◈ Episode 13. Another Whale in the Fight (1)
The collapse rate of the rift has skyrocketed.
-With the [Outer Manor] Rift’s capture rate approaching 95 per cent, there are breaking news reports that the [Count’s Manor] Rift’s collapse rate has exceeded 60 per cent.
It’s only been a day.
The Rift’s collapse rate has surpassed 60 per cent.
Since the Cataclysm.
Countless rifts have been created and lost in the interim.
-that……. I’ve never seen anything like this before.
It’s unusual to see such a rapid increase in decay.
Some cast members speculated as to why.
-Doesn’t the rate of collapse vary slightly from rift to rift? Generally speaking, the stronger the monster inside the rift, the shorter the time the rift can withstand.
-Does that mean the monsters in the rift will be stronger than we thought?
-Yes. The problem is that the rate of decay has increased, so technically…… ‘the monster in the crack is stronger than it was a day ago’… I guess.
That left the cast at a loss for words.
We’ve heard it all before, the high difficulty of this rift.
But, as if that wasn’t enough, the monsters are stronger.
-……There’s got to be a reason for that, right? A normal monster wouldn’t suddenly become stronger, would it?
Yes, there must be a reason.
If only we could find it.
Or monsters getting even stronger.
Or a spike in rift decay because of it.
Couldn’t we stop it?
But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t come up with an answer.
In the end, the anchor had no choice but to make a final statement.
-Hopefully, the players have some good news to share.
.
.
.
I tore my gaze away from the liquid crystal.
I don’t know about the other players, but…….
‘……Why do I think I know?
Why the monsters in the rift have grown stronger,
or why the Rift’s decay rate has skyrocketed.
On the subject of returning to Arcana after a decade.
What are you pretending to know?
I’m not afraid to ask.
I still know more about demons than you do.
My training in Akshan never ended!
I’ve heard so much about demons that I’ve grown scabs on my ears.
Among them, vampires, of course.
-Vampires can give away their powers through blood. Of course, they can also take it back. So keep your guard up.
The vampire, Count Ascura, bestowed his powers on the [Blooded Beast] and [Blooded Bandit].
When those monsters were defeated by the player, the power that was divided between them naturally returned to Count Ascura…….
‘So the Rift’s decay rate skyrocketed.’
Indeed, when I thought about it, the story made sense.
I could predict the next development.
‘Wait, so you’re saying that capturing a province will cause the citadel’s decay to spike.
Considering the current decay rate is over 60 per cent…….
“Even if I can’t do it, what if it’s 90%?
Maybe the Citadel Crack will collapse.
It might actually happen.
It was a worst-case scenario, but the probability was pretty high.
And Count Ascura, who was level 430 by his own admission.
To think that monster is only getting stronger,
I had to admit, I felt a bit overwhelmed.
But my behaviour didn’t change.
I opened my wardrobe in my usual manner.
I picked out a formal outfit.
Naturally, the same suit as yesterday, only in a different colour.
Still, as I shivered in the cold, I realised something.
I put on an ink-coloured long coat over the suit.
……Yes, a long coat.
I’m sure it’s going to be a pain in the arse when I’m out in the cracks.
But it’s better than freezing to death, I suppose.
Let’s stay positive.
But apart from that, my mood was not very good.
I muttered to myself.
“A nobleman gives, he does not take away. Count of Ascura.”
It was the Claudie family crest.
The pride of nobility, as far as Grampel was concerned.
It was that pride that made him abhor the Count of Ascura’s behaviour.
And each-
I added, slipping on my shoes.
“No, you don’t even deserve the title of Count, Ascura.”
If anyone saw.
I suppose I could have looked good.
Ko-ok.
…… in hand.
If only it weren’t for this green tea.
Let’s be thankful there are no prying eyes.
I made my way to the Wizard’s Tower.
*.
The real battle begins.
[Count’s Estate]
[Suitable Level : Lv.350~400]
[Collapse Progress : 66.1%]
I check the information in the rift once more.
Different reactions erupted from all over the place.
“The required level is 350 to 400? You’re crazy, man.”
“It’s been less than an hour and the decay level has increased by 6 per cent.”
“No, if the province is this bad, how is the citadel?”
We’ve cleared hundreds of cracks [on the outskirts of the estate].
Only thirty or so [Count’s Estate] rifts remained to be cleared before we could enter the [Count’s Citadel] rift where Count Ascura was.
The number of rifts has been significantly reduced.
The battle of wits between players also intensified.
No wonder.
The required level was around 350-400.
The experience and loot from these high-level rifts would be nothing to sneeze at.
Given the scarcity of rifts, competition was essential.
Hence the battle of the wits to find a worthy opponent.
The Guild Master of Gaon.
Nam Tae-min was in better shape.
“Well, as long as we don’t clash with the Shining.”
Aside from the Shining, it was worth a shot.
Tae-min was confident.
Although he lost his first clear to a Berserker, it was a close call with Shining.
Nam Chul-min felt the same way.
He tapped his tablet PC.
“They’re probably high, too, and there’s no point in them choosing the same rift as us. We’re just going to get screwed.”
So let’s take this crack.
Gaon made quick work of basecamp.
But then an unexpected visitor arrived.
