Level 0 Master

"Your Highness… Your Highness..."

Sungjin laughed when Rittier cried out. His laughter looked like a predator satisfied with the prey in his mouth.

"How can you laugh in this situation!"

"Well because victory is still in our hands."

"Wh… what? What are you talking about! It's all over now!"

"I told you. I easily expected your actions. Which means it was not difficult for me to predict this plot."

"Even if you predicted that, it is too late now!"

"On the contrary, I was waiting for this timing."

"What?"

Rittier was confused for a moment. What timing Sungjin was waiting for?

Now that Rittier was dead, his death had brought an absolute disadvantage to the situation. What could Sungjin have possibly waited for? If he had prepared his secret tactic for victory and predicted this situation, wouldn't it make more sense if Sungjin told the tactic to the princess beforehand?

If not, shouldn't he have escaped faster and told the princess the truth to force them into his commands at the very least?

Why was Sungjin waiting for this moment?

"You… You're bluffing! That doesn't make any sense! What could you possibly do to rescue the princess?"

"What are you going to do if I rescue her?"

"Huh! If you can really rescue her from this situation, I would give you my life!"

"I don't need your life, just follow my commands from now on."

"Sure. If you do, I will serve you second to the princess! Only if you make it!"

"Good. Now, it is time to win," said Sungjin with a diabolic smile on his face. That made Rittier wonder that perhaps he had something planned.

Maybe this level 0 alien from the Other World had some kind of power other than Heroic Power, and he had transcendental power to control the battle outside of the battlefield?

Even the highest level heroes don't have such power.

Only God could do that, or a devil, probably.

Now that he thought of it, Rittier was reminded that Sungjin's name was the "Devil Commander."

Finally, Sungjin revealed his secret tactic.

That…

Was an envelope he pressed into Ereka's real body.

"GG. Oh, you don't understand. Game over. Let's say that from now on," said Sungjin as he started to relax in a chair in the waiting room.

"Nonsense! That thing can't bring victory to the princess!"

"Stupidity is not a sin. But just shut up and watch."

"What…! Nonsense!"

But in the next moment, Rittier clapped his fist against his palm having realized something.

"Is it something like an S-level grimoire or a wipe-out item? Is it? But if it is such a strong spell, it will need a massive amount of crystals! I don't think the princess can hold out for that long."

"Pfft. Ahh. Well. If you want to keep talking, then keep talking. I suppose a clumsy narrator is a part of a competition."

Sungjin took his seat calmly, showing he didn't care anymore.

Using the blessings of God, the Valkyrie healed Ereka's body and replenished the Heroic Power that was consumed during the battle.

Now, what should I do?

She knew she had to be back out for the fight, but the hopeless situation made her sad.

First, I need to activate some items using my crystals...

[A new unique item is ready to be activated.]

"What? Show me the list."

She spotted a unique item on the list.

[A letter from Sungjin: 1 crystal needed to activate.]

A letter?

By principle, the items on the list were basic items. If not unique, all the regular items of Valhalla could be activated on the battlefield as long as enough crystals were used. It was something she had never considered, until she was defeated by Sungjin who used traps and oil through that system.

For unique items, if a person entered the waiting room holding the item, the item holder could activate the item.

But to think he would send a letter instead of some special weapon.

When did this letter come in?

Only 1 crystal was needed for the activation. This meant that the Valkyrie had judged it unimportant. But Sungjin's name was on it.

"Activate."

Maybe… Maybe… the letter could give them hope.

Although, in this situation, not even a legendary item or a wipe-out item on the list could help them.

Despite knowing it was meaningless, Ereka held on to hope. She had no choice but to cling to the nearest spider's thread.

Ereka started to read the letter slowly with shaky hands.

"You're despairing that the battle has turned 2:3, aren't you? Don't worry and trust me. I will make you win."

Sungjin's confident tone had already accounted for Rittier's death.

She read the letter more rapidly, and then, her hand stopped shaking.

This is… Sungjin's secret tactic...

It was almost as though Sungjin was holding her hand and telling her not to worry. In this moment of despair, Sungjin's every word gave her hope and salvation.

In fact the words were like the prophecy of a savior.

Will this work? Perhaps, this will surely...!

Half of her was worried with doubts about the revelation, but half of her also wanted to follow it.

"Trust me."

Ereka felt as though Sungjin was leading her forward by the hand. Her surroundings which had been filled with darkness lit up the place Sungjin directed her towards with hope. She felt as though she could win with his guidance, which had already predicted and written down this situation.

He was her hope and savior.

"I'll trust you," she murmured and placed the letter back into her pocket.

