Chapter 186
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Solo Castle Raids
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hey! Youre going alone?!
Jang Ha-jin blocked Jeong Hoon as he prepared to set out.
Its fine. Even if I die, its just a forced logout, right?
Then Im coming with you. You think itll make a difference if one guy like me stays behind?
Jeong Hoon shook his head.
No, it would make a difference.
It would?
Yeah. So stay here and guard this place.
Dokjeon Guild, like Hoyoung Guild, had crammed all their key forces into the main castles, assigning just enough people to the smaller ones.
Jeong Hoons targets were those minor castles first.
Got it.
His mother and Yeo Min-ji were filled with worry, but they said nothing in the face of Jeong Hoons firm resolve.
Then Ill be off.
Be careful.
If you need any help at all, just whisper us anytime.
With their words of caution.
Brother! Ill hold down the fort here!
Kim Bong-gu grinned as he saw Jeong Hoon off.
He looked positively thrilled to be rid of him.
Look at that face. You dying to come along?
Haha! If I got poisoned, Id just hold you back, brother! Cant have that!
You little punk, all talk.
Jeong Hoon waved as he slipped out of the castle.
Shinwa Guild had fallen.
And not to some siege assaulttheyd crumbled while charging at Hoyoungs castle.
The news spread like wildfire, throwing all the watching guilds into chaos.
Dokjeon Guild was no exception.
Sa Jae-hyeok That bastards been broken?
Min Jin-ho looked flustered too.
And why not? It was Shinwa Guild.
The guild that had held Koreas siege warfare number one spot the longest.
Dokjeon had taken the top spot now, but everyone figured Shinwa could snatch it back anytime.
Yet here they were, less than thirty minutes into the siege war, and Shinwa was already done.
Hoyoung has that kind of firepower?
Sure, Hoyoung was rated as a rival to Shinwa, but that was comparing Sa Jae-hyeok to Yeo Sun-woo.
In terms of overall forces, Hoyoung was at a disadvantage.
Guild Master!
Just then, one of Dokjeons executives burst in, panting.
His job was to relay updates from guild members at other castles and brief everyone.
For him to come rushing in like this meant trouble.
Whats going on?
One of the castles is under attack right now!
Attack? By who?
Thats whats weird about it.
Weird?
Min Jin-ho tilted his head.
Weird how?
Yes The attacker isnt reacting to the poison at all.
No reaction?
Yes. They say its on the verge of falling because of that.
Unbelievable.
What should we do?
Abandon that castle. Tell the survivors to fall back to base immediately.
Got it!
The executive hurried out.
But he returned soon after, face stiff as a board.
Min Jin-ho read the situation instantly from his expression.
Dont tell me Total wipe?
Yes.
The first castle Jeong Hoon targeted was the one farthest from Min Jin-hos position.
To claim first place, I need to capture as many as possible.
Not just any first place.
An overwhelming first place.
Since overwhelming was vague in this siege war, securing the most castles was key.
Michael.
Jeong Hoon summoned the Michael inside.
Yes, Master.
Michael bowed politely.
Hows Deaths Coffin?
Perfectly tamed.
Yeah?
To tame a necromancer from that coffin in such a short time.
The guy had real skills, no doubt.
Good. Then summon all the spirits.
Yes?
Were smashing the barrier in front of that castle. You can do it, right?
Michael eyed the castle and nodded.
I can!
His senses told him only about twenty players were stationed there.
A full roster would be two hundred, so theyd posted just a tenth.
Itd be weirder if he couldnt take it.
Then get started.
Yes!
At Jeong Hoons command, Michael summoned the spirits.
Among them was the necromancer from Deaths Coffin.
The summoned spirits advanced on the castle.
A barrier blocked their path, and they swung their weapons at it.
Boom! Boom!
The lurking guild members faces twisted in panic at the assault.
Huh?!
What the hell?!
These crazy bastards! They dare mess with Dokjeon?!
This was a low-value castle.
Attacking it was a declaration of war on Dokjeon.
Guess its my turn.
Jeong Hoon slowly drew his bowstring.
Ultimate Arrow.
His target: the barrier around the castle.
He released the string, and the Ultimate Arrow arced through the air.
It struck the barrier dead-on, creating a small crack.
Got it.
Jeong Hoons lips curved into a smirk.
Then, Michaels necromancer began chanting.
The weapons in the spirits hands turned black.
Boosting their attack power, no doubtthe crack in the barrier widened rapidly.
Crash!
The barrier shattered in an instant.
Beyond it stood defensive NPCs, shields raised, standing firm.
Time to go.
Jeong Hoon dashed forward with his movement technique.
He body-slammed an NPC holding a shield.
Urk!
The NPC couldnt hold and toppled backward.
Michael, take out all these guys.
Yes!
Michael directed the spirits to attack the NPCs at Jeong Hoons order.
