Chapter 2) War on Land

“Kuhuhuhut.”

Pale looked wickedly while looking around the plains. He had followed behind Weed and the Geomchis for a long time. In the face of such aggressive battles, his skills had no choice but to progress rapidly.

He steadily trained his basic skills and mastered the Quick Fire and Penetration Arrow. He rose to become part of the top 100 archers on the entire continent.

“Kuhuhu, a monster is there.”

Pale confidently spotted a monster 1.5 km away from where he was. An archer’s eyes could accurately see into the distance.

“This distance…and considering the wind direction…”

Pale carefully shot his arrow. The arrow flew in the wind and precisely hit the monster in the distance.

Kkuek!

The monster looked around restlessly but couldn’t find the person who shot the arrow. Pale continued shooting and hunting the monster.

An archer could really wreck a lot of havoc on a level place like the plains. Of course, it was very annoying walking to find the items that the monsters dropped.

“Kekekek, a human.”

A monster approached on the plains.

“Earth Penetration!”

Pale fired an arrow into the ground. The arrow disappeared into the ground and emerged underneath the monster, piercing its feet. A skill that used the penetration and high angled firing skill that he mastered! Once the arrow was shot into the ground, the monster’s movement speed slowed and it couldn’t avoid any further hits.

“Huhuhu, I will be welcomed if I go to the guild now.”

Pale was sure of himself. Now was the time for compensation after shooting arrows since the beginning.

“Now I’m living on my own. I can become a little arrogant. I also have to gain some tremendous achievements in this war. Everyone will be surprised!”

Pale shouted in a loud voice! Then he received a whisper from Surka.

-Oppa, I’m lacking money to buy gloves. Can you lend it to me?

-Where are you?

-Morata.

-It is a little far from here…I’ll bring it now.

-Thank you. I’ll be sure to pay it back later.

So far Surka had already borrowed 9,000 gold.

“Just wait there, I will come quickly.”

Pale moved busily in the direction of Morata. After a while, he received a whisper from Maylon.

-I need to prepare for today’s broadcasts so I will be late this evening.

-Take your time. I will go first and wait. I will always wait for my girlfriend.

Romuna also whispered him.

-Do you have any mana stones?

-I’ve set aside 3 to make magic arrows.

-Then can you give me a few

-Where are you?

-Palles Village.

-Right now I’m heading to Morata….

-Come quickly.

-I understand. Then I will come straight away after Morata.

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As soon as they heard the Haven Empire’s army had reached Rupoi Plains, the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult started to march there.

“Vanguard Toadstool Porridge unit!”

“Chicken Porridge unit and Ginseng Porridge unit will give support!”

There were too many users so they marched towards the Rupoi Plains from 12 directions. The scene was televised through the broadcasting stations and the viewers could hardly believe their eyes. The hills were packed with users crossing them. And they kept on coming and coming. An endless procession was moving towards the plains.

The commentators introduced that this was an unprecedented number in the history of wars on the Versailles Continent.

“Now we will change to this video. As a reminder, viewers please prepare your heart before watching it.”

The television screen changed to a sky view that looked down on the plains and hills. Users were swarming towards the Rupoi Plains! There was a huge variety of species including human, dwarves, elves, barbarians and orcs.

Rensullot had received news that the users in the north were gathering so he prepared for battle atop a hill where the terrain was profitable.

“I’ve expected this to some degree. We will fight and win.”

The elites of the Haven Empire didn’t feel swayed at all. The knights and soldiers could be called repeated combat veterans. It was very common for regular soldiers who reached a high level to be promoted to a knight.

“We don’t have to worry no matter how many of them there are. Are they scary?”

“Not all up!”

The knights answered gallantly.

“Just step on them and kill them. Even if there are a lot of them, we don’t need to worry once the battle starts. If we just kill and kill then we will win like always. A vast amount of loot and honour is waiting for us. Archers prepared for a barrage while the magicians should meditate and rest.”

Rensullot decided to fight the enemy on Rupoi Plains. If he was in a hurry then he would go to the high peaks where defence was easier. However, there was a possibility of suffering a devastating blow from a disaster Weed could cause on areas with a slight slope.

