Chapter 626
Betrayal.
The Primordial Beings struck the Operators right in the back of the head.
They absorbed the massive flow of souls and grudges meant for the Unknown.
And after amassing overwhelming power, the Primordial Beings immediately targeted the heart of the fortress where the Operators resided.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
A gigantic tentacle writhed and slammed down toward the place where the Unknown was located.
A purple tide flooded out. A storm of mana surged forth and began to fill the massive space.
“Meh-eh-eh-eh!”
“Krooooo!”
The Apostles of Shub-Niggurath, who had devastated Korea during the Outbreak, appeared through the massive hole the tentacle had pierced open.
“You bastard! Are you really planning to fight us!?”
Unable to hold back his rage, JJ shouted.
“You don’t even know what the highest priority is right now…!”
2Chickens and the other Operators also drew their weapons.
The holy relics that had never been revealed to the Tower until now radiated terrifying killing intent.
“Heh. Seeing you bare your fangs means Unknown hasn’t awakened yet.”
Shub-Niggurath walked forward leisurely.
Beside him, Tulcha and various gods who served as pillars of Cthulhu lined up.
“Nyarlathotep! Are you saying you intend to betray Him?”
“What that man asked for was simple—tear apart the lackeys of the Veteran Corporation and secure Alice. Two things. As long as those goals are achieved, he doesn’t care about anything in between. That’s not the type of man he is.”
In his nature, which sought only his own interest and amusement, the concept of ‘allies’ did not exist.
Even if every Operator died, the man wouldn’t feel even the slightest disturbance.
Nyarlathotep understood that man’s personality perfectly.
“What is it… you want? For what purpose are you pointing a blade at our throats?”
“It’s simple. You Operators possess something that’s extremely troublesome for us. You know what that is, don’t you?”
The last clue that could lead to the Necronomicon.
The one and only fragment capable of threatening the Primordial Beings—an item placed like a collar around the necks of uncontrollable monsters.
However…
The fact that this item was in the Operators’ possession should have been top-level classified information.
“…And if we refuse?”
“Then you will all die here.”
Nyarlathotep lightly tapped his staff.
TWOONG!
[‘The Unreachable Abyss’ awakens!]
A tearing sound rang out.
A colossal eye, spanning several hundred meters, opened along the ground.
[Due to a special effect, all beings within this field will continuously receive lethal psychic damage!]
[The more mana you use, the more deadly poison accumulates within your body.]
With their forces scattered throughout the Tower and their combat power halved…
The Operators were left with no choice but to make the worst possible decision.
—
At the same time.
On the 45th floor of the Tower of Trials, a war that would determine the fate of several great factions was unfolding.
BZZT-CRACK…!
Colliding sparks.
Two different prides of lightning clashed in the same space.
“I will never let you leave alive.”
Indra pulled all the lightning erupting from the clouds toward her at once.
Terrifying bolts raged, dyeing the entire sky pitch black.
Standing atop a fragment of cloud, Indra quickly closed the distance.
[Vimana’s defensive skills are activating!]
[‘Infinite Carpet’ is deployed!]
CLANK! CLANK!
Countless turrets fired simultaneously. Barriers ranging from 1-star to 10-star tightly wrapped around the fortress.
The mobile fortress that had turned countless factions and strongholds to burning wastelands unleashed innumerable magic shells, befitting its fearsome reputation.
But—
“Not a chance!”
BWOOOM!
A small body riding a small cloud.
Indra, specialized in speed, wove through all the attacks with lightning trailing behind her.
As if she already knew the fortress’s attack patterns.
‘It definitely hits hard.’
For Indra, Zeus was a stimulant—an immediate-effect drug that produced results the moment it was injected.
He could provoke her whenever he wanted, but to copy the highest-grade skills, he needed to drag this out a little more.
And he still needed time to lay bait to lure the Celestial Order.
“What will you do, Contractor?”
“Hmm. Can you fight on your own for a bit? I need to get something ready.”
“What absurd thing are you planning now? You’ve built up enough karma to be called a great warrior—fight like one.”
Knowing Jinhyuk’s usual combat style, Alice looked at Indra with pity.
Not only physical damage, but mental collapse was guaranteed—naturally, she felt a bit of sympathy.
“Absurd? I always fight seriously, you know?”
“Sure you do. Fine. We’ll handle defending this giant fortress ourselves.”
“Thanks.”
To meet the exact conditions of the copy quest, he needed a few auxiliary tools.
Jinhyuk rummaged through the coin exchange and bought a handful of clothing items.
Meanwhile—
KWA-KWA-KWANG!
TUKWANG!
Indra’s relentless chase, striking precisely at Vimana’s weak points, grew more intense over time.
Flames erupted here and there across the fortress.
“I’ll keep her from sticking close!”
Lee Tae-min summoned thousands of drones.
[Lee Tae-min activates the Unique Holy Spear ‘Last Meister’!]
Air-to-air homing missiles locked onto Indra.
PUPUPUPUNG!
