<Chapter 80: The Warrior Who Regressed to Level 2>
* * *
-Isn't that just a skeleton, not a Death Knight?
-Yeah, it can't be a Death Knight lol. A Warrior needs to be at least level 80 to barely stand a chance against a mob like that... Damn, skeletons are just crazy!
Sangjihan's strength is something that any viewer who watches his channel knows well.
From the moment he started his first stream, he has consistently shown performances that mock conventional wisdom.
However, the reason viewers continue to be amazed is that the scale of these 'mocking performances' was always unpredictable.
Just like now.
The defense game, 'One Bridge,' is a map used from Gold to Diamond.
Not only did the Silver Rigger Sangjihan participate, but he also outperformed other players to a significant degree.
Especially, the way he single-handedly faced a massive army of Death Knights and performed a one-man slaughter.
The performance Sangjihan is showing now is something even a Platinum Rigger would find difficult to achieve.
This led to the fanbase that formed after the TOP 100 promotion match to start getting excited.
-Oh, Sangjihan, can't we just make him the national representative now?
-Yeah, he would do much better than the current national team, wouldn't he?
-Is he in the Silver League? Is there any chance he'll be at the bottom?
-Yes~ He's already at the bottom~ lol
-Whoa;; With the Sword King's family, an even bigger fanbase has appeared;; Please know your place;;
While the fans were getting carried away, the majority of viewers were still skeptical.
However, there was no denying that Sangjihan's strength was 'unmatched.'
While the viewers were discussing, Sangjihan, who had wiped out the Death Knight army, was waiting for the next wave.
Clatter, clatter.
This time, a cavalry of Death Knights mounted on skeletal horses charged at Sangjihan.
Unlike the previous Death Knights, these Death Knights, clad in white armor with a black bird emblazoned on their chests, charged with massive lances.
The lance charge of hundreds of cavalry.
-Lance Charge!!! Get out of the way!!! To the corner!!!!
-Dome King Charge!!! ;_;;
The viewers thought this time it might be dangerous.
Zzzz!
Sangjihan, instead, ran towards the cavalry with a blue staff wrapped in lightning.
'This time, I will push my Force to the limit.'
Then, as if on cue, sharp lance tips from all directions lunged at Sangjihan.
The simultaneous thrusts, spaced at regular intervals, resembled an iron maiden without a lid.
A perfect encirclement. A crisis where he couldn't move.
But Sangjihan welcomed this situation.
'I will create an opening with the power of Force.'
Some attacks came faster than the enemy intended.
Some attacks came slower than the enemy intended.
Swoosh, swoosh!
The simultaneous thrusts created a time difference.
As the lance tips tangled, spaces appeared in the previously seamless gaps.
'This will work.'
Sangjihan stepped lightly on the tangled lance tips, closing the distance with the enemy.
As the distance closed and the lances became useless, the Death Knights tried to draw their swords, but Sangjihan's blue staff was faster.
Boom!
Starting with the head of one Death Knight flying off.
Sangjihan moved through the cavalry with agility.
The Death Knights tried to resist, but it was all in vain.
The misfortunes of the Death Knights didn't end there.
[The holy relic 'Bone of the Blackbird's Toe' detects the bell of the corrupted Blackbird.]
[The bone burns according to its original purpose.]
Suddenly, a white flame burst from the blue staff Sangjihan held, easily incinerating the Death Knights.
'That black bird emblem armor... Is there a connection?'
This won't be good for practice.
Sangjihan briefly felt discontent as he watched the toe bone suddenly accelerate.
[You fully understand the alien faith.]
[Holiness increases by 1 and is integrated into Force.]
[The grade of the 'Alien Relic - Bone of the Blackbird's Toe' drops to B.]
[The 'Alien Relic - Bone of the Blackbird's Toe' fulfills its purpose.]
[Holiness increases by 3 and is integrated into Force.]
[The grade of the 'Alien Relic - Bone of the Blackbird's Toe' drops to E.]
[The relic fails to resist the power of the Blackbird and is destroyed.]
"Holiness... 4?"
Other A-grade relics only increased it by 1 each.
Perhaps because he understood its true purpose, the toe bone increased his holiness by 4 and fulfilled its purpose.
Naturally, the Force stat he wanted to increase also went up.
[Force increases by 2.]
[Physical strength and abilities are shared. Physical strength increases by 2.]
Force, linked with the dantian, also increased.
'Ah, no need for practice.'
The discontent he felt earlier was gone.
Sangjihan looked at the toe bone, now reduced to dust, with affection.
'Farewell... Thank you, toe bone...'
[From now on, you can only absorb holiness from relics of SS grade or higher.]
