Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Secret Research Lab (1)
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Right after it was born, Signus had been divine.
A horn protruding beautifully from the center of its forehead, emerald-green fluffy fur, a matching pair of slender wings, and a black tail.
Its blue eyes, deep enough to suck you right in, were breathtaking just to look at.
It was about waist-height in size.
But it still had that newborn cuteness to it.
It resembled a 'griffin'—one of the exceedingly rare creatures even in the Abyss—but the aura of mystery it exuded was on another level entirely.
"I'm Signus, Father. Do you not recognize me?"
Signus spoke in a disappointed tone.
But anyone who knew the old Signus would have reacted the same way.
For starters, the size was incomparable.
What had once reached his waist now towered over Park Chan-woo.
'Just over 4 meters.'
...Hadn't it grown a bit too much?
He had never seen a creature grow this explosively in a mere hour.
It had absorbed the Land of Eternity and rapidly digested its nutrients to complete its development.
It defied all common sense.
That was why it was called a divine beast.
Creatures that lived in the 'Rifts,' beyond the grasp of ordinary understanding.
'The largest divine beast I ever saw was bigger than Everest.'
Recalling it, there had been divine beasts larger than the 63 Building too.
No exaggeration— he'd even witnessed one bigger than Everest itself, too vast to take in with the naked eye.
He'd wondered what they ate to get that huge.
Apparently, devouring high-value Creation Abysses like this caused such growth spurts.
'Its appearance is closer to a dragon.'
But it wasn't like the dragonkin.
They were called 'dragonkin,' yet their look was more akin to the 'dragons' from Western myths.
Signus, on the other hand, felt much closer to the Eastern 'dragon'.
Its single horn had split into two, its face resembled a wolf's, and its blue eyes burned even more intensely, radiating an inexplicable pressure.
The cuteness was mostly gone, replaced by a grave, weighty presence.
A kind of charisma... an air of authority.
In simple terms.
"......You've become impressive."
It had style.
That was why he'd asked if it really was Signus.
Comparing before and after, it was hard to believe it was the same divine beast.
"Thank you. But I still need to grow more. My siblings are probably growing rapidly by now too."
"No need to rush."
"Even so...... We don't have much time left before we enter the Rifts to compete in growth. I must win, no matter what."
Signus declared its bold ambition.
To win.
To stand out above its siblings and shine the brightest.
And ultimately, to become the king of divine beasts.
But were Signus's siblings truly growing that fast?
Park Chan-woo shook his head inwardly, denying it.
"Don't worry. Territories like the Land of Eternity are rare even in the Abyss."
The Land of Eternity was a highly valuable place even by Abyss standards.
It was territory substantial enough for a Demon King-level lord or higher to claim as their main base.
And Signus hadn't just eaten the Land of Eternity.
'It absorbed the Super Blue Moon too.'
It had devoured the 'Super Blue Moon' alongside it.
One of the most powerful authorities of the night.
Its explosive growth in one go was only natural.
No matter how much a fully grown divine beast helped, feeding it a Creation Abyss of this caliber required facing named Creators even more powerful.
'Named Creators. Even mighty divine beasts must stake their lives to battle lords above Demon King rank.'
What divine beast would risk such peril?
Thus, Park Chan-woo was certain Signus's growth outpaced its siblings by far.
He emphasized it firmly.
"We will win. Without fail."
Though their foes differed, their path to 'victory' aligned.
Three months until the Interracial War.
Park Chan-woo had to prove himself there.
In the process, his identity as the Archmage would likely be revealed.
And the moment it was, if he failed to prove himself fully, he'd face countless 'challenges' the instant the war ended.
So.
'I'll show them.'
......He'd show them properly.
Make it so no Creator dared challenge him lightly.
He'd boost humanity's racial ranking, reveal his power and potential, and stage overwhelming spectacles.
Proclaim that a threat to you all stands here.
That humanity is a candidate for the strongest 'thirteenth race'!
He'd at least secure that possibility firmly.
That was the first button for humanity—and Park Chan-woo—to survive.
"Yes, Father!"
Sensing his fierce resolve, Signus nodded vigorously.
Then it continued.
"Ah, I've found the entrance to the 'Secret Research Lab'."
"Let's head out right away."
"Your fatigue is severely accumulated. Wouldn't it be better to rest a bit...?"
"I'm fine."
"No need to rush, right?"
Signus threw Park Chan-woo's own words back at him.
He replied.
"Then let's rest for 30 minutes before going."
"...Pardon? Just 30 minutes?"
"Fine. Make it 40."
"Indeed... 40 minutes should be plenty."
Signus, realizing it couldn't sway his stubbornness, spoke in a joking tone.
It understood their hearts were one.
...They would win.
No matter what happened, no matter the adversity, they would charge forward like a rhinoceros's horn and claim victory without fail.
'We're alike in a strange way.'
Park Chan-woo smiled faintly.
This must be what they called like father, like son.
Different species, no biological ties, yet from the start, that profound sense of souls intertwined had persisted with Signus.
Slowly, he stretched out flat on the spot.
Instantly, languor washed over his body, fatigue crashing in.
A heavy sleepiness like Lilith's whispers assaulted him, but he endured it.
