So There Was a Plan? (4)
So there really was a plan? (4) EP.79
The coordinate’s remaining players were rushing toward the lake as the collapse accelerated far faster than anyone had anticipated. The final collapse unfolded more violently than expected. The ground sank and forests ignited. Witnessing supernatural phenomena that seemed like the end of the world, the people realized that the land beneath their feet was not a continent at all, but a single floating island in the sky.
What a spectacle.
At the center of the world—or rather, at the edge of the world that should have collapsed this round—I sat atop a tall tree by the lakeshore, watching the land plummet and sinking into idle sentiment. Countless players sprinted toward the lake. Some were terrified by the sinking ground, while others felt relief simply because they had been close to the water. There were red-skinned people with white hair, and beastkin who looked too awkward to be called human. All of them were victims forcibly dragged into the Constellations’ game board. Of course, there were also players in black robes who delighted in slaughter, but nine out of ten surely did not want this fight.
“……”
I felt a twinge of unnecessary thought. After all, everyone here was a competitor… The current situation made that perfectly clear. Even as the sky island fell, whenever different coordinates encountered one another, fighting broke out immediately. In a place like this, sympathy or compassion was nothing but a weakness…… Thinking that way would probably be easier on the mind.
Whoosh……
The dark clouds were slowly clearing. All I could see now were the countless players being herded toward the lake and my companions from the Earth coordinate. The team battle had reached its final stage, so it was time to prepare for combat.
Still, how am I supposed to break through that?
Judging by the speed and direction of the collapse, the lake would be the last place left standing. I wondered if I could freeze the lake with the Heart of Frost or evaporate it with the Breath of Fire, but I doubted I could affect such a vast area with enough power.
In that case……
I leapt down from the tree and quietly made my way toward the lake. The battlefield would ultimately be the lake. If I couldn’t change the field, adapting before the fighting started might be the right choice.
Splash.
I dipped the tip of my foot into the lake. Then—
Tick.
Crack.
The result of concentrating the Heart of Frost’s unique skill, Chilling Shield, only on my foot came into view. The water began to freeze precisely where my foot touched it. It wouldn’t hold for long if I stood still, but with enough mana, it should be enough to step and leap across.
“This actually works.”
A faint smile rose on my face at the result far exceeding expectations.
Skills: Recovery (B), Haste (C+), Strength (C+), Holy Blessing (A), Turn Undead (B+), Sanctuary (A)……
Trait: Last Saintess (A+)
Remaining Coins: 9,700 C
“If possible, I had hoped it wouldn’t come down to the lake.”
“It will be fine, Saintess.”
“We’ve become quite strong by now, haven’t we?”
At the Saintess’s words, the knights struck exaggerated poses with proud smiles. But she knew full well that the Holy Kingdom’s knights had already pushed themselves far beyond their limits.
Only twelve left……
The total number of Holy Kingdom survivors since the team battle began. If not for the strangely concentrated waves of the dead starting from the third day, far more would have survived. The thought pained her. Still, those who remained had grown stronger. Even if they hadn’t collected many flags, the stats gained from subduing the dead were considerable.
The Saintess had mostly spent her time buffing the knights rather than fighting the dead directly, so only her mana had risen dramatically, but that didn’t matter. The essence of a Saintess was healing and support, not direct combat. She was simply grateful she could still fulfill her role.
“Everyone, the team battle has entered its final phase. I hope you all survive until the end.”
“Understood.”
Excluding the Saintess herself and Landon, only ten remained. She led the surviving forces and carefully advanced toward the lake.
“There is a lake ahead.”
At the scout’s report, the knights raised their guard and looked to the Saintess.
“Holy Blessing.”
A small light burst from the tip of the staff she held. Rays of light imbued with holy power. As the light swept over each player, they marched toward the lake with determined expressions.
“Ah, Mr. Jocheol, you’re here?”
“……It smells like something’s burning. Did that lightning actually strike here earlier?”
