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Chapter 67
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The warrior was a very peculiar class.
Unlike other classes with a wide range of unique skills,
the warrior’s skills consisted solely of passive skills.
Three first awakening skills:
Parry, Swordsmanship and Shield Mastery, and Indomitable Will.
Two second awakening skills:
Weapon Mastery and Tenacious Vitality.
Even the various enlightenment skills were all passive.
But there was one active skill.
Berserker.
A typical high-risk, high-return skill.
Its cooldown was exceptionally long, so it was rarely used except in critical situations.
After all, the warrior’s primary role was protecting the party.
To put it in soccer terms, it was like a goalkeeper leaving the goal to attack.
‘He’s truly giving it his all.’
I admired Paegwi’s reckless charge as he cut through the sprawling roots of the World Tree.
It was impossible not to be impressed.
Paegwi.
In his second awakening, he chose the higher warrior path.
Unlike the Regular Knight or Professional Mercenary, which split off depending on sub-classes,
the Grand Warrior, which inherited the warrior’s lineage, could handle the only active skill, Berserker, most efficiently.
The exclusive skill of the Grand Warrior, Weapon Mastery,
allowed him to wield all weapons freely without special training.
When using the Halberd, a weapon combining an axe and a spear, for the first time,
most would use it simply for stabbing or slashing.
But thanks to the effects of Weapon Mastery, Paegwi used the Halberd much more dynamically.
He didn’t just use the blade at the end of the long shaft,
but also swung the pole to strike nearby roots of the World Tree
and even drove the Halberd down like a hook into a moving root to reposition himself.
Even with the help of Weapon Mastery,
Paegwi’s innate combat sense was extraordinary, even to my eyes.
‘He even identified the Halberd’s weaknesses immediately.’
The Halberd was fundamentally vulnerable in close combat.
While proper distance control could compensate for this weakness,
humans couldn’t always achieve the best outcomes.
Naturally, having a contingency plan for failure was wise.
Paegwi’s solution was the Wrist Shield.
The Wrist Shield absorbed less impact than a standard shield and covered a smaller area,
but it allowed quick responses while wielding the Halberd.
And most importantly, Paegwi was a parrying master, living up to his nickname.
‘But that’s as far as it goes.’
I turned my gaze to the rear of the party.
Sweet, caught off guard by a surprise attack due to the distortion,
died without even a scream.
A mage’s presence was crucial enough to change the tide of battle.
Of course, it wasn’t so overpowered as to unbalance the game entirely,
but it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Paegwi’s long-lasting rampage with Berserker
was possible thanks to Sweet.
He had handled half of the World Tree’s roots alone with Chain Lightning.
Naturally, Sweet’s retirement was a severe blow.
Soon after, the effect of Sanctification expired, and Suzuka was also defeated.
Even in her final moments, Suzuka treated and blessed the two survivors with a glimmer of hope.
Now, even the light that had illuminated the Twisted Elderheim was extinguished.
Even Paegwi, who resisted fiercely while scattering red mirages,
finally knelt before the overwhelming strength of the Twisted World Tree.
Only one remained now—the party leader, Daehyeop Kim.
‘The remaining health is 7%.’
It seemed like enough to clear the raid,
but unfortunately, the Twisted World Tree’s final desperate pattern remained.
When its health dropped below 5%, the last resort pattern would always activate.
The chances of surviving it alone were close to zero.
‘The important thing is an unyielding heart.’
I hoped he wouldn’t be discouraged by this failure.
That he would return stronger in the next attempt.
And successfully conquer the Twisted World Tree.
Did my inner thoughts reach him?
***
A daunting aura began to emanate from Daehyeop Kim.
“…Wait a moment.”
The atmosphere was tense.
It felt like something was about to happen.
The death of a mischievous younger sibling.
A younger sibling who left a final hope before dying.
The heroic fall of an older brother who had been the party’s steadfast pillar.
And now, the party leader left alone after losing all his comrades.
Anyone could see this was…
A classic awakening moment.
“No way… it can’t be.”
Even for Daehyeop Kim,
a rare genius who had realized truths in reality,
overcoming the grueling final desperate pattern alone was impossible.
“It’s serious.”
But the look in Daehyeop Kim’s eyes was sincere.
The determination to clear the raid this time, no matter what, was evident.
“This is getting interesting.”
Isn’t it said that heroes emerge in turbulent times?
With a cool head and a burning heart,
Daehyeop Kim calmly dismantled the desperate pattern bit by bit.
As a developer, I wanted Daehyeop Kim to fail.
It was more satisfying to see the raid cleared together than alone.
And I didn’t want the finale I had painstakingly created to end so quickly.
But as a fellow user, I couldn’t help but cheer for Daehyeop Kim.
‘Just hold on a little longer.’
He would reach the checkpoint.
If he could just endure until then, it was genuinely possible.
To become the first to clear the Twisted World Tree Raid.
***
What happens if you die during a raid?
“Daehyeop-nim, you’re fighting like you’ve encountered a mortal enemy.”
The observation room for the Twisted World Tree Raid.
Those who had died could watch the raid from the perspective of the survivors.
“Of course. Sometimes it’s easy to mistake this place for reality.”
“Agreed. I’ve gone beyond just mistaking it.”
At Sweet’s comment, Suzuka chuckled softly.
“These days, I’ve been spending more time in Akare than in reality.”
