Chapter 282

Chapter 282. Withdrawal (1)

“Did you use a lot of divinity?”

I didn’t catch the exact details. However, it was clear that the Damned System had taken the cost on my behalf.

Otherwise, it made no sense that causality would disappear so easily like this.

“As much as you use, it dissipates.”

Unlike mana, divinity vanishes right after you use it. That was why I had tried to pay the price, but the system patted my head as if to say it was okay.

For some reason, it also felt like it was proud of me.

Perhaps it was pleased with the blow I had delivered to Karklein earlier. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t thrilled about this kind of contact from the system.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?”

With a cold voice, I dispersed the system’s presence. I did not bother to cast a glance at the system as it withdrew sullenly.

Just because it had helped me didn’t mean I was going to laugh and joke around, acting friendly with it.

The accumulated grievances over time couldn’t be erased so easily.

In the first place, protecting me earlier was something the system was supposed to do by default.

It’s the system’s duty to support my growth, and it was my duty to yield results worthy of its investment.

I had never disappointed it in terms of those results, so it should fulfill its role as well.

Only then could it push me towards becoming something beyond the norm.

‘It’s like a rancher raising pigs diligently just to send them to the slaughterhouse.’

The system and I was strictly bound by mutual benefit and obligation.

We just needed to fulfill those obligations towards each other.

Of course, it didn’t mean I intended to always rely on the system’s help.

‘I need to practice so that this kind of thing won’t happen again.’

I need to figure out my limits, how much divinity I can use in my current state.

‘I need to know precisely.’

Luckily, there’s an excellent hunting ground right at my feet.

Since the legion commander was dead, the worst left were probably just a few general-rank entities.

It’s a great opportunity to familiarize myself with the divinity usage through repeated practice in a relatively safe place.

I took a potion and said, “Can you continue to mask the causality? If not, turn off the Trait, and if so, maintain it.”

If the system could hold out, I planned to practice using divinity right away.

‘If not, I’ll just take the mana and loot and leave.’

I couldn’t just leave those delectable hunting targets behind.

Leaving would mean wasting not only the mana I’d get from them but also the attribute mana stones.

While I recovered my mana, the system remained by my side, its capitalism trait still active.

With a positive response confirmed, there was no need to hesitate any longer. I jumped into the sea of writhing monsters.

—–

MISSION

「Main Act 2 Scenario 2: Defend the Frontline」

Enemies have started a total offensive on each frontline. Minimize damage to the supply routes and forward bases and protect the frontline posts.

「Rewards」

Participation Reward: Choose from the following rewards

• 3000 mana, 150 Reputation

• 1500 attribute mana, 300 Reputation

Ranking Reward: Rewards given based on ranking (1st ~ ?)

• Authority 1-time use voucher

• Free shop use voucher

• Random box (X?)

• Achievement 15000

* Rankings are calculated based on the extent of mission contribution.

After repeatedly checking the mission window, Lily sighed.

“Hoo.”

Five days ago, the second act and second chapter of the main scenario had begun.

It involved the fiercest battles any players had faced in a main scenario to date.

‘They’re attacking from all sides.’

From the north in Somol, the center in Callum, to the south in Villea.

Forts claimed back by players and the Order’s army were assaulted simultaneously.

Over ten nemesis-rank evolved species were sighted until today. Out of those, four have been successfully hunted, and six remain at large, roaming the battlefield.

‘And that’s not all.’

Besides the nemesis-rank evolved species, legion commander-rank evolved species with special abilities also appeared on the battlefield.

‘Three legion commander-rank evolved species have been sighted so far.’

All three stationed at different frontlines remained alive. The south, where the strongest human, Gretman, and many Beastfolk participated, maintained a relatively safe front.

However, in the central front, the apostle of Finelpenia had been killed.

To make matters worse, Callum, which suffered a particularly high number of nemesis-rank appearances, fell on the third day of being invaded.

Fortunately, despite the significant damage, the forces were not severely affected.

Thanks to portals, both the Order’s army and players managed to retreat from the fortress in time.

However, it wasn’t a situation to ease up.

Monsters that destroyed Callum to the point of making it unrecoverable were now heading towards Loborre.

The Order’s army and player troops had to stop them.

Thus, two hours after gathering at the pathways leading from Callum to Loborre, small turmoil erupted among the players.

“Why do we have to die here like dogs?”

“Yeah, we can’t repeat that mistake!”

“Why do I have to suffer like this?!”

“I never asked to become a player!”

This occurred right before the last rest they could have before battling the incoming monster legion.

The commotion grew to the point where some players even attempted to desert.

Reports of these desertions began coming in from the squad leaders, suggesting quite a few had succeeded.

In response, Lily stepped forward to address the situation.

“If you wish to leave, I will not stop you.”

Those words made many eyes widen in surprise.

But it was too early to be shocked. Lily hadn’t finished speaking yet.

“But remember, any player refusing the association’s directive during a state of emergency will be expelled from the association.”

The association protects the rights and freedom of players to governments worldwide.

Players, who possess the power to massacre hundreds or thousands, can live as ordinary people thanks to the association’s guarantee.

‘A guarantee to hold us accountable to prevent them from causing problems.’

Thanks to that guarantee, players can go to the grocery store, dine out, and rest in their homes without surveillance.

In the week of nightmares, protests against players, viewed as potentially dangerous elements, surged daily.

Yet, legally, there was no way to suppress or oppress players anywhere, thanks to the association’s protective measures.

In such circumstances, what would happen if one was expelled from the association?

“Damn it……”

Imagining the picture from here is not difficult.

