Chapter 326. Gate Open: Before 11 hours (1)

Inevitably, a question arose: “Why?”

With just one second left on the clock, Ellis had indeed secured the Eternal Rose.

“What’s going on? Why on earth…..”

Ellis stuttered as she gazed at the Eternal Rose in her hand.

The golden rose still shone, having lost none of its light.

“The rose on the right side of your chest is a fake.”

“A fake… you say?”

“Yeah, a fake. And this is the real one.”

A new rose appeared on Jinhyuk’s left chest.

[The 3-star ‘Sight Distortion’ barrier is released.]

He had used the barrier to conceal the real Eternal Rose on the left side, and had attached a fake crafted out of ice on the right.

Everyone had been so focused on acquiring the rose, they paid no mind to its original placement.

In the end, their hasty confidence was their undoing.

Thanks to the item snatched from the Malang Black Crane, used as a sacrifice, the completion of the ice sculpture was near perfect, playing a critical role in crafting the fake.

“I thought… I had won. That I had beaten everyone to the rose… Sob, I thought I had earned it…. And had plans for the lake and the restaurant…”

Ellis’ voice wavered, tears welling up.

Hm.

Seeing her genuinely upset like this, I felt a prick of conscience, though just by 0.1mg.

It was like a faint feeling of scratching at a place where there might be a conscience with a needle.

“Don’t be too sad. Even if it’s not for the event, I’ll go to the places you want to visit later.”

It’s not that I don’t want to hang out with her.

It’s just that, right now, I simply lack the leisure and the time.

“…Really?”

Ellis’ eyes widened like those of a startled rabbit.

“Yeah, so stop crying. What would the others think, seeing Jinjo crying in front of everyone?”

“…Okay, I got it. Then in return, give me your blood for the first time in a while!”

“Blood, you say?”

“I’ve been moving around a lot lately and my vitality is drained. Normally, I could even sense a barrier, but I missed it because of my low magic power.”

“…Phew. Fine. Think of it as donating blood.”

As Jinhyuk sighed, Ellis became docile as if she had never been upset.

Despite the turmoil, the events in the martial world had come to a close.

Now…

Jinhyuk’s gaze drifted toward the distance.

Yes, it was time to start the immense war that was approaching beyond the Tower.

＊＊＊

The Korean Awakened Association.

Jinhyuk was here to discuss the upcoming worst outbreak.

“Thank you for coming, Player Kang Jinhyuk.”

Han Sangjin, the president of the association, greeted Jinhyuk with a heavy expression.

“Ah…”

Then, he suddenly blushed, realizing he had not offered any refreshment to his guest.

“My apologies. I wasn’t mindful. We have coffee, green tea… and other beverages. What would you like?”

“I’ll pass on drinks. Rather, you mentioned you have information about the gate… I would like to hear that first.”

Jinhyuk took a seat on the sofa.

Han Sangjin, too, settled down on the opposite sofa with an even more serious face.

“The most important thing to tell you: we seem to be able to predict when the outbreak will occur.”

“…! Does that mean you’ve completed the magic power analysis?”

“Yes. According to the results measured by our specialized team, the outbreak is estimated to occur in about 11 hours.”

The work of analyzing the magic power of gates through superior magic stones and measuring-type Awakened had made significant advances.

Despite a margin of error, it was correct to set 11 hours as the limit.

‘It’s almost exactly as I expected.’

The thought, ‘The association has really developed,’ crossed my mind.

Given how far their technology had come.

“There’s not much time left.”

It was an obvious statement, but initiating an evacuation now was pointless.

Everything would turn into nothingness wherever people fled.

Han Sangjin knew this and had therefore called Jinhyuk to the association.

“But there’s still a way.”

Han Sangjin went on to mention the main topic.

“Do you know much about the magic power capacity of gates, Player Kang Jinhyuk?”

“Are you talking about the equivalent amount of magic energy required for a living creature to pass through a gate to another place?”

“Correct. An A-class monster requires an A-class gate, and at least an S-class rated gate is needed for an S-class monster. However, the capacities of the gates where the outbreak is about to happen are not vast enough to withstand the monsters that are trying to cross.”

Jinhyuk immediately caught onto Han Sangjin’s intentions.

“There must be a separate power source aiding the gate’s magic power.”

“That’s our conjecture.”

Certainly… it made sense.

For a being like Shub-Niggurath to fully manifest, an extraordinary amount of magic power was required.

Naturally, the gate itself could hardly handle it.

Especially now that preparations were being made for a simultaneous manifestation across the world, the required amount would inevitably increase.

‘I do have a contingency in mind, but that carries even lesser chances of success.’

Instead, it would be more feasible to prevent Shub-Niggurath’s manifestation outright.

“Where is this place?”

“A small island appeared 3 km near Dokdo with a magnitude two earthquake just a few hours ago.”

It wasn’t too far away.

