Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 335

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The live broadcast from the commentators was temporarily cut off, and the stadium fell into a hush. Snow Girls’ decisive defeat in the second round silenced the home fans. A few Lima City supporters offered cheers, but their voices were quickly swallowed by the silence.

Shortly after, a signal appeared on the electronic display announcing the start of the third round. The participant lists for both teams were revealed, including one unexpected detail.

As anticipated, Snow Girls fielded their main roster, while God Knights listed their second-string gladiators. The home fans buzzed at this, but they remained tense.

Because Bum-suk’s name was prominently displayed.

“Alright, let’s go!”

The second-tier gladiators of God Knights, hearing Bum-suk’s shout, surged from the dugout. As they entered the tunnel, they didn’t seem concerned about facing the main team, warming up with casual movements.

The participants for the third round were Cassie, Agelia, Venus, Seiya, Violet, Cazella, Hestia, Reimei, Emma, Jermia, Zelsomina, and Bum-suk. Five World Leaguers and six Central Leaguers. While these twelve weren’t as strong as Snow Girls, who were all World Leaguers, God Knights had Bum-suk.

To stop him, it would take either two sword-and-shield gladiators or three regular gladiators, making him comparable to a main force.

‘Tch. Should I stick to Diana’s strategy?’

Bum-suk moved far from the main camp to free-roll. With his spear, he felt he’d be more effective joining the main camp, but he couldn’t ignore Coach Diana’s strong preference.

Her plan was to establish a defensive line in the main camp while Bum-suk eliminated markers to create a numerical advantage.

“Alright. Who’s the marker?”

The Snow Girls gladiators approaching Bum-suk were sword-and-shield gladiators number 3 and 17. These guardian gladiators, specialized in defense, should have been protecting the captain. Seeing them, the opposing team’s strategy became clear.

‘Heh heh. They’re willing to risk the captain to strengthen their attack. A bit disappointing.’

Bum-suk glanced at the Snow Girls’ captain gladiator in the distance, licking his lips. This situation was a waste. He could easily end the third round, but the conditions weren’t ideal.

Without guardian gladiators, the captain was vulnerable. Plus, the markers advancing now carried shields with high air resistance, slowing them down.

If he narrowed the distance to the main camps, he could target the unsuspecting captain gladiator. But he couldn’t use his trait right now. He’d been activating ‘Response of Origin’ since his defeat to Zakid last year.

Each year of hardship earned him 1.5 billion clang [currency], so he couldn’t resist. 3 billion clang in two years. With that money, he could buy a core-level gladiator from a top World League team.

‘Patience. Next year, a useful gladiator will join God Knights.’

Bum-suk lowered his right hand, positioning his spear horizontally behind his waist. He was entering a battle stance, ready to charge as soon as the match began. To win the third round, he needed to quickly subdue the markers.

As the whistle blew, signaling the start, he sharpened his spear tip and charged towards the Snow Girls’ sword-and-shield gladiators.

“Alright. Here I come!”

The spear, extended with fierce momentum, sliced through the air. Gladiator number 3, anxiously watching, barely blocked it with her shield. Anticipating this, Bum-suk rotated, delivering a powerful blow to her waist.

To aid the staggering gladiator number 3, gladiator number 17 quickly closed the distance, aiming her sword at his waist with a heavy thud.

“Take this!”

“Not a chance!”

Bum-suk sidestepped, deflecting the sword with his spear shaft, then kicked her shield hard. He then stabbed the spear tip into the ground, bending the shaft and flinging dirt into her face.

Gladiator number 17, temporarily blinded, retreated, but couldn’t escape his range. Bum-suk pursued, maintaining the distance. He thrust his spear, imbued with a strange rotational force, into her leg, twisting the shaft around her Achilles tendon like a crescent blade.

“Aaaagh!”

As her leg was caught, gladiator number 17 screamed and fell. Bum-suk moved to finish her, but gladiator number 3 intervened with her shield.

“Get out of the way!”

Bum-suk swung his spear at gladiator number 3’s side. Aware of its power, she braced the shield with both hands, but inadvertently cleared Bum-suk’s path to the fallen gladiator number 17.

He stabbed wildly, forcing gladiator number 3 to retreat, then rotated the spear vertically, aiming the tip at gladiator number 17’s face. A desperate moment where a comrade could be lost. Gladiator number 3 charged his back instead of trying to save her.

If gladiator number 17 could sacrifice herself to catch Bum-suk, it would be a worthwhile trade. But she was kneeling, unable to move. The spike on the back of Bum-suk’s spear struck gladiator number 3’s forehead.

She fell sideways, glaring at Bum-suk with resentment. She realized his feigned attack on gladiator number 17 was a ruse, and she had been his true target.

Bum-suk smiled faintly and approached gladiator number 17, who was dragging her leg. Eliminating her would complete his mission.

Then, he heard Seiya’s voice in his ear.

– Master. Another one’s coming!

Bum-suk glanced back, frowning. Gladiator number 13, a mid-tier Snow Girl, was rushing towards him with her longsword raised. She’d heard about the downed marker and was urgently deployed.

‘Tch. Annoying.’

