Chapter 386
Chapter 386
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 386
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gungheol's face twisted grotesquely.
"You call that an explanation...?! I...! No, we don't even know who you are! We don't know your name! You think we'd buy that ridiculous excuse?!"
"That's what most people would think. But you're being played by one of the god-seats right now."
"Played...?!"
Gungheol's steps halted for a moment. He had his suspicions too.
In Atlantis, it was common for exiles to be manipulated by god-seats. Even without direct interference, they could guide exiles' actions through messages and missions.
The King of Macheon was a prime example—he wanted me to kill someone via missions and sponsorships. But the King of Macheon was nonspecific. It was always something vague like "kill the human in front of you."
There was no specificity, so the system didn't penalize it.
But the Blue Bird that Summons Dark Clouds was different. It was using Okjeong and the Uwangseong Legion to try to kill me.
"Damn it...!"
A surge of aura erupted from him.
It wasn't just killing intent directed at me.
He'd probably just realized the Blue Bird that Summons Dark Clouds's scheme. Despite looking like a dumb bear, the guy had a sharp mind.
"Even if that's true, it doesn't justify Okjeong betraying us and killing our comrades! And above all, I will never forgive you for seducing her!"
"Oh, were you into Okjeong, by any chance?"
Okjeong was already far away.
"Yeah. I loved Okjeong once. But now she's just my enemy. My love for her is dead."
He closed in on me. The pressure was intense.
But I didn't back down. Guys like him were a dime a dozen in Atlantis. Stronger ones were everywhere. I couldn't run scared every time I faced one.
"Okjeong didn't want to betray you at first. She had some feelings for you. You know she's an excellent fucktoy, right? Hit her in the face with your cockhammer, and that masochistic cunt starts drooling pussy juice."
"Bullshit. Trying to buy time?"
"Okjeong said it herself at the start. She asked you to hit her."
"...!"
I wasn't stupid enough to just let Okjeong go without insurance. I'd planted a bug in her clothes, in case she betrayed me. If she did, she'd go from fucktoy to venom generator real quick.
"If you'd hit her with the right amount of force to satisfy her back then, she would've betrayed me."
"What do you know about Okjeong to spout this crap?"
I smirked.
"You don't know her either."
"..."
Bam!
Gungheol kicked off the ground, done with talking, and charged at me. He was practically flying.
'Not scared of my sword? Or has rage made him lose his mind?'
I swung my sword infused with sword aura and Astrafe at him. Gungheol summoned qi around his wrist and deflected it.
'Damn. Not even a scratch?'
His fist slammed into my chest. The overwhelming force sent me flying back. Without my armor, it would've been a critical injury. I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat.
Thud!
Mid-flight, I stabbed my sword into the ground to halt my momentum and landed. A normal blade would've snapped, but this dwarf-forged sword was unscathed.
'Even poisoned like that, he's this strong...'
He charged through the dust cloud like a mad bull, eyes spinning wildly.
I extended my hand toward him.
Six bolts of Manroe materialized around my hand, spinning. I fired them off one by one like a revolver.
Rumble!
Thunder roared as the six bolts shot out in sequence.
Gungheol didn't dodge. He took all six head-on and kept coming, faster than before—no electrocution in sight.
I gripped my sword with both hands.
My thought speed accelerated. The charging Gungheol looked sluggish.
'Right side's open.'
As he entered striking range, I moved at near-perfect timing. Targeting his flank.
'Unlike his hands, he can't channel qi there.'
I dodged his attack and closed in successfully. My sword bit into his side, blood spraying. But it didn't sink deep.
Gungheol had grabbed the blade. I let go of the hilt without hesitation.
'No dragging this out. Ending it here.'
Clank!
A blade shot out from my right gauntlet. I channeled sword aura, activated Chalna, and aimed for his neck.
Crunch!
Gungheol clamped down on it with his teeth. Blood poured from his gums.
"...Crazy bastard!"
His fist crushed my gut. I flew into the sky, tumbled across the ground, skipped across the lake surface like a stone, and plunged in.
One of my Playful Life app skills activated: Blessing of Water. I could breathe underwater, move freely despite the heavy armor, and even recover stamina.
'Doesn't mean I'll just float here.'
The lake was so clear I could see outside somewhat. Gungheol was charging to finish me.
I surfaced onto the water. The Water Walk effect let me stand on it.
Clank!
I deployed the left gauntlet blade too.
Thud thud thud!
Gungheol was coming.
'What the hell? Did he evolve or something?'
Gungheol's form had changed. From human to half-beast—head like an ox, legs ending in hooves. Fur sprouted on his arms and neck.
'Had a transformation skill?'
He looked like a red minotaur.
I figured the One Who Pacifies the Heavens was Gungheol's patron god-seat. The Lord of the Heavens seemed annoyed by the name.
'Not the time to worry about god-seats. Focus.'
