Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 88
>Chapter Title: Incredible Control
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Chapter 88
>88.
‘That’s all parries? Every single one?’
The damage output was astonishing, but what left him even more dumbfounded was that control.
The insane skill of perfectly timing those notoriously difficult parries without a single miss, using them exactly where needed.
And that wasn’t all. What about the distance management?
Maintaining the optimal distance for dodging and attacking with truly minimal movement, never once breaking it.
‘No way…….’
As an archer, distance control was the most crucial skill, so he had a keen eye for it at least in this area.
In his eyes, this wasn’t just the level of a pro or a veteran.
This…… wasn’t something a human could do.
-Awesome.
Suddenly, a comment he’d seen on a Kaiser post popped into his mind.
And with it, he found himself agreeing.
‘Ah…….’
No other word could express what Archer Coin felt right now.
An overwhelming emotion, like the kind you get when beholding a work of art.
And he was feeling it from a single man.
Kraaaah!
“Ah.”
The soul-shattering roar yanked him back to reality.
Thanks to it, his recovered senses caught sight of ominous fog like storm clouds.
The death aura signaling the start of phase 2.
‘This time, it’s really dangerous.’
Even now, toying with the boss after activating its warrior trait felt ridiculous, almost awe-inspiring.
But that ended here.
The reason why catching the Death Orc Warrior required a tank, if nothing else.
[Contact with the death aura inflicts various status ailments. Up to 5 stacks, scaling with exposure time.]
A shield to withstand the death aura.
In other words, a sacrifice was needed.
This wasn’t optional.
Just like how a mage was essential for the Goblin Chieftain due to the ‘selfish defense’ trait, a tank was mandatory here.
‘No matter how good the control or damage, you can’t win covered in status effects.’
Blindness alone cut vision by more than half, and slow or anemia made movement impossible.
Trading blows in that state while dealing damage?
‘Absolutely not.’
That was the consensus.
……Yeah, that *was* the consensus. Until just now.
Ta-at!
The moment the death aura activated, Kaiser leaped forward at undiminished speed.
It wasn’t an illusion.
Ppak! Chwiik!
In an instant, he closed in and smashed the boss’s jaw with a flying knee kick.
The Death Orc Warrior snapped to its senses, staring at the spinning sky with half-lidded eyes.
Ppaak!
Then its head whipped back again.
Another flying knee kick.
But this one wasn’t ordinary.
For a split second, a dragon’s form seemed to appear, followed by a roar incomparable to before.
“Huh? Wasn’t that Rising Dragon Fist just now?”
“You imagining things? A swordsman doing Rising Dragon Fist?”
“Pr……obably?”
The doubt lasted only a moment. Kaiser pressed the assault relentlessly.
If anything, he was even faster now.
Puk!
As if utterly unaffected, Kaiser toyed with the boss.
“No, what? Why no status effects? A trait? Is there a trait like that?”
“Maybe he’s a god, so it doesn’t work on him.”
“F***…… And he’s dodging all attacks in the middle of that? For real?”
“Huh? Wasn’t that Combat Instinct just now? Already at 20%?”
“This guy’s insane.”
Compared to the suddenly chatty pair, Archer Coin stayed silent.
He just stared blankly at the unbelievable scene.
Everything defied common sense.
From start to finish, not a single expected moment in this utterly abnormal fight.
And that made it all the more artistic.
“…….”
Had he unconsciously stepped forward, entranced?
Jjeok.
“Ah.”
Something caught, and his leg was grabbed.
Looking down, he saw HoguWatProfessor holding out popcorn.
“Want some?”
Normally, he’d scoff and ignore it.
“……Yeah.”
But after seeing so much, he couldn’t refuse the popcorn.
He sat down beside them, and the Warrior12456 who’d been fiddling with his sword sheath from behind finally stored it in his inventory.
Swipe.
Then he casually sat next to them and grabbed some popcorn.
Munching away, Archer Coin thought.
‘……If I ask for an autograph, would he give it? No, what am I saying? You’re not that spineless, Archer Coin.’
He was already showing early signs of fandom, denial stage included.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
While Do-hyun was deep in his solo attempt.
Hero Guild Master Berje was receiving a report from the scout he’d dispatched, in his guild master’s office.
“Hmm.”
A man always in the top 3 of looks among current top-tier stars.
The self-proclaimed hero, the one and only master of this era’s true guild.
People praised and followed him.
But that was only for netizens hearing about it on TV or in articles.
Tok. Tok. Tok.
Those who knew his true nature didn’t see him as any hero.
‘Money-obsessed maniac.’
‘Cold-blooded businessman without a drop of pity.’
A man who’d sacrifice or endure anything for money and power.
Two-faced like a coin.
The world idolized him as a hero, but those on the other side feared Berje more than devils.
“Tell me. Is this really accurate?”
“……I’m sorry.”
“Hmm…….”
That was why Scout Choi Hyun-seok was so tense.
He seemed polite and kind, even using honorifics with a subordinate like him, but he could smile and fire you on a dime. A true cold-blooded type.
Tok. Tok.
Especially when tapping the table with his index finger like now, extra caution was needed.
It was his habit when deep in thought.
Tok.
Finally, the tapping stopped, and Berje let out a small sigh.
“……Do you think this makes any sense?”
And rightly so—the report was utter nonsense.
