Chapter 331
Chapter 331: Cataclysm (4)
All stats +1000.
It was the first time in his life receiving such a reward.
He had experienced raid clear rewards, hidden quest completions, world boss kills, and everything in the game, but this was on a completely different level.
A figure no different from raising his level by 1000 at once.
The Seven Lords weren't strong for nothing.
They were existences who had lived sucking up such rewards for hundreds of years. It would actually be stranger if they were weak.
However, even such a tremendous reward did not really catch his eye right now.
It was exactly the second reward.
[2. One of the Death Emperor's legacies is given!]
It was because of the equipment placed before his eyes along with this message. Kim Minwoo looked at the equipment placed before his eyes.
‘No, can this even be called equipment?’
Thump.
Thump.
A pitch-black object fluctuating endlessly.
That was a heart.
[Death Emperor's Heart]
[Rank: Mythical]
[A heart carved out from the chest of a legendary ruler long ago. Maximizes the power of death.]
[Effect 1. Special Item. Upon equipping, it fuses with the existing heart. Upon fusion, the accumulation speed of death's divinity significantly increases.]
[Effect 2. ‘Heart Descent’ available ― For a certain period of time, the heart is completely replaced with the Death Lord's. During this time, the power of Descent significantly increases. However, the heart is damaged after use, and a penalty is given for a certain period.]
[Effect 3. ‘Immortal Framework’ ― Upon receiving a critical attack that would cause instant death, the heart shatters instead and recovers all wounds. Additionally, goes out of control briefly. (Cooldown 1 year)]
[Effect 4. ???]
[* The heart's true power is still sealed. More powerful power might awaken if specific conditions are met.]
Kim Minwoo's eyes narrowed.
‘This is crazy.’
Even the first effect was crazy. The accumulation speed of divinity significantly increases? From his position of being chased by tight time even now, this was truly a blessing.
Was that all.
‘Heart Descent’ elevates the already cheat-like Descent skill even further. Although it says there is a penalty, it meant he had one more card to use in a crucial moment.
‘Immortal Framework’ needed no words.
Ignores an instant death attack once.
Because the cooldown is 1 year, he couldn't use it often, but being able to refuse death once in any situation meant there was nothing better than this to turn the tide of battle.
On top of that, even the question mark effect.
As was always the case with Death Lord related items, the hidden effects were usually more atrocious than the main body.
‘There's no option of not using it.’
Kim Minwoo's gaze still lingered on the pulsating heart.
However…….
‘……Because it's my first time with this kind of item.’
To think it's an item that replaces an organ rather than equipment.
As expected of a Death Lord's item, one might say it's bizarre.
Kim Minwoo looked down at the heart.
The black mass was beating thump-thump on his palm. As if it were alive. No, it was actually alive. While harboring the power of death.
‘Hesitating won't change anything.’
He was going to use it anyway. There was no reason not to use it. Increased divinity accumulation speed, Descent enhancement, instant death nullification. With this level of performance, it was worth bearing even if there were some side effects.
“Whatever.”
He brought the heart to his chest.
In an instant.
Seureureuk―.
The black heart melted in. It wasn't piercing the skin. It just seeped in. Like water being sucked into sand, without boundaries.
“…….”
It was strange.
It didn't hurt. That was even more creepy. The heart was clearly digging into his body, but only a sense of foreignness washed over him, not pain.
Kung.
Deep within his chest, something meshed together.
Kung. Kung.
The sensation of something else being overlaid onto his own heart. The original heartbeat and the new heartbeat overlapped. It didn't even take a few seconds for the two rhythms to synchronize into one.
Kung―!
An intense pulsation swept through his entire body.
“Keuh.”
Kim Minwoo furrowed his brow.
It wasn't the feeling of blood circulating.
Something else was circulating.
Something cold, heavy, and sticky.
What flowed through his veins felt not like life, but death itself.
His fingertips tingled.
His vision blurred for a moment and then returned. As he inhaled, it felt like somewhere other than his lungs was swelling up.
‘……Don't tell me.’
Anxiety brushed past him.
It's not like he had stopped being human, right?
Kim Minwoo took out a dagger from his inner pocket.
He lightly cut his index finger.
Seueuk.
The flesh split.
Red blood trickled down.
Scarlet color, warm heat.
It was definitely human blood.
“……Well, that's a relief.”
Kim Minwoo muttered while wiping the blood.
Blood was still circulating.
He was still human.
Only his heart had become a bit peculiar.
He placed his hand on his chest.
Kung. Kung. Kung.
A heavy pulsation struck his palm.
It was stronger than before.
It was deeper than before.
It was as if a drum was being beaten in the abyss.
‘I'll get used to it quickly.’
The corners of his mouth went up slightly.
The rewards did not end here.
[Skipping all processes, you have ascended to the position of ‘Divine Being’ in District 1!]
