The Final Boss Has Returned 139

Chapter 139

“It’s because the four factions are acting independently.”

Ignis immediately answered my question.

The moment I heard his words, I could immediately grasp the current situation.

Although there were many users in Broken World who traveled solo or in small parties, the majority of guilds belonged to one of the four factions.

Eugene and Five Eyes!

Ignis and JDG, along with Jeil E&M and the Dark Alliance!

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It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that these four massive factions were currently dividing Broken World into four equal parts.

Of course, as the Hive Mind’s main base, the number of monsters was truly enormous, but with the ‘Contribution Ranking’ in place, countless people were hunting monsters at an even faster pace, resulting in the monsters being pushed back.

In any case, the four major factions were not cooperating.

Since it was clear that the rewards for the Myth-grade quest would be determined based on the Contribution Ranking, they had entered into individual battles to aim for better rewards.

“I see.”

I thought as I looked at the map of Broken World that Ignis had attached to the board.

Like Ard World, Broken World also consisted of a single massive continent.

The Last Forest, where I had been, where the Lycansrope village was located, was literally in the corner of the continent, and the Primeval Plateau, where the Hive Mind was located, was in the center of the continent.

Truly an artificial terrain.

Looking at the terrain, I fell into thought.

‘It doesn’t seem like something that can be solved by simply joining hands.’

This situation had arisen because they weren’t cooperating and were fighting individual battles.

However, it was also dangerous to rashly join hands with other factions.

It could end up being a waste of effort.

“The entrance to the Primeval Plateau, the Valley of Origins, is not only densely packed with enemy forces, but it’s also guarded by the Alpha Mind named monster ‘Tyr’.”

“If it’s Eugene, it seems like a force that could break through, but why is Eugene staying still?”

I asked another question after hearing Ignis’s words.

Let’s say the other factions couldn’t break through the Valley of Origins.

However, Five Eyes, which Eugene possessed, was more than capable of breaking through the Valley of Origins.

The number of Over-Rankers that Eugene had alone was greater than the combined number of Over-Rankers in the other factions, so it was strange that they hadn’t broken through yet.

“It’s because he couldn’t guarantee the safety of the users, he says.”

Ignis answered my question.

Sufficient safety.

Indeed, it was a reason Eugene would consider.

“Then what about a request for cooperation?”

“He sent a request for cooperation to all three factions, including us. However, all three factions are refusing his request.”

I fell into thought again at Ignis’s words.

The reason the other factions refused Eugene’s proposal was, of course, because of contribution points.

The Primeval Plateau.

It was obvious that this field, where the Hive Mind was located, would be the finale of the Myth-grade quest.

And in such a situation, they didn’t want to do anyone else any favors or be Eugene’s supporting cast.

It was clear that was their intention.

Of course, in Ignis’s case, it would have been because he couldn’t act rashly without asking for my opinion.

“So, is the front line currently in a stalemate?”

“That’s right.”

“Then we have to break through that stalemate.”

I smiled as I listened to Ignis.

Fortunately, we held the upper hand, so it seemed we could get what we wanted regardless of the contribution points.

I opened my friend list after a long time.

My friend list was empty.

Except for Ignis, Shin Ha-yeon, and the popular streamers belonging to Jeil E&M, there was only one person left.

Eugene.

I took a deep breath and pressed the button to whisper to him.

“Hey. Eugene. Are you eating well?”

▄ ▄ ▄

The Primeval Plateau.

Five Eyes’ forward base was established right in front of the plateau, which towered so high that it could be called the roof of Broken World.

Inside the massive barracks located in the center, a heated debate was taking place.

“Do you think they will cooperate with us? We must break through the Valley of Origins, even if it means sacrificing ourselves.”

Five Eyes.

Although they were called Five Eyes, in reality, there was a tacit hierarchy within Five Eyes.

Among them, following the Lightwing Guild, the guild ranked second was the Breaker Guild, which had helped the Revolutionary Army organization during the old World Revolution era.

Breaker Guild.

This guild, which was the most representative guild among the small and medium-sized guilds that were oppressed and groaned under the Guild Alliance and the Iron Blood Alliance in the previous game, started sponsoring Eugene as soon as he rose to prominence.

And in the end, they joined forces with the Revolutionary Army to overthrow the Guild Alliance and the Iron Blood Alliance and joined Five Eyes.

The Guild Master of the Breaker Guild, Sword Emperor Wu Jing, was the one raising his voice and advocating for an attack.

Sword Emperor Wu Jing.

The Guild Master of the Breaker Guild and the strongest Over-Ranker, known to be closer to EX Rank than anyone else.

When he raised his voice, those who agreed with him emerged from among the other guilds gathered there.

“Argen is right, Eugene. If we continue like this, we’ll end up achieving nothing. We need to take action.”

A cold voice echoing through the barracks agreed with Argen’s words.

