Choi Sung-gu didn't know yet that Hyukjin could use mana to make a Blackfire Bow, since it was a technique Hyukjin had shown for the first time in the Dewinged Angel Statue Gate. However, he didn't insist on an explanation.
'It's Kim Hyukjin, after all. He'll pull it off somehow.'
Hyukjin continued speaking.
"I'll be the main, Sunghyun and Sung-gu will support."
"You really intend on being the main, huh."
Sung-gu realized that Hyukjin was going to use a fire element ability. Even in his eyes, his guildmaster's fire affinity was beyond imagination. It wouldn't be at all unusual if such a person said he was using a fire spell.
But to Sung-gu's surprise, Hyukjin pulled out a bow.
'A bow?'
Not magic, but a bow? But as Sung-gu watched, the bow suddenly changed.
'A bow with black flames…'
It wasn't a regular item. Even Sung-gu could see that. Kim Hyukjin was currently consuming his mana to temporarily create a 'new item'.
'Hah, you crazy mofo.' Sung-gu shook his head in amazement. 'It must suck up a ton of mana.'
Kim Hyukjin was one crazy Player, yes, but Sung-gu had his own role to play.
'Let's just focus on supporting.'
Sung-gu added his flames onto the Blackfire Bow. He might be shadowed by Hyukjin's genius, but Choi Sung-gu was a magician talented enough to represent a nation, and that talent was further boosted by the Tome of the Divine Fire Physique.
Sung-gu's fire attribute mana wreathed the Blackfire Bow. Jo Sunghyun also realized exactly what he had to do.
"I will increase the accuracy and destructive power."
When assisting Sung-gu, the wind magician put a greater focus on accuracy rather than destructive power. But right now, the main DPSer was Kim Hyukjin.
'Hyukjin hyung… doesn't need any help with accuracy from me.'
Certain that was the case, Sunghyun focused on increasing the destructive power. Blue wind formed at his hands.
"The moment you fire your arrow, Hyung, I'll support the arrow in my own unique way."
Hyukjin nodded.
'Flagship.'
He observed it with Observer's Eye. The world fell away, a sensation he had already experienced many times. The flagship loomed large in his eyes. It felt as though he were looking at it with a magnifying glass, or that it was coming closer.
'I can't just destroy it.'
An image drew itself out in his head. His foes had the ability to revive. They had something that allowed them to do so, something like a mana crystal.
And that thing wasn't an item.
'It's him.'
The 'faceless commander' in golden armor sitting high on the flagship platform, he was the key.
'He's my target.'
The man was so far away he couldn't be seen with the naked eye, but he was visible when seen through Observer's Eye.
'What's his weakness?'
As a human-type monster, his greatest weaknesses were naturally the head and heart. But Hyukjin aimed elsewhere.
'Around his belly button.'
Powerful mana was billowing from his abdomen. Hyukjin was sure that was the mana of revival. There was something near the commander's stomach, and only by destroying it would this naval battle come to an end.
"Hunter's March."
He could also use Conductor's Hymn, but Hyukjin only used Hunter's March this time. He focused more on boosting his abilities rather than buffing his guild members.
The blackfire arrow that had reaped the lives of many Gryphons blazed in his bow.
'I'll… kill him.'
Hyukjin fired. Pietro witnessed the Blackfire Bow in action once again. Just as he had seen when Hyukjin was killing the Gryphons, the arrow that shot off held tremendous power.
The blackfire arrow whizzed over the ocean, carving a shallow path in the waters below.
Tzzzz–!
Upon coming in contact with blackfire, the water vaporized into a cloud of steam so thick it could be mistaken as fog. The wickedly hot steam brought the battle to an instant standstill.
Pietro stared in dumb amazement.
'It's way stronger than back then.'
Had Kim Hyukjin experienced some rapid growth? No, that didn't seem to be the case. This wasn't just Kim Hyukjin. It was so powerful because of Choi Sung-gu and Jo Sunghyun's assistance.
'Giantgod Guild… is this strong?'
What he was seeing far outstripped his expectations. How could they achieve such power with a single arrow?
Goosebumps rose on his arms.
