Chapter 243
Chapter 243
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 243
>Chapter Title: Sword Saint and Empress
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
- Sword Saint and Empress. Kyaa...
>- This is our nation!
>- If Annihilation shows up too, it'd be perfect lol
>- With Sword Saint and Empress, don't you think we can take it?
>- Sigh... But Arthur died in phase 2 too, so isn't it tough?
>- True, but I can't even imagine that physical freak getting wrecked one-on-one.
>- Fr real lololol
>- Ah, I'm seriously hyped.
>The community buzz exploded the moment word got out that Sword Saint and Empress had arrived at the Empire.
Who were these two?
One-man armies that even the Top 10 Guilds hesitated to tangle with, the only ones acknowledged by the Sword Emperor.
They were hailed as unbeatable in one-on-one fights—unless it came to faction wars.
With both showing up in the empire's hour of crisis, how could anyone not get excited?
-Aren't those two that amazing? Why's everyone freaking out? It's not like Annihilation's here.
>-Wow, you seriously asking that? You a newbie?
>-I just started a bit ago, so what?
>-Wow, these newbies have no fear of Empress and Sword Saint.
>-Easy explanation: consensus is even Top 10 Guilds plus their direct disciples couldn't handle them, except Annihilation and a few others.
>It wasn't hype for nothing.
Those who'd faced them back then still shuddered at the memory, swearing never to pick a fight.
Above all, Empress's track record proved it.
-Isn't she the only high ranker with zero affiliations?
>-Even guildless players usually join an NPC faction as meta, but she solos everything without any.
>-Not called a one-man army for nothing. Honestly, even Annihilation might not know what'd happen in a fight with her.
>-Isn't that a stretch?
>-For real, they never clashed. Point is, that's how strong she is, dude.
>One-man army.
The sole existence even guilds—who hated anything undermining their purpose—couldn't touch.
No backing whatsoever, trading personality for pure physicality, no compromises.
Yet the freest soul in GodoSe.
People called her Empress not just because of her title.
"Top user is debatable, but strongest female user? No question, it's her."
And Sword Saint was the one even she couldn't guarantee victory over.
At least in swordsmanship, no one in GodoSe could beat him.
-Anyway, with those two here, we can breathe easy.
>-If even they can't take it down, we're done for.
>-Top 10 Guilds all huddled up watching lol pathetic
>-Acting all high and mighty as Top 10, what a joke.
>Relief swept through the users—until that chat dropped.
-Hey, disaster rate's climbing insanely fast though?
>-93%. Saw it. Doesn't rise while you're in the temple, so if we enter within 6%, we're good. They'll make it in time.
>-No, you idiot. Go check the rate again, now.
>-Plenty of time, chill. Why you—huh?
>-?
>-97%? 97%??
>-......??
>That's when the community flipped.
Sword Saint and Empress weren't the issue anymore.
It had shot to 97% in under five minutes.
Meaning 100% in just a few more.
-What the hell... why's it spiking so fast?
>-Monster fully emerged, so recreation rate's skyrocketing.
>-Harrington, you fucking bastard.
>Chats flew in panic from users shitting bricks.
Amid the chaos, one topic dominated: the Top 10 Guilds.
-What're Top 10 doing? Get in there. Time to step up, right?
>-Enter and die? Dying there drops 1% per person anyway, same deal.
>-Top 10 aren't rushing for a reason. Turns out Forgotten King was a trap from the start.
>-What?
>-Honestly, Lepias and Ripard got wrecked without a fight? Only Arthur held on that long.
>-Monster's so overwhelming they're spooked into king-slaying, but solo challenges won't work.
>So Top 10 Guilds and high rankers chose force preservation.
No point wasting precious power on an unkillable Forgotten King—wait for 100% recreation instead.
-Then raid the boss together.
>-Other Top 10 en route too. Three more coming, so six guilds plus thousands of high rankers raiding? Gotta catch it, right?
>-...Yeah, fair.
>-With Empress and Sword Saint joining? Game over. They'll link up naturally since they're late anyway?
>-Sounds solid... but what about Forgotten King?
>-Eh, it'll work out. Soul salvation's the quest anyway. Who knows? Maybe killing the monster ends the monthly quest.
>A massive raid unprecedented in GodoSe history.
Enough to sway public opinion.
A raid that size might actually succeed.
-Top 10 got a plan after all?
>-Not chasing, they were prepped.
>-Ah, thinking like this makes Lepias and Arthur's deaths hurt bad.
>-Right, Arthur's unique ability is broken OP for this.
>Not an uncontainable monster, but a raid target.
Huge difference.
Users who'd ripped into Top 10 before accepted it in droves.
Some even started hyping the raid footage.
-What if they fail on the monster?
>-Trust them, skip king, wait for 100%, then flop? Monthly quest fails, right?
>Some voiced concerns...
-100% recreation doesn't auto-fail monthly quest, no worries
>-No, dragging it out with no kill is failure anyway. First-time boss, and they're so sure? Weird.
