The Grand Scheme
The sudden arrival of the Specters temporarily halted the infighting between players—until Seowoon's group charged in, reigniting chaos.
Three players were instantly eliminated without even raising a hand in defense. The balance of power shattered.
In front, the Wraith had finished regenerating. To the sides, hostile players. And from behind came Seowoon's team.
At that moment, a thunderous shout split the air.
"You honorless coward!"
The player who hurled a heavy-looking spear was someone Seowoon had seen before.
Whoosh—Thunk!
Seowoon deflected the incoming spear with a blow, only for it to boomerang back into the attacker's hand.
"Honor? Cowardice? Then what kind of honor does a guy who ambushes people at the entrance know about?"
Seowoon's retort left the man speechless. Enraged, he lunged at Seowoon.
As the spear came for him, Seowoon coiled his arm around it, launching bloodbone clan straight for the man's neck.
Like a serpent riding up the shaft, the attack slithered forward—but the man kept charging.
Clang!
The strike left a scratch on the iron neck guard.
Thunk!
He slammed into Seowoon with his shoulder, spinning around to sweep with his spear again.
Tough one.
Even bloodbone clan couldn't easily pierce this guy's armor. Not standard issue.
He's not wearing the armor I saw him in at the entrance, either.
Back then, it was a bulkier silver set. Whether due to confidence in his armor or his own skills, he pressed forward relentlessly.
Seowoon raised a clenched fist.
Tap, tap!
A light punch to the chest made the man's face twist in discomfort.
Despite its subtlety, Seowoon's refined strike pierced through armor and skills, rattling him internally.
But still—too tough. The man should've been spitting blood, maybe even dead, but the damage was being absorbed by passive defenses.
Whoosh!
Teeth clenched against the gut-wrenching impact, he raised his spear again—only to see his opponent suddenly multiply.
Smack, smack-smack!
A flurry of phantom strikes ripped past him like a gust of wind.
If one strike wasn't enough, just keep hitting until he fell.
Whirr!
Blood trickled from his mouth as he gripped the spear with both hands, spinning it like a propeller while retreating.
Clang!
Seowoon's clones were dispelled in the spin, and his fists met the spear shaft instead.
"Cough!"
The knight hacked up blood, glaring at Seowoon through pale lips.
Bang!
In the midst of the standoff, a Specter slammed into the knight's back.
Yet the man didn't flinch. His eyes never left Seowoon.
No amount of Specter attacks could shake him. His armor wouldn't yield to mere blunt force.
But Seowoon's fist? That was different. Each tap made his insides tremble. His breathing grew heavier.
Trying to keep Seowoon in sight, the knight scanned for his teammates.
Noticing this, Seowoon stepped in.
The man flinched—then lunged toward his comrades.
You were so high and mighty before. Should I really just let you go?
His allies were busy fending off Specters. Letting this tank walk away unpunished wasn't an option.
Especially someone like him—his armor could be a nightmare in a group fight.
Seowoon used silent movement technique, multiplying again and cutting off the escape.
As they encircled the knight, preparing to strike, a sudden roar echoed:
ROAR!
As Seowoon grabbed the knight's exposed head with bloodbone clan, his eyes caught something else—Yeoh Haoran's blade driving into the Wraith's skull.
A chill crept up Seowoon's spine.
No way…
Crack!
Seowoon crushed the knight's skull in one squeeze. Blood and brain matter sprayed in every direction.
Wiping his face, Seowoon looked up at the yellow gem embedded in the ceiling above the Wraith's head.
It was cracking—violently.
Don't tell me…
The sudden change drew every player's attention. Even the Specter-engaged ones turned to look.
The gem exploded with unnatural energy.
Yeoh Haoran, the very one who stabbed the Wraith's skull, was the most shocked.
Trying to destroy the gem, he jumped—only for every Specter to scream and launch at the Wraith.
Golden light burst from the Wraith's body like a solar flare.
Yeoh Haoran failed to shatter the gem but managed to recover his sword and back off.
Through the blinding light, Seowoon squinted and saw—transformation.
The Wraith donned a radiant golden armor, wielding both staff and sword. A red cape fluttered as a shattered gem embedded itself into his crown.
"FOOLS! YOU DARE DISTURB MY ETERNAL REST?"
The shout echoed. Players stood dumbstruck.
