Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 269

271

“Gelsomina, let’s go.”

Beomseok and Gelsomina moved away from the formation and took up their free-roll position. The Silver Big Dogs felt immense pressure when facing their free-roll. Ignoring them was risky, but assigning an equal number of markers was practically suicide. Detaching three or four markers would jeopardize their main camp. Given the already significant individual power gap, they couldn’t afford to face the Gods Knights team with a numerical disadvantage.

Ultimately, Silver Big Dogs decided to disregard Gods Knights’ free-roll. While the risk of a rear ambush was high, they felt they had no other choice. To defeat Gods Knights, the tournament’s powerhouse, they had to take risks.

Beomseok smirked.

“Gelsomina, they’re not marking our free-roll. Time to showcase your new skill.”

She adjusted the compound bow on her back. This type of bow uses pulleys and multiple strings to transfer more power to the arrow using leverage. While it has a slower firing rate, it boasts high accuracy, allowing even novices to hit vital spots easily.

“Already? Seems a bit much to use it on Silver Big Dogs.”

“It’s fine. Now that you’ve brought it, other teams will analyze and prepare for it anyway.”

“I suppose. Okay, I’m ready.”

As soon as the match resumed, Gelsomina swiftly drew the bow.

Since joining Gods Knights, she dedicated an hour daily to archery. Beomseok, recognizing her deep understanding of swordsmanship, suggested she learn a new weapon. Proficiency with various weapons meant diversified strategies, benefiting the team’s overall gameplay.

Gelsomina scanned the formations locked in a power struggle after a major collision, then focused on the back of gladiator number 4. She drew the arrow back, taking aim.

Seeing this, the leader of Silver Big Dogs, gladiator number 1, yelled to his team:

“Everyone, watch out! Arrows from the free-roll!”

But it was too late. Before he finished, an arrow flew with an eerie sound, hitting gladiator number 4 squarely in the back. Gladiator number 1 looked dismayed; they’d lost a teammate due to insufficient intel. Gladiator number 4, a key player considered a Central Leaguer [a gladiator skilled enough to compete in the Central League], shouldn’t have been lost so easily. But he couldn’t afford to stand there stunned. Leaving Gelsomina unchecked would lead to a rapid collapse. They had no choice but to assign a marker to counter the arrows.

‘But who to send? Oh, Beomseok is there.’

Gladiator number 1, barely blocking another arrow with his shield, eyed Beomseok warily. Sending a marker to block Gelsomina meant that gladiator would soon face Beomseok’s blade.

He gritted his teeth and detached three colleagues from the main camp: gladiators number 3, 7, and 12, all Central League-level. Using them as markers would strain the main camp, but it was necessary. They couldn’t face Gods Knights’ main force with threatening arrow attacks from behind.

“Here they come.”

Beomseok and Gelsomina, facing three enemies, drew their swords with satisfied expressions. If they played their cards right, they could easily win the first round. The power ratio between the main camps was now 10 to 8. With superior individual skills and numerical advantage, victory was within reach. It was clear that the Silver Big Dogs were being pushed around by Gods Knights’ main camp.

“We have to take care of the free-roll quickly and help the main camp!”

The markers charged at Beomseok and Gelsomina. If they couldn’t defeat them quickly, the main camp would fall, deciding the round’s outcome.

But things rarely go as planned. Instead, they struggled against Beomseok and Gelsomina’s teamwork.

“Gelsomina! No time to waste! Subdue them quickly!”

Gelsomina swung her sword, pushing herself to the limit. Gladiator number 3 fought back fiercely, but it wasn’t easy. The unfamiliar swordsmanship attacked from all angles, making it difficult to block. Despite studying Gelsomina’s strengths and weaknesses through match videos, there was a vast difference between observation and actual combat.

Still, gladiator number 3’s situation was better than gladiators number 7 and 12, who were facing Beomseok. They could only flinch and block his continuous, subtle attacks, unable to mount a proper resistance. It was as if he had lived in the Pearl Zone [a combat arena with uneven terrain] his entire life, sliding, stopping, and wielding his sharp swordsmanship with ease. They felt like they’d mistakenly wandered into Gods Knights’ home game.

“Damn it! How can I handle this? I need support!”

Gladiator number 7 echoed number 12’s urgent cry, but help was unlikely. In that short time, the main camp had already lost two members to Nikita’s spear and Rapine’s dual swords, leaving only six. Sending support now would effectively end the game.

“Kyaaaaak!!”

Suddenly, a strange collision sound echoed from behind. The Silver Big Dogs gladiators fell backward as if their legs were twisted, and the Gods Knights gladiators rushing in lost control and fell as well. It might have seemed comical, but the situation was taking an unexpected turn.

– Bleeep. Match stopped!

The scoreboard clock froze, and the arena fell silent. The Gods Knights medical staff rushed over. Beomseok frowned. This wasn’t the outcome he wanted. For Gods Knights, with their relatively weak squad, injuries meant a significant drop in power. With Jeremia and Siya already sidelined, the situation was dire.

He sheathed his sword and walked with Gelsomina to the accident site where the medical staff and gladiators were gathered.

“Erpina, what happened?”

Erpina looked at Beomseok with a troubled expression.

“Herse seems badly hurt. The medical staff suspects ligament damage.”

Beomseok squeezed his eyes shut. Herse and her twin sister, Ipiss, were only effective when they fought together. Losing Herse meant losing two core gladiators. The situation was so bad that it would have been better if Nikita had been injured instead.

