Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Supporters
Now that I knew waves could be repeated, there was no need to obsess over their corpses.
No matter what I did, for some reason the coins were left without a scratch.
The plan was to deal with them, then map out a strategy and repeat properly.
The goblins caught by Berserk began climbing onto the raptors' backs in an instant.
But would I just stand there watching?
Crunch.
"Kieeeeeeeeeeek!"
Leaving behind the one shrieking—it could at least feel pain—I hurriedly began issuing commands.
"The target is the Shaman. Only the lead raptors start. And Overload goes in."
Drip—
A nosebleed began flowing, but dealing with it first was the priority.
There was no way it could spam mass Berserk like this without any penalty.
The proof was the shaman goblin, who had driven its staff into the ground and was quietly exhaling with its eyes open.
<Whirrr…>
"The Goblin Grand Warrior is strong. Definitely."
A creature with an unusual build.
Around it, goblins and goblin warriors formed a group and were repelling the raptors.
"This won't do."
What I immediately purchased with coins.
A javelin.
And not an ordinary javelin.
[Spear of Power]
A javelin that surged with electricity and flew at high speed—even boosted on top of that.
What would happen when a javelin like that met someone like me with the [Throwing] trait?
Crack—
Crackle crackle crackle—
"Phew…die!"
I steadied my breath for a moment, then used Command to have the raptors lure the goblins away so they couldn't approach the Shaman.
At the same time, if I could open a path…
Crack…
"Kieeeeeeeeeeek!"
The Spear of Power buried itself straight into the Goblin Shaman's chest.
Simultaneously, the electricity—the effect of the lodged spear—erupted like mad.
Crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle!
The Shaman collapsed, charred to a crisp, and the goblins caught in Berserk began dropping to the ground.
Most of the ordinary goblins simply passed out on the spot.
Thud.
Thud.
Crunch.
Dealing with them like that, what remained was the staggering Grand Warrior and the Goblin Chieftain behind it wearing a flustered expression.
Naturally, the archers had their throats taken out by the raptors first.
"Kieeeeek! Kiiik! Kek kek!"
The Chieftain shouted something, but the warriors could barely even stand upright due to the aftermath of Berserk.
In the end, the Chieftain charged straight at us wielding a massive club, but the raptors lunged in and bit into its arms and legs.
Thud.
"…Goodbye."
"Kieeep—"
Thud.
I drove a blade into the nape of its neck.
I didn't use a dagger for this one—it was a blade I'd bought for 10 coins, since using a dagger might get me hurt.
"Phew…it's over."
[You have survived Wave Stage 11.]
[Trialseeker HP: 100%]
[Crystal Orb Durability: 100%]
[Reward: Trait Enhancement Ticket]
[You have successfully completed Wave Stage 11.]
[The Sponsor tab is now unlocked.]
[Find your Sponsor!]
"…A Sponsor?"
Wondering what this meant, I placed my hand on the Crystal Orb to find a new tab.
[Shop]
[Community]
[Sponsor]
[???]
One still remained, but a new tab had been unlocked.
My urge to press Sponsor was burning, but those I had met in reality were about to enter soon.
Since they had left right after Stage 10 ended, they'd had rest time—but I had left after my rest time had already partially elapsed, so I had cleared the trials faster than them.
[Giving you the Stage 11 strategy.] Author: Mechanic
First, Stage 11 has 50 ordinary, 20 each of warriors and archers, 10 Grand Warriors, 1 Shaman, and 1 Chieftain.
The Shaman has to be killed before proper combat begins—the reason being that this one applies Berserk.
Their skin turns red, their build gets bigger…roughly speaking, it gets rough.
So you need to deal with them quickly, and when you complete Stage 11, the tab that was listed as [???] gets unlocked as [Sponsor].
Everyone brought guns and grenades from reality, right? Just quickly throw grenades toward where the Shaman and Chieftain are.
The Chieftain isn't that strong, but it forms a defensive formation around the Grand Warriors—I think it's basically this guy causing the trouble.
I'll look into the Sponsor tab first, then share what I find.
Anyway, goodbye everyone.
I hope everyone survives. Looking forward to sharing a drink together in reality.
"That should be enough. Can everyone survive okay…"
Countless people had already died and been wounded.
And the fact that the consequences reached reality was something those who had already returned would surely have heard by now.
They were probably so grief-stricken wondering why they had to go through something like this.
We are the first generation.
If we pave this road, someday—just like the web novels we used to enjoy—there might even be people looking forward to being called here.
