Chapter 48 - Chapter 48

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon's Counterplay

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Seo-jun watched the soldier NPCs clashing on a main avenue just a short distance from the stronghold and remarked,

"Hmm, folks, this build seems pretty solid, doesn't it?"

He'd already beaten enemies twice.

And the second time, it was against four of them.

Strictly speaking, his traits did play a role, but it was so minor that the viewers were spot on.

The real test for the build's performance would come at level 6, when martial arts became available.

In the beginner zones, you needed level 18 for something like sword aura, but after picking a faction, it was level 6.

At level 6, inner power awakened, enabling martial arts, and it strengthened every multiple of 6 thereafter.

Right now, his team held every stronghold.

The three icons marking the bases glowed red, the symbol of the Demonic Cult.

In other games, allies were blue and enemies red, but in Battlefield, each side got its own color.

Blue for the Orthodox sects. Green for the Unorthodox.

Without seizing the center, a comeback was just a pipe dream.

Though with Seo-jun not holding down the soldiers, the central base's importance had faded a bit.

'From now on, maybe bring one guy along like a swordsman to handle soldiers?'

No.

Better to secure another base with a solid 2v1.

But things rarely went according to plan.

"Ah."

He'd considered this possibility, but it was still a hassle.

"It'd be nice if they just kept challenging us."

Seo-jun said with a hint of regret.

'Still, they'll target this spot.'

No matter how many side bases they took, they couldn't win without taking out Seo-jun.

So he had to anticipate when the enemies would come for him.

The conclusion?

'They'll hit level 6 first.'

Experience came from killing soldiers or players, or capturing bases.

You got some passively over time, but it was shared among all living players, so to pull ahead, you had to kill enemies.

'Fastest way to level is farming soldiers.'

That was why the central base mattered.

So the enemies would find a spot where they could win before the exp gap widened further.

That spot was level 6.

The moment martial arts became usable.

"They'll probably go for Gap next."

Avoiding Seo-jun's center meant a long detour.

When allies at Gap asked what to do, he told them to retake it.

They'd come back anyway.

As expected, the enemies took the side bases.

It was about time for level 6.

"They're coming now."

What? How'd they know.

But he hadn't lied.

"Well, I did think about it a bit."

The Suction Great Law restored his HP as it drained the enemy's.

It also continuously siphoned inner power and stamina from everyone in range during combat.

Stamina wasn't just for lightness skill—it fueled martial arts, footwork, and powerful swings. A crucial resource.

On paper, Suction Great Law stole nearly every key resource from foes, sounding like total cheese.

But it had a fatal flaw: absorb too much inner power, and Qi Deviation hit.

'Can't let fights drag on.'

A tank that had to end fights fast.

A structural issue.

So he flipped it.

If fights need to end quick, go DPS and end them yourself.

He just hadn't expected so many sub-traits.

Really?

"Looked plenty viable to me."

You only knew for sure by trying, but Seo-jun trusted his combat instincts.

Perfect timing—enemy voices echoed from afar, ripe for testing.

"He's still here!"

"Let's smash that monster bastard."

"4v1 with martial arts now—if we lose, we're idiots!"

After repeated losses to Seo-jun, they'd switched to casual speech among themselves.

Suction Great Law activated automatically on combat start.

A Beggar Sect beggar closed in, swinging his staff with stamina-fueled power.

Seo-jun parried with equal stamina expenditure, but then two Volcanic Sect players flanked from behind.

Their robes fluttered, red sword auras bloomed at their tips, and a gust carried plum blossom scent to his nose.

Volcanic Sect's Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms.

"Looking good."

As expected.

Good choice picking this game.

First form.

Plum Blossoms by the Roadside. Plum blossoms lining the path.

What was the intent of Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms?

As the enemy's blade split, flooding his vision red, he pondered.

'Deceiving the eyes.'

As Seo-jun dodged back, red sword auras targeted countless vitals simultaneously.

Illusory blades blinded and disrupted senses.

What was real? What fake?

Amid the nostalgic fragrance, Seo-jun circulated his inner power.

'Feels familiar.'

The sensation of truly moving inner power.

Power to his toes.

"But I am the Heavenly Demon."

Dark demonic energy cloaked Seo-jun's sword, slashing left to right in a massive crescent wave that cleaved the red pulses.

