Chapter 141
"The gate is opening!?"
[There are signs of it! So we need to hurry, we need to go now!] (Liera)
Yu IlHan had just finished making the wings, but he had already ran simulations on its use since the time he made the blueprint. The blade-feathered wings, Ruin Calling, naturally had a use in enhancing the Leap skill, but the core lay in the shockwave.
The shockwave he could release in any direction he wants by controlling the wings. If he wanted to, he could send it forward to attack the enemies, but the true usage did was not that.
"Okay, let's go!"
[Wow, what's that turbo booster?] (Liera)
When Yu IlHan leapt up into the skies using Leap and Re-leap, he inputted mana into the wings and activated the shockwave, backwards. Immediately, Yu IlHan's body shot forward, as for the distance, around a hundred meters!
If he set the vector of the receiving force well, he could accelerate using the maximum power of the repulsion force, and the most amazing fact about this shockwave was neither its sudden acceleration nor the ability to accelerate.
It was that he could use the shockwave as a foothold instead of the ground, and deploy Leap and Re-leap again! This was impossible for someone who had no sense for or could not handle mana!
[Whoa! What the h.e.l.l? That's so OP!] (Liera)
"It is indeed OP!"
Yu IlHan acknowledged the fact as he accelerated forward again by sending out a shockwave. Liera, who was almost about to be left behind by a mere human with those funny-looking wings, flapped her wings and caught up to him."
"Whew, this is nice alright."
He could alter the direction by moving the wings by minutely flexing his back muscles, and even without being tense, he could move around freely thanks to the wings.
Well, although it wasn't that inconvenient to use Aegis as foothold to jump, this was much more convenient, and about three times faster.
The most decisive change was that his vision had changed. He had to watch out for any obstacles ahead when running using Leap, but now, it was possible to see the ground while flying in a lying down position. Although it was not much of a difference, he found it enjoyable anyway.
"Huhahaha. Humans are mere specks of dust here!"
[I was wondering why you weren't saying that...... You seem to enjoy it.] (Liera)
"It's because I don't need to worry about anything anymore."
Said he with a bright smile. Even now that the gate was showing signs of opening, Yu IlHan's subordinates were still connected to him. In fact, not to mention 'intact', they had grew so rapidly in those ten days that his Rule skill had reached level 50!
As such, their safe return was pretty much set in stone. Yu IlHan was sure that it was Erta who had opened the gate. How could he not be happy when he was thinking that they were all coming back safely?
[Yeah, it's really fortunate. It really is.] (Liera)
Liera smiled while approaching Yu IlHan. Now that Yu IlHan could use Ruin Calling to fly rapidly in the sky, it would be fine for her to turn mini-sized and dig into his embrace or grab onto his hair, but it made her happier to fly alongside him.
[IlHan, you really grew up.] (Liera)
"Don't raise any flags now. It feels like someone's gonna die."
[Hey, it's been a while you mentioned foreshadows.] (Liera)
"I'm kinda scared now since obvious things are happening so obviously."
Yu IlHan smiled a little while meeting the wind against his face. Liera also smiled.
It hadn't even been a year since the Earth had met its Great Cataclysm, but Yu IlHan's level was already 144. Earth was only nearing its 2nd Great Cataclysm, yet the average level of the people of Earth were bordering insane numbers for such a period.
Countless connections with other worlds for unknown reasons. The Destruction Demon Army, the Army of Brilliant Light, and the traitors who are scheme on Earth, when it wasn't really that special......
Yu IlHan was caught up in the most chaotic incident Liera had met since she had become an angel. Would Yu IlHan be able to endure all the changes and grow up? Will he be able to not give up on Earth? Liera was worried about that.
And at one moment,
"Liera, I have something to confirm with you now that I think this is maybe the last time we can stay alone together."
[Huh?........S,s,s,s,s,s,say it!] (Liera)
Said Liera in panic when she was thinking about Yu IlHan.
What was this suspicious sounding intro? Raising flags? Isn't this the flag for confession?
'But thanks anyway. I'll welcome it anytime!'
While Liera popped out fanfares in her head, Yu IlHan spoke.
"Does G.o.d really exist?"
[......Huh?]
Liera's thumping heart, started thumping in a slightly different sense. However, Yu IlHan repeated his words while minutely flexing his muscles. He was still smiling.
"G.o.d, does he really exist?"
[Well...... yes. Didn't I say from our first encounter? I came here to meet you on G.o.d's orders. Thanks to that we're still......] (Liera)
"And you met G.o.d, and directly received orders from him?"
Liera lost her words. She, who was thinking about her rose-colored future until just now, could not understand what Yu IlHan was thinking, and became dejected in an instant.
[It's not that. Lord G.o.d is someone too sacred that an angel like me cannot meet..... That's why we of Heaven's Army exist. We spread his will across all worlds, protect the lower worlds, install Traps of Destructions.....] (Liera)
"Is that so."
Liera somehow felt quite hurried. She was worried that he would fly somewhere else if she didn't grab onto him. Naturally, she was sounding like she was persuading him.
[IlHan, I don't know what you're thinking, but there are too many evidences that prove G.o.d's existence! Look at me! The fact that I could become an angel, and acquire these wings is also because of Lord G.o.d's existence! A true G.o.d, and not a false G.o.d like the G.o.d of smithing, G.o.d of love, or the G.o.d of beauty!] (Liera)
"Okay."
[Well, it's not like I don't understand your doubt since Earth has become like this, but in the first place, the fact that Earth still exists, is a proof of G.o.d's existence!] (Liera)
Liera tried her best to persuade Yu IlHan. Of course, her final objective was to make him into an angel and have a wedding in Heaven! Yu IlHan only nodded without showing any signs of knowing or not knowing that fact.
"I got it already. I only wanted to ask once so don't get so angry. I'm not thinking of rejecting your faith."
Turning his face away from her, he looked at the front. However, Liera still could not understand what he was thinking. Why did things become like this, even though they were in a joyful mood just a moment ago. How?
[You, really understand me, right......?] (Liera)
Of course, Yu IlHan did not reply to her. He only flapped his wings to produce a shockwave to go ahead.
[Hey, wait for me!] (Liera)
Seeing that, Liera also flapped her wings to follow. Yu IlHan's sudden question, and the ripple in her heart also disappeared along with the sounds of flapping wings.
He could have asked because he was curious, as he had said. She just ended her thoughts there.
The two succeeded in reaching the ruins near New York's gate in exactly 17 minutes. Even Spiera, who was waiting with her spear in her hand while lining up the wolves, was surprised.
[Just how did this happen?] (Spiera)
[IlHan made OP equipment as always. It's that blueprint from last time.] (Liera)
[......Oh, is that so.] (Spiera)
Although it hadn't been a long time since Spiera became Yu IlHan's contractor, she had already acknowledged the fact that it would be endless once she started retorting him. As such, she didn't say anything even when Yu IlHan moved his bladed wings.
[It will open soon. I can feel a large scale formation beyond that place.] (Spiera)
[This formation.....] (Liera)
[Yes, it's Erta's doing. I should ask how she did it, when she shouldn't have been able to bring out any of her powers as an angel.] (Spiera)
Spiera said in a small smile. Liera heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that she was worried about Erta after all.
[It's connected.] (Spiera)
[This aura is.....!] (Liera)
Soon, a black-haired, golden-eyed, very, very handsome boy around 11 years old, ran out. Although he looked around 4 to 5 years older than when they last saw him, Yu IlHan instantly recognized him as his son, Yumir.
"Mir!"
"Dad!"
Yumir ran into Yu IlHan's embrace without a moment of hesitation. Yu IlHan instantly put away his armor with his well-trained switching technique, and hugged his son.
"It's the real dad! Dad......!"
"Yes, yes."
Yumir ended up crying now that he really felt that he was in Yu IlHan's embrace.
Well, although it was only 10 days, they had experienced so many harsh things in order to level up so much. There would have been a lot of difficult and sad things. Yu IlHan silently embraced him and consoled him. His posture looked quite natural, and it was because there were some times when he was hugged by Liera in his millennium dropout period.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the reason Yu IlHan grew up to be a man who can embrace others, was all because of Liera.
"It was hard, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, *sob*. It was so hard. I wanted to see you so much."
"Dad also wanted to see you, Mir."
"Really?"
"Of course."
While Yumir was being doted on by Yu IlHan, the others all jumped out from the gate.
"Master!"
"It's fortunate to see you again."
Ericia, who grew up so rapidly, and Flemir with a sharper aura, and the two wolves that supported them.
"Your Majesty!"
"His Majesty came here for us, what an honor......"
"Aah, His Majesty's figure is as dashing as ever!"
