Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Chapter 175: Siege Warfare (3)
Translation: godtl
Hellfire.
Was there any more fitting description?
The scorching heat was so intense it made my mind go numb, searing through my entire body.
But what was even more astonishing—
This unbelievable heat was the tempered version, already mitigated once.
And yet.
Whoosh.
The Arab man restraining this deadly black flame—
"Grrk!!"
Bashar Abdul was gritting his teeth so hard his gums bled, veins bulging in his eyes as he desperately held back the black flames with an invisible force.
But despite his efforts—
Screech.
Like a beast trapped in a cage—
The enraged black flames relentlessly clawed at the intangible barrier.
Witnessing this, Andrew Burns, the rising star of American Dream, couldn't hide his shock.
'Bashar, who possesses the SS-rank trait Ruler of Flame, can't control that fire?!'
The SS-rank trait Ruler of Flame.
As the name suggested, it allowed the user to dominate flames, making it the worst possible matchup against fire-attribute magic users or anything flame-related.
In fact, all traits bearing the title "Ruler" in the SS-rank were like this.
Take Kim Mu-yeol, the Iron Wood King—a first-generation Ranker and one of Korea's most renowned players—wasn't his SS-rank trait Ruler of Plants?
Before him, Druids and plant-based monsters were nothing more than toys.
So Bashar Abdul should have been no different, and yet—
'He can't even block it completely... He's barely managing to suppress a fraction of it...?'
If he had fully contained it, there would be nothing to say.
But the crimson-black orb that had breached the fortress walls—
Everything in its path—people, buildings—had been reduced to ashes, except in the direction where Bashar stood.
Luckily, Andrew and nearly half the players had been on Bashar's side, allowing about eighty of them to barely cling to life.
But now—
"Guhk! I—I can't... hold it... any longer—!"
Even that was reaching its limit.
Creak.
With a sound like rusted machinery straining—
Bashar Abdul's arms, which had been suppressing the black flames, began to tremble apart.
Andrew Burns, his SS-rank trait Analysis activated to its fullest, shouted with his blue eyes flashing.
"Don't try to stop it with brute force! I'll cast a teleportation spell—just hold on until then!"
The moment those words left his mouth—
Whoooooosh!
The black flames, like a tsunami, crashed through Bashar's SS-rank trait Ruler of Flame.
"Fire Resist!"
"Barrier!"
"Protect us!"
Staggering, Bashar was shielded by the combined barriers of magic and support-class players.
"Bashar, over here."
"Grab his shoulder."
Assassin-class players swiftly moved to support him.
As soon as they stepped onto the magic circle already drawn on the ground—
"We're moving to the opposite side, where the black flames have already passed!"
Andrew declared, immediately initiating a large-scale teleportation.
Vwoom.
With the distinct hum of spatial displacement, the eighty or so players vanished.
And at the same moment—
Whoooosh!
The black flames, having shattered multiple barriers, surged forward to where they had just been.
Whoosh.
Crackle.
The roar of furious flames and the sound of burning wood echoed.
The opposite side of where Bashar Abdul had held back the black flames—
In other words, the area already ravaged by that vicious black fire—was where the eighty players had teleported.
Every single one of them stood there, mouths agape.
"Good god..."
"That... was about to engulf us?"
"Bashar, you madman... You held that back alone for minutes?"
They stared blankly at where they had just stood.
How could they not?
Half of the Fortress of Savagery, which had remained intact thanks to Bashar Abdul—
Crrrrrackle.
Was being incinerated in real time by those crimson flames.
The ravenous dance of fire, moving with a singular purpose—destruction.
It felt like watching a natural disaster unleashed by human hands.
Andrew's gaze, in particular, was filled with something beyond shock—something indescribable.
And for good reason.
'That flame... It's not ordinary magic. It's closer to an Authority.'
His SS-rank trait Analysis—
Combined with his backing Constellation, Athena—made it all too clear to his eyes.
The black flames that were voraciously devouring the Fortress of Savagery—just what were they?
Andrew bit his lip hard.
'What the hell is this? Kim Si-mun was clearly a Magic Class. How is he using an Authority?'
Magic and Authority were similar, but there was a clear distinction between them.
