Chapter 250
Chapter 250
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 250
>Chapter Title: Shocking Reunions
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Chapter 250
The emotion I felt reuniting with Purple Bro was simple joy.
He wasn’t rocking that pervert grandpa getup anymore, but his looks were still similar, and his personality hadn’t changed a bit.
Seeing him exactly as he’d been back in the day sparked a quiet curiosity in me.
‘What do Kkukku and Sword Emperor look like now?’
Astrt wouldn’t tell me even on his deathbed, which pissed me off, but at the same time, I couldn’t help looking forward to the reunion.
They were guys with such strong personalities and unique vibes.
So no matter how bizarre their new looks were, it wouldn’t surprise me.
“Hey, it’s the Sword Saint!”
“No way, that’s the Empress!?”
“The Arsenal Master, Sword Saint, and Empress? What the hell kind of party comp is that?”
“But doesn’t Kaiser know them? Said it’s been a while?”
“No way that rumor’s true...?”
...
But nothing in my imaginings had prepared me for this.
Who were the Empress and Sword Saint?
Top-tier female players even the Top 10 Guilds didn’t dare mess with.
Yeah, female players.
“...So the white-haired one’s Kkukku, and the one in the daoist robes is Sword Emperor?”
Do-hyun furrowed his brow as he asked, and the Empress scratched her ear with a bored look.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been telling you. How many times do I have to say it?”
“Heh, watching that dumbfounded look on his face is pretty entertaining.”
“His expression? It’s hidden by the mask.”
“...It’s just a figure of speech. Anyway, you still suck at reading the room.”
“Wanna go a round?”
This was already the umpteenth confirmation, followed by their endless bickering—just like I remembered.
But Do-hyun couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sight.
“What kind of insane bullshit is this...”
“Puhaha!”
Finally, the curse slipped through his lips, and Astrt burst into booming laughter he could no longer hold back.
He was laughing so hard it looked like his gut might burst, even wiping tears from his eyes.
The Empress and Sword Saint smirked too, clearly amused.
The whole scene felt utterly alien.
‘What is this, some “childhood short-haired tomboy turns out to be a goddess-level beauty” cliché? No, Delrock had no gender locks, so I’d heard of cases like this, but not like this.’
Back in Delrock’s early days, there’d been that famous story about reuniting with a lover from Godose only to find out they were the same sex.
Plenty of 50-year-old dudes playing 20-something women characters, or vice versa.
But those two being women?
I’d never imagined it’d happen to me.
“Puhuhu... kekeke, come on, don’t make that face. I had the exact same reaction when I first saw them. Can’t let me suffer alone, right?”
“Haa...”
Under Do-hyun’s demanding glare, Astrt finally stopped laughing and shrugged.
‘This is making my head spin.’
Do-hyun sighed and rubbed his temples.
His head was genuinely reeling.
“Sword Saint’s nuts... No wonder she’s always a top pick in those Godose female user ideal type world cups.”
“She’s obsessed with swords, but looks-wise, she’s the type guys go crazy for.”
“I prefer the Empress. That vibe of hers is pure sex appeal.”
“Sex appeal my ass, you punk. Stare her in the eye and get dragged off for a beatdown to death before you figure it out.”
“...Well, she is pretty, honestly. And that guy who got beat turned out to be a wanted fugitive on the run anyway.”
Do-hyun frowned at the users’ whispers reaching his ears.
Call it DNA kicking in first.
Hearing his old comrades—who he’d thought were guys—getting praised made his body react on instinct.
Not that he couldn’t understand.
Just like they said, those two had objectively stunning looks.
‘...To think something like that was inside that mature swordsman character.’
The Sword Saint looked about 168cm tall, with a calm, pure vibe laced with an eerie sharpness—like a flower hiding thorns.
The classic type men drooled over.
The Empress, on the other hand, was the total opposite.
“...What’re you staring at?”
“Nothing, just never seen you without the mask before.”
“Oh, right. Back then I thought you could only change gender, not appearance, so I hid with the mask... Wait, hold up. Then why’re you hiding your face? I take mine off, so now it’s your turn?”
It was like thorns weren’t just poking out—they were lethally sharp.
