Chapter 500
Fraud.
The act of misleading or deceiving others for one’s own benefit.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
Chun Yoosung raised his voice.
Even if competition mattered, securing the Queen was a top priority for everyone.
But Jinhyuk’s interference was an act that could ruin the entire raid.
“What are you doing? I told you not to lay a finger on Her Majesty!”
“Her Majesty…? What, are you drunk? Just a moment ago you clearly—mph!”
Chun Yoosung shouted in disbelief, but Jinhyuk quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
“Put that thing away. You’re making it look worse than it is. Tsk.”
Jinhyuk quickly approached Rear Queen.
Step.
He was merely walking, yet the surrounding Black Retanas didn’t move a muscle.
The overwhelming presence he had shown earlier, coupled with the complete lack of killing intent radiating from him, froze them in place.
“There’s no need to worry anymore. From now on, I’ll ensure your safety. Please, this way. Come.”
“…??”
Rear Queen tilted her head, utterly confused.
But she couldn’t refuse.
In the current situation, there were no stronger allies she could rely on.
‘Even if I joined their side, they’d just drain my mana and discard me.’
Considering what Excension and Tamia had done so far, her future was already decided.
That’s why Rear Queen couldn’t help but waver in the face of Jinhyuk’s performance.
Maybe—
Just maybe, this was a new lifeline.
⁂ ⁂ ⁂
‘…That’s probably what she’s thinking.’
Jinhyuk chuckled to himself, watching Rear Queen deliberate.
Judging by Excension and Tamia’s oppressive behavior, her position had undoubtedly been shaken.
As a monarch who leads her own kind, it was only natural to consider the consequences of her next move.
And Jinhyuk had struck precisely at that hesitation.
At last, Rear Queen made her decision and spoke.
“If I join you, can you guarantee the safety of my children?”
“Of course.”
Jinhyuk answered without a trace of doubt.
His sincerity was palpable, and he had the power to back it up.
But the biggest reason Rear Queen was swayed was—
‘He was willing to burn himself for a comrade.’
When Alice, the True Ancestor, was injured, the fury that erupted from him was not a performance.
It was the action of someone who truly valued those around him—Someone who would do anything to protect them.
“I understand. I’ll place my trust in you.”
Rear Queen nodded.
[The Black Retana race pledges loyalty to you.]
[By contract, Rear Queen and all Black Retanas will enter a temporary alliance with the Veteran Corporation.]
Jinhyuk clenched his fist.
Good.
With this, he had a card to play against Excension.
Meanwhile, Excension, who had been watching everything, exploded with rage.
“Rear Queen! What the hell are you doing?!”
An alliance between a human and a monster?!
And right before their eyes?!
A betrayal, bold and shameless.
“You really think you’ll get away with this?! You’ve made a grave mistake!”
FZZZT!
Black skewers appeared behind Excension.
Each one radiated a terrifying magical force.
However—
Rear Queen didn’t so much as blink.
Though she had wavered before, now that she had chosen a side, she would fight solely for that cause.
“Tell us what you need. Whatever it is, I’ll support you without hesitation.”
“Thanks for saying that. First, then…”
Jinhyuk glanced at a plump Black Kaiser nearby.
The moment their eyes met, the Black Kaiser flinched.
“My girl’s running a little low on mana. Gotta get her a meal.”
“Meal? What do you—”
“Just watch. It’s nothing special.”
Jinhyuk redirected Rear Queen’s attention.
“Alice.”
“Yep!”
“Eat as much as you want and recover.”
“Oooh. I can really eat it all?”
“Of course. You need to heal up so we can fight again.”
Eyes sparkling, Alice flew toward the monsters.
Nom nom. Chomp chomp. Slurp.
Fangs embedded, cheeks puffed, Alice munched away contentedly.
“Kiiieee…”
The Black Kaiser’s face rapidly thinned.
Too much blood loss in too short a time.
“She’s—she’s draining blood?”
“It’s fine. She won’t suck them dry.”
Unlike Excension, this side at least had standards.
Excension had already sacrificed dozens of Black Kaisers and hundreds of Black Retanas.
Thanks to that, Alice was able to recover her mana quickly.
At this rate, they could win smoothly.
Or so it seemed—
“GRAAAAH! These damned pests…! I’ll kill every last one of you!”
Excension roared.
No matter how many he slaughtered, the enemies kept coming. His patience snapped.
[Excension unveils his Divine Relic.]
The item he pulled from his subspace wasn’t normal.
Shhhhh…
The air changed.
The mana leaking from between its gaps was enough to make even Jinhyuk flinch.
Jinhyuk turned.
That mana… No way…
It couldn’t be.
Even if Excension had clues about that relic, his level wasn’t enough to unlock it.
Not even with Hastings or Nyarlathotep behind him.
Unless—someone beyond them was involved.
But there was no mistake.
The item in Excension’s hand was undoubtedly one of the Crowns.
[‘Crown of the Purebloods’ is activated.]
The most powerful Divine Relic in the Tower.
The key to reaching the 50th floor.
A hidden piece so rare that even the top factions had gone mad trying to obtain it—
Now appeared before his very eyes.
The second Crown had appeared, following the Crown of Supremacy.
Kukukukukukuku…!
As Excension donned the Crown of the Purebloods, the surrounding blood droplets began to spin at high speed.
“Die.”
VROOOOOM… KWA-KWA-KWA-KWAAAAANG!
Blood-forged skewers swept across the battlefield.
It didn’t matter how thick the carapace of an insect-type monster was—
Nothing could withstand them.
When it came to [Bloodline Magic], there was no greater conduit for maximum efficiency than the [Crown of the Purebloods].