>-Old saying: no one stands against a dogpile.
>-Not scrubs, top GodoSe rankers dogpiling. No way they fail.
>-No, what if they do fail though?
>-Ugh, won't happen. You try king then. Easy? Raid's got better odds.
>Countered and gone every time.
[PleaseKillTheKing has been chat-banned for 5 minutes due to excessive spam.]
>Especially PleaseKillTheKing—no, Harrington— who raged at his keyboard before slumping, face in hands.
"Fuck... we're done."
He was dying inside.
The monster he'd faced was utterly beyond handling.
Forgotten King? Unknown, but Arthur lasted an hour—some hope there.
That monster vs. Arthur? Wouldn't last ten minutes.
Choosing the thorny path over the easy one burned him up.
"Haa..."
Fury boiled from his dantian, leaking out in a deep sigh like steam from a kettle.
Harrington leaned back in his chair, exhausted.
'Yeah, maybe. Thousands raiding? Could work.'
Spilled milk. Negativity got nowhere.
Might as well hope for the raid.
That's when it hit.
[Catastrophe recreation rate is now 99%.]
>[Seal fully fades soon. Massive disaster stirs.]
>[Prepare for massive disaster.]
>[10.......]
>[9.......]
>-Huh? Hey, trying to enter Ast's King's Temple?
>-Wait, Armory Master was there too?
>-Nah, just arrived, saw message, bolted straight to entrance.
>-Why bother? Just group up?
>-Too iffy. Hates hiding behind excuses, especially pride-wise.
>-Real man.
>-Not real man, real dumbass. That's stupid.
>Harrington's eyes lit up briefly at Ast's entrance amid the chat frenzy.
-Lolol fair... Huh? Huh?
>-Huh, what? Hold on.
>-No way, for real?
>-Crazy, it's real?
>-?? What's real?
>-Whoa, jackpot.
>-Why??
>-Lmao can't even type right;
>-Wtf dude, type properly.
>-He's here! HE'S HERE!
>"......Hm."
An utterly unexpected arrival.
Harrington's eyes widened, then twisted in unease.
Good or bad? Unclear.
Rotten lifeline or golden? No clue.
* * *
Murmur murmur—
In front of Forgotten King's Temple entrance.
It teemed with people.
Beyond Heaven, Leone, The King, Babylon.
The King missing Arthur but with the Holy Ten Knights left, plus hordes of high rankers waiting.
"Three more coming, right? Heavenly Demon too—hyped."
>"Two already in the dungeon an hour ago. Should arrive soon."
>"Insane... how many high rankers total?"
>The sight alone gave chills, and three more Top 10?
No exaggeration—users witnessing GodoSe's strongest strike force ever rubbed goosebump-covered arms.
"Streaming it? Viewer count already millions."
>"Witnessing live... huge... insane."
>"Watch for splash damage, don't die, guys."
>"Ugh, just thinking about friendly fire pains me, so no worries."
>Top 10 split streams each pulling thousands of viewers already.
"Empress and Sword Saint? Not entered yet?"
>"Rushing now... but from their spot? Hour at least?"
>"What, Heavenly Demon two hours then..."
>"Whatever. They're braced for hours-long raid anyway."
>Plus Sword Saint and Empress.
[The massive disaster gazes here.]
Overwhelming monster in sight, but this many? Doable.
Near-certainty.
So they puzzled.
"...Why enter solo though?"
>"Arthur couldn't kill it—can Armory Master?"
>"...Raw burst DPS, Armory Master tops, so maybe."
>"That's transcendent ability burst. Needs strike force even then."
>Over Armory Master Ast risking entry alone.
Whispers from behind reached him as submaster cautiously asked.
"...Master, really entering?"
>"Yeah, bad vibe. Hung with disaster magnets so much, I get the feeling now."
>"? How can good instincts lead to disasters?"
>"...They do. Anyway, leaving this be feels wrong."
>Ast trailed off, refocusing.
Long experience screamed it.
Ignore this, problems brew.
[The massive disaster's eyes are opening.]
>[All eyes open in 10 seconds.]
>[10.......]
>[9.......]
>'Especially those eyes. Super iffy.'
Block the eyes opening at least?
No proof, pure instinct.
Kaiser and crew would've too.
'Five weapons maxed buffs ready. Use "that," five shots... tch, big loss.'
Astronomical cost, but unavoidable.
Ast's way to cover lacking talent.
[7.......]
>'Hurry in.'
Tongue click at urging message, foot forward—then.
"Gasp."
>"Whoa...?"
>"Crazy, real?"
>"Wow, huge..."
>Gasps from behind swelled the murmurs.
Footsteps amid it.
Thud thud.
Growing closer.
Ast puzzled—not at closeness.
Steps halted right behind.
"Move aside already, old man."
>Irritated turn—froze.
Truly unexpected. Yet familiar face.
Black hair. Sharp eyes, features.
Wolfish agility, over 180cm tall, stately.
Eyes met—grinning man his old comrade.
Kaiser.