NABC Chapter 75
Chapter 75
# Talent-Level Max Player, Episode 75
“What kind of nonsense are you doing alone! Why are you moving on your own without orders, you trash!!!”
It’s all nonsense.
That’s the conclusion I came to. What Kim Taecheon is doing is hard to describe as ‘leading’; it’s purely nonsense. Right now, Kim Taecheon is in a favorable situation, simply striking a static object with a slow but powerful weapon to show off his strength.
Moreover, he keeps delivering attacks with grandiose and flamboyant motions that would never be practical in real combat, aiming to look impressive rather than be effective.
‘In fact, Ma Sanghyun did more damage.’
However, Ma Sanghyun is using his fists and moving with more efficient and simplified motions, so it’s not as noticeable.
What he’s doing now can only be described as a ‘spotlight-seeker’ enjoying the attention. What command is he waiting for before making a move?
“Shut your mouth, friend.”
Ma Sanghyun approached Kim Taecheon and threw a punch without warning.
‘Wow.’
Even I was a bit shocked.
‘I heard Ma Sanghyun can be incredibly tough at times.’
Usually, he’s quite easy-going and nice. But in certain situations, he shows decisive action and speed unlike anyone else. It looks like this is one of those times.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Kim Taecheon couldn’t show off his bravery in the face of Ma Sanghyun’s relentless fists.
“You, you, you son of a bitch!”
Kim Taecheon swung his axe heavily.
Whoosh!
The axe had powerful destructive force, but its attack speed was too slow.
“What are you doing?”
Just by lightly, ever so lightly, stepping back, Ma Sanghyun easily neutralized Kim Taecheon’s axe attack.
‘I can see it again this time.’
I could see Ma Sanghyun’s back heel tightens up. His movements as seen through ‘Observer’s Eyes’ looked quite different from what you’d see with the naked eye.
‘He’ll definitely go in here.’
How he would approach, how he would attack, it was all visible to me.
‘He’s aiming for the abdomen.’
Ma Sanghyun stretched out his right fist. It was just like my ‘Observer’s Eyes’ had captured. He attacked the precise spot I was observing. Right below the solar plexus.
‘And right after, he’ll grab the back of the neck.’
I could predict Ma Sanghyun’s movements.
‘He’ll likely go for a knee strike.’
It seemed like Ma Sanghyun was preparing to use his skill ‘Basic Knee Kick’. I could see the mana flowing like this when he uses it. It seemed to me a cue to the movement.
Crack!
A loud crackling sound, like breaking bones, erupted.
Kim Taecheon lost consciousness on the spot after getting hit in the jaw with the Basic Knee Kick. Kim Taecheon, who had been boasting about his immense bravado, was now powerless before Ma Sanghyun.
The players who had been destroying the pillar stopped for a moment, stunned.
“What, what’s this?”
“What’s happening all of a sudden?”
No one could stop Ma Sanghyun, they could only watch the one-sided battering.
“Why, why is he being beaten?”
“But he’s just being hammered...”
“Is this, by chance, a quest?”
If it wasn’t for a quest, then why would Ma Sanghyun be beating up Kim Taecheon so mercilessly, even knocking him unconscious? Ma Sanghyun scratched his head and returned with his kind, cow-eyed look.
“I didn’t expect him to go unconscious.”
Ma Sanghyun rejoined the others at the pillar with a friendly smile.
“Let’s leave that guy alone and continue with our own work.”
Even I was somewhat baffled. I thought Shin Yeonseo had a ‘two-faced’ personality, but it seems to be Ma Sanghyun who has ‘two faces’. The expressions of the players hardened; none dared to object to Ma Sanghyun.
I learned something here.
‘Logic and reason, followed by rational persuasion.’
What if Ma Sanghyun had attempted that?
‘It would have been a massive waste of time. And in the meantime, there would surely have been someone trying to interfere with Kwak Taewoon.’
