Chapter 524
Rumble!
[Holy Relic Apollo’s [Sun Chariot] begins to operate!]
Heat as if it swallowed the sun whole.
Blinding radiance dyed the surroundings pure white.
“How… how did you…?”
It was only natural for Godirak to be bewildered, since he had no idea what had happened inside the barrier of [Forgotten Atlantis] just moments ago.
All Godirak knew was that the main gods, including Zeus, had suddenly chosen to retreat.
But not only that.
Apollo’s [Sun Chariot], regarded as Olympus’s greatest chariot, was now in Jinhyuk’s hands.
Even as he stammered, he kept pinching his cheeks.
“I picked up a new one. The original owner took good care of it. It’s got great mileage, too.”
Jinhyuk shrugged his shoulders.
The original version was on a completely different level compared to the [Sun Chariot] imitated by Gapellius’s unique ability.
With this, it didn’t matter how far apart they were.
He could close the distance in the blink of an eye.
And moreover…
[Unique Ability [Mantra Taming] is activated.]
Vuuuum!
Pegasi, tinged with a subtle glow, appeared in Jinhyuk’s eyes.
Even before the main match, he had already tampered a bit with the horses Gapellius was driving.
By subtly shaking the Pegasus’s heart, running wouldn’t be so smooth this time.
Of course, this was a gap created by the enormous burden of ‘defeat in war’.
‘Having all these abilities is definitely handy.’
Jinhyuk leisurely took the reins of the [Sun Chariot].
The ones leading the chariot were, as before, Goguma, Fried, and Malang the Azure Dragon.
“Don’t worry. You just need to run until you’re on the verge of death. You know, right? If one person messes up, everyone takes responsibility together?”
“Mogiii!”
“Miyooo!”
“Don’t worry, human. As long as this noble one leads, victory is certain. So please, put down that fist of yours.”
“Hehehe. I’m always my master’s loyal servant.”
Seeing everyone fired up, there’d be no mistakes.
[Prepare for the race. 10……]
A status window announced the countdown.
“Why… why aren’t you listening? Settle down. Just… kuh! I said settle down!”
Gapellius struggled desperately to calm the rampaging Pegasi.
“Neigh!”
“Neigh!”
But the excited Pegasi couldn’t be controlled at all.
“What, what are you doing! Gapellius, you idiot! Stop fooling around and do it right!”
Godirak yelled with a face about to cry.
And, of course…
There was no way a race could happen in such an unprepared state against the [Sun Chariot].
[The race resumes.]
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!
The red sun cut through the sky.
—
The race, if it could be called that, ended in an embarrassing fashion.
[Successfully copied Unique Holy Spear [Down Fall].]
The goal of ability copying was also complete.
At Rick’s request, the fate of Godirak and Gapellius was left to him.
He’d repaid a debt—he’d make sure to collect it dearly later.
‘Alright. Next…’
Jinhyuk’s gaze turned to the air.
There, status windows were filled with his newly increased level, copied abilities, and newly acquired items.
As always, this was the most thrilling part—checking the rewards for all his hard work.
Especially with the holy relics and items obtained from Olympus’s main gods, his heart thumped joyfully.
——————————————————
Name: Kang Jinhyuk
Gender: Male
Level: 224
Strength 109
Agility 121
Stamina 130
Magic 459
Gap 100
Luck 10
Adaptive 78
Spirit 169.50
Stat Points Held: 90
Coins Held: 13,563,256
Job: Ruler of Runes
Unique Holy Spear: [Wheel of Heaven’s Reversal], [Phase 2], [Eight Swamps], [White Night], [Final Genesis], [Down Fall]
Unique Abilities: [Fusion], [Grave of Swords], [Blessing of the Stars], [Anubis’s Judgment], [Blood Mana], [Mandala], [One-Second Invincibility], [Heaven’s Devouring Venom], [White Beast], [Shared All Things], [Sanctuary of the Sun], [Black Heaven Demon Emperor Art], [Triple Magic], [Giant’s Strike], [Dragon’s Breath], [High-Speed Sword], [Tombgrave’s Right Arm], [Berserker], [Domain of Wind], [Phantom Shadow Swordsman], [Primordial Flame], [Blood Explosion], [Black Tears], [Tombgrave’s Leg], [Strength Beyond Gods and Demons], [Core of the Legion], [Ancient Barrier], [Heavenly Demon Divine Art], [Mantra Taming], [Nihilism], [Heaven-Slaying Venom], [Red Hare Riding], [Machine Overlord], [Supreme Taekwondo], [Oath of the Nightmare], [Will of the Ocean Current], [Golden Apple of the Apostate], [Devouring Growth], [Grasp of Subjugation], [Earthquake], [Acid Antenna], [Poison Lord], [Cascadia Slav].
Skills: Too many skills to display. Switching to [Collapse] mode.
——————————————————
A level up of 30.
He had eliminated two main gods, Poseidon and Apollo, and was recognized for many other achievements in winning the great war.
In terms of level alone, he was now on par with the heavyweights of the Tower’s upper floors.
‘To supply all this magic to these members and still go all out… I really have grown.’
If he invested the 30 stat points gained this time into magic, he could maximize combat efficiency even more.
Jinhyuk invested all his stats in magic.
[Magic increases from 459 → 549.]
Whoosh!
When his magic surpassed the threshold, blue light mixed with white sparks.
Just his magic capacity alone now matched a 9th-circle archmage.