"Your Majesty, we have protected the His Highness according to your orders! ......Although it somehow feels like we were protected instead, but anyway!"
The four elves, that made him doubt how they became so strong in just ten days of time, and continuing on, Erta......
[Yu IlHan!] (Erta)
It wasn't the mini-sized Erta he saw normally, but a human-sized Erta, that ran into his embrace! Like Yumir, with all of her body!
Although he reflexively received her with one arm, Yu IlHan could only be dumbfounded.
"Hey, your character changed a lot!?"
[D, don't get me wrong. I only approached in order to regain the close relationship that should exist between the angel and the contractor.] (Erta)
"What do you call this again? A tsu*....."
[Shaddap! Shut your mouth and widen those arms a little more!] (Erta)
Yumir in one arm, and Erta in the other. Now that Yu IlHan couldn't flinch, Liera took out her spear and aimed at Erta.
[Does that woman really want to die......] (Liera)
[She was in an Abandoned World until now. Considering her worry and tension, isn't it fine to let her be for a moment?] (Spiera)
[......Hmph!] (Liera)
Very well, just for now! Just as Liera set her heart to let her go for just now, the gate spat out the last two people: Kang MiRae, and Na YuNa.
"Ah."
"Mr. IlHan."
"It really is Mr. Yu IlHan! He is still as ever! Wait, no, did he get more handsome?"
Although they had gotten stronger like the others. Somehow, both Kang MiRae and Na YuNa seemed to have gotten a little more 'mature' over the ten days. Just how much hardship did they go through?
Even though they didn't have any intention to, Yu IlHan was planning to not let them off easily for dragging Mir into another world, but now, he felt pity for them.
But then, something unimaginable happened to Yu IlHan.
"Uh."
Kang MiRae's two eyes teared up after seeing Yu IlHan, then she suddenly threw her body towards him even though his arms were already full with Yumir and Erta!
"Huh? Huuuuuuuh?"
"Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"
Then she suddenly started crying in a loud voice while putting her arms around Yu IlHan's neck!
"What the h.e.l.l? Are they all under some weird curse!?"
Yu IlHan, who was not used to being in contact with women other than his family, panicked without knowing what to do. But then, Na YuNa, who thought that the situation was interesting, flew towards him and hugged him. The abundant scent of females around him made him panicked even more.
"How good!"
"What the h.e.l.l? Get off me! You first get off! I really don't like you so get off!"
"Don't be like thaaaat."
Although Yu IlHan had the confidence to stay calm at any moment, he couldn't win against the current one!
"What the h.e.l.l? What the h.e.l.l is up with all of you? Why are you all like this?"
"Yay, this is fuuun! Come here everyone!"
"Then please excuse me, Your Majesty!"
"Yahoo!"
Biting on Na YuNa's bait, the elves jumped in on Yu IlHan as well! Erta and Yumir were almost about to suffocate, but they didn't try to let go of Yu IlHan at all.
In the end, even Ericia joined in carefully and Yu IlHan couldn't be seen from the outside anymore. Perhaps it was a consolation prize that Flemir and the two wolves didn't join in.
[Just what is this!] (Liera)
[I've heard that there are three times when a human's popularity peaks out during one's lifetime.....] (Spiera)
[Not that, well, yeah, even though my IlHan is always so cool, but even so!] (Liera)
[This hopeless angel...] (Spiera)
Liera was too confused and couldn't even get angry while watching that scene. Yu IlHan sent her an SOS signal as his limit was broken through a long time ago, but she was so confused that she couldn't catch his signal.
"Ah sheesh!"
Yu IlHan exploded and shouted while pushing Na YuNa away with all his might.
"No matter what happened, why are you all like this when only ten days have pa.s.sed?"
At that moment, everyone that was embracing Yu IlHan, stopped their actions.
"Huh?"
"Huuh?"
"Sorry?"
"......Ten days?"
"Your Majesty?"
"Ten days!?"
"......Huh?"
When Yu IlHan tilted his head due to their strange reactions, Yumir, who was still in his arm, raised his head and spoke.
"Dad, we spent 1,000 days in there."
"What?"
Yu IlHan and Yumir's gazes met.
"1,000 days?"
"Yup, 1,000 days!"
Yu IlHan raised his head. His eyes met with Liera's. Her eyes were trembling non-stop. Yu IlHan must be making the same expression as her right now.
10 days, and 1,000 days.
Somehow, that was a rather familiar ratio.
Chapter 142
It took 5 minutes for Kang MiRae to stop crying and come to herself. Having stopped, she realized what she had just done, and shocked herself out of Yu IlHan's embrace before lowering her head.
"I, I'm sorry. Please excuse my rudeness......."
"It's not to the extent of rudeness but..... Oh, you guys get off too."
"Tch."
Although Kang MiRae's words sounded calm, from her reddened cheeks and eyes, it seemed that she wasn't quite so. If they really did end up drifitng away for 1,000 days, it was quite understandable.
"I think I need to listen to you. Let's switch locations first. Ah, hey, I said get off."
No matter how he thought about it, this wasn't the mood to scatter so Yu IlHan suggested with a bitter smile. This was an unimaginable way of thinking if he was still in his loner days.
"Yes."
Kang MiRae slightly nodded and wiped the tears off her face. Then, she proceeded to rip Na YuNa off Yu IlHan and throw her on the ground, before picking up her phone, that didn't have service for 1,000 days, and contacted somewhere.
"Ou-ou-ou-ouch. MiRae, you really are harsh."
"Please fix your habit of sticking too close to someone you've given your heart to."
In 5 minutes, limousines arrived at the venue. While Yu IlHan was feeling dumbfounded at this always-unrealistic scene, the drivers that came out of the limousines respectfully greeted Kang MiRae and Na YuNa. Liera exclaimed while looking at them.
[It's amazing that they can still retain their power even after the world has changed so much. That shouldn't be possible with money alone..... Political power is really something.] (Liera)
[Liera, please keep your basic dignity as an angel.] (Erta)
[Huh? I think I saw an angel weeping while clinging to IlHan just now, where did she go?] (Liera)
[I didn't cry!] (Erta)
While the reunited angels were getting into a fight as always, Kang MiRae, who had now regained her composure, spoke to Yu IlHan with a faint smile.
"Please get on."
Kang MiRae, who made Yu IlHan dumbfounded with those limousines, activated the golden combo of an aeroplane, along with several helicopters with 2nd cla.s.s ability users to protect it.
"We'll bring you to Korea right away, lady MiRae. Lady Na YuNa too."
"Yes. Oh, tell my father that I cannot meet him right away."
"Understood."
Seeing several ability users trying to protect Kang MiRae and co from the skies as well as the ground, Yu IlHan thought that the money he had his hands on didn't amount to much.
Having 2nd cla.s.s ability users as subordinates couldn't be done with just money alone. Only a history of loyalty, solidified over the years, could make that possible.
"Master, was there anything inconvenient while we were away?"
"Your Majesty. I think you became stronger!"
"And he turned more handsome too. I thought I caught up a lot, but I guess I'm still far away.
Well, he did have his own set of loyal subordinates.
Just that they weren't human. Thinking that he didn't have it too bad either, Yu IlHan smiled. In any case, it was fortunate that everybody came back safe. He truly thought that. He somehow felt a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Everyone, excluding Flemir, who had to lead all the wolves waiting outside the New York gate, headed to Seoul together. Although Yu IlHan felt slightly depressed for not being able to show off his wings, Ruin Calling, the others didn't notice that. Only Liera laughed.
Having arrived at Seoul, the group headed to Yu IlHan's apartment. As everyone was Yu IlHan's subordinates other than the angels, it was nothing strange.
Well, if you exclude Kang MiRae and Na YuNa that is.
"So you want to sleep here for 3 days."
Yu IlHan was surprised by Kang MiRae's sudden request. Kang MiRae spoke of her reasons with a very sorry expression.
"Of course, we'll get a hotel room if it's of any inconvenience to you, but if I book a hotel using my name, it is highly possible that my father or brother will come to find me...... If we stay here, those two will probably not interfere."
Instead, it would be Yu IlHan's point of view, that a terrible misunderstanding that may arise!?
"Mirrrr! Let's wash with Noona!"
"Yeah!"
"Na YuNa, you too, don't run around like it's your own home, and lower your head right here!"
The reason for Kang MiRae's sudden request was this:
For Kang MiRae and Na YuNa, who had fought for 2 years and 9 months without rest, mental and physical stress had piled up beyond their limits. They had just avoided death by over exhaustion thanks to Na YuNa's recovery maagic!
However, if they went back to their clans now, they would be flooded with work again. Kang MiRae had extremely rationally judged herself that she needed a rest. Whether it was the 2nd Great Cataclysm or the Lightning G.o.d clan, she would only be able to work after resting both her body and heart.
