Chapter 64 - Is Elden Soul Hard? (4)

A fresh start.

There was no better way to describe the gravekeeper standing before Lee Kyung-bok now.

The aura emanating from the giant figure materialized as a surging blue aura. This blue aura was layered over the old, dull greatsword.

"Indeed, the staging is excellent."

Lee Kyung-bok honestly expressed his admiration at the sight. The chat messages from the viewers echoed his sentiment.

- Abandoned greatsword = Gravekeeper who gave up being a knight

- No way, this isn't a coincidence

- The staging shows that even though the body is old, the soul is still alive

- Really gives me goosebumps ㅎㄷㄷ

- From really excels at such metaphors ㅋㅋ

- That's why it's so satisfying ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The chat window felt satisfied with some viewers' interpretations. However, the admiration only went so far.

No matter what the gravekeeper's background was, he was now an opponent to be defeated.

Lee Kyung-bok's face hardened instantly as he charged forward. The gravekeeper, as if waiting for this, lunged at him.

'So fast...!'

The gravekeeper's movements became incredibly swift, making it hard to believe it was the same person from a moment ago.

While the preparatory motions were still large, the activation speed had doubled. The whistling sound that previously ended with a whoosh now turned into a sharp crack of the air.

"Now, let's see."

Of course, it wasn't a speed that Lee Kyung-bok couldn't handle. He lifted the broken longsword with a faint smile.

"Let's see how this goes!"

To anyone watching, it seemed like a futile resistance.

In reality, it would be surprising if his body wasn't split in half.

However, this was virtual reality, a game.

With a heavy clang of metal, the greatsword was deflected.

- Incredible!

- A parry!?

- How did he time it while running?

- If it were me, I'd be dead in three seconds

- [P][e][r][f][e][c][t]!

Lee Kyung-bok used the parry's stiffness to counterattack. After a parry, the enemy's weakness is exposed, and a critical hit can be applied.

He quickly distanced himself as the sword wind narrowly passed over his shoulder.

"Excellent!"

The gravekeeper expressed genuine admiration as he adjusted his stance. Lee Kyung-bok took a deep breath and smiled.

"The feel is better than I thought."

Lee Kyung-bok and the gravekeeper continued their battle. The broken longsword, now glowing red, flashed amidst the rising blue aura.

The two colors intertwined brilliantly.

- No way, this is just about the feel?

- Is this Elden Soul? What is this?

- This is fantasy in a different sense ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

- The speed is insane, and the aura increases the range, yet he's blocking everything?

- From! What kind of tutorial is this?

- No matter how old the content is, this is really intense ㅋㅋㅋ

- Veteran (First Playthrough)

The viewers screamed in delight. This was a playstyle they had never seen before.

However, they couldn't afford to relax.

- Why is the gravekeeper so tough now?

- He seems to have awakened and had his abilities boosted

- Look, there's an aura around his body too!

- It's not just a sieve; it's a wall

The awakened gravekeeper didn't fall easily like before. Even under Lee Kyung-bok's continuous attacks, he didn't stop and counterattacked.

- But the god player still one-shots.

- Wow... One mistake and it's really over?

- Spoiler) There's no "one mistake" for the god player.

- Haha, he's the main man.

- Info) Surprisingly, the god player's weapon is the broken longsword.

- What kind of quest greed is this in the middle of a fight?

On the other hand, Lee Kyung-bok remained unchanged. He still had the one-hit kill health and the broken longsword.

However, contrary to the viewers' expectations, Lee Kyung-bok's insistence on the weapon wasn't just for the quest.

'If I block with a hand axe, it'll break immediately.'

Parrying isn't a universal solution.

Each parry reduced the weapon's durability. He instinctively realized that a hand axe couldn't withstand a sword strike.

'They say it's a veteran-exclusive weapon, but they did give it durability.'

As Lee Kyung-bok had guessed, the developers had set the durability of the "broken longsword" much higher than other weapons.

After several intense battles, Lee Kyung-bok distanced himself.

'The pattern itself hasn't changed much.'

He didn't engage in the battle mindlessly. Lee Kyung-bok attempted attacks from various directions to see if anything had changed after the awakening.

The result of his observations was one thing.

- Huh? What?

- A big move is coming!

- As soon as he distances himself, it flies over ㅎㄷㄷ

The gravekeeper's blue aura concentrated on the blade. Like a flame fed with oil, the greatsword turned a deep blue.

Finally, the gravekeeper swung the greatsword forcefully, and the aura detached, drawing a blue trajectory as it flew.

'The move with the longest delay.'

To avoid the sword energy flying in a large "I" shape, one had to either lie flat on the ground or dash to the side immediately.

Lee Kyung-bok chose the latter over the former.

