The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 236

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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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Episode 236
236
1.
At the center where all continents converge.
There, a desolate landscape stretched forth where nothing could be felt.
A vast expanse of land that permitted neither plant nor any living creature to exist.
The world knew it by a single name: the Land of Void.
In this realm’s most secretive and serene place, a single structure stood resolute and solitary.
A building of indeterminate age, its architectural style unknown, rose majestically at the heart of the Land of Void.
And now, within that sanctum that forbade all intrusion, several presences gathered one by one.
Those who beheld them, each radiating an extraordinary aura, would speak thus:
Beings transcendent of life itself.
Beings transcendent of lordship.
Beings transcendent of all reason.
Those who had ascended beyond all such limitations.
The Nine Heroes assembled, one after another.
As they took their seats around the circular table, each in their designated place.
I gazed upon the single empty chair that remained.
【Is it not yet time?】
A voice emerged—half-transparent, brimming with the essence of nature—yet it was no voice that belonged to this world.
Mysterious and terrifying in equal measure.
Yet among those gathered here, none harbored fear of that voice.
All were transcendent beings alike.
[Given how reclusive they are, it is only natural.]
Another hero responded to the voice that resonated with nature’s essence.
Their voice too seemed to reverberate with something ineffable.
By appearance, they took on a wondrous form as if woven from mana itself.
“….”
As the two heroes spoke thus.
A hero gripping a blade furrowed their brow sharply.
All had gathered here in response to the summons.
Yet the one who had called them was now late.
I wished to voice complaint, but dared not.
The empty seat.
Its occupant wielded a power that even the heroes assembled here could not dare defy.
All waited in silence.
Before long, chaos coalesced in the void.
Chaos so profound that even the heroes gathered here would struggle to bear alone began to concentrate.
It took form.
A being of chaos itself—appearing at once as a child and an elder, neither distinctly female nor male—gazed about the assembly with an air of grandeur.
The leader of Overpalace and the first seat of the Nine Heroes.
Black Star.
He had arrived.
Then, settling quietly into his seat, he spoke.
“Everyone has gathered.”
The one who had summoned them, yet arrived last.
Upon seeing Black Star, awe bloomed in all their hearts.
The Heroes Council had convened many times.
But the heroes occupying the seats had changed considerably each time.
Some had reached the end of their lifespans.
Others had vanished after exhausting their strength.
Still others had fallen in battle against one another.
Through such circumstances, the masters of these seats had changed countless times.
Yet there was but one seat.
Black Star’s seat had never changed hands since the Nine Heroes were born.
Even as centuries had passed.
Because of this, no hero dared defy his will.
None wished to become an enemy of Overpalace.
So they all remained silent.
“The reason I summoned you is simple. I intend to awaken Apophis, who sleeps within legend, and create a festival for the foreigners.”
【….】
[Hmm.]
“….”
At Black Star’s words, all swallowed hard.
Apophis.
Was it not a demon-like entity sealed away by the gods in ages past?
Now they would awaken such a being and hold a festival for the foreigners?
One could have cried out that this was the ravings of a madman.
Yet no one did.
Because the one who had spoken was none other than Black Star.
There could be no rebuttal.
However, one among them.
“…You mean to open Apophis merely to the foreigners, my lord?”
A hero bearing a sword questioned thus.
A hero known throughout the land as the Sword Saint, for his swordsmanship had touched the stars.
Roshin Delgard Riescan.
At his words, the other heroes regarded him as though questioning his sanity.
Was he, the youngest hero present and the most recently ascended to herohood, acting with such recklessness?
They all fixed him with gazes filled with dread.
It was not as though they stood to lose anything by remaining silent.
It had nothing to do with them, after all.
There was no reason to interfere.
Yet their expressions betrayed a different sentiment.
However, Roshin Delgard Riescan spoke with evident displeasure as he regarded the heroes.
“Apophis—the serpent of black scales sealed away by the gods themselves, a creature of legend. Being sealed, it cannot manifest its true power, or so the records claim. Yet you would surrender it to outsiders? This benefits only the outsiders, does it not?”
A rebuke, as if questioning why they would surrender what belonged to those who inhabited this world to foreigners.
At those words, several heroes exchanged glances with Black Star, yet they found themselves agreeing with the Sword Saint’s argument.
His words held truth, after all.
The outsiders were nothing more than insignificant beings at present, were they not?
Potential?
Perhaps they possessed it, but even those outsiders who had obtained a lord’s power were fools who could only wield a fraction of that strength.
Why, then, grant Apophis to them?
The Sword Saint’s grievance was entirely justified.
Even several of the other heroes were nodding in tacit agreement.
Yet toward the Sword Saint, Black Star turned his gaze.
That was all.
Merely a shift of his eyes.
And yet.
“…!!!”
Kugh—uuuuugh.
From that single meeting of gazes alone, the Sword Saint felt the space around him warp and compress, as though crushing him.
Not that it was literally happening.
Yet fearing he would be crushed and torn asunder if he remained passive, he drew his blade immediately.
A sword that cleaves space itself, that severs all concepts—he drew it forth.
And yet the oppressive force did not diminish.
“——!?”
Bewildered that even his trusted blade brought no relief from the crushing pressure, the Sword Saint faltered.
