Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Heaven and Hell's Confrontation from the Eleventh Round
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From the eleventh round onward, the clash between Heaven and Hell begins.
After Gabriel's rescue, the story progresses through growth up to the fifteenth round.
But....
This time was different.
Battle, battle! More battles!!
Once Heaven was restored to its former glory with Gabriel's resurrection, the angels unleashed relentless attacks on Hell.
They reclaimed the cathedral they had failed to complete in the past, illuminated the dark Hell with holy power,
and erected a massive tower so that demons everywhere—from east, west, north, and south—could feel their majesty.
A circular golden tower.
It shone so brilliantly it evoked images of heavenly corridors.
I watched the angels' movements from in front of the cathedral where I had fought the archdemons in the seventh round.
“……Jeongwoo.”
“What.”
“What round are we on now?”
Jeongwoo took a deep drag from his cigarette and slowly exhaled.
Puff-.
“The twelfth.”
“But why are the angels dominating Hell?”
“Who knows. It feels like this game’s story isn’t the one we knew anymore.”
“……”
Even Jeongwoo, who knew this game better than anyone, and I were encountering an unknown storyline.
We had skipped over unimportant parts ourselves, so we didn’t pay much mind at first.
But this was the first time the entire story was something we didn’t know.
Had defeating the so-called strongest being in the past meant they were writing a new history from now on?
Michael returned from scouting and reported to me.
“Cheonjae Kim, all the demons nearby seem to be gone. Not a single one in sight.”
“Heh heh…. You went all the way to the fallen World Tree, right?”
“Yes! I checked out that place called Satan’s Tower too.”
“No demons inside the tower either?”
“Nothin’. Evil zero.”
I rubbed my chin with my finger.
How were they supposed to progress the story with no demons in Hell?
I couldn’t understand the developers’ intentions. Turning away from the angels dominating Hell, I started walking.
“Let’s go. We have three days until the next round anyway, so let’s rest at home.”
Kim Yeonhee seemed pleased with my decision and hopped around excitedly.
“Yippee! Let’s head back and eat something delicious first. Whew…. I’m so hungry my stomach feels like it’s starving.”
“Kim Yeonhee. Go ask Michael something.”
“……Huh? What?”
“Jo Younggi. When they’re giving his body back. They definitely said they would.”
Kim Yeonhee’s expression darkened stiffly for a moment, then brightened again after a few seconds.
“That’s right. They said they’d return Uncle Younggi’s body.”
“Ask when it’ll be possible. And request it as soon as possible.”
“……Got it.”
Kim Yeonhee glanced at Jeongwoo and me before heading off to find Michael. We watched her back and whispered lowly.
“Kim Cheonjae, preparing for the final battle already?”
“……No harm in preparing early. We’ve already entered the twelfth round, and the game’s end is set in stone anyway.”
Jeongwoo gave a wry smile and nodded.
“True. No matter how the story flows now, the end is fixed.”
“And in this game…. we’ve found the answer.”
* * * * *
While the angels redesigned Hell, we returned to the ruined village.
They had given us three days.
It seemed like time to prepare for the next round.
As soon as I got back to the village, I stopped by a nearby dungeon to raise new skeleton soldiers,
and deployed summons throughout the village for auto-hunting.
I made the entire hunting ground safe so new users could grow quickly.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Bang!
Someone came running and forcefully opened the door to the tavern where we were.
“Brother Cheonjae!”
I turned from my meal to look at the entrance.
“Oh?! Ri Keruna!”
“Brother! When did you return to the village?”
“……Me? Been here a while.”
“Aigoo…. But why didn’t you look for me?”
“I figured we were on different rounds, so we wouldn’t meet.”
Ri Keruna sat next to me with a disappointed look.
Thud.
The chair creaked under his weight.
“You could’ve at least left a letter at the inn.”
“Didn’t have the spare time to think of that.”
“Heh heh….”
Ri Keruna slowly looked over our group members one by one, then smiled contentedly.
“Everyone’s doing well!”
Ma Jeongwoo slapped Ri Keruna’s back hard with his palm.
Smack!
“You too.”
“Urk…. Thought my bones would break.”
“With all that flesh, it wouldn’t reach your bones.”
“With Brother Jeongwoo’s strength, it would and then some.”
“You bastard…. Your flattery skills have improved.”
Puhaha!
We laughed together happily.
Ri Keruna slowly explained what had happened in nearby villages while we were gone.
I’d heard this game’s system let frontrunners on each server change the flow, making it easier for those following.
“So, you’ve already cleared the sixth round too?”
“Yes!”
“You’re no ordinary guy. It’s not an easy round anyone can pass.”
“Well…. I didn’t challenge it solo like you, Brother Cheonjae, but going with over a hundred made it easier.”
“Your subordinates?”
