The Immortal Player

At this moment, in the arena, the people were already in eruption as Lony and Talia's brutal annihilation of the overwhelming 5000 men NPC army in just minutes become a hot topic across the whole world. Even the three hosts for the game's live coverage were at loss for words—not expecting that it would only take two men to destroy the NPC army of Team Fuji.

"Here I thought that Team ARES is going for a suicide attack—to buy time before their main force to arrive… Who would have thought that they actually only need two men to wipe the opposing NPC force, and even ABDUCT the enemy team's leaders?!" Rudy Mason said—after he notices the Live Coverage Director frantically waving towards them as if saying to them to say something.

Then, Rudy Mason glanced to Commentator Bob and asked, "What can you say about what Team ARES did, Bob? I mean… I just—for me, I am just speechless! Literally speechless! It is my first time seeing someone single-handedly won on a 2 versus 5000 fight, but with the two-person winning at the end! Just ridiculous!"

Commentator Bob shook his head and even slapped his face—probably thinking whether he was dreaming or not. He said, "I am not dreaming, right?"

Commentator Rudy Mason and Chairman Dong Li could only glance at him and laugh in response.

Then, after a few seconds, Commentator Rudy Mason slapped the back of Commentator Bob and said, "If that hurts… Then, you are wide awake, brother!"

"It does… a bit!" Commentator Bob said as he glanced at the two men beside him. Then, he asked, "Then… How were two men able to kill 5000 men in just minutes?! I mean… Those 5000 men are intelligent and strong creatures—who are not like those monsters that just charge out of no reason! Perhaps… There's a difference between the simulated games and the actual game, Chairman?"

Chairman Dong Li simply shook his head and said, "Everything in the game is similar to what is in the simulated games. The only difference is that the scenarios on the Simulated Games are randomly generated by the system. It does not automatically reflect any actual ongoing scenarios or events in the actual game itself."

Then, Chairman Dong Li glanced to Commentator Bob and said, "And… You are right, Mr. Bob! Those NPCs were no joke! Every single player of Bearth Online probably thinks the same! But for those who are yet to play the game… You can imagine each one of the 5000 men as a random person who can easily swing a meter-long iron pipe at the least!"

"And… Player Bulk and Player Shawarma were so terrifying—for them to make it look so easy taking down 5000 men in just MINUTES! In Just Minutes!" Commentator Bob said whilst forcing out a smile. Then, he added saying, "They took care of their enemies too fast as if they used a Minigun or a machine gun to defeat them! Just truly terrifying!"

Chairman Dong Li could not help but nod in agreement with what Commentator Bob said.

On the other hand, Commentator Rudy Mason interjected so that the atmosphere in the live coverage would not be awkward once again. He glanced to Commentator Bob and asked, "Bob… If you were in Player Shawarma or Player Bulk's position, how many NPCs could you kill?"

Commentator Bob could only force out a smile in response. Then, he shook his head while saying, "With my current equipment in the game… None!!! I couldn't even handle two wild wolves at once! How am I even going to win against a more intellectual opponent?"

"What if you have the same equipment and weapon with the players of Team ARES?" Commentator Rudy Mason asked in response.

Commentator Bob simply shrugged his shoulders in response and said, "Who knows? We don't have any information about Team ARES' equipment and weapon! If the reason for Player Bulk and Player Shawarma's strength was on their equipment and weapons, then… There's probably a chance for me to be able to take tens of the opposing NPCs. But… If their strength was not because of their equipment and weapons… Then, I won't be able to kill—even a single NPC!"

"Hooo… Those are some questions we need to ask the players from Team ARES! Else… I doubt that anyone of us would be able to sleep tonight after witnessing such an incredible feat!" Commentator Rudy Mason said as the live coverage was about to show some ads.

But before the director of the program could do so, Chairman Dong Li interjected into the conversation, saying, "And I would like to say something to everyone once and for all! There are no hacks nor cheats in Bearth Online or even in the Simulated Battles! In fact, even the big countries are asking me as to what kind of system we were using—that even their best hackers could not infiltrate the system for some reason. So… Rest assured that everything on Bearth Online and the simulated games is fair and unbiasedly ruled by our system!"