They had already witnessed the outcomes of players trying to hide by refusing to register with the association.

Immediately, the police department led by Ethan Rembrandt would deem such players as dangerous elements and pursue them.

Once arrested, these players would be fitted with restraints and placed under the association’s tight management.

To avoid such a fate, they had to follow the association’s directive.

Especially in a declared state of emergency.

‘Players currently have only two choices.’

Follow the association’s words and fight in a war uncertain of survival or death.

Or defy the association’s command, get captured, and be dragged into the war as a slave.

Concerning the outcome, it might be safe to say there’s only one viable option.

“Remember, players who refuse the association’s directive cannot continue to receive the association’s protection.”

More than a warning, Lily’s words were a leash, a means of preserving social order.

However, whatever its identity, its effect was undeniable.

Players’ lives were tied not to Biharin but Earth.

Right after the disturbance settled, a report arrived stating the enemy was just up ahead.

The players quickly reorganized their ranks.

Lily, fully armed and standing at the forefront, looked westward and asked a question.

“How long will it take approximately?”

“It seems there are no significant changes in the enemy’s route; they should arrive within 20 to 30 minutes.”

The response came from a player bearing the symbol of Finelpenia’s affiliation.

They were in contact with the reconnaissance team through the still-active Order’s homepage.

While waiting for the oncoming open field battle, Lily recalled the Callum fortress skirmish.

‘It was horrible, no matter how much I think about it.’

During the fortress’s defense, monsters continuously, endlessly swarmed in.

Killing over and over again in what felt like an unending battle.

Recalling the estimated casualties when retreat was declared rendered her vision dark.

‘68,000……’

Incredibly, that was the number of players who died over the three-day defense at Callum fortress.

Adding in those who were ambushed and killed outside the fortresses and forward bases, and casualties from three fronts resulted in an overwhelming number.

It exceeded the number of casualties from the week of disaster on Earth.

That most were at the Bronze rank level was something that tormented Lily.

‘This scenario is beyond what new players can handle.’

They should have slowly grown through low-grade corrupted areas to later become significant forces.

These newly selected players in the fifth round were thrust straight into a large-scale war.

It was akin to players at low levels being thrown into high-grade corrupted areas.

As a result, the death rate among players in the fifth round rapidly approached the death rate from the first round, which had no basic growth guide.

Yet, were they to exclude the Bronze ranks while progressing the main scenario, their numeric disadvantage was just too severe.

On the other side, legions numbering in tens of millions had started moving.

Amidst such circumstances, a large-scale field battle was nothing to be happy about.

Without the structure of a fortress wall or the advantage of defense, a full-scale battle.

With anticipated enormous casualties looming, Lily felt utterly compelled to issue a retreat order.

The report that arrived at that moment only intensified her impulse.

“……. Are you sure?”

“Yes, seven, including Baron Kivelan, are being pursued after deserting.”

The news was about deserters emerging from the Order’s army, gathered not far from the player forces.

Not just regular soldiers, but upper-ranked knights forming part of the command structure!

‘I never did think well of them.’

Constantly derisive stares towards players, treating them as heretical black magic users to rely on.

Never particularly expected anything from them, yet hearing about their desertion enraged her.

‘If it weren’t for us, these bastards would already be annihilated, and they dare abandon us and run?’

The legions of monsters were more than dozens of times larger than the Order’s army.

In such a situation, holy knights among them, particularly those in command, running away?

She wanted to immediately cast aside those damned individuals and return to Earth.

However, she realized, what’s the point of getting angry about it?

‘Even the players are itching to run away.’

Trying to manage her turbulent emotions, she repeatedly took deep breaths.

At that moment, a black tide began from a distance.

“Gulp.”

Someone made an explicit gulping sound, and then the black tide covering the land grew larger and larger.

A massive army emerged, enough to darken the distant plains.

Terrified by its momentum, units clenched their jaws and shivered.

Amongst them, Lily calmly asked, “Is there no further contact from K?”

A woman standing a step behind shook her head despondently.

“Not yet. Shall we inquire about the precise location?”

Her voice, marked with the symbol of Palao’s Order, was filled with anxiety.

No doubt she was also unsettled by witnessing the black tide.

Lily maintained her calm exterior, yet she was not much different from her.

Pretending to be unperturbed, she nodded decisively.

The player, having received Lily’s consent, quickly maneuvered her eyes, suggesting she was operating the Order’s homepage.

Not long after, a succinct response returned.

“They say it’ll take at least another hour.”

Hearing this, Lily tightly shut her eyes.

K who had left with the words that contact would cut off had returned five days ago.

It was around the start of the main scenario, act 2, chapter 2.

Positioned in a corrupted area far west of Callum.

– If you attempt to hunt a legion commander-level being by pushing others into it, it will only result in death. Avoid being reckless at all costs.

– And if you encounter strange abilities, counter them with divinity, or authority.

Following K’s instructions, they hadn’t even attempted to hunt legion commander-level evolved species.

‘Was it due to that advice that the damage was limited to this extent, or did it lead to this level of damage?’

The weight of choices she couldn’t burden others with made her feel suffocated.

Lily sighed repeatedly, wiping her face.

In the meantime, the monster legion that swiftly narrowed the distance halted.

How long did the suffocating standoff last?

“Kyaoo!”

“Kuherrrr!”

A roar that could shake the ground erupted from the enemy lines, marking the start of their advance.

Observing the monster legion rushing in like a tidal wave, Lily pointed her sword forward and shouted.

“Fire!”

Her voice, imbued with mana, echoed across the front lines as the waiting players unleashed their magic.

Damned System