Chapter 266
Chapter 266
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 266
Chapter Title: Divine Beast Hunt (1)
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“Everyone, board the ship.”
The airship ran completely free of charge, surprisingly enough.
It made sense, since it bolstered their faction’s strength, but for Rokan, it was a sweet deal either way.
He boarded alongside Drokshi, and while the others glanced their way, they soon lost interest.
No matter that it was Rokan, he hadn’t yet built up the kind of fame that would make him recognizable to everyone.
The reactions, however, were somewhat unexpected.
“Isn’t that Red Axe Drokshi?”
“Decided to get active in the Heavenly Realm again?”
“Traveling with a guy like that—quite the honor.”
Some of the murmurs directed at them were aimed not at Rokan, but at Drokshi.
He’d bragged so much at first, and it seemed he really had made a name for himself up here.
[Red Axe Drokshi][Lv 378]
‘Looks like he wasn’t all talk after all.’
And rightly so—he was a powerhouse nearing level 380, and an exceptional blacksmith to boot.
“Departing!”
Moments later, the airship took to the skies once more.
Slowly, but without hesitation.
Dozens of Grand Master pilots took their positions, while the passengers headed inside. Rokan and Drokshi lingered a bit, scanning their surroundings.
[Approach Blockade][Quest]
Intercept the monsters approaching the airship.
-Success Condition: Safely protect the airship until the destination.
-Failure Condition: Death
-Success Reward: Celestial Rune, Massive Fame, Massive Experience
-Experience Gain During Progress: 2x
“Hm?”
And then, a quest popped up out of nowhere.
It was a defensive quest to ensure the airship arrived safely.
“Shall we give it a shot?”
“Ahem, even with Grand Master protection, this is a bit...”
Unlike Rokan, who showed interest, Drokshi looked hesitant.
Sure, Grand Master-level pilots were guarding it, but there were only about five of them. The rest of the crew were High Master level at best.
They could certainly protect the airship itself, but safeguarding the passengers out on deck was another story.
No one knew what flying monsters might appear or how they’d strike.
If they swooped in fast and snatched a target, lives could be at stake.
“No confidence?”
“No, do you take this Red Axe Drokshi for some coward...? It’s not a lack of confidence, it’s just...”
“Here, take these back.”
Seeing Drokshi bristle yet hesitate, Rokan pulled a hefty pile of weapons from his inventory.
All items he’d confiscated from Drokshi earlier.
Drokshi let out a deep sigh, resigned, and his eyes hardened with resolve.
“Then it’s no problem.”
And so, Rokan and Drokshi accepted the quest.
‘Looks decent, but few takers. Guess it’s that risky, huh?’
Of course, there were risks for Rokan too. The airship’s size made it tricky to unleash Stormwind Incarnation.
He trusted it could handle the weight, but a bigger size meant easier to hit.
Still, Stormwind Incarnation wasn’t his only trick. He gripped his battle axe and took position at the deck’s edge.
The crew tried to dissuade him, citing the danger, but he wanted to see what was coming first.
[Brown Wyvern][Lv 383]
[Happy Harpy][Lv 354]
[Cloud Slime][Lv 377]
‘Not pushovers.’
Standing at the deck’s edge, Rokan activated Eyes that Pierce All Things and soon spotted a pack of monsters circling the airship.
Every one High Master level at minimum, swarming in groups of ten or more.
They weren’t Grand Master tier, thankfully, but considering it was early in the journey, this could turn into a rough ride.
“Human? No idea how you got here, but don’t get cocky.”
“A human trying to become Celestial? End of days, I tell you.”
At that moment, a few figures with pristine Celestial wings gathered around him.
‘Half-elf?’
No, full elves. Not some half-breed—the noble forest bloodline, now bearing Celestial wings.
They sneered at Rokan’s race with utter disdain.
‘And that guy next to them...’
Actually, the openly hostile ones were better.
The one standing beside them.
A race Rokan had never seen before glared at him with open malice, yet refused to even glance his way.
“Don’t look at him, yo.”
“...What the hell is that guy?”
Irked, Rokan shot him a glare, only for Drokshi to nudge his leg in warning.
What made this guy so special?
[Celestial Mitael][Lv 395]
Even the info window only showed “Celestial”—no clue what race he’d come from.
‘Like the Join or Naga tribes, some native breed? And this punk isn’t even Grand Master...’
Probably. No need to clash, so Rokan started to turn away—only for the guy to notice his scan and pick a fight.
“How dare you!”
“...?”
Whoooosh!
A burst of immense power.
If you were below High Master, that shockwave alone would’ve swept you off the airship.
