Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Prelude to Chaos (3)
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Undead were beings inevitably shunned by the world from the very beginning.
Beyond their inherently grotesque appearances, the idea of dead corpses moving as if alive was bound to disgust the living.
Moreover, undead, which defied the natural order of the world, instinctively craved life and thus harbored not just envy but outright hatred toward the living upon encountering them.
Peaceful coexistence between them was simply impossible.
And deep within the Northern Mountains lay such a place.
The vicinity of the Immortal Citadel was teeming with an overwhelming concentration of undead—a veritable "holy land of death."
The deathly aura emanating from their sheer numbers had withered all vegetation, and the surrounding air was so polluted that even the sturdiest person would soon cough up blood and collapse.
Anyone witnessing this scene would unhesitatingly name it as hell descended upon the mortal realm.
Clack—clack!
[Kieeeek—!]
Crunch—!
At that moment, the swarming horde of undead parted to the left and right.
From their midst emerged two entities radiating particularly potent deathly energy, approaching the entrance of the Immortal Citadel.
[I wonder how long it's been since the King last summoned us. Let's make haste.]
A hellish knight over three meters tall, clad head to toe in black armor: Doom Knight Drexler.
[...He usually only calls a few executives, so what's this about?]
And a dragon-soldier clad in bone equipment, including a helmet shaped like a dragon's skull: General Spartoi Trev.
They had been hunting monsters at the outermost edge of their territory, as usual, when they received the sudden summons and hurried back.
Quite some time had passed since undead began pouring out from the Abyss's boundary and the Immortal King truly began his moves.
In the interim, the Immortal Army had steadily gathered not only forces from the western continent but also those scattered across other regions, allowing most surviving legion members to assemble here.
Naturally, this included not just ordinary undead but a significant number of high-ranking executives who had achieved great feats under the previous Immortal King.
The two present were among them.
Trev, the dragon-soldier forged using a dragon heart, ranked within the top ten in combat hierarchy—a monster who had roamed the continent for ages after suddenly appearing in human society and only recently joined.
'Back then, I was really looking forward to something big finally starting.'
As they passed the Immortal Citadel's entrance toward the grand hall, Trev broodingly revisited thoughts he'd had countless times, stewing in dissatisfaction.
When he first heard that the Immortal King had revived and established himself in the Northern Mountains, Trev had joyfully rushed over and gladly joined the Immortal Army.
To once more stake his body on the continental conquest left unfinished in the previous era.
But...
'If it's going to be like this, it was better before I came here.'
He was an undead with an unusually strong thirst for slaughter compared to others.
Thus, right after escaping the boundary, he'd spent intense days relentlessly massacring humans in an environment teeming with enemies.
'...What the hell is this childish nonsense? This mighty Immortal Army, instead of warring with the human world, holed up in these mountains hunting monsters!'
He had envisioned standing at the vanguard of war upon joining the Immortal Army, reveling freely in slaughter.
Thus, the Immortal King's order—"Do not kill humans recklessly"—struck him like a bolt from the blue.
Now, he quenched his thirst by hunting monsters, but these madness-crazed beasts couldn't satisfy his desires.
'Ahh, it's not enough. Humans—I need humans! I want to hold a festival of screams and blood! How long must I endure this...?'
He had heard the tale of the three-year grace period with the hero.
It elicited only hollow laughter, but since it was the King's decree, he tried to convince himself there must be some profound reason.
However...
'And yet he sends only half-baked rabble? Does he even intend to conquer the continent?'
Moreover, despite repeatedly requesting to be dispatched to the continent, his pleas were ignored.
Instead, they sent numerous but worthless undead and no-name black mages from who-knows-where.
He simply couldn't make sense of the current situation.
[We're here.]
As Trev suppressed his boiling frustration and questioned the Immortal King's intentions, Drexler beside him pushed open the grand hall's massive doors with a creak—
Kiiiii—
He hurriedly composed himself.
No matter how much dissatisfaction built up, he couldn't show it before the Immortal King.
[Are we the last?]
Nearly twenty high-ranking executives were already inside, prostrated on the floor.
Each was within the top fifty of the former Immortal Army ranks—humanity's worst nemeses, responsible for countless lives lost.
The pair naturally joined their ranks, paying respects to the empty throne perched high above.
This Immortal Citadel was a space forged solely by the King's authority, so if he willed it, he could appear there at any moment...
[Is everyone gathered?]
...just like now.
[Yes... my King... We have all answered your summons...]
[Ah—enough. You're all busy, so let's get straight to business.]
In truth, aside from a few like Olivia, head of intelligence, they weren't particularly busy, but all silently bowed, awaiting the King's next words.
[The sideshow is over.]
And from his lips flowed these words:
[I'm tired of playing around. Now, we shall take this continent... this world.]
Considering the King's demeanor thus far, it was a somewhat abrupt declaration.