'Come to think of it, I got a new title.'
Afraid he'd pass out if he stayed still, he opened his status window and quickly checked the additions.
[Held Titles]
Companion of Fallen Races: Recognition effect from relics left by fallen races
One Called by the Light: Light Resistance +30%, all positive effects related to 'Light' amplified by 30%
Lord Slayer: 'Fear' effect on all Abyss lords
The most striking change was the titles.
Gifts from Anubis upon its death.
The Lord Slayer effect had even upgraded from 'Intimidation' to 'Fear'.
'Excellent.'
Not a single one was dispensable.
All three were top-tier titles unmatched in utility depending on the situation.
He glanced at other parts of the status window.
Then he checked the stats, which had changed the most dramatically.
"Whew...!"
......Sleepiness vanished in an instant.
* * *
The Black Witch.
Her eyes—deeper than the profoundest abyss—scanned the black dragon Ataraxia.
"A failure?"
She had ordered Ataraxia to retrieve 'Wish' and the 'Star of Arrogance'.
To punish Adora and her accomplice who stole her treasures.
Yet today, Ataraxia reported failure.
"......Yes. I've concluded that further tracking is impossible."
"The one possessing Adora and the Star of Arrogance. Neither could be traced even by your magic?"
"I apologize, Black Witch."
Ataraxia bowed its head.
Of course, it was a false report.
Within the domain of the Second Night, Ataraxia had encountered 'Dragon God Sepiro'.
To dragons, Dragon God Sepiro was absolute.
There was no defying his whims.
No matter that Ataraxia served the Black Witch—that was merely surface-level.
Executing her orders was solely to incite war in the Abyss.
'My only true master is Lord Sepiro.'
Ataraxia's true loyalty lay with Dragon God Sepiro.
Sepiro had taken Wish and possessed the Star of Arrogance, after all.
Naturally, it couldn't tell the Black Witch that Sepiro was the culprit.
"A first. You failing a mission."
The Black Witch spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
Over a hundred missions, and this was the first failure.
Ataraxia excelled in assassination and tracking.
No target it set its mind to had ever escaped.
The Black Witch had reason to be puzzled.
"It seems like a being beyond ordinary tracking methods."
"The one who sliced off my flesh. Naturally, not ordinary."
The foe had defied fate.
Climbed the Tower of Arrogance and severed her pinky.
Transcended the incomprehensible to touch the Black Witch's very body.
That was why she was determined to find them.
"Ataraxia. I know your trail reached 'Valhalla's Territory'. What happened after?"
Ataraxia flinched inwardly.
'How does she know that?'
Valhalla's Territory.
The domain of the Second Night.
The Black Witch knew Ataraxia had gone there.
After meeting Sepiro, it had stalled for time.
Rather than reporting failure immediately, it pretended to continue the mission for over a month, wandering about.
To avoid any suspicion from the Black Witch.
Yet she had pinpointed 'Valhalla's Territory'.
"...Were you monitoring me?"
"I simply came to know."
......Busted.
Perhaps even the meeting with Sepiro was exposed.
No, wait.
'Simply came to know. Meaning she was watching the Second Night's progress from the start.'
Humanity of Earth, conquerors of the Tower of Arrogance.
The Black Witch must have been keeping tabs on them.
And spotted 'Ataraxia' in the process.
Ataraxia kept a straight face and deflected swiftly.
"I was searching for special humans. I thought whoever holds Wish and the Star of Arrogance would stand out."
"'Archmage'."
"......?"
"The name registered in the Grimoire of Mysteries with the Star of Arrogance."
What a cheeky bastard.
Openly registering the stolen goods.
A direct affront to the Black Witch's dignity.
She continued.
"He decisively contributed to Aheta's bankruptcy too. Though the Demon God punished her, the root cause lies with the Archmage."
"I'll find the 'Archmage'."
Ataraxia bowed.
Of course.
'I'll pretend to search.'
No intention of actually doing so.
No mere dragonkin could interfere with the Dragon God's leisure.
But the Black Witch shook her head.
"No. Find Aheta's hidden Secret Research Lab first. Before the 'Archmage' does."
"Do you have any guess where the 'Secret Research Lab' might be?"
"The Land of Eternity, where the Third Night took place. It's hidden there somewhere. Even if the 'Archmage' finds it, Aheta will have set up defenses. He won't enter easily."
"The 'Night' has already ended. I can't enter."
"I'll clear the path. I'll assign three witches to you—bring back the 'most precious thing' from within."
"The most precious thing...?"
"You'll know it when you see it."
"......Understood."
He said he understood, but he truly didn't.
Why prioritize it over the 'Archmage'?
The Black Witch seemed quite urgent.
Pressuring Ataraxia to reach the Secret Research Lab before the Archmage.
'Assigning three witches, huh. Sigh, no dodging this.'
Couldn't slack off and hide anymore with her watching.
With overseers, he'd have to at least pretend to work.
Besides, witches handpicked by the Black Witch herself.
A moment's carelessness, and Ataraxia might end up dead instead.
Proof she didn't fully trust him.
The Black Witch said.
"Depart immediately."
* * *