Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: Desperate Chase
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"Even after all that, it still doesn't go down in one hit."
"......"
"No, this... what the hell..."
The Grotesque Prince and the dinosaur tribe stared at me with looks of utter dismay.
"Login."
I return to Ardania.
"Great Heal!"
"Great Heal!"
"Great Heal!"
"Recovery!"
I receive a healing shower.
"This is a Ten-Thousand-Year Invincibility Course made with Rare-grade cuisine, the Century Cactus Grill."
"It's a Dragon Potion crafted by the Elixir Division using dragon fruit as the main ingredient."
"And this is a Heroic-grade dish dropped from the World Tree Castle this time..."
I enjoy a lavish meal.
"Good night, Your Majesty."
"Yeah..."
And then I sleep like a log.
'Whoa, this really packs a punch.'
Aurora Borealis itself is a technique that places an immense burden on the body to begin with. Even wrapping myself in qi energy, how could crossing the speed of light with a physical body not take a toll?
And on top of that, detonating Daeha's insane inner energy pushes the aftermath beyond the physical into the spiritual realm.
'Even after sorting myself out over and over... I could never pass this on to anyone else.'
It's truly a secret ultimate art. Without login and logout abilities, no one could use it in real combat.
"Logout."
After sufficient rest, I return, and Ceril asks me,
"Just now... even my [Domain] couldn't detect you. How fast were you?"
"No big deal. Just a bit faster than light."
"...What did you say?"
Leaving her stunned, I check on the Thunderbird. Despite the massive damage, it hasn't died.
'As expected, it's different from the ShimGon I killed earlier.'
ShimGon had depleted most of its abilities fighting a Grand Lord-grade Grotesque. Its emergency defenses and special abilities were used up, and most of its mana and stamina were gone.
But the Thunderbird is in perfect condition.
My strike, loaded with lethal power, wasn't enough to kill it, and since I didn't hit the head or sever the neck for a critical hit, Shadow Twice doesn't trigger.
That's not all.
Crackle!
In an instant, the Thunderbird's massive body retreats dozens of kilometers away.
Rumble rumble!
Between it and me in the distance, dozens of electric orbs float, causing arc discharges.
Like ball lightning, they're meant to block charges.
[Kiruruk!]
Having tasted bitterness, the Thunderbird literally flees like lightning.
Fully cowed by the previous blow, killing it would require an all-out pursuit.
Beep! Bzzt!
A sudden electronic beep makes me turn, and Ceril is wearing a peculiar monocle over one eye.
"Its mana has plummeted. My god... over 70% of that monster's mana is gone from that brief clash."
"A Transcendent-grade monster fleeing in fear..."
Whether Prince and Ceril are shocked or not, I gauge inwardly.
'Level 22 Transcendent-grade monsters are no longer my enemies.'
One-on-one, no matter how pristine their condition, I can finish them in 30 minutes. Overwhelming dominance to corner and slaughter.
Win rate: 100%, obviously.
'One-on-two... about 3 hours.'
Still 100% win rate in my mind, but much tougher. Even if they're a tier below, Transcendents are Transcendents. Slack off and I could take a big hit.
'And one-on-three... at least 12 hours.'
But with three Transcendent-grade foes, the win rate drops below 100%. Still superior, but... possible defeat.
'And one-on-four... time isn't the issue. Win rate's 50/50.'
The gap between level 19 and 20 is human versus god.
Cases of level 19 powerhouses getting crushed by dozens against a Transcendent are all too common. Not for nothing are they Transcendents.
But against fellow Transcendents, even with level gaps, it's not completely ignorable.
"Mercenary! The monsters!"
As Ceril screams, monstrous auras erupt across 98th Earth.
Thunderbird included, six Transcendent-grade monsters total! Thunderbird's too damaged to join, but that's still five.
'Escape first.'
Pffft!
From below, a pitch-black pillar surges toward Repli. I casually swing my sword beam to deflect it.
"ShimGon's pulling a cute trick."
The seawater writhes like dragon heads, shooting skyward like beams of light.
ShimGon, wrapped in hundreds of dragon heads, exudes the majesty of a sea god!
That's not all.
[Graaaah---!]
From the night sky afar, a black-winged dragon radiating fiendish energy flies in.
"Come to think of it, you talk, but why can't that one?"
Repli answers my question.
[It's an enemy, so maybe it just won't bother.]
"I see."
I nod and turn back.
[Enemy! Stay right there!]
A sea dragon of unknown game origin bellows. Looking the part of a sea dragon, it flies freely through the sky, pursuing us.
"Space jump?"
"We need to go further! Completely out of the atmosphere into space...!"
"Annoying."
I step onto Repli's back and leap again.
Crushing dimensions underfoot.
[Heavenly Sword - Moon-Piercing Fang]&[Sword that Parts Heaven and Earth]
Great Vessel Late Bloom. Overlight.
I smash the enemy Repli trying to block our path above. No Breaking Heaven Overlight. It requires 30 hours of meditation, and using it for every attack would take too long in Ardania.
Crunch! Crack!
The pitch-black shield around Repli shatters. Repli's eyes flash.
Crackle!
Crack!
Whoosh!
Shields of lightning, water, and flame envelop its body.
Boom boom! Crack!
I manage to strike Repli's body, delivering physical impact and shaking scales, but failing to break bones.
'Quick to adapt.'
It must have seen the Thunderbird take the hit and prepared countermeasures. Transcendent-grade monsters may charge mindlessly unlike true Transcendents, but they have combat intelligence.