"Even so, I can only apologize as it's....."
"Dad, MiRae-noona is kind. YuNa-noona is kind too!"
Just as when Yu IlHan was about to reject, Yumir in his arms, spoke with clear eyes.
"Even so....."
"Dad, is it no good?"
Just as when he was about to reject regardless of Yumir's eye attacks, those two clear eyes dampened up. Critical Hit on Yu IlHan's heart and conscience!
"Can't I play a little more with these noonas?"
"......Who taught him this skill?"
"Me, me, meee! Mir is so cute, isn't he! Ouch!"
Yu IlHan smacked Na YuNa on the forehead for the first time. However, that also implied his permission to stay.
Na YuNa made a 'v' with her fingers towards Kang MiRae even as she looked about to cry, and Kang MiRae also smiled a little.
The promised 3 days went past very quickly. Yu IlHan told the state of affairs on Earth to Yumir and the others, and they, told Yu IlHan their story. After hearing that, Yu IlHan's impression was very simple.
"So Mir hard-carried everyone."
"I fought hard!"
If it wasn't for his concealment ability, it would probably have been the end the moment they went to the other side. What was more impressive that Yumir's concealment skill evolved in a way that concealed his allies as well as himself. It was all thanks to him that they could ma.s.sacre the monsters while enduring daily life in that harsh world!
A party-specialized evolution... It was impossible for a natural-born loner like Yu IlHan. Yu IlHan was satisfied that his son grew up to take care of everyone unlike himself.
"Dad, is it really true that only 10 days pa.s.sed here?"
"Yup, not a single day less or more."
"So that's it. That's good!"
"That amounted only to ten days......"
Meanwhile, the returnees from the Abandoned World went into a group panic after realizing that only 10 days pa.s.sed on Earth while 1000 days pa.s.sed in that world, but as all media including the News was the same as before, they acknowledged reality.
In fact, it was a great fortune that they were strengthened prior to the 2nd Great Cataclysm of Earth. Although, no one could answer why the flow of time was strange in that world.
[Do you really think that? Don't you think it has too much to do with you consider it a coincidence, IlHan?] (Liera)
Liera's retort. Yu IlHan heaved a deep sigh even though he had expected that reaction a little. It was annoying enough that he had suffered alone for a thousand years on Earth, but if it was due to him, then how would he feel!
"Don't tell me you think that I have something to do with it?"
[But it's too similiar to be a coincidence......] (Liera)
Yes, he was in fact a little suspicious. Didn't Yu IlHan's dropout period 100 times that of the expected period?
10 years into 1,000 years; ten days into 1,000 days... The ratio was too perfect to be considered a coincidence!
[Isn't it that there is some transcendent power in the Yu family?] (Liera)
[Rather than their own power, I think that their hidden records may be connected to Earth to cause a change.] (Spiera)
[I knew it...... There was no way Yu IlHan is an ordinary human when he has a pancosmic-level t.i.tle.] (Erta)
"Even if you look at me like that, you won't get answers. And Erta, come with me to the rooftop later."
In the millennium of his dropout period, Liera only explained it as an unknown error, and Yu IlHan who was busy living out that thousand years, didn't look much into it. Even if he did, nothing would change anyway.
However, Yumir, who was born from Yu IlHan's mana, ended up being trapped in an Abandoned World. If there was anything different from Yu IlHan himself, it was that he was together with allies, and the Akashic Record was connected to it.
He came back after spending a thousand days, and only ten days had pa.s.sed on Earth in the meantime. Looking at the two incidents separately, it could be said to be a coincidence that can happen on a multiversal scale, but connecting Yu IlHan and Yumir's existence together, the story became entangled.
[What if that unknown error is related to IlHan's record?] (Liera)
[There's nothing 'what if' about it. The other groups will wish to capture Yu IlHan and not kill him.] (Erta)
[That's a good thing since IlHan is safer now!] (Liera)
"Being inside a tiger's mouth would be much safer than my own position right now!"
However, there were too little samples to declare that Yu IlHan was the reason. At that moment, Liera clapped and spoke.
[Then you can just increase the samples, can't you? IlHan, you can have a child!] (Liera)
[I'll take the right.] (Spiera)
[Then I'll beat up the left.] (Erta)
Spiera and Erta forced Liera into submission when Liera was acting all nervous, twisting up her body, saying 'How is it, a genius idea, no?'.
With the worry that this idiot may commit a taboo if they didn't make Yu IlHan into a higher existence quickly, Erta spoke.
[Yu IlHan, I'll throw this idiot in the recycling bin. Meanwhile, please confirm if there was anything similar between your parents. It should be fine to get only the hints.] (Erta)
"Yes, then please recycle her properly."
"I also want to go meet grandpa and grandma!"
"Okay, let's do that."
Yu IlHan had a glance at Kang MiRae and Na YuNa, who was playing ping pong with the elves, and thought about when they'd leave as this was the third day, as he left.
After concealing himself, it took a few flap of his wings to arrive at his house. Both of his parents were home, and Yu IlHan entered with Yumir in front of him. Yumir shouted this as he went in the front door even though Yu IlHan didn't make him to:
"Grandpa, grandma. h.e.l.lo!"
"IlHan, you're here..... Oh?"
"It's not IlHan!?"
Quite a lot of time was needed for the house, which flipped due to the sudden appearance of an 11 year-old-looking child, to turn calm.
"I'm not sure about incubation with mana or anything like that, but it's your son alright. He looks after you. Of course, he's much more handsome compared to you at that time."
Yu YongHan, Yu IlHan's father judged, after observing for a while. Yu IlHan added with a smile.
"He's also your grandson."
"And the child's mother?"
Was the mother's, Kim YeSeul's, question. Yu IlHan honestly answered.
"She died before his birth. Dragons are born from eggs after all."
"Oh my, sonny, you became a widower. Aren't you lonely, Mir?"
"It's fine because there's dad. And pretty noonas too!"
"Oho? Pretty noonas? Mir, won't you elaborate more on that?"
Kim YeSeul urged with a bright smile. Unlike Yu YongHan in a slight panic due to this unrealistic situation, she was very different. Moreover, she looked like she had become even younger after all this time.
Now it was for sure. Unlike his father who was stuck in 1st cla.s.s, his mother was levelling up! And perhaps, she was at least 2nd cla.s.s already.
2nd cla.s.ses belonged to the top 3% of humanity right now. Although he thought this before, but if he had any talent, perhaps it was inherited from his mother?
Then perhaps his mother was...? Yu IlHan asked her with a slight nervousness.
"Mom, was there anything special that happened in the '10 years' youspent in Ya-umin?"
"Ya-umin? Ah, Oooh."
Kim YeSeul tilted her head before laughing.
"Well, nothing happened at all. Even though I'm quite good if I look like this at my age!"
Hmm, it seems like she misunderstood. Yu YongHan laughed at her.
"What do you mean 'good'. You're an old lady."
"Hey, everyone looks at least 20 years younger than you when I go outside. People talk bad about you, and not me."
"Oh, she's right about that, dad. Please level up even while taking it easy."
"There's nothing safe about levelling up, son."
Hm, it seems like his mother wasn't it. And from how his dad looked, it looks like it wasn't him either.
Yes, of course. The twisted time axis in Yu IlHan's and Yumir's trapped worlds were simply coincidence. There was no way such a record would be hidden inside a guy who couldn't even wield mana.
"Fuu."
As his worries ended as just worries, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he never doubted the fact that he became this strong precisely due to the thousand years on Earth, never was it fun to talk about it with a light smile. If his parents suffered such pain, then Yu IlHan would also find it hard.
Now that he settled down, he became hungry. As he couldn't go back home and eat when his mother was in front of him, Yu IlHan spoke firmly as if he had lent some money to them. It was the privilege of the son.
"Mom, food."
"Food! Food!"
Although he looked 11 on the outside, Mir was still 1 year...... no, 3 years old. When he imitated Yu IlHan while laughing, Kim YeSeul stood up with a satisfied smile.
"Okay, I'll make a feast so eat to your heart's content."
Then she seemed to head off to the kitchen, when she turned back and asked.
"And so? Who's my daughter-in-law candidate among those pretty noonas? I'm completely fine with multiple candidates."
"There's completely none!"
Shouted Yu IlHan. Although someone's face pa.s.sed by in his mind, Yu IlHan denied that and spoke confidently.
"There's no woman in this world that would marry your son!"
"That's a boast? Then try saying that to everyone!"
Now, how could I send this son off to marriage? – Kim YeSeul about her son's future, as she headed off to the kitchen.
