Chapter 69: The Ace of the 20-Quad
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 69: The Ace of the 20-Quad
The scenery shifted, revealing mountains and plains with an atmosphere starkly different from the previous fantasy-themed maps.
Players responded one by one to Juriel’s orders. After Seo-un and Gi-chan gave their acknowledgments, the two players acting as scouters delivered their rapid-fire reports.
Watching the two carry out their roles with professional efficiency, Seo-un realized once again the vital importance of positioning.
As soon as the briefing ended, the order was given.
Plummeting toward the ground, Seo-un and Gi-chan didn't bother scanning their surroundings like they had in the previous game. They tucked their heads down, maximizing their terminal velocity to hit the ground first.
The moment their feet touched the earth, their eyes darted around with predatory speed.
At the scouter’s warning, Seo-un—the first to land—sprinted toward a fireball that lacked a teammate marker. Gi-chan followed closely behind, staff already in hand.
Crackle!
The moment they landed, a bolt of electricity surged through the body of an enemy martial artist, the current jumping to the other players landing behind him. Seo-un didn't miss the opening created by Gi-chan’s Chain Lightning.
“Urgh!”
In a heartbeat, Seo-un’s hand clamped onto the head of the martial artist struggling to shake off the electrocution.
Crunch!
The skull was punctured and crushed instantly. The martial artist collapsed, his body twitching briefly before going limp.
As Seo-un lunged toward another player, the ground in front of him split open, and a massive boulder erupted from the earth.
Boom!
He shattered the rock with a Concussive Strike, but a bird of flame immediately appeared, swelling in size as it rode a blade of wind. Behind it, a surge of mana signaled a barrage of spells ready to be unleashed.
Seo-un glanced regretfully at the sluggish, electrocuted player right in front of him. Just as he was about to retreat, a powerful barrier manifested before him, intercepting the magic.
At Juriel’s order, Seo-un’s lips curled into a smirk. He charged toward the mage directly ahead.
Clang! Crack!
The mage, who had managed to block Seo-un once with a barrier, attempted to create distance using a peculiar footwork technique. As expected of a regular player, his Lightness Skill was quite impressive.
However, it wasn't impressive enough to escape Gale Step and the Blood Bone Claw.
Crunch!
Seo-un drove his hand into the back of the mage’s head, crushing the skull. A tingling, itchy sensation spread through his fingertips. He could feel the Blood Bone Claw being tempered as it came into contact with human brain matter.
“Hyung! Fall back!”
At Gi-chan’s shout, Seo-un threw himself backward. Spells from both sides collided and exploded in the space he had occupied just a second ago.
“Nice play, Jin Seo-un!”
Seo-un nodded at Juriel’s spirited praise.
Having retreated far enough, he surveyed his teammates. In the rear were the mages and their shielders; in front of them, players were scattered in all directions, their eyes gleaming as they measured the distance to strike.
Tap.
A woman named Li Lingwei, dressed in archer’s attire, lightly tapped Seo-un on the back. When he turned, she was holding something out to him, her eyes burning with intensity. Seo-un took the small bottle of liquid and looked at her questioningly.
“Cadaver Poison. It only works through the bloodstream. I thought it might be useful in your hands. Just out of curiosity… you didn't learn that Blood Bone Claw directly from him, did you?”
“I killed the man and learned it myself.”
He matched her informal speech with his own. She didn't seem to mind; she withdrew her intense gaze, her lips curving into a slight arc.
The ensuing magical skirmish turned into a war of attrition, with neither side gaining a clear advantage.
Just as Juriel ordered, the enemies also seemed to be considering a slow retreat. It was then that Seo-un broke away from the team formation and gave an order.
The enemies weren't about to let Seo-un approach as he made a wide flanking maneuver. Hidden weapons and Sword Qi flew toward him to keep him at bay. However, Seo-un blocked everything thrown his way without slowing down and pulled a bow from his subspace.
‘Hamit!’
