How to Survive Restructuring-Chapter 127

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Chapter 127: Siege Warfare (2)

"Remember this."

Sun Ming spoke, locking eyes with each warrior standing in a row.

"The ones who survive in the end will be us."

Their goal was singular.

To seize dominance over the world that would soon be reborn.

To survive and survive again, until they could rebuild 'One China.'

That was the sacred mission and very reason for existence for these twenty-two men.

A mission they had reached here by carrying the unwavering support and sacrifices of the Party on their backs.

And at the center of that reconstruction was the Star of the Continent—Wei.

"A child of the Han must stand at the center of the world. That young soul will transcend the Continent’s Star and become Humanity’s Star."

The Party’s chosen 'Emperor of the New World.'

There had been several candidates, but they all perished, leaving only Wei.

This child must be protected.

Even if it cost the lives of everyone else in the world.

"You will place the world beneath your feet, Wei."

To accomplish that—

"We must start with Korea."

There cannot be two suns in the sky.

Moreover, their bloodline was no different from China’s ethnic minorities.

Subjugating them was only natural.

…As it had always been.

"Eliminate the reactionary forces and absorb the rest into our ranks."

At Sun Ming’s words, Wei spoke up.

His voice was so faint it was barely audible.

"…Korea is strong. Their resistance will be fierce."

Sun Ming clicked his tongue.

Always making such weak remarks, even though he would ultimately do as he was told.

Children were hopeless in the end.

"Lee Eunho—if we take him out, their center collapses. The rest are just rabble."

"…"

"We need unity if we are to stand against the Western powers. It will be painful for a moment, but in the end, they will be grateful."

Wei did not argue further at the firm declaration.

He simply moved his fingers like a machine.

Tak-!

Just then, as the black stone was placed on Wei's Go board, a message appeared.

[Siege on ROK territory has begun!]

[A Special Mission has been activated.]

"Special Mission?"

Sun Ming swiftly raised his head and checked the screen.

【1】Destroy the castle gate (+10p)

【2】Occupy the top floor of the central tower for more than 30 minutes (+10p)

【3】Seize the magic circle (+30p)

【4】Eliminate the defenders (+5p)

【5】Eliminate the leader of the defenders (+100p)

"…Elimination rewards?"

"!!"

"Look, Wei! If we take out 2,000 people at once with a house collapse… that’s 10,000 points in one go!"

The day they would place the world beneath their feet was drawing near.

The thought made Sun Ming’s eyes glisten with greed.

"Just focus on making your moves. I’ll make sure not a single finger is laid on you."

But Wei muttered, his face as emotionless as ever.

"…We’ll see."

He could have shown a little more enthusiasm.

For all his strategic brilliance, Wei lacked spirit.

Sun Ming barely held back another click of his tongue and spoke.

"Are you afraid of his ability? Invisibility and teleportation might seem impressive, but in real combat…"

"Teleportation?"

Wei’s expression subtly hardened.

Sun Ming was surprised that Wei interrupted him, but he nodded.

"Yes. But there’s nothing to fear. I will be wielding my sword."

"…"

Wei fell silent, and one of the warriors, who had been waiting for a chance to speak, finally asked the question.

"There is also the flying woman. Will she come this way?"

"She will. Without a doubt."

Sun Ming’s gaze shifted toward the translucent system window.

Surely, the enemy attacking them would also receive a 'Special Mission.'

"But they won’t gain anything. Not as long as we hold our ground here."

"Excuse me? But what about the castle gate…?"

"The castle gate is meaningless. If they plan to infiltrate, they won’t even destroy it."

A subordinate nodded in realization.

Another warrior then raised a question.

"What if they use teleportation to seize the magic circle immediately?"

"We drag them out before they hold it for ten seconds."

Sun Ming locked eyes with the warriors and smirked wickedly.

"Cut off their limbs or slice their throats—whatever it takes."

"Understood!"

All twenty-one warriors responded in unison.

At that moment—

Beep───!

Beep───!

Beep───!

The interior of the central tower turned red as warning lights flickered.

[Enemy infiltration detected.]

"Enemy?"

"Could it be Korea? Already?"

[Defense of CN territory has begun!]

[A Special Mission has been activated.]

