Chapter 159
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Descent to the Deep Layers
[Anyway, it's good to see you all again.]
The situation wasn't great, but reuniting with the group still brought a natural smile to everyone's faces.
"Shall we get back to work after all this time?"
Cheon-ho said, and all the angels flashed happy smiles.
* * *
Preparations to head to the deep layers proceeded quickly.
Having already completed one expedition, the expedition team heading to the deep layers didn't have much more to prepare.
What took time was readying all the supplies stockpiled in the Fortress of Justice on the 15th floor for transport.
Lucille stuffed her inventory full of supplies as well. Now a 3rd-rank angel, her inventory was comparable to three massive warehouses.
In addition to all sorts of supplies, it contained thirteen of Cheon-ho's suitcases, a wardrobe, and various other furniture—enough to ensure they could live well no matter where they ended up.
And so, a day passed.
The God of Time, asleep on a portable bed, along with all the non-combat gods residing on the 15th floor, gathered in one place.
The benevolent gods had originally descended to the surface by creating bodies to protect the inhabitants of the Labyrinth World from the demonic energy of the Great Labyrinth.
Though they lacked combat ability, their mere presence could help shield the group from the deep layers' demonic energy.
'Like air purifiers, I guess.'
Cheon-ho kept that thought to himself and took the hand of the tense Lucille standing beside him. Though she didn't show it much, she'd been anxious ever since news of the Healing Goddess had cut off.
"It'll be okay."
Lucille didn't reply right away to Cheon-ho's words but soon smiled gently and nodded.
"Yes, Hero."
The time had come.
Cheon-ho looked around. The entire army of the 15th floor was lined up before the stairs leading to the deep layers.
With tens of thousands of troops, just the sight of them arrayed made his heart race.
'The wardrobe is the final stage.'
His mother's words from the silver card.
He'd encountered the first suitcase on the 4th floor.
The second set of suitcases had found Cheon-ho himself on the 10th floor.
And now the 15th floor.
The wardrobe leading the household furniture.
He could say he'd come as far as he could.
It was best not to expect any more suitcases or furniture.
But that didn't mean it was over.
Something still remained.
Beyond the final stage his mother had mentioned, there was truly one last piece left.
Still, Cheon-ho didn't rely on it too much. Holding Lucille's hand, he caressed the golden gem of Mitra.
Hero, angel, and holy sword.
Cheon-ho grinned unwittingly and let out a long breath.
"Advance."
The God of Armies commanded.
Led by the God of Armies and his sister the Goddess of Cavalry, the entire force of the 15th floor marched into the deep layers.
They pushed into the endless darkness like bottomless pits, one by one.
Just as the pillar between the lower and middle layers had been, the connection between the middle and deep layers was no simple matter.
Unlike the lower layers, the group didn't split up, but the impenetrable darkness stretched on endlessly, impossible to see even an inch ahead.
But neither Lucille nor Mitra feared it. The power of the benevolent gods protected the entire expedition heading to the 15th floor.
And after some time passed.
Hours, or days.
Perhaps even months.
Cheon-ho passed through the wall between the middle and deep layers. He had finally arrived in the deep layers.
And it was right then.
A voice reached Cheon-ho's ears.
Smaller and frailer than usual, but one he could never forget.
It was the voice of the Healing Goddess.
[You've reached the deep layers.]
[This is the 23rd floor... ambushed by the Plague God...]
Like a broken speaker, the voice cut in and out in places.
Cheon-ho focused his mind on the Healing Goddess's voice. He blocked out all other senses, listening only to her.
She was weakened.
She hadn't been able to respond to the call from the middle layers because she lacked the strength to pierce the wall to the deep layers.
There had been an ambush by the Plague God.
Combat happened almost daily on the 23rd floor, but that day's attack had been special.
Moreover, her distraction with the divine artifacts had been her downfall.
The Healing Goddess couldn't speak at length. Even within the deep layers, transmitting her voice wasn't easy.
[I'll wait.]
[Looking forward to the Wish Sphere too...]
The otherworldly hero Muto floated in midair in a lotus position, while Carlos roared with both fists clenched.
Bound to the 15th floor by various circumstances, they had now reached the 16th floor, breaking through their own walls.
Changes occurred elsewhere too.
Exposed to the divine power overflowing from Lucille, everyone experienced above-average growth in their realms.
Raguel and Aurael became 4th-rank angels. Raguel's black wings and Aurael's white wings each unfolded into three pairs.
Eizel grew alongside them into a 5th-rank angel. Various reasons contributed, but in terms of growth speed alone, it wasn't an exaggeration to say she was right behind Lucille.
Worried that the group might fret too much, the Healing Goddess ended with a playful joke and let out a small laugh.
