Translator: Dreamscribe

They ran across the battlefield.

802 players charged toward the goblins across the ashen land without a moment’s hesitation. Beneath the crimson sky, on land filled only with terrifying darkness, they became the sole source of light.

Kugugugung!

As if absorbing the Magic Barrier, a quivering black pillar trembled, and a dust cloud like a black storm surged from the ground. It soared into the sky like a massive wall, then turned into a tidal wave and rushed toward the players.

Was it as if a meteorite had fallen into a sea made of darkness?

Such a thought crossed their minds.

It was a massive tidal wave like something out of a disaster movie.

But the players didn’t slow down at all. That was because Leon, running at the front and leading them, was there.

'So long as the heroes do not give up, even if my soul shatters, I will fight alongside you.'

That was what Leon had clearly said.

As long as we don’t give up, Leon will always be by our side. The players wanted to answer that belief of Leon’s.

Everyone made up their minds to follow Leon’s back and stay together until the end.

When Leon stood alone against the incoming darkness,

“Gather the light!”

“Don’t scatter!”

The players gathered around him, concentrating the light on their weapons. The firmer and sharper their will, the more fiercely the light surged.

Kwaaaa!

The tidal wave of darkness was split by the light.

The terrible darkness merely split around the players, brushing past them.

A smile rose on Jinwoo’s lips as he immersed himself in Leon.

The players’ growth was astonishing. He looked forward to the future they would show.

Goblins were waiting for Jinwoo and the players, who had pierced through the darkness.

“Kuaaargh!”

When the Hero Slayer raised a huge club, all the goblins charged madly toward the players.

Wheeek!

Jinwoo swung his sword with strength. Light burst forth and swept away the goblins in front of him.

The result was devastating.

Goblins were flung in all directions, their formation shattered.

“Shields to the front!”

At Jinwoo’s shout, the tankers with shields raised them high and charged wildly.

“Uaaaaah! Shield Charge!”

“Die, all of you!”

“Break through!”

[F+] Shield Charge

A skill that charges with magic power imbued in the shield.

Can be learned at Evanth Training Center.

The higher the level and stats, the greater the speed and power. Also affected by the shield's stats.

*Heina’s advice: Never use this in the village.

Kwaaa!

Blue currents swirled from the tankers’ shields as they charged like raging bulls toward the goblins like cannonballs.

It was a spectacle, more than a hundred tankers kicked up dust as they charged forward.

The goblins tried to defend themselves with wooden shields, but it was already too late.

KWAaaaAA!

The tankers and goblins collided.

In that moment, a shockwave burst forth. The bodies of the goblins struck by the shields exploded on the spot, and the surrounding goblins were swept away by the shockwave, flung backward.

The sight of dozens of goblins flying through the air delivered tremendous exhilaration to all who saw it.

“Kahahah! This is a +5 shield, bastards!”

“Wow, your shield’s awesome. I’m so jealous.”

“Keh! That power’s crazy.”

- Kyah! This is it! This is what being a tanker is about! My chest is swelling with pride.

- The impact feels so satisfying ㅋㅋ

- Look at the power of that +5 shield.

From UruBear’s shield, fierce winds and lightning surged out endlessly.

The goblins who had fallen to the ground got up again and rushed in once more. The previously empty space was quickly filled pitch-black.

“Fuck! Block them!”

“Hold the line!”

Thud!

The tankers slammed their shields into the ground, forming a defensive line.

Bang! Kwa! Tatatatata!

The goblins began wildly hammering at the shields with bladed weapons and blunt clubs. The impact was so intense that cracks formed in the shields, or the tankers were pushed back.

[Surviving Heroes: 799]

As the center of three tankers collapsed and fell, the goblins swarmed like a horde of ants and butchered them.

“Push them back!”

Before they knew it, UruBear, now the center of the tankers, tightly gripped his shield and shouted.

“Push them back!”

“Uwoooo! If we get pushed back here, we’re no tankers! I used to be riot police, you fucking bastards!”

The tankers put everything they had into blocking the goblins.

“UruBear nim! I’m coming over!”

As Jinwoo’s shout rang from behind, UruBear instinctively lowered his posture and raised his shield upward.

The moment Jinwoo’s foot touched the shield.

“Uaaaah!”

With a loud shout, UruBear launched Jinwoo’s body upward with all his strength.

Jinwoo’s body soared through the air. He ascended to a height easily surpassing a five-story building, and at the peak, his sword pointed downward.

He fell like a beam of light toward the black mass of goblins.

Jinwoo became a comet made of light.

