Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Hardworking Pay-to-Win Knight
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"Game clear."
"Yeah."
He nods.
"The remaining ten games... I have to clear them all."
"How? The players of those games are already dead."
Her original apostles numbered twelve, but now only Merlin, Geumnang, and I remain. It seems most can't survive being suddenly pulled into a game.
'Well, that's normal. If it were an idol simulation or sports game, it'd be different... but the goal is to create a divine being, so they wouldn't pick those genres.'
As I was lost in thought for a moment, Merlin explained.
"It's possible. When a game is cleared or game over, it connects to another game."
"...Hold on. What about time?"
Ardenia is an independent dimension in my inner world, with its own unique timeline separate from reality. Even now, after becoming a Transcendent, the login & logout ability boasts cheat-like performance thanks to this timeline.
"Fortunately, staying there long isn't a problem. But staying long in reality is."
"A problem?"
"If you spend a long time in reality, the number of [invasions] when you log in increases. It doesn't affect connection status... but it's more troublesome than it seems."
Merlin explained about the [collab event] that started in his world, Dark Star.
It's called an event, but it's the same monster crisis unfolding across the greater universe.
"So that's why you said not to log out for too long..."
"You need to log in at least once a day, unless something major comes up. Protecting myself isn't hard, but I can't prevent civilian casualties."
After pondering his words for a moment, I asked.
"If the situation is like this... wouldn't it be better to just go public with the information?"
"The game world?"
"Yeah. Dark Star's success too. My money issue could be solved easily with outside help."
The wealth of the 34th Earth, especially the South Korean government, defies common sense. Not because it has the largest population and land on the 34th Earth, but because it's linked to the Steel Realm ruled by the Game Master.
120 trillion is nearly impossible for an individual, but it's routine budget for the Korean government.
And that's not all.
With major factions backing it, Merlin's Dark Star could skyrocket in popularity beyond comparison. Just blast ads everywhere and force people to play.
But Merlin shook his head.
"Sorry, but the monster crisis is a cosmic disaster. Revealing our secrets... only works if you believe people are overly rational beings."
The damage from the monster crisis is so vast no one in the universe can grasp its full scale. Before an apocalypse-level loss of life and property that would doom most civilizations, if the potential cause shows itself?
"Instead of help, you'd be lucky not to get interference."
"Exactly."
Seeing Merlin nod, I organized my thoughts.
"Then... it'll take a while, inevitably."
"Don't obsess too much over the Emperor Class. It's an amazing ability, sure... but mastering the 10th floor's chakra capacity and elemental power alone will enable dramatic growth."
With that, Merlin sent back his Servant character and stood up.
"Defend against invasions and strengthen the games themselves. We don't know how long [She] will just watch like now... but we have to do what we can. Oh! Want to add each other as friends?"
I added Merlin as a friend. Now we can exchange opinions via Revenge anytime.
"See you later."
He waved lightly and vanished.
"...He thinks the Emperor Class isn't that urgent."
I get it. The Emperor Class is cheat-level, but it doesn't elevate the ability tier itself.
Even when I got the Mythic Class, it was barely enough to tussle briefly with a Transcendent powerhouse. True growth came from completing the Extreme Will Body and entering the Transcendent Realm.
However.
'I want it...'
I can already think of over ten traits that would combo into absurd performance.
Of course I'll train, but getting the class on top would be great. Even if I reach true Emperor Realm someday, having the class is better.
"Anyway. Invasions."
I turned on auto-hunt, severed the chakra link with Revenge, and logged out. False sensations faded, and Dragon Star came into view.
I opened the fridge and grabbed a sandwich Flower made.
"Login."
Back to Ardenia.
"Personal gear to the east side, food supplies in front of the warehouse!"
"Mages, hurry! Enchantments need to be done by dinner!"
"Lodging addresses are posted on the guild board—check yourselves!"
Through the underground passage newly pierced into one side of the conquered Cheonwon, Dark Star, countless people were emerging.
They unpacked their inventory- and cart-stuffed loads, climbed the walls to stand guard, or headed to pre-assigned homes.
"Finally... we've conquered all the dragon veins. So the capital becomes this Dark Star now?"
"It's not exactly a capital, but I'll be staying here from now on. Central continent location and all."
I glanced at Flower reviewing documents at her desk, then looked back over the city.