Magic was a kind of discipline—unleashing mana and various energies according to specific formulas and knowledge.
Authority, on the other hand, was a power wielded by high-tier Support Classes or Constellations. It wasn't based on any academic or scientific principle, but an inexplicable force that defied causality.
In other words, it was the power of a god.
And the two orbs Kim Si-mun had thrown contained precisely that kind of power.
Of course.
'I can't be absolutely certain it's an Authority.'
Just because it resembled one didn't mean it was.
If it had truly been an Authority, Bashar wouldn't have been able to block it at all.
'And there was something... off about it compared to a real Authority.'
How should he put it?
It was like the holy power of a high priest who served no god.
The form was similar to an Authority, but the essence composing it felt different.
In short, it lacked something to be called a true Authority.
Then.
"Hah."
Andrew let out a hollow laugh.
'The holy power of a high priest who serves no god...'
It was like a steamed bun without filling.
No, more like the Earth without the sun.
It made no sense.
'I probably just don't have the level to analyze it perfectly yet.'
No matter how much he relied on his SS-rank trait, Analysis, or the backing of the Constellation Athena.
Kim Si-mun clearly possessed specs beyond that.
At any rate.
"We can't just take this lying down."
Just because they'd been beaten by an absurd power—
They couldn't afford to stay down.
"He's cast two massive spells in quick succession. Kim Si-mun's condition must be at its worst right now. Bashar, focus on recovering your stamina as much as possible."
"Right. Bashar, since even your fire-attribute magic didn't work earlier, rest up. If Kim Si-mun uses fire magic again, step in to help."
At Andrew's words, the burly black man beside him—Ron—nodded and patted Bashar's heaving shoulder.
"Guh... Got it."
"Archers and mages, prepare long-range attacks with me immediately. We can't give him time to recover."
"The walls are meaningless now. Combat and Assassin Classes, take the lead with me."
Andrew and Ron smoothly took command of the situation.
"Understood."
"Hey! Tanks, stick close to Ron!"
The remaining eighty or so players naturally followed their orders.
They were, after all, two of the most promising talents in the world's strongest guild, American Dream.
And aside from Bashar—
There simply weren't any other players who could rival Andrew and Ron.
To be precise.
'Most of them were incinerated by Kim Si-mun's black flames...'
Andrew's lips twisted into a bitter smile.
How thrilled had he been when they first saw the 190-player match-up?
Familiar faces—players they'd fought against often enough to respect each other's skills.
'From South America, Africa, even Europe... Promising talents from all over, wiped out in an instant.'
Aside from Bashar—
Out of the eighty survivors, the only one who could be called a true powerhouse was Ron, his fellow guild prodigy.
'Still, he must've burned through a lot of mana too. No way he has any left after casting two spells of that magnitude.'
Unless he was Diamond-rank, perhaps.
No matter how much of an outlier Kim Si-mun was called—
His mana pool had to have its limits.
'At the end of the day, he's just a player who started in the Arena at the beginning of this year.'
At best, early to mid-100s in level.
Even with bonus stats here and there, his mana stat couldn't possibly be that high.
Or so.
Andrew thought.
Until—
Screeeech!
A shriek tore through the sky.
"What's that?"
Andrew's brow furrowed sharply as he looked up.
The reason was unmistakable.
Gaunt, ash-gray bats.
"Blade-Screaming Bats?"
The demonic beasts known for their ultrasonic blade-like screams were descending upon them.
And not just a few.
"H-how many are there?!"
"Why are Blade-Screaming Bats here?!"
An entire swarm.
'At a glance, there must be close to a hundred. Where the hell did that many come from all of a sudden...'
Andrew's eyes, fixed on the swarm of Blade-Screaming Bats, widened to the size of lantern flames.
"K-Kim Si-mun!"
At Andrew's sudden shout.
"What?"
"Andrew, why are you suddenly— Ah!"
The players who had been tilting their heads in confusion all gasped in unison.
Soon after.
"Those are the demonic beasts from the National Tournament!"
"Kim Si-mun's summons!"
"Shoot! Wipe them out now!"
The demonic beasts that had been showcased in the Platinum division of the National Tournament.
