Episode 10: Placement Exam (Part 2)
'A bridgehead... You're kidding, right?'
Si-moon's eyes twitched slightly as the information window floated in mid-air.
Bridgehead.
Commonly called a 'checkpoint', these bridgeheads only varied slightly in environment and shape depending on the map.
Fundamentally, they took the form of bridge fortifications.
In defense scenarios, players summoned to the bridgehead would prevent enemies from crossing.
In offense scenarios, they'd need to break through the bridgehead themselves.
This was common knowledge Si-moon had learned from numerous player streams and the experiences of Kim Si-hyuk and Go Mal-suk.
The problem was...
'Why is this appearing here?'
Checkpoint-type maps were supposed to appear in Platinum rank or higher matches.
This wasn't terrain that should show up in Bronze, or at best Silver rank levels.
'Could it be my MMR?'
After pondering, Si-moon finally shook his head.
'No, that's too much of a leap.'
No matter how fair the MMR system was,
they wouldn't be insane enough to drastically increase arena difficulty for one person.
If they wanted to do that, they'd at least match him with Platinum rank or higher players...
'Wait.'
When his thoughts reached that point, Si-moon's eyes widened.
"That's it - the matching system!"
"Huh?"
Kim Min-hyung walking behind him expressed confusion,
but Si-moon couldn't spare the attention to explain.
'Actually, it makes perfect sense.'
The arena had selected 50 total participants with the condition of 5-player cooperation.
There was never any mention of teams competing against each other for clear times.
Meaning first clearance didn't determine rankings.
The earlier conflict had distracted from this fact.
'The three Scorpion members weren't at placement exam level to begin with.'
Just judging by their leader Choi Ki-yeol alone - he was beyond this tier.
They only seemed weak because they'd collided with an 8-ton truck named Kim Si-moon.
By pure skill assessment, they were talents destined for higher ranks.
'Mr. Kim Min-hyung too - our team's overall level exceeds placement exam standards.'
If other teams also had [Infested Goblin Bridgehead] as their target area,
this team would undoubtedly take first place.
Realizing this, Si-moon smacked his forehead.
'Other teams might have different target areas than [Infested Goblin Bridgehead].'
Hence the absence of first-clear rankings common in team matches.
"Ha... Truly impartial matchmaking."
So fair it was irritating. Not that he regretted eliminating the three Scorpion Guild members - there was no need. 'We're better off without such teammates anyway.'
The bridge approach had drawn near before he realized.
Beyond it flickered scattered torches and...
"Kee-kik!"
"Kee-rit!"
...The grotesque laughter unique to goblins. Si-moon clenched his fists tightly.
'At least the rewards should be substantial.'
The matching system's fairness extended to rewards.
More challenging conditions meant better clearance rewards than other teams.
'This might actually be better.'
Though his level was low,
this situation encouraged growth for someone like Si-moon who didn't belong in the shallows.
Galaxy Arena itself probably wanted him to quickly move past this stage.
'I'll sweep everything clean and take all the kill rewards...'
"Ah."
After a brief sigh, Si-moon turned his head.
"Mr. Kim Min-hyung?"
"Yes."
The man waiting quietly behind raised his head.
"Any interest in securing kills?"
"Kills?"
Min-hyung blinked rapidly.
After glancing across the bridge, he shook his head.
"No, I just cleared the tutorial. Goblins are too much. I'll settle for safely claiming the clearance reward."
He remained unaware...
"Good. Then let's plan accordingly."
...That an 8-ton truck had just brushed past his field of vision.
Kee-kik.
An unpleasant laughter.
More precisely, the nasal snickering unique to goblins.
"Kee-kik! Shift change!"
"Kik, finally!"
Two goblins standing guard cheered as they descended the watchtower.
"Kik, hate guard duty. Boring."
"Stupid! Important post! Captain's, kik! In bad mood."
"Right. Idiots. Get punished. Kee-kik."
The relieving goblins sneered at their retreating comrades before turning to their posts.
Whoosh.
"Kik?"
A sudden breeze made them cock their heads.
Crack.
Something wrapped around their necks and snapped them instantly.
"Hup."
Despite falling at high speed to break both goblins' necks,
no sound came from the attacker's feet.
"Whew."
Si-moon looked down at his legs while holding two goblin heads.
[Black Panther's Physiology]
Completion: 12%
Synthesized Black Panther physiology.
Can replicate Black Panther's physical abilities.
The status window glowing above his legs.
A race that only appeared from Platinum rank onward.
The famed stealth specialists among beastkin - Black Panther physiology.
Though 3% less complete than his Ogre synthesis due to being a higher species,
the superior base quality compensated for the lower completion rate.
The results spoke for themselves.
'I never thought even sensitive goblins would fail to notice.'
Many mistakenly believed goblins were easy targets.
This wasn't entirely incorrect.
Their height equivalent to 10-13 year olds,
and scrawny frames meant even ordinary humans could handle them with weapons.
Hadn't this been proven repeatedly since regular arenas began?
But combined with goblins' acute senses and blood poison, the equation changed.
'Especially their hearing.'
Their elf-like long ears granted exceptional hearing,
making ordinary ambushes ineffective.
