I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 186
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 186. Underground Kingdom
‘They’ve certainly changed quite a bit.’
These creatures bore almost no resemblance to the Giant Ants I had once risked my life to conquer—the very gap between them was unmistakable.
If anything, they looked far more human than insectoid now. To be precise, they resembled giants cast in human form.
I scratched my head as I observed the creatures kneeling before me in reverence, and soon enough, I discovered the reason for their behavior.
〚You have obtained the Title: Beatrice’s Ally [Unique-EX].〛
A title I had long since forgotten. The hidden quest reward from the dungeon was finally shining with purpose.
-Kikikik. We shall serve you. Holy Hero.
Holy Hero? It was an excessive title. The sacred greatest hero, they called me.
‘If I’m a Holy Hero, then I’m like Admiral Yi Sun-sin.’
In any case, I humbly followed behind the Giant Ant guiding me forward. The structure of the Underground Kingdom was, as expected, labyrinthine and bewildering.
Whether it was designed this way to repel invaders or simply became this way through construction, I couldn’t say.
What was certain was that without the Giant Ants’ guidance, I would have wasted at least a month simply finding my way.
Fortunately, the Giant Ants recognized that my speed exceeded theirs, and by hastening their guidance, we arrived at the Queen’s Nest—the most vital domain of the Underground Kingdom—in merely half a day.
-Kikikik. The Queen awaits you.
-Kikikik. Then please call upon us again.
By the way, these creatures speak Korean?
It wasn’t translation through the System. It was simply Korean. I concealed my bewilderment and surprise, nodding my head as I stepped into the Queen’s Nest.
In a space overwhelmingly vast compared to the corridors before, the Queen sat upon a colossal throne, gazing down arrogantly—until my arrival caused her to spring from her seat with delight.
-It has been long, Savior of our kind.
“It is an honor to see you again, Your Majesty.”
-Beatrice.
“Yes?”
-I grant you permission to address me by name.
“Ah. Yes. Beatrice.”
In truth, I was older than her anyway. I cleared my throat awkwardly and approached the Queen with caution.
She spread her wings and flew toward me, then examined my body closely, touching me several times before her eyes gleamed with intrigue.
-Remarkable! Even though countless ages have passed in our world, this is merely a side effect from the process of gathering and merging fractured worlds. Yet in but a fleeting moment, you have grown our power to its very limits?
My eyes widened. She could discern that? It was clear she was speaking of the Giant Ants’ strength.
-If you have come to this place, then you wish to know the method to transcend your limits, yes?
“Indeed. I wish to receive your blessing and participate in the Giant Ant Hierarchy War.”
At my words, the Queen nodded as if to say that much was only natural, then returned to her throne.
-Very well. I shall arrange that. The blessing is no difficult matter—I shall perform it immediately. As for the Hierarchy War, you need not participate. With your strength, victory is assured. Instead, I shall provide you justification that the System will recognize, and you shall duel the champion. That shall suffice.
“Thank you.”
-Think nothing of it. The opportunity you have granted us far exceeds this. It is only natural. In truth, even this is insufficient.
The Queen’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
-Such absurd strength in your grasp, such caliber and talent. You have touched the position of divinity itself.
“Indeed. Beatrice, it seems you too have already acquired the qualities of legend.”
At my words, Beatrice nodded and clenched her fist. It was merely a fist clenched, yet an overwhelming pressure permeated the entire space.
‘Defeating Beatrice will not be easy.’
To be frank, my power still fell short of Beatrice’s. The strength she possessed—complete with the stature and might of a true legend—exceeded my imagination.
‘Impressive.’
I wanted to manifest my Chaos Eye and observe her more closely, but refrained out of courtesy. What was certain, however, was that in terms of physical ability, she far surpassed me.
-With that level of stature and power, it might just be possible. Since she wishes to receive a baptism anyway, I suppose it’s worth attempting.
The master of that strength, muttering to herself, guided me somewhere. When we descended deeper underground through a corridor connected to the Queen’s space, I witnessed it.
A vast Spawning Grounds. That space where the birth of new Giant Ants took place.
Beatrice walked skillfully toward the center of that place, which was even larger than the Queen’s space, and seated herself upon a throne that had been prepared with familiarity, then called to me.
I approached her without hesitation. The thought of a trap never crossed my mind. I had grown capable enough to discern that the emotions she displayed were genuine.
Because my stature was overwhelmingly higher, I could perceive this with even greater certainty.
As I drew near, Beatrice began drawing her magical power to its limit and raised her hand above my head.
-This place is the cocoon of rebirth where our Giant Ants’ birth and end converge as one. As the Queen of our Kang Geo-ui Species, Beatrice, I bestow my blessing upon the hero who shall share in all things of our kind and become the catalyst for our prosperity. Let the blessings of our great ancestors descend upon this place.
Magical power poured down upon me. There was no hostility in it. It was, quite literally, a blessing.
〚A great ruler of a legendary species bestows baptism upon you!〛
〚A great ruler of a species reaching toward mythology bestows blessing upon you!〛
System Messages appeared. And the blessing settled completely within me.
〚You have achieved Skill Transcendence Condition 1!〛
〚You are receiving protection under a special law!〛
And then something unexpected occurred.
〚You have completely acquired the Factor: Giant Ant!〛
My eyes widened. A Factor! I had half-forgotten about it, but now the memory returned—a Quest I had obtained through the power of subjugation.
