Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 197
>Chapter Title: Empire Confrontation
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Chapter 197
Arnis Empire.
The final stretch of the main continent and the symbol of Avtartel.
The central region, uniquely called an empire beyond the cities.
-The real game begins from the empire.
-Players who haven't stepped foot in the empire haven't even tasted a fraction of Godose.
Such were the opinions of some game critics regarding the empire.
Arrogant statements, but those who had experienced the empire even once didn't deny them.
They couldn't, even if they wanted to.
[You have entered the empire. Locked content and systems are now unlocked.]
[Raid-related content is unlocked.]
[Enhancement content is unlocked.]
[Forge, workshop, alchemy, cooking, and other production job content are unlocked.]
[You can now enter the Mage Tower and Knight Citadel.]
[Players can enjoy various content through their affiliated organizations and may join them depending on conditions.]
The liberation of numerous previously locked content and systems.
Whether production or combat class, players could now set foot in the massive organizations of their affiliations.
"What? You want to become a master blacksmith, so take me as your disciple? Hmm, I don't accept anyone without talent! Let's see you heat up in the furnace first!"
"We've prepared a small gift for you upon entering the Crimson Mage Tower."
"Have you ever sworn the oath of a knight?"
This gave countless players genuine opportunities to grind and grow.
"Damn, enhancement is pure honey. Charging in right now."
"Can't resist enhancement. Dropping 200 sheets immediately."
"You crazy bastards, blowing 2 million won on one weapon enhancement? Your brains are pickled in luck-based trash game."
"B-But... I've become the type that can't be satisfied with just card scraping."
"Enhancement is the best. Always thrilling."
It also gave countless whales the chance to fully open their wallets.
And that wasn't all.
"Whoa... This is the empire."
"That's the Mage Tower I've only heard about. It's piercing the heavens."
"The Knight Citadel is almost on par with castles ruled by other city lords?"
"How many Mage Towers and citadels are there... No wonder even if all cities combined, they can't touch the empire's toes."
"That's the royal palace... Where the emperor resides. The Knight Citadel looks tiny in comparison. For real?"
Just looking at the massive landmass and forces incomparable to cities made chests swell with awe.
Moreover, the empire's level limit was 71-100.
"Huh? Isn't that the Phoenix Guild Master?"
"Baekdu Mountain's here too!"
"Whoa, all the celebrities are here. Even Top 10 Guild executives?"
"No way, people I've only seen on streams... Feels unreal."
"How many people is this..."
Not just famous figures whose names alone were known to all.
With the vanguard teams and virtually most players gathered in the empire, there were easily hundreds of millions of users.
And matching them in fame were the Arnis Knight Order, Arlen's castle lord, Mage Tower lords, and more...
"Their presence is killer... What kind of NPCs are those? They look like powerhouses straight out of fantasy novels."
"Even Top 10 Guilds can't mess with them."
"Feels like the real empire. Kinda exciting for no reason."
Seeing the countless famous NPC figures, people finally realized they had arrived in the empire and felt thrilled.
A sensation utterly different from stepping into previous cities.
Instinctively sensing that this was the true beginning, their hearts swelled.
[You have entered the Arnis Empire, the central empire of the main continent.]
[Enhancement content is unlocked.]
....
[Tip. The emperor's royal decree is absolute. Proceed with caution in your gameplay.]
'...My chest feels grand.'
'Th-That... Rugae.'
'Hmm...!'
'Liza Lizar.'
Do-hyun felt the same.
Like other players, the moment he first set foot on empire soil, the otherworldly spectacle greeting him left him in awe, his chest swelling.
However, the reason for that swelling was slightly different.
Step, step, step, step, step.
Murmur, murmur—
Dozens of armed players surrounded the warp point, waiting for Do-hyun.
'...I had a hunch, but they're really camping from the start.'
This was them preparing their full force in advance, anticipating failure in Pratel.
Impressive persistence.
To catch just him, the entire guild had cleared their schedules and mobilized.
'Well, Biltan... No, Berze. He was always ruthlessly thorough in times like this, even in Delrock.'
The fact that he had stationed fewer numbers than in Pratel meant he was that confident.
Even after seeing the Ruidra raid party's composition, deploying only 50 meant those 50 equaled 200 average players.
"...What's going on?"
"Isn't that Hero Guild? Why are they suddenly surrounding the warp?"
"How many is that... At least 50?"
"Insane, and the ones up front are all high executives?"
"The ones in the back aren't regular members either. All former rising stars who made names for themselves."
That guess hit the mark precisely.
They were Hero Guild's high executives, famous enough that naming them rang bells.
Even those standing like mere soldiers behind were not ordinary guild members—they were elite combatants.
"What, you haven't heard?"
"Heard what?"
"This time in Pratel, the Ruidra raid... Kaiser stole..."
"No way... Is that even allowed?"
