Ark Vol 24 Chapter 1
ACT 1 Invade Rwigenberg
Kwa kwa kwa kw.a.n.g, kwa kwa kwa kw.a.n.g!
1,200 W speakers let out a burst of violent sound in Global Exos Planning Department. The ba.s.s made it feel like the air was vibrating. It was a storm of sound! However, the staff of the Planning Department didn’t care about that sound anymore. Rather than listening to the sound, they were watching the overwhelming images on the 120 inch LED TV. The staff of the Planning Department such as Ha Myung-woo, Kim Gwon-tae and Ho Myung-hwan had been staring blankly at the large TV screen for a few hours. They weren’t the only ones staring at the TV. Korea……No, perhaps millions of people were in the same situation all over the world. The TV was showing the real time battle of the Demonic War at Kwarian Island. Currently, similar images were being broadcasted from 5~6 different channels. Shortly after the Legend Quest was triggered in New World, each broadcaster mobilized to broadcast the combat situation in Kwarian in real time. And a large number of personnel from Global Exos were also monitoring the situation. They were watching the TV broadcast in the Planning Department. However, the Global Exos’ Planning Department staff wasn’t watching the broadcast comfortably.
“T-this!”
“d.a.m.n those demons!”
“The expedition army is being pushed back!”
“Aw, the lead fleet has been wiped out by the demons’ counterattack!”
The staffs’ faces changed every moment because of the military situation. The outcome of this battle affected a lot of people. If the expedition army failed to stop the Dark Lord from resurrecting then there was no guarantee what would happen to New World. Global Exos would completely lose control of New World. Then they wouldn’t be able to give the normal game service anymore. It was truly a crisis for Global Exos. And the crisis in the workplace was also a crisis for the staff. If Global Exos had a financial problem then they would be transmitted down to the employees. That’s right. The outcome of the Demonic War didn’t just affect the contents of the game. Their livelihood also depended on it. If New World was occupied by the Dark Lord then the users might not be able to play the game anymore. They might lose their jobs altogether. The Demonic War felt even more urgent to the staff of Global Exos then the players.
“Ugh, three combat ships have sunk!”
“Dammit, we can only look at his situation……”
Despairing voices emerged as they watch the expedition’s battleship being destroyed. In fact, Global Exos gave a special holiday for the staff playing New World so that they would join the expedition army. Most of the staff was monitoring them. However, that was only possible if the staff had reached a certain level. The low levelled staff had no choice but to watch the screen blankly. But the military situation was different from their expectations and they became gloomier by the minute. The combined expedition from the Bristania and Schudenberg kingdoms had approximately 100,000 people! They rode the ships and arrived at Kwarian Island. However, the power of the demons present at Kwarian was beyond imagination. There were hundreds of thousands of demons prepared to stop the expedition army! And there was also a huge amount of magic concentrated on Kwarian so their revival speed also quickened. Therefore the expedition was in danger of being destroyed within a few hours.
“Is there really no way?”
“Do we just have to watch the destruction of New World?”
Everyone moaned desperately.
Kwa kwa kwa kwa, kwa kwa kwa kwa!
Then there was a flash of light and an abrupt roar from the TV. The s.p.a.cious office was filled with a lot of light. The staff flinched and lifted their heads.
“Is that…..?”
“There’s no doubt, it is the airships of the Magic Inst.i.tute!”
That’s right. The airships had appeared in the dark sky! The airships used the Spear of Thor to melt thousands of demons. They immediately began to support the expedition army by air.
“Ohhhhhh!”
The light coming from the Spear of Thor was like a light of salvation to the staff of the Planning Division.
“They’re just in time!”
Ha Myung-woo clutched his fist tightly and shouted. It was the presence of the 2nd expedition force. But after the 2nd expedition force joined, it couldn’t afford to support the naval battle anymore. When the airships appeared, the gargoyles and Drakens instantly appeared from the Rwigenberg. The flying monsters gathered like vultures and the air battle started.
“d.a.m.n, the airships have low manoeuvrability so it will be difficult to deal with them!”
“Is it possible?”
