Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Chapter 44: Promotion Match (2)
Translation: godtl
Just as with the previous transmutation of Astrapē.
The attention of the Asgard Constellations poured forth in droves.
And just like before.
[The Constellations of Asgard are astonished by the traces you left behind.]
[The Constellations of Asgard hastily retreat to a distance.]
[Only three Constellations remain in their seats.]
[Among them, the ruler of Asgard, the Constellation Odin, shows great interest in you and the surrounding Constellations.]
The Asgard Constellations, too, were affected by the title One Who Draws the Gaze from Beyond and withdrew.
[Constellation Odin's eyes sparkle as he says,"Finally, it's my turn. I've been waiting so long!"]
[Constellation Zeus clicks his tongue and mutters,"Tch, this has become troublesome."]
[Constellation Black Goat frowns and snaps,"Hey, you damn brat, why aren't you disappearing?"]
[Constellation Odin scoffs and says,"There are already rumors circulating among the upper ranks—do you think I'm crazy?"]
Si-mun tilted his head at the messages flooding in like a chat log from the Constellations.
'Rumors circulating among the upper ranks?'
Just until his encounter with the Constellation Heavenly Demon, there had been no such talk.
As if answering his question.
[Constellation Odin stares intently at you and says,"As expected... There's a reason even that crazy woman from beyond is showing interest."]
[Constellation Black Goat raises his voice,"Why don't you just disappear, you brat who's nothing but a shell? It's not like I'm the only one here!"]
[Constellation Odin smirks slightly and says,"I know. Even though this isn't a regular Arena, three upper-rank Constellations are here, and even that stubborn council reversed their decision—that says it all."]
Odin's message continued.
'I see. So it's because of the Stigmata and the attention of three upper-rank Constellations.'
From what he had observed so far, the Constellations seemed to know each other.
Thanks to that, it appeared rumors about him were circulating among some of them.
'Well, either way, it's a good thing.'
For a Player, the attention of an upper-rank Constellation was usually beneficial.
And for him, who possessed the title Pick of Kings, it translated into an All Stats +1 miracle.
When no more messages from the Constellations followed.
Si-mun turned his attention to the information window of the transmuted golden orb.
[Odin's Eye]
Grade - Imitation (10%)
The eye of the Constellation Odin, ruler of Asgard.
It can be used, but for some reason, it cannot exert its full power.
'Just as expected.'
Like the divine artifacts of the previous upper-rank Constellations, this was also a transmuted item with only around 10% completion.
In truth, Odin was famous among the Constellations for possessing a wide variety of divine artifacts.
'Like Fabian Wolf, the Twin Spears high-ranker.'
Fabian Wolf, the Twin Spears high-ranker from Germany.
With Odin as his sponsor, his main weapons were none other than Gungnir and Gambantein.
He was hailed as a prodigy with spears, even capable of rivaling China's Fist King, Jong-ri Chu.
'Though, to be honest, it was mostly due to his gear.'
Frankly speaking, his basic skills and combat sense fell short compared to the Fist King Jong-ri Chu.
But the combination of Gungnir, a spear that never misses, and Gambantein, the staff of nullification, was nothing short of invincible.
These two perfectly balanced weapons—one for offense, one for defense—completely compensated for Fabian's shortcomings.
Allowing him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Fist King Jong-ri Chu.
Despite such legendary weapons existing.
Si-mun had transmuted Odin's Eye for one simple reason.
Contrary to his epithet Twin Spears.
Fabian Wolf had once—just once—set aside his signature weapons, Gungnir and Gambantein.
'It was when the Dragon Emperor descended upon Europe.'
The Dragon Emperor, who had devastated half of Europe in a single day and shocked the world.
Just before Europe was on the verge of total collapse.
"I see it! That's the weak spot!"
With Fabian's command using Odin's Eye, the Dragon Emperor was repelled.
To be precise, it would be more accurate to say they removed the source of its descent and forced it back.
But well, either way—
'There's no doubt this is the best item for this situation.'
Just looking at how Fabian, who had identified the Dragon Emperor's weak points and countermeasures, performed back then—
It was clear that Odin's Eye was the perfect item for this scenario.
"It was the left side, wasn't it?"
Recalling the broadcast he had seen of Fabian's battle, Si-mun brought Odin's Eye to his left eye.
Hmm.
A faint hum resonated from Odin's Eye.
Then—
CRACK!
Like metal drawn by a powerful magnetic force, Odin's Eye shot toward Si-mun's left eye like an arrow.
—Aaaagh! My eye!
—WTF?! That scared the hell out of me!
—What the hell did this guy just make?! That doesn't look normal—why'd it attack him all of a sudden?!
—It's not attacking, it's equipping, right? That round thing looked like an eye.
