Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Chapter 84: The Alchemist's Friend (1)
Translation: godtl
Si-mun and the viewers.
The reason everyone was shocked upon seeing the surroundings was simple.
-Oh shit!
-Gold-rank... at a Checkpoint?
-This is insane. This map only appears for Platinum and above.
-For real, first place is screwed now.
A straight, single-path terrain.
Though minor variations occurred depending on the map.
This particular bridge-shaped map was notoriously called the "Checkpoint," a stage that only appeared for Platinum-rank players and above.
-Wasn't this guy Gold? Did he climb ranks by running Arenas offline?
-No way. Someone like Si-mun would've had his Platinum Debut Match by now.
-True. Didn't they say his stats got adjusted earlier? Must be because of that.
-Just how high are his stats to trigger a Platinum map? Doesn't make sense.
-Nah, it actually makes perfect sense. His skills were already overpowered.
-Facts. Dude was OP-tier.
The viewers' excitement skyrocketed upon realizing this Arena was a Checkpoint.
One.
'The Checkpoint itself isn't bad, but...'
Back during the early Arena days—the Placement Test era—
Si-mun had already experienced the Checkpoint map [Corrupted Goblin Bridgehead].
Rather than excitement, he calmly scrutinized the earlier message with composed eyes.
[Due to possessing stats incompatible with your current rank, your match has been adjusted upward.]
'Incompatible stats for my current rank?'
Si-mun naturally pulled up his Status Window.
And then—
'Ah. So that's why.'
He immediately understood the reason for the upward adjustment.
Transmutation Power: 100 (+4)
- Demonic Energy: 52
- Dragon Power: 52
Remaining Stats: 10
'My Transmutation Power crossed 100.'
Originally at 75, his Transmutation Power—
'After absorbing Nidhogg's Dragon Power, which had corrupted the World Tree, it jumped by a whopping 25.'
As a result, with his Transmutation Power hitting 100—
'The system must've flagged me as Platinum outright.'
The primary condition for advancing to Platinum was having a main stat exceed 100.
This was why most Gold players only promoted to Platinum around the mid-to-late 100s in level.
If one hadn't achieved enlightenment in Manifestation of Qi by then—
'The Status Window forcibly enables Manifestation of Qi.'
A phenomenon colloquially called "Correction."
Of course, there was a stark difference between Platinums who mastered Manifestation of Qi through genuine enlightenment and those who relied on Correction.
Beyond Platinum, rank advancement wasn't just about grinding Arena matches.
This was also the dividing line between so-called "true Platinums" and "fake Platinums."
The boundary separating those who would climb further to Diamond through deeper enlightenment from those who wouldn't.
'Also known as the "Yeti Section"—a rank range of lamentation.'
People inevitably split into those who would make it and those who wouldn't.
Once they realized effort alone couldn't carry them further,
some resorted to trolling, actively preventing others from climbing.
Others, stuck in prolonged stagnation, became so-called "Gatekeepers," slaughtering newly promoted Platinum players.
A ruthless Survival of the Fittest environment.
A stage where every shade of human nature ran rampant.
[This Arena's mode is 'Defense,' with 20 participants.]
[Additional condition: 'Cooperation' has been applied.]
[All participants are grouped into a single team.]
[The Arena will begin once all members are visible.]
Fortunately—
"Huh? What the— Why am I here? I'm Gold!"
"No way, this is a Checkpoint!"
"Fuck! Has this damn Arena finally lost it?"
"It might just look like a Checkpoint but not actually be one."
"What are you talking about? It literally says 'Defense' right there. A bridge map with Offense or Defense is 100% a Checkpoint—don't you know that?"
The matched players didn't seem to be Platinums.
As Si-mun scanned them, he realized some faces looked familiar.
'The map is Platinum-tier, but all participants are Gold.'
Did they recognize him too?
"Y-you're—!"
"Kim Si-mun?"
"What? Kim Si-mun?"
"The winner of the Gold Debut Match?"
The players who spotted him startled, exchanging shocked murmurs.
'I see. So that's how it is.'
After observing the matched players, Si-mun gave a small nod.
'At least the system has some conscience. It only matched me with top-tier Gold players.'
Most of the matched players had participated in the Gold Debut Match.
Had they realized it too?
"Familiar faces all around."
"Yeah. I prayed I'd never face you bastards as enemies again."
"Bullshit, you got wrecked last time. Be glad we're teamed up by the Cooperation condition."
"Long time no see."
"Yeah. Good to see you, man."