【1】Defend the castle gate (+10p)

【2】Defend the top floor of the central tower for more than 30 minutes (+10p)

【3】Protect the magic circle (+30p)

【4】Eliminate the attackers (+5p)

【5】Eliminate the leader of the attackers (+100p)

As the flashing crimson lights continued to blink, the warriors raised their weapons, their bodies tense with determination.

A mixture of tension and resolve filled the air.

Looking at each and every one of them, Sun Ming spoke.

"I’m counting on you."

No matter if the enemy could teleport or even stop time, they would still have to reveal themselves.

The only problem was that activating sword aura required a brief moment.

"If you hold them off for just one second, I will take care of the rest."

As long as they bought him the briefest window, he could cut them down with his own power.

No matter how powerful an esper was, they were still human.

If they were chopped into pieces, they would die.

"The moment they show their face, I’ll take their head."

With that unwavering confidence, Sun Ming stood guard over the magic circle.

Just then—

BOOM—!

A sudden tremor nearly made him stumble.

"A bomb?!"

"There! It’s coming from the other side!"

A powerful explosion rocked the structure as part of the outer wall crumbled away.

He had assumed they would come through the window and had been watching that side.

"…To think they would break through the wall instead of using the window."

Sun Ming gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Block them!"

"Yes!"

"We don't know where or how they'll come in! Stay sharp and protect Wei!"

He sent about half of the warriors toward the breached outer wall.

And then—

"Remember! Just hold them off for one second!"

"Understood!"

As soon as he hid himself among the warriors and gripped his sword—

"Th-there! The window too…!"

Crash!

A massive rock flew in from the empty sky.

Shatter—!

The window broke.

Swish!

Shattered glass shards shot through the air like arrows.

Hurriedly scanning the surroundings, Wei was already shielded by three or four quick-footed subordinates.

Sighing in relief at the sight, Sun Ming held his breath, waiting for the right timing.

Whoosh—!

A gust of wind blew.

Perhaps because both the wall and window were breached, cold air rushed in from the front.

As the dry chill sent shivers down his spine—

"!!"

Sun Ming's body had already frozen.

Among all the people there, he was the one who had a blade pressed against his throat.

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"Where is Wei?"

"!!"

"I'd appreciate it if he stopped whatever house-building nonsense he's up to."

Speaking softly, I watched as China's only swordmaster, Sun Ming, glared at me with burning eyes.

"…Did you really think I would tell you?"

"No."

So—

Slash—!

I swung my searing-hot Skybreaker Sword down on his right shoulder.

His right arm separated instantly and fell pitifully to the ground.

"…Ghk!"

Bloodshot white eyes.

Dilated pupils.

A torrent of blood spurting uncontrollably.

The splattered blood stained both my face and its original owner's with red traces.

Any normal person would have already been paralyzed in shock.

Clack!

But he simply grabbed his severed arm and gripped his sword with his left hand.

At a speed too fast for ordinary eyes to follow—

Clang—!

Our swords clashed in midair.

And at that moment, I heard an unexpected message.

[‘Third Eye’ special effect activated!]

[Observing the essence of an exceptional predecessor.]

[Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.4) proficiency has greatly increased.]

[+5%]

Huh?

So, basically—

‘Just watching is enough to learn?’

Ha.

I had planned to finish this quickly without dragging it out.

But now…

"I can't just let you go."

"…What?"

"Let's take our time and have some fun."

Clang! Clang—!

[Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.4) proficiency has greatly increased.]

[+5%]

After two clashes, which granted me another 5% proficiency, he raised an eyebrow.

"…You seem awfully composed. Are you relying on teleportation? Or invisibility?"

He wasn’t really curious.

It was an obvious stalling tactic, so I just shrugged instead of answering.

‘I have a rough idea…’

But it felt too soon to end this.

Tap!

I swiftly closed the distance between us.

Vwoooong—!

The Skybreaker Sword, trembling more intensely than usual as if expressing excitement, was drawn close to my body.

And then their leader—

"Stop him!"

—sent his men to take the blow in his place.

"Hold him down!"

"Yes, sir!"

If I stabbed an enemy targeting my right leg, another would lunge in to grab the same leg.

Stab—!

If I cut down one clinging to my left arm, another would come to tear it apart.