—Bro, what kind of item gets equipped into an eyeball? You're not Awakened, are you?
At the sudden charge of Odin's Eye, the viewers watching through Arenia erupted in shock and concern.
Of course—
[Constellation Odin watches you with an innocent smile.]
[Constellation Black Goat sends a displeased glare. Damn brat. To think he'd just slap it on like this...]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon lets out a dry laugh. You, who fused with flesh itself, have no room to talk.]
[Constellation Black Goat gnashes his teeth. And you broke the rule of single inheritance too, didn't you?]
[Constellation Zeus slumps his shoulders. Heh... Just me, then...]
The higher-ranked Constellations observing this spectacle—
And the person at the center of it all, Si-mun—
Had entirely different reactions.
"Phew."
"That startled me."
Si-mun straightened up as if nothing had happened, with no trace of the golden orb having just embedded itself into his left eye.
In truth, he felt no pain whatsoever.
If he had felt pain, the Philosopher's Stone would've immediately thrown a fit, screaming about killing this bastard right then and there.
But instead of that kind of reaction—
[Odin's Eye requests binding.]
—Oppa, you're accepting this, right?
The Philosopher's Stone asked in its usual tone.
'Of course.'
As Si-mun nodded—
[Odin's Eye has bound itself to Player Kim Si-mun.]
A notification chimed, and his left eye warmed slightly.
Though it wasn't scalding—more like the comforting warmth of a heated towel pressed against his skin.
"I'm fine, everyone."
—For real?
—You're actually okay?
—Fingermon, what the hell did you make?!
—Bro, even if you go blind in one eye, I'd still support you.
Si-mun smiled softly, calming the chat that had exploded into chaos, messages practically on fire.
Before long—
[Odin's Eye has fully bound itself.]
[It has synchronized with the trait Philosopher's Stone and has been registered as a trait.]
[Trait: Odin's Eye has been acquired.]
Odin's Eye settled in as a trait.
Unlike when he had obtained the Stigmata, Si-mun could distinctly feel the difference this new trait brought.
'My vision is clearer.'
It really was.
With Odin's Eye now bound, the [Moon Owl's Body Tissue] he had previously transmuted into his eye had completely vanished.
Yet, even in the pitch-black surroundings of the Dark Zone, everything was dim but sharply visible.
Yeah—
Like his night vision had sharpened.
But—
'This isn't the end of it.'
Was it because of its synchronization with the Philosopher's Stone?
Along with acquiring the trait, Si-mun instinctively recalled the method of using Odin's Eye.
'By channeling Transmutation Power like this...'
He drew upon his Transmutation Power and directed it toward his left eye, where Odin's Eye resided.
Whoosh.
A strange magic circle shimmered as Si-mun's left eye emitted a faint golden glow.
Though the chat was buzzing solely about the visual spectacle, none of it reached Si-mun's own vision as he actively wielded Odin's Eye.
Only one thought consumed him:
'This... is insane.'
Now he understood—deeply, irrevocably—why Fabian, Odin's former champion, had only been able to use Odin's Eye once.
And how he had managed to defeat the Dragon Emperor.
THUD.
"Ghk—!"
A man in shattered armor hurtled through the air, his shield obliterated.
"This is total bullsh—!"
Before he could finish—
CRUNCH.
His solar plexus was pierced, his body turning ashen.
"Quit whining over a single straight punch."
The mountainous man—Choi Jin-su—ripped his arm free from the impaled corpse with a voice as rough as his frame deserved.
SPLURT!
A geyser of warm blood erupted.
"Tch. They didn't have to make the useless parts this realistic."
Jin-su irritably wiped the blood splattered across his body.
Then—
"Ugh."
A faint groan escaped him.
Four thin gashes now streaked across his thick pectorals.
A careless slip of the hand while cleaning.
"This damn trait just won't settle in."
Luckily, the wounds weren't deep.
Cautiously, Jin-su peeled his right hand away from his body—now tipped with razor-sharp claws.
But it wasn't just the claws.
Coarse fur and grotesquely thickened forearms made it clear: this was no longer human.
Right.
This was exactly how a bear's arm—the kind that shreds people—should look.
CRREEAK.
The limb twisted at an unnatural angle.
Then—
"That clears this whole sector."
The menacing claws and fur vanished without a trace.
A human arm of flesh and blood reappeared—though, given the bulging muscles, scars, and patches of thick hair, calling it human was still a stretch.
The man stretched his restored arm and surveyed the area.
"About 15 kills, give or take?"
His count was probably accurate.
He hadn't paused for even a second since the Arena began.
'Arena's always better solo.'
Even back in his UFC days, before the Awakening, he'd felt the same.
Fighting was meant to be alone.
Dungeons, Siege Warfare, forced team-ups with clueless brats who couldn't throw a proper punch—
Nothing pissed Jin-su off more.
