Chapter 373
Chapter 373
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 373
Chapter Title: Apostle of the Heavenly God (2)
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-Rokan: Where are you? Get over here right now.
Having successfully struck a deal with the Heavenly God, Rokan immediately left the grand temple and used the Heavenly Rune Book.
His destination was one of the neutral zones in the heavens.
He had arranged to meet someone there in a hurry.
"Ah, Lord Rokan? Your appearance...!"
"It's Polymorph. Don't worry about it."
The figure standing at rigid attention was none other than the elf holy knight Hamel.
Nicknamed the Holy Wheel or Sacred Cockroach, he was a master of survival.
This was the very person Rokan had chosen as the Heavenly God's apostle.
"Here, take this."
"Huh?"
[The Heavenly God's Apostle Appointment Quest has been completed.]
[The Heavenly God expresses doubt about Hamel's qualifications.]
[Additional reward payment is on hold.]
The moment he met the guy, Rokan tossed him the Heavenly God's Starlight Gauntlet and transferred ownership.
But the Heavenly God seemed displeased.
And for good reason—despite having ascended to the heavens quite some time ago, Hamel had never chosen to join either the celestial or demon faction, remaining in the neutral zone.
He hadn't shown overwhelming feats like Rokan either, so he wasn't the sort of figure the Heavenly God would take special interest in.
And that was just the start. He looked gaunt, like he hadn't eaten for days, giving off a frail impression.
It was only natural for first-time observers to question his skills.
'But he'll have no choice but to acknowledge him soon enough.'
Still, this guy's abilities were the real deal. He'd poured all his skills into defense and health regeneration, making him an absolute monster at tanking—not just from skill power, but from godlike control.
Rokan figured he could hold his own against him for a decent while. His survivability was unmatched; he could thumb his nose at anyone in that regard.
Of course, that survivability didn't translate to damage output, so hunting took time, but that wasn't a big issue.
'He's not alone, so the lack of offense will sort itself out quick.'
Click Resistance Mitty.
Infinite Necromancer Polten.
The two of them were teaming up with Hamel.
This trio, paired by Rokan, was already fairly well-known among players.
Hamel served as the main tank, Polten's undead handled sub-tanking and sub-DPS, and Mitty took the aggressive main DPS role.
On top of that, Polten had the percent damage item Rokan had handed over, so ripping through even the toughest rumored monsters with brute force was no big deal.
If they just held out, victory was theirs—their foolproof strategy might even let them take down titans or dragons.
'Come to think of it, I do need to hunt a dragon...'
As he pondered taking them dragon-hunting when he had time, a brilliant light seeped into Rokan.
The quest reward—a massive influx of divinity—had descended upon him.
"......"
But he couldn't really feel it. Since he hadn't hit level 450 yet, it was like hunting level 400+ foes—no noticeable difference.
He'd probably only sense it after reaching 450.
'It better not be a scam.'
He briefly wondered if the Heavenly God had cheated him, but that would reveal itself later. If so... he'd never get the fun of being the Heavenly God's apostle as he'd hoped.
"Whoa, chills out of nowhere...!"
Hamel, who had been inspecting the suddenly received Heavenly God's Starlight Gauntlet in shock, suddenly shivered and glanced around.
He immediately equipped it, clenching and unclenching his fist, channeling and withdrawing holy power to test its abilities. Then, just like with Rokan, a brilliant light descended upon him.
"Uh... Lord Rokan? It says I should become the Heavenly God's apostle. Should I do it?"
Stunned, Hamel asked again, since Rokan was the one who'd given him the divine weapon. Rokan nodded, and the light split, flowing into the Starlight Gauntlet and Hamel's heart.
Hamel had been reborn as the Heavenly God's apostle.
Rokan had no idea what stat boosts or skills and quests he'd get, but he wasn't jealous at all.
Becoming someone's apostle seemed to mean being bound to them.
What if he reached level 450, or even 500, in that state? Could he break free then?
Rokan doubted it.
Sure, some might want that kind of rapid growth, but not him. He only hoped to stand tall on his own.
'Crawling under someone doesn't suit me.'
Besides, how much stronger could an apostle really get? A few skills and some stats at best?
Would that even let other players catch up to him? Doubtful.
"Well, I'm off then?"
"Wait, what? Explain what's going on...!"
"Talk it out with the Heavenly God who made you his apostle. Once he fully accepts you, he'll chat again."
"Ah, but..."
Leaving Hamel flustered and still piecing it together, Rokan headed back to the celestial capital.
