Emperor of Solo Play Chapter 78:
Chapter 78 - Golem Upgrade (2)
3 .
“Shit!”
One of the users tripped on a rock, and he fell .
Kwahhhng!
The large wolf that was chasing after the user ate almost half his body in one bite .
‘He’s dead . ’
‘I'm sorry, Polio . ’
The users didn't stay to see the frightening sight of their buddy get eaten . They didn't even glance back . They didn't even think about helping him, since it gave them extra time . They ran away with all their might .
They had used their party member as a sacrificial lamb, and it worked . They no longer heard the breathing or footstep of the wolf . When they reached a location where there was no trace of the wolf, the three party members finally stopped to look back . They were finally able to talk after checking nothing was behind them .
“Shit . ”
The same word yelled out by the devoured party member came out of their mouths .
“Even running away isn't easy . ”
“Everything is messed up now . ”
“Right . When the Hahoe Mask killed most of the priests, there was no point in hunting in parties . ”
It had been 88 hours, since the Battlefield had been opened .
Significant amount of time had passed in the Battlefield, and the appearance of the users wasn't something that wasn't befitting the name of the Battlefield . A continuous battle between the monsters and users never took place . There was no breathless battle . The result was a one sided fight . The normal result wasn't the monsters becoming the sacrificial lamb instead it was the users .
The reason was of course Hyrkan .
The Hahoe Mask left after dispatching Cho-oohroong, and seven monsters suddenly showed up in his wake . A significant number of users died once again in this battle against the monsters .
The parties couldn't even communicate with each other amidst such a condition . They just scattered every which way . Of course, they didn't ally with each other anymore . If someone took it upon themselves to make it happen, an alliance could have been formed once again .
However, everyone remembered the fate of Cho-oohroong, who had stepped up to take the lead . They had seen the seen the process live . The image of what happened to him wouldn't fade away from their thoughts .
So the parties started hunting by themselves . Each party put an acceptable amount of distance between each other . They each secured a region, and they started to hunt . Under the silent truce, the parties did what most parties did in the Battlefield .
The problem was most of the parties weren't at their most optimum state . There were parties who had lost a priest, a tanker, or a striker . . . If one made an analogy, they were like mouths . Some had lost their front tooth, and some had lost their molar . They couldn’t chew the monsters properly with a mouth with missing teeth .
The Battlefield was so full of monsters that monsters came looking for users . The users tried to avoid the repeated monster battles, but in the end, all the parties chose to give up .
“The castle gate will open soon . Let's go to the castle gate now . We can logout there, and we can log back in when it's time . ”
“Yes . We'll find users in the same situation if we go near the castle gate . Maybe, we'll come to an agreement there to work together . ”
“I never thought I would waste my time this way . ”
“We were fortunate that we didn't die this time . ”
If they overextended themselves in the monster hunt, they would be wiped out . It was better to go to the castle gates to wait, while they still had a somewhat intact party . This was the course taken by users, who had some breathing room . They would log out near the castle gates for safety . Those who had lost a lot of their party members had a hard time even getting to the castle gate .
Of course, this wasn't the case for everyone .
Only one person!
One person's fortune was completely different from the others .
[You have leveled up . ]
“All right . My Stats are full! That **** wolf bastard! I'll catch it with myself!”
This one person was overflowing with energy amongst the overflowing horde of monsters . It didn't matter if he was doing well or bad in his hunt, he was enjoying himself .
This one person…… Of course, it was Hyrkan .
Large Wolves, Large Bears, Large Snakes…… The beasts possessed blood colored patterns on their pelt, and they were crowding in front of Hyrkan . Hyrkan threw 3 Bone Explosives as if he was spraying sand .
Kwah-gwah-gwahng!
The expensive Bone Explosives were worth the price of ramens Hyrkan could eat for a month . It was a powerful sight to see the result of the explosions .
While this thunderous roar was ongoing, two Skeleton Warriors wearing Bone Armor, and the Madness Helm immediately ran forward . Each of them had weapons that was easily over 1000 gold, and the battle capability of these Skeleton Warriors were amazing . Their sword cut through the leather of lvl 80 monsters like paper .
Pooh-oohk, suh-guhk, ssoo-oohk!