Chapter 143
Yu IlHan and Yumir emptied about half of all the food available in the house before going back with icecream in their mouths.
The angels, elves, humans, and one wolf had already finished their ping pong match and were now playing a 4-player racing game on Playst*tion.
"Look at my drift skills! Yay!" (Na YuNa)
"It's just your body that's leaning!" (Kang MiRae)
[Kyak, a bomb!] (Liera)
[You keep covering the screen with those wings!] (Erta)
The members enjoying the game were two idiots and two retorters. The rest of the members were staring at the large screen as they moved their upper bodies along with the game, almost as if it was them who were playing it.
He could see friendship that couldn't be created over just ten days. He found it amazing that Liera managed to join that group.
Yumir seemed like he wanted to join so he let him go, when Spiera approached him in his stead.
[It seems like there was nothing much.] (Spiera)
"Both of them were extremely normal. Fortunately."
If any one of the two experienced a thousand years, then they should have reacted to Yu IlHan's words in some way. Yu IlHan was sure that the two had lived ordinary lives as he had confidence in reading other people's expressions.
[I also received reports from various angels from the two worlds that they went to. The two did indeed spend ten years with others, and they returned with the other humans. Although I can't be sure yet, there's a higher probability of some other element being the cause and not the genetic elements.] (Spiera)
"Right?"
Yu IlHan laughed as he nodded. Then, he realised the hidden intent in Spiera's words and asked her while his brows were twitching.
"Why did you send me when you could do it yourself? No, well, it wasn't for nothing since I could introduce Mir to them and I saw their face, but even so."
[You should know very well that angels are imperfect. There may be some things that they have missed out. That's why I wanted you to confirm for yourself.] (Spiera)
In the first place, if the angels were perfect, there was no way they would be annoyed by other transcender factions, nor would there be any traitors – Spiera added. Yu IlHan couldn't say anything in return after all that.
"......Liera and Erta's pride as higher angels shot through the skies when we first met, but you just acknowledge that fact..."
[There's no progress without understanding of imperfection. Those two are also making progress as they understand that.] (Spiera)
"Yeah, you don't say so."
Yu IlHan muttered while watching Liera covering the screen with her wings, and Erta scolding her mercilessly.
Although he didn't know how much progress they've made, from their looks now, they were hopeless. Even though they showed their smart sides in the beginning...
Although he liked their current states better, he sometimes missed their former figures. – As he was thinking that, Spiera spoke suddenly.
[Rather than that, prepare.] (Spiera)
"Prepare what?"
[The notice for the Battle of Compet.i.tion went up. Just now.] (Spiera)
Yu IlHan's movements stopped momentarily. He felt his relaxing body tensing up in an instant.
Battle of Compet.i.tion. Why wouldn't he know about that? He decimated an entire empire in another world due to that.
He had a glance at the people who were still playing the racing game and faced Spiera again.
"So you can talk about it now?"
[There's not much time left. This will be told to all the people of Earth soon.] (Spiera)
"How many days is it?"
[In 3 hours, the stage to pick the partic.i.p.ants will be set.] (Spiera)
Hours and not days!
"Hah, that's quite a 'lot of time' you've given me."
[There's no need to hurry. Partic.i.p.ants selection will be held over 24 hours. In New York, where the battle with the Abandoned World took place.] (Spiera)
Well, that place was the best since it was receiving the attention of everyone in this world.
[Anyone can partic.i.p.ate if they want to bring back Traps of Destruction to Earth. Only 1 thousand individuals will gain the qualifications to partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion.] (Spiera)
"One thousand......?"
Yu IlHan tilted his head. He found something strange.
If the number of partic.i.p.ants numbered so high, was there a need to swallow Venezuela entirely? They wouldn't need to send a force numbering millions!
[The rules of the compet.i.tion differs according to the balance of forces in each world. Although the rule for this time is 'Elite Forces Battle', it is likely that Ferata had undergone an 'All Out Battle' in their 2nd Great Cataclysm.] (Spiera)
"That sounds horrible."
That meant that the empire of Kadra may have spread their forces beyond Venezuela. Thinking about the possibility that he hadn't prevented the invasion of Kadra empire, Yu IlHan felt the shivers.
Of course, the empire in question should currently be near extinction due to monsters..... While he was thinking about that, Spiera's words. .h.i.t his eardrums once again.
[You need to acquire a good position in this compet.i.tion.] (Spiera)
"Even if you didn't say it, I'll do my best but...... why?"
[The Battle of Compet.i.tion isn't held that frequently. And Earth right now, is progressing at an incredible rate. I guarantee that there won't be another Battle of Compet.i.tion before Earth's 3rd Great Cataclysm.] (Spiera)
TheBattle of Compet.i.tion was held in 'Lu Füera', a higher world under Heaven's Army. Naturally, no lower existence could enter that world. They could only enter that world in the Battle of Compet.i.tion that was held regularly. As such, there was no way they could make an exception for Earth.
Yu IlHan's instincts flared up after hearing that.
"A higher world huh. Now that's making me feel worried."
[While I understand what you're thinking.] (Spiera)
Retorted Spiera with a smile.
[There will not be a case where other transcender factions would invade in a higher world under Heaven. That's the same as angels invading beyond the Wall of Chaos and fighting against the main forces of the Destruction Demon Army, and coming back alive.] (Spiera)
"Hey, there's one right there."
[But that's...... You're right.] (Spiera)
To Yu IlHan who was pointing towards a cowardly angel who blocked other's view just as her car was about to be pa.s.sed by another car, Spiera could only nod.
[I'll see to it that there will be more security in the venue.] (Spiera)
"Please. Oh, and get miss Na YuNa a proper angel. Although I don't care about the person herself, but as it is now, miss MiRae will get caught up in it. Mir will be sad."
[I'll keep that in mind.] (Spiera)
Yu IlHan approached the gaming group after that. The game had just ended and punishment was being brought upon Liera.
"I win you lose you get the bap!"
"Big bap bap bap bap bap bap!"
[When's the 'bruise' dammit!] (Liera) (PR:Check footnotes, its some korean batsugame)
1
It seemed that everyone hated Liera as the simple punishment song was not ending and the total amount of hits was breaking through 300 hits. As he couldn't watch forever. Ilhan finished the game with a smack on the forehead.
"Bruise."
[Ah, I love you, IlHan!] (Liera)
"Aaah, you didn't even play, so you get the punishment too!" (Na YuNa)
"It's the household owner's right. Game's over, and rest is over too."
Although they might feel a little disappointed as they didn't fill the entire 72 hours, but there was no more time to waste. Kang MiRae's expression also changed, it seemed that she noticed that Yu IlHan was about to say something.
"In 3 hours, there will be a stage to select the partic.i.p.ants to partic.i.p.ate in the Battle of Compet.i.tion held by Heaven's Army. From what I've heard, it has a lot to do with how successfully we can endure the 2nd Great Cataclysm. The details will be explained by Erta."
[Why am I always in charge of explanations!?...... I'll explain only once so listen carefully! The Battle of Compet.i.tion refers to......] (Erta)
Erta's shocking revelation continued. As everyone here knew that Heaven's Army's job lay in Traps of Destruction, they understood quickly.
In the process, Yu IlHan found something new, which was the rules of the compet.i.tion. He thought that it would be alright with destroying everything, but it didn't seem so.
[Each partic.i.p.ants will be given a minimum set of safety devices. The purpose of Heaven's Army is to distribute the Traps of Destructions, not to weaken the overall power of the worlds.] (Erta)
To do that, every partic.i.p.ant will be given a membrane of protection on top of their skin, and that protective membrane will shatter upon receiving a certain amount of damage, and eject the partic.i.p.ant back to his or her own world. And the outcome will be decided by how many enemy partic.i.p.ants they've ejected under the duration of battle, or if the enemy side was all ejected.
However, even if they won the battle, the ejected partic.i.p.ant will not be able to partic.i.p.ate again, so the important things lay in preserving forces as much as possible.
"What if someone attacks with a force that could shatter and kill the partic.i.p.ant at the same time?"
[That protective membrane is the best we can do. It's a compet.i.tion to protect their own worlds, so if they aren't prepared for such things, they shouldn't partic.i.p.ate in the first place.] (Erta)
"That's quite cold of you there......"
The Battle of Compet.i.tion was largely categorized into Junior and Senior, with Junior being a compet.i.tion between worlds that are about to experience the 2nd Great Cataclysm, and Senior being a compet.i.tion between worlds that are about to experience their third or further Great Cataclysm. The form of the compet.i.tion was a winner-proceeds form, and only the 4 strongest in the Junior and the 4 strongest in the Senior, will be able to get their share of Traps of Destruction made of better materials.
