When a Whale Fights a Whale (1)
The collapse rate of the rift surged.
— As the [Outskirts of the Domain] rift nears a 95% strategy completion rate, breaking news reports that the [Count's Estate] rift has exceeded a 60% collapse rate.
It had only been a single day.
And the rift's collapse rate had already passed 60%.
Since the Great Cataclysm, countless rifts had formed and vanished.
— This… is honestly the first time I've seen a case like this.
A collapse rate rising this rapidly was unprecedented.
Some of the panelists speculated on the cause.
— You know, the rate of collapse differs depending on the rift. Generally, the stronger the monsters inside, the shorter the rift's lifespan.
— So you're saying the monsters inside this rift are stronger than expected?
— Exactly. The real issue is that the collapse rate is increasing. To be precise… it means 'the monsters inside the rift have become stronger'—stronger than they were just a day ago.
The panel fell silent.
They'd already heard again and again how difficult this rift was.
And now the monsters were getting even stronger?
— …There has to be a reason, right? Monsters don't just randomly get stronger for no reason.
Yes, there had to be a cause.
If they could figure that out…
Maybe they could prevent the monsters from growing even stronger.
Maybe they could stop the rift from collapsing so fast.
But no matter how much they discussed, they couldn't find an answer.
In the end, the anchor could only close with this:
— Let's hope the players bring us some good news.
.
.
.
I turned my gaze away from the screen.
I didn't know about the other players, but...
'…I think I know what's going on.'
Why the monsters in the rift were getting stronger.
Why the collapse rate was rising so sharply.
If someone asked why a guy who returned to Arcana after ten years was acting like he knew so much,
I'd confidently respond:
Hey, when it comes to demons, I probably know more than you.
Endless training in Akshan.
All those repeated lectures on demons that left my ears numb.
It was only natural that vampires were among them.
— Vampires can share their powers through blood. Of course, they can also take those powers back. So don't ever let your guard down.
Count Ascura, the vampire, had granted his authority to the [Blood-Drenched Beasts] and [Blood-Drenched Bandits].
And when those monsters were defeated by players, the powers they'd been given naturally flowed back to Count Ascura.
'That's why the collapse rate shot up.'
Yes, everything made sense now.
I could even predict what would happen next.
'Wait, that means… once the estate is conquered, the fortress collapse rate will spike too.'
If it was already past 60% now...
'It's going to hit at least 90%, minimum.'
The fortress rift might collapse.
It might even appear in the real world.
It was the worst-case scenario—but also a very real possibility.
And Count Ascura was level 430.
Just the thought of that monster getting even stronger was suffocating.
Still, my actions didn't change.
I opened my wardrobe in the usual way.
Selected an outfit with proper formality.
A suit—only slightly different in color from yesterday's.
But after freezing my butt off, I'd learned something.
So this time, I threw on a dark grey long coat over my suit.
…Yeah, a long coat.
It might drag while moving in a rift,
But that's better than freezing to death.
Let's think positively.
Even so, I wasn't exactly in a good mood.
I muttered softly to myself.
"A noble does not give and then take away. Count Ascura."
That was the pride of the Cloudy family.
That was what Granfell believed it meant to be noble.
His pride was now deeply disgusted with Count Ascura's behavior.
Clack—
I slipped on my shoes and added:
"No… even the title of 'Count' is too generous for you, Ascura."
To anyone watching,
I might've looked cool, even respectable.
Squeeze—
…If not for the green tea bag I was clutching in my hand.
Let's just be thankful no one's watching.
I headed toward the Mage's Tower.
The real conquest was about to begin.
[Count's Estate]
[Recommended Level: Lv.350~400]
[Collapse Rate: 66.1%]
I checked the rift info again.
Players were reacting in all sorts of ways.
"Recommended level 350 to 400?! That's insane."
"It's only been an hour, and the collapse rate jumped 6%."
"If this is just the estate, then what the hell is the fortress going to be like?"
All the [Outskirts of the Domain] rifts—hundreds of them—had been cleared.
Only about thirty [Count's Estate] rifts remained.
Clear those, and they could finally enter the [Count's Fortress] where Ascura awaited.
Now that there were fewer rifts available,
competition between players became intense.
Naturally so.
With a recommended level of 350–400,
these were high-level rifts with massive XP and loot potential.
With fewer rifts to go around, competition was inevitable.
Players began sizing each other up, trying to pick the "easiest" rivals.
Gaon's guild master, Nam Tae-min, was in a relatively good spot.
"Well, as long as we don't overlap with Shining, we'll be fine."
Anyone but Shining was manageable.
He was confident in that.
Even though they lost the first-clear to that unexpected Berserker,
it had only been by a hair's breadth.
Nam Cheol-min thought the same.
He tapped his tablet.
"Shining's probably fired up too. Guys like them won't want to risk picking the same rift as us. It'd just mean mutual destruction, right?"
So, let's go with this one.
Gaon quickly claimed a basecamp.
But then, an unwelcome visitor they'd forgotten about showed up.
