Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: The Alliance Summit
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The five alliance, led by Wisdom, had gathered atop the Anapakxio Caldera.
The scenery was beautiful, but as a high-altitude location that was cold and infested with monsters, it was sparsely populated—making it an ideal meeting spot.
Moreover, being at the center of the Third Continent, it was convenient for all members of the five alliance to convene.
"Wisdom."
"What is it?"
Wisdom twisted his shoulders—what one might call his head—to look at Krampus.
Krampus, feeling as if he might be misunderstanding something, asked hesitantly.
"Is everything really okay?"
"Which part?"
"I heard the Asbestos King has changed. His son killed his father and ascended the throne before it was time."
"Ah."
To Krampus—and to anyone else, for that matter—regime change on the eve of war was far from normal.
In real history, war preparations often sowed the seeds of rebellion within a nation, but here, true choices were made by no one other than the Players.
Given how Lost World played out, Krampus's concern was perfectly reasonable.
Wisdom showed his palms and shook them lightly.
"It was intentional. No problem."
"Really?"
Anyone with sharp eyes present might have noticed Jang Wan subtly glancing at Wisdom from within his lion mask, but no one there was that quick.
Players existed as characters controlled solely by the system and status windows unless actively using special skills.
Jang Wan thought to himself.
'No need to mention it.'
He considered his own strategy sound, with no major issues, though weaknesses certainly existed.
Jang Wan's current Divinity level was a mere 8.
It was experience offered up to boost Wisdom's Divinity level.
In contrast, the other Players—Wisdom aside—were mostly above level 16.
While troop strength posed no problem, in battles truly decided by Divinity, Jang Wan's very presence could become a liability.
'Nebula... no, Choi Seong-un doesn't need to know.'
Mangul was at the rearmost line in the five alliance's war against Seong-un.
If Seong-un reached Mangul, the war was already lost. Otherwise, direct conflict wouldn't erupt there.
'For everywhere else, I can just detach troops and send them.'
Behind Mangul lay Danri—that is, Hegemonia—but rumors swirled that even Seong-un had lost interest in the Third Continent before the war escalated, let alone the five alliance.
Danri's territory wasn't small, but amid the five alliance and Heukrin's fervent war preparations, there were no notable movements, and Hegemonia had gone radio silent.
'Guess that's a good thing.'
Jang Wan's worry was Seong-un suddenly sailing in to strike the rear.
Whether that would happen was unknown.
Jang Wan wasn't Seong-un, nor was he as skilled at the game.
There was no way to predict his strategies.
But with coastlines nearby, the risk existed, so vigilance was necessary.
'Fortunately, Danri's merchant ships pass through Mangul and Dan Yeom to reach Heukrin. Even if Mangul and Dan Yeom are blockaded due to war, blocking Danri would be tough. Then my spies embedded in Danri can spot incoming ships.'
In the early game, scouting via personal Subdomains was the primary war goal. But from mid-game onward, things changed.
As the world once dotted with sparse tribes filled with bustling populations, it became hard to miss the obvious.
Yet trees hid in forests.
Amid the flood of information from Players, key details were often overlooked, and skills like Divinity blocks enabled deception.
The sudden loss of magicians among Players who had them—details unknown, but undoubtedly Nebula's handiwork—was a prime example.
In any case, Jang Wan believed that as long as he held the coast, his level drop wouldn't harm the alliance.
Moreover, he saw Wisdom gaining an Apostle as a far greater boon than his own level sacrifice.
'Apostles are the true flower of Lost World.'
Like other creations, Apostles required Faith resources for manifestation and upkeep.
But Apostles generated Faith on their own.
Unlike creations constantly borrowing Faith, Apostles could exist independently and raise Faith levels—setting them apart.
Of course, by Wisdom's judgment, Ledin Bial Orser lacked fame, thus special skills, and couldn't match Rakrak head-on.
However, as Asbestos King post-Apostle, he would gradually build renown.
His extreme rebellion—slaying his father—was for that purpose.
Der Mal Din Bial Orser had legitimacy regardless of personal views, so Asbestos had to quash rebels before facing Heukrin.
'But naturally, Apostle Ledin will crush the entire rebellion. His fame will grow. By the time he faces Heukrin's army, he might not beat Rakrak but could hold his own.'
And that would suffice.
'Seong-un will actively deploy Rakrak. If Rakrak, plastered with every skill, stands at the front line...'
Jang Wan furrowed his brow beneath the lion mask.
Just imagining it was horrifying.
"Two-legged chariot" fell short.
If low-tier magicians equaled hundreds of soldiers, Rakrak alone could face a nation.
'A nation is underselling it. A character like Rakrak could battle multiple creations from a single god simultaneously. Or maybe even that's meaningless.'
Rakrak, upon becoming an Apostle, could defeat manifested Players.
