CHAPTER 69

20 Quads. Ace.

As the view changed, mountains and plains unfolded, bearing a mood quite unlike a fantasy world map.

– I've marked everything on the map, so don't mess up the drop. And Scouts, please keep track of all players falling nearby.

One by one, the players responded to Juriel's orders.

Seowoon and Kichan also chimed in, and the two assigned as scouts began their briefing.

– 60! Three quads dropping.– One squad in Seongdo, one near the Seoha River, one at Um-yo Mountain.

As the two scouts handled their tasks with speed and precision, Seowoon was reminded of the importance of proper positioning.

– Everyone, drop!

No sooner had the concise briefing ended than the drop order was issued.

Descending rapidly to the ground, Seowoon and Kichan didn't bother to scan their surroundings like in the previous game.

They drove their heads straight down, pushing for maximum fall speed.

The moment they landed, their eyes darted swiftly to survey the surroundings.

– One squad is overlapping with us!

At the scout's report, Seowoon, the first to hit the ground, charged toward a fiery figure that lacked a team marker.

Right behind him, Kichan drew his staff and joined the assault.

– Engage the sub-order and mage first!– Crackle!

Upon landing, Kichan's Chain Lightning electrocuted the unprepared enemy fighters and others arriving close behind.

Seowoon didn't miss the opening created by the shock.

"Grgh!"

In an instant, Seowoon grabbed the enemy fighter's head and—

– Crack!

With a hole burst through the skull, the enemy's body convulsed and then fell limp.

As Seowoon lunged at another player, the ground split before him and a massive rock jutted up.

– Boom!

Just as the rock was shattered with a clean blow, a firebird rose, borne on wind blades, growing in size.

Simultaneously, a wave of mana signaled a barrage of spells coming their way.

The electrified enemy mage staggered nearby, but just as Seowoon was about to retreat, a powerful barrier formed in front of him, blocking the magic.

– Finish that one off too, if you can!

With Juriel's order, Seowoon twisted his lips into a grin and charged at the mage.

– Clang! Crunch!

The mage blocked him once with a barrier and began to retreat using strange footwork.

They clearly weren't a random player—they'd trained in an advanced movement skill.

But not good enough to escape Seowoon's Gale Step and Blood Bone Claw.

– Crack!

Seowoon drove his hand into the mage's head, destroying the skull. A strange tingling sensation spread from his fingers—the feeling of strengthening his Blood Bone Claw through contact with brain matter.

"Hyung! Fall back!"

At Kichan's order, Seowoon leapt back just as spells collided and exploded in front of him.

"Nice play, Jin Seowoon!"

Juriel's voice rang out enthusiastically. Seowoon nodded.

After retreating to regroup, they surveyed the battlefield—mages in the rear, shielders in front, and attackers spread around, measuring their distance.

– Tap.

A woman clad as an archer, named liringwi, tapped Seowoon lightly on the back.

As he turned, she offered him a small vial with fiery eyes.

When Seowoon looked puzzled, she explained:

"This is Sipoison. It only works if it enters through the bloodstream. I think you'll put it to good use. Just to check—Blood Bone Claw, you didn't learn that directly from the guy, did you?"

"I killed him and learned it."

He answered her informal tone in kind. She didn't seem to mind and smiled slightly.

The magical skirmish continued as a war of attrition, without much advantage on either side.

– At this rate, we'll attract more enemies! We need to either finish quickly or retreat!

As she suggested, the enemy also seemed ready to pull back.

That's when Seowoon left formation and gave his own order:

– I'll shake their flank. If you see an opening, charge through!

Naturally, the enemy wasn't just going to let him approach. Throwing daggers and sword energy came flying.

But Seowoon deflected everything and pulled out a bow from his subspace.

"Hamit!"

– Got it, master. –

As the creature wrapped around his hand transformed into a longbow, he pulled out a handcrafted arrow from subspace—carbon shaft, titanium tip, custom-imbued with alchemy. A single arrow worth 1 million won.

– Thwick!

As the arrow flew, one warrior dodged it but failed to block. As he opened his mouth to speak, lightning burst from the arrow and electrocuted two nearby mages.

The shock wasn't lethal, but enough to freeze them momentarily.

At the same time, Seowoon readied himself for two knights and a warrior charging at him.

– Kichan, support me!

No need to fight 3v1 recklessly.

Until they knew the enemy's skill level, they needed to leave themselves an out.

– Crackle!

Seowoon confirmed Hamit was wrapped around his hand again and took his Blood Bone Claw stance.

– Clang!

Blocking a sword and a flail with his bare hands, Seowoon stepped back slightly.

– Zzzzzap!

Kichan's Chain Lightning landed right on target, but the enemies endured the shock and counterattacked.

