Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Ninth Layer Chakra
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"Huuu...."
I took a deep breath. Even though my chakra ability had reached the ninth layer, there were no visible changes on the surface.
My stats hadn't increased, nor was there any overwhelming aura emanating from me.
But even so.
It had changed.
"Absurd."
When I closed my eyes, a vast inner world unfolded.
"I can't gauge it. It's my own power—how is this possible?"
The inner world, once shaped like a room, had become a vast plain stretching to the horizon.
Considering that all of this was symbolic, it meant my chakra capacity and mental strength had increased dramatically.
The layers of chakra were the foundation of abilities, like internal energy in martial arts or mana in magic. Even without enlightenment, my current combat power was on a whole different level from before.
I thought about my battle with the Demon Sword King Hyperion.
'The easiest path right now... would be summoning the Landworm.'
But I couldn't do that. This wasn't a game monster invading reality—it was the opposite. With countless eyes and cameras watching, summoning it would lead to who-knows-what backlash. In the worst case, I could get lumped in with the three transcendent-grade monsters.
I might avoid arrest with a good defense from the Priests of Truth, but it would still be a huge hassle.
"Krrr... Kyeng! Kyeng!"
At that moment, hundreds of desert gnolls (advanced to hero-grade)—bipedal monsters with dog heads—poured in through the wide-open west gate. They seemed to prioritize mobility with their light armor, hesitating at the sight of the empty castle before instinctively charging toward the center.
'They keep coming with the same pattern. Even if they lose their memories upon respawning, sending wave after wave just to get wiped out—nothing changes....'
Monsters instinctively sought to expand their territory, and they could initiate sieges without instruction to steal each other's bases.
The targets that drew them more than usual were the camps. The gnoll forces swarming the west gate and the sand golems (advanced to hero-grade) crossing the south gate at nearly the same time proved it.
And that wasn't even the end.
Kagak! Gak!
Giant scorpions over 1.5 meters long scraped noisily across the stone floor as they crossed the north gate.
Giant Scorpions (advanced to hero-grade).
'They're swarming like I smeared honey everywhere.'
I sat on the roof of the lord's castle, looking down. The gnolls, charging excitedly, suddenly halted and froze. I could see them sniffing the air with their noses raised.
But it was already too late.
Kwang!
"Kyaaang!"
With a dying yelp, a Giant Scorpion pounced on one.
Even among advanced to hero-grade monsters, the Giant Scorpion held a positional advantage over the gnolls—like one square deeper on a go board. Meaning higher average level, so it was natural for them to slaughter the gnolls and claim victory, despite some losses.
But they couldn't end the battle with a win either.
Charruk!
A sandstorm rose as sand golems ambushed the Giant Scorpions. The ones north and south of the left flank camp were the same grade and level range, yet the battle flowed one-sidedly.
'Bad matchup.'
The Giant Scorpions' primary weapon, their poison stingers, had no effect on sand golems.
Obviously—who would expect poison stings to work on sand giants that weren't even alive?
Even at the same grade, or even if one was higher, matchups determined victory or defeat. That was why inland monsters couldn't easily unify.
'This is the fourteenth time I've seen this....'
After capturing the Landworm, I'd been holding the left flank camp alone. No one else around. No castle upgrades. Just me defending.
'It can't be helped.'
The Human Empire had limited manpower. Flame Castle had resolved it somewhat by taking in some of the million-plus refugees from the Holy Empire, but the rest drained the empire's resources.
With incoming monster grades rising, minimizing losses meant operating at least one castle like this.
Of course, it had to be this one for a specific reason.
"Graaaang!"
"It's here."
The final intruder arrived at the left flank camp. A being on a whole different level from the three monster types still inside.
Drake.
The highest sub-dragon race, resembling dragons most closely, with immense magical affinity and the characteristic physical prowess of dragonkin. A headache occupying eleven bases in Ardenia's inland.
'Worst nightmare for defenders.'
Drakes weren't just strong—their mobility was the bigger issue. Unlike other monsters that had to trek back from hundreds of kilos after annihilation, these sky kings flew right back upon respawn!
A disaster for Human Empire soldiers relying on walls against monsters.
Puhwak!
The first Drake to arrive unleashed its breath. Far inferior to Kasim's holy roar, but enough to sweep away all three monster groups fighting in the castle.
I watched silently.
Thud.
Then jumped.
[Critical hit!]
The Drake's head snapped back from the Rabbit Foot Hammer blow, its neck nearly breaking. It plummeted unconscious, but crucially, it wasn't dead.
"Ah, as expected of legendary-grade—tough."
But I didn't pursue for a finisher. No need.
Crack!
The falling Drake's head exploded. The power of the legendary-grade passive skill, Shadow Twice.
Whoosh!
Wind chakra caught my falling body. Then, facing the oncoming Drakes, I charged.
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
I smashed the heads of the Drakes invading the castle from the sky.
The battle ended in about two hours with the Drakes' total annihilation. Hundred-Man Slash & Heaven-Earth Sword would've been faster, but those were for Earth.
'I'm getting the hang of it.'
I tested my ninth-layer chakra ability, actively using elements.
The power boost was dramatic.
'Even without enlightenment, it's this much....'
I wanted to train for months.
To grow chakra capacity further, deepen understanding of slash, throw, body, and other elements.
