A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 25

Eden was stunned by the unbelievable outcome.
Though I hadn’t heard detailed information about the VIP from Cha Eun-kyung, I had been confident that I’d grasped at least the extent of their strength.

[Name: Eden]
[Level: 73]
[Class: Asura (Hidden)]
[Strength: 83 Agility: 91 Vitality: 11(88) Wisdom: 47 Luck: 69]
[Blood Energy: 13(36) Mana: 15(21) Dark Blood: 3]

The status window displayed only the truth.
It calmly informed me that an absurd amount of vitality had been stripped away, that I had nearly died just moments ago.
“…I barely made it. My vitality is in tatters.”
The Asura’s exclusive stat, Blood Energy, collided with mana and continued to ravage my insides even now.
Moreover, the debuffs stacked from enduring successive strikes were blocking natural recovery.

[Active Debuffs]
[Laceration (3 Stacks)]
[Vitality will not recover for a set duration.]
[Duration: 29 minutes]
[Mana Overload (Weak)]
[Mana is surging from sudden shock.]
[Duration: 14 minutes]
[Blood Energy Reversal (Weak)]
[Blood Energy is flowing backward from sudden shock.]
[Duration: 41 minutes]

This situation is far from ideal.
The matchup had poor compatibility from the start.
“Cough.”
For Asura, who fought while rapidly recovering health through bloodlust, absolute severance was a direct counter.
If I continued fighting the VIP here, the chances of falling victim to another unexpected and bizarre sword strike like before would be far greater.
“Are you alright?”
Regardless of how things had unfolded, I had established a cooperative relationship with the VIP while maintaining confidentiality about the mission.
So I believed both sides had obtained the results they desired.
I had managed to land effective blows against a high-level user, and Eden had sustained wounds severe enough to warrant retreat and recovery.
“No problem at all. I have plenty of potions.”
Eden hastily retrieved a debuff-cleansing potion and a health recovery potion from the subspace and displayed them.
‘Oh no.’
The VIP began observing the subspace with keen interest.
It wasn’t mere curiosity in those eyes—there was a glimmer suggesting knowledge of something.
This constituted a glaring mistake that could expose Cha Eun-kyung.
‘…A blunder. I’ll need to report this to the young lady.’
But spilled water cannot be gathered back into the cup.
All I could do was respond with composure and improvisation.
‘Combat prowess, keen perception, even the performance of the equipment worn—all monstrous-class. Now I understand why the young lady takes interest.’
Perhaps it was because conducting a mission with genuine autonomy had been so long in coming.
Stray thoughts I wouldn’t normally entertain began surfacing.
Eden was beginning to develop genuine interest in the VIP—the user named Kael.
Looking back, I had believed I’d finished assessing the VIP’s combat capabilities during that initial surveillance.
Judging by the strength I sensed, the level was somewhere in the 40s to 50s, equipment quality was top-tier.
And there was a somewhat arrogant disposition.
I had judged that while practical combat was weak relative to level, the equipment compensated for the shortcomings, granting combat power befitting that level.
‘An opponent exceeding expectations… is this the first since the young lady? It’s remarkable that one so young has reached this level, and the inner depth is even greater. Polished to an almost miraculous degree. Not something measurable by mere statistics.’
The young lady of the influential figure who had employed me had become the powerhouse known as Cha Eun-kyung, proving herself.
This VIP named Kael, whom such a powerhouse took notice of—just how far could he ascend?
The mind that had been kept cold, and the heart, grew warm.
A sharp hissing sound.
Eden suppressed his expression as much as possible, cleansed the debuff, and drank the recovery potion.
The depleted health began to refill.
“Phew. Now I can breathe easier.”
“I’m glad you’re alright. It was my first time using that technique, so I couldn’t control it properly.”
“I see…”
Just then, other users began getting caught in the detection skill Eden had deployed—the Crimson Blood Net.
Eight from the left path, five from the front.
Presumably users drawn by the commotion that had just occurred.
The conversation ended here.
Eden hastily began his best performance.
Deliberately pushing his vitality to its absolute limit.
“Cough! So it is the Black Dragon Faction.”
Eden gave Kael a subtle nod.
‘Perhaps I’ll infuse some genuine self into this mission. It’s all part of improvisation anyway. This should be entertaining to observe.’
With that firm resolve.

