V58C2P2 – Life of a dream

[NOTE ] Sorry for the late release.. some personal issues last week, I had to resolve that first.

Thanks to Armada, Jasla & Dumba.s.s for the proofreading!

It was another dream.

Lee Hyun had no family.

Even his grandmother and younger sister left when he was young, and he was all alone.

“Where’s our money? Do you want us to kill you?”

“…”

He wasn’t afraid despite the threats from the loan sharks. It was nowhere close to the fear of being alone in the world. He dove into the Continent of Magic without restraint.

– WeedStupidIdiot: You stupid?

< You killed WeedStupidIdiot. >

– WeedStupidIdiot: LOL. You’re d.a.m.n insane…

< You killed WeedStupidIdiot. >

– WeedStupidIdiot: You a.s.shole.

< You killed WeedStupidIdiot. >

– WeedStupidIdiot: Hey, bro.

< You killed WeedStupidIdiot. >

– WeedStupidIdiot: Sir, I think we got off on the wrong foot.

< You killed WeedStupidIdiot. >

He killed whoever crossed him.

He annihilated all the famous guilds in Continent of Magic and logged into Royal Road.

‘This is the world I will be staying in for a while. Will there be someone who could fill my emptiness?’

He slayed every monster he could find.

Weed. The name meant that no matter how much you stepped on him, he would revive. But, it also meant ‘with’, which meant he wanted a companion.

After he became a Blood Berserker, he became increasingly more powerful, meaning that he could fight stronger monsters and was noticed by the Hermes Guild.

“He looks pretty capable. You’re Weed from the Continent of Magic, right? No need for a long conversation. Join our guild.”

“There is a blazing fire in my heart. Don’t approach me. Weaklings will be scorched to death.”

“… Enough of that. Are you going to join or not?”

“I will linger for a bit.”

Weed continued to grow with the support of the Hermes Guild.

“Tell us the materials you need for training.”

“If I do?”

“We will provide it whatever it may be. Quality equipment for all levels can all be provided from the guild.”

“I will gladly take them.”

“Are you not going to say thank you?”

“Not really. I don’t plan on taking them for free. I will pay you back several fold later.”

“Ha-ha. I look forward to it.”

His training rate was two or three times quicker than the others and quickly rose from level 200 to 400. His growth intimidated even the top rankers within the guild and nothing could stop Weed who did nothing but hunt all day.

“That kid is Weed?”

“Apparently.”

He fought through countless battles with boss level monsters.

Weed only partic.i.p.ated in the faction wars at the Hermes Guild and spent most of his time at the hunting grounds.

“It’s the Hermes Guild!”

“Those dogs…”

When he was cursed upon on occasion in the city, he drew his sword without constraint.

< As the Blood Berserker, you have opened your eyes to slaughter.

Attack damage increases according to infamy level. >

< There is a bounty on your head.

Bounty: 4,797,213 Gold.>

Soon, he became the most dreadful slayer in all of Versailles.

“Weed. Shouldn’t we kick him out?”

“We still have many uses for him, so let us wait.”

The Hermes Guild led by Lafaye continued to lead Weed astray.

As they guided him in the path of a warrior, they did not intervene directly.

For the Hermes Guild, Weed was a great distraction for the public as they expanded their faction. Weed too knew their intentions, but he left them alone.

“So I’m a hunting dog. There is no place for my heart to belong.”

The money he earned from playing Royal Road he spent on buying clothes and school supplies for the children in his neighborhood.

***

Lafaye a.s.sembled the commanders of the Hermes Guild.

Weed too stood among them with a rightful seat.

G.o.d of War, Royal Road’s most infamous slayer.

Many guild members followed Weed and so they were organized into a combat unit.

In clashes with other guilds, this bunch always took the lead and fought furiously.

Weed’s job cla.s.s was the Blood Berserker and he did not spend much time doing quests, so his level increased at an extreme pace.

The best rankers of the Hermes Guild too acknowledged Weed’s combat abilities.

“We will now wage war against the Embinyu Church.”

The Embinyu Church.

