Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 84
>Chapter Title: Catch Kaiser!
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>Chapter 84
The official Godohse homepage and community forums were in an absolute uproar right now.
-Special Mission! Catch Kaiser! Hey, you could be a star too!
It wasn't actually a title dripping with that old-school nostalgia vibe.
It was just someone's one-liner summary of the current chaos.
"Catching Kaiser gets you straight into a Top 100 Guild, right?"
"Top 100? Nah, Top 10 Guild is totally doable."
"They say catching Kaiser makes you a star overnight? Brión already has over ten Kaiser hunting parties formed."
"Damn, I'm in Brión too. Wanna join up?"
"Your specs look solid. What are you waiting for? It's like Lotto jackpot right in front of you—grab it! Even if you don't win, it's still a payout!"
Countless players were buzzing about Kaiser, which meant just as many were gunning for him.
Naturally, the competition ignited.
Kaiser's symbolic status aside, rumors of him meeting the High Priest had spread, turning him into a golden goose.
No—a golden goblin in the flesh.
"First one to grab him wins!"
"I'm first, get out of the way!"
"Hey, the Scorpion crew's already all rounded up. Tell ours to hurry too!"
Was it the atmosphere?
Or the unprecedented ripple effect in this usually quiet low-level zone?
Everyone scrambled without hesitation, and soon a flow formed where the first to spot Kaiser claimed him.
The idea of losing to Kaiser?
"What can he do alone? No guild or anything."
"He's just sucking up to basement-dwelling netizens. Not like us field pros."
"Keep sucking up. The more you do, the bigger our rep gets."
"Man, what'll I do if I catch Kaiser?"
"Turn on the recording first. No vid means it's all for nothing."
Not a single thought of that.
No matter how amazing Kaiser was, he was just a lone wolf with no guild or party to back him up.
Sure, he had that Guardian or companion tagging along, but that was just a pack mule at best.
They could handle that much.
A pack mule was still a pack mule—no matter how good, if it could hunt, it'd be a fighter, not a carrier.
'With all my experience, no way I lose to one guy.'
'Five of us charging—what, he gonna win?'
'If we can't catch him, we don't deserve to be here.'
No backlash, and catching him brought endless glory.
Who in the world would pass that up?
Plenty seemed hyped about his "return of the god" nonsense, but the more fans, the more haters.
But despite their ambitions, no one was actually making solid moves.
"Damn it!"
More precisely, they couldn't.
"Kaiser's logged out."
"Figures everything was going too smooth."
"What kind of idiot logs out now?"
The hunters had their prey in sight, all prepped—only for the prey to vanish.
Left hanging in the city, all they could do was gripe.
"He's chickening out."
"Makes sense... with all of us after him, heh. Why act cocky? Good for us, though."
"Bet he realized he screwed up once it all kicked off."
"Just in case, let's hang in Burrow."
"I say he'll log back tomorrow. I'm off for a game of pool."
They soon split into three camps.
Those sticking around in the city just in case.
Those logging out to save playtime while waiting.
And those calling it quits for the day to chill.
They were killing time in their own ways when—
"Kaiser's back!!"
The shocking news dropped at the most unexpected moment.
"What?"
"No cap. It's only been an hour?"
"Stinky Rock Forest. Rally up quick!"
"Aw, man, what's with the back-and-forth?"
Word spread that Kaiser had popped up in the Stinky Rock Forest, and everyone raced to the field, jockeying to be first.
Among them, the first to arrive was the Scorpion Team.
'Yeah, I knew it! Opportunity favors the prepared.'
Of the three camps, those who hadn't given up and stayed vigilant.
And among them, the one who bolted first upon hearing was Scorpion Team's leader, the man himself nicknamed "Scorpion"—Scol.
He saw it.
"That's Kaiser!"
Kaiser, bold as brass, hunting right in the middle of the rock forest.
Sweet opportunity for the diligent one.
Why Kaiser showed up, why he was hunting so openly in the center—none of that mattered.
He was curious, sure, but it didn't change a thing.
'Jackpot.'
To Scol, Kaiser was just a glowing golden loot box.
So he didn't hesitate.
"Stick to the plan."
"Roger!"
Shwish—.
They spread into formation and charged, Western-style swords and shields at the ready.
Shield wall to push, then Scol's magic to intercept.
Luckily, Kaiser spotted them late—his reaction lagged.
They closed the distance fully before his eyes widened in realization.
'Go!'
Scol gleefully began casting ice magic when—
Thud thud!
"Urk!?"
"What's this orc?"
An orc burst in with heavy stomps, thrashing and snarling.
Not unusual.
Brión orcs were infamous for their savage ambushes by nature.
"Annoying."
The position was the problem, though.
Like it was deliberate, blocking the path between Kaiser and them. They could ignore it, but he didn't want variables ruining his hard-earned shot.
Flap flap!
And that orc's footwork was no joke.
Not targeting the two scrubs—it was glaring at them, flailing arms in rage. Aggro locked hard.
"Clear that thing first."
"Yes, sir."
All over level 30.
Elites in Brión, numbers on their side—easy cleanup.
He slashed at the orc with his sword.