"…I should hope for that."
I went right back into the [Sponsor] tab.
Upon entering, alarms suddenly rang out.
[The Final Apocalypse gazes upon you with interest.]
[The Darkening thinks you are charming.]
[The Goddess of the Sea calls herself your Sponsor.]
…
.
.
"These are totally Constellations."
They were clearly Constellations at a glance.
I didn't know what these things were doing, but…
"Hey, all of you."
At my words, the alarms that had been ringing continuously stopped.
"Honestly speaking, I'm not that fixated on growing stronger. I'm neither a saint nor a demon—I like dopamine, but not to the point of risking my life over it. If I became a Hunter, I was just thinking of digging into the low floors and making money."
Constellations…should I call them that.
The Sponsors said nothing.
Alarms indicating interest did go off occasionally, but those weren't ones being sent intentionally.
"Looking at independence fighters during history class, I'd think to myself—I couldn't do that. But even so, if an independence fighter had come asking for a place to sleep…I'd be the kind of person who would at least feed them and keep them warm. That's exactly the kind of person I am."
Grin.
"So right now. I want someone who will be useful. And someone who suits my Unique Trait as well. I'll only take in someone who can help me coast along while also making it easy for others to break through this place. Is there anyone like that?"
…
..
.
[The God of Machines and Knowledge smiles at you.]
"…A God? A title of God…?"
[The King of the Underground Tunnels is astonished.]
[The Affiliate buries their face in their pillow in shock.]
Crackle..crackle…
[My child. Your Unique Trait looks truly fascinating. I have observed countless planets, but this is a Unique Trait I have never seen before.]
"This…is…"
[Take my hand. As the God of Machines and Knowledge, I wish to see how far you can grow. And if possible, spreading my faith throughout your world would be welcome too.]
"Ha…hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
[…]
Hilarious.
A God is pitching themselves to me?
And a God of Machines and Knowledge, no less!
"Ahh…this is insane. Is it okay for this much dopamine to be released?"
I was probably not in my right mind.
Even if it was through a system interface, I was having a conversation with someone called a God, no less.
An unstoppable sense of elation and dopamine was exploding out.
[Oh my…was that a bit much. Then please consider forming a contract with me. Fufu…]
Crackle…crackle crackle crackle crackle…
[Error error error error error error error error error…]
"Ugh…ugh…ughhh…"
The Crystal Orb suddenly turned red.
The energy erupting from around that Crystal Orb cut off my breath in an instant.
Being unable to breathe was the same as dying soon.
But not long after—
[Oh my. If it's going to act up like this, that's a problem. I said I would form a contract soon.]
Crackle crackle crackle…
Crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle!
Suddenly electricity and mana intertwined and something began to intervene.
A God had intervened in the affairs of a mere human.
At that, the Crystal Orb regained its stability in an instant, and using that as my last memory, I had no choice but to lose consciousness.
***
"…How curious. It is amusing enough that a mere human dares to possess that, but."
"My God! That is something that can only be obtained by becoming your avatar! Those damned ones dared to give your divine power to a human!"
"Wasn't that the contract to begin with? To provide power. That said, it is still curious that a living being exists who can contain my power."
"But my God!"
"…Enough."
"…"
Grip—
A human who dares to use the power of the God they serve so carelessly.
She didn't know how the system had copied it—but the fact that a mere human possessed power that even she herself could not contain was something that even she, who had transcended mortal limits, found difficult to accept.
"…Rupatuase. Enough. In a way, might this person not become one of your priests?"
"…You intend to accept this one? Into your sanctuary? I cannot understand this! A human like that, all the more so! Do you not know? That one who holds a God's power within a human body remains a mere human even after transcending mortal limits!"
"Enough. You too were once human."
"But I have transcended mortal limits..!"
"Haaa…my children truly overflow with too much passion. They are not machine-like at all."
"Is that not exactly why you embraced us? Because we are machines that are not machine-like."
"Ha ha…that's right. Come here."
The God of Machines and Knowledge.
Before her eyes, Kim Hyeon-woo—moving vividly.
Her eyes curved as she gazed at him collapsed and breathing in ragged gasps.
"A funny one. How on earth could he contain this within his body…and more than that."
Swooosh—
"It's been a while. I should go pay that one a visit."
Trudge trudge.
"Haaa…really. Just because I was quiet for a mere 100 million years, this kind of disrespect shouldn't be allowed."
Crack.
Crack.
"Let's go. Rupatuase."
Whoosh…
"Yes. My God."