Except for eating, sleeping, and taking care of necessities,
they spent all their time inside Akare, as part of a Large company party.
Wouldn’t that count as addiction? It was almost worrisome.
But when returning to reality after being in Akare,
the unique omnipotence one could feel in virtual reality was lost.
This led many to feel a sense of deprivation and loss.
“Virtual reality is definitely convenient. Now that I’m getting older, my body isn’t the same as it used to be. Compared to that, virtual reality is like heaven.”
As Paegwi said, virtual reality was heaven for those with physical difficulties.
Especially for elderly people who experienced virtual reality for the first time.
They often remarked that it felt as if they had regained their youth.
As a result, virtual reality became a miraculous creation, satisfying people of all ages.
“Should we make a bet?”
“A bet? What kind of bet?”
Sweet pointed at Daehyeop Kim, struggling on the screen.
“Will Daehyeop-nim clear the raid or not?”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll believe that he will!”
While Paegwi was still pondering, Suzuka chimed in first.
“As amazing as he is, even Daehyeop-nim can’t clear this.”
Though Sweet genuinely hoped for Daehyeop Kim to succeed,
his cold logic judged that the chances were nearly zero.
Since it was a bet, Sweet decided to set aside his feelings and wager based on reason.
“What about you, Paegwi-hyung?”
“I’ll… bet that he clears it.”
“Okay. The wager is 20 Intermediate Enhancement Stones.”
“Wait, hold on.”
Intermediate Enhancement Stones.
As the name suggested, these were material items needed to enhance equipment.
They were used for enhancing level 60 equipment and above after the second awakening.
Since level 60+ equipment was still mainstream,
Intermediate Enhancement Stones held significant value.
“Come on, don’t go back on your word now.”
“Oppa, I’m a woman, so can I take it back?”
“Do you think that’s fair?”
“Aww…”
Well, such stakes only mattered to users in ambiguous positions.
For a major company party, 20 Intermediate Enhancement Stones were a negligible amount of resources.
“Fine, I’m in.”
“Hehehe…”
Having secured his agreement, Sweet laughed sinisterly.
Seeing this, Suzuka sighed with a disgusted expression and shook her head.
“I hope he gets some sense knocked into him.”
Despite saying this, Suzuka had an inkling.
This attempt was bound to fail.
Currently, the Twisted World Tree had a buff called “Immortality.”
Because of this buff, the Twisted World Tree’s health wouldn’t drop below 1%.
Sweet had also noticed this.
He smirked arrogantly at Suzuka and provoked her.
“What can I say? Too bad that’s not going to happen…”
However, Sweet’s provocation was cut short.
As Daehyeop Kim’s health dwindled,
and the Twisted World Tree was about to deliver a fatal blow,
an unidentified being appeared and blocked the attack.
Its appearance was a mixture of a spirit and an elf.
Even someone without much insight could instantly recognize who she was.
“…Celestia?”
―――
Spiritification.
One of the forgotten techniques of the Spirit Summoner,
where one becomes one with a contracted spirit.
Over her countless years wandering the world,
Celestia had encountered various knowledge and experiences.
Among them was Spiritification, a technique she stumbled upon during her long journey.
However, using Spiritification required a “contracted spirit.”
Thus, Celestia made a contract with herself.
Through Spiritification, she aimed to become a complete spirit.
She felt that living as a spirit was more worthwhile than being a half-elf, half-spirit outcast.
By contracting with herself and using Spiritification,
she sought to transform her body into that of a complete spirit.
“The more I hated my kind, the more I hated myself.”
She wanted to change.
But she couldn’t.
The contracted spirit was herself, Celestia,
a being who was a mix of elf and spirit.
Ultimately, Celestia came to a subconscious realization.
Merely hating herself wouldn’t change anything.
“I don’t hate anymore.”
Not anything.
Though she had denied it like a stubborn child,
now she decided to let everything go and accept it.
Celestia extended her hand toward the Twisted World Tree.
“I’m too late.”
The World Tree and the Spirit King.
She was the only one who could freely communicate with such transcendent beings.
Celestia’s presence eradicated the distortion that gripped the World Tree.
“I’m back.”
With those words, Celestia’s hand touched the Twisted World Tree.
At that moment, all movement of the Twisted World Tree ceased.
The distortion. The fairies. The dark elves. The corrupted spirits.
“Whatever’s happening…”
Watching quietly, Daehyeop Kim immediately launched himself forward.
“…I’ll end it in one strike.”
With the Twisted World Tree neutralized, this was his only chance.
Daehyeop Kim unleashed his final, all-out attack.
At last, the Twisted World Tree’s health reached zero.
A brilliant light exploded, flooding Daehyeop Kim’s vision with pure white.
[Achievement Unlocked – Defying the Eternity of Time]
A new achievement unlocked.
This was undoubtedly proof of clearing the Twisted World Tree Raid.
“…”
But Daehyeop Kim’s gaze wasn’t on the achievement window.
Instead, his eyes were fixed on the figure beyond it.
Sky-blue hair. A black robe.
A mysterious aura surrounded the woman.
Though her attire was different, and the signature laurel crown was missing,
Daehyeop Kim immediately recognized who she was.
The Hero, Aurora.
Not the Aurora of reality, but the Aurora of the Akare World.
Daehyeop Kim’s heart began to race wildly as he faced her.
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