Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 124
Crackle-.
[You've done well so far. Now it's the final stage.]
[As expected of you, Manager. That was a magnificent speech.]
Suddenly, two voices mixed with noise echoed across the beach.
"……?"
Both the citizens of Atlantis who had been venting their anger toward Lunaria and the five tribes who had felt betrayed by her cruel methods turned their ears to those voices.
[This much is nothing. Roasting these lowly Sea Folk is easy work.]
That voice was unmistakably that of the foreign businessman who had just pleaded his innocence moments ago.
"What, what is this?"
"Doesn't he know the sound is coming through?"
But the content was completely different from his earlier plea—truly despicably cunning.
The Sea Folk, though confused, continued to listen to the voices that kept coming.
[What remains is waiting for that woman to struggle desperately and try to revive Leviathan. By pretending to suppress that, the mission will be complete.]
"……."
The Sea Folk who initially couldn't understand what was being said began to grasp the situation one by one.
Though they didn't know the detailed circumstances, they realized this was his true inner thoughts.
The Sea Folk stirred upon hearing Haizen's inner thoughts.
'Damn it.'
This was either a malfunction of the magical device or Haizen's mistake.
Several hunting dogs who grasped the situation rushed to destroy the amplifying magical device, but.
"Where do you think you're going."
Thwack-.
Nam-gung Cheon, who had been hiding nearby, grabbed the hunting dogs and slammed them to the ground.
Since the company and Seo-jin had orchestrated this stage together, he knew exactly where everything was installed.
Haizen's voice continued.
[Roasting the Sea Folk? Wasn't the speech you just gave true?]
[Of course it wasn't true. We guided them to move like that from the beginning. The drug distribution, the creation of the Dragon-Human soldiers, even this rebellion…….]
Nam-gung Cheon shrugged his shoulders as he continued listening to the businessman's voice.
'Rin's skills have improved a lot.'
The techniques Nam-gung Rin learned were specialized in confusing opponents or assisting in combat rather than direct fighting.
She could put opponents under hypnosis with dream eye techniques, temporarily erase memories, and even imperfectly manipulate them.
But those techniques were difficult to succeed with against high-level climbers like Haizen who possessed clear reason and will.
He had heard she learned a new technique.
'Soul Absorption Technique, was it?'
After training earnestly with the ghost called Hyeon-wol for several days, it seemed she had made considerable progress in raising her level.
[Ah, then what about what just happened? You said all the company's actions were due to Lunaria's threats?]
[……That was naturally a scheme. We had to pin all the incidents on that woman to gain the royal family's trust. Then we could proceed with business comfortably afterward, couldn't we?]
Haizen's voice continued to echo across the beach.
This first brought confusion, then powerful shock, and finally boiling anger.
Drug distribution, Dragon-Human soldier creation, Prince Kshtra's kidnapping, and even the plan to use and abandon Lunaria.
At first, he had said everything was Lunaria's fault, but in reality, it was all Darkrock's doing—a fact Haizen himself had confessed.
"……Those bastards!"
"Your Majesty, just how much have you endured all this time……."
The rebel Sea Folk trembled with rage.
It was natural for them to be angry, as they had not only been deceived but the enemies had also tried to pin all the blame on their queen, Lunaria.
The Atlantis Sea Folk felt similarly.
"These damn bastards."
"They were the cause of this war?"
They had thought the Sea Dragon Tribe's queen was the root of all evil, but in reality, they had been played by these schemes and suffered such tragedy once again.
"……."
The gazes that had been fixed on the enemy forces lined up across from them soon turned toward Darkrock's flagship anchored on the beach.
The hunting dogs gathered at the meeting place sensed the atmosphere was far from favorable.
At this rate, they would be caught in the crossfire of both sides' anger.
Seo-jin watched all this from afar with a smile.
'According to plan.'
The flow was smooth.
Haizen had fallen into his own trap and confessed all his evil deeds, and the Sea Folk's anger was directed entirely at Darkrock.
The spears and swords and hatred that had been pointed at each other would turn toward a new enemy.
Of course, this couldn't be seen as resolving all conflicts and discrimination.
It was merely that the direction of anger had temporarily shifted.
But this was all Seo-jin, an outsider, could do.
Cleaning up what came after was the natives' responsibility.
If they learned something from this war, things would change, but if they learned nothing, they would repeat the same mistakes.
Meanwhile, Lunaria, whose body had been restrained, was also listening to all of Haizen's confession echoing across the battlefield.
'Is this…… the stage that man prepared?'
At first she had been half-doubtful, but everything was flowing exactly as that phantom thief had said.
If she accepted Haizen's mediation request, he would gather everyone including Leila in this place and prepare the best stage.
This level of sincerity was not lacking to grace her final moments.
Now that all the pieces were in place, all that remained was to fulfill her role.
Rustle-.
Lunaria loosened the restraints of the mana control device that had been loosely bound.
