Episode 12
#12
After returning to Sky Island, I looked around with a slight grimace.
It was because I felt something off.
“What is it?”
Was I seeing things?
For some reason, Sky Island seemed a bit wider.
I was pretty sure it wasn’t this big before…….
As I was dazedly looking around the expanded Sky Island, Noah spoke.
[Skill enhancement due to leveling up has occurred.]
Ah! Level!
There was that, wasn’t there?
It wasn’t just stats that grew when levels rose.
Skills were strengthened as well.
But I wondered if the Sky Island skill had only grown in size?
Just as that question crossed my mind, Noah continued.
[There are no additional functions at present. However, if you raise your level further, functions will be added.]
So it seemed there were no major changes yet besides the increased size.
Hearing that made me a bit curious.
Just what kind of functions would be added when the skill called Sky Island grew.
Of course, that was something I would only find out later.
For now, more importantly…….
[9,728,310 points]
A sigh escaped me before I knew it.
I had earned an absurd amount of points.
Now there were so many that I truly couldn’t figure out where to spend them.
* * *
Early the next morning.
I was currently on the ground.
For the record, I had postponed spending my points.
Well, there were various reasons, but it was because I judged there was no need to use them right now.
I had considered enhancing my stats, but didn’t bother.
In the first place, it felt like a waste to use points to strengthen my stats in the current situation.
Currently, my level was 10—a low level where I could level up quickly just by catching a few Grade 7 or 8 demon beasts—so wouldn’t it be a waste to consume points strengthening my stats?
If I was going to do that, I might as well just catch a few demon beasts and level up.
I could strengthen my stats with points later when leveling up becomes slower.
That aside…….
‘Shouldn’t it be starting soon?’
The moment that thought crossed my mind, something happened.
Whoosh!!
Numerous pillar-like barriers descended from the sky to the ground.
I gazed at the massive barriers falling from the sky and slowly rose from my spot.
‘It’s starting.’
From now on, the people who had survived until the sixth day would be moved inside those numerous barriers.
That barrier was precisely the place where the Seonghwajeon began.
It was then that Noah opened his mouth.
[Master, there is something you must take note of before participating in the Seonghwajeon.]
“Hm? What is it?”
[Yes, there is no need to give orders to me and the robots aloud. Your thoughts spoken in your mind will also be conveyed to me and the robots.]
In other words, it meant something similar to telepathy was possible.
It was a truly convenient feature.
Honestly, I hadn’t wanted to talk to empty air in a place full of people and Constellations either.
It was then.
Whoosh!
My body was instantly moved somewhere.
I had been moved inside the barrier.
The moment I was moved inside the barrier, I looked around.
“Wh-what is this place…….”
“Excuse me, do you happen to know where this is?”
Having arrived at the place where the Seonghwajeon was being held, many people were gathered and looking around with bewildered faces.
Survivors who had lived through the sixth day of the apocalypse.
They trembled with anxiety at the sudden bizarre phenomenon.
The next moment.
“Everyone, please calm down.”
An unidentified voice echoed throughout the surroundings.
Though the voice seemed polite at a glance, the low resonance within it made the people tremble with unease.
Soon after, the owner of the voice suddenly revealed himself in the air.
A massive figure with a pure white mask covering a face devoid of eyes, nose, and mouth, and devil’s wings on his back.
That being lightly descended to the ground and introduced himself in a polite voice.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Representative Haron, who has come here to aid your survival.”
Representative Haron.
It was the appearance of the Representative who presided over this Seonghwajeon.
Of course, he was a Representative I was seeing for the first time.
But naturally so, since the starting area of the episode I had seen in the game was different.
Haron began looking over the gathered people.
However, while he was looking around, his gaze stopped dead—fixed on one spot.
‘Hm?’
He had locked eyes with none other than me.
I also looked at him with a momentarily puzzled face.
However, Haron simply withdrew his gaze, looked around, and continued speaking.
“Then, I shall now begin the Seonghwajeon.”
* * *
The people began trembling with anxiety at Haron’s words.
They had been suddenly moved without warning, and the fear of something unknown called the Seonghwajeon beginning gripped them.
Naturally, due to the overwhelming pressure emanating from the unknown being Haron, there were none who could easily ask questions. Yet among them, there was one who summoned courage.
“Um…… I have a question.”
A survivor approached Haron and asked.
Haron stared at him for a moment, then opened his mouth in a calm tone.
“Fear not. I am obligated to answer all questions. Please speak freely.”
“Yes. Then may I ask what this Seonghwajeon is?”
“You may think of it as an event hosted by the Constellations to aid your survival.”
“Then…… is participation in this event mandatory?”
He turned back with an anxious face.
Behind him were his companions.
They appeared to be his family.
But fortunately, Haron shook his head and looked at everyone gathered here as he opened his mouth.
“Before the Seonghwajeon begins, I shall ask for your intention to participate. Although I recommend participating, there may be those who do not wish to. Those who refuse to participate, please leave this barrier as you are. The moment you exit the barrier, you will be moved to the place you were originally.”
