Chapter 49

“Hold out without dying as much as possible? If you die, it resets right there?”

“That’s right. But the time limit will definitely be short. I’m sure he said he picked traits that boost Absorption Technique’s power.”

“But no matter how short it is… How do you endure that? The damage is enormous and they used absurd amount of stamina.”

“Somehow you need to figure it out, beggar. You’re the tank.”

The orthodox faction’s fortress.

They were seriously discussing countermeasures against Heavenly Demon14.

Sky Sword, the user who chose Namgung Family, was half-ready to give up, but the other teammates were looking for ways to kill Heavenly Demon14 through the information Sky Sword had brought.

“I’m not a tank, I’m a damage tank, you bastards. I picked Strike Dog Staff Technique.”

“Ah, useless beggar, look how worthless you are.”

“Stop calling me beggar.”

“Why, does hearing ‘beggar’ hurt your feelings?”

“Pfft.”

“Don’t laugh.”

Gilbadak, the Beggar’s Sect player, glared at the two Mount Hua users whose lips were curling up.

This was the problem with choosing Beggar’s Sect.

Everyone everywhere treats you like a beggar.

The actual perception ranking was second place after the Demonic Cult!

From the bottom!

‘Actually, Beggar’s Sect members really are beggars though…’

But somehow it didn’t feel good.

“Anyway, just pick Drunken Eight Immortals Technique and endure while drinking.”

“Whatever, I’ll try to hold out. I’m the only one who can tank anyway.”

“Right. Got it. But absolutely don’t die.”

They steeled their resolve.

And that resolve crumbled in less than a minute of fighting.

The dark red sword energy unique to the Demonic Cult smoothly painted through the air.

Dominating space to make it impossible to dodge.

“Ah. One more hit and I’m dead. I’m backing out for a moment!”

When Gilbadak retreated, the Mount Hua players exposed to Seo-jun’s attacks shouted.

“If you live, we die!”

“Ah, this is so annoying! The sword keeps curving? Isn’t that a skill?”

“What? Annoying? That’s Beggar’s Sect discrimination.”

“I said the situation is annoying. You beggar bastard.”

-LMAO Beggar’s Sect discrimination LOL

-Pleasant lol

-Those Beggars Sect guys got their bellies full from people donating even when they just sit still. They should try actual begging to know a beggar’s hardships

-Chat smells like beggars, streamer! Mods!

Beggar smell?

There’s no such thing.

It’s a misconception that Beggar’s Sect beggars would smell.

Rather, they only smell pleasant.

The reason is simple.

‘Smell triggers primal disgust, not sympathy.’

So they didn’t give off bad smells, at least.

Instead.

They worked on their appearance.

A beggar-like appearance triggers sympathy.

With hundreds of years of accumulated begging expertise, how could they give off smells?

‘Clever bastards.’

Beggar’s Sect consisted of pleasant and amusing beggars.

“Right, we have our own bond. I’ll kill the beggar first.”

The time until qi deviation wasn’t much left anyway.

How long had he been fighting for a warning icon to appear?

‘It definitely is fast.’

-What bond, streamer? Don’t tell me you really remember your past life

-I told you he was the Heavenly Demon in his past life

-But… if there’s a bond, shouldn’t you spare them?

-Must be that much of a bitter relationship~

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The tip of Mount Hua’s sword wavered as it scattered red sword energy in all directions.

1st Form: Plum Blossoms by the Roadside.

Seo-jun checked his resource levels and leaped backward.

He lacked enough internal energy to counter the enemy’s martial arts like before.

No matter how much he’d enhanced Absorption Technique’s power and controlled it with excellent senses, he couldn’t use resources infinitely.

“Now’s our chance.”

The Namgung sword that had been staying far away glowed blue.

He’d been watching from a distance to avoid having his internal energy and stamina stolen by Seo-jun.

Seo-jun twisted his body sideways in mid-air while bringing his sword down to block the swift sword flying toward him like lightning.

Clang!

-He blocks that in that state?

-The qi deviation should be coming soon

-First death let’s go!!!

-Why are you cheering for your streamer to die…

Following this, the Mount Hua users whose martial arts hadn’t been countered by Seo-jun attempted to link their forms.

4th Form: Plum Blossom Guidance.

Plum blossoms bloom to guide sharply.

Red sword energy rushed forward to slash Seo-jun’s body more keenly.

The terrifying aspect of Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique was precisely this linking of forms.

