Chapter 241
3.
It had been a whopping four days since hearing about Apophis and hunting demons.
Seonghyun let out a deep sigh as he emerged from the capsule.
"Phew."
Was it because the efficiency was gradually dropping?
No, that wasn't it.
The amount of experience needed to level up had increased tremendously.
But if you looked at efficiency alone, it was tremendous efficiency.
Before leaving the capsule, Seonghyun's status window looked like this:
【Status Window】
『Seonghyun』
『Lv 198』
『Class』
→『Overlord』
『Titles』
→『Monarch (Legendary)』... and 42 others.
『Stats』
→《Strength: 290(223+67)》《Agility: 290(223+67)》
《Stamina: 290(223+67)》《Intelligence: 753(579+174)》
《Wisdom: 753(579+174)》《Spirit: 138(125+13)》
《Dexterity: 16(14+2)》
『Additional Stats』
→《0》
Reaching level 198 in just four days was an unreasonable pace.
According to Karina, there were only about five days left until Apophis opened.
At this pace, he would easily reach level 200 and have time to spare.
So leveling wasn't a concern at all.
The reason for sighing like this?
It was simple.
'This is too boring, isn't it?'
Both Seonghyun and his vassals felt this way.
Well, Leonik, Balthar, and Silvanor were having a blast slashing away at demons.
But the other vassals were feeling somewhat bored.
He felt bad about leaving the vassals to handle things while he went elsewhere to do quests or other activities.
Also, if he went too far away, he wouldn't receive experience points.
So he had been boringly hunting demons without any real alternative.
This was exactly why Seonghyun came out sighing.
Once this Apophis matter was over, he'd at least be able to have fun.
He came out of his room hoping for that.
Then.
"Why are you sighing like that?"
"Ah."
His older sister, Yoo Mina, looked at Seonghyun and asked with concern.
Seonghyun chuckled at her words and said.
"The leveling is a bit boring."
"Ah, what level are you now?"
"198."
"...That's incredibly fast?"
Although it was a tedious part of the game, she was still surprised by his incredibly fast leveling.
It was a stage where gaining 10 levels in a month was considered average.
To think he was already aiming for 200 in just a few days.
An absurd speed.
However.
'Did they say Luna's team was at about that speed?'
It seemed they were similar, or Luna's team was a little slower.
If there was a difference.
'Luna's team is practically overworking themselves as an elite force, yet he says it's boring.'
Luna's team was working to the point of what could be called overwork, yet they were slower than Seonghyun.
And Seonghyun, who was even faster, was sighing about being bored.
It was enough to make her wonder if they were even playing the same game.
Feeling a bit dejected, Yoo Mina shook her head.
Even though he was her younger brother, he really played the game in a monstrous way.
"Are your preparations going well, nuna?"
"Huh? What... ahh."
At Seonghyun's words, Yoo Mina belatedly understood and nodded.
Because she had gotten the information in advance this time, what she was preparing for was the task of taking down the other rankers.
Because of that, she was gathering and studying the information of the few single-digit rankers.
She was also leveling up on the side.
As Yoo Mina nodded confidently, Seonghyun also said with some anticipation. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel·fıre·net "I guess I'll have to work hard too."
"Since promising players from all servers will be gathering. It doesn't matter as much once you're in the rankings because the servers are integrated, but you aren't integrated yet."
"Yeah, that's right."
The servers of Eternal World were a system that integrated the closer one got to the central continent.
It was a system where moving to another continent meant you could also change servers, rather than them being completely separate.
Even so, it was practically a complete division, as the process of moving to another continent was quite difficult.
As Seonghyun was thinking that and about to eat, Yoo Mina's phone and his own rang at the same time.
And when they checked them.
[All-Server World Announcement]
[A mega event will be held in 5 days, based on East Asia server time.]
[Mega Event: 『Apophis's Temple』]
[Please refer to the homepage for more details.]
The two who saw that nodded to each other.
Finally, the awaited moment had come.
4.
A mysterious land where users had yet to arrive.
No, not only users, but also powerful beings were not allowed here—a vast plain.
In the middle of that vast plain rose a long, majestic rock mountain shaped like the fang of a monster.
Its size was so enormous that the peak seemed to reach the sky.
According to ancient myths passed down from long ago, a wolf lived here.
The place, named after Kzarcas, was called "Kzarcas's Fang."
At the very edge of that mountain stood a man wrapped in a cloak fluttering in the fierce wind.
Though the cloak and clothes fluttered in the wind, the man himself did not move.
Kzarcas's Fang.
Standing there, the ground was already hidden by clouds, making it impossible to see below.
Perhaps because of that, standing here gave one a feeling as if becoming a god.
However, the man, or rather, the Sword Saint, knew the truth.
He was just a frog in a well.
He became a Sword Saint because his sword reached the stars.
But beyond the stars were countless other stars, and he knew well that he was just a frog trapped in a small world.
Yet instead of despair, his eyes shone as he thought.