Kim Taecheon wielded significant influence, attempting to pull down Kwak Taewoon for no reason, swaying some players. Under such circumstances, Ma Sanghyun’s actions were very efficient.
‘Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to beat them first...’
I didn’t intend to, but before I knew it, the corners of my mouth had lifted slightly.
‘Sometimes, it’s not a bad choice?’@@@@
‘They will be afraid to attract aggro.’
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Humanoid Bird LV 29
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By no means a low level. Considering the current top ranker, Ma Sanghyun, is level 32, most players would see red figures or ‘?’ for the monster level. It’s natural to feel frightened.
Kang Sanggu moved quickly towards the central pillar. I also headed that direction.
‘Just to be prepared for any unforeseen incidents.’
While it’s ideal to maintain the observer position for the time being, there may come a time when I need to act despite my intentions.
Kang Sanggu used his skill.
‘It’s probably... Fiery Arrow.’
It didn’t seem like he was too concerned about possibly drawing aggro to himself. Suddenly, Kim Seonhwa joined Kang Sanggu’s side. Without me saying anything, they found their roles and moved into action accordingly.
An arrow, made of fire, struck the humanoid bird’s wing accurately. Two humanoid birds were revealed.
Kang Sanggu said to me,
“We’re not aiming to kill these things, right? Just to provide cover?”
“Right.”
Our current goal is to cover Kwak Taewoon, not to hunt these creatures.
“If I draw aggro, Seonhwa, you’ll help me, okay?”
Kang Sanggu used ‘Fiery Arrow’ again. Despite the humanoid birds that appeared, Kwak Taewoon wasn’t greatly disturbed and continued to descend reliably along the mana of the central pillar.
‘He’ll land soon...’
But just then, I spotted something. Something was climbing up from the bottom of the central pillar. A lizard-sized monster about 2 meters long.
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Big-Mouthed Lizard LV 22
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Its mouth was enormously large. It was climbing up the central pillar very quickly, as if to devour Kwak Taewoon. It opened its mouth wide.
‘That creature isn’t the problem.’
But what if Kwak Taewoon is forced out of the mana flow because of it?
‘Kwak Taewoon will die.’
I couldn’t let that happen.
[Using special skill, Form Switch (移形換位).]
I closed in. The central pillar. I climbed it. Even if I couldn’t reach a high point, I was confident I could catch up to the creature.
With both legs, I squeezed its thin body tightly. I drew a knife. I stabbed it in the top of the head.
[Using skill, Masterful Strike.]
The lizard-shaped monster. Fortuitously, its skin was very thin, and it wasn’t a high-defense monster.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
I stabbed it in the head repeatedly. Meanwhile, green blood spattered.
Hiss!
The creature’s acidic blood stuck to me, but I didn’t mind. I was wearing the mid-level ‘Orc Warrior’ armor, which is often used in this range of levels.
During this time, Kwak Taewoon passed me while descending. He also seemed to know what he should be doing. Finally, Kwak Taewoon’s feet reached the ground.
[You have hunted the Big-Mouthed Lizard.]
[Experience points are reduced.]
[No items have been dropped.]
That’s alright. A reduction of experience points is something I can afford right now. I suffered some damage, but it was acceptable.
Then, an alert came.
[‘Lady of the Scales’ admires you.]
[‘Lady of the Scales’ contributes 300 coins.]
[‘The Anonymous Observer’ continues to observe.]
And another alert followed.
[‘Blue Barrier’ wishes to aid you.]
[‘Blue Barrier’ expresses a strong will to support you.]
‘What’s this?’
If they help, they help; if they support, they support. Expressing a will to support? So they’re just saying they wish to help verbally.
[‘Blue Barrier’ promises significant support.]
I don’t know what they will support. For now, I decided to focus on the immediate tasks and clear this place.
‘Then now... the influence of the tribute box begins.’
Sure enough.
[The holy artifact ‘Tribute Box’ begins to exercise its influence.]