Chapter 56: Midnight Sniper Battle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 56: Midnight Sniper Battle
Day 14. Survivors: 123/400.
They had been on the move for a full day, and fortunately, they hadn't run into any ambushes.
After passing through plains and forests that still clung to patches of lush greenery, a desert region unfolded before them like a mirage. As if a line had been drawn across a canvas, the nighttime desert lay ahead—a place where the temperature plummeted the moment one stepped across the boundary.
“There are a lot of ridges. It’s surprisingly good terrain for an ambush,” Gi-chan remarked.
Just as he said, the desert was an endless expanse of sand dunes and undulating ridges.
“The force field isn't really going to shrink all the way to Kutrapa’s Sanctuary, is it?” Lyle asked.
At his words, Gi-chan and Seo-un both turned to look at him. Lyle’s face flushed slightly under their questioning stares.
“Oh, no, it’s not like I’m trying to act like a know-it-all or anything.”
“If you know something, please, act like a know-it-all and tell us,” Gi-chan teased.
Lyle hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Kutrapa was a Great Emperor who is said to have once unified the entire continent. Since you two are from a different world, you might not know, but in our world, he is the only hero to have ever achieved that—the one and only Emperor. According to legend, Kutrapa’s tomb is located right here, in the Forbidden Desert.”
“A Great Emperor’s tomb in a wasteland like this?”
“There are many legends about him, but the most famous is that Kutrapa wasn't actually human. They say he was a dragon nearing his eternal rest. It’s said he unified the continent as a final ‘amusement’ before making his nest underground here to enter a long slumber. Because he was a Red Dragon, his intense elemental affinity turned the surrounding area into a desert. Many people believe the legend because this place is a vast, isolated desert despite being surrounded on all sides by fertile grasslands.”
Gi-chan nodded as he stepped into the desert, feeling the biting chill that set in with a single stride.
“This is definitely a strange region, no matter how different the world is. It’s similar to our legend of King Munmu, who died and became a dragon in the East Sea to protect his country.”
Indeed, the legend of King Munmu, who unified the Three Kingdoms and became a dragon after death to guard his nation, was strikingly similar to the legend of Emperor Kutrapa.
“But is there a reason we shouldn't go to Kutrapa’s Sanctuary?” Seo-un asked, sensing the concern in Lyle’s voice.
Lyle nodded, his expression grim.
“It’s said that many once sought his tomb, believing that countless treasures were buried with the legendary Emperor. Many knights also set out to find his forgotten techniques, as he was a hero of valiant combat. However, it’s said that not a single one of them ever made it out of this desert alive. While the merchant caravans crossing the desert rarely encounter trouble, not one person who went searching for the Imperial Tomb has ever returned... There are many ominous rumors about his sanctuary. In our world today, regardless of the nation, no one dares to rob his resting place.”
Following his explanation, Seo-un and Gi-chan’s expressions grew serious as well.
“Could it be a monster spawn area?”
“Perhaps. And if it’s an Emperor’s tomb... there could be many dangerous traps.”
“It would be best not to let the game drag on too long.”
Lyle cautiously interjected. “I’ve never heard rumors of monsters appearing in the Forbidden Desert.”
Seo-un nodded. “Then there’s a high probability that Kutrapa’s Sanctuary exists as a dungeon, right?”
“I suppose so.”
The force field was currently scheduled to shrink exactly to the desert boundary where they stood. After checking the map, the group stepped into the sands and moved forward.
The sensation of sinking up to their ankles with every step was unpleasant. Seo-un, draped in a thick robe he had acquired earlier, stared blankly at Gi-chan and Lyle, who were gliding comfortably atop their Air Boards.
I should have gotten one of those. Hamit! Can't you transform into one?
—[You foolish master. Do you think the great Erseus Hamit would transform into a mount to be stepped on? Not a chance.]
“Tsk.”
If he didn't want to, there was nothing to be done.
After crossing a fairly high sand dune, the sinking sand was replaced by firm, packed earth.
“We only crossed one hill, and the terrain changes this much?”
Gi-chan replied as he watched Seo-un’s lightened footsteps. “The temperature difference is like this after just one step, too. Anyway, shouldn't we start looking for a spot? We only need to outlast three more teams to secure our survival rights.”
“True... but the map is more barren than I thought. It won't be easy to camp in a place like this. For now, the force field still covers the entire desert and the buff mob on the opposite side. Let’s go a bit deeper. The location of tomorrow’s zone should appear soon anyway.”
“Yes, sir.”
They crossed a few more dunes. As they moved slowly, keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings, the location of the next force field was set.
“Hyung, this is...” Gi-chan trailed off as he checked the map.
“The buff mob fell outside the force field after only two weeks. Things are going to get fierce.”
In a little while, past midnight, the players who had been playing a game of nerves near the buff mob were bound to get desperate.
“Hyung, if we just hold out here, we’ll easily make it to the survival cutoff, won't we?”
“Right? At least a few teams will be eliminated within a few hours. Good. We’re camping here.”