How to handle Rakrak on the battlefield would determine victory or defeat—that was the consensus among the five Players.
"So, Krampus, are you okay?"
"Why?"
"You'll be facing Nebula directly, right?"
Spies had long infiltrated each other's nations.
Even without them, mobilizing 10,000 troops meant moving even more supplies and support—hard to conceal.
For some reason, Player Nebula targeted Dan Yeom of the Satyros, not Jeokgwa of the Lernars.
Runda worried if Seong-un had abandoned him, but the other four Players interpreted it positively, as Seong-un intended.
Historically, Lernars and Lizardmen had poor matchup.
Lernars would opt for guerrilla warfare in forests and mountains, a nightmare for Lizardmen hauling heavy artillery like cannons.
And since war demanded quick decisive battles, targeting nearer Dan Yeom over Jeokgwa made sense to all.
Krampus nodded.
"It's going well. I expected to face Heukrin first anyway."
"I see."
Runda thought it fortunate he saw it that way.
At this point, Runda hadn't decided sides, but even allying with Seong-un would require feigning war against him.
'It's acting, but I hate taking losses.'
Strictly speaking, the cost of deception was for fooling others, but Runda suspected Seong-un enjoyed tormenting people unnecessarily.
'He definitely has sadistic hobbies.'
Krampus continued detailing his war preparations and efforts.
At first glance, his plan seemed flawless.
"So, I don't think my 30,000 can definitely beat Heukrin's 10,000. I'm not underestimating Nebula."
"You're considering the possibility of defeat?"
"Yes. Gotta plan for the worst."
"Worst case?"
"...Hm. The army could be wiped out."
Wisdom and the others fell silent, slightly shocked.
Krampus waved it off.
"Not overestimating Nebula. Just applying past similar incidents."
"Hm, then your preparations would be pointless, no?"
"Not quite."
"Why?"
"Because I've bought time either way. The others can prepare more troops during that, and even a bit more Faith drain on Nebula tilts things our way, right?"
"...Hm."
Wisdom seemed about to say something.
But before he could, Krampus checked his status window and let out a startled "Huh?"
Runda, who'd never seen him so shocked, asked.
"Something wrong?"
"Ah, uh, well..."
"Yes?"
"One sec. Gotta go."
Krampus vanished, face pale as a ghost.
The puzzled remaining Players soon learned what happened via their own means.
Dan Yeom's capital, Daimerit.
King Obo Nem trembled on his throne.
Endless explosions and screams from the outer walls instilled terror even in a king.
Obo Nem shouted at his frantically directing Guard Captain.
"The cannons! What of the cannons?"
The Guard Captain, drenched in sweat, yelled back.
"They've just arrived, Your Majesty!"
A massive rumble echoed as an incongruous object appeared before the throne.
A wheeled cannon.
The Guard Captain ordered.
"The enemy is upon us! Load and fire at will!"
-Boom!
With a thunderous roar, the inner wall crumbled.
Obo Nem saw dust rising outside the window.
The dust blotted out the sun.
"...Torches! Light the torches!"
A voice came from beyond the door.
"No need."
A kicked door—3 meters of wooden planks banded in iron—shattered hinges and all, shards scattering to Obo Nem's feet.
As the voice's owner said, no light was needed.
The pitch-black Lizardman wore armor gilded in gold and woven with red silk, electric sparks crackling nonstop from his body, illuminating the vast hall in flashes.
Obo Nem cried out the name like a scream.
"A-Apostle Rakrak!"
The Guard Captain bellowed.
"Now! Fire!"
The lined cannons ignited in unison.
Spear-wielding guards charged from both sides to pin Rakrak away from the cannons.
Rakrak sighed.
"No need for that."
-Kwarung!
Amid the simultaneous blasts, white smoke from black powder, lightning flashed repeatedly.
Rakrak walked through unscathed.
Not a scratch on him.
The Guard Captain knew no further defense was possible.
"Your Majesty! Flee!"
The remaining guards and captain charged Rakrak.
Rakrak met them with lightly clenched fists.
It was no fight—a one-sided slaughter.
One punch per guard, smashing them into walls and ceilings.
Watching, Obo Nem said hollowly.
"Oh dear, you fool. Where am I to flee?"
Thankfully, Obo Nem didn't wait long.
Rakrak never paused his stride.
He stopped before the throne.
Then flicked a fallen guard's sword with his tail, catching it one-handed.
King Obo Nem spoke.
"As your king, I could not tolerate Heukrin's insolence, leading to this. But personally, I hold no grudges."
"Agreed."
"No, did you know me too, Rakrak?"
"Ah, not that part."
Rakrak waved dismissively.
"About having no personal grudges in doing the job."
Obo Nem's face fell in disappointment.
That became his death mask.
The sword in Rakrak's hand severed Obo Nem's head.
From afar, Seong-un muttered.
"Should've kept the meeting in moderation."