'They're this capable, but aren't that well known?'
Giantgod had far less name recognition than Taeguk Shield or Wings. To Pietro the info merchant, that was what he found most frightening.
'This guild is a gathering of insane individuals.'
But that was, in fact, somewhat of a misunderstanding. Choi Sung-gu and Jo Sunghyun were also surprised. Although they had assisted with all their might, neither of them had expected such a result.
There was still a shallow trail in the water where the Blackfire Bow's arrow had flown. The ocean was split with a fissure thirty centimetres deep, and upon closer inspection, black flames were burning along the surface of the trail.
'Oi, Jo Sunghyun,' whispered Sung-gu. 'What the hell is this?'
'I don't know, either.'
'Have we always been this crazy fuckin' strong?'
'You know very well that's not the case.'
Sung-gu and Sunghyun were just as bewildered. They stared at Hyukjin, who was, unlike them, feeling a strange sense of elation.
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
'Just now…'
There was no System notice. But Hyukjin could analyze it with Observer's Eye.
Tome of the Divine Bow Physique.
Tome of the Divine Fire Physique.
Tome of the Divine Wind Physique.
The three tomes came together and produced a synergistic effect. That was also why Sung-gu and Sunghyun could work so well together. Hyukjin examined the phenomenon closer with Observer Eye's innate ability, 'Authority Analysis'.
He focused.
[Analyzing authorities.]
[Confirming the presence of three tomes.]
[The three tomes have astonishing fusion capability.]
Hyukjin hadn't intended it, but his already activated Observer's Eye actively assisted him.
['Unique Ability Fusion' has taken effect on the astonishing fusion capability.]
Through Unique Ability Fusion, the three different types of 'unique abilities' weaved a Kim Hyukjin-exclusive arrow in a Kim Hyukjin-exclusive way. The result was an arrow so powerful it surprised even Hyukjin himself.
Observer's Eye continued analyzing.
[You have succeeded in fusing three 'tomes' for the first time.]
[You have precisely analyzed the entire process.]
[A hidden condition has been fulfilled.]
Hyukjin's ears pricked up at the notices. He had just triggered a 'hidden piece', his first in a while. Senia appeared right on cue, turning the field gray with a Pause authority. Apparently, Senia had become quite wealthy.
"Player Kim Hyukjin. Can you explain what is going on right now?"
"I succeeded in fusing three tomes and analyzed the process. With my class-exclusive skill."
"That must be what triggered the hidden piece."
Hyukjin realized something.
'This… must be one of the hidden pieces in the manual.'
It seemed like a hidden piece Senia already knew, an arrangement put in place by the System rather than a product of chance. Hyukjin had unrooted one such hidden piece.
"That's right."
[One location where a 'tome' is slumbering will be made known to you.]
[Generating the conditions to acquire the 'tome'.]
"I can choose one of various 'tomes'. I'll also know where it can be found."
"Player Kim Hyukjin, do you know about the types of 'tomes'?"
He had a general gist, though he didn't know every type. Hyukjin intentionally smiled.
"Nope, I don't."
"In that case, may I share the information in the manual with you?"
He knew that was what Senia would do. But Hyukjin shook his head.
"No."
"How come? You will be able to make a more efficient choice with the information from the manual. That is my role as your exclusively contracted Intermediate Administrator."
He expected this line from Senia and was letting her say it to emphasize to the Guardians that checking the manual was the natural thing to do. From the manual, he could learn what kinds of tomes existed, and how they could be used. However, he intentionally didn't do that.
It wasn't a very big one, but he was using the 'unexpected twist' technique.
'I already have my answer.'
Whether he checked the manual or not, he knew which tome he was going for anyway, and his answer wouldn't change. That was why he said he wouldn't check the manual. That was, after all, the all-too natural and sensible choice, the obvious choice.
From the viewpoint of the Guardians, developments that weren't too obvious, developments that slightly overturned their expectations, were better.
'However, the developments also have to satisfy their hype.'
The producer Kim Hyukjin knew very well how to achieve that.
"My choice is…"
He decided to make a lightning-quick choice without even checking the manual.
"…the Tome of the Divine Sword Physique."