The owner of the voice was a large, muscular giant.

Beast King Burhan.

The pinnacle of Tamers who tamed and controlled countless monsters, and also the head of the Beast Guild, a member of Five Eyes.

Although not as close as his other comrades, he had formed a connection with Eugene in the previous game by helping him with dungeon raids when he was still unknown. He was the leader of a small guild in the previous game, and a user whom Eugene considered like a brother.

As even he agreed, Eugene’s face, sitting in the middle of the barracks, grew increasingly worried.

If Eugene’s comrades were like family to him, Five Eyes was like his soulmate.

That’s how much Eugene cherished Five Eyes.

It was because they were the ones who helped him when he was persecuted by the Guild Alliance before organizing the Revolutionary Army.

Therefore, Eugene couldn’t easily dismiss their opinions.

“However, we cannot launch an attack where we cannot guarantee the safety of the users.”

But even so, he couldn’t be swayed by emotions and drive other users into a death trap.

That was Eugene’s thought.

“Necessary sacrifices are inevitable in any operation, Eugene-nim.”

Sword Emperor Wu Jing said, looking at Eugene.

Having spent a long time with Eugene, he knew very well that Eugene’s personality was originally this frustrating.

However, now was not the time to overlook his frustrating personality.

The reward for the Myth-grade quest was simply too tempting.

In a situation where the Dark Alliance and Ignis had already climbed to third place, it was time to advance, even at the cost of sacrifices, to maintain their position as the frontrunner.

Moreover, on top of that, cooperation with other factions?

Wasn’t this completely pointless?

However, despite Argen’s persuasion, Eugene’s face remained unmoved.

‘Damn it.’

Seeing that, Argen sighed inwardly.

In fact, Argen didn’t really agree with Eugene’s ideals.

Argen wasn’t particularly kind-hearted.

He was just an ordinary person who pursued his own interests, neither good nor bad.

That was Argen’s personality.

The reason Argen supported Eugene in the previous game wasn’t because he agreed with his ideals.

It was just a gamble he took to drive out the Guild Alliance and become a new member of the establishment.

Fortunately, the gamble was successful, and now he was in a position of power within Five Eyes, earning an unimaginable amount of money.

‘But Drakan keeps climbing.’

Argen thought of Drakan.

Steel Monarch Drakan!

Argen couldn’t comfortably watch the old ghost, whom he thought had disappeared, return and thrive.

It was because his goal was too transparent.

However, since Eugene acknowledged Drakan, and the massive forces of JDG and Jeil Group were protecting him in both the real and game worlds, it was impossible for them to make the first move.

This was because Argen’s current position was entirely dependent on Eugene.

Argen tried to calm his boiling insides.

They couldn’t continue wasting time like this, but there was nothing they could do unless Eugene made a move.

And Verda, the silver-haired mage sitting next to Eugene, glared coldly at Argen and thought.

‘They are truly ungrateful.’

Ungrateful.

That was exactly how Verda felt about Argen.

Of course, Verda also knew that the idea of sustaining the world solely with ideals was a pipe dream.

Just like the proverb that says, “Clear water has no fish,” and someone’s words that say, “It’s personal selfishness that makes the world more prosperous,” at least some degree of flexibility was needed to rule the world.

Therefore, Verda couldn’t eliminate those who used Eugene to fulfill their own desires.

This was because they hadn’t yet crossed the line to the point of tarnishing Eugene’s name by pursuing their own desires or staining the name of Five Eyes, and their power was necessary to maintain the vast hegemony of Ard World.

However, when she saw them openly opposing Eugene like this from time to time, Verda, who loved Eugene, couldn’t help but feel frustrated inwardly.

“They are not unavoidable sacrifices. The value of everyone’s life is equal.”

Eugene said, looking at Argen.

The value of everyone’s life is equal.

Hearing those words, Argen sighed inwardly once again.

In the end, it seemed like today’s meeting would end with nothing but confirmation of their differences in opinion.

Just then, as the cold atmosphere lingered……

[Hey, Eugene.]

A voice reached Eugene’s ears.

And Eugene knew that voice very well.

‘Drakan-nim?’

Drakan!

He had finally returned to Broken World.

[Are you eating well?]

Eugene laughed at Drakan’s unexpected question that followed.

Are you eating well?

The serious, suffocating atmosphere of the moment seemed to disappear like a mirage with those words.

Eugene laughed and answered Drakan.

“Yes, I’m eating well. Why did you contact me?”

As soon as Eugene finished his answer, Drakan’s voice flowed into his ears.

[No need for long talk. You said you wanted to borrow our strength, right? Come out. Let’s negotiate.]

Hearing that answer, Eugene smiled.

It was because the lifeline that could finally end the endless tunnel-like meeting seemed to be shimmering in his hand.

Of course, there was a devil at the end of that lifeline, but Eugene didn’t know that yet.