A divine relic crafted by the First True Ancestor, passed down from the very beginning of the Tower’s history.
Above Excension’s head, the crimson crown finally took form.
[Instant Connection – ‘Blood Beginning’ is activated!]
A massive crimson greatsword ignited with a sinister light.
At the same time—
“Kiiiiiieee…”
“Keh…eeee…”
The bodies of nearby Black Retanas shriveled up on the spot.
Just being near it was enough for their blood to be siphoned away.
It was overwhelming power.
“T-This level of force…!”
Rear Queen involuntarily stepped back.
Seeing her once-reliable soldiers collapse like straw dolls, she couldn’t help but feel fear.
“Yoosung!”
“Yeah, I know.”
Chun Yoosung moved the moment Teresa called out.
Mass-produced soldiers wouldn’t hold out against this.
To create a chance, they had to act themselves.
‘We need to buy time while that damn power-clinger recovers.’
‘We’ve got to give Jinhyuk some breathing room.’
With that shared thought—
[Chun Yoosung activates Unique Ability – ‘Song of the Sword’!]
[Teresa activates Unique Ability – ‘Blessing of the Stars’!]
Two different abilities burst with radiant light.
Lightfooted. Swift.
Teresa and Chun Yoosung flanked Excension from left and right.
“You’re not helping? It’s 2 on 1.”
Tamia toyed with the bone spear in her hand.
“Fodder like that doesn’t matter. I can handle as many as they send.”
Excension gripped the greatsword with both hands and stepped forward.
BANG!
Teresa raised her shield diagonally to absorb the initial blow.
“…Kgh.”
It was heavy.
Even though she had properly diverted the force, the tingling in her hands was no joke.
But that moment bought time for the others to act.
CLANGCLANGCLANG!
Chun Yoosung flowed through the initial forms of the [Chuhon Sword].
A swarm of strikes flooded forward, piercing into Excension’s openings like a hornet’s nest.
Tch.
Residual images stacked over each other, erasing sword paths.
In terms of pure mana, it wasn’t even close.
But the swordsmanship—and the effort it took to perfect it—
Was not something he’d lose out to anyone over.
KAAAAANG!
“Hmph!”
Excension’s sword cleaved through the air.
Chun Yoosung narrowly evaded the arc and targeted Excension’s neck.
At the same time—
[Wolyoung activates Unique Ability – ‘Shadowkill’!]
Lurking in the shadows, Wolyoung aimed for the legs—the pivot of Excension’s mobility.
Both strikes were difficult to react to.
But—
“Pathetic.”
Even painstaking effort.
Even once-in-a-million talent.
Even absurd luck.
None of it could overcome—
The power of a Crown.
The crimson spheres hovering around Excension changed form all at once.
Each transformed into a thin ring engraved with hexagrams.
And then came—
A storm of blood-forged bladed whips.
SLASHSLASHSLASHSLASH!
Dozens of whip-blades shot out from the hexagrams, moving faster than the eye could track.
There was no room to react.
No way to block.
Physically, they tore through every inch of space—
Leaving no opening for response.
“Guaagh!”
“Aaaaargh!”
Cries rang out from Chun Yoosung and Wolyoung.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
Only Teresa, thanks to her superior defensive abilities, managed to avoid a fatal blow.
Though her shield was now a shredded rag.
“A-Are you two okay?!”
Teresa rushed over to where Wolyoung and Chun Yoosung had collapsed.
If she could apply holy energy to treat them…
They might just make it.
“Who said you were allowed to do that?”
Excension casually waved his hand.
CHCHCHCHT…!
The blood-whip storm returned—at terrifying speed.
“…!”
KWA-KWA-KWANG!
A crimson tempest swept through the area where Teresa had stood.
⁂ ⁂ ⁂
[All Mana Fully Recovered.]
The feeding was complete.
Gone was the pale, gaunt appearance—
Alice now stood beside Jinhyuk in full form.
“Contractor.”
With her usual expression, she looked at him.
No words were needed.
She was thankful for staying by her side.
Even now—
She was thankful he was still here.
That’s what her eyes were saying.
“Let’s go. It’s our turn now.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Alice nodded.
Unlike usual, mana surged in reverse.
Her touch transferred warmth throughout Jinhyuk’s entire body.
WUUUUUNG!
Receiving Alice’s mana—
His abilities awakened through it.
[Unique Holy Spear – ‘Apocalypse of Revelation’ is activated!]
A crimson ring appeared above Alice’s shoulder.
A white wing sprouted from her left shoulder.
The head of Ataraxia—who never lost her nobility or pride even in darkness.
The full armament of Alice von Ataraxia was complete.
And—
The synchronization taken to its limit awakened another ability.
[Understanding has reached its peak!]
[Unique Ability – ‘Shared All Things’ is activated!]
More status windows appeared in succession.
[Unique Holy Spear – ‘Apocalypse of Revelation’ is activated!]
Another crimson ring formed—this time over Jinhyuk’s shoulder.
A black wing sprouted from his right shoulder.
Two Revelations, side by side.
A battle to reclaim the pride of Ataraxia had begun.
* * * * * *
Translator’s Note:
Hey everyone, just a quick heads-up — starting next week, chapter releases might be a bit inconsistent for a while. My wife and I just had our baby, and I’ll be prioritizing taking care of them during this time. Depending on how things go, I might still be able to post chapters here and there, but I can’t promise a regular schedule just yet.
I really appreciate your patience and support. I’ll do my best to keep updates coming when I can, and I’ll let you all know once things start settling down and we’re closer to getting back to a steady rhythm.
Thanks again for sticking with me and this story. It means a lot.
