Zhuge is a user skilled in tactics and strategy. With his abilities, he serves as a tactical strategist for a kingdom on the Chinese server. Favored by the king, he has led numerous large-scale battles to victory on the most populous Chinese server.
“Korean users?” In comparison to the battles Zhuge has won, they are nothing. Everything was superior in China. The average level of participants was more than 10 levels higher, and the artifacts were overwhelmingly superior among Chinese users.
“Defenders have an advantage in territorial wars?” This was true. But because of this, China secured 100 more users than Korea. Victory seemed certain. The world anticipated this outcome. Just by looking at the Ares Play Toto, it was clear. The Ares Play Toto’s victory predictions had China at 92.7%. Zhuge, too, bet his entire fortune on China’s victory.
“In such a certain situation, what’s needed is a more overwhelming victory.” The advantage of having 100 more users was clear. He filled these 100 slots with those specialized in mass combat, led by the second-ranked necromancer, Wei. Of course, Zhuge devised the best strategy.
“Korea doesn’t have any users with significant divine power. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to handle this many troops.” This was the clear limitation of skills. Zhuge’s goal for capturing the Korean fortress was 2 hours and 30 minutes. But soon, Zhuge was taken aback by the appearance of a white bell.
“What on earth is that bell…?” Zhuge’s plan was perfect. No, it had been perfect.
“We’ve studied and studied about you, Zhuge,” said Nel.
If not for the variable that was Nel. From a few days before the continental war, Nel had been researching Zhuge’s tactics and preparing numerous countermeasures. Nel and Hyun-soo’s preparations in the forge were extensive, and one of their efforts now appeared.
The appearance of a woman on the fortress wall captivated viewers worldwide.
“She is beautiful.”
“She is nobility incarnate.”
“It’s like seeing the word ‘pure white’ with our eyes!”
“The Saintess’ child, Belia, has appeared.”
The Saintess’ child. The top priest class on the Korean server. Standing next to Hyun-soo, her palm touched the Bell of Ramas.
“Save us from evil.”
[Divine power imbues.]
[Greater divine power overflows from the Bell of Ramas.]
[Divine power imbues.]
[Greater divine…]
Along with it, Hyun-soo, who had forged the Bell of Ramas using the skill Counter (反) within the fortress, swung his hammer back. The undead were almost touching the fortress walls.
Daaaaaaaaang-!
At the moment of impact, a massive wave of divine power spread out.
Thud-!
“Gah!”
“Wow, what is that!?”
Users stepped back from the wave. Additionally, the basic ability of the Bell of Ramas was significantly enhanced by Belia’s divine power.
[Weakens undead within a 10km radius by 48%.]
Ki-heeeeeeek
Kya-haaaaaak-
Ki-hi-i-i-i-ik!!!!
The undead touched by the wave of divine power writhe in agony as if swept away by a wave of light.
“I, I can’t believe it.”
“A wide-area debuff swallowing up 2,200 undead!”
“I’ve never heard of such a skill in my life!”
“Of course not, it’s not a skill. It’s an artifact!!!”
The astonishing events weren’t over yet. The specialty of the Bell of Ramas was not only weakening the undead but also bestowing strength upon those who killed them.
[You have heard the sacred bell sound.]
[Attack and defense against undead increased by 18%.]
“Wo, woahhhhhhh!”
“Waaahhhhh!”
At that moment, a thunderous cheer erupted among the Korean users. Commander Lee Hwan was surprised.
“The morale of our forces has skyrocketed?”
The participation of Hyun’s Forge didn’t initially raise Lee Hwan’s expectations. They were just people who had hunted the first calamity.
“Fire at will!”
The users pulling back their arrows were the most astonished. Normally, undead at around level 340 wouldn’t die even after being hit by four arrows. But now they were crumbling with just two arrows. It was a reversal. The speed at which the undead were being killed was now far outpacing their advance. Lee Hwan was focused on something else.
“A wide-area debuff beyond common sense.”
There was a downside to this. Those with high status ailment resistance could ignore this power. As proof, the undead summoned by the top-ranked necromancers continued to push forward. Many of them resisted the bell sound.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Around 200 users hidden among the undead unleashed magic and skills. The allied forces suffered more significant losses. Many undead still hid among them. Lee Hwan looked at the necromancers hiding behind the melee users across the bridge.
“If we can’t take them down, the mass battle will continue.”
At that moment, Lee Hwan saw it.
“They’re coming…!”
Around 150-220 enemies. The reason China was most feared was approaching. The enemies clad in black armor were terrifying because they were fully supported by the Black Dragon Smithy.
“How many?”
Lee Hwan was bewildered by the items hidden under the robes they wore.
“Unique, unique, unique, unique…”
They possessed defenses far beyond common sense and their weapons were also covered in unique items.
“What do you think of the current situation?” asked a woman named Nel.
“In the beginning, they’ll defend tightly, but eventually, they’ll start to get pushed back. The person leading them now is Kou, ranked 15th in the world.”
Lee Hwan spoke with a bitter smile.
“Of course, I can take him down. But it will be difficult amidst so many undead.”
“As expected.”
At that moment, the castle gate opened.
To counter Kou and the users, the Korean users were stepping up. Soon, Lee Hwan would join them. At that moment, Nel looked at Lee Hwan with eyes full of faith.