"For the nation, hold your ground!"

"Yes, sir!"

Again and again.

‘Are they human shields?!’

As if Sun Ming’s injuries were more valuable than their own lives.

Throwing themselves into my sword path.

Not even bothering to protect their vitals.

"Arghhh…!"

"!!"

And so, casualties followed.

[Target ‘Zhang Wei’ has been eliminated.]

[Experience points acquired (+5p).]

"Next! Hurry and stop him!"

They showed no hesitation, no signs of exhaustion.

Eventually, all but a few warriors dealing with my allies surged toward me.

Like moths to a flame, charging without looking back.

"We must never let the fortress fall! Our lives are not our own!"

"…Then whose are they?"

Their tone was filled with unwavering conviction.

Their firm belief was so absurd that I had to ask, and the answer came without hesitation.

"They belong to the nation and the people."

"…Crazy bastards."

I scowled in frustration.

And at last, the words I had been waiting for arrived.

"It's over now! Sword Aura!"

At last, the blade burned with an eerie blue glow.

'!!'

Wooooooong—!

At the same time, an unknown energy, blazing like blue flames, engulfed the sword.

'...So this is it.'

Every cell in my body screamed.

If I got any closer, I'd be cut.

If I reached out my hand, that chilling light would tear it apart.

That razor-sharp threat—

Thump!

My heart pounded.

'That is... Sword Aura.'

A violet mist slithered like a serpent,

its chilling energy writhing violently, trying to overwhelm me.

Most people would have been crushed by its sheer presence and fled.

'Even a simple sword strike boosted my stats by 5%. Then, if it's Sword Aura...'

Taat—!

Instead of dodging, I charged forward.

I trusted my sword, enhanced by the achievements of Destruction,

the surge of excitement flooding my body,

and the sturdy armor protecting my chest.

Wooooooong—!

The Sword of Destruction hummed.

As it clashed against my enemy’s weapon,

a fierce desire to shatter both the opponent and perhaps even myself surged within.

I fully embraced that self-destructive momentum.

Click! I pressed down, summoning a pillar of flame.

Wooooooooooong—!

The enemy’s crescent blade unleashed its sinister aura.

Sharp.

Menacing.

If I stared at it too long,

my body would be split along the curves of the sword and its aura.

A crimson energy shot up, nearly reaching the tower’s peak.

But—

'I can do this!'

Crack!

Sword met sword.

Two swords walking entirely different paths, yet seemingly alike.

Paaaaaah—!

Crimson flames and dark red aura intertwined,

writhing and coiling around each other like serpents.

[Analyzing the shape of the Sword Aura!]

[Observing the secret techniques of the blade!]

[Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.4) proficiency has increased significantly!]

[+20%]

It happened in an instant.

One side dominated for a moment,

only to be immediately countered by the other, surging like a tidal wave.

[Detected a strong attack on the body of 'Lee Eunho'!]

[The defense system engraved in the breastplate is activating!]

Tzzzt!

Invisible shards of Sword Aura rained down.

Sparks flickered from my chest.

Then—

['Electric Discharge' activated!]

Paaaaah—!

A blinding flash engulfed my vision.

"Ugh, aaaaaghhh!"

The stench of burning flesh filled the air,

as my enemy writhed like a dying cockroach.

"W-What... is this...!"

The one-armed swordsman dropped to his knees.

"I have a question,"

I crouched beside him and asked,

"How did you obtain Sword Aura?"

The man sneered as if mocking me.

"I'd... rather... die... than tell you."

Cough!

Smoke rose from his body, followed by a gush of blood.

At last, Sun Ming’s sword, face, and eyes lost their color.

[You have slain 'Sun Ming'!]

[Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.4) proficiency has increased greatly!]

['Basic Swordsmanship' skill level has increased. (Lv.4 → Lv.5)]

[+5 Training Points acquired]

[You have obtained the relics of Swordsman 'Sun Ming'!]

...

As the loot rained down in a flurry—

Fwoooosh—!

A magic circle, tangled with countless runes, radiated a brilliant blue light.

From beneath my feet, the light spread slowly,

tracing intricate patterns as if drawn in a single stroke.

[Target 'Lee Eunho.' Attempting to claim the magic circle.]

[Countdown commencing!]

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