Chapter 124
Chapter 124
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Floating Island Counteroffensive
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[You…. How are you here….]
"Ah, hold on, timeout."
Dre blocked Almiraz's words with an outstretched hand and stepped forward in front of someone, his expression tense.
Tension before battle?
No. It was different.
Looking closely, he was even holding a bouquet of flowers.
Did he really stop by a flower shop on his way here? In this situation?
Almiraz clamped his mouth shut in disbelief, but Dre didn't spare him even a sideways glance as he stared straight at Asita.
"D-Dre, you're alive..."
"Um, Asita. What I mean is..."
He started speaking awkwardly, then suddenly swallowed and took a deep breath. And then.
"What I mean is."
"......!"
Asita's eyes widened the moment he switched to casual speech.
"Honestly, back in school, I didn't have friends, got bullied, and... did some stuff I couldn't tell others about. So I think I ended up making you uncomfortable without realizing it."
"...Uh, Dre. That's..."
"So, um..."
She could sense an apology coming.
So Asita prepared her own apology.
Admitting it was her fault for being stubborn.
Then Dre scratched his head and spoke.
"I like you, so I want to make up."
"......"
At first, she didn't understand, but soon her face flushed red as a ripe persimmon.
Unable to hold back the overwhelming emotion, Asita mumbled the word she'd only thought to herself.
"I-It's me. I was stubborn and wrong. There's no way you, Dre, would use me... But seeing that woman made me feel bad and angry for no reason..."
Asita, rambling incoherently, squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
"I like you too, Dre!!"
At those words, Dre's face lit up.
Meanwhile, Medeus's expression darkened as if wondering what the hell these crazy kids were doing.
Ignoring that, Dre shouted.
"Great! Let's be friends for life!!"
"Yes! Friends... Huh?"
Everyone there except Almiraz, Dre, and Kaiz tilted their heads in unison.
What the hell is this idiot saying?
Soon, Asita's face turned beet red for an entirely different reason, and she let out a piercing screech.
"You bastard!!"
"???? Why, why?"
Dre flailed his arms in a gesture of genuine confusion, fidgeting anxiously.
[Pfft.]
Suddenly, someone burst out laughing amid it all.
It was so unexpected that no one grasped it at first.
[Ahem.]
Almiraz cleared his throat awkwardly and looked at Dre anew.
[Have you said all you needed to say? Yerudre.]
"Yeah. I've put out the urgent fire, so now shall we get to our business?"
[Business? I have no more business here.]
Almiraz pointed at the blue moon with his palm.
[The descent ends now. The false puppet show and its pathetic, repulsive puppets meet their end, and a new beginning...]
Dre suddenly yelled "Aaaah!" and raised his hand to cut off Almiraz.
"Aaaah! No hard words. So basically, you've done what you came for and you're gonna bail now?"
[......That's right.]
He hated to admit it, but no better explanation came to mind, so Almiraz nodded.
"I heard you're gonna warp gate out? Makes sense—no trackers, easy escape. Right?"
[......]
"How'd I get here via warp gate?"
[What?]
It was the question Almiraz had pondered earlier.
The Alien Killer found himself listening to Dre's words despite himself.
"I've always felt it when using gates, even now—I can manipulate them however I want. So as long as I'm standing here, you won't escape properly."
[You expect me to believe that?]
"Just try. You'll regret it."
[......]
Almiraz stared at Dre intently, then snorted.
[Even if it's a bit annoying, I can just descend to the surface myself.]
"I'll block that too."
[Block it? Even with your precious friend in my grasp?]
Almiraz's fingers, the size of an adult's hand, tickled Asita's chin.
Unlike before, there was no malice—just Asita flinching in fear.
But Dre remained calm.
"That's why you've been stalling instead of killing her, right?"
It was a tone of certainty.
[......Acting like you know.]
"I kinda get it. But even so, you seem hesitant, so..."
Shing. Dre drew his sword.
[What? Space Slash? Rising Earth? New skill?]
"You've been investigating me?"
[Of course.]
A smile formed on Dre's lips.
Pure joy.
"An honor, Alien Killer."
[......]
"But none of your guesses are right. I'll tell you—I'm gonna do exactly what you did."
[What?]
Boom!
[?!?!?!]
No sooner had the words left than immense pressure bypassed Asita and crushed only Almiraz.
This wasn't a skill.
Just pure, overwhelming force.
By the time he looked up, the beautiful girl was already in Dre's arms, far away.
Dre, standing among the students, set Asita down with the flowers and looked down at Clarier.