"It's… it's the return of Kutrapha…"
"We're doomed."
"HAHH!"
With a battle cry, Yeoh Haoran rallied the others.
"He's still just a monster. Don't be afraid!"
Encouraged, players regrouped.
Haoran's team (five), the original teaming group (six), and Seowoon's team (also six) all stood apart—watching one another warily while eyeing the reborn Wraith.
"Didn't expect a Phase 2."
"What's that mean?" Sade asked.
"Sometimes, in games, major bosses enter a stronger form when wounded or triggered. That's what this is."
Sade looked again at the overwhelming aura the Wraith was radiating.
"So this… this is kinda your fault?"
"Ours, really."
Seowoon shrugged, dodging the blame.
"Shouldn't we retreat while we can?" Dumph offered, clearly shaken.
Unusual, coming from the typically fearless brute.
Seowoon shook his head.
"Too late. That thing's not letting us go. And…"
He looked at Haoran, still standing toe-to-toe with the beast.
"This is our only shot to kill it. We have to go through it."
"YOU SHALL SLEEP WITH ME FOR ETERNITY!"
CRACKLE!
Lightning erupted from the Wraith's staff, trapping Haoran's team inside a glowing field.
They raised every barrier they had. Even so, only Haoran managed to counter with sword energy.
"Everyone, now's the time—attack together!"
Other teams joined in, bombarding the Wraith.
"Seowoon, we should—"
Dumph was cut off as Seowoon raised a hand.
"Not yet. Don't draw aggro. Watch its patterns."
Clang!
Haoran grunted, forced back. The Wraith's strikes were heavier now.
Seowoon watched from afar—and froze.
"BEHIND YOU, MASTER!"
Hammit's voice hit him before he could think.
"Move!"
The Wraith blurred—and reappeared behind them.
A teleport.
Seowoon barely rolled away in time, the heat of the sword burning past.
"YOU LITTLE VERMIN! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
BOOM!
The Wraith slammed its staff into the ground. Lightning exploded.
Damn it—it has more than one AOE!
"Haaah!"
Seowoon slammed a shockwave into the floor, disrupting the attack just in time.
Thanks to barriers and Lyle's quick healing, the team survived.
But it was close.
Seowoon scouted the other teams. They were recovering too—annoying.
He began luring the Wraith toward them.
Bang!
He landed a hit on its skull. Its fury spiked.
Seowoon bolted—toward the team that ambushed him earlier.
As he ran, he saw them: mages storing spells, warriors drinking potions.
"Hey, didn't we agree to work together? Let's play nice!"
Seowoon's words made their faces twist in rage—but they had no choice.
Fighting the Wraith and each other meant death.
They knew hidden players were still out there.
So they gritted their teeth and fought the Wraith.
Meanwhile, Seowoon rejoined his team.
"You okay?"
"Thanks to Lyle, didn't have to waste scrolls."
We need to wipe out the ambushers while fighting the Wraith. Pass the message quietly—
Kichan nodded.
"Then do as Kichan says."
With that, Seowoon vanished again—rushing the Wraith.
CRASH!
"ARGHH!"
A blow landed on an armored player's shoulder. As he screamed, Haoran sliced the Wraith's armor.
"YOU DARE INTERRUPT MY REST!"
Its swordplay became fluid, deceptive—no longer robotic, but intelligent.
CLANG!
Seowoon blocked it with a retrieved shield.
"What are you doing? Knights, support him!"
The very man who caused this mess was barking orders—but no one argued.
Three knights jumped in, dispersing the Wraith's focus.
A wounded knight retreated and was healed just in time.
"Haoran! We're out of scrolls!"
"So are we!"
Seowoon smirked inwardly.
Good. From here on, anyone hurt becomes a liability.
"Didn't they say you were the strongest? Show me!"
Haoran's eyebrow twitched.
Even in a world full of enemies, no one dared speak to him like that.
Except this madman who somehow recognized him.
"You…"
Swoosh!
His sword flared to life as he attacked the Wraith again.
Yeah, burn it all. Spend every ounce of strength.
Whether Haoran would be the one watching—or the one watched—remained to be seen.
As long as the balance holds, there's a chance.
If damage and player deaths stayed proportional, Seowoon could outlast the rest and take everything.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : htts://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]