Chapter 89: 8-Quad. Gun vs. Bow
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: 8-Quad. Gun vs. Bow
“There’s a Cloak of Stealth! Watch out!”
In a squad that didn't include a single mage, a knight shouted at the top of his lungs.
At his cry, the momentum of the knights charging in a horizontal line surged. It wasn't just a figure of speech; they were synchronizing their energies to amplify their pressure as they charged—a maneuver they had clearly practiced many times.
Sensing instinctively that they would be at a disadvantage if the line was breached, Jin Long and Li Min leaped forward. They had to tie the enemies down somehow to allow the mages to launch their attacks from a stable position.
Dump’s voice came through the team chat, but they couldn't turn back now. Seeing as Dump didn't offer any specific counter-strategy despite the warning, it was clear he didn't have a clever solution either.
Just as Jin Long and Li Min channeled their internal power and lowered their swords to prepare for the collision, a thunderous roar echoed, and the knight charging on the far right was sent flying backward.
Crash!
As the knight tumbled violently away, the momentum of the charging squad wavered significantly.
“Tsk. Damn, they’re sturdy.”
Seo-un frowned, massaging his wrist as he swept the Cloak of Stealth into his subspace. He felt the Sword Emperor’s gaze linger on him for a moment as the leader raced past, but despite losing a comrade, the group of knights showed no intention of stopping.
“Ignoring me?”
Seo-un quickly spun around and stuck close to their rear, looking exasperated. He couldn't understand the sheer stupidity of charging forward while leaving an enemy behind, but he wasn't one to let an opportunity pass.
Whoosh! Clang!
He swung his chainsword, which had already completed its transformation, with a heavy roar. However, the result was underwhelming. Instead of slicing through the knight’s seemingly defenseless back, the chainsword simply bounced off. Seo-un poured more strength into his Gale Step.
Boom!
At that moment, Jin Long and Li Min, who had charged the front of the knights, were blown back even faster than they had approached, coughing up blood. Even though the enemy's momentum had decreased, the impact felt like slamming into a massive mountain with their bare bodies. Their internal energy was in disarray, and their vision blurred.
At Li Min’s shout, the three mages who were about to cast spells grimaced and scattered. Having successfully broken the formation, the knights naturally broke their own positions to hunt down the mages.
Clang!
In the chaos, Dump managed to block one knight, and Li Lingwei also stood her ground by scattering a poisonous mist. However, the knights centered around the Sword Emperor were caught in a strange current of energy, making their power formidable.
Just as Seo-un was about to reach out and strike the back of a knight who was hounding the injured Jin Long and Li Min, a massive pressure shifted toward him.
Through that brief exchange, the Sword Emperor had instantly identified the ace of this squad.
Seo-un turned his body, unable to ignore the figure charging at him with a flaming sword and exploding momentum. Hamit gave a warning.
The knight, who had been charging rapidly, suddenly accelerated as if someone had pushed his back and leaped into the air. Seeing red streaks of light radiating from the man’s body, Seo-un retreated.
As he backed away, Seo-un reached out toward the spinning wheel that appeared before his eyes.
The moment he registered the skill in his mind, the knight, holding his sword in a reverse grip, plummeted from the air.
Thud! Whoosh!
As the knight landed and slammed his sword into the ground, the streaks of light flowing from his body split into eight paths along the earth, spreading rapidly in all directions. Like gasoline ignited in a long trail, the light spread and formed a translucent red wall, isolating the space.
Finding himself trapped in an octagonal cage with the knight, Seo-un threw a punch at the translucent barrier.
Clang!
The wall shook violently but did not break. Hamit spoke.
Seo-un watched the knight stand up and pull his sword from the ground, then he slowly unclenched his fists. His lips were dry as he settled into the stance of the Blood Bone Claw.
“Crown Grade, huh? I’ve been curious.”
The knight was small in stature, even considering the compact armor and the slightly high-pitched voice. However, in Seo-un’s eyes, his opponent didn't look small at all.
The knight raised his sword and charged at the silently staring Seo-un.
Clash!
Even with Hamit wrapped around him and the Blood Bone Claw active, Seo-un’s hands throbbed from blocking the flaming sword. As the movements of the blade—burning brighter than the moonlight—began to accelerate, Seo-un grit his teeth.
He began to draw upon his entire internal power, totaling two Gapsa. His aura shifted instantly. He had intended to save as much strength as possible in case a third party intervened, but this was no time for leisure.
Screech!
The knight’s eyes wavered when Seo-un blocked a downward strike aimed at his crown with a single hand. The knight had intended to tie Seo-un down and finish him slowly, but sensing the formidable momentum and strength, he shifted his stance and swung his sword with renewed speed.
Seo-un’s brow furrowed as he tried to use the Muryeong Phantom Step to disorient the knight. Because the opponent stuck close and maintained the perfect distance to keep swinging, it was difficult to move freely. He couldn't properly execute the footwork of the Muryeong Phantom Step, and the feeling of being forced into specific movements to avoid the blade sent a cold sweat down his spine.
‘I can’t keep this up.’
