Zeus's Challenge
The road back to Korea.
Beyond the airplane window, the blue sea and scattered islands came into view.
Indonesia, a nation of countless large and small islands, slowly receded into the distance.
“Ah. What a shame.”
Lee Jiyoung glanced out the window with lingering regret.
“You could’ve stayed behind.”
“A disciple should follow their master.”
“Funny, considering you can’t take your eyes off the window.”
“If Master isn’t there, I won’t get VIP treatment… Ah, pretend you didn’t hear that.”
So that was her real reason?
I narrowed my eyes.
Lee Jiyoung avoided my gaze.
She was getting cheekier by the day.
She hadn’t been like this before the regression. It still felt strange.
Meanwhile, Kim Youngsoo kept raising his eyebrows.
“Boss. You really like it that much?”
“My wife and Yuri will be thrilled.”
“A family man really is different.”
“You’ll be the same once you get married, Team Leader.”
“I’ll pass on the marriage viral marketing.”
Even before the regression, I had never been with anyone.
I had never truly shared emotional intimacy with another person.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
“By the way, Team Leader.”
“Yes.”
“Are those two going to be all right?”
Kim Youngsoo pointed toward the back seats.
Ping Lei and Karla lay quietly on their seats.
If not for the occasional sound of breathing, anyone would have mistaken them for corpses—they didn’t move an inch.
“They won’t die from that much.”
The two had continued sparring right up until we left Indonesia.
Both were strangely enthusiastic and had overexerted themselves.
The result was exactly what we saw—an unconscious ending.
Karla was usually quiet anyway, but it was oddly peaceful with Ping Lei not running his mouth.
After returning home, I gave them two days off.
Or rather, I kicked them out of the training room so they could prepare for the promotion match.
“I want to spar with you, Team Leader.”
“Jiyoung will keep you company.”
“……”
Even if she gave me that sulky look, it wouldn’t work.
I needed some time alone too.
“Master. I respect that.”
“Respect what?”
“Everyone needs that kind of time sometimes.”
“Who are you calling a teenager?”
“You never know when the stormy period of youth might hit.”
“Stop talking nonsense and get out.”
After banishing—well, giving my team members a vacation—I looked around the now-empty training hall.
Nyx had followed me in.
“You certainly make quite a racket.”
“I haven’t been able to train properly lately.”
“Does even one such as you require training?”
“I gained a new ability.”
I stepped forward with my right foot.
Shrink
In a single step, my body reached the far end of the training hall.
I stroked my chin.
“It’s not easy.”
“What do you mean?”
“The activation principle of the skill.”
A new skill created by reversing martial arts and physical techniques through Fusion Qigong.
Since I had never acquired Shrink even before the regression, I didn’t understand how it worked.
“If I can understand Shrink, I should be able to combine martial arts and physical techniques as well.”
“You already received skills as rewards.”
“They’re limited.”
Rene, the original owner of Fusion Qigong, could store up to twenty fusion skills.
Not only that, but the cooldown for registering new fusion techniques was much faster. In terms of the breadth of fusion, I couldn’t match the original.
“Even so, they are excellent rewards.”
Solar Explosion.
Shrink.
Both were powerful skills that surpassed my current level.
I couldn’t wield Fusion Qigong like a master key the way Rene did, but they would serve well enough as trump cards.
“Yet your expression suggests you are far from satisfied.”
“If possible, I want to make it my own ability.”
A path I had never walked before the regression.
A new realm where martial arts and physical techniques fused shimmered before my eyes.
Right now, I couldn’t manifest Shrink without the help of Fusion Qigong.
But if I kept using the technique repeatedly, the feeling would eventually come.
And then—
“I can become even stronger.”
I clenched my right fist tightly.
The true targets I had to defeat were the Old Gods.
To overwhelm them, I needed to become far stronger than I had been before the regression.
“You are incorrigible.”
Nyx clicked her tongue and sat down on a bench in the training hall.
“Watching over such a contractor is also part of a goddess’s duty.”
“You could go play with Jiyoung, you know?”
“……The mortal world holds no interest for me.”
Her reply came a little late for someone who claimed to have no interest.
“Anyway, thanks.”
“Your teachings are lacking. I told you to express gratitude through material means.”
“I’ll give you three more cotton candies after training.”
“It was worth teaching you.”
After dramatically settling things with Nyx, I used Shrink again.
The two days passed in the blink of an eye.
“Did you gain anything?”
“No.”
I gave a wry smile.
Binding two different disciplines into one.
It wasn’t something that could be solved in a short time.
“Still, I’m getting a feel for it.”
“Ho. There is no need to bluff in front of me.”
“The results will prove it.”
Just watch, Goddess.
I’ll show you by understanding and using the principle of Shrink.
When the morning of the promotion match arrived, the team members who had been on vacation returned.
“Good luck, Master! Though I’m not really worried.”
“We promoted at the same time. How frustrating.”
“Train with me when you get back.”
“I’ll prepare a party.”
Listening to the four of them cheering me on, I opened the Babel Tower app.
Launching Babel Tower Connection Application.
Current user’s location is stable.
Connection successful.
Silver-rank promotion match is now active.
Would you like to challenge the 30th floor?