"Why is it not a fair league-type compet.i.tion, but a tournament one?"
[There are currently 48 worlds qualified to partic.i.p.ate in the Junior tournament. We can't let the strongest thousand of each world fight 47 times. They'd probably rather give up on the Traps of Destruction.] (Erta)
"That's true....."
If it was an All Out Battle and not an Elite Forces Battle, then the situation would probably be more serious. Everyone accepted Erta's words.
"Top 4 of 48 worlds.....!"
Kang MiRae sighed after realizing the significance of the situation, and Na YuNa looked dejected.
"Angels only tell us things when it's just about to arrive."
[Well, you wouldn't be able to do anything even if you do know beforehand.] (Liera)
"But we still wanted to know early.....!"
[That's not all.] (Erta)
Although it would be good if it ended there, it did not. After the top 4 teams on both Junior and Senior, were selected, the cla.s.sification of Junior and Senior disappeared, and the true finals will start.
This was also the reason why Ferata invaded Earth before its 3rd Great Cataclysm.
"How?"
[It's because there are cases where the partic.i.p.ants in the Junior tournament are stronger than the ones in the Senior tournament. However, if the compet.i.tion ended while the Junior and Senior were still divided, then the Junior will have complaints right? Of course, they can also choose to give up at that point.] (Erta)
Yes, the current forces of Earth was considerably strong considering that it was nearing its 2nd Great Cataclysm. Yu IlHan would also be annoyed if he was told not to fight when there was an opportunity to gain more Advanced Traps of Destruction.
[To sum up. You just have to fight until the end and not lose.] (Erta)
"Thanks for the obvious advice."
"......We should hurry. We need to talk with the Front Line Alliance, and we also need to negotiate with the government of various countries in order to select a balanced party, and the most high-levelled party as possible....... Oh, when does the selection end?"
[24 hours from the installation of the stage.] (Erta)
"So we need to hurry even more."
Kang MiRae packed her stuff quickly and called somewhere with her phone. It was probably to head to America.
"I didn't want to go back to New York for quite a while, but we're going back immediately huh. Mr. IlHan, if it's alright with you, let's go together."
"Wait, I have something to confirm."
Yu IlHan asked Liera.
"Can monsters partic.i.p.ate in the selection?"
[There's no restriction in the partic.i.p.ants selection!] (Liera)
"Good, then elves too?"
[Of course. In fact, not to mention the partic.i.p.ants selection, the entire compet.i.tion is not that strict. Monsters on human side. People from other world partic.i.p.ating. Such things were never considered in the first place. It's Earth that's bad!] (Liera)
So, that was why Ferata thought about partic.i.p.ating in the compet.i.tion with human skins on! Yu IlHan retorted to Liera who was giggling.
"Such, absurd, things, are, happening, on, Earth, right, now, isn't it."
[Hiik.] (Liera)
Yu IlHan emphasized each word. Veins could be seen on his forehead. Liera was shocked and hiccup'ed.
"So you need to fix those rules in the future, right?"
[Yes, sir!] (Liera)
"Since we were the ones who received damage, let's leave this compet.i.tion as is, and please do so from next time."
[We shall.] (Liera)
"Good, good girl."
Yu IlHan was ordering around an angel. Kang MiRae and Na YuNa were looking at that scene in amazement, while Spiera and Erta were sighing.
"Then......"
"Please speak, master."
When Yu IlHan turned his head after making Liera promise him, Ericia was there. She looked very trustworthy from how she approached him and waited for him after noticing that it was her they were talking about.
"Please call Flemir. He'll go to New York as well."
"Although not satisfactory in your eyes, there are many wolves that are stronger than the people of Earth. Shall I gather all of them?"
"No, just Flemir will do. Instead, pick the strong ones and let's make them protect Seoul while we're away."
"Yes."
Ericia left immediately to call Flemir and the other wolves. While Kang MiRae and Na YuNa were making relieved expressions, as they knew Flemir's strength, the elves approached him.
"Your Majesty, shall we gather the elves? If it's the strong warriors that have directly received training from you, they will step up in order to become your power whenever you wish!"
"The elves have it hard in Dareu. I brought the four of you since I couldn't help it, but I cannot allow any more than that."
Although everyone was smoothly making progress, if he took out any more, then the race may as well go extinct. He couldn't bring them here.
Moreover, the four elves here had an average level of 130. As Pate had the highest level at 134, there was no need to call any more reinfor......
He thought up to there when something came up in his mind.
"Paté."
"Yes."
Yu IlHan took out the epic-ranked bow sleeping in his inventory, DeathG.o.d's Trajectory, and handed it to him. After looking at that, everyone's attention was focused on it, not to mention Paté.
"Your Majesty, such a treasure......"
"How is it, you think you can use it?"
"......Although it will be very difficult. I think I can barely do it."
The user restrictions of DeathG.o.d's Trajectory was a 3rd cla.s.s archer main cla.s.s and strength and agility over 250 each. As Paté's stats focused on strength and agility rather than health, he could barely meet the requirements.
Yu IlHan nodded and extended his hand.
"Then give me your previous one and use that one from now on."
"Your Majesty!"
Paté became silent. He looked really feminine with tears glistening, so Yu IlHan pushed him away. Then he spoke to the elves who were looking at him.
"If you do well, I'll make yours too in a while."
"If we do well....."
"If we do well! An epic!"
The elves burned in pa.s.sion after thinking that they may be able to wield epic ranked weapons in the future. Kang MiRae spoke in a vain voice after looking at that scene.
"Although I knew you could create Legend-ranked ones since I saw it... you could even make Epic-ranked ones.....?"
Living together with Yu IlHan's subordinates for 2 years and 9 months, she now knew that they weren't human but elves, and that the weapons Vanguard sold world wide was all created by Yu IlHan.
The legend-ranked bracelet she received from Erta before the battle, was of very high quality, and it had helped out a lot in surviving in the other world. She was surprised that he was a smith as well but..... he could make epic ranked ones too!
However, Yu IlHan only tilted his head and spoke,
"Although I can't make them as I wish, I get one if I get lucky once in a while. I'll give one to you too if I make one later. Mir seems to like you too."
"Mee! What about mee! I'm also close with Mir! Mir totally likes me!"
"However, I personally don't like you so no. Ask me again after 300 years."
"Wao!"
He could reject her so openly! Kang MiRae made a smile while seeing that. Even though it was supposed to be something bad for her clan, she somehow felt satisfied. Her heart fluttered.
Yes. She was feeling fluffy since it looked like she was receiving special treatment.
"MiRae! You just smirked now didn't you! If I acquire an epic one, it will be used to help you!"
"No, I didn't smirk at all."
While Kang MiRae was acting clueless, Yu IlHan called Mir into his arm.
"While Ericia is away calling Flemir, I'll go to my workshop for a bit. I'll do a final check, and make Mir's new armor too."
"And you can do that in that meanwhile?"
"Of course."
Yu IlHan did indeed return Ericia and Flemir returned to the apartment. Although, he brought back something 'he didn't expect' on top of Yumir's armor.
They headed to New York along with Kang HaJin and the Lightning G.o.d clan members which Kang MiRae and the rest hadn't seen for a long time. A strict compet.i.tion to pick one thousand people of Earth, was waiting for them.
.......or so it should have been.
Chapter 144
There was a time when Yu IlHan expected the people of Earth to fight each other to the death until only one thousand people remained in their raging pa.s.sion to protect Earth.
"It's the Susanoo party."
"I shouldn't fight them and drain their strength."
"Their members are frightening right? They were all MVPs in the defense battle against the Abandoned World."
"Let's get out of their way."
However, immediately Ilhan's party had entered the huge arena, some of the exactly one thousand people exited on their own accord.
"Huh?"
As this happened so suddenly, Yu IlHan had to judge what just happened with his eyes open.
"Did someone forfeit?"
[Indeed.] (Erta)
Yes. The people who thought 'Oh, I should step down here!' had left the venue, and it was the exact same number of people as the party Yu IlHan brought!
Like that, one thousand people was maintained on the stage, and at this point, Yu IlHan could also grasp how the partic.i.p.ants were picked.
There were two methods to select the partic.i.p.ants, the one on one battles and the group battles.
Those who wanted to partic.i.p.ate in a one vs one battle would pick one of the individual partic.i.p.ants within the one thousand, and challenge them. If the challenger won, then the loser would step down and the winner takes the place. It was also completely fine for people to step down voluntarily. The main point was that a maximum of 1000 people needed to be maintained on the stage.
However, group battles were much more complex in comparison. For Kang MiRae who came back at 120% power in just 10 days, to partic.i.p.ate with her clan members, she had to pick out the single partic.i.p.ants from 1000 people and match the numbers with her own number of clan members, and win two rounds of challenges.