Behind them stood the highest sand dune in the vicinity. Since a fierce battle was expected in the distance soon, there was no reason to force an 'in-circle' move to the center of the force field.
Furthermore, ahead in the distance, a terrain they had no desire to enter stretched out in the middle of the desert—a dense thicket of thorny vines and cacti. According to Lyle, that place, called the Forest of Suffering, was the most difficult region for travelers to navigate.
They set a rotation for guard duty on the ridge of the dune, while the remaining two sat at the base of the hill to recover their strength.
“I’ll circulate my energy first, so I’m counting on you.”
Gi-chan nodded. Before sitting cross-legged to begin his energy circulation, Seo-un checked his stats.
[My Info]
* Name: Jin Seo-un
* Race: Human
* Trait: Demonic Human (Mage)
* Strength: 60
* Stamina: 43
* Agility: 42
* Tenacity: 68
* Magic Resistance: 60
* Trait Stat (Internal Energy): 510
* Trait Stat (Mana): 60
Though the increase in the four basic stats was slight, they had grown steadily. In particular, his tenacity had increased noticeably after his life-and-death struggle with the madman. Moreover, he had finally recovered the level of Internal Energy he had possessed during his prime in the first round.
That Internal Energy wasn't something fleeting that would vanish upon returning to reality; it was truly his own, which gave him even more confidence.
As Seo-un closed his eyes and began his breathing exercises, Cameron’s Necklace was already hanging around his neck. Though his method of increasing power differed from others, he couldn't miss the chance to perform Qi condensation in this place, where energy was more abundant than on Earth.
In front of Seo-un, Gi-chan cast a spell he had recently learned.
“Askro’s Barrier.”
As the authentic 6th Circle barrier magic unfolded, a translucent film shimmered around them before turning completely transparent.
How much time had passed? When Gi-chan, who had been monitoring the map, confirmed that the force field had almost finished shrinking, a notification rang in his head.
[Ding! The buff monster has been hunted! Glory to the Ye Haoran-Sima Xizi-Kasian-Durian Squad!]
Survivors: 121/400.
“Sword Aura, huh? Another dangerous guy has appeared. And only two people died?”
Contrary to expectations, the number of players hadn't decreased significantly. Judging by the mention of Sword Aura, it was highly likely that the appearance of this Ye Haoran fellow had caused the players near the buff monster to retreat in fear.
—Clang! Crack!
In the midst of his thoughts, Gi-chan flinched at the sudden sound and shouted.
“Enemy! Lyle! Get down!”
Several short arrows grazed Lyle as he came rushing down the dune on his Air Board, kicking up sand. Tension spread across Lyle’s face as he watched the arrows narrowly miss him and thud into the sand. These were the same arrows that two members of the Sisul tribe—renowned for their bravery—had fallen to without even being able to lift a finger.
—Crash!
When the arrows failed to hit Lyle, they struck the barrier again, shattering it instantly. An arrow then flew straight toward the space between the eyes of Seo-un, who was just opening them.
“Hyung!!!”
The moment the arrow, which was barely visible to the naked eye, headed for Seo-un’s face, his head snapped back sharply. A despairing Gi-chan widened his eyes, but Seo-un simply performed a backward roll and sprang to his feet.
“Ptooey!”
Seo-un spat the arrow he had caught in his teeth onto the ground and frowned.
“Iron Barrier!” Lyle shouted, deploying a new shield in front of the group.
—[Master! They’re moving fast. It’s hard to pin down their location.]
At Hamit’s warning, Seo-un quickly scanned the surroundings and glared at the black arrow on the ground.
“Baby arrows! It’s those arrows. You have to be careful!”
At Lyle’s shout, Seo-un ground his teeth and spoke as if spitting the words out. “I guess the Pyeonjeon wasn't our exclusive property.”
Pyeonjeon. The "baby arrow." A secret military weapon of Joseon that was said to have once made even the northern nomadic lords, masters of horsemanship and archery, tremble in fear. He never imagined he would encounter those tiny arrows, fired through a Tonga guide tube, from an enemy in another world.
—Clang!
As an arrow struck the barrier and bounced into the air, Lyle shouted, “My barrier won't last long!”
“Everyone, run to that forest ahead!”
The group’s expressions were grim as they sprinted toward the Forest of Suffering, filled with thorny vines and cacti. Seo-un ran at the front, staying alert for incoming projectiles.
Kaier’s Barrier.
Just in case, he deployed his own barrier and pushed his visual perception to the limit.
—Swish!
No sooner had he tilted his head than a red line was drawn across his cheek. If his reaction to the grazing arrow had been even a fraction of a second slower, he would have had a hole in his face.
But he wasn't just going to take it. He notched an arrow into his bow, infused it heavily with Internal Power, and let it fly.
Though he had sustained a small wound while trying to gauge the direction of the instantaneous arrow, he calculated the position of the fast-moving enemy provided by Hamit and the origin of the shot, firing back toward the ridge of the sand dune.