"Can you explain your reasoning?"
"Because I have Isabel, a transcendent item."
"Is that all?"
"Also because I have an extremely important scenario related to the Sword Forest."
The Sword Forest scenario involving Elder Bufafa was certainly content the Guardians would greatly enjoy. To put it this way, the current conversation was a teaser, one that would hype up the Guardians.
He heard a notice.
[The location of the 'Tome of the Divine Sword Physique' is made known to you.]
A map was deposited in his Inventory. Upon opening it, the location automatically registered in his head, and the map disappeared.
But something was a little odd.
'Wait, isn't this…'
It was a place he knew.
'Plum Blossom Island?'
That was the place Hyukjin had intended on visiting before.
'The Centipede Cave on Plum Blossom Island.'
But because the same gate appeared in the park in front of the DMC Riverview Xi, he ended up not going there. Hyukjin combed through his memories.
'I cleared the place that showed up in the park with Choi Sung-gu.'
And through their achievements there, they got a Predator Tree Colony map. He had thought it strange back then as well.
Why had a Centipede Cave opened in the central park in front of his house?
He had his doubts, but he was never able to come to a conclusion.
"Senia. How much time is left in the Pause?"
"If Player Kim Hyukjin wants, I can extend it by another five minutes."
"Please extend it."
"Understood."
Like a good Player and Streamer pair, Senia took initiative to ask the question on everyone's mind.
"Is there some sort of secret hidden in the location of the Tome of the Divine Sword Physique?"
"I don't know exactly yet."
"But it seems as though you have discovered something of note."
"Yeah." Hyukjin explained, "Normally, gates with the exact same name and content don't exist, right?"
"That's almost always true, yes."
"But I once cleared an identical gate. Remember it?"
"Are you talking about the Predator Tree Colony?"
"Yeah."
The Predator Tree Colony. He had cleared two Predator Tree Colonies in two different places. And he had uncovered a 'secret' there.
"I acquired information there about an unknown being who is artificially cultivating Predator Trees."
At first, he thought only that was strange. But he had the feeling it was connected to something more. It was as if he were originally looking at a corner of the canvas and was zooming out to see the bigger picture.
Little by little, piece by piece, he started to see things he hadn't before.
____
He still didn't know what it was, but what was important was that he had grasped a 'clue'. Because even with just a clue, the attention of the Guardians was sufficiently piqued.
"That means the Predator Tree Colony isn't just an ordinary place you clear and forget."
There was another element involved—CEO Song Kiyoung, who was contracted with the Golden-Horned Dokkaebi. The key that could save the Golden Sovereign had appeared in the Predator Tree Colony.
'That's not all.'
The Predator Tree Colony was special in many ways.
'I can generate a Predator Tree Colony with my [True Ruler of the Predator Tree Colony] title.'
A Player, generating a field? That was way out of the bounds of common sense, of conventional wisdom. There were many oddities involved.
"Understood," said Senia. "But does that have anything to do with the Tome of the Divine Sword Physique?"
"I've been given the location of a slumbering Tome of the Divine Sword Physique."
"Where is it?"
"Plum Blossom Island. In the Centipede Cave on the island."
"The Centipede Cave… That's the place where you acquired the map of the Predator Tree Colony you mentioned earlier."
This conversation wasn't really just between Kim Hyukjin and Senia. It was pretty much feeding information and messages to the Guardians in the form of a discussion.
"Isn't it strange? There are two identical Centipede Caves in two places, and two Predator Tree Colonies in two places. Clearing one Centipede Cave led to discovering the Predator Tree Colony, where a big secret was hidden within. The two gates weren't just one and done—they've continued to influence me all this time."
"That leads one to think that some kind of secret is hidden in the Centipede Cave Gate."
"If what I'm predicting is right, yes."
About three minutes had passed.
"Approximately two minutes are left in the Pause authority."
"After I clear this place, I'm heading straight to the Centipede Cave on Plum Blossom Island."
"Understood."
There was a mountain of things to do, but the Centipede Cave jumped straight to the top of the list. He just had a feeling that was what he needed to do. The reason why he told Senia he was immediately going to the Centipede Cave was a 'teaser' of sorts for the Guardians.