‘Surely it was a Quest?’
Yes, it was.
〚Law Quest: Factor
Stature: Law
Grade: Immeasurable
Description: A small law that moves the world. To some it is called a species, to others it is called life and existence—such a law has recognized you, who achieved impossible conditions. Pass its trial, receive the law’s acknowledgment, and obtain the law’s blessing.
Objective: Random Unique Ability: ?? Factor Level 10 (MAX) Achievement (0/1)
Modifier: Upon subjugation, a unique ability related to the Factor is granted as an additional reward with 100% probability.
Success: Acquire Rune: Factor-Man-byeon [Origin-EX+]
Failure: All abilities related to the Factor are forcibly revoked〛
A power and constraint distinct from the concepts possessed by Concept Divine Seats. My own authority of Fate is, in the end, merely one of the laws.
All existence is bound by the law—a force that constrains everything save only those Concept Divine Seats who transcended their limits, shed their very existence, and were reborn anew.
Precisely because it was such a tremendous power that I would never have expected to clear this Quest in such a short time, not even in death.
After all, clearing this Quest meant nothing less than absorbing everything a single species possessed, did it not?
Yet that very thing actually came to pass.
〚You have acquired Unique Ability: Factor of the Giant Ant!〛
〚Through the blessing of the Queen of the Kang Geo-ui Species, complete succession is achieved!〛
〚Unique Ability: Factor of the Giant Ant Level rises to 10 MAX!〛
I was not surprised. I was a mongrel, after all. I could only marvel at the manner in which I had acquired the Factor.
When I became the strange species known as Celestial Demon, it was a forced transformation and I could not obtain the Factor, and when I became the Colossal King, it was a transformation through an item and I failed to gain the Factor.
To think I’d obtain the factor of the Kang Geo-ui Species!
〚Rule Quest: Factor has been cleared!〛
〚Rune: Factor-Man-byeon has been acquired!〛
Thanks to this, I cleared the Quest and obtained the reward. But the true transformation was only beginning.
〚The power of the Rune manifests!〛
The Rune that had just taken root within me poured forth all its strength from the start.
〚The concept of ‘race’ disappears from user Shin Ju-ha!〛
〚A new window of ‘Factor’ is inscribed upon user Shin Ju-ha!〛
The race column that had read “Divine Demon Clan” vanished from my status window, replaced by a new Factor window.
〚Factor
-Giant God(★) LV 8
-Holy God(★) LV 10(MAX)
-Celestial Demon God(★) LV 10(MAX)
-Fallen Angel(EX) LV 9
-Dragon(SSS) LV 2
-Vampire(S) LV 1
-Kang Geo-ui Species(A) LV 10(MAX)
-Human(E) LV 10(MAX)〛
〚By acquiring Factors, you can obtain the advantages possessed by each race!〛
〚Through the Rune: Factor-Man-byeon, you can devour and acquire the factors of races you have slain!〛
“Is the human factor really E-rank?”
E-rank—now I understood why humans were so dismissively called insignificant creatures.
“The Divine Demon Clan has been divided.”
Into Holy God, Celestial Demon God, and Fallen Angel.
“I haven’t yet achieved complete succession of the Demon God aspect, and the Holy God side lacks proper succession as well.”
It meant these factors still possessed enormous growth potential. The more I inherited, the more I grew, the higher their rank would become.
“The Fallen Angel is….”
The final piece. Once I become the complete master of Pride, it should naturally reach LV 10 and reclaim its full rank.
“Pride…just how magnificent a rank could it be?”
One star would be the baseline. Perhaps even two stars were worth pursuing?
In truth, the reason I’d been able to seamlessly acquire and harmonize these contradictory powers without strain until now was because of Pride.
The force that seeks to stand above all things. The one who reached the apex of the pyramid even in my mental landscape.
Except for the Golden Tower, it is the pinnacle of all abilities. Considering that, the Golden Tower, which even Pride looks down upon, was all the more remarkable.
“In any case, this is profitable.”
I set aside examining the true capabilities of these Factors for now, and once I finished adapting, I opened my eyes and gazed at Beatrice, who had been observing me.
-Is it over?
“Thank you for waiting. I needed a moment to stabilize.”
-Fine. I sensed it too. To possess a Rule. Absurd. To receive the blessing of not one but two Rules—and such extremely imbalanced, half-formed Divine Beings at that.
Can she perceive even that? The Queen seems to possess observation-related skills I’m unaware of. Much like my Chaos Eye.
In any case, I’ve now satisfied one condition. I want to fulfill the remaining conditions quickly.
My body burned with heat. I could see a path to grow even stronger, and I couldn’t contain myself. Beatrice, noticing my eagerness, rose from her throne.
—Follow me. There is something I wish to show you. The baptism was merely a step toward that.
A door opened leading to the Spawning Grounds, a realm known only to the Queen. Without hesitation, I followed her.
—Welcome. You have come to the space where all mysteries and history of our Kang Geo-ui Species are manifested. As you are now one of us, you will be able to master it. The power of our Kang Geo-ui ancestor—even I have not yet mastered it.
There, I beheld it. A magnificent tapestry of the heavens woven into the walls.
And the moment I felt that image, the power drifting through this chamber, something within me began to surge.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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