The Status Window Disappeared

Showdown with the Black Flag (6)

A cave hidden in the rugged mountains and clouds.

A lot of people were running around busily in the back of the hiding place where the sunlight was not good.

One of them, a man in a robe, ran to the deepest part of the cave and bowed his head.

“Master! The guys are here. It is said that the servants of the good god and their collaborators appeared under the mountain path.”

The wizard belonging to the black flag quickly reported the situation while preparing for a severe rebuke.

Their leader was a very good mage, but even so, it was not enough to stop the three-digit priests and paladins, and former players.

Contrary to his expectations, however, the strict master did not blame him.

The chief speaks proudly with a rather thin smile.

“Let it come. I will offer their blood to Lord Argal.”

“Ah, Argal-sama? no way… … .”

As the man stammered and repeated his name, the chief nodded.

“okay. I finally found out his name. Argal! It took me so long to just figure out the three letters of the name.”

The purpose of the black flag is to explore the status window, which is the power of players.

Therefore, they diligently conducted an investigation into the entity that gave players status windows.

After spending two full years like that, I only found out three names.

It took too long, given that they had the potential to reach out to the governments of each country.

However, the two years of hard work were by no means in vain.

The leader could feel his strength growing whenever he mentioned Argal’s name.

He was a mage worthy of fame on the continent in his own way, but Argal’s true power was not even guessed.

The two men, drunk on their achievements, returned to the main topic before long. The situation was not very good for a comfortable toast like this.

“How far have they come?”

“I think it will take about an hour to reach here. Since then… … .”

“Okay. You’ll lead the guys outside and buy as much time as possible. From now on, I will turn this place into Lord Argal’s shrine.”

“I understand, Master.”

The man who ran to announce the news grabbed his chest and ran outside.

Eventually, the wizard who was left alone began to hurriedly carve Argal’s name and patterns all over the cave.

* * *

After passing several high peaks, Chris and Tyrone were able to encounter priests and paladins all over the mountain.

They, who were blocking the road to catch the fugitives of the black flag, welcomed the two and sent them up the mountain.

“Welcome. We are currently under attack, so please go.”

“Looks like it’s a little late.”

As Tyrone, who was urging his tired words, clicked his tongue, Chris, who was sitting behind him, scratched the back of his head shyly.

Originally, it was possible to arrive a little faster, but it was burdensome to show the priests the ghost horse, so I had to leave it at the beginning of the mountain range. Thanks to this, Tyrone’s horse carried two adult men up the rough mountain road.

As we climbed a little further up the narrow and steep passage, fresh corpses greeted the new visitors.

Those presumed to be the defenders of the black flag were scattered here and there with miserable faces, dead.

Seeing that the bodies of paladins and priests were barely visible, the fight seemed very one-sided.

The two men, who were horrified by the sight of the corpse, finally arrived at the front of the cave.

The paladin who moved with the two, William greets them warmly.

“Are you here?”

“I thought you were late, but thank goodness.”

Next to William, there was a group of people who could have reached three digits even if they were small. All of the unusual people prepared for the rush by checking their equipment.

Noticing the gaze of the two, William gave a small explanation.

“The enemy’s hideout was bigger and more complicated than I thought, so I sent an advance party first. It seems like there are traps all over the place… … .”

“It should be.”

Breaking into the dwelling of a great wizard is not very recommended.

Originally, the tribe of wizards became stronger as much as they prepared.

Of course, we’ve come so far with such ease, but there’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to easily break through their last stronghold.

As the two men, wearing hoods to hide their identities from other players, got off their horses and inspected their equipment, nearby collaborators watched them with displeasure.

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Mostly made up of players, they chattered loudly as if the volume was out of control.

“What are those guys? Now that we’ve finished cooking, he’s coming to raise the spoon.”

“Life is really easy. I should have arrived just in time.”

“No, priests. Can you do that? We haven’t been able to rest for over a month, and we’ve come this far… … .”

Tyrone, who had been listening to their complaints, was about to step out in a fit of rage when Chris stepped on his foot. Then Tyrone lit the twin wicks in his eyes. Chris didn’t shrink in the slightest from such a reaction and said it again as if he was scolding.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m arguing, but I have to accept it. They wouldn’t have come this far without the information we provided… … .”

“Don’t do anything stupid. I’m going to fight hard after a while anyway.”

“Is that what you fight with them? You’re fighting the black flag guys.”

When Tyrone, who had barely calmed down, complained softly, Chris smiled lightly.

“well.”

“huh?”

Before Tyrone had time to question his reaction, the charge signal came from the front of the line.

“The entrance to the cave has been secured! Everyone, please go inside.”

“Okay, let’s go!”

“Don’t push, you kids!”

All of the collaborators who received the paladin’s permission started jumping into the cave.

Tyrone was slightly taken aback by the heat, which was hotter than expected, but it was only natural when he thought about it.

In the back, the Black Flag’s research achievements and property must be piled up like a mountain.

The collaborators who were fighting to occupy them couldn’t help but be motivated.

Chris and Tyrone entered the cave a little slower than they did.

From the outside, it looked so small that even a bear couldn’t live in it, but once inside, the interior space was deep and wide.

That’s all. The intricately twisted passageways look perfect for getting lost.

“Uh, where are you going?”

“I should take a rough picture.”

Chris chose one of the aisles without much hesitation.

