From Today, I'm a Player

Chapter 23: Battle of the Rhine River Pt. 3

“Hyung, is it okay for things to progress like this?” Choi Yong-Su said to Choi Yeong-Seong worriedly. While he knew the way the situation progressed wasn’t going to be okay, he thought that it might just maybe be part of that person’s plan. It was clear that he still held onto a glimmer of hope. However, Choi Yong-Su soon got his answer.

“Damn it,” Choi Yeong-Seong cursed, biting his lip. Did he think this was okay? Not a chance. Everything was falling apart. Their plans were going wrong, no, the plan itself was becoming meaningless. Choi Yeong-Seong’s original scheme was to gradually let the useless guild members and mobilized Hunters be consumed by the waves, only leaving the necessary storytellers alive when he finally began the real attack.

[<The Ruler of the Riverside> is beginning to doubt your skills.]

But everything had gone wrong. To display his strength, he needed to obtain the unconditional support of those inside the gates. Things couldn’t be going this way for him to fully display the Authority given by <The Ruler of the Riverside>, the Rule of the River.

‘The guild members are also agitated.’

Not all of the Northern Army Guild members were aware of Choi Yeong-Seong's plans. He had only informed them of what they needed to know. Some of the Northern Army Guild members had already begun to look at him suspiciously.

‘Did they notice I was using them as?disposables?’

The plans that person had prepared for him were already becoming a dish set for another bastard.

‘That dog-like bastard.’

“Hyung!” said Choi Yong-Su, urging Choi Yeong-Seong for an answer.

"Not yet…"

However, Choi Yeong-Seong’s brain wasn’t good enough to handle the unforeseen situation. His strategy so far had been to just follow along with that person’s will.

Still…he came to a decision. “We’ll continue like this. We have to observe a little longer.”

He still had something left to believe in—his own power. Now that he was an A-Rank, he had faith in himself. There weren’t very many A-Rank Hunters currently. No one in this place knew the true extent of his strength, not even Lee Jun-Kyeong, who had been raging at the forefront and annihilating the monsters. Even if he did…

‘The gap between us is huge. It looks like the B-Rank that punk registered with the Association was accurate. I’m already an A-Rank, so there’s a huge difference between us.’

He had already seen the extent of Lee Jun-Kyeong’s skills. But, unlike himself, who had been hiding his abilities, that punk was demonstrating his power to the best of his abilities. He had judged Lee Jun-Kyeong’s ability to definitely be excellent, but, at least for now, the other man still wasn’t comparable to his level. Choi Yeong-Seong judged that it was still okay for now.

‘That’s a mistake.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong, who was standing in the distance, looked up at Choi Yeong-Seong with his lips raised into a smirk. He could predict what the guild master was thinking and how he would move through the changes in his expression and his reaction.

‘Rumors said that while Gunther’s combat ability was outstanding, his ability to strategize was lackluster.’

Since the Guild Master was acting the same as the one Lee Jun-Kyeong had read about in the book of the Demon King, he had thought maybe there might be something different he hadn’t been noticing. However, it seemed as though the guild master truly lacked the ability to analyze any unexpected variables.

‘By this point, you probably think this is all I amount to.’

It was another one of Choi Yeong-Seong’s misjudgments. Lee Jun-Kyeong had simply been relying on his superb body and high stats for the recent stats. He still hadn’t used…

‘The ability of Muspel’s Spear.’

Or the Authority, Reign of Fire; he basically had shown nothing yet.

[<The Sky of the Apocalypse> smiles at your insidiousness.]

Lee Jun-Kyeong ignored the voice in his head as the fifth wave would start soon. From now on, things would be different. Until now, the Rhine River Gate had not shown its true power. From the fifth wave on, it would begin to show why it deserved the rank of A-Grade.

[The wave is starting.]

[A mid-level boss has appeared.]

[A Water Golem has emerged from the Rhine River.]

As the wave from before was coming to an end, the calm waters of the Rhine River began to shake. The surface of the river began to seethe as if a volcano had erupted.

“A… Water golem?”

The hunters had never heard of such a monster before, so they turned back with pale faces, terrified.

The golem was a powerful boss, regardless of what anyone in this era would say.

