Chapter 143: 30th Floor. Desert of Death (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: 30th Floor. Desert of Death (2)
Generally, the total amount of Divine Power a person possesses depends on the favor they receive from a god.
There are rare cases where an individual starts with a Divine Power stat of over a hundred even at Level 1. The Saintess of his past life had been exactly such a case.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok was not a mere believer; he was an agent of a god. As an agent, his Divine Power and his proficiency in the Glory of the Lost God increased based on the feats he achieved.
The fact that both values were rising meant that the number of people worshipping him as a god was steadily increasing. After a moment of thought, Kang Jun-hyeok offered a prayer.
‘I want them to feel a sense of worship toward me.’
[Pixie’s Faint Miracle activated.]
The skill triggered. Even if it was called a miracle, it was only at a "faint" level. It could not directly manipulate people's emotions.
Instead, a change occurred within Kang Jun-hyeok himself. His expression and posture shifted ever so subtly into a form that would inspire greater reverence in those who looked upon him. The intensity reflected in his gaze grew deeper.
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a small, dry laugh.
“It truly is capable of anything.”
The skill certainly lived up to the name "miracle."
To the people here, Kang Jun-hyeok was already being accepted as a divine being. When they saw him, they flinched and cleared a path, bowing their heads in silent respect.
But it was still not enough. It wasn't yet at the level where they would offer blind faith and follow his every word. He needed a decisive blow.
That blow arrived at the village shortly after. Someone shouted with a joyful face.
“The Tribal Chief has returned!”
* * *
The Tribal Chief, the leader of the people, returned alongside his warriors. Slung over his shoulders was the massive carcass of a scorpion. The people cheered.
“Chief! You’re back!”
“It looks like the hunt was a magnificent success!”
“Yes. It’s good to see you all.”
The Tribal Chief grinned and set the carcasses down. As he scanned his tribesmen, he tilted his head in confusion.
“By the way, all of you... your complexions look remarkably good. Did you happen to have a lucky hunt while I was gone?”
Food was always scarce in the desert. Usually, the people lived half-starved until the Chief returned from a hunt, so it was standard for them to look gaunt and pale.
But this time was different. The tribesmen’s faces were bright. Their skin, usually parched and rough, seemed to have a healthy glow.
At the Chief’s question, the people flinched. Finally, someone plucked up the courage and spoke cautiously.
“...Chief. A special guest has come to visit us.”
“A guest?”
The Chief’s face clouded over. “You lot took in a guest? What is the meaning of this?”
“So, you are the child who leads these people. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
A calm voice resonated through the air. The people gasped and parted to create a path. The Chief’s eyes widened at their disciplined, synchronized movement.
Beyond the crowd, Kang Jun-hyeok came into view.
The Chief and his warriors hurriedly drew their weapons. Kang Jun-hyeok paid them no mind, walking forward with slow, deliberate steps.
“I am Lucator, the incarnation of the god of this land. I have come here to commend you for doing your best to survive in this place—and to lead you on your path.”
“Lead us?” With a wary expression, the Chief tightened his grip on his scimitar. “We have survived this place through our own strength. And now some being claiming to be a god wants to interfere? Don't make me laugh!”
“The children who follow you said the same thing at first.” Kang Jun-hyeok gave a thin smile.
Only then did the Chief realize something was wrong. His eyes wavered. The villagers were all keeping their distance, bowing their heads with the utmost courtesy as if terrified of offending Kang Jun-hyeok. They looked exactly like devotees serving a true god.
To the bewildered Chief, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke slowly.
“I do not ask for blind faith from you yet. Enter the village and see with your own eyes what miracles have occurred.”
“...”
The Chief did not sheathe his scimitar but followed behind Kang Jun-hyeok. The first thing he saw was the purified oasis.
The Chief gasped. The water of the oasis—which had been filled with dust and dead insects, water that one had to risk illness just to drink—was now perfectly transparent.
As he stepped further into the village, his eyes grew even wider.
“Fruit?”
Thanks to Kang Jun-hyeok’s continuous planting of seeds, the watermelons and other fruits had grown so much that the area could now be called a farm. The sight of lush green vegetation growing abundantly atop the sand was utterly surreal.
“You seem exhausted from hunting to provide for the children.”
Kang Jun-hyeok reached out toward the Chief. Pixie’s Faint Miracle activated, and the Chief’s fatigue vanished instantly.
“...!”
The Chief was struck with horror. The physical exhaustion had simply disappeared. He felt no trace of divine intervention or external force; it was a miracle in the truest sense of the word.
“Do you still intend to deny me?”
“...”
The Chief had no choice but to admit it. The man before him was no ordinary person. He didn't know if the man was truly an incarnation of a god, but he at least possessed power equivalent to one. However, the Chief still had his pride.
“Don't mock me! We are the ones living in this place! Do you think I’ll let some outsider from who-knows-where come in and dictate our lives?”
“You reject me? It is unfortunate, but I understand. Faith is never an easy thing to grasp.”
Despite the Chief’s outburst, Kang Jun-hyeok’s demeanor remained perfectly serene. He smiled thinly. “Then, why not verify it with your own hands?”
“Wha—what?”
“It seems you act based on belief in your own strength.” Kang Jun-hyeok spread his arms wide. “Then test me directly. See for yourself what kind of being I am—and what kind of man you are.”