Annoyed, he scolded Erpina:

“Why did this happen?”

“Well, this pearl seems to be the problem. Herse’s foot twisted when she stepped into a deep puddle.”

Could they have this much bad luck? It was absurd that a simple accident combined with coincidence had caused an injury. He looked at Herse being carried on a stretcher. Judging by the splint on her ankle, the injury was significant.

‘Damn it. Ankle ligament injury means at least 2-3 weeks of recovery. How could things get so twisted?’

That period was practically a long vacation, but the fact remained that he wouldn’t see Herse again in this promotion tournament. Beomseok stared at the pearl zone with resentment. The probability of injury was bound to increase in such a zone. He was glad to face the weak Silver Big Dogs in the first match, but an unexpected hidden danger was tormenting Gods Knights.

– Okay. Please send in the Gods Knights substitute gladiator.

The substitute gladiator was Raymei, who primarily used a spear. Veteran Cathy moved to the rear, and Nikita abandoned her shield to move to the mid-line. Gods Knights now had three spearmen in the mid-line. Diana seemed to be prioritizing injury prevention and focusing on mid-range attacks rather than reckless charges.

– Please resume the match for both teams.

Beomseok and Gelsomina once again fought hard against three core gladiators from Silver Big Dogs. Herse’s injury weighed on his mind, preventing him from fighting as aggressively as before. He was more cautious due to the dangers of the pearl.

The situation was similar for the main camp. Despite a 10 to 6 numerical advantage, they couldn’t easily break through the opponent’s formation due to their focus on mid-range attacks. Moreover, Ipiss was acting strangely, disrupting the team play.

‘The team atmosphere is too deflated because of Herse’s injury. Problems may arise in the second round if this continues. We need to find a turning point somehow.’

Beomseok’s worries were understandable. Despite their superior skill and numbers, they couldn’t finish off the remaining Silver Big Dogs gladiators. The fear of another injury was hindering their offensive.

He gripped his sword hilt tightly and began attacking gladiators number 7 and 12 with rapid movements.

Cha. Chachang. Chaeng.

The sounds of clashing echoed. Beomseok’s sword, imbued with his unique skills, flew through the air, attacking the opposing gladiators. But their resistance was stronger, as if they had regained their energy. They realized that Gods Knights’ power had diminished. While winning the first round was unlikely, maintaining their momentum might give them a chance to win in the second round.

“Everyone, cheer up! The goal for this round is a draw!”

The Silver Big Dogs leader’s cry reached Beomseok, frustrating him.

“Think I’ll let you?”

Beomseok’s katana, bending inward, aimed for gladiator number 12’s lower body. She tried to block it, but the trajectory change was too absurd. Beomseok wasn’t aiming for her body but for the pearl right below. He scooped up a handful of mud with his sword tip and flung it at gladiator number 12’s face shield.

With a thud, gladiator number 12 staggered, trying to wipe the mud from her eyes. But Beomseok’s sword was already at her neck. As a last resort, she threw her sword, but it landed harmlessly.

A cheerful sound followed. Gladiator number 12 looked at Beomseok with a bewildered gaze and slowly stiffened.

“Such a dirty trick…….”

Beomseok ignored her resentment and deflected gladiator number 7’s attack. Using the environment was a valid strategy, not cheating. The pearl home stadium and her own carelessness were to blame.

‘Hehe. Now there’s only one left.’

Beomseok’s sharp attacks put gladiator number 7 in a difficult position. She couldn’t withstand the unpredictable and flashy sword moves. Despite being a skilled Central League swordsman, she couldn’t face Beomseok alone.

Unable to cope, gladiator number 7 looked to gladiator number 3 for help, but she bit her lip and looked away. She seemed to have been attacked by Gelsomina and couldn’t use one arm.

Chang. Chachang. Swish. Thud!

Gladiator number 7 was pushed back and fell. Her foot had slipped on a metal object hidden in the pearl: the sword that gladiator number 12 had thrown. Crawling on the floor, she glared at her incapacitated colleague.

“Hahaha. What a windfall!”

He slid across the pearl field and forcefully struck gladiator number 7’s abdomen with his sword.

Then, a scream. It was Beomseok. The tip of gladiator number 12’s sword, lying in the pearl, had pierced the gap in his right ankle joint. He grabbed his bleeding leg and rolled on the floor.

“Kuaaaaak!”

– Bleeep. Match stopped!

The Gods Knights medical staff rushed to Beomseok. After examining his ankle, they looked troubled. The injury was in an unexpected location.

The suit covered most of the body, except for the small gap in the ankle joint. This was because the chance of weapons hitting it was low, and it was crucial for the gladiator’s speed. Special rubber for joint protection wasn’t used, only covers on the front, back, and sides. These covers blocked attacks from above or horizontally, but were useless against attacks rising from below. This risk was ignored due to its rarity. Adding rubber would hinder the gladiator’s movement. But the team’s ace and chairman had suffered such an absurd injury. The Gods Knights medical staff felt sorry.

“Chairman, let me examine the wound.”

One medical staff member pointed a pistol-type MRI machine at it and shook his head. The cut wasn’t large, but the sword tip had penetrated deep and torn the long toe extensor muscle. They immediately put Beomseok on a floating stretcher. He couldn’t continue the match and needed urgent hospital treatment.

Beomseok was transported to a nearby hospital in an ambulance. It was a worrying situation, but there was one silver lining: the owner’s injury would enrage his subordinate elves [referring to his teammates].

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

Have a nice day everyone. I’ll see you again tomorrow.