Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Closed Dimension (1)
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A rundown fishing village near Dongjeong Lake.
Busybodies—
It was far too early to wrap up work for the day, yet not a single villager stuck to their usual routine.
The fishermen, who had dragged their weary bodies out on the water to meet their quotas, hurried back to shore. Their families, along with everyone else in the village, rushed to the water's edge, turning the docks into an unexpected throng of people.
But even amid the chaos, the gaunt villagers' reactions were eerily uniform, as if scripted.
Every last one stared blankly across the lake, murmuring in awe.
"What in the world is that?"
"Heavens, what kind of madness is this..."
"Mother! That thing...!"
In the direction of the Aquatic Dragon Stronghold—the regional overlords—a blatantly unnatural phenomenon unfolded before their eyes.
Unlike the clear skies here, a vortex of clouds had sucked in every bit of cloud cover overhead, hanging thick and heavy.
Even from this distance, fierce winds whipped around its borders like a raging storm.
Flash—
Rumble—!
And from its center, thunderbolts erupted with such overwhelming menace that they stirred primal human fear.
The villagers gulped dryly, awe surging from the depths of their hearts as they watched in terror.
"It's divine punishment, I tell you. The Dragon King of Dongjeong Lake is furious because of those murdering scum."
In the midst of the confusion, a wrinkled old man with a hunched back spat out the words coldly.
With the nation collapsed, factional turf wars had begun, and the water bandits' exploitation and tyranny had reached its peak.
Having lost his son-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren to them, the only reason he'd endured was for his remaining family. Now, that pent-up rage burst forth unbidden at the sight of this overwhelming spectacle.
"Good lord, elder, what are you saying!"
"Whoa—old timer, it's not even sunset and you've already been at the bottle? Go home and sleep it off!"
The surrounding villagers panicked, trying to hush him while furtively glancing around.
They understood his feelings, but this village was effectively under the Aquatic Dragon Stronghold's rule.
Speaking carelessly could reach the bandits' ears, and no one would escape unscathed. It was only natural.
As if sensing their concerns, the old man fell silent after his outburst, fixing his hollow gaze solely on the stronghold's direction.
In this land, where the once-mighty empire had splintered into dozens of city-states, those water bandits were practically kings.
'Please, we beg you. Dragon King, bring your bloody judgment upon these fiends wearing human masks!'
All he could do was pray silently.
For heaven's wrath to descend upon these heaven-defying monsters.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'No real heavyweights here.'
Harris, surrounded by storms and lightning, casually scanned the wrecked stronghold and nodded.
He hadn't even needed to summon his bow or the other spirits.
Dealing with these water bandits was plenty with just the two spirits linked to him.
And the same went for the Aquatic Dragon Stronghold's leader.
He was overwhelmingly superior to the rest, sure—but still just small fry who hadn't even crossed the threshold of the Extreme Realm.
"Grgh... I-it can't be. This is impossible even with sorcery...! Are you some legendary yokai from the tales...?"
Fried by Watt's lightning, the man didn't last long. He writhed on the ground like a bug, mumbling deliriously.
Harris had held back from killing him to extract info, but the shock seemed too much—his condition looked rough.
'This won't do. Need to get him talking coherently.'
As the elders said, old electronics and humans alike often fixed themselves with a good smack.
Not that this guy qualified as "latest model," but he sure looked like an antique.
'If he doesn't want to die, he'll snap out of it... Hm? Hold on.'
Suddenly, Harris felt a twinge of unease and frowned.
He stared at his palm, reflecting on his actions and thoughts.
'...Yeah, no matter how I slice it, I'm getting way too aggressive.'
Even accounting for distance from the World Tree's domain, this level of brutality was off.
Nothing like the laid-back Harris from Outerica.
'Hmm, need to investigate this properly. But first...'
The change nagged at him, but interrogating the captured bandit boss took priority.
He'd get far better intel from this regional player than from some hill-dwelling riffraff.
"So, shall we chat? Peacefully?"
Approaching the writhing stronghold leader, Harris gazed down with utmost gentleness, offering the softest smile he could muster.
"U-ugh... S-spare... me..."
No clue why the man's face paled even further.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Operating avatars across three dimensions at once had revealed something.
The Revival Realm's time flowed slightly faster than Outerica's.
Roughly, 10 days in Outerica equated to about 10 days and 8 hours here.
'Not a huge deal if I'm not staying long. Still, the extra time isn't bad.'
And one more thing.
An important fact gleaned from interrogating the Aquatic Dragon leader.