At those words, everyone began looking around, taking cues from each other.
Toward such people, Haron spoke again.
“Fear not. I am merely a Representative who has come to aid your survival; I have no intention of harming you.”
Even so, the people hesitated to leave this place.
Because they could not verify whether those words were true.
Then a man asked Haron,
“Excuse me, I have a question too.”
“Yes, please speak freely.”
“Is that Seonghwajeon thing dangerous?”
At that, Haron maintained silence for a moment.
When he closed his mouth, a faint tension enveloped the surroundings.
Soon, Haron answered the man’s question in a calm voice.
“Yes. Although this is an event opened to aid your survival, danger does accompany the process.”
Haron’s words helped the hesitant people reach a decision.
Half of the people gathered here rushed outside the barrier.
“However, I assure you. If you overcome the trials, there will be great benefits for the survivors.”
Yet at the following words, some of those leaving began to waver.
A slight hesitation formed due to Haron’s words.
As Haron looked at such survivors, his final words followed.
“I will give you ten minutes. Please think it over slowly during that time.”
Afterward, some people left the barrier without hesitation, while some simply waited here. Those waiting were probably those who had already contracted with a Constellation or had confidence in their own abilities.
Haron’s words had served to separate the capable from the rest.
“The time is up.”
After ten minutes passed, Haron opened his mouth.
“Then, I shall take it that the survivors here are participating in the Seonghwajeon. Of course…… it seems there are also those who are not human among us.”
Hm? Not human?
My gaze turned in the direction Haron was looking.
In that instant, my eyes widened.
‘No way, what!?’
A massive figure with wings on its back.
It was the combat robot Meradon.
No, it wasn’t just Meradon.
Alt and Eria too.
It was a sight visible only because the crowd had thinned.
The combat robots that should have been hunting demon beasts nearby were all gathered here.
‘No, why are they here?’
Soon, the combat robots discovered me and began slowly approaching.
Surprised, I gave the combat robots an order.
‘Wait, don’t come!’
[[[Understood.]]]
Why in the world are they here?
Wasn’t the Seonghwajeon only for survivors to participate?
Ah, wait, could it be?
[It is assumed that combat robots may participate as they are also part of Master’s skill.]
Ah…… I had a feeling that might be the case.
Since the robots are beings formed by my skill, after all.
I hadn’t expected this situation, but it didn’t seem too bad either.
Seeing that Haron said nothing, it seemed fine too.
Soon, Haron opened his mouth.
“Then, I shall now begin the Seonghwajeon. Of course, before starting, I shall grant benefits to those participating.”
Along with Haron’s words, particles of faint light sparkled in the air and descended upon each participant.
They were pure white feathers.
The moment the participants received the feathers, Haron continued.
“It is an item called the Guardian’s Feather. A gift sent by a benevolent Constellation for the survivors. While you possess the Guardian’s Feather, it will block a single fatal injury.”
It was also the reason I was participating in the Seonghwajeon.
A Legendary-grade item, the Guardian’s Feather.
An item with the effect of blocking a single fatal injury when carried on your person.
This was an item that could not be acquired separately from the shop.
As Haron said, it was a gift from an unknown Constellation to the survivors participating in the Seonghwajeon.
“Now, next, there will be a small trial I am conducting to aid your utilization of skills.”
Along with those words, a semicircular barrier formed in front of Haron.
Haron looked at the barrier and opened his mouth.
“Please enter here one by one and slay the summoned demon beasts. Of course, rewards will be given according to the number of demon beasts slain. However, if you feel you have reached your limit, do not hesitate and exit the barrier immediately.”
At Haron’s words, people slowly approached the barrier.
They were ones who had already survived for six days, some having contracted with Constellations and experienced slaying demon beasts using skills.
Therefore, there were many who tried to challenge it without hesitation.
“So I just go inside this barrier?”
“Yes. If you feel your life is threatened, please exit the barrier immediately. We do not guarantee fatal injuries sustained during the trial. Furthermore…… it would be a shame to lose the gift from the Constellation you received with such effort in such a trial.”
A man with a confident face entered the barrier first.
Of course, I had a feeling I knew why that man was so full of confidence.
‘His skill is an A-Rank skill.’
I could tell after checking his status window.
A-Rank skill, Blade Tornado.
A skill that summons a tornado of blades around the caster’s body to protect them.
Of course, it was a skill useful not just for defense but for offense as well.
Soon, a tornado raged around the body of the man who had entered the barrier.
The summoned demon beast was a Grade 9 demon beast, a bee the size of a large dog called Big Bee.
However, the moment it was summoned, the Big Bee was swept up by the man’s tornado and instantly torn limb from limb.
“This much is easy.”
The man smirked.
The situation continued.
As the stages progressed, the number of demon beasts increased, and upon slaying ten, a higher-grade demon beast was summoned.
The summoned demon beast was a Grade 8 demon beast, Kon Dog, belonging to a superior species of Hound Dog.
It was slightly larger than a Hound Dog, a demon beast with a single horn on its forehead.
