Chapter 240
Ppoppi Appa was one of the lords who had dominated a single server in Blood Alliance for over five seasons.
Blood Alliance wasn't just a hunting ground and battlefield among users—
By resetting servers each season, it provoked intense psychological warfare and outright war as guilds chose which server to move to.
Inevitably, most guilds were defeated and disbanded in the process.
In that brutal system demanding massive spending, he had continued to occupy a server for nearly three years—truly one of the rare exceptions.
Of course, taking a server wasn't something you could do with money alone.
Each guild member needed outstanding individual skill and leadership.
So denying that Ppoppi Appa was an exceptional and special gamer was impossible.
However.
Even in such a position, even with such skill, you eventually get bored or exhausted.
That's why Ppoppi Appa had come to Lacle as a casual tryout for some healing, and was enjoying it in his own way.
But Ppoppi Appa could feel his body growing itchy.
The thrill of raiding and the fun of PK while managing a server were fundamentally different. Winning a guild war didn't grant hunting grounds or castles, so the intensity inevitably fell short.
'War? Yeah, right.'
To even do PVP in the open field, the opponent had to consent.
And even if you died, there was no penalty.
Compared to Blood Alliance, where war erupted and victory let you issue an execution order to sweep everyone away—this game was just a different breed. He was satisfied and enjoying it, but felt a slight lack.
That's when the young folks' fight caught his eye, and Ppoppi Appa barged in, wanting to join.
'Doesn't matter which side, but this one seems more fun.'
But then.
"So, you'd like to check our skills, is that it?"
At Seo-jun's smiling words, Ppoppi Appa felt a fire ignite in his chest.
"Right, Ppoppi Appa-nim?"
"Yes, that's right."
What he'd meant was a warning: if his skills weren't verified, he might join the enemy.
In truth, he didn't know if the monster would team up. They weren't even acquainted.
He'd come on impulse, hoping to create a point of contact under the pretext of skill-checking, get friendly, and see if something fun happened.
"Then how about just checking in real combat?"
"Excuse me?"
"How about it?"
Seo-jun grinned.
Ppoppi Appa grinned back.
"Heh heh."
In his vision, Seo-jun overlapped with all the rising powerhouses who'd challenged those who controlled servers.
That's right.
The opponent was saying, let's go.
"Heh heh heh."
He was telling the solo line rank 1 and the overall rank 1 to come at him at once.
Different in style, but to these uncles seasoned in PK—he was saying, it's a hassle, so just try me.
"Kuhahaha!"
This kid's completely entertaining, isn't he?
Ppoppi Appa felt favorably toward Seo-jun.
But for his companions beside him—Pacheondohwang, Heukwolgeomje, and the others—honestly, even he felt a bit embarrassed dragging them around here outside Blood Alliance. They seemed to take it differently.
"So you're saying fight?"
"Young friend, no fear at all."
Seo-jun's gaze shifted from him to the side.
Pacheondohwang and Heukwolgeomje stared him down as fiercely as they could, but Seo-jun took their gaze with a smile.
'Impressive. Actually, he's already climbed that high as a streamer, so he's no ordinary guy.'
Talent for gaming?
'If it's overwhelming talent like that streamer, it's truly incomprehensible, but anyway, physical skill is largely innate.'
But when dealing with people, experience is absolutely required.
Social intelligence must be developed.
It's natural to feel nervous when you first stand in front of people to give a presentation in school.
Yet he takes the uncles' stares so nonchalantly?
Even more likeable.
"Alright, alright. Stop. Jin Seo-jun streamer-nim? Shall we talk privately for a moment?"
"Gasp! It's dangerous!"
Someone next to them with a weird way of speaking shouted, but Ppoppi Appa ignored it and resolutely watched Seo-jun, who was briefly checking the chat.
"Hey! Those uncles are obviously shady, aren't they!"
"Young friend, no words you can't say, huh. Want to follow me instead of the guild master hyung?"
"No way! You even made a crappy nickname like Pacheon-whatever!"
"Why you little—"
"Stop coming closer! I'll report you to the police!"
"What did I do! And you can't even get any closer!"
* * *
[Guild Monster's guild master, Monster here]
==
With both Sword God Squad and Supreme Lord wanting it, we've decided to team up with Supreme Lord for this guild war.
==
- Kyaa!
- Damn, that was fast?
└ If it's Supreme Lord, even Monster's mouth waters.
- But I'm so pissed this BM bastard keeps coming to the community
└ For real lol
└ That's why they speak politely and respectfully lol lol lol lol, playing it as safe as possible
└ Every time their posts hit 30 upvotes, they got flooded with curses, so they can't ignore that
└ But you weren't sanctioned by the game company, right? No problem, right? Only the Laben who cursed were acting like judges, right?
└ Are you a monster?
└ Honestly, that leaves me speechless
- Yeah, just play like this a bit lol lol lol
[But isn't Ppoppi Appa freaking amazing?]
==
A super super super super super whale user who beats super super super super whales with control and takes servers.
Famous for good control over there in Blood Alliance.
==
- Damn lol lol, a superx5 whale user who wins with control lol lol
└ Compared to superx5 spenders, superx4 spenders are still lacking in money lol lol lol
- Anyway, means he's filthy rich, so jealous!
[Info) All 50 members of Supreme Lord have at least +9 accessories.]
