Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Spendthrift Necromancer (100)

Guild Battle (1)―Divine Archer, Divine Archer…… we heard Guild Master Kim Minwoo's opinion loud and clear! Then do you happen to have a nickname you'd like to give Awakened Park Siwoo over there?

“A nickname? I don't even have one yet.”―Ah, seniority comes first? Come to think of it, Guild Master, you still don't have a nickname yourself. Here's hoping you earn a killer one today. Then, Guild Masters, please declare the Guild Battle![‘Guild Battle’ activates!][This is a match between Ilseong Guild and Spendthrift Guild!][Please set detailed conditions!]

There was a standard condition used in public Guild Battles.

Shield Battle mode.[‘Shield Battle’ is set!][‘Body Shield’ is granted!][When the shield breaks, you are automatically eliminated from the match.]

The effect was simple.

You received a shield equal to your Stamina.

When the shield broke, you were eliminated.

It had many advantages.

Since the System administered it, nobody would lose their life.

Even if someone unleashed an attack powerful enough to pierce the shield, the instant it broke, their body would be moved outside the arena, preventing accidents.

It wasn't as though people were going to cut each other's throats and kill one another in a Guild Battle watched by 200,000 spectators and every major broadcaster.

You barely even saw that in unofficial Guild Battles.‘Even with the shield, it's close to real combat.’The shield covered the whole body.

How quickly it depleted changed drastically depending on which body part was attacked.

For example, if someone hit a vital point?

The shield would drain much faster.

If an arrow buried itself between your eyebrows, it would be judged an instant kill no matter how large your shield was.

Of course, the result could change if you countered with a Skill or put up a barrier, but still.

Anyway.

Because the System administered the battle, there was no room for unfair elements.

The only real difference from actual combat was that nobody would die.

Minwoo returned to the other two.

Seo Yerim was staring at him.

“……

Divine Archer? Why would you say something like that? Now I feel pressured.”

“It's better than Bow Phoenix, isn't it?”

“Well, yes, but…….”

“Don't feel pressured. With your skill, Ms. Yerim, you're more than qualified for a nickname like that.”

He'd become certain after seeing her in the Land of Giants.

Not only was her weapon a Divine Bow, her skill was worthy of Divine Archer too.

So he planned to raise Seo Yerim's name value while he had the chance.

Honestly, when it came to seasoned Awakened in Spendthrift Guild, she was the only one.‘Seo Yerim is also the only one who's been around long enough to deserve a nickname.’Nicknames were essentially titles given to veterans who had rolled around the Awakened world for years.

That was also why neither Park Siwoo nor Minwoo had one yet.

A nickname required not only fame, but time as well.[1 minute remaining until the Guild Battle begins.][Your positions are being moved.]

They were moved to opposite ends of the stadium. The two guilds began preparing for the coming battle.* * *The three major broadcasters.

Their top commentators had gathered in one place to cover this Guild Battle.

Commentator Choi Yongjun, who had just interviewed the two Guild Masters.

He handled the opening remarks.

“Viewers, hello. I'm caster Choi Yongjun. I am really looking forward to this Guild Battle. Spendthrift Guild's momentum in particular has been extraordinary lately.”

“That's right. When the news first broke, a lot of people called it a reckless challenge. To be honest, even we commentators wondered if they were moving too quickly, but things are different now. The public polls show the same thing.”

“Fifty-fifty odds. That's how extraordinary what they showed in the Land of Giants was. It was like a storm.”―For real lol.―It really was like a storm lol―Today's matchup is gonna be fucking amazing, agreed.

Countless comments were appearing over the NewTube livestream.

Live viewers: 25 million.

Considering numbers like that usually required a Guild Battle between true first-tier guilds on the world stage, it was an enormous audience.

That meant not only Korea, but the whole world was paying attention to this match. Spendthrift Guild's performances had been that outrageous.

Choi Yongjun nodded at the other commentators and spoke.