Unlike the single battles that one had to bring out their full power on, there were a lot of other elements in group battles, so fighting twice was inevitable to prove their competence. Their partic.i.p.ation would be set in stone if they won two battles. It was just a difference of fighting several times in succession and with random opponents.
Also, once they won the battle like that, the losers had to all exit the arena so there would be a blank in the partic.i.p.ants. When some weak people joined that blank, then the people with ability would once again challenge them and take their place.
As it was impossible to come up to the stage once they went down, the arena was not as full as he had expected.
"Mr. Yu IlHan sure is amazing."
Seeing Yu IlHan skipping all the annoying process and making the people accept his party's partic.i.p.ation, Kang HaJin exclaimed.
The always-cool fullplate armor, and the sudden appearance of the bladed wings made him look quite strange, but he still had an overwhelming level of charisma.
Even the seven subordinates behind him would not lose out to anyone here...
"But in fact, wouldn't it have ended easily if he just brought the strongest thousand of the wolves?"
Although it was no boast, the day humanity went against Kiroa, humanity would have lost without Yu IlHan. It was possible for them to battle only because Yu IlHan had entered the gate and took care of the strong ones on the other side. And the surviving wolves all became his underlings....
Kang MiRae answered his question.
"Of course it would have ended easily."
"Then why?"
"Shouldn't he be thinking that the current forces are enough?"
Kang HaJin's jaws were left agape after hearing her answer.
Now, all of humanity knew about the circ.u.mstances surrounding the Battle of Compet.i.tion; they knew about the number of partic.i.p.ating worlds, and how the winner would be decided. Even if he could somehow lead them against worlds that had undergone their 2nd Great Cataclysm, how could he be confident in winning against the teams in the senior category?"
While Kang HaJin was thinking such reasonable things, his sister and her friend that became slightly strange after spending time in an Abandoned World, had gone a step further with their opinions.
"In fact, it should be much more efficient for Mr. Yu IlHan and Mir to go by themselves while we protect Earth."
"We cannot inconvenience him forever. We need to show him that we can do things even without him."
"Although you girls were full of confidence even before you went there, I think you can poke someone to death with that rocketing confidence now."
Kang MiRae only replied with a smile, and looked at the Lightning G.o.d members that numbered 10 including herself.
Although the gap had increased as she had went to the Abandoned World, they were still elites that were handpicked by her. If they were polished through this Battle of Compet.i.tion, they would be able to do well even after the 2nd Great Cataclysm.
"Please prepare. This is the start."
Kang MiRae generated and grabbed golden lightning on one hand as she entered the stage. She was easily utilizing the options of the Legend ranked bracelet that had been with her for nearly 3 years.
"We will challenge a group fight. There are ten of us. Oh, we don't want to fight the strong ones so please get out of our way on your own accord."
It really played out the way that she had requested. The stronger teams realized how strong she was, and hid themselves. Meanwhile, the pa.s.sionate ones that could not differentiate between left and right were fished by her taunt and were kicked out without even being able to use the Boom Bubble.
"Master's magic is too strong."
"No, miss YuNa's blessing was too strong......."
Even the members that fought together were dumbfounded. Feeling their panic, Kang MiRae spoke with a faint smile.
"You would have to follow us ardently in the future."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
After that, many people joined the stage in New York. Many people excluding Yu IlHan's group and the Lightning G.o.d dropped out, and some unknown experts had emerged as well.
If there was anything for sure, it was that all of the members here had strength that did not lose to any other representatives of other worlds prior to the 2nd Great Cataclysm.
[I declare the end of the partic.i.p.ants selection. In exactly 2 hours, the transfer to Lu Füera will begin, so please wait in the stage.] (Spiera)
"So it ended."
After the scheduled time was over, Yu IlHan immediately sat on the stage, and looked around him.
Although they couldn't show overwhelming force like Yu IlHan's group or the Lightning G.o.d, many of the clans belonging to the Front Line Alliance were remaining on stage.
Of course, the majority of the clans that brought all their members in greed couldn't avoid defeat, but in cases like the Demon Dragon clan which were mainly comprised of close-combat personnel, they easily gained victory by bringing only their elites with advanced weapons.
On the other hand, the Magia clan and the Metal Knights clan seemed to ride it out alone from quite a while back, and this time, they had picked out their elites and joined together to show a perfectly balanced party. Whether it was Carina Malatesta or Michael Smithson, they had grown completely differently from the Kantou battle.
"Hey, don't you think Smithson and Malatesta have something going on between them?"
So, he was curious. What was it that occurred between the two clan masters!
[You sound like you talked a lot behind other people's back in your highschool.] (Erta)
"I think you're mistaken. Because, the only time I opened my mouth was during register/roll-call, music period and lunch."
[I'm sorry! I'll talk a lot with you from now on!] (Erta)
"Nah, it's alright. It's my fault for not having any friends. Yes, I have no qualifications to talk behind other people's back."
[Aawawaa, what do I do. I stepped on a huge landmine!] (Erta)
"If that much is a landmine, my heart is a DMZ. Don't worry about it so much."
[It makes me even more worried instead!] (Erta)
Erta blamed herself for her carelessness! Meanwhile, Liera, who becoming interested in other people's love affairs after being blessed by the G.o.d of Love, judged quickly after looking at the man and woman standing next to each other.
[Ahaa... the woman seems to have taken an interest to the man, but her feelings are not being reciprocated. I can see he's thinking about another woman.] (Liera)
[From what I see, the woman is much better in both looks and ability, but how? Normally, the man would be the one clinging to the woman.] (Spiera)
Asked Spiera who returned after acting as one of the judges in the selection, when Liera replied back.
[True love does not have any relationship with such material things, idiot.] (Liera)
[Really? Liera really does know a lot about love. I knew you were difference since you were blessed by t#$%^.] (Spiera)
The 2nd super-mini war of angels was triggered. Yu IlHan, who had succeeded in putting away his high school trauma, proceeded to take out a clean wok from his inventory.
"I'm hungry so let's eat."
[To think you'd think of eating in this situation... amazing......] (Erta)
Yu IlHan took out a small scale furnace, and started a fire with Blaze and placed the wok on top of the set up.
When he started stir-frying dragon meat with dragon-fat rendered oil, everyone's gazes fixed on him whether it was from inside or outside the stage.
[I'm really frustrated that it smells good!] (Erta)
"Looks tasty."
He took out the rice from the vacuum packed plastic bag in his inventory, and added various vegetables and sauce.
He added a little salt, and once he added the special dragon sauce, made by mixing Breath purified of poison by Na YuNa, and oyster sauce. It was the perfect dragon stir-fried rice.
[To think I'd see someone cooking on top of the selection stage in my life......] (Spiera)
[I'm hungry now that I fought too. IlHan, gimme some too.] (Liera)
Even Spiera was shocked as she was fighting with LIera. Meanwhile, the other partic.i.p.ants who were staving their hunger off with preserved foods, were only making gulping sounds.
"Food cooked by Susanoo....."
"Don't even dream about it. We might end up getting cooked ourselves."
"Dammit, order some pizza! They should know the location if we say it's the selection stage!"
Yu IlHan put away the helmet as he had no need for hiding and gathered the group and ate the freshly cooked stir-fried rice. Kang HaJin, Na YuNa, and Kang MiRae also came after mercilessly throwing away their clan members.
"Delish!"
"Whoa? It really is tasty! Just what can't you do!?"
"Conversation, so please eat quietly."
"......"
Kang HaJin obediently ate the food after hearing Yu IlHan's honest words. Of course, Yumir was an exception.
"Dad, I want more! I think I might level up after one more."
"Yes, yes. Mir should grow up a lot by eating a lot of food."
"......He levels up by eating?"
Eating with many people like this was a joy he couldn't experience in his dropout period! Thinking about how partic.i.p.ating in the annoying Battle of Compet.i.tion was all to preserve this joy, he automatically brimmed with power.
After that, Yu IlHan had to cook two more batches in order to fill everyone's stomachs.
A painful-for-some and joyful-for-some period of wait had finally ended, and it was finally time to head to a higher world. Some, resolved themselves while heading there, and some wished to become as famous as Susanoo through this.
Even when they had different thoughts, their objective as they entered the gate in the center of the stage was all the same: to bring back advanced Traps of Destruction to Earth by getting good results in the Compet.i.tion!
[Oh, Lu Füera. I haven't been here for a while.] (Liera)
[It's the first time for me. I never took care of this side.] (Erta)
"Wao.....!"