==
+10 chance is 0.036 percent.
+9 is 0.36 percent.
Supreme Lord-nim, by the way, is decked out in +10s, damn damn damn.
==
- But to go +10, you just need to succeed 10% from +9 lol
└ To go +9, you just need 20% from +8 lol
└ Sounds like a hidden benefit? What's 0.036% lol lol, that's too far gone!
└ For real!!! To go +8, you just need 30% from +7! What! That's easy!
- No one actually believes them above, right? lol lol, anyway, Blood Alliance folks are really insane
- Earlier on stream, that Dangso guy checked Supreme Lord's gear window and was freaking out, asking how, and the Blood Alliance folks' answer was a sight to behold
└ What was it?
└ They just said it's nothing, you just keep at it until it works lol lol lol lol lol
└ Whew lol lol lol
[But if this happens, Sword God Squad might really lose?]
==
A ragtag mob with no proper guild war coordination vs. vicious but rank 1 Monster + just incredible hyungnims
No need to watch, the latter wins, right?
==
- For real lol lol
- If another Blood Alliance guild appears as Sword God Squad's relief pitcher, maybe, but then they could get execution-ordered when they return to Blood Alliance by Supreme Lord
└ That's terrifying lol lol lol
- Ahh. Lacle is nice because you can't indiscriminately PK!
└ That's why it's boring
└ Are you an elder from Blood Alliance? Then one ice cream please hoho
└ I'm not old enough to be called elder, you brat
[For real, how are they gonna stop that]
[Monster wins!]
[If Monster wins, honestly even Laben might simp for them that day]
- Not true
- Monster spotted
- They say everything is "spotted," these brats (post author)
"Definitely, that's kind of scary?"
After ending the stream and coming out to the living room to wait for Seo-jun, Tae-woo read the community posts and rubbed his arm.
He was reminded of Ppoppi Appa mentioning the execution order earlier.
"In Blood Alliance, if you get marked and execution-hunted like that, apparently you, your mom, dad, and all distant relatives go together to apologize to the guild master..."
What a crazy game.
And the person who reached the top in that crazy game.
In Lacle, he probably played gently since he couldn't do any of that, but wasn't his mindset completely different?
Didn't he say he didn't care if they got branded a BM guild?
That it was all just kids' games?
"And Seo-jun, that bastard, what's he doing with someone like that? And why not accept him as a teammate, turning him into an enemy and causing a scene."
As Tae-woo let out a deep sigh.
The door opened, and Seo-jun came out.
"Hey. What did you talk about?"
"Mm..."
"Hurry up and tell me. I gotta grasp the situation."
"Alright. First, I talked with Guild Monster right away."
"And?"
"We talked about Ppoppi."
"...?"
"He kept showing me pictures of Ppoppi, going 'Cute, right? Cute, right?' His mouth was stretched ear to ear."
"..."
"But it was cute."
"...What a headache. Anything else?"
"Nothing."
"..."
"Ah, but overall, I could tell that uncle was doing an affection-bombing campaign on me."
"An affection-bombing campaign, my ass."
"Just kidding. Anyway, it did seem like he took a liking. He said he'd crush us thoroughly in the guild war no matter what."
Tae-woo thought.
How is that taking a liking, Seo-jun.
"Then who are we teaming up with!"
"We'll decide that from tomorrow. The guild members said let's do practice games, and we can join a guild we have good synergy with, right?"
"Argh! It would've been comfortable if we just went with those hyungnims! They all have +9 accessories, they say! Ugh!"
"Oh right, I have something to say."
"What?"
"I got my necklace to +9. Those hyungnims all told me to keep trying, so I pressed and it stuck."
"What!"
Tae-woo foamed at the mouth at the most shocking and miserable news he'd heard today.
Gurgle.
* * *
After that.
"You brats, hurry up and get ready."
"..."
"What are you looking at?"
"S-sorry, Pacheon hyungnims."
"Tsk. If you were this slow in Blood Alliance, you really couldn't play. Got it?"
Monster and Supreme Lord met and started practicing.
"Ppoppi's father. How were things today?"
"It was alright. But that father title is a bit..."
"Haha. Sorry! I'll correct it!"
Strangely, while not many users were becoming disciplined or nervous, they started appearing in Monster.
Meanwhile, Seo-jun also.
"Yes. Today's practice is also private. Good work."
He'd gathered with a few other guilds to try siege battles.
"No matter how much you fall into the abyss[^1], I won't show it. So which guild are we ultimately going with? Hmm. So far they've all been alright, but it'll probably be one of these three: Hunter, Love, or Mion..."
- lol lol lol lol
- Their reactions after the practice matches are hilarious
- Hunter: The enemy team has a strategic weapon...... avoid them if they're not on your side
- Love: I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. So please go easy on us
- Mion: The only reason we could reach overall rank 3 was because Sword God Squad wasn't there...
- lol lol lol lol lol lol
- Show us the practice matches! Show us!
- Does this really make it possible?
- But the Blood Alliance folks really seem incredible. Monster themselves aren't easy either
- You brats. Do all +9 accessories look like rice to you?
"No, I can't. Then Twitch."
And as time passed.
The day of the guild war approached.
[^1]: 나락 치셔도 – "fall into the abyss" is a slang expression meaning "do whatever drastic thing you want", but Seo-jun uses it playfully here.