Blue lightning crackled along each gauntlet blade. I tried to make them resonate, but it wouldn't work. Tried again—still failing.
'It worked in practice, but now it's screwing up.'
Gungheol was almost at the lake's edge. He was burning mana stupidly to run across the water. That kind of usage would exhaust him fast. Meaning he planned to end me for good. In the end, I used a skill I'd been saving.
My senses sharpened. My field of vision expanded dramatically.
Crackle! Zap!
The Noegong that kept failing succeeded instantly with the skill. But that wasn't all—a blue circle formed between the resonating lightning.
The spinning lightning grew stronger.
Unconsciously, I applied Manroe's principle to Noegong. It was slightly different from resonating Manroe.
I knew this was distinct from Noegong. A lucky discovery, but its power was obviously devastating. I decided to call this technique Noeseong from now on.
"Mooooooo!"
Gungheol bellowed and charged. I hurled Noeseong at him.
It detonated.
"...!"
A deafening roar threatened to burst my eardrums as the entire lake shook.
It was a miniature lightning storm. Thousands of bolts raged in a confined area. Gungheol couldn't move and had to tank it with his body.
Noeseong lasted 5 seconds before vanishing. Gungheol's charred corpse plummeted into the lake.
"..."
I stared at the body with a complicated expression. If asked to use Noeseong again, I wasn't confident I could.
'...Sigh. Why was I born without talent?'
He left cleanly, so he wasn't pissed about his contractor dying.
It wasn't rare. Some god-seats obsessed over contractors; others just let them be.
I sent Okjeong to the Mapungdan. She'd serve usefully as my fucktoy and poison brewer.
The Mapungdan was steadily growing its forces too.
Afterward, I returned to Elena and explained the rumors about the Platinum Lake. She nodded as she listened.
"So in the end, you bagged two sex slaves."
"...Well, that's the result. Uwangseong Legion's wiped out—any issues?"
"I don't care about trash like that. More importantly, heading north?"
"Got business in Sector 2,671."
"Sector 2,671—the Labyrinth of Destiny, huh. You going means there's something hidden I don't know about. Some peerless elixir?"
"..."
I fell silent for a moment, then grinned and asked Elena,
"Wanna come?"
"Nah. The Crown Prince has been acting suspicious lately. Need to keep an eye."
"Ah. That."
"You know something?"
"He's cozying up to the angels. To solidify his Crown Prince position."
"...Angels?"
"Angelus Legion."
"I see. Good intel. What do you want as payment?"
"What're you talking about between us? This one's on the house. Service."
"No. It feels off taking it for free. You're heading to 2,671, so... I'll give you a temporary title."
"Temporary title? Knight rank's plenty."
"Sector 2,671 is under the Thousand-Year Duke. Knight rank won't cut it."
Having profited from knight rank before, I was intrigued.
"What title?"
"Temporary Inspector. Not permanent—just interim. Month-long term sounds good."
"...Oh. Coming in strong."
Inspector.
True to the name, it came with inspection authority. In Valdart, inspectors could probe nobles down to earl rank.
"Your info's worth that much. Thought about paying cash, but you wouldn't want that."
"Not worried I'll abuse it?"
"I am. So gorge moderately. Remember, it's temporary."
"Won't that build a bad rep?"
Elena grinned.
"Doesn't matter. You're temporary anyway. If needed, we cut you loose. Plus, my reputation's stellar. Mention my name in another noble's sector, and you'll see plenty trembling."
I chuckled and left the room.
"Fine. I'll bring some Dionysian wine as a souvenir on the way back."
"What?! W-wait! What do you mean? Explain!"
Elena, who loved grapes in any form—wine, candy, whatever—shot up from her seat.
She reached for me, but I shut the door and bolted.
'Looking forward to getting back.'
I deliberately avoided teleport scrolls and rode horseback. Couldn't waste a rare inspector title.
The inspector's power was immense.
Every sector welcomed me lavishly. Some nobles stood stiff at first, but one mention of invoking inspection authority, and they bowed low.
Staying in mansions or castles, maids naturally attended my bed. Bribes were commonplace. Some nobles even sent daughters to seduce me. I couldn't ignore their sincerity.
With merchants, I could nitpick and "inspect" to extort cash or goods. Shady ones offered wives or daughters for a night.
One report to Elena, and they'd be executed, assets seized.
'Kya, power's the best.'
I actually reported a few to Elena, and her knights moved immediately. The title was legit.
"Tch. Bothering the Duchess over crap like this... Not pleased."
A knight with long black hair glared openly at me.
I didn't snap. If it'd been an ugly guy, I'd have ruined him by any means. But she was a stunning female knight.
Silky black hair, sharp green eyes. Piercing gaze. My type to a T.
"Don't get too cocky just 'cause you're temporary."
Michelle Bristol, vice-captain of the Oblivia Knights, warned me and left.
I eyed her armored back and licked my lips.
How should I fuck that woman?