Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Pushing Even Further
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"What!? She took money and told you to break up!?"
I reported it right away. Of course, the head maid would be furious if she found out I'd told them.
'What can she do about it?'
No matter how strong she was or how high her position in Noblesse, it couldn't possibly surpass that of a Chromatic Dragon.
To avoid any needless misunderstandings, the Five Dragons absolutely had to know about this.
That said, there was no need to make complete enemies of them, so I did some cleanup too.
"Still, it ended on a decent note. She said to take good care of you all at the end."
"No, even so!"
"Hoh... so that's how it went."
"It's something, alright. For real."
"Don't worry about a thing. Got it? We'll handle everything."
The Five Dragons fuming like that was reassuring as hell.
Even so, the most important thing was building up my own strength.
'Even if I were Emperor Class, would the dragons have acted like that? Suddenly showing up, threatening and blackmailing me?'
No way in hell. The head maid was an Ancient Dragon, no doubt a tremendous powerhouse... but not mid-tier Transcendent or above.
'At lowest, level 28. Even giving her the highest estimate, quasi-Emperor. Around 29.5 at best.'
Of course, my senses weren't perfect. I'd just gotten the feeling of 'definitely stronger than me,' and confidently declaring she wasn't Emperor Class would be laughable.
But even so.
'No.'
Yeah. I was certain. She wasn't Emperor Class.
Because I didn't know her.
'No matter how much Noblesse hides things, they wouldn't have a secret Emperor Class lying around.'
Mid-tier Transcendent, Emperor Class—that's what it meant.
Even if tucked away in some backwater universe, living quietly... a true Emperor Class would shake the entire cosmos with their name alone.
The Sword Emperor had been a mere space pirate. The Lust Emperor a nobody from the boonies. No need to even mention the Archmage Princess, God Among Men, or All Master.
They were storms of karma and fate in themselves. Not quite etched into the world like top gods, but their existences inevitably came to light.
"More importantly, can you help me out?"
After soothing the angry Five Dragons, I got to the main point.
"Help with what?"
"I'm starting training."
Ruby tilted her head at my words.
"You train every day."
Snow nodded too.
"And you're working your ass off on top of that. Honestly, what other Transcendent lives this packed a schedule?"
I laughed at the immediate pushback.
"It's doable, so I do it. But there's some really important training coming up..."
"No, no, no. I don't think you get it... you're already overdoing it?"
"Exactly. Jaeyeon, you're going way too hard. We haven't seen you rest in nearly a year."
Ruby and Flower trying to dissuade me, and even Black Yao nodding for once.
"You feel like you're in a plateau... but that's hasty judgment. Your growth rate is already insane."
"Right, right. If you weren't from 34th Earth, or the Game Master's apostle, every faction out there would've been after your secrets or trying to capture you for study."
I raised a question at their words.
"Why? There are 20-something Transcendents in the greater universe, aren't there?"
Transcendents were exceedingly rare.
Virtually nonexistent in barbaric civilizations (1st civ), appearing once every few hundred or thousand years in lower civs (2nd civ) to be worshipped as divine.
Even in cosmic civs (3rd civ), one per 10 billion was considered a lot.
'But on a greater universe scale, they're not that rare.'
With thousands or tens of thousands of civilizations spread across the vast greater universe, and hundreds of millions of planets, the number of Transcendents was beyond counting. That's why even reaching Transcendence at 20 went unnoticed by folks like Cecil researchers or the Prince.
With so many, variety was natural.
Born in a barbaric civ and ascending by enlightenment from watching the sun rise and set.
Infants born as confirmed Transcendents from transcendent species.
Surviving a deadly illness in their teens, swept into cosmic disasters, absorbing corpses of slain gods from [Them], endless slaughter in lower civ wars...
Transcendents emerged from all sorts of reasons.
My case was rare, sure, but was it that big a deal?
"It is."
But Black Yao said.
"Transcendence isn't just about talent. You weren't even born with sufficient karma... yet you crossed the wall so easily. Faceless Transcendents like you are rare."
"...Karma and backstory."
"Yeah. People gloss over it, assuming you inherited divine blood... but you didn't, right?"
I gave a bitter smile at her firm tone.
"You're right."
My current achievements were beyond extraordinary... and without basis. Without knowing the world of Ardania, understanding my abilities was impossible.
"Can't you take it a bit easier? It feels like you're being chased."
"Yeah, cut back on work! You schedule stuff without even sleep time!"
"Going out to play might be good. I know some nice spots."
