Chapter 382
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 382
Chapter Title: Round 1 Maneuvers
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Lee Na-yeon took her finger off the trigger.
I dont think we need to rush in right away.
She had planned to stall for time in their main base, but with penalties kicking in after a set duration, they had no choice but to move.
So, her idea was to completely shatter the Harpa tribes will to fight.
Make them lose the very thought of charging in, and as long as Round 1 didnt end, they could linger here for a long while.
Static The Harpa tribe is retreating! Click.
A radio transmission came in from Yeo Sun-woo, who had gone out scouting.
He had been monitoring the Harpas movements ever since Lee Na-yeon prepared to fire, and naturally, the Harpa hadnt detected his presence as he drew near.
Yeo Sun-woo was an assassin who had advanced to Black Extreme.
That was why every action of the Harpa was reported back through him in detail.
Got it! Then Ill leave it to you to keep watching.
Yes, understood.
Yeo Sun-woo planned to tail them all the way to their main base.
All to anticipate and counter whatever tricks they might pull.
If things get dangerous, feel free to take them out anytime.
Dont worry. I wont get caught.
Having claimed the ultimate darkness, he had reached a realm where he could pierce even the activated barriers blending with the Harpa without issue.
Alright. Then well keep breaking down the barriers and push forward.
Yes.
The radio cut off.
So far, the number of barriers destroyed: zero.
She had pulled the trigger when the Harpa emerged from their barriers, so they remained intact.
Destroying all but their main base would utterly strip away whatever scraps of fighting spirit they might still have.
The barrier analysis is complete.
Damien Loud, who had been dampening the mood even before the league started, maintained a perfectly polite demeanor.
At first, he had resented riding on Jeong Hoons coattails, but after witnessing Lee Na-yeons marksmanship, he realized his assumption had been wildly off base.
Completing six awakenings was already another level entirely.
Tch, what a shame.
Bong-gu, waiting on the side, clicked his tongue in disappointment.
If the guy had kept yapping without knowing his place, they couldve ended Round 1 and thrashed him under the guise of education, but now that hed reformed, there was no excuse to beat him.
Tap.
Yeo Min-ji placed a hand on Bong-gus shoulder and shook her head.
No point in stirring trouble here.
Their top priority was neutralizing the barriers and cornering the Harpa.
I wonder if theyre doing okay.
From Udrak Village to the Demon Forest.
He headed to an abandoned mine a short distance beyond the forest.
It was so similar to the human realm that calling it the divine realm felt like a stretch.
Well, the divine realm isnt some glittering wonderland, after all.
Tenebris led him familiarly into the depths of the mine.
Though foot traffic had ceased, nothing was damaged, so the environment was much the same as when he had stored themunlike the Demon Forest, he quickly spotted the divine stones.
You have acquired 0.01 Divine Energy.
You have acquired 0.02 Divine Energy.
.
The amounts were meager, as expected, but this haul pushed him to 50.01.
And that wasnt all.
Your Divine Energy has reached 50. You can now undertake the Demigod (1) quest.
A new message appeared once he crossed 50.
Demigod?
Jeong Hoon tilted his head.
When he had gathered ultimate energy before, a quest for ultimate power had triggered.
He had assumed thered be no such thing in the divine energy collection process, since it wasnt part of any designed setup.
Yet here it was, popping up anyway.
Hmm? Whats this demigod business?
Even Tenebris seemed clueless.
Did Logos make this?
No way. Youve already reached demigod level.
Then whats this quest?
Probably auto-generated.
That possible?
No idea.
Lets skip it for now.
No time to tackle it right now.
His team seemed to be holding their own in Round 1, but with the named ones watching, there were limits.
He needed to secure as many divine stones as possible in the meantime.
But what now This place has been cleaned out.
The problem: hardly any of Tenebriss stashed divine stones remained.
Beyond the mine, the two stones he had hidden in Fern Villages chapela settlement three times Udraks sizewere gone.
Someone had already taken them.
What a shame.
He had gotten his hopes up since two were hidden there.
Who the hell does that bastard think he is, stealing my divine stones!
Its not like this is the only place stripped bare.
Dont jinx it! The more thats taken, the less energy you can gather!
As he said, no divine stones turned up in subsequent spots.
What do they even want with all these divine stones?
What else? To wipe me out.
Wipe out?
Yeah. You know why I only got sealed, right?
Tenebris back then had been on a whole other tier from the other named ones.
Plus, as a creator being, they had settled for stripping and sealing his power.
Whats that got to do with divine stones?
Gathering energy in one spot. To use that power and erase me completely.