Having a river flowing behind his back was like asking for a disaster. But the standards of the norther users was low so he was confident of success wen fighting against them. It would be a one-sided slaughter.

“They are bravely jumping out at us. But they will soon learn of their powerlessness and won’t bare their teeth at us again. This time will be no different.”

“Kuwak!”

The morale of the Haven Empire’s army was at its peak. And a few groups of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult appeared.

“Toadstool Porridge, Chicken Porridge and the Ginseng Porridge units!

“Charge!”

“Forward!”

Bbuuuuh!

A horn sound rang out and the users once forward.

“No, what is this?”

“There is no formation and aren’t they just running forward?”

“This fight isn’t even the same as fighting goblins and monsters.”

The Hermes Guild was filled with incredulity at the sight in front of them. Their levels and equipment couldn’t even be compared yet they were doing at head on a.s.sault!

“Wait until they come into range.”

Rensullot shook his head as he saw the enemies. Not only were they blindly charging ahead, some of them didn’t even hold s.h.i.+elds which was an important equipment in a war. Furthermore, they were become the prey of arrows once they came in range.

“Start to fire!”

The archers shot their arrows. The sky above the heads of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult was filled with arrows.

“Ugh!”

“I can’t do anything else now that I’m dying….”

“Keep running. Put those guys away!”

“Don’t back down! We are the Toadstool Porridge unit. The vanguard unit of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult!”

Their level was low and they weren’t equipped with proper protective gear so the users died from the arrows. The original a.s.sault troops normally had the best armour and manoeuvrability but the Toadstool Porridge unit members. .h.i.t by the arrows instantly died.

They couldn’t even get close to the troops of the Haven Empire before dying.

“The magic has been prepared.”

“Wipe out those guys. Fire Rain!”

“Thunder Ground!”

Wide area magic spells were cast in the area of the a.s.sault troops. Fire rained down from the sky while thunderbolts struck from the ground. It was a catastrophe that kill hundreds of people every second.

“Gra.s.s Porridge! Gra.s.s Porridge! Gra.s.s Porridge!”

Yet the users continued to charge forward!

“These crazy people.”

Rensullot and the Hermes Guild thought with amazement.

“No, are they really coming here without any protective measures prepared?”

“They are just committing suicide on their own.”

“Continue attacking!”

3 units of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult was wiped out without even swinging their swords. They charged the whole time and disappeared in vain.

Then the Bamboo Shoots Porridge unit appeared immediately afterwards! It was an independent unit but the number of users exceeded 450,000 people. It was a unit where beginners could join just 3 months after starting Royal Road. They did not fear death like the Toadstool Porridge unit. It was the same thing whether they lost to the kobolds or the Haven Empire!

“Let’s go!”

“Yes! For someone who was. .h.i.t by the kobolds to die fighting against the Hermes Guild…..”

“Even if I receive 2 arrows, I will endure and give more damage to the enemies!”

“Bamboo Shoots Porridge unit, charge!”

The charge of novice users. The force was so impressive that a huge amount of dust was raised on the Rupoi Plains. Among them were small horses or bulls. There were numerous examples of those who had never even hunted in a party.

“Shoot! Kill everyone.”

“Magicians focus on casting low range spells.”

The Haven Empire killed all those approaching. But they felt like something wasn’t ordinary. While it was true that the enemy might be weak, there were too many of them. The Gra.s.s Porridge Cult’s communication network was also crowded.

-Bamboo Shoots Porridge unit, the time is too drawn out. There are more troops waiting to charge!

-What is the next unit to attack? I can’t give them any time to rest.

-The Beef Porridge unit has arrived early and is waiting.

-Red Bean Porridge unit. I’m getting a little tired of waiting so can I have one red bean porridge?

-The Pumpkin Porridge unit has 310,000 people partic.i.p.ating. An atmosphere of waiting!

The never-ending human wave tactics! Even the orcs, barbarians and elves were spread out in the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult. The perilla porridge that represented the orcs, the elves preferred mung bean porridge while the dwarves liked walnut porridge.