'At this rate, I'll top this Arena too.'
Wiping the blood from his face, Jin-su grinned in satisfaction.
—Until he pulled up the Arena Board.
"The hell?! What is this?!"
1st - Kim Si-mun | 24 Kills
2nd - Choi Jin-su | 15 Kills
......
Jin-su rubbed his eyes hard.
But the floating Arena Board refused to change.
"Twenty-four kills in that time?!"
Last he'd checked, he was leading at 13 kills, with that Kim Si-mun trailing at 10.
Yet the shock lasted only a moment.
"So he can fight."
Jin-su's squared jaw twitched.
His face brimmed with delight.
A player of that caliber? They'd have to cross paths.
"Hope he's Combat-type."
Melee, preferably.
Just as Jin-su stepped forward, anticipation surging—
TAP.
A clear sound echoed through the damp, musty passageway.
Simultaneously.
Crunch.
Choi Jin-su's leg twisted backward unnaturally, like that of a wolf, in an instant.
There was no need for conscious thought.
The subtle vibration transmitted through the soles of his feet made Choi Jin-su immediately stomp down hard on the ground.
Crrk—
The floor he had been standing on had already transformed into sharp spikes, following the motion of his foot.
Then.
Snap.
Another sound reached his ears.
By now, his ears had pricked up sharply, pointed like a beast's.
'Quite far.'
Perhaps it was due to the structure of the sewer amplifying the sound.
Judging by the intensity, it seemed to be echoing from quite a distance.
Rumble.
"Tch."
Park Jin-uk dodged the earthen spikes raining down from the ceiling.
'A Magic Class? This just got annoying.'
Choi Jin-su, whose arms had already transformed into those of a wolf, sprinted through the sewer on all fours.
Snap. Snap.
The mysterious, clear sound continued without pause.
And every time it did—
Crack!
Splash!
Attacks erupted from everywhere—earth, water, you name it.
'Where the hell is he?! Where is he hiding?!'
Choi Jin-su evaded them with the swift movements unique to beasts.
He sniffed repeatedly with his now-sharpened nose, trying to catch the attacker's scent, but all that returned was the even more nauseating stench of the sewer—
Crash!
Thud!
—and the relentless onslaught of attacks from all directions.
'This bastard... every single one of his moves perfectly predicts mine.'
Not only that, but he was persistently targeting only vital points.
Choi Jin-su shattered a stone fist flying toward his solar plexus and curled his lips upward.
'It must be that guy, Kim Si-mun.'
He was certain.
Given his rank—first place in the 24-kilo division—
He had never encountered anyone in this tier capable of such precise and meticulous attacks.
"A Magic Class is a shame, but this is fun in its own way."
Click.
Choi Jin-su's wolf-like face twisted.
His ears rose higher.
Meanwhile, his protruding snout and nose gradually receded.
A bat.
His face now perfectly resembled one as his mouth stretched wide—
~~~~~.
A scream, one only a bat could produce, reverberated through the sewer.
Then—
~~~~!
'There!'
The returning ultrasonic waves pinpointed the ambusher's exact location.
Tap-tap-tap.
Maintaining his bat-like face, Choi Jin-su sprinted through the sewer on all fours.
And so—
'Found you.'
Not far ahead, he caught sight of the back of a man raising one hand.
'Kim Si-mun, you're finished!'
Tap.
Choi Jin-su, running at an incredible speed, slammed forcefully against the sewer wall.
Strangely, despite running at this breakneck pace—and still accelerating—
Not a single sound escaped him.
Like a predator executing a stealthy ambush.
Except for just one thing—
Thump.
The sound of his instantaneous Metamorphosis from bat back to wolf.
Perhaps hearing it—
Kim Si-mun's body slowly began to turn—
"Grrr! Even if you notice, it's already too late!"
Choi Jin-su's gaping maw stretched wide as—
—his razor-sharp fangs aimed to sink into the exposed neck of the man before him.
Or rather, he intended to tear into it.
Snap.
At least, until that clear sound he'd been hearing all along rang out once more.
Boom.
"Gahk!"
A searing pain erupted inside his wide-open mouth as sparks flew.
Choi Jin-su tumbled across the ground from the sudden explosion inside his maw.
And then, to his ears—
"This is insane. The closer I get, the clearer it becomes."
The man who had been facing away slowly turned around.
"W-what?!"
Choi Jin-su gasped in shock upon seeing his face.
Forget the annoyingly handsome features—
"Even though I'm still getting used to it, to think it's already this effective..."
Before the man's left eye, an intricate and sophisticated golden magic circle unfurled.
And those magic circles rotated smoothly in different directions.
Yeah.
"I'm looking forward to what comes next."
As if observing every minute detail through a cutting-edge microscope.