[Heavenly City Free Pass is given!]
[Heavenly City Free Pass]
[A pass that allows movement from District 1 to District 9.]
[Effect 1. Upon use, movement from District 1 to District 9 is possible.]
[Effect 2. Can freely move between the Heavenly City and Earth anytime, anywhere.]
[〈Tip!〉 You are in the state of a ‘Divine Being’.]
[A penalty is given upon entering lower districts from District 2 and below!]
[However, considering your current special state, a grace period of three months is given.]
“It means to devour everything within three months.”
Because otherwise, he would have to proceed while taking penalties whenever he comes down in the future.
It didn't matter.
The time spent occupying District 7 was a little over a week at most.
District 6 as well, was already in the process of being occupied.
Now that he had cleft the Blood Wolf in two, there were absolutely no factions that dared to oppose Kim Minwoo.
Even the large guilds that were the existing top dogs were busy avoiding Kim Minwoo.
‘Of course, even so, it's not like I can go straight to District 1 and run wild right now, though…….’
Even though he had used divinity like water, there was still an accumulated value.
Descent was still available for use.
However, Guidance of Destiny was different.
[Guidance of Destiny (SSS)]
[Cooldown: 2 months]
This, had a cooldown of two months.
If he went up relying only on Descent, he could end up exhausted in District 1. So a structure of going up slowly was better.
District 6 was a hellscape.
The traces left by Lupus's self-destruction were gruesome.
In the place where the blood-red tsunami had swept through, only the skeletal frames of buildings rose gauntly.
Melted rebars, corroded concrete, corpses whose forms could not be recognized. Blood and debris were mixed together, turning the entire street into a red mud pit.
The Legion Commanders walked over it.
Cedric pushed away the debris with the tip of his spear.
Vulcan's whip swept between the collapsed buildings.
Olivia scoured the alleys like a shadow and dragged out those who had been hiding.
Order was being established.
The order of death.
“Kneel.”
Cedric's voice rang out.
The surviving guild leaders and faction representatives lined up in a row. The remnants of Red Flag, the neutral merchant alliance, the mercenary guild leadership. Every single one of them was bowing their heads while covered in blood-red dust.
Kim Minwoo stood before them.
The hem of his black coat fluttered in the bloody wind.
The crown above his head shone faintly. The mist of death rose from beneath his feet and licked the napes of those kneeling.
“I will only say this once.”
It was a low voice.
“District 6 taxes, order. From now on, they go by the standards of the Death Cult.”
Silence.
There were no objections. There was no one who could object.
With the member of the Seven Lords who ruled this district until just a moment ago having turned to ash and scattered, who would dare open their mouth?
District 6, District 7.
It was now completely his land.
＊ ＊ ＊
Upon returning to his headquarters, a message was waiting.
Jjiiing—.
It wasn't a system window.
An envelope engraved with the Shadow emblem.
It was express information sent by Lilith.
Kim Minwoo tore open the envelope.
Inside was a thick report. His eyes were drawn to it from the very first page.
『District 1 Political Situation Report』
The current status of the Seven Lords was organized clearly at a glance.
Witch Medea, Heavenly Demon Yoo Honbi, Time Observer Chronos, Rifter Nasrak, down to Iron Emperor Balder.
Among them, information regarding Time Observer Chronos, Rifter Nasrak, and Steel Emperor Balder was written down.
『Time Observer Chronos』
The ruler of time and observation.
The designer of the Heavenly City's test system and the existence who manages the ranking system. Has never been witnessed fighting directly. However, rumors say the future he ‘sees’ is absolutely realized.
Information is extremely limited even within District 1.
Caution required.
『Rifter Nasrak』
The lord of space and rifts.
The one who guards the dimensional boundary where Outer Gods infiltrate, and simultaneously the one closest to that boundary.
Not trusted even within the Heavenly City.
Suspicions of making some sort of deal with Outer Gods never cease.
『Steel Emperor Balder』
The incarnation of metal and order.
Oversees administration, military, and law enforcement in District 1.
An emperor-type ruler who established an imperial ruling system.
Evaluated as the strongest in head-on combat among the Seven Lords.
Within his territory, everything is subordinated to the ‘law’.
The three of them had one thing in common.
That their amount of activity was not that high even in District 1.
They were not existences running wild here and there like Heavenly Demon Yoo Honbi or Blood Wolf Lupus.
Even so, for them to be revered as the Seven Lords…….
‘There must be a reason.’
Just by looking at them, all three seemed like very troublesome types of existences.
The names, spheres of influence, and even the dispositions of the remaining four. Predictions of the secret feuds that would occur over Lupus's empty seat were also added.
It was the moment he saw that.
[You are one of the Seven Lords!]
[The ‘Invitation of the Seven Lords’ arrives!]
“……Huh?”
Along with the message, a paper was placed in Kim Minwoo's hand.