The troops that Rensullot led was to deal with the entire north, not just the Arpen Kingdom.

“Save your arrows and mana. They seem to be trying to exhaust us.”

Rensullot was worried about the goods being consumed.

He had heard the news through the Hermes Guild’s information network but the colossal number of users gathered couldn’t be imagined. They had already killed tens of thousands of people but he feared it was only the start.

“Bean Porridge! Bean Porridge!”

“Gather Jelly Porridge unit! We have a chance. Cavalry and infantry will go together for a pre-emptive a.s.sault!”

“Barley Porridge! It is time to fight for honour!”

“Cold Porridge unit, find a place to die! If our troops die from a magic spell then let us know the location in advance!”

“Gourd Porridge members? I saw them earlier but it has been 2 hours since then.”

“Hazelnut Porridge, Yellow Corvina Porridge, Beef Soup Porridge, it is your turn next!

Get ready and standby!”

“Magicians of the Lotus Seed Porridge, Yam Porridge, Rice Porridge, Chinese Quince Porridge, head to the east. Pour magic towards those attacking the other units. Don’t try to prepare any large magic. You will die before that.”

The Gra.s.s Porridge Cult members were constantly flocking to the Rupoi Plains. They didn’t have any tactics. Even if it was impossible to hit a rock with an egg, how fearful would it be later if all the eggs in the world was thrown at the rock.

“d.a.m.n, this is totally crazy. Knights and soldiers pull out your swords! We’ll take care of them in close combat!”

Rensullot decided not to rely on arrows and magic attacks anymore. He was prepared for a prolonged war.

“Knights, go and fight!”

“Hiyah!”

The knights ran down the hill towards the plains. They ignored the wide area skills used by the novice users. The attacks from the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult were insignificant like bee stings so their attacks didn’t affect the knights’ health. The knights gathered a bunch of users together with their horses and cast their skills.

‘This is too easy.’

‘Should I kill a minimum of 1,000 people today?’

The soldiers of the Haven Empire moved forward in a formation. Thick s.h.i.+elds covered their entire body as they wielded their swords.

The knights kept attacking the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult as they advanced onto the plains and the armed forces collapsed in front of the iron wall.

It seemed to be an endless scene of slaughter. The moment the situation was rapidly changing.

“Weed!”

“Weed is directing the battle from there.”

Weed riding a striking white horse appeared on the battlefield. The leader of the 4th Knights Division of the Northern Expeditionary Force, Dyural was worried about others s.n.a.t.c.hing the achievement and gave a command.

“We are the closest. Charge at top speed!”

The 4th Knights Division rushed towards the place where Weed appeared. They ignored the users of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult swung their swords or thrust their spear. The biggest targets in this war was Weed and Morata. The one who killed Weed would gain the highest achievements. The Hermes Guild couldn’t miss the chance to obtain this large honour.

“He is strong. Be alert. Charge in and kill. Prepare to use the Thrust skill!”

The Knights Division got increasingly closer to Weed.

“Health might be consumed a little bit. But it doesn’t matter if we get a little tired. The best thing we can do is charge. Thrust of Grief!”

“Thrust of Grief!”

Once the thrust skill was used, they were engulfed in a b.l.o.o.d.y haze and their speed became fearsome. This skill increased their thrust attack by 3 times. Other than a war, it was a skill that could be used against large monsters so it was painstakingly trained.

There was no guarantee that even armoured infantry could stop the knights. The armoured infantry collapsed underneath the violent collision.

A knight was an profession called the flower of the battlefield for a reason.

“Go!”

The tension of Dyural and the knights reached its peak

“Die Weed!”

“Your neck is mine.”

The knights charged and closed the distance without any interference from Weed.

“Deadly Spear!”

Weed who was riding the white horse died from Dyural’s first attack! He had expected the attack to be stopped and to receive a counterattack yet Weed had unexpectedly died.

Once the war ended, the compensation would be given according to a person’s achievements. Additional Fame might also be given.

“Eh?”

Dyural and the knights following him were amazed. They had been filled with excitement that the large battle would be over. Then they noticed the surroundings.

“Throw the nets!”