Realizing what they were, the players hastily unleashed their prepared long-range attacks.
However.
Kyaaaaah!!
The Blade-Screaming Bats' maws were already wide open.
Weeeeeng.
The razor-sharp shrieks of blades reverberated in all directions.
One or two might have been manageable.
But the combined chorus of over a hundred Blade-Screaming Bats was something even the upper echelons of Platinum-rank couldn't easily withstand.
"Ugh!"
"I-I feel dizzy!"
Players struck by the ultrasonic waves staggered uncontrollably.
"Damn it! What are the healers doing?!"
"P-put up some shields at least!"
The melee fighters cursed as they swayed unsteadily, but.
"We're too dizzy to even... ugh!"
"We can't focus...!"
For the magic and support classes, who needed mental concentration, it was even more devastating.
The players were utterly helpless.
Fortunately.
"Sonic Barrier."
Proving why he was American Dream's top prospect.
Andrew's blue eyes, glowing with his activated Analysis trait, unfurled a shimmering barrier across the area.
"Andrew, you're the best!"
"Thank you!"
Freed from the ultrasonic assault, the players wobbled as they expressed their gratitude.
"Nice one, Andrew."
Despite being at the forefront.
Ron, who had swayed the least, gave a thumbs-up.
Andrew nodded in acknowledgment of his partner's praise—but that was all.
'Why, though?'
His expression remained grim.
'Kim Si-mun can summon Fell Bats, can't he?'
Fell Bats, bombarding the skies with corrosive green acid.
Unquestionably the most powerful among bat-type demonic beasts.
Even Diamond-ranked necromancers frequently summoned them in Siege Warfare.
Yet.
'Why summon Blade-Screaming Bats specifically?'
Sure, their status-inflicting ability could stagger even high-tier Platinum players—but that was it.
Why go out of his way to summon creatures with virtually no offensive power?
Then.
'Wait. Now that I think about it, there are only a hundred Blade-Screaming Bats here, aren't there?'
Andrew's eyes widened.
During the National Tournament, Kim Si-mun had summoned a total of three hundred demonic beasts.
Yet now, only about a hundred were visible.
'Where are the other two hundred?'
Naturally, Andrew's thoughts turned to the question—and soon, he found his answer.
Faintly.
But unmistakably to his senses, honed at the peak of Platinum-rank.
Ddddddd.
A vibration trembled beneath his feet.
'No way!'
A chill raced down his spine.
At that warning sensation.
"Everyone, get away from the ground!!"
Andrew immediately screamed the warning and activated Levitation Magic—but it was too late.
Only two players reacted to his cry: Ron at the front and Bashar, who had partially recovered his stamina.
And then.
Kwa-rurururu!
"The—the ground!"
"Waaaah!"
Another hell greeted them.
"Waaaah!!"
"Kyaaak!"
Screams soaked in terror and chaos continued without pause.
Beneath them lay the source of those cries.
Gluuurp.
Gulp.
Worm-like demonic beasts covered in sharp spines and fangs—Thorn Fiends—writhed like underwater seaweed.
A swarm of nearly three hundred Thorn Fiends.
And these insectoid monstrosities.
"M-my arm! My leg!"
"Help...!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
The sight of barely eighty humans being torn apart and devoured painted a scene straight from hell.
Watching this carnage unfold in real-time, the uniformed pretty boy.
'A-amazing!'
Yuto's eyes sparkled so intensely his face flushed red, fists clenched tight.
'That magic earlier was impressive, but this coordination between the demonic beasts is beyond anything I could've imagined...'
Blade-Screaming Bats—weak in attack power but inflicting debilitating status effects.
Thorn Fiends—deadly in offense but unreliable in ambush success.
The coordinated attacks of the Demonic Beasts, compensating for each other's weaknesses while maximizing their strengths, were remarkably formidable.
'Even someone like me would be in danger facing such teamwork.'
Yuto gave an involuntary shudder.
At that moment, a clear, beautiful voice reached his ears.
"Yuto. It's about time we go."
Yuto snapped his head toward Si-mun.
"Huh?"
"I said, it's time to go."
"Go where... if I may ask?"
"Where else? The Fortress of Savagery."
Si-mun chuckled and jutted his chin forward.
