Emperor of Solo Play Chapter 82:
Chapter 82 - The Baheim Tribe (1)
1 .
The enormous Trapper Trees rose high into the sky, and the Tree Bark Snakes wrapped around the tree branches . They possessed an incredible camouflage ability, and it was hard to discern them with one's naked eyes .
It used its amazing camouflage skill to stay hidden as it stayed wound around a tree branch . It patiently waited for a prey to travel near it . When the prey appeared, it launched itself towards the ground . Its hunting method could be described as being struck by lightning during a clear day .
Then it happened at this moment .
Choo-roop!
The Tree Bark Snake's knothole-like eyes landed on its preys . The tree branch-like tongue flicked out, and its actions was quite bold . When the preys got within range, the Tree Bark Snake loosened its hold on the branch, and it fell towards the floor .
Kyahhh!
Its mouth opened wide, and the four poisonous fangs gleamed . Its body was 9 meters long, and the sense of presence given off by the large snake was beyond impressive . It was dreadful . Just thinking about it made one's body shudder .
The two users watched as the dark shadow fell towards them yet they didn't tremble .
Instead, they had calm expressions on their faces . As they watched the snake fall, they started making calculations . They considered where the snake would land, and where they would have to move, if they wanted avoid the snake's attack . They also thought about how long these actions would take, and what was the best method to counter attack .
Of course, it was impossible to calculate all of this in one's head . However, through extensive battle experience, they were able to calculate all of this on instinct .
Sssoook!
The ferocious pitbull looking man raised his right hand, which he held his sword with . He grabbed the sword with both hands .
Sssoook!
The one wearing the Hahoe Mask kept walking .
The man had his two-handed sword raised high over his head, and he looked at the falling Tree Bark Snake . There was still a good distance between the two of them . The poisonous fangs would have a hard time reaching the man, and one would need a prayer for the sword to reach the snake .
At that moment . . .
Shweeeee!
The user swung his two handed sword with great power, and it descended as if it was trying to cut the world in half .
Choo-oohng!
The sound of the sword splitting the air was heard, and a blue crescent was sent forth .
Shah shah shah!
The crescent flew at high speeds, and it was letting out a terrifying sound .
This was a Rare Rank Skill that could be learned by fighters over level 120 . It was called the Crescent Cut .
It was basically a Sword Qi . This was a skill that was coveted by the users, who chose the Swordsman Class .
It was a very powerful Attack Skill . The cutting force and the the attack power was much more powerful than the combined might of two or three Skills used in succession by a pre-advancement Swordsman Class user .
Moreover, the one who used this skill had a level 120 Unique Weapon equipped, and he was level 131 . On the other side, the Tree Bark Snake was only level 105 . Also, it had the lowest defense amongst the monsters of similar levels, so its fate was already sealed .
Pooh-hwaht!
It looked as if the snake's head was bisected into two . The Crescent Sword Qi started slicing through the head, and it dissipated after it reached the 1/4 mark of the Snake's body .
Koohng!
The Tree Bark Snake with the bisected head fell to the floor as it let out a crude noise . The sliced body was letting out a slightly translucent liquid that looked like tree sap . It was the snake's blood, but there was no metallic smell . It smelled like wet grass .
Pooh-hwaht, pooh-hwaht!
The snake wasn't dead yet, so it was still moving vigorously . It spread its grass smelling blood everywhere . The single strike had caused critical damage, but the user didn't stop there . He approached the struggling Tree Bark Snake, and he slashed down with his sword again . He was cutting off its life instead of its body .
‘As expected, level is gangster . ’
Hahoe Mask Hyrkan suppressed his bitter laugh as he witnessed the sight .
It happened at that moment .
[Your level has risen . ]
Hyrkan's ears heard the clear voice . Hyrkan had just received good news, but he suppressed his bitter laughter .
‘I never thought in my life that there would come a day I would ride a bus like this . ’
In Hyrkan's head, he thought about his meeting 6 days ago with Whistling .
2 .
“I've found a Quest Hint regarding the Elven Tribe within the Crapper Jungle . However, it is impossible to do it with my abilities . I'll give you all the information regarding the Quest if you clear the Quest with me . That's my proposal . ”
Whistling had said his life's dream was to meet the Elves, and he gave Hyrkan the offer he had prepared .
His proposal was very simple, yet it was one-sided .
‘Did I hear him wrong?’
The proposal was too tilted in favor of Hyrkan .
This was why Hyrkan didn't smile from happiness . Instead, he looked back with suspicious eyes .
‘Is Whistling trying to position himself, so he can **** me over?’
If he found a 100 dollar bill on the floor, he would feel happy . However, if someone came up to with a thousand dollar check trying to give it to him, he would call the police to check this person out . Hyrkan was clearly the benefactor of this deal .
Wasn't this deal basically giving Hyrkan the Quest Info to meet the Elves for free?
Hyrkan didn't needlessly weigh the merits of the choice inside his head .