Her furrowed brows gave off a dangerous air, like she might snap any second, but her white hair and red eyes blended into such captivating charm.
Both had looks that could easily stir any man’s heart.
...The problem was they were his old comrades, Kkukku and Sword Emperor.
That’s when it happened.
Rooooaaarrr-!!!!
The calamity recovered from the sudden ambush and let out a deafening roar that could deafen ears.
Its entire body blazed with thick fury.
“...Got a lot to say, but first things first—let’s deal with this thing.”
“Music to my ears.”
Do-hyun sighed deeply and gripped Cheonbyeon as the Empress sidled up beside him with a grin.
The Sword Saint and Astrt stepped forward too.
“Wise choice.”
“Man, has it been two years? Us taking down a boss together.”
“More like a year and nine months plus change. Still, been a while.”
“...You sure you’re good? This guy’s gonna be pissed.”
Do-hyun asked if they could handle it, but the Sword Saint chuckled like it was a silly question.
“Funny you’d ask, Kaiser. Why else would we be here?”
“We’ve never had it easy anyway.”
“True that. But this one’s a walk in the park—just seal it.”
“What? Piece of cake then? Running now would be unmanly.”
“...You’re not a man, Kkukku.”
“Exactly.”
“...?”
The Sword Saint froze at the unexpected roast.
She cleared her throat late and tried to play it cool with a poker face.
But Do-hyun, who’d caught her fluster live, just shook his head.
‘At least don’t show it. Same as ever.’
She seemed genuinely proud of her poker face, her lips twitching smugly.
Two years later, and she was still life-or-death about her character concept.
‘Ah, woman now. Whatever...’
Chit-chat over.
Step.
Do-hyun stepped forward, filling the gap between the Empress on his left and Sword Saint on his right.
Astrt took position behind the three lined up.
Back in Delrock days, it’d formed naturally since Kkukku was left-handed.
Two years since their last party play, but they fell into formation without a word.
Their bodies remembered.
[RCD recording ended.]
[Starting live broadcast.]
[Please set live broadcast title.]
‘Title... this’ll do.’
Do-hyun grinned, set it, and regripped Cheonbyeon.
Dark sword energy crept up, dyeing the white blade black.
The three others assumed charging stances.
“Let’s get started.”
[Broadcast ‘Party Play’ has begun.]
Godose’s first official Kaiser party raid was underway.
* * *
‘...What the hell is this?’
Xiao stared ahead with a blank expression.
Boom! Whirr—
Splat!
Her beautiful eyes reflected a brutal symphony of thunderous booms and splattering blood.
Yes, a battle.
Not a one-sided slaughter or—a real battle.
‘The battle... it’s a proper battle. Against that monster.’
Slash—whoosh!
The calamity thrashed its massive body, shattering surroundings and shaking the ground, but the four moved without falter.
The Sword Saint soared like a swallow for a clean horizontal slash, then vanished from sight.
Splash-rack! Slash!
The Empress burst out like she’d been waiting, unleashing a barrage.
As it charged with jaws wide, she used its maw as a foothold, leaping up and ripping its lips apart.
Raaaaahhh-!!!
It writhed in pain and lunged to swallow her on landing, but she clung tight and swung.
Blood sprayed, drenching her white hair and body, her red aura growing vivid.
[Bloodlust effect: Grow stronger for 70s the more blood you bathe in.]
[berserk effect: For 80s, take massively increased damage but deal massively increased attack power.]
[Diehard effect: Sacrifice HP for boosted physical stats.]
[80% HP sacrificed.]
[Mania effect: For 90s, lose 1% HP per second; stats and all speeds scale with current HP %.]
Berserker. No, Kkukku’s signature death spear mode.
Going toe-to-toe with that giant was suicidal, but the Empress made it different.
Whirr—thud, taat!
Slaaash—!
Speeds too fast to track even from afar.
When fangs lunged, she kicked them aside and slashed inside its mouth instead.
When claws flashed from blind spots, she pierced with elbows and nails like awls.
Bending at impossible angles, her sword and body always countered.
Her whole body was a weapon.
Saa—
The more blood she bathed in, the sharper her red eyes and aura, her moves fiercer and more destructive.