— I know, Master. —
The moment Hamit, wrapped around his hand, transformed into a Tonga, Seo-un pulled out a Pyeonjeon he had personally crafted in the real world and stored in his subspace.
The shaft was carbon fiber, and the head was titanium. More importantly, it was a custom masterpiece that cost one million won per arrow, commissioned to an alchemist who took an entire month to imbue it with special magic.
Whiz!
The Pyeonjeon flew with such speed that the enemy martial artist couldn't deflect it. He barely managed to dodge, but before he could even speak, a discharge of electricity erupted from the arrow, electrocuting two mages nearby.
The shock wasn't incredibly powerful, but it was enough to daze the two mages for a moment. Simultaneously, Seo-un stowed his bow and prepared to face two knights and a martial artist charging toward him.
There was no need to force a three-on-one fight. Until he was certain of the enemy’s skill level, he had to maintain an angle for retreat.
Rattle!
After checking Hamit coiled around his hand, Seo-un took the stance of the Blood Bone Claw.
Clang!
He deflected a knight’s sword and mace with his bare hands and stepped back slightly.
Cr-cr-crack!
At that moment, Gi-chan’s specialty, Chain Lightning, struck them dead on. However, their magic resistance was formidable; they endured the shock and renewed their assault on Seo-un.
For two months, the two had practiced their positioning, assuming countless combined attacks and potential scenarios. They had simulated every possible script for fighting at a disadvantage against three melee players. Naturally, their coordination was on a different level compared to the three enemies who had likely only recently met.
As Seo-un moved in subtle, large circles, the enemies began to hinder each other’s movements. Their attacks grew tangled, and Gi-chan’s magic and Seo-un’s sharp strikes pierced through every opening.
Seo-un nodded at Gi-chan’s assessment. They were strong, but not insurmountable.
Gi-chan didn't forget to warn Seo-un as he surged forward. Sure enough, the atmosphere shifted. A knight emitting a golden aura from his entire body dashed toward Seo-un.
Whoosh.
But the Seo-un in front of him vanished like a mirage against the knight’s dash. The moment a red haze flickered at his fingertips, the sword of the wide-eyed martial artist grazed Seo-un’s ear. As Seo-un brushed past the startled man, the martial artist’s throat was torn open, and a spray of blood erupted.
Dropping his sword, the martial artist collapsed, clutching his neck.
Clang!
The nearby knight belatedly swung his mace, but Seo-un blocked it with one hand and naturally backed away. He still couldn't match a knight’s raw strength head-on. But strength wasn't the only way to win a fight.
With one martial artist down in an instant, the remaining knight glanced toward his teammates. That split-second distraction decided the match. He tried to raise his shield against the lunging Seo-un, but the shield was torn like paper under Seo-un’s touch.
Riiiiiip!
With a bone-chilling sound, the knight threw aside his ruined shield and ran toward his teammates. But showing one’s back to an enemy was a fatal mistake. They say a person’s true worth is revealed in a crisis. By that measure, the knight’s worth was pathetic.
He ended up coughing blood from a Penetrating Strike before his skull was crushed, never having managed to accomplish a single thing.
The knight who had passed through Seo-un’s illusion to fight Gi-chan didn't last much longer either. Gi-chan skillfully maintained his distance, whittling down the knight’s health with a variety of spells. The moment Gi-chan instinctively felt the knight was battered and out of skills, he cast Flame Burst.
The Staff of the Abyss allowed the use of up to three spells, doubled their power, and doubled the casting speed. It was an item any mage would covet. When Gi-chan’s Flame Burst hit the knight directly, a massive shockwave rocked the man’s entire body. Despite his high magic resistance, he couldn't stand up immediately.
The knight who had been blown away and was trembling as he tried to rise, and the martial artist who was clutching his throat while trying to pull out a recovery scroll, both met their end as Seo-un crushed their skulls.
The two finished off the trio and looked over the battlefield. Not far away, a fierce 15-on-18 battle was in full swing. It was a chaotic scene of magic clashing and exploding everywhere as players scrambled to bypass shielders and kill mages.