Suddenly, a boulder rose from the edge of the river.

Rumble.

It began to twist and stretch with a strange sound, forming into a blue golem that was an amalgam of water and stone.

Boom.

It began to move.

Someone sensitive to mana noticed the strange flow and shouted, “Dodge it!”

However, it was already too late.

Shoot!

A massive blast of water from the water golem’s chest swept through the Hunters like a tsunami. For the Hunters, the water golem that was spewing water was like the grim reaper, but for Lee Jun-Kyeong, all it was was a huge chunk of experience and a loot box. It was no more, no less.

“This is nothing.”

With a smirk, Lee Jun-Kyeong started running ahead with a shield and a spear.

***

Everyone knew that the golem was a type of monster that had been created in a dimension where magic and magical engineering were extremely advanced. It was one of the most powerful monsters, and the weakest golems could match up to C-Rank Hunters easily. Among the different types, the water golem…

‘You have to be at least a B+-Rank to even think about fighting one.’

That was why it had appeared here as a mid-level boss. Unlike other golems that were made out of metal or other materials, water golems were extremely difficult to deal with.

“We can’t strike it!” screamed a Hunter who had used all of his skills to attack the water golem with all his might. The weapons of the Hunters would pass through the water-like liquid.

Lee Jun-Kyeong shouted back, “Mana! We have to imbue our weapons with mana when we attack!”

However, there were only a few Hunters who had the skills to be able to follow his command.

“You want me to imbue my mana into my weapon?”

“Damn it, how do you expect us to do that!”

They were currently in an era where Hunters had just appeared. Imbuing a weapon with mana was an advanced concept that wasn’t well known yet. It was hard to find a Hunter who understood how to channel mana into their weapons in the present time, before the cataclysm and before the reorganization of rankings.

Of course…

“Is it like this?”

“I’ve done it before too!”

…a few talented Hunters seemed to be able to realize that ability on their own. The gate they were in was perfect for using advanced mana techniques as all of the Hunters had had their mana strengthened due to the increase in mana density. One by one, more and more Hunters were able to imbue their weapons with mana. These Hunters took the lead and faced the water golem.

“It’s working! I’m telling you, it works!”

“We can win!”

They all shouted with joy. Unlike their previous ineffective attacks, the attacks made by weapons imbued with mana were effective.

However…

‘That’s not all.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong took a step back. He was someone who had the ability to face the water golem on his own. Still, he felt as though he had to give the other Hunters a role as well.

‘If I leave things like this, everyone would die anyway.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong was someone who valued his own interests the most.

‘Everyone will know the mana concepts after the cataclysm anyway.’

He wasn’t someone who gave out information without thinking. But that didn’t mean he was cruel enough to just stand by while others died.

‘I have the highest contribution anyway.’

Furthermore, it was clear that he had played the most significant role in slaying the water golem. He was sure of it, as it seemed as though the water golem had already decided to target him anyway. Since he was going to monopolize the experience points and the items regardless of what happened, he had to help them.

“The gate is currently packed with mana! Don’t try to control the increased power, everyone. Just let it all explode!”

As the waves repeated, the Hunters began to trust and rely on Lee Jun-Kyeong. Then, just as he had said, they gradually gave up control. The results were surprising. As if it would consume the Hunters, the amplified mana gathered together…

“It’s working!”

-Keuaghhhh!

…and exploded onto the golem. The boss began to stumble for the first time, and a much larger number of Hunters started to use their mana. However…

-Keuaghhhh!

The water golem attacked, replenishing its body with the river water again. As if they were cornered, the Hunters retreated while getting injured.

‘The Hunters can’t handle it anyway.’

The attacks imbued with mana had only damaged the water golem. Unfortunately, they weren’t powerful enough to inflict fatal wounds or accumulate significant damage.

‘The strategy to raid a water golem…’

He already knew it. He always had a deep interest in magic engineering, having studied it for a long time as he wondered if ordinary people could also use it to gain strength. Therefore, he had also been interested in information about the monsters created using magic engineering. The best way to fight a water golem was to determine the location of the nucleus that controlled a golem and attack it. Furthermore, there was one more thing to remember.

‘Attributes.’

