Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Ruined World (3)
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The plan to take in the filthy sludge with his own body, purify it, and expel it was blatantly insane. It was practically suicide.
But to Lee Sang-hyun, it wasn't suicide. Because madness was precisely the domain of a Berserker.
Thump. Thump.
His hands and veins, which should have melted away from the sludge's poison, regenerated faster than they dissolved. Even his poisoned heart rapidly returned to normal.
Thump...!
Incredibly, his body, which had been slowly dying, adapted to the sludge's poison.
And this was against the 'crystallization of evil' created by a demon—one that could effortlessly melt human flesh and bones.
Thump thump...!
As his body overcame the sludge's poison, the speed of purification exploded unreasonably.
Swoooosh!
Compared to the start, it was at least three times faster. And it wasn't temporary. It kept accelerating.
Thump...! Thump...!!
Now it surpassed three times, reaching four, then five. Even more astonishing was the possibility it could hit ten times.
Thump!! Thump!!
A fierce wind blew in, strong enough to scatter dust far away.
Yet Lee Sang-hyun stood unyielding like a deeply rooted tree, steadfastly purifying the sludge lake.
"......"
It was truly tedious and lonely work. Doing it for the already dead—people he'd never even met—was excessively altruistic.
Frankly, it looked foolish.
No special gains from something like this. He'd been rooted in place for months now, purifying the sludge lake without moving an inch...
Thump. Thump.
Demons would have laughed. To ordinary eyes, it would seem idiotic.
Thump. Thump.
But Lee Sang-hyun didn't care. Or rather, such thoughts never crossed his mind. He focused solely on circulation and purification.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Nothing else was needed. Just circulation and purification. That was enough.
Whiiiish...
Time flew by with ashen clouds.
At first, it was as meaningless as sprinkling drops on a murky puddle.
But gradually, transparent droplets spread, pushing back the revolting sludge.
Of course, the sludge didn't yield easily. It ebbed and flowed, devouring the clear droplets several times.
Yet waves rose from Lee Sang-hyun's hands.
Splash......splash......splash......splash......
Faint though they were, they were unmistakably waves. Ripples in the sludge lake that had only clung stickily, melting everything.
Splash...splash...splash...splash...
The waves spread further. Toward the lake's edge, toward Rael, still wailing.
Splash splash...
The waves reached the lake's end. After a year of endurance, they crashed against the vast shore.
Splash... splash...
The sound of breaking waves felt clear and refreshing, evoking a blue ocean if you listened closely.
Splash... splash...
It was the end—and the start of a grand cycle. Like rain falling on mountains, flowing through valleys to the endless sea.
'...It's done.'
Lee Sang-hyun rose and gazed at the lake.
The surface that hadn't reflected the night sky but swallowed it whole now awoke from long slumber, mirroring the green star.
Beneath, where evil had sunk, air bubbles rose, greeting the night sky.
Blub blub!
Hidden blue light sparkled in the darkness. Not dazzling, but softly beautiful like the Milky Way.
Lee Sang-hyun exhaled quietly. Then he walked across the lake, feet splashing.
"......"
Rael's body, toyed with by demons and sunk to the sludge lake's bottom, now floated on the surface.
Fwoooosh...
Exposed to the poison for ages, the decayed body was rotten to the core.
Barely draped in skin, it contained not blood and flesh but horrific mold. Sludge oozed from eye sockets, and the heart corrupted rather than purified water.
"Rael."
Lee Sang-hyun called out. But the long-rotted Rael heard nothing.
Fwoooosh...
It only purified the blue sea endlessly.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun said no more. He simply sent the guardian—who had fulfilled its duty—on its way.
Fwoooosh......
At last, Rael's body crumbled. The guardian that had purified the rotten sea for ages... its dust returned to the blue waters.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun felt no sorrow. No tears. He calmly looked up.
The green star shone in the night sky.
Gazing at it, he closed his eyes quietly. His heart was bittersweet yet relieved.
Relieved as if shedding a heavy burden... sleep overtook him gently.
Splash.
Lee Sang-hyun fell asleep just like that.
Why had Nameless led Lee Sang-hyun to this ruined world? Why bring him to a world abandoned by demons, wasting a year?
No one could answer that question. Lee Sang-hyun didn't dwell on it either.
He trusted Nameless had a reason. Not blind faith—just trust. Trust like one person trusting another.
But the year wasted was undeniable fact.
If used elsewhere, couldn't he have conquered two or three black towers?
