Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Tower of the Gods (4)
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Ataraxia's will was firm.
He had only two choices anyway.
Return to the embrace of his dragon kin, or serve the Great One up close.
Although his plan to ignite a massive war between races from beside the Black Witch had failed, serving the Great One from the closest vantage was an honor beyond comparison.
"Black Dragon Ataraxia. One of the ancient dragons representing the Clan of Despair."
...Park Chan-woo quietly gazed down at Ataraxia and thought.
Hierarchies existed even among dragonkin.
Dozens of clans vied in prowess to serve Dragon God Sepiro.
Among them, the "Clan of Despair" ranked among the top five most powerful groups of dragonkin.
An ancient dragon wielded significant influence within its clan.
Because of their exceptional martial might and wisdom, even the Black Witch had taken one into her service.
However...
"He firmly believes I'm Sepiro."
Like Demon Merchant Dagon, Ataraxia regarded Park Chan-woo as Dragon God Sepiro.
But Park Chan-woo was not Sepiro.
He was merely putting on a brief act out of necessity. It wouldn't be strange if the truth came out tomorrow.
The problem lay in the fallout if it did.
If Ataraxia attacked in rage, even he would be powerless to stop it.
That was why he hadn't kept him close during the "Second Night."
"...He'll be useful for climbing the Tower of the Gods."
Tower of the Gods.
As its name implied, it was no ordinary place.
The final legacy and contingency prepared by Transcender Lil—and yet, per Chronos's words, far from a walk in the park.
Keep him close, or keep him distant.
Which offered greater gains and fewer risks.
Ataraxia glanced at Park Chan-woo, deep in thought, and swallowed hard.
"Is it too much...!"
He stared down with eyes like the abyss itself.
Well, it had to seem absurd.
For a mere ancient dragon to dare declare he'd serve at his side.
Compared to Dragon God Sepiro, he was less than a firefly beneath the sun.
He might even deem it an annoyance and eradicate Ataraxia on the spot.
Sepiro was a destroyer who annihilated even his own kind if they defied or failed to heed his will.
"I'll die!"
He sensed it instinctively.
Right now, the Great One was weighing whether to kill him or spare him.
Erasing one loquacious dragon would be child's play for Sepiro.
"S-sorry...!"
"Do it that way."
"...?!"
Did he mishear for a moment?
What exactly to "do that way"?
"Ah...!"
Soon grasping the intent, Ataraxia was profoundly moved.
Then he cried out with utmost sincerity.
"I will serve you to the best of my ability, most exalted one!"
Ataraxia's heart pounded wildly.
The greatest among all beings in the Abyss.
He had seized the chance to serve Dragon God Sepiro up close.
An feat no other of his kin could claim.
If he could enter Sepiro's sight and draw near the Dragon God Temple, the Clan of Despair's standing—and his own—would soar overnight.
"It worked...!"
A blessing in disguise.
Misfortune turned to fortune, truly.
He had lost his goal via the Black Witch, but that very failure let him attend the greatest existence by his side.
"However."
Park Chan-woo spoke.
Taking Ataraxia along without strings was undeniably risky.
As Ataraxia eyed him anxiously once more.
He continued.
"Do not reveal your true form without my permission."
"I will keep it in mind—nay, etch it into my soul!"
"Do not utter my name or engage in any action that hinders me."
"Your words are most righteous!"
"Unnecessary killing is forbidden as well."
"Without orders, I won't slay so much as an ant!"
Ataraxia humbly accepted every condition, brimming with excitement.
If an ancient dragon adopted this demeanor, Sepiro's prestige among dragonkin needed no further explanation.
A god.
An absolute object of worship.
"But why..."
A question flickered briefly.
So desperately devoted to Sepiro.
Why, then...
"...didn't they properly block us on the path to the Dragon God Temple."
The final desperate squad.
Even humanity's mightiest couldn't stand against all dragonkin.
The Dragon God Temple was their god's abode.
The squad aimed to ascend and kneel before Sepiro, begging him to "spare humanity."
Humanity was ready to become Sepiro's pets if it meant survival.
Pathetic, but they saw it as their only path to continuance.