At the warm greeting, the others glanced around with drained expressions. When Han Gamin had explained Kim Siin’s plan, they had wondered what on earth he was trying to do. They knew players became superhumans through awakening and that Kim Siin was exceptional even among them, but they couldn’t comprehend what “shooting lightning” meant. Now, seeing the scene before them, they decided to stop thinking altogether. If Kim Siin said he would do something, it would happen. If he made a statement, the best course was probably just to nod and prepare for the next plan.
“By the way, are there fishmen in this lake?”
“Probably.”
At my answer, people tilted their heads.
“There were definitely traces, but I haven’t seen a single fishman since arriving at the lake. They might have become more cautious or left for some reason. Though…… I doubt they actually left the lake.”
No matter how you looked at it, the lake was the final battlefield. What they wanted was to survive as long as possible. And for that purpose, no place was more perfect than this lake.
“People are coming over there.”
At someone’s words, heads turned. On the opposite shore of the lake, people emerged from the forest, and in response, players began revealing themselves one by one.
Hmm……
I looked them over. Some players I had clashed with once or twice during the team battle were visible, while others I had never seen before—perhaps they had been hiding somewhere, waiting for their ranking to rise.
Fighting Spirit (A) has activated.
Enemies weaker than you are losing their will to fight.
At the skill’s activation, several players began trembling. Of course, the distance was too great for them to collapse to their knees, but that alone was enough to tell they would not pose a threat.
The gap with the target is not large.
Yet even in such moments, the strong existed. Players who had raised their stats by hunting the dead rather than focusing on flags showed little reaction to my Fighting Spirit.
Those over there aren’t much……
The real threats were the Holy Kingdom members who had appeared across from us and the fishmen currently hiding in the lake, waiting for an opportunity.
A large number of Constellations are urging the team battle forward.
The field’s collapse is accelerating.
As people hesitated and held back, the frustrated Constellations hastened the collapse that had been slowing.
“Th-the ground……!”
“Whoa?!”
The ground lurched, and the path the players had walked on began collapsing in an instant. The land was narrowing rapidly. The lake’s surface, perhaps because some water had drained through the cracks, began revealing damp ground.
“Everyone needs to get into the lake!”
“I……! I can’t swim!”
“What the hell……!”
As people panicked at the sudden change, Park Jocheol, standing nearby, widened his eyes and stepped into the lake first.
“Get in the water. There are no fishmen nearby yet! The other side will be cautious too, so don’t show any panic!”
At his words, people shut their mouths, faces hardening. They couldn’t let it be known that the players on this side were reluctant to fight in water. The moment they revealed that weakness, they would become targets for the fishmen or other coordinates. If the first one caught off guard was Han Gamin, it was entirely possible their flags would be stolen and everyone would be sent straight to the lobby without being able to do anything.
Step.
“Mr. Park Jocheol, please come out of the water for a moment.”
Having thought that far, I called Park Jocheol and slowly drew my sword. We couldn’t show weakness to the fishmen. And in a situation where things could devolve into a chaotic brawl, we couldn’t become targets for other coordinates either.
“I’ll clear the way.”
“……What?”
As I approached the lake, people looked at me with puzzled eyes. But Park Jocheol was quick. Without another word, he immediately stepped out of the water, and seeing that, Namgung Cheonho, Seo Seyeong, and Han Gamin also quietly retreated.
Creak……
The moment my foot touched the lake, a thin layer of ice began forming from the edge. The side effects of the Heart of Frost I had used when dropping the lightning were starting to rise—my heart felt cold—but I decided to focus on the current situation for now.
“Haa……”
A deep frost escaped my lips. I raised my sword and executed the form I judged most suitable for the current situation.
Raging Wave Water Sword — 1st Form of the Southern Sea Thirty-Six Swords
It was a single horizontal slash. The long horizontal sword qi flying from the blade scattered dense mana and created small waves. But my mana was currently saturated with cold. The mana that had initially flowed smoothly like water gradually took shape and began freezing the lake’s surface.
CRACK!!!
A thin sheet of ice formed in an instant. Faint groans escaped the mouths of those watching the scene. Of course, the players from other coordinates observing from afar were no exception.