“What exactly have you contributed to the Shadow Wolves that makes you feel entitled to this treatment?” The archer, Archer, stood before Broken with a confrontational stance. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
“I’m sure I haven’t contributed anything to your guild,” Broken replied quietly, rising to meet his gaze.
“You’re not seriously planning to fight here, are you?” someone interrupted, trying to calm things down.
“I just want to teach this kid a lesson he won’t forget,” Archer said.
Most of the others seemed unfazed, as if this kind of confrontation was routine. But Calista, looking nervous and guilty, spoke up. “This is my fault… I asked Broken to help me find materials.”
“This isn’t about you, Calista. Stay out of it,” Archer snapped, cutting her off.
Just then, the door swung open, and Marlene entered, followed closely by Subaru and the other members of the team. She paused briefly, surveying the tension in the room.
“You’d better postpone things like this until the appropriate time,” she said coolly before moving to her seat, the others following suit.
Archer shot a sarcastic smile, as if to say, This isn’t over, before returning to his seat as well. “Don’t waste our time; we need to maximize our efforts here,” Marlene said.
No one responded to her statement, so she continued, “We will explore the forest, starting today and continuing for the next three days. We’ll set up camp in the middle of the woods and return to town afterward.” She scanned the team.
“The raid boss we’re targeting will appear one week from today, so be prepared for everything. Don’t die or waste resources due to foolish actions. Don’t squander your potential. A single mistake could trap you here for a long time, and I’m sure that’s not something anyone wants.”
Someone else in the group added, “What about our formation, Marlene? We’re short a tank.”
“I’m aware of the issue,” she said, then turned to Broken. “Broken, how confident are you in melee combat and tanking?”
“I’m not a dedicated tank, but I’m quite durable in combat. I can survive without much healing or support from others,” Broken explained.
“Ck!” Archer scoffed. “What can we expect from a Miner? What’s with that pickaxe? Are you pulling a joke?”
“Hahaha, Broken is actually a versatile player,” Subaru interjected.
“Versatile player? Like hell! Where did that idea come from? Do you think stat points are handed out randomly to players? They need to focus on one thing. There’s no such thing as versatile players in this game!” Archer asserted.
All eyes turned to Broken, as he was the least known among them. He was primarily known as the player who won the competition in the Dissidia Kingdom and subsequently earned his own town. Beyond that, they only knew he was a blacksmith. A few were aware of his participation in a raid boss fight with the Ass Guild, but no one knew the full extent of his abilities.
“Marlene,” one of them spoke up. “We need to know more about him. We can’t expect to carry out this expedition well if he’s not even part of our party.”
Subaru then chimed in. “Everyone, Broken is an extra member of this expedition. He isn’t responsible for the entire team’s success, so I think we should be grateful and ask for his help. Ultimately, we’re depending on him to bolster our numbers.”
“So, he’s just a burden then, right? Joining us means he should contribute more to the team, especially since he’s an outsider,” another teammate remarked skeptically.
Marlene remained silent, observing the escalating debate, while Broken appeared completely unfazed.
Archer stood up again. “At least we need to know what he’s capable of,” he said, pointing at Broken. “Duel me right now so we can see if you can actually fight. Show us your real abilities, not that bullshit pickaxe,” he demanded.
Subaru also stood up, attempting to calm the situation. “Ah, everyone, please, we need to hear Marlene’s opinion on this duel.”
Marlene then spoke, “It’s only a duel. I believe it’s fair, as long as Broken accepts,” she said, turning to face him.
But Broken knew he couldn’t accept the challenge. Activating the duel system would reveal both participants’ levels, which would expose his low level to everyone else-something he was not comfortable with.
Without rising from his seat, Broken replied, “I’m not interested in a duel. How about a real battle? I’ll face you with my pickaxe,” he said, tapping the pickaxe on his back. “I think that’s enough; no need to use my Legendary-grade spear.”
His words instantly triggered a reaction from some of the team. It was clear that Broken was belittling Archer, and he had even deliberately mentioned his Legendary-grade spear, something not everyone was aware of.
Archer was clearly triggered, anger flashing in his eyes as he drew his bow and nocked an arrow. “Shut your mouth and stand up right now. I’ll kill you here and now and shut that big mouth of yours for good.”
It wasn’t unusual for them to look down on or isolate Broken. He was an outsider-an outlier in more ways than one. From their perspective, he was little more than a burden, especially since he had never fully demonstrated his abilities in front of them.
A brutal fight like this would probably turn even more people against him. But at least it gave Broken a chance to showcase a bit of what he was capable of. Regardless of the outcome, their opinions didn’t matter to him—his focus was on hatching the demon egg. That was the only thing that truly mattered.
Calmly, Broken stood up and removed his costume skin, revealing the Invincible Armor Set he was wearing beneath. He reached over his shoulder, took out the pickaxe from his back, and let the Legendary-Grade Flowing Tide Cape drape behind him. The moment he equipped his gear, a cool blue aura radiated from the upgrades, catching everyone’s attention.
The room fell silent. Even though they couldn’t directly see the grade or description of the gear, the sheer quality of the armor and cape was unmistakable. Their eyes widened in shock as they took in the sight of his gear. The cape, flowing like water down his back, gleamed with an ethereal beauty that left them speechless. It was clear now that the materials and grade of his armor were of the highest caliber.
Everyone in the room began to stand, sensing the upcoming clash. They quickly moved their chairs aside, creating space for the unavoidable fight. The tension was thick as they stepped back, giving Archer and Broken enough room for their confrontation. Among them, only Subaru still seemed to be trying to de-escalate the situation.
“Well, Archer, Broken. How about we take this outside? Near the forest. I think it’s better to handle this without drawing too much attention. I’m not sure fighting inside the inn is the
best idea.”
Archer scoffed. “I’ll finish him off quickly. No need to worry about causing a scene.”
Broken smirked. “That should be my line.”
Marlene remained seated, her legs crossed, watching the tension unfold with a calm, almost amused expression. Her relaxed demeanor stood in stark contrast to the growing unease of the others. Many began to wonder why she was allowing the confrontation to escalate-what was she really after?
Subaru, standing between Broken and Archer, hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure of how to proceed. Realizing there was no stopping it, he sighed and reluctantly stepped back, leaving them to face off.
Archer leaped back, readying his bow. “I’ll kill you and make you suffer,” he sneered.
“Let me know when you’re ready,” Broken said.
“I’m always ready!” Archer snapped, drawing his arrow and preparing to strike.
[Water Domain (Conditional Active Skill)]
In an instant, the ends of Broken’s cape unleashed a torrent of water, flooding the room in a powerful surge. The entire space was soon enveloped in a shimmering Water Domain. Everyone inside felt the weight of the water, and their movements slowed as they adjusted to the sudden shift in their surroundings. The room had become his battleground. “Do you really think this weak domain makes you powerful?” Archer sneered, his arrogance showing. But before he could even register what was happening, Broken was already upon him. In the blink of an eye, Broken had closed the distance, his pickaxe raised high, ready to deliver a devastating strike.
Archer could only gape, frozen in disbelief, as he realized he was about to take a direct hit.