Chapter 556

“…W-what is this!”

“This can’t be happening.”

“Why have the seals… all come undone? What in the world is going on?!”

The upper ranks of Olympus fell into a panic due to the sudden onset of the Gigantomachia.

It felt like being struck in the head with a hammer.

The worst imaginable nightmare had become a reality, and naturally, chaos ensued.

They had accounted for many variables in this battle…

But the possibility of the Gigantomachia restarting had never even crossed their minds.

“…Silence.”

At Zeus’s single word, everyone fell silent.

Seated on the throne, Zeus tapped the edge of it with his finger.

Tap… tap. Tap.

The irregular sound continued.

How long did that suffocating silence last?

“Tartarus?”

Zeus finally opened his mouth.

Hermes quickly bowed his head.

“It’s still holding, but it’s on the brink. With the seals broken and the chaos erupting, it’s virtually impossible to maintain control… Still, the guardians are holding the line, so it should hold for a few more days.”

Only a few days remained.

After that, Tartarus would collapse.

In other words, a calamity capable of bringing down all of Olympus had begun.

“I understand the situation. Then…”

Just as Zeus tried to continue—

“Groooaaaar!”

A deafening roar thundered from nearby.

Bwoooong!

A massive hand pierced through the clouds.

One of the Titans had reached the summit of Olympus.

“Zeus…! And all you other scum are gathered here too!”

A pair of yellow eyes glared at the gods of Olympus.

As if trying to vent centuries of resentment from imprisonment, tremendous magical power gathered in the Titan’s hand.

The Titan spread his palm.

Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble!

A terrifying sonic shockwave shattered eardrums and shook the entire temple.

But just before the palm could touch Zeus—

[Relic ‘Astrapē’ has activated!]

A blue lightning bolt flashed.

A streak split the air.

KABOOOM!

“Graaaah!”

Struck directly, the Titan’s body was blasted backward.

His entire body, wrapped in blazing flames, began to smoke.

“You should’ve stayed in Tartarus with your leash on. How dare you try to climb up here with that filthy body?”

Zeus stood up, gripping another bolt of lightning.

[Zeus has equipped ‘Radiant Armor’.]

[Attack power of Astrapē increases by 200%!]

[Negates attacks that do not match relic or Unique Holy Spear level.]

His magical energy grew even denser.

Sizzle…!

Blue sparks arced around Astrapē.

The Titan’s head was engulfed in flames.

Overwhelming destructive force.

Even a Titan couldn’t survive two direct hits from Astrapē.

Ssshhk!

The stench of seared flesh filled the air.

“Urrrgh… ugh…”

The staggering Titan plummeted down the mountain.

Yet despite this one-sided victory, Zeus’s expression was grim.

He had taken care of one.

But two? Dozens? Hundreds?

What if even the so-called king of the Titans had been released?

The possibilities wrinkled his brow even further.

“They’ll keep coming like pests. So what’s the plan?”

“……”

“……”

No one answered.

Everyone just looked around nervously, unsure of what to say.

Zeus scanned the faces of the gods.

“No one?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Aside from summoning Hercules…”

None of the answers had a shred of realism.

Irritation spread across Zeus’s face.

If things were left alone, the spreading flames would consume all of Olympus.

And that wouldn’t be the end of it.

It might even drag down subordinate factions and allies from other floors with it.

That would mean the gods would lose their place entirely within the Tower of Trials.

“And to think, even the curse placed on the Ring of the Sun is failing… I can’t believe everything could go so wrong at once.”

Severing the contract with Alice had been their strongest move.

But since Jinhyuk had weakened the curse by using the Zodiac Palaces, there was no telling when the contract would break.

Just giving the enemy time had already resulted in a huge loss.

“Not one of you around me can match that kind of talent? After all these years, these so-called gods are getting toyed with by a mere human. It’s pathetic.”

Zeus’s reproach left everyone speechless.

But then—

Wooooong!

A gate appeared before the gods.

Step.

Through the shimmering surface emerged Athena.

She had clearly just come from a fierce battle—her once-flawless armor was now caked with dust and blood.

“Athena. You’re safe.”

“Yes, Father. Apologies for the delay.”

“What did he do to cause this? The key to unlocking Tartarus was hidden where only I knew.”

“I’m not sure how he got it, but… he had the ‘Drum’.”

The Drum…!

A relic that could trigger the Gigantomachia even without the key.

To think that name would surface here…

“Every time I hear about him, it just gets more ridiculous.”

Zeus pressed his throbbing temple.

How could a mere human possess more information than they did?

But it was already too late for regrets.

The enemy had struck first.

And the damage was already immense.

“Don’t worry too much, Father. The situation is dire, yes—but this war has only just begun. I’ve made preparations for such a possibility.”

They had lost the initiative, that much was true.

But if they thought this victory would last—

They were gravely mistaken.

“Come forth.”

Athena called out to those she brought with her through the gate.

