Overgeared

by Park Saenal

  They were the masters of anomalies. They used unconventional swordsmanship to confuse and overwhelm their opponent. Then what about Chucksley? He didn’t show any gaps, because he was faithful to the basics and excluded variables.

  This style of swordsmanship was bad for Grid, who was still lacking. All of Grid’s techniques were blocked.

  Chaaeng! Chaeng!

  ‘Hey, this…’

  The more Grid competed with the sword, the more he understood Chucksley’s strength. Grid had the advantage in speed, but he couldn’t use it.

  ‘I want to see his status window.’

  He wanted to swap to the Great Lord’s Sword and view Chucksley’s information. Chucksley was probably a named NPC. But he couldn’t afford to do it.

  Jjeejeeeong!

  The extremely honest, but fast and powerful sword, put pressure on Grid. Grid was forced to focus on defense.

  “Okay! You’re doing well, Sir Chucksley!”

  Prince Ren cheered after standing up. He gained confidence after seeing Chucksley overpower Grid.

  “Grid! This is the result of your pride and self-righteousness!”

  How could he confront 5,000 soldiers alone? The royal army was helped by Grid’s stupidity. Prince Ren was sure that he would win this war.

  “Kill him! Kill Grid and go straight to Reidan!”

  Prince Ren shouted while Bunny Bunny cursed in the distance.

  ‘Dammit!’

  The protagonist of Bunny Bunny’s video was originally Hurent. But Hurent was dominated in an instant by a farmer. Then he tried turning the main character into Grid, but…

  ‘Grid is losing to Chucksley!’

  Bunny Bunny didn’t want this result. He wanted Grid to defeat the strong enemies. However, the current situation looked helpless. Bunny Bunny was feeling resentful when a voice entered his ears.

  “The majority of the northern army seems to have survived. We made good time.”

  “…!”

  Bunny Bunny was a second advancement assassin. A person could get close to him without him noticing? They could only be a top ranker. In other words, the owner of the voice next to Bunny Bunny wasn’t ordinary.

  “You…!”

  Bunny Bunny turned around and was shocked. It was the master of beauty, Lauel of the silver hair. One of the 10 Rookies who played for the US team in the National Competition, and someone who was now one of Grid’s top aides.

  Bunny Bunny’s eyes shone at meeting a celebrity and Lauel grinned.

  “It’s interesting to see Bunny Bunny, who I’ve only seen on TV before. Are you live?”

  “T-That’s impossible. I need to solve the problem of image rights, so I’m taking a recording.”

  “Ah, it’s a relief that you aren’t stupid. Please contact me before you start the broadcast. We have to talk about the distribution of revenue.”

  “Yes, yes. I will keep that in mind.”

  Lauel’s profile stated that he was 20 years old. Bunny Bunny was seven years older. But he couldn’t feel comfortable around Lauel. The only thing that mattered in society was power and wealth.

  “Earl Lauel, the soldiers are ready.”

  A blond man appeared behind Lauel. He was an NPC called Asmophel. There were 1,000 soldiers gathered behind him with excellent military discipline. Every soldier had killing intent in their eyes and they were orderly. Compared to them, the royal army that was considered the best in the Eternal Kingdom was like a child.

  ‘What is this?’

  Bunny Bunny admired it. He never imagined that Grid could train an army to this degree.

  ‘Grid is even great at nurturing an army!’

  The more he discovered, the greater he thought Grid was. But what was this? Why was he on the verge of dying alone in enemy territory? Bunny Bunny directed his gaze back to the battlefield.

  Grid was still dueling Chucksley. He didn’t have any wounds, but it was the same for Chucksley. Chucksley overpowered Grid with his swordsmanship, while Grid made up for what he was lacking with speed.

  The problem was that there were 5,000 soldiers behind Chucksley.

  ‘The moment those 5,000 soldiers move…’

  The balance would collapse and Grid would die. Bunny Bunny felt nervous and asked.

  “Lauel, shouldn’t you help Grid?”

  Lauel was relaxed. As he watched the battle of Grid and Chucksley through the dust, he made a meaningful remark.