He was sure even his calculation speed had tripled.
If he used [Triple Magic], the speed would triple again.
‘You really are insane.’
This is why people say one boss is better than a thousand small fries.
Just this one was sweeter than anything he had ever hunted before.
Not just the experience, but the rewards left behind by the two divinities were just as unbelievable.
[Poseidon’s Trident]
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Attack Power: 220,000
Durability: 7,900,000 / 7,900,000
Description: Poseidon’s exclusive weapon, granting the power to control the sea. The wielder’s affinity with sea monsters increases by 500%, and all stats increase by 50 when fighting in water. Also, if understanding of the spear exceeds a certain threshold, the unique holy spear [Forgotten Atlantis] can be used.
[Apollo’s Sun Chariot]
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Movement Speed: +550 increase
Durability: Infinite while the sun is up. 5,850,000 when the moon is up.
Description: Apollo’s exclusive weapon that makes the sun rise each day. The Pegasus-drawn Sun Chariot can travel at incomparable speed, and if understanding of the chariot exceeds a certain threshold, the special skill [Flame Passage] can be used.
Two holy relics and…
Ten [Top-Grade Mana Stones], five [Ambrosia] that were even higher grade than elixirs. And armor personally blessed by Athena, a shield and spear with Ares’s blessing, and so on.
The list of items obtained easily went over twenty lines.
‘Is this still unidentified?’
Holy relics marked as [???] could only be checked by using a special item.
He could guess what they were, but…
To be sure, he’d need help from Orun or another expert.
‘Soon, under the pretense of mediation, I’ll probably get even the main gods’ unique abilities and skills. If I fuse those, I’ll be able to obtain power surpassing the gods.’
Of course, it wouldn’t go so easily.
Olympus wasn’t stupid.
They’d never hand over the source of their power so easily.
They’d probably hide secrets in a language only they understood or use ancient protective magic.
To keep him from ever uncovering them.
But if they had one bit of misfortune…
‘It’s that their opponent happens to be me.’
Whatever tricks they pulled, he’d find a way to break through.
After all, he was the one who overcame the worst gates and reached the top of the Tower.
Just then.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
A familiar fake cough came from right beside him.
It was Alice, fidgeting like a dog that needed to pee since earlier.
“What’s wrong? Alice?”
“I-it’s not that. It’s just… everyone else is having fun at the party, and you were muttering to yourself off alone! So I, your queen, came to check on you personally!”
Alice handed over a plate of apple pie.
It was so broken up it looked more like apple mush than pie.
“There are so many big eaters, this was all I could manage to get. It’s like they’ve all been starving… they eat so well…”
“Well, after all the hardships, it’s natural to have an appetite.”
A great feast followed the end of the war.
Rick’s merchant group had supplied a mountain of food and drink, letting everyone wash away the fatigue of battle.
“Contractor, you should enjoy yourself too. Everyone wants to see your face at least once.”
“Yeah. I owe everyone a lot… I can’t just skip out.”
Jinhyuk turned around.
Past the floating stones, an open plain spread out—a festival with thousands gathered.
“Ooooo! You’re here, disciple!”
“Oh my, Young Master Kang, you’re a bit late, aren’t you?”
The Dark Emperor and Soul-Chasing Swordsman spotted Jinhyuk immediately.
Both were clearly tipsy from all the drinks.
“Kuhahaha! I heard you were the biggest hero of this war. As the Dark Emperor’s disciple, that’s only natural! Of course! Don’t just stand there, come over here. We’re not letting you go until you can’t even walk straight tonight.”
The Dark Emperor instantly grabbed Jinhyuk’s wrist.
Jinhyuk reflexively tried to pull away, but…
[Black Heaven Ink Emperor Art] First Technique…
The Dark Emperor even used a newly mastered martial art to block Jinhyuk from escaping.
Slam… Whap! Bang!
The moment their hands met, the Dark Emperor’s fingers wrapped around him like a snake.
Damn. Why use something so ridiculous in a situation like this?
“Stop that! The contractor isn’t even fully healed yet!”
Alice immediately raised her voice.
Good job, Alice.
Yeah, you’re the only one on my side after all.
Jinhyuk cheered Alice on with a silent look.
“Daughter-in-law, come sit as well. Since it’s such a good day, how about having the wedding right now?”
“Ahem! What are you doing, contractor! Didn’t you hear the Dark Emperor tell you to sit? Sit and listen carefully to what he says, got it?”
…All that praise was retracted.
With these leeches all over him, it was going to be a long night.
“Getting dragged around again? You really are hopeless.”
“There you are!”
Chun Yoosung and Teresa joined a little late.
Their hands were filled with rare delicacies even in the Tower.
“Looks like you did some real shopping.”
“The Tower’s chefs are actually pretty talented.”
“Jinhyuk, you should try some too. Here.”
Teresa fed a juicy, glistening shrimp to Jinhyuk.
“Wow…”
As the succulent flesh slid over his tongue and down his throat, he couldn’t help but let out a groan of admiration.
He chased it with a mug of Yotunheim’s ice beer, passed down in the Norse lands…
A beer made with such pure, clear ice that it cooled him all the way to his core.
Yeah. Now this was a real celebration.
‘With this, things will finally wrap up peacefully…’
That was what he was thinking—
“Ahem! Ahem!”
In the distance, Rick climbed onto a carriage with a microphone, a very ominous smile spreading across his face.
