Chapter 154: The Promising Youth of the Seven Major Guilds (1)

Chapter 154: The Promising Youth of the Seven Major Guilds (1)

Buzzing with excitement!

In front of a glamorous downtown mansion, there was no room to even set foot due to the crowds of people. Various guild players and the press corps that came to photograph them, and onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of any scraps that might fall their way—it was a scene reminiscent of a bustling marketplace.

"A ball? Who would have thought there was such a hidden event?"

"I heard only the most promising players from around the world received invitations. For us, it's like striking gold."

"Oh man. All the celebrities will be gathering in one place."

"Isn't there any way to get inside? If only there were a way, the scoop of the century would be ours."

Reporters licked their lips with fiery eyes. The excitement was understandable; after all, it was a rare chance to see all the top rankers together in one place. It might well have been the biggest scoop since the emergence of the Tower of Trials.

That's when he arrived.

Thud. Thud.

Someone approached through the crowd of people.

A man with a sharp look and a solid physique. Hoshikawa Yoshio, the master of the Japanese Samurai Guild.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Camera flashes erupted dazzlingly.

"He's here!"

"It's Mr. Yoshio!"

"Wow! The master of the Samurai Guild!"

"The rankers from the Samurai Guild are here too!"

"Good. At least we can get a shot of one person."

In a sharp navy suit and brown shoes, Yoshio moved through the crowd with a heavily irritated expression on his face.

'Which brainless idiot leaked the information to gather all these people here?'

The ball was a hidden event. In other words, people other than the invited players should not have known about it. Yet, the fact that so many reporters and pests had gathered meant someone with an invitation had leaked the information.

His throat nearly burst with curses at the stupidity of it all, but for now, getting inside was the priority.

'I should have worn a mask.'

Wearing masks was the rule at a masquerade ball like this, but he hadn't anticipated such a large crowd and failed to prepare one in advance. He had thought he could just buy something suitable inside.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Camera shutters sounded even faster.

"Tch."

Yoshio took out sunglasses from his vest pocket and put them on. Although he didn't want to openly show his displeasure due to the guild's image, he had no desire to play along with this farce.

'These doomed losers, longing for what they cannot have, just parasites latching onto the strong for their sense of the future...'

Among the many players gathered here, not one was useful. Without strong leaders like himself, humanity would surely have faced ruin soon enough.

And that's when he felt it.

Chill.

Yoshio got goosebumps all along his back. Something was among the crowd. A monster with an energy so sharp that it seemed to freeze the air.

'Has someone with an invitation arrived?'

It seemed the only logical assumption, as no ordinary player could possess such tremendous mana.

Yoshio focused his senses to locate the source of the mana...

...And found it.

A player dressed in a black suit, wearing a striking white mask.

'Hoh.'

The female didn't seem to have much mana, but the male was truly strong. Strong enough that victory wouldn't be guaranteed in a one-on-one fight.

He had sparred with many rankers and conquered various mazes and dungeons, but this was the first time he had felt such excitement.

And so, he felt anticipation.

To whom did this player belong? Were they a rival or an ally? All of these questions were intriguing.

"Seems you're here for the ball too. I am Hoshikawa Yoshio, in charge of the Japan Samurai Guild."

His words took the press corps by surprise.

"......What?"

"Huh? Is Mr. Yoshio talking to someone?"

"Whoa! That's..."

The spotlight shifted its focus.

All eyes were now concentrated on one place—exactly where Jinhyuk and Ellis stood.

***

'Yoshio...'

Jinhyuk nodded subtly.

How could he not know him?

The master of the Samurai Guild, Japan's largest, with a presence as sharp as a blade's edge. High level, certainly with a variety of unique abilities and skills.

'It sure is good when all the rankers gather at one place.'

The mask ball was to Jinhyuk as a buffet of ice cream and bingsu, sandwiches, and macarons with mint chocolate as the main theme would be to others.

Jinhyuk quickly activated 'Gluttonous Eyes'.

Name: Hoshikawa Yoshio

Gender: Male

Age: 34

Level: 52

Strength 31, Agility 35, Stamina 36, Magic Power 17, Mental Power 44

Stat Points Available: 0

Coins: 337,536

Occupation: Samurai

Unique Ability: 'Koryu Martial Arts'

Skills: Lv9 'One Stroke Two Splits', Lv8 'Drawing Sword', Lv8 'Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu', Lv7 'Sword Membrane', Lv7 'Aspiring Heart Method'

Now...

Even the masters of the seven major guilds cannot compete with his level.

'Even with the monopolized hunt in the dungeons, they can't keep up with my growth.'

After all, he was vanquishing all the bosses blocking the next levels, so the gap in levels was just going to widen further.

Considering the time invested in acquiring 'The Gap,' the level difference was now not just a mere three levels.

'And considering the adaptive stats and the newly acquired essence stats, it's on a completely different level.'

A world-class ranker couldn't even come close.

He had grown so much.

But there was one catch.

The condition for copying the opponent's abilities remained just as troublesome.