'If… there's a big secret hidden in the Centipede Cave and Predator Tree Colony, and the Guardians hear about it, it'll pull in a lot of Guardians.'
The more keen the Guardians were to watch, the better. Creators of unique content were bound to be cherished.
"The Pause authority has one minute left."
Hyukjin nodded. The scenario would continue where it left off. Before he could do anything else, he first had to finish the 'Battle of Hansan Island' quest.
One minute passed.
[The Pause has ended.]
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
Jackson smiled good-naturedly. The 'Compass' had been swiped right out of Song Junghye's Inventory, disappearing without a single trace.
"Is that so? Hahaha. We've been had."
"You can laugh in this situation?"
"What else can I do? The one who lost it is you, Miss Song Junghye."
Jackson was still wearing a good-natured smile, but it made Song Junghye flinch. A smile was on his lips, but there was faint rage in his eyes.
"Well, we can't do anything about it now."
Jackson shrugged. The pressure that had squeezed Song Junghye for the slightest moment faded, so short-lived she thought she just imagined it.
"We'll find ourselves in a naval battle. We need to find the opponent's flagship and kill the commander on that ship." Jackson rattled off an explanation, almost as if he already knew the ins and outs of this gate. "Their ship has considerable resistance to ranged attacks. The System explanation is that the ship possesses an outstanding shield due to weathering prolonged battle between warships."
The guild members of the Blood and Iron Lion listened closely to Jackson's words.
"A ranged attack isn't completely out of the question, but our ultimate goal is the enemy commander. Only by killing the commander will the Immortal Fleet collapse."
The Poisoned Dagger, Jung Sangchul, stepped forward. "So we need to get into close combat somehow and kill him."
"If we can get there, yes."
It was quite the distance. The naval battle scenario had already begun.
"After a certain amount of time, the flagship and enemy commander will change. That's the inherent challenge of this gate."
Jung Sangchul asked, "Does that mean that if we can't make it to the commander and kill him in time, we'll have wasted our time?"
"Yes. With the Compass, we could have immediately found the enemy commander, but unfortunately, because Guildmaster Song Junghye lost it…"
"I didn't lose it. It was stolen from me. Jackson."
"Ah, right. Stolen. Well, in any case, it doesn't change the fact that the Compass is gone."
Song Junghye's eyebrows twitched.
'Son of a bitch.' Jackson's words sounded like ridicule in her ears. 'Both Kim Hyukjin and Jackson, I don't like either of them.'
She resolved to one day inherit Sungshin, nurture the Blood and Iron Lion into an industry giant, and then crush both Jackson and Kim Hyukjin. For now, she would make full use of Jackson's ability. The man was a truly competent explorer.
"I prepared a little something for getting close."
Jackson took out a capsule-like object from his Inventory and tossed it into the sea, where it turned into a modern motorboat.
"This is a high-performance motorboat. It will block most attacks with a shield and can carry a max of four people."
The members of the Blood and Iron Lion paid close attention. They hadn't thought Jackson would have such a thing in his Inventory. He was indeed a shockingly capable explorer.
A total of four Players boarded the ship, including Jung Sangchul and Kang Woongmin.
"We'll go and destroy the enemy commander," barked Kang Woongmin.
But just then, Jackson's smile faltered. His ever-constant smile suddenly stiffened.
Song Junghye picked up on it. "What is it?" she asked tersely.
"…"
"What's wrong?"
"I-It's nothing." Jackson smiled again. "I'd like us to clear this quickly, but safely."
Now, there was no point in clearing 'quickly'.
'Giantgod Guild… has already cleared the gate.'
That was unexpected, even to Jackson. No, this was overwhelmingly outside of his expectations. Jackson could feel that this independent gate had already been cleared once. And of course, the team behind it was Kim Hyukjin's.
'How?'
Had they used a ranged attack? That was the fastest way.
'No. It's not possible for Players in the current beginner period.'
It might be possible. Maybe it could be done if three or so 'tome' items bearing unprecedented power—the ones called 'divine tomes'—were brought together in one massive burst.