The sound of stabbing, slicing and chopping was heard . After the roar of the Bone Explosives, the sound of butchery was heard .
Koo-huhng!
The cry of the monsters that followed was closer to a sorrowful sound than a menacing sound . The sight that unfolded in that place was one-sided and overwhelming . It made one feel sorry for the monsters .
Of course, the ones in the worst shape was those who were caught by Hyrkan .
After leveling up, Hyrkan had recovered all his capabilities . Hyrkan charged towards a wolf, who had scratched his body .
‘I'll **** you up . ’
When he closed the distance, Hyrkan stabbed the short sword into the bastard's eye . In a breath, he jumped on top of the red spotted wolf's body . As soon as he got on the body, he stabbed down with his Fang Sword .
He used the embedded sword as a handle, and he started attacking the wolf's body with another short sword .
Pook pook . Pook, pook!
After he finished stabbing the body four times, a rectangle shaped piece of flesh fell off . When the piece of flesh was dug out, he immediately put something that was hotter than medicine into the wound .
Bone Explosive!
Hyrkan forcefully pushed the powerful item into the hole . Soon, he used all his energy to cause the Bone Explosive to detonate .
Kwahng!
The sound of the exploding Bone Explosive was the quietest one yet, but the result was quite gruesome .
Hoo-doo-doo!
The explosion scattered the blood and flesh into the surrounding . It left behind a grotesque mark .
Koo-roo-roo…… .
The wolf was starting to falter . The wolf wasn’t able to resist after suffering under the White Mamba's poison, and the accrued damage . He couldn't even struggle . Hyrkan didn't show any mercy to the wolf . Since this bastard's life was almost at an end, Hyrkan wanted to end it more faster and in a more sure manner .
Poohk poohk!
After the terrifying sound rang out consecutive times, the wolf died . After extracting his sword, Hyrkan immediately searched for a new monster . He found one that the Skeleton Warriors were having a hard time taking down .
There was a smile on Hyrkan's face as he moved his body .
‘All the monsters here are mine!’
The other parties either died before they could fight the monsters properly, or they had given up . Hyrkan didn't know this for sure, but he had predicted events would happen this way .
He had predicted this course of event when he hatched the trap to get rid of the priests with the help of the Mongmart Party .
How could a party go on a normal hunt without their priests?
This was why he had done what he had done . This was why he had left alone the users, who had shown their teeth to him . It was the reason why he had accepted Cho-oohroong's request for a 1on1 battle . Even if Hyrkan didn't act, he knew they would have to retire once their priests had been eliminated .
No competitors meant the most valuable monsters belonged to Hyrkan .
‘The only one left is the Blue Giant’
“Ooh-haha!”
Hyrkan unconsciously let out a laugh as if he was too happy . His laugh rang out through the Battlefield .
4 .
Kooh-oohng!
It had blue skin . It's skin color was incongruous with the color of the forest . The giant had a single eye, and it was fallen to the floor like a stiff board of wood . When the giant fell, its body crushed 5 trees with its body, and they were crushed like balled up tissue paper .
There were seven swords sticking out of the fallen Blue Giant's body . A Golem with half its body crushed was nearby, and one of its shoulder was slumping without any strength .
“Hoo-ooh . ”
Blue Giant .
He was finally able to take the **** down . However, Hyrkan didn't let out a cheer in joy . He let out a long sigh .
‘I was barely able to catch it . If I made a wrong move, I might have died . ’
It wasn't too hard to find the Blue Giant . It was taller than the trees of the forest, and its skin color was blue . It also had a sense of presence that made it easy to find . He just had to climb up a tree and look around to find it .
The hard part was killing it .
‘Its offensive and defensive ability was subpar, but its HP . . . . It was really comparable to a Level 100 Boss Monster . ’
It was worthy to be called an Event Monster . Its HP was abnormally high . Since it had so much HP, Hyrkan had to use a lot of time to catch it . He had used up 28 minutes . Hyrkan's damage dealing was incredible . He had the Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Mages, and the Golem . If he mixed in some curse magic, he could deal damage that was comparable to a 5 man party . Once he started to liberally use the Bone Explosives, his damage dealing couldn't even be compared to a 5 man team .
This was why Hyrkan was able to end this fight around the 30 minute mark .