Nam Tae-min's eyebrows twitched.
"...The hell? These guys?"
Guild ranking #4: Inazuma.
As the name suggests, a Japanese guild.
Even if the Mage's Tower had appeared,
they would never be allowed to take root in Korea.
Because of their stubbornness,
they had only just arrived in Russia—an entire day later by plane.
And now, they showed up in the rift.
Inazuma's guild master, Hisagi Kazuma,
locked eyes with Nam Tae-min.
Nam Tae-min didn't look away.
Not a single word was exchanged—Yet they both understood each other perfectly.
Nam Taemin broke the silence."That bastard wants to give it a go. What do you think, hyung?"
Nam Cheolmin, tapping on his tablet, shrugged."We claimed the spot first. Running away now wouldn't look too good, would it?"
Korea vs. Japan.Gaon vs. Inazuma.They had chosen the same rift.
The news spread like wildfire.
Broadcast teams from around the world buzzed with excitement.
"Gaon and Inazuma are clashing?! That's front-page news!"
But honestly, there was just too much news.
New developments were pouring in nonstop, and among them—Some rivalries were just as eye-catching as Gaon vs. Inazuma.
"Second Sun and Bohemian are clashing too. Two competitors locking horns!"
"Looks like the Berserker got first clear, and now the real trouble begins."
"No honor among thieves, huh? The so-called 'European Union' seems more like a free-for-all."
But the most thrilling match-up of all?
Guild Rankings #1 vs #2.Shining vs. Chunhatongil.America's Shining and China's Chunhatongil.
A battle so high-profile, the world's attention was guaranteed.Depending on the result, it might even shift the global power balance.
"Is Chunhatongil just here to throw a wrench in things?"
"They're both going down if they clash."
"It's a lose-lose for both sides."
Of course, both guilds had nothing to gain.
The XP and loot from this high-level rift would be split between the fiercest rivals.Still, neither side would back down.
Which made it all the more entertaining—for everyone else watching.
"Alright! Let's open up the polls!"
Net-tubers (streaming players) were just as thrilled as the media.
Only players could enter rifts, and just yesterday, their live broadcasts from inside had gone viral.So now even the streamers had to read the room.
"Send in your votes! Donations influence my choices too!"
Which rift would bring in the most views?An endless loop of reading others' reactions and strategizing accordingly.
But—There was one person free from all that.
Current temperature: -5°C.
Seriously.A drop of more than 5 degrees in just one day?
If not for this coat, I might've frozen to death before even entering the rift.
Steam rose as I warmed my hands on the teacup.
All that extra attention during the 'Search' and 'Interference' phase paid off.Just adding a bit more complexity to the teacup's form—Let it retain heat even in subzero winds.
'I'm finally getting the hang of this.'Not [Skills], but real 'Magic'.
And credit where it's due—Granpell really was talented at absorbing magic.
I drained the cup and let go of the handle.
Tap—
The teacup transformed midair, returning to its original stone shape.
'Restoring it like that also reduces the need for more Search and Interference.'
A technique I'd learned with experience.
Still, I pondered.
'…The question is, can I use this in actual combat?'
I'd have to test it in the field.
Of course, I wasn't underestimating this rift.
"Viscount Askura's Confidant" : Lv.390
"Askura's Knight" : Lv.350
"Askura's Soldier" : Lv.300
These weren't levels you could take lightly.
Even if I could manage the soldiers and knights…
The confidant? A 300-level gap.
But since when did I care about things like that?
Click—
It wasn't the first time. I'd accepted my fate.
『Even if I drown under the weight of it.』
This is the only way I know how to live.
So I struggle with all I've got—Like an elegant swan desperately paddling beneath the surface.
Just like I did from yesterday to dawn.
I could only hope those efforts weren't in vain.
Click—
Without hesitation, I entered the rift.
Inside the rift:Crumbling ruins everywhere.
Hardly what you'd expect from "Askura's Domain."Even if it was a mix of reality and Arcana…This was excessive.
As a noble, my aesthetic sense was naturally offended.
"What a sorry excuse for a domain, Askura."
My coat billowed as I walked forward.
"!"
And soon, I encountered one of "Askura's Soldiers."
Its eyes glowed blood red.Fangs jutted from its mouth.Saliva dripped continuously, as if maddened by thirst.
Sensing me, the soldier lunged.
I stared straight at it.
Yeah—this just confirmed it.
This wasn't loyalty.It wasn't dedication.
It was just a curse, veiled as power.The vampire's curse, corroding its victim.
A pitiful, corrupted soul.
I muttered again.
"Still pathetic."
I 'Searched' the ruined structure, 'Interfered' with its form.
"But even that pity is wasted on you."
And the magic manifested—
BOOOOM!
RUMBLEEE—
A deafening noise from behind.
"?!"
Both men—Nam Taemin and Hisagi Kazuma—turned at once.
Dust rose faintly in the distance.
Grit—
They both ground their teeth in frustration.
"…Whoever it is, can they not overdo it?"
They already had enough to worry about—Without needing another wild card in the mix.