The Divine Twilight's Return

Chapter 135: Star, The First Mission (10)

What the—!” Joachim Wolff shouted.

As soon as he entered the ‘Blue Jewel Island’, he saw vines constantly moving like a tsunami and tree roots turning the ground upside down. However, the most surprising part was the tree itself.

“All of these are part of a monster…!” Joachim’s jaw dropped.

[The Boss Monster ‘Parasitic Divine Tree’ Lv. ?? (Growing. Measurement error.)]

When he saw the title of the boss monster ‘Parasitic Divine Tree’, a shiver ran down his spine. What made things worse was that the Parasitic Divine Tree was still growing, as evidenced by the word ‘growing’ in the system message. The island was already covered with the tree’s branches and roots, and the ocean was quickly drying up and had started showing its bottom. Joachim didn’t even want to think about what would happen if the creature responsible were to go through the Gate and reach Earth. He was sure something terrible was going to happen.

‘How am I supposed to kill such a monster?’?Joachim felt lost.

Cha Ye-Eun, Jin Seok-Tae, and Ernst Mach were in the same state. Although they had dealt with a Parasitic Tree before, they had never encountered this type.

While they quickly thought of a way to fight…

Boom!

An earsplitting explosion abruptly echoed throughout the sky. Wondering if any other monsters had shown up, Seok-Tae flinched in shock and turned to the origin of the sound. “Wh-what?”

Ye-Eun, who was already observing the sky, opened her eyes wide. “T-that’s…?”

Two gigantic explosions had set off near the Parasitic Divine Tree, which was as tall as the sky, as flames spread on its surface like wildfire. At the same time, a message popped up.

Ding!

[The Player ‘Lee Chang-Sun’ is dominating!]

‘This man again…!’?Ye-Eun shook her head.

Although no longer surprised to see his name anymore, she wondered how Chang-Sun was going to kill the monster. Regardless, she thought she should help him somehow. They all had to stop a Dungeon Break from happening.

However, Joachim and Ye-Eun changed plans when they detected a group of presence running in their direction. They were definitely not monsters since their footsteps sounded urgent, meaning one thing.

‘Survivors!’?Joachim and Ye-Eun reached the same conclusion, so they simultaneously moved after exchanging glances.

[The Player ‘Joachim Wolff’ has activated the Skill ‘Werewolf Transformation’!]

Paah!

Joachim sprang forward and started to transform. A pool of blue light, which lived up to his nickname ‘Blue Wolf,’ surrounded him.

Crack, crack―!

Sounds of his muscles being torn and his bones being greatly distorted filled the air. Soon after, a three-meter-long wolf jumped out from the pool of blue light, and Joachim used the highest level of Beastification skill—Divine Beastification.

Roar!

Ye-Eun hastily got on Joachim’s back and cast magic spells she had memorized in advance. Magic circles were drawn all over the air, giving the two multiple buffs.

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ is blessing you!]

[The Celestial ‘War-Loving FIghting Deity’ is blessing you!]

…

『I have received them before, but the Saintess’ buffs are incomparably stronger than most chief priests. However, I can receive such buffs from not only my goddess but from all the deities of the <Olympus>... Ha! Hahaha!』

Joachim laughed, amazed by Ye-Eun. Most of the Illuminati members’ life-long dream was to receive Minerva’s blessing, yet Ye-Eun did not only receive her blessing but also the blessings of other deities that were just as supreme as Minerva.

Minvera’s bravery, Mars’ fighting spirit, Bacchus’ madness, Bulchanus’ fire… After he received everything, Joachim felt as if nothing was impossible in this world. Meanwhile, Ye-Eun opened her [Magical Eye] wide and located the survivors without answering Joachim’s joke, seemingly unable to afford to do so right now.

“Northwest, 32 degrees!” Ye-Eun found the survivors.

『Then… they have to be in this direction!』

Jocachim’s blue eyes shone. He swiftly reached his maximum speed as he darted forward.

『Be careful. I won’t give you a ride again if you fall down.』

“I better hold on tight, then.” Ye-Eun faintly smiled.

Bam―!

As soon as she finished her reply, the two people—no, the human and the divine creature sprang forward.

* * *

Chang-Sun didn’t exactly know what had happened between the ‘Gemini’—Castor and Pollux—and Kali since it transpired after Chang-Sun had lost in the <Myth War> and gone through the <Divine Trial>. However, Thon the Birdfolk man and the Elfin Root’s interaction helped him figure things out to a certain degree.

‘Castor and Pollux killed Kali.’?Chang-Sun clenched his fists.

He didn’t know which other Celestials were involved in the incident aside from the ‘Gemini.’ Perhaps all the Zodiacs and <Horoscope> members were involved, but that wasn't important right now. All that currently mattered was that the Elfin Root was trying its utmost best to get revenge for Kali.

It raised the Parasitic Divine Tree and tried to take over Earth to reach the ‘Gemini’ and other Celestials in Heaven. If it could absorb the planet’s energy and the power of civilization, it could have upgraded its divinity. However, the chief priest of the ‘Gemini’ stopped it and was about to kill it and take its [Mana Core], which faintly emitted divine light.

[The Celestial ‘Geminus’ laughs wickedly.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ yawns deeply, believing that there is nothing else to see here.]

Looking at them, Chang-Sun tried to come up with a method.

[The State ‘Strict Tiger’ has been activated, enhancing your ability to think!]