Feeling like a soccer ball being dribbled, Seo-un decided to make his move.
Skreeeee!
A strike from the Blood Bone Claw, imbued with the essence of the Spinning Strike, collided with the descending sword, creating the screeching sound of grinding metal. Soon, the sword slid past the area protected by Hamit, grazing Seo-un from his elbow to his shoulder. Intense pain flared.
Crunch!
Seo-un grit his teeth hard enough to make a sound and endured. As he continued to thrust his arm forward, the knight was forced to retreat. The enemy felt like a dangerous predator, one too risky to tank based on defense alone.
‘I must never give him distance.’
The moment that thought became apparent in the knight’s movements, Seo-un’s foot finally stepped in the desired direction, and his body blurred.
The knight’s pupils shook violently for a split second as he saw Seo-un multiply—from one to two, two to four, and finally twelve—as he charged. Seeing nine of the clones get cut down and vanish in that fleeting moment, Seo-un curled his lips into a smirk.
‘Forced Strike.’
As if declaring this gamble his victory, Seo-un’s strike landed squarely in the knight’s flank.
Clang!
[Forced Strike has been successful.]
[Ding! Forcing distance upon the target.]
Along with the notification, the knight, who had been swinging his sword, was pushed back uncontrollably regardless of his will. His face was hidden by his helmet, so Seo-un couldn't be sure, but the knight’s panic was palpable. After several failed attempts to close the distance and attack, the knight seemingly heard his own notification and gave up on charging Seo-un.
In that instant, Seo-un pulled out his bow.
Seeing Seo-un nock a pyeonjeon to his bow, the knight slashed a cross into the air, and the translucent walls isolating the space vanished.
Seo-un immediately swung his aim away from the man and targeted the back of the head of a knight who was pressing Li Min.
Whiz! Boom!
As the pyeonjeon exploded against the back of his head, the knight, who had been mid-swing, lost his balance and stumbled forward.
Thud!
Though he was suffering from internal injuries, few martial artists would miss such an opening. The moment Li Min’s sword pierced the thin metal plate between the helmet and the breastplate and sank into the knight’s neck, the man’s body went limp.
With one teammate incapacitated, the Sword Emperor grew desperate and lunged toward Li Lingwei. It was a calculated move to reduce the number of enemies since he couldn't get to Seo-un.
But Seo-un wasn't just standing around. As soon as he predicted the man’s direction, he moved toward Li Lingwei. Due to the distance restriction, the Sword Emperor was pushed back without even getting to swing his sword once.
Then, Seo-un fired another pyeonjeon.
The Sword Emperor boasted powerful strength and a flaming sword, but he had almost no long-range capabilities. At best, he could release flickering energy, but it wasn't fast, and it consumed too much stamina to be a real threat.
On the other hand, Seo-un, who was firing pyeonjeons while strictly preventing the knight from approaching his teammates, was proving to be an incredible asset to the team.
It didn't take long for the tide of battle to turn. Naturally, Gi-chan, who had stepped up to act as a tank by protecting Lyle and Juriel while charging forward to face the knights, played a major role in the reversal.
The knight shouted as he realized the situation was turning against them, but there was no way they would let him retreat as easily as he had attacked.
Whiz! Shaaaaa!
A pyeonjeon fired at the feet of a retreating knight released a burst of freezing cold, binding his legs. Li Min and Jin Long instantly pounced on the trapped man.
Clang!
Slash!
It looked as though Li Min’s sword sent the helmet flying and Jin Long’s blade severed the neck at almost the exact same moment.
By the time Hamit informed him of the remaining time, only one knight, staggering from Li Lingwei’s poison, had managed to barely pull away.
Facing an 8-to-2 disadvantage and certain defeat, the knight seemed determined to fight to the end rather than flee, gripping his sword tightly with both hands.
The moment the final second ticked away, all the teammates capable of melee combat, including Seo-un, rushed the knight. Dump, who was the first to reach him, turned his shield a bright golden color and blocked the knight’s flaming sword, while a barrage of sharp attacks rained down on the knight’s body.
Clang! Clang! Rip!
Finally, Seo-un’s hand tore through the knight’s breastplate and sent the helmet flying.
The knight was pushed back, blood trickling from his mouth, his blonde hair fluttering in the wind. For a moment, everyone was dazed by the sight of the beautiful knight with a pale face and shining blue eyes. Seo-un shouted.
“Attack!”
Snapping out of their brief trance, the teammates poured out their attacks. Before long, the knight’s body, its head crushed, collapsed onto the ground.
Seo-un wiped the brain matter and blood from his hands and approached Li Min and Jin Long.
“How are your internal injuries?”
“I’m alright.”
Jin Long’s complexion looked much better than Li Min’s. In contrast, Li Min’s pale face didn't look good at all.
“My Great Meridian is damaged.”
Seo-un’s expression hardened at the news that the largest and most important meridian for internal power was injured. He handed over the internal injury medicine he had been saving.
“This is valuable stuff. Recover quickly.”
Li Min took Seo-un’s medicine along with all of his own and sat down on the ground to begin his healing meditation. Seo-un then turned his gaze to Juriel.
