Chapter 12: Never-Despairing Warrior

[Eftarel Gallery]

―――

[Title: Mobidik’s phase 2 is extremely annoying;]

Phase 1, phase 3, and berserk mode don’t have much change in patterns, and in the first place, it’s the same that you’re done for if you get hit once, so let’s say you can push through with grit.

But this f*cking phase 2 is hopeless, is that a fact? How are we supposed to clear it?

When you enter phase 2, you have to deal with Mobidik + the black horse at the same time, so the patterns increase;

Just looking at one pattern, the answer comes out.

The pattern where the horse stomps with its front hooves.

Even if you somehow avoid that, the halberd comes flying right away and splits your head in half, so what the f*ck are we supposed to do LOL

…But.

I don’t ‘despair’.

Because Mobidik also didn’t despair.

Wait, Mobidik.

I will surely carry your despair…

[Comments]

-This guy is at it again;
ㄴ Just go confess to Mobidik LOL
ㄴ Do you think I haven’t tried…?
ㄴ Oh, f*ck;

-(Did you have fun writing this meme)

-I’m tired of seeing the drift so much;

-Yeah~ Even if you awaken as an S-rank, you can’t beat it, bye~

-But it’s a fact that Mobidik’s phase 2 is practically like, oh, you cleared phase 1? Now enter LOL
ㄴ Honestly, the guys who cleared it are strange LOL
ㄴ Hardcore players do it on easy mode when they have nothing else to do, it’s true that you can’t clear it.

―――

Kung—.

“Yes. You were always together.”

The black horse snorts, shaking its face and lifting its front hooves in a threatening manner. It seemed to be wary of me while its master, Mobidik, mounted.

I smiled and looked at the black horse.

Always stayed by Mobidik’s side, his friend.

[Ebion]

The name of the black horse, Ebion, appeared in small letters and then disappeared like scattering smoke.

Holding the straight sword tightly, I stare at one knight and one horse. For a moment, a pure white flash passed through the world that was only dark.

‘…This is just a game.’

It was a faint feeling.
The reason I felt that emotion was because a message window popped up in front of me, telling me to reduce the assimilation rate again. The thought that was burning hot for a moment cools down slowly as the immersion is momentarily broken.

I wanted to feel the afterglow, but.

‘It doesn’t change anything…’

This is a game. It’s not reality, and it’s not the other world I was summoned to.

I don’t know what magic the goddess used, but it’s just infinitely similar to another world.

‘But…’

Here, at least.

No.

Here, at least as much.

Surely.
Because I dreamed of it many times, what I could never achieve.

‘If I can…’

Willingly, even if this place is a game.

In order to bear the despair of my precious friend, even if it’s only for this moment, I will accept it as reality.

And when that’s over, I’ll probably be able to smile, saying I had a happy dream.

I was already smiling.
Holding the straight sword that might break at any moment with my right hand, aiming it at Mobidik.

Mobidik was also aiming his huge halberd at me. His black gaze flickered like fire. Mobidik must be burning me with that dark flame.

Originally, he was much taller than me, but when he mounted the horse, the difference in eye level became clear.

‘Hmm.’

A large and long halberd, and a worn straight sword that isn’t even sharp because all the teeth are out.

When I faced the physique that easily exceeded 3 meters after mounting Ebion, I started to feel pressure for the first time in a long time. But it was a different kind.

Whether I can do well.
It was just sad that I couldn’t be sure of that.

I turned off the message telling me to lower the assimilation rate, thinking that I would completely block it now, and then brushed the straight sword down to the right.

“Come.”

No need for long words.
At my short declaration, Ebion, carrying Mobidik, began to gallop.

-It’s starting LOL
-Why does the dialogue fit so well LOL
-Just one word… ‘Come’
-No, why isn’t the newbie scared to see that? He must be an active-duty awakened one;
-Did he really skip phase 1?
-Damn it, how did he do it;

The viewers each expressed their thoughts in the chat.

In their eyes, the black horse carrying Mobidik, Ebion, was galloping towards Yujin with intense motion.

But Yujin?
She closed her eyes calmly even in front of the gallop.

Even though Mobidik was carrying it, and even though Ebion, who made the worst phase 2, was running right in front of her.

Naturally, the viewers’ eyes were turned upside down. Even if you can’t run away right now, even though it’s the most vicious phase 2.

What is that attitude?

-Maybe… she’s already scared?
-Don’t slander our hero!
-Yeah; It’s true; If you see that in first person, it’s easier to just close your eyes LOL

Some viewers mocked Yujin again. They were already hit a few times, but that was the natural reaction.

Ebion runs.
Even though it was a simple gallop, it was an overwhelming movement because of its size. In fact, every time Ebion’s front hooves hit the ground, it seemed that the power was not unusual as it dug deep.

Finally, Ebion’s huge body, which had come in front of Yujin, became even larger. Because Ebion raised his front hooves high and was aiming at Yujin.