'Strong force meets strong force. Sword aura with sword aura.'

A game rule not far from reality.

And against illusions, overwhelm with a bigger blade.

Seo-jun poured heavy inner power to block the skill.

Enemies had better efficiency than raw sword aura swings.

'It works.'

The red illusions shattered anyway.

Fragments grazed him but dealt no real damage.

"Pouring inner power to break the first form?"

"He burned a ton! Finish quick! That shit's inefficient as hell!"

From their talk, it seemed standard usage.

The Beggar player charged on their shout, but Seo-jun thrust precisely at the incoming foe, sword sharpened.

HP chipped by fragments refilled in an instant.

"Wait, what attack power is that?"

"Did he hit a vital?"

Yes, vital hit.

And stamina-powered heavy attack.

Blue thunder from Namgung Family surged to strike Seo-jun's back.

Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword.

One of Namgung's two signature martial arts: swift strikes laced with lightning.

But.

Seo-jun glanced at chat and chuckled.

Lightning? Nice.

Blue bolts scattered through space, accelerating like overdrive lightness skill, the swift strike targeting him.

Impossible to track visually.

'How'd I dodge the magetower lord's back then.'

Seo-jun wrapped his sword in inner power and swung down lightly.

Claaang!

Perfectly on the enemy's sword path, no margin for error.

The blocked player's eyes wavered.

"How?!"

"Your blade is swift, but not enough to reach me. That's all."

"Hm."

His hand tingled.

The lightning dealt minor damage.

Seo-jun spent stamina to attack the foe before him, refilling HP.

"Like this."

HP fully restored, enemies stared in despair.

"No way, Heavenly Demon's stamina infinite? How?!"

The beggar swung his staff with full might; Seo-jun countered.

"It's Suction Great Law."

The Volcanic player lunged from the side but got slashed back.

HP drain exceeded expectations.

"Even so, that's too much! Damage is nuts!"

"Demonic Cult is broken."

They grumbled, clashing swords, but Seo-jun's HP held steady.

Martial arts chipped it, but it healed instantly; their resource edge nullified by his endless stamina.

No way to counter.

Then the beggar spoke.

"If we outlast him, doesn't he die?"

Suction Great Law's penalty was infamous.

Drag it out, and death.

To counter:

Traits that cut off if distance grew.

Boost defense/HP with more foes.

Lower power for stability and duration.

"He skipped most penalty mitigators? Explains the damage and stamina."

Not noobs, they caught on quick.

"Outlast him!"

"Hold a bit longer, he'll die!"

"Don't break range. Stick close, control distance!"

Enemy attitude shifted.

Defense over offense.

Bleed the Great Law dry without direct damage.

Standard users would be stuck.

"Think that'll work on me?"

Seo-jun feigned retreat, then dove into their midst.

He hadn't picked distance-cutoff anyway.

Boosted performance's price.

Swift death.

And dodging that death?

"That bastard's dying soon."

"S-Soon as in when?!"

"Dunno."

Shlick!

Blackened blade flashed.

"No. When the hell does he die."

"Feels like forever already."

"Beggar... I'm alone now. Damn. Huh?"

Suddenly, the foe who was butchering them turned away without finishing him.

And retreated.

Fast.

"Finally hitting his limit, pulling range!"

Finally!

The Namgung player burned his last stamina for a final swift strike.

Catch up and maybe one-shot!

But Seo-jun, who was fleeing, spun back and blocked.

His sword rotated smoothly, cleanly targeting the throat.

What.

Reacted mid-flee?

Or.

Baited him from the start.

To secure the kill instead of running.

Experts were different.

'Shouldn't have chased.'

Then the enemy spoke to the air.

"Why no death? Skipped penalty traits for boosted power and a trait that resets on kill."

Ah.

Will broken, he gazed up blankly.

Suction Great Law had sub-traits like that?

Never dreamed, since no one used it that way.

"Kill one, penalty resets. So, build not bad, right?"

Beyond good—broken.

But if one kill resets, why retreat earlier?

Time was plenty.

No way.

One word flashed in his mind.

Toyed with.

"Sigh, Orthodox martial arts look cooler anyway. No wonder folks skip Demonic Cult."

That line felt aimed at him too.

Damn.

'Switching to Demonic Cult after this match.'

The battlefield's first day had only just begun.

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