Chapter 404: A One-Man Army (6)

Resurrection was a skill learned by Clerics once they outgrew their beginner phase, and among players, it was called a miracle. To players, nothing felt more miraculous than the act of reviving a fallen ally.

Of course, that didn’t mean Resurrection was an all-powerful skill. When a player died, there were three main penalties. A three-day login ban, XP loss, and a chance of item drop. If Resurrection was used, the three-day login penalty would be removed and the player could log in immediately. Although the XP loss and item drop couldn’t be prevented, items could be picked back up once revived.

In other words, Resurrection was a miracle that effectively removed two of the three penalties. However, no one used the skill freely, even though it was learned at a relatively low level, and the reason was simple.

It consumes a lot of Holy Power.

Kai’s Holiness stat alone was around 4,500, so his Holy Power was extremely high. On top of that, with multiple titles and holy relic set effects, the effectiveness of all skills that consumed Holy Power doubled. Moreover, the amount of Holy Power consumed by skills was greatly reduced.

Even so, about one-fourth of Kai’s total Holy Power was gone after reviving twenty-three dullahans. A typical level 450 Cleric could probably revive only three or four allies at most in one go, and even that would drain all their Holy Power and leave them unable to do anything else.

Breathing out white fog, Kai brought his dullahan summons back to life. They were nothing but reassuring from his perspective, but it was a completely different story for his opponents.

“Th-those damn things...”

“They resurrected? And more than twenty of them did?”

“Kai, that bastard...!”

Shocked, the Black Dragon guild members staggered backward. Except for Xao Lin, they had no proper way to deal with the dullahans. The more than twenty dullahans who had died were now moving around as if nothing happened, creating tremendous psychological pressure. It felt like facing immortal beings who could never truly die, and the reason they felt that way was simple.

Kai wasn’t a Paladin...!

Resurrection is a skill only Clerics can use. Even if someone had a hidden class, they can’t break the basic class structure.

The truth was that Kai wasn’t a Paladin, but a Celric, and that 3 million Black Dragon troops were being crushed by a single cleric. That unbelievable reality steadily chipped away at the morale of the Black Dragon army.

“Impressive...” Xao Lin muttered as he watched the revived dullahans.

At the same time, a deep sense of regret flashed through his eyes.

What a shame.

What if they had brought Unknown in when he had just started making a name for himself, even if it cost an outrageous sum of money? The guild that claimed him would be the undisputed world number one guild by now. They would be ruling the game as they pleased.

This is the first time I’ve regretted meeting someone as an enemy.

Trying to ease that regret, Xao Lin swung his sword.

Clang!

But the revived dullahan blocked his attack.

“What the...?”

Xao Lin’s eyes trembled in shock. This one was definitely the same dullahan that had failed to block his sword and was easily sliced in two, and yet, it had become stronger just from being resurrected?

Clatter.

The dullahan had no mouth to speak, but the gleaming eyes from inside the helmet, the sword in its hand, and the aura around its body said everything. It seemed to say: I learn, my death makes me stronger, so come at me.

You’re just a damn monster...!

Overcome with an unknown feeling, Xao Lin erupted in anger. “How arrogant!”

His sword tore through space as it came crashing down.

With his stats enhanced by the Monarch class, all of them had reached 3,000. In addition, the stats he had gained by leveling up to 460 totaled around 2,500. Each time he leveled up, he had invested every point into Stamina, Strength, and Agility. Thus, his Strength stat alone was currently around 3,700.

The dullahan’s arm was severed. At the same time, Xao Lin clenched his teeth.

How dare you...!

He aimed to cut off its head, but the dullahan twisted its body in that brief instant and sacrificed its arm. Then came a counterattack. The dullahan’s weapon struck Xao Lin’s armor for the first time. The hit landed hard, but Xao Lin’s health was already far beyond a normal player’s. He didn’t even blink and immediately threw a punch.

Claaang!

“You worthless tin can!”