'If I dodge and aim for a weak point, it'll be too late.'

Even if he managed to dodge and aim for a weak point, the gravekeeper would already have recovered his stance and surrounded himself with aura again.

- Haha, there's no time to rest

- As expected, From is cruel!

- Clearly to control the marauder ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

- Near-combat induction is really intense

- One mistake and it's a mental deathmatch!

- Fight fiercely, that's what it means ㅋㅋㅋ

- This is Elden Soul!

- Elden players are immediately enlightened ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

If the distance exceeded a certain point, the sword energy would fly.

The viewers thought this pattern was designed to induce close combat.

However, Lee Kyung-bok had a different opinion.

"It's almost over."

His statement caused question marks to spread like wildfire in the chat. Lee Kyung-bok didn't elaborate.

The gravekeeper swung the sword energy again because Lee Kyung-bok didn't close the distance.

'I can do this.'

He ran towards the sword energy.

His concentration sharpened, and his senses became more acute. His spirit became clearer, and his divine power followed his will. His heightened senses gathered information.

With the influx of information, time seemed to slow down.

The undulating sword energy, the air currents above it, and the angle of the gravekeeper's body turning—all this information was neatly organized in Lee Kyung-bok's mind, fitting together like puzzle pieces.

'Now.'

The trajectory of the sword energy and the flow of the gravekeeper's movements to recover his stance were vividly imprinted in his mind.

Lee Kyung-bok held the broken longsword in reverse and struck the center of the sword energy from below. The red blade clashed with the blue aura.

An action that seemed suicidal at first glance.

However, Lee Kyung-bok was certain.

'It split!'

The result of countless parries and experiments. He confirmed that the auras canceled each other out when the two weapons met.

In a different context, it would be impossible, but for a sorcerer, it was feasible.

The sword energy, split in two, fell to the ground, creating a thick cloud of dust.

- Ah...

- He's going for it

- This was a bit too optimistic ㅠ

- How did he split the sword energy?;;

- Is he finally meeting Yudahui?

- Still, this is the Elden series

Viewers who didn't know the details expected his defeat. With one-hit kill health, they couldn't imagine any other outcome.

However, Lee Kyung-bok was someone who exceeded expectations.

- What? ㅋㅋㅋ Can't you tell from the dust cloud?

- ㄹㅇㅋㅋ The newbies still lack faith

- As expected, the god player!

- Wow ㅋㅋ He split it

- Does he think he's a god player for nothing? ㅋㅋㅋ

The existing fans' belief was unwavering. And as if to prove it, a silhouette pierced through the dust cloud, charging towards the gravekeeper.

"Amazing...!"

The gravekeeper, who was adjusting his stance, expressed his amazement, echoing the viewers' reactions.

A blue aura began to envelop the gravekeeper's body again from the greatsword, but it wasn't faster than Lee Kyung-bok.

A red trajectory shot towards the gravekeeper's chest.

Perhaps due to the accumulated damage and the final critical strike, the gravekeeper planted the greatsword on the ground like a support and knelt.

The blue aura that had been rising dissipated.

-WA!

-Amazing! Amazing!

-It split?

-(GameTalk)(GameTalk)(GameTalk)

-He split it with a broken longsword? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-From today, Jusuri is no longer a meme character but a god character.

-That's Eva.

-ㄹㅇ Eva ㅋㅋㅋ

-He did it because he's the god player, not Eva.

-Three strikes, and Eva immediately left.

As the chat window overflowed with amazement and satisfaction, Lee Kyung-bok spoke lightly.

"Aim for the center, or the sword energy will scatter. Be careful when you try it."

The chat window erupted in laughter at his comment.

- Haha, who can follow that?

- Another challenge!

- This was really entertaining

- Splitting sword energy with a broken longsword? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

- SplitChallenge ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

- The forced rhyme is funnier ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋ

The viewers and Lee Kyung-bok were briefly distracted by the chat.

Soon, a cutscene followed.

The gravekeeper slowly released the greatsword he was holding.

The old greatsword fell helplessly to the ground.

The protagonist said nothing. He just silently stared at the gravekeeper.

"You are... different."

The gravekeeper gathered the dispersing blue aura in his fist. He then slowly extended his hand.

"You might be different."

As his hand opened, a light particle floated in the air. At the same time, the gravekeeper's body began to dissipate.

Like the knight who left behind a mysterious soul and disappeared.

"What...?"

The protagonist, surprised, asked, but the gravekeeper handed him his lantern and disappeared.

Only the old greatsword and worn robe remained.

- Gravekeeper, noooooo

- A truly honorable death ㅠ

- Godkeeper, you saved the newbie's wallet!

- I apologize for cursing earlier

- But curses still come out

- He's the main man

- Haha, don't ruin the mood!