Kwaaaa!

As Jinwoo’s sword struck the ground, a massive burst of light exploded, obliterating all goblins in the vicinity. Jinwoo rose and pulled the sword from the ground.

When he turned to look back, his eyes met UruBear’s.

Chok!

UruBear gave him a thumbs-up, and Jinwoo’s eyes gently curved into a smile. Then, after looking at his own hand, he too awkwardly raised a thumbs-up.

It was a gesture unknown in Arsilan.

-Leon nim!

-That’s insane! So damn coolㅋㅋ

-Kyah! Leon nim even gave a demonstration!

-What romance! Leon nim is too cuteㅋㅋ

Jinwoo stayed true to his character.

“Leon nim gave us a demonstration!”

“Let’s gooo!!”

“Uaaaaah!”

The damage dealers charged forward, leaping over the tankers and rushing at the goblins.

Northern Grand Duke and Life Hunter jumped off shields and swung their weapons at the goblins. Northern Grand Duke split a goblin from crown to groin with her two-handed axe and then headbutted another charging goblin.

The sight of the goblin’s head bursting like a watermelon was truly astonishing.

“Kieeeek!”

A goblin wielding a blade lunged at her from behind. She turned as she sensed it, but it was already too late. The blade was right in front of her.

Thwack! Thud!

A dagger flew in from the side and pierced the goblin’s head.

The dagger’s force was so strong that the goblin was knocked sideways and hit the ground with a thump.

Northern Grand Duke instinctively looked to the side.

The one who threw the dagger was Life Hunter.

Fwoosh!

She immediately hurled her axe, splitting the head of a goblin sneaking up behind Life Hunter.

Their eyes met.

“Valhalla.”

“Good hunting.”

With those words, they resumed battle against the goblins flooding in.

From behind, Haebyul drew her bowstring, and the other archers followed her lead and pulled theirs as well.

“Haebyul nim.”

“Yes?”

“What’s with your stance? Is it a new skill?”

An archer beside her asked, noticing her unusual posture.

“...There’s a reason for it.”

- A miracle that costs not only Agility but also a 10% penalty to accuracy because of ‘that’.

- But she still shoots well.

- Ah, you can use spiritsㅋㅋ

She had a reason she couldn’t speak of.

As the archers fired their arrows all at once, they drew arcs through the air and fell upon the goblins. The arrows were imbued with magic and exploded upon impact.

“Fireball!”

“Wind Cutter!”

“Magic Missile!”

The mages also began casting spells to provide ranged support.

“Ugh! I’m low on Magic Power!”

“Anyone have spare Potions?”

"I'm all out too!"

The spells were powerful, but they consumed too much Magic Power. The mages were drinking Potions more than water. Without Potions, they had no choice but to wait for their Magic Power to recover naturally.

At that moment, the mages spotted Romantic Bard.

He stood behind the archers, passionately playing a guitar.

He was drenched in sweat from sheer enthusiasm.

Music was his weapon!

It was fortunate that the battlefield noise drowned out most of his performance.

“That bastard never gets tired?”

“Seriously.”

As the mages stared at Romantic Bard in disbelief.

Fwoooosh! Paaaah!

From Romantic Bard’s body, red and blue currents surged out simultaneously.

“Huh?”

“What’s that...?”

It was a phenomenon that occurred when both Health and Magic Power rapidly recovered.

It was a unique personal trait of Romantic Bard, his Health and Magic Power recovered when he performed music or sang.

The mages hurriedly ran over, grabbed Romantic Bard, and pulled him to the backline.

“Please keep playing.”

“O-oh! If my performance gives you strength, then gladly!”

At the mage’s words, Romantic Bard became excited and started playing and singing even more enthusiastically. At the same time, the mages pointed their staffs at him.

“Mana Drain! Ohhh!”

“Whoa! This is almost as good as a Potion!”

“This is... Yeah! This is what a Bard should be!”

It was Mana Drain, an essential spell for any mage.

Romantic Bard’s Magic Power, which recovered in real-time, was quite substantial. Moreover, he hardly used any Magic Power himself.

A perfect battery... no, a perfect Bard had been found!

[Surviving Heroes: 739]

Quite a few players had died, but the situation was favorable.

KWAaaa!

Every time Jinwoo swung his sword, goblins fell and vanished like autumn leaves.

The tankers continued pressing forward, forming a reliable shield, and the melee damage dealers slaughtered the goblins alongside Jinwoo. Arrows and spells flew without pause, providing constant support.

A situation where losing was unthinkable.