Xao Lin smashed the dullahan and caught his breath as he looked around. Just moments ago, the dullahans were nothing but prey. But now, the forty-nine dullahans scattered across the battlefield were starting to get on his nerves.

I made a mistake...

He couldn’t believe he lost his breath just fighting a dullahan. He was supposed to become an absolute powerhouse through this war, an icon others wouldn’t even dare to challenge.

No matter how strong they are, they’re still just dullahans. I need to finish this quickly and take down Kai while he’s worn out...

Xao Lin slightly turned his head to check Kai’s location. By now, his army should have surrounded Kai and been relentlessly pressing attacks. However, that was a big misconception.

Xao Lin’s eyes widened as soon as he checked Kai’s location. His entire army had been turned into ice statues, and Kai was nowhere in sight.

Where... Where is he?

Xao Lin quickly opened the guild chat.

[Find Kai’s location! Where is he?]

Messages from his subordinates began pouring in.

[We don’t know.]

[We can’t see him.]

[Still trying to locate.]

Xao Lin felt a chill crawl down his spine and turned around. It wasn’t reason guiding him this time, but instinct.

Claaang!

“

Oh?

You reacted better than I expected.”

In that decisive moment, it was instinct rather than reason that saved his life.

Xao Lin bit down on his lip as he faced Kai who had suddenly appeared right in front of him. “You...”

“You must have been frustrated,” Kai said, smiling. “You’re that strong, yet you’ve been hiding your power. It must’ve eaten at you.”

“I only chose practicality over fleeting glory.”

“Who’s blaming you? That’s why it’s even more unfortunate.”

Kai swung his Holy Sword, and the blade sliced through the air.

“You held back all this time just for today... and now everything is about to fall apart in front of me.”

“It seems God gave you power, but took away your humility.”

“No, if anything, I gave them more than I got.”

Just the monthly cost of snacks was no joke.

Kai asked Xao Lin, who clearly didn’t understand what he meant, “Shall we get started then?”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit early? Shouldn’t we consider the audience?”

The war had only just begun. From the viewers’ perspective, this clash between the two of them was like the main course—something to be saved for later.

“You really live thinking about things like that? Sounds exhausting.”

“I’m saying it for your own good.”

That was one thing Xao Lin said with complete sincerity. Just as much as he believed in his own skill, he also recognized Kai’s brilliance, and that was exactly why he pitied him.

“There can’t be two suns in the sky. One must fall below the earth today.”

“You’re not saying that’s me, are you?”

“Of course I am. I like how quick you catch on.”

Xao Lin was certain he would win, and he felt a strange mix of regret and thrill at having to crush the man who had built his legend with his own hands.

Feeling all of those conflicting emotions, he slowly raised his hand. “But I’ll face you now if that’s what you really want.”

“Even the Demon King wasn’t this arrogant...” Kai quietly muttered and reluctantly nodded. “Alright. Let’s get this thing started.”

“Come at me.”

Xao Lin took a formal stance. He straightened his back, lifted his chin, and placed his left hand behind him. With his right hand holding his sword, he raised the blade at a slant in front of his chest.

He’s still trying to look cool right to the end.

Kai smirked and said, “Here I come.”

Before he could even finish his sentence, his figure had already moved behind Xao Lin.

“Predictable,” Xao Lin turned his body like a ghost and reacted to Kai’s speed.

Kai was a little surprised as he hadn’t expected another player, not an NPC, to react to his movements like that. Not by much, but just a little.

So what?

Kai’s Holy Sword pressed down on Xao Lin’s Conqueror’s Blade. Surprisingly enough, their Strength stats were at about the same level. Neither of them backed down and both held their ground.

Xao Lin’s face turned serious. “H-how... are you withstanding my strength?”

“What? Am I not allowed to?”

“Of course not!”

His Strength stat was 3,700. It should have been higher than any other player and been absolute. Yet Kai had withstood his strike. No, it was more than just withstanding. The perfectly balanced scale began to tilt to one side, and for one reason.