Although the system imposed restrictions to prevent continuous benefits, Sangjihan decided to enjoy the moment.
"Inventory."
Replacing the vanished toe bone with the Phoenix Staff, Sangjihan continued to suppress the enemies.
* * *
Bang!
Sangjihan shattered the head of the last remaining Death Knight.
In the canyon map, there were no more achievements to obtain.
But with the map change, he received achievement points for dealing with Death Knights.
Satisfied with the reward, the corners of Sangjihan's mouth turned up.
"Did you have fun?"
Thud. Thud.
Meanwhile, the vice-commander, who had just been belittling Sangjihan as a parasite, approached with a more relaxed expression.
"Thunder is constantly trying to lure me. He wants to recommend you as the next imperial gatekeeper. He seems to want to serve you as his master."
Zzzz!
As if in response, seven lightning bolts from the Heavenly Net Lightning Formation flickered simultaneously.
"But that can't be done."
The vice-commander pointed beyond the bridge.
Although the Death Knight forces were wiped out,
On the other side of the massive bridge, several flags depicting black birds with spread wings fluttered, and black-armored cavalry were lined up densely.
"The elite of the Feng Empire, the Phoenix Corps, has arrived... Now, the position of imperial gatekeeper will come to an end."
The undead army was just one of the vanguard units.
The real main force of the enemy was far more elite than the undead army.
Black-lance cavalry, the Phoenix Corps.
The most difficult second wave in the 'One Bridge' map was about to begin.
Thud. Thud.
Among the enemy cavalry, a giant, taller than a mounted soldier, walked forward.
Not only was he tall, but his face was also twisted, making him look like a brother to the vice-commander.
Sure enough, he spoke to the vice-commander.
"Vice-commander."
"Hojo... younger brother..."
Hojo, the commander of the Phoenix Corps, glanced at Sangjihan.
"...You have a good disciple."
"This guy is not my disciple. I would never take someone who looks like this as my disciple."
"That's true. His face looks so weak. He might have some talent, but a face like that can't be a true warrior."
"Indeed. That's a pity."
The two giants, speaking sincerely, left the viewers speechless.
-His face is blown up, and he's talking about faces lol
-True, he doesn't have the face of a true warrior. Let's crush Sangjihan too -_- Is he crazy?
-If my face changes like that, I won't watch it ;;
After a brief conversation,
Swoosh.
Hojo drew a massive sword from his back.
"Vice-commander. As a fellow giant, I will give you one last piece of advice. Are you considering naturalizing to the Feng Empire?"
"That's impossible. The emperor of the Yun Empire is my sworn brother. I cannot betray the bond of brotherhood."
"Is there any brother who would leave his younger brother alone like this? Vice-commander, you have been used."
"Hmph...! That's not true... My sworn brother will come to defend the bridge."
The vice-commander's voice lacked strength.
It seemed he didn't truly believe that reinforcements would come.
"Hahaha! Vice-commander! Do you really not know why the emperor of the Yun Empire sent only such a ragtag group to defend the bridge?"
Swoosh.
Hojo pointed the tip of his greatsword beyond the bridge.
The 50 players summoned in this game and the soldiers assisting them.
He called them a ragtag group.
"Look at this!"
Whoosh!
Wind gathered at the tip of the sword.
As the giant swung the sword, a powerful gale swept through.
The wind was not just wind.
It was a cutting, intense sword wind.
'This much...'
Sangjihan suppressed the wind with the power of Force and easily deflected it.
"Choke!"
"Ah...!"
From behind the bridge, various screams were heard.
To cut down the enemies on the other side of the bridge with a sword wind from such a distance.
'He is strong.'
As Sangjihan admired Hojo's sword, he suddenly frowned.
Now that he thought about it, there were too many screams coming from behind.
'Could it be... the game is over?'
In the defense game, if the number of survivors drops to half, the game ends.
Suddenly, the basic rule came to mind.
No, it can't be.
Surely the game won't end just because they couldn't block a lightly swung sword wind?
He's still a Gold Rigger, right?
Sangjihan tried to think positively.
[15 survivors remain.]
[The game has ended.]
The ominous premonition became reality.
* * *
"Hahaha. Really, it's pathetic, isn't it? Not even half are left!"
Hojo pointed the tip of his sword beyond the bridge and laughed mockingly.
"Your sworn brother has no intention of helping you. On the contrary, he probably wants you to die here!"
"Hojo! Don't insult my brother!"
"Leading a ragtag group to defend this bridge, does that even make sense? You should know the meaning of that order...!"
"Roar!"
The Heavenly Net Lightning Formation was withdrawn, and Thunder was back in the vice-commander's hand. Sangjihan's expression hardened at the sight.