Thermobaric warheads—second only to nuclear bombs in destructive power. Their ability to create a vacuum and maximize damage could even erode a deity’s defense.
In an instant, the surroundings were filled with blistering heat and thick smoke.
And taking advantage of the obscured vision, Teresa and Yoo Yeonhwa moved.
[Teresa activates ‘Blessing of the Stars’!]
Meteor showers overlapped endlessly, creating a cinematic spectacle.
Indra was incredibly fast, but with this many meteors, the attack was threatening.
Yoo Yeonhwa also launched her only ranged attack, tracking Indra’s energy.
[Yoo Yeonhwa activates Lv29 ‘Taecheong Energy’!]
The materialized qi stretched forward in the shape of a fist.
A combined assault of three rankers.
“We got her… oh no.”
Lee Tae-min quickly covered his mouth.
He had accidentally jinxed it.
“Annoying little flies. You think you can kill me with this pathetic nonsense!?”
As expected, the enraged Indra appeared unscathed.
The members had experience dealing with god-class foes, but the deity of the 45th floor was on a completely different level.
Right then—
FLASH!
A streak of blue lightning struck Indra.
“GRAAAAH!”
It was the first time Indra screamed in actual pain.
A thick white beard and a shabby white robe.
If someone played a drunken Zeus at Halloween, this is exactly what they’d look like.
“Ahem! Come here.”
Jinhyuk put on an overly dignified expression.
He had tried his best to resemble Zeus—ironically, it only shattered Indra’s sanity further.
“In front of me… you dare imitate that old fool obsessed with women?”
[Indra activates one of the Seven Clouds — ‘Cumulonimbus’!]
The most destructive of the seven clouds.
A massive lump of condensed lightning surged toward Jinhyuk’s head.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!
A circular pillar nearly 20 meters tall formed.
A gigantic flash descended from the heavens.
Matching that exact moment, Jinhyuk focused mana into his fingertips.
[‘Lightning Bracelet’ of the Lightning God activates!]
A thin, wide layer of lightning spread above Vimana.
KWA-AAAAANG!
Lightning clashed against lightning, scattering sparks everywhere.
A delicate balance of power.
Indra poured out even more mana.
…He’s pushing through.
Fortunately, thanks to Vimana’s innate shield, the lightning from Cumulonimbus failed to reach the aerial fortress.
UWOK!
A heavy shock rippled through Jinhyuk’s entire body.
Indra’s power was stronger than expected.
Jinhyuk staggered slightly, frowning.
Of course, Indra wouldn’t miss that small opening.
“Pathetic. You fail to grasp the essence of strength and let it toss you around! I don’t know how you obtained Zeus’s abilities, but that power is far too much for a mere human.”
Just one exchange.
But that was enough to determine whose lightning was stronger.
“It does have quite the spicy kick.”
Jinhyuk nodded.
He didn’t deny the difference in experience and skill.
There was no need to even mention efficiency in handling lightning.
But you know…
This battle wasn’t simply to determine superiority.
Above all, he hadn’t even brought out the crown—or any real cards—yet.
[Energy charging complete.]
It was fun to beat on him, sure…
But Vimana’s crystal orb was still extremely ‘hungry.’ He should have realized that.
“W-What? You can… convert lightning into energy?”
Indra’s pupils shook violently.
Impossible.
Sword qi was pure, refined, controlled—easy for crystal orbs to store.
But natural elements, especially lightning, were too volatile and unstable for such use.
Even for him, the apex of lightning.
But now—
‘What… is that thing?’
He had heard Jinhyuk mainly used swords and barriers. At best, a mortal who wouldn’t live a hundred years—how well could he possibly wield lightning?
For the first time, Indra felt fear.
But it was already too late.
Vimana’s power source was fully charged.
[Coordinates 112, 235, 339 confirmed.]
WOOOOONG!
The fortress immediately executed teleportation toward the target destination.
A heavy silence fell over the sky coated in lightning.
⁕⁕⁕
“Uaaaagh!”
“Aaaaah!”
“Break through! We’ve almost won!”
“Hold the line! Do whatever it takes!”
Shouts and screams filled the battlefield.
The allied forces entrenched in the swamp fought desperately to hold out. The Celestial Order was moments away from completely breaking their defenses and securing victory.
There were no variables left.
Most of the gods had been driven into corners. The massive beasts living in the swamp had been mostly subdued.
Even their retreat path was perfectly cut off—Celestial Order was confident they could annihilate all enemies within half a day.
‘Once Unknown activates the Covenant, the outside world will fall, and every threat to us will disappear.’
Without players, no one could climb the Tower.
Everything would proceed as ordained.
And once that happened, they would finally be freed from the ancient task and enjoy a peaceful retirement.
Brahma was imagining such a future when—
[Urgent communication received from the deity ‘Indra’.]
Indra’s face appeared—ashen and frozen stiff.
“B-Brahma…”
Her words instantly shattered every dream of the future.
Because the enemy’s target—
Was the location of the ‘First Lotus,’ the very heart of the Celestial Order.