Emperor of Solo Play Chapter 160:
Chapter 160 – Catch it or Be Caught (3)
7 .
When Anugas appeared and it opened its eye, Hyrkan equipped the Circlet of Purification . However, it didn’t work . Hyrkan, who had been looking at Anugas, shook his head from side to side .
The simulation in Hyrkan’s head came to an end .
‘I’m pretty sure I remember the Red Bulls saying that the Circlet of Purification didn’t work against Anugas . ’
Hyrkan started the simulation again .
Hyrkan once again appeared in front of Anugas . When it opened its eye, it nullified all magic, magical recovery and the effect of magic recovery Items .
Hyrkan faced Anugas equipped with the Dark Spot set and the Deposed Prince’s Sword . It was the best setting for a Striker in Warlord .
Hweek hweek .
Anugas’ four arms came at Hyrkan like snakes, and he kept dodging them . He was swift in his dodges . He swung the Deposed Prince’s Sword, and it scraped Anugas’ body . A deep wound was made each time .
‘Its leather has considerable defensive capabilities . It might be better to use the Crying sword instead of the Deposed Prince’s Sword . ’
Hyrkan’s sword suddenly changed from the Deposed Prince’s Sword to the Crying Sword inside Hyrkan’s simulation, .
Choo-roong choo-roong!
An additional sound was added in . The frozen battle started up once again .
‘Hmmmm . ’
At a certain point, Hyrkan frowned . He had been earnestly fighting when Hyrkan’s left arm was caught by Anugas’ arm . He frowned as he watched Anugas lift him into the air .
‘If I continue to do a close combat, I’ll eventually be caught . . ’
Hyrkan stopped the gruesome simulation . He didn’t need to think along this thread anymore . He once again reminded the simulation back to the first scene .
He started the same battle again . However, Hyrkan had changed his Item setting . He also changed his battle style . Instead of a straight close combat, he started a hit & run style battle .
‘Mmmmm . ’
They looked like knights on horses with their spears raised . They ran at each other . It was like a jousting match . At the brief moment of contact, they glanced by each other as they gave each other small wounds . The battle continued for a long time without anything bad happening .
‘Ughhh . ’
However, at a certain point, uninvited guests dropped in on the battle . A massive magical bombardment started falling towards Anugas and Hyrkan . The AOE magic covered the battle, and in the end, he lost .
At the same time, someone’s voice tickled Hyrkan’s ears .
Hyrkan . Do you know the watchman style?
‘Shit . ’
Hyrkan once again ended the simulation .
Hyrkan didn’t attempt the simulation again . Instead, he looked at the ruins of the Heard Fortress . He moved his gaze to the side, and he looked towards the thick forest surrounding the Heard Fortress . The cries of monsters were exploding out from the forest .
The actual sound that had tickled Hyrkan’s ears was the sound of a battle between monsters and a group of Users .
Hyrkan frowned .
‘In the end, the problem is the Pasta **** . ’
Pasta .
Of course, Hyrkan wasn’t talking about spaghetti .
Hyrkan called them Pasta instead of Five Stars .
Currently, it was a nickname given to the five guilds trying to monopolize the Black Continent .
Of course, the nickname Pasta didn’t have a good meaning behind it . Many Users were dissatisfied with the activities of these five guilds, and they were the subject of derision by the Users . When the awesome nickname of Five Stars was given to these five guilds, some wise-ass User decided to call them Pasta .
However, this didn’t mean the capability of the Five Stars was a joke .
The Five Stars wanted to make the Black Continent their own stage . To carry out this monopoly, they showed that they were very thorough in their preparations and planning .
One of this plan was to monitor the ruins of the Heard Fortress .
The Five Stars experienced a bitter lesson from Anugas, who was the Boss Monster of the Heard Fortress . Unless the Five Stars were idiots, it would be natural for them to pay careful attention to Anguas .
In other words, the Five Stars would know in short time when Hyrkan attempted the Anugas Raid . At the very least, the Five Stars were prepared to mobilize if such an event did occur .
This was another obvious point, but no one would help Hyrkan in the Anugas Raid .
“Fuck . ”
Rough swear words came out of Hyrkan’s mouth . In the end, the situation forced Hykan to make a choice .
Basically, Hyrkan had to choose to share .
‘A day like this has finally come . ’
Of course, Hyrkan would bear the full responsibility that came with his choice . This was why he was letting out the rough cuss words .
8 .
“What do you think?”
