Chapter 341
Chapter 341
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: His Death
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BOOOOOM!
The massive feathered gate that had torn through the sky slammed shut, and in the place where the cosmic calamity known as the great archangel outer god had vanished, a suffocating silence hung in the air for a moment.
All the beings who had witnessed the battle above Valhalla stared blankly into the empty sky, unable to even gauge if what had just happened was real.
But that silence didn't last long.
A massive coliseum suddenly materialized over Earth's sky, its declaration booming across the world and plunging all of humanity into fresh waves of terror and chaos.
"Racial... War?"
"They want us to select 10 heroes?"
"If we lose, humanity's fate is decided? What the hell does that...!"
News channels worldwide unleashed breaking reports, and internet communities exploded.
Governments across nations declared states of emergency and rushed into emergency meetings.
Ever since the Abyss had appeared, humanity had faced constant threats, but this declaration was on another level entirely.
This wasn't just about survival—it was a war to prove the 'value' of the human race as a whole and decide its 'destiny'.
Seoul, Republic of Korea Awakener Management Association Emergency Response Headquarters.
In heavy silence, representatives from various factions and government officials sat gathered.
The screens displayed the coliseum that had appeared in the sky moments ago, alongside scenes of chaos erupting simultaneously around the globe.
"...It was bound to happen eventually."
The Minister of National Defense, presiding over the meeting, spoke up with a hardened expression.
His gaze turned to the man sitting in the corner with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo.
He exuded an even sharper, deeper aura than before.
But even Lee Hyuk-soo's expression was grim.
"You've all heard the situation. 'Racial War'. Just as the name implies. It's likely to be a massive war involving not just us humans, but all intelligent species connected to the Abyss. Each race selects 10 representatives to compete in that coliseum and prove their superiority."
A researcher reported the analysis with a trembling voice.
"The problem... is our current human forces. Since the Abyss appeared, many awakeners have emerged, and through places like the Tower of Arrogance, we've produced numerous powerful heroes... but..."
The researcher's voice trailed off.
Everyone knew what he left unsaid.
Humanity had hope.
Or so they believed.
Until just recently.
They had faith that humanity's potential alone could overcome any crisis.
But.
They had come to realize that what they knew about the 'Abyss' was less than 1% of the truth.
"Too early for humanity?"
"No chance of us winning... Is that what it means?"
The air in the conference room grew even heavier.
The declaration of the Racial War brutally proved how insignificant their accumulated common sense and experience truly were.
They couldn't even match the Twelve Races, let alone their lower subspecies.
"What happens if we lose the Racial War?"
When the Minister of National Defense asked, Lee Hyuk-soo answered.
"Depending on the ranking, the entire 'race' either receives benefits or suffers penalties."
"What kind of penalties?"
"A random 10% of the race could vanish, or they might become slaves to a higher race. They could lose one of their racial functions... and more."
Lee Hyuk-soo's calm explanation continued.
But its content was anything but calm.
"Racial functions?"
"For example, they could be stripped of reproductive ability, their intelligence could regress to beast levels, or the 'level' system itself could be blocked for the entire race."
"Th-that's insane...!"
One attendee cried out in horror, his face drained of color.
The entire human race could be neutered or turned into idiots?
It was a horrific outcome too nightmarish to even imagine.
Though it defied common sense, these people had already endured countless 'Abyss' events.
They knew anything was possible.
Lee Hyuk-soo continued. His voice held no emotion, but the words sent chills down everyone's spines.
"There are many other forms of 'penalties'. The entire race could be cursed to suffer eternally, forced from their habitats into barren wastelands, or even have their history erased, forgotten by all other races."
The conference room fell so silent not even breathing could be heard.
'Vanish', 'slaves', 'function loss', 'curse', 'existence erasure'!
Each word stabbed like a dagger.
Was this the price of defeat in the Racial War?
Beyond mere death or subjugation, the very concept of their race could be destroyed and defiled. Everyone was speechless.
"Of course, these are just some examples I've heard or know of."
Lee Hyuk-soo added.
"The Abyss system is capricious and cruel. The actual penalties could exceed our imagination or be decided by the whims of the victorious races. The key point is that defeat means 'extinction' for humanity."
He slowly scanned the faces in the room.
Faces filled with despair and fear.
But amid them, faint glimmers of resolve reignited in some eyes.
"It's a future we must avoid."
Strength entered Lee Hyuk-soo's voice.
"So... let me say it again: we must win. We stake everything we have and prove humanity's worth in that coliseum. To survive... and to preserve our dignity."
His words cut through the heavy air in the room.
The fear remained, but a desperate consensus began to form: they had to overcome it.
"The Sword King's right."
The Minister of National Defense agreed in a trembling voice.
They had half-doubted until now, but every human on Earth had heard the voice announcing the 'Racial War'.