Black Star regarded him and spoke.
Though his vision and mind reeled in chaos, though his lips could scarcely move, Black Star’s voice pierced through with chilling clarity.
“Hear me well—I am not seeking permission.”
“….”
Was this a declaration, then?
Between equals among heroes?
Observing the reactions of the other heroes to such arrogant words.
They remained silent and composed, as if it were only natural.
The Sword Saint, who could never have imagined his first Heroes Council would unfold like this, found himself turning his head toward Black Star, driven by fear.
And he beheld it.
“…Ah.”
There lay an endless chaos he could never hope to approach.
Alone, he could never stand against it.
That is a monster.
Three among the Heroes?
No, even that is insufficient.
At minimum, five would be required to face it.
A monster that can only be confronted if all of them stake their lives.
Upon grasping this truth.
The strength drained from the Sword Saint’s body.
Black Star also turned his gaze toward the Sword Saint in that state.
“The reason I distribute Apophis not to satisfy my own desires, but to the outsiders, is something I believe you all understand.”
So he spoke.
Each of the Heroes nodded their heads.
【Indeed, my disciple would be pleased as well.】
[Among my disciples, there was also an outsider child.]
“Among us, who is there without an outsider disciple?”
At the words of the other three Heroes, the Sword Saint bit his lips.
For among the Sword Saint’s disciples, there was no outsider whatsoever.
Why each of these Heroes, who had transcended repeatedly until their power touched the stars, took outsiders as disciples.
I did not wish to understand.
The Sword Saint simply wished to escape this place where he had been humiliated.
Thus, when all the Heroes gave their tacit consent.
Black Star spoke one final time.
“I shall open Apophis.”
All the Heroes nodded their heads.
Only the Sword Saint bit his lips, bowed his head, and trembled throughout his body.
And watching such the Sword Saint, Black Star thought.
‘He intends to meddle with the Hero again in such a petty manner.’
He even considered eliminating that contemptible wretch right then, but shook his head inwardly.
It mattered not.
‘The Successor has already begun to make his move.’
One such as I must never dare to interfere with the great one’s designs.
The Heroes seemed to have no other topics or matters to discuss.
The Heroes Council ended there, and the Heroes gathered from each continent rose from their seats one by one and departed.
Of course, the Sword Saint left first.
Black Star watched the departing Heroes and whispered with amusement.
“I wonder how far the disciples of the other children can truly reach toward the Successor. How delightful.”
Black Star spoke thus and rose from his seat.
And as the last to rise, two Heroes remained around Black Star and bowed their heads.
【At last, we shall be able to present a magnificent gift to the Successor.】
[With all the Heroes cooperating thus, even the will of the world cannot resist.】
A being like a fairy given form by the essence of nature, and a being created by the concentrated convergence of mana’s essence into one.
The world knew of a hero called the Spirit Saint—the king of spirits whose natural essence touched the stars.
And a hero called the Mana Saint—the king of all mages whose mana reached the heavens.
Both of them bowed their heads to Black Star as they spoke.
Even if Black Star were the greatest master, it was unthinkable for them to follow so obediently.
In other words, it was possible precisely because they were both members of Overpalace.
Black Star looked at the two and spoke.
“It will take several days for Apophis to awaken. Until then, mobilize your disciples.”
【As you command.】
[Of course, my lord.]
At their words, Black Star nodded while observing them both.
There was still one more left to handle.
But that one would manage well enough on their own, Black Star thought, and moved on.
Things would become busy from here on out, preparing to awaken Apophis.
As Black Star turned away, I found myself already at Overpalace.
And sensing Apophis’s essence slumbering in the void, I smiled.
“I shall offer my devotion.”
Solely for our new master.
2.
The Heroes Council.
It was less a meeting and more a formal announcement.
In any case, when that meeting concluded.
Yoo Sung-hyun stepped out of the Capsule, lost in deep thought.
‘Apophis.’
When I asked Kalina for an explanation.
She said the Heroes Council had convened to awaken Apophis for my sake.
I was surprised the scale could grow this large.
But since it would ultimately benefit me.
‘So this is an event that players of all levels can enjoy.’
And they intended to give me special rewards for it.
Though apparently I had to reach level 200 first.
Still, Overpalace had prepared hunting grounds for this.
It didn’t seem that difficult.
However.
‘I should probably share this information.’
Since I’d obtained advance knowledge.
Wouldn’t it be better to share it with the Guilds?
By sharing this information, I wouldn’t suffer any losses.
It seemed I was simply stepping onto the stage Overpalace had prepared.
So it didn’t matter.
Even searching through the E-World homepage and community forums on my computer, there was no information about Apophis yet.
Still, we’re from the same guild.
Isn’t this when we help each other out?
Yoo Sung-hyun thought this way and was about to contact Rapid and An Yoo-jin.
Just then, Yoo Mi-na also emerged from the Capsule and asked Yoo Sung-hyun.
“Yoo Sung-hyun, shouldn’t you eat something?”
Upon hearing those words, Yoo Sung-hyun paused and looked at Yoo Mi-na thoughtfully.
Once the previous level concluded, Yoo Mi-na would participate as well.
Since they said it was divided by level.
‘Would battles between solo rankers appear too?’
Now that’s something I’d like to see.

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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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