"Who knows. Apparently, just before warping here, there was a scuffle in Pratel, and suddenly knights intervened?"
"What's even happening?"
Even passersby in the empire, where such rare sights were hard to come by, couldn't help stopping to glance over.
For those unaware, wondering what was going on.
For the quick ones already in the know, popping popcorn for the spectacle.
That was when countless gazes were fixed upon them.
Thud, thud.
"...We've been waiting a long time, Kaiser."
"Huh? H-Huh?!"
"No way..."
Heavy footsteps from the rear, followed by a pleasant mid-low voice.
Players turned their heads and gasped, making way.
The crowd parted like the miracle of Moses, forming a path. Striding down it alone with dignity was a long-haired man.
A cold handsome man, like a courtesan gigolo, radiating good looks even from afar.
Thud, thud.
Thud.
A man in Godose's appearance rankings Top 5.
One of the most popular players among female players, and master of Hero Guild, in the top ranks of the Top 100 Guilds.
"...Berze."
It was Berze's appearance.
The unexpected bigwig's arrival made the players' murmurs swell loudly.
"Whoa... Berze himself stepped up?"
"Berze here too? Kaiser's done for now."
"Why? Didn't Kaiser steal a hidden raid boss and beat 30-to-1? Should be doable, right?"
"Pratel and the empire the same? Just looking at enhancements and skill grades, it's a whole different level..."
"Different leagues altogether. Empire vs. Pratel. And Berze... Game over."
"This is why you join a guild. Kaiser crossed lines without knowing his place."
"Thought level caps would protect him forever. Now the empire, they'll all pile on."
The overheard talk was uniformly negative.
Of course, valid opinions.
No matter Kaiser's historic feats rewriting history, he was just a fresh 71 entering the empire.
A 71 taking down a 100 was absurd.
Especially outnumbered—pointless to argue.
'...What do we do, master? Are we in big trouble?'
'L-Liza...'
'Hmm... I sense powerful auras.'
Even the aura-sensitive summons like Jihad showed anxiety.
In contrast, Berze approached with full leisure, stared at Kaiser, and slyly lifted one corner of his mouth.
"I've missed you, Kaiser."
"...Not into guys."
To Do-hyun's curt reply, Berze chuckled softly.
"I've really missed you. Wondering what confidence lets you keep getting in my way... But you've crossed the line by miles."
Though Berze's face smiled, it wasn't a smile.
Eyes creased, but jaw clenched, radiating killing intent.
Instead of answering, Do-hyun slowly turned his head, surveying the surroundings.
Then, with a sneer, he spat out.
"Aren't you the ones crossing lines?"
"...Watch your mouth, or you'll face divine punishment. Think carefully before speaking."
"Divine punishment's for you lot. You've stabbed plenty in the back, haven't you? Right, Biltan?"
Berze, grinding his teeth mid-sentence, paused.
He stared into Do-hyun's eyes for seconds, then sneered back.
"...You recognized me."
"Well, the 'Kuma' was too different. Back then, full of chuunibyou like you were about to shout 'Black Flame Dragon'..."
"Sh-Shut up! Kaiser."
Berze hastily cut him off, visibly flustered.
Like unearthing black history, Do-hyun grinned with a 'what's this?' look.
"Embarrassed, huh? Come to think of it, your speech wasn't like this back then. Why so refined now? Ah, that kind of thing? Forgetting the shameful past, new start in a new place..."
"Enough pointless talk."
Step, step, step, step.
Cutting him off decisively, he raised one hand. His surrounding forces drew weapons and stepped forward.
Now close enough that a lunge would skewer him.
"...This okay here? Bloodshed means jail time."
"Of course, I have no such intentions. I won't harm you here, absolutely. Just blocking your path."
"..."
"Ah, there's a warp to the field on the right... We'll leave that open specially."
Do-hyun glanced where indicated and let out a hollow laugh.
The right warp led to the field.
The meaning was simple.
Quietly head to the field and get executed. Can't move a step in the city.
"...Petty bastard."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Berze smiled brightly and stepped closer, faces inches apart.
Similar heights made eyes vivid.
Berze's eyes brimmed with ecstasy.
As if this moment was utterly thrilling.
Feeling disgust at that cathartic gaze, Do-hyun reached for his waist, but Berze stepped back and spoke.
"I said we have bad blood. Good you remember. Then do you recall this?"
"...What?"
"When I fought Hermes Guild in a guild war, you intruded without permission and wrecked everything. And whenever you could, you interfered with me."
That was true.
Back then, he intended to annihilate both.
Open hostility, striking first.
Arguably line-crossing with no defense, but there were reasons.
"Ha, you proposed alliance over common enemies, then backstabbed hard—forgot that?"
"...Strategy."
The reason Do-hyun forged true enmity with Hero Guild.
The guild that made him adopt 'an enemy yesterday is an enemy today'—none other than Hero Guild.
That petty bad blood now pressed a blade to his throat once more.