The massive coliseum still shimmered in the sky like a mirage.
"No time to sit around. We need to form a selection committee right away, set criteria and procedures. Re-evaluate all awakeners nationwide and scout hidden talents."
"The Association will provide full support!"
"Seoul Alliance will cooperate fully!"
Starting with Seoul Alliance's Overlord Im Chang-yeol, all civilian and national forces began to unite.
But selecting the '10 representatives' remained a thorny issue.
It wasn't just Korea's problem.
They had to pick the world's strongest 10, and they hadn't even established proper standards yet.
"By the way."
The Minister of National Defense sighed as he spoke.
Desperation laced his voice.
As all eyes turned to him, the Minister continued.
"That Park Chan-woo... we still haven't found him?"
Park Chan-woo had vanished.
It wasn't just on Earth.
Lee Hyuk-soo's expression remained dark as he left the emergency headquarters.
'Prophet. Where on earth did you go?'
They had searched everywhere possible.
Tracked his identity to his home, but it was empty.
Inquired with old acquaintances, but none knew where Park Chan-woo was.
He had truly, literally 'disappeared'.
He might even be beyond known dimensions.
"Hey, Sword King."
It was then.
A voice stopped him in the hallway.
He turned to see Im Chang-yeol there.
The leader of the 'Seoul Alliance', Korea's largest civilian group.
Now called Overlord, he enjoyed widespread support.
In this crisis, per the president's orders to mobilize all forces, he had attended the meeting.
This was the first time Lee Hyuk-soo and Im Chang-yeol had properly crossed paths.
"Why call me?"
"Just curious. Be honest with me."
"About what?"
Im Chang-yeol, walking shoulder-to-shoulder, asked in deadly earnest.
"What are the odds of humanity making top ranks? You seem to know things the rest of us don't."
Lee Hyuk-soo paused at Im Chang-yeol's blunt question.
Under the emergency lights illuminating the hallway, their shadows stretched long.
Overlord Im Chang-yeol.
He wasn't just strong—he had sharp instincts.
Lee Hyuk-soo met his gaze.
His eyes held genuine sincerity, no pretense.
This man wasn't asking out of mere curiosity.
Facing a matter tied to humanity's fate, he was weighing the burden he had to shoulder.
Silence lingered briefly.
Lee Hyuk-soo debated being honest.
About what he'd endured in Valhalla and the nights before, Park Chan-woo's true significance, and the Abyss's unimaginable depths.
But explaining it all would be too long and complex, and what was needed now wasn't vague fear or hope, but practical action.
"The odds."
Lee Hyuk-soo spoke slowly.
Curious about the comprehensive probability?
Odds of reaching the top ranks?
Of ranking high enough to avoid any 'penalties'?
Considering the races he'd encountered and the 'power levels' of demons and others, humanity's position was.
"0.01%."
"..."
"And that's generous. If enemy races get complacent, treat it like a game, send weak warriors. But that won't happen."
Lee Hyuk-soo knew this Racial War would unfold differently from past ones.
All races would be serious.
Even the Twelve Races.
No need to mention their lower subspecies.
"What if we find Park Chan-woo?"
Im Chang-yeol said.
Everyone now knew about Park Chan-woo.
Not everything, but that Lee Hyuk-soo desperately sought him.
Lee Hyuk-soo answered honestly here too.
"1%."
"Finding that one guy boosts our odds a hundredfold?"
"Yes."
At minimum.
At least a hundred times higher.
Im Chang-yeol murmured even more gravely.
"We found Kim Byung-han. The most recent person to see Park Chan-woo."
"...!"
Kim Byung-han.
Park Chan-woo's former boss, who had climbed the Tower of Arrogance with him.
They hadn't been able to locate him, yet Im Chang-yeol had.
"Where?"
Urgency slipped into Lee Hyuk-soo's voice unbidden.
He clung to even a sliver of hope.
"Follow me. We've got him."
Im Chang-yeol said curtly and led the way.
Lee Hyuk-soo followed without hesitation.
Creeeak—
The door opened with a dull sound.
Inside was a stark room lit by cold lights, furnished only with a metal table and two chairs.
And on one chair sat a haggard man, bound in place.
It was Kim Byung-han.
He looked utterly different from the sleazy, opportunistic figure Lee Hyuk-soo remembered or had heard about from Park Chan-woo.
He too seemed to have been through a lot; his eyes mixed exhaustion, a hint of fear, and a strange resignation.
Kim Byung-han looked up at the sound of the door, spotted Im Chang-yeol, and shouted.
"Damn it! I told you! Park Chan-woo's dead!"
His voice dripped with exasperation.
But when the next man appeared, Kim Byung-han recoiled in shock.
"L-Lee Hyuk-soo?!"