Chapter 244
Chapter 244
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: War God (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“……Master.”
A relieved expression spread across Mugak’s chanting face.
“So that’s how it was? I just realized it watching your movements.”
Martial Advance.
Had he gained some enlightenment from witnessing my new secret technique?
The odds were high.
Mugak and I shared the bond between summoner and summon.
Our thoughts and emotions were linked to a certain extent.
“Return to the Ghost King. Yes, Master. No matter the stream, it all merges into the ocean in the end. Why did I never realize that before and stubbornly cling to my fists alone?”
Mugak’s foot kicked the apostle’s arm.
Straight toward the flustered apostle’s abdomen.
Boom!
Mugak drove his fist in.
- Krgh…!
The punch delivered a massive shock to the apostle.
Mugak didn’t miss the apostle’s flinching, trembling body.
Kwaaang!
He smashed his foot into its face.
Kwaaang!
He hammered its jaw with his fist.
- Krraaah!
The apostle screamed and staggered back.
Its recovery was sluggish, and it clearly felt the pain—my attacks were landing properly.
“……In the end, whether fist or foot, Master was teaching the same method all along.”
Mugak looked at me.
Gratitude and relief filled those black eyes.
“Thank you, Master. For showing me such a technique.”
That was the moment.
[Congratulations!]
[You have cleared ‘Stage: Fist and Foot Confrontation’!]
Huh?
My eyes widened.
Already?
“What good is the War God’s recognition? I’ve already crushed those who earned it with these two fists and two feet.”
Kwa-gaga-gang!
Mugak unleashed another flurry of strikes.
The gray monsters flinched and retreated at the unfamiliar ferocity.
- Kruk, he’s strong.
- As expected of Mugak.
Mugak was originally one who had received the War God’s recognition.
And a first-generation one, a full century ago.
He had spent those hundred years in relentless training.
Now he wielded not just fists, but feet as well.
In terms of pure skill, he was a senior among the apostles!
“Nice.”
I grinned broadly.
This was the scenario I’d aimed for from the start.
Use the apostles for training.
Squeeze every last drop out of them and wrap it up thriftily.
“Let’s crush them together.”
Ta-at!
I kicked off the ground and charged.
My Martial Advance and Mugak’s Martial Advance.
Just as I resolved to finish the dungeon and reassess Earth’s situation outside—
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
Crimson messages flooded my vision.
“Hm?”
I froze and turned my head.
To be precise, I sensed a dissonant presence before I could even freeze.
Something whose very ‘rank’ differed entirely from mine.
The moment I turned toward that sensation—
“…….”
My entire body went rigid.
‘That’s…’
A single man.
Sitting atop clouds like an immortal, holding a gourd flask.
Even just his exposed abs peeking through his robe and those bulging arms screamed power.
‘But the aura itself is on another level.’
Yeah.
At least with those gray monsters called apostles, I’d felt some will to fight.
But this being?
It was like… even standing before it, no thought of what to do crossed my mind.
“……Insane.”
The same helplessness as my first encounter with a dragon.
My teeth chattered, my muscles quivered.
From fear?
No.
It was simply instinct.
The awe innate to humanity upon beholding a superior existence.
[The War God (SSS Grade) has appeared.]
“……War God.”
My body refused to move.
Even the gray monsters radiating fighting spirit halted.
Mugak clamped his mouth shut, staring vacantly at the entity.
[You encounter the true body of a ‘Constellation’ for the first time.]
[You achieve a great feat.]
Simply.
By beholding it, a feat was accomplished.
[Rewards arrive!]
[Vitality increases by 1,000!]
Rewards meant nothing to me.
What use were they against a being that could reduce me to dust in an instant?
I forced my drooping gaze to stay fixed on it.
“The being spoken of in ancient magic… that’s you, huh?”
The War God spoke with haughty eyes.
“Some fragment of the Old Gods or whatever.”
His gaze touched my body.
My heart plummeted, every hair standing on end.
“But.”
He flashed a faint smile.
“I don’t care about that nonsense. You’ve got the skill to beat my apostles… so, what say you?”
Swish.
Mid-sentence, the War God brought the gourd to his lips.
Gulp, gulp!
Liquid poured down his throat.
An intense alcohol scent assaulted my nose.
“Will you become my apostle?”
Apostle?
Did that mean I’d earned the War God’s recognition too?
‘Hmm.’
As I ground my teeth—
Messages endlessly scrolled in my peripheral vision.
[The Essence of Fire furrows its brow in annoyance.]
[Ancient Magic insists that damned guy must’ve spouted useless nonsense.]
[The Essence of Wood nods.]
[Among Constellations that remember our existence, only the Akashic Records…]
[The Essence of Water says it’s for the best. A bug’s life anyway—if you can become a Constellation’s foot wipe, isn’t that success? It sneers.]
[The Essence of Fire tells it to shut its trap.]
[The Essence of Wood tells it to calm down.]
[The Essence of Wood urges you to choose quickly.]
[Delay further, and no contract or anything will matter.]
[The Essence of Metal says there are countless backup contractors scattered across the universe anyway, so it’s fine.]
‘Contract?’
I frowned.
What was that supposed to mean?
[The Essence of Fire ponders.]
[It soon nods as if there’s no choice.]
[The Essence of Fire votes in favor.]
[The Essence of Water snorts.]
[The Essence of Wood declares it a 2:2 tie.]
[The Essence of Wood looks to you.]
Shwaaah!
The harsh alcohol scent vanished, replaced by a fresh forest aroma filling the space.
My trembling body settled, my tense mind eased by the soothing phytoncides.