It’s been a while since the advance party entered, so there wasn’t much time left even if the defenders were still there. If you take your time, others will take everything away.

Acting wisely is very important, but not missing an opportunity is even more important.

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More than 100 people scattered all over the cave and were divided like pieces.

After passing through a warehouse stocked with groceries and a restaurant, the two finally arrived at what appeared to be a research building.

Just as Tyrone was delighted to find a space full of the smell of paper, an arrow suddenly flew from the front.

“What!”

“Wake.”

Chris, who was equipped with a shield in advance, quickly blocked it and warned Tyrone.

Then Tyrone protests as if he is very unfair.

“No, how many people are in front of us, are the traps still left?”

“It must have been left on purpose for the next person.”

When Chris responded coldly, Tyrone finally grasped the situation.

The arrow trap from earlier is the kind that is harder to miss.

It’s obvious why such a trap still exists.

It must have been that the collaborators of the church who had rushed in earlier were playing tricks to reduce the competition.

“Am I just leaving because it’s the last time… … .”

As Tyrone sighs, Chris, who hastened his steps, nods.

“They are doing this because they don’t think they will lose even if they do some trolling. So keep your eyes open.”

“okay. But can you see the three hiding in front of me?”

As soon as Tyrone finished speaking, a dagger flew from the front.

Chris didn’t expect the players to come out so blatantly, so he hit it off with a slightly dazed expression.

Three people jumped out of the shadows and surrounded the two men, chatting briskly.

“I can’t pass through here.”

“Yeah, get off now!”

“No matter how hungry you are, if you try to eat it raw like this, it will be bitter. You bastards, wear a hood when you see the seniors.”

It seemed that the collaborators had built a strong friendship while the two were not around.

Chris quickly swung his sword without a long word.

There is no reason to overlook the situation since the other side attacked first, whether it was a collaborator or not.

The warrior who confidently responded to Chris’s attack finally grasped the situation after his ax was cut off.

“Huh? You bastard, no!”

“Okay!”

Chris countered almost instinctively, splitting the opponent’s body in half.

It wasn’t that the other side didn’t use magic either, but the difference in output between them was too overwhelming. He easily overpowered players with status windows, so there was no way he would be bothered by these half-pounders.

Chris, who used the momentum of the slash to cut down the second opponent as well, found the third opponent from a distance.

The man who threw the dagger at the two men had already abandoned his comrades and was on the run.

Tyrone confirmed his escape and quickly used his skill.

“Pierce the shadows!”

Spikes protruding from the darkness of the cave pierced the body of the fugitive.

Chris quickly looked around to make sure there were no onlookers.

Knowing that Tyrone has a status bar will make things pretty messy.

However, the person who actually used the skill trembled with emotion.

“Wow, I feel a bit alive now.”

“I really wanted to get caught, so I changed my mind.”

“I wrote it after seeing no one there?

The two began to run again while bickering.

In the research building, which looked like a library, many players were already plundering.

The wizards belonging to the Black Banner could not stop them from rising to their full potential.

As the conflicted Tyrone looked around, Chris led him further into the depths. There were too many competitors here, so it seemed better to rob somewhere else.

Originally, the most important treasure is hidden in the deepest place.

Chris ran busy, easily destroying the collaborators and the black flag defenders who had attacked in the confusion.

Eventually, as they approached the forefront of the punitive force, the number of Paladins and Priests of the Church increased noticeably.

When the collaborators with them find Chris and his party, they hesitate as they notice the priests.

“Um… They’re the ones you haven’t seen before.”

“Did you come in late? You’ve been following me well.”

“Other guys wouldn’t have sent me well, but I think I have more skills than I look.”

The elite, carefully selected from each church, drive the Black Flag’s defense force into a panic. Unlike the guys who picked up the dregs left by the previous ones, the people in this place seemed quite capable.

While Chris and them engaged in a quiet war of nerves, the leading paladins faced a large stone door.

“I think this is the last time.”

“It’s made really strong. No matter how long it will take us to break this… Uhm?”

The paladin, who was touching the stone door made using a whole large boulder, stepped back in amazement. Without time for others to ask why, the stone door, which looked solid, was pushed gently to the side.

The wizard who opened the door to the subjugation party was smiling grimly in the center of the stone chamber.

“Eh, this is opened from the inside, right?”

“I don’t think you’re going to surrender… Have you gone mad?”

“Your liver is swollen.”

While the Church’s collaborators chattered as they pleased, Chris quickly scanned the candle-lit space.

The walls, ceiling, and floor of the spacious stone chamber are engraved with small patterns and letters.

He soon felt a sense of deja vu and looked at Tyrone next to him.

“Hey, wait. Where do you think you saw this?”

“Yes? no way… … .”

The patterns engraved on all sides of the stone chamber were the ones they had seen a while ago.

The altar of the god who restored Tyrone’s status window.

The star symbol I saw there looked exactly the same as the pattern here.

While the two were secretly confused, a wizard in a black robe spread his arms and greeted the intruders.

“The slaves of the good god and the lesser aliens have come this far. Welcome to Argal’s domain! They are uninvited guests who trampled my residence with their dirt feet, but I will treat guests without regret.”

“I’m sick.”

“Behead that blasphemer!”

The paladins, who were heated by his provocation, rushed forward.

Chris straightened his concentration, which had been distracted by the unexpected discovery, and saw the head of the black flag clearly in his eyes.