Chapter 185

Jeong-Hoon descended from the castle wall.

Yeo Min-Ji was waiting below with the other users.

"Huh? Why did you come down here?"

Yeo Min-Ji looked puzzled.

This was because Jeong-Hoon had chosen a sword and a bow, but he was planning to focus on supporting from the backline using the bow.

"The plan has changed a bit."

"The plan?"

"Yes. I'm thinking of making Ho-Yeong number one in this Siege War."

"...What?!"

Yeo Min-Ji asked back with a surprised face.

That was understandable, because Ho-Yeong's goal was to maintain their rank.

It wasn't to take first place.

In the first place, even their current 2nd place was the first time they had achieved such a high rank since the Siege War began.

"Yes. So let's sweep away Myth over there first."

Jeong-Hoon slightly opened the castle gate and joined the warrior users.

Yeo Min-Ji followed him.

"I'm going with you!"

"You can wait in the back and join later."

"How can I just watch from behind when Hoon is going out there?"

"Do as you please."

Jeong-Hoon chuckled.

"Huh? Hoon?"

Ha-Jin, who was glaring at the Myth Guild from the front line, recognized Jeong-Hoon.

"What's the situation?"

"The barrier is about to break... Their firepower is no joke."

NPCs were waiting behind the barrier.

Their role was to surround the front of the castle wall and block the attacking users.

Of course, they were purely focused on defense, not attack power, and were simply meant to buy time.

"Okay. Then let's go."

Jeong-Hoon approached the NPCs.

Ha-Jin grabbed his wrist.

"What are you going to do alone?"

"The moment that barrier breaks, I'm going to attack Myth."

"Are you serious...?"

"Yes."

Looking at the number of Myth members, it seemed like all 200 of them had gathered, but Jeong-Hoon was confident.

'Shall we go then?'

He was only level 226, but this was enough.

[Blackfield is activated.]

[All stats are increased by 1.5 times.]

[Due to the effect of Blackfield, all stats of monsters that invade the area are decreased by 10%.]

As always, he activated Blackfield.

His current detailed stats were already comparable to those of level 350 users, and with a 1.5 times increase, no one could face Jeong-Hoon alone.

'With Blackfield alone, most of my stats have exceeded 450. This is enough.'

If he equipped all the additional opportunities he had gained here, he would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's top rankers.

Jeong-Hoon pulled the bowstring.

It was a shame that Anima wasn't there, but this was enough.

*Crack!* Crack!

Cracks appeared in the barrier that had been set up, and it crumbled in an instant.

"How did it break so fast?!"

The warrior users gritted their teeth.

They had anticipated Myth's firepower to some extent, but they hadn't expected it to break through so quickly.

It meant that they were that determined to conquer this castle.

"Charge!"

As the barrier broke, the Myth Guild members rushed towards the castle wall.

And Jeong-Hoon released the bowstring he had been pulling.

Whoosh!

The arrow shot out and pierced the neck of a charging user.

"Cough!"

The user, hit in a vital spot, collapsed and vanished.

They were instantly killed and forcibly returned to their guild.

This was because in the Siege War field, once you die, you are forcibly removed, not logged out.

Furthermore, a shockwave erupted around that user.

A shockwave with 150% attack power.

"Ack!"

"Cough!"

The users caught in the shockwave were knocked down.

150% attack power was not to be underestimated, as Jeong-Hoon boasted stats comparable to users in the early to mid 400 level range.

"Critical injury!"

"Healer! Healer!"

The Myth Guild members in the front line urgently called for a healer.

But before they could be healed, magic poured down on them from the castle wall.

Crackle!

Boom!

With the overwhelming firepower, the mages created barriers to protect their comrades and then responded with magic.

"Damn it!"

However, Sa Jae-Hyeok had no interest in their magic.

The arrow that had just flown in.

That arrow was not an ordinary arrow.

Song Eun-Cheol, a level 257 Guardian Knight, was instantly killed by a single arrow.

That Song Eun-Cheol, with his high defense.

'So it's the guy who humiliated me.'

The despicable guy who took 1 million gold from him.

That guy must be right there in front of him.

Whoosh!

And another arrow flew from the same spot.

The arrow accurately struck the shield of a warrior in the front line.

Then, a rain of arrows poured down on them.

"Aaagh!"

"Ack! Above! Block from above!"