From the 1st form leading to the 4th form, then to the 7th form requiring deeper understanding.

“Just die already, please!”

When Seo-jun didn’t counter the form again, the emboldened enemies linked to the next form.

7th Form: Plum Blossom Flurry.

Plum blossoms scattered chaotically.

Since they were currently level 6, three linked forms was the limit, and the moment their strongest martial art unfolded without hindrance, the Mount Hua players were confident of victory.

Despite being tormented so viciously until now.

“Did we get him?”

The enemy had said the one thing they should never say.

The red sword energy that had filled the space disappeared, and what remained before them was.

Empty space.

“This time was a bit dangerous.”

When Seo-jun’s voice came from behind them, they turned around with wide eyes.

Seo-jun smiled at them while indicating his left foot with his eyes.

There lay a beggar who had become a cold corpse, waiting for revival or resurrection.

[Gilbadak eliminated]

[Enemy fortress health -20]

“Tsk. I shouldn’t have targeted the beggar first.”

“I told you not to keep calling me beggar!”

When exactly did he.

Gilbadak, now a corpse, reacted to Seo-jun’s words, but Seo-jun cleanly ignored him and stepped forward.

Now to deal with the rest.

Seo-jun’s health was only one-third full.

Even this was health he’d recovered by killing Gilbadak.

“By the way, the orthodox faction really is broken.”

-This time was dangerous

-One second later and you would’ve died

-Seeing even the streamer almost die, that build really is trash

“Hey now. Calling it trash? I was in danger because I deliberately went for the beggar first. If I hadn’t done that, well…”

Seo-jun was reading the chat window on the left when he trailed off and slowly turned his head.

The enemies who met Seo-jun’s gaze had to feel an inexplicable chill despite being in a game.

Jeon Jae-hoon, the talkative Mount Hua player, swallowed his saliva before asking Seo-jun.

“When exactly…?”

“What are you referring to?”

“Why does your speech keep changing? Damn it. That’s not it—when did you go to the beggar…?”

Overwhelmed by Seo-jun, Jeon Jae-hoon naturally started speaking respectfully.

-Speech keeps changing lol

-Even looking at appearance, that guy’s a thirty-something uncle and the streamer’s early twenties, so funny lol

-Jae-hoon…

Seo-jun smiled lightly and told the truth.

“When you used the 4th form.”

“4th form? Why then…?”

“That’s for you to figure out, child. It’s homework for your future.”

Actually, it was just because he was running out of time.

He even took all those attacks while going there.

Just because he was running out of time.

-Oh, a master’s teaching!

-Saying that after winning makes him look cool

-For real lol

“Ah, there was something in the 4th form…”

Before Jeon Jae-hoon could finish speaking, Seo-jun attacked again to resume combat.

“And here’s the second teaching. No matter what situation arises, never let your guard down.”

This was genuinely useful advice.

In his past life, he’d survived thanks to always staying alert.

The outcome of the remaining battle was obvious.

[Farewell to Farewell eliminated]

[Enemy fortress health -20]

[Sky Sword eliminated]

[Enemy fortress health -20]

[Jeon Jae-hoon eliminated]

[Enemy fortress health -20]

And.

Seo-jun looked down at the enemies who had all united in becoming corpses and said,

“The third teaching. Cherish opportunities to receive teachings from a master.”

This meant one thing.

Don’t give up on the game and keep dying for me.

“Damn it, I’m definitely switching to Demonic Cult after this match ends.”

“Should I switch too?”

“For real. Want to go together after this ends?”

“Sure, send me a friend request.”

Jeon Jae-hoon and Sky Sword became friends.

Having inadvertently converted two orthodox faction warriors, Seo-jun returned to base and waited for enemies to come while watching the soldiers fight.

[Heavenly Demon-nim. Do we really not have to do anything?]

[That’s right]

[What about me?]

[The same]

[I’ve only been killed by enemies. Haven’t caught a single one.]

[I caught one at least lol]

[Me too lol]

[Be quiet]

While answering his teammates who were dying of boredom.

* * *

The game ended.

Total kill score.

19 vs 3

Fortress health.

[Blue: 0] vs [Red: 934]

And Seo-jun’s report card for this match appeared.

[Allied revivals: 0]

[Strongholds captured: 1]

[Soldiers eliminated: 0]

[Enemy warriors eliminated: 19]

.

.

.