  “You don’t know Grid’s abilities.”

  In the first place, Grid’s strength wasn’t swordsmanship.

  “I don’t know why he’s playing around with swordsmanship with that person, but I don’t need to worry. Knight Chucksley, he might be strong, but he isn’t comparable to the people that Grid has faced so far. Isn’t that right? Sir Asmophel.”

  “The opponent’s skill is still insufficient.”

  ‘Playing around? A great swordsman is lacking?’

  Bunny Bunny doubted his ears. He thought that Lauel and Asmophel were speaking unreasonably. At that moment.

  “Kuaaaack!”

  A terrible scream shot into the sky. It must be Grid! Bunny Bunny freaked out and zoomed in on the direction.

  “This is impossible!”

  Bunny Bunny was at a loss for words. The great swordsman Chucksley, who had been dominating the whole time, was now bleeding from the chest.

  “Now.”

  Lauel instructed Asmophel, who shouted towards the soldiers.

  “Aim your bows!”

  Reidan’s soldiers moved in a sleek manner. They quickly stabilized their feet in the sand, took out a bow and pulled back the bowstring.

  ‘What are they thinking?’

  Bunny Bunny wondered. The distance from here to Grid was approximately 300m. It was too far to hit the mark. Even if there was a lucky shot, it was obvious that the person wouldn’t suffer a great impact because the power would be greatly reduced.

  However, Reidan’s soldiers had a hidden secret. It was the power of items. Reidan’s soldiers were equipped with items produced by Khan. The power and accuracy were completely different from typical bows. What if the power of qigong master Lauel was added?

  “Wind Dragon’s Roar.”

  Kuoooooh!!

  A westerly wind started to sweep through the desert.

  “Fire!”

  Papat! Pa pa pa pat!

  1,000 arrows were simultaneously shot. On the battlefield, the royal army watching Grid was forced to accept the baptism of arrows pouring down.

  “Wow…”

  Bunny Bunny trembled.

  It was the first time he saw the scene of 1,000 soldiers being wrapped in a pillar of light, symbolizing they had levelled up at the same time.

  Chapter 340

  Chapter 340

  Training, training, training! And more training! Why did they have to go through such hellish days. Reidan’s soldiers had always questioned it. They couldn’t understand why they had to train so much every day.

  ‘I know that it’s necessary to become stronger to protect our home and families. But still, isn’t this too much? Once we adjust to a training regime, we are forced to do a new one and then adjust to that. What if this keeps repeating?’

  “The baker was a former soldier. I don’t think there is any army on the continent training as hard as us.”

  “The infantry in the rear are grumbling. The level of training we receive has already exceeded the level of ordinary soldiers?”

  “Of course. Isn’t our training at the level of special forces? It’s crazy. Why do we have to climb a wall without a ladder?”

  “I don’t like the giant worm hell training. When I move through sand that is pouring down like a waterfall, I really feel like a hamster on a wheel. Then when I see the giant worms, I get goosebumps…”

  “Isn’t it ridiculous to train new archers by firing at birds? No, we’re infantry, so why do we need to have good archery skills?”

  “I don’t understand why we ha
ve to do field work. Isn’t this exploitation of labor instead of training?”

  “Hah… Why is the duke giving us such trials?”

  Reidan’s soldiers loved and respected Grid. It wasn’t an exaggeration. Duke Grid was the one who saved them from starving in their bleak homeland. The soldiers would lay down their lives for Grid.

  But those thoughts gradually faded. As they were forced to do harsh training by Grid, this gratitude disappeared and hatred started growing. It was a natural phenomenon. The training that the soldiers of Reidan received?

  It was similar to the training received by the Black Knights, the second strongest knights division of the empire. It was much higher compared to normal training, so it was at a mental and physical level that ordinary soldiers couldn’t afford.

  But they somehow managed to endure.

  Piaro and Asmophel.

  It was possible because the two people, who were originally supposed to be pillars of the empire, instructed them.

  ***

  “Prepare!”

