Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Pyramid (2)
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“Is it really okay to just let him go like that?”
Song Hana asked Kang Hyun-soo with a puzzled look on her face.
Even though the Frost Flower Sword God had become one of his subordinate commanders.
She worried that releasing him so freely without any restrictions might be a mistake.
“I only took him under my command because he’d be useful in the war against the Demon King’s army.”
“Even so, he could go around blabbing about your job skills.”
Kang Hyun-soo hadn’t placed any restrictions on the Frost Flower Sword God.
If that Frost Flower Sword God started talking about his job skills—Commander Appointment and Commander’s Blessing—what then?
It could cause problems.
“That’s why I deliberately said nothing.”
“Huh? What do you mean...?”
Song Hana looked even more confused.
“Deliberately?”
The Fighting Emperor wore a curious expression as well.
“There’s a saying: birds of a feather flock together. You think the people the Frost Flower Sword God is close to are ordinary folks?”
“So you’re saying he’s buddies with players who hold God’s Title?”
“The odds are high.”
Truth be told, it wasn’t just high odds—it was a fact.
‘Most of them are lone wolf types, though.’
Fist God and Divine Demon Sword.
Like attracts like, or green grows with green—as the saying goes, the Frost Flower Sword God had built ongoing friendships with the Fist God and Divine Demon Sword, both lone wolves bearing God’s Title.
‘More precisely, they’re rivals.’
The kind of bad friends who growl at each other but share a bond.
‘They used to be dead even, impossible to call a clear winner.’
But Kang Hyun-soo’s buffs had shattered that balance.
‘The Frost Flower Sword God isn’t the type to sit quietly.’
He’d surely start showing off his strength, and naturally, the Fist God and Divine Demon Sword would learn about Kang Hyun-soo.
‘I wonder what choice they’ll make?’
From Kang Hyun-soo’s perspective, it was something to look forward to.
“You want to bring other God’s Title players under your command, don’t you?”
Kang Hyun-soo nodded at Song Hana’s words.
“But if word gets out about your job skills, wouldn’t that put you in danger?”
There was no guarantee that God’s Title players would act gentlemanly.
Worst case, they could shove a soul contract in his face and try to squeeze buffs out of him without any real commitment.
“That’s only a worry if I’m weak.”
Kang Hyun-soo had kept info on his job Lone Unit locked down tight out of such concerns.
However.
By defeating the Frost Flower Sword God one-on-one, he’d gotten a precise measure of his own power.
“Right now, I can handle it.”
Even if four God’s Title players—not two—ganged up on him, the outcome would be the same.
He wouldn’t even need to summon the Frost Flower Sword God. Just deploying Arch-Lich King Lemonshits, Doppelganger King Taliman, and Orc Lord Kashiku would suffice.
“Um, Hyun-soo... do you like strong players?”
That was when Yuka, who’d been keeping quiet until now, timidly spoke up.
“Less ‘like’ and more ‘necessary’ for the upcoming war against the Demon King’s army.”
“Necessary... necessary existence... someone absolutely necessary to Hyun-soo.”
Yuka muttered to herself, her eyes igniting with fierce ambition.
‘I’ll become a God’s Title player and be someone absolutely necessary to Hyun-soo.’
She’d already been jealous of Kang Hyun-soo’s summons, who were powerful in their own right.
Naturally, she couldn’t help but envy the Frost Flower Sword God and any other God’s Title players Kang Hyun-soo called “necessary.”
‘I’ll grow even stronger and become the one Hyun-soo loves most.’
As Yuka’s eyes sparkled.
Song Hana clenched her fists tight.
‘To stay by Hyun-soo’s side, I need to get stronger.’
While Yuka and Song Hana burned with determination.
‘I’ll catch up for sure.’
The Fighting Emperor’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit too.
He’d always overflowed with the desire to grow stronger.
Watching Kang Hyun-soo clash with the Frost Flower Sword God had set his blood boiling.
And ignited his aspiration to become a powerhouse like that.
‘Perfect.’
Kang Hyun-soo smiled brightly at the three fired up with resolve.
They were the ones once called the Corpse Emperor, Fighting Emperor, and Blood Witch before his regression—top-tier named players who’d reigned supreme.
They were growing faster than in his previous life already.
But with this burning drive, their growth would accelerate even more.
‘I’ll make sure you earn different titles this time.’
Especially for the Blood Witch Yuka—he was determined to see her gain a new one.
* * *
The Frost Flower Sword God spent the next week behaving himself.
Partly to adapt to his suddenly boosted stats.
‘Who knows what tricks he might’ve pulled.’
Kang Hyun-soo had set him free.
But there could be hidden restrictions or surveillance he didn’t know about.
So he kept a low profile.
But nothing happened.
That brought out his true colors.
He hunted monsters as usual.
And beat down any arrogant nobles or players who caught his eye.
Even acting freely as always brought no changes or constraints.
‘I’m really free.’
He was nominally under Kang Hyun-soo’s command and nothing more.
‘And he gave me this insane buff.’
Plus, the Frost Flower Sword God remembered clearly.
‘My rank is battalion commander.’
But the blessing Kang Hyun-soo gave him was for a division commander.
‘He can grant even stronger buffs.’
Kang Hyun-soo had simply chosen not to give him that one.
A small greed sparked.
If Kang Hyun-soo called him, he’d shine so brightly he’d earn an even better buff.
But.
‘When’s he gonna call?’
Kang Hyun-soo hadn’t contacted him, as if he’d forgotten all about him.
‘Well, he can handle most invasions on his own.’
Unless it was a massive one, there’d be no need.
The Frost Flower Sword God was immersed in hunting, bored with the routine.
When he suddenly shot to his feet.
He’d confirmed no restrictions.
And fully adapted to his skyrocketing stats.
So?