Difficult, but possible. He'd cleared the Tower of Jealousy in days, after all.
True, unrooted and rooted towers differed greatly, but still, two at least.
So why waste a year?
Why obsess over a rewardless task?
Why?
Thump. Thump.
Clearly.
Nothing remained of Rael. Unlike Tethys with her water source or the skeletal dragon with its swordsmanship.
Not even ashes—just eternal departure.
But not entirely nothing.
Not intended by Rael or demons, the sludge—the crystallization of evil—remained.
The sludge alone held Rael forever.
And Lee Sang-hyun purified it.
That fact, and the effort and patience to reach it, yielded clear results.
Thus, Lee Sang-hyun overcame the sludge's poison. The poison equivalent to a crystallization of evil.
What fruits it bore later was unknown, but one thing was certain...
Demons' sludge poison would no longer affect him.
In the second year since towers appeared on Earth, China's representative player and 'superhuman' Ryu O-shin publicly revealed his identity.
"I am one of the Strongest 7—the strongest of the strong, the Heavenly Demon."
His words spread worldwide instantly.
People mobilized every resource to uncover what the Strongest 7 meant, what hierarchies were.
Of course, extracting info from wary players was tough.
But not all players thought alike. Many sold info for pocket change.
Especially those with 1st or 2nd hierarchy constellations eagerly responded.
Thus, people learned.
The ranks from 1st to 6th hierarchy.
What the Strongest 7 were.
That players had rankings.
In detail.
"What? So Ryu O-shin is a superhuman chosen among the chosen?"
"Hierarchies even among superhumans..."
"Only 7 total? That's a whole different league of talent."
"...Might be fake. Not fully verified. No proof yet."
Curiosity turned to Ryu O-shin himself.
Was he truly one of the Strongest 7?
China's strongest superhuman?
Ryu O-shin answered willingly.
"I am the heavens."
And proved it.
That he was one of the Strongest 7.
China's strongest superhuman.
Afterward, Ryu O-shin's momentum was unstoppable.
Backed by Chinese government support, he conquered towers, growing rapidly.
Among them, even 'red towers' currently impossible for others.
"Finally...!!"
Government backing propelled him to ranking 1st.
Minor issues arose, but nothing major.
Ryu O-shin proclaimed anew to the world: he was the strongest, ranking 1st.
Nearby Japan also revealed one of the Strongest 7.
Her name: Kaguya.
The shrine maiden and leader of the Dragon God Cult, better known as 'Princess Kaguya', announced she was one of the Strongest 7, chosen by the great dragon god—Yamata no Orochi.
"All as you will."
People didn't believe her immediately. Everyone except cult followers doubted, as her delicate beauty seemed incompatible with Ryu O-shin's level.
But distrust didn't last.
Like Ryu O-shin, Kaguya proved it. That she was one of the Strongest 7.
"May the dragon god's aura reach your darkened eyes and ears."
She matched the Heavenly Demon Ryu O-shin—no, some speculated stronger.
Kaguya didn't directly confirm but didn't dodge either.
"Wouldn't the person involved know best?"
Her words irked Ryu O-shin, but no duel followed. No gains, only risk of mutual destruction with other Strongest 7.
Plus, both nations' leaders blocked it, fearing damage to their stars' reputations regardless of outcome.
Meanwhile, Russia and Italy revealed their Strongest 7.
Russia's Vladimir was less proactive than Ryu O-shin or Kaguya.
But he already had his faction, publicly one of the top 'superhumans' before declaring.
Italy's Aria, beloved 'Guardian' since the first monster wave, was renowned.
Her miraculous powers unrivaled, Europe's top Guardian beyond Italy.
So her being Strongest 7 surprised no one. Europeans assumed as much.
Brazil rumors swirled of a Strongest 7 amid civil war, unverifiable.
Still, powerful 'Lords' abounded, worthy of the title.
Especially northern Brazil's 'Lord', Jungle King, building his kingdom.
Unlike Brazil, America's problem: too many claiming Strongest 7 'heroes'.
Few truly qualified, but all 'heroes' lacked nothing for the title.
While the world buzzed with Strongest 7, Korea stayed quiet.
No 'hunters' qualified to claim it.
World-class talents existed, but none at Ryu O-shin or Kaguya level.
Generously, one step below.
Thus, no one thought Korea had a Strongest 7.
Viiiing!!
"Now... it begins."
That day, Kang Mu-hyuk awakened. Breaking the wall blocking him for two years, he unlocked Swordmaster power.