Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 242
>Chapter Title: Why Didn't I Think of That?
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Arthur was the strongest living holy knight player.
>Excluding Sir Lebed of Brion, his reputation placed him at the pinnacle even among NPCs.
'And holy priests and holy knights can unleash 1.5 times their usual power here.'
It wasn't for nothing that players from that side dominated the upper ranks of this world quest.
Moreover, was Arthur just any holy knight?
>He was the one and only player who wielded the light of the Goddess of Purification.
'This is something only Arthur can pull off.'
That was why he was the answer.
Only one person could enter the king's temple.
'Unless that guy Annihilator shows up—and he's nearly unmatched in one-on-one fights—no Top 10 Guild has a shot at taking down the king.'
Even if he just bought some time on purpose...
Even delaying the emergence of that colossal monster would be enough.
Then all the guilds could gather for a raid, and they might have a chance.
-1 hour already passed!
>-Casualty rate stopped rising. Seems like it doesn't go up while a player's inside?
>-Arthur's doing this?
>-King God Arthur. As expected from the King's master. Arthur is the king.
>-Got wiped in phase 1, but holding phase 2 this long.
>-What's phase 2 anyway? Heard phase 1 was instant death if you ate the one-hit pattern.
>-Crazy, instant death... No wonder Ripard got one-shot. Ripard's famous for no dodges either.
Just as hoped, he had already bought a full hour.
That alone made Harrington feel like he could finally breathe, pulling his head out from the suffocating confines of his own skin.
Maybe, just maybe.
'Arthur might actually pull it off...'
Before the thought could finish, a message appeared.
A message that choked Harrington just as he savored a sliver of relief.
[Arthur has died.]
>[Player who entered the temple has died, increasing the Catastrophe Recreation Rate.]
>[The Catastrophe Recreation Rate is now 71%.]
-Wow, he died in the end.
>-Ah... Arthur, even you...
>-So close. Held out over an hour, had me hoping.
>-Where are the idiots saying Arthur was the only hope? You lost your asses, you fucks.
>-Some assholes were gambling through this lol
>-Toto scum spit spit
In the end, Arthur's challenge had failed.
Harrington was going mad, jumping out of his skin.
-At least he must've chunked a ton of HP? Probably took half at least.
>-Who's left who can tank the king better than Arthur? Even if other Top 10 Guilds come, doubtful.
>-Annihilator not coming? For real, Annihilator's the only answer now.
>-Annihilator's on a hidden quest in the New Continent, takes days. Heard they sent execs ahead, but no word for hours.
>-No hope here anymore. This world quest is done. gg
Just as they said, hope was gone now.
'Annihilator? That prick's never coming.'
A guy who lived off his own hype from the start.
He'd put this world quest on the back burner for whatever epic hidden quest he was on.
Everyone in the Top 10 Guilds knew he'd pulled his execs back when word of the monster spread.
So why wasn't that news spreading?
'Because the other Top 10 Guilds are in the same boat. Damn bastards.'
Harrington ground his teeth, glaring at the shattered desk he'd smashed.
It wasn't incomprehensible.
After Arthur's failure, why step up and risk a death penalty and image hit? Better to plant the idea that they were just too late to challenge.
Even if they arrived, they'd time it for when the recreation rate hit 100%.
Harrington was sure he'd do the same.
'Let me die alone, huh? After all the debts I covered for you assholes...'
That was the problem—his position was one where his guts were literally on fire.
As Harrington vented his rage, his face soured into bitterness, and he let out a sigh.
'...It's over. Better figure out how to face the Emperor. That's the only way to survive...? Huh?'
It was then, as he pondered survival over clinging to the impossible.
The mood in the community chat shifted abruptly.
Because of one name mentioned.
At the same time, Harrington's shadowed face twisted oddly, a glint of light flickering in his eyes.
Gulp.
He'd spotted hope.
* * *
And at that moment.
Not quite as desperate as Harrington, but still sweating bullets, there were others.
'Aw, what the hell is this mess.'
They were waiting at the entrance to the Forgotten King's Temple.