Connected nets were thrown from the left and right.

“It was a trap. Cut it!”

“Cutting!”

The nets were made with steel and st.i.tched buffalo leather by Drago who was challenging the Master Quest and his friends.

They had been so focused on fighting Weed that Dyural and the knights had been caught by the nets. The knights twisted their swords and cut the net but it wasn’t easy. Their horses were also captured.

“Crush them quickly!”

The users scattered sharp, steel spikes on the ground. This was a product that Herman and his fellow blacksmiths created! This product was the natural enemy of horses.

Fuhihihing!

The speed of the knights’ a.s.sault decreased as their horses entered the danger zone while others fell. But enemies were around them so it was difficult to turn around. The Black Sesame unit and Pumpkin Porridge unit rushed to the knights that collapsed.

“I’m really disgusted because I started in the Arpen Kingdom! I was so nervous that I had a nightmare. I can’t even sleep late. Now you are trying to occupy the north?”

“It is good that you came. I’m been hunting hard and sharpening my knife while waiting for you to come!”

The Gra.s.s Porridge Cult members that started in the Central Continent slaughtered the knights isolated in the nets. They hid among the beginners and dispersed to get rid of the knights who fell.

“I am Weed!”

“Weed has appeared here!”

“No! Don’t be fooled! They are just pretending to be Weed!”

Tonight I’m also hungry.

If I have a midnight snack then I can go to sleep happy.

Yesterday I ate Sweet Potato Porridge.

Today I will drink Jujube Porridge.

Where is the Toadstool Porridge?

If you like meat then it must be Wild Boar Porridge.

The glory of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult will be eternal.

“It is the real one this time. Charge!”

“No! It’s a trap!”

False Weeds ran everywhere and disturbed the army of the Haven Empire. The huge Gra.s.s Porridge Cult members isolated the forces of the Haven Empire. Moreover, the blacksmiths created plain armour similar to what Weed always wore so the Hermes Guild users were confused.

Even if the soldiers of the Haven Empire advanced, the area was soon occupied by the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult again. The flags of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult were all over the place.

“For Morata!”

“Soo-jin, I love you!”

“Bards, continue playing songs even if we lose! Sing about our battle!”

The northern users were almost one-sidedly killed but the Haven Empire also felt slightly intimidated. There were too many enemies to get rid of.

“Come on, let’s use all our power.”

The respected adventurer Spenson wore a knight’s armour found in the forbidden zone Argoldia. An excavated item that reinforced the power of the priests and knights! Of course, it only applied to knights on the same side.

“Wah, my strength has increased by 15!”

“It is like I gained 7 levels. I feel so hungry that I could even eat a hyena!”

“Kill! It will be a jackpot if we kill those guys!”

The faith of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult increased even further. They still couldn’t fight one on one with the soldiers of the Haven Empire but they could drag it out. Winning wasn’t important. They just kept charging forward! Everyone had come to the Rupoi Plains fully prepared to die. Their resolution crashed against the might of the Haven Empire’s army.

“Kul kul kul.”

“Our turn has come.”

“I’ve been waiting for this.”

Magicians holding skeleton staffs suddenly appeared among the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult. Their professions were necromancers! Jeanne, Otem, Bohram, Harian, Gruzed and Varenna who fought with Weed against Barkhan’s Immortal Legion had settled in Morata.

Necromancers were professions that could hunt monsters or clear dungeons alone so they could go anywhere. But they also needed a city as a base. The users who chose a necromancer profession gathered together to form a guild and improve their magic.

The necromancers of the Hermes Guild stayed in the slums near Aren Castle with Krobidyun as the representative. There were more necromancers living in Morata. The average level of the necromancers living in Morata was also high.

Beginner necromancers would often make skeletons with missing body parts like rib bones.

“Kuhuhuk, this is a festival.”

“There are many corpses that can run wild.”

“We can do as we please. This is the strength of a necromancer.”

“Then in order to preserve good manners on the battlefield…Corpse Explosion!”

