Babylon (1)

Supercomputer Ares.

In the virtual reality game Ares, he was an absolute god, and in reality, he managed the entire Ares system.

And Supercomputer Ares sometimes derived the most accurate answers and sometimes warned of concerning situations.

Most of those concerns aligned with Lee Se-jin's own.

Supercomputer Ares often conveyed his will this way on the screen.

Lee Se-jin nodded deeply.

Se-jin had swiftly made it impossible to buy troops or territory residents from shops like toys.

But he had devised countless alternatives.

One of them was growth-type territories like Atlas, along with ancient territories.

And another measure.

"Take in other races as subjects."

Wasn't it an astonishing and extraordinary idea?

Of course, Se-jin knew the truth.

'It's far more difficult than taking in humans and borders on impossible.'

Yet the reason Supercomputer Ares voiced such concerns.

"He's worried about User Hyun-soo's pulling power."

User Hyun-soo possessed a unique force that only he had.

That power was his innate essence, hard to explain even with any skills or artifacts attached.

'It's also true that the possibility has greatly increased.'

He would be the pioneer to meet them first once that map unfolded.

"Display the screen."

At Se-jin's words, a massive circle appeared on the monitor.

This huge circle represented Supercomputer Ares' assessment of Hyun-soo's situation.

At the center of the massive circle.

A small blue dot was placed there.

This signified Hyun-soo and Atlas.

Inside this circle, aside from the blue dot, hundreds of red dots were scattered everywhere.

"......To wear the crown, he must endure much."

The identity of those hundreds of red dots.

Those targeting Hyun-soo, as analyzed by Supercomputer Ares.

Or those seeking gain through Hyun-soo, those aiming to topple the Master Craftsman.

Since Ares oversaw the entire server, it had derived their value accordingly.

"Interesting."

The blue dot representing Hyun-soo had originally been smaller than that.

But after this battle, it had noticeably grown.

"He's acquired some power to counter them."

Se-jin, arms crossed, marveled.

It was remarkable that it had grown that much in just a few days.

And between this one bittersweet blue dot and the hundreds of red dots.

There was another dot outside the circle.

This other dot was gray, meaning it was currently favorable to Hyun-soo and capable of protecting him.

Se-jin's eyes wavered as he looked at it.

"This has grown too?"

Se-jin knew who this was.

It was Kabel.

"Incredible speed."

What Se-jin marveled at was how this gray dot was expanding at a leaping pace.

"The synergy between the Wicked Dagger and Kabel is tremendous."

It was all thanks to Hyun-soo.

Originally, under Se-jin and Ares' judgment, Kabel becoming Asura was supposed to happen much later.

But that timeline had been drastically shortened.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Display the analysis chart."

Another chart appeared.

This chart showed the initial probability of Hyun-soo surviving the red dots.

Before arriving at Atlas.

After awakening much of Atlas.

Currently.

The probability had certainly risen significantly.

But it was still a low level.

The reason for this low probability lay here.

'Atlas's exact location hasn't been revealed yet. But once it is, it really will be that figure.'

Once Atlas's location was revealed, truly many would target him.

At that point, the survival probability for Hyun-soo and Hyun's Forge would be 14%.

Bitterness filled Se-jin's mouth.

"Screen......"

Se-jin, about to close it, was startled.

Suddenly, something new was added to the screen.

"A black dot......?"

Blue dot, red dots, gray dot.

And now a new dot: a black one.

The reason Se-jin was surprised was that this black dot was larger and more imposing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than anything around it.

To put it precisely, the black dot overwhelmed the size of all the other dots.

Se-jin's eyes shook.

He, who rarely got surprised, was genuinely shocked this time.

The reason was that unlike the red dots, this black dot was approaching the blue dot—the one representing Hyun-soo's Atlas.

"What does the black dot mean?"

In other words, it meant Hyun-soo had to resolve it himself.

Here, Se-jin grew curious about the most important point.

"If it becomes friendly, what happens to the survival probability?"

It was an ironic answer.

But.

"......!?"

Se-jin was stunned.

The supercomputer was also the ultimate AI with supreme intelligence and an analyst.

No human could surpass a computer's analysis, and Supercomputer Ares always derived the best values.

For such a supercomputer to say it cannot measure?

And Se-jin realized his question was flawed.

'A friendly relationship—and figuring out the depth of that sentiment—doesn't make sense in the first place.'

And another thing.

'Even if the question itself is wrong, that entity's impact on the probability cannot be measured.'

Se-jin harbored anticipation.

That massive black dot alone.

It could change so much moving forward.

And of course, Lee Se-jin knew the identity of that black dot.

Kabel.

It was his second gift sent to protect Atlas.

***

Hyun-soo had felt both anticipation and disappointment.

The map leading to the new race that had reacted among the spoils.

But at this moment, Hyun-soo's mood surged.

'It's fine. Even if it doesn't specify the race or the path, I've learned something new.'

The true world tree existed.

'That true world tree is calling me.'

Knowing that alone held tremendous value.

'It'll be the foundation for crafting transcendence beyond the Twin Dragon Swords.'