Masters from Top 10 Guilds like Beyond the Heavens and Leone, plus high rankers under NPC banners.
-They're all gathered, but... no one's daring to go in.
"Hah, got it. I'll be there soon, hold on a bit longer."
Ast scratched his head furiously upon hearing that all these big shots were hesitating.
He'd worried his rivals would go too far ahead, leaving no chance to challenge.
Unnecessary worry.
'What the hell is this? No one's even tried? The Top 10 Guild name's gonna ring hollow.'
They were at the peak, always strutting with shoulders back, looking down nobly.
But the sight now held no such nobility.
Just a silent game of chicken over who enters first.
Leon, master of Leone Guild, who demanded to be called the Lionhearted King of his era and flaunted his bravery.
Xiao, master of Beyond the Heavens, who showed off his lofty Pegasus-riding poise.
Even those guys who went around boasting as disciples of archmages and Knight Citadel lords.
All the same.
Shameful to be seen like this, but it couldn't be helped.
[Arthur has died.]
Arthur's death message from moments ago had been that shocking.
They'd secretly thought he might clear it, so his anticlimactic end made them hesitate.
That was why no one had challenged until Ast arrived.
[The Catastrophe Recreation Rate is now 89%.]
And this was the result.
Even without entering, the rate climbed, accelerating wildly past 80%.
That was how the current rate was born, as players dithered.
Ast glanced sideways. A habit since the rate topped 80%.
But this time was different.
----!
The moment he locked eyes with the countless orbs of the colossal mountain-like monster that now felt right in front of him.
[The Catastrophe Recreation Rate has reached 90%.]
>[The Catastrophe Recreation Rate at 90% causes the seal's rift to collapse.]
>[The colossal disaster fully reveals itself.]
Roooooooar-!!
A crack split the space with a jagged tear, and it fully emerged with a whale-like bellow.
"This is insane."
At this distance, its size was too vast to take in fully.
[The colossal disaster gazes here.]
>[Remnants of the seal linger.]
>[The colossal disaster will move when the Catastrophe Recreation Rate hits 100%.]
>[The colossal disaster fully revealed, Catastrophe Recreation Rate surges.]
>[The Catastrophe Recreation Rate is now 91%.]
....
[The Catastrophe Recreation Rate is now 93%.]
It was a deep-sea creature. No other way to describe it.
No earthly lifeform came close.
"...What the hell is that?"
"Whoa... Am I seeing this right?"
"Recreation rate's climbing insane fast? Gonna hit 100% in under 5 minutes at this rate. We just leaving it?"
"What can we do? Top 10 Guilds can't even challenge, what chance do we have?"
Ast flushed red hearing the stunned reactions from nearby players.
He felt embarrassed for them too.
'Why's the dungeon so damn huge? Temple had to spawn at the ass-end... Gotta move faster.'
It was then, as Ast hurried like fire was on his feet.
The spectating players who'd been watching whatever happens suddenly grew rowdy.
"Huh? Yo, crazy! Jackpot."
"Why?"
"No, seriously crazy, check community now. Whoa..."
"Why the fuss all of a sudden... Fine, checking... Holy shit, insane?"
The player, annoyed at his buddy's hype, went wide-eyed.
Then hyped up the same way, whispering to others.
This scene unfolded everywhere.
-M-Master!
"What now?"
Same here.
When the vice-master urgently whispered, Ast questioned, and the vice-master breathlessly recited the community buzz.
Mixed chatter, but one main point.
-Th-The Sword Star. The Sword Star appeared!
"...What?"
Sword Star.
The sword of the Seven Rivers, direct disciple of Sword Emperor Garfield Drew.
The one player recognized by the Empire for swordsmanship, earning the Sword Star moniker.
At that name, Ast halted mid-step.
He checked the community, and it was chaos.
-Crazy, Sword Star showed!
>-Huh? That sword psycho chick?
>-Guy who said training the sword comes before quests or whatever? Why's she moving?
>-Wasn't she in the New Continent till recently? Talking nonsense like 'this time I'll reach the sword's limit' or something?