Scroll—scroll—
I scrolled the mouse wheel, reviewing the Revival Realm info on my monitor.
But no matter where I looked, nothing matched the new revelation.
I even checked other "closed dimensions" just in case—same result.
Abandoning the search, I crossed my arms and sank into thought.
'Why the Revival Realm became a closed dimension.'
The cause of the war dragging on for over a decade.
The secret behind the mighty empire's collapse beforehand.
And some overarching mystery tying it all together.
'...No, too early for conclusions. Need solid info. Higher-ups probably know more.'
The grand leader of the Dongjeong Eighteen Strongholds—one of Honam Province's Big Three, a Peak Realm master—could provide certainty.
I stood, gazing out the window as I organized my thoughts.
'Sigh, I figured something was up.'
A frustrated sigh escaped me.
This was a critical issue.
In the Revival Realm, a martial world prizing strength,
the vital energy—qi—was drying up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Right after cleaning up the Aquatic Dragon Stronghold,
Harris looted their warehouse—resources and martial manuals into the Avatar Cloud—then soared back into the sky.
Of course, he sprinkled some "service" by dropping food to the nearby village.
All bandits dead or crippled beyond martial use—no complaints left.
Other strongholds might retaliate if word spread, but he'd finish everything first.
'Their comms? Runners or carrier pigeons at best.'
Meaningless against a High Elf who befriended strange beasts effortlessly.
His transcendent affinity overrode training; birds mid-flight veered to nuzzle him.
'More than that... now it really hits. This land's state.'
Near populated lakeside, the ground view from above drove home the world's plight.
Why its danger rating was "extremely high."
'Endless wars, years-long famine. Trade cut off, plagues rampant, bandits everywhere...'
No issue for the strong, but hellish for new arrivals.
Forget training—survival first.
Harris shook his head, slicing through the sky.
And just one day later—
Harris had demolished every stronghold along his path, confronting the Dongjeong Eighteen Strongholds' grand leader, Gyoryongpae Jin Deokman.
"What the hell is this! This absurd monster!"
"Gr-grand leader! Arrows can't penetrate the wind!"
"Can't even approach, Grand Leader! At this rate... grk!"
Whoooosh—
Crackle—!
Roar—!
Their clash ended without much trouble.
Top dog locally, sure—but Heavenly Hundred Master level? Laughable against Harris.
Still, for cleanup's sake, he summoned the fire spirit Kali too. Gave the elites some face.
"...Tch, who the hell are you, senior? Why barge in and wreak havoc like this!"
"Ah, Harris the Slayer. Got some questions."
"Hah! If that's it, then just—!"
"And a bit of housekeeping on the side. What can you do? Call it karmic payback."
"...!"
With introductions done, peaceful interrogation proceeded.
Jin Deokman started uncooperative—pride, probably.
But recalling elder wisdom, Harris had Watt "fix" him thoroughly. Soon, full cooperation.
Wisdom of the ages: listen to elders, never lose.
'Sigh, headache.'
Confirming the Revival Realm's state via him, Harris sighed deeply.
Raw power couldn't fix this tidal shift.
"Our survival's on the line! Without securing dragon veins, we'll be devoured. How could we retreat!"
The world's once-abundant qi was dwindling.
Major factions grasped the crisis, racing for survival: claiming dragon veins—energy hubs spewing qi.
War be damned.
"Qi is essential for realm breakthroughs, training new warriors, crafting elixirs, healing—everything! We're not warring for fun!"
Finite resource—no compromise.
Like desert tribes fighting over rare oases.
Why wars never stopped.
Desperate chains of tragedy.
"...Ah! You're an otherworlder? Thought they vanished after the Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor."
After venting, Jin Deokman nodded in realization.
Unlike the clueless Aquatic leader, he knew otherworlders well—befitting his station.
'True, before closure, Revival Realm hosted awakeners for ages.'
But Harris's power was too alien, even by their standards.
Awakeners typically leveraged modest abilities for rapid martial growth—not pure otherworldly might like this.
"Hm, heard something similar once. Dismissed as nonsense, but... was it true?"
...Yet his mutter dropped an intriguing hook.
Harris's instincts screamed: don't let this slide.
As the "fix" wore off and Jin bristled, Harris tuned him up meticulously. Trembling, he resumed hastily.
"Kuh! I don't know details! Just overheard...!"
Unfortunately, scant info.
Heard it over 20 years ago, didn't care, let it slide.
But roughly:
"Something about that guy causing the empire's fall and split... Cough, and the qi decline started around then."
I had a pretty good idea who "that guy" was.