The matched players quickly grasped the situation and began adapting.
Among them, a particularly large-framed man approached.
"Kim Si-mun."
A rugged man in his mid-thirties walked toward Si-mun.
"It's been a while."
Recognizing him, Si-mun also feigned familiarity.
"Long time no see, Choi Jin-su."
Choi Jin-su.
The possessor of the SS-rank Beastification trait and the Myth Guild's most promising prospect.
A former UFC professional before his awakening, he was a player destined to become a high-ranker.
Though they had only met in competitive Arenas until now.
"You've gotten stronger."
His gaze as he looked at Si-mun was filled with unmistakable admiration.
"Do I seem that way?"
"It's not about looks. It's what I sense."
His eyes, like those of a beast assessing its prey, swept over Si-mun.
"Outwardly, you still look like a freeloading parasite, but I can feel it. You're far stronger now than when I saw you in your Debut Match."
He flexed his arm, thick with muscle and scars.
Coarse hair stood on end along his forearm.
Seeing that arm, Si-mun immediately understood Jin-su's deduction.
'It must be because of the Beastification trait.'
The SS-rank Beastification.
True to its SS-rank status, even without fully transforming,
it enhanced overall physical abilities to match those of a beast.
Those raised hairs, for instance—
likely a beast's instincts warning him.
That the being before him was a predator far beyond his own level.
Since there was no reason to hide his strength anyway,
"I can't deny it. I've had some real combat experience lately."
"Real combat? So that's how you got so strong. Must have some special training method."
Perhaps because he was a former UFC fighter,
Jin-su's eyes gleamed especially bright at the mention of real combat.
Si-mun didn't bother correcting his misunderstanding.
"So if I join that guild, will I get to experience real combat like you?"
"Huh? A guild?"
He'd never even mentioned a guild before.
When Si-mun widened his eyes like a startled rabbit, Jin-su spoke as if he already knew everything.
"No need to hide it. The Guild Master called me in recently and told me."
"Guild Master... You mean Iron Blood Go Chang-jin?"
"That's right."
Iron Blood Go Chang-jin.
A first-generation ranker like his uncle Kim Mu-yeol, founder of the Myth Guild—one of Korea's top three guilds.
A sharp-eyed, handsome middle-aged man who enjoyed immense popularity among women regardless of age.
A player excelling not just in combat but in all the skills needed to manage a faction.
"The Guild Master made me an offer. Asked if I'd considered temporarily joining another guild."
Jin-su smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth.
"At first, I thought I was being kicked out. Can't blame me—I received all that support but still didn't win my Debut Match."
"I see..."
As Si-mun awkwardly trailed off, Jin-su shook his head.
"No need to feel awkward. You're a strong fighter who's more than qualified. If anything, your current position seems beneath your strength."
Perhaps as straightforward as his appearance,
Jin-su's blunt praise and acknowledgment made Si-mun scratch his cheek self-consciously.
"Anyway, the reason he called me was simple. It was about the growth buff from the guild I'd be temporarily joining. A growth buff so insane it made even Iron Blood's Guild Master lose his mind."
"Ah."
At that, Si-mun let out a small gasp.
-A growth buff?
-Aren't all guild buffs pretty much the same?
-If even Iron Blood Go Chang-jin lost his mind over it, the effect must be insane.
-So that's why this guy got so strong. There was a reason after all.
-I'm dying to know. Just how powerful is it?
The chat exploded at the mention of the growth buff.
Given Si-mun's overwhelming abilities so far, the curiosity was natural.
And it wasn't just the viewers.
-A growth buff? I've never heard of anything like that.
-If they're sending a prospect to another guild, the buff must be substantial.
-If the Guild Master himself brought it up, it's probably intel only circulating among the major guilds.
-Then the Seongsam Guild must have gotten an offer too.
-If anyone has info on that guild, please contact me. Compensation guaranteed.
Scouts from guilds monitoring Si-mun's stream
were already buzzing about it in their communities.
Unaware of all this, the two continued their conversation.
"So you assumed I was affiliated with that guild because of the buff's effects?"
"Exactly."
They carried on as casually as before.
"With a growth buff that insane, even your ridiculous progress starts to make sense."
Si-mun inwardly marveled at Jin-su's deduction.
"'I told Park Jin-uk to fill the guild's vacant slots at the highest possible price, but...'"
That was as far as he went.
Si-mun certainly hadn't mentioned that he was the master of that guild.
Yet, Choi Jin-su had deduced this much solely based on the overwhelming power Si-mun had displayed thus far.