– Don't get too close, just keep pressuring them.– Got it!

The two had practiced endless situations over the past two months. All possible 2v3 scenarios had been simulated and drilled.

Against the three unfamiliar enemies, the difference showed.

As Seowoon and Kichan moved in a wide circle, their rhythm threw off the enemy's timing, creating openings for Seowoon's sharp strikes and Kichan's spells.

– Got a read on them. Mid-level skill.

Seowoon nodded.

They were strong, but nothing unbeatable.

– Watch out for the knights' skills.

As Seowoon charged again, Kichan reminded him.

As expected, one knight glowed with golden aura and dashed straight at Seowoon.

– Whoosh.

But Seowoon's figure dissolved like a mirage.

As a red shimmer bloomed at his fingertip, a warrior's blade narrowly missed his ear.

The moment Seowoon passed the stunned warrior, blood burst from his torn neck.

The disarmed warrior collapsed, clutching his throat.

– Clang!

The nearby knight swung his flail too late. Seowoon blocked it with one hand and backed off.

The knight was strong, but strength alone didn't win fights.

With one ally down, the other knight glanced toward his teammates—just for a moment.

That glance sealed his fate.

Too late, he raised his shield as Seowoon dashed in. The shield tore like paper.

– Shrrrip!

The knight tossed his shield and ran for his team, but turning your back on an enemy was a fatal mistake.

They say true character shows in crisis.

That knight's "true self" was pathetic.

He fell, coughing blood, his skull crushed.

The last knight, who had been fighting Kichan, didn't last much longer.

Maintaining distance, Kichan chipped away with magic.

Sensing the knight was out of tricks, Kichan unleashed Flame Burst.

His Staff of the Abyss boosted magic power and casting speed—three spells at once, double power.

A top-tier item any mage would envy.

The knight, struck full-force, couldn't get up immediately.

As he struggled, a warrior beside him tried using a healing scroll—but Seowoon reached him first and crushed his skull.

With three down, Seowoon and Kichan scanned the battlefield.

A fierce 15v18 brawl raged nearby.

Spells collided, explosions rocked the field—a true battlefield of chaos.

The standout was Juriel.

With a charred wooden staff, she disrupted massive mana flows with each swing.

At first, Seowoon didn't notice—but the pattern became clear.

"She's canceling magic, right?"

"Yes. Mana cancel. She's targeting only AoEs. Even trained mages rarely succeed with it."

– Chain Lightning and Rain Arrow!

Even more impressive, she gave accurate orders while casting.

Seeing incoming fire and wind AoEs, she instantly ordered fast-cast counterspells.

– Ssssssshhh.

Before the enemy spells could manifest, a barrage of water arrows and lightning spells weakened and snuffed them out.

"She's incredible. Took out two large-scale spells with two 5th-circle spells."

Watching Juriel, Seowoon nodded.

"We've seen enough. Let's join the fight."

They hadn't stayed back to admire—they had been preparing.

They had to get used to their teammates' skills—and more importantly, to the dynamics of team battles.

As the two flanked widely to target the enemy mages, knights and warriors noticed and had no choice but to give chase in order to stop Seowoon and Kichan.

This naturally weakened the enemy's front line, and a woman named liringwi, dressed in white archer's gear, charged forward.

– Fwhrrrr.

At the perfect timing, as a large cloth flew out from her subspace, Juriel cast a wind spell behind her.

And from the cloth, dozens of thin metal butterflies burst out and caught the wind.

Nearly a hundred fluttering, erratically-moving butterflies swept across the battlefield—leaving behind pale-faced enemies coughing up blood.

– Kichan! It's poison. Avoid those butterflies.

Fighting from the enemy's rear, Kichan and Seowoon were quick to react and sidestepped the direction of the butterfly swarm.

What had seemed like a longer battle was suddenly ended by liringwi's masterstroke.

Seowoon gripped the item she had given him—the Sipoison—and watched her with calm eyes.

It was a moment that made him reconsider the deadly power of poison.

"Jin Seowoon! Nice work!"

Juriel approached and shouted brightly. Seowoon replied with a smile and glanced at liringwi, who was picking up the butterflies behind her.

Sensing his gaze, liringwi walked over and held out her hand.

"Interesting item, that one."

Seowoon took the 1-million-won arrow she handed over and tucked it into the leather belt at his waist.

The arrow had already used up its one-time magic, so its value had significantly dropped.

"Not as interesting as your butterflies."

"It's called Live-Poison Contact."

At her words, several warriors nearby grimaced and focused their attention on her.

Seowoon hadn't missed the way some had eyed her suspiciously ever since the butterflies had neutralized the enemies.

"A woman from a powerful unorthodox clan skilled in poisons and hidden weapons. Something like that, huh?"