'There are very, very few people who have tome items at this point in time.'
He did get the feeling either Jo Sunghyun or Choi Sung-gu had absorbed a tome. It was already amazing for a guild to have one tomed person.
Jackson smiled bitterly.
'There goes the first clear reward…'
The first clear reward was none other than 'Immortal Fleet', a sovereign-exclusive skill that could summon the Immortal Fleet. With that power, a sovereign was nigh-undefeatable by any Player on water.
Jackson already knew.
'Guildmaster Kim Hyukjin has obtained command over the Immortal Fleet.'
After quite some time, the four Players finally succeeded in killing the enemy commander, and the 'Battle of Hansan Island' quest was cleared.
Song Junghye was unable to conceal her happiness.
"Well done, you four."
They had pulled it off faster than she expected. The flagship hadn't changed a single time. As expected, her subordinates were remarkable.
[Distributing clear rewards for the Immortal Fleet Gate.]
She received a few rewards, rewards that made Song Junghye certain that something had gone awry.
Outside the gate, she rounded on Jackson with an expression of anger.
"Didn't you say there would be an incredible reward?"
"There was. But it was taken away."
"How can that be? We immediately killed the enemy commander. Are you sure you weren't lying to me?"
But just then, she heard a voice. It was the rude prick Kim Hyukjin.
"He wasn't lying."
"…Guildmaster Kim Hyukjin? How is it that you're here?"
He shouldn't have been able to clear the gate yet, but he was outside.
"Looks like we were about three seconds faster."
In truth, it wasn't just three seconds, but almost one minute faster. Song Junghye's face reddened at the words.
"You're the one who stole my compass, aren't you?"
"Compass? What's that? That's a thing?"
Hyukjin feigning ignorance made Song Junghye's rage grow.
"Tell me straight out! You stole it, admit it! You son of a bitch!"
Hyukjin wagged his finger. "You'll invite trouble by accusing people without evidence. There are many onlookers. Is this really okay?"
Hyukjin was already using Cognitive Dissonance. The Gwanghwamun Plaza Raid was still ongoing, and as a result, there were many reporters on-site.
"Don't you think it's better to devote yourself to protecting the innocent citizens of Gwanghwamun Plaza and boost the Blood and Iron Lion's image rather than to quarrel with me here?"
"…"
"If you insist on continuing, it'll be a blow to Blood and Iron Lion's status. You'll be super angry when people cuss you out as fools who couldn't do a thing."
Giantgod was different from Blood and Iron Lion. People didn't know much about Giantgod and didn't expect much from them. But Sungshin's Blood and Iron Lion Guild was well-known, and that fame came with certain expectations.
Song Junghye clenched her teeth.
"You damn little…"
The compass was one thing, but he had also stolen the first clear reward. Whatever the hell he did, she had the feeling he had cheated her.
'I'll crush you for sure.'
Song Junghye whirled around, then gave a command to the guild members of Blood and Iron Lion.
"We're tidying this place up."
Since things had played out this way, she at least had to farm some honor.
"Help the innocent civilians and wipe out all the damn monsters."
* * *
After rebuffing the meddling Song Junghye, Kim Hyukjin went to the real issue at hand.
"Jackson. I heard your conversation with Miss Song earlier."
Song Junghye had said this: "Didn't you say there would be an incredible reward?"
Which meant it was highly likely Jackson had already known of the existence of that 'incredible reward'. Hyukjin was truly curious.
"Did you know exactly what kind of reward would be given by the Immortal Fleet Gate, Jackson?"
If so—
"How did you know?"
And—
"Do you also know when, where, and how it'll be used?"
The Immortal Fleet would make a huge splash in the Bali Naval Battle. That was where Song Junghye's fame took off. If Jackson already knew about the Immortal Fleet and purposefully brought Song Junghye here, it would mean that Song Junghye accruing merits in the Bali Naval Battle was something Jackson had devised.
His questions were different, but the true meaning was the same.
'Did you truly puppeteer Song Junghye in the past?'
Jackson shrugged.
"Well, alright. I'll be honest."
The Great Explorer Jackson began to speak.
____