It was important to use the opposite attribute of the water golem to take it down. That was the most ideal and effective attack method. Lee Jun-Kyeong looked back for a moment. The Northern Army Guild hadn’t moved at all, even though the water golem had appeared.

Those idiots.

From this point on, he would lose all interest in them.

-Keuaghhhh!

Lee Jun-Kyeong stared at the water golem. The Hunters were becoming excited. Even though it was only a little, they were actually able to inflict damage against a water golem that would normally have been an unthinkable opponent. They had become incited after surviving against such a powerful enemy.

'This should be enough for now.'

Now, it was harvest time.

Blaze.

Flames began to rise from the forearm that was holding a spear. They raced down his arms, spinning like a whirlwind.

[Muspel's Spear is absorbing fire.]

His red spear absorbed the fire, beginning to take on a deeper crimson color. It became hot, and the heat was starting to rise.

Blaze.

As if refueling, flames raced down Lee Jun-Kyeong’s arms once again. It was a continuous cycle of flames and absorption. Eventually…

“It’s hot...”

“Why did it suddenly get so hot?”

The space began to heat up, so much so that the surrounding Hunters could feel it.

‘We already know where the nucleus is.’

A blue gem was revealed when the Hunters began to attack the water golem with weapons imbued with mana. Compared to the size of the golem, it was quite miniscule, like a speck of dust. It was so noticeable that it could be distinguished even if no one knew it was the nucleus.

Lee Jun-Kyeong had been so absorbed in hunting lately to the point that he skimped on sleep, but he hadn’t been just simply leveling up by gaining experience. He had also focused on his martial technique and how to use his weapons and abilities effectively. It was something he most likely couldn’t have done if he had to do it alone.

However, Lee Jun-Kyeong had memories from reading the book of the Demon King, who was a hero and a villain who had already shaken the world by maximizing the same skills Lee Jun-Kyeong had.

[The Demon King's spear was like lightning that pierced the world. Wherever the spear went was full of bright flames, and any enemies pierced by the spear didn’t leave a corpse. It resembled lightning piercing the world and a meteorite falling from the sun.]

It was a verse he had seen in the book of the Demon King. Lee Jun-Kyeong’s abilities had not yet reached that level. The Demon King was a true monster, a transcendent level monster that couldn’t be compared with himself, who had only just become a B-Rank. Nevertheless…

Boom!

‘My strength is enough to handle a water golem.’

After Muspel’s Spear finally compressed and contained the heat, Lee Jun-Kyeong hurled it from his swollen forearm. It pierced through the air.

Woosh!

His spear raced through the air. Molten-hot heat emanated from it and scattered flames through the space it passed by. The calculated throw avoided all of the other Hunters as it targeted only one spot: the water golem’s weak point, its core, the location of the blue gem.

Bang.

It hit its mark.

Hissssss.

A strange sound rang out, resembling the sound of a boiling kettle or heated iron plunged into the water. Then, as the moisture hit the air and a thick fog filled the surroundings, he began to hear voices.

[You have succeeded in defeating the mid-level boss.]

[The Sponsors are watching you.]

[Some Sponsors show admiration.]

[Sponsors are showing extreme interest in one Incarnation.]

The fog began to withdraw, and it began around one particular person. That person was making the fog recede due to the still boiling temperatures coming off of him. He was the one who threw the red spear that defeated the water golem, the one who had saved the Hunters and helped them survive. He extended his hand, and the burning spear returned to it.

Flicker.

Muspel’s Spear had earned this ability a while ago after it had leveled up. The Hunters stared at Lee Jun-Kyeong as if nothing else was around them.

At that point.

“That’s right… I remember him now…” someone started muttering as if they couldn’t believe it.

“What?” another asked.

The first one clarified, “Those rumors. About the strange Hunter who used a spear and a shield.”

These rumors had almost been forgotten as there had been so few updates.

“I had heard he was a D-Rank upon awakening and was getting close to C-Rank…”

As expected, rumors never got things right. It wasn’t C-Rank, but B-Rank.

“The monster rookie… He’s that Super Rookie!”

Lee Jun-Kyeong scratched at his head in a bashful manner when he saw the man pointing at him.

Scritch.

1. Back to Ch. 1, Gehenna and the cataclysm.