Chapter 107
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The Piercing Light
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"Divinity is transmitted from heart to heart,
connecting because it is true.
Blessing is the same."
—Saint King Aldmein
Bang—!!
A deafening roar echoed as a bullet transformed into a streak of light, piercing through every obstacle in its path.
In the instant of prepped acceleration,
everyone witnessed the wing-like ripples.
It was an unnecessarily holy sight.
Especially since the trigger-puller was flailing around like he was doing a drunken mountain goat dance.
Ugh.
Jin furrowed his brow.
His arm had spun around from the recoil that exceeded all expectations.
The ammo's propellant, secondary booster, rifling, and the divinity imbued as it slid along.
The triple-layered kinetic energy was that much more ferocious.
Rubbing his sore wrist, Jin looked anew at the weapon in his hand.
Gravis GZ.
From the sleek gunmetal body of the freshly inaugurated beauty, a faint glow scattered like springtime haze.
"...Jin."
Eanna had sidled up beside him before he knew it.
Her startled eyes took in Jin, then Gravis, in sequence.
"You used divinity."
"Seems like it...?"
"Wh-what the hell. Bro, what is that gun?"
Deier's voice followed in stunned affirmation.
He and Eanna must have bolted over the moment the shot rang out. His gaze on the shattered ice was one of utter dismay.
"Ten..."
A new record.
The previous best was nine, set by Kendrick hurling his brain spear. Even that ninth one was debatable—the exit hole was so tiny (though Kendrick swore it was clear as day), sparking endless arguments about whether it counted.
This one, though? Cleanly pierced all ten, no room for debate.
Naturally, veins bulged on Kendrick's forehead.
"Use a spin shot, spin! You traitor!"
"...We're screwed."
Katrina muttered at the same time.
Kendrick's insane competitive streak had been ignited. She could sense he'd demand ice setups nonstop until he shattered ten himself.
And surprisingly, Katrina couldn't bring herself to flat-out refuse such requests.
"This is so annoying."
Her frosty face let out a deep sigh.
"......"
Carlos halted his discus-like spear spins. With eerie focus, he alternated glances between the logos on Gravis and his own spear shaft.
"...R&D."
Unlike him—rarely grinning like he found something amusing—Ryucard simply swung his sword as always.
As everyone showed varied reactions, Jin squeezed his eyes shut. Then clenched his fist—
Done!
He'd found a way to wield divinity. No more need for that ridiculous draw from his chest. Guns were cyberpunk, not swords. Definitely not because he had no talent for blades. Right, Gravis?
His heart grew reverent on its own.
A moment where he itched to recite a gunman's litany.
My barrel shines with light,
the trigger delivers judgment.
Gladly avenge against foes.
...Avenge.
......Avenge?
What came next?
No clue. It'll come back later.
Jin gazed at the gun in his hand once more.
His expression was beaming as he looked at his vastly empowered partner.
The rotation ended without a victor.
Many yearned desperately for the matches to resume, but for safety reasons, it wrapped up without even a closing ceremony.
Tournament ends abruptly amid chaos—what a letdown. Could've been legendary.
Shame. This could've been talked about forever as peak rotation.
It will be legendary—just not for the reasons we wanted lol.
Fuckin black mages. Scum like them are relics of a bygone era.
Didn't the families enable that shit too?
Say that to Sword Saint's face.
Anyway, city's security first? Black mages in Primus Zone? Not even Area 40s.
Florence family needs to state their position ASAP.
If the tourney went smooth, who wins?
It was a situation ripe for all sorts of regrets.
Endless chatter erupted willy-nilly.
Of course, this classic question had to pop up.
The IF debate.
Humanity's most heated way to kill time had begun.
Ryucard, who showed true prowess worthy of his name.
Eanna, victor over the old flame.
Cecil, who beat Carlos despite being a traitor.
Jin, who claimed both the tourney's best match and worst walkover.
With such distinct characters among the four semifinalists (sorry, Laf didn't even get a mention), the fusionpunk-style sword debates—or analyses—raged on for days without dying down.
And at that moment.
Unaware his name danced on countless tongues and fingertips, one man lay still on his bed, eyes closed—
[Light of the Old Era]
Jin's eyes, sunk into his inner world, captured a sparkling constellation.
Lights filling the night sky of his mind.
The now-mature scene resembled a galaxy.
Just a year ago, a lonely fist-shaped constellation hung alone—truly dramatic change.
Yes, just like Jin himself.
A strange mood hit; he blinked, spotting unfamiliar radiance far off.
Different from typical constellations. Like Polaris on a clear night, it punctuated the sky distinctly—shining alone, yet unyieldingly divine.
Let's do well.
Welcoming the newcomer with casual words, Jin's gaze drifted to the fist-shaped constellation, [Superhuman].
The star he'd nurtured longest felt especially novel today.
What is this?
Narrowed eyes probed details.
Text rose sequentially.
[True Blood, Passivized Complete]
[Integrated into existing constellation (Superhuman)]
"One Who Swallowed True Blood" ────────────
There was once a blaze that burned cursed blood.