Far off, a group of mages entered a defense tower.
'Invasions.'
Not the worst situation, actually. The castles at Ardenia's hotspots are all Mythic-grade, and others maintain at least Legendary.
'And Revenge's castles... block not just external attacks but internal terrorism well.'
No coincidence I chose eight Gigas Lands among the Mythic castle concepts.
Excluding Pastiebal Land, every hotspot has over 100 Giggas deployed.
"Pilots, board Giggas as they're produced and move to assigned positions!"
"Magic corps, up to the walls now!!"
"Regular soldiers, grab firearms below the walls and climb! No slacking!"
Noncoms and officers bellowed, herding soldiers. Fresh from the underground, they scrambled up the walls. At over 50 meters high, a forced march where normal soldiers might die on the stairs isn't surprising.
But the situation demanded it.
Clack-clack-clack.
Silently approaching the east gate: one-eyed giants armed with swords, spears, hammers, axes, bows—Cyclopes.
[What has the same voice but can have 4 legs, 2 legs, or 3 legs?]
[There are two sisters. Each gives birth to the other. Who are they?]
[What grows in the morning, shrinks at noon, grows again in the afternoon, and disappears at night?]
Endlessly hurling riddles toward the west gate: massive beasts with human faces—Sphinxes.
[Groooar!!]
[Kraaaang!!]
[Rooooaaar!!]
South gate: green-scaled earth dragons, Forest Drakes. Scales shrugging off firearms, legs leaping dozens of meters, acidic breath melting steel.
[Grant the clumsy death's repose.]
[We shall be their end.]
[We shall be their beginning.]
North gate: Death Knight legions shrouded in dark aura.
'Brutal.'
This newly conquered spot is the continent's heart, Cheonwon.
What does that mean?
'The surrounding monsters are top-tier for Revenge.'
Too tough to hold even if conquered, so untouched until I occasionally cleaned house—leaving monster numbers and levels beyond imagination.
Even with Mythic walls... facing hundreds of thousands at that level is impossible.
Of course, soldiers and guild players weren't cowering in fear.
Because the Dark Star now held humanity's empire's strongest force.
The Emperor was here.
"Hey, you bastards! You wanna see His Majesty the Emperor take down all those because we can't hold? You want him thinking we're pathetic idiots who can't even protect our own necks!?"
"No, Company Commander!"
"His Majesty is watching! Show him Nosagi Guild is the best at sieges! He'll help if it's dangerous anyway!"
"Yes, Guild Master!"
Wall-top soldiers and guildies roared. All tensed up. Even elite on invincible walls... facing vastly stronger foes outnumbering them 10-to-1 isn't casual.
And then.
Wooong-!
Sparks in midair, space rippled. I flung open the guild tower window instantly.
'Invasion!'
Tense. Different from wall-rushing enemies.
'Insufficient intel.'
No clue what'll happen, so wipe them the moment they appear.
But.
Crackle! Wooong---!
Mythic walls flashed, flinging the forming gate not inside but far beyond the walls—
Boom! Crash!
Heavy tanks emerged from the opened gate.
"...Tanks?"
Not just that.
Thud-thud-thud!
"Squad! To positions!"
"Four-way alert!"
"Four-way alert!!"
Power-armored soldiers poured out. Clearly human. Quite advanced civilization.
'Spacefaring civ... but oddly outdated. No Giggas in sight.'
Gates weren't singular.
Crackle! Wooong----!
Another gate bounced outside, spilling aliens.
"Kieeeek!!"
"Kyayak!!"
Undeniably monstrous. From massive shelled beasts to dog-sized small fries.
Crackle! Wooong----!
Another gate.
[Unite--- as one----]
[In Father's name----]
Intensely holy-powered alien intelligences appeared. Neither human nor monster—truly unheard-of extraterrestrials.
"...What game's concept is this? No cohesion? Multiple games invading at once?"
Crackle! Wooong----!
Final gate flung outward.
"Grrrk---!"
"Geeek!!"
"Grrooo...."
From it tumbled uglier monsters than before. Numbers exploding—thousands in minutes, heading to tens of thousands!
And toward them.
[What are these repulsive things?]
One Cyclops readied itself—then.
Heavenly Bright Dragon God Style.
Swift Dragon Flash.
A flashing sword-light cleaved through the horde.