Season 2: Chapter 217: Ninja Mode (3)
Tap-tap-tap.
"This is ninja running."
As Almond stretched his arms back and sprinted, he burst forth with incredible speed. He could have been considered a human motorcycle. Moreover, using chakra to stick and run along walls and roofs significantly enhanced the sense of freedom. It made one wonder if this game was still running on the same engine as Battle Large.
— Wow lol
— Is this what they call a running glide or something?
— Impressive
— This is Battle Large?
— Seems like they tweaked the power suit code. Amazing.
The viewers shared similar opinions. It was understandably quite different since most activities in Battle Large involved sneaking around to pick up items or staying hidden.
Ding.
Another notification arrived for Almond, who was enjoying his sprint.
[Ninja mode introduces a siege net system. This network of catchers will narrow down to confine the playable area and capture ninjas. Survive and become the last ninja standing before the siege net closes completely.]
The siege net system essentially reinterpreted Battle Large's force field system. This siege net would gradually transform the game from survival to a combat-focused scenario, much like the standard Battle Large.
[The siege net will shrink in 30 seconds.]
Given the game was a demo, the siege net notifications appeared quite promptly.
'Where is it closing in?'
Almond checked the minimap that popped up on the top. Fortunately, the area where he was located wasn’t affected by the siege net yet. It was still far away.
He decided that it was best to gather weapons and other equipment.
"There are supposed to be NPCs that sell items. I'll try to find them."
He planned to utilize the newly introduced sales system.
'This should be the place.'
Whoosh!
Almond had been running on rooftops and landed in the middle of the marketplace.
"Wow!"
"Hey, watch it!"
"Ugh, you peasant!"
"What is this, a gangster~!?"
His sudden appearance startled the NPCs strolling through the marketplace, but they continued on their way.
As explained, they only served as obstacles. Almond decided to blend in among the pedestrians. Although his ninja attire stood out, they definitely provided him with cover. If someone threw a shuriken, one of these pedestrians would serve as a shield for him.
Then, someone approached him.
"Hey, you there. Interested in some goods?"
It was an old man with [General Store Owner] written above his head.
Ding.
[A new farming system has been introduced in ninja mode. You can exchange goods in the marketplace or purchase equipment using stolen coins from pedestrians.]
"… Stolen?"
Another new feature in this mode was farming by stealing.
— lol the ninja's morals though
— Is this a ninja or a thief?
— So we have to steal? lol this game rocks
"Oh... But if you can steal, wouldn't it just be easier to steal the equipment…?"
— Oops... lol
— Right lol
— Seems that's not possible lol lol lol
Although Almond felt disappointed that he couldn't steal equipment, it was still an intriguing system.
"Let's try stealing."
He immediately approached a nearby pedestrian.
[Ninja's Eye]
As he stared intently at the pedestrian, a skill automatically activated.
[Amount owned: 20 copper coins]
He didn’t know how much twenty copper was worth, but decided to steal it anyway as a test.
'But how do I steal it?'
One would need to have experience in pickpocketing to know. Almond awkwardly extended his hand in an uncertain pose. Then, targets like Raina's passive appeared. The empty circular targets gradually filled clockwise.
[The best chance of success is when the circle is fully filled.]
'Ah.'
Catching on, he waved his hand at those targets.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
He managed to steal from the back pocket, left pocket, and even loose change in a carrier.
[20 copper coins obtained]
He had stolen the person's entire fortune.
— The merchant cries lol
— This demon lol
— Oh lol lol
— Why so good?? Could it be…?
Almond had quickly earned twenty copper coins and said, "Now that I have some money, I'll go back to that merchant."
As he headed toward the merchant, a donation came in.
[EggPlant has donated 10,000 won]
[Aren't you a better thief than me?]
"Thank you for the 10,000 won donation Eggplant. I don't think I'm better at stealing."
— lol lol lol
— Eggplant can't match the speed of his piggy bank raiding~
— Eggplant sibling cries lol lol
The General Store Owner greeted him again as he approached.
"You there. Interested in some goods?"
"Yes."
"Take a look."
Swoosh.
As the merchant unfolded his bundle, menacing shurikens and bladed weapons appeared.
'... There aren't too many.'
Almond thought that the variety of weapons wasn't too substantial. Even with money, the number of times you could use the shop was limited.
'Dropping into the marketplace was a good decision.'
Considering that he knew nothing about this mode, choosing the marketplace as his landing spot had been wise. Every ninja would want to buy weapons from this shop. Finding weapons on the street was random and the quality could potentially not be the best.
'Wait.'
Suddenly, an ominous thought crossed Almond's mind.
'All of them...'
Every ninja would want these weapons.
"Hm? What's the matter? Didn't expect a general store owner to show you these? Back in my day, I was..."
Almond ignored the merchant's words, quickly threw some money at him, and picked up a long ring blade.
"I'll take this!"
Whoosh!
The merchant's sentence was abruptly cut off because Almond immediately swung the ring blade after buying it.
"!?"
The merchant jumped back, thinking he was being attacked. However, the blade struck in a completely different direction and sparks flew.
"There's an enemy."
Thud.
A shuriken thrown by someone fell to the ground. Almond had deflected it with the ring blade.
— Wow
— How did he know???
— Assassination attempt…
The incoming shuriken was louder than expected and he immediately reacted.
'Where are they?'
The figure who threw the shuriken was nowhere to be seen among the many pedestrians.
'I thought they would be immediately visible.'
Given the distinctive ninja outfit, Almond thought the assailant would stand out immediately. Why didn’t they? It seemed like the right direction.
