Chapter 559

No matter how powerful a weapon may be, it’s meaningless if you can’t control it.

In that regard, Alice was the perfect shackle to bind Jinhyuk.

She was a companion who could always stay by his side, share hardships, and celebrate joys together.

“That’s why we kept encouraging the two to remain together. In the event we ever needed to eliminate Kang Jinhyuk, she would be ready to use.”

And now that they had become enemies of the administrators…

It was the perfect time to break Alice’s seal.

“At least, that’s how they planned it. I wanted to tell you sooner, but getting here wasn’t easy. Too many obstacles.”

Sleeper Owl showed his wounded arm with a bitter smile.

A serious puncture wound still burned with black flames.

“But we’re not too late. We got here before the seal completely broke.”

“…So there is a way to stop this?”

“Yes. There’s one.”

At those words, Alice’s eyes trembled violently.

There was still a way to return to Jinhyuk…

A way to protect the happiness she held dear.

“I’ll do anything. Just tell me.”

“Inside the Tower, the curse keeps growing stronger. You probably felt it even in the corridor—the thirst for blood intensifying. That’s because it resonates with the Tower’s magic. And now that Baldur’s Ring has opened the floodgates, that desire has grown several times stronger. There’s nothing even I can do to stop it here.”

Then…

She needed to change the battlefield—leave the Tower.

The place Jinhyuk felt safest and most at ease was the modern world.

Sleeper Owl took out a small glass vial filled with purple liquid.

Inside, the liquid sloshed in a bottle no longer than a fingertip.

“Drink this once you’re outside. It’ll neutralize most of the curse.”

“…Got it.”

Alice clutched the vial tightly.

Her breathing was still ragged, but her mind was sharper than before.

With a new option in front of her, there was no time to hesitate.

She had to move. Fast.

Wooooong!

Sleeper Owl opened a gate leading outside.

Beyond the portal, a familiar modern skyline appeared.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”

“Save your thanks until it’s all over. It’s too early to relax.”

“Still… I wanted to say it.”

Alice gave a small nod and leapt through the gate without delay.

And the moment she vanished—

Crackle!

A tear split the air.

Another figure appeared beside Sleeper Owl.

A third party who had been hiding in the dimensional rift all along.

“So? Think she bought it?”

It had been twenty-five years of dieting.

“As expected, she bit the bait the moment I mentioned Kang Jinhyuk. Not like she had any other options, anyway.”

Sleeper Owl’s appearance had completely changed.

Coffindance.

Once a viewer of Jinhyuk—and now an administrator on a completely different side.

Had he spoken only the truth, or only lies, it would’ve been suspicious.

But by blending both skillfully, Alice had fallen right into the trap.

“Pitiful, really. That’s what love is… you throw everything away and just run toward it.”

“Which is exactly why we chose her as the candidate.”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.”

The two administrators chatted leisurely.

The arrow had already left the bow.

Soon enough…

Something very entertaining would unfold.

⁕⁕⁕

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A surging offensive like a tidal wave.

The Titans trampled over the Greek warriors as they began ascending Olympus.

“Kuhahaha! Now this is reassuring!”

Thanks to that, the embattled Norse forces finally caught a breather.

Thor roared with laughter, gripping Mjölnir tightly.

Blue sparks crackled wildly.

Meanwhile—

“…So the Gigantomachia has resumed.”

Hercules looked toward Olympus with a complicated expression.

Olympus had powerful defensive barriers and countless defensive forces, but…

That alone wasn’t enough to stop the giants.

He had to go.

Only then could Olympus be protected.

The problem…

Was that damn thunder god wasn’t going to just let him go.

“This situation has gotten too messy. For now, why don’t we both return to our bases? We can finish our duel another time.”

“Hmph. For the great Hercules to tuck his tail and run—you must be in quite a hurry.”

“I simply want to settle this properly, under fair conditions.”

“I also have no desire to hunt a chained beast with one arm, but…”

Thor shrugged.

“You lot were the ones who backstabbed us during the negotiations. I have no reason to fight fairly against cowardly cheats.”

Tactics and methods didn’t matter.

For the sake of their factions—

All that mattered was crushing the enemy with full strength.

VWOOM! VWOOM! VWOOM!

Mjölnir roared as bolts of lightning gathered and surged with immense power.

“Tch…”

Hercules gritted his teeth.

At this point, he had no choice but to end it quickly.

And so, the unavoidable battle resumed.

Meanwhile—

At Eden, where Uriel was, heated arguments erupted.

“Why aren’t you deploying your troops?!”

“Don’t tell me… you plan to betray us?!”

Aphrodite and Demeter raised their voices.

Their beautiful faces twisted with fury, their wrath seemingly reaching the heavens.

