. Indeed."]
[Constellation Odin and Baal sigh deeply:"This is why Constellations need police too,""Hmm..."]
The Constellations watching Si-mun were also showing favor toward Yuto's actions.
Heavenly Demon, Zeus, and Black Goat in particular seemed exceptionally pleased with Yuto.
[Constellation Heavenly Demon, Zeus, and Black Goat have given you a mission.]
They'd even issued a mission.
Si-mun immediately checked the mission window.
[Mission]
- Three Constellations are extremely fond of Player Yuto's aura.
- Achieve victory in this Siege Warfare "together with Yuto."
Reward: 10,000 Achievement Points
His eyes widened.
'They're giving 10,000 Achievement Points just for this?'
Of course, he'd received a similar mission during his Platinum Debut Match before, but—
'Not Si-yeon, but Yuto?'
Back then, his companion had been the childlike Si-yeon.
In contrast, Yuto was currently making waves in Platinum—one of American Dream's two rising stars, a powerhouse on par with Andrew and Ron.
Yet simply clearing the stage with Yuto was worth 10,000 points?
'This is practically free loot.'
A mission that might as well say "take it for free."
It wasn't hard to understand why.
'They must really, really like Yuto.'
After all, the Constellations watching him all had their own extreme tendencies, didn't they? Those three must have particularly enjoyed Yuto's ruthlessness.
Either way—
'Jackpot.'
From Si-mun's perspective, this was a welcome mission.
Given that he hadn't been hit with any stat nerfs yet, he was confident he could dominate this arena.
'Perfect timing too—I've been a bit short on Achievement Points lately from upgrading my specs.'
A satisfied smile spread across Si-mun's lips.
Perhaps interpreting it differently—
"As I thought... I believed you were of the same breed as me."
Yuto also nodded with a satisfied smile.
Though the misunderstanding was obvious, Si-mun didn't bother correcting him.
Crunch.
He transmuted the ground, impaling an incoming fireball with a massive earthen spike.
This time, it was a 6-Star Class spell.
Whoosh.
A scorching, mana-laden heat wave surged forth—but that was all.
"Then, Yuto."
Si-mun asked Yuto without batting an eye.
"Do you have a strategy?"
"Hmm......"
Yuto rested his chin on his hand for a moment.
Perhaps because he had blocked consecutive spells,
even from this distance, the fortress walls buzzed with frenetic energy.
Yuto, who had been quietly observing the scene, spoke.
"I know you excel in many areas, but fundamentally, you're of the Magic Class, aren't you?"
"That's right."
"Then just break through either the gates or the walls. Until then, I'll tank as a Combat Class."
Yuto drew his sword and stepped forward.
Si-mun chuckled at this.
"Yuto. That's reassuring to hear, but... we'd better find another strategy."
It wasn't that he was disregarding Yuto.
Prospects capable of representing an entire nation
were generally able to perform roles beyond their primary class.
Yuto knew this too.
"Why not?"
He frowned slightly as he asked Si-mun.
Si-mun smiled gently at him.
"There are 190 enemies, you know."
"You're underestimating me too much. I can handle attacks like those alone just fine."
"Yuto. I'm not underestimating you—I'm saying it's inefficient."
"Inefficient?"
One of Yuto's eyebrows twitched upward.
Then—
"I see."
The tension in Yuto's expression eased.
"You mean there's no need to waste my stamina tanking meaningless attacks?"
"Exactly. For one thing, 190 is a lot, and you're not a tank-type Combat Class either."
Yuto nodded slowly at Si-mun's words.
He could deflect or evade the long-range attacks typical of Siege Warfare easily enough.
But that was all.
"So, as a swordsman, the act of defending itself is inefficient?"
"Right."
Using Yuto, a swordsman built for damage, as a tank was highly inefficient to begin with,
and there was no need to waste stamina on such actions.
"When you're outnumbered like this, managing your condition is crucial."
"Indeed. I've learned something new."
Like a swordsman's bow,
Yuto gave a measured, respectful nod.
To this,
"You're overdoing it. You would've figured it out yourself soon enough."
Si-mun waved it off as if it were nothing, but
"No. Not at all."
Yuto shook his head firmly.
"Honestly, until now... I thought I had to do everything alone. People around me called it 'carry syndrome.'"
Prospects at the level of representing their country
naturally possessed outstanding abilities
and demonstrated versatile skills that transcended their classes.
But.
"Until just now, I dismissed that as nothing but the weak making excuses..."
These were actions possible only for those not at his level.