Great battles are forgotten by history,
but that will endures to this day.
⟨ True Blood Swallower ⟩
Oh?
A glint lit Jin's eyes.
True Blood fully digested at last.
Neat caption, followed by a stream of details.
Advantage over True Blood kin.
Resistance to various techniques.
Boosted recovery and physical prowess—etc.
He nodded as he read through the laundry list of perks—title? Achievement? Hidden something-or-other.
And thought:
Vampire bitch, you're done.
The apostle's spell carpet-bombing still chilled his bones. That final punch was just the opener—
But first things first!
His gaze from [Superhuman] shifted to [Mana].
Ignoring branches, a pillar shot skyward.
In raw mana output and capacity, Jin had no equal in his rank. But he wasn't satisfied. His ashen gaze aimed higher.
Requirements ballooned geometrically per level, hands trembling at the thought—but he'd snagged 30,000 XP this time.
That overflowing intangible power poured straight into the dimmed star.
──!
A beam stretched, defying perspective.
Crossing vast darkness, it hit its mark.
Ugh.
His head heated instantly.
Crown chakra? Scalp boiling, then surging through his body.
Pain a hundredfold growth pangs.
Jin gritted his teeth.
Anyone watching would've seen him convulse under closed lids.
The near-perfect circuit expanded. Not just wider—smoothed like a well-paved road.
For seamless mana flow.
Some called it taming.
Meaningless to Jin.
Unlike those polishing paths with thousands of mana runs, he skipped it entirely.
As pain peaked, jaw clenched, molars ground—thunder in his skull maybe.
Suddenly.
He spotted a line crossing the world behind his heels.
Hm? Side-eye: familiar.
The line from swallowing True Blood.
"2nd hierarchy starts here."
Legs that could barely hop then—now strode boldly.
The world welcomed him.
Enlightenment without epiphany.
He'd fully immersed in this world.
Along with deepening imagery.
Next instant.
Jin's eyes snapped open.
"Hah—!"
Utterly refreshed face.
Relieved like after a big deed, he scooted off the bed. Standing at the window overlooking the city.
"Time to head back."
Mulling the end of his long outing, Jin's lips quirked up.
Right after confirming the three energies—once bickering nonstop—had quieted.
Livable now, huh?
He chuckled softly.
Jin Evernight.
Had reached mid-2nd hierarchy.
It was a long spiral staircase.
A massive iron pillar twisted like a corkscrew, endless depth. Beyond the railing, pitch darkness.
But the footsteps descending had no hesitation. As if the blinding dark was no issue.
How much time passed.
Surroundings faintly brightened.
This abyss-like space had a floor after all. The moment boots hit solid ground instead of stairs, the beak-masked figure swept the area.
"You're here?"
A voice. With keyboard clacks.
Dozens of monitors, wires like veins over a cocoon—bags-under-eyes man looked up from the mess.
"......"
Gloved hand swept near the beak mask.
Like magic, the silver-white mask vanished, revealing a stunning face.
"Long time."
Michelle.
But far more known as Crow.
The man silently eyed her bare face, then turned to monitors.
"Heard you joined the rotation."
"Yeah."
"Mind sharing why? 50 million credits."
"Hmm."
Michelle pretended to ponder.
Then grinned wide.
"Nah."
"100 million."
"Nah."
"Not for sale, huh."
Shrug at firm refusal. Back to clacking, eyes fixed—thick cable like a man's wrist linked from his nape somewhere.
Passing him, Michelle plopped on the sofa.
Before her, a colossal brute buried in another sofa—limbs like logs dwarfing most beastmen.
But she just smiled familiarly.
"Hey."
The giant—Killgit—spoke.
"Crow."
"What?"
"Seen Solad's bitch?"
Assuming her rotation entry.
Michelle nodded.
"Yeah."
"Signs of perfecting the flame?"
"Dunno. Against Marzie's kid, she only used white flame."
"I see."
Black Flame shut up; Michelle grinned red.
Not sure if perfect, but she'd clearly seen transparently burning flames. Even for billions in credits, Killgit wouldn't hear it.
Jin's mine.
Meantime, a hammock-dweller spoke up.
"Casiyon?"
"Yeah."
Bags-under-eyes replied; hammock man continued.
"When's the captain showing?"
"Curious?"
"Yep."
"Five million credits."
"Hold on. Sent."
Cool deal that'd make Jin piss himself.
Confirmed, Casiyon answered.
"32 minutes."
"Still late as ever after summoning us. Why'd you call?"
"Five million."
"Sec. Sent—"
Burning ten million without flinching, despite Michelle and Killgit hearing.
"Guessing it's about sky fortress Apophis. Ask him yourself."
"Apophis? That dwarf 'final ark'? Hm."
Man hummed amused; Killgit stayed mum; Michelle searched some solo's intranet on her terminal.
Dim lights lazily lit the underground.
On the walls: massive mural of flowing waterways.
Styx.
Merc group of danger level 5+ criminals. Keyboard clacks echoed like white noise in their hidden lair.