Chapter 94

– There was a reason why Seong Jihan was rampaging alone.

– But is such a stat possible at Level 46?

– All because of the lost Gift!! :- )

– Even with just a single unique stat, Barren was once hailed as the world's most promising, lololol.

– Now, Barren will never be the world's top prospect again.

– He was even pushed back with what he thought was his ability, have you seen him cutting an apple?

– Obviously. If that's how you utilize it… Barren can't even do it in his dreams.

Barren threw his glass after reading the comments from Americans on Seong Jihan's article.

"Who can't do that little trick!"

He didn't use his Force like telekinesis because there was no real need!

It's just a trivial skill that he can do if he really wants!

Barren, whose face turned red with excitement, reached down.

The object he intended to lift was the shattered glass.

Perhaps because of his desperate will.

The broken glass started to float, but…

"See…!"

Before the elated Barren could finish,

Crash!

The glass shattered.

It was a failure in the fine control of the Force.

Zap- Bang!

The ceiling light also broke, and sparks flew.

Debris from the broken light fell towards Barren, but,

Thanks to the absolute protection of his Force, he was unharmed.

"Ugh…"

But even if he wasn't physically hurt,

There was a scratch on Barren's pride.

He couldn't…

Even lift the glass shards.

The fine control Seong Jihan showed when cutting the apple, he couldn't even fathom doing it.

'How the hell did he do it?'

Barren bit his lip.

Seong Jihan.

Before he met him, life was smooth.

Possessing a unique stat that no one in the world had, he firmly believed he would someday be ranked number one in the world.

However, since meeting him in the Top 100 promotion match,

His sky- high confidence was waning.

– Seong will be number one in the world.

– I wouldn't have bet a million dollars on Barren if his status had been disclosed earlier…

– Now everyone will bet on Seong, no more betting for me.

"Shit…"

Comments on the article pierced his pride even more.

Barren cursed, then slumped onto his desk, soon drifting to sleep.

And in Barren's dream,

He faintly remembered seeing Joo Eunji at the guild's lobby.

Startled!

Seeing her, Barren jolted awake.

Ever since it was revealed she was a clone of Ito Shizuru, he thought he had let go.

But the goddess-like face he saw in Seong Jihan's video kept lingering in his mind.

"Even troubling in dreams…"

The worst spy manipulating people was Ito Shizuru.

Trying to push her out of his mind, Barren rose from the desk.

[Barren. There's an offer from the Daegi Guild.]

Robert Gates reached out.

"How dare they make an offer to me?"

Ignoring the fact he approached Seong first, still thinking Seong Jihan intentionally humiliated him in the broadcast yesterday, Barren responded.

[They're asking if you'd like to join them in taking down Count Naseed.]

"What… Count Naseed?"

Upon hearing the Daegi Guild's proposal from Robert, his face turned stone-cold.

Count Naseed, who only appears in the Invasion – Valley of the End map.

But in the Silver Rank map, this boss monster never appears.

Are they proposing to hunt this boss that's only hunted in Platinum Rank or higher?

Besides,

"Is it even possible when our League areas are different!"

Seong Jihan is from Gangnam Area 1 in Korea, and Barren is from New York Area 1 in the US.

It was impossible to form teams across different countries and league regions. How can such a proposal be made?

[The Daegi Guild says they have a way. Sophia has decided to participate.]

Barren pondered.

Participating in Seong Jihan's hunting of the Count Naseed.

He wasn't particularly keen on helping someone he disliked.

'If successful, that guy will surely take the spotlight again.'

'Certainly, that guy must be confident, that's why he's suggesting hunting Count Naseed.'

'Then I should join in too.'

'I will also show my prowess worthy of the Ultimate Mage!'

With that thought, Barren replied to Robert.

"I will participate."

* * * * *

After successfully eliminating Joo Eunji, who was poised to grow as a dark presence within the Daegi Guild, Seong Jihan turned his attention to the BattleNet mission.

The challenge he faced was the linked quest of the Invasion map, "Valley of the End."

[Linked Quest – Trace of the Apostle(2)]

[The Apostle, belonging to neither light nor dark, watches the clash of the two factions, hiding beneath a deep lake.

The cunning apostle, 'Count Naseed', will act upon seeing the weapons of the Archangel and the Death Reaper break.

Throw both the fragments into the lake to pull the Count out of the lake and subdue him.]

[Reward: Veil of Void / Achievement points 50,000]

The "Valley of the End" map evolves according to the player's league level.

The map gets larger, the minions become stronger, and there are changes in the jungle for each level.

In the Gold League map, a named monster "Drake" appears by the stream below.

In the Platinum League map, alongside Drake, the boss monster Count Naseed appears.

Count Naseed is a boss that requires a coordinated attack by five Platinum members. Asking a Silver to subdue it was virtually an impossible mission.