Nam Tae-min’s eyebrows twitched.
“……ha, look at these guys?”
Inazuma, ranked fourth in the guild rankings.
As the name suggests, it was a Japanese guild.
A tower of wizards, if you will.
It would never take root in Korea.
I was stubborn as shit.
Inazuma, who had only arrived in Russia after a day’s flight, appeared in the rift.
Inazuma’s guild master.
Kazuma Hisagi looked at Nam Tae-min.
He did not avert his eyes.
No words were exchanged.
Each knew what the other meant.
Tae-min spoke.
“He wants to give it a try. What do you think, bro?”
Nam tapped his tablet and shrugged.
“I’ve got a seat first, and it’s not like I’m going to be able to dodge, is it?”
Korea and Japan.
Gaon and Inazuma chose the same crack.
The word spread quickly.
Filming crews from around the world were buzzing.
“Gaon and Inazuma together?! What a scoop!”
But there were so many scoops here.
A constant stream of new news.
Some of them were just as interesting as the Gaon-Inazuma rivalry.
“Second Sun and Bohemian. That’s two competitors, isn’t it?”
“This Berserker just got more annoying after getting the first clear.”
“They have no morals. How come they call themselves the European Union and fight amongst themselves?”
But most interesting of all.
Guilds number one and two.
It was The Shining versus Universal Unity.
The Shining in America.
China’s Dynasty Warriors.
Indeed, it was a contest that the entire world would be watching.
The outcome could shake the order of the world.
“Unification of the world, are they just going to throw chilli peppers?”
“Isn’t this about going down together?”
“If you two get together, there won’t be any left.”
Two guilds, of course.
It was a no-win situation for everyone.
They’d have to share the experience and loot from the new rift with their strongest competitor.
But neither would back down.
So it was fun for the spectators.
“Okay, let’s take a vote!”
The players on Netflix were just as excited as the journalists.
They’re the only ones who can go into the rift.
Just yesterday, they were having a blast broadcasting what was happening inside the rift.
So the NetTubers had to take notice.
“Chat us up, we’d love to see your support!”
But which crack would attract the most viewers?
It’s a constant battle of eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs.
The only thing that could save me from that was…….
and only one other person.
.
.
.
Currently minus five degrees.
Seriously.
Over 5 degrees in one day.
It’s a good thing I had my coat on.
Otherwise, I’d have frozen to death before I got to the crack.
Morak Morak Morak.
I melted my hands in the warmth of the teacup.
It was worth it to pay a little more attention to the process of Exploration and Interference.
I just made the shape of the teacup a little more complicated.
Despite the sub-zero wind chill, the teacup didn’t cool down easily.
‘I’m getting used to it.
Not [skill], but [magic].
Despite Grandfell’s talent for learning such magic quickly.
I drained the cup and let go of the handle.
Tsk─
In midair, the teacup transformed once more.
The moment it fell, it returned to its stone form.
‘Returning to its original form requires less searching and interference.
This was another trick I had learnt as I became more familiar with magic.
I pondered this seriously.
‘……Of course, the question is whether you can use it in the real world.’
I guess that’s something we’ll have to find out as we go along.
Of course, this crack is not to be taken lightly.
‘Count Ascura’s Henchman’ : Lv.390
Count Ascura’s Knight: Lv.350
Count Ascura’s Soldier: Lv.300
They’re not exactly easy levels, are they?
Even if we assume that soldiers and knights are the same…….
There was a difference of over 300 levels between them and henchmen.
But since when do I care about such things?
Again.
Not once or twice, but now he had resigned himself to it.
“Even if it means sinking and drowning under its weight.
I’m an octogenarian with no choice but to live like this.
Therefore, I could only struggle as best I could.
To keep the graceful swan from sinking.
Just as she struggles beneath the surface.
I, too, struggle unseen.
Just as I did from yesterday until this morning.
I hope the effort is worthwhile.
Another angle─
I entered the crack without hesitation.
.
.
.
When I entered the rift, I saw the ruined buildings.
It was too much of an eyesore to be a [count’s estate].
Reality and Arcana.
Even if it was a mixture of the two, this was bad.
The nobleman’s aesthetics frowned.
“A poor estate. Ascura.”
I stomped forward, coat flapping.
“!”
And then I was face to face with Count Ascura’s soldier.
The soldier’s eyes were glowing red.
Developed fangs protruded from his mouth.
He was thirsty.
His mouth was constantly dripping with saliva.
The soldier noticed me and lunged at me.
I stared at the charging soldier.
Yes, this made it clear once again.
He was not acting out of loyalty.
It was simply a mask of power.
Tormented by the curse of an ugly vampire.
Just a poor victim of an ugly vampire’s curse.
I said again.
“It’s just as bad on second viewing.”
I probed the ruined building, interfered with its form.
“But even that is not enough for you.”
The magic then manifested.
Quack!
.
.
.
Koo-koo-koo-koo!
A booming sound from behind.
“?!”
The two men turned their heads before anyone could tell.
They could see a faint cloud of dust rising.
Bam!
Nam Tae-min and Kazuma Hisagi gritted their teeth at the same time.
‘……Whoever it is, can we do this in moderation?
It’s too much for this side to care about that side.