Various minor details were tallied, but the most important factors were stronghold captures and enemy warrior eliminations.

This report card was important because it related to why Seo-jun had scattered bait earlier, asking enemies not to give up on the game.

-What about reputation?

-No way it’ll be low

-How much will it be?

Reputation points.

In Battlefield, when you win a game, users gain reputation points, and when you lose, you lose reputation points.

Reputation points are automatically calculated and awarded by the system based on player performance.

These reputation points are as important as regular points in Battlefield.

[Reputation gained: +150]

Seo-jun couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Oh.”

A much higher number than Seo-jun had expected appeared on screen.

Assuming a typical user playing normally would receive about 50 reputation points for performing best, the system judged that Seo-jun had performed three times as well.

-Why is it so high?

-Honestly, doing that in a 1v4 situation it’d be weird if it wasn’t high lol

-The power of one-sided domination!

-Even if it’s one-sided, it’s pretty high lol

When your reputation is high, you get more points for each Battlefield victory.

In Battlefield, the more you play, the better you perform, and the better your strategy, the more contribution you can accumulate.

“Think I can make it to rank 16?”

-No

-Hard to do this every match

-Sure, you’re dominating now, but as time passes and reputation accumulates, you’ll face others with equally high reputation lol, doubt that build will work then

-And reputation has too many variables to judge by that alone

People knowledgeable about Battlefield posted negative opinions.

Fair enough. He couldn’t be confident either.

But.

Seo-jun’s usually playful eyes changed for the first time.

Reputation points, offense/defense points, and faction bonuses all combined to calculate contribution rankings.

To aim for rank 16 among those.

He’d need to get a bit more serious.

“Right. Let’s go straight to the next match. And anyway, with my build I don’t need to recover health at base, so from now on I’ll wait at the enemy fortress entrance.”

-Crazy bastard lol

-Declaring he’ll do smurfing and domination simultaneously

-Let’s see how far this goes lol

* * *

“Whew, today was tough.”

-Heavenly Demon Descends! Ten Thousand Demons Submit! Heavenly Demon Descends! Ten Thousand Demons Submit! Heavenly Demon Descends! Ten Thousand Demons Submit! Heavenly Demon Descends! Ten Thousand Demons Submit!

-天魔再臨! 萬魔仰伏! 天魔再臨! 萬魔仰伏! 天魔再臨! 萬魔仰伏! 天魔再臨! 萬魔仰伏!

-The room is overflowing with fanatics lol

-Anyone want to translate those Chinese characters?

-Same as the Korean spam above lol

[19/0/0]

[24/0/1]

[26/0/0]

[15/0/0]

This was Seo-jun’s KDA.

KDA consists of Kills/Deaths/Assists.

That meant Seo-jun averaged 21 kills per match.

For reference, in the second match he recorded 1 assist thanks to a teammate who didn’t listen to Seo-jun.

-Honestly don’t know about other things but the streamer’s build is really fucking good for domination

-Being able to wait at the entrance after hitting level 6 is nice

-The streamer waits at the entrance even without hitting level 6

-Absorption Technique looked more time-pressed than expected but he’s doing it deathless

-In the last match enemies wouldn’t come out of their fortress lol

-Long live! Long live! Ten thousand years!

-Long live is for kings, not Heavenly Demons, you idiot

Battlefield only allows 4 matches per day.

There’s still a long way to go.

Now.

“I’m ending the stream.”

-See you tomorrow

-Goodbye

-I’m gonna try For the Murim too

-Bye Heavenly Demon

-Bye Heavenly Demon lol

[Ending stream]

Hiss.

After exiting the capsule, Seo-jun washed up and sat in front of his computer.

To analyze his streaming.

“6,000 viewers is pretty good.”

A slightly lower number than yesterday, but not disappointing.

“Core viewers are continuing to watch without dropping off.”

People’s reactions were.

Seo-jun just turned off his computer and lay down on his bed.

“Nothing special, I guess.”

Nothing worth becoming a hot topic.

Getting high reputation points and dominating was the same for rankers too.

This was a time when beginners and experts were mixed together.

As time passed and reputation accumulated, skilled people would start getting attention.

“But about the build…”

The build Seo-jun used today was incomplete.

He’d picked detailed parts impromptu, so he’d probably need to refine it.

But.

He was tired.

“Maybe because I concentrated.”

He thought this as he closed his eyes.

Completely unaware that he’d become a hot topic for an entirely different reason.