'I will break free.'
He would throw off this well.
And.
'I will become the master of the world.'
He believed this without doubt.
Although for now, he was merely someone who could not even manifest his desires,
The day would come when he obtained his desire.
And the first step toward that was about to happen here.
Though called a fang, it covered a surprisingly wide area, and the Sword Saint waited for someone here.
Though this place gave no path to the weak,
He had no worries.
Soon,
“You've arrived.”
Was this the first time meeting face to face after only contacting each other?
No, it should be said the second time since they had met at the Hero Council.
As the wind fluttered and a black shadow briefly crossed as if covering the sun, from within the shadow a figure emerged.
Or perhaps it was the shadow itself.
Upon closer look, the figure appeared strange, wearing a black secret agent-like outfit, with only the upper body protruding from the shadow.
The Sword Saint said while looking at him,
"Amseong, you're ready, right?"
Amseong.
The Sword Saint spoke while looking at the one called the King of Assassins, also known as the King of Darkness.
In response, the man slowly emerged from the shadows and nodded.
Then, glaring at the Sword Saint, he asked,
“The item?”
His tone was flat, simply asking the matter at hand, which annoyed the Sword Saint, who glared back.
But having no other option, he nodded.
Upon hearing that preparations were made, Amseong (the King of Darkness) also nodded.
Then he quietly said,
“Good. I will ask my disciple to handle it.”
As Amseong said this and approached the Sword Saint, the surroundings shimmered, as if under the scorching midsummer sun.
Like heat haze rising, the atmosphere boiled over.
It was as if the entire air around them changed by a single person's will, sharpening into a cutting edge.
An edge so sharp it could slash even through breath.
With even a slight will, this surroundings could transform into an edge that cut everything.
Yet, despite such a sharp atmosphere surrounding him, around Amseong an oppressive aura seemed to suppress it, like a blade so worn its edge was gone.
The aura itself was full of intimidating pressure that suppressed all others.
Exuding that, Amseong tilted his head.
“Are you trying to test me?”
Mockingly, as if questioning if it was sincere, Amseong asked, causing the Sword Saint to scowl deeply.
Perhaps because they were both heroes?
“No sign of any weakness.”
Faced with Amseong’s relentless demeanor, the Sword Saint withdrew his momentum.
If even a slight gap had shown, things might have played out differently.
If they had clashed now, no one could guarantee the outcome.
Feeling this, the Sword Saint pulled back his energy but asked again in a manner that suggested he would not back down.
“Can that foreigner be trusted?”
Believing foreigners could betray at any moment, he asked.
However, Amseong replied as if the question was ridiculous.
“Trust? What a meaningless notion. They are nothing but a tool. I trust no being.”
“That’s fortunate. Neither do I.”
Though glaring at each other, they spoke like this.
Then, between them, something emitted from the Sword Saint.
Two things shot out fiercely, seeming like they might destroy the surroundings.
But this time Amseong did not raise his aggression to counterattack; he lightly caught the two items.
Inspecting them, he said,
“Epaulets and emblems.”
“Both are the legacy of Hero Hindel.”
“With these, my disciple will surely be able to capture Over Palace’s proud successor.”
“That must succeed at all costs.”
“I guarantee it. If it fails, next time I will cooperate with you wholeheartedly.”
“......”
At Amseong’s words, the Sword Saint narrowed his eyes and glared at him, but nothing would change because of that.
Also, even if they failed, the Sword Saint could still bring Amseong into his plan.
He did not consider the possibility of Amseong’s betrayal.
After all, Amseong was also the leader of the shadows, bound by Over Palace for his whole life just like him.
He hated Over Palace more than anyone else.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Recalling this saying, the Sword Saint said,
“If it fails, know that next time, you, Amseong, must act.”
“I promise on my name.”
Upon hearing that answer, the Sword Saint’s momentum softened.
Since Amseong promised on his own name, it seemed he could trust him a little more now.
Hero Hindel’s legacy was an important item.
But considering that if things went wrong, Amseong would help him, it was not much of a loss.
“I will bring it down somehow.”
Though he originally tried to lead the hero again this time, he remembered Hero Luke he had seen recently and frowned sharply.
The days of natural control were over.
It would require brainwashing or other methods like with Hindel.
If Amseong’s plan succeeded first, the plan might change.
For now, thinking so,
The Sword Saint left Amseong right there and disappeared.
Left alone, Amseong looked indifferently at the two items in his hands.
His eyes showed no emotion, but he contacted someone somewhere and soon his eyes gleamed as he said,
“Oh, Black Star-sama, preparations are complete to present Hero Hindel’s legacy to the successor. It will be delivered through my disciple.”
[Well done.]
“No, it is all thanks to the wisdom of my master.”
Though the Sword Saint never dreamed it,
Amseong was also from Over Palace.
Even the place they thought was outside the well was only inside their palm.
[Make sure it is delivered well to Sason.]
“Yes, I will remember and take great care.”