Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - Chapter 263

WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 263: Episode 49: Specialty (3)

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Along with the system messages, the scenery around us began to change.

The defining feature of this game, Mythical Battlefield, was that it virtually recreated locations that had served as stages for Great Fables throughout history.

[You have entered the Great Battlefield, Harmageddon.]

[The game will begin in 3 minutes.]

A stairway to Heaven opened on one side of the pitch-black sky, while the gates of Hell opened on the other. If this were real, Eden's archangels would be descending those stairs, while Demon Kings from the Demon Realm would be pouring out through the gates of Hell.

Fortunately, that wouldn't happen here.

This was only a virtual stage, after all.

[The Constellation Guardian of Youth and Travel frowns at the familiar stage.]

[The Demon King Demonic God of Wrath and Lust displays hostility toward the Constellation Guardian of Youth and Travel.]

[Many Constellations and Demon Kings display hostility toward one another.]

...Surely nothing would actually happen.

"This is kind of creepy..."

Jang Hayoung wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. Every so often, eerie sounds rang out, maybe part of the background music.

I looked at the semicircular barrier surrounding us.

Until the game began, that barrier would protect us.

"Get a grip, everyone. Check the positions you've each chosen."

At my words, the others seemed to regain their composure one by one.

"Who's the tank?"

[That would be me.]

Venerable Samyeong was the tank. Sky-Splitting Divine Dog and I were the melee damage dealers, while Jang Hayoung and O-su were the ranged damage dealers. Myeongoh was our supporter. And the all-rounder was...

"Where's Yu Junghyeok?"

"He probably landed somewhere else from us."

In Mythical Battlefield, the starting area changed depending on where you answered the summon.

[Participant Yu Junghyeok has answered the summon.]

The message had appeared properly, so Yu Junghyeok had to be somewhere on this battlefield.

Hayoung asked, "This is like one of those AOS games, right? I've played before. You win by destroying the enemy's home base..."

"Right, but this has a few differences."

Normally, an AOS game ended when you captured the enemy's home base.

This game was different.

"What we have to protect isn't our home base. It's our crest."

"Crest?"

I pointed to the object in Myeongoh's hand. It was a small monument glowing with dazzling colors.

"W-what is this?!"

"We have to protect that."

The word "crest" was written on the monument in small letters.

"Heaven's Envoy, Hell's Gatekeeper"

Han Myeongoh gasped and tried to hand the monument to me. I pushed it away with my palm.

"You hold on to it for now, sir. It's important, so keep it safe."

"I-if it's important, Dokja should be holding it...!"

"It's better if you hold it. Usually, the key participants carry the crests. We need to catch the enemy team off guard."

"I can't do this! I've never played a game like this before!"

For a game company manager, Myeongoh was certainly bad at games.

I thought Sangah would have been better at this kind of game.

For reference, Sangah had once carried her team alone all the way to the finals of an in-house gaming tournament.

...It would've been nice if Sangah were here instead of Myeongoh.

"Anyway, there are two ways to win this game. One is to take the enemy team's crest. The other is to kill all the participants on the enemy team."

"Taking their crest sounds easier."

"Usually, yes."

"Great! Leave it to me!"

Hayoung shouted, full of enthusiasm. But this wasn't a game you played alone.

"I appreciate the enthusiasm, but individual play will be a problem. We need to make a plan from now..."

Woof, woof!

Bark, bark!

I'd forgotten that two of our companions were dogs.

O-su, Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames, had been sniffing around the area for a while, while Sky-Splitting Divine Dog lay sprawled as if unconcerned, scratching the belly with a front paw. I turned to our last hope.

"Venerable Samyeong-nim."

He seemed to have been receiving advice from other Constellations, so he was our only hope.

[The words of these humble monks are too difficult for me to understand. O-yes... game... What exactly is that?]

Venerable Samyeong looked deeply troubled.

[Some Constellations of the Korean Peninsula are frustrated with the Bald Army General!]

[Constellations who enjoy Earth's culture say it's AOS, not O-yes!]

I'd failed to consider the elderly.

There was no way Venerable Samyeong would know modern gaming terminology.