The most striking figure was Juriel. Holding a blackened wooden staff, she swung it whenever a large mana surge occurred, scattering the gathering energy. Seo-un didn't realize it at first, but as the scene repeated, his eyes sharpened.
“She’s neutralizing the magic, isn't she?”
“Yes. Mana Cancel. She’s specifically picking out the area-of-effect spells to cancel. That’s not a spell with a high success rate, even if you learn it.”
Another impressive feat was her ability to give precise orders while casting high-concentration spells. Seeing the enemy prepare fire and wind AoE magic, she instantly ordered fast-casting spells to weaken them.
Sssssss.
Before the two massive spells fueled by multiple mages could even manifest, they were smothered by a downpour of water arrows and a rampaging, growing lightning spell.
“Impressive. She neutralized two AoE spells with just two 5th Circle spells,” Seo-un spoke as he watched her performance. “We’ve seen enough. Let’s join in.”
Seo-un and Gi-chan hadn't been watching just for fun. They needed to gauge their teammates’ skills and, more importantly, learn the flow of large-scale team battles.
As the two made a wide sweep to target the enemy mages from behind, the enemy knights and martial artists were forced to peel off to intercept them. With the enemy front line inevitably weakened, the woman in white archer’s garb, Li Lingwei, began to push forward.
Flutter!
A large bundle emerged from her subspace and unfurled. At that exact moment, Juriel cast a Gale spell with perfect timing. Thin metal butterflies released from the bundle began to ride the wind. As nearly a hundred of these butterflies swept across the battlefield in fluttering, irregular patterns, the enemies’ faces turned pale, and many began to vomit blood.
Since they were fighting at the enemy’s rear, Gi-chan and Seo-un were able to react quickly and move out of the butterflies’ path. Thanks to Li Lingwei’s move, the battle that could have dragged on ended in an instant.
Seo-un gripped the Cadaver Poison she had given him and looked at her with dark, contemplative eyes. It was a moment that made him reconsider the sheer power of poison.
“Jin Seo-un! Nice!”
Juriel approached and called out to him energetically. Seo-un responded with a smile, glancing past her at Li Lingwei, who was busy retrieving her butterflies. Perhaps sensing his gaze, Li Lingwei walked over and held out her hand.
“That was an interesting item.”
Seo-un took back the million-won Pyeonjeon she was holding and tucked it into his leather belt. Since its one-time magic had already been used, its value had dropped significantly.
“Not as interesting as your butterflies.”
“They are called Poisonous Killing Butterflies.”
At her words, the surrounding martial artists stiffened and focused their attention on her. Seo-un hadn't missed the strange looks some of them had given her ever since the butterflies had neutralized the enemies.
‘A daughter of a prominent Unorthodox sect, skilled in hidden weapons and poison. Something like that, I suppose?’
Clap, clap!
“Let’s finish farming quickly and start with the nearby village.”
Juriel spurred the players into motion, as they were momentarily dazed while recovering from the short but intense battle. Between the well-paved roads of the green plains, only bloodstains and twenty supply boxes lay scattered in disarray.
“Please let me have this one.”
“No, this magic book is also…”
“I’ll take this shield…”
“Wait! I had my eye on that too.”
Juriel’s loud voice rang out over the chaotic, market-like atmosphere.
“I believe I ordered you to finish farming quickly!”
The players looked like they all had something to say in response to her high-pitched tone, but she clearly wasn't in the mood for a long discussion.
“The person who grabbed it first keeps it, and that player yields the next item. End of story. And make sure to catalog any good items among those with the same primary stats before using them!”
“It’s a total mess.”
“Even so, this is actually well-organized. I heard that in multi-quad games, teams can split up or even team-kill each other over items if things go wrong.”
As he spoke, Gi-chan learned the magic book he had claimed, letting it crumble into dust.
[ Ring of Fire Spirit. Increases resistance to fire and poison. Prevents the wearer from feeling the heat in summer… ]
Seo-un also slipped a ring he had picked up onto his finger.
“Now, everyone, move to the farming zone.”