“You look pretty . ”
“I don’t care if I look pretty . That doesn’t mean anything . Just tell me what kind of vibe I’m giving off . ”
“In truth, a man usually doesn’t look too deeply . He’ll just think you are pretty, and he won’t care what vibe you give off . ”
“How about you, Hahui? What do you think?”
At that moment, a loud sound erupted from next to Hatch .
“Queen is the best!”
Hatch furrowed his brows at the sound . Hahui had yelled out without any thought, and Hahui’s voice had almost burst Hatch’s eardrums . Hahui had yelled with all her might from right next to him . Of course, his expression wasn’t good when he heard such a sound .
Hatch continued to frown as he looked at the beautiful woman, who unfurled her hair . He looked at Shir .
‘It isn’t as if she is going out to meet a prospective marriage partner… Jeez . ’
He reflexively tried to laugh out loud . However, Hatch immediately forced down the laughter . He knew he shouldn’t laugh in this situation .
“Queen . ”
“Speak . ”
“I want to be clear about this . It is ok to show good intentions towards him, but please don’t do anything that’ll cause a loss to our guild . If you do act in such a way, I really am going to leave this guild . ”
This was the feeling he had as a loyal subject . He had spoken his advice towards the tyrant . His emotions was writ large on his face .
“How laughable . Your contract runs until 2050 . ”
“Shut the **** up, 2051 . ”
Hahui’s verbal tackle changed his serious expression into an annoyed expression . His terms of contract was Hatch’s achilles heel .
Shir spoke calmly as she looked at the two .
“I want everyone to be on standby . ”
She was calm and forthright . After ending her words, she turned her back on the Users that were looking at her . Thirty Stormhunters guild members were standing not too far away from Hatch and Hahui .
They were nervous as they looked at the back of their leader .
The source of their nervousness… .
‘I never expected the Hahoe Mask to approach us first . ’
It was the Hahoe Mask .
The contact had come so suddenly . This was the first time the Hahoe Mask had contacted the Stormhunters guild .
From the Hahoe Mask’s perspective, it should have been easy to contact them . The Stormhunters guild had sent so many love calls that the Hahoe Mask was probably tired and annoyed at receiving them . There had been many opportunities for him to return the love call .
This was the first time the Hahoe Mask had answered their ardent love call .
Of course, this didn’t mean the Hahoe Mask was committed to joining the Stormhunters guild . The purpose of this meeting was to make a deal . Hahoe Mask didn’t tell them the content of the deal . The only thing he promised was a meeting where they’ll talk .
Of course, he asked Shir to come by herself, and Shir had readily accepted the proposal .
Basically, the Storm Queen would have a one on one talk with the Hahoe Mask .
‘If this goes sideways, our dealing will get endlessly tangled up . If it works out, everything will keep getting untangled . ’
At that moment, Hatch was worried about two things .
First, he worried the Hahoe Mask might attack the Storm Queen . He could guarantee it . The Storm Queen couldn’t win against the Hahoe Mask in a 1on1 battle .
The other worry was the fact that the Storm Queen had something akin to a crush on the Hahoe Mask . He worried she would agree to a bad proposal, because she was influenced by her emotions .
He was actually worried more about the latter situation .
‘She’s weirdly weak in front of the Hahoe Mask . ’
The Storm Queen was interested in the Hahoe Mask, and her affections may be considered to be a crush . No, it might be something more . However, the Storm Queen’s personality didn’t allow her to send a love letter with her ardent feeling in it . She had a twisted personality that she destroyed whatever she couldn’t have .
Of course, her twisted affection wouldn’t help in a rational deal .
The problem with this situation was the stage . The Black Continent was a very harsh land that even the Stormhunters guild was struggling against .
In such a harsh land, the Hahoe Mask had approached the Stormhunters guild . At the very least, he wouldn’t be approaching them with peaceful intentions .
‘Please let it not be about fighting Anugas together . We have to avoid doing a Raid against a monster that had suddenly appeared . ’
Hatch prayed once again .
The conversation between the two started as the prayer ended .
9 .
Storm Queen and the Hahoe Mask .
They were the most skilled Users representing Warlord . The worth of the Storm Queen’s name by itself was less than the Hahoe Mask, but everyone agreed that these two were the top 2 skilled Users in Warlord . Everyone considered it to be fact .
Their **** didn’t have to do anything with their rankings . In many ways, these two were unprecedented in their accomplishments . Each of them were making their own unparalleled storyline in Warlord’s history . The two of them were treated almost as equals . They were seen as being of equal rank .
Unless the Storm Queen and the Hahoe Mask fought for supremacy, this perception wouldn’t change .