[So all I must do is kill the barbarian bastards, correct?]

"Yes, well... That's roughly right."

[Then I shall take the lead! Follow me!]

Filled with fighting spirit, Venerable Samyeong began charging ahead, swinging his bamboo staff.

[The game has begun!]

As if it had been waiting, the barrier around the stage was lifted.

[The participants' attributes will be automatically adjusted in consideration of the game's difficulty.]

[In the first round, all participants can use only 10% of their original attributes.]

[The penalty will decrease as the rounds continue.]

Then, lower-grade angels resembling tiny fairies began flying out from Heaven's Stairway, our home base.

[Reinforcements for each team have been created!]

[Lowest-grade Angels will assist you!]

Startled by the angels, O-su barked wildly.

"Hey! They're on our side, so don't bite them. Venerable Samyeong-nim, wait! Let's go together!"

It was chaos from the start.

With Venerable Samyeong at the forefront, Sky-Splitting Divine Dog and O-su began to sprint. Hayoung and I hurried after them, while Myeongoh kept up a timid jog at the rear of the group.

"Stay as far back as possible, sir. Don't step in recklessly."

"...I'll do my best."

Myeongoh was good at running away, at least. No matter what happened, he'd find a way to save his own skin.

"Ah, the map's changing?"

The moment we left our home base, a vast plain unfolded before us.

A valley lay on one side of the plain, while a forest lay on the other. If I remembered correctly, the Apocalypse Imoogi was in the valley, and a Fallen Cherub was in the forest. There were also quite a few monsters scattered throughout the map that granted buffs if you killed them early on...

"Wait! Venerable Samyeong-nim! You can't go that fast!"

[Just trust this humble monk! I may look like this, but I have mastered the art of war!]

Venerable Samyeong made a grand constellation's declaration and stretched a hand toward the sky.

[Spirits of the Korean Peninsula! Grant this humble monk your strength!]

I wondered whether anyone would really give Venerable Samyeong strength just because he asked, but surprisingly, messages appeared.

[The Constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade cheers for the Constellation Bald Army General!]

[The Constellation The Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol cheers for the Constellation Bald Army General!]

[The Constellation King Heungmu has sponsored the Constellation Bald Army General with 100 coins.]

It was, quite literally, modest support.

[Ooooooooooh!]

Before long, enemies appeared before us. Constellations armed with weapons or transformed into Incarnation bodies.

[General of Vanara]

[Thunder-Eating Bird]

[One Who Gouged Out His Own Eyes]

An armored monkey, a monstrous bird with golden feathers, and even Oedipus King, whom I had met once before...

It seemed the group we had encountered consisted of Constellations from the Meledon Industrial Complex.

Of all things, there was a fabled-grade Constellation in their party.

Still, they probably hadn't completely figured out this game yet either, so we weren't entirely without a chance.

[Come at me, barbarians!]

Venerable Samyeong spotted the enemies and charged. His voice was so booming that even I felt a momentary sense of anticipation.

Right. You never knew until you fought.

Even if this was a battlefield where we could only use 10% of our original attributes, I didn't know how strong Venerable Samyeong really was. I shouldn't underestimate him just because he was a Historical Constellation. There were abnormal powerhouses like Cheok Junkyung among them.

[This defender monk shall shatter your formation!]

Venerable Samyeong charged forward boldly and swung his huge bamboo staff like the Ruyi Jingu Bang. The startled Constellations cried out, and explosions swept over the battlefield.

Flesh scattered everywhere.

Crack!

Weapons broke.

Thwuck!

Blood spurted from pierced wounds.

[The first death has occurred!]

Venerable Samyeong fought well. I turned to the others and said, "Run, everyone!"

[Helper General of Vanara has killed Helper Bald Army General.]

[The Meledon Industrial Complex team has gained 1 point.]

* * *

"Damn it, wasn't that monk supposed to be strong? He told us to trust him!"

Myeongoh screamed nonstop, but when it came to running away, he was the fastest.

I'd had a feeling this would happen, but Venerable Samyeong hadn't just trolled us.

[Vengeful Spirit of Venerable Samyeong wanders the battlefield.]