—[He’s firing arrows without stopping his movement!]
The accuracy of the arrows being fired back at him was chilling. However, as Seo-un also fired predictive shots while keeping his feet busy, the frequency of the enemy's arrows decreased.
After narrowly dodging several more shots, they finally dove into the forest. Lyle immediately fired magic into the dense thicket to clear a path. Once they entered the space he had cleared, no more arrows flew their way.
—[The hostile gaze has vanished.]
However, Seo-un kept his bowstring taut and did not lower his guard. There was no way the bastard would give up so easily. Closing his eyes and focusing on his Qi sense, he spoke to Gi-chan via team voice chat.
—[Just in case, clear a path deeper into the forest and stay in ambush!]
As Gi-chan and Lyle pushed through the thorns, Seo-un’s lips curled into a twisted smile as he focused solely on the foe.
Let’s see what you’ve got.
—Zip!
The moment he felt a foreign energy slicing through the air, Seo-un released his bowstring. As the enemy’s arrow grazed his ear, a spray of blood erupted, but Seo-un didn't flinch. Focusing on his own flying arrow, he rolled to the side.
—Thud!
A short arrow slammed into the spot where he had just been standing.
I don't know how he’s firing them, but is it really possible to fire Pyeonjeon in rapid succession at this speed?
The Pyeonjeon he knew was by no means an easy arrow to fire rapidly. As Seo-un picked up the arrow stuck in the ground, another one flew at him from a different direction.
The person firing, adjusting both speed and the power imbued in the arrow, was undoubtedly that man. The Divine Archer, Jurokuana. The man who shouted about honor while shamelessly ganging up on others.
Even with the appearance of such a powerful foe, the smile on Seo-un’s face did not fade. Thanks to the Sense of the Forest he had learned—since even this barren place counted as a forest—he could clearly feel the energy of any arrow entering a 30-meter radius. No matter how well the enemy controlled the tempo of his shots, Seo-un didn't think he would suffer a fatal wound.
—[90 degrees to the right! He’s entered the forest!]
Simultaneously with Hamit’s words, Seo-un turned in a fluid motion and fired. The arrow flew through the obstructing thorny vines, followed by a heavy silence.
A few seconds after firing a bow, if one concentrates on the arrow, there is a momentary sensation of whether it missed or hit. That sensation was telling him: It missed.
As he thought this and rolled to the side, a baby arrow inevitably grazed past.
Hamit! A Tonga... I mean, the shape is...
—[I have seen the image in my master's mind. Will this suffice?]
Hamit, who had been wrapped around his hand, transformed into a Tonga—the guide tube for the baby arrows. Seo-un notched a Pyeonjeon he had recovered into the Tonga and hooked the finger loop onto his hand.
—[Be careful, Master! If you make a mistake, you’ll be the one getting hurt.]
He knew. He knew that if one attempted to use a Pyeonjeon recklessly, it would likely cause great harm to the archer instead. As a Korean, there was no way Seo-un wouldn't know that.
However, long ago, he had seen the scenes of firing and practicing with the Pyeonjeon in the movie War of the Arrows. Having seen that movie, which was said to have depicted the weapon with near-perfect historical accuracy, Seo-un held the Tonga according to the image in his head and drew the string.
The moment his senses picked up an incoming arrow, Seo-un also fired a Pyeonjeon in the direction it had come from. As the Tonga fell away to the side, the black arrow flew out with incredible velocity.
He felt the distinct sensation of the arrow—flying much faster than his previous shots due to the bow being reinforced with Internal Power—grazing something.
—Fwip!
The enemy’s arrow also narrowly grazed his flank, but Seo-un’s smile widened. He could clearly feel the bewilderment of the enemy, who was too far away to be seen.
A sniper battle. The strange bond with an enemy that only those firing arrows with the intent of a single, lethal strike could feel—it made him enjoy himself.
No sooner had he hidden behind a cactus with a circumference of at least six meters than two Pyeonjeon buried themselves into the flesh of the plant and vanished. However, Seo-un, who had already snatched two more weakly fired arrows from the air, notched an arrow into the Tonga and regulated his breathing.
If he fired even slightly too hastily, the Tonga would shake, and the arrow would fly off in a completely wrong direction.
—[Master! Focus more!]
Whenever he made a mistake, Hamit’s nagging followed. It was a dangerous weapon that could put a hole in his own arm if he wasn't careful. However, the more he fired, the faster he grew accustomed to it.
Just as he was about to fire another arrow from behind the cactus, the incoming enemy arrow felt unusual. As he unnotched his arrow and ducked his head, the arrow that had pierced through the cactus grazed his hair.
“Whew.”
That one was truly dangerous.
He still hadn't revealed his full power?
Even for a cactus, it was this thick; he hadn't expected the arrow to pierce through it like a sheet of paper. After dodging another arrow, Seo-un swung his hand, catching a passing arrow that peeled the skin off his palm.
With this, he had three Pyeonjeon left.
The real fight began now.