Chapter 227: The One Who Takes Everything for Himself (2)

In the past, Cheonhwa turned the Veghas raid recordings into paid videos instead of streaming them live and sold them afterward.

However, Vulcan decided to stake everything on this strategy — to stream the raid live without any edits. Of course, what viewers needed to prepare was money.

-Hmm. I have no idea what the Warriors are really thinking.

-Isn't this livestream thing incredibly risky?

└ It is, very risky. Just look at Nihonichi a few days ago. They tried to turn the tide with a livestream, and look how that turned out.

└ Right. Thanks for the good explanation.

└ Oh! You know about Nihonichi!

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

-More than that, how on earth did the Warriors convince Cheonhwa? I was certain Cheonhwa would tackle Zatan first...

└ Deals among the heavenly guilds aren’t anything new. We might be curious, but we’ll probably never know.

Many players were curious about the deal between Cheonhwa and the Warriors. However, ordinary players would never be able to find out what kind of agreement they had. Quickly realizing this, they shifted their attention elsewhere.

-Wow, are the live ticket sales numbers real?

-Each ticket is 5 dollars, and there are 4 million viewers right now so...

-What? That’s 20 million dollars! They're raking in money!

└ This is the power of the world's Nine Guilds, especially the top three. Nihonichi didn’t have this much ticket sales, right?

└ I watched that live, and they totally bombed it. They only had about 700,000 viewers. And after the raid, even a ton of their sponsors pulled out.

└ Dang. That’s a massive blow for just one failed raid.

└ That’s the kind of position the world's Nine Guilds are in. Even a single mistake is unforgivable.

"Man, people are harsh in their judgments," Kai muttered as he read the comments flooding in live from players.

Just as they said, the Warriors were currently raking in cash. Anyone would think so, given that they earned over 200 million dollars just by selling live raid tickets.

But they know one thing and forget another. They'll have to cough up all that money when the raid fails.

In fact, that's exactly what happened to Nihonichi. Logically speaking, it was a very straightforward issue. One just had to consider why sponsors invested in the world’s Nine Guilds.

In the end, sponsors just want to promote their companies. It’s similar to hiring celebrities for advertising campaigns.

But what company would want to invest in people dying while showcasing their logo on their gear? In reality, a clause was included in the sponsorship contracts for the world’s Nine Guilds, requiring them not to damage the sponsor's image.

The Nihonichi guild must’ve had a rough time paying back penalties for ruining the corporate’s image.

Even though they earned over 3.5 million dollars from selling live tickets, the amount they had to pay back was likely even greater.

Nihonichi’s next move will be crucial for them.

If they mess up even one more time, the few remaining sponsors would all likely abandon them. Their sponsors were even limited to Japanese companies right now. The fact that all foreign sponsors had withdrawn meant they were walking on the line now. A single misstep would lead to a bottomless abyss.

“Well, it isn’t really the time to worry about Nihonichi right now, is it?”

Kai watched the ticket sales steadily increase every second with a sad expression. The current live ticket revenue had already surpassed 21.1 billion won.

And if I suddenly made a dramatic appearance...

The sales would easily increase by at least 1.5 times, and that wasn’t baseless confidence. Kai was sharp enough to assess his own value accurately.

In fact, sales skyrocketed right after Yoo Ha-Rin appeared during Cheonhwa's raid.

If the Warriors’ editing team later reworked the footage into a complete version for sale, they would rake in even more money.

“

Sigh

. The bear performs the tricks, but the handler takes the money.”

Though he said this, his lips curled into a gentle smile.

But I’ll gain far more from this raid than them.

What the Warriors could secure from this was limited to money and fame. Kai, however, planned to claim everything, including those things. As an example, they had promised him land.

It’s best if I secure a noble title to protect Libertia’s safety.

For this reason, Kai had been busily conquering territories through sieges, but the Warriors perfectly addressed this matter.

Two territories, huh?

In the current warring era, their value was immeasurable. Of course, what they initially offered him was merely a role to represent looks and pocket change.

