Chapter 08
▶ No, this seriously makes no sense.
▶ lol lol lol lol This actually works?
▶ No… how could the head disciple of Hwasan…
—
Some just laughed.
Some truly couldn’t understand.
And the Hwasan faction spy shed tears over Cheonggyeong’s defeat.
The one who caused all these reactions, Myung-yoon, remained perfectly calm.
The time it took Myung-yoon to defeat Cheonggyeong was less than five minutes.
To show the viewers the charm of a martial artist, he subdued Cheonggyeong at a rapid pace.
After grasping every single sword path Cheonggyeong swung, he persistently targeted only the weak points, landing nothing but critical hits.
To the viewers, Myung-yoon seemed insane.
The Plum Blossom Sword Technique Cheonggyeong displayed was the peak of flamboyance.
Even Narak veterans find it nearly impossible to visually distinguish Cheonggyeong’s sword strikes.
Yet Myung-yoon, facing Cheonggyeong for the first time, had perfectly countered him.
“Did you see clearly, children?”
—
▶ I… I saw it, but…
▶ I couldn’t even see it properly.
▶ Commentary… please give us some commentary, please.
—
“Hm, to explain briefly, the Plum Blossom Sword Technique has a characteristic. Since not every strike is real, if you can just identify the feints, it becomes easy to counter.”
—
▶ I understand even less now.
▶ No, but the fact that you can even distinguish them in the first place makes no sense???
—
Since Narak is a popular game, the proportion of viewers who’ve played it is high.
Having all spent dozens of hours to clear it, there were quite a few viewers who’d faced Cheonggyeong themselves.
But no one had ever beaten Cheonggyeong on their first try.
Not just in Korea, but probably nowhere in the world.
They were, in effect, witnessing the birth of a legend right now.
“It’s because your insight is still lacking. Keep striving.”
—
▶ No, is this our fault??
▶ GG
▶ Gg
—
The viewers eventually threw in the GG and gave up thinking.
After all, if a sparrow tries to follow a stork, it’ll only tear its crotch.
“Two G’s? What does that mean?”
—
▶ (Banned by filter)
▶ Wow, that guy’s brave.
▶ Crazy bastard lol
—
One viewer who gave a vulgar answer to Myung-yoon’s question got banned.
Since AI chat filtering had become common, crossing the line even a little meant getting instantly cut off.
Myung-yoon cleared his throat with a *ahem* and tried to move on as before, when—
“…Hm.”
He spotted something unusual among the rewards he could choose and stopped walking.
It was something that emanated an ominous and sinister aura.
A black fragment of some sort, with dark energy seeping from its effects—it looked anything but safe.
But Myung-yoon’s intuition told him he needed this.
—
▶ What’s that?
▶ First time seeing it.
▶ A piece of something dropped. What’s its effect?
▶ Played Narak for 300 hours and this is my first time seeing it.
—
Myung-yoon reached out and grasped the fragment.
Suddenly, an unknown force pressed down heavily on his body.
Frowning, he checked the item’s effect in his hand.
—
<Fragment of ???>
A fragment with an unknown purpose.
Link: [Curse][1/3]
Curse: Physical Ability ‘10%’ Reduction
—
A bizarre effect if there ever was one.
Narak is a game where you collect items to complete sets and grow stronger.
Normally, if there’s a penalty, there should be a compensatory benefit—but this fragment had no upside at all.
Moreover, judging by the chat, no one seemed to know what it was either.
*’This is it.’*
The ‘uniqueness’ Sang-hyeon had mentioned.
To survive in the virtual industry, you need individuality and a unique selling point.
If Myung-yoon had just been an average Heavenly Demon VTuber with decent physical skills, he wouldn’t have generated this much buzz.
In the past, VTubers would reveal their internal organs, showcase amazing singing skills, or bring in all sorts of cutting-edge technology—all for the sake of uniqueness.
Something different from others.
Something only you can show that no one else can! That’s the strength that only top VTubers possess!
“This should be interesting. Until now, it’s been far too easy.”
Myung-yoon placed the fragment into his inventory.
It didn’t seem to affect karma in any way, so it shouldn’t interfere with his future play.
Besides, playing the game with this kind of shackle might even be good for the viewers.
“If this one slows down, you all should be able to see the movements more easily as well.”
—
▶ Is that really true, though?
▶ Hm… let’s see you try, then?
▶ No, but what IS that fragment? Why won’t anyone explain it?
—
No one could explain it because no one knew.
Myung-yoon, with his hands clasped behind his back once more, rapidly cleared through Narak.
A flood of donations and missions poured in for him.
Those hoping for Myung-yoon’s failure bet large sums, demanding handicap play.
But Myung-yoon won easily no matter what handicap was thrown at him, so the number of people issuing missions also dwindled.
And so, breaking through the 3rd and 4th floors…
—
<Fragment of ??? (3)>
A fragment with an unknown purpose.
Link: [Curse][3/3]
Curse: Physical Ability ‘50%’ Reduction
—
Fragments could also be obtained from the bosses on the 3rd and 4th floors.
After defeating the 4th floor boss, the corrupt monk ‘Cheol-u,’ and acquiring the fragment, the completed curse synergy bound his body.
A 50% reduction in overall physical ability.
Having taken on an absurd penalty, Myung-yoon clenched and unclenched his hand a few times before speaking.
“Interesting.”
—
▶ No, what’s interesting about it? Let us have some fun too.
▶ Wow, the curse synergy is no joke lol What’s it used for?
▶ That’s what we’re saying—NO ONE KNOWS!! Stop asking already!!