But such a being as the Immortal King wouldn't jest about this.
The executives finally realized it, their auras gradually heating up.
[Kuhuhu— Of course, this time, you'll go out yourselves.]
At the words that followed, several prostrated bodies trembled violently—
'...My faith was lacking. As expected of the King...!'
It was the very phrase many executives, including Trev, had long awaited.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The undead, who had been swelling aimlessly to tens of thousands, began to organize under the Immortal Citadel's high executives.
It might be fine loafing here indefinitely, but for a full-scale continental invasion, forming proper legions was efficient.
Amid the bustle,
'Breaking the three-year grace promise outright wouldn't be good. What a shame—nothing beats all-out war for farming karma efficiently.'
Immortal King Hannibal leisurely sat on his throne, monitoring progress while reviewing future plans.
'Human opinions mean nothing to this body anyway, so breaking it wouldn't matter...'
His true goal wasn't continental conquest but efficient karma acquisition.
Of course, this path might lead to world destruction, but for smooth "home theater" progression, he needed to consider Heinrich's face.
'That three-year grace is already Heinrich's achievement. If I violate it now, it stains the saint's honor.'
The Church and other factions were proceeding based on the saint's assurance of no all-out war for three years.
If that faith shattered?
'Heinrich takes a fatal hit to credibility, becoming a major obstacle for future endeavors.'
He didn't want that.
Long-term, such a flaw would hinder karma farming.
'Once the main body awakens, we'll revert to the original policy anyway. Best plan ahead for after that.'
He was a transcendent Immortal King.
Naturally, he was aware his current actions were unusually aggressive compared to normal.
And that the main body's restraints had previously prevented this.
'Weak thinking. But no matter how I see it, this is right. I'll push things as far as possible in the next month.'
In a sense, Hannibal's state was like a drunkard with broken brakes on self-control, stubbornly forging ahead.
Far from acknowledging it, he believed the main body was the one clouded by useless emotions.
'Methods are made as needed. The promise was only no full-scale war.'
Thus, he just needed to exploit his agreement with Heinrich more aggressively.
'To more places, in greater numbers, with stronger elites—.'
Ravage the entire continent.
Of course, the resulting innocent sacrifices?
They were no longer his concern.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'This is bad.'
Heinrich frowned, rubbing his brow and letting out a deep sigh.
'Hans has started moving in earnest.'
Taking advantage of the main body's unconsciousness, he was rampaging completely unchecked.
In truth, with multiple "brains," Han Seonghyeon maintained unconscious control even while asleep—like breathing or walking without deliberate thought.
'But now the situation's different.'
Not only had the main body's control vanished entirely, but the Abyss erosion's aftermath had cleanly stripped Hans of his self-restraint too.
Even as Heinrich grasped his psyche, and Hans accessed other avatars' thoughts, he barreled ahead, convinced only his way was right.
Talk about a nuisance.
'Almighty Lord God, illuminate the path through this adversity.'
As Heinrich racked his brains over the headache, he unwittingly clasped his hands and prayed with eyes closed.
"...Saint? Are you alright?"
Only then, hearing Cardinal Cordelia's worried voice beside him, did he realize where he was.
'Damn.'
This was the grand conference hall hosting the continental summit.
Mid-meeting, he'd sighed and groaned alone, then suddenly started praying.
Naturally, the representatives at the central round table had fixed their gazes on him for a while.
Except for Heinz 2nd, arms crossed in deep thought.
"Ah... sorry. I was just..."
As Heinrich forced a smile and apologized, he paused and tilted his head.
Upon reflection, with all faction leaders gathered, now was the perfect chance to alert them to the anomaly and prepare countermeasures.
'The sooner the response, the better. Make this an emergency agenda... Hm?'
Scanning the table, his eyes caught Saintess Riesta fidgeting不安ly.
Seeing her recalled their conversation right after hunting the white giant.
'She said back then... the Immortal King's quietness felt ominous. Like something big was coming.'
Evidently, Riesta had sensed something even then—and still did.
Given her far stronger sync with the Main God, she might have felt it indirectly.
'...If there was something, a clearer oracle would be nice.'
Ideally, shared with him too.
'Probably my faith's lacking. Can't be helped.'
With that, Heinrich reverently clasped his hands for a brief prayer to the Main God, then slowly addressed those watching him.
"The Main God has just bestowed an oracle."
Whoosh—
Accompanied by holy aura naturally emanating from his body.
A lie slipped out as naturally as breathing.
"The Immortal King is preparing an assault on a scale beyond anything before. ...And we must prepare for it in advance."
An avatar's personality was a facet of Han Seonghyeon's individuality.
And it persisted regardless of the main body's consciousness.
'The Main God will forgive this much. He's generous.'
Even if it was the inflated-faith Heinrich.
Irrespective...
This was his true nature.