A chain explosion occurred at the place where the troops of the Haven Empire was. They had raised countless skeletons, dullahans and death knights. They harnessed the bodies lying all over the place. Corpse Explosion had a strong destructive power so quite a few troops in the Haven Empire suffered.

High level necromancers like Jeanne and Otem were different. The advanced form of Corpse Explosion had been used. The bones flew in different directions and caused a chain explosion. The bones of the corpses continued exploding. Dozens of soldiers from the Haven Empire were dying.

The necromancers that used all the limbs of a corpse were able to show off their power.

“Chwik, this time it is our turn!”

The orcs made a lot of noise as they chaotically appeared. They boasted fearful propagation speed and both females and males partic.i.p.ated.

“Let’s go, chwi chi chit!”

“Orcs are for battle. Orcs are battles. Chwiit!”

The battlefield became more complicated with the emergence of the glaive wielding orcs. Unlike the orcs, there was a group of hunters secretly taking action.

“Die, you novices!”

The high level Hermes Guild users took action!

They didn’t mind at all even if they were surrounded by 100 people. They focused on slaughtering thousands of people but then their allies started falling.

“Poison Dagger!”

“Keheok!”

A dagger secretly pierced their backs! It was a level 410 thief called Jansun with the t.i.tle of ‘Dirty Thieving Hands.’

“Sharpness Sword.”

Puk puk puk puk puk!

“Ugh, this cowardly b.a.s.t.a.r.d….”

“Goodbye, these are good items to have.”

They hid themselves among the weak beginners to obscure them from the eyes of the high level users! This was the best hunting ground for thieves and a.s.sa.s.sins. It wasn’t just the high level thieves. High levelled knights, warriors, magicians and archers were also mixed in with the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult.

“It is time to change my armour…armour from the Hermes Guild should be worn.”

“The cost of tuition is rising so I’m thankful I came to the north.”

The Dark Gamers couldn’t miss an opportunity like that. They could gain loot, fame and achievements if they killed the soldiers and knights of the Haven Empire. They were able to blend in quietly with the units of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult. The users of the Hermes Guild that came out individually was too great of a prey.

“Reduce the enemies using area magic.”

“Archers don’t worry about arrows and just shoot!”

The priests, archers and mages of the Haven Empire were on the opposite side of the river but that didn’t mean they were safe. Users were crossing the river by riding rafts. They were the Red Snapper Porridge unit and the Spanish Mackerel Porridge unit!

Along with the users crowding the river, there was a lifeform with a thick torso crawling on all fours. The large alligator that swallowed the priests of the Haven Empire and entered the river was Nile.

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“Well, now it is time to fight.”

Weed personally prepared a lot for the sake of this battle. He had mobilized the military of the Arpen Kingdom as well as his sculptural lifeforms. He had been prepared to use Sculpture Resurrection but that wasn’t necessary since the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult flocked in such huge numbers.

“Gernika.”

“Uha!”

“Don’t yell. I can hear you. Vindex.”

“At your command. Who should I cut?”

“Eltin.”

“Who should I skewer with arrows?”

The wonderful personality education of his subordinates! The enemy had invaded the north so the atmosphere of the sculptural lifeforms was also serious.

“Countryside Snake.”

“Chwiririt!”

“Worm.”

“Kururung!”

“Nile.”

“He was hungry so he left first.”

There were many sculptural lifeforms standing by. There were also 47 sculptures including the ones from Jigolaths, the wyverns, Phoenix, Bingryong, Goldman, Yellowy etc. The sculptural lifeforms could deal a devastating blow to the Haven Empire without him needing to use Sculptural Resurrection. Weed had originally planned to resurrect a charismatic leader that would lead the army and sculptural lifeforms.

“I guess I’ll have to do it.”

Right now the Rupoi Plains were surrounded by Gra.s.s Porridge users so it took a lot of time to enter.

“I guess my plan has changed. It went from defeating the enemy to not letting a single one get out alive.”

Weed didn’t hold a grudge against the Hermes Guild users and the NPC knights and soldiers of the Haven Empire. They came all the way to the north so Weed felt very strong emotions. He wanted the money and items that they had.

“I should make a sculpture while waiting.”

