Chapter 155
Two days later.
Ting-.
Seo-jin displayed a holographic map in mid-air, showing it to the Reverse Heaven Society members.
It was a detailed topographical map of the underground cave.
‘Thanks to the efforts of the past few days, I’ve successfully grasped the internal structure of the cave.’
With this terrain information, he could utilize it in various ways—using Austin’s earth spirits or Baduki to dig tunnels and ambush the enemy from behind, among other methods.
……Though Baduki, whom he’d sent to find the members, still hadn’t returned from wherever he’d gone.
‘I can roughly guess whose tail he’s following.’
He’d left it alone, figuring Baduki would come back on his own. If he was going to follow someone anyway, it would be even better if he brought back information from that side.
“Make sure to copy it to your individual Terminal Devices.”
So-yul copied the map into her Terminal Device and asked.
“Thank you. But how did you make this map?”
“Manual labor, basically.”
Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders.
First, he released summoned skeletons throughout various parts of the cave.
After that, he collected visual information transmitted by thousands of skeletons as they wandered the cave.
However, on the side where the strategy team’s tribes were located, skeletons were destroyed as soon as they were spotted, so the information obtained wasn’t particularly accurate.
Therefore, Glize passed through that area as a spirit form to collect information.
If Hyeon-wol had been with them, she would have helped, but she was currently entrusted to his master, so she couldn’t join them.
Afterward, by consolidating the information gathered by the skeletons and linking it with the flow of water veins and ley lines recorded by the Eye of Insight, then processing it into a three-dimensional form, the holographic map was completed.
Compared to the real-time map Nimrod had shown them, it was somewhat lacking, but this much would be sufficient to pass the test.
Having distributed the map, Seo-jin asked So-yul about the progress of their work.
“How’s the progress?”
The work of establishing firm control over each tribe and mediating disputes and discord between tribes to form an alliance.
While So-yul, called a savior, had successfully established firm control over the Squirrel Tribe,
There were also cases like Nam-gung Cheon, who stole totems and used threats to semi-forcibly control the Mouse Tribe.
Additionally, there were tribes that didn’t get along well with each other—Wolf and Monkey Tribes, Cat and Mouse, Squirrel Tribes, etc.—so a process of mediating between them was absolutely necessary.
So-yul nodded slowly and answered.
“There was quite a bit of noise, but it seems like it’s almost finished now.”
Fortunately, the tribespeople’s temperament wasn’t particularly aggressive, so they succeeded in persuading them to form an alliance, with Se-yeon’s Hedgehog Tribe being the last.
The savior legend passed down among each tribe played a significant effect here.
It was thanks to the tribespeople regarding the Reverse Heaven Society members as the protagonists of that savior legend.
Meanwhile, Francesca, who had returned from spying on the strategy team, scratched her head and showed reluctance.
“Their situation looks a bit bad though?”
The tribes assigned to the strategy team were said to include many that were skilled in combat and had fierce temperaments—Wild Boar, Elephant, Eagle, Snake, and so on.
As such, there would be difficulties in binding these tribes together to form an alliance.
However, once they succeeded in forming an alliance, they would become a much stronger force than the Reverse Heaven Society’s alliance.
‘In terms of power between tribes, we’re at a significant disadvantage.’
No.
In fact, excluding Seo-jin, the Reverse Heaven Society’s capabilities were about one level below the strategy team.
When comparing similar role groups, the gap was clearly felt.
Mage types: Han So-yul and Gu-ren.
Shaman types: Nam-gung Rin and Rei.
Paladin types: Zieg and Robert.
Warrior types: Nam-gung Cheon and Lee Seo-mun, Se-yeon and Choi Gang-hyeon.
Austin and Francesca, Kwon Ha-yeon and Yelena couldn’t be matched one-on-one, but it was certain they were at a disadvantage in terms of capabilities.
If they hadn’t built their foundations through special training from the 29th floor, they wouldn’t have been able to properly face them.
