Chapter 25

EP.25 Charge to the Core with Brute Force

As the iron bent,

the terminal scream echoed.

The shattered pieces of the armor pierced the heart, and the opposing warrior died instantly with a single blow.

There was no time to see the kill log appear.

A greatsword is different from a mace or a longsword.

First, there is the difference in the weapon's attack range,

and second, there is the difference in destructive power.

A massive greatsword, swung with all one's might using both hands from an appropriate distance, can shatter even the renowned full plate armor.

The reason for mentioning destructive power lies in this.

In personal combat, a greatsword is a weapon specialized in crushing armor rather than making precise cuts.

From the legs planted on the ground to the waist, upper body, shoulders, arms, and hands,

it takes all the strength of everything below the head to prepare a single attack, which takes a relatively long time,

but once completed and swung, the attack has the power to crush both the opposing weapon and the solid plate armor in one go.

The problem is,

- Hah, hah, hah...

a character who starts panting after just a few swings.

Even the bulky berserker, who runs out of stamina and starts panting heavily as the fight drags on, let alone the saint who receives penalties in strength and endurance due to customization.

In reality, it would be impossible for a human woman with no bulging muscles to wield a greatsword as tall as herself,

but the game allows such a fictional scenario.

The problem didn't end there.

Despite having watched for ten years and having a body brimming with gaming talent,

I managed to wield the greatsword,

but inevitably, my proficiency was bound to be lower than that of a priest build.

It was only natural for the game to turn against us.

Even without such build issues, the team had problems scattered everywhere.

The healer had to judge and cast heals and buffs on their own without my instructions, the tank had to take over the main tank role unexpectedly, Moha had to give up the adapted chat commands, and Parfeno was not performing as well as before...

Arrows rained down.

A sharp dagger aimed for the neck, following the shadow.

Flames that crackled and hissed reached close by.

Attacks that a single tired character couldn't handle were directed at the saint.

I was stunned, thinking the death count would rise inevitably, when suddenly, a towering priest appeared in front of the saint.

Crazy.

It took superhuman patience to swallow the curse that rose in my throat,

as the priest's actions were bizarre.

While blocking ranged attacks is one of the essential duties of a priest,

that's only when using the power of holy spells...

Where do you find a priest who takes all the hits with their body?

A physical holy shield, you mean?

The spot where the loud sound echoed was occupied by a nearly ragged berserker.

It seemed he wasn't dead...

The berserker clasped his hands in prayer for a moment,

then began to heal himself.

Under Gaia's care, broken bones were set, and new flesh grew.

“...”

The reason the 'Follower of Gaia' trait is considered difficult is that all healing is done by launching projectiles.

It was difficult to accurately target our team in the constantly changing situation, even with the help of various sub-traits, and even experienced players often made mistakes.

However, when healing oneself at zero distance, it's easy to hit and the difficulty is not an issue.

Except for the problem of accumulating pain values even if HP is fully restored,

his judgment to use his body as a shield and heal the lost HP was, while shocking, not a bad choice.

The berserker then grabbed the neck of the thief who had attempted an ambush from the shadows with one hand and lifted him up,

- This impious one!

and with the mace in his other hand, he cleanly cracked the thief's skull.

Which one is impious, I didn't have time to argue; I had to move.

...

...

...

Despite the best efforts of myself, the berserker, and the rest of the team,

it was difficult to prevent the game from tilting towards defeat.

Our team had reached the finals thanks to the berserker's performance and my appropriate instructions using holy spells that illuminated the entire battlefield.

Due to the ridiculous mishap, the two advantages disappeared in an instant, and even if everyone was somehow fulfilling their roles, the defeat gradually drew closer.

『The second defensive line of the Red Team's base has been breached.

As a result, the Empire's strongest swordsman, 'Yan,' has begun to act!』

So,

this was our last chance.

Though it wasn't said out loud, everyone, including the opposing team, must have thought so.

Even the opposing team.