[You have initiated a preemptive attack on Player 'Kaiser.']
[If killed by the opponent, item drop rate increases significantly.]
"......?"
"Huh?"
An incomprehensible message popped up.
Then a chilling shadow loomed.
[Mark created.]
"Huh?"
The low growl from behind made his subordinate flinch as he swatted the orc.
Cold sweat trickled down his spine. Kaiser, who should've been ahead, was gone.
Which meant...
"K-Kai—!"
Slash—!
Without turning, Do-hyun—Kaiser—neatly bisected the yelling subordinate at the waist.
Curses erupted at Do-hyun's sudden appearance.
"What the—!?"
"Shit, kill him!"
Caught off guard by the inexplicable ambush, but numbers favored them.
Position too—perfect.
Idiot walked right into the center, begging to be surrounded.
Block the escape with shields, skewer him—done.
Tatatak, stab!
"Huh?"
But that thought flipped in an instant.
As they mobbed and thrust swords into the center, Do-hyun's form vanished.
[Mark disappears.]
He reappeared behind the first guy whose waist was sliced.
They gawked, dumbfounded.
'Backstab...?'
Why would Kaiser do that?
Wasn't he a swordsman? Turns out assassin?
[Using 'Charging Slash.']
Mocking their thoughts, Do-hyun unleashed a swordsman skill next.
Whoosh—he slid forward like greased lightning, swinging Cheonbyeon.
The sword-form Cheonbyeon morphed into a spear.
Slash—!
"Gahk!"
One strike, two kills.
He cleaved two bodies in a flash, then reshaped Cheonbyeon again.
Now a dagger.
He plunged it into the vitals of the fallen like acupuncture needles, screens blacking out.
"Hraaah!"
A man swung a heavy sword down at Do-hyun.
Corpses everywhere—no dodge space, no time.
This one hits!
[Cheonbyeon transforms into 'Silver Iron Shield.']
Clang!
...or so he thought, as a massive shield blocked his blade.
"Ah."
Hope turned to despair in a blink; the man closed his eyes.
His last moment.
Scorpion Team's leader, Scol, stared blankly, soul shattered as his crew lay slaughtered.
'What just happened?'
Wasn't he some lowbie under 30?
What the hell was that insane damage and speed?
No, snap out of it. They had numbers, levels—advantages.
Yet he overturned it with sheer skill gap.
'This is Kaiser...'
Posts tallying Kaiser's feats flashed in his mind.
The common thread in all those lists of achievements.
-Don't even think about beating Kaiser in PvP. It's impossible.
Never a man with an undefeated record.
He'd dismissed it as hype.
Even if not, under these conditions, it was winnable.
Wrong.
He looked... not human. Like the Grim Reaper.
"One left."
Scol's jaw dropped, locking eyes with the black-clad reaper.
"Aaah...."
Instinct screamed no escape.
Do-hyun sliced him down without mercy, accepting his fate.
[You have killed Player 'Scol.']
[Ruled as self-defense; no Karma increase.]
[Loot dropped items?]
"One team down."
Flick flick—Do-hyun shook off Cheonbyeon and grinned.
"Hurry! Before the Scorpions snag hi—huh?"
"......Wait, what?"
Other hunting parties arriving a beat late froze at the sight.
Corpses unmistakably Scorpion crew.
Do-hyun standing tall atop them.
"...What the hell's going on?"
"No clue, but let's jump him. He must be worn out from fighting."
"Don't slack or we'll lose him. Go!"
A brief flinch, then they charged—wary of incoming hyenas.
-Raaar!
An orc flapped its arms, blocking their path.
"Huh?"
"What's with this orc?"
"Annoying—clear it."
Like the Scorpions, they opted to handle the orc first.
[You have initiated a preemptive attack on Player 'Kaiser.']
[If killed by the opponent, item drop rate increases significantly.]
Same message as before.
And the same end.
"We landed first hit? Then die already."
"Ah...."
"Hurry! Kaiser's here—huh?"
"Uh...."
The next wave of hyenas, half a beat behind, shut their mouths.
They rushed thinking other teams were hunting Kaiser—only to find the opposite.
'Look at the bodies—how many is that?'
'...He soloed all them?'
'That last one—Kim Jin-woo? Super rookie Top 100 Guilds are scouting.'
'Yo, all the downed ones are super rookies. Faces I know.'
Not small fry either.
Billboard rookies anyone into newbies would recognize.
Hunters confident enough in their skills to chase Kaiser.
Alarms blared in their heads.
'Run.'
'Can't win.'
Time to bail— that's when—
"Eek!?"
"What's wrong?"
A teammate screamed out of nowhere.
He whipped around instinctively.
Saw it.
A teammate tussling with an ugly orc—and the message over their heads.
[You have initiated a preemptive attack on Player 'Kaiser.']
[If killed by the opponent, item drop rate increases significantly.]
"......"
A beat of silence, then they glanced sheepishly at Do-hyun.
"Uh... can we just, like, leave?"
Do-hyun smiled sweetly at the timid ask.
"Nope."
"Yeah, figured."
They smiled back—and screams replaced those smiles soon enough.