Chapter 393: Tangled Threads (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 393: Tangled Threads (1)
The 'Spring Water of the Sun' was originally one of the special items meant to protect Yggdrasil.
However.
'There's no way the beings of the 50th floor sent Sherry all the way here for a reason like that.'
From their perspective, they had no reason to protect Ragnarok, nor did they have any reason to use the Spring Water of the Sun as leverage to strike a deal with them.
In that case...
They wanted the Spring Water of the Sun for a different reason.
There had to be another purpose—one important enough for them to risk everything to get their hands on it.
'...So that's what it was.'
Jinhyuk quietly chewed on the thought.
The conditional anomaly quest, 'Apocalypse'.
Originally, it was an event that only triggered upon entering the 40th floor, but the conditions had changed drastically.
'Well, in the past, I didn't get under their skin this much.'
Since he interfered with every single thing they did, it was only natural they saw him as a massive thorn in their side.
In any case, time was running out.
The deadline he had promised Thor and Loki was fast approaching.
On top of that, Olympus's pursuit was growing fiercer, meaning he had to move even faster.
Sliiiide...
His center of gravity shifted slightly forward.
His grip tightened around Barnard, which he held in a reverse grip.
Shall we have some proper fun for the first time in a while?
Boom!
The Heavenly Demon Sovereign Step, hailed as the pinnacle of footwork and movement techniques.
And he had unleashed it using a whopping 5-star inner force.
A storm incomparable to the one from his fight with Lu Bu swept through the castle.
However.
Clang!
Sherry blocked the surprise attack from behind.
"To think... you still weren't giving it your all. Truly surprising."
[Sherry activates her unique ability, 'Hexa Sword'!]
A power passed down to only a select few among the Wood Elves.
It was an ability that drastically increased resistance against opposing attributes.
'Right. This elf is annoying precisely because of that.'
When facing dark attributes or abilities like the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Sherry's own stats would multiply significantly.
It meant that the harder one tried to crush her with raw power, the more she would grow to match it.
Combined with her exceptional base physical stats, there was no other word to describe her but "troublesome."
Clang!
A strike packed with speed and her signature light-footedness.
Sherry pressed Jinhyuk, leaving afterimage upon afterimage in her wake.
"I know you're strong. I also know that countless powerhouses have died before you."
With a faint, cold smile, Sherry slipped behind Jinhyuk.
"But my ability is specialized in taking down monsters like you."
If he relied on 'Grave of Swords' or 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' as his main weapons, it would create a paradox where his own strength worked against him.
Yet, if he abandoned his greatest strengths, he would essentially be fighting with his hands tied behind his back.
'Either way, I have the advantage. Above all, I don't even need to win this fight—I just need to buy time.'
She had already leaked information to Olympus.
That Jinhyuk, having allied with Ragnarok, had come here in search of something.
Consequently, it wouldn't be long before the residents and Rankers allied with Olympus swarmed this place.
Tsk... Tap!
Sherry's eyes darted to the side.
Even with Hexa Sword active, her opponent was still dangerously strong.
The higher-ups hadn't been wary of him for nothing.
In just a brief moment, she had lost sight of Jinhyuk twice.
He was fast.
...But.
Whoosh!
Her red daggers followed him as if predicting his trajectory.
The two spinning red daggers crossed diagonally.
Flinching slightly, Jinhyuk abruptly changed direction to widen the distance.
"Does it have a tracking effect?"
"Yes. It can catch almost any movement."
"As expected of swords made from a Red Dragon's fangs. Even if it was just a hatchling."
At Jinhyuk's response, Sherry's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.
With a look of sheer disbelief, she spoke.
"...Seriously. You know everything. Are you... really a Player? You're not some hidden Administrator, are you?"
"I do hear that quite often. But no, I'm not an Administrator."
Jinhyuk shrugged.
"Ah...! And since we're at it, let me ask you one thing."
Jinhyuk casually prompted her.
There was something he had been curious about.
Why a Wood Elf, a race famous for their pride, would throw away an Administrator's honor to serve those on the 50th floor.
And what exactly was the wish she hoped to fulfill by doing so.
"Is it to maintain the balance of the Tower? Or to fulfill a personal desire? What did they promise you that made you take such a risk?"
"You're curious about things that have absolutely nothing to do with this fight."
"It might have everything to do with it. Especially since I know your race's history."
"...! Speak of that again, and I will..."
"Why? Are you going to kill me with those daggers? Hmm... but is that even possible with your skills?"
"We'll... find out right now."
Thick waves of murderous intent poured from Sherry's body.
Whoosh!
The moment her figure vanished, Jinhyuk swung Barnard fiercely.
Clang!
'Looks like I touched a sore spot.'
...Her speed went up a notch.
Clang-clang-clang!
No, maybe two notches.
It was now at a level where he had to predict her position solely by the wind brushing against the ground.
However.
Swoosh!
He was just as fast.
He boosted his speed further with 'Domain of Wind' and suppressed his opponent's abilities with 'Nihilism'.
Jinhyuk and Sherry clashed in midair, moving at a frantic pace.
To any onlookers, it would have looked like brilliant sparks blooming out of thin air.
One exchange, two exchanges... and then seventy-two exchanges.
In less than a minute, countless ultimate techniques were traded.
"Tch!"
Sherry clicked her tongue.
A long stream of blood sprayed from a graze on her shoulder.
This was already her fifth wound.
No matter how much she increased her speed or mixed feints into her swordsmanship, her opponent saw through every single move.