-Get in~
-Hero! Open your eyes, you bastard!
-What the f*ck is this person really doing? (I really don’t know)

The viewers were embarrassed.
Ebion’s action was one of the patterns of phase 2. Now, to the viewers’ eyes, Yujin seemed to have given up.

Some showed a reaction that it was understandable. They thought that Yujin had seen things about Mobidik, that is, ‘Tactics’.

Of course, there are many patterns in Mobidik’s phase 2, but there was one pattern that was considered the most vicious.

That was it now.
The pattern that comes out as soon as you enter phase 2.

Ebion raises his front hooves high and stomps on the player. If you don’t avoid it, it’s instant death.

If the player evades, it will hit the ground. While imbued with the energy used by the enemies of Eftarel.

If the shock wave caused by that shakes the player’s legs as it travels through the ground, Mobidik’s halberd will quickly close the distance and crush the player’s head.

You die.

If you jump here to avoid the vibration, you’re just giving yourself up as a target for the halberd. Then you die.

If you distance yourself, Ebion will follow you. Then, you will be hit by Ebion’s front hooves, or Mobidik will swing his halberd. That’s how you die.

Clearing was close to impossible.
In the first place, because phase 3 also exists, it is impossible to directly defeat Mobidik, so you have to kill Ebion.

But what about the difference in size?
Even the distance to swing the halberd from above is overwhelmingly defeated.

One pattern leads to several patterns. It was almost impossible to break through.

Most of the players who cleared Mobidik make adjustments, such as significantly lowering the difficulty so that they don’t die in one hit even if they can’t avoid the pattern.

Of course, if you don’t die after being hit by a pattern, there is of course the next pattern.

If Mobidik’s halberd pierces your body, Mobidik will pull the halberd. And he lifts it high and slams the player into the ground, and right after that, Ebion raises his front hooves and kills the player.

It was truly the worst.
There was a reason why players cursed the game company.

Therefore, the viewers thought that this time it would really be impossible.

-What?
-Why is she smiling?
-Hero! You opened your eyes!

But.
Contrary to their expectations, Yujin, who they thought would be afraid of Mobidik and keep her eyes closed, had opened her eyes before they knew it.

With a deep smile on her lips. Her gaze was slightly upward. She was looking at Ebion, who was about to stomp her front hooves right in front of her.

The distance was far. Mobidik and Ebion were overwhelmingly the winners in terms of their spacing. Even if Ebion’s attack is blocked or evaded, if the halberd, which is well over 2 meters, is swung faster than the sword, it will be difficult to avoid.

It happened because of the difference in physique and equipment. It was also because of the difficulty. In fact, only Yujin could perceive the infinitely split time.

The straight sword can, of course, hit the enemy faster than the halberd. You have to dominate time to find a clue to win.

That was the reason why most players couldn’t even dream of counterattacking and died while avoiding.

But the opponent was Yujin. Halberd, straight sword.

It is Yujin who is capable of moving faster than the unconscious act of just inhaling.

In a virtual reality world where anything bizarre can happen if there is real skill.

It was impossible for Yujin, who could cause a natural disaster even in reality, to feel a limit in mere virtual reality.

So.

Sagak—.

The sound of thinly slicing.
Yujin’s body, the sword moved. It was a similar movement to the first blow she inflicted on Mobidik. It meant that no one could recognize it.

One world.
There is only one flow. Everyone shares time, but how to use it is an individual problem.

Yujin pulled in time.
Placing the time-flowing world under consciousness, it is divided into countless images.

Everyone has their own time, but since there is only one flow, all of Yujin in time moved simultaneously.

Ebion’s raised upper body fell very leisurely. It didn’t look like he was trying to crush a person’s head. It looks like that to Yujin.

When Yujin in one time was looking at him, Ebion’s two front legs had already been cut off by Yujin in another time. Then the legs are cut off upwards.

When Ebion’s body tilted because his front legs disappeared and he couldn’t stand on the ground, Yujin was already under Ebion’s belly. It was right after seeing Mobidik’s halberd trying to aim at her.

Yujin’s body was like a splendid flower spinning. The trembling straight sword now creates laughter.

The worn straight sword danced quickly, drawing long lines on Ebion’s belly and two hind legs. It wasn’t even a blink of an eye. It doesn’t even pass a single breath.

Moving by splitting time into moments was also Yujin’s specialty, so all the viewers who were watching Yujin could not recognize the moment.

They started chatting.

-?
-It’s like this again…

Kung—!

After Ebion collapsed to the ground with a heavy sound, and Mobidik also fell to the ground. The weight was enormous, and dust rose.

Yujin of the last time was standing gracefully.
She was in a position that could be reached by walking straight from where she was originally standing.

-When did she go there?
-Did she even swing the sword LOL? It’s really crazy;
-I didn’t see it this time either LOL How can I move like that?
-Did you take drugs, streamer?(I really don’t know)
-Drugs LOL
-Is she going to phase 3? For real?

Even though there were few viewers, the chat room was on fire.