[Y/N]
“I’ll be back.”
After a light farewell, I pressed the connect button.
* * *
This promotion match is between Korea and Greece.
Since the population difference between the two nations does not exceed 10%, the match will begin without adjustment.
Korea – 86
Greece – 81
Babel Tower – 30th Floor
You have entered Erdel Island.
Mission – Promotion Match
Erdel Island was once a facility established by the ancient magic empire to develop new magical weapons and train battle mages.
After the empire’s defeat in war, operations ceased, but dangerous facilities and weapons remained scattered across the island, gathering dust.
Occupy the bases located throughout the island.
Points will accumulate if you control more bases than the opposing side.
▶ Objective: Accumulate 500 points.
▶ Special Notes
- Upon death, you will be respawned on the battlefield after 60 minutes.
- The greater the difference in the number of occupied bases, the faster points accumulate.
1st Place – 100% of participants promoted
2nd Place – 50% of participants promoted
The Silver-rank promotion match was also being held as a national team battle.
The difference from the Ancient Canyon was that it was one-on-one and there were no NPCs.
The allied starting point was an abandoned factory in the eastern part of the island.
『The Heavenly God is watching you.』
『The War God of Olympus is startled.』
『The War God of Olympus checks the Heavenly God’s expression.』
『The Lord of the Corrupted Throne bursts into laughter.』
—This aura…… It’s that child!
Nyx, now in spirit form, whispered softly.
The constellations were paying attention.
I nodded in response.
The arrogant constellation name “Heavenly God.”
As far as I knew, there was only one constellation with such overwhelming presence and exhibitionism.
“Zeus.”
『The Heavenly God smiles in satisfaction.』
『The War God of Olympus is flustered.』
The ruler of the Olympian gods.
The great God-King who won the Titanomachy against the Titans led by Cronus and ushered in the current era.
He was also the father of Ares, who kept throwing flirtatious glances (?) my way.
No wonder Ares was so flustered.
—Huhu, Ares has always been afraid of that child.
Only the Goddess could call Zeus a child.
Three god-king level constellations were already watching me.
Now Zeus, who ranked higher both in hierarchy and constellation level, had appeared. It was understandable that Ares was anxious.
From my perspective, it seemed like unnecessary worry.
Because around this time……
『The Heavenly God makes you an offer.』
『The Heavenly God wishes to test which is stronger—his own contractor or you—on this stage.』
As expected.
Zeus’s interest wasn’t in me, but in the Greek player.
The homeland of Greek and Roman mythology.
Even before the regression, the only country Zeus had shown interest in was Greece.
—Zeus’s contractor. A formidable opponent.
“I never turn down a fight that comes my way.”
『The Heavenly God is pleased by your bold attitude.』
『The Heavenly God requests intervention in the Tower system.』
『The system is evaluating the impact on the mission.』
『The Tower system has concluded there are no issues. If the two players designated by the Heavenly God agree to the proposal, a sub-mission will be added.』
“I agree.”
I answered without hesitation.
An enemy I would have to fight anyway.
Why refuse when a constellation was so eager to provide rewards?
Sub-Mission – God’s Proxy
📍 The constellation [Heavenly God] wishes to test which is stronger—his contractor or you.
🎁 Reward: During the promotion match, each other’s locations will be shared on the map.
🎁 Objective: Subdue Zeus’s contractor.
🎁 Special: The side with more kills during the promotion match wins.
Activating the mission status, a red dot shimmered on the opposite side of the island.
Finding him would be easy.
I looked around.
“Excuse me.”
“Ah, it’s Player Yu Jinho!”
The other side made a fuss.
Well, it was nice to be recognized, but let’s talk properly.
“I’ll go ahead, so take your time.”
“Understood. Please take care, and don’t push yourself too hard.”
The Korean players would handle things on their own.
No one tried to stop me—perhaps they trusted my strength.
There were some perks to becoming famous.
I activated Sprint and headed straight for the center of the island.
After running for a while, the red dot on the map also began moving toward the center.
I arrived at the island’s central area first and looked around.
A basin-shaped central region.
A large factory stood within the low mountain range.
If I occupied this place, I could produce war golems, right?
While sitting on the edge of the basin waiting, a wave of mana flickered before my eyes.
—It’s that child.
Nyx pointed straight ahead.
A man with spiky blond hair stopped running.
He was wrapped in white cloth like something ancient Greek philosophers would wear.
The moment he saw me, he pointed accusingly.
“How dare you! Are you the player who caught the God-King’s attention besides me?”
Insults the moment he saw me.
As expected.
It was the same guy from before the regression.
“Perfect.”
“Answer the question! What do you mean, perfect?”
“Because I can beat you up without feeling guilty.”
Zeus’s contractor, Alexis Papandreou.
He was a traitor who abandoned Earth during the Age of Ruin.
“W-What?”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that slip of the tongue just now.”
Because from now on, I was going to commit an even greater discourtesy.
Let’s call it even.
Shrink
Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts – 7th Form
Black Tortoise Boulder Strike
In a single step, I moved in front of Alexis and spun around on my right foot, slamming into him with force.
BOOM!
With a loud impact, Alexis tumbled across the ground.
“Get up. This is just the beginning.”
I smiled menacingly.