Ignoring the chat, the protagonist touched the light particles.

As before, the light seeped in, and a message appeared.

['You have obtained the "Complete Soul of the Gravekeeper."']

- Wow?

- "Complete" is added ㅎㄷㄷ

- Wow ㅋㅋ This is really intense

- Another branch in the hidden route

- ㄹㅇㅋㅋ If he just killed the gravekeeper, "Complete" wouldn't be there.

- Right! Dying as a gravekeeper and dying as an awakened knight are different

- Ah ㅋㅋ It's a hidden route within a hidden route within a hidden route!

- Mind-blowing!

- But if it weren't for the god player, we wouldn't have seen this story.

The viewers were once again amazed.

Meanwhile, the protagonist seemed to have composed himself and headed towards the forest.

The view slowly pulled back, showing a dense forest, and the screen went dark.

"Ah, so this is the end of the graveyard."

- No, he needs to check the stone slab again

- Really intense ㅋㅋ He's moving on without grinding in the graveyard

- ㄹㅇㅋㅋ It's multi-play content, so they're making it harder

- What soul? It's the first playthrough?

- It's a perfect first playthrough.

- A perfect first playthrough = a typical multi-play

- His skill is already at that level ㅋㅋ

- Not stagnant, but a veteran who flowed into Elden Soul.

- Both of you are right

- What a prime minister-level meta ㅋㅋ

While the viewers chatted, the scene changed.

"Wow, the atmosphere has changed again."

The forest had already grown dark.

The tall trees blocked the sky, making it impossible to tell if it was day or night.

But the gravekeeper's offer of a lantern wasn't just for the darkness.

- The foggy forest atmosphere is intense.

- Dark doesn't mean dark fantasy!

- Really ㅋㅋ The open area obscures the view and immediately creates tension

- An indoor space with walls would be better ㅋㅋㅋ

- This is where it really starts ㅋㅋ

An unusually thick fog enveloped the forest. While the darkness could be illuminated by the lantern, the fog remained.

The protagonist, with a determined expression, securely fastened the lantern and said,

"I need to be careful not to get lost."

With that monologue, control returned to him.

- As expected, Jusuri is fearless

- Because he's an explorer ㅋㅋㅋ

- Getting lost isn't the problem now!

- But the god player will probably go fearlessly ㅋ

- He's not moving?

-A......

-Here it comes.

- Bathroom break?

Lee Kyung-bok smiled at the chat. The existing fans knew what he wanted.

"Really interesting. I understand why so many viewers recommended Elden Soul."

His comment stirred the chat.

- Ah ㅋㅋ I feel accomplished

- Don't do this! Don't!

- Wow ㅋㅋ No way, right?

-????

-Wait, wait! I'll recharge and come back!

-Newbies, deny reality ㅋㅋ

Soon, the other viewers caught on. Lee Kyung-bok clapped and smiled even wider.

"Yes, that's it. The feel is great, and I'm really looking forward to it."

- Haha, if you're looking forward to it, do more!

- I'll pay! Money! Money!

- Open the donations! Please!

- You're ending it like this!?

- Perfection!

-Miss you ㅠ

- Ah, the streamer is just perfect!

The viewers' cries made Lee Kyung-bok look a bit regretful.

"Ah, right. I remember now because you mentioned money. The quest hasn't been settled yet."

['Veteran's Principle' has donated 100,000 won.]

The quest was immediately settled with his comment. The viewers were even more frustrated.

"See you next stream! Bye!"

But Lee Kyung-bok mercilessly ended the stream with a greeting.

The screen turned black.

- Perfection!

- I'll pay more... I recharged...

- Damn! He tried to extend the stream with a quest, but he's too quick

- Really gone? Really?

- God player, aware of the capitalist wave but not consumed by it

- Really ㅋㅋ So intense!

- Streamer training skills on display ㅋㅋ

- Newbies, come to your senses?

- You chose the god player, so tough it out

- But it's too entertaining not to watch ㅋㅋ

- You'll get used to it quickly ㅋㅋ

The existing fans offered not-so-comforting comfort to the new viewers and left the stream. Some viewers, still in disbelief, remained.

- The skill wasn't the issue, it was the training ㅋㅋ

- Really drives you crazy ㅋㅋ

- A complete streaming genius ㅋㅋ

- How can you not watch the next stream? ㅋㅋ

- ㄹㅇㅋㅋ This can't even be edited

- Every moment is legendary; what do you think will be edited? ㅋㅋ

- Well, see you next time!

- Wow ㅋㅋ The Elden Soul community will be in an uproar.

The viewers dispersed, looking forward to the next stream.

It was Elden Soul's first stream, leaving a lot behind.