novelraw Chapter 143 : (Im)Possible Strategy (3)
Chapter 143 : (Im)Possible Strategy (3)
(Im)Possible Strategy (3)
As Lee Gyeongbok boldly declared his challenge, the viewers split into two camps.
- Eh?
- He's really accepting this?
- The developer officially said this is impossible to defeat, though?
- Isn't he just getting swept away by the mood? lol
The first was concern.
Most of them were old players returning to Demon Must Cry, drawn in by the hype.
Yet such opinions were in the minority.
- Ah lol this is it! This is perfect!
- Avoiding a challenge? That's not perfect, you know?
- Another legend lining up! lol
- Can't believe there are still doubters tsk tsk
- No! I'm telling you, with Purple this is doable!
- For real lol, you're a Devil fan and still undecided after the first stream?
- Young folks, please try to understand^^
- Old people just try to avoid challenges, you know lol
The chat was overwhelmingly welcoming of his challenge.
It was thanks to the influence of the old veterans moved by the first stream and the overwhelming number of regular viewers.
Lee Gyeongbok smiled at the chat.
"Before I start, there's something I want to ask of you all."
Everyone's attention returned to him at those words.
"The play you're about to see is an exception. Remember, the original objective is escaping. If you're new to Demon Must Cry, please don't try this at home."
- He's even throwing in that misleading touch here?
- Hyung! Everything until now was an 'exception' for us anyway!
― New players don't try this" (said by a new player)
- Casually topping up that 'perfect' cheekiness?
- For real lol, why does he sneakily leave himself out!
- Stop right there, you leaving out Purple?
- Don't touch! You'll lose your hand!
- Perfect! Are you perfect?
- Legendary lines rolling out lol
- All he ever wanted was to play games honorably, poor Godple sensei T_T
Amused by the upbeat chat, Lee Gyeongbok let out a laugh. That level of warning was enough.
It happened as he left the data center and headed toward the quarantine facility.
〈Durante! Where are you going!?〉
Caron's voice rang out over the loudspeaker once more.
〈Are you really planning to face that?! No matter who you are, that's reckless!〉
- LOL it's confirmed as an escape mission
- But it really is reckless for normies lol
- Can't believe even the devs are being considerate now
- Caron's gotta be genuinely rattled lol
Caron's objection reminded viewers again that escape was the mission objective.
But with the quest already accepted, Lee Gyeongbok didn't stop.
〈Ah, fine! Then at least! Please, just let me finish!〉
It seemed Caron had changed his approach.
〈I wasn't just sitting around, you know. While you were retrieving backup data, I analyzed the vine sample!〉
- Analysis?
- Was it from the Holy Knight corpse Godple cut down at the start?
- Oh lol, has some conscience after all
- No legs, at least should have conscience
- Whoa lol, that's harsh
- When my hair clogs the drain right after washing, I accept it as my fate lol
Hearing that, Lee Gyeongbok paused. It looked like the devs had prepared something here.
〈The sap of that vine contains a paralyzing agent. It paralyzes the host, invades, and propagates inside! It even uses the seized body for regeneration!〉
- So it had a paralyzing effect too?
- Didn't know
- Lol would've only known if Godple had gotten hit
- Paralyze effect (not triggered)
- Then it's basically the same as not existing, isn't it? lol
It was new info, since he'd never allowed an attack so far.
〈That giant plant is definitely the parent of this parasite species. So it likely has the same trait, maybe even stronger! Will you still go?!〉
Caron seemed to be trying to persuade Durante by sharing his findings.
"Everyone, you heard, right?"
But that hope was in vain.
"The developers clearly put in a lot of pitfalls like these. Like in other games, don't force yourself into challenges but just enjoy the game first—that's my recommendation."
- That statement, lol
- Hyung, do you still not know how Troopers behave?
- Tell us not to do it and we'll just want to do it more, reverse psychology at its finest!
- So here comes a new challenge, lol
- If Godple succeeds, we need to make a wood-chopping challenge right away haha
- Wood-chopping challenge lmao
- Guys! If they say don't do it, don't do it!
- No, cut him off!
As soon as the reactions poured in, Lee Gyeongbok let out a wry chuckle.
Without further warning, he moved on. The boss chamber in the quarantine facility was close by.
"Oh, it looks even bigger up close."
Lee Gyeongbok tilted his head back to look up.
Thick vines entwined, thrust up through the roof. No millennium-old tree could compare in size.
- He's actually going to try to beat that?