With arrows dealing 80% damage per shot raining down like a storm, 20-30 guild members couldn't hold on for long and were forcibly removed.

"What the..."

Sa Jae-Hyeok's pupils shook.

One-third of the warriors in the front line disappeared in an instant.

"That's impossible..."

"Who on earth...?"

The Myth Guild members were equally dumbfounded.

Their plan was to conquer this castle and expand their reach to reclaim the 1st place in the Siege War.

But before they could even conquer the castle, their front line had crumbled.

At this rate, the 1st place in the Siege War would become a pipe dream.

Sa Jae-Hyeok gritted his teeth and gave the retreat order.

"...Retreat."

"Guild Master...?!"

"At this rate, Myth won't be able to avoid the lower ranks. Change course and aim for another castle."

He wanted to drag that damn guy over and cut his throat right away, but given the situation, they had to retreat.

And at that moment, Jeong-Hoon used his movement technique and quickly approached the Myth Guild members.

Reaching the front line, he unleashed the Underworld King's Fist Technique and started knocking down the guild members.

"Ack!"

"That bastard!"

The mages prepared their magic, and the warrior and thief users started to confront Jeong-Hoon.

However, all the attacks directed at Jeong-Hoon missed, and he used his movement technique to adjust his stride and punch their faces.

*Thud!* Thud!

The Myth Guild members, hit in the jaw, lost their balance and fell to the ground.

Whoosh!

Jeong-Hoon, who was about to throw a punch, suddenly twisted his waist and stepped back.

A sword blade swept past where he had been standing.

"You have better eyes than I thought."

Sa Jae-Hyeok glared at Jeong-Hoon with eyes burning with hatred.

Normally, he would be armed with the Black Dragon Set, but since it was the Siege War, he was also equipped with Siege War-specific equipment.

"It's been a while."

Jeong-Hoon wiped the blood off his fist and grinned.

"Ugh... Go back while I'm still being nice."

"Go back? I'm sorry, but Myth needs to be eliminated here."

"You're quite bold. You dare talk about elimination in front of me, the Sword King?"

Jeong-Hoon smiled faintly.

"Yes."

"Try it if you can."

Sa Jae-Hyeok's figure blurred, and he instantly appeared in front of Jeong-Hoon.

At the same time, he thrust his sword forward.

A sharp sword strike.

Jeong-Hoon stepped back with his left foot and twisted his body, narrowly dodging it.

Then, he struck Sa Jae-Hyeok's abdomen with the Underworld King's Fist Technique.

Bang!

"Cough!"

Sa Jae-Hyeok's eyes were bloodshot with pain.

The damage that the armor should have defended against went straight into his abdomen.

This can't be happening!

His insides burned, and blood gushed out of his mouth.

Hum-

A sword path materialized beneath his feet.

A light blue mana extended in a thin line, drawing a large circle.

The Sword King's space was created.

Sa Jae-Hyeok's sword strikes became even sharper.

When Jeong-Hoon dodged a sword strike, another one flew towards that spot.

The Sword King's space, reading even the slightest movements.

However, Sa Jae-Hyeok frowned.

'What's this? Why can't I read it properly?'

When he couldn't properly read the enemy's attack that had entered his space, it meant that the enemy's stats surpassed his own.

But Sa Jae-Hyeok's level was 412.

Although he was still in his 4th class advancement because the 5th class quest was too difficult, he was one of the few users in South Korea who had surpassed level 400.

Yet, he couldn't properly read the movements of a mere level 226 martial artist.

Thud!

At that moment, Jeong-Hoon's fist struck Sa Jae-Hyeok's abdomen once again.

"Cough!"

As expected, this attack also dealt full damage.

Sa Jae-Hyeok tried to grab Jeong-Hoon by the collar with his left hand.

But Jeong-Hoon leaned back, avoiding his grasp, and punched him in the side.

"Ugh!"

He didn't know what was going on, but at this rate, he would lose.

Sa Jae-Hyeok channeled his mana and activated an additional skill.

The sword energy that was flickering on the sword blade started to bubble, and countless orbs floated up.

Those orbs all rushed towards Jeong-Hoon at once.

*Bang!* Bang!

The orbs exploded as soon as they touched Jeong-Hoon's body, and small blades pierced through his armor and into his flesh.

Jeong-Hoon's health, which had been at 100%, dropped by over 30%.