Once others reached a similar level, he couldn't do everything alone anymore.
"Hearing your words made me realize I was mistaken."
Si-mun had shown him the truth of it.
"And the fact that it was you who said it made me listen properly. I tend to... ignore the words of those weaker than me."
Yuto lowered his gaze slightly, his face flushing faintly.
Was it because he was still a teenager?
"Thank you once again. Thanks to this, I can take another step forward."
Though his earnestness was almost cringe-worthy, like a protagonist from a manga,
his gratitude was undeniably sincere.
"W-well, glad it helped......"
Si-mun forced a smile, suppressing the urge to cringe as much as possible.
'Kid's got a good heart.'
Then—
Whoosh!!
Thankfully,
a spell blazing with intense heat scorched away the awkward atmosphere.
Perhaps irritated by the two previous defenses, the enemy had grown bolder.
"A 6-Star fire magic. Fire Rain."
Even though it was a 6th-star magic,
the rain of flames imbued with mana nearing the 7th-star poured down like a torrent.
"Alright, Yuto. I'll clear the path first. Move when I give the signal."
"Yes."
Yuto nodded and immediately stepped back.
Si-mun flicked his fingers.
Dududuk.
The earth beneath him transmuted into a hemispherical shape.
Then—
Kwaga-gagak!
The sound of rocks being sheared away echoed above the dome.
A 6th-star magic.
No, even though the sheer volume of mana infused within it was close to the 7th-star—
The hemispherical dome Si-mun had transmuted merely vibrated finely, like an umbrella enduring a downpour.
Not a single crack appeared—it remained perfectly intact.
At that—
"As expected. You're incredible!"
Not only did Yuto, who had retreated further back, exclaim in admiration—
'I can really feel how much my alchemy has improved overall.'
Even Si-mun, who had transmuted the dome, marveled inwardly.
'Well, the title [Pioneer of Alchemy] has leveled up, and my total Transmutation Power is 212 now.'
A mere 6th-star magic, brute-forced with nothing but raw mana?
A single transmutation like this was more than enough to block it.
Kwaga... gak.
The chaotic grating noise faded away.
As Si-mun withdrew the transmuted dome, the torrential rain of flames had vanished without a trace.
Only the scorching heat sizzling in the air remained as proof of the previous assault.
Si-mun swept his gaze across the searing landscape before fixing it on the distant [Fortress of Savagery].
"Now it's our turn."
Kiiing—
A sharp ringing sound accompanied the activation of [Odin's Eye].
'Hmm. As expected, the gate's durability is higher than the walls.'
Like a modern hologram or an infrared camera,
Si-mun rapidly scanned the distant Fortress of Savagery and the players stationed there.
'It doesn't matter for me, but infiltrating with Yuto in tow would be impossible.'
True to a high-tier Platinum match,
the 190 players, despite their numerical advantage, were positioned flawlessly throughout the fortress.
'In that case, I'll have to break through the walls... Seems like I'll have to go all out.'
The moment the thought crossed his mind—
Wududuk.
Si-mun's entire body twisted.
His already lean frame grew even more robust,
and golden scales emerged across his exposed skin.
[Dragon Body Transformation].
He had transformed into the mighty physique of the dragonkin.
'The power is overflowing.'
Ttuduk.
With a light clench and release of his fist, Si-mun briefly savored his enhanced body before—
From the center of his chest, the Philosopher's Stone—
he drew forth [Demonic Energy].
Kwaaaa—
Even with his body fortified by the Dragon Body Transformation, the violently surging Demonic Energy weighed heavily on him.
Its sheer intensity made Si-mun's eyes gleam.
'The output of this Demonic Energy is no joke. Did it really surpass 100 stat points?'
Thanks to his 212 Transmutation Power, both his Demonic Energy and Dragon Power had reached 106 stat points each.
That sensation of growth one supposedly feels upon first crossing the threshold of 100—
'Even if I just unleash Demonic Energy without any technique... I could sweep them all away right now.'
It filled Si-mun not just with strength, but something closer to exhilaration.
And it wasn't just Si-mun who felt it.
Like a kind of dragon's ascent—
Suaaaa—
The energy, expanding and contracting in cycles, whirled with an extraordinary momentum,
scattering dust and leaves in all directions.
The sheer, prickling intensity of the Qi Wave made—
"Ugh!"
Yuto, standing further back, flinched and furrowed his brow before retreating several more steps.
'Demonic Energy is the Path of Hegemony...'