“If you want to give me a Game Over, just PK me here . If you want to **** me over in a different way or if you are trying to extract information from me, I want you to skip these needless machinations . Just ask me your questions right now, so we can get this over with . ”
He couldn't trust Whistling's words!
Hyrkan expressed what he was truly feeling inside . Whistling's face stiffened, and he nodded his head .
“Are you saying you can't trust me? Is that how it is?”
“The only thing I can trust in Warlord is this . ”
As he spoke, Hyrkan raised his left hand to show the watch on his wrist . Whistling’s face hardened a little bit more .
“I also don't trust you, Hahoe Mask . I only suggested this deal, because I respect your skill . However, I don't plan on surrendering anything else to you . ”
Hyrkan let out a short breath when he saw this .
‘Whistling Pit Bull . What kind of a man was he . . . ’
At that moment, Hyrkan worked his not too good head into overdrive . He tried to recall every memory, and information regarding the Whistling Pit Bull . Small anecdotes started popping up in his head .
Hyrkan knew Whistling had been part of the Fighters guild . He was famous, yet there hadn’t been much gossips regarding him . Moreover, his reputation decreased as Warlord became more serviced . The reason being Whistling wasn't playing this game to earn big money . It was only a rumor, but it was said that Whistling didn't feel the need to make money, since he was from a well-off family . He had heard this rumor right before he had his one on one battle with Whistling .
Hyrkan recalled Kim-dongsoo had told him that story . At the time, he had thought he couldn't lose to someone, who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth .
‘Yes . Wasn't he a regular member?’
The deciding factor was that fact that Whistling wasn't an officer of the Fighters guild . He was a regular member, and in the end, he continued to be a regular member . This wasn't because the Fighters guild hated Whistling . Whistling was the one, who had kept an appropriate distance from the Fighters guild .
If one became an officer, one had no choice, but to become sensitive to the guild's profit and politics . There were a surprisingly high number of high level users, who just wanted to be regular guild members . They just wanted to do the minimum amount of guild related work, and they wanted only a limited amount of influence in the guild .
‘At the very least, I know he isn't hear to catch me at the request of Big Smile or some other 30 great guild . ’
Hyrkan opened his mouth .
“I'll receive the Quest Info, and we can complete the Quest together . Do you want to just give me the Quest Info?”
“If you need it, I'll help you . ”
“From my perspective, I have no reason to decline your help . Still, you have a reliable guild called the Fighters behind you . Why are you making this deal with me? You'll be able to finish this more easily if you call on the help of the Fighters guild . I'm really curious about that point . ”
Whistling thought about it for a brief moment, and he thought Hyrkan's question was reasonable . So he gave his answer .
“Then my nose will be hooked by the guild . They would ask me to do something of equal value to the Quest Clear . ”
Wasn't it Whistling life long dream to meet the Elves? Then why not play a dating simulation game where an Elf comes out? There were more questions he could have asked . However, Hyrkan didn't question him any further . Didn’t one have to respect other's taste? Whistling was basically taking a loss out of his own volition . There was no reason why Hyrkan should agitate someone, who was willing to do that .
“All right . ”
He put out his hand instead of blathering on . Whistling grabbed his hand .
3 .
After Whistling shook hands with him, he gave Hyrkan the information about the Quest .
“First, you have to finish this 5 particular Quests given by the Clapper Jungle branch of the Subjugation Association . ”
The Quest routes Whistling found was convoluted .
“Then you'll be able to have the qualification to receive a quest from a NPC named Rongju . ”
First, one had to finish 5 particular Quests given by the Subjugation regarding the Clapper Jungle, then one would gain the qualification to receive a quest from an Adventurer NPC named Rongju . He appeared in two day interval within the Trapper Jungle .
“You have to complete 3 Quests given by Rongju, then you'll be able to talk with a girl NPC, who had been saved by Rongju . Her name is Selene . ”
Once one finished the Quests given by Rongju, one will earn the right to talk to Selene . Selene was famous for being the girl of silence .
“Selene knows about the Elves . ”
Even if one knew the Quest Route, the content of the Quest Route was quite hard . Moreover, if one had to find out the Quest Route without knowing anything prior to it . . . Hyrkan was genuinely impressed by Whistling .
‘I thought he was a casual gamer enjoying this game for fun, but he's a madman . If his life's dream is to meet the Elves, couldn't he have played some other game? Why do these insane deeds inside Warlord?’
Of course, this wasn't something worth admiring .
Anyways, Whistling helped Hyrkan with his Quest Progress afterwards . The deal was for Hyrkan to receive the same Quest as Whistling . In the process, Whistling obviously had to catch the monsters for Hyrkan .
Whistling was an expert with level 130 skills, and he possessed a Unique Weapon . The Trapper Jungle was like a playground for him .
Moreover, Whistling had practically lived inside the Trapper Jungle for the Quest Clear, so he was like a nightmare for these monsters .
'His body knows all of the monster's pattern . At the very least, he's fought over 1000 monsters of each type here . '
Whistling was so amazing that Hyrkan had no choice, but to acknowledge him .