It was truly tremendous damage.

[Using Advanced Healing.]

Even so, his health quickly recovered with Advanced Healing.

Jeong-Hoon drew his sword.

"It would be even more humiliating to fall by the sword, wouldn't it?"

"You bastard!"

Clang!

Sa Jae-Hyeok's sword and Jeong-Hoon's sword clashed.

Sa Jae-Hyeok frowned.

Normally, he should be able to overpower him with strength, but Jeong-Hoon was holding his ground against his sword.

'How...?!'

Moreover, Jeong-Hoon's expression showed composure.

He smiled faintly and said,

"How is it? Our strength is similar, right?"

"What trick did you use?!"

"What you see is not everything."

"What...?"

Sa Jae-Hyeok let out a momentarily dumbfounded voice, then parried Jeong-Hoon's sword and swung again.

*Clang!* Clang!

The metallic sounds rang out continuously.

They exchanged over 10 blows in an instant, and as time passed, Sa Jae-Hyeok started to show openings.

Sa Jae-Hyeok was being pushed back in pure swordsmanship.

'This can't be... I'm losing in swordsmanship?!'

At that moment, Jeong-Hoon deflected Sa Jae-Hyeok's thrusting sword to the side and then swung his sword upwards.

Slice.

Sa Jae-Hyeok's wrist fell to the ground, and his sword clattered on the ground as well.

"Huh..."

Sa Jae-Hyeok was dumbfounded, staring blankly at his wrist on the ground.

"It was a good fight."

Jeong-Hoon slashed diagonally with his sword, cutting Sa Jae-Hyeok's neck.

Sa Jae-Hyeok's body disappeared instantly.

He was instantly killed and forcibly removed.

"What the...?"

"The Guild Master has been defeated..."

The Myth Guild members, who had witnessed their leader's defeat firsthand, denied reality.

The number one warrior in South Korea was defeated by a mere level 226 martial artist?

Was this even possible?

"This isn't the time to be admiring the view."

Jeong-Hoon pointed his sword at the Myth Guild members.

His next targets were the remaining guild members.

And behind them, Ho-Yeong's warriors were charging.

"Charge!"

"Crush them all!"

***

Myth's elimination.

Once Sa Jae-Hyeok was defeated, the rest quickly self-destructed.

"Huh..."

Yeo Sunwoo, who was watching from afar, couldn't help but admire.

He thought he had grasped Jeong-Hoon's strength to some extent, but he would have to erase that thought from today onwards.

To think that he would overpower Sa Jae-Hyeok, who was on par with him.

Moreover, Jeong-Hoon returned to the castle completely unharmed.

"Guild Master, we've eliminated Myth."

"...You're truly amazing."

The word 'amazing' wasn't enough, but that was all he could say.

He couldn't think of any other suitable expression.

"Then, I'll go and attack the castles Dogjeon has occupied."

Yes.

Jeong-Hoon said he would take 1st place in this Siege War.

Just defending like this, the chances of taking 1st place in the Siege War were extremely low.

If someone attacked Dogjeon and conquered their castles, the story would be different, but Dogjeon wasn't the type to be easily defeated.

Although Dogjeon was pushed back by Myth and took 2nd place, it was because they didn't aim for 1st place.

Compared to Myth, who recklessly charged forward, Dogjeon, who secretly subdued their opponents with poison, could be considered much more tricky.

"How many people should I assign to you?"

But wouldn't Jeong-Hoon be able to subdue even Dogjeon?

Yeo Sunwoo was willing to provide as many people as Jeong-Hoon wanted.

"No. I'll go alone."

"What?! A-alone?"

"Yes."

But Jeong-Hoon now said he would go alone.

At the absurd statement, Yeo Sunwoo hurriedly shook his head.

"You can't go alone. It's too dangerous."

"The rest of us need to protect this castle. We must protect it at all costs."

Now that Myth had fallen, other named guilds who were watching the situation wouldn't easily approach.

But that was just an assumption.

There was no guarantee that they wouldn't attack.

"Even so..."

"It's fine, so please protect this castle."

"...Alright."

Jeong-Hoon's judgment was extremely rational.

Even if he failed, as long as they defended this castle, they could maintain their top ranking.

Yeo Sunwoo couldn't help but nod.

"Yes. Then I'll be on my way."