Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 143
>Chapter Title: Lawless Challenge
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>[RCD recording begins.]
Lawless Challenge.
The term came from a once-popular challenge: filming yourself taking on a Lawless.
There were unwritten rules to these Lawless Challenges.
"Whoa... a Lawless Challenge? This is insane for real."
"The God and the Lawless King going at it? This matchup is straight fire."
"I'm witnessing this live—I'm getting chills. Screw it, I gotta brag to the Shin-do folks right now!"
"Real-time live ticket is pure gold. Everyone not in Sargis must be dying of jealousy."
"Whoa, I'm checking GodTalk reactions right now, and the forums are exploding. Articles are already popping up, total chaos."
The Lawless surrounded them on all sides.
And the players surrounding those Lawless—that was one of the rules.
'Spectators never interfere, and the challenger never runs away.'
It sounded like some fantasy warrior's trial, but it wasn't some grand act of conviction.
As if a mere game would have that.
There was no rule saying you couldn't run, and you could bolt anytime if you wanted.
But it had become an unwritten rule anyway. Simple reason.
'How could I run? I'd rather die.'
Lawless ignore other players unless provoked.
So spectators naturally gathered.
And since challengers were usually top rankers, pride wouldn't let them flee in front of everyone.
It wasn't just a matter of pride.
'Uh? Chicken out?'
'That king from the rival guild stood his ground and cleared 50%—same Top 10 Guild, right?'
'Ugh, never pegged him for that. I'd be too ashamed to show my face.'
'Yup~ Your guild master turned tail and ran from a Lawless~ Even Top 100 Guilds are no match for Top 10 trash~'
Guilds lived on their image, so a lifelong "coward" label stuck like a tail.
'Full moon nights in the field reduce death penalties anyway.'
No excuses there—running meant getting roasted, plain and simple.
Shattered reputation? Better not to challenge at all than start and bail. You had to see it through.
In other words, Do-hyun couldn't back out now.
"But can he actually pull this off?"
"Who knows... Lawless are pretty tough, right?"
"Even Arthur, who was top 5 back then, only hit 50%... Isn't this too reckless, even for Kaiser?"
"We're loving the show, but did he have to challenge? Failing would just trash his built-up image."
They were right.
Kaiser's current image was god-tier.
Sure, it had meme-ified thanks to some rabid fans, but everyone was hyped for his moves.
A pathetic loss here?
His undefeated myth would shatter, image inevitably tarnished.
"Can he beat Arthur's record?"
"Nah, probably not. Party might make it possible, but Arthur did it with 10 people. Setting a record with those two Guardians or whatever... tough."
"Yeah... even for Kaiser, this seems overkill. Might get wrecked this time."
"Yeah, no way. You ever see a god fail?"
"Bullshit, god or not, this doesn't add up realistically."
No wonder they were so hyped.
Do-hyun was used to people buzzing about him, but even he felt a twinge of tension this time.
'Master, you good?'
'Lizaliza...'
The grunts were one thing, but the leader's strength was legit.
Failure meant no image hit—just the castle falling and no Fate Fragment.
How could he not be tense?
[Player: Kaiser]
[Level: 47]
And he was still only level 47.
Levels crawled the closer you got to graduation.
'No choice—last shot today, so let's do it.'
Couldn't wait a month for just two levels.
'Though my blade is lacking, I shall serve you with all I have, my lord.'
'Liza!'
'Just trust in us!'
Do-hyun chuckled at their confident reassurance.
Meanwhile, the leader staring at him shook its head.
[...No... army...]
[Interfering... ones... eliminate... no time...]
It knew Do-hyun wasn't who they sought.
Didn't change a thing, though.
[Kill... them...]
Step. Step. Step. Step.
The legion closed in on Do-hyun in formation at the leader's cracked command.
Do-hyun's space shrank.
But then.
Grraaah— Grraaah—
[...?]
Horrid undead burst from the ground beneath the approaching foes, blocking them.
[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ summons undead.]
