Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Shared and Unique Domains
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In Lost World, many domains are shared.
For instance, the numerous subdomains fall under this category, with a high likelihood that other players possess the exact same ones.
Subdomains like livestock or grains are essential elements for civilizational development.
Even if a player doesn't actively choose them, one of these two domains will naturally be selected by whatever race the player picks, and as the civilization advances, both will inevitably reach at least a minimal level.
Race domains aren't much different either.
Just because one player selects humans as their first race doesn't prevent another player from doing the same.
Therefore, whether a player possesses a particular domain or not doesn't truly reflect their unique characteristics.
'There are some somewhat rare domains, though.'
Choi Seong-un believed he was the only one with electricity, which fell under the sorcery subdomain. It was undoubtedly a strong domain, and he was making good use of it.
Less rare but still uncommon ones, like the subdomain of wild grasses or flowers, were things he'd stumbled upon by chance—domains other players didn't actively seek out. In fact, they were rare precisely because no one pursued them intentionally.
Ultimately, no player could monopolize subdomains, race domains, or even major domains—which came with even greater authorities.
A player's strengths were generally determined by the levels of their subdomains and race domains, shaped by their playstyle.
'Of course... there are exceptions.'
That exception was the unique domain.
The most famous unique domain Choi Seong-un knew of in Lost World was "War."
As the name implied, it governed abilities related to waging war—a power no player could resist desiring.
If obtained, it was statistically powerful enough to place 80% of players in the top three.
Beyond that, there were many other unique domains that stood apart from standard ones.
While regular domains defined a god's foundational abilities, unique domains revealed the god's true nature.
The problem was that the conditions for acquiring them were unclear.
Even the ever-popular War unique domain couldn't be obtained just by wanting it. The Lost World player community concluded that each unique domain had dozens of conditions, randomly assigned per game.
While conditions for War clearly involved war-related play and actions, everyone engaged in such things during a Lost World game, making the exact triggers hard to pinpoint.
Some popular unique domains had their conditions mostly inferred, but testing every possibility in each game was tedious and detrimental to winning.
Choi Seong-un had given up on War's unique domain, deeming it impractical to chase dozens of randomized conditions.
Like him, most players understood that attempting only the minimal feasible options and quickly abandoning the pursuit if unsuccessful improved win rates.
Due to these traits, unique domains were occasionally acquired by rare chance.
For example, there was the "Disease" unique domain.
It had appeared only about ten times in Lost World player community history, with unclear conditions—and seven of those holders had won.
Early on, debates raged over whether it even existed or was a hack or bug.
'Well, Disease would be the best if you could get it...'
Many unique domains were trivial, their existence puzzling.
Choi Seong-un's "Corpse" unique domain, obtained after slaying the evil god Absolute, fell into this category.
Its level rose steadily as entities faithful to him died, but that was it—no real benefits.
However, the newly acquired "Magic" unique domain didn't seem so lackluster.
'Magic... Just like Corpse, it's one I've never seen before. Probably didn't exist in previous games, but the key point is that I have it.'
He had no clear sense of what condition he'd fulfilled.
But fulfill one he had, and now he possessed it.
Ignoring the heated discussions among other players about the pantheon's form, Choi Seong-un checked his domains.
As with the Corpse unique domain—which still only showed "No skills currently available"—he'd be disappointed if Magic was the same.
Runda approached as he tried to check the next skill.
"What're you doing?"
Choi Seong-un closed the window first.
"Just checking something. Anything important discussed?"
"We were talking about how to build the dining hall and kitchen."
"Dining hall and kitchen?"
"Yeah."
"So... the dining hall is definitely happening?"
"Yup."
Choi Seong-un decided to gloss over trivialities like why they needed a dining hall when they didn't eat.
In Lost World, a pantheon's interior layout wasn't a major issue and cost little resources anyway.
But for a proper pantheon—not a temporary one—this would be their living space going forward, so deciding carefully made sense.