Then the voice faded.
Cheon-ho opened his closed eyes.
His gaze met Lucille's immediately. He knew right away—she had heard the Healing Goddess's voice too.
So had Mitra.
"She's alive."
Lucille said, her eyes welling up red. Having worried about the Healing Goddess these past few days, it was a natural reaction.
Cheon-ho hugged Lucille, who looked ready to burst into tears, and nodded reassuringly to the others staring in surprise. Comforting her came first.
[Still, she doesn't sound in good shape. She must have been badly wounded in the Plague God's ambush. She's probably still on the run even now... We need to hurry.]
It was likely they'd lost the pillar connecting the 22nd and 23rd floors.
From the Healing Goddess's perspective, she was effectively trapped on the 23rd floor, unable to go anywhere.
Cheon-ho nodded. After stroking Lucille's head a few times, he handed her to Eizel, Raguel, and Aurael who had rushed over.
He moved to the front to relay the Healing Goddess's voice to the God of Armies.
But right then—
[Main Quest 'Reach the Deep Layers' completed.]
[You have reached the deep layers. Middle layers max level achievement reward granted.]
[You have reached the deep layers. Middle layers max level shortest time achievement reward granted.]
Windows of light popped up one after another.
At the same time, pure white light enveloped Cheon-ho's entire body.
He had experienced this once before.
When he first reached the middle layers. And received the lower layers' max level reward.
[You have reached the deep layers. Your realm rises.]
[All skills you possess increase by 1 level.]
[Your divinity strengthens due to the realm rise.]
[Your blood strengthens due to divinity reinforcement.]
[Dragon God King's Blood Lv5 acquired.]
[Yaksha God King's Blood Lv5 acquired.]
[Hero's Blood Lv5 acquired.]
Dozens of level-up light windows appeared simultaneously, making the surroundings glow brightly.
And indeed, light began emanating from Cheon-ho. His body floated slightly, and two bloodlines exerted their power within his flesh.
Cheon-ho's right side shone golden, his left wrapped in red light.
And the pure white light swirling around him like a dance.
Divine power whirled. Those nearby panicked, and the God of Armies and Goddess of Cavalry, sensing the anomaly from afar, rushed over.
"What happened?!"
"Th-that's..."
As the God of Armies asked urgently, an angel near Cheon-ho blinked in confusion.
In fact, not just Cheon-ho—all the nearby angels were experiencing realm rises, great or small.
Those who had dwelled in the middle layers had come to the deep layers, after all.
"Brother. It seems like a realm rise."
The Goddess of Cavalry grabbed her brother's hand to calm him as she spoke.
The God of Armies, who had one foot in the viceroy realm, saw no particular change from reaching the deep layers, but she was different. Like the surrounding angels, she too was undergoing a minor realm rise.
"A realm rise? That?"
The God of Armies asked unwittingly. He knew about realm rises, but this was his first time seeing one like this.
It was practically evolution.
"Uh... because he's the Hero?"
Because he's the Hero, things are bound to be different.
At the Goddess of Cavalry's somewhat irresponsible answer, the God of Armies furrowed his brow momentarily but soon nodded.
Though lacking evidence, it somehow convinced him deep down.
Because he's the Hero.
Special from the start.
Heir to the transcendent beings' blood, otherworlder or not.
'Indeed.'
Convinced anew, the God of Armies tore his gaze from Cheon-ho and soared into the air. Looking down, he confirmed everyone was indeed undergoing realm rises.
"Aaah, aaaah!"
Kamuel, who had long yearned for the deep layers, spread her wings wide and roared.
Among the top of 3rd-rank angels, she now stood on the cusp of 2nd-rank. Her feet on the threshold, she poured all her effort into crossing it.
The same went for Muto and Carlos.
A gorgeous, beautiful red light bloomed not far from the Hero.
"Again... huh."
The Goddess of Cavalry muttered unwittingly and looked toward the center of the red light.
In the arms of the angels was a pink-haired angel.
Like Kamuel, she was advancing to 2nd-rank.
Considering she'd become 3rd-rank just days ago, it was absurd, but the God of Armies accepted it this time too.
'Evnail's divine artifact.'
She who shared the war goddess Evnail's power with the holy sword Mitra.
It would be a problem if she didn't grow this much.
Lucille's wings increased from three pairs to four. The halo of light grew even more radiant.
Even the angels around Lucille were affected.
The God of Armies turned back to Cheon-ho. The group's growth was welcome.
The stronger they became, even a little, the higher their chances of victory.
"God of Armies!"
A sharp voice came from behind.
It had been a long time since he'd heard it.
"Goddess of Supplies."