['Forest Red Goblin Undead x2, Forest Blue Goblin Undead x1, Orc Undead x3, Lycanthrope x2 summoned.']
[Legion Control judges all as one entity.]
[Over 50% of Legion undead judged as lower city monsters. Mana cost reduced.]
-Leave these to us, Master!
-Indeed! We shall handle these witless fools. Focus on their leader...
Jihad and Charlie moved like clockwork now, no orders needed.
Clang!
Grraaah—!
[Interlopers... eliminate...]
Lawless legion clashed with undead legion.
Charlie joined, and the Lawless halted, unable to advance.
Four days of training hadn't just boosted Do-hyun.
[Jihad]
[Level: 19]
[Charlie]
[Level: 11]
Both had leveled up big time.
Charlie's growth was huge, starting lower.
Past level 10 unlocked a new skill.
[Armor of Protection]
-Rarity: Rare
-Restriction: Knight class
-Description: Borrow the power of protection for a duration, hardening your body.
Stronger when guarding others; amplifies with more threats.
-Effect: Defense and magic resistance rise proportional to aggro held. Doubles when protecting someone.
-Cooldown: 100 seconds
-You shall not pass.
Upgraded Charlie's already aggro-focused kit.
'Perfect buff for tanking mobs like this.'
Knights were meta tanks for hordes for a reason.
Armor of Protection was their conditional rare-breaker.
Mediocre normally, monstrous here.
'Tanking like that without a shield.'
Charlie was more sub-DPS sub-tank than pure tank, but his aggro control rivaled top tanks.
-Hmph! Think I'd take those blind swings? Ah, apologies. With your eyes hollow, it's only natural.
[...Kill... them...]
-Is that an attack? They say blind sharpen other senses... apparently not always.
[That... one first... kill...]
[...Good... idea...]
...Verbal aggro? Nah, just imagination?
Whatever—prime aggro. Charlie held the furious Lawless with fluid swordplay.
Then Eliza stepped up.
Spit—!
-Lizaliza!
Amid the deadlock.
Eliza popped out, webbing their legs and toppling them.
She puffed her chest: trust me.
The leader fumed.
[Arrogant... pests... no time...]
Do-hyun swung Cheonbyeon at the surging menace.
[Using Shroud of Darkness on ‘Undead Legion.’]
[Using Shroud of Darkness on ‘Cheonbyeon.’]
Grraaaah!!
[...!?]
Dark-shrouded undead powered up; Lawless retreated for the first time.
-Hmph!
Charlie pressed the advantage.
Do-hyun now had space for a clean one-on-one with the leader.
He smirked.
"Let's get started."
[...Need to... learn your... place... mortal... pain...]
"Slow talker too chatty. Quit stalling and come at me."
[...]
Do-hyun cut it off, morphing Cheonbyeon to ‘Radiant Taksinel’s Blue Sword’ and charging.
First time? It shut up, embarrassed, then lunged with blank eyes flashing.
Battle joined.
* * *
KABOOM!
BOOM— Splatter—!
"Whoa..."
Players gasped involuntarily at the deafening blasts.
What a sight.
Even veterans of Lawless Challenges had never seen combat like this.
"Every clash sounds like fireworks."
"Look—dodging all those Lawless attacks. Humanly possible?"
"Not just dodging—he counters every time. How do you even track that live? How many mind games in one exchange?"
How to describe it.
Precision and speed beyond belief, laced with endless feints and reads.
Kaiser: Swordsman. Leader: Battle Mage.
Shiiiing—
Kiiing!
Blue sword swings to split the skull; barrier up, but shield-form Cheonbyeon shoves it down.
Out of barrier range, exposed vitals—throw dagger-form Cheonbyeon.
Boom!
Dark pillar erupts from the ground, as predicted.
Do-hyun backs off.
[Using Backstab.]
[Mark created.]
Kaiser vanishes, reappears behind, sword flashing.
Seamless close-quarters flurry.
All one fluid scene, no stutter.
"Whoa..."
"...This is Kaiser?"
These battle-hardened Sargis players were speechless before the spectacle.