"……!"
"The handcuffs are off!"
The tribal chiefs of Atlantis who saw Lunaria escape from her restraints tried to subdue her again, but.
"Stop."
Leila stretched out her hand to restrain them.
"High Priestess, why?"
Instead of explaining to the tribal chiefs, Leila looked at Lunaria and spoke.
"Queen of the Sea Dragons. Do your work."
This had already been discussed with Seo-jin. They had to let Lunaria revive Leviathan.
"……Thank you."
Lunaria smiled and grasped the Tears of the Sea God hanging around her neck.
And then.
Stab-.
She took out a sample containing the blood of the twelve clans and Leila's divine power and stabbed it into her heart.
"Groan."
Thump-.
The power of the twelve clans spreading throughout her body through her bloodstream.
The mana circuits that appeared all over Lunaria's body began to glow intensely.
Soon her body, enveloped in mana, floated gently into the air.
"Groaaan……."
Along with the bright light pouring from her entire body, Lunaria screamed in agony.
No matter how strong the Sea Dragon Tribe was, this power was not permitted to their race.
This was the power of harmony that only the Sea Folk could handle.
All the blood in her body seemed to boil up, as if it would burn her heart and brain.
Just as the powerful side effects were about to consume Lunaria's entire body.
Shaaaa-.
The blood and divine power of Leila dissolved in the sample suppressed those side effects and pain, temporarily granting Lunaria the authority.
Crack-.
It was the authority of Pontos, created by the combined power of the twelve clans.
A feeling of omnipotence that seemed like she could do anything filled Leila's entire body.
'Did it succeed…….'
Realizing the ritual had succeeded, Lunaria shouted in a loud voice as if appealing to all the Sea Folk.
[Everyone, listen!]
When the queen's voice rang out, not only the rebels but also the citizens of Atlantis listened.
Lunaria continued.
[Forgive me, for my inadequacy. For being a lacking queen who couldn't resist the foreigners' power and drove you into danger. My role ends here, but you must move forward. Therefore.]
Clench-.
She clenched her fist and shouted.
[I will sacrifice everything I have to fulfill your dreams one last time! But this is not for division, but to move forward. Our god…… will punish the wicked foreigners!]
Crack-.
Lunaria's hand, filled with bright light, shattered the Tears of the Sea God she was holding.
Crash-.
As the artifact broke, Pontos' tears spread into the seawater.
Pontos' tears scattered in all directions, creating small ripples.
And then.
Rumble rumble rumble-.
Those ripples soon became massive vibrations that began to shake the entire ocean.
"What, what is this."
"Don't tell me……."
This was not a simple underwater earthquake or vibration caused by a storm.
The ocean water danced as if alive, and the mana dissolved within it also sang in fear.
The Sea Folk who belonged to the sea could instinctively know as well.
"He is coming!"
The return of the primordial being who had once competed with the Sea God for dominion over this vast ocean in ancient times.
All the seas in the world were his dwelling, so no summoning magic circle or altar was needed.
All that was needed was for Pontos' seal that had been preventing his return to be released.
Bubble bubble-.
The sea began to boil, spewing black bubbles and gathering together in a mass.
At the same time, a massive shadow fell over the ocean.
From within that darkness, the massive form of a god slowly revealed itself.
'Ahh.'
Our lord.
Lunaria, filled with ecstasy at the sight of that gigantic dragon form, stretched out both hands and disappeared, swept away by the mana.
***
[KUOOOOOOO-!]
The sea dragon's roar that shook the entire ocean.
The return of a monster bearing the authority of the distant primordial age.
The tyrant of the ocean. The king of all arrogant things. Leviathan of envy.
Its true form could not be properly seen, as if wrapped in foam.
Beings of lower rank were not permitted to even look upon that flesh.
Only a massive black dragon casting its shadow over the beach.
Seo-jin looked up at that shadow and hardened his face.
'Though it's a monster that symbolizes the sea itself, its nature is domination and submission.'
In that appearance, he could find no trace of the gentleness of the sea as a mother nurturing life.
Before that ferocious authority, the sea clans knelt one by one.
"……."
"……."
Instinctive fear and submission carved into the origin of their species.
"Groan."
Even Leila, a Sea Folk created by Pontos' authority, could not be free from Leviathan's power.
[KUOOOOO-!]
Leviathan's eyes were directed at Darkrock's flagship.
Whether the summoner Lunaria's wish had reached it, or whether it was displeased that the land clans dared to set foot in this sea.
Leviathan's anger soon brought divine punishment upon Darkrock's flagship.
CRASH-!
When it swung its massive tail, Darkrock's huge flagship was directly half-destroyed and exploded.
Neither the protective barrier surrounding the submarine nor the magical defensive shield was of any use before the god's wrath.
"Damn it."
"There's no choice! Fight!"