The place they had arrived at after entering the gate, was a huge place that even Yu IlHan, who had been to three other worlds, Dareu, Kiroa and Ferata, was dumbfounded.
"So hot.....!"
"No, it's burning! Dammit, isn't there any water-cla.s.s mages here?"
As everything, including gra.s.s, trees, flowers, insects, and even the sun was more than 10 times larger than those of Earth, as a result, the environment was very very hot.
Of course, Yu IlHan, who received the Hero of Fire t.i.tle, wasn't that affected by such heat..... but how could any life-forms grow here?
[They should be lifeforms that live in this world as they are in front of you, right?] (Liera)
"Can I take a little?"
[And you think you can?] (Liera)
Yu IlHan's eyes shined. It was a 'I-know-it-even-without-you-telling-me' attack.
Liera was defeated in 3 seconds.
[.....Of course, you can. It's IlHan's request. I'll take responsibility so take only a little, okay?] (Liera)
[Never!] (Erta)
[Seems like I should step up now.] (Spiera)
Liera and Erta looked quite relaxed, but Spiera, who was acting as a judge on Earth, was different.
After checking that the thousand partic.i.p.ants had safely crossed over to Lu Füera, she ordered the angels who were awaiting them in this place and spoke to Yu IlHan.
[I will become one of the judges from now until the tournament ends. Yu IlHan, Earth's first battle will start soon so don't relax. ......Although, I don't even need to say that.] (Spiera)
"Yup, don't worry."
Spiera did not say anything about how he secretly tried to pull out some of the gra.s.s here, and nodded. She flew away with a smile, and the partic.i.p.ants were lead by the angels to one of the arenas for the battle in this wide world.
[The protective membrane will be generated the moment you cross this line. You will be summoned back to Earth the moment the membrane breaks, and even attacks from allies will damage it so please be careful. Also, you need to maintain that membrane until the end of the tournament once it's generated. Please do not break the protective membranes outside of battle.]
"Does the shield's energy recover?"
[It recovers over time. If you have received near critical damage, it's the basics to step back and regroup yourself.]
The angels stepped back after the basic introduction, leaving behind words to enter within 10 minutes as the battle would start then.
"Once we cross this line......"
"Traps of Destruction. The world I went to experienced a wave of 3rd cla.s.s monsters due to the lack of advanced Traps of Destruction......! I shall definitely protect Earth!"
When the people stood on the borderline that faintly flowed without any devices, they all sighed in nervousness. It was natural for their steps to be heavy as they were shouldering the fate of Earth. They could only be careful even in their light movements.
However, loners always shouted 'yes' when others said 'no'!
Yu IlHan didn't even imagine that everyone else was being nervous and he crossed over. Yumir and the other subordinates followed his line.
"Wao!"
Na YuNa spat out her unique exclamation due to the lack of his hesitation. Then, she looked at Kang MIRae.
"Let's goo too, MiRae!"
"......Sure."
Kang MiRae nodded and crossed the line. When she did, a higher cla.s.s magic covered his body.
With the resolve that she would acquire this kind of magic as hers one day, she raised her head.
The battle started.
Earth won within 7 minutes.
The 3 battles after that ended in the same fashion.
Earth was now in the finals.
(PR: wow that was fast)
Chapter 145
Yu IlHan decided to hold back and avoid acting too grandly, even though he believed that he was substantially stronger than the people around him. He genuinely wanted the people of Earth to surpa.s.s him some day, however, it almost seemed like that day would never arrive. The gap was simply too wide.
As such, he was worried that they would lose their pa.s.sion to become stronger if he acted in an overbearing fashion.
"That must never happen! I would be annoyed to death if they left everything to me."
[You looked cool before you said that. But now... you look a little pathetic.] (Liera)
If it was before, he would have let his subordinates rampage around in his stead, but after going to an Abandoned World, even the lowest levelled one was the elven thief Phiria at level 123.
As they suffered for about three years in harsh conditions, their already exceptional skill levels became even higher, and as their equipments had undergone refurbishment under Yu IlHan's hands, their level of equipment was almost peerless.
As such, Yu IlHan ordered his subordinates to hold back. The best was pretending to fight after charging to the enemy with the allies. They would cooperate on a low level, and help out if anyone seemed to be in danger, while cleaning up the proactive enemies. He thought that just that would help out a lot.
The only problem was that they easily obliterated half of enemy forces even while holding back.
"Eeei! Are the humans of Earth monsters!"
"Don't fight them! One of us was ejected with a single kick just now!"
Yu IlHan and co were a typhoon that travelled at slow speeds; it was alright if they didn't approach, but once they were caught up, it would be the end for them!
Even after all that, it wasn't so easy to attack the other people of Earth. Not to mention the members of the Lightning G.o.d Clan, the people of Earth that had been strengthened after the many chaotic battles on Earth also fought back desperately.
"I'm sick and tired of Dungeon Waves!"
"I will become the hero of Earth!"
While Yu IlHan and co were shooting a one sided cosmic-ma.s.sacre horror film on one side, the other people were shooting a war drama. Endless tears filled with both blood and sweat flooded the land, while shouts filled the air.
"We'll break through the center now!"
"Uoooooh!"
Kang MiRae, who had leaped levels in the Abandoned World was leading them. Nothing could stop her lightning, and the magic that she had casted over a long time with Na YuNa's buff, had enough power to blast a hole through the enemy forces.
"Insane......"
"How are we supposed to win this! Why is there so much of a difference? our world has also developed over 200 years after the first Great Cataclysm!"
The opponents lost their morale in front of her lightning. Of course, it wasn't like there were no superhuman people that were especially stronger than others, but even those superhumans were cleaned up by Kang MiRae with Na YuNa's buff.
As such, the result of the compet.i.tion was not even worth mentioning about.
[Earth, Junior tournament top 4. 419 personnel remaining.]
The weaker partic.i.p.ants from Earth were mercilessly ejected, and as a result, the final number of people remaining was 419. Only the elites amongst elites of Earth remained. Excluding Yu IlHan's group, Kang MiRae, and Na YuNa, their average level was well over 90!
"We did it, top 4!"
"Can we really acquire advanced Traps of Destructions?"
"Dammit...... We actually did it!"
The heroes that succeeded in bringing Earth to solid grounds, hugged each other and cried while patting each other's shoulders. How hard of a time did they have due to the hardcore waves on Earth? But now, they could finally, through their own power, make Earth safer!
"It's not the end. Although we're in the top 4 for the Junior Tournament, we still have to fight against the Senior teams so we're top 8!"
"Yes, we must continue higher and higher!"
The people of Earth burned with pa.s.sion. Yu IlHan watched that and thought that it was good that he restrained from doing too much. They weren't weak people who were protected by others, but warriors that pioneered their own future with their own power!
Yu IlHan lightly clapped for them. And he confirmed with Spiera in a small enough voice so that they couldn't hear him. She had just finishing the battle of Earth, and had come back to Yu IlHan.
"But even so, they'd be obliterated against the senior teams, right?"
Arrogance was simply being prideful while reality remained as such. Spiera lightly smiled and replied to Yu IlHan's rational judgement.
[Isn't that natural? Their lowest level is 130. Any more than this is breaking the rules so I can't tell you anything else.] (Spiera)
Ferata definitely did indeed have an overwhelming power with overflowing numbers of 3rd cla.s.s armies and 5 4th cla.s.s personnel.
However, that didn't imply that other worlds were weak like Earth. The worlds that were about to undergo their 3rd Great Cataclysms, had power that were at least half of the forces of Ferata, or more.
Thinking about the senior tournament, something tugged his mind and he asked Spiera.
"I'll ask this just in case, but what happened to Ferata?"
[They lost. The surviving n.o.bles and knights of the imperial capital did not partic.i.p.ate at all, and although there was the forces of countryside n.o.bles and forces from small countries..... they did not reach the top 4 in the end.] (Spiera)
"They didn't partic.i.p.ate at all......"
Well, half of them had just reached 3rd cla.s.s, while the other half was still in the beginning stages, but if it was their cooperative power they showed that day, it wouldn't have been impossible for them to reach 4th place. However, the situation of the empire wouldn't have allowed that.
Thinking about the regrets and tears they showed that day, a slight sense of guilt flashed by his heart. However, he thought that this wasn't even funny. Like how the survivors had no right to resent Yu IlHan, he too had no right to regret what he did back then, especially with the conviction that he held then.
He would have acted the same way even if a similar situation occurred again. As such, he decided to stop thinking about Ferata here.
There were 3 hours of rest until the finals. Yu IlHan called the group and fed them with dragon meat fries and wolf meat fries and declared.
"I think we should be more proactive from the next fight."
"What about the 'people's growth'?"
Was Ericia's question. Yu IlHan nodded, saying it was a great question, before replying.