“Those people…?”

“No way…”

Zeus and the other gods narrowed their eyes.

⁕⁕⁕

‘Good, very good.’

Jinhyuk nodded as he watched Olympus descend into chaos.

KABOOM!

KRAKAKOOM!

“Gyahhhh!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Screams echoed from everywhere.

The giants rampaged through Olympus’s army, trampling everything in their path.

It felt like watching gorillas stomp on ants.

That’s how wild and spectacular the Gigantomachia event was.

Of course, with this many enemies, it would take time to clean up.

“I’ll wait until their numbers drop a bit.”

He dropped ice made from [Glacial Sculpting] into a cola and added freshly fried chicken.

Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—pure perfection.

A high-class dish made with the 1st floor’s famed ‘Golden Feather Hen’ and the 12th floor’s ‘Hephameimos Pink Pepper’.

Add a blockbuster-level scene to the mix, and it was the ultimate combo of taste and spectacle.

Jinhyuk chuckled, biting into a drumstick.

“Every time I see you, you’re no different from a devil.”

Chun Yoosung offered his honest thoughts.

“I always think this, but I’m just glad I’m on Jinhyuk’s side.”

“Hehe. I always follow orders, okay? So please…”

Teresa and Andrea also took turns throwing in some subtle jabs.

These brats…

He was working his butt off, and this was all they had to say?

It made him want to be even more ruthless going forward.

‘Anyway… I have to settle this within three days.’

Jinhyuk glanced at his right arm.

Twinge…!

He had delayed the curse’s progress with a barrier, but the corrosion was still creeping in.

Three days, maybe four at most if he pushed himself.

Of course, the contract breaking wouldn’t immediately cause a disaster…

…but once it did, no one could predict what might happen.

“Alice is just gone?”

“Yeah. She was holding her head like she had a migraine, then vanished south. We tried to follow, but lost her. Unless she shows herself, the odds of finding her again are 0.215%. Yep.”

Frey nodded.

Ever since Alice vanished, the fight with Celestial Order had become a losing battle.

Their combat strength had taken a significant hit.

They had to be prepared for this.

Celestial Order was a major power they couldn’t ignore.

‘Time to start moving.’

Jinhyuk rose to his feet.

One hour had passed since the giants began their rampage.

At this timing, Olympus’s forces should be sufficiently scattered.

“Where are you going?”

“Hmm…”

Jinhyuk scratched his chin at Chun Yoosung’s question.

If he had to explain the destination—

“Hell.”

That word was the most fitting.

⁕⁕⁕

Tartarus.

The endless prison that held the Titans was both Olympus’s most secret and most dangerous location.

Green torches lit the long, dark corridors.

Walls and pillars etched with runes stretched endlessly into the distance.

And yet—

Despite being a forbidden zone, unfamiliar intruders had entered.

Step.

Clink.

All defensive spells, wards, and barriers began to be broken.

As if the intruders already knew where every trap was.

They quickly penetrated deep inside.

At last, two guardians stationed within moved.

“This is a place even the gods are forbidden from entering.”

“Who are you, and why are you here?”

A warrior with bulging bronze muscles.

A helmet and shield radiating ominous power.

Even at a glance, these were no ordinary guards.

Not heroes—but Grand Hero-class.

“Well, you don’t need to know that. We’re in a bit of a hurry, so if you want your heads to stay on your shoulders, you’d best open the way.”

Jinhyuk shrugged as he issued the threat.

“Oh? You dare threaten us?”

“Yup. This guy said the whole way here that he’d grind you into pulp.”

Jinhyuk nudged Chun Yoosung’s shoulder.

Stagger.

Chun Yoosung instinctively stepped forward.

“You son of a…”

Of course he swore.

But he couldn’t back down now, not after unsheathing his sword.

“Sorry, but I’ll leave this to you, yeah? I really want to help, but we’re short on time.”

Despite his words, it was clear Jinhyuk had no intention of helping in the first place.

“Haa. You bastard… I’ll remember this.”

“See? This is why our Sword Saint is the best.”

“We’re counting on you, Yoosung.”

“Yeah. He says so too.”

Jinhyuk and the others walked past Chun Yoosung toward the door.

Naturally—

“Unbelievable.”

“Who said you could go any further?”

The guardians weren’t just going to let them through.

A lightning-fast spear flew toward Jinhyuk’s side.

But at that moment—

KAAANG!

Two spears were deflected, missing by a hair’s breadth.

[Chun Yoosung has activated the Unique Ability: ‘Song of the Sword’!]

A fluid sword dance born of perfect posture.

The Sword Saint’s blade, honed through tens of thousands of repetitions, took its final form.

“I hate cleaning up after others, but I always finish what I start.”

The melody resonating from his blade soon began to form a world of imagery.

[Unique Holy Spear ‘White Night’ has activated!]

A world where day and night merged into one.

Chun Yoosung’s Unique Holy Spear unfolded before the two guardians.