It was an organization that encroached on Versailles at an alarming rate. Many kingdoms fell into danger and the Hermes Guild was to stop the cult.

“Depart.”

The 14 legions of the Hermes Guild set out.

Sygorn Mountain Pa.s.s in the southwest region of the continent between the Nest Kingdom and the Thor Kingdom was the location of the Embinyu Church’s secret hideout.

“We will follow Weed-nim.”

“We will take the lead once again!”

Weed never spoke a word to the guild members who followed him.

All he wanted was to fight and their decision to follow him did not concern him.

The Sygorn Mountain Pa.s.s was a trap set by the Embinyu Church to annihilate the enemy.

“It’s a trap!”

“Push through. Our way back is blocked, so keep advancing!”

The suicide bombing of the cultists and the divine magic spells from the priests.

They also had to face the paladins of the cult.

Weed drew the demonic sword Drore that he received from the guild.

Waging battle every day meant that the sword maintained the status of Bloodl.u.s.t which granted maximum attack power and magic.

“Don’t get in the way and move!”

Weed saw the endless ocean of the Embinyu forces but still charged towards them.

After losing his family, he couldn’t stay idle for even a moment.

Fight, and overcome.

He was alone, but he thought of the children he cared for in his neighborhood.

‘Even if I die, I need to take at least one more item… Hmm? Miscellaneous items? Why do I need to pick them up?’

Weed felt a little strange, but continued to fight desperately.

The Blood Berserker did not distinguish ally from foe.

The death of his comrades was joyful, a spring of new power and stamina.

“Focus on Weed-nim.”

“Yeah. We have to make it through somehow.”

The Hermes Guild members took on the enemy attacks and died.

With each death, the more Weed tapped into the frenzy.

“Sword of Extinction!”

The outrageous, uncontrollable attacks slayed even his allies and at last, he took down the high priest of the Embinyu Church.

“Victory!”

“We won.”

It was a bloodstained victory.

Weed put another combat achievement into his book and became a step more powerful.

***

Weed’s influence within the Hermes Guild expanded as the days went on.

The faction following Weed always fought on the front lines. They penetrated the lines of the enemy with a fearsome charge and none of them backed down.

Even the Black Lion Guild and the Roam Guild scurried away from battle when Weed’s legion appeared.

Lafaye brought him new armor.

“Blood Berserker Weed… Take this armor and lead the 1st legion.”

“I don’t want anything annoying.”

“Do you decline?”

“I don’t have much else to do, so I’ll take it.”

Weed kept fighting even after becoming the commander of the 1st legion.

His objective was to attain more power, but it was also because he found pleasure in fighting enemies.

“Commander, I think it will be best to work our way from the outskirts.”

“We do this my way.”

“How?”

“We will charge into the core.”

“You mean a direct charge?”

“We are penetrating into the middle of enemy lines. Then we take the head of their leader.”

“And then?”

“We kill them all.”

“…!”

The Hermes Guild members who were a.s.signed to Weed’s legion seemed to have fallen into a state of ma.s.s frenzy.

They displayed extreme hostility at the most intense points of battle and crushed the opponents. Their charge decided the fate of the battles.

– Arkhim: Reinforce the 1st legion.

– Lamifter: a.s.sist them in opening the path. If they find their way into the heart of enemy lines, the battle is ours.

– Myul: The Griffin unit will also provide a.s.sistance.

The strategy of the Hermes Guild in war with other factions was to support the 1st legion.

Once the 1st legion broke down the enemy lines, the formation would crack. With just a bit of a.s.sistance, they collapsed the entire enemy formation.

– A legion with an unworldly frenzy.

– No one can stop them.

– The spear and sword of the Hermes Guild.

– 20 minutes of the 1st legion in battle results in 20 times the casualties of other battlefields.

– The 1st legion and the Roam Guild clashed head on! The difference in the size of the forces was absurd, but the Roam Guild was crushed nonetheless.

The 1st legion became the legend of all combat groups.

They were wiped out sometimes, but they stacked up even more combat achievements.

“I also wish to join the 1st legion.”

“How can I fight like the commander?’