- (Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)
- Just looking at it makes me dizzy;;
- Doesn't he need to bring in heavy machinery for this?
- And it's not even a normal tree—it's a parasite lol
- Well, godple can do it anyway!
The audience felt daunted by its size but their faith in Lee Gyeongbok was stronger.
'Hm?'
He immediately lowered his gaze.
Some threat distinctly different from the boss was detected beyond the rubble of the ruined facility.
Its identity was quickly revealed.
"Gargoyle?"
A demon, leaping over the rubble to land in front of him, was a gargoyle. But there was something odd about it.
- Huh? It has no head?
- There's a vine growing out where the head should be lol
- Is this, hOXY?
Where its head should have been, a vine was sprouting. That fact triggered the memory for Lee Gyeongbok and his viewers.
- You, are you Gabung (Gargoyle kid)?
- Why are you out here?
- Oh yeah, the Saint took him away for blood draining!
- LOL That's right, haha
- Damned, he's killing Gabung twice now
- The devs' character, seriously?
It was clearly the tutorial boss, gargoyle. Lee Gyeongbok calmly drew his sword.
"Not hard to kill something a second time, once it's already dead."
- ?
- Lies! It wasn't hard even the first time!
- For real lol, it wasn't hard, he was just experimenting!
- Killing him was merciful, really
- Honestly, if Gabung's intelligence remained, he'd have run away on sight
- For real, gabung's soul would totally agree right now
- ???: Please, just kill me in one blow this time!
- I can still hear the dead Gabung's voice... it's like he's still here...
- Sudden skit out of nowhere lol
Lee Gyeongbok, wearing a slight smile, aimed his sword.
Dealing with the parasitized gargoyle was not difficult at all.
He dodged the charging gargoyle's attack, sliced its leg, then braced himself on its falling back with his gauntlet, and stabbed down at its weak point.
- Dang! Instant kill!
- LOL Gabung out in record time
- That's good enough......
- Now, he can finally pass on!
- Good hustle in the tutorial, gabung-kun!
- We'll remember you! (We won't)
As they reveled in the moment, one question arose.
- So what happens to the gauntlet transformation?
- Isn't it a hook now?
- Didn't gargoyle have petrification power?
- Oh, first time dealing with a demon host, so maybe it's different?
- Hyung! Show us once, please!
How would the Celestial Cube transform in the fusion state of two types of demon?
Lee Gyeongbok was curious too, so he activated the Cube.
The result—
- Eh, it's just the hook lol
- Guess it's because the parasite was the true host?
- A little disappointing, honestly
It was the hook that fired out.
But unlike the disappointed viewers, Lee Gyeongbok sensed something different.
'This feels... different, somehow?'
There was a difference from hooks used previously. But he had no time to explain.
With a rumbling vibration, massive vines crashed down onto his location.
- Whoa?
- Oh shit;;;
- As soon as the gargoyle died, the main body moved in, dang
- What about Godple!?
With an explosion, debris shot up. Out of the rising dust, the giant beast was on the move.
Lee Gyeongbok had already dodged out of the danger zone.
- Lol, this level of ambush is nothing
- Can't touch a demigod lol
- Not worried at all ^^ (wiping sweaty hands)
Seeing him safe, the viewers sighed in relief. But Lee Gyeongbok's face was not so relaxed.
"My body feels a bit sluggish."
He had certainly dodged the attack. But at the same time, he felt his senses dulling.
As question marks filled the chat, Lee Gyeongbok pointed at the vines.
"I think the main body is emitting not just sap but paralyzing spores as well."
Unlike the settling dust, a mist-like substance drifted among the vines. Seeing it, viewers were shocked.
- Wait;;; doesn't this make melee impossible?
- The devs crossed the line again
- Are they forcing us to use only the pistol?
- Insane lol, how do you shoot that thing down with a pistol?
- Still, if it's Godple, there's a chance!
Lee Gyeongbok resolved their doubts right away.
He began firing his pistol. Shots cracked through the air, striking and splitting the boss's shell as the bullets sank in.
But the viewers could not rejoice.
- Yo lol, what's with that regeneration speed?
- Even pinpoint shots don't look doable here;;
- Even the Annihilator's precision fire didn't work?!
- They said impossible, and now I see why.
- Set it up like this and then pressure us to complete it?
The wounds instantly regenerated without a trace. The mood in the chat darkened further.
- So that's why the boss is plant-shaped
- Must be to force the escape mission
- For real lol, if it actually chased you, it'd be unwinnable
- The original plan was to escape while other Holy Knights fought you lol
The chat tilted toward the impossibility of the challenge.