"What are you doing?"
"W-What do you mean?"
Clarier stammered in response to Dre.
"Why are you spacing out? Protect with ice or something."
"No way, why should I listen to you...!"
But Dre ignored her and walked back toward Almiraz.
Kuak.
Force equal to what Dre had used.
Almiraz, freed from the pressure by the Floating Island's power, glared at Dre with sharply opened cyan eyes.
[How can you wield the Floating Island's power? The authority should still be mine.]
Floating Island's power.
At those words, surprise flickered in the instructors' and students' eyes.
"I got partial authority from the core."
[...I see. So it wasn't Hero Kaiz who extracted the core—it was you. The barrier makes sense, but how did you awaken her consciousness?]
Dre froze for a moment, cleared his throat awkwardly, and said.
"How about it? Feeling up for a fight now..."
[Pathetic.]
Almiraz spoke indifferently and reached for the blue moon again.
[The Floating Island's authority was all for this phenomenon from the start. Losing some island authority now doesn't faze me...]
Right then, blue moonlight extended toward the ground.
People lost their words at the eerie moonlight carrying unknown power.
Touch that light, and they'd be done for.
"Hm."
At that moment, Dre drew his sword and spun it.
Then he swung the whirling blade toward the sky.
Crack!
The moonlight split with a sound like cracking wood.
[What?]
And that wasn't all.
The area attack spread, affecting the surroundings.
The blue force and flames pressing the instructors vanished at once.
Almiraz's skull face trembled in unprecedented shock.
[Impossible.... Even with Destruction attribute, how can you sever a god's power?]
"It works, so what can you do?"
[......]
Almiraz examined Dre as if he couldn't comprehend.
One of those warned by 'Him'.
The one who subdued Prostia and sliced a dragon corpse like tofu.
But that was it.
...Or so he'd thought.
He'd assumed nothing else outstanding besides attack power, so he'd isolated him carefully...
'Matter, energy, or phenomena. It cuts anything.'
An Irregular beyond imagination.
"...That's enough, Instructor Dre."
It was Alfred who spoke.
Not just him—Emily brushed off her front, glaring coldly at Almiraz, and the nearly crushed Jigai staggered up with a grin.
Freed from the pressure thanks to Dre severing the god's power.
"We'll handle the rest."
"No, I'll do it."
Dre replied without turning.
"Not the time for that."
"Right. Restore the Floating Island to normal, subdue him, uncover the mastermind behind..."
"Don't interfere."
Dre cut off the instructors again.
This time, the hero's companions—master thief Raeband and Cardinal Maria—stepped forward.
"We'll commend your merits later, Alien Dre. For now, drop the stubbornness and deal with Almiraz..."
At that, Dre slowly turned his head.
His eyes, unusually filled with irritation and anger.
"I said don't interfere."
Kwang!
Once more, the Floating Island's immense power crushed them.
Unable to react to the sudden force from an ally, they were pinned.
Ignoring their bewildered stares, Dre smiled.
[...What are you doing?]
"What else? She's mine."
Step. Step.
Dre closed the distance a bit more, then released the pressure by manipulating the power again.
"...! Alien Dre! This behavior...!"
"If you've done nothing but get beaten till now, stay in the corner and sulk."
"W-What did you say?"
As Maria faltered at the unimaginable insult, Dre drove it home.
"I mean wait quietly."
[Keh.]
Almiraz laughed.
He shook his head in disbelief.
[You wield the Floating Island's power so adeptly. At that level, you could restore this altar too. The descent would end if you willed it. So why don't you?]
Dre looked at him like it was obvious.
"Huh? Then you wouldn't fight desperately. End this phenomenon, and you'd probably just bail."
[......]
"So let's make a promise. I won't block the descent even if it's bad for me, and if I lose, I'll hand the authority back quietly. And though the descent is fairly advanced, I won't disrupt that power anymore here."
Dre looked up at the blue moon, then at Almiraz with a "How's that?" expression.
Almiraz's cyan eyes gleamed as he growled.
[...Disgusting.]
"Huh?"
[Arrogant and pathetic, Yerudre. I know you subdued Prostia.]
The eyes of the White Horse Lord, who had collapsed during the sword fight, widened in shock.
What had been mere speculation became fact.
"Yeah."
[Impressive. I acknowledge it. But she was at less than 30% power, couldn't use her specialty magic, and above all, you had cheat-level strength then—which you've lost now. Right?]
"Mm... Mostly true. If Prostia-nim's descent rate had been just 5% higher... I wouldn't be in this world right now."