The mantra of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art—
now elevated to the 4th-star, enveloped Si-mun's entire being as the scripture dictated.
Uuuuung—!
A rough resonance rang out several times from his raised palm,
and the Demonic Energy gathered in Si-mun's grip coiled tighter, compressing over and over.
Until finally—
Toong.
A sphere resonated with a clarity unbelievable for something woven from Demonic Energy.
Si-mun looked down at the orb with somewhat disappointed eyes.
'I used up 60% of my Demonic Energy, and it's only the size of a ping-pong ball...'
In his past life, Go Mal-suk had managed to create one at least the size of a soccer ball.
Si-mun let out a quiet chuckle.
'Well, Mal-suk in my past life was a high-ranker. Comparing myself to her now is a bit shameless.'
Wasn't the Heavenly Demon Go Mal-suk a powerhouse who could stand toe-to-toe with his younger brother Kim Si-hyeok or the Fist King Jong-ri Chu?
For a mere level 117 Platinum to dare compare himself to her back then—
That was nothing short of shameless.
Si-mun calmly gazed at the Fortress of Savagery.
'The destructive power is certain, but expecting this to bring down walls of that thickness is unrealistic.'
Which meant he needed even more power.
Crack.
Fortunately, Si-mun possessed exactly that.
Krrrrumble.
A sudden peal of thunder.
Along with it—
Zzzzt!
A bolt of lightning struck down into Si-mun's palm, where the black orb rested.
Simultaneously—
[The Constellation Heavenly Demon's eyes sparkle as he chuckles. "Hoho! It's you again."]
[The Constellation Zeus nods in satisfaction. "Those who understand refinement naturally gravitate toward one another."]
The reactions of the Constellations floating before his eyes.
Si-mun ignored them cleanly and clenched his fist around the turbulent mix of Demonic Energy and Lightning Qi writhing in his grasp.
'Is it some kind of enlightenment? So this is how Ars Magna can be used.'
Ars Magna, the alchemical truth he had gained from his battle with Sargas.
Perhaps because he had awakened the principle of fusion?
Zzzzt.
The Lightning Qi from Astrapē and the Demonic Energy from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art blended together more seamlessly than before.
Then—
Huum.
The moment the two energies merged into one—
"First shot."
Si-mun hurled it without hesitation.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Wave—Heavenly Demon Orb.
An orb swirling with murky white and pitch-black energy.
Thoom.
The black-and-white orb, no larger than a ping-pong ball, soared through the air with a clear, resonant hum.
"What the hell? All that flashy bullshit just for that?"
"I don't even sense any energy from it?"
It flew gracefully through the air, devoid of any threatening aura.
"Still, just in case— Everyone, deploy defensive magic!"
"Defensive magic? Pfft. I'll just shoot it down."
To the 190 players stationed at the Fortress of Savagery, it looked like nothing more than a cute little toy.
All except for one.
"Wh-what the hell...?"
A blond pretty boy.
Andrew Burns, one of the top prospects of American Dream.
To be precise, it was his SS-rank Trait, Analysis, acting through his blue eyes.
Unfortunately—
Neither he nor the other 189 possessed the same ability.
"EVERYONE, RUN!!"
With Andrew's desperate scream as he leapt from the fortress walls—
Thoom.
An unbelievable nightmare unfolded.
As if carving out space itself—
A solid section of the fortress wall vanished in a perfect circle.
Then—
KRRAKOOOM!
From the void left behind, an ear-splitting thunderclap roared.
Tendrils of lightning branched out in all directions.
As if determined not to allow even a single scream—
Zzzzt!
They spread like vengeful spirits, erasing everything they touched.
Nearly fifty players were wiped from existence in an instant.
But the defending players had no time to catch their breath.
Like the laughter of a child—
The orb that had birthed this momentary nightmare—
Thoom.
Rang out with another clear hum as it came flying back.
"Ah..."
Andrew's words died in his throat.
His SS-rank Trait, Analysis, was telling him—
Unlike before, the crimson-black orb now emerging through the gaping hole in the fortress wall—
Whoosh.
Was accompanied by a scorching, all-consuming heat.
As if time had frozen—
In this still world, only Andrew's thoughts moved.
'The wall is gone.'
'But this time, it's not Lightning Qi—it's fire.'
'Since ancient times, lightning excels in single-target destruction, while fire reigns in wide-scale devastation.'
'If a fire-attribute orb detonates inside the fortress...?'
The moment this chain of thoughts completed—
"Kim Si-mun, you son of a—!"
FWOOOOSH!
The world erupted in flames.