To take out the regular celestials who followed the former 1st-grade celestial, Karlaman.
"You board this?"
"Yes. The moment you cross over, we'll sever the connection. We've suppressed info so the word about the 1st-grade celestial change hasn't spread."
In other words, strike fast before they catch on.
And if Rokan failed, they'd cut the link to cover themselves.
'Thoroughly businesslike, huh.'
They'd cooperate, but ditch him if things went south and handle it themselves. Rokan nodded, thinking they were as cunning as expected.
He hadn't counted on their support anyway.
Once this was done, relations with the celestials wouldn't magically improve. They had no reason to reset the Divine Beast Hunter's notoriety.
It might even breed suspicion about the 1st-grade hierarchy shift.
Wooong.
Rokan, still polymorphed, stepped onto the rainbow teleporter. The connection to those coordinates severed instantly.
"So this is the place."
Rokan had arrived at a border region in the true celestial realm.
It was surprising that a regular celestial held the vital, dangerous post of border guard captain in a world where pure celestials loved excluding outsiders—but tales of his devout faith in the Heavenly God made it somewhat believable.
"First, deliver this, right?"
Rokan pulled a letter from his inventory. It was one Lafuge had passed along for the border guard captain, Torikan.
Handing it over would dispel suspicions and grant an audience, supposedly.
That's when he'd strike down Torikan.
Knowing Rokan's one-shot potential, Lafuge—a Majesty Master and mighty warrior himself—had advised on how to easily take him out.
"Let's see here."
Rip.
But Rokan didn't deliver it to Torikan. First, he broke the seal, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it.
"You bastard...!"
Flames erupted in Rokan's eyes as he read.
[Karlaman has been murdered. The one delivering this letter is the culprit—don't let him escape. -Proxy of 1st-Grade Celestial Lafuge-]
A trap.
Not a setup for a stealth kill by allaying suspicions, but orders to slay Rokan.
He'd been confident in taking Torikan regardless, and Lafuge was such a scheming ambitious prick that he'd checked—just in case, and yep.
Delivering it would've left Rokan ambushed and critically wounded.
He hadn't fully trusted them, but the betrayal still made his blood boil.
'Me, huh? You guys' Heavenly God, huh? Quests and all, huh? We did everything!'
He'd just been chatting with the Heavenly God, and now these underlings were deceiving and trying to kill him.
He and the celestials just didn't mesh.
'Then I can't give them what they want.'
Eyes gleaming coldly, Rokan immediately left the city. If Lafuge's goal was to pit him against Torikan and weaken them both, no reason to play along, right?
He'd miss the XP from Torikan and his men, but he'd collect it straight from Lafuge someday. He hurried on.
He resolved to cross the celestial border entirely.
Boom rumble crash!
"......?"
But as Rokan tried to exit the city, the gates slammed shut.
Already that time? As he blinked in surprise, the sky went pitch black.
Not sunset. Something was blotting out the heavens, descending.
"Gasp? Blink!"
Realizing what it was, Rokan dove behind a building.
Instead of blocking the merciless arrow rain, he hid to evade.
First, he needed to grasp the situation.
"You filth! Do you know where you are, coming here to defy the heavens?!"
A thunderous roar jolted through his brain and nerves. Without his title effect, his limbs would've stiffened from the sheer force.
[Heavenly Border Guard Captain Torikan][Lv 480]
A level 480 powerhouse.
This was the border guard captain Rokan had come to hunt.
'Picked the wrong fight.'
He'd heard he was high-level, but 480?
The guy's strength worried him, but more shocking was the quality of the encircling forces.
As border defenders against invaders, they had hundreds over 400, generals all 450+ Majesty Masters.
He'd planned to hunt these guys?
The intel was wrong from the start. If anything, this rivaled or exceeded the elite guard.
Given the vast gap from Lafuge's mentioned forces, Rokan was certain this was premeditated.
'The Heavenly God won't show again?'
As a devout follower, maybe the Heavenly God would descend once more and clean it up.
But no sign. Probably busy syncing with his new apostle.
'Guess I have to break through on my own...'
Rokan quickly calculated, comparing their forces to his. Odds in a fight to the death? Survival chance if fleeing?
Simulations ran in his head, but solo, both looked dicey.
If Mortal Enemy fully activated, odds would improve, but against regular celestials—not pure ones—it only worked at 15%. That stung.
'Huh?'
Then, out of nowhere, unexpected power surged within Rokan.
Something he hadn't anticipated had happened to him.