Martial Arts Returnee's Game Broadcast-Chapter 404: Half-Demon Song Challenge

 The fireworks, which had been prepared in advance to hasten the Silent Swordsman’s Half-Demon Song challenge, exploded in a grand display.

Boom boom boom

[The entire Eom Gil-dong clan supports Eom Gil-dong's challenge for the Half-Demon Song!] [Hey, Hae-chan, let’s get revenge through the Half-Demon Song challenge!] [Da-hye Unni, we can do this! Let’s show them! Aja Aja Fighting!^^]

Other streamers were drawn into the Half-Demon Song challenge, targeted by a spear.

“Why the hell am I being dragged into this? That person is the one not streaming, why is this happening to me?” “Please just leave me alone! Go beg that damn Silent Swordsman to stream for you!” “...Guys? You don’t want to experience your sister’s post-mortem trauma, do you?”

The streamers who were inadvertently caught up as sacrifices to the fireworks now suffered together. Experiencing death during a stream, no matter how low you set the animation rate, meant dealing with death penalties.

“Lee Hae-chan, what are you going to do?” “I don’t know. If I’m going to keep streaming, I might as well try the Half-Demon Song at least once.”

From small pains like skin abrasions to major ones like body parts being severed, necrosis of tissue and nerves... Virtual reality gaming for streamers isn’t just a way to communicate, a means to make money, or a game to enjoy. If you don’t toughen up and take the challenge seriously, it can have serious negative effects on your health. Of course, modern medicine has advanced a lot. Worst case, you can get treated by an Awakener’s healing skills. Still, no one likes to feel pain.

“Ah, whatever, if I die once coolly, it’s fine, right? Or is it? Nah?” “...Eom Gil-dong has probably died so many times that he’s gone crazy.” “I’m kind of envious, though. To have your body distinguish perfectly between reality and the virtual world so that no matter how many times you die, you don’t get a death penalty anymore.”

Anyway, Eom Gil-dong, Lee Hae-chan, and Lee Da-hye, the trio of streamers who had become victims of the fireworks, complained to each other, not taking drastic measures but sharing their frustrations.

“But, honestly, worrying about this stuff seems pointless, right? Most streamers who challenged the Half-Demon Song couldn’t even take down the Tutorial Boss executioner.”

It wasn’t necessary to defeat the Executioner to unlock the hidden route, but not being able to defeat him made the subsequent challenges much harder, and this was true for the trio.

“If we just know the pattern, we might actually be able to do it?” “Oh, Lee Da-hye, you’re so confident.” “You’re weaker than me, though.” “Seriously. I’m not weak, you’re just strong, Lee Hae-chan.”

Lee Da-hye thought. She recalled the existence of the Yu Hee Yang Saeng technique, which Hae-eung-eung had told her about. If specific conditions were met, simply enjoying the game could improve your eyesight or make you stronger, without you even realizing it. The condition? Defeating strong opponents at high difficulty or clearing the game.

‘Given that these people have been through so much, they must have already built up quite a lot of inner strength according to the standards of Yu Hee Yang Saeng.’

Despite their many troubles, Eom Gil-dong and Lee Hae-chan had achieved numerous accomplishments over the years. Eom Gil-dong had reached milestones in many games, while Lee Hae-chan had reigned as the top gladiator for years in Gladiator Growth, cementing her place as the strongest.

When you combine the powers gained from their game achievements, they would undoubtedly be much stronger than someone who mainly played Battle Minesweeper.

‘Playing a game where hundreds or thousands of people compete for hours is a lot harder than one where millions compete on a monthly seasonal basis in Gladiator Growth or other comprehensive games.’ freewebnøvel.coɱ

Watching challengers who had done some Awakener training get caught by the Executioner’s hands in real time, seeing them smashed to the floor with an axe instead of a weapon, made this thought more solidified. With the three of us, aren’t we actually in the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ top 1% of the Half-Demon Song challenge?

“Not trying to take Eom Gil-dong’s side, but how about we just try dipping our toes in? It’s not like avoiding it is the solution, and it’s better than just dodging.”

Eom Gil-dong posted a video with a laughing emoji, and Lee Hae-chan immediately shared another clip in the chat.

In a close fight that was barely won by a thin margin, the Silent Swordsman had emerged victorious. Unlike her, Peng Hwi-ryong wielded a huge beam of wood picked up on the way, smashing the Executioner’s skull and piercing its arm to disarm it. With unbelievable brute strength and reckless attacks, Peng Hwi-ryong claimed victory.

“Damn, that’s some strength.” “You want to compete with that?” “Honestly, we’re not going to lose in a sword fight, right?” “That’s true.” “Excuse me? You’re all using swords, but I’m not?”

Ignoring Eom Gil-dong’s chat, Lee Hae-chan and Lee Da-hye, determined to take on the challenge, pushed ahead. The number of Half-Demon Song challengers grew once again.