* * *
The vast desert.
The tribesmen watched with bated breath from the sidelines. In the clearing created by the crowd stood Kang Jun-hyeok and the Tribal Chief. The Chief bit his lip.
“...Don't regret this.”
Kang Jun-hyeok had proposed that the Chief attack him freely. He gave a light smile. “Do whatever you wish. I shall remain right here.”
“...”
The Chief’s expression turned grim. He tightened his grip on his scimitar.
Swaaaak!
Sand sprayed into the air. He charged with explosive speed and lunged. The sharp blade swung toward Kang Jun-hyeok’s arm.
However—
Clang!
“Ugh!”
The Chief’s body was pushed back. Steel had met flesh, yet it was the blade that had been repelled. The watching tribesmen’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
“Wh-what?”
“What just happened?!”
“You!”
The Chief hurriedly regained his stance and swung his scimitar again, but nothing changed. The blade struck flesh and was helplessly bounced away.
Kang Jun-hyeok thought to himself: ‘Is this it? He’s not weak, I suppose.’
But that was all. A Player’s body, protected by defense stats, was a fortress in itself. Furthermore, his defense was 65. A normal attack that didn't even use Aura couldn't even deal damage.
The Chief’s face turned deadly serious. He channeled strength through his entire body, and Aura began to coat the scimitar.
Slash!
The air split apart as the blade struck Kang Jun-hyeok’s neck. This time, it wasn't repelled like before. But that was the extent of it.
“Not bad. You have enough strength to lead these people.”
“...This is impossible!”
“My god!”
The tribesmen screamed. Even though the blade had clearly struck his neck, Kang Jun-hyeok didn't have a single scratch.
A Player’s body did not sustain wounds easily. It wasn't just him; every Player possessed this trait. But to an ordinary person, it was nothing short of an impossible miracle.
The Chief stammered. “H-how...”
“You are my children. Your strength cannot harm me.”
[You really are a magnificent swindler.]
The Master of All Weapons chuckled. A strange emotion flickered in the Chief’s eyes. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke softly, as if driving in the final nail.
“But I understand your disbelief. Therefore, I shall give you a prophecy.”
In the heavy silence, Kang Jun-hyeok continued. “Tonight, terrible things shall visit you. And they shall be annihilated under my glory.”
“...”
“Shall we leave it at this for now? When the darkness falls, you will come to know everything.”
The Chief swallowed hard and sheathed his scimitar.
Kang Jun-hyeok returned to the village. The gazes of the people watching him were filled with even more intense emotions than before.
[Divine Power +1]
[Proficiency in Glory of the Lost God has increased.]
[Proficiency in Acting has increased.]
[Proficiency in Persuasion has increased.]
[This is entertaining.] The Master of All Weapons laughed. [You decided to call yourself an incarnation of a god. But no one follows a god who performs no miracles. You’ve begun to deceive them beautifully using your nature as a Player and the Pixie’s miracles. Your head really does spin fast when it comes to things like this.]
“It’s still not enough.”
Even so, they hadn't reached the stage of true worship yet. The prophecy was intended to solve that final piece of the puzzle.
Night fell. The people couldn't sleep properly, anxious over Kang Jun-hyeok’s prophecy. Then, at some point, the earth suddenly shook.
Rumble!
The sand vibrated and the ground began to sink. People rushed outside in a panic. The Chief drew his scimitar and expanded his senses.
“...Damn it!” He shouted with a distorted face. “Have they come to avenge their slaughtered kin? It’s an attack by Red Scorpions! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Yes, sir!”
The tribesmen calmly drew their weapons to face the scorpions. However, as if they had come with a grim determination, dozens of scorpions began to swarm them all at once. The defensive line was slowly pushed back, and the Chief’s face began to harden.
In this raid, this tribe would have been wiped out.
From his memories of his past life, Kang Jun-hyeok knew this better than anyone. And because he knew, he also knew that this was a perfect opportunity.
[Sound Amplification.]
[Shining.]
[Pixie’s Wings.]
“How dare such lowly creatures attempt to harm my children.”
His voice thundered across the desert. His glowing body rose into the air. The people reflexively looked up at Kang Jun-hyeok.
“You shall all be annihilated.”
[Glory of the Lost God.]
And then, there was light.
The people instinctively covered their eyes. The light was that intense. Even though it was the dead of night with only the moon to light the earth, it was a radiance as if the sun itself had risen.
[Skreeee!]
[Kieeeek!]
The scorpions touched by the light shrieked. They struggled and tried to burrow into the sand to escape, but it was meaningless. The manifested glory began to incinerate every enemy within its range. It turned the sand into glass and burned the scorpions' bodies until they vanished.
Vrooooom.
When the light finally faded, the people, barely able to open their eyes, stood with their mouths agape.
The scorpions that had been attacking them... those monsters had vanished without a trace. A heavy silence hung in the air. Then, after a moment, someone spoke.
“O-oh... ohhh...”
“Ohhhhh!”
“Lord Lucator!”
The shout soon spread like a tidal wave. Blind faith, stripped of all doubt, was directed toward Kang Jun-hyeok.
[Divine Power +3]
[Proficiency in Glory of the Lost God has increased.]