With spatial shifting magic, he could reach it immediately.

“Dangun and the major guilds’ attack forces, including Fighting Daddy, are scheduled to be deployed, so we’re asking Player Kang Jinhyuk to lead them there. Of course, full authority over the raid will be given to you, and as soon as this matter is resolved, rewards will be offered at a national level.”

Within the remaining 11 hours.

The source of the magic must be found and destroyed.

“I understand.”

Jinhyuk accepted the association’s proposal.

＊＊＊

Crackle, crackle!

The sound of the campfire burning echoed.

Hastings watched the large screen silently in his attic room.

The screen repeated footage of the event that took place several hours ago in Luoyang.

“…”

After watching the video over and over, Hastings crushed his wine glass in hand.

Crash!

The shattered glass scattered across the floor.

At that moment.

“Our alliance with the martial world has also failed, it seems. Sama Ja, I thought he was quite useful. To waste the Blue Dragon so futilely, I did not expect that.”

A woman opposite Hastings spoke up.

Long hair shimmering in purple.

Her enchanting eyes exuded an unusual aura.

She was Highness Dr. Shephiltino, leader of the great vampire clan and head of the Shephiltino family.

“To think I taught them how to control the Four Gods, and yet this has happened… It makes me wonder if that Player Kang Jinhyuk isn’t just human but divine. Or perhaps even more remarkable than the Administrators.”

“Enough with the sarcasm, will you? I’m not in the mood to take such comments lightly.”

“Oh dear, my apologies. I made a slip of the tongue before such a great upper manager.”

Seeing Hastings furrow his brow, Highness raised her hands slightly.

“Even the other lords have lost two of their own. They’re sensing the danger too, not attending this meeting except for you, Lady Highness. If this continues, our alliance itself could be jeopardized.”

Excensión, who was also present, chimed in.

As the new leader of Ataraxia, watching Ellis grow her influence was like sitting on pins and needles.

“I understand the lords’ concerns. But please, have a little more patience. We have already secured a competent individual.”

“Someone even more skilled than Sama Ja?”

“That’s correct. Ah! Here they come now.”

Hastings looked toward the door.

And at that moment.

Creak…

The wooden door opened.

Two figures appeared.

The red-haired woman Melena, affiliated with the Mind Association, and an old man who appeared to be in his seventies.

“We’ve, we’ve arrived.”

Melena scanned the surroundings nervously.

Although she was already branded as a minion of the demon Jinhyuk, she was now in the presence of absolute rulers controlling the Tower – a literal, not metaphorical, description.

Being on edge and parched throat were inevitable.

“Are they not human? Surely, these are not the competent allies Mr. Hastings was referring to?”

Highness frowned.

Was the expected player merely human?

And weren’t both barely radiating a pinch of magic power, nothing more than vermin?

With such a low-level crew, they couldn’t even rival lower-tier vampires, let alone Sama Ja.

“Haha. Do they look so to you? Then why don’t you, Lady Highness, personally test their mettle?”

“You’re not serious, are you? You want me to exercise my strength against humans so frail that a mere gesture could kill them? It’s unlikely they could withstand even a single blow.”

“Hmm. It seems you really don’t fancy that idea. Well, then, if you can subdue that person in one strike as you say, I’ll let you take whatever you want from my personal vault.”

An upper manager’s vault… it’s filled with more treasures than any upper-tier bosses could hold.

“Fine. Remember your word.”

Highness drew her blood-red rapier infused with lightning.

Flicker!

The Shephiltino family’s unique lightning skills flickered to life.

Then…

“Eh?”

A tremor ran through her pupils as she intended to unleash her skill.

[Lv?? ‘Lightning Spear’ activation canceled.]

Flicker! Fizz… Fizzle!

The dazzling lightning subsided.

It wasn’t a lack of magic power.

Nor was there any other issue.

It was as if being blocked by something.

Highness’s powers were sealed.

“You… What did you just do…?”

It was incomprehensible.

That such a power existed.

“That’s why I said so. It will definitely work on that damn human too.”

The corners of Hastings’s mouth curved upward.

“Greetings, oh, great absolute rulers of the Tower. I am Nietzsche, he who leads the Mind Association, the beginning and the end of the Round Table.”

The old man bowed deeply for the first time.

Code name Arthur.

But he is the only one among the Round Table executives referred to by name, not code name.

‘Nihilism’.

The wielder of the power of the void.

Around him, any unique abilities and skills lose their luster.

In other words.

He is an ability user who can fundamentally block all variables.

“Humans should be biting on the bait that I’ve prepared on the island right about now. The two lords here will escort this man. Whether it’s Kang Jinhyuk or Ellis, if their powers are sealed and they’re reduced to their physical bodies, killing them will be easier than wringing a chicken’s neck, won’t it?”

“Enough for it to be feasible…”

“…That does pique my interest.”

A fierce intent to kill emerged on both Highness and Excensión’s faces.