The Ruined World Was Mistaken for a Game-Chapter 25.2: Toward the Main Story (2)
Translator: Dreamscribe
They were surrounded on all sides by jagged stone spires, and the only opening ahead was lined with goblins in formation.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Drums echoed across the battlefield.
The goblins were beating war drums, heating up the battleground.
“Kieeeek!”
“Kieeeek! Krukkuruk! Kieeeek!”
Mixed in with the drumbeats were howls sharp enough to rip the air apart.
At the center of it all stood the Hero Slayer. Now boasting a significantly larger frame than before, it let out a fierce roar toward the players.
Bwooooo!
As the war horn sounded, the goblins raised their weapons.
“Keeeeeek!”
The Hero Slayer pounded its chest with a fist, then pointed toward the players. After that, it turned to face the goblins and raised its fist.
“Grah!”
“Kuo!”
“Graaaaah!!”
“Kuo! Kuo!”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Bang! Bang! Bang!
They began slamming their weapons into the ground in rhythm with the drumbeats.
At the Hero Slayer’s cry, they shouted out together, rallying their morale.
The players were momentarily speechless, overwhelmed by the spectacle.
-We are seriously screwed.
-How are we supposed to beat that?
-Is this even part of the story? This makes no sense.
The situation was utterly hopeless.
Not only were there far too many goblins, but there was also that unknown black pillar.
The players, having forgotten it was just a game, were shaken. They were so immersed they could barely think clearly. They were being swept away by the emotional weight of the battlefield.
Jinwoo turned around to face the players of the subjugation party.
“This is all my fault.”
He said this as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he stepped forward, distancing himself from the players.
That short distance felt unbearably long to the players.
“You heroes are not yet ready to bear that darkness... It’s too soon. I will send you all back to Evanth.”
As Jinwoo raised his hand, a radiant light burst forth and a glowing magic circle appeared beneath the players’ feet.
[Leon is using all his power to return you to Evanth. Do you agree to return?]
*If you die on the Battlefield of Darkness, you will not be able to revive in “Evanth” for 3 days, and the penalty will increase significantly.
Such a window appeared before the players.
“What about Leon nim?”
Haebyul asked.
Jinwoo only smiled faintly in response. And the players understood what that smile meant.
“I’ll stay.”
Haebyul refused immediately.
Ting!
Then, the magic circle beneath her vanished as if it evaporated.
That was the beginning.
“I’m not going! I can’t!”
“You think I’m gonna be scared of those damn goblin bastards? I’m staying too!”
“Me too!”
Fwaaaa! Fwaat!
From that point on, like a wave spreading outward, every return magic circle disappeared.
Not a single one accepted the return.
Jinwoo’s expression turned to one of shock.
“Leon nim! Let’s fight together!”
“You expect us to just go back? And leave those damn- ahem, crazy goblins here? No way!”
The players shouted.
The Northern Grand Duke also nodded and gripped her two-handed axe tightly.
“A warrior of the North never retreats! Only charges forward!”
“Valhalla!”
“Uooooaaah!”
“Kill them all!”
At the Grand Duke’s cry, her guild members raised their weapons and shouted.
Life Hunter grinned.
“Hunters! Prepare the hunt! Tonight, we feast on goblin meat! Good hunting!”
“Khaha! Gotta make some goblin stew!”
“How about goblin pork belly?”
“Good hunting!”
As Life Hunter declared, his guild members clenched their fists and shouted boldly.
Clack!
The players stepped forward. The distance between them and Jinwoo closed rapidly.
Their expressions were solemn.
One by one, they raised their weapons and stood side by side in formation. No one ordered them, but they naturally formed ranks.
“Heroes....”
Jinwoo’s face was filled with surprise.
“Perhaps I’ve been seeing you as too immature. You’ve truly grown magnificently.”
Jinwoo looked at the players and smiled brightly.
“Haha! Of course.”
“Who do you think we learned from?”
“Thank you, Teacher Leon.”
At Jinwoo’s praise, the players also wore smiles on their lips.
Jinwoo inhaled deeply, then exhaled.
“From this point on, the battle will be beyond common sense.”
[Do you truly wish to fight alongside Leon on the Battlefield of Darkness?]
As soon as Jinwoo finished speaking, a window popped up again.
The players raised their weapons without even a moment of hesitation.
“But still...”
[Are you truly willing to endure the penalty and stand against the army of Erosion?]
The answer had already been decided.
Then the window began to crack.
[Do you truly... Crack!...]
Clang!
It shattered.
Jinwoo turned his back and looked out toward the battlefield.
“So long as the heroes do not give up, even if my soul shatters, I will fight alongside you.”
Whoooosh!
As Jinwoo raised his sword, a bright light imbued the players’ weapons. Every player fixed their gaze on the battlefield, on the dreadful goblins.
The sound of drums faded away.
The goblins’ roars were buried beneath the unwavering resolve and light, becoming a dull murmur.
Eventually, perfect silence fell.
Everyone waited for Jinwoo to speak. He lowered his raised sword, pointing it at the goblins.
He took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
“For Arsilan!”
Jinwoo’s voice slammed into the battlefield like a hammer.
Every player raised their weapon in unison, as if it had been rehearsed.
“For Arsilan!”
“For Arsilan!”
The chant became thunder.
For Arsilan!
In the past, it was a slogan cried out in an attempt to overcome fear and despair. But now, it was different.
Jinwoo felt truly joyous.
Yes, everything was for Arsilan.
“Charge!”
“Uwaaaah!”
“Let’s go!”
Now, in this moment, every player had become a hero standing against the Erosion. Blessed by the light, the heroes became an army of light, charging toward the Corrupted Goblins.
For Arsilan!
* * *
-Uwaaah!
-For Arsilan!
-I’m shouting it too ㅋㅋㅋ
-Kyah! This is insane!
-Damn ㅋㅋ, movies won’t even be fun anymore after this
Not only on the official Arsilan Worlds broadcast, but every stream’s chat window was literally exploding.
“Kkyaaah! For Arsilan!”
"Kueu! Perfect to watch while drinking beer!"
“Nice! Doing great!”
The NPCs gathered at the Secret Base were also enjoying the festival.
Tia was controlling the upgraded Hero Slayer.
“But Tia nim,”
Hallon, who was beside her, looked over.
“Yes?”
“If the heroes had chosen to return, wouldn’t everything you prepared have been for nothing?”
“That wouldn’t have mattered. They wouldn’t have been able to leave anyway.”
Even if they chose to return, a failure message would have popped up, saying their strength didn’t reach the required level.
“The story would have progressed forcibly, so it would’ve just looked lame.”
“Aha! As expected of you, Tia nim!”
“Hehe!”
It would’ve been seriously embarrassing if that had happened.
That’s how it was.
*****
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Chapter 25.2: Toward the Main Story (2)
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