– Clap clap!

"Let's finish looting quickly and start with the nearest village."

Juriel got the idle players moving again now that the short battle was over.

Only bloodstains and twenty boxes were left scattered along the well-paved path of the green plain.

"Please let me have this one."

"No, I was also eyeing that spellbook…"

"I wanted that shield…"

"Hold on! I had my eye on that too."

Amid the chaotic barter-like atmosphere, Juriel's sharp voice rang out.

"I said to loot quickly!"

Though each player looked like they had something to say, she didn't seem interested in long discussions.

"Whoever picked up first gets it. The next item, they yield. Simple."

Some smiled at that, others frowned.

"Make sure any good items are recorded and shared among people who use similar gear!"

"What a mess."

"This is actually well-organized. Some quads apparently break up or even team-kill over loot."

As he spoke, Kichan memorized the spellbook and turned it to dust.

[Ring of the Fire Spirit: Increases resistance to fire and poison. Helps endure summer heat...]

Seowoon also quietly slipped on a ring he'd kept.

"Alright, everyone move to the loot zone."

With her call, the formation was set again, and the two scouts led the way, scanning the area.

The scenery that unfolded—mostly wooden buildings like in a Chinese martial arts film—gave Seowoon a nostalgic feeling.

It felt like stepping inside the wuxia movies he had watched so many times—a different emotional texture than the fantasy world.

"Split into pairs for looting. The scouts will handle item distribution properly, so please help out."

The two quiet warriors nodded and leaped onto the tallest four-story building to keep watch.

There were just over a hundred buildings, and another fifty or so beyond the small river.

If memory served from someone familiar with the map, this area was the red-light district.

In any case, looting over 150 buildings didn't take long.

Once it was done, the players regrouped—and as expected, Juriel stepped forward.

"If you found usable items, report them openly."

It was an awkward moment.

Because item distribution was mandatory, people were often tempted to hide good finds.

The first to report was the main shielder.

"Duka's Helm and Gloves of Flame. The rest is miscellaneous."

"I got the Phantom of Poison Mist and Jade Whip…"

Many other items were also reported.

Once everyone finished, Juriel looked to the two scouts.

"Need anything in particular?"

They shook their heads.

"We're looking for good movement skills, elixirs, and internal arts."

She nodded at their clear response.

"To support our hardworking scouts, please prioritize the items they requested. There's a long game ahead."

Three years total gameplay—it was a long game.

Though the game had mechanics to accelerate progress, actually reaching the full 3-year mark was unlikely.

"Alright, those who gave up earlier, take what you need."

Once the scouts had made their picks, the remaining players grabbed what was left.

"We'll proceed along the pre-planned path."

They began following the river.

Naturally, the scouts were split front and back to maintain full coverage.

As they moved at a steady pace, Seowoon moved beside Juriel.

"Your leadership doesn't feel like someone in their first fixed match."

"I've had someone nearby with long-term Cloyd experience who gave me a lot of advice."

He had guessed as much.

"May I ask something?"

"Of course."

Juriel didn't hesitate to respond to Seowoon, who had quickly risen as the team's ace.

After all, she had relied on him significantly since forming the quad.

"What's the main quest and item reward?"

"Oh, for fixed matches, the reward items are predetermined each game. A special quest is issued, and whoever completes it receives the reward. The conditions and rewards vary each time. But they're always difficult quests tied to highly attractive items—meant to tempt players. But! Never let greed take over. As you've probably noticed, it's a perfect setup to overextend and die."

Seowoon nodded, agreeing with her assessment.

Even in a 2000-player game, scoring 200 kills wasn't easy.

Trying to overachieve would likely just wipe your whole team.

"It's a mechanic meant to speed up the game."

With 2000 players and a drastically expanded map, plus a potential 1000-day play period, it could literally drag on for three years if someone decided to turtle.

So mechanics to stir the pot and accelerate progress were necessary.

Seowoon drifted away from her and rejoined Kichan, who was infusing mana into his necklace.

"Probably best to give up, huh?"

"Yeah, but… that player revival item…"

"Yeah. You're probably right. That one caught my eye too."

"Then we should go for it, right?"

"You've got 8 kills so far?"

"No. That last kill got stolen by that meathead."

Seowoon glanced over at the main shielder with a hint of annoyance, and Kichan nodded.

"From now on, I'll help you stack kills."

"We should think about the kill rewards too. Even those give out a good chunk of coins."

"Still, the item is more important right now than a few coins. You can split kill rewards later if needed."

"You sure?"

"Of course."

As soon as they finished talking, Kichan stopped channeling mana—but several players nearby couldn't help being curious about the private conversation between the team's newly minted ace and his closest ally.