"Did I say that I wouldn't interfere for the Growth and free will of the people?"
"You did."
"I lied."
"Wao, commando!2"
Strictly speaking, it wasn't really a lie. To be exact, he had no intention to act pa.s.sively until the very end. He thought that this was around the limit for the current people of Earth. And that was after factoring in Kang MiRae and Na YuNa's overwhelming power.
"Since they fought up to here, they should have grown plenty already. Rather than that, it's more important that I get less work due to less Dungeon Breaks."
If Earth was endangered even after he made the people strong and independent, there would be no point! Yu IlHan's judgement was reasonable.
"Above all, the next guys are out of their leagues. The opponents are at least level 130 so even you guys would be kicked out if you get careless. Groups of monsters without intelligence and people who received special training are completely different in quality.
Even if they wanted to relax a little as they were confidence because they had annihilated an entire world, they couldn't forgo Yu IlHan's words as he had fought against much stronger enemies in Dareu, alone.
Moreover, didn't he even obliterate half an army of enhanced humanity in another world? Judging by experience alone, there was no one who could retort to him. As such, they could only nod in seriousness.
"We know thaaat. The Abandoned World we went to had also experienced its 3rd Great Cataclysm. Of course, humanity was extinct there! Oh, this is too delishhh. Mr. IlHan, marry me!"
Even though it was Yu IlHan's subordinates he was talking to, Na YuNa replied instead. And here he thought about why he could hear 'wao!'s from awhile back.... Moreover, a dragon meat fry was in her mouth.
Yu IlHan mercilessly smacked her on the forehead.
"Ouch."
"Don't steal my kids' food and go away."
"Yes, Na YuNa, go away."
Kang MiRae ate the fry that she received from Yumir and added more fuel to the fire. Yu IlHan looked at his son Yumir with a complex gaze as it was obvious that it was him who called the two girls here, before sighing and nodding.
"......There's a lot of meat so eat comfortably."
"Yessss!"
"Sorry for inconvenience you all the time."
"I'll pack some for the gulping ones over there so give it to them too. People might think that the clan master doesn't even give them salary."
It was a strange scene of the father's communication skills increasing thanks to the son. The person in question, Yumir, though, seemed to be clueless. He was only eating joyfully with the others. It was the figure of a social b.u.t.terfly that Yu IlHan dreamed of in his childhood!
"Dad, more!"
".....Yes, eat a lot more. You are the only hope of the Yu family."
Then what of Yu IlHan's father, Yu YongHan? Yes. In fact, he was also a perfect loner that made him wonder how his mother succeeded in marrying him. Although he had no pa.s.sive concealment skill!
The opponent for the quarter finals were revealed. It was a world called 'Snuë' in which 1,300 years had pa.s.sed since their last Great Cataclysm! It was also a world that was nearing its 3rd Great Cataclysm.
The lucky two of the top 4 Junior teams seemed to have gotten each other as opponents... but Earth and another unknown world had gotten Senior teams as their opponents.
"Dammit....."
"Although we thought that we wouldn't have it easy, but did it still have to come to this.....!"
"How are the matches decided? Call the manager here!"
After their opponent was decided, some of the people sighed in rage, some somehow looked relieved, while some despaired and gave up, and some burned in pa.s.sion. There could be so many different reactions to the same situation? Yu IlHan watched that scene as he bit on an apple for the dessert.
"Humans sure are interesting."
[I knew you'd say that.] (Liera)
Unlike the preliminaries that took place in one stage, the finals had different environment for each match. However, that didn't require the team to walk half the world.
Instead, the world matched their teams.
[Amazing, isn't it? This is G.o.d's power.] (Liera)
"It definitely is amazing. Really, quite absurd."
A higher world, Lu Füera could change the environment, compress distance, expand s.p.a.ce, put a target inside a barrier, and do a lot of other things according to the wills of the angels who governed the world! Anything was possible as long as it was not changing day into night.
"Angel-nims are so powerful!"
"Heaven's Army, amazing."
In the process of preparing for the finals, Yu IlHan and the other humans could see for themselves, the power of higher existences. He finally knew why Spiera was so confident.
"Liera, you came back alive from an environment like this?"
[You mean beyond the Wall of Chaos, right? That place isn't as bad as there. It was the moment of proof that those perverse seeds are way inferior to G.o.d's power! Right! So you too, IlHan, become an angel without hesitation!] (Liera)
[We welcome new angels at any time. Since we are clashing with other groups more than before, we are lacking in manpower.....] (Erta)
Now, even Erta was proactively advertising angels. Yu IlHan annoyedly pushed them away and confirmed the changed environment.
What first came to his eyes was that the lands were changing endlessly. When he looked down, they were on a giant platform, and it was flying through the air.
Oh, yes. This could be considered 'in the air'.
[As worlds go through its 2nd and 3rd Great Cataclysms, the environment becomes more varied and more extreme. This compet.i.tion is also a type of training grounds to train humans adapt to the new environments faster by making them experience such things beforehand.] (Erta)
The 419 people of Earth were getting onto different platforms each. Those platforms were nearing and distancing from each other in a range that wouldn't make them clash, as it moved according to the air flow.
With opportune timing, even 7 year-olds could hop onto another platform, so there would be no cases of not being able to battle due to not being able to cross to other platforms.
If there was a problem, it was that there were people of other worlds in the same type of platform.
"So it's not a many vs many battle but a numerous few vs few battles."
The other side also seemed to have seen Yu IlHan and the other people of Earth, as they were glaring on this side. However, as the battle hadn't begun, the ones who attacked now would be ejected.
[10 seconds until battle.]
An angel that was a judge like Spiera shot to the skies and shouted so that everyone could hear.
[8 seconds.]
Yu IlHan checked his surroundings. The other partic.i.p.ants were clenching their teeth after confirming that the partic.i.p.ants of Snuë were much stronger than them. It felt like morale was an all time low even before the battle.
[4 seconds.]
"Tch."
Yu IlHan clicked his tongue. He didn't like them giving up without even trying.
However, separate from that, he didn't feel so good as he could foresee that they would have dejected looks back on Earth even though they had made a great achievement.
[2 seconds.]
Yu IlHan hated arrogance, but he thought that a certain amount of self-confidence was not bad. Acknowledging one's own value was very a important part of making progress.
[Battle start.]
As such, it wouldn't be so bad to heighten the morale of humans. Well, if they still thought that Yu IlHan belonged to 'humanity' that is.
"It can't help it."
Yu IlHan stepped forward. That, was the signal that switched his state of mind, and also a type of self-hypnotism that made him think he would be able to use his own abilities better.
"Kuhak!? What the h.e.l.l are all these!"
"Throwing spears!? Just where are they falling from...... Eek, block all of them!"
Hundreds of throwing spears fell down with frightening speed in the air and attacked the Snuëans.
However, unlike the grand show, the attacks weren't that effective. The opponent were not simple minded monsters, but 3rd cla.s.s beings that grew up through numerous years of torment. And these people were strong enough to make it to the finals of the tournament!
Of course, as Yu IlHan's spears were too fast, and very sudden, it wasn't like there were no defeated enemies. The problem was that the spears were only a feint to hide his real attack.
As they were moving around in order to block the rain of spears, their battle formations instantly crumbled apart, and as they were too focused in the sky, there lots of openings. What Yu IlHan aimed for was those openings!
"Kahak!"
Yu IlHan swept the group after flying towards them with the wings at absurd speeds.
This place was not an Abandoned World, nor were the opponents dragons, as such, he did not receive any blessing or buff of the sort, but despite that, all opponents he attacked lost their shields in a single strike and were ejected to their own worlds.
"Kuhak!?"
"Just who..."
And a few seconds after that. Another battlefield seemed to have become a mess before calming down again. It repeated again in a few seconds in a different place, again and again. The ones watching had lost their spirits whether it was the opponents or allies, but unfortunately, that was not the end.
"Everyone charge."
"Charge, charge!"
"We should at least defeat half what His Majesty defeats!"
Yu IlHan's subordinates joyfully rampaged around as soon as he gave the order. Paté's arrows were especially strong and even those higher levelled than him had a hard time blocking, and he achieved the highest rate. He did his job for getting an epic-ranked weapon!
The battle ended 15 minutes after that. The result was undeniably Earth's victory. If the battlefield was narrower, it would have been over in half that time.
In that short amount of time, over 300 people of Earth retired and showed that a world nearing its 3rd Great Cataclysm was indeed very strong, but the people that returned to Earth were full of admiration and faith instead of despair for their own lack of power.
Admiration for the DeathG.o.d of the battlefield that made the gap between them and the Snuëans pale in comparison!