Moreover, there was the Immoral Prince raid footage . They had fought together for the first time, yet they were completely in sync . Of course, it held the distinction of being the most clicked video in regards to Warlord .
The two Users were facing each other .
This was a first for both of them .
“I want to thank you for that time . ”
The Storm Queen was the first to speak, and she had thanked someone else . This was a first in many ways .
However, Hyrkan did show any reaction towards her gesture . The only thing that could be seen beneath the Hahoe Mask was his lips . He didn’t smile or frown . His mouth just stayed the same .
After looking at Hyrkan, Shir spoke once again .
“If you don’t want a long talk, let’s get down to business . ”
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Shir had the shortest temper in Warlord . However, at that moment, Shir wasn’t angry . Instead, she went out of her way to move the situation along .
Hyrkan slowly opened his mouth as he looked at her .
“I’m going to do the Anugas Raid . ”
He brought up the main subject of this meeting .
Shir had expected those words, so her answer came out immediately .
“So what? Are you asking for our help?”
“Will you help me if I ask for help?”
“I have to think on it . ”
Anugas .
The Stormhunters guild didn’t have a lot of information regarding Anugas . The Five Stars held the most information, since they had fought Anugas . They had gained information through the not so insignificant sacrifices of their members .
Still, the rumors had spread . The Stormhunters guild had received the information that this Boss Monster had a ridiculous ability that prevented the Users from using their Skills .
This was why Hatch had spoken to her . If the Hahoe Mask suggested they do a Raid, he told her to turn down the Hahoe Mask no matter what . He told her to ignore all his requests unless the Hahoe Mask joins the Stormhunters guild .
In other words, they would willingly fight with the Hahoe Mask if he joins the Stormhunters guild .
“Solo Play . ”
However, Hahoe Mask crushed Shir’s expectation with a single word .
“I’ll catch Anugas by myself . ”
Of course, Shir knew what Solo Play meant, yet the Hahoe Mask had spoken again . Moreover, Shir felt as if Hyrkan’s words wasn’t directed at her . It was directed toward some other unknown person .
Shir’s expression turned to ice .
“Then what do you want from us?”
In truth, Shir had wanted such a picture . She wanted a situation where the Hahoe Mask shared fate with the Stormhunters guild . It was a radical idea, yet she had wished for it . However, Hyrkan had stepped on her wish in a single breath . Of course, her expression would cool .
“I want you to block the Five Stars from interfering with me . ”
“Why should we do that?”
“If I fail, the baton will be passed on to you . ”
Shir held herself back from complaining .
“So you want us to be the bridesmaid . ”
It had been the same in the Argardo raid . They had to create a stage where Hyrkan would be able to focus on the Anugas raid . If he failed at the Anugas Raid, the Stormhunters guild would hold the rights to attempt the Raid next .
Moreover, after fighting a battle with Hyrkan, Anugas would be in tatters .
On the other hand, that was the only merit they’ll gain from this . It would be hard to expect anything extra .
Above all, the Stormhunters guild would suffer significant damage if they got in the way of the Five Stars .
Hyrkan used a card he prepared to convince the Stormhunters guild .
“I would like you to do me this favor instead of the thanks you gave me . ”
The thanks he had received was in regards to the Immoral Prince Raid .
When she hear those words, all traces of emotion was erased from Shir’s lips .
“All right . I can’t stand being indebted to anyone . ”
What kind of expression would Hatch make if he had heard this conversation?
However, Hatch wasn’t present in this meeting . Moreover, their conversation wasn’t being transmitted using Voice Talk .
“I’ll do it . ”
Shir gave a firm answer .
“Then there will be no debt between us . ”
“Yes . There will be no debt . ”
In a flash, the debt that was between the two was gone .
Shir was able to finally bring up the subject .
“Hahoe Mask . You should join the Stormhunters guild . We’ll promise you the best treatment . ”
When he heard her words, Hyrkan looked hard at her .
A thick silence had descended .
At the end of the silence, Hyrkan opened his mouth .
“In this game, the Stormhunters guild’s symbol…”
Toohk toohk .
Hyrkan tapped the left side of his chest with a finger .
“I will never step onto a battlefield with the symbol placed there . ”
His gesture reinforced his strong words . Shir’s expression turned much colder at his extremely strong words .
It was as if a snowstorm was about to form around Shir .
“What’s the reason?”
Hyrkan turned his back to her instead of telling her his reasons .
While his back was turned to her, he spoke in a low voice . He spoke in such a small voice that the only one that was able to hear his words was Hyrkan .
“There is the accomplishments I’ve achieved until now . I won’t be able to do it, because I would be ashamed of myself . ”