‘Even if my Spec and Class was the same as him, Whistling would be better at hunting monsters inside the Trapper Jungle . ’
He was better than Hyrkan .
No one would acknowledge it, but it basically meant Whistling was one of the best in Warlord .
'He killed over 1000 useless monsters that was of no help to his level up just to see the Elves . Crazy **** . '
The more surprising fact was that Whistling was having a hard time raising a single level even after hunting 6 days within the Trapper Jungle . Even now, if he invested himself entirely to leveling up, his level was high enough where he could become one of highest levels . However, he had given up that goal just because he wanted to see the Elves . Hyrkan had started Warlord later than most people, so he couldn’t truly comprehend Whistling's reasoning even if Hyrkan played Warlord his whole life .
'In any case, there are a lot of strange **** in this game . It seems the crazy to normal ratio increases as one reaches the higher level . There are too many crazy people . ’
Warlord didn't have any people of sane mind!
Hyrkan once again felt the full brunt of that truth .
4 .
“His skin was so clear that it felt as if it was transparent . If he stood below the Trapper Tree, he would look like a fresh foliage, because of his skin color! He also had very pointy ears, and a beautiful face . If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive right now . I want to relay my thanks to him . Please give him this letter in my stead . ”
[Quest ‘Selene's Letter’ has started . ]
Selene's large eyes and freckled face made the young NPC girl a striking figure . After receiving the Quest, Hyrkan immediately checked the content .
[Selene's Request]
- Quest Rank : Rare
- Quest Level Range : At least 90
- Quest Content : Deliver Selene's Letter to the Tribe within the Forest . The hints can be heard through Selene .
- Quest Reward : Biscuit made by Selene's hands .
After checking the Quest Content, Hyrkan talked to Selene .
“Could you tell me where I can find him?”
Selene answered as if she had been waiting for his question .
“I'm having a hard time remembering it . I was being chased by a Tree Bark Snake, and I was chased into a dead end . I had nowhere to run . At that moment, a Rock Elemental appeared, and it protected me . Then he shot an arrow through the snake's head . After killing the Tree Bark Snake, he delivered me to Rongju ahjushi . ”
This was all the hint she gave Hyrkan .
Hyrkan came out of Selene's living quarters . As if he had been waiting for Hyrkan, Whistling approached him .
“There are only two hints . There's the dead end road, and the Rock Elemental . ”
“I just heard it right now, so I'm well aware of it . ”
“When I heard the hint, I looked everywhere that could be described as a dead end road . I looked at every blocked path, cliffs, and even places with big boulders! I searched the Trapper Jungle thoroughly . However, the Event where the Elf shows up never triggered . The Rock Elemental also never appeared . I thought maybe fighting Tree Bark Snakes near a dead end road was the prerequisite to triggering the event . I lured the Tree Bark Snakes to every likely place, yet it didn't trigger the event . ”
Whistling finally told Hyrkan the problem he had been facing .
Whistling was well aware of the fact . He knew that he would be taking the biggest loss in the deal he proposed to Hyrkan .
Despite it all, he proposed such a deal, because he was plain frustrated .
“Did I have a choice?”
Moreover, if the person wasn't the Hahoe Mask, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to suggest such a disadvantageous deal .
Hyrkan was known for his incredible battle capability, and he had the ability to clear Quests very well . There was even rumors saying that Hyrkan was ahead of the 30 Great Guilds in the Main Scenario Quest . It wasn't an exaggeration to say Hyrkan's ability to clear Quests was peerless .
From Whistling's perspective, he had lucked out .
“Then there's a high probability that location is the Baekong Falls . ”
“What?”
Hyrkan immediately gave an answer . This wasn't hard . Hyrkan already knew where the Baheim Elven Tribe appeared . He just didn't have the qualification to meet them before .
"A waterfall? The event is triggered at a dead-end road . Didn't you hear Selene's hint?"
Since Whistling didn't know what was going through his head, Hyrkan's answer from left field sounded like wishful thinking .
Hyrkan lightly laughed as he looked at Whistling . Then he answered Whistling .
"This place isn't reality . It's a game . Users like us are supermen, who could climb a 100 meter cliff with bare hands . A dead-end road for users of our caliber should be something like a waterfall . Don't you think so?"
In reality, a 2 meter wall was called a dead end . When a 20 meter wall shows up in Warlord, users didn't even think about jumping it . They would think about whether they should break through the wall using their fists or head . This was how users thought in Warlord .
“That's…… . ”
Of course, they were talking about a native of Warlord, so they couldn't use real world standards here
This was the reason why Whistling hadn't been able to find the answer .
“After level 200, if someone mentions a dead-end road, one should be prepared to jump over laval . ”
“Is the Baekong Falls really the event location?"
Whistling repeated the question to Hyrkan . Hyrkan responded to Whistling with thsee words .
“Then do you want to make a bet? I'll put 100 gold on the line that the Baekong Falls is the correct location . ”
“Mmm…… All right . ”
Hyrkan laughed happily at his answer .