At her command, the group reformed, and the two scouters took the lead, scanning the surroundings. Seo-un felt a sense of novelty as a landscape resembling a Chinese movie—mostly wooden buildings—unfolded before him. It felt as if he had been sucked into one of the many martial arts films he had enjoyed, evoking a different sentiment than the fantasy world.
“Start farming in pairs. Scouters, I’ll make sure the item distribution is fair, so please work hard.”
The two taciturn martial artists nodded and leaped onto the roof of the tallest four-story building to keep watch. There were over a hundred buildings, with another fifty or so taller structures stretching along a small river behind them. According to someone who knew this map well, this was the red-light district.
Regardless, it didn't take long to clear all 150+ buildings. Once the farming was complete and the players gathered, Juriel stepped forward once again.
“If anyone found any useful items, please disclose them without exception.”
This was the most awkward time. Since items had to be distributed, there was a high probability people would hide the good ones. The main shielder was the first to report.
“Duka’s Helmet and Flame Gloves. The rest is junk.”
“I found the Ring of Poison Mist and the Jade Whip…”
Many other items were briefed. Once everyone had finished, Juriel looked at the two scouters.
“Is there anything you two need?”
The two shook their heads.
“We are looking for useful Lightness Skills, elixirs, and saber techniques.”
They were quite specific, and she nodded.
“Since the scouters are working so hard, please yield any items they mentioned to them first. The rest of the game is long.”
Given that the total game duration was three years, it could indeed be considered long. Of course, many mechanics were in place to speed up the game, so the likelihood of it actually lasting three years was low.
“Then, those who yielded earlier, please take the items you need first.”
Once they finished their selections, the remaining players began to take their items.
“Now, we will move along the pre-planned route.”
They began moving along the river. Naturally, the scouters split up to cover the front and rear, keeping a vigilant watch. Moving at a steady pace, Seo-un pulled up beside Juriel.
“That’s some leadership. You don't act like this is your first regular round.”
“I have someone close to me who has experienced Cloyd for a long time. I received a lot of advice.”
It was as he had suspected.
“May I ask one thing?”
“Anything.”
She didn't refuse a question from Seo-un, who had instantly become the team’s ace. It was only natural, given how much he had helped since the quad was formed.
“What are the main quest and item rewards?”
“Ah, for regular rounds, the reward items for each game are fixed. They also issue specific quests and give prize items to the players who achieve them. The conditions and items vary every time. However, I heard they always set difficult quests and offer attractive items to provoke the players. They are tempting, but you must never get greedy! As you might have guessed, those conditions are perfect for ruining your playstyle and getting you killed if you overreach.”
Seo-un nodded in agreement. Even in a game with 2,000 participants, achieving 200 kills was no easy feat. Trying too hard to get kills could easily lead to a team wipe.
‘It’s a mechanic to speed up the game.’
With 2,000 players and a map significantly larger than the previous one, the play period was a staggering 1,000 days. If someone decided to camp with all their might, the game could truly drag on for three years. Therefore, mechanics to shake up the players and increase the pace were essential.
Seo-un drifted away from her and joined Gi-chan, who was channeling mana into his necklace.
“It’s better to give up on it, right?”
“Probably… but that Player Rights Revival Ticket.”
“Yeah. I’m sure we’re thinking the same thing. That was the first thing that caught my eye too.”
“It’s worth aiming for if possible, right?”
“Hyung, you have 8 kills now, right?”
“No. That big bastard stole the last kill earlier.”
Seo-un glanced at the main shielder, and Gi-chan nodded.
“From now on, the two of us will funnel all the kills to you, Hyung.”
“We have to think about the kill rewards too. Think about how many coins that is.”
“For now, that item is more important than a few coins. You can just share some of the kill rewards with me after the game ends.”
“You okay with that?”
“Of course.”
As soon as they finished their conversation, Gi-chan stopped channeling mana into the necklace. However, many players were curious about the silent exchange between the two. It was a natural reaction, given that Seo-un had surged to become the team’s ace after just one battle.