The staff once again watched anxiously as several hot air balloons crashed.
Buaaaaa! Buaaaaa!
Then there was the sound of engines and thousands of flying boats emerged from the 30 airships. They began attacking the gargoyles and Drakens in an orderly fashion.
“A-amazing!”
“I didn’t know that the Magic Inst.i.tute possessed flying boats!”
“The users controlling the flying boats don’t seem to be ordinary either…..”
“……What on earth? The person commanding the flying boat in the lead?”
All the employees’ eyes were focused on the user who took control of the aerial combat. The user was commanding the flying boat formation and killing demons with amazing skill! Then Ho Myung-hwan in the back jumped up and yelled.
“Ark, that user is Ark-nim!”
That’s right. The user that the camera and the Global Exos staff were focused on in the battlefield was Ark. Ha Myung-woo looked at Ark on the screen after hearing Ho Myung-hwan’s words.
“Ark?”
Of course, Ha Myung-woo had heard the name Ark a few times. But he had always appeared as Dark Wolf in the videos so this was the first time he saw Ark’s actual appearance.
“That’s right, that user……”
Ha Myung-woo hadn’t become the chief of the Planning Department of a big company at a young age because of luck. He got this position because of his ability to judge the situation and respond faster than other people. Ha Myung-woo instinctively sensed that the core of this battle was Ark.
“Okay, tell all the candidates partic.i.p.ating in the Kwarian battle to support Ark as much as possible!”
Ha Myung-woo judged the situation and directed. Well, he couldn’t know how useful the instruction was just by watching on TV. But that was all he could do now. Thanks to Ark, the battle tilted towards the side of the expedition army. The cheat like scorch cannons installed on Kwarian were expected by Ha Myung-woo after hearing about it from several staff members and he watched as Ark annihilated them after much struggles.
“Did you see? Did you see? That is Ark-nim!”
Ho Myung-hwan shouted excitedly as Ark soared up from the lava like a phoenix and destroyed the scorch cannons. Ho Myung-hwan felt a deep emotion for Ark so he had been watching him since Ark was level 150.
“Ohhh, as expected of Ark!”
“As expected, Ark is immortal!”
The Planning Department instantly became excited after seeing Ark’s moves.
“Now, let’s go. Ark!”
“Take out that stingray quickly!”
“If the Rwigenberg is destroyed then it will be the expedition’s victory!”
The staff shouted as Ark finished destroying the cannons and approached Rwigenberg with the airships. But the next moment, their faces stiffened.
Kwa kwa kwa kwa, kwa kwa kwa kwa!
The attack launched by the airships. .h.i.t the Rwigenberg. The Planning Department staff and the millions of viewers thought it was all over. However, the scene revealed was different from their expectations. The Rwigenberg didn’t even have one scratch. Only the transparent shield surrounding the Rwigenberg was scratched.
“S-shield?”
The staffs’ faces became puzzled just like Ark’s. A huge number of demons once again appeared from the Rwigenberg. And that was just the beginning. The scorch cannons that Ark had barely managed to destroy once again reformed on top of the castle walls on Rwigenberg’s back.
“That is ridiculous!”
The staff stared at the scene with shock and despair. Ha Myung-woo hurriedly shouted.
“Kim Gwon-tae, something…..isn’t there another way?’
“If there was another way then would we just be watching this?”
Kim Gwon-tae sighed and shook his head. Ha Myung-woo slammed his fist against a desk.
“d.a.m.n, we are the game publisher! Does it make sense that we can only watch New World be smashed? Isn’t there something we can do? If only we could stop the Dark Lord’s resurrection by hacking the main server!”
“But…….”
The Planning Department staff trailed off. Then Ho Myung-hwan’s eyes widened as he watched the TV.
“Team Chief-nim!”
“What?”
Ha Myung-woo was about to shout angrily when he suddenly shut his mouth. A giant object had appeared on the 120 inch screen. A white tower in the centre of a huge land ma.s.s was crossing the sky. The giant land ma.s.s had dozens of gun turrets installed that fired towards the flash bombs heading towards the airships. That wasn’t all. Then thousands of people riding on the back of skyrays shot arrows and 100 armoured battleships attacked the sea demons.