“We made contact, but he broke through 20-to-1 alone…… And without a single casualty, in just 30 seconds. You call this a report? Seriously?”
“……I’m sorry.”
For the repeatedly apologizing scout, it was incredibly unfair.
‘No, it really happened—what do you want from me?’
He’d just written exactly what he saw……
No, he’d even toned it down a bit, and still no belief.
Of course, even he thought it sounded…… well, pretty unbelievable. A lot unbelievable.
A guy who’d just graduated Raven taking down twenty near-graduation level users in under 30 seconds?
Even a stray dog would laugh.
Reality is stranger than fiction, sure, but there were limits—who’d buy this?
‘Haa.’
Frustrated as he burned inside, what could he do?
This was his job, and to survive, he had to endure this injustice.
Rebelling would only hurt him.
So he just bowed his head. This way, his aggrieved expression wouldn’t show.
“Choi Hyun-seok.”
“……Yes, Master.”
“I know Kaiser’s impressive. I’ve seen it myself. But…… isn’t this a bit too exaggerated?”
Berje’s voice was calm.
But the absurdity in it was clear.
“Who is Kaiser? Why not make a movie? You expect me to believe this? Why not say he soloed the Death Orc Warrior in 10 minutes too?”
“It wasn’t exaggeration, it really……”
“No, fine, whatever on that.”
Choi Hyun-seok wisely shut up as Berje cut him off casually.
He’d learned from experience that whining here wouldn’t end in a scolding.
“‘Beware the orcs’…… What’s this supposed to mean? Do we have time to worry about orcs right now? Who wrote this crap?”
“Seems like one of my subordinates…… But there’s a reason for……”
“Haa. Whatever. This nonsense isn’t important now.”
……It’s not nonsense. It’s real.
After hesitating, he closed his mouth.
‘Screw it, whatever.’
If questioned later, he’d just say he didn’t know. He’d done his part.
The master just wouldn’t listen.
With Choi Hyun-seok’s guts-twisting resignation as he bowed, Berje continued.
“This is interesting. He met the High Priest…… Why?”
“We’re looking into it, but clues are scarce. Maybe related to reclaiming Raven’s #1 spot……”
“Raven #1…… Come to think of it, Extermination met the High Priest shortly after arriving in Brion too.”
Berje smirked faintly after saying that.
“Just a coincidence?”
“…….”
Choi Hyun-seok didn’t answer, but it was enough.
His stunned eyes said he was thinking the same.
“No, this isn’t coincidence. There’s a connection. The guy who first achieved S-rank, after all.”
“……Yes. I think so too.”
“Keep a close eye, Hyun-seok.”
“Yes. Leave it to me. I’ll find him and secure him no matter what.”
Berje chuckled at Choi Hyun-seok’s fired-up demeanor.
“You think you can catch him? According to this, he’s Superman.”
“…….”
“Don’t. No justification.”
“But public opinion right now, and he struck first against the Top 100 Guilds……”
“Hyun-seok.”
“Yes.”
Berje spun his chair away, as if not worth hearing.
The sky reflected in the window was blue.
“So which guilds have actually stepped up?”
“……Most of them, right? Ours too.”
Gazing at the white clouds drifting in the blue sky, Berje continued.
“All show.”
“……Pardon?”
“If serious, they’d send assassins, play the media, get dirty. Not stay this quiet. Since when did they love fair play?”
“Why bother with……”
Gulp. Choi Hyun-seok swallowed and trailed off, realizing he was overstepping.
Fortunately, Berje answered coolly, unperturbed.
“The importance of guilds.”
In God of Oslo, guilds were indispensable.
With a billion players, crazies everywhere, only NPCs and guilds could control them.
Even in reality, it starts with “Got backing?”—games were worse, if anything.
That’s why players trashed guilds but joined anyway.
Stars picked the strongest ones.
“But Kaiser shattered that norm.”
So he had to fall.
If he succeeded without a guild, people would question guilds’ necessity.
Foolish copycats would follow.
The world changes on a butterfly’s wingbeat.
Not everyone could, sure, but that seed of doubt wasn’t trivial.
“Then why put on a show…… Sorry. Why not crack down hard instead?”
“Give him a chance first. Kaiser’s symbolism is worth it.”
“…….”
“Bring him in successfully, and sure, heat comes—but the gains outweigh it.”
Berje looked up slightly, speaking plainly.
“No matter how great you are, you’re just a latecomer now. Face reality and join us.”
“……Ah.”
“Guilds are companies. Instinct is to maximize profits.”
But that was ending now.
“He’ll learn soon. That this was his last chance.”
Kaiser was in Brion right now.
Where Extermination and Top 10 Guild masters challenged the throne—and failed.
Hero Guild reigned supreme there, if nowhere else.
That was Berje’s pride.
‘Even you can’t there.’
Not baseless confidence.
‘How do you gain NPC fame and trust alone?’
Graduation quests there hinged on reputation.
Poison to a lone tiger surrounded by enemies.
Hero Guild, self-styled heroes, had amassed more than any faction.
No contest from the start.
‘Kaiser, you fall there.’
That was the set path.
With unprecedented attention, disappointment would breed like weeds.
‘Great expectations, great disappointments.’
He could move then.
For now, watch rookies bark at the tiger.
Plenty thought like him.
‘Should be fun.’
Recruitment war or rookie hunt.
Gazing at the sky, envisioning the not-so-quiet future, Berje smiled.