While the characters that appear vary by base and battlefield,

the common point is that an NPC appears when the second defensive line is destroyed, a system designed to prevent the game from ending in a single team fight.

It could be called the last bastion.

Depending on the situation, players who are exhausted and have consumed resources in a team fight typically retreat after a single engagement with the powerful NPC that appears when the second defensive line is breached.

The disadvantaged team often gains an advantage from the named NPC's joining, securing key objectives or attacking part of the opposing team's base to create a foundation for a comeback.

Our team was no different.

With the defensive line breached,

the swordsman leading the charge with a blinding white sword energy that displayed formidable power,

we had broken through the front lines.

The team's momentum, which had suffered a string of defeats in each team fight, was revived,

and we finally reached the first defensive wall of the opposing team.

A barrage of spells was unleashed.

- ...Is this it?

Even the Sword Star, known as the Empire's star, had to kneel under the relentless bombardment that targeted him persistently.

Unlike players, NPCs cannot respawn.

No matter how powerful, once caught, they can't be used again, like expendable items on the battlefield.

I assessed the situation at that point.

The opposing team had a well-planned strategy.

The ultimate skill 'Hellfire' of the Flame Mage had struck the Red Team as they breached the defensive line.

It was expected.

A spell that requires a long preparation time can have a significant effect if prepared in a path the opponent must take.

However, it was a trap we had to walk into.

Our team had chosen to run straight to the opposing base, ignoring the objectives.

The skill gap was clear.

Indeed, a team that had reached the finals, we intuitively felt that we couldn't win with a conventional approach, starting the game with a penalty.

If we didn't achieve satisfactory results now, the opportunity for a comeback would be lost forever.

The thought was long,

but the decision was quick.

I finally spoke.

"Let's go for the core in one go."

In other words,

a brute force core charge.

The victory condition of this game is,

to break the core located deep within the opposing base.

No matter who dies or what damage is taken,

the side that breaks the core first wins.

The team members,

who might have objected,

silently followed my order.

As soon as we took the first step, a rain of arrows flew.

Ignoring them, we charged.

A soldier thrust a spear.

Even though a single attack could cut through the body, I ignored it.

The final fate of a rocket that loses its thrust is to fall ignominiously.

I didn't want that.

There was no time to take care of the following members.

This was a timing battle.

The image of the saint, who abandoned the fight and ran, flashed in my mind.

If she hesitated even a little, she would die.

With the second defensive line, the last bastion, already breached, this total wipeout would mean defeat.

Ignoring the accumulating damage, I ran forward, and the second defensive line appeared on the screen.

Finally,

the character I was controlling,

jumped over the iron fence that made up the defensive line.

"Please!"

The core,

only appears when the second defensive line is breached and the named NPC appears.

So, even if I was at the location of the core, it was meaningless.

But this was a timing battle.

There was a slight distance from the second defensive line to the core.

Moreover, when the second defensive line is breached, a powerful named NPC like Sword Star Yan would appear to block us.

Therefore, the plan was to have the team members break the defensive line and for me to arrive just as the core appeared and break it.

...

My plan worked out almost perfectly.

The team members, realizing my intention, began to break the second defensive line with all their might.

The problem was that the opposing team also realized my intention.

Of course, if I saw a warrior charging towards the core, I would naturally try to stop them.

So,

the Golden Sun and his forces began to surround the saint.

The team members needed time to reveal the core.

There was no reason to advance further, nor could they retreat.

As I said, this was the last chance.

The choice to bring three players, including the Golden Sun, and mobile soldiers to deal with me first was indeed wise.

Even if the second defensive line was breached, they could sweep us away with the appearing NPC.

Eliminating the immediate threat, me, was the perfect move for the opposing team.

Despite the situation,

I didn't give up.

Even if it was stubbornness,

I stared intently at the screen.

Time seemed to slow down,

to the point where I could think in sixty parts of a second,

judging which attacks would be fatal to my character and which could be ignored,

I willingly accepted the one-against-many battle.

Suddenly, I remembered what I had said to Moha during his