“You... Your body’s balance is all messed up,” Kai quietly muttered as his figure disappeared.

Xao Lin turned and swung his sword.

Claaang!

The two swords collided and sparks flew. But after that brief clash, Kai’s form vanished once again. He reappeared behind Xao Lin.

“Cheap tricks like that won’t work!”

Xao Lin turned around again and swung his sword. He blocked Kai’s attack once more, but he couldn’t completely absorb the impact, and his foot slid back a step.

“

Argh

...

!

”

Kai pressed him hard like a fierce wind. From behind, from the left, from the right, and sometimes from above. The moment he realized Xao Lin’s balance was off, he started attacking to shake him.

Kai had pinpointed the answer. As time went on, Xao Lin’s stance continued to collapse. The noble and upright posture he once held was nowhere to be seen. His hair, blown wildly by the wind, was a tangled mess, and all he could do was flail and barely block as Kai’s sword came down like lightning.

Claaang!

“

Urgh!

”

Each time he blocked an attack, he staggered back several steps as if he got struck in the abdomen.

Why? Why? Why is this happening?

Even if his stats weren’t much higher than Kai’s, they should at least be equal. He had confirmed that during their initial power clash.

So then why... Why am I being pushed back like this?

He couldn’t understand it. He couldn’t accept it. And finally, his guard broke. His face twisted as Kai’s Holy Sword pierced straight through his chest.

“

Kugh

...

!

”

Kai quickly pulled the sword out and stepped back. Xao Lin’s health was higher than expected, so he considered the possibility of a counterattack.

“

Argh...

”

The Clerics of the Black Dragon army gathered around and began restoring Xao Lin’s health.

Kai waved his hand and said in a bored tone, “Kill those ones first.”

His loyal knights swung their helmets as they charged at the clerics on the battlefield.

“

N-nooo!

”

“P-please spare me!”

“What are the tanks doing?!”

The weak Clerics were instantly struck down, and Kai stared intently at Xao Lin.

“What’s with that look in your eyes?” Xao Lin growled at Kai, unsettled by the unpleasant look in his eyes.

However, Kai no longer paid any attention to his arrogant remarks. He didn’t consider him a worthy opponent. Instead, he felt sorry for him, and at the same time, even angry.

“You... Your stats are high, right? Maybe even higher than mine.”

“Of course they are.” Xao Lin nodded firmly, filled with pride.

But Kai’s eyes only deepened with pity. “I see... But then what have you been doing all this time?”

“What...?” Xao Lin couldn’t understand the question and asked back.

“Have you ever fought at full power using those stats?”

“A noble man does not act rashly.”

“

Oh

, so you haven’t,” Kai muttered as if he finally understood.

That was the decisive difference between him and Xao Lin.

Experience.

Xao Lin had been satisfied with his high stats and arrogantly believed he could crush any enemy. That arrogance had become the chain shackling his feet. But Kai was different.

I’ve been fighting nonstop.

He hadn’t just vented his power on weaker opponents. He had sought out only the strong and fought them. That process was what had shaped his current self. A player who could use his abilities to his full potential during battle. That was who Kai was.

Whereas Xao Lin...

At best, he was using maybe forty to fifty percent. Of course, with his stats being so high, most rankers probably couldn’t even brush his clothes.

But that’s not right. It shouldn’t be like that.

He shouldn’t have dared to face him with such shallow depth and skill. After breaking through countless hardships and even forcing the Demon King to kneel, Kai had become a true veteran of battle. He even felt confident in calling himself the best fighter in

MID Online.

“This is an insult to me.”

Kai’s gaze turned cold. The thrill of facing a strong opponent had long since faded.

No need to drag this out against someone like him.

He had expected so much, but now it just felt like he had been scammed. It was disappointing.

Slightly irritated, four holy magic circles appeared behind Kai’s back. The surrounding heat began to get hotter, and Kai’s body became light like the wind.

“Here I come.”

That one line carried a different tone and weight than before.