Yet the road to the Dragon God Temple proved easier than anticipated.
They were ultimately annihilated, but had the dragons truly committed to blocking, they never would have arrived.
...Had they deliberately cleared the way?
Or had some rift arisen between the dragons and Sepiro?
Looking back, oddities numbered more than one or two.
Details visible now, with time to breathe.
"The dragons seemed deployed to match the squad's power level."
Allowing precisely him alone to reach the Dragon God Temple.
Only after the rest fell.
To dragons, the squad's strength would have been laughable.
"...I'll learn the truth upon returning to the Dragon God Temple."
Of course, not to beg for mercy—but to display valor eclipsing Dragon God Sepiro.
Crunch!
Park Chan-woo clenched his fist tight.
"Wait for me, Sepiro."
A torrent of questions flooded the Creator Community.
The countless "Towers" rising on Earth had provoked the Demon Lords.
"Tower of the Gods," emerging alongside "Transcendent Abyss" sites worldwide!
Such Transcender meddling was utterly unprecedented.
They never ventured beyond their domains.
Let alone erecting towers in other worlds?
An event beyond anything they'd witnessed.
Creator’s Domain.
Even Creators knew the name well enough.
But consensus fractured on its whereabouts—or very existence.
However, if.
If that tower truly hailed from the "Creator’s Domain"...
To every being dwelling in the Abyss, the "Tower of the Gods" held immense allure.
Even Demon Lords didn't grasp all its secrets.
Moreover, ascending to godhood atop it was irresistibly tempting.
It hinted at rebirth as a Demon King, Demon God—or something greater.
But they couldn't climb the "Tower of the Gods" personally.
It had risen on Earth.
Creators manifesting directly in other worlds was taboo.
The risks far outweighed rewards.
All recent miracles had unfolded on Earth.
Frail Earthlings achieving feats mighty races couldn't dream of.
This was no exception.
Why had the "Tower of the Gods" risen solely on Earth?
Yet no time for rumination.
Creators turned en masse to crafting avatars on Earth.
As Towers of the Gods sprang up across Earth, people flocked to climb them.
Rumors swirled of godhood atop the summit.
Even failing to reach the top promised lavish rewards, naturally.
The issue? Humans and demons weren't the only ones eyeing the "Tower of the Gods."
"...So this is Earth."
"Amid the clamor, utterly unimpressive."
"Do we really need to investigate personally?"
Three異種族 with dragon-horse fused visages, massive horns jutting from their foreheads, golden fur billowing.
Bipedal in ornate flowing robes, they stood before a "Tower of the Gods."
A third race—neither human nor demon.
"The Kirin King takes interest. Our role is obedience."
"But invading pre-‘Racial War’—isn't that against the rules?"
"Discreetly. Silently."
They were the Kirin Tribe.
One of the Twelve Races, hailed as the most enigmatic!
Breaching a world before the Racial War broke Abyss law—but only if caught.
This "Tower of the Gods" captivated them profoundly.
Other Twelve Races might have infiltrated Earth covertly as well.
Yet their aim wasn't the pinnacle.
"Retrieve our ‘Legacy’ with utmost speed."
"A Kirin Tribe ‘Legacy’ here, of all places..."
"If it draws the King’s eye, no mere trinket."
The trio nodded.
In unison, their forms shifted human.
Then the three Kirin began ascending the "Tower of the Gods."
Emerging from Aheta’s laboratory and returning to Earth, Park Chan-woo drew a deep breath.
It felt like coming home after ages.
Though the time away had been brief, much had transpired.
But such respite was fleeting.
"Come out."
...Someone lurked within his home.
He detected the hidden presence instantly.
Yet inwardly puzzled.
Had his identity been exposed?
His name had spread during the "Third Night"—plenty might track him down.
"I’ll handle it."
Ataraxia, summoned alongside him, reached out.
Then.
Swoooosh!
Like yanking a doll by strings, the lurker flew into Ataraxia’s grasp.
"Gurk! Cough!"
"A bug in hiding. How shall I dispose of it?"
Ataraxia queried, eyeing the choking figure.
But upon recognizing the man’s face, Park Chan-woo furrowed his brow.
"Kim Byung-han?"