While they clashed, Jeong Hoon slipped past the NPCs toward the gate.
No players in sight at the gate.
But as he approached, poison gas sprayed toward him.
This was a squad of poison users.
They didnt go for direct fightsinstead, they choked out foes with toxins.
Just like now.
Sprayed at unavoidable range, he took it full-on.
Heavenly Poison Immunity activates.
You are not poisoned.
But it didnt faze Jeong Hoon.
Hed long since acquired Poison Immunity.
That had evolved into the Unique-grade Heavenly Poison Immunity.
Most poisons were useless now.
Jeong Hoon strode to the gate and flung it open.
Bang!
Four players ahead jumped in shock, staring at him.
They hurriedly sprayed their prepared poisons.
Heavenly Poison Immunity activates.
You are not poisoned.
It failed again against Jeong Hoons Heavenly Poison Immunity.
He walked slowly toward the players.
Untouched by their poison spray, the Dokjeon members froze solid.
Hes fine?
Sorry, but this level of poison cant kill me.
Jeong Hoon smiled and swung his sword once.
A guild members head hit the ground.
U-Uwaaack!
With one ally forced out, the players screamed and fled.
But Jeong Hoon activated his movement technique, slicing their throats one by one.
Done.
Jeong Hoon climbed the central stairs to the upper levels.
More varied poisons greeted him as he ascended, but Heavenly Poison Immunity nullified them all.
Intruder!
Fuck! The poisons useless!
The Dokjeon members panicked and fled to the top floor.
Jeong Hoon cut them down casually as he pursued.
He reached the top floor, ripe for capture.
The remaining players glared at him.
Who the hell are you?
Which guild?
Jeong Hoon chuckled at the questions.
Why do the about-to-fall need to know?
What?
Their words cut off.
Jeong Hoon closed in with his movement technique, swinging his sword to finish them.
Now the number of Dokjeon members in the castle hit zero.
Master! All NPCs eliminated!
Michael arrived at the top floor right on cue.
Okay.
Jeong Hoon approached the center and yanked out the flag.
You have captured the castle!
Hoyoung now owned this castle.
Congratulations, Master, on capturing the castle!
Still a long way to go. Plenty more to takelets hurry.
Yes!
Jeong Hoon immediately whispered Yeo Sun-woo.
WhisperHoon - Sunwoo: Captured one of Dokjeons castles.
WhisperSunwoo - Hoon: What You already captured one?
WhisperHoon - Sunwoo: Yes. Ill go take down the next.
Yeo Sun-woo couldnt believe it.
Less than thirty minutes since Jeong Hoon left, and hed already taken a Dokjeon castle.
He says he captured a castle.
I see.
Lee Na-yeon nodded calmly, no surprise on her face.
Shed felt her sons extraordinary talent in the game firsthandshe firmly believed hed pull it off.
We might actually take first in the siege war.
In terms of castle count, Hoyoung was now neck-and-neck with Dokjeon.
Sure, other big names would climb too, but a few more captures like this, and first was theirs.
Guild Master! Wings incoming!
Wings?
Yes! They must think Hoyoungs forces arent at full strength after clashing with Shinwa!
Heh.
What a massive misunderstanding.
Jeong Hoonnot Hoyounghad wiped Shinwa.
What do we do?
What do you mean? We cant lose this castle no matter what.
With Jeong Hoon pushing that hard, losing this castle was unthinkable.
They had to defend it at all costs.
Gurk!
Aaack!
Jeong Hoon raced to the next castle.
Just like the first, he captured it in a flash.
That makes five castles for Hoyoung now?
No reaction from Min Jin-ho, though.
Meaning these castles werent high-value.
For an overwhelming first, Ill need to snag a few from other guilds besides Dokjeon.
So before hitting Dokjeons next, he took two more easy nearby castles.
Sorry to the small-to-mid guilds that owned them, but for first place, it was necessary.
Master, where to next?
Michael asked excitedly.
He was thrilled to cut loose after so long.
Dokjeons headquarters.
Failing to take that one meant no overwhelming first.
Facing Dokjeons leader, Min Jin-ho, wasnt optionalit was essential.
Min Jin-ho, wait for me.
Ill break you here.
Understood!
Lets move.
Min Jin-hos castle was a massive one in the east.
The only stronghold Dokjeon had held onto for ages.
WhisperHoon - Sunwoo: Heading to their main base.
WhisperSunwoo - Hoon: Got it! Dont push too hard.
WhisperHoon - Sunwoo: Yes. Hows the situation there?
WhisperSunwoo - Hoon: Wings attacked, but were holding somehow.
WhisperHoon - Sunwoo: You can hold them?
WhisperSunwoo - Hoon: We have to, no matter what.
Perfect answer.
No worries on the Hoyoung front.
Jeong Hoon headed to Min Jin-hos castle with Michael.