Yuto's expression twisted slightly in bewilderment.
"There?"
His voice was thick with doubt—and for good reason.
'It doesn't even look like I need to step in...'
Thanks to the ambush of over 300 Thorn Fiends erupting from the ground, the 80 or so Players had already been torn apart and devoured, hadn't they? The absence of screams was proof enough.
But Si-mun seemed to interpret his hesitation differently.
"What's wrong? You scared of those bug mobs, Yuto?"
Si-mun let out a snicker.
"N-No! I'm not afraid of bugs or anything like that!"Yuto hastily denied.
"It's just that it seems you've already taken care of everything, Sir Si-mun."
"Ah."
Si-mun exhaled a small sigh and shook his head.
"Nah. Three are still alive."
"Still alive?"
No further explanation was needed.
BOOM.
SCREEEECH!
An explosion and the shrieks of Thorn Fiends immediately followed.
Yuto blinked rapidly, his expression growing even more perplexed.
"Wait... Did you leave them for me?"
"Hm? Not really, no."
Si-mun denied it, but—
"...Is that so?"
Yuto's dubious expression remained unchanged as he stared at Si-mun.
Still wearing that look, he said,
"Then I won't hold back."
With a single step—
He charged toward the Fortress of Savagery, now a hellscape.
"Goddammit!"
"Ron! More coming from below!"
Curses echoed through the shattered fortress walls.
After surveying the interior, Yuto nodded slowly to himself.
'So it wasn't a lie that he didn't leave them for me.'
Andrew, Ron, and Bashar—
The three survivors were undeniably skilled, even by Yuto's standards.
However—
SCREEEEE!
CRUNCH.
No matter how capable they were, none could escape the relentless teamwork of the Blade-Screaming Bats and Thorn Fiends.
"Just die already!"
"Fuck! How many more do we have to kill?!"
The three, whom Yuto acknowledged as worthy opponents, were locked in a desperate struggle.
And even that—
"Guh—!"
"B-Bashar!"
"Damn it! Andrew, cover Bashar!"
—was on the verge of collapse as Bashar fell.
"You bastards—!"
"Kim Si-muuun!!"
Andrew and Ron roared in fury upon recognizing Si-mun and Yuto.
But that was all.
"You've worked hard. Now rest."
SWISH.
With a single, clean slash from Yuto, their heads flew.
Perhaps because the last resistance had been eliminated—
SCREEEEE.
GULP.
Only the cries of the surviving Demonic Beasts echoed through the ruined Fortress of Savagery.
Si-mun approached Yuto, who was silently staring down at the three corpses.
"Good work, Yuto."
"I only swung my sword once. It was all thanks to you, Sir Si-mun."
"No. Those three had the skills to survive. You did your part."
"Not at all. I merely—"
"I. Said. You. Did."
Si-mun gripped Yuto's shoulders firmly, cutting him off.
"You. Pulled. Your. Weight. That's why 'we' cleared the Arena together."
He barely swallowed the words, I noticed you trying to downplay yourself, and instead spoke clearly and firmly—
Especially emphasizing the phrase, 'we.'
"Si... Sir Si-mun..."
Tiny droplets welled up in Yuto's usually calm, somewhat aloof eyes.
"You really are..."
His lips trembled before he abruptly bowed his head.
"Yes. You're right. We cleared the Arena together."
As he admitted it, he raised his head again.
"Thank you. For everything, Sir Si-mun. Truly."
When Yuto lifted his face, it was filled with a rare, radiant smile.
[You have completed the mission of the three Constellations.]
[You have acquired 10,000 Achievement Points.]
As the mission completion window appeared before them—
"Yeah. That's how it should be."
Si-mun also smiled warmly.
Then—
[The Fortress of Savagery has been half-destroyed.]
[The seal placed on the fortress has been broken.]
[Due to special conditions being met, the Hidden Boss 'Nemean Lion Cub' has appeared.]
Messages cascaded before their eyes.
[The Constellation Zeus's eyes widen in shock.]
[The other four Constellations express astonishment.]
Zeus and the other Constellations couldn't contain their shock.
And this was because—
'Main Arena? Why is this appearing already?'
Si-mun was no less astonished.