Of course, the man still leisurely defended with his skill and took it down, but his limit quickly approached. He had over-relied on his skill.
A skill of that level definitely consumed mana.
“Huff! Huff!”
The man gasping for breath gave up when five Kon Dogs were summoned and eventually came out of the barrier.
His skill was good, but he simply stood still waiting for the skill to kill the enemies, so his stats seemed greatly lacking. Judging by his performance, it looked like he had raised his stats through leveling up alone.
Soon, as the man came out, Haron spoke.
“Next survivors, please enter this barrier in order.”
* * *
The skills of the survivors actively fighting inside the barrier were diverse.
From a survivor who summoned weapons to a survivor who used supernatural abilities to easily slay demon beasts.
Or a survivor who borrowed the power of a contracted Constellation to slay demon beasts.
Among them, there was a survivor who stood out particularly.
“H-huh? Why is this…….”
It was Lee Sina.
The moment she stretched out her hand and used her skill, the surrounding space froze in an instant.
That shockwave spread beyond the barrier, surprising the survivors watching nearby.
“Hey, that person is…….”
“Ah! Isn’t she the owner of that rest area?”
Moreover, people began to recognize who she was.
Naturally, some of the survivors gathered here owed her at the rest area.
They had known she wasn’t ordinary since she was the owner of the rest area run by a Constellation, but they probably hadn’t known she possessed this much power.
However, she had used too large a skill from the start and hadn’t achieved a very good record.
The next to enter the barrier was Ha Yun.
Ha Yun surprised people in a different way than Lee Sina.
“Why are those demon beasts doing that?”
“Hah…… just what skill does she have?”
Demon beasts that ferociously attacked humans at the sight of them took one look at Ha Yun and fled in terror.
Ha Yun was bewildered as well.
Ha Yun turned to Haron and opened her mouth.
“Um…… the demon beasts are running away? I also tried activating something called a skill, but nothing changed.”
To Ha Yun’s words, Haron answered.
A strange interest, as if he had seen something amusing, lingered in his voice.
“While determining what skill you possess is solely your own task, one thing I can tell you is that your skill is certainly activating.”
It was as Haron said.
Her skill was certainly activating.
Of course, people might be mistaken because of the demon beasts’ reaction, but that was merely a secondary effect. If she grasped the true ability of the skill called ‘King of Foxes’ (狐), ordinary Grade 9 or Grade 8 demon beasts would be torn to shreds.
“Uh, um…… then can I come out for now?”
“Yes, as you wish.”
Since the summoned Big Bee was flying through the sky and fleeing here and there, Ha Yun thought there was nothing she could do and came out of the barrier.
Honestly, the sisters’ records couldn’t be considered good compared to others, but the performance they showed could be called overwhelming.
Some of the Constellations had probably noticed.
What skills they possessed.
It was then.
‘Survivor Kim Hancheol.’
Someone’s voice was heard.
No, it wasn’t a voice spoken aloud.
It was a voice transmitted into my head.
I looked for the owner of the voice.
It was Haron.
He gazed at me and continued.
‘There is no need to speak aloud. If you speak internally, it will be conveyed.’
‘Did you need something……?’
I asked Haron.
I wondered why the Representative presiding over the Seonghwajeon was speaking to me privately.
Haron continued in a polite voice.
‘I have heard of Survivor Kim Hancheol’s prestige from the Constellations. I heard you are the only one among the survivors to have cleared a Gate.’
‘Uh…… that is true? Did you send a telepathic message to ask about that?’
‘No. I sent a telepathic message because there is something I must inform you of. It seemed you were hiding them on purpose. The participation of those non-human entities in the trial is voluntary. More than anything, they seem to be your skill. If they participate in this small trial, all achievements will go to you, Survivor, so I sent this message in advance to inform you.’
At those words, my eyes widened for a moment before I nodded in understanding.
As expected, he knew.
Though he was a Representative of the Constellations, his rank surpassed that of ordinary Constellations.
The being he served was an existence of a rank incomparable to the surrounding Constellations.
True gods—beings called ‘The Greatest Ones’—and it was they who presided over the Seonghwajeon as well. However, I wondered just how much he knew.
Judging by his reaction, it seemed he had only figured out that those robots were my skill.
Since I could not ask directly, I merely nodded at his words.
‘I sent this telepathic message personally because I felt I must convey this much at least.’
From Haron’s words, I could tell he was looking out for me.
It was simply the kindness befitting a Representative who presided over the Seonghwajeon.
I spoke to Haron.
‘I will take note.’
‘Yes, then please enjoy the Seonghwajeon.’
For some reason, his last words were spoken in a cheerful tone.
That aside, telling me to enjoy the Seonghwajeon…….
Well, considering my current strength, my stats weren’t exactly at a level where I needed to struggle through the Seonghwajeon.
So that was probably what he meant by telling me to enjoy it.
“Next survivor, please enter the barrier.”
At those words, I approached the barrier.
Yeah, since things have turned out this way, I should take home plenty of rewards from the Seonghwajeon.