Nim? Ignoring the odd honorific, Almiraz continued.
[You've trained decently since, but have you fought worthy opponents? Even sparred? Otherwise... just pumping stats won't let you beat me, the Alien Killer, right?]
Crack crack.
Dre cracked his neck and grinned.
"That's why I'm practicing techniques now. On you."
[......Underestimating me?]
"No way. Honestly, I probably can't win right now."
[Then why?]
"I said 'now'."
Almiraz shut his mouth.
The ultimate provocation.
So, he'd grow mid-fight and win?
Arrogance.
Pure Alien thinking.
Pathetic puppets unaware they're puppets, thinking themselves protagonists.
Almiraz growled.
[You. Might be decent, but you're an idiot. The 1st Purgatory Demon King Gorgag still rampages, and your patron god is dea—]
Mid-sentence, Almiraz flinched.
In his eyes, Dre wasn't just physically off—his stats were abnormal too.
[...Who is your patron god?]
Dre blinked blankly, then gaped in a weird expression.
"Loveheart! Loveheart!! Loveheart!!! Loveheart!!!! Loveheart!!!!! Loveheart!!!!!!Loveheart!!!!!!! Loveheart!!!!!!!!"
Almiraz tilted his head at Yerudre desperately calling the goddess's name.
[Not her.]
"...Huh?"
[Well, yes, but you're mistaken about something. You... Now I see, you're like me—no resurrection right.]
"Resurrection right... Ah, that."
The privilege Aliens had—restart even after death.
Dre lacked it.
Almiraz's tone calmed.
[Your patrons... Whatever they're thinking, you're abandoned by them like me.]
"Hm? Well... No idea what you're on about. Don't know much about them or other Aliens."
[Simply put, you benefit if a forgotten god descends too. So...]
Dre suddenly scowled.
Like bothersome noise only he heard.
"Almiraz."
[What.]
"You talk too much."
[......]
"Scared or something?"
Seeing Dre take stance, Almiraz blinked his cyan eyes.
By then, Dre had already raised his arms in combat pose.
Blue moonlight descended.
Not an attack this time.
But upon touching ground, it shifted form.
"Kraaah!"
"Rooaaar!"
Light turning into monsters.
The instructors, freed from pressure, paled at the sight.
Those couldn't be ignored—immense strength.
Almiraz's intent was clear: prevent interference.
But with Dre blocking him, and no cooperation, they couldn't stop it knowingly.
[Good. Regret your foolish choice to your heart's content.]
"About time."
Grinning fiercely, Dre shot forward like lightning—no more words needed.
Bam!
"?!"
Dre was repelled. He stabbed his sword into the ground to slow, swung it, and the earth exploded.
Rising Earth.
Cone-like energy surged up.
But Almiraz, floating mid-air, dove to crush Dre. Dre hopped aside, swinging his sword.
Kiaaaaaa!!
An unnatural clash between sword and hand.
"......!"
[Severing Blade that cuts dragon corpses and damages Prostia. But ultimately, a Ryunar application.]
"Hold o—"
[Meaning, against Destruction attribute, Ryunar application allows perfect defense.]
Bam!
Repelled again by the backhand.
Almiraz pursued relentlessly, declaring in a grim voice.
[Touch my hand, and it's over.]
Fingers toward Dre's chin, touching.
Crack...
[...]
No satisfying sound.
Dre twisted just before neck snap.
Not stopping, he swung at Almiraz's head. Almiraz punched back.
Craaaack!
Dre slid back, raising his head.
His eyes held surprise and shock.
As Almiraz said—Dre's absolute technique wasn't working.
The students, led by Asita, were speechless.
Dre had overwhelmingly won most fights in one blow till now.
[No one's seen your moves or sword paths before. Your astonishing speed comes not from specs, but optimal force application and swing routes.]
So against someone who knows and counters at similar level, it's laughably slow compared to top Aliens, Almiraz sneered.
[Reality sink in?]
"......"
[Use any of the eight gods' blessings that empowered you. I won't hold back either.]
"Mm..."
Dre smiled troubledly.
But.
He seemed to enjoy it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [What the fuck is that retard doing???]
[Pimply bitch.]
[Aaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breakingaaaah my mind's breaking.......]
[You bastard just use the Floating Island authorityyy]
[Getting his ass beat lol.]
[Dude has no clue his place.]
💬 Comments — Anonymous The community erupted again. We thought we'd gotten laughs and energy back from Dre's entrance, hostage rescue, and snatching Floating Island authority—what the hell is this crazy shit? Just blocking the descent would make him a new ranker, hailed as a hero. What's he lacking to pull this stunt? "Goddamn that retard...!"