* * *

I was startled by Eden’s sudden shift in demeanor, but the sound of footsteps spreading from all directions made the situation clear.
“The Black Dragon Faction’s executives operate on a different level. Even within Seo-gwang, such powerhouses are rare. Heh.”
“…Do not classify me as a mere powerhouse. What you face is calamity itself.”
“Ahem! I see. The calamity of the Black Dragon Faction.”
I thought I was playing along well enough, but awkwardness began to creep into Eden’s expression, which had remained composed until now.
This is actually making me embarrassed instead.
Even the true powerhouse of the Seo-gwang Guild finds such acting difficult.
“Entertain me further. At least struggle a little.”
“Heh. I’ll spare you any further mockery.”
I exchanged glances with Eden.
Before beginning the act, I had confirmed his subtle nod.
Even if we crossed paths again, he didn’t seem like he would harm me.
“We shall meet again, Calamity of the Black Dragon Faction!”
Splash!
With those words, Eden poured a potion over his head and swiftly withdrew from the area.
Then the users who appeared to be the existing ruling class rushed over and began kneeling on one knee.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
“We greet the Calamity of the Black Dragon Faction!”
Thanks to Eden’s convincing performance setting the stage, I could now cause even more chaos.
However, I had acquired the peculiar epithet of “Calamity of the Black Dragon Faction.”
I had merely chosen the most arrogant word fitting the situation.
“…”
I remained silent, just as I had in the Southern Forest.
I had learned that maintaining silence allowed situations to resolve themselves.
“We apologize for our tardiness! Please forgive us!”
“Forgive us!”
“…”
Indeed, silence was omnipotent.
Had we clashed directly, it would have been an extraordinarily difficult battle, yet my opponents willingly submit.
This feels like the perfect moment to run my Southern Forest macro while causing maximum chaos.
“The village is in a deplorable state. What have you been doing?”
“I-I’m sorry….”
“Come closer. And say it again.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sor….”
Crack.
There was no reason to refuse experience points that came willingly.
Besides, this way I could preserve the forces of the Southern Forest as well.
“No response, then.”
Thud.

[Your level has increased!]

It seemed I’d slain quite a high-level creature this time.
Thanks to the unresisting high-level monster that obligingly offered its vital points, my level rose once more.
“Next.”
“….”
Next was macro number two’s turn.
This time, I’d applied a new update.
“Making me repeat myself twice, are you.”
I closed the distance rapidly with Gale Rush, then recreated the enlightenment I’d gained from my sparring match with Eden.
Crash-boom-boom-boom!
Four Chinese Users who had been clustered together were instantly crushed to death, and two more fell into critical condition.
“Against humans….”
The same textbook response as before.
There was no need to rush.
Taking my time to examine the wounds of those in critical condition was sufficient.
The wooden sword’s inherent effect of grudge-laden cuts and bleeding made for a far more dramatic display.
This was the moment.
“…Gurghhh.”
“I merely swung a wooden sword.”
Thud.
“P-please…save me….”
“It’s merely ordinary wooden sword training.”
Thud.

[Your level has increased!]

Honestly, even I had to admit it was a spectacular performance.
I’d never created such an overwhelmingly dominant composition even in the previous game, so it resonated all the more powerfully.
And the bonus level-up was just the cherry on top.
“If you only delegate to your subordinates and neglect training, this is what happens, isn’t it?”
“…Yes, sir!”
The remaining players didn’t care who died around them.
Their only priority was their own survival.
I had no intention of cooperating with them, naturally.
Boa Village would only normalize once these kinds of players were weeded out.
“So you can’t even endure this light training.”
“Yes, sir!”
Unnecessary military discipline had taken hold of me.
Of course, these people weren’t military veterans, and my standards were calibrated to my days in service.
In other words, they were a complete mess.
“You’re far too weak. I’m disappointed.”
At that moment, a Chinese User raised his hand and shouted.
“Please, grant us a chance to redeem ourselves!”
“Grant us a chance!”
An unexpected development.
The original scenario was to play the role of a somewhat disappointed company commander and kill them all.
Of course, there was also a plan to kill every player who made excuses and spoke out.
The so-called Gwangjong-style purge method.
But a new variable emerged—the remaining Chinese Users’ eyes gleamed with malice.
“…”
Silence was best in situations like this.
Things resolved themselves naturally.
“Thank you for allowing us, sir!”
“…Mm.”
The player who’d spoken first immediately drew his sword and attacked another user beside him.
Slash!
“You bastard!”
The situation was being resolved, but in a chaotic, brutal fashion.
I considered stopping them and claiming the experience points myself, but decided to take the longer view.
One of them would survive anyway.
Crash! Bang!
“Argh!”
There weren’t many players left anyway, and they all appeared to be mid-tier level users, so it was awkward to intervene carelessly.
Besides, I predicted that a direct confrontation would still be disadvantageous for me.
It was a lesson Eden had taught me.
What he’d done was staged wrestling, but this chaos unfolding now was life-or-death UFC.
“…Gurgle!”
“Gasp! Gasp! I won! Kehehehe!”
A few minutes had passed.
The situation had resolved exactly as I’d intended.
The last user standing was undoubtedly a formidable warrior—not quite on Eden’s level, but unquestionably among the strongest.
Moreover, wielding a wickedly sharp chain scythe as a weapon, they appeared to possess a hidden class.
It was an unfamiliar weapon I’d never encountered in the previous game.
“Gasp! Gasp! Calamity of the Black Dragon Faction! I have eliminated them all! I survived to the very end and have not disappointed you, my lord!”
The shamelessness of that response was beyond reproach.
Moreover, this wretch had monopolized every last bit of experience points that should have been mine.
Naturally, I had no intention of granting them a peaceful death.
They would pay dearly for stealing my precious experience.
“Very well. I acknowledge you personally. Perhaps you deserve one more opportunity.”
“Thank you, my lord!”
“You have one hour. Return to the village, gather all your forces, and make my will known. Wait for me at the Fountain.”
“As you command!”
The contemptible victor fled at breakneck speed.
Now there was no trace of anyone left.
Once again, I collected every last coin purse from the fallen users, setting a new record for profit.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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