32. First Wave
"I refuse the proposal."
Despite Jo Jung-sik's refusal, Ryumin wasn't flustered.
It was as he expected.
'He wouldn't easily put aside his pride.'
Rather, it was the surrounding players watching who were surprised.
"He refused that?"
"He could have hunted safely with Black Scythe protecting him."
"I guess his pride was hurt when told to follow orders."
"Is pride more important than life for a gangster wannabe?"
"It's not that, he's saying we don't matter to him at all, right?"
"Haa... really."
Some players gritted their teeth at feeling looked down upon.
They were secretly irritated.
Ryumin just silently laughed at that sight.
It was going exactly as in previous regressions.
'If I clearly draw the line at this timing...'
Players will target Jo Jung-sik without worrying about him.
Ryumin raised his gaze to look at Jo Jung-sik.
Seeing his tense look, he seemed to think Ryumin was going to cut his neck.
'I absolutely can't become area representative this round, unlike next round.'
Ryumin, who had no intention whatsoever of killing Jo Jung-sik, spoke in a flat voice.
"Alright. If you refuse, there's nothing I can do."
As Ryumin turned his back, Jo Jung-sik made a dumbfounded expression.
"Wh-what? You're just leaving like this?"
"What else? Did you want me to cut your neck?"
"..."
Looking at Jo Jung-sik who closed his mouth, Ryumin declared.
As if for other players to hear too.
"Since you refused the proposal, I won't care anymore. It's none of my business whether you die or not."
Leaving just those words, he turned away without lingering, and players murmured.
"Did you hear? Black Scythe said he won't care?"
"Then we can freely target that gangster guy, right?"
Ominous killing intent spread again in players' eyes.
If Black Scythe wasn't involved, they could target Jo Jung-sik more comfortably.
This was the situation Ryumin expected.
Jo Jung-sik, sensing the atmosphere around wasn't good, inwardly regretted.
'Damn, should I have just accepted the proposal?'
But he hated the thought of moving according to Black Scythe's orders more than death.
The pride of the Jung-sik faction boss who ruled Seoul wouldn't allow it.
Just then, a message appeared in everyone's view.
[The 1st wave will begin shortly.]
[Prepare for monster appearances and protect the relic!]
[The 2nd wave will proceed after 30 minutes regardless of remaining monsters!]
[Time remaining until round end: 02:59:59]
"It-it's starting!"
"Everyone protect the relic!"
At the word that monsters would appear, people moved in unison.
They rushed to the center of the village to protect the relic.
However, Jo Jung-sik couldn't follow the people.
Rather, he escaped to the village entrance avoiding them.
'I can't fight together with those aiming for me. I might get stabbed in the back.'
Jo Jung-sik, who became thoroughly alone, bit his lip.
'Alright, let's see how I do alone.'
It was an individual mission where you survive based on personal performance anyway.
He didn't expect cooperation in the first place.
'But...'
Jo Jung-sik turned his head to the side.
'What's that guy doing over there?'
Black Scythe was standing at another village entrance.
He wasn't the only one blocking an entrance alone.
That's when it happened.
Woooooo-
As if hearing a long horn sound, monsters appeared on the other side of the village.
Tsu- Tsu- Tsu-
It was natural for Jo Jung-sik's eyes to widen at that sight.
More monsters than expected appeared.
'Damn, how many are there?'
The number looked large at a glance.
Jo Jung-sik, overwhelmed by that number, looked back.
The players positioned inside the village seemed relaxed, not noticing yet.
Just then, a message appeared.
[1st Wave]
[4,900 Players vs 9,800 Weakened Goblins]
[Goblins are weakened to 1/3 of normal due to round characteristics.]
[Good luck!]
'9,800 of them?'
Jo Jung-sik stepped back.
'I can't handle that many numbers alone.'
Fortunately, with 4,900 forces here, there shouldn't be a problem if each person kills two.
Moreover, unlike the vast plains in Round 1, this is a limited space called a village.
Meaning there's a limit to how many monsters can enter.
Above all, the fortunate point is...
'The monsters are all goblins. And weakened ones at that.'
It's true they seemed easy since he faced them in Round 1.
'Even so, I can't handle all those numbers.'
Jo Jung-sik moved to a safe place at the oncoming green wave.
He planned to watch the situation hiding in the village for a while before joining the battle.
'But why isn't that guy moving?'
Jo Jung-sik couldn't understand Black Scythe still standing blankly.
'Don't tell me he plans to face the goblins alone at the entrance?'
There are four entrances to the village in total.
Black Scythe is guarding one of them.
'Even if the entrance is narrow, at least 10 can enter at a time...'
Does he have confidence to face 10 at once?
"Damn bastard. Showing off just because his level is a bit high!"
Jo Jung-sik sneered at Black Scythe and hid on the second floor window of a building.
He should be able to safely watch the situation from here.
It's also good for killing goblins if they enter this narrow space.
Jo Jung-sik swallowed and looked out the window.
He could see Black Scythe facing the goblins.
'He'll probably fight a few times then run away with his tail between his legs.'
He thought Black Scythe couldn't face 10 at once no matter how strong he was.
However, it didn't take long to retract that thought.
Slash- Slash-!
Jo Jung-sik opened his mouth seeing Black Scythe's battle scene.
"Huh? He's damn strong?"
Goblin heads fell every time the large scythe reflecting sunlight flashed.
Not just one.
Four die simultaneously with each swing.
One shot four kills.
Though surprised at the unexpected sight, Jo Jung-sik's thoughts didn't change.
'He's just rampaging now. He'll eventually tire out and collapse.'
But for some reason, Black Scythe showed no signs of tiring.