A true berserker.
But against this foe, even she hit crises.
Slash—
“Your style’s as crude as ever. Still not watching your back, huh.”
“No time for that when I’m busy pounding it. Besides, you’ve always got my back.”
“...Haa. How’d I end up stuck with you.”
“Your fate, huh. Focus.”
That’s when the Sword Saint appeared, deflecting with artistic swordplay.
Her defense, honed to swordsmanship’s peak, impressed even Do-hyun—so the bickering Empress trusted her back in fights.
“...Fine, focus on offense. I’ll handle defense.”
“Perfect model answer.”
Sighing, the Sword Saint drew her sword and traced an arbitrary space in the air.
4m diameter. Her domain.
Softness conquers hardness.
Beyond that, air superiority.
In this space of transcendent physicality, swordsmanship, and skills defying modern limits, no foe could touch her.
Not even the calamity.
Its stealthy rear attacks using its bulk were smacked down the instant they entered her domain.
The Empress’s way: attack as defense, one-sword style.
The Sword Saint’s: nullification mastery.
Polar opposites in style, yet they shone brightest together.
“Your swordplay’s at least useful.”
The Empress grinned in satisfaction, cracking her knuckles.
“Let’s play for real...”
“Having too much fun without me?”
Not as huge as the calamity, but a sizable maw appeared before her.
It sucked in air and spat something skyward; as she looked up—
[Divine Beast ‘Weapon-Devouring Phantom’ devoured +15 Mace of Ruin.]
[Beginning fusion.]
[Divine Beast ‘Weapon-Devouring Phantom’ spits out +15 Exploding Mace of Ruin.]
“We’re cool and all, but my turn now.”
“Who said we’re cool—!”
Thud!
Ignoring her flaring up, Astrt leaped high, gripping his mace two-handed.
His purple mace darkened instantly, then shimmered like it held the cosmos.
[Releasing transcendent unique ability ‘Weapon Upgrade’.]
[Activating Transcendent Unique ‘Limit Break’.]
[Releasing limits for temporary maxed Weapon Upgrade effect.]
[+20 Exploding Mace of Ruin complete.]
[Use destroys weapon; traits unusable for 50min.]
“Gonna sting.”
Reason he’s called Godose’s one-shot king.
Reason his arsenal overflows.
Astrt bellowed and smashed down.
And.
[Exploding prefix special effect activates.]
[Mace of Ruin special effect activates.]
[Max-reinforced weapon amplifies effects to peak.]
Craaaack—!
Space-shattering impact boomed, light flooding the tomb.
The whole place shook like it’d flip; spectators toppled like dominoes from the shock.
“Sh, shiiit, what the fuck!?”
“That’s the Arsenal Master’s doing!”
Unlike panicked users, Xiao barely steadied herself and gasped.
Her dazed mind—questioning if those moves were real—snapped back with that one hit.
‘That lunatic finally blew his weapon.’
One-shot blows it, then the weapon explodes; no traits for 50min.
Transcendent ability usable once per raid.
Insane risk demands astronomical wealth and party backup for the downtime, but...
--------!!
“C, calamity’s flipping!”
“Fall back!!”
Its power was undeniable.
Not enough to crater its face—the shockwave flipped it turtle-like.
Kwaaaang—!
Just falling, but its size made shockwaves massive.
Dust blinded vision.
[Gigantic Calamity opens eyes.]
[Light Trajectory contact = instant death.]
“Eek!”
“Where’s the trajectory!? Can’t see through dust!”
“Damn... duck first!”
As the pattern that doomed prior raid teams triggered, users panicked wildly.
Flash—the beam shot skyward, then scattered like a mirage.
Firework trails lit the dark sky.
[Light Trajectory parried successfully.]
[Interrupting pattern activation cancels it.]
“...Parry? A parry?”
“Crazy... who?”
Stunned briefly, dust cleared to reveal a man’s silhouette.
Then a intrigued mid-low voice.
“Oh, this pattern breaks. Easier than the king, even?”
“...?”
Xiao could only gape at the voice.
‘...Breaking the pattern? Even calling it easy?’
The nightmare pattern that wrecked thousands.
To Kaiser, it was child’s play.