Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Path to the Throne of Thunder
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Stages ramp up in difficulty the further you go. That's just basic theory.
And the choices in front of Soo-hyuk were two.
Stage 2 or Stage 4.
'Run or challenge.'
What the viewers wanted was obvious.
The viewers had zero interest in Soo-hyuk bailing.
Was it because the trial's difficulty had spiked?
Missions popped up one after another, like they'd been waiting. That meant tons of viewers wanted the hard path.
Risk comes with reward.
And for Soo-hyuk, who needed massive points to level skills, upgrade items, and get buffs from Jinwoon's rituals, these missions were a goldmine.
So.
"Thanks for the support, everyone."
Of course, he had no intention of refusing.
Cheers erupted.
But some were worried.
Hundreds of demons.
Each one packing power close to a Valkyrie's.
On this side? One Valkyrie, Vigo out of commission, and Soo-hyuk.
Escaping the city? Maybe. But if the demons' goal was the Throne of Thunder, they'd defend it desperately.
It looked not just hard—impossible.
Thud.
Right after Soo-hyuk decided, the staggering Vigo started moving again.
To attack Viola?
He raised his spear, blade glinting.
One mission demanded all survive. Couldn't ditch him, so had to bring him along.
Crackle.
Lightning surged at Soo-hyuk's feet, boosting speed. Vigo, half out of it, couldn't react.
"Snap out of it."
Thwack.
Soo-hyuk's hand seized Vigo's throat.
Machine or man, a good smack fixes glitches.
Zzzzt!
Vigo's eyes rolled back. He twitched, then collapsed to his knees.
And right then.
Whoosh.
The dark crimson aura clinging to Vigo seeped out.
'That's it.'
The demon remnant puppeteering Vigo.
Soo-hyuk channeled lightning into his fingertips and swung.
BOOM!
Thunder roared as bolts pierced the remnant.
The dark energy burned away noisily. As it vanished, color slowly returned to Vigo's dazed eyes.
"Uh...?"
Vigo sat there blankly, looking around.
His gaze soon landed on Viola and Belveim's corpse at her feet.
"So that wasn't a dream..."
His hands shook as shock hit him over what he'd done. Looked like his memories were intact.
No need to explain—that was convenient. But missing intel from Belveim stung.
Swish.
Soo-hyuk picked up the sword from the floor.
Stage 3 reward: "Betrayal."
Belveim's sword.
'Guess I get this now.'
A Valkyrie's blade. Untarnished after centuries—no rust, no chips. Definitely no ordinary steel.
Soo-hyuk checked its stats quick.
Gripping it, razor-sharp energy nicked his fingers. Freshly honed, peak condition.
Vitality surged through him.
This lightness, like he could fly—only from a blessed top-tier sword.
'Nice.'
Performance and options both checked out.
+5 HP was obvious. Recovery rate? Classic holy sword trait.
Reason Soo-hyuk loved them.
'HP and regen are great, but the blade itself outperforms what I'm using. Solid sword.'
Finally, a proper blade.
Perfect for lightning wielders.
As he claimed the reward and prepped...
"Kyaaah!"
The next stage's screams signaled start.
Far off, but plenty of them.
"D-Demons!"
"Uwaaaah!"
"Militia! Militiaaa!"
Citizens screamed at demons' arrival, calling for militia and knights.
The mansion grounds turned chaos instantly.
"Th-They're here."
Vigo snapped out of self-blame.
"I know."
Soo-hyuk glanced at Viola.
No time for chit-chat. He stated his goal.
"I'm heading for the throne."
"For real?"
"Yes."
Soo-hyuk nodded.
"I've got grounds to try."
"Grounds?"
"Didn't we just see it?"
He eyed Belveim's corpse in possessed Vigo's hands.
No firm answer from her, but the scene was hint enough.
'Means the demons are hiding something.'
Soo-hyuk had clashed with demonkin more than anyone in the Tower. He knew their habits cold.
"If hundreds of demons really lurked here, no need for tricks like that."
Viola's eyes widened in realization.
True.
Demons scared of one Valkyrie and one human? No way they'd scheme.
Something hidden.
"If there's even a sliver of hope..."
Valkyries threw away lives for duty without blinking.
"Let's go."
She nodded firmly.
"Like Belveim said. If it's abandoned, better someone sits than demons."
That someone? Obviously Soo-hyuk. Her eyes said it.
"Settled then."
Grin.
Soo-hyuk smirked under the mask.
No hesitation left on her face. Valkyrie ally? Huge boost.
Plus, ditching her might fail the trial regardless of throne.
"Let's move."
"No."
Soo-hyuk stopped Viola mid-stride out.
She looked questioning. He pointed aside.
"We're going this way."
The three Valkyries had guarded the throne each in their way.
Elaine, as Conrad Kingdom high noble, politicked 500 years to block new kings.
Viola, royal guardian knight, watched closest.
And Belveim.
From this mansion linked to the throne, always ready to reclaim it.
"Never knew this was here..."
A secret underground passage, first time for her.
Viola followed, amazed.
Only light: her small glowing orb.
"No idea?"
"None."
Viola served Conrad royals centuries. No one knew this path.
"Secret held tight. Belveim did her duty."
Betrayer or not, she was Valkyrie.
Faithful till learning Asgard ditched the throne—and them.
"If there's a path like this..."
Viola muttered hopefully as they walked.
"As long as the palace isn't fallen, we could snag the throne."
Hope sparked. Color returned to her face.
Soo-hyuk eyed the wound on her back.
"You okay?"
"This?"
She nodded like no big deal.
"Yeah. Nothing to worry about."
"It's not small."
"Muspelheim war? Fought worse and kept swinging. This is nothing."
Soo-hyuk nodded.
Not just the wound. Valkyrie wouldn't fold from that.
His real worry?
'Not body—mind.'
Mental fortitude.
Even toughest spirits crack losing two comrades of centuries.
One tried killing her after betrayal.
'Me...'
For him, 20 years ago felt recent.
Betrayed by trusted friend Kim Il-su, half his crew dead.
Mad with rage, he chose death with Il-su there.
Failed, but.
His and Viola's psyches clung by threads. Difference? Comrades held him; duty holds her.
As they neared via the path.
"You want thunder's power, right Soo-hyuk?"
Viola hesitantly voiced her read.
"You already have some."
"Yes. Spot on."
No dodging.
His true aim, no secret. Hiding it'd make him unreadable to her.
"Good."
She nodded slightly.
"If I look done, prioritize the mission."
As expected.
Duty propped her up—Asgard's last task.
Soo-hyuk looked ahead.
Stairs to surface.
Conrad Kingdom's central cathedral, straight to Throne of Thunder.
Before ascending.
"Won't happen."
Soo-hyuk cut her off sharply.
Viola, resolute, glanced at his profile. Vigo looked surprised too.
Both touched.
But Soo-hyuk's words weren't pure.
This stream's hype was over half thanks to Viola.
Missions? Half tied to her survival.
'Losing her? Massive L.'