His longtime comrade, the Goddess of Armies' closest partner.
The stern-faced goddess strode toward him. Tens of thousands of angels and golems parted like the sea, making it feel like a scene from myth.
"What in the world is going on?!"
Her red hair was tied up, and she wore what looked like an office-style military uniform.
The Goddess of Cavalry spread her arms wide first.
"Grateful for this reunion."
"Hey, hold on! Hey!"
The God of Armies hugged the Goddess of Supplies tightly. He crushed her in his embrace, making her yelp.
"Don't hug me while wearing armor!"
It hurt. Just hurt. No warmth, nothing—just armor.
At the Goddess of Supplies' scolding, the God of Armies laughed heartily, and she slapped his cheek.
But he just laughed heartily all the same, as if even that was welcome.
"What happened? The 15th floor? Why bring the entire army down all of a sudden?"
Sending supplies or people from the 16th to the 15th floor was difficult, but the reverse was easy, so he'd been sending supplies periodically.
But this time was different.
Not only had the God of Armies himself come down, but so had tens of thousands of troops. Clearly, the entire force of the 15th floor had chosen to head to the deep layers.
"Sister, long time no see."
"Goddess of Cavalry? Wait, the Goddess of Spearmen too?"
The Goddess of Supplies exchanged greetings with the approaching Goddess of Cavalry and was shocked once more.
Not just the 15th floor—the forces from the 12th and 13th floors were here too.
Had something huge happened in the middle layers?
"Tell me quick. The God of Justice? Why hasn't the 14th floor come down? Don't tell me the God of Justice fell—"
"No, nothing like that. I'll explain now."
The God of Armies bent down to touch foreheads with the much shorter Goddess of Supplies.
As he transmitted his memories, her eyes widened.
"What the hell, no wonder it felt suspicious."
Time was short.
With the divine artifacts in hand, they needed to gather the benevolent gods' full forces and break through to the deepest layers in one go.
Hero, angel, and holy sword.
The war goddess Evnail's divine artifact.
The Goddess of Supplies glanced at Cheon-ho and Lucille, who had been glowing nonstop, then back at the God of Armies.
"So you brought everyone down?"
"I'll bring the 16th floor's forces down too."
"No, you don't know the 16th floor situation yet. If I leave, Shradporma will come charging like a mad dog."
The evil dragon Shradporma of the 16th floor.
An evil god as well, he was tenacious and vicious. He was obsessed with the Goddess of Supplies, challenging the Fortress of Justice daily.
"We'll have to repel him first."
The God of Armies had planned to settle the 16th floor anyway. He intended a major battle before heading to the 17th.
But right then—
"Why not just ignore him?"
"Hero?"
It was the Goddess of Supplies who spoke. Cheon-ho bowed briefly in greeting, then looked back at the God of Armies.
The God of Armies furrowed his brow. He wanted to check Cheon-ho's clearly changed state, but there was a more pressing matter.
"Ignore the enemies on the 16th floor?"
"Yes, just leave them and go down."
The Goddess of Supplies glanced at the God of Armies with eyes asking if he could be trusted. He swallowed a groan and looked back at Cheon-ho.
"Got a plan?"
"Yes, and we need to hurry anyway."
Cheon-ho relayed the voice he'd heard from the Healing Goddess to the God of Armies and Goddess of Supplies.
As Mitra said, she was likely in dire straits, so they had to reach the 23rd floor as fast as possible.
And the things the Goddess of Supplies had mentioned.
Information on the evil dragon Shradporma.
"A simple plan."
Cheon-ho began explaining.
* * *
The evil dragon Shradporma was the evil god of the 16th floor.
Like the God of the Lower Layers, he had one foot in the viceroy realm and commanded the Red Dragon Legion under him.
He'd sired a legion from countless women, yet he was never satisfied. The reason he chose battles on the 16th floor was simple: the Goddess of Supplies.
Capture the Goddess of Supplies. Make her bear his offspring endlessly. Strengthen the Red Dragon Legion further.
The Goddess of Supplies was a flower on a cliff. Years of daily battles, yet still out of reach.
Thus, he craved her more.
Thus, he obsessed more.
"Goddess of Supplies!"
Having taken human form, Shradporma roared inside the longed-for Fortress of Justice. His aged roar shook the entire fortress.
The Fortress of Justice was empty.
Cleared out overnight. The Goddess of Supplies was, naturally, gone.
What had happened? Where had they gone?
"Father!"
At the call, Shradporma unleashed his power.
His irritated, intense dragon fear felled his rushing offspring foaming at the mouth, but he paid no mind.
From the start, he had no desire to acknowledge offspring who collapsed to this level of dragon fear.