"You can take it slow. It sounds weird coming from us... but you've got plenty of time, Jaeyeon."
The Five Dragons closed in, trying to persuade me. They weren't wrong.
But.
"Thanks, everyone."
I took their hands and said.
"But I want to do more."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You'll help, right?"
The Five Dragons shut their mouths and stared. When I met their eyes without looking away, they sighed deeply.
"Fine... got it, got it! Ugh."
"Can't be helped, really."
"Being smitten is a sin, a sin..."
"...Well, this side of you isn't bad."
"So what do we need to do?"
I calmed the chattering Five Dragons and asked them to prep a few things. I contacted Audreysunny, Dragon Star's one and only manager, to sort my schedule.
I had manuscripts piled like mountains in reserve, and filming was done, so plenty of leeway.
"Login."
I transferred to Ardania. All preps were already complete, actually.
"Reporting! Scout Steelstone and six other Mythic players."
Ones who'd applied personally—everyone but Flower, the de facto Empress.
Edward, Hayes, Steelstone, Healing, Hundred, Red. Plus Namgoong Ilgeom and Harmony.
"Mythic Guard: 13 members!"
A squad made from Mythic cards, more than expected due to tax issues.
Mostly selected from the Imperial Guard—powerful, highly honored, sworn to forgo power and wealth.
"And Legendary Guard: 250 members!"
Set up as Legendaries. Aimed at support, logistics, base-building over direct combat, geared with equipment and items.
I stood before them and said.
"Ready?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
We stood before the pillar of light at Cheonwon, the continent's dead center.
I'd drilled them endlessly on mental prep, so even this humanity-spanning force was on high alert.
I met each one's eyes and spoke.
"What's most important?"
"Our own lives, sir!"
"Right. Each of your lives is the Empire's strength and treasure. Don't die, no matter what!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
I turned from the saluting players.
'No second chances.'
Preps were overkill already.
'But... can't be sure of the outcome.'
I'd never properly initiated chakra through normal means. My training just delved into elements, far from endless self-discipline awakening the brain and sublimating the mind through meditation.
Because I'd conquered Fire Points instead of cultivating the Infinite Nine Layers.
'Hell, that's cheat enough as is.'
It completed the Infinite Nine Layers. Scam no one would buy, but it happened.
The issue: would this flow continue even conquering Cheonwon?
'If levels keep rising like before... 10th stage. Emperor Class, if we name it.'
But really possible?
[She] rivaled creation gods yet hadn't produced mid-tier god-level existences or powers.
"Guess I'll find out..."
I crossed the gate alone.
[Temple of Death]
A space like the cosmos itself—no atmosphere, intensely hostile to life.
With my perfected Extreme Will Body, I could go months without breathing, but other players couldn't, hence the heavy preps.
[Intruder.]
A Mythic regular monster, Elder Skeleton, approached me standing there.
Mindless idiots, but Mythic-tier detection ranges were no joke.
But.
[Critical hit!]
I smashed its skull.
One blow, and the Elder Skeleton crumpled dead. Load on Hyperion was feather-light compared to last time fighting one.
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
Elder Skeletons swarmed from all directions, sensing battle.
I swung Hyperion.
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
One per swing. No need for lightspeed dashes or even proper sword auras.
Mythic regulars were just quasi-Transcendents, glorified.
'Just high specs!'
Boom!
Swinging my sword scarred the ground long, upheaving terrain.
Unlike before, I didn't fight reserved. No, I went berserk. Easy—unlike usual, I just didn't [Focus] my [Strength].
Craaaack!
Kaboom!
Full-power swings shook everywhere with shockwaves. Waves crashed on the ground, spreading across the satellite.
Naturally, monsters scattered across the [Temple of Death] swarmed.
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
Enemy density rose, but it was what I'd waited for.
Boom!
I leaped, escaping the satellite's gravity in one go, and standout strong undead emerged.
[Intruder confirmed. Eliminating.]
Mythic elite: Luna Death Knight Namgung Hyun-ah.
Whooom.
I crouched, dimension underfoot.
Destructive physical force dwelled in muscles at material realm's limit.
Roooar--!
Just powering up vibrated the dimension with raw strength.
I leaped, adding boundless inner energy gushing from all that strength. Acceleration too fast for "falling."
[Heavenly Sword - Hundred Man Slash] & [Sword that Cleaves Heaven and Earth]
Great Vessel Late Bloom. Subduing Light.
[Critical hit!]
A strike like light—no, faster than light—bisected the Mythic monster.
Craaaack--!
And shattered the gray satellite.