“Shangri-La and the Eastern Nation, the merchant’s guild…… They are Wormer, Shambala…..Ark’s clan!”
Ho Myung-hwan shouted at the sight.
“Ark’s clan?”
“Ark-nim is the centre of his group. But Wormer is the inventor who helped Ark-nim in the Demonic War and he had fought in life and death situations with Shambala. The relationship between them is a little strange but Sid is the one who helps Ark-nim financially and he has a vast amount of influence in the merchant’s guild.
“They entered the war to help Ark?”
“That’s right!”
Ho Myung-hwan replied in an excited voice. Ha Myung-woo nodded after hearing those words.
“As my intuition said, the core of this battle is Ark. Wouldn’t we understand the situation more if we closely watch Ark?”
“Ark-nim has a deal with the game exclusive news. While the other stations are also broadcasting this in real time, the game exclusive news will be showing the video taken by Ark.”
“Okay, change to the game exclusive news channel.”
The staff switched channels on the TV at Ha Myung-woo’s command. The game exclusive news was also broadcasting the Kwarian battle as a special story. As expected, they were broadcasting the video Ark took using the eyeball.
“Ho Myung-hwan, watch carefully since you know Ark the best.”
“I understand.”
Ho Myung-hwan answered with an excited expression.
“We……”
The other staff stuttered as they looked at Ha Myung-woo. He had just been yelling about finding another method while watching the battle and now Ha Myung-woo’s att.i.tude had completely changed. They looked at Ha Myung-woo before turning back to the screen as he exclaimed.
“If you have nothing to do then cheer!”
“I understand.”
“Play, play, Ark!”
The Planning Department staff entered cheering mode.
———————————————————————————————————————–
Kwa kwa kwa kw.a.n.g, kwa kwa kwa kw.a.n.g!
The roaring sound resounded through the dark s.p.a.ce again and again. It was a sound that shook the brain through their eardrums. However, that deafening sound through the video was nothing to experiencing it in real life. The battlefield considered of several kilometres with Kwarian Island in the centre and thousands of flashes covered this s.p.a.ce. 1,000 armoured battleships were fighting against the sea demons while the airships were engaged with thousands of demons in the sky. However, the most intense battles were coming from the flying boats that Ark commanded. Ark fought fiercely in the forefront while riding Burning Soul.
“Hmmm Burning Soul, let’s rearrange the formation!”
Kurarara, kurarara!
Then Burning Soul who was transformed in Pendragon spewed out flames and retreated. There was no time to rest once stepping foot on a battlefield. As soon as he left, a flying boat approached him and shouted.
“Ark-nim, the 21st squadron has been encircled by the demons!”
Ark couldn’t take a break as he gave out new orders.
“Tell the 13th and 14th squadron to support them!”
“If the 13th and 14th squadron leaves then there will be no one to protect the hot air balloons on the right side.”
“I know that. But if the 21st squadron doesn’t survive then the demons will penetrate the right defense line. The whole defense line will be at risk. How the hot air balloons retreat and concentrate on rescuing the 21st squadron!”
“I understand.”
The messenger who received Ark’s order turned the flying boat around and flew back into battle. However, other messengers arrived and shouted before the other one had even disappeared.
“Ark-nim, the 8th squadron is requesting support!”
“There is no room to support them at the moment. Tell them to retreat from the front lines and recover!”
“Yes, I’ll communicate the orders!”
The messenger replied before flying back.
“d.a.m.n, it feels like my head is about to burst……”
Ark sighed after looking at the complicated tangle of flying boat squadrons and demons. When looking at the military situation, there were several painful scenes. If he focused the troops here then it would be possible to somewhat improve the military situation. Why couldn’t the Commander see it?