But despite their fierce protest, Uriel remained unmoved.

“We have our own circumstances.”

“What kind of damn circumstances keep your heavy ass from moving?!”

“One of the demon kings invaded Eden’s territory. He likely noticed we’d sent a large number of troops elsewhere.”

Demon King Berial.

One of the most powerful lords in the demon realm.

He had always been a troublesome opponent with an unpredictable nature.

But now that he had absorbed Guntafer’s forces, he had become an even greater threat.

“Doesn’t Eden still have a significant defense force? What are the archangels like Gabriel and Michael even doing…?”

“That’s the issue.”

Uriel cut in sharply.

“They oppose us. So even if my territory is being invaded, they won’t help. In fact, they’re subtly enabling Berial’s assault.”

Which meant Uriel couldn’t move recklessly.

If Berial pushed in too far, they needed a strong force left behind to counterattack.

Of course—

Berial’s invasion.

And Uriel’s inaction.

Were all part of Jinhyuk’s plan.

An elaborately staged act to give their side a legitimate excuse.

But Aphrodite and Demeter had no way of knowing that.

So they couldn’t press further.

“Haa… Nothing ever goes the way we want.”

Demeter let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t worry too much. Eden stabbing us in the back wasn’t expected—but there are still ways to turn this around.”

With Alice gone, the movement of the Celestial Order forces had been freed.

And the forces Athena brought with her were also ready to move.

Now was the time to strike back.

⁕⁕⁕

Past the midpoint of Olympus, battles with myth-grade heroes became frequent.

Cough…

Blood dripped from Orpheus’s lips.

His signature lyre had long since gone silent.

The wound on his chest was near-fatal.

Blood gushed from the deep gash.

“Yep, the heroes are strong. Great base stats, sturdy bodies—it’s satisfying to beat them down.”

Jinhyuk crouched, casually brushing the blood from [Crimson Lotus].

[Orpheus’s Lyre – Blue]

Acquisition Difficulty: SS
Description: When played, induces hallucinations in enemies and boosts morale in allies. The effect varies based on the performer’s skill.

Hmm.

Someone about to die wouldn’t need such a rare item.

Sealing the wound in his chest was a more urgent matter than protecting an instrument.

Jinhyuk’s hand moved like lightning.

The spot where the lyre had been was now clean.

‘Nice, nice.’

Crushing Olympus’s main force and getting juicy loot as a bonus.

This wasn’t hell—it was a treasure vault.

“Uaaaaagh! Orpheus!”

Jason shouted upon seeing Orpheus fall.

[Jason activates ‘Argonauts’ Expedition’!]

The companions from their legendary expedition.

All heroes of the Argo had their stats nearly doubled.

At the same time—

BOOM!

With both hands on his sword, Jason charged at Jinhyuk.

Despite his size, he moved at incredible speed.

His blade tore through the air, creating a monstrous sonic boom.

In that moment—

KAANG!

The blade was blocked by a shield.

“For a so-called great hero to launch a surprise attack… That’s not the myth I heard.”

Teresa swung her shield, imbued with divine power.

Jason stepped back a pace.

Well done, Teresa.

Having the Saint on your side was such a relief.

Now I get why everyone wants their own reliable ally.

No matter the situation, she always stood firm and supportive.

“Stealing from a wounded man’s belongings—isn’t that the lowest of the low?!”

Jason shouted again.

Don’t lose.

Even if he has a point, you have to respond.

That’s how the Veteran Corporation did things.

But—

“…Th-that’s…”

Teresa, who still had a shred of conscience, fell silent.

Tch…

Even if you’re spitting facts, you’ve got to grow some thicker skin.

Guess good girls don’t make it in this world.

Jinhyuk stepped forward in her stead.

“The ones who barged into someone else’s territory uninvited are you. We’re the liberation force freeing the oppressed Norse. So we can do whatever we want.”

And he slashed without hesitation.

KAKAKAKANG!

“Kh!”

Jason parried furiously.

Not bad.

Not real swordsmanship, more like finely honed reflexes pushed to the extreme.

That alone had probably been enough to crush most opponents until now…

BOOM!

“Too sloppy.”

But mere instincts couldn’t surpass martial swordsmanship honed through everything.

Jinhyuk twisted slightly to divert Jason’s sword from the side and aimed straight for his throat.

A perfect counterattack.

He’d exploited the blind spot created by Jason’s own shield.

[Crimson Lotus] pierced the gap cleanly.

But just as the blade neared his throat—

Wooooong!

A strange mana force intervened.

A heavy, unnatural distortion.

Jinhyuk froze mid-strike.

This mana…

He recognized it.

Without a doubt, it belonged to someone he’d encountered before.