“In that case, please make sure to succeed. We will eliminate all the undead.”
Lee Hwan had a puzzled expression. Then,
[Dark Night (黑夜)]
Suddenly, it was as if someone had turned off the lights, and pitch-black darkness descended, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.
[Primal Fear is stimulated.]
[The enemy’s hearing is completely paralyzed.]
[Allies’ hearing is not paralyzed.]
“What, what’s going on!?”
“Aahhhh!”
“Heeek!”
Lee Hwan and the Korean users’ hearing remained intact. They could hear the screams of the Chinese users. Lee Hwan imagined it.
“Not being able to see is bearable.”
But having one’s hearing paralyzed too, that brings a huge fear. Is something wrong with this game? Is my device malfunctioning? Where am I? Claustrophobia might set in.
At that moment, Nel spoke.
“We have a more than 90% chance of losing.”
Lee Hwan agreed. It was a humiliating but factual statement.
“I believe this method can raise our win rate by at least 10%.”
Lee Hwan had a puzzled expression in the darkness. Nel’s subsequent words:
“This is a plan devised by Crazy Rookie. People are convinced that China is attacking and Korea is defending.”
What is she talking about?
“But from now on, we are…”
Lee Hwan’s eyes wavered as he listened. Then,
Clap-
The dark world suddenly brightened.
***
Zhuge was bewildered. He too was trembling in fear from the pitch-black darkness and the loss of sound. When the world brightened, and all status effects were lifted, Zhuge was more shocked than he had ever been in his life.
“What, what is this…?”
And the necromancer Wei, ranked 8th in the world, couldn’t hide his bewilderment either.
“Zhuge… is what I’m seeing real…?”
Neither Zhuge, Wei, nor anyone present had imagined this. Wei’s face stiffened as he looked around. The necromancers were gathered, continuously summoning undead.
Gulp-
Wei swallowed hard. Since entering the world rankings, he had experienced all sorts of things. But this was beyond expectations.
“Damn… you’re the defenders, and we’re the attackers, you crazy bastard!”
Yes, territorial wars are divided into defense and attack. But right above them, Hyun-soo was holding the Twin Dragon Sword, looking down on them. This was Hyun-soo’s plan. Created by the calamity, Dark Night plunged the world into darkness, paralyzing all enemies’ hearing. But not the caster, Hyun-soo. He could see and hear everything. With the leap of the disaster, he flew straight into the sky.
Hyun-soo’s Twin Dragon Sword became etched with runes.
[Three-foot Oath to Heaven (三尺誓天)]
[Swearing to the heavens with a three-foot sword,]
[Mountains and rivers tremble (山河動色).]
[The mountains and rivers quake.]
Swoooosh—
A massive pressure descended from the Twin Dragon Sword, crushing the gathered necromancers and their summons. In a hurry, the necromancers raised bone shields from the ground, creating a massive bone wall between themselves and the oncoming force. Zhuge’s face turned pale. The necromancers’ weakness lay in their low HP, akin to that of wizards. No matter how many walls they put up, they were merely novices before such overwhelming power.
The final sentence was inscribed.
[One Sweep to Annihilate (一揮掃蕩).]
[Sweeping away everything with one stroke,]
[Blood dyes the mountains and rivers (血染山河).]
[Blood stains the mountains and rivers.]
Hyun-soo knew better than anyone. This only increased their chances of victory by 10%. In the end, Korea would again be close to falling at a rapid pace. However, if the undead no longer appeared, Korea would take a step forward. No, to be precise:
“I approach MVP status.”
He was tired of hiding and waiting for an opportunity. He wanted to show everything. Drawing back with all his might, he struck down the Twin Dragon Sword towards the 80 necromancers.
“The cry of the sword.”
Kiiiiing—
Their thoughts were paralyzed, and screams and groans erupted.
“Aaahhh!”
“Who is that guy, kill him!”
“You crazy bastard!”
“We are the defenders, and you are the attackers!”
Finally, the sword fell, shattering the bone wall they had created with immense power. That power began to tear apart the necromancers and summoners, including Wei.
At that moment:
“Where is it!?”
“The VVIP room!”
Doctor Kim Jin-seop and the nurses were running.
“Please, let it not be true…!”
Jin-seop’s heart pounded as he ran, the sound getting closer.
Beeeeeep—
It was the sound of a vitals machine monitoring a heart. There were two possibilities in this case. Either the patient had died, or someone had removed the vitals machine from the patient.
Soon arriving at the VVIP room, Jin-seop’s eyes widened.
“…”
The bed was empty. He couldn’t hide his bewilderment. Then he heard a mechanical sound. Though it was faint, like the hum of a refrigerator, Jin-seop heard it clearly at that moment. He slowly turned his head with an incredulous expression.
“A capsule…”
The virtual reality game Ares’ capsule was operating.
***
Ren, the blacksmith of the Beginner’s Zone, was flustered.
A tall middle-aged man, standing at 183 cm, was looking at him with a small smile.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. Your name is Ren, right?”
The reason for Ren’s bewilderment was because this man looked exactly like his master. The middle-aged man spoke again.
“I want to see my son, Hyun-soo. Do you know where I need to go?”
Cliche Novel 
Yippe
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