‘Time for a rematch.’
He’d smashed the Mantis Guild to rack up achievements for exactly this.
‘I’ll win for sure.’
Even when he’d crushed the Mantis Guild for achievements, he hadn’t been certain.
But now was different.
He brimmed with absolute confidence of victory.
‘Well, it’s a bit of a cheat.’
But it was his power all the same, wasn’t it?
The Frost Flower Sword God moved for his rematch.
“What brings you here?”
His opponent eyed him curiously and asked.
“I’m here for a rematch.”
“Pfft!”
Veins bulged on the Frost Flower Sword God’s forehead at the opponent’s scoff.
“You know it’s beyond your level.”
“Beyond my level? It was a razor-thin margin!”
“And that razor-thin margin is everything.”
A victor’s smile curled on the lips of the man the Frost Flower Sword God had come to face.
Fist God.
The player who’d claimed God’s Title with his two fists.
A lone dominant force, never forming any special faction like the Frost Flower Sword God.
Two years ago, in their duel, Fist God had beaten him.
“I heard you raided the Mantis Guild for achievements. Wonder how I found out?”
“You probably beat them up too.”
At the Frost Flower Sword God’s words, Fist God rose.
Crack! Crack!
He cracked his neck and twisted his arms in a light stretch.
“You’re right. And I got achievements too. Has the gap between us closed, I wonder?”
Fist God oozed confidence.
The skill gap between him and the Frost Flower Sword God was paper-thin.
A moment’s carelessness or mistake could flip the fight.
But that meant?
‘As long as I don’t get careless, I win for sure.’
He’d leveled up and gained achievements lately, sure.
‘But that’s not enough to overturn this.’
To overpower him with raw stats, he’d need at least a 100-level gap.
And besides.
‘I haven’t been slacking either.’
He’d steadily leveled up.
Gained achievements.
Even snagged a new EX-Rank skill.
So obviously.
‘No reason to lose.’
The Frost Flower Sword God had gotten stronger, no doubt.
‘But so have I.’
Unless he’d power-leveled.
Or grabbed a ton of achievements or some special EX-Rank skill.
‘I win, hands down.’
Fist God clenched his fists, victory assured.
“Come at me.”
The Frost Flower Sword God smirked at Fist God’s cocky demeanor.
“It’ll be different from last time.”
“Yeah, right.”
Provoked, the Frost Flower Sword God lunged.
But...
“What the hell?”
His speed was on another level entirely.
And.
Kwaaaaang!
The power and mana in his twin swords were unbelievably stronger.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
“Gah!”
Fist God was overwhelmingly pushed back.
“What did you do?!”
Fist God demanded in shocked eyes.
“What do you mean? I got stronger!”
The Frost Flower Sword God had no intention of explaining.
He was filled only with thoughts of repaying that humiliation from two years ago.
That day, Fist God was utterly crushed by the Frost Flower Sword God.
* * *
After wrapping up the Mantis Guild subjugation, Kang Hyun-soo’s group returned to peaceful routine, diving into hunts.
‘Their competitive fire’s lit proper.’
The clash between Kang Hyun-soo and the Frost Flower Sword God had properly ignited Song Hana, the Fighting Emperor, and Yuka.
The three threw themselves into competitive hunting.
Kang Hyun-soo matched their intensity, pushing his body to the limit.
Then.
-Ahem, there’s a guy here who wants to meet you, Kang Hyun-soo. Mind if we come over?
The news he’d been waiting for arrived from the Frost Flower Sword God.
-Anytime.
He shared his location.
The Frost Flower Sword God appeared shortly after, with someone in tow—not far off, apparently.
And that someone was a very familiar face to Kang Hyun-soo.
‘Fist God.’
A comrade who’d fought tooth and nail alongside him in the war against the Demon King’s army.
‘Finally.’
A faint smile touched Kang Hyun-soo’s lips.
He’d expected to meet much later.
Thanks to the Frost Flower Sword God, it happened sooner.
‘I thought Divine Demon Sword would come too...’
Sadly, no sign.
‘Well, one’s better than none.’
Wait a bit longer?
Even Divine Demon Sword, buddy to these two, couldn’t resist the bait Kang Hyun-soo had cast.
“Why are you here?”
Kang Hyun-soo asked with feigned puzzlement.
“Well, this guy said he wanted to meet you.”
The Frost Flower Sword God shot Fist God an annoyed glare.
“What do you want?”
“Are you the Demon-Slaying Blood God, leader of the Dark Knights?”
“That’s me.”
“I heard the gist from him. You’re looking for allies to fight the Demon King’s army?”
“Not allies. Subordinates.”
Fist God’s face twitched slightly at Kang Hyun-soo’s words.
“Subordinates.”
Up till now, Fist God had been a lone ruler of the Atlantis dimension.
The idea of serving under someone had never crossed his mind.
“If I become your subordinate, you’ll give me that buff?”
“Yes. The percentage varies by ability.”
“Other than helping in the Demon King’s army war, no restrictions—I hear that’s right?”
“Correct.”
Fist God fell silent at Kang Hyun-soo’s confirmation.
Then.
“If you meet one condition, I’ll become your subordinate.”
“What’s that?”
“Give me a higher rank than that guy.”
Fist God’s words twisted the Frost Flower Sword God’s face in horror.
“Hey! What the hell? I begged you to tell me, and this is how you stab me in the back!”
“I never begged.”
“You bastard!”
The Frost Flower Sword God and Fist God glared and growled at each other.
“Fine, done.”
With Kang Hyun-soo’s approval.
The Frost Flower Sword God’s face crumpled.
Fist God’s lit up.
On the surface, it looked like Fist God’s win.
But.
The real winner was neither.
‘Pumpkin rolled right in on the vine.’
It was Kang Hyun-soo.