▶ Please refrain from chatting among yourselves~
—
“Do not be so angry, children. You will find out soon enough.”
—
Despite the significant reduction in physical ability due to the backlash of the curse, Myung-yoon thought it was fine.
He’d been taking elixirs whenever they appeared, so overall, his stats were probably around 40% of normal.
“The 5th floor is clearly the last. Perhaps something awaits us there.”
—
▶ Come to think of it, we’re already at the final floor lol lol lol
▶ Where’d all those people crying about refunds go? He’s been cruising on the highway all the way to the 4th floor.
▶ All those who mouthed off have become one with Narak~~
—
About an hour had passed since the broadcast started, including the opening.
The best speedrun record for Narak is just under two hours.
The viewers were beginning to be convinced.
That Myung-yoon would break that record.
And with an insane, self-imposed handicap play, no less.
Myung-yoon began his assault once more.
Carrying the penalty of the curse, he challenged the final floor—the 5th floor.
“I wonder who will appear on the 5th floor. Aside from the Hwasan head disciple, the others couldn’t even hold a conversation.”
—
▶ On the 1st floor, Gudok appeared; 2nd floor, Cheonggyeong; 3rd, the Sword Serpent (Black Snake); 4th, Baldy… only the strong ones came out in a row.
▶ The boss order is weird.
▶ It’s fascinating. Is it really a hidden… something? Maybe related to the items too?
—
Myung-yoon’s broadcast was spreading across various communities in real time.
Because an unprecedented development was unfolding—even for people who had played Narak.
Due to the nature of roguelikes, countless branches exist depending on builds, but the session Myung-yoon was playing was strikingly anomalous.
Even those who called themselves Narak veterans had never seen anything like it.
And not long after, Myung-yoon finally reached the last room of the 5th floor.
His pure Narak playtime so far was passing 1 hour and 19 minutes.
—
▶ Wow, holy shit, record broken.
▶ Tq, insane. Honestly, I believed the Heavenly Demon would do it.
▶ Go!!!!!!!!!!! That’s obvious!!!!!!!!!!!!
—
The live viewer count had already surpassed 17,000 and was approaching 18,000.
Thanks to the video clips spreading everywhere and the rumors of a new record, all sorts of people were flooding in.
As the numbers grew, donations started pouring in, and Sang-hyeon turned off notifications so Myung-yoon could focus on the game.
“So this is the end.”
—
Myung-yoon stood before the tightly shut iron door, looked up at it for a moment, then reached out one hand and opened it.
With a screeching, eerie sound, the door swung open, revealing a black void within.
“There’s someone inside.”
—
▶ Huh?? I don’t see anyone.
▶ He’s just saying whatever comes to mind.
▶ What normally appears on the final floor?
—
Piercing through the darkness with his gaze, Myung-yoon took a step into the void and tilted his head slightly.
Something whizzed past his ear and embedded itself in the wall behind him.
—
▶ Wow Wtf that scared me.
▶ Jump scare?? What was that??
▶ What just flew in??
—
Myung-yoon answered the viewers’ questions.
“A spear.”
—
Glancing back, the spear embedded in the wall pulled itself free on its own and flew back into the void.
After dodging the returning spear, the interior of the void began to glow with a dim light from luminous pearls, illuminating a human silhouette.
The person who emerged from the darkness was a man holding a spear in one hand.
The muscles and scars visible through his tattered martial robes clearly showed how long he had trained.
As Myung-yoon stepped inside, the spear-wielding man spoke.
“…You cannot take a single step beyond this point.”
—
▶ Who’s that?
▶ ? Isn’t the 5th floor boss fixed as Fire Qilin?
▶ Yeah, it’s fixed as Fire Qilin, so who’s that old guy?
▶ Judging by his beggar look, is he from the Beggar Sect? lol lol lol
▶ Ah, I think I know who he is.
—
At the mention of a Beggar Sect beggar, Myung-yoon also chuckled.
Judging by appearances alone, it might look that way, but Myung-yoon could tell.
That this man was stronger than any martial artist he’d met in Narak so far.
“Martial artist, if your life is precious, turn back. I will not warn you again.”
“How bold. No one who has stood in this one’s way has lived to tell the tale.”
—
●50,000 won●
**HaomunFactionLowlyClerk:** Ah!!! I know who he is!!! The Divine Spear Biryeong, occasionally mentioned by Narak NPCs!!!! A master who wields a spear made of ten-thousand-year-old cold iron with absolute freedom, rivaling the best in the world!!!!!!
—
Amidst this, one viewer finally spent a hefty sum to inform the others who this man was.
It didn’t appear on Myung-yoon’s notification feed, but if you spend money, it gets highlighted flamboyantly in the chat.
Of course, Myung-yoon also read the donation content.
“The Divine Spear… Let’s see if the title suits him.”
—
Fighting spirit surged within him.
After all, everyone he’d faced so far hadn’t even been a warm-up.
“They say he’s a master who rivals the best in the world. Surely he’ll be better than the scarecrows I’ve faced so far.”
—
▶ All those bosses were just scarecrows to him lol
▶ No, YOU’RE the one who’s abnormally strong! How did you even do that?!
▶ Seriously, it makes no sense. His gameplay is straight-up a highlight reel.
▶ Mine’s a death reel.
—
At Myung-yoon’s arrogant remark, Biryeong gripped his spear with both hands and glared at him.
Having determined that Myung-yoon was no mere amateur, he leveled the spear tip at him and spoke.
“I am the Divine Spear Biryeong, contender for the world’s best spear. I shall hear your name before I kill you.”
“This one is the Heavenly Demon.”