How could he get rid of the Birdfolk man and take the Elfin Root for himself? He had already used quite a lot of stamina while fighting the Elfin Root and creating explosions around the Parasitic Divine Tree. Taking that into consideration, it wouldn’t be easy to fight the Birdfolk man now, who was so strong that Chang-Sun wasn’t sure if he could win even in his best condition.

‘I should do it anyway,’?Chang-Sun thought.

[The Skill ‘Kalokagathia’ has been activated, comparing your two selected enemies’ stat points to yours. Your stat points that are inferior to theirs will be temporarily increased.]

[The Skill ‘Kalokagathia’ has increased your stat points to the maximum!]

[Your Strength has increased by ??.]

[Your Agility has increased by ??.]

…

Chang-Sun waited for the right moment.

[The State ‘Himavat Breath’ has been activated, unleashing your dormant power!]

[Your Strength has increased by an additional ??.]

…

[You have fallen into the ‘Berserk’ state.]

…

Chang-Sun used [Kalokagathia] to make up for his stats that were inferior to the Birdfolk man and [Himavat Breath] to multiply all his power.

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ has been blankly watching the Saha World out of boredom only for his eyes to widen in shock upon finally noticing your current state.]

Zing, zinnng!

Ooonng―!

Divine and demonic energy burst out of Chang-Sun. Mixed with the Eon Fire, the energies slowly boiled up like lava.

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ observes you, having taken a new interest in the Saha World.]

[The Celestial ‘Geminus’ noticed what you are doing a little too late.]

As the ‘Geminus’ tried to give an order to his subordinate, but Chang-Sun ignored him and crossed the [Yuchang Sword] with [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth].

‘You’re too late.’?Chang-Sun faintly smiled.

As soon as Jin told Chang-Sun that he had found a way to turn the Elfin Root into Chang-Sun’s subordinate, Chang-Sun used Double Sword Resonance.

『Retrieve its [Mana Core] first.』

Jin made a very simple request.

[The Skill ‘Black Mountain King’s First Claw’ has been activated and combined with the Skill ‘Black Mountain King’s Second Claw’!]

The [Black Mountain King’s Claws], the skill given by Hanyu, had a total of five claws. However, Chang-Sun currently could only activate two of them. Although they were already more destructive than most skills, he thought he might require another method to further increase his attack damage.

Fortunately, there was a way to increase the power of the two claws. He could activate both of them simultaneously instead of consecutively. He began by using Double Sword Resonance, drawing out as much of the [Yuchang Sword]’s divine energy and [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth]’s demonic energy as possible. He then gave the swords one claw each before simultaneously activating the claws. In doing so, the claws’ damage became exponentially stronger than whenever he used them consecutively.

Chang-Sun had never used it before despite having come up with the theory earlier because he didn’t know what aftereffects he would suffer from it. He couldn’t care less about risks right now, however. Chang-Sun had not only activated [Kalokagathia] and [Himavat Breath] but also infused all his mana in this attack! The [Yuchang Sword] swung from upper left to lower right, and [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] moved from upper right to lower left, drawing a clean X that ripped through the sky.

Rumble―!

An intense, loud wind blew and wiped out everything before Chang-Sun.

[The Celestial ‘Geminus’ urgently warns his subordinate about the incoming danger!]

“What…?” The Birdfolk man mumbled.

Finally noticing the powerful mana wave around Chang-Sun, the Birdfolk man stopped before he could deliver the final blow to the Elfin Root. He then turned his head, finding the claws of a ferocious beast flying toward him.

That was the last thing he saw in this land.

Slash!

With the [Black Mountain King’s Claws], Chang-Sun ripped the Birdfolk man to shreds with a single strike, leaving only his feathers behind in this world. They feebly dropped to the ground.

[‘Thon,’ the Chief Priest of the Celestial ‘Gemini,’ has died!]

At the same time, the [Black Mountain King’s Claw] cut the Elfin Root in half.

[Killed the Boss Monster ‘Parasitic Divine Tree’!]

Chang-Sun still wasn’t done using the [Black Mountain King’s Claws], however. He let the claws fly and collide with the sky, causing the entire barrier around the Dungeon to shake.

Rumble…!

[Accomplished a grand achievement!]

[Acquired the Divinity of the Celestial ‘Gemini.’]

[Acquired the Divinity of an unidentified deceased Celestial.]

…

[Acquired a significant amount of experience points.]

[Acquired a significant amount of Merits.]

…

[Selecting rewards. Please wait for a moment.]

[Additional rewards will be given based on the contribution in completing the Dungeon Quest.]

…

[The <Management Bureau> will conduct an investigation about the current incident…]

[Many deities are shocked…]

[Many stars are laughing….]

…

[Level up!]

[The Celestial ‘Geminus’ frowns as he springs up from his seat in disbelief!]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ bursts into laughter, saying you did something absurd again!]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ gasps while watching the brilliant explosion…]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ chuckles, dumbfounded…]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ worries about you, who have become exhausted...]

…

[The Dungeon Quest has been completed!]

While seeing numerous messages pop up before him, Chang-Sun began to helplessly fall down to the ground. With all of his energy depleted, he couldn’t even maintain the Jigwi’s wings anymore.

『…Phew! I almost got killed there. Don’t ever ask me to do such a thing! I collected the [Mana Core]...』

While he was losing consciousness, he faintly smiled, listening to Jin’s grumbling.

[The Dungeon is closing.]

[Everyone, please brace for impact.]

[10.]

[9.]

“… A man falling down from the sky after he lost his wings. Hmm, I don’t usually do this, but...”

Chang-Sun vaguely heard a woman’s voice.