[Copying condition: Hoshikawa Yoshio is a top ranker representing Japan. To copy one of his unique abilities or skills, the following conditions must be met.]

Overpower Yoshio using someone else, not yourself. However, this 'someone else' must be a player.

If you fail, you can step in yourself, but you won't be allowed to use any weapons. Instead, you must choose one of the following to subdue your opponent with: a fork, chopsticks, a spoon, or a pencil.

'Damn.'

To overcome using someone else.

Who in their right mind would fight against the master of one of the seven major guilds?

Moreover, the task of suppressing that samurai was another problem entirely.

Even if he personally stepped in, it was absurd to have to choose such an implausible weapon to fight with.

'I'll kill them.'

I will definitely kill them.

No matter the rest, he would someday find the one who devised the system.

And then make him fulfill all the copying conditions he had been subjected to.

Once they experienced it firsthand, they would understand the sheer madness of what they had put him through.

Huff...

Jinhyuk took a moment to sigh before composing himself.

It wasn't his first time dealing with such absurdity. He'd gotten used to it by now.

That's when it happened.

"Hey, didn't you hear what the big man asked? If someone asks you something, you should respond. What kind of rudeness is this?"

A man standing behind Yoshio like an attendant stepped forward.

Yoshio himself was tall at 180cm, but this man was on another level.

About 210cm tall and easily weighing around 150kg.

With his size, anyone would agree that he could pass for a sumo wrestler.

"Enough, Tsutomu."

With a subtle gesture, Yoshio gestured for the man to stop.

But Tsutomu, the man referred to, grumbled discontentedly.

"I know you're generous, boss, but you don't need to put up with such lack of manners. People like Nangong Cheon of the Central Plains Guild wouldn't dare to be so rude to you, so why would these nobody's ignore your courtesy?"

"Tsutomu!"

Yoshio raised his voice, but it was too late.

Jinhyuk was not the type to stay silent after hearing such words.

"Ha..."

Just as Jinhyuk was about to respond, Ellis stepped in.

"Don't hide cowardly behind a mask. It's dumb enough not to wear a mask to a masquerade. What's even more bewildering is why a nincompoop who didn't get an invitation is poking his nose into this."

Ellis, who had been quiet till now, interjected.

"What did you say?"

"Is the fat lodged in your ears too? Didn't you hear? The slap-haired, bearded man told you not to do that. Just sit quietly and don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Oh! Don't bother replying. The smell of grease from your mouth is annoying enough."

Hmm.

Initially, she was a dignified, noble vampire, but being with him, she had reached the level where she could deal damage with her words as well.

'Corrupted by close association...'

Jinhyuk shook his head, feeling somewhat responsible.

The receiving end must've been infuriated.

As if proving his guess right, the man blew a gasket.

"You little brat, how dare you speak to me that way!"

A face flushed with rage, Tsutomu reached out his hand.

"I'll crush that tiny head of yours!"

[Tsutomu activates Lv7 'Single-Point Crush'!]

An immense power that could turn even a rock into dust.

The weighty attack specific to sumo wrestlers unfolded... but just before his palm could grab Ellis's head, something happened.

"This is ridiculous."

A cold voice escaped Ellis's lips.

And then...

Boom!

Something defying gravity struck Tsutomu's nape.

"Gargh!"

The pressure was unimaginable, as if an invisible giant hand was pressing down.

"Gruurrgh..."

Thick veins surfaced on Tsutomu's forehead.

Despite his rank, stacking multiple defense skills was just a futile attempt.

Ellis could manifest a powerfully dense skill, thanks to the abundant supply of mana from Jinhyuk.

There was no way an ordinary player could withstand the infuriated attack of a genuine vampire.

Rumble!

Tsutomu shook uncontrollably without a chance to catch his breath.

"A mere 'little brat'? How dare you, addressing me in such a manner?"

"Ugh... ugh..."

"Why can't you speak now? Just a moment ago you were running your mouth. Has your fat solidified so quickly?"

The anger in her voice intensified.

Crack! Crack!

The ground started to crack like the shell of a tortoise.

At this rate...

The huge man would be crushed to death.

It was then Yoshio decided to intervene.

"The rudeness of this man will be severely reprimanded by me. Let's stop here, shall we? Crossing the line would benefit neither of us."

"Why should I listen to you?"

Ellis snorted.

Just then, Jinhyuk added his voice.

"That's enough. Let it be. It's almost midnight, we don't have time to squabble around here anymore."

"But, but!"

"Ellis. I said let it be."

"Ah, alright. Guess I have no choice."

Ellis withdrew her mana.

"Ugh! Ack! Cough..."

Barely alive, Tsutomu fell heavily to the ground.

The tense atmosphere dissipated, but Yoshio's expression was still full of tension.

No wonder, really.

'I thought the woman was just a secondary character...'

He had been dead wrong.

A level of strength beyond comparison.

If he had stood in her place, the outcome would not have changed.

Then...

How strong was that man who stood there unflinching before her?

This thought made Yoshio's throat dry, and he silently swallowed his anxiety.