"Sir, just keep the rest of the weapons for now. I'll come back to buy them," Almond murmured and swiftly disappeared into the crowd.
The shopkeeper shouted from behind, "What the!? Who are you to say that!? I'm just selling to anyone who pays!"
Almond deliberately ignored him.
'Where are they? I'm only making my location known.'
Forcing his way through the crowd caused a disturbance.
"Hey, what the!?"
"Ouch, my foot!"
"Ugh!"
Nonetheless, Almond stooped as low as possible to keep himself hidden from the enemy.
At the same time, he tried listening to the enemy's footsteps by putting his ear to the ground.
'!'
There were too many sounds.
'That's why the NPCs exist.'
The countless pedestrians made it impossible to differentiate. Minor tricks wouldn't work.
[The siege net is closing in.]
Even though it was far from the marketplace, the given time was gradually decreasing.
'I have to kill that guy before moving on.'
Almond drew his sword again while walking among the pedestrians. He raised all his senses, especially his hearing.
'Focus.'
If he concentrated, he would hear it. The only thing he could rely on was the distinct sound when the enemy threw the shuriken. If he could deflect the shuriken, the advantage would be his.
'The number of shurikens is limited.'
Shurikens were consumed with each throw. It had a limit whereas Almond could keep swinging his weapon. Closing the distance would quickly turn the tables in his favor.
"Ah!"
"Kyaa! Why, why do you have a sword out!"
The NPCs caused a commotion again as he walked through the marketplace with a sword drawn.
"Ah, this..."
The sword wasn’t just at a disadvantage because it was a melee weapon. It was so large that it continually exposed his position due to the NPCs' reactions.
'It's coming.'
Shiiik!
As expected, another shuriken came flying and passed through the NPCs precisely toward Almond.
'It would have been better if the NPCs took the hit instead.'
With no other choice, Almond swung his sword to deflect it.
Kang!
"Kyaaaaaaa!"
"Uh, uaaaaah!"
"A swordsman! A swordsman!"
Having already drawn attention with the sword, the NPCs panicked even more when he swung it around.
— Crazy
— It's chaos
— Just kill them all, Master!
The chaos was unprecedented. In a game where quiet survival was key, pandemonium had broken out. This could attract other enemies and further endanger Almond.
However, Almond's lips curled up.
"Found you."
When all the pedestrians ran in one direction, only one man walked toward him and didn’t change direction in time. He stood dumbfounded upon realizing his mistake.
— ?
— Is that a ninja?
— NPC?
— Why isn't he wearing ninja clothes?
Almond was certain even though the man wasn’t wearing ninja attire and didn’t carry any visible weapons. That person meant to kill him.
'He's too different.'
That person clearly moved differently from the other NPCs. No, his mannerism was the complete opposite.
[Chakra Emission]
Almond pressed his right foot against the ground and his body shot forward like an arrow.
Kwaang!
This was one of the uses of chakra.
Shiiiik!
With tremendous acceleration, his vision warped instantly.
Sak!
Sunlight reflected off his blade and flashed. Then, blood spurted out. Pedestrians screamed and scattered in every direction.
Thud...!
The enemy attempted to throw a shuriken, but simply fell. It was almost anticlimactic.
Ding.
[You have decapitated your opponent with a single stroke of the sword. Swords may achieve an instant kill only if properly executed.]
[A weapon's durability may worsen its cutting ability, making it disadvantageous.]
Almond had achieved an instant kill.
[1 → 28]
[Instant Kill]
[59/60]
This was the first kill of the game. While everyone else was still adjusting to the game, he got the first kill with a single stroke.
— Wow...
— Definitely a ninja
— Whoa
— Crazy
— Crazy sexy, Almond...
— One-hit kill???
Papapam!
[RubySword has donated a whopping 100,000 won.]
[Is it chicken for dinner tonight?!]
Following the perfect single-hit kill, donations from viewers like RubySword poured in.
[Hokage has donated 10,000 won.]
[This... I acknowledge!]
[HolyMoly has donated 5,000 won.]
[Wow, this game is insane. Almond is insane. And so is Spoiler King…]
— LOL
— Spoiler King already hit the 10,000 cut!
— Lol, that’s crazy
It's just a crazy game lol
"Ah, thank you for the donations. Of course, we should have chicken tonight."
Almond responded to the donations and, shaking off the blood on his sword, approached the corpse.
"But why isn't he in ninja attire? This is unfair... huh?"
He mumbled as he approached when the corpse’s attire suddenly changed into the familiar ninja outfit.
"... It's the ninja outfit now?"
Although Almond was unsure of what happened, he did what anyone else would do after killing an opponent.
"Time to loot."
One had to acquire items to strengthen their character, like planting seeds and harvesting wealth later.
"There are... about four shurikens."
He searched the dead ninja and obtained shurikens. It was natural to find shurikens on someone who used them. That was expected.
"Huh?"
He found another strange item.
"What's this?"
As Almond reached for the item, someone watched him from the marketplace rooftops.
"What was that instant kill just now…? So that exists."
He was originally planning to ambush and assassinate Almond while Almond was looting the corpse, but changed his plan after seeing Almond's combat skills.
"I can't just fight him head-on."
He muttered to himself, but was actually talking to others. Responses popped up in the chat window in one corner of his vision.
— Why would a ninja fight head-on? Coward~
— Scared? Yeah, scared~
— Kyah! Fry Guy going for an ambush! RIP to the fallen...
— Let's dive in~!
Was it because of the challenge? His stream had far more viewers than usual.
"Good."
It was an opportunity to showcase his skills.
"I'll farm more equipment and look for an opportunity."