“The most honorable 1st legion. If I get a.s.signed, I could wish for nothing more.”

The 1st legion transformed the war tactics of the Hermes Guild.

Just being a part of the 1st legion made one honorable and respected as a great warrior.

“Lafaye-nim. I think too much power is being granted to Weed. There are many concerns within the guild.”

Arkhim visited Lafaye.

Bard Ray was the symbolic presence of the Hermes Guild’s power. His existence attracted players who wished for power. But now, the 1st legion represented the power of the guild.

The other factions shrunk and the powerful players on the outside also fell under the charm of the 1st legion and joined the guild.

“My thoughts are the opposite. I think there is a need for us to grow the 1st legion further.”

“More than they are now?”

“If we have them leading the front line, there won’t be any variables in our conquest. They change the tides in any battlefield.”

“… As you already know, the growing influence of the 1st legion is worrisome. Especially Weed. He wasn’t a member of our guild.”

“If you get to know him, you will know that he is a simplistic individual. He has no interest in the political affairs within the guild. If we provide him with opportunities in battle, he will follow our command.”

“What will you do after uniting the continent?”

“Then…”

Lafaye smiled brightly as if Arkhim asked him something that was predetermined.

“I plan on letting the dog crave its meal.”

“What if he desires more?”

“He’s a hunting dog. Do we have to discuss more about the fate of hunting dogs?”

Arkhim was satisfied with the explanation, but Lafaye did not plan on discarding Weed.

‘For the guild to become even more powerful, there needs to be rivalry between Bard Ray and Weed. Weed is far behind in terms of his own abilities and influence… But his growth rate is incredible. Bard Ray has to step up his game too.’

***

The Hermes guild united the Central Continent.

They overcame the battles against the other factions one-sidedly and showed no mercy for those that resisted.

– The legion of blood.

– Bard Ray and his guards are the strongest in the Hermes Guild, but the most fearsome is the 1st legion.

– Strangely… They are so charismatic. You have no choice but to fall for them.

– His hunting speed is insane.

Weed lived in the hunting grounds and the battlefield. The more famous he became, more players challenged him and kept him entertained.

“My name is Python. Show me your skills.”

“Gladly.”

The duel between Weed and Python.

Python’s sword technique was based on strength, but it was not enough.

Weed received the support of the Hermes Guild’s hunting ground and equipment and therefore had reached a high level.

He was top 5 in the guild with the best skill kit, driving Python to his knees with ease.

The wounded Python spoke.

“It was a spectacular duel.”

“It was boring.”

< You have slain Python. >

He also fought against other famous players like Seasoned Crab.

There were many enemies for the Hermes Guild that united the Central Continent. He only enjoyed the endless fights including the ones against Roam and Carlise.

The subordinates of the 1st legion asked.

“What are your thoughts on Bard Ray-nim?”

“He’s strong.”

“We think Weed-nim is stronger.”

Bard Ray rarely stepped up personally.

Weed was the one who accomplished the highest service in the conquest, and so did his 1st legion.

The players of the 1st legion thought of Weed as someone higher than the guild itself.

“Bard Ray…”

“Don’t you wish to fight against him? I think you will win.”

Weed ended with just a smile, but more and more players began comparing him with Bard Ray. More players not only from outside the guild, but also within the guild followed him and Lafaye quietly paid special care as well.

– Weed and the 1st legion shall depart for the Plains of Despair. Conquer the orcs.

This time, the orders weren’t from Lafaye but directly from the leaders of the guild.

Their intentions were obvious; they wanted to put a leash on the 1st legion by sending them on a time consuming and arduous mission far away.

“We must not submit to their command.”

“Let’s fight. We just gotta slay them.”

“Or we could just leave. Who could stop us if we want to go it alone?”

“A third of this guild follows Weed-nim.”

Weed pondered.

He showed no hesitation in the countless battles, but he did not wish to draw his sword against the guild.

Even if they tried to exploit him when he lost his family and roamed with nowhere to go, the guild offered its hand.

He had been given a lot.

“I am leaving the Hermes Guild. The 1st legion will be discharged.”

Weed broke away from the guild.

(To be continued…)