Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm (2)
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“Whoa, whoa, you’re a newbie, right? No need to get all fired up. Up here, you don’t have to worry about factions or alliances from down below!”
“……?”
Of course, he had no intention of attacking.
This was inside the village, after all.
He didn’t know if guards would show up here the same way, but no matter the reason, attacking someone sitting at a shop counter was pure idiocy.
Undead.
Unlike the hollow-eyed regular undead, this one had blue soulfire flickering in its eyes. Rokan stared for a moment before straightening up. He stored his weapon in his inventory, relaxed his stance, and clearly signaled he meant no fight.
“My apologies. As you said, I’m a fresh arrival to the heavens. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Haha! You’re more polite than you look. Of course! Everyone’s like that at first!”
The undead shopkeeper laughed heartily and waved it off.
‘A city mixing undead and humans... Is it because of that Heavenly Alliance?’
There were questions, and it left him confused.
Did they band together up here and turn hostile again on the surface? Or did becoming a heavenly being free them entirely from surface rivalries?
Would that mean hostility toward other humans, gnomes, dwarves, half-elves, too?
Thanks to his Man-Slayer title, it might not matter, but he’d check later when he went back down. For now, he inspected the goods.
“Oh…….”
Heavenly items were top-notch. Even basic consumables like potions had more varieties than below, and higher-grade ones too.
They cost a hefty pile of coins, but considering the performance and utility...
His health now surged so much that a top-grade potion barely made a dent. But these “Heavenly Potions” looked like they’d refill a huge chunk in one go.
After Berserk or Gale Incarnation dropped his health to zero, he needed something to instantly restore a percentage to survive. This was like rain in a drought.
“I’ll take a hundred of these. Fifty mana potions and fifty stamina potions, too.”
“Oh? That many? You’re a big spender. Got enough coins, though? Our shop’s not the priciest, but this haul’ll cost a fortune…….”
“Of course.”
What was there to skimp on for life-saving consumables?
Rokan pulled coins from his inventory and paid. The shopkeeper’s skinless skull twitched, soulfire flaring brighter.
“Antidote? Need any antidotes? Plenty of poisonous critters around here…….”
“No antidotes.”
The pitch grew eager, but this was enough.
Rokan pondered, then added mix potions that boosted health, mana, and stamina together, plus regen potions that healed over time like Totem Heal instead of instant. Then he left the general store.
He’d burned through a good chunk of coins, but plenty remained. He’d scraped every last coin from Sky Island, thanks to the beauty potion ploy.
Exchanging his gold would net even more.
‘Time for some reputation grinding.’
No need for the class guild house. He’d already grabbed all the skill books he needed—up to combo and creation skills—back on the surface.
He hadn’t filled his extra skill slots to observe, but he could create or combo anytime.
He had a few in mind.
Next stop: exchange office. Rejected for low rep.
New areas gave title-boosted affinity and rep buffs, but not enough here.
Rainbow teleport? He didn’t even peek.
It might be a test of resolve.
Lurking around it now could tempt him to bail for the surface throne at the first hardship.
“Same old, race aside.”
No rush, he wandered the village, mapping positions, buildings, functions. Heaven wasn’t so different.
Some new-function buildings, NPCs, shops, but usable stuff was par for the course.
He restocked food used up ravaging Sky Island, then headed out.
[Bounty: Karokl][Quest]
Hunt Karokl, the wild boarman leader raiding nearby slash-and-burn villages.
-Reward: 500,000 coins, moderate fame, moderate EXP
One difference: Unlike surface quests from NPCs, rep grinding hinged on bounty boards.
Named mobs, specific races, or kill counts—all posted.
No mercenary guild for side gigs, and in a multi-race village, no need to curry one faction’s favor.
Fame from bounties was the rep key.
‘Convenient.’
Non-combat folks might struggle, but Rokan welcomed it.
Fame wasn’t region-locked. Enough from anywhere worked across all heavenly zones.
Just farm fame. Simple.
Unlike surface city-specific rep grinds, this was clean.
Sure, hitting sufficient fame took work.
But combat? Rokan’s specialty. He liked the change.
No rival faction raids to worry about right away, either.
This starter village was a newbie zone.
Faction wars in a newbie zone? Absurd.
“Black Cloud Mountain, huh.”
Rokan focused on foes ahead, heart pounding as he trekked.
High-master monsters lined the path, but newbie zone meant few aggro types.
Stealth scouting dodged them.
He could respawn here with soul storage, but unknown heavenly power levels meant conserve when possible.
‘Not huge, but named enough for a bounty.’
Gale Incarnation’s cooldown and backlash, Time Reversal’s EXP loss—both flaws exposed.
Flat plain to Black Cloud Mountain. Rokan steeled himself and stepped in.
[You have entered the Cursed Mountain.]
[Caution: Cursed lands may inflict Confusion, Fear, Madness, etc., periodically at random.]
“Hmm.”
Instant warning on entry. Heavenly indeed. None were jokes.
In high-level fights, a slip meant defeat or death.
Madness might boost attack if lucky, but the others? Doomed. Why even have villages here?
‘Not my problem.’
No turning back. Unyielding Will said so.
Handy title, all around.
Ignoring system warnings, he strode on. Terrain effects hit.
[Curse: Exposed to Confusion.]
[Unyielding Will negates it.]
[Curse: Exposed to Madness.]
[You are a Berserker. No effect.]
“……So I’m already nuts, huh.”
Madness reaction amused. Not the title—Berserker class immunity.
Felt certified crazy, but no retort. He’d heard worse plenty.
Deeper up, bushes rustled.
Kyaaak!
“Counter!”
[Giant Squirrel][Lv 362]
A massive squirrel burst out. “Massive” was under two feet, but fangs and claws vicious.
Perfect for this.
Rokan’s shout flung him back, then charged again. Bought reaction time, loaded Battle Axe with power.
Splurch!
Slaughtering Strike.
The predator-mawed squirrel’s skull shattered on impact.
Hide tore, flesh chunks flew, bones cracked—but it kept coming. Flailing stubby arms at Rokan.
Terrain madness, probably.
“Where?!”
No falling for clumsy swipes.
Bear Roar stunned, slam floored it. It lunged—boot kick redirected, second lunge met axe haft smash. Perfect timing pulverized brain, full pacify.
“Mutant animals at this level.”
Quick takedown, no master skill trigger. Madness or not.
Even if triggered, realm-master Rokan could handle sans Gale Incarnation, but noise would draw crowds.
Grrr, grrr!
“Damn.”
[Boarman Grunt][Lv 357]
[Boarman Grunt][Lv 358]
Squirrel done, noise drew boarman grunts downhill.
Thought just bounty boss Karokl, but not so simple.
“No choice.”
Rokan hardened resolve.
No fights en route weren’t weakness—just avoiding hassle. Grunts or Karokl, he’d slaughter freely, no hiding it.
“Rampaging Chariot!”
Body like lightning-struck boar, crashed into them.
Shoulder charge amplified by pauldrons ruptured guts, then spun rear-held Battle Axe to side-swipe neighbor.
“Twist Attack!”
Axe’s massive force sheared two-thirds through log-thick boarman waist.
“What scrubs? All bulk, no bite. A hundred’d be fine. Tsk, even that squirrel fought better!”
Rokan went all-out, skill gap glaring.
He outclassed high-masters. Truckloads wouldn’t faze.
“Ugh, this mouth of mine.”
Rumble rumble rumble.
Victory joy cut short by massive quake. From Black Cloud Mountain above, closing in.
Far off, charred-furred boarman pack charging on all fours.