…..That was what he had thought once or twice. In fact, that was the reason why Ark accepted the position of the 2nd expedition’s commander. But he realized it was different once he actually became the commander and looked at the military situation. Of course, this wasn’t the first time Ark was a commander. He had experience in conducting the racc.o.o.ns in the Underground World and the Baran clan in Seutandal. He also had experience in the siege to recapture Silvana. However, that was in a limited area with thousands of people. This time the size of the troops and battlefield was different. The battlefield was several kilometres of sea and sky and there were hundreds of thousands of people fighting. With an enormous battlefield like this, it wasn’t to simple to give out instructions. He couldn’t afford to worry about one individual or squadron. He had to grasp the overall military situation and make moves according to that.
“A best choice in a large scale battlefield that changes every moment doesn’t exist!”
Ark realized this after commanding the military expedition. In order to minimize serious damage, Ark had to determine when to send reinforcements or when to leave the squad alone. Of course, if he worried over it then there might be another way. However, there was no time to think on a battlefield that was always changing. But there were other reasons why Ark was experiencing difficulties.
‘The important thing in a commander is to quickly confirm the entire military situation.’
However, it wasn’t that easy to move the troops. In fact, previously Ark had used a Feather of Whispering to convey the communication to the troops after grasping the situation. But if there were a lot of troops then that was impossible. The reason was because the Feather of Whispering didn’t overlap. In other words, it was impossible to communicate with other leaders when he was already talking to someone. If they weren’t many troops then that wasn’t a problem. But it was different when commanding tens of thousands of people. Moreover, the Feather of Whispering could only be used between users so he couldn’t communicate with the NPC captains of the airships. In order to avoid confusion, Ark only used the Feather of Whispering with the major leaders like JusticeMan and the rehabilitation members and used messengers for everybody else. Therefore Ark had to make commands within a few seconds so there was a considerable burden on him.
‘This can’t continue. Sometimes he was already too late when he gave the order. If I visualize the military situation in my mind then I can estimate the moves of the demons beforehand. But it a large battlefield like this, the slightest error will cause more damage to the troops! In order to avoid the large damage, I have to willingly submit to the small damage.’
Ark came to that conclusion. For example, if unit A advanced then there was a high probability that unit A would be attacked by the demons. Before making unit A advance, he had to command the troops on the left and right side beforehand. If the demons attacked unit A then the flying boats on the left side would attack and wipe the demons out. He lured the enemy within a certain area and attacked! Those sorts of tactics were effective. If they responded flexibly to the situation then it would be possible to minimize the damage while dealing huge damage to the enemy. Since Ark used these strategies, the 2nd expedition received less damage than the 1st. But in some cases, the demons didn’t move as expected and the unit was isolated before being wiped out. He had expected that when thinking of ways to minimize the damage. While Ark was surveying the battlefield, he had to look at a 3D field consisting of land and air that was several kilometres wide. Therefore Ark felt like his head was breaking.
“Nevertheless……”
Ark sighed as he observed the battlefield.
“…… The situation isn’t good.”
Ark had used a large number of strategies while enduring the headaches but the military situation was still dark. In fact, the situation had improved with the appearance of Shangri-La, the Eastern Nation and the merchant’s guild. However, the battle didn’t move as expected. The timing was also bad. By the time the merchant ships joined, almost half of the 1st expedition fleet had already sunk. The power was reduced by half. Of course, the sea monsters also suffered a lot of damage but their strength was restored thanks to the black obelisks. If the merchant ships had arrived earlier then it would be different but the 1st expedition had received a lot of damage. It was the same for Shangri-La and the Eastern Nation who were helping with the aerial combat. Shangri-La had interrupted the flash bombs that were heading towards the airships. In the end, the flying boats and the skyrays were the ones taking care of the thousands of enemies. Unlike the expedition, the demons would resurrect once a certain amount of time pa.s.sed.
“If I don’t find a way to change the current military situation then it will be hopeless.”
Ark made a pained face and bit his lip. The best way to move away from this status quo was for the expedition to retreat and attack again once they were in their best condition. If the dead users revived then they could concentrate everything on killing the demons faster than they could revive. Unfortunately, there was a time limit on this battle.
-Somewhere in the darkness of the world, the Dark Lord’s resurrection ceremony has begun!