[Ooooooooooh!]

I didn't know whether it was a Stigma or something else, but Venerable Samyeong's spirit wandered around the battlefield after his death, attacking the Constellations pursuing us. That was why we had managed to get a chance to escape.

The enemy pursuit was fast. The first to catch up with us was the shadow of a huge bird covering the sky. It was Thunder-Eating Bird.

If I remembered correctly, that bird's True name was Garuda, one of the Eight Legions and the mount of Vishnu, one of Veda's Three Highest Gods.

The creature suddenly changed course in midair, its beak aiming toward me.

[The Constellation Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames throws himself forward to protect you!]

O-su charged at nearly the same moment. Having transformed into a huge Incarnation body, he attacked the incoming Garuda from the side.

Grrrrr!

Fortunately, O-su's flames clung to Garuda's feathers. With flames pouring from his body, O-su barked at us as if telling us to run. Five Constellations had already latched onto him.

It was too late to save him.

[Helper Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames has died!]

...Damn it.

The situation kept getting worse. Even Sky-Splitting Divine Dog, who had been nearby until a moment ago, had disappeared somewhere. That suddenly left only Hayoung, Myeongoh, and me.

"I-I'm sorry."

That was when Myeongoh made an unexpected move. Running ahead of us, he suddenly cut off one of his own legs.

[The character Han Myeongoh activates Stigma One-Legged Speedster Lv.10!]

Right. Myeongoh had that damned Stigma.

Thududududu!

Myeongoh's remaining foot began pounding forward as if he were an ostrich. Everything would be over if he was caught anyway, so it was better for him to run as well as he could.

Still, how often had he used that Stigma for it to already be level 10?

"Kim Dokja. What do we..."

I covered Hayoung's mouth and immediately leaped into the nearby grass.

[You have concealed yourself among the surrounding terrain.]

[Enemies nearby cannot detect you due to the effect of the grass.]

Grrrrrr...

Watching Garuda circle through the sky, I held my breath and whispered to Hayoung.

"We can't fight them with our current strength. We need to let the others fight and reap the benefits. What's important is buying time."

"...Will buying time really be enough?"

"For now."

I had something to rely on. It was strange enough that I'd thought I could win with only this group in the first place. We just had to buy more time.

Until that guy arrived.

[Demon King of Salvation! Where are you?]

A constellation's declaration rang out from in front of the grass.

[Our ill-fated connection has been long indeed. To think you escaped Fate and survived in a place like this... There was something even I failed to read.]

A conceited tone pretending to be humble. I knew who it was right away. A moment later, a blind man in shabby royal robes appeared above the grass. It was Oedipus King, One Who Gouged Out His Own Eyes.

I knew he had entered this selection.

I hadn't expected to run into him so quickly.

[You know well enough that hiding is useless. This blind prophet already knows where you are.]

Hayoung's shoulders flinched. I raised a hand to reassure her.

-That's bullshit, so don't worry. He can't read my future with his ability.

That meant it was an obvious trap. The moment they sensed our presence, every Constellation nearby would rush in.

[It is not too late, even now. Olympus remains open to you.]

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation tells him to stop talking bullshit and get lost.]

[Interesting. Yes...]

Oedipus King laughed heartily, but his expression had completely hardened.

[Let us see how long you can keep acting that way.]

As if they had made up their minds, the surrounding Constellations began sweeping through the grass. Stigmas with broad areas of effect erupted, and soon the nearby grass was filled with explosions, acid, and sparks flying through the air. Acid melted the tops of my feet, while sparks burned the flesh on my wrists and neck. I clutched Hayoung's wrist tightly and didn't move.

A little longer. We only had to wait a little longer.

A bombing-like air raid swept through the area. Fortunately, they seemed unable to find us.

The explosions were gradually moving farther away.

...Just a little longer.

Listening to the sounds, I estimated their distance.

Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps...

Then, in an instant, every explosion abruptly stopped.

"Run."

Hayoung and I burst from the grass and ran. No pursuing Constellations were in sight.

Instead, a scream rang out from somewhere. It was a long, terrible shriek.

...Had he finally arrived?

"What was that?"