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[Echo Willow Newbie vs. Rapid Guild Newbie]
[The Demon King of Rapid, and the Fortress of the Past]
A new video appeared on the Rapid Guild’s MiTube channel.
No, not just one video—two!
Both videos featured the rising star of Rapid Guild, the rookie often referred to as the Demon King of Rapid.
No, to be precise, it had only been a few days since Seong himself started playing Eternal World, yet the reaction was explosive.
In less than an hour, the two videos soared to first and second place in the Eternal World trending rankings.
The enthusiasm was palpable.
However, not all responses were positive.
As with any rising star, strong light casts deep shadows.
With fans come detractors.
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"He couldn’t possibly measure up to those who cleared the Fortress of the Past."
But that sentiment didn’t last long—it couldn’t.
The reason was simple.
Seong was the so-called Demon King of Rapid.
The combination of Rapid Guild’s reputation and Seong’s skyrocketing popularity sent views soaring.
The Fortress of the Past video claimed the top spot in the overall trending category, while the Echo Willow Humiliation video trailed closely behind in second place.
Still, the Fortress of the Past video remained untouchable—a league of its own.
The undead legion battling massive enemy forces.
The devastating power of the Death Commander Barfur and the Crimson Knight Valtar was jaw-dropping.
Even when Seong joined the fight using Shadow Transition, he displayed effortless control, maintaining an aura of composure throughout.
This was true even in the final wave—the 40th wave—of the Fortress of the Past.
[Screeeeeeeech!]
The screen displayed a massive, majestic creature resembling a grand ash-colored falcon—the raid monster.
Then, it showed Seong standing fearlessly before the creature, walking slowly toward it.
The screen faded out, leaving only a single line:
[Anemore Raid]
The teaser left viewers electrified.
The raid was infamous.
And for good reason.
The overwhelming feedback forced Rapid Guild to respond.
[Rapid Guild: While we cannot confirm immediately, we are reviewing this matter positively. We are currently renegotiating contracts, so we kindly ask for your patience and understanding.]
Everyone accepted the guild’s explanation.
If anyone deserved an updated contract, it was Seong.
Even if his level wasn’t top-tier yet, his value had already reached near the industry’s highest standards.
The internet buzzed with anticipation, and people could only wait for the Anemore Raid video.
The editing team, including those at Rapid Guild, worked tirelessly under immense pressure.
“Ugh, Seong, please spare us!!!”
1.
Although it had been a while since his club outing, Seong returned home looking cheerful rather than tired.
‘That was fun.’
He’d been a little flustered when Jung Ha-rin asked for his autograph, but he understood.
Given how Rapid Guild described his recent surge in popularity, it wasn’t surprising.
Even if he didn’t fully get it, he agreed to sign as a favor to a friend.
One autograph turned into many, as others began asking as well.
While it was a bit overwhelming, they were all friends, so he obliged.
He didn’t have a proper signature prepared, so he used a simplified version of his usual payment signature, which surprisingly satisfied everyone.
‘They want to meet again soon. That’ll be fun too.’
Today’s meeting was a short lunch gathering, and everyone had been disappointed it ended so quickly.
Seong considered staying longer, but he wanted to test out his newly acquired skills in action, so he excused himself.
When he arrived home earlier than expected, he ran into his sister, Yu Mina.
“Huh? Why are you back so soon?”
“I had a lunch meeting, so I came back after that.”
“...? Couldn’t you have stayed out longer?”
“Well, we thought about it, but I wanted to check out the skills I got this morning, so I came home early. We’ll meet again next time.”
“Wow... total game addict...”
“??? I don’t want to hear that from you.”
“Pffft... At least I dedicate an entire day to socializing when I have plans with friends.”
“...”
For a moment, Seong thought she might have a point. Maybe he really was too absorbed in the game.
Still, he’d kept his promises and wasn’t neglecting anything. Ignoring Mina’s teasing, he prepared for what came next.
“By the way, Seong, your videos are blowing up right now.”
“Videos? Oh, the ones I uploaded?”
“Yeah, it’s insane. They’re doing everything they can to keep the channel servers from crashing.”
“...???”
It baffled him that his videos could cause such a reaction.
After hearing similar things from friends earlier, he was starting to get used to it.
His skill and popularity seemed undeniable now.
“Your video revenue must be insane too.”
“Video revenue?”
“Yeah, I heard they’re renegotiating contracts to include your share.”
“Really? Do you get a share too?”
“Of course, I get everything.”
Ranked ninth overall, Mina was treated like royalty.
Seong didn’t think he was at that level yet, but if they offered, he wouldn’t refuse.
Since Mina and Yujin handled most of the tedious tasks, Seong had no complaints.
‘They even assigned someone to sort out the 2 billion won tax issue this time.’
All at Rapid Guild’s expense.
That kind of treatment felt like he was on par with an executive at a major company—though he wasn’t entirely sure what that entailed.
Pleased, he smiled faintly. Mina, noticing this, grinned proudly.
“Then try to hang out with your friends more. I heard your level is rising super fast.”
“Yeah, people say reaching 500,000 in a month is fast.”
“Exactly. It took me about ten days to hit 50. You’re insanely quick. It’s probably due to your class, but still, don’t push yourself too hard. Long-term endurance is key.”
“Ah... Thanks, Mina.”
“Hehe, you’re welcome~”
Mina giggled and retreated to her room, leaving their mother, Lee Na-gyeong, to peek out from the kitchen.