To add more elements, research combinations, and expand my spells.
'But no.'
It was a time attack. Capturing eight camps exceeded the Human Empire's capacity.
Monsters were swarming them even now—before irreversible losses piled up, I had to sort reality, earn money, and upgrade the camp castles to mythic, at least legendary-grade.
'The last legendary rice cake....'
I looked at the single remaining one and shook my head.
'If I can't even take one hit at Boundless Ninth Layer, might as well just suicide.'
Sitting on the lord's castle roof amid piled items, I formed hand seals.
98 seals—17 minutes 28 seconds in real time.
Even with Boundless Ninth Layer complete, my spell proficiency was so lacking it was disastrous. Non-sustained barrier spells taking this long to cast? Impossible in real combat!
"Logout."
Well, that's for others.
[Heavenly Sword - Moon-Piercing Fang]
[Sword that cleaves heaven and earth]
Clang!
Swords clashed. Hyperion yielded. Our realms differed vastly, but with mythic job skill Heaven-Earth Sword substituting sword aura, raw strength couldn't be ignored in direct clashes.
As he attacked again.
"No chance!"
Boram blocked him. The barrier shattered with an explosion, but Hyperion's face twisted demonically at the perfect block.
"You vermin...!"
Combat prescience activated. Unlike transcendent sword auras hard to see, I clearly saw my death.
'I'll block it!'
Cold energy. Light. Wood. Wind. Fire. Earth. Poison. Lightning.
Sage Gate. Open.
Attribute Barrier. Eightfold Stack.
The pre-made spell blocked the front.
Kagak!
Hyperion's sword aura shattered it instantly. Ferocious momentum, but his face paled corpse-like.
"What... is this?"
Unlike before, this strike didn't graze me, let alone sever limbs.
The exposed opening!
"Login."
...Even if I saw it, back to Ardenia first.
"Ugh!"
I vomited blood immediately.
The painstakingly crafted spell destroyed in one go caused internal injury. Not light, but given the situation, I could only laugh.
[Consumed Rainbow Rice Cake (Hero)! Recovery and mana recovery +300 points for 4 hours! Special resource recovery x5!]
"Huu...."
After eating and resting an hour, I was fully recovered. No healing needed.
"Good."
My element understanding hadn't deepened. Like internal energy volume and technique proficiency being separate in martial arts, stacking Boundless Ninth Layer and delving into Eight Sage Gates were different realms.
But I didn't need to deepen elements. Just smash them all together—that was my judgment.
And it was right.
"Time to stack again. Kasim!"
I mounted a white Drake twice the size of the invaders and soared. From above, no monster groups nearby—thankfully.
After one big sweep, it'd take at least a day or two for another attack.
"Sorry, Kasim. Gotta kill you now."
I entered my inner world, checked the go board. Confirmed the Drakes' base, raided instantly, and slew the dungeon boss [Roaring Drake Kasim (Legendary)].
His eleven bases reset—he wouldn't harass skies for a while. Might even get wiped by other monsters, ending the Drake race.
"Good. Prep done."
I dumped remaining items—ones I kept and fed the Landworm—into underground passages through Drake bases.
Retrieval teams would handle later.
"Logout."
Calmly completed the spell, returned to Earth, and thrust my sword. Hyperion, stance crumbling, tried blocking with protective aura.
[Heavenly Sword - Moon-Piercing Fang]
[Sword that cleaves heaven and earth]
Boom! The protective aura shattered....
Cold energy. Light. Wood. Wind. Fire. Earth. Poison. Lightning.
Sage Gate. Open.
Attribute Attack. Eightfold Stack.
Clang! Thud!
"...."
"...."
"...."
Silence fell over the chaotic battlefield. I smiled, even with the black sword half-buried in my shoulder.
"It's over."
My shoulder split, but Hyperion's heart was.
"...You... what?"
Hyperion stared, uncomprehending. No wonder—he'd never imagined dying to someone he thought one strike would end.
[Hyperion, you fool...! But no matter! Just handle these dragonkin and it's done! The three ledgers!]
With a scream, Dark Messiah stabbed his throat with a dagger.
'No way, leaving it to turn 10 again?'
As I panicked.
[Puppet show in the veil.]
A small stage appeared in midair. Twelve puppets inside, plus green and white dragon figures—total fourteen lined up.
Chalak!
Curtains drew.
Slice.
Three heads fell. Curtains reopened—dragons safe, thankfully.
"I don't know what rules you follow."
White Dragon Snow spoke coldly.
"But thinking we'd fall for it again? Absurd."
"Urk, grrrk!"
Dark Messiah collapsed, suiciding alone.
"Pathetic... sight."
Hyperion breathed his last.
Thud!
I collapsed too. No login this time. Hyperion was dead, and no surgeons in Ardenia anyway.
Kwangwang!
Rumble...!
Far off, the spectral dragon got pummeled by the two dragons. Then.
Plop.
A faint magpie perched on the sword in my body—hard to see clearly.
"Wow, this guy's still alive...."
It was Shashasha, the rare-grade pet shadow magpie. Apparently survived the battle's aftermath picking items at a safe distance.
"Wait, no—perch on my shoulder, not the sword...."
As I wondered.
Flash!
Hyperion's sword... vanished.
"......?"