Rather, he was cutting goblins in half with increasing speed.
Jo Jung-sik widened his eyes in surprise at that sight.
'It's not my imagination. He's getting stronger as time passes.'
Not even a few minutes had passed, but Black Scythe's surroundings were already full of goblin corpses.
In contrast, goblins were flooding in through other entrances.
With many entrances, they had no choice but to let some in.
Jo Jung-sik went to the opposite window to check the situation inside the village.
Thousands of goblins and thousands of players were entangled.
'It's chaos itself.'
As more goblins than expected appeared, players fought desperately.
Those with some experience skillfully used weapons to kill goblins.
Watching that scene of shouts and bloodshed, Jo Jung-sik gripped his dagger tighter.
'I don't have time for this. I need to go out quickly and build up my record.'
Since survival is determined by monster kill count, it's advantageous to kill many.
Jo Jung-sik, who went outside after seeing the right timing, stabbed and killed a passing goblin.
"Kiek! Kiiek!"
Some goblins saw that scene and rushed at Jo Jung-sik.
"Come, you experience point bastards."
Jo Jung-sik could easily kill three or four.
The Rune of Insight predicted and told him the goblins' movements.
Stab- Stab- Stab-!
As he killed goblins, a strange excitement of taking life enveloped his whole body.
'Goblins are just dog food.'
Jo Jung-sik, who was grinning, suddenly looked towards where Black Scythe was.
Slash- Slash-!
His damage was so high that bodies were cut in half with one scythe swing.
Even Jo Jung-sik watching shuddered, which says it all.
'Can you get that strong at level 16?'
Seeing Black Scythe fight, he felt competitive spirit rising.
He also felt the desire to quickly become strong and surpass Black Scythe.
Perhaps because of the thought that he needed to kill more monsters?
Jo Jung-sik fearlessly moved to the village center where monsters were gathered.
'If goblins are focused on other players now...'
He should be able to kill more without risk.
"Die! Dieeee!"
"Kieeek!"
"Uwaaa!"
"Come at me, you goblin bastards!"
As he approached the village center, shouts of humans and monsters were vividly heard.
Jo Jung-sik hunted goblins amidst the chaos.
Stab- Stab-!
He leisurely killed passing goblins or distracted ones.
'This is damn easy...'
Suddenly feeling an ominous sensation, Jo Jung-sik turned his head.
Whoosh-!
An arrow grazed his cheek.
'An arrow?'
Jo Jung-sik's eyes turned sharp.
Because there were no goblins shooting arrows anywhere.
'Damn, which bastard?'
Jo Jung-sik looked around thinking it was a player's doing, but couldn't find anyone.
'I don't know who, but just wait till I catch you. I'll separate your bones and flesh.'
As he was about to focus on hunting again.
Stab-!
"Kuk!"
A spear tip stabbed Jo Jung-sik's side.
Turning his head, he saw a player grinning while holding the spear.
"I got him! I got him! Hahaha!"
"You damn bastard!"
Jo Jung-sik pulled out the spear shaft with strength and rushed like lightning.
"Uh oh!"
The distance closed instantly, and as the player was flustered trying to swing the spear.
Stab-!
Jo Jung-sik's dagger stabbed into the player's chest.
"Die! Die, you son of a bitch!"
Jo Jung-sik, who swung his dagger like butchering, threw away the player who became a rag doll and raised his head.
At that moment.
Whoosh-!
Jo Jung-sik's head turned sideways at an arrow grazing his ear.
There was a player holding a bow in the direction the arrow was shot from.
'That bastard...!'
Jo Jung-sik ran ignoring the pain in his side.
The player panicked at that sight and nocked an arrow.
The Rune of Insight told him in advance which direction the arrow would fly.
'I need to dodge left. Now!'
Ping-!
He twisted his body to dodge even before the arrow flew.
The flustered player nocked another arrow, but.
"Kuk!"
The dagger Jo Jung-sik threw hit his forehead.
"You bastard! You dare target me?"
Jo Jung-sik stabbed several times as if venting after retrieving his dagger, then straightened up.
"Huu, huu."
Blood was trickling from his side and his whole body was a mess.
Jo Jung-sik looked around with tense eyes.
'Damn, to think I have to be tense against players rather than monsters.'
Now he had to be wary of players rather than monsters.
'I don't know where another surprise attack will come from.'
Jo Jung-sik regretted.
This was all because he became area representative.
'This damn area representative position. I want to hand it over too!'
But since the only way to hand it over was death, he had no choice but to be vigilant on all sides.
Stab-!
Jo Jung-sik, who resumed hunting again, had to watch his surroundings even while killing goblins.
He didn't know when and where a knife would stab him.
That thought slowed his hunting speed.
'Damn, can I even rank at this rate?'
Watching out for monsters and players.
Jo Jung-sik's eyes moved busily.
It was natural for his hunting speed to slow.
The pain in his side was also worsening as time passed.
'Should I have just accepted Black Scythe's proposal at this rate?'
Such a thought suddenly occurred, but Jo Jung-sik shook his head and dismissed it.
'A man has pride, I absolutely won't go under that guy.'
He needed another alternative.
A way to hunt safely without worrying about players' vigilance.
'Hm? That guy is?'
Just then, [Black Dragon on Right Hand] came into Jo Jung-sik's view.
He was one of the top 3 rankers in this area.
A good idea suddenly occurred to Jo Jung-sik and he approached Black Dragon.
"Hey."
"...?"
Black Dragon, who was in the middle of hunting, turned his head.
At that moment, Jo Jung-sik's eyes glowed purple.
It was the change that occurred when using Command Authority.
"Protect me from now on. Black Dragon on Right Hand."