“All good.”
“No, I mean, they all cleared the sixth round?”
Ri Keruna gave a thumbs up.
“That’s right.”
“Hoo….”
Unexpected firepower.
I thought he was just a pig who ate a lot and handled dirty work, but he’d grown this much.
I ordered two skeleton soldiers to clear the surrounding tables. Low-round users glanced around nervously and left the tavern.
Ri Keruna understood my intent and stood, stretching.
“You’re in a hurry.”
“No time. Let’s keep it short.”
“Ehehehe-. Take this into account too. All my subordinates have power similar to mine.”
“……Nice.”
Ri Keruna emitted an aura.
Stronger than we’d imagined. An aura on par with Michael from our group, whose level was nearing 90.
One skeleton soldier stepped forward.
At my signal, whoosh-—Ri Keruna and the skeleton threw punches.
Precise and concise movements, like boxers targeting vital points.
Boom!
Their fists collided in midair.
Aura swirled between the fists, pushing back.
The steel skeleton with electric properties sparked and discharged electricity with a zzzt!
Ri Keruna showed no reaction—his elemental resistance must have risen.
I’d expected him to drop in one hit, but the result was unexpected.
‘……He really got strong.’
Crack, crunch!
Ssslruk, thud.
The skeleton’s body collapsed and melted away.
I clapped with a bright smile.
Clap clap clap clap!
“Oh! Ri Keruna, you really got strong. A skeleton soldier’s on par with a mid-tier Hell demon or higher!”
Ri Keruna looked proud.
“All thanks to Brother’s grace. After you left, I trained my life away.”
“Good job, good job.”
“Hehe….”
I stood and examined Ri Keruna’s fist. The guy who used to carry a club was wearing gloves—I wondered why.
A gauntlet embedded with jewels.
“Magic amplification device?”
“Yes! Got it as a fifth-round clear reward.”
“Not bad. But doesn’t suit your class?”
“I thought so too…. But surprisingly, it fits well. Attack power’s lower, but magic amps up, letting me use Bash on every hit.”
[Bash: Basic skill dealing powerful blows with a chance]
Meaning he could apply a low-mana skill to every attack. Makes sense—no nurse in his group, mana shortages are common.
“You’ve worked hard all this time. Ri Keruna.”
“……Thank you! I’ll work even harder to help Brother from now on!”
* * * * *
After eating, we sat by the village fountain watching passersby.
-Whoa? Those guys look super strong.
-Shh! Quiet. In early rounds, stay under the radar.
-Oh…. Got it.
Newbies who’d just logged in. Wary eyes and cautious talk.
We were the same, but it’s the most heart-pounding phase.
Decides how you survive other players’ threats.
“……He’s here.”
Park Gyuhwan returned from recon.
“Found them.”
“Numbers?”
“About three hundred.”
“Three hundred? Players mixed in?”
“Yes, about half were players.”
“……Got it.”
I lit a cigarette and told Michael and Yoo Sora.
“You two, manage the village so no player fights break out until we’re back.”
Michael tapped the pistol at his waist.
“Leave it to me.”
Yoo Sora grinned as if to say don’t worry.
“Understood.”
Arriving at the twelfth round means preparing for the game’s end.
Unlike the frantic race of earlier rounds. Few players left with the strength to chase us, and to see the end, everyone must unite.
“Ma Jeongwoo, let’s go.”
“Ri Keruna?”
“Village perimeter. Posted at all entrances, east west north south.”
“……Good.”
Jeongwoo and I, combat-ready, headed to the cathedral inside the village. The place where we’d faced this game’s end before.
The very building where we lost to Lucifer in the final game, where the Land of Ruin became reality.
I opened that door.
Creaaaaak-
In the dark cathedral, light seeped through the windows. Statues of biblical figures adorned the place.
Baby Jesus in the stained glass seemed to watch us.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Our footsteps echoed loudly in the empty building.
At the far end, before the massive cross, a figure hidden behind a pillar revealed himself.
“Kim Cheonjae….”
I answered without turning.
“Long time no see, Lee Ryanghun.”
He giggled and stepped out from behind the pillar, walking toward me.
“How’d you know I was here?”
“……The rotten stench led me, and here you were.”
“Still got that mouth on you.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Ryanghun drew a twisted dagger from his waist. A legendary weapon, one of the cursed daggers.
The necromancer’s top curse weapon, requiring the sacrifice of a hundred players’ lives.
“Kim Cheonjae, I’ve been waiting for you to come find me.”
“……You knew I’d come?”
“Of course. Your friend gave me the info.”
“My friend?”
As I tilted my head,
a suspicious shadow moved along the darkness behind him.
So fast, my eyes couldn’t track it.
“Yeah, your friend. Or rather, a comrade from your past superhuman group.”
“……”
“Gotida.”