The Final Boss Has Returned
Chapter 141
Broken World was a land of opportunity.
A massive continent rivaling Arde World in size, relics of alien races slumbering within it, and high-level monsters that regenerated endlessly no matter how many you killed!
Broken World was the continent that had everything high-ranking users desired.
But it wasn't just high-ranking users who were interested in Broken World.
Light users were also greatly interested in Broken World.
Because it was only natural to take an interest in the endgame content of the game they enjoyed.
[(Exclusive) Alien Relic Excavation Site Captured!]
[(LIVE) The Plant Raid Live]
The streamers of Arde Live were already endlessly producing Broken World-related content to meet such user demand.
From alien relics to Plant raids!
Having been fed to saturation with content that boiled Broken World's very bones down to the marrow, users were now slowly beginning to want new content.
[Any new content?]
[Always raids and relics lol it's all the same now lol]
[I heard the Hive Mind's location was already found; what are they doing not raiding it?]
That was why users were yearning for the Primordial Plateau raid more desperately than ever.
Hive Mind!
Because it was only natural for the current Arde Saga Second users to harbor a desire to see the final boss raid of Broken World.
But contrary to those users' wishes, the four powers that had quartered Broken World didn't even stir despite the Primordial Plateau before them.
[What is everyone doing?]
[No but lol Yujin is the strongest too, so why is he just sitting there? lol]
[FR Five Eyes has more than enough power to sweep it lol they're scared. Scared?]
[Ah, the black cow is here again;; how do you explain your Dark Alliance also staying still?]
[Our Drakan hasn't returned yet, you know? lol Comparing us when we aren't even at full power is disgusting, right?]
And among those four powers, the ones being talked about the most by far were the Hero Yujin and Five Eyes.
Yujin!
So long as the name value of the top ranker he carried on his shoulders, and the signboard of Five Eyes as the strongest force in Arde World, remained intact, it was only natural that the users' gazes gathered on him the most.
At that moment when public opinion was moving in an unusual manner.
[Breaking news… Drakan…… has returned from the sky…….]
[OMG is this FR?]
[I heard he's going to Broken World?]
Drakan!
News was heard that he had descended from the floating castle and was heading to Broken World, and soon information began circulating that Yujin and Drakan were negotiating in Broken World.
[Negotiations?]
[Are they teaming up again this time?]
[Oh, are they finally advancing the story?]
And so, the attention of countless users who had been watching Broken World's phase progress until now was focused once again on the two of them, Yujin and Drakan.
The negotiations that bore the expectations of countless users.
The place Drakan selected as the venue was the Dark Alliance's base camp.
Base camp.
Having started with wooden fences and tents, it now had presentable ramparts and buildings erected, and the talks between the two powers were being held in a stone building at the center of the camp.
"It's been a while, Drakan-nim. Have you been well?"
The first to enter the spacious conference hall was none other than Yujin.
With a handsome face bearing a broad smile, Yujin approached Drakan first, extending his right hand to offer a handshake.
Drakan looked at him and smiled faintly.
It was a smile of joy at seeing the sucker who gave without hesitation.
"Of course. Have you been well?"
Separate from that, having to return the greeting and ask after him in turn left a bit of a bad taste in his mouth, but Drakan wasn't such a fool as to carelessly display his emotions in front of everyone.
"That is so."
"Sit, for now."
As Drakan spoke, Bereuda and Areujen, who had come with Yujin to participate in the negotiations, sat down as well.
Drakan also sat with Ignis and Sin Hayeon at his sides, quietly observing Areujen, who sat beside Yujin.
Areujen.
Though they had their share of bad blood, they were quite acquainted.
If Bereuda was Yujin's brain, then Areujen could be called Yujin's kingmaker.
Because it was Areujen of the Breaker Guild who had declared his support for Yujin in the early days when Yujin had begun to make a name for himself in earnest, and systematically supported him through the guild's organizational power.
'Bereuda and Areujen. That's quite a troublesome lineup.'
Drakan's gaze swept over the three of them.
Yujin was a sucker, but Bereuda and Areujen were not easy opponents.
At that moment when Drakan was thinking of Bereuda and Areujen and agonizing over his response strategy.
"So, what is it you want?"
Bereuda opened her mouth with a cold voice.
Her gaze was directed straight at Drakan.
Because what Drakan wanted was precisely what Bereuda was most curious about.
"The Hive Mind raid, or the transfer of rights to Mythic-grade material items that will come out as rewards for this Broken World quest."
Drakan said this while looking at Yujin, ignoring Bereuda's gaze.
"That is my top priority condition."
Mythic-grade material items!
As its existence was finally mentioned, the atmosphere chilled.
Of course, it wasn't an item they currently possessed; it was closer to asking for the ownership rights should such an item appear in the future, but the destructive power held by Mythic-grade items was no joke, so Bereuda and Areujen couldn't help but be agitated.
"You aren't trying to joke around right now, are you?"
The one who broke the ominous silence was none other than the Sword Emperor, Areujen.
Legendary-grade items were one thing, but asking for Mythic-grade items!
