Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 389

The Papilan City Colosseum was gripped by a desolate silence. The Forest Elves’ fans, usually boisterous, were speechless, staring anxiously at the video screen above the arena. They seemed unable to comprehend the looming defeat in today’s match, a contest they had confidently expected to win.

“N-No way… He’s already taken down seven.”

“How could our Forest Elves be so easily dismantled by just one person? This is impossible.”

The atmosphere in the commentary box was equally stunned. No one had imagined that the Forest Elves, renowned as the kings of the forest, would be so utterly dominated by Beomseok. Currently, the God’s Knights outnumbered the Forest Elves twelve to five. In most colosseums, this score would signal the match’s inevitable conclusion.

– W-Well, the Forest Elves, usually the strongest team at home, have certainly met their match today. This isn’t even a game anymore.

The announcer immediately responded to the commentator’s stunned rambling with a serious expression.

– Yes, that’s right. But should we consider this a mere coincidence?

– I don’t think so.

– Why do you say that?

The commentator pointed to the God’s Knights team members positioned on the flat ground in front of both team dugouts.

– If it were a coincidence, would the God’s Knights have any reason to form such a formation? Right now, they are preventing the Forest Elves gladiators from advancing onto the plain. In other words, they are confident that gladiator Oh Beomseok can defeat all the remaining Forest Elves.

– Hahaha. How could that be? Do the God’s Knights gladiators really believe that Oh Beomseok can defeat the entire main force of those formidable Forest Elves gladiators?

– Yes, that’s precisely it. Otherwise, there would be no need to block the Forest Elves’ path to the plain. Wouldn’t the God’s Knights want them to come out into the open?

The announcer nodded, feigning understanding. Indeed, he had found it strange from the start of the match that Beomseok remained in the forest. Any other team would have rushed out of the forest as soon as the round started and formed a battle line on the narrow plain.

He subtly raised one corner of his mouth. It wasn’t a situation to smile about in the Forest Elves’ home colosseum, but the current situation was undeniably ironic.

– Heh heh. It seems that a long-standing legend of gladiator matches might be shattered today.

– What do you mean?

– Frankly, hasn’t there always been a jinx in our gladiator world? That even a very strong team has a weak team that they just can’t seem to win against. But, as if to defy this, the Forest Elves team has been winning every match at home, but today they have met their match. As the saying goes in gladiator matches, there are no eternal winners.

The commentator readily agreed. As the announcer said, there were definitely weaker teams that were particularly strong against certain strong teams.

This was often due to the unique characteristics of the home colosseum terrains and the specific composition of various armaments.

But the Forest Elves were one team that defied this jinx.

Due to the particularly rough and dense forest terrain of their home arena, they were virtually invincible at home.

But today, this jinx was about to apply to the Forest Elves as well. This team, which made even the strongest World League teams swallow their anger at home, was now struggling against the newly promoted God’s Knights.

– Heh heh. I see. As you said, the Forest Elves may have found their nemesis in the God’s Knights.

– Hahaha. That’s…

The announcer, who had been laughing, quickly composed himself. The home fans were sending sharp glances towards the commentary box. What they were saying now was like adding fuel to the fire.

Around that time, Beomseok was hiding in the bushes, looking perplexed. The Forest Elves gladiators, including Miraz, Tiela, and Lipris, were forming an ‘X’ shaped formation, thoroughly guarding their surroundings. Moreover, the trees were more sparsely grown than in other areas, making a surprise attack difficult.

‘Still, this is their home colosseum. They’ve got a good grasp of it. But I can’t give up.’

Beomseok picked up a small stone from the ground and flicked it, hitting a tree trunk in the distance. It made a fairly loud noise, and all the gladiators except Tiela turned their heads. It was a good enough timing to attempt an attack, so he quickly started moving.

“Everyone, just watch your front! Don’t be fooled by any other movements! Until Beomseok’s real location is confirmed, no matter what happens, don’t take your eyes off your assigned area!”

At Tiela’s shout, the Forest Elves gladiators’ gazes returned to their original positions, and Beomseok had no choice but to stop. If he went in like this, he would be the one to get hurt. Beomseok sighed deeply and shook his head. There was no opening to be found.

‘I should have taken out Tiela first. She’s really annoying.’

But if there wasn’t one, he could create one. When lions attack herds of wildebeest, they first induce carelessness before launching their attack. He could reassure them in the same way.

Soon, Beomseok slowly moved and stood on a small mound, clearly exposing himself. He knew that the moment they felt most secure was when his location was identified.

He smiled at Tiela and chattered.