It was Ereka who asked for his help. Now, it was her duty to trust him and follow his advice.

"I will place myself and this kingdom on the line for you, Sungjin."

The battle proceeded.

In the waiting room, Rittier looked at Sungjin.

"Is that letter what you were talking about? But that letter must have been pre-written."

"Yes. I wrote it last night before bed."

"Kuk. Then it's useless! With my death, the situation is changing rapidly. Tactical commands are given adapting to the circumstances for every unexpected variable. A pre-written plan is useless now that I'm dead!"

"I told you earlier. I predicted this situation."

"Don't lie! If so, you should have told us the plan earlier! With my death, our side's strength has decreased immensly, and her Highness has suffered an injury due to her inward agitation. What is the point of sharing your tactic in this later timing?"

"No, this is the perfect timing."

"But how!" Rittier shouted in anger.

But Sungjin remained calm, and turned colder.

Rittier's words were reasonable and aligned with common sense. An outsider would have said that Sungjin was bluffing.

But…

"You, nor the princess, are good actors, right? Then everything should be done with reality to have the enemy fall for it. You have died, therefore giving the enemy an upper hand, and the princess has given the enemy a secondary confirmation through her despair. This is the perfect time to give my command."

"Wh… what?"

Rittier felt his blood freeze with surprise.

He had ignored Sungjin and devised his own plan. From Sungjin's point of view, Rittier had gone wayward. But to claim that he used Rittier's actions to hide their poor acting, and use it to let the enemy's guard down?

It was surprising that he had already predicted up until that stage.

But what was this progressive idea to, not only predict, but use his own actions to an advantage?

It was a decision which kicked the ideas of suppressing obstinate subordinates as a ruler out of the window.

What was this person before him?

Was he truly an incomprehensible genius?

But...

"Even if… even if that is true, now that I am dead their military power has grown incomparably stronger than us. This price is too great to take them off guard! What is the point of your deception? Now we can't win!"

His words were reasonable.

Sungjin may have created a psychological weakness, but without enough force, it was impossible to attack that weakness. The idea was clearly innovative, yet it was just meaningless when the idea was not going to lead them to victory.

Sungjin smiled in response to that ordinary question coming from an ordinary person.

"Just watch how this will lead us to victory."

That overly confident smile gave Rittier the creeps. There was no way to counter the situation.

But... what if… he made them win...

Sungjin had predicted Rittier's radical actions to use it against him, so what if Sungjin could really change this disadvantageous situation…?

Then his intelligence would not stop on the level of a human's genius but a devil's.

Then Rittier realized something. This man, Sungjin, was either a madman or just a satanic genius who was incomprehensible.

The result of this battle would give him the answer.

In that time, a battle was taking place on the top lane. The fight was close; as soon as Firgrine was thrown off his guard for a second, Jenna threw a light ball.

"Yaaap!"

"Ugh."

When Firgrine became affected by the light ball and stumbled, Jenna took that chance and struck the ground with her hammer.

"Thunder Ground Power!"

Firgrine's laugh was insidious.

"Hahaha. Got you!"

"What?"

The moment she tilted her tail in confusion, chains started to surround her. At the same time, the Meteor Pendulum at the end of the chain flew towards Jenna's head to crush it.

"Ahhh?!"

The meteor pendulum struck Jenna. Jenna's force dropped immediately, and her robe tore. With a few more blows, she was going to be hurt directly.

"Ahhhhhhhh ugh!"

Jenna turned into a bolt of lightning with a scream and retreated. This was a spell called "A Thousand Breakthroughs," and it allowed one to change into a bolt of lightning for rapid movement or to attack, escape and chase.

Unlike the name, it was more useful to retreat though.

"Whew."

Thinking she made it out, her knife tail dropped in relief.

"Not so fast!" Firgrine shouted and jumped into the range of the turret.

He was so sure of himself. He had already collected enough crystals to upgrade his defensive items, so the attack of the turret couldn't hurt him. And the level 4 wizard used her escaping skill, so it would take a heartbeat to kill her.

He was so sure he could kill her.

"Ahhhhhhh?!"

Jenna screamed and ran away to the forest, abandoning the turret.

"I am coming for you."

Firgrine followed Jenna.

I killed Rittier, so if I kill her too, most of the credit will go to me!

Then the beautiful body of the princess would be his.

How should he take her virginity?

Abruptly?

Or after a much torture?

Just the imagination excited Firgrine. Killing Jenna meant having the princess.

"Ahhhhhh! Help me! Ahhhhhhh!"

Screaming out loud, Jenna ran across the forest toward the bottom lane where Ereka was.

"Rittier! Help me!" Jenna cried out loud for help.