“Game’s fine, but don’t forget to spend time with friends, okay?”
“Yes, Mom. I will.”
“Good~ Thanks for listening to me~”
Na-gyeong hummed a tune as she cleared the table, looking relieved.
‘Maybe I should postpone dropping out for now.’
Since his gaming career was progressing well, continuing school while managing his growth seemed doable.
Lost in thought, he decided to shower and head straight into his capsule.
Even without immediate quests or dungeons, there was one thing he couldn’t ignore.
‘Time to test my new skills and see what Barfur can really do.’
[Welcome to Another World: Eternal World]
[May Fortune Favor Player 『Seong』.]
As the welcoming message faded, Seong found himself still in the Crystal Palace.
He couldn’t help but notice something disappointing.
‘The Blood Swords are gone.’
Logging out had erased the Blood Swords, even though he had used them twice.
It was logical—leaving them behind after logging out would be absurd.
Shrugging off the thought, Seong quickly exited the Crystal Palace.
For his exit, he naturally chose to ride Anemore.
The mobility was incredible, but the sensation of flying through the sky was even more exhilarating.
While scanning the surroundings for a suitable dungeon, he stumbled upon one that piqued his interest.
It was an unrestricted dungeon with a recommended level of 80—the highest level dungeon in the third village, by his estimation.
Located quite a distance from Serodin, it seemed perfect.
‘This will do.’
The dungeon was a dark, gloomy labyrinth teeming with Black Orcs—a subspecies of orc.
The Black Orcs were imposing, standing roughly 2 meters tall with hulking builds that dwarfed humans.
Perhaps due to their life in darkness, they had short fur and dark, ashen skin. Their eyes, adapted to the gloom, gleamed as they spotted Seong and let out guttural cries.
“Krreeeek! Kill! Hu-man!”
“Kreeeek! Hu-man!”
Their speech was crude, but their aggressive demeanor and adept weapon handling suggested they weren’t unintelligent.
After observing these traits, Seong contemplated his approach.
With the cooldown reset, he decided to test his skill.
Extending his palm, he activated Thousand Blood Swords.
A single droplet of blood emerged, floating into the air.
Pop!
The droplet multiplied rapidly, forming into swords one by one.
Previously, the swords had resembled traditional Eastern blades. This time, they took the form of bastardswords.
The change was deliberate.
‘Oh, I can do this too?’
The thousand Blood Swords had transformed into the weapons Seong imagined.
Of these, 150 swords hovered in the air, ready for battle.
The sight left the Black Orcs visibly startled.
“Krreeeek?! Swords! Many!”
“Krreeeek?! So! Many!”
There were only two Black Orcs, but their wide, trembling eyes betrayed their shock.
Seong worried they might flee in terror, which would ruin his plans.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately for the orcs—they didn’t retreat.
Instead, they bared their teeth and roared.
“Krreeek! Fight!”
“Kreeeeek! Kill!”
The two Black Orcs charged with determination.
Perfect.
Seong decided to conduct a few experiments, starting by testing whether the Blood Swords could block their attacks.
Two swords intercepted the Black Orcs’ weapons with a resounding clang.
KAAANG!
The deafening clash echoed through the labyrinth.
Despite the sheer force behind the Black Orcs’ swings, the Blood Swords held firm, unscathed.
The orcs trembled—not from fear, but from exerting all their strength.
Yet, the swords didn’t budge.
‘These could serve as excellent shields.’
The incredible durability and utility left Seong momentarily speechless.
What’s more, the Blood Swords seemed to scale with his strength stats. He could wield them as effectively as his own attacks, if not better.
In other words, Seong’s strength outclassed the Black Orcs’.
‘Does their speed depend on my agility too?’
Eager to find out, Seong directed the Blood Swords to move at full speed, targeting the orcs.
Black Orcs, being natural warriors, managed to dodge the first incoming sword.
But avoiding one was meaningless when dozens followed.
Shushushushushu!
A torrent of Blood Swords rained down, leaving the Black Orcs with no escape.
Thud!
[『One Strike!』 Effect Activated!]
A bastardsword-like Blood Sword struck deeply into a Black Orc.
The creature grimaced in pain but remained standing, attempting to endure.
Moments later, the embedded sword glowed crimson and detonated.
BOOOOM!
“Kreeeeek!”
The explosion erupted from within the orc, sending blood and flesh flying.
Its left shoulder was obliterated, leaving its arm torn from the body.
‘Oh?!’
The destructive power was impressive.
While the Black Orcs’ defense wasn’t particularly high, the result was still noteworthy.
The Blood Swords dealt more damage than Seong’s bone arrows but slightly less than the wailing souls of the dead.
However, with 150 swords at his disposal, the cumulative damage was staggering.
“Kreeeek!”
“Kreeeeek!”
The Black Orcs writhed in agony but refused to back down, charging with renewed fury.
Watching them, Seong thought to himself:
‘The Blood Swords test is complete.’
Now it was time for the next experiment.
A cyan portal opened behind Seong, shimmering with an eerie light.
From the portal emerged a massive figure, its glowing teal eyes radiating a menacing aura.
Death's Maul, Barfur, strode forth with deliberate steps.
Thud. Thud.
To the Black Orcs, Barfur appeared otherworldly.
Though he had the form of a towering beast, he looked like death incarnate in their eyes.
Flash.