“Tiela, I can’t just go in there. Your defense is perfect. You’re really something, Tiela.”

Tiela stopped the other gladiators from drawing their bows. There was a large tree next to the mound where Beomseok was standing, so he could easily avoid arrow attacks, and it could give him a chance to counterattack. It took quite a bit of time to nock another arrow after firing one.

She looked at Beomseok warily.

“Why are you showing yourself?”

“I just said, there’s no chance for a surprise attack. So I’m going to defeat you all with a frontal assault.”

Tiela scoffed in disbelief. Beomseok was alone, and they were five. And one of them was an S3-class gladiator [a high-ranking gladiator], two were W0-class [another ranking, likely below S3], and the rest were W1-class gladiators [a lower ranking still]. No matter how great Beomseok was, he couldn’t defeat them with a frontal assault.

“Hmph. Do you expect me to believe that? You’re obviously trying to disrupt our formation.”

“No, that’s not it. I can handle five of you on my own.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think that’s possible?”

“Yeah. It’s definitely possible here.”

Lipris, her face flushed with excitement, stepped forward at Beomseok’s confident reply.

“You’re arrogant. In the history of gladiatorial combat, no one has ever defeated a World League gladiator team of five with a frontal assault. Especially not against those gathered here, who are among the top-tier gladiators in the league. Stop talking nonsense and go back. Then you can at least get a draw.”

“It’s not nonsense. I really can beat you. I promise all the gladiator fans who came to the stadium today. If you attack me, I will never leave this area. And I won’t hide.”

Lipris’s eyes flashed. There were countless bird cameras [small, flying cameras] flying around, so all the spectators in the arena would have seen and heard his guarantee.

If he hid, he would be reduced to a gladiator without honor, which would be a fatal blow to his quest to become the strongest gladiator. Today’s events would always be remembered, making him ashamed.

She exchanged glances with Tiela.

“What do you think?”

Although uneasy, Tiela nodded slightly. After hearing such arrogant words, if they remained still, they would not only be unilaterally defeated but also branded as cowards. It was shameful for five of them to be afraid of one person trying to fight head-on.

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

Miraz then drew the longsword from her waist and stood next to Tiela.

“I agree. It seems Beomseok is excited about his past achievements, so we should step in and pour cold water on him.”

“Yes, that’s right. Five of us can’t possibly lose to one person.”

Beomseok grinned wryly, rubbing the jungle knife in his hand against his chin. The strategy of jungle warfare wasn’t just about ambush and surprise attacks. In fact, using the terrain was even more effective. That’s why he wore such a short jungle knife, barely over a foot long, when he came out for today’s match.

“Then can I assume we have an agreement?”

“Of course. As long as you don’t hide, we’re willing to accept your offer.”

“Good. I promise. Then come on.”

Beomseok slyly slid his foot and slightly dragged the longsword that had fallen to the ground. A frontal assault didn’t necessarily mean fighting fairly with swords against swords. He could use tricks, and they wouldn’t be able to say anything.

“Everyone, charge!”

At Miraz’s shout, all the Forest Elves gladiators, including Tiela and Lipris, rushed at Beomseok. And just as they reached almost adjacent area. He grabbed a nearby branch, rotated his body, and soared into the sky. At the same time, the longsword, flying with a sharp whistling sound, passed by Lipris, who was in the lead, and struck the abdomen of the 2nd gladiator following behind.

She had been watching Beomseok jump onto the tree and didn’t see the sword he kicked with his toes.

“Ugh!”

Tiela, watching the 2nd gladiator collapse, shouted at Beomseok, who was up in the tree, with angry eyes.

“You tricked us in a cowardly way!”

Beomseok jumped onto a branch above his head and said.

“What did I trick you about?”

“You just threw a sword at us in a surprise attack.”

“So what? I threw it in plain sight, so it’s the fault of the one who didn’t see it. Every duel involves some kind of feint. You can’t deny that, can you?”

Tiela’s eyebrows twitched as she looked up at the tree Beomseok was on. He was right. There was no gladiator in the world who didn’t use feints.

But she couldn’t just admit defeat like this. There was another thing she blamed Beomseok for.

“Okay. Let’s say that’s true. But why are you up in the tree? Didn’t you say you would face us head-on?”

“Using the terrain to subdue your opponent is also part of a frontal assault. I said I wouldn’t hide, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t show you the essence of jungle warfare. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; when in the forest, it’s natural to follow the rules of the forest.”

Tiela pursed her lips. Each terrain had its own battle method. To exclude it would be like telling someone to fight with one hand tied behind their back.