“How are you?”
“It’s just mild mana exhaustion.”
As she finished speaking, she took out a blue potion and drank it. Seeing her color return quickly, Seo-un nodded. Lyle had already rushed over and begun treating the burn marks and sword wounds on Seo-un’s arm.
After patting Lyle on the head, Seo-un looked toward Dump. Dump, who had already started looting, looked ecstatic.
“Did a sword manual drop?” Seo-un asked, watching him swap out gear after comparing the options on the armor.
“No. Unfortunately, a regular knight’s sword manual didn't drop. But I did get this shield with amazing options.”
“It seems the sword manual you got last time was quite effective.”
When Seo-un mentioned his skill in blocking the Sword Emperor’s blade several times, Dump nodded.
“Of course! I’ve gained some enlightenment regarding Aura. The day I can imbue my weapon with Aura isn't far off.”
Seo-un smiled at his confident words and addressed the team.
“Everyone, sit down and recover your strength. I’ll keep watch until Li Min finishes his meditation.”
Watching the moon begin to tilt from its zenith, Seo-un stood guard while everyone else sat down to maintain their weapons or begin their energy circulation. Meanwhile, Dump began distributing various accessories to the team, reciting their options as he went.
As the bright moon set and the bluish dawn approached, Li Min finished his meditation and stood up. The teammates, who had stayed up all night, began to move.
“As we head to the next island, we will destroy every Seondongun we see.”
“If that’s the case, wouldn't it be more efficient to focus entirely on destroying them?”
Seo-un’s expression was grim as he responded to Li Lingwei’s suggestion.
“Our loot status is too poor for that.”
He held up his arm, which was now scarred from the elbow to the shoulder, having been healed with magic because they lacked recovery scrolls.
“Regardless of other items, we need to stockpile recovery items.”
Li Lingwei nodded at his words. Despite killing a hundred Dokkaebis, not a single recovery scroll had dropped. Seo-un had planned with the knowledge that farming wouldn't be easy on this map, which lacked dedicated farming zones.
He had considered a strategy focused on monopolizing the Seondongun and reducing their numbers, but that required a steady supply of recovery items to sustain combat.
The teammates boarded their Seondongun and began flying through the dawn sky. Before long, their faces lit up with a fresh sensation as they watched the sun rise while cutting through the air.
While enjoying the view for a moment, Seo-un pulled out his bow.
He fired an arrow toward a Seondongun in the distance carrying monkeys. The three creatures on it were instantly aggroed.
Crackle!
Before they could even swing their red staffs, Gi-chan’s Chain Lightning wiped out the three monkeys in an instant. Li Lingwei quickly destroyed the three stationary Seondongun.
Remaining Seondongun: 358/400.
In just one day, the number of Seondongun had decreased by more than 10%.
Everyone nodded at Juriel’s remark. In reality, the side that monopolized the Seondongun would have an overwhelming advantage in this game.
Li Lingwei’s point was also valid.
Seo-un clearly defined their primary objective for now.
They had been flying for a while when the next island appeared in the distance. Hamit suddenly shouted.
Immediately following Hamit’s warning, a crack appeared in Seo-un’s barrier.
Crack!
The moment a bullet embedded in the cracked barrier entered Seo-un’s vision, the sound of a gunshot echoed belatedly.
Bang!
“Everyone, watch your barriers and move irregularly!”
Contrary to the order he gave, Seo-un spotted a glint of sunlight reflecting off a lens. He pulled out his bow and moved rapidly toward where the scope had been.
Shatter!
The moment his barrier broke, Lyle cast a new one on him. It was a spell called Personal Barrier, which could be placed on a designated player and lasted for three hours.
Crack!
Bang!
This time, the bullet hit the barrier almost simultaneously with the sound of the shot. It was proof that the sniper was getting closer.
Looking at the bullet stuck in the barrier, Seo-un released his bowstring.
Whiz!
The pyeonjeon shot out so straight it made the term 'ballistic weapon' seem meaningless. The moment it exploded, he clearly saw a player moving.
Whoosh.
As he nocked another pyeonjeon, he saw an object flying toward him at high speed with a roar. If it weren't for his increased Agility, his reaction might have been too slow, but Seo-un fired his pyeonjeon at the object almost instinctively.
Whiz! Ka-boom!
The aftershock of the explosion swept past Seo-un, violently whipping his hair.
‘Did they even bring rocket launchers?’
Watching those who stubbornly insisted on using inefficient modern weapons, Seo-un began firing his pyeonjeons without restraint.
Boom! Boom!
Rapidly firing exploding pyeonjeons, Seo-un reached the island. He stored his Seondongun in his subspace while still in mid-air, landed on the ground, and sprinted forward.
Even while using Gale Step, he fired pyeonjeons at the enemies fleeing over the hill. Predicting their positions, he aimed into the sky, and the sound of the arrows exploding behind the hill echoed incessantly.
His teammates followed closely behind him, providing rapid backup.
Even without Gi-chan pointing it out, Seo-un was already considering the possibility that they were a Guild from Earth.