‘Is this what they call it a blessing in disguise?’
He had been able to catch this monster, because of the current situation .
If he had to catch it in an environment with a lot of competitors, he wouldn't have been able to take it down easily . Moreover, it would have been impossible to catch it in secret . He would have been constantly interfered with . He would have had to adopt a hit & run strategy, and this might have opened up the possibility of someone else stealing the monster .
In the end, if Cho-oohroong didn't aggressively chase after Hyrkan, this opportunity would have never come to Hyrkan .
‘So why the **** is Cho-oohroong trying so hard to catch me? Did I somehow meddle with Big Smile?’
That was the part where he still had his misgivings .
He didn't think Cho-oohroong simply moved against him, because he coveted Hyrkan's fame . Hyrkan didn't think Cho-oohroong would move for such a personal reason . The Big Smile wasn't an organization that was loose with their members .
This meant someone in Big Smile had order Cho-oohroong to eliminate Hyrkan . This was hard to comprehend even for him . Hyrkan hadn't crossed Big Smile yet . Not at this point in time .
‘No . Moreover, the Big Smile shouldn't have time for me right now . ’
The Big Smile wasn't in a position where they would be able to spare their attention to Hyrkan . Currently, they were in war with Triple Wing, and they were a troublesome group to deal with . If they bothered Hyrkan in such a situation, they were basically adding on to their troubles .
‘Any ways, the 30 great guilds only have **** . ’
It was clear from Hyrkan's perspective . They had attacked him out of the blue . Hyrkan had quickly evaded the attack, and he had sent back a counterpunch . He was able to earn a watch, but it didn't mean he would forgive Big Smile . It was the opposite .
‘Let's see what happens when you come into my crosshair, Big Smile . I'll shatter you guys into pieces . ’
Hyrkan put Big Smile right below the Stormhunters on his list . It was obvious, but it wasn’t a good place to be if you were ranked under the Stormhunters .
Hyrkan was brooding over his revenge list when it happened .
[The Battlefield's Even Monster 'Blue Giant' has fallen . ]
Everyone within the Battlefield was given the announcement . Hyrkan also heard the announcement .
When he heard the announcement, he touched the app on his wrist watch .
[138 : 33 : 22]
Hyrkan smiled when he saw the time .
‘If I come back after a nap, it'll be perfect . ’
It was almost time for him to leave the stage called the Battlefield .
4 .
- I'm sorry .
When he heard Cho-oohroong's answer, Heh-bibin didn't spit out his boiling anger . He spoke in a calm manner .
“Today's events will be a bitter medicine for you . Don't forget about today's event, and go reflect on what you did wrong . ”
- I will take your words to heart .
“You did well . Go rest for awhile . . ”
- I'm sorry .
When the phone call ended, Heh-bibin clenched both of his hands into fists . If he had his handphone in his hand, he would have thrown it against the wall . Fortunately, he was within the game, so he couldn't do that .
‘Fuck . ’
Heh-bibin answered calmly, because he valued Cho-oohroong . If it had been someone other than Cho-oohroong, he wouldn't have let it go so easily .
Heh-bibin had taken a big hit from this job . The immediate monetary damage wasn't that high .
‘Apollo . That **** knows about this . ’
The problem was Apollo . He was very underhanded, and he wouldn't let go of this information easily .
‘He'll try to use me through blackmail . ’
Heh-bibin was an officer of the Big Smile, and it was an opportunity where Apollo would be able to put him to the fire .
Since he didn't want Hahoe Mask to realize Cho-oohroong was part of Big Smile, he would have to accept whatever deal Apollo presented . This was a headache inducing situation .
The worst case scenario was the Hahoe Mask finding out the connection between Cho-oohroong and Big Smile . If he joined forces with their enemy, Triple Wing, then this wouldn't end at just hurt feelings .
Big Smile might be kicked out of their spot in the 30 great guild .
‘Shit . ’
Heh-bibin's heart burned into a black crisp when he thought about such a scenario .
It seemed someone wanted to burn Heh-bibin's heart once again .
“Shit . ”
A single call arrived . After checking the call was from Apollo, he gritted his teeth before he answered the phone . While he was gritting his teeth, he let the anger within his heart bleed out .
‘Hahoe Mask . You will pay for this . ’