"That's reassuring, Chairman!" Commentator Bob said in response. Then, he added, asking, "But… Did the Bearth Online Developers give some kind of special items to the affiliate teams like Team ARES, Chairman?"

Chairman Dong Li could only stare towards Commentator Bob as if he was saying, 'Are you really asking me that?'.

Then, after a few seconds, Chairman Dong Li simply sighed in response and said, "As I just said… Everything is ruled by the system! Even, I, the Chairman of Bearth Online Game Developer Group, can only make minimal changes to the game. And mostly… It has something to do with the Player Interface or the Reward System of the main game. Other than that… Everything is handled by the A.I.!"

"Less human intervention… Less biased influences into the game! Right, Chairman Li?" Commentator Rudy Mason interjected with a smile.

Chairman Dong Li simply nodded in response as the viewers all over the world erupted with ridicule, laughter, and mocks on Commentator Bob for 'digging his own grave'.

User9182929: Lolololol! Commentator Bob has B@lls of steel! I don't know whether he's an idiot or was it just all part of his script!

User8762345: Kekeke! A former viewer of Commentator Bob's live streams here! And all I can say is that… Commentator Bob is a confirmed Id1ot!

User7894329: Idiot +1

User7543988: Idiot +2

…

Back into the game, Pedro, together with all of his NPC force, was able to return to their stronghold. However, other than Talia, Lony, and himself, everyone else remained inside the closed gates of the Tradean Empire.

At the same time, he ordered the messengers to revoke his request for assistance from the 9,000 men since they were able to take care of the 5,000 soldiers of the opposing force and was just waiting for the Defacto Kingdom's residents to surrender.

Well… Fortunately, the reinforcements were just halfway back to the Tradean Empire stronghold. And since a high-ranking soldier was even able to send a message to the rest of the reinforcement troops, they were able to immediately return back to the Tradean Ravine to fight the waves of monsters charging through that area.

On the other hand, Pedro simply waited with Lony and Talia—knowing that their win is already in the bag for them to take home!

"You should have allowed us to attack the remaining forces of Team Fuji instead, Expert Cap!" Talia grumbled to Pedro.

Pedro simply chuckled in response and said, "Relax, Shawarma! It would even be difficult for you to find the other 18 members of Team Fuji amongst the 200,000 NPC of Defacto Kingdom! So… It's ideal and faster to make them surrender instead—to win the game."

Talia could only sigh in response and said, "I hope that the next battle would be combat related, Expert Cap! I did not expect it to be more fun fighting against capable NPCs!"

Pedro simply smirked in response.

Soon, the 200,000 NPCs under the Defacto Kingdom and the remaining players from Team Fuji arrived with robes, make-do cloths, and linens covering every inch of their body from the Sun.

However… Contrary to the demoralized state that everyone had expected of them… All of the NPCs from Defacto Kingdom and the 18 players from Team Fuji stared daggers towards Pedro, Lony, and Talia—who had Player Ryu and Player Kazuto Kageyama in front of them.

Pedro simply smirked in response as he drew his sword with his right hand. Then, he placed his left hand on Lony's shoulder while asking, "Bulk… You planted the ABs as I instructed, right?"

Lony nodded in response while saying, "Yes, Cap!"

Pedro simply smirked in response before slicing his sword—separating the head of Player Ryu from his Body in the next second. Then, Pedro said, "Good! Because it seems like my hunch was correct! Team Fuji—no! The Defacto Kingdom won't go down without a fight!"

And before the remaining players from Team Fuji, nor the NPCs from the Defacto Kingdom could react, Pedro swung his sword once again—separating the head of Kazuto Kageyama from his body and killing him at that instant.

Then, Pedro exhaled heavily and said, "It's time to end this war! Let's show everyone… The Modern Version of Trial by Fire!"