“For a lowly race to gaze upon me?!”
“You little...”
Unmistakable hostility. Pure provocation.
He’d locked eyes with Rokan from the start, leaving no doubt who it was aimed at.
Rokan wasn’t one to back down from that.
Seething from nearly getting pushed back, he turned to growl—only for Drokshi to block him with his short frame and bow deeply to the guy instead.
“Oh dear, this clueless newbie who just ascended doesn’t recognize your noble bloodline. It was ignorance, so please forgive him.”
“What?”
“Hmph! Newbie, huh? I’ll let it slide once. But fail to keep those eyes in check, and you’ll regret it.”
“Hah?”
“Thank you!”
The Celestial spun on his heel and vanished.
Unbelievable—even in the heavens, getting called a newbie.
Rokan was so flabbergasted he was speechless, but after watching the guy shake off like he’d touched filth, he turned to Drokshi.
“What was that guy?”
“Whew, I just saved your hide there, yo. So how about shaving a bit off our contract term...”
“No, what is he?”
But Drokshi just patted his chest, touting his own merits.
“What else? A Celestial, yo.”
“Celestial? What kind? Some noble class?”
“Sigh, that’s why you should’ve studied up and traveled slow.... Nah, real Celestial. Angel race, yo. Born under the Celestial God’s blessing. Hardcore pure-blood supremacists—they look down on converted Celestials from other races, but their skills are legit. Obsessed with bloodlines, so they meddle in their own kind’s business a lot. You could handle one somehow, but the fallout after? Problematic bunch, yo. Lucky the airship kept it low-key, so don’t pick fights with types like that once we land, yo.”
“Hmm, got it.”
Rokan nodded like he understood. But he had no intention of bowing to them.
At the end of the day, weren’t they just high-level gangsters, like some overpowered guild?
For now, he’d struggle against even one or two at full power, so no clashing. But once he hit Grand Master? Game changer.
Who’d be the real madman in this zone? He’d wait and see.
He memorized the name, then shifted his gaze back beyond the deck.
“Hm?”
Swoosh. Thwack!
While the commotion had played out, the crew and quest-taking passengers were already “cleaning house.”
Whether from experience with this nonsense or just not wanting to get involved, they unleashed ranged attacks—sniping, scattering, or repelling the gathering monsters.
And every strike was impressive.
Elves firing near-silent precision shots, spellcasters blasting with thunderous explosions to drive them off, melee types repelling those already trying to board.
All High Master minimum, putting on a solid show to defend the airship.
‘Well, yeah. You need a certain fame threshold just to get here.’
Rokan was mildly impressed, but then recalled: the Heavenly Realm was for those who’d amassed serious fame in the heavens.
Refusing to be outdone, he rolled up his sleeves.
“Time we grabbed some EXP too?”
He started with hand axes.
Hurl after explosive hurl!
The brutal throws smashed into the circling Happy Harpies.
Boom boom boom! Screeech!
The force converted to explosive energy, sweeping them away.
Shattering bones on direct hits, mangling the rest with blast shockwaves.
But it didn’t end there.
“Chain of Annihilation!”
Clatter clatter! Thud thud thud!
Chains shot out like bars, impaling and ending them.
Normally, the damage might fall short—but no worries.
[Title ‘First Knight’ effect: ‘Knightly Valor’ activated. All stats +10% during defense battles.]
[Title ‘First Occupation Force’ effect: All stats +20% during defense battles.]
[Title ‘First Occupation Force’ effect: Attack and Defense rise proportional to enemy numerical disadvantage.]
Thanks to the defense quest, his stats were massively boosted.
Add the Man-Slayer title, and anything short of wyvern-level HP and defense was one-combo fodder.
If not? Follow up with a throw or whatever and finish it.
“Wha... How is a human...”
Those who’d subtly dismissed him for being human now gawked like startled rabbits.
To think a mere human could pull off that kind of feat.
Sure, past humans who’d ascended weren’t weaklings, but they were so rare it was easy to underestimate. Yet that destructive power? On par with brute-force races.
“Weapon Explosion!”
Boom boom boom boom boom!
But the shock faded fast—thanks to someone outshining even Rokan.
Red Axe Drokshi.
His weapons, infused with flame aura, detonated on impact, smashing entire flocks of flying monsters in one blow, racking up overwhelming kills.
Screeeee.
They’d flown quite a ways—over halfway to the destination—when an emergency signal blared across the airship.
Something enormous had been detected approaching from the distant horizon.
[Tyrant Imoogi Bureki][Lv 428]
A serpent dragon that had failed to become a true dragon—a violent behemoth over level 400—locked onto their airship and closed in.