'A way to win...'
But Lee Gyeongbok had a different take.
'There is.'
If it were truly impossible, his divine energy would not have foreseen victory. He had just not found the way yet; as soon as he did, it would be possible.
He focused all his senses.
The numbness from spore exposure instantly cleared as his sharpened senses took over. His five senses were keener, his Beggar's Union divine energy spread throughout the area.
Time slowed in his heightened state, but his thoughts stayed sharp and fast.
The mechanisms in the quarantine facility, his available abilities, the boss's weak points—all of it snapped clear in his mind. The fragments came together to form a cohesive, envisioned pattern.
'Found it.'
The one and only path leading to victory. But there was only one shot at it.
Yet Lee Gyeongbok smiled.
'I'll finish this in one go.'
Having just one shot meant that one was enough.
- ???
- What's going on?
― 5252, the killer smile's out!
― Godple smiled? The game is over then lol
Just the sight of his smile turned the mood in chat upside down.
- Is this a Q-tube highlight moment lining up?
- Another legendary all-or-nothing shot, lol
- Wait;; is there actually a way to win here?
- Devil boomer, haha, you'll see if you just watch
The viewers already knew it from experience. Hadn't Lee Gyeongbok proven himself with countless such moments?
- Failure? That's not perfect.
- Godple hasn't failed yet, but whenever he smiles like that, something crazy happens
- Ah, is this a predestined victory?
- WA! So you know about Excalibur!
- Everyone! Please stop outing yourselves as hardcore fans!
- How is he going to win this, honestly!
The chat filled with growing anticipation. Lee Gyeongbok's smile deepened.
"Better to see than to hear."
With those words, he sprang into action.
Even as more vine bombardments rained down, he never wavered. Knowing the attack patterns in advance, none of the strikes mattered against him.
- What kind of mad rush is that?
- Hyung!? Are you sure this is going to work!?
- Lol, if you don't believe, go watch someone else's stream
- Big move coming! Big move coming!
He dashed right up to the giant tree. Still without stopping, he veered behind it.
- What's going on? What on earth?
- Is he aiming for a blind spot?
- Wait;;; how's a plant have a blind spot?
- What's back there?
Behind the tree, hidden from view.
Stood a large, cylindrical device. The end was a sharp toothed drill, stained with dark red blood.
- Ah! That's a blood collector
- Oh? Seems right
- You draw blood with something that big?
- Given the container size in the cutscene, it must be for large demons
- Makes sense lol, boss-host must've been huge
- How'd he even see that?
- Why would he need a blood collector now?
The viewers wondered in surprise. What did he plan to do with that?
Lee Gyeongbok's answer came through his actions.
"One to start."
He grabbed the blood collector and hurled it into the giant tree. With a tearing sound, it smashed through the bark and stuck fast.
- Ah! So since the pistol doesn't work, he's using that, lol
- Ha, using terrain features—brilliant
- If he turns on the blood collector, he can siphon off the sap?
- Maybe it'll get weakened?
- Something feels hopeful!
- As expected, godple!
The chat brightened considerably.
But their expectations were overturned in an instant.
- It's not sap that comes out, vines are pouring in?
- Must be the regeneration ability?
- Insane...
- They really set it up so you CAN'T win
- Ahh... I thought maybe this could work.
The inside of the blood collector filled with vines immediately. The previous upbeat mood plummeted.
But unlike the viewers, Lee Gyeongbok did not falter. He planted the remaining blood collectors into the giant tree.
- Even for Godple, this is a bit much...ㅠ
- Honestly, the devs made the regeneration way over the top
- No way you beat this without massive firepower lol
- So that's why it's officially unbeatable
Still, he'd get paid even if he failed...
- Anyway, Purple will still do Purple things!
- For real lol, there's a big play here that normal people can't see
- Hyung! The world is watching!
- Don't trust common sense! Trust Godple!
- Lol, now it sounds like anti-intellectualism
- But seriously, if common sense worked, he wouldn't be a genius, would he lol
- Let's goooooo!
The chat was split between regret and faith. The situation suddenly changed.
〈Durante! The parasite creatures are swarming your way!〉
Caron's voice cut clear through the noise.
〈I think they're trying to protect the main body! If you're gonna escape, do it now!〉
More enemies piling in, now? The chat went wild.
- Escape! Time to get out!
- Hyung! This is the last lifeline the devs prepared!
- Wait lol, why escape now, wtf
- Show some national spirit!