But I’m worth far more than that.

So, Kai made a counteroffer and negotiated to receive two territories upon a successful raid.

If the raid fails, I’ll only get one territory, though.

Kai didn’t even consider the possibility of failure. Even if Zatan was overwhelmingly powerful, the raid had to succeed no matter what.

And how strong could it possibly be?

After all, he had already defeated Zirukan, who was over level 700. Of course, Zirukan’s body was saturated with demonic energy, giving Kai an advantage. Looking back, he almost felt sorry for the developers, Pegasus.

Every attack landed as a critical hit.

Zatan, on the other hand, was fundamentally a chimera, despite being affiliated with the Church of Muldine. Even if struck by holy power, it wouldn’t feel significantly more pain.

-Kroooaaar!

As Kai’s thoughts continued, Zatan let out a pained roar.

“It’s started.”

The Warriors’ elite surrounded Zatan, and attacked its four legs. It was a coordinated assault so flawless that it elicited awe. One couldn’t even imagine how much time they would have spent perfecting their teamwork to put on such a show.

Wooom!

Around Zatan’s body, the area within a fifty-meter radius tinged with a faint blue hue.

“

Argh

, this is...!”

“Far more uncomfortable than I thought.”

“Even the air filling my lungs feels heavy.”

The Warriors’ elite grimaced as their bodies felt heavy like lead, but that was only momentary. Their exceptional talents allowed them to quickly adapt, and they began chipping away at Zatan’s HP.

95%... 85%... 75%...

At the twenty-five minute mark of the raid, Zatan’s health finally dropped past 70%.

-Krrrrrooooorrr!

With a scream, Zatan’s body began to harden like a statue. At the same time, everyone within the gravity field was thrown out.

“Alright, I guess it’s time to get ready.”

Watching the Warriors guild’s battle from a hill, Kai summoned Mimic.

“Mimic, you remember what we did last time, right?”

“

Kyuruk?

”

“The catapult, no, I mean the spitapult. Remember? You spat and launched the dullahans far away.”

“

Kurrrk!

”

In the form of a King Sandworm, Mimic opened its massive jaws wide. In an instant, an opening several times larger than its body appeared. Its mouth was lined with hundreds of sharp teeth, and green acidic saliva dripped.

It’s definitely not something I want to go into.

However, life was never easy. Kai climbed onto Mimic’s tongue.

Ding!

[Zatan has summoned its minion Radus.]

[Zatan has summoned its minion Duras.]

[Until these two minions are put to eternal rest, Zatan will enter an invincible state.]

Radus was clad entirely in red armor, and Duras was in blue armor.

As the two appeared on the battlefield, Kai shouted, “Mimic! Spit!”

“

Thwaaah!

”

With Mimic’s forceful spit, Kai’s green acid-covered body shot into the sky toward the clouds.

***

—Things are going pretty well.

—Yeah, pretty smoothly.

—No, but this is seriously too smooth.

The Warriors’ elite easily dodged Zatan’s attacks while landing their own blows successfully. They even showcased their advanced rotational combat tactics, displaying their exceptional competence. However, their battle wasn’t flashy enough to captivate the audience.

Phase 1 progressed as naturally as a river flowing downstream.

-This is getting boring...

-I think I’ll just watch the highlights later. I’m heading to bed. See ya, everyone.

-

Ugh

, I wish Cheonhwa was raiding instead. At least we’d get to see the Ice Queen in action...

Viewers usually preferred thrilling and exciting content. After all, who would want to watch a predictable scenario? To make matters worse, most members of the Warriors guild were muscular men!

Word of their raid spread quickly among viewers.

-How’s the Warriors’ raid going? I’m debating whether to pay for the stream... Is it worth it? Early reviews, anyone?

└ Don’t buy it. I’m watching, and it’s just decent. If they succeed, you can just catch the highlights later.

-What’s there to say? They block well, attack well... The Warriors have always been skilled, but they’ve never delivered a crucial blow.