He pointed at Runda.
"Runda."
"Yeah?"
"I'm delegating full authority on the dining hall and kitchen to you. Handle it."
Kramphus, who'd been bickering with Runda for some reason, snapped at Choi Seong-un, but he told them to consult Runda and returned to his system window.
There was still one unconfirmed skill.
'...Similar to other domains, huh?'
Most domains at level 1 granted a "creation" ability related to them.
The domain of air created air, electricity created lightning, bugs created bugs.
For more abstract concepts like the domain of war, it could be understood as creating war.
Using it in a peaceful area sparked disputes proportional to faith spent, escalating into full war.
Thus, the magic domain creating magic seemed logical.
'But even if a god can use magic...'
The creation abilities from his dozens of subdomains were practically magic already.
Magic might offer more detailed effects impossible to mimic with subdomains, so it wasn't bad.
'Above all, it might captivate the mages.'
The lie about him being a "descender" was still unknown to the mages.
But demonstrating magic use could make them buy it, easing persuasion.
'Now, the next skill.'
He swiped lightly to reveal it.
'Well, I figured it might be like this.'
[Broken Text] Access Permission
[Broken Text].
Choi Seong-un frowned.
'Broken text. Just like with the evil gods.'
A nonexistent unique domain, revealing broken text upon acquisition.
And this power called magic was tied to ancient evils, so he'd anticipated something like this.
'But "access permission"... permission to access what?'
Impossible to say for now.
'...It's just a level 1 skill. I'll have to see if higher levels bring new ones.'
He couldn't dwell on it long.
Not because of the pantheon dining hall chatter, but because Eldar's tale was wrapping up.
It was time to prepare for the next act.
Eldar's story of the three mages concluded, followed by the tale of the war among the gods.
The confrontation between the shortsighted faction—who feared the dull, foolish mortals would destroy themselves—and Yacheon, who acknowledged their weakness but trusted their inner strength.
Eldar explained the shortsighted faction's actions sufficiently to convince, while emphasizing that Yacheon's will had proven right, leading to victory.
Yet it didn't end with Yacheon monopolizing everything.
For in this story, all gods except the evil ones shared the motive of caring for mortals.
The inevitable conflicts and sacrifices from clashing wills were tragic, but the tale closed on a note of cleared misunderstandings and paths to reconciliation.
'Isn't this... a bit too dogmatic?'
Eldar had worried slightly, but seeing priests burst into tears dispelled those doubts.
Moreover, the priests of other gods, anxious after Yacheon's victory, found reassurance in this narrative.
But one priest was dissatisfied.
"Lord Eldar, what a moving tale."
-"Yet it seems unsatisfactory to you."
"Yes. I cannot be satisfied."
The priest stood.
Other priests watched.
It was Nix from Golden Eye.
She who'd believed in the god once called Ambon—previously the Unseen Primordial God—could no longer be called a priest.
Her god had vanished.
"If a war that killed thousands of soldiers was mere misunderstanding, if we tell grieving widows scraping by on menial labor it was just a mistake, so be it. But even if that pain was inevitable, one thing I cannot comprehend: why, when all gods remain in their places, must our god be the only one gone?"
The other priests fretted that even for a foreign god, this bordered on blasphemy, yet none dared stop Ambon's former priestess, watching silently.
Eldar spoke.
-"Indeed. Righteous anger. Harbor it henceforth. If it feels unjust."
Perhaps due to Eldar's gentle response, Nix's inflamed expression softened slightly.
Eldar continued.
-"And a precise point. We didn't summon you here merely to hear tales. Our gods know the empty seats in the pantheon, but just as crops need not only the sun, warmth, rain, and earth of great nature but also the tiny hands of man, unraveling the complex karma between gods and mortals requires mortal will as well."
"Could it be..."
-"Yes."
Eldar nodded.
-"We will resurrect Ambon."