- Godple will handle it all!
- It's not backseat gaming, we're just worried!
- Since when do Troopers worry about anyone lol
- Get lunch ready! Get lunch ready! Get lunch ready!
- It doesn't matter if he fails this quest anyway!
The two camps in chat grew even louder in their arguments. Still, Lee Gyeongbok showed not even a hint of hesitation.
"It doesn't matter if I fail."
His words caught the viewers' attention. Then, they all realized.
"But I can succeed."
He was still smiling confidently.
Preparations were complete.
"There's no reason to fail."
Before any question could come up in chat, he aimed the gauntlet.
His target was not the boss.
The launched hook split the air. With a crash, the sound of bending metal rang out.
What he destroyed was the transformer.
〈Get clear......〉
The loudspeaker cut off with a sudden dead air. Then, with an explosion, bolts of electricity erupted all around.
It was like a flash going off in front of his eyes—his vision turned white. At the same time, the blood collectors were burned pitch-black.
That shock carried up the connection and struck the boss itself.
'There.'
Like a tree struck by lightning, the massive trunk glowed red-hot. Between the cracks spreading like fine roots, a pulsating heart throbbed in plain view.
"Everyone, this is basic stuff. Remember it,"
Lee Gyeongbok said, a gentle smile on his lips. He had already foreseen the outcome, pistol at the ready.
"When tackling a high-difficulty boss, always aim for the weak spot."
As he finished, he pulled the trigger. A single shot. One bullet.
It slipped into the barely closed wound and burst the dark red heart straight through.
- ?
- What just happened?
- Is he actually doing it?
Everything happened so fast, the chat fell silent.
[Quest Success!]
['CapCompany_Kor' and 1871 others have sponsored '1,789,400 won + $1,371 + ¥127,660'!]
But reality soon snapped them from their daze.
With the quest success message, the chat exploded at once.
- He did it? He actually did it!?
- True chills, this is nuts
- Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
- Always new! So thrilling! Always new! So thrilling!
- Please don't wake me if this is a dream! Please don't wake me if this is a dream!
- This isn't badass, it's perfect-ass! This isn't badass, it's perfect-ass!
- Ah! Such perfect hips!
- Literal translation villain out of control, lol
- The Thunder God descends! The Thunder God descends! The Thunder God descends!
- Thor: Thunder God? No, I am 'Purple' of Valhalla.
- Newsflash) Zeus, at an Olympus Q&A session, says, "We're paying royalties to Purple for use of 'Thunder God' title," expresses financial woes.
The chat overflowed with admiration and excitement.
Despite it all, Lee Gyeongbok remained calm and smiled.
"Thank you to everyone who sponsored the quest."
The viewers were once again stunned by his demeanor.
- Dang lol, this means nothing to him
- Divine standards! So high!
- Ah, he just does things like this casually?
- How does anyone just pull that off!
- I kinda get why the non-believers would doubt lol
- For real lol, I said to have blind faith but could never imagine this outcome
- Who'd have thought he'd fry it with electricity
- And he set the blood collectors for the shock, didn't he lol
- But why is Godple fine after all that?
- Wait, come to think of it, that's odd
In the middle of all the praise, a question rose up. Lee Gyeongbok caught it immediately.
"Oh, I was going to explain but got interrupted by the attack just now. If you look now..."
He started to transform the gauntlet, but gave a sheepish smile.
"My gauge is all out. If you watch the replay later, you'll see that the hook's texture was the same as when the gargoyle used petrification."
Because he'd dealt with the gargoyle so quickly, the transformation duration was also short. The audience marveled at his explanation.
- Eh?
- So petrification and hook triggered at the same time?
- That's nuts, lolololololol
- He noticed that difference right away?
- I honestly didn't notice at all
- Is he a hook expert or what, lol
- Given all the hook discussion in chat, guess he is a hook expert lol
- It's impressive, but what's crazier is that he realized all this in the middle of it!
- Even wilder: that was his only chance to use the hook just once!
- Yeah, only had that one shot at blowing the transformer too lol
- Wow, even after watching, it's hard to believe
- If that's not a miracle, what is?
The chat filled once again with shock, but all feelings resolved into a single conclusion.
- Truly one of a kind lol
- Unmatched-tier streamer, what a level
- Ah, this is why you watch Godple's stream
Scenes like this—only Purple, only Lee Gyeongbok's stream could deliver.
That's the reason everyone keeps coming back to him.
***
**New Names, locations, skills, techniques**