However,
“We don’t necessarily need to win through fighting.”
Seo-jin pointed to a specific part of the holographic map with his hand.
Due to the characteristic of natives who continuously revive, they could simply block narrow passages and caves and focus solely on defense.
And the Reverse Heaven Society had two specialists who were exceptional at stealing things.
Rather than being fixated on destroying through combat, they just needed to steal the enemy’s totems.
To this plan of Seo-jin’s, Francesca expressed doubt.
“But Leader, if we simply steal the totems, won’t the other side notice our intention?”
“Good point.”
Not destroying the totems that were directly connected to victory conditions and could reduce the continuously reviving enemy forces, but deliberately stealing them instead?
They would definitely think there was some ulterior motive.
In the worst case, they might make the extreme choice of destroying all but one of their own totems.
Therefore, Seo-jin had prepared a countermeasure for this.
“Here, take these.”
Charuru-.
Seo-jin laid out replicas of Anima Totems he had made in advance with Blood Magic on the table.
The scan he had done with the Eye of Insight when Nimrod had shown the totems as holograms earlier had been a great help.
Nam-gung Cheon picked up a totem and examined it from various angles, asking.
“What’s this?”
“Fake totems. After stealing the opposing tribe’s totem, break this and leave it in that spot.”
If they left traces of a broken totem, they could avoid suspicion that it was theft.
Though it was a crude fake that wouldn’t fool anyone for long, since Nam-gung Rin’s Taoist Arts were applied to it, it should be capable of deception for a while.
To this request from Seo-jin, Nam-gung Cheon picked his ear with his finger and frowned.
“Geez, talk about demanding conditions.”
Stealing the totems that each tribe treasured like sacred objects was already difficult, and now there were additional requirements on top of that.
Wasn’t this too much?
Despite the two thieves’ complaints, Seo-jin only snorted.
“Hmph. If the usefulness of the thief profession is only this much, and you can’t even do this, then why do you exist?”
They’re not specialized in fighting, nor can they heal anyone.
They don’t possess the versatile situational adaptability like Spirit Arts or magic either.
But if they can’t even properly steal things, what’s the point of thieves existing?
“Leader, your words are a bit harsh.”
Even Francesca chimed in, but Seo-jin was firm.
“If you’re dissatisfied, go grab anyone from their side and win a fight. Then I’ll acknowledge you.”
“Ahem.”
At that, the two thieves could only cough awkwardly, unable to readily say they’d try fighting a strategy team member.
There really wasn’t a single opponent among them who could be taken lightly.
The person with the lowest individual combat power would be Rei, perhaps?
However, from what Nam-gung Cheon had observed while briefly acting with the strategy team, even she wasn’t an easy opponent.
Though Rei disliked conflict and always acted politely, once she got angry, she was the most frightening person among the strategy team members.
“Fine. We just need to do it.”
Nam-gung Cheon snatched up the totems on the table and tucked them into his clothes.
“Then I’m counting on you.”
***
On the other side of the cave.
Lee Seo-mun and Choi Gang-hyeon, who had each obtained turtle and wild boar masks respectively.
The positions they were transported to weren’t far apart, so the two decided to act together.
They then moved to their respective tribes and gained control by subduing the strong members of each tribe one by one, making them kneel.
“They’re not exactly pushovers.”
“Agreed.”
Both wiped the blood from their fists and spear blades while breathing heavily.
Generally, natives often fell far behind the appropriate level for their floor, constantly suffering from monster and foreign invasions.
However, the natives here were different.
Fighting machines who lived their entire lives in battle. Not only their levels, but also their practical sense and experience were exceptional.
Perhaps because they had a way to revive even after death, their defensive and evasive techniques weren’t particularly developed, but their offensive techniques were quite threatening.
Of course, even so, they were no match for the two frontline strategy team members.
“P-please accept this.”