  A westerly wind started blowing in the desert. The soldiers of Reidan pulled back their bowstrings without a single error. These were the poisonous eyes of those who had endured the hell training.

  Grid was struggling on the battlefield alone.

  “Shoot!”

  Pak! Pa pa pa pa pak!

  The 1,000 soldiers simultaneously fired their bows. Their posture was really good and the arrows flying with the wind were perfect.

  Puk! Puuoooook!

  “Kyaak!”

  “Hik!”

  Khan had achieved Advanced Blacksmithing level 8. He was Albatino’s descendant, and Grid’s friend and disciple, so the power of the arrow and bows he produced were beyond imagination.

  The arrows flew 300m away and killed the royal troops.

  “Do it again!”

  The soldiers of Reidan became covered with the level up pillars of light as the number of casualties in the royal army increased. Their strength, stamina, and agility increased as they pulled the bowstring again.

  Grid’s form was seen in their fierce gazes.

  ‘Duke Grid!’

  ‘This is why you forced us to do such difficult training!’

  ‘You predicted the enemy’s invasion!’

  ‘I am impressed with My Lord’s foresight! I really admire you!’

  Today.

  The unexpected invasion of Reidan and the misunderstanding involving Grid allowed all their hatred to disappear. Loyalty burned fiercely inside them.

  ‘Facing the enemy alone to minimize the damage!’

  ‘You are truly great and courageous!’

  ‘I will devote myself more to you!’

  It was the first battle they had been in since they started training with Jude. The soldiers of Reidan showed a high concentration which greatly affected their skills.

  “Shoot!”

  Pak! Pa pa pa pa pak!

  Asmophel ordered and arrows once again flew.

  Puk! Puuoooook!

  “Ugh!”

  “Kuheok!”

  Reidan’s soldiers kept growing in real time through level ups. Hundreds of royal soldiers couldn’t endure the powerful arrows and died.

  “What is this?”

  Prince Ren was severely shaken. The 5,000 soldiers were focused on Grid and allowed a surprise attack. The shock was huge. He felt desperation and despair on this battlefield where one man demonstrated an absolute power.

  ***

  Ferrell, the chief archer of the Eternal Kingdom, was amazed.

  ‘Don’t tell me that they’re all archers!’

  Reidan’s 1,000 soldiers. Firing arrows from a distance of 300m wasn’t something that ordinary soldiers were capable of. By default, talented people needed to train their archery skills for 10 years before being capable of this.

  Thus Ferrell was confused.

  ‘I thought that Reidan was a dying city.’

  There were 20,000 people in the city and Grid had only taken over it for 16 months. He could train such elite archers in only 16 months? It was nonsense. It was impossible. Ferrell was confident because he had personally trained archers.

  ‘Also!’

  He heard that Reidan had a total of 1,000 troops. Wasn’t it probable that all 1,000 would be archers? No. An army without infantry was powerless. Grid would be insane to train an entire army to be archers.

  ‘It can’t be…!’

  A shocking thought passed through Ferrell’s mind.

  ‘What if they’re all knights?’

  Archery was included in the arsenal of knights, and a knight level talent would be capable of learning archery to this degree after 16 months.

  ‘This! Reidan is a complete gold mine!’

  There were so many talents to train as knights! Ferrell misunderstood and pulled out his bow. It was the Thunder Bow, which was a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation.

  “Reidan…! I will cut off that bud!’

  Pachik! Pachichik!

  Thunder sparked as Ferrell pulled back the bow. There was a flash and an arrow that was more like a lightning bolt flew.

  Peeng!

  Pepepepeng!

  The screaming in the sky! Thunderbolts after thunderbolts appeared in succession. Reidan’s 1,000 soldiers. They didn’t know what to do when faced with the magic arrow.

  “Heok?”

  “Suddenly!”

  The soldiers of Reidan had endured hell training that put them on the verge of death. But this was the first time they experienced such a sudden danger. They paled as they saw the flying arrow, then someone appeared in front of them.

  With his red cloak flapping, it was Asmophel. He took out a long sword that he had used since his days in the Red Knights. He moved his sword in a trajectory that was like a stream of paper, or a calligrapher writing on blank paper.