Of course.
'They can't compare to a Black Panther's stealth.'
What chance did mere goblins have against a species surpassing even ogres?
Si-moon carefully set down the corpses.
"Multiple body synthesis is still tough."
He hadn't just synthesized [Black Panther's Physiology] on his legs.
When he raised his arms, another status window appeared:
[Ogre's Physiology]
Completion: 7%
Si-moon shook his head at the display.
"Even after reducing completion to 7%, maintenance is this hard?"
A cheerful voice echoed from his chest:
-You're not even surprised you succeeded in multiple body synthesis?
The Philosopher's Stone spoke.
"I practiced before entering the arena."
-But not with human body synthesis!
"Same difference. Like using left hand instead of right."
Si-moon shrugged nonchalantly.
-......
The Stone fell silent.
More precisely, though its face wasn't visible,
it was mentally screaming:
'Is this guy actually insane?!'
'Even with my help and the Obsidian Tablet's influence, synthesis is just a tool!'
No matter how advantageous the Philosopher's Stone was,
it ultimately depended on the user's skill.
'I've always felt it - this guy severely underestimates himself.'
Multiple synthesis was like dual-casting magic.
Drawing circles with one hand while triangles with the other -
an impossible task for most without practice.
Many never achieved dual-casting in their entire lives.
The same applied to multiple body synthesis.
'Hey Opta. Looks like you've found your true master.'
The Stone addressed its fused counterpart, the Obsidian Tablet, before asking:
-So we're moving like this? Focused on ambushes?
"No. Already spent half my synthesis energy. Can't sustain it."
Si-moon released the arm and leg syntheses before propping up the goblin corpses.
Thunk.
Stab.
He synthesized the watchtower floor to impale the corpses like kebabs.
From afar, they'd appear as standing guards.
"Mr. Kim, you can come up now."
At Si-moon's signal,
"Hup!"
Min-hyung entered covering his mouth at the taxidermied goblins.
"You... eliminated them silently."
"Yes. Ah! Avoid the bloodstains. Your gear's C-grade, but better safe."
"Right."
Min-hyung approached cautiously, eyes wide with awe.
"But... will this really work?"
At the anxious query, Si-moon nodded.
"I scouted before attacking. Their weapons are just stones and poison darts."
Having previously synthesized Black Panther abilities, he'd already reconnoitered.
"Those can't pierce your armor. Follow the plan."
At the confident tone, Min-hyung nodded.
"Understood."
Though leather-made,
C-grade crafted armor wouldn't be pierced by mere stones and darts.
"Let's proceed."
"But..."
Min-hyung hesitated mid-step.
"Are you really okay alone?"
His reluctance stemmed from
the simplicity of Si-moon's strategy:
Min-hyung would draw aggro to gather goblins,
while Si-moon eliminated them.
"Yes. Fine."
"But! Even at level 2, an extra hand could..."
Guilt and anxiety filled Min-hyung's face.
Naturally.
Though he'd witnessed Si-moon's power in the tutorial,
weren't they both players who just cleared it?
"Just maintain aggro. More分散注意力分散到我身上就越安全."
"...Understood. Visit Seongsam Guild if you get time. I'll repay you properly."
"Sure."
Si-moon smiled lightly.
He had no intention of visiting.
"Moving out."
Min-hyung nodded resolutely and charged.
"Waaaaaah!!!"
His thunderous war cry echoed across the twilight bridge,
drawing immediate attention.
Clang-clang-clang!
"Kee-kik!"
"Human! Human here!"
"Human invades!!"
Alarm bells rang as projectiles flew -
stones from slings and blowguns,
poison darts from bamboo tubes.
Nearly fifty goblins attacked from all directions.
The hail of stones and darts...
Ping-ping-ping!
...Merely pattered harmlessly against C-grade armor.
"Is this all you've got?! Morons!"
Min-hyung tanked the barrage, charging toward the marked zone.
"Kee-kik! Block!"
"Kik! Human not pass!"
Ten goblins in crude wooden armor barred his path with spears.
"Human trapped!"
"Kill! Kik!"
Surrounded by sixty goblins,
Min-hyung initially dodged nimbly thanks to B-grade agility.
But...
Ping-ping-ping!
'Ugh... Getting tired...'
His movements slowed inevitably.
A level 2 couldn't withstand sixty goblins' assault.
Especially when his class leaned offensive, not defensive.
Crack.
"Agh!"
A stone pierced his unprotected nape.
Gritting his teeth,
Min-hyung shielded his neck and charged.
"Kee-kik!"
"Die! Human!"
Goblins ahead raised spears in formation.
At B-grade enhanced speed, he'd be skewered.
Yet Min-hyung charged like an enraged bull.
Because...
'More... More!'
He'd personally experienced
the coming 8-ton truck's destructive power.
"Now!!!"
As if answering his faith,
Rumble!
The heavens shook.
"K-kik?"
Goblins looked up at the thunder.
In their vision -
A small white rod splitting the sky.
Then...
"Strike."
A clear voice commanded.
"Astraphe."
The rod became dozens of lightning bolts.
KRAKA-THOOM!!
Illuminating the parched earth.