The two tribes prostrated themselves before Lee Seo-mun and Choi Gang-hyeon, offering their tribal symbols, the Anima Totems.
Choi Gang-hyeon, who had been staring at the totem intently, declined it.
“No need. You keep it for now.”
Lee Seo-mun also didn’t accept the totem and returned it to the tribespeople.
Finding other members was more important than the totem right now.
“Now that we’ve completed tribal control, let’s start looking for other members.”
Lee Seo-mun swung his body around and strapped his spear behind his back.
Choi Gang-hyeon looked at him, his body still not cooled down, and chuckled.
“Seems like you’d rather have a bout with Nova?”
“Heh, was it that obvious?”
Lee Seo-mun smiled slightly, recalling the events from the 37th floor.
That night when they stayed comfortably in the village where the Reverse Heaven Society was staying.
The atmosphere was too good then, so he couldn’t bring himself to request a sparring match.
But after conversing together in the hot spring, his competitive spirit flared up even more.
He wanted to face him again right away, just like when they fought on the 10th floor.
However,
“I should separate public and private matters.”
Team victory took priority over personal desire.
Lee Seo-mun temporarily set aside his competitive spirit and set out to find other members.
***
The fifth day since being transported to various regions of the cave by Nimrod.
Though a bit later than the Reverse Heaven Society, the strategy team members also safely gathered in one place.
Strategy team members assembled in the Eagle Tribe’s cavern.
Ha-yeon looked around at the masks worn by the members.
Ju Won-jae had Eagle, Lee Seo-mun had Turtle, Choi Gang-hyeon had Wild Boar.
Yelena had Snake, Robert had Elephant, Gu-ren had Goat, Rei had Sheep.
“Hmm.“
The fact that her own mask was Rabbit, and it seemed like tribes were assigned to match each person’s character.
But she didn’t voice this thought.
Someone might find it unpleasant to hear.
After hearing the quest progress from each member, Ju Won-jae spoke.
“You all did well. Truly worthy of being called the cutting edge of strategy.”
Ju Won-jae praised each member gathered there, making eye contact with them one by one.
Over the past few days, each member had perfectly obtained control of their assigned tribe.
Either gaining control through fear like Ju Won-jae and Yelena.
Or winning hearts through divine healing and miracles like Kwon Ha-yeon and Robert.
Or completely dominating tribes through force like Lee Seo-mun and Choi Gang-hyeon.
Or being revered by tribespeople by performing miracles with magic and shamanism like Gu-ren and Rei.
Though their methods varied, they had seized control of tribes at a speed worthy of their reputation as the frontline strategy team.
‘What remains is the work of binding these tribes together into an alliance.’
Though they had gained control through their respective methods, to make them into a single alliance, one unified governing principle was needed.
‘Fear.’
Ju Won-jae’s thinking hadn’t changed from before.
He had no intention of proceeding with the quest by persuading tribes one by one and mediating discord.
Control through fear was most efficient, so he would make full use of it.
That would be sufficient for alliance formation.
Next was the direction of combat.
Flutter-.
Ju Won-jae spread a map obtained through natives on the table and pointed to one area with his hand.
“First, we prioritize destroying the enemy’s totems above all else. It would be best to move as aggressively as possible.”
This was the easiest way to reach victory conditions and the best method to reduce enemy forces by preventing revival.
Combat would be unavoidable for this, but.
‘Both the tribespeople’s power and each strategy team member’s strength are superior to the enemy.’
There was absolutely no reason to avoid battle.
At the suggestion to take aggressive action, Ha-yeon asked.
“Then how should we protect our own totems?”
“We can use a few as bait to draw out enemies. The victory condition is having just one totem remaining.”
According to Nimrod, they didn’t need to protect all totems. They just needed the last one to belong to the strategy team.
“We boldly sacrifice what’s unnecessary. Giving up flesh to strike bone is what’s important.”
This test was that kind of test.