As if to answer her call… a strong wind raided Jenna.

"Ahhhhhh?!"

"Nart, you bastard!"

"You are a fool to be snatched up like this."

Twin blades within the wind were trying to pierce Jenna's neck. Before this moment of life or death, everything would become meaningless if she did die.

"A Thousand Breakthroughs!"

The cooldown time was up, and Jenna was able to stay alive by using her speed spell, but she was far from safety.

The knight of wind and the knight of fire were chasing her. There was no chance for her, even if it was 1:1. The security of the turret was useless.

But she had to fight against two. Once she was caught, that would be it.

The young girl ran for her life, and her chasers were laughing at her.

She wouldn't have known that she was running towards despair and not toward hope. There were no reinforcements, it was just a trap. They were hunting her like a rabbit. The only thing that was stopping them now was the competition between the two knights.

The question was, who would get her?

At the same time, Ereka couldn't find peace of mind while fighting against Angrasil on the bottom lane.

"Ugh."

With her fighting spirit gone, Ereka was not able to return Angrasil's attacks properly. She made narrow escapes from the ice spear attacks. Every time, she tried to concentrate her Heroic Power to protect herself only to miss the perfect timing to attack and instead received small wounds.

Ice covered her body to slow down her movements. The next moment, as soon as Ereka had reached her limit and lost control of her body, the ice spear stabbed her deep in her thigh.

Her blood spurted and immediately froze before hitting the ground.

"Ice Flower!"

A few dozen ice spears raised up from the ground. There was no escape from the flower shaped spears.

Ereka jumped and pushed down the spears with her shield to retreat, but it was not enough. She was getting more wounds.

"Hahh… Hahh..."

"Poor thing. Why don't you let me kill you? I will be gentle compared to the other two."

"I don't trust you… and I haven't given up yet… I will… be back."

Ereka stepped back and ran into the forest. It was a solution which was a strenuous distance to flee if the enemy ever breached the turret, but it also meant that the defense was good enough for the enemy to hesitate.

In the waiting room.

Rittier lost his words and kept watching the battle in silence.

Your Highness...

Sungjin had confidently handed the letter with his secret tactic for nothing. However great the tactic was, what mattered the most was the individual's level. In this imbalanced battle, a quick trick from an extra class was useless. At least, if he had been there...

Even if Sungjin had a brilliant tactic, there was no one who could execute the tactic. Sungjin's plan for victory was an illusion in his head.

Your Highness…

Out of breath, Jenna rushed to the bottom turret. Her fluttering tail lost its rhythm.

"Princess… Princess..."

There was no answer, and her chasers, Nart and Firgrine, appeared instead. Angrasil greeted them. The three knights of fire, wind, and water fiercely stared at the poor girl.

"The princess?"

"Just recalled to her base."

The short conversation revealed everything.

"What?"

Jenna now realized that her last hope was gone. Her tail shuddered, and she slowly stepped back with her body shivering.

"Haha. I see."

Unlike Jenna, the three knights smiled cruelly.

Even if Jenna remained safe in the turret, all the players had fallen into place. One small wizard was obviously an easy kill if all three went at it.

The only question was, who would kill her?

There was no need to talk. They all needed an achievement from this battle in order to level up. A higher level meant more power, status, wealth, and honor, and in this battle, there was a beauty on the top of all that.

The knight of fire started his attack without hesitation.

"Molting Sentence!"

Like a poisonous snake, magma chains surrounded Jenna.

Every single tiny spark contained heat that could burn down the earth.

The knight of the wind quickly joined in.

"Hurricane Blade!"

Swirling double hurricanes started to stab her young, tender body without mercy. Thirty-three magic sword joined in on the attack.

A fast death would have been merciful. One enemy would have been enough for inevitable death, but it was two—no, it was three.

"Frozen Rain!"

Using his spear as a lever, Angrasil jumped up into the sky. A dozen spears appeared on the right and left of the perfectly aimed ice spear.

All twelve of them were exactly the same as the original. They all had the same power as the spear Angrasil was holding.

Ice spears rained down on Jenna at the same time. One magical spear was enough to break down a rampart, but there were twelve of them.

That meant nothing but death, but a more fearful thing was coming—Angrasil himself became a spear to join in on the attack. The thirteenth spear dealt by Angrasil was the ultimate magical spear that could break down ramparts with multiple layers.

The simultaneous attacks of three knights' ultimates were over the top to kill one tiny kid.

The weak had no choice but to surrender and to take the violence. This kid was nothing in front of these powerful knights on high.

Jenna shrunk and covered her eyes with her hands. It was a desperate escape from her hopeless reality.