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Seo-yoon was completely dyed black from the blood. A berserker became stronger the more they fought so she cut through the soldiers of the Haven Empire on Rupoi Plains.

“Have strength!”

“Healing Hands!”

The Gra.s.s Porridge members around Seo-yoon supported her.

“I’ll block the magic attacks from the east side. Physical s.h.i.+eld!”

“A surprise attack! Where….”

The users from the north blocked some attacks heading to Seo-yoon and used their feeble healing magic on her.

The Haven Empire’s army on Rupoi Plains were villains they couldn’t co-exist with and were more disgusting than c.o.c.kroaches. Meanwhile the colleagues fighting with them were considered heroes.

“Multiple Shot!”

Pale also partic.i.p.ated in the war with his colleagues. He grabbed a spot on top of a hill and fired towards the enemies. He was thoroughly prepared as he brought 30 quivers.

“I’m sorry. This is going to hurt a little. Mountain Destroyer!”

Surka struck the abdomen of a knight. The effect of the technique crushed the armour and maximize the damage to the mana inside the body. The knights of the Haven Empire rode quickly on horseback while waiting to attack any enemies that fell behind.

“A win! We can win!”

Every time a knight was killed, the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult was filled with hope.

Their death rate was overwhelming but the troops of the so-called invincible Haven Empire was slowly dwindling. The users in the north who received the news belatedly were still rus.h.i.+ng to the battlefield.

It was a situation where high school students where bullying elementary school students only to have all the students in that school come running!

“We definitely have to get rid of that woman!”

Several knights leapt towards Seo-yoon. Her strength was far beyond normal so the 3rd Knights Division came out directly. The Gra.s.s Porridge members died immediately and Seo-yoon received the concentrated attacks from the knights.

“Fighting Spirit Sword!”

Chajajajang!

The knights twisted their swords and pushed her back. She was holding up against a large number of strong knights! If it wasn’t for the strong characteristics of a berserker and her battle experience then she would’ve collapsed already. In a moment of crisis, she could receive health from Weed through the wedding ring so she was enduring the offensive from the Haven Empire’s knights.

Even the broadcasting stations reported live about her battle with the knights. The huge battle on Rupoi Plains was wonderful but it was rare to see a fight like the one between Seo-yoon and the knights.

“Who is that female warrior fighting in the north?”

“She seems to be a user who adventured with Weed in the Jigolaths.”

“She is as strong as expected for a colleague of Weed.”

“She is attacking fiercely against the Hermes Guild.”

The audience ratings had already beaten the previous record. Knights riding by on horseback struck downwards with their swords. It was possible to watch such an intense battle.

This was also the first time so many users were gathered on the battlefield. A third of the total users in the north had come to Rupoi Plains.

The fight between Seo-yoon and the knights continued to become more exciting. She persistently struck back by killing 4 people and dropping 8 knights down from their horses.

“Kill her!”

The Haven Empire’s knights unleashed a wave of attacks towards Seo-yoon.

“How? That person, she will soon die!”

“Let’s go quickly!”

“Priests please use your healing magic!”

“That woman has a high level so she needs to live! This is the place. Please!”

The users of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult tried to help but they were incapable with their insignificant power.

Seo-yoon’s armour and helmet was okay but the durability of her mask fell, causing it to disappear completely. Her face appeared the moment the mask broke.

There was silence as time seemed to stop for a moment. The knights facing the female who fought fiercely also stopped moving. Men watching the broadcast from the home dropped the chicken legs they were holding from the shock! And the users of the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult could hardly believe their eyes.

“G.o.ddess….”

“The G.o.ddess!”

Morata’s Ice Beauty statue! The existence that had been designated as the number 1 treasure by the Gra.s.s Porridge Cult had appeared.

“The G.o.ddess appeared!”

“Ohhhh!”

“It is a miracle! There really is a G.o.d.”

“An appearance like that….”

The incarnation of a G.o.ddess poured new energy into the tired Gra.s.s Porridge members.

“The G.o.ddess is with us!”

“Defend the G.o.ddess!”

“Martyrdom! Martyrdom! Martyrdom! Martyrdom!”

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