No matter.
If one hit doesn't work... just land several.
"Login."
Back to Ardania for rest, food, and sleep.
"Logout."
[Heavenly Sword - Moon-Piercing Fang]&[Sword that Parts Heaven and Earth]
Great Vessel Late Bloom. Overlight.
Slash-!
[Graaah!]
A massive gash in the wing bone makes Repli scream in agony. I try to blast a sword beam at the dragon heart amid its twisted flesh... but its huge body vanishes faster.
Pffft!
In a blink, Repli retreats kilometers, covered in dozens or hundreds of shields. In this split second, it found the most efficient way to block my attack!
But now my goal isn't severing its neck.
Whoosh!
Even mid-battle, our altitude climbs endlessly. Soon, everything on the ground looks like toys.
Pop!
[You can't escape!]
[Hahaha! Filthy human vermin! Where do you think you're running?!]
Suddenly, a humanoid monster and the sea dragon appear around Repli.
'Space jump!'
I immediately step on dimensions to return to base.
But that moment.
"It's connecting! Please!"
Prince yells.
-Troublesome... I grant Distortion.
A powerful incantation dominates the surroundings as fiercely as a slap. The immense power beyond it makes me grimace instinctively.
"This is..."
Mind-reeling force. Just a [word] transmitted, yet every Transcendent present feels alarm.
'Whoa, seriously.'
I look at Prince.
'No way... is he really a prince? One who can request from the King?'
The King isn't just any Transcendent.
One of the rare supreme gods in the universe.
He's the transcendent powerhouse keeping the alliance from touching the Grotesques, a monster who could annihilate star systems with a breath.
'Even if he's a real son... isn't this guy too weak?'
While I'm baffled, Prince swings the sword in his right hand.
Slash.
Space warps. In one strike... dimensions within hundreds of kilometers rupture, twist, and reconnect misaligned.
[What is this!?]
[Space-!]
The sea dragon and Demon World Duke—commonly called Ma Clan Duke—vanish. Not dead, just hurled thousands of kilometers away.
Thud.
Meanwhile, I return to Repli's back smoothly.
'Spirit Star Armament...'
Different in nature, but worth near a Transcendent weapon.
It lets non-Transcendents wield Transcendent-level power.
Non-physical, Spirit Star Armaments can be bestowed across dimensions anytime.
'It's over.'
Glancing down, I see the Landworm roaring below. No pushover, but with aerial combat at this altitude, it can't join. Even ShimGon can't interfere properly.
The distorted foes scramble in pursuit, but at this distance, catching up is impossible.
'Once in space, it's done. Repli aside... few can fly freely there.'
Even Transcendents have limits. We're all mere 'lower' ones.
A Landworm shaking the world on ground is helpless high in the sky; Transcendents seem omnipotent but aren't free from environment and situation.
'They just handle far more variables than others.'
Swoosh!
Dozens of metal chunks streak past Repli.
'Space station...'
Ruins of a long-dead civilization prove 98th Earth advanced its tech somewhat. Never reached Three Civilizations or survived external doom, but it bloomed with long history and unique culture.
'I should come back someday.'
Some inexplicable karma tugs at me.
[Graaang!]
"Huh?"
Lost in thought, I turn. The Phantom Dragon Repli from 98th Earth pursues with terrifying momentum.
My Repli is level 20. That one's 22, so full speed means it'll outpace us inevitably.
Problem is, what can it do catching up?
"...I was just gonna leave."
Phantom Dragon Repli grows stronger in space as a darkness attribute Transcendent... but one-on-one, it's no match.
"If you wanna die, no helping it."
I raise Hyperion.
Tap.
Kicking off Repli's back, I exit the barrier over its body.
Welcomed by the silent void.
Thud.
The moment I step on a dimension to leap.
Thump-!
Sudden dimensional distortion.
Boom!
[Graaaak!]
The pursuing Repli is blasted kilometers away.
"What?"
Rumble rumble rumble-----!
Each shell packs insane destructive power, pounding Repli. It hastily erects shields in shock, to no avail.
Rumble rumble-----!
Kaboom!
Lasers, massive ice projectiles, quantum energy blasts mercilessly bombard Repli across space.
"No way."
Obviously, no Transcendent unleashes this barrage.
It's a massive battleship.
[Graaang!]
Repli roars, casting spells and flailing darkness power, but against the colossal ship, it can't exert full strength.
Why aren't Transcendents gods in lower civilizations but not space ones?
They must endure astronomical losses... Three Civilization tech can counter Transcendents to a degree.
Kwaaa---!
Repli's desperate darkness breath futilely halts at the ship's barrier.
Powered by gigantic engines, the barrier isn't easily pierced even by Transcendents.
Kaboom!
Repli finally succumbs to the bombardment and dies.
"What the... is this?"
My face sours involuntarily.
'Who the hell are these guys stealing my kill out of nowhere?'
But I don't act rashly. Even I wouldn't pick a fight with a battleship in space.
Pop!
Back beside Prince and Ceril. My Repli has halted flight too.
Prince groans at the elongated battleship that could carry thousands of Replis.
"This... this battleship..."
"You know it?"
"Terra-class battleship Chromatic! Why are Dragonians here?"
"...Whose? What's the name?"
As I ask,
[Lower breed, Han Jaeyeon.]
A strikingly handsome young man has appeared before us.
[The Elder summons you. Follow, you rags.]