Yun Hye-mi wasn't spared, spewing curses.
Amid it, only Yun Seok-il glared uncomfortably at surroundings before checking the screen.
He knew.
Yerudre had played countless games.
Always starting as the weakling in new ones.
And always, always...
Then Yun Seok-il noticed Shin Jin-pae had vanished.
Distracted by Yerudre's antics, he hadn't noticed.
The Dre-Almiraz duel was intriguing, but seemed stuck in 'probing', so Seok-il quietly got up to find Shin Jin-pae.
'How does that guy know Dre?'
Luckily, not far.
He'd return soon for the duel.
Seok-il peeked at Shin Jin-pae.
No gentlemanly poise—extremely flustered face.
Gripping high-rise railing, yelling into communicator.
"That bastard... That bastard's here, Chairman!! He's here...! Who?! Obviously Yerudre!"
Talking Dre again.
Hoping for info, he eavesdropped hidden. Shin Jin-pae irritably said.
"This time you're wrong, Chairman. Watch Yerudre lose? Bullshit."
Then, assertively.
"That mad bastard can't lose."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Boom! Kwang!
Black orbs cornered Dre.
End soon.
Dre's level 58.
Impressive endurance for specs, but ending.
Activate privilege or perk? Use 'Perk Seal'.
Unlike rumors, Almiraz's Perk Seal sealed not just Alien perks, but all god-derived powers.
Why Dre's 'Rising Earth' ignored 'Blessing of Burden' and didn't track him.
'Has 'Blessing of Burden'.'
Not just that—'Wisdom of All Things', Ryunar blessings enhanced. Benefits unimaginable for normal users.
Plus 'Summon' and now 'Equality'—even battle-hardened Almiraz shuddered.
Odd he hadn't used Equality here—insanely powerful.
...Must eliminate here.
Not just privileges—skill blinding.
Definite future threat.
Almiraz didn't dislike Yerudre.
Tragic good soul.
That was his assessment.
Kaiz's expectation of stopping him—surely this man.
And genuinely worrying for Asita despite her constitution—this man too.
Irregular-level power.
Likeable in many ways.
But his arrogance—believing himself special for not blocking descent—would turn him into those god puppets, users, humans eventually.
Better break him himself before that.
Kwaang!
His Destruction-infused severing blade failed to pierce Almiraz's rotating Destruction arm.
"Tch..."
Dre clicked tongue, widening distance.
Fast.
Almiraz couldn't pursue immediately.
Mobility issue largely resolved—revolutionary training.
This strong in ~100 days—chilling future potential.
But future's future. Now's now.
'Makes me sick.'
Pitying as tragic good soul, yet disgust too.
Mistaking god powers for his own, drunk on strength, focusing on fight.
People savable now, but heedless of their future—selfishly battling.
Repulsive, pathetic.
Not trash users yet—but time issue.
Didn't want to see good soul turn trash.
Crush the chilling bud, end this unpleasantness quick.
Attacks intensified.
Surrounded by dark orbs, ragged, Almiraz said.
[Regretting?]
"Hm? A bit?"
[I see.]
Sighing, he extended hand.
No retreat for Dre. Attacks fiercer than ever—defense unlikely.
Time to end.
Asita, Mayal, El, etc., moved.
Watched after Dre yelled at instructors—but no more...
And.
Slash.
[......]
Almiraz saw it.
His arm cleanly severed, scattering in air.
[...?!?!?!]
Bam!
Kangaroo-legged kick widened distance hugely.
What happened? What did he do?
New technique after assuming probing done.
Then Dre raised head.
Face full of strange satisfaction.
"Regretting. Why didn't I meet a badass like you sooner?"
[......]
"Finally getting the knack."
Grinning, Dre stepped forward.
And.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The consciousness of 500 ? descends on the Floating Island.] [What.]
Users—and Almiraz—gaped.
Five hundred?
Half the gods?
Why now, after just watching?
Answer came soon.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [??? ? says let's start the bet.] [??? ? scolds that now's not the time.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The God of Equality, Olnist, says: I've waited long.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The consciousness of 500 ?? descends.] Unbelievable.
Almiraz was speechless.
Not just normal gods—even evil gods interested?
All divine gazes favorable.
Gaze of the race Alien Killer despised.
Suppressing nausea, Almiraz stared at the user—no, enemy before him.
[Yerudre. What are you?]
"What're you saying."
Instead of answer, cringy expression, Dre charged again.