However, having consistently tackled such impossible missions, Seong Jihan wasn't feeling daunted.

"Still, I need teammates to hunt the Count Naseed."

If he was at his former world ranking 7th level, maybe, but now he certainly needed four team members.

And those teammates should be compatible.

"The problem is that I don't have suitable teammates right now."

Even if they were members of the Gangnam Area 1 Daegi Guild, there were only Lim Gayeong and Diego Masied.

And both were still Bronze, so they couldn't play with him, who's Silver.

"It's too risky to gather a public party to hunt Count Naseed…"

While pondering, Seong Jihan tried creating a party from the guild menu.

At the same time,

[You have achieved the 'League Transcendence' achievement.]

[Some party composition restrictions have been lifted.]

"…?"

[Player can now party with players one league level below them.]

[Player can also form parties with players from other regions.]

Note: All members must belong to the same guild.

"Oh…"

The 'League Transcendence' achievement he earned from the defense game. He hadn't expected it to come into play here.

'With this, I can include Seah and Masied in the party.'

Now high-level players can help level up low-level players, known as 'boosting'.

Of course, in the BattleNet game system, the opponents will also match the players' level.

So, including a low-level player in the party might increase the chances of losing the game.

However, if the high-level player was Seong Jihan, the story changes.

Still, he thought that it would be difficult to boost during this quest.

He would reserve boosting for a later opportunity and focused on the second paragraph, which mentioned being able to form parties with players from other regions.

With this, he could collaborate with Silver players from other regions that are temporarily affiliated with the Daegi Guild.

"I need to gather a party."

Seong Jihan contacted Daegi Guild members who are Silver players from around the world through Lee Hayeon.

"Sophia has expressed her intention to participate right away! She's really looking forward to the Count Naseed raid!"

"Wang Lin is also participating!"

"Mikhail has also expressed his intention to join!"

"And… Barren has also decided to participate! After the fuss he made yesterday, I thought he wouldn't."

"Scarlet asked to contact her in case there's an opening as the spots are already full!"

And the response from the guild members was astonishing.

All five rented players expressed their active participation in the proposal for Count Naseed's raid.

Especially Barren, who had caused such a ruckus the day before, quickly expressed his intention to participate, defeating Israel's Scarlet.

"Really… I have to admit, he's quick to change his stance."

"He has to be! It's the Count Naseed's raid! Silver Rank participating in a raid?! He's going to get a massive spotlight!"

The expressions of the five players who had been rented to the Daegi Guild were beyond splendid.

There were two with SSS-grade Gifts, and three with SS-grade.

They were all top prospects cherished and nurtured in their respective guilds.

As such, they seemed to yearn for public attention to make their names known.

For such people, the bait of Count Naseed's raid elicited fervent responses.

'Indeed, those who rise to the Top have unique ambitions.'

Excluding Sophia and Barren,

There were Wang Lin from China, Mikhail from Russia, and Scarlet from Israel.

They were players with global renown, vaguely remembered in Seong Jihan's memory.

"So, we'll challenge the Count Naseed's raid tomorrow. Please tell them to wait until I contact them."

"Understood, Owner."

"Oh. And, Hayeon."

"Yes?"

Once Seong Jihan settled some matters, he opened his inventory and handed a complete Akashic page to Hayeon.

"O-Owner, what is this?"

"The Akashic page. They have the capability to enhance supporting gifts. Hayeon, please use it to enhance 'Nurturing'."

"Do… do you know how much this is worth?"

The Akashic page, shining brilliantly in gold.

'For me?!'

'Does he even know its value?'

Hayeon could barely form words, not daring to accept it.

"Isn't it worth about 300 billion won?"

"You know… and you're giving it to me… are you trying to take back the shares?"

"Why would I take back the shares? Keep them."

Seong Jihan forced the Akashic page into her hands when she hesitated.

"Money doesn't hold much meaning to me."

"But still…"

"In today's world where BattleNet rules, developing capabilities comes first. This is an investment. An investment for me. So, don't feel pressured."

'How can I not feel pressured?!' Hayeon screamed internally.

'It's such a waste! To just use it to enhance a supporting gift…!'

Wasn't it thanks to the Akashic page that they perfected the flexible display of the Divergent Guild phone, Space 23?

To use such a monumental piece of technology to merely enhance her supporting gift.

Hayeon was distraught with regret.

"Hayeon, why are people from Divergent Guild so narrow-minded?"

"But it's 300 billion…"

"Stop talking about the 300 billion. Just use it here. Right in front of me. Now."

Seong Jihan gazed gently at Hayeon.

Use it.

Now!

His gaze seemed to be forcing the biggest overspending of Hayeon's life.

'Ugh… It's not me! The owner told me to!'

Due to Seong Jihan's silent pressure, Hayeon finally accepted the Akashic page.

Flash!

The golden paper of immense value emitted a brilliant light.