As the submarine they were to escape in was destroyed, the company's hunting dogs began to fight against Leviathan.
The hunting dogs raised by Darkrock, the global conglomerate that dominated the world.
Moreover, they were subordinates of Manager Haizen, who stood at the forefront of market development.
Their power was strong enough to shake the balance of the 20th floor and invoke the administrator's intervention.
Even Seo-jin felt it wouldn't be easy to subdue them all head-on.
However.
WHOOOOSH-!
When the sea dragon's breath swept across the ground, several hunting dogs simply evaporated and disappeared.
"WAAAAAH!"
The Sea Folk cheered as the company's hunting dogs died.
The cheers came from both Lunaria's subordinates and Atlantis' citizens without distinction.
But they didn't just take it lying down either.
"Fire the mana cannons!"
"Control the Dragon-Human soldiers!"
WHOOOOSH-!
They controlled the Sea Dragon Tribe priests to make the Dragon-Human soldiers charge at Leviathan, and turned the mana cannons that had been attacking the walls to fire at Leviathan.
CRASH- BOOM-!
The sea dragon's shadow momentarily stopped moving under the barrage of mana cannon fire.
It seemed to have an effect for a moment, but this was only the hunting dogs' hope.
Flash-.
Its breath swept through once, and the mana cannons that had been there disappeared without leaving a trace.
The Dragon-Human soldiers were no different from ants climbing on an elephant before Leviathan.
When it shook its body once greatly, the Dragon-Human soldiers couldn't hold on and fell away.
"……."
Seo-jin swallowed dry saliva at the sight of its power.
To think it was that strong even after being summoned to the 20th floor with its rank greatly reduced.
Indeed, it was an existence that would be difficult to defeat through simple contest of strength.
Leviathan trampled the Dragon-Human soldiers with its massive body and evaporated the hunting dogs who had been operating the mana cannons with its breath.
The rumors that it was comparable to the administrator's power were by no means false.
"R-run away!"
The hunting dogs gave up further resistance and began to scatter and flee in all directions.
However.
Crunch-.
With its streamlined body, it instantly cut through the water and appeared to devour a fleeing hunting dog, and melted with its breath one who was trying to use a teleportation stone from afar.
"WAAAAAH!"
As the hunting dogs disappeared without even being able to properly resist, the Sea Folk burst into cheers.
Indeed, the divine authority of the sea dragon that had ruled the sea.
The strong foreigners who flew and crawled had submitted before their god.
"Oh. Our lord!"
"Save us from their oppression!"
The Sea Folk praised Leviathan's power and authority and shouted loudly.
However, those cheers and shouts of joy didn't last long.
Swoosh-.
Leviathan shaking its heavy tail.
Several Sea Folk in that trajectory simply became blood mist and disappeared.
"Huh?"
Leviathan, which had burned the company's hunting dogs, next began to strike the Sea Folk gathered nearby.
"A-avoid it!"
"Run away!"
The Sea Folk scattered like an ebbing tide, fleeing from Leviathan.
But the Sea Folk within that attack range disappeared without even being able to scream.
Seo-jin watched that tragic scene and fell into thought.
"……."
'I could have prevented it from being summoned in advance.'
Leviathan's summoning wasn't an essential condition for this plan, so if he had wanted to prevent it, he could have done so sufficiently.
He could have given Lunaria another fake sample, or completely tightened the handcuffs that bound her.
He could have instructed Leila and the other tribal chiefs to stop her.
But the reason he didn't do so.
'That wouldn't be a fundamental solution.'
Seo-jin took in the Sea Folk fleeing from Leviathan.
Even though their anger was currently directed at the company, that was only a temporary situation.
At the foundation of the Sea Folk who had been discriminated against for a long time lay the desire for their god Leviathan's revival—to break all chains and discrimination.
So he had to show them directly.
That the god they so desired was not one who breaks chains, but merely a tyrant who subjugates everyone through fear.
It was just a natural being symbolizing the sea's violence.
Not a savior who would rescue the people from suffering and lead them to paradise.
"Save me!"
"Take shelter within the walls!"
The Sea Folk fled from Leviathan, which was attacking indiscriminately.
Seo-jin decided to intervene before the damage grew larger.
"Baduki."
Seo-jin's call.
But Baduki didn't appear barking "Growl" as before.
Instead.
Thump-. Thump-.
A massive shadow fell along with vibrations that shook the earth's axis.
Soon, a massive being approached, crossing over the city walls.
The gazes of the Sea Folk who had been fleeing from Leviathan momentarily looked up at the shadow.
"Uh……."
"What in the world is that……."
Then.
[UOOOOOOO-!]
Another monster's cry echoed across the sea.
[……!]
Leviathan, which had been trampling the Sea Folk like insects, instinctively recognized the owner of that roar.
Another demon beast that had once fought a thousand-day battle with it in the past.
It was the appearance of Behemoth.