This was highway robbery in all but name.
But the very perpetrator of this robbery was smiling calmly even in the chilled atmosphere.
"I'm not asking for items you currently possess right now. I'm saying I'll take just one out of the many rewards you'll obtain in the future. Isn't this cheap enough?"
Drakan spoke in a relaxed voice, and just as Areujen was about to say something in response to his words.
Bereuda opened her mouth before Areujen and spoke to Drakan.
"There are still two more powers remaining besides you. You need only turn your negotiation offer to them."
Drakan smiled at Bereuda's words.
The other two powers.
Xiongmao Esports and Shencheng Iron Stars.
He had already expected her to bring them up, but Drakan didn't pay it much mind.
And for good reason—if they had attempted negotiations, they would have done so long ago.
The two powers' goal was minimum status quo, maximum solo raid.
The Eight Great Guilds!
Among them, the goal of the three guilds excluding Five Eyes was the same.
And that was ultimately aiming for hegemony over Arde World!
Even Shencheng Iron Stars, created to target Drakan, JDG, and Jeil E&M, had as its ultimate goal the acquisition of hegemony after eliminating Drakan.
Of course, the three guilds did not openly proclaim their challenge for hegemony.
Since even Drakan and JDG, who were most active in challenging for hegemony, had not uttered a single word regarding the challenge for hegemony at official events, it could be said that said it all.
But that didn't mean their ambition was dead.
It was merely that Five Eyes' power was so overwhelming that they were holding their breath and waiting for the right time.
In such a situation, the Origin Valley and the Primordial Plateau—minefields that could obviously force the enemy to bleed—had appeared.
From the standpoint of the three guilds, they had to push Five Eyes into those minefields and whittle down that towering military strength.
The fundamental cause of the strange silence lay exactly there.
So in this situation, Bereuda bringing up the two powers was nothing but a bluff.
"Well then, go ahead and try if you want. That is, if they cooperate."
Bereuda's face stiffened at Drakan's words.
She was the one who had brought it up for nothing and couldn't even recover her investment.
'As expected, it doesn't work.'
She had expected it, but that made it all the more despairing.
Because they didn't have a single card to play.
As he said, it was safe to say there was no chance the other guilds would cooperate with Five Eyes.
In other words, for now, there was no other way besides joining hands with Drakan.
It was truly a checkmate.
'Transfer of rights to Mythic-grade material items—is that worth doing?'
Bereuda's head turned quickly.
It was practically a foregone conclusion that they would join hands with Drakan.
There was no other way.
Then she had to calculate whether Drakan's proposal was a loss or a gain.
What Drakan wanted was the transfer of rights to Mythic-grade material items that would come out as rewards from the Hive Mind raid or Mythic-grade quests.
In other words, he was demanding they guarantee him items that would appear in the future.
'It may be that Mythic-grade material items won't come out from the Hive Mind raid or Broken World quest, but the probability of that is extremely low.'
Mythic-grade.
They were indeed the highest-grade items in Arde World, difficult to even lay eyes upon, but that didn't mean they didn't exist.
Moreover, both the Broken World quest and the Hive Mind raid had high probabilities of spitting out Mythic-grade items!
From that perspective, it was practically the same as saying they had to unconditionally give one future item to Drakan.
But in return, being able to draw upon the Dark Alliance's power was certainly attractive.
Though they had treated Drakan and the other two guilds as equals for convenience, in terms of actual power, Drakan's side—buffed by the Dark Alliance faction—was stronger than the other two guilds combined.
'If it's just a Mythic-grade item, it's not that excessive a price.'
Having finished her calculations in her head, Bereuda spoke.
"There is some merit to Drakan-nim's opinion as well."
The smile hanging on Drakan's lips deepened at those words.
Bereuda.
In the end, she had been defeated by Drakan once again.
Of course, rather than saying she had been outplayed, it was more accurate to say she had been caught in a checkmate from which escape was impossible from the very beginning, but either way, Drakan smiled at the fact that Bereuda had lost once again.
Meanwhile, Bereuda was feeling humiliated.
But she didn't show that emotion.
Yujin.
Because the one she loved had chosen to cooperate with other powers in order to reduce the users' sacrifices.
Guarding the path Yujin walked, walking together with him.
That was the way Bereuda had lived her life until now.
"......We will transfer the rights to Mythic-grade material items obtained from future Broken World-related quests or the Hive Mind raid."
"Yujin, do you agree as well?"
Drakan, upon hearing Bereuda's words, suppressed the surging laughter of delight and asked Yujin.
At Drakan's question, Yujin nodded and smiled.
"Yes. I agree. That much is something I can fully afford to give."
A bright smile finally formed at the corners of Drakan's mouth upon hearing Yujin's answer.
Yujin.
Even meeting him again, the bastard was a tree that gave generously without hesitation, through and through.
Thinking so, Drakan slowly spoke while looking at Areujen with an expression as if he'd bitten a bug, Bereuda who likewise didn't look pleased, and Yujin between them wearing a joyful expression without a care in the world.
Having enforced the top priority condition, it was now time to state the second condition.