“Phew.”
I caught my breath.
[The vote is tied. The Essence of Wood says the choice is yours.]
The choice.
Was mine?
[The Essence of Fire smiles.]
At the same time.
The will of the Essence of Fire entered my mind.
- You couldn’t beat that Constellation even in death.
- Per our principles.
- Whether we help you is up to your choice.
- Choose.
- Will you accept our aid? Or refuse?
Its will carried warm, gentle benevolence.
- But.
- If you accept, be prepared.
- As you experienced last time, it comes with immense pain.
- And it could shatter your vital energy.
‘Vital energy…?’
Innate Vital Energy.
The life force everyone possesses from birth?
- Your ‘rank’ is far beneath ours.
- So low, it’s less than the dust the Essence of Water claims.
- For one like you to receive our energy risks annihilation or becoming a cripple.
Even so.
They expected something from me.
Because I held even a sliver of potential use to them?
- Thus, choose wisely.
Choice.
“Hmm.”
The situation was dire.
But not utterly hopeless.
There seemed a path even in desperation.
“Why no answer?”
The War God before me spoke again.
“Aren’t I asking if you’ll become my apostle?”
Just become his apostle and it’s done?
Per Mugak, apostles didn’t have to stay in this world.
‘However.’
I asked.
“War God.”
“Yes.”
The man nodded.
“If I become your apostle, do I turn into one of those gray monsters too?”
“……Hm?”
The War God muttered, caught off guard.
“……You’re a strange one. Interested in something other than fighting?”
Ah.
Right.
Those battle maniacs wouldn’t refuse apostleship over appearances.
Even Mugak’s ultimate goal had been earning the War God’s recognition.
Soon.
The War God nodded.
“Of course. You receive a body optimized for combat. One that can traverse the cosmos, far superior to your frail flesh.”
Ahh.
So becoming an apostle changes your soul’s form.
Into a grotesque gray monster.
Decision made.
“No thanks.”
“……What?”
The War God asked as if he’d misheard.
“I said no. I’d rather die than become a monster. After all, I’m human. I want to preserve my human dignity.”
At the same time.
I nodded.
A gesture beseeching aid from the Essence of Fire.
[The Essence of Fire accepts your choice.]
[The Essence of Wood accepts your choice.]
I.
Had chosen to fight the War God.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Underground lair.
A woman lounged with legs crossed on a luxurious chair unfit for the setting.
Her name: Calipena.
World Ranking 12th, the high ranker known as the Sea Goddess Doris.
“What do I gain from hitting the upstart Byeolcheonji?”
Slurp!
She elegantly sipped her wine and asked.
“Even if their guild master’s gone missing, he’s still on the world rankings. Plus, it’s Sophia the Mage Tower Lord’s turf. You want me to raid that? Sure, berserkers and thunderclaps are my prey, but.”
Her polite tone hid a razor-sharp edge.
Nick Zakan, opposite her, felt the chill in her voice.
But.
If he’d fold at this, he wouldn’t have sought out this underground lair.
“That’s what makes it appealing.”
“……Hmm?”
She kept rolling the wine glass in her hand.
No response, as if bidding him continue.
Zakan pressed on.
“Aren’t you curious, Calipena? How Ju Dong-hun skyrocketed in such a short time? Why high rankers like the Mage Tower Lord and Delaila follow him?”
Zakan stoked her curiosity.
“I think the answer lies in Byeolcheonji.”
“Evidence?”
“None.”
Zakan declared boldly.
“But the suspicions are plenty. Check these records—rumors say the Mage Tower Lord delivers library books to Byeolcheonji weekly. Why would a hyper ranker go to such lengths?”
“Hmm.”
“Besides, ‘fortuitous encounters’ are worth moving on 10% suspicion alone, right? Separately, Byeolcheonji has loads of side benefits. Their workshops rake in cash hand over fist.”
“True enough.”
Calipena didn’t discriminate guilds.
Of course, she wouldn’t touch the Big Three like Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Mage Tower, or Demon King’s Army.
Upstart or prestigious, she struck surgically.
The villain of villains.
“I am curious about that fortuitous encounter. How he went from outside 1,000 to high ranker overnight. And why Sophia and Delaila orbit him—it’s suspicious.”
Slurp.
Calipena licked her lips.
“Nothing fun to hit lately anyway. Color me intrigued.”
Smirk.
She smiled.
‘Byeolcheonji, huh.’
Money, fortuitous encounters.
And no guild master now.
Countless schemes swirled in her vicious mind.
For instance.
“They’ve got a capable vice guild master too, right?”
“Oh?”
Zakan looked up.
“No way……?”
He murmured in admiration.
“Hostage kidnapping?”
The vice guild master who built Byeolcheonji, Kim Jin-ah, was renowned.
She handled all external affairs, not Ju Dong-hun.
Virtually ranker-famous herself.
Snatch Kim Jin-ah as hostage?
“Hehe, sharp as ever.”
Thud.
Calipena set down her wine glass.
“Operations need escape hatches. For when Ju Dong-hun returns or the Mage Tower intervenes. Besides, who’d spill fortuitous encounters hitting a leaderless Byeolcheonji? Better grab a capable one and negotiate.”
“……Indeed, lesson learned.”
“Well, if that guild master’s the heartless type, it won’t work. But I’m the ‘swing even if I miss’ style. Hehe.”
Calipena leaned gooily over the table, smiling seductively.
Then gestured gracefully.
“Shall we discuss details? If I like it, I can promise some scraps.”
“Happy to.”
Their serious scheming began in the underground lair.