-They don’t have a standout figure like Cheonhwa, Pray, or Limitless, nor do they have a unique concept like the Black Bee guild.

└ What do you mean no concept? They’ve got a ton of muscular dudes.

└ Yeah, get out of here.

-I don’t know, the Warriors just handle everything so effortlessly that it’s not entertaining.

Criticism after criticism, followed by more criticism! Indeed, the Warriors’ raid was textbook-perfect. But that also meant it was so dull it could put viewers to sleep.

-Zatan’s HP dropped below 70%.

Huh?

The petrification phase is starting.

-Is this Phase 2 now? The Warriors are definitely skilled. They have the fastest record time for clearing Phase 1.

-Hmm. Will things get more exciting when they face Duras and Radus?

└ Probably. The Warriors have Wizards, but even if they all teamed up and went inside the gravity field, they probably won't be able to take down Duras.

└ I guess we’ll finally find out which mercenary the Warriors hired.

Filled with curiosity, the viewers stared intently at their monitors.

However, the Warriors’ elite continued retreating, and no new forces appeared on the battlefield.

-What...?

-Why isn’t anyone coming out?

-Are they abandoning the raid midway? Or are they just late?

Even Duras and Radus, summoned by Zatan, started glancing around as if waiting for their opponent. But when they found no sign of any life around them, the two finally spoke.

“Cowards.”

“But if they won’t come to us, then should we...?”

Whooooosh!

Radus, mid-sentence, tilted his head. A sharp sound of something cutting through the air reached his ears.

This sound... came from above.

Radus instinctively lifted his head. At the same time, a cold blade pierced the back of his neck, and that marked the beginning of Phase 2 of the Zatan Raid.

-Huh...?

-Wait, I’ve seen that sword somewhere before.

The sword looked very familiar, and it didn’t take long for the viewers to recall its identity.

-That’s the sword that took down the giant, isn’t it?!

In

MID Online

, there was only one faction worthy of being called a giant. It was the Titan guild. And in over a year, only one person had ever taken them down.

The camera, which had been focused on Radus and Duras, suddenly turned toward the sky.

Boom!

Kai made a dramatic entrance, piercing through the clouds as he appeared.

-It’s Unknown! Kai!

-Oh my god...

-Look at that entrance lol He split the clouds like tofu hahaha Is he the final boss or something?

-The Warriors are insane. I love you guys!

-Wait, but why is Unknown here? Then who’s going to take down Duras?

The chat erupted in chaos. Unknown's appearance quickly spread through word of mouth among viewers, and live ticket sales began to skyrocket alongside the buzz.

“Shall we get started, then?”

Whoooosh.

As Kai felt the cold, swift wind brush past his cheek, he focused his mind.

“Holy Explosion.”

Whooooooom.

A holy magic circle began to spin slowly in his left hand, and then another in his right hand.

-Double-casting!

-Hmm, but he already showed that during the Aosa raid.

-Still, double-casting while falling through the air? His concentration is unmatched.

As everyone marveled, another magic circle formed near Kai’s right shoulder.

Crackle!

-Oh... my... god! Holy shit!

-T-triple-casting?!”

-He’s insane! Why does he play as a Paladin?!

-If it were me, I’d delete the character and start as a Wizard.

In

MID Online

, there was a saying that said double-casting was a wall that only those with talent could reach, and triple-casting was a wall that only geniuses can knock on.

The Death Dragon Sineras’s Dragon Heart.

Kai had achieved triple-casting by obtaining that. It was something his own talent could never reach, an artillery capable of firing three spells, now equipped to his character.

And...

Crackle!

-N-no way.

-It can’t be...

-Someone slap me. I think I’m still dreaming.

It was a bitter legacy left behind by what could only be called an ill-fated relationship with Zirukan.

Crack, crack, crackle.

Another holy magic circle slowly traced a perfect circle at Kai’s left shoulder joint, and completed its formation.

“Quadruple-casting.”

Whoooooom!

As if responding to Kai’s call, the newly formed fourth magic circle shined brightly and roared with power.