  Pepepepeong!

  “What?”

  Ferrel’s vision was as good as a hawk, so he was shocked. It was the first time he saw a sword destroying his arrow.

  ‘Even Captain Chucksley can’t face my arrow head on…!’

  Ferrell was astonished and blinked blankly.

  “Try and stop this!”

  There was no meaning for an archer who couldn’t hit his target. Ferrell was the best archer in the kingdom and fired his bow again. The arrow he fired this time was several times stronger and faster than the previous one.

  Kwa kwang!

  Thunder rang out as the arrow flew towards Amosphel’s nose. The corners of Asmophel’s gorgeous lips curved up. Was this his first chance to play an active role since serving Duke Grid? The only thing he had done so far was collect gold coins and train the soldiers.

  Asmophel wanted to prove his value by playing an active role and Ferrell was a good opponent. Asmophel’s manifested a red aura and blocked Ferrel’s arrow with his strength, then he shouted.

  “I will cut off the enemy’s head!”

  Taack!

  It happened when Asmophel jumped from the sand dune and was about to head to the enemy.

  “That bow, it looks good?”

  To be precise, he was interested in the materials that made up the bow. Grid didn’t hide the greed in his eyes as he reached Ferrell first. Asmophel wanted to cry.

  “My Lord! Please give me a chance to work!”

  Asmophel’s voice failed to reach Grid. It was due to the screams of the thousands of confused royal soldiers being attacked that dominated the battlefield.

  Puok!

  “Kuk…!”

  Ferrell was only focused on Asmophel. He thought Grid was fighting Chucksley and had no idea that he would receive a surprise attack. He allowed the attack and started bleeding, while Grid connected the next blow.

  [Critical!]

  [Iyarugt’s option effect is activated, reducing the target’s healing power by 50%.]

  [Critical!]

  [Iyarugt’s option effect is activated, giving the target a bleeding status
that will last for 3 seconds.

  [The 3rd combo has been achieved!]

  [The bleeding effect is maximized. The damage that the target will receive is increased by 200% for 1 second.]

  ‘Now!’

  Grid’s eyes shone as he aimed at the named NPC who had a high health.

  “Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Pinnacle.”

  Seokeok!

  Pinnacle descended. Blood spurted like a fountain from Ferrell’s chest, filling his field of view as Grid raised his sword to strike again.

  [The 5th combo has been achieved!]

  [The target’s thinking ability has been destroyed for 0.3 seconds! You can link Hell Sword.]

  In the blink of an eye. Ferrell was stunned by the repeated onslaught.

  “Hell Sword.”

  Kwajik!

  Pajijijijijik―!

  Dozens of red-black stems emerged from Iyarugt and pierced Ferrell’s chest.

  The sight,

  “Okay! Gorgeous! The best!!”

  Bunny Bunny’s video seamlessly moved between the sky and the ground. Grid dominating the battlefield would surely be passed onto the viewers.

  On the other hand.

  “Ferrell!”

  Chucksley fell victim to Grid who suddenly used a skill when exchanging sword blows. He was outraged by the sight of Ferrell being blindsided due to his carelessness and attacked Grid.

  “Rising Sword!”

  It was an extremely irregular technique that looked like it rose from the ground. Chucksley was sure that Grid would be hit by this technique. But he was wrong. The reason why Grid was unable to subdue Chucksley despite his speed advantage was due to the firmness of the swordsmanship. Chucksley used a big technique and abandoned his own strength, revealing a gap.

  “Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Kill.”

  Peeeeeong!

  Grid was hit in the chest while Chucksley’s waist was struck. The difference between the two sword skills was clear. Grid was hurt in a much more deadly area. It was the moment when Chucksley seemed to have the initiative.

  “Ohhhh!”

  “My Lord!”

  Prince Ren and the royal troops cheered, while Asmophel and Reidan’s soldiers felt desperate. Even Bunny Bunny’s face darkened as he filmed. Except for one person. Lauel had a smile on his face as he looked at Grid.