“Okay. I admit it. There’s a way to fight in the forest. And we’re also skilled in that combat method.”

Beomseok scoffed and looked at Tiela. He was so dumbfounded that he lost his words.

‘Using a longsword and saying you’re skilled in forest combat? Even a passing dog would laugh.’

The Forest Elves gladiators were all equipped with longswords. All the teams they had faced so far had formed battle lines on the plains and gone on the defensive, so they preferred these long swords over short swords. Even if they reduced the number of enemies with arrows and then charged in, they couldn’t carry out proper plains combat with a one-handed sword.

But in this tree combat, the longsword was useless. It was too long and easily caught on branches, and there was no easy way to support oneself when losing balance while climbing trees. Beomseok was using a short jungle knife, so his other hand was free.

“Then come on?”

Tiela exchanged glances with Lipris to chase Beomseok, then jumped up into the tree together. And Miraz and the 3rd gladiator took out their bows and drew their strings. They were ready to snipe the moment Beomseok exposed himself.

Swoosh.

Beomseok, stepping on branches and continuing to move, dodged the rapidly flying arrow by arching his back. It was Miraz who shot it, and it was quite dangerous because it was so close. Realizing it wouldn’t work, he hid behind a tree trunk and approached Lipris and Tiela. It would be difficult to shoot arrows if they were next to him.

“Now. Try to attack.”

“As much as you want. Prepare yourself.”

Lipris, who jumped onto the tree Beomseok was on, pulled her sword back with all her might and then extended the tip of her sword straight towards him. She seemed to know that swinging it would get caught on the branches. But that was it.

Beomseok dodged slightly and shook the branch supporting his feet as if he were doing a somersault, causing her to lose her balance and grab a nearby branch with her sword-wielding hand.

“Heh heh. What preparation against half-wits.”

In an instant, Beomseok’s jungle knife, moving quickly forward, grazed Lipris’s chest, and she was staggering sideways. It was a very comical situation, but the smile disappeared from Beomseok’s face. At the same time as Tiela moved back, an arrow was flying at him.

He quickly blocked the arrow with his sword and jumped towards the ground. The 3rd gladiator, who was about to catch Lipris as she fell, was holding out his hands to support her. It was an act to prevent his teammate’s injury, but it became a golden opportunity for him.

“Now. The third sacrifice is you!”

Immediately after landing on the ground, Beomseok, who had caught Lipris, slashed the back of the 3rd gladiator and rolled on the ground towards Miraz. She had stuck her longsword into the ground in preparation for the worst, but it was too late to pull it out.

Beomseok grabbed Miraz’s neck, who was quickly backing away, and turned around. He sensed that Tiela would be following him from behind.

“As expected. Tiela. My predictions are never wrong. This was very chilling. If I had been just a little late, I would have been the one to get hurt.”

Her longsword couldn’t bring herself to cut Beomseok. She wanted to strike him, but there was Miraz in front of her with a jungle knife to her neck. She was the leader, so if Beomseok just slashed his sword, Round 1 would be over.

“H-How could this happen…”

Tiela’s voice was trembling severely. No matter how foolish Lipris had been, she never imagined that the four of them would be defeated so quickly. Including the 2nd gladiator who had been injured earlier, that made five. Today’s events would be forever remembered in sports media and remain a disgrace to the Forest Elves.

“Th-That’s because you’re incompetent. You don’t even know the basics of jungle warfare, and you’ve become complacent with your past victories, unable to abandon your arrogance. No matter how many of you there are, how dare you attack me in the forest?”

“B-But…”

As Tiela stammered, Miraz’s beautiful voice burst out. She knew what Beomseok was trying to do now.

“Don’t worry about me, and quickly defeat Beomseok! Beomseok is aiming for an all-kill right now!”

Tiela, suddenly realizing, hurriedly raised her sword high. The fact that he was hesitating even though he could end the match right away meant that he was aiming for an all-kill. If they suffered an all-kill here, they shouldn’t even think about returning to the team with their heads held high.

‘This is it!’

But this was what Beomseok was aiming for. He pushed Miraz to collide with Tiela, and then slashed her waist as she staggered. And he threw a dagger into the back of Miraz, who was falling with her, ending Round 1.

“Heh heh. Well. Shall we go back to the dugout?”

Beomseok, feeling proud of his second all-kill, stretched out and walked towards the dugout. This time, it was against the main gladiators of a top-tier World League team, so the meaning was even more special.

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

It’s 3:45 AM now. Ah. It’s definitely late. I had an important drinking party that was suddenly arranged today. So, feeling sorry, I made today’s content 14K. ;;;;;

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