Hold on. So if we head to wherever that condensed energy is, couldnt we rack up a ton of divine energy?
Tenebriss eyes filled with consternation at Jeong Hoons words.
Is that smart? Absorbing that much at once is way too risky.
Any other way to hit 100 fast?
Not really.
Worth a shot, then?
Even scouring for hidden stones offered zero chance of reaching 100 divine energy.
Better to bet on the slim possibility.
So how do you plan to?
End Round 1 first, then strike when the named ones think theyve got me.
I give up. Youll ask Psyche for the location?
Nah. Ill handle it myself.
Not asking her?
Not enough trust yet. She helped seal you, after all.
Fair point.
So pick some likely spots.
Me?
Yeah. You.
At that moment.
Logos couldnt hide his bewilderment.
Weird. Why arent they finishing it?
Round 1 was humanitys overwhelming victory.
The Harpas barriers were totally smashed, and they were cowering in their base, fighting spirit broken.
Storm their main base and cut off their air, and Round 1 would end.
Yet the humans showed no sign of attacking, just lingering nearby and killing time.
Some other reason?
Ullion muttered suspiciously.
Stamina management, probably.
Psyche tried to dismiss the suspicion.
I disagree. Looks like the humans are plotting something.
But Harmageddons interjection kept the doubts alive.
Plotting?
Beelzebub, bored on the side, reacted.
Didnt you say that Master guy isnt participating?
Thats right.
So whats he doing now?
No way?
Mightve already slipped into the divine realm.
But theres no reaction.
They monitored the survival league while keeping a sharp eye on the divine realm.
Still, no hint of a human crossing over.
You never know. Hes a pro at hiding his presence.
Even so, fooling us in the divine realm is impossible.
Psyche countered immediately.
Hmm? Psyche, youre acting a bit off.
Harmageddon grinned at her.
Despite his eerie gaze, Psyches expression didnt flicker as she asked,
Hmm? Trying to say Im wrong?
Why wouldnt I? Im suspicious of you right now.
Then go ahead.
Psyche smiled brightly.
Harmageddons amused look turned icy at her smile.
Youre not helping the human, are you?
All eyes turned to Psyche.
And if I am?
Then you get removed too.
Oh? Think you can?
The room fell silent.
In that brief moment, the staring contest between Psyche and Harmageddon dragged on, until Harmageddon shrugged.
Kidding. Arent you overreacting?
As a sign of surrender, Psyche snapped her fingers.
In that instant, a chill swept the room.
More like I want to ask you. Youre not scheming something behind our backs, are you?
Hmm? Me?
Fortune tells say youre the most suspicious.
Heh, funny. Then figure it out.
Harmageddon spread his arms wide.
You sure?
In that moment, the energies converged, bearing down on Harmageddon.
Along with it, they dragged memories from him.
It had to hurt like hell, yet Harmageddon stared at Psyche without a twitch.
Anything good come up?
What a letdown.
After checking his memories, she smacked her lips and snapped her fingers again.
The pressure on Harmageddon vanished cleanly.
Pushing forward.
As Logos said, the humanswho had been biding timebegan to move.
From there, it was a rout.
The humans slaughtered the Harpa tribe in seconds and ended Round 1.
Alright, Im heading out.
Confirming Round 1s end, Harmageddon rose.
Where to?
Logos glanced at him.
Yeah, I still think the human crossed into the divine realm. Gonna poke around.
Then Im coming too.
Ullion, who had quietly listened to Psyche and Harmageddon, stood as well.
No reason not to move if there was even a chance.
The two named ones are on the move.
Contact from Psyche.
Jeong Hoon halted en route to one of the candidate sites.
The bastards are moving.
Damn, who?
Ullion, Harmageddon.
Harmageddon? Of all the shitty ones, it had to be him.
Harmageddon.
He was a god tough to describe.
He simply never moved.
Anyway, with Harmageddon and Ullion on the prowl, turning back was best now.
Crossing paths would tangle things badly.
Good thing I got some harvest.
He had already checked two candidate spots Tenebris recommended.
Strikes out.
The silver lining: intel from the demons there that the divine realms central underground brimmed with energy.
Problem: heading there would surely expose him.
With Harmageddon and Ullion already moving, odds of staying hidden were near zero.
Isnt this too reckless?
Yeah. Thats why Im using Psyche.
Changed your mind?
Need her to boost success odds even a little.
He had planned to go solo without telling her due to lack of trust, but it was too reckless.
Her help was essential now.
First, return to Seoul.
Returning to designated location.