“And another issue has emerged. Guild Master Nam Cheolmin. What's his nickname? Bow Ghost.”

“That's right. He earned it because he shoots a bow with truly ghostlike skill. There's a reason he's Korea's number-one Archer.”

“But Guild Master Kim Minwoo guaranteed Seo Yerim would take that top spot today. What do you two think?”

“Hmm…… Ms. Seo Yerim wouldn't have changed Classes for no reason. She clearly has talent with a bow. But enough to threaten Guild Master Nam Cheolmin's position? I'm not so sure.”

“I agree. Divine Archer? Maybe someday a nickname like that could stick. But only one month after changing Classes? Honestly, I can't imagine what she'd have to show for people to call her that.”―Fair. Isn't Divine Archer honestly a higher-tier nickname than Bow Ghost?―Yeah. A god is stronger than a ghost lololol―Sword Phoenix took nearly seven years to earn her nickname. And now we're skipping Phoenix and going straight to Divine? Hmm…… is she really that good?―lol But if Kim Minwoo guaranteed it that confidently, there has to be something.―Could be long-term setup. Maybe he's throwing out a killer future nickname ahead of time even if she hasn't earned it yet?

“Ah, as we're speaking, both guilds have moved to the ends of the stadium. Ilseong Guild is using the preparation time to apply buffs first.”

“Buffs! These are incredibly important. And when you think Ilseong, what do you think? Money! They possess a lot of the key Classes needed for buffing.”

“Exactly. The Shaman's Ancestral Totem, Paladin's Radiant Light, Priest's Prayer of Blessing, Druid's Bear's Vigor, Warlock's Soul Enhancement—buffs of every kind are pouring out.”

The live broadcast.

Brilliant light could be seen pouring over the bodies of Ilseong Guild's members. Those buffs had probably increased their stats by at least 50%.

That was the power of a guild with a proper composition.

“Now let's look at Spendthrift Guild. Guild Master Kim Minwoo is summoning his undead as expected. Huh? But what's that?”

The airborne camera zoomed in somewhere.

On the enlarged screen, a woman holding a parasol stood beside Kim Minwoo.

“She looks special. Almost like a person rather than undead……?”

“But she can't be a person. Spendthrift Guild entered with three members. That means she has to be a summon…….”―What is that? He has another one besides Cedric?―Don't undead usually get stronger the more human they look?―Yeah. The more of their living appearance remains, the stronger they usually are. Liches and Death Knights have flesh, not just bones lol―Look at her face, tells you everything lol She's gotta be insanely strong lol―Wait, did he call for the Guild Battle because of her?

Then.

The woman staring at the camera smiled and waved.―Why am I smiling without realizing it lol―Kyaa lololol“While we've been talking, only ten seconds remain until the match begins. Ah, Guild Master Nam Cheolmin is drawing his bow!”

“Judging by where he's aiming, he's obviously sniping Guild Master Kim Minwoo!”

“What's the scariest Class in the world? An Archer faaaaar away! This stadium is huge, you know? A skilled Archer can hit targets from much farther away than most magic can reach!”

“Exactly. What good is a Necromancer summoning this and that like he is now? If the summoner goes down, the summons inevitably go down too!”

“Bow Ghost is making his declaration right now! I'm shooting that guy. If you think you can stop me, try!”

Bow Ghost Nam Cheolmin.

His actions were practically an open provocation.

But the stadium was huge.

Nam Cheolmin's effective range covered the entire arena.

And his nickname was Bow Ghost.

He handled a bow with ghostlike skill.

A storm of arrows would undoubtedly erupt from the very start.

Arrows empowered by the guild members' buffs, their stats boosted to the limit.

Even blocking with summons had limits. An Archer at Bow Ghost's level could easily find openings and drive arrows through them.

To stop this…….

The livestream split into two screens, one showing Nam Cheolmin and the other Seo Yerim. The ornate bow in her hand was clearly visible.