Bum-suk muttered, leaving gladiator number 17 and walking towards the incapacitated gladiator number 3. A one-handed sword and shield lay beside her; using them, he could easily defeat gladiator number 13.

“Yat!”

Gladiator number 13 swung her longsword powerfully. Bum-suk jumped back, evading, and kicked the sword and shield at her as she thrust again.

Thud. Clang.

Gladiator number 13, barely deflecting the thrown attacks, lowered her waist to avoid the spear tip. But her eyes widened in horror. Bum-suk’s foot-sword attack was aimed at her face. With a dull thud, gladiator number 13 fell.

“Tch. Why bother coming if you’re going to be like this? Just stay in the main camp.”

Bum-suk clicked his tongue, sheathed his sword, and approached gladiator number 17, beating her mercilessly. He assumed that with three markers assigned, they wouldn’t send more.

No matter how skilled the Snow Girls team was, they couldn’t win if they sent four people out.

Bum-suk, finally landing the spear tip in gladiator number 17’s abdomen, walked towards the main camp.

‘What are those guys doing!’

Bum-suk, moving slowly, stared in disbelief at the main camp battle. The God Knights gladiators were being pushed back by Snow Girls, focused on defense.

The numerical difference was 11 to 9. Even with weaker individual strength, they shouldn’t be swayed with a two-person advantage. They should at least be holding their own.

“Geez. I’m going crazy. Did everyone get a stomachache today?”

Whatever the reason, he couldn’t let it continue. He had to support the main camp.

He dashed towards captain gladiator number 1. Unless the Snow Girls gladiators had all eaten moron-moron fruit [a fictional fruit that makes people stupid], they wouldn’t let him fight the captain one-on-one. At least one person would engage him, boosting the God Knights’ main camp.

“Alright. Here I come!”

The spear tip missed gladiator number 1’s shield, curving wildly. Surprised, she blocked with her sword, but the rotational force was immense. Her hand was pushed back, and she was forced back by the spear.

Unable to endure, gladiator number 1 called for help.

“Everyone, help me!”

Gladiators number 6 and 10 joined, swinging their spears and swords at Bum-suk. They had to abandon their advantage to protect the captain.

‘Tch. A spear wielder, a longsword wielder, and a sword-and-shield wielder. This won’t be easy…….’

Bum-suk retreated, dodging the spear tip. Three World League-level gladiators were teaming up, using organized attacks with mixed weapons. It wasn’t easy.

But he could endure. The spear wielder was annoying, but he could buy time. The power ratio was 11 to 6. At this level, the match would end quickly.

Clang! Clang. Clang. Clang!

The spear tip brushed his face as he swung his spear. Before he could sigh, gladiator number 10 swung her sword. Bum-suk kicked gladiator number 1’s shield and blocked the longsword with his spear shaft.

He might get hurt at this rate. He leaped back, swinging his spear in a circle to create distance.

“Damn it. This is no joke.”

But they didn’t back off. If they didn’t defeat Bum-suk, Snow Girls couldn’t win.

“Good! I’ll get rid of you all at once!”

Bum-suk moved forward, spear tip first. Gladiators number 1 and 10 closed the distance.

Bum-suk deflected their attacks and approached gladiator number 6.

“Number 6! Be careful!”

“Too late!”

Bum-suk reversed his right hand, pressing down on the ground under gladiator number 6’s leg. He used the spear’s elasticity to bounce up.

Gladiator number 1 shouted in horror.

“The target isn’t number 6!”

Bum-suk somersaulted, slashing gladiators number 4 and 15, who were being pushed back by God Knights, with a crescent blade. He blocked gladiator number 1, swinging the spear and foot-swording gladiator number 12.

Uwaaaaa! Waaaa!

The north spectators erupted. Bum-suk had taken out three gladiators, and the God Knights supporters screamed with joy. With six Snow Girls gladiators down, God Knights would win the third round.

No team had ever lost with twice the power.

“H, how can this be……. I, it can’t be…….”

This was why you had to be careful of the free-roll. If you were distracted by the main camp battle, the free-roll could ambush you from behind. Gladiator number 1 knew this and tried to push him back, but she missed him and lost three comrades.

Gladiators number 6 and 10 dragged gladiator number 1, who was stunned, and shouted.

“What are you doing, sis! Retreat and form a phalanx!”

Gladiators number 7, 8, and 14 retreated. Gladiator number 1 ran towards the rear.

But Bum-suk was blocking her way. He had made the Snow Girls’ captain a dead stone. Now, if the God Knights’ main camp pushed in and hit gladiator number 1, the match would be over.

“Puhahaha. Where are you going! You can’t go any further! Euhaha…….”

Bum-suk’s face turned blue. His teammates were running towards the group of gladiator number 7, and only gladiators number 6 and 1, led by gladiator number 1, were rushing towards him. He had never had such a bad experience.

============================ Author’s Afterword ============================

Diablo. Hya. Scary. Hahaha. How much love would it have received for thousands of enthusiasts to line up to buy a limited edition game, and for a box to sell for 1 million won online? I really wish our genre novels would produce such a masterpiece. Then it would revive the stagnant market. Hahaha. Or should I write it myself +. +;;;

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