 [Impressive.]

Watching the video brought by Woo Ji-woo, Hae-eung-eung honestly praised it. Breaking down the main gate with brute force and using chaotic battle techniques to leap over cliffs and reach the monster sage’s lair in one go, Peng Hwi-ryong’s tactics differed from Hae-eung-eung’s, but the results were equally as impressive.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

“Doesn’t it feel a bit tense? The myth created by the Guild Leader is being caught up with in real time.” [Is there really any reason to feel tense? I can’t even say that journey is exactly the same as mine.]

Clearly, Peng Hwi-ryong’s strategy differed from the Silent Swordsman’s. The human-faced beast hadn’t joined the team, and the bastard prince from the capital hadn’t been seduced by a beauty trick either.

【Interaction Option】 [To persuade the Half-Demon, you...]

Threaten with your sword. (Threat)Persuade with promises of honor. (Rhetoric)Bribe with your soul. (Bribe)Show off your collection of monster skulls. (Brag)

In contrast, there was an option to showcase Peng Hwi-ryong’s chaotic journey and prove his strength. These dynamic choices were based on the player’s characteristics, personality, and achievements. That’s why his journey had visible limits.

[The Monster General is strong. With Peng Hwi-ryong’s skill, it’s still not enough to defeat him.]

Gather your comrades, win in the arena, and get invited to the palace. Peng Hwi-ryong’s journey followed the Silent Swordsman’s steps until this point, but when the simultaneous hunt event began, Peng Hwi-ryong’s aggressive tactics were finally stopped.

“Back then, I just let it be, but this monster is actually pretty strong, huh?”

Lee So-hye, who was watching nearby, casually popped a chip into her mouth and commented.

“It was a broadcast where only three survivors were left from the sensory-link survivors. It couldn’t have been weak.” “Yeah, that’s right. Including Lee Hae-chan and Speed Master, there were three left, but if you exclude the streamers, only one was left, right?”

[As expected, this is a worthy rival to face the victor of this landslide.] [I acknowledge your strength.] [So, I will also bet everything on this move. Human, will you take the move, containing all the essence of 120 years of power?]

Peng Hwi-ryong grinned boldly and raised his sword.

[Alright!! The nameless swordsman, take the final strike of the greatest demon realm’s ultimate blow!!!]

The climactic battle scene, where both opponents pushed their energy to the last drop and clashed head-on. The shockwaves from the collision of murderous concentrations of demonic power and the power imbued in their swords sent shockwaves through the air. After the brilliant white light, the two forces surged upward to the ceiling of the palace.

[Excellent. Nameless swordsman.]

Peng Hwi-ryong, who left no corpse behind and was consumed by the fierce power of the demonic energy, died. As the monster general Viktor paid tribute to him, the [Game over] logo appeared.

-kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk -Weren’t you supposed to win here?! -Silent Swordsman didn’t catch up, huh? -They lost to this? -Well, the Monster General was like the King of Hell in the boss rush 14-match, a different level. -How do you beat this? -Seriously, only the Silent Swordsman can do it, huh?

Yes. No matter how skilled you are, there are limits you can’t overcome with just strength. Defeating the Tutorial Boss Executioner is the first hurdle, while defeating the Monster General Viktor is the second. It was a wall of despair after the wall of lamentation.

“Isn’t that person stronger than us?” [Much stronger.] “What if Woo Ji-woo and I team up?” [No chance.] “What about Senior Baek So-cheon?”

Hae-eung-eung hesitated for the first time. If Peng Hwi-ryong’s power was any indication, it was worth considering seriously.

[I haven’t seen his full strength, so I can’t give a definitive answer. However, I can guarantee that with a 60% chance, victory would lean toward him.] “So, he’s that strong, huh? That’s something.” [Actually, no. The 60% chance of victory leans toward Peng Hwi-ryong, not Baek So-cheon.]

This is an obvious fact for martial artists. Baek So-cheon, who had worked as a soldier for the Wulin League, and Peng Hwi-ryong, who inherited the martial skills of the Ha-buk-pengga, couldn’t possibly have the same abilities, even if Peng Hwi-ryong was a new generation martial artist.

‘Even in this boss raid, it was a close call.’

Peng Hwi-ryong, with his ultra-high martial skills. Viktor, the Monster General, with his ultra-high demonic energy. In the contest of equal strength, the Monster General’s focus was slightly superior.

“When the challenger fails, it’s a good thing, right?” “What do you mean? It would’ve been better if that person won.”

Unlike Woo Ji-woo, who couldn’t grasp the situation, Lee So-hye turned to Hae-eung-eung with a questioning look.

“You don’t plan to catch up before it’s too late, do you?”

Hae-eung-eung could only manage an awkward smile.