-Did phase 2 end? Already?
-My head hurts… Ouch…
-No, is she really going to clear this? Isn’t it the first time to clear Mobidik on Lunatic difficulty?
-Yeah, it is;
-No, it seems like she’ll just chew through phase 3 and berserk mode?
-Hero punch! Hero punch! Hero punch! Hero punch!
-I didn’t even see the pattern LOL

Returning to normal time.
While sensing the flow that is slowly accelerating, Yujin catches her breath.

And when Yujin turned her body, in her vision, Mobidik was raising his body among the thick dust.

Mobidik, who briefly received Yujin’s gaze, turned his rattling head and looked at Ebion, who had all four legs cut off.

And slowly, he turned his head again.
There was Yujin. Yujin, who was checking the condition of the straight sword with sharp eyes, also turned her head, and then Mobidik and her shared their gazes.

Only the sad wind blew. Mobidik lowered his head once, and strongly grasped the halberd with his trembling hand.

-Something big is coming…!
-Damn it TT Mobidik… Please don’t despair TT
-Every time I see this scene, I cry TT

Slowly raises his body. Until then, Yujin did not move. Mobidik’s gaze was directed at his friend, Ebion, who had always remained by his side.

―…….

And he raised the halberd high.
He aimed at the neck of Ebion, who was lying on the ground and whinnying sadly. The slightly trembling halberd was representing his feelings.

Soon, the halberd slowly pierces Ebion’s neck. Dark smoke, the energy used by those who despair in Eftarel.

He absorbed ‘despair’.
The gloomy atmosphere of darkness made Mobidik’s entire body even darker, and it follows like a tail in the trajectory of the halberd’s movement.

Finally, he slowly lowers the halberd without aiming.

It was a scene that signaled the end of phase 2, which was evaluated as the most vicious, and at the same time, the start of phase 3.

-…
-The chat room is so quiet;
-Pay your respects…
-The real immersion freaks were here LOL

The viewers were chatting like that, and now they were starting to look forward to what would happen.

Because they judged that phase 2 was over, they no longer expected Yujin to despair.

Everyone watched the play with a ‘maybe’ mind, and finally Mobidik took a step towards Yujin, and they held their breath and focused on the broadcast.

At some point, Kwang—! With a sound, Mobidik kicked the ground. The place that appeared was in front of Yujin. He was holding the halberd high.

-LOL
-Is this… Lunatic…?
-Is the level of fighting real…?

It was an overwhelming sight.
No one had ever reached Mobidik’s phase 3, which corresponds to the Lunatic difficulty.

Moreover, phase 1 and phase 2 were so vainly passed, so the viewers who honestly thought that phase 3 would be similar were even more surprised.

Therefore, this time, I thought that the aspect of the battle would be a little different, but.

“As expected, I’m overwhelming right now.”

Even though Mobidik appeared right in front of her, just like when Ebion raised his front hooves in front of her, she was calm.

“…But, I can’t go easy on you for the sake of your honor. It’s a shame.”

Saying that.
Yujin’s arm, who muttered quietly, moved.

No, it was after she had already moved that she muttered. Yujin’s arm was stretched out to the right.

Kagagak— The sound of metal interlocking touches people’s nerves. The viewers couldn’t concentrate for a moment due to the unpleasant noise.

When they belatedly stared at the play screen, Yujin’s swung straight sword was already becoming powder and shattering.

And Mobidik, holding the halberd high, collapsed to the ground.

It wasn’t just once.
It made the viewers mistake it for a single blow, but Yujin’s arm had moved more than twenty times.

In fact, Mobidik’s armor had not one line, but countless lines drawn on it.

The worn straight sword finally broke because it couldn’t withstand that fierce sword strike.

The chat room was filled with question marks because the viewers who didn’t know the hidden fact. Yujin couldn’t know that fact at all.

Kung—.
Next to Mobidik, who collapsed with a heavy sound, the sound of the halberd falling to the ground was somewhat sad.

Yujin quietly caught her breath and looked at the collapsed Mobidik, and soon the darkness that hung in the valley began to gather towards Mobidik from all directions.

The end of phase 3.
And the precursor to berserk, called the last phase.

The viewers suppressed their pounding hearts and were looking forward to it.

The scene where Mobidik, who boasts the worst difficulty in Eftarel, meets his end at the hands of a newbie playing on Lunatic difficulty.

That’s why no one’s chat came up anymore.

“Your despair, I feel it.”

Until those words came out of Yujin’s mouth.

-Oh, the atmosphere;
-Ugh, f*ck LOL
-What is this room?
-Streamer… Can you please stop brewing so much broth?
-Ru… ined…

And—.

[…Can you carry my despair.]

-What?
-Did I hear it wrong??
-Did ‘hero’ say that?
-It sounds like Mobidik?
-How do you know Mobidik’s voice LOL
-Wow, there was really a trigger for Mobidik too LOL?
-Isn’t it really the world’s first?
-My heart is pounding even though I’m not doing it LOL

When the voice of Mobidik, who had been silent all along, came out through the small gap in the black helmet, the chat room started to burn again.