>-Friend in the Empire saw Sword Star return to the continent. Said she went straight to Sword Emperor.
>-Sword Star, gonna show?
>-Nah, if she's seeing Sword Emperor, probably not coming.
>-Who knows. Sword Star doesn't move without reason.
Excitement boiling over the unexpected Sword Star news.
And it didn't end there.
-Yo, jackpot!! Real jackpot news!
>-Holy, insane. Totally nuts.
Word spread of another player sighted entering the continent.
Ast blanked for a sec at those two names.
Then a bearded grin crept up his lips.
"Well, well?"
Welcome arrivals.
* * *
A large room over 10 pyeong.
Sparse with just swords and training robes, making it feel even bigger and cleaner.
An old man stroking the window turned at the sound of the door opening.
"So, have you attained the realm you sought?"
A sight that would shock anyone.
Kind voice, long beard, ordinary build.
At a glance, just a white-haired elder, but anyone knowing his identity wouldn't dare open the door without knocking.
Sword Emperor, Garfield Drew.
Sword of the Seven Rivers, the continent's greatest swordsman.
That was the old man.
"Not yet sufficient."
"Then why return?"
Yet he didn't chide the rudeness, probing intent.
Naturally so.
The entrant was his sole disciple.
"An old comrade seems in peril."
"Oh ho..."
At the calm voice laced with faint joy, the old man finally turned.
His intrigued gaze met a woman with silky black hair like ebony.
Violet-tinged black locks, porcelain-white skin.
Deer-like neck exposed over her training robe, curves below befitting a beauty.
Pure features, yet sharp as a swordswoman, she met his eyes steadily as always.
"Your old comrade... that amusing fellow you mentioned from your past tales?"
She nodded silently.
The old man crinkled his eyes, nodding.
"Go, my disciple."
"Yes, Master."
A faint smile finally graced her lips.
Anticipation. For what her long-unseen comrade had become.
'It's been nigh two years, Kaiser.'
Sword Star.
The one once called Sword Emperor in Delrock moved.
And at the Empire's edge.
A massive white ship from the New Continent docked at the harbor.
Swoooosh-
Halting roughly, spraying water everywhere, one player emerged.
A woman with radiant white hair gleaming in reflected light.
Snowy skin contrasting crimson eyes—she was a beauty, but exuded lethal eeriness.
An aura like she'd cause chaos anytime, anywhere.
Swoop.
Her sharp red eyes faded to plain brown.
Surveying the familiar Empire port after so long, she grinned ferociously.
"Finally gonna see you, punk."
One-Man Army.
The psycho bitch of this zone, dubbed Devil's Talent for swapping physique and personality—Empress had arrived.
And at that very moment those two appeared.
In the world quest dungeon, deep underground the Forgotten Tomb.
[Unbelievable... Mastered it in a mere two hours.]
In a hidden space, the beast bared its fangs.
The guardian sheathed his sword, eyeing the mangled, half-collapsed figure standing amid the frozen, shattered chamber.
[This is promising enough to place hope. I'll trust you. Go, show them the song of the white lion you've made your own.]
Do-hyun relaxed his tensed body under the guardian's newfound trusting gaze.
'That was a bitch.'
Two hours in words, but countless clashes and breaks.
He'd thought of quitting endless times.
But he'd done it.
[Dungeon quest cleared.]
>[Reward: Obtained True Song of the White Lion.]
Success in claiming the complete Song of the White Lion.
Not the end.
Do-hyun's eyes drifted down.
'Didn't expect this...'
Three new skills sat there.
One from the random skill draw ticket he'd saved after hitting level 80.
[Guardian Jihad Black reached a level milestone, granting a Random Skill Draw Ticket.]
>[Guardian Charlie reached a level milestone, granting a Random Skill Draw Ticket.]
The other two from his guardians' level-up draws.
And he had more aces.
'Exciting. Wonder if it'll work on the Forgotten King.'
Unlike the start, now more anticipation than worry—Do-hyun grinned.