'As expected of the Beast King. He's not just brawn.'
Just like the Night Hunter, Park Jin-uk.
Despite his rough and imposing exterior, Choi Jin-su possessed an exceptionally sharp mind.
'Well, you can't become a high-ranker with brute strength alone.'
Contrary to the common perception that sheer combat prowess was everything for Players,
mindlessly relying on brute force alone made it difficult to reach Ranker status.
Strategic thinking and judgment were equally crucial for conquering the Arena.
Of course, there were exceptions.
'Like Go Mal-suk, or Mal-suk, or the Heavenly Demon.'
Our future Heavenly Demon, Go Mal-suk,
despite her 'slightly simple-minded' drawback,
had ascended to high-ranker status with such overwhelming martial prowess that even the Beast King before her would have to yield.
'Mal-suk's only true rivals were the Four Great High-rankers, right?'
Korea's Sword Saint, China's Spear King, and the top players from Europe and America.
It was universally acknowledged that Mal-suk stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Four Great High-rankers.
Yet, driven by personal vengeance, she lived a life practically devoid of nationality,
and her single-minded pursuit of revenge brought her into conflict with every major faction.
In the end, she wasn't counted among the Five Great High-rankers, but proudly earned her place as one of the World's Three Madwomen.
Anyway.
"It's a pleasure to become guildmates."
There was no harm in establishing an open friendship with a future high-ranker.
"I'd say 'let's work well together,' but we probably won't cross paths much, right?"
Without hesitation, Si-mun extended his hand first.
'After all, he doesn't know I'm the source of the Growth Buff.'
Nor would he guess that I'm the Guild Master.
Just counting the current guild members—Kim Si-hyeok, Lee Yu-jeong, and Park Jin-uk—
what lunatic would believe a mere Gold like me was the Guild Master?
"I haven't officially joined the guild yet, but it doesn't matter. I spend every waking moment in the Arena, trying to surpass you—except when eating or sleeping."
Choi Jin-su grinned as he clasped Si-mun's hand.
'Must be the athlete in him. His competitive spirit is insane.'
Slightly impressed, Si-mun responded with encouragement.
"If I'm your goal, then I'll have to work hard not to get caught."
"Keuk. I like you."
After a brief handshake, Choi Jin-su turned away with a satisfied expression.
"Shame we only met under cooperative terms, but I'll look forward to this Arena."
"Likewise."
As Choi Jin-su walked away, the final participant was matched with him in a flash of white light.
[All participants have been matched.]
[The Arena will now begin.]
A message window floated in the air.
[Target Area: 'Poisoned Supply Route.']
[Defend the target area by any means within the time limit.]
[The more survivors, the greater the clear rewards.]
[Time remaining: 29:59]
Like a tropical wetland,
"Ugh."
"Damn it!"
A sweltering, humid wave of air engulfed Si-mun and the other Players.
But the Players' curses weren't just because of the oppressive heat and humidity.
"Poisoned Supply Route? Are they insane?"
"That's one of the nastiest Checkpoint maps out there!"
"Why the hell are we getting a map that even high-tier Platinums struggle with? Did the Arena side just not care?"
It was the infamous reputation of the Poisoned Supply Route itself.
"We're screwed. I didn't bring a single antidote!"
"Same here. And one or two antidotes wouldn't cut it anyway."
As the name suggested, poison was the central theme of this map.
Every vibrant flower and mushroom blooming around them was laced with toxins,
and naturally, the monsters spawning here each carried their own poisons.
Still, these were the top-tier Players among Golds.
"How many Support Classes do we have? Anyone capable of detoxification?"
"I've seen this place a few times on broadcasts. NPCs will arrive soon, so let's set up formations first."
"Hey! I don't care if you stick with your friends, but tanks, get your asses to the front!"
The Players quickly exchanged information and took their positions.
Meanwhile,
"Poisoned Supply Route, huh..."
Si-mun, the primary cause of this predicament, calmly observed the long bridge stretching ahead.
'Perfect timing. My Transmutation Power just surpassed 100—I was itching to test it out.'
After the assassination attempt by the Continent Guild and his uncle's steadfast retainer, Golem Choi Chang-wook,
he had felt the need to synthesize 'this.'
'With Transmutation Power over 100, the performance should far surpass my past life's, right?'
Si-mun allocated all 10 of his remaining stat points into Transmutation Power while—
"Who the hell are you?"
—turning to face the unidentified hooded figure who had suddenly appeared, the starting NPC.