And he was glad the material was wood, not ore.

'What spear can I make with them? What bow? Or what Baby Arrows?'

One thing was certain: they would demonstrate a transcendent power unlike anything before.

Hyun-soo, having gained everything.

He looked at his 4,000 soldiers.

They had grown immensely, their eyes firm with faith.

"Return, eat, drink, and rest. Let's revel in the joy of victory."

"Waaaaah!"

"Long live the lord!"

"Long long live!"

Hyun-soo smiled faintly at the cheering 4,000-strong army.

And shortly after.

"Lord?"

"Isn't this the place we came from earlier?"

"We're circling the same spot?"

Hyun-soo had forgotten.

This was the Endless Maze.

"Ah...... Ah......"

He was lost.

Meanwhile.

Another person.

A handsome man in pure white armor, like a blank canvas, stood in the forest.

The man exuded an antique air.

If Hyun-soo boasted masculine features and an impressive physique, this man had the opposite appearance.

His beauty seemed as if painted stroke by stroke with a brush.

The man's name: Bahala.

He scanned the forest, holding his melted black sword, Babylon, which contrasted his outward elegance.

"......I've lost my way."

A short, blunt statement.

It wasn't that he was directionally challenged.

Simply, the path to Atlas given by informant Kabel was too arduous.

'I must meet Master Craftsman Hyun-soo. Can he really repair it?'

The reason he sought Hyun-soo was tied to the melted sword Babylon—and his job quest.

Shockingly, Bahala was an ordinary knight class.

Despite offers for hidden classes, legend classes, and countless others, he had refused them all.

Because he knew of the Sword God's Path and had run madly toward it for 4 years.

Yes, the path he had run for 4 years.

And the Sword God's Path was not easy.

'It keeps demanding absurd feats.'

His level was already 485.

The feats accomplished in this process had built Bahala's current fame.

Yet the quest revealed the Sword God's Path only bit by bit.

'Is it because it's that unique and unparalleled class?'

Bahala smiled wryly.

And he pinned his hopes on it.

'To catch the lesser demon, I absolutely need Babylon.'

Lesser demon Lukio.

Bahala, who had faced him, had been forcibly logged out in just 5 minutes three months ago.

Moreover, unlike regular demons, lesser demon Lukio was not restricted by earthly demonic energy.

In other words, he wasn't weakened.

In truth, lesser demons were pathetically weak compared to great demons.

But a lesser demon unweakened on the surface was insanely strong.

His level was in the 590s.

Yet he had found a way.

'The sword from legends. Babylon.'

He had sought information on this demon-slaying sword and finally obtained it.

This sword held transcendent power.

And its special ability.

'Myeolak (Exterminate Evil).'

Rumors said this power instantly obliterated 70% of a demon's HP.

Unconditionally.

'This is the only way to take down Lukio.'

Of course, other methods might emerge later.

But that would be after some time, during which Lukio could grow stronger.

Then, slaying Lukio would yield no Sword God unlock.

Moreover, the quest would auto-end after a set time.

Thus, Bahala had immediately traversed the continent.

Days passed as he wandered, lost in thoughts of Hyun-soo.

Then, monsters spotted him and charged—only to halt.

"Kahaaak!"

Simply the aura he emanated made the monsters flee.

This power, earned through feats.

It instilled fear in monsters, making them run.

And users or NPCs were overwhelmed by an absurd pressure.

It rivaled the Sword King's killing intent or Spear Heaven's wrath.

No, perhaps a step higher.

Anyway, walking with Sword God's Dignity ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠active, he wandered for days.

Naturally, his thoughts turned to Hyun-soo.

'He's become too well-known. It's regrettable. Legend. Of course, it's impressive. But a mere legend title can't protect that position.'

When he had handed over last year's rank 1 spot, he felt no tension or regret.

He thought it was temporary.

'He might self-destruct.'

Not because he was lacking.

But because a level 350s user had grown too fast.

At that moment.

Sensing a presence, Bahala's eyes widened.

Because a man in black and white, contrasting him entirely, emerged from the brush.

What shocked him more was something else.

The 4,000-strong army, upon seeing him, raised weapons to protect their lord.

And Bahala panicked.

First panic.

'I didn't deactivate Sword God's Dignity?'

He was in a position to commission Master Craftsman Hyun-soo.

Yet he thought this power might disrupt things and force submission.

However.

On the contrary, his power tried to crush him.

The reason was his shock upon facing Hyun-soo.

The 4,000-strong army.

And Hyun-soo's vastly grown form.

And finally, Bahala knew.

'Beyond legend?'

He panicked a second time.

His assumption that he wouldn't yield this year's rank 1 flipped entirely.

'Even if I become Sword God.'

The rank 1 spot would endlessly shake.

***

Hyun-soo, emerging from the Endless Maze toward Atlas, was startled.

Because he had encountered a man.

Moreover, the man's information was invisible.

'A power that hides information?'

Looking at him, Hyun-soo was shocked again.

The sole Master Craftsman and heir to the god, Hyun-soo reacted to one thing.

It was the reaction upon seeing the melted sword he held.