“That's a beautiful bow. That's a Skill, right?”

“Correct. Like Awakened Park Siwoo, she reportedly received a weapon-summoning Skill as her Achievement Skill.”

“There have been rumors about Ms. Yerim too. Apparently she sparred with Sword Immortal.”

“What was the result?”

“They've kept the details quiet, so I don't know exactly, but I've heard it was remarkable. Of course, that's just something circulating online, so it's not one hundred percent reliable.”

“Ah! As we speak, Ms. Seo Yerim is drawing her bow too!”

A brilliant Mana Arrow formed upon the string.

“The Guild Battle begins!”

“Guild Master Nam Cheolmin fires dozens of arrows so fast they're almost invisible!”

“Rapid Fire! Guild Master Nam Cheolmin's S-rank Achievement Skill! This is a terrifying Skill! Before you even realize what's happening, he's firing arrows at an insane speed!”

“Rapid Fire is Nam Cheolmin's trademark! It's in the official records! With Bow Ghost's skill, he can fire one hundred arrows in three seconds!”

“And he's buffed right now! One hundred arrows? No! He might fire two hundred!”

Arrows filled the sky, flying in high arcs.

Every trajectory aimed directly at where Kim Minwoo stood.

And these weren't the last of them.

Nam Cheolmin continued activating Rapid Fire and pouring out arrows.

Fweeeeeesh!

A swarm of Mana-filled arrows flew at terrifying speed.

But…….

Kim Minwoo didn't even move. He merely looked up calmly at the arrows filling the sky.

“Huh? Guild Master Kim Minwoo isn't dodging?”

“His summons aren't moving either! Don't tell me…… he's trusting Awakened Seo Yerim? Bow Phoenix is drawing her bow right now!”

“There look to be more than five hundred arrows already! There's almost no time! Arrows get much faster when they descend from the sky!”

“How is she supposed to shoot all of those down with arrows?!”

Then.

Kim Minwoo and Seo Yerim met eyes. Minwoo smiled and nodded.

Before the match began.

She remembered what he'd said.―Turn everything upside down. Properly.

Show them who the real Archer was.

The stage was set.

Perfectly.

Backing out now would be stupid.‘That Skill from earlier looked useful.’Archers had excellent vision.

Even from opposite ends of the stadium, she could see every movement Nam Cheolmin made.

He had undoubtedly fired those arrows at astonishing speed.

Standardized movements.

It was a Skill.

Seo Yerim copied Nam Cheolmin's movements exactly.

At that moment.[Overwhelming talent imitates the Skill!][A new Skill is created!][Skill, Rapid Fire(S)

is created!]

The Skill was created.

Seo Yerim's hands began moving at tremendous speed.

Mana Arrows were generated automatically.

She didn't even need to reach into a quiver, so she could draw and fire twice as fast as Nam Cheolmin.

The commentators were horrified.

“……

Huh?”

“What?”

“Isn't that Rapid Fire?”

“……

She copied the Skill?”

Far more arrows flew from Seo Yerim than from Nam Cheolmin.

Then her arrows collided with Nam Cheolmin's descending arrows in the sky.

“C-Crazy……!”

“Every one of Bow Ghost's arrows…… its trajectory changed! They're falling helplessly!”

The tips barely clipped each other, robbing Bow Ghost's arrows of their force and sending them crashing to the ground.

Seo Yerim's arrows were different.

Despite the collisions, they continued climbing as though nothing had happened.

Those Mana Arrows flew directly toward Nam Cheolmin.

Shooting arrows out of the air with arrows.

That alone was a world-ranker-level technique, and yet…….

“S-She preserved every one of her own arrows while turning all of Bow Ghost's into dead weight. I-Is this even possible?”

“I-It is possible. If you calculate every trajectory precisely from the moment you fire…… but…… she actually did it? There are so many variables to consider.”

“Insane…….”

The commentators swallowed hard.

Divine Archer.

Those were the words that appeared in their minds.