"You're fast and sharp, but you lack real combat experience."
"How dare you. A mere human who won't even live a hundred years dares to lecture me on experience?"
Fuming with rage, Sherry swung her daggers even more violently.
Neck, chest, stomach.
She thrust at every opening she saw.
Of course, attacks made in a state of agitation were even easier to read.
Screeech!
Jinhyuk deflected all the incoming strikes using the flat of Barnard's blade.
"Having a lot of experience doesn't just mean the number of times you've fought."
It's the enlightenment gained only by facing the strong, experiencing countless frustrations and despair, and crossing the threshold of death.
And going beyond all that—being able to sadistically enjoy the entire process.
Only then can you truly call it 'experience.'
"It's not too late. Give up quietly and hand over what's in your hands. If you do, I might just spare your life."
"Are you telling me to hand over my swords?"
"The more good weapons, the better. I could just kill you and take them, but I happen to be quite close with one of the Mid-Managers."
The swords made from a Red Dragon's fangs were quite tempting.
Since he already had Barnard in his right hand, he didn't need both, but he could probably use at least one.
"I don't make the same offer twice."
In other words, this was the last mercy he would show.
* * *
Gulp...
Dry saliva slid down his throat.
'Father told me to keep a close eye on him... so this is what he meant.'
The one holding his breath in a semi-transparent state was none other than one of Olympus's deities.
It was Hermes.
He had been the first to arrive here after hearing of Ragnarok's schemes through Sherry.
And as expected, things were unfolding in a far more exciting way than anticipated.
A mere Player was utterly thrashing Sherry, a Mid-Manager said to be stronger than most heroes.
Until now, he had thought the rumors were mostly exaggerated due to the sheer volume of them. But seeing it in person made it crystal clear.
The rumors weren't exaggerated in the slightest.
If anything, they had been downplayed to prevent others from snatching this fascinating Player away.
'What could a monster like that possibly lack to make him ally with a dying faction...?'
Hermes smacked his lips in regret.
His mind was filled with the desire to make him their apostle if he could.
'...It's such a waste to just discard him like this...'
If they could get their hands on a Player of that caliber, wrapping up Ragnarok would undoubtedly become much easier.
Right then.
"What is this...?"
Hummmmm!
Blue gates began to manifest inside Sopae Castle.
A feast of immense mana that transcended human comprehension.
The vanguard of Olympus had arrived.
"A pity, but this is the end. His only hope was to wrap things up before reinforcements arrived."
Hermes turned around, as if there was no longer any need to watch.
Reporting what he had seen so far to Zeus would be more than enough.
'And I must hurry to track down Odin. If I keep coming back empty-handed, I'll become a laughingstock to all the gods.'
There was a far more pressing matter than a fight whose outcome was already decided.
His winged shoes, which allowed him to fly, glided smoothly through the air.
* * *
Thud!
Clank!
Warriors clad in magnificent armor stepped out of the gates.
"Fufu! I told you, didn't I? Time is on my side."
Sherry burst into a mad laugh, panting heavily.
Her desperate struggle to hold out until now had finally borne fruit.
"Mid-Manager."
A slender-looking man representing the vanguard bowed his head.
It was 'Theseus', a Hero-grade entity just like Lu Bu.
"You arrived just in time."
"Yes. Thanks to your prompt notification, we were able to arrive just in time."
Theseus glanced in another direction.
The duel between Cheon Yu-seong and Lu Bu was already tilting in Yu-seong's favor, but...
...it would only be for a brief moment.
Once Olympus's vanguard joined, that balance would instantly crumble.
Now, only one thing remained.
"We just need to deal with that human."
"Correct. He is a disruptor of the Tower's balance, so you must capture him alive. We need to find out, by any means necessary, how he obtained information that surpasses even what we Administrators possess."
"Understood."
Theseus raised his sword and shield.
[Orpheus's 'Lyre' is activated!]
[AoE Healing is deployed!]
[From now on, all entities allied with Olympus will recover +10 Health per second.]
[Duration: 0h:4m:59s]
Whoooosh...
The wounds on Sherry's body began to heal rapidly.
A Mid-Manager, a Hero, thirty elite soldiers, and highest-grade holy relics specialized in capture.
With this, the tide of battle had completely turned.
For Jinhyuk, who had already fought a fierce battle, and Cheon Yu-seong, who was cornered, there would be no way to turn this situation around.
Frey was strong as well, but she was too busy dealing with hundreds of soldiers. In the end, it was only a matter of time.
In the end, it was only a matter of time.
Jinhyuk's defeat was set in stone.
That was common sense, and the natural course of events.
...Or so they believed.
Yet, Jinhyuk's face was still brimming with composure.
He hadn't given up.
Nor did he have any intention of fighting this army to win.
"What is it? Don't tell me you've lost your mind in despair."
"No, it's not that... Actually, I didn't come here alone either."
[The gate is opening!]
A golden gate appeared in the air on the opposite side.
Distinctive emblems resembling the moon revealed themselves in a dizzying pattern.
That emblem...
Theseus's pupils shook violently.
How could he not know it?
It was the trademark of the deity who had made fools of them countless times in past wars.
"Heim...dall."
Hummmmm!
With those words, the gate opened completely.
"This time, it's my turn to save my contractor!"
The ones who emerged were Alice and the Ataraxia bloodline, who had left for Eden.
"Kahahahaha! The time to pay them back has finally come!"
And the giants and deities belonging to Ragnarok.