novelraw Chapter 307 : The One Who Yearns (1)
Chapter 307 : The One Who Yearns (1)
After swiftly taking down three Great Overlords, Su-hyeon now receives love and respect bordering on religious worship from the residents both inside and outside the [Human Fortress].
Especially during the time when Su-hyeon had briefly disappeared into Furcas's multi-dimension.
Those who witnessed the fierce battle fought by the Execution Force members to stop the powerful demons gained a renewed appreciation for just how strong and extraordinary Su-hyeon truly was.
"At this point, it really feels almost like a religion."
"I suppose it's only natural. After all, he actually exists, can be seen right before our eyes, and even performs miracles. In this time when over 90 percent of humanity has been killed, how many humans must have perished while searching for God?"
Even the staff members in the Chief of Staff's office were exchanging such serious conversations.
"In any case, Special Operations Captain Jeong Su-hyeon's power as a symbol is absolute."
Kim Cheol-han, who had been Su-hyeon's homeroom instructor, had no disagreement with that fact.
"But right now, don't we have plenty of more important matters than the religious veneration of Special Operations Captain Jeong Su-hyeon?"
"That's right."
The staff members awkwardly cleared their throats and changed the subject.
"As he said, recruiting allies for the final battle is the most important thing now."
"The most crucial places are the shelters in regions where the Great Overlords have disappeared."
"We're compiling a list and distribution map of shelters that are responding to our various communication methods."
"We plan to begin negotiations with the friendly ones and those with strong military power first."
Conversations flew back and forth busily, and Heo Sung-gyeom, who had been listening with his arms crossed, nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Is there still no report from Seol Ji-yun's side?"
"No. There was a report that they arrived at the shelter 30 minutes ago, but no additional contact since then."
"I hope there will be good results."
Heo Sung-gyeom said.
"That place is..., a location with Awakened who could immediately become military strength."
"Unbelievable! Is that true?"
The largest shelter in Los Angeles was not only a shelter but also claimed to be the interim state government of California, forming the largest organization in the eastern United States.
And the owner of that shelter was Brett Russell, an S-rank Awakened and once one of the strongest hunters in America.
"You know it well, don't you? That the demons' invasion has disappeared since that day."
"...Yes. We were really pushed to our limits, but thanks to that, we were able to catch our breath."
He was an accomplished expert whose name was known even in foreign countries, but.
Until very recently, the shelter he led had been in a precarious situation, like a candle in the wind, in the face of Furcas's great demon army.
"From now on, your enemies will only be the remnants of demons and the Ma-in who have fallen to become their minions."
The one saying this was the 3rd Unit Captain "Flame Emperor" Seol Ji-yun, who had been dispatched as a special envoy.
"If it's the words of none other than the 'Flame Emperor,' I have no reason not to believe it."
Brett Russell elegantly wiped the sweat from his balding crown with a handkerchief.
"You know who I am?"
"Of course. The fame of the Flame Emperor has been talked about endlessly even across the Pacific."
"I'm honored."
'Captain Seol, you speak English surprisingly well.'
Seo Jun-seong, sitting quietly beside him, thought.
"Ah, but who might you be...?"
As attention suddenly turned to him, Seo Jun-seong quickly offered a handshake.
"I'm 2nd Unit Captain Seo Jun-seong."
"Oh! A captain? You look really young."
"He's an S-rank powerhouse. Despite being only 19 years old."
"My goodness."
"He was also a classmate and rival of Special Operations Captain Jeong Su-hyeon, who killed five Great Overlords."
"My word."
"At this point, even the title of rival is embarrassing."
Seo Jun-seong cleared his throat.
"I see that truly remarkable people have come. This is an honor."
Brett Russell burst into hearty laughter and, with a mix of welcome and slight wariness, got to the point.
"Well, may I slowly begin to hear the purpose of your visit here?"
"Gladly."
Seol Ji-yun replied.
"Together with the Special Operations Captain, we will win this long battle and rebuild the destroyed world."
"With that man who overwhelmed Great Overlord Furcas—whom we couldn't defeat even if we combined all our strength—I suppose the possibility is certainly there."
Even while saying this, Brett Russell didn't miss his question.
"But reconstruction, you say. Is that really possible? Too many people have died. According to our estimates, even with the most hopeful calculations, we believe over 90 percent have died."
Russell's expression as he spoke was filled with grief and devastation.
"How much technology and knowledge has been lost because of this? Modern society was nothing less than one enormous network. They say they managed to rebuild during the Gate Era, but the situation now is completely different."
At that point, Seo Jun-seong and Min Hae-na even smiled slightly.
"That's exactly it. Our [Human Fortress] contains all kinds of infrastructure, backup data, and various technicians and scholars."
"What did you say!"
Brett Russell's eyes widened.
"That's like Noah's Ark, isn't it!"
"Precisely."
Seo Jun-seong said.
"And this is the result of arrangements made by Special Operations Captain Jeong Su-hyeon, who had prophesied the end long ago."
"My, my."
Russell's laughter contained a mixture of dejection, relief, and astonishment.
"Is he... some kind of god?"
"He is human."
Seo Jun-seong said.
"But beyond extreme talent, extreme determination, and extreme trials... he is a being who has transcended humanity. He calls himself and Belphegor the only 'Transcendents' in the world."
"Transcendent, is it."
Russell nodded.
"Indeed. Before Furcas, all we could do was soil ourselves in fear and do nothing. The only reason I survived was because I was the most cowardly in the first battle. ...Perhaps someone who can kill such a being should rightfully be called a Transcendent."
"Yes. But before we discuss reconstruction, we must win the final battle."
"The final battle?"
"The battle against Belphegor, the true king of the demon realm who rules over the Great Overlords."
Russell showed a skeptical reaction to Seol Ji-yun's words.
"As you know, we couldn't even handle a single Great Overlord and had to hide away like this."
"It was the same for us too."
Seo Jun-seong interjected.
"Until Special Operations Captain Jeong Su-hyeon returned, that is."
"Hmm."
To Russell, who was lost in thought with his arms crossed, Seo Jun-seong continued.
"Let me convey the Special Operations Captain's message. He says that only those who have the courage to participate now will have the right to have their voices heard in the subsequent reconstruction."
"...!"
After pondering the meaning behind those words, Russell soon said:
"A frightening man, isn't he."
"Yes. But he's also stronger and more upright than anyone."
"Now I understand. The real intention behind your visit here is..."
"Yes. For the sake of the future, and for the upcoming battle, we are gathering strong comrades."
"Then I suppose there are guests visiting other shelters as well."
"We're covering the United States. Other captains have been dispatched to different continents."
"My, my."
In these times, who else could show such level of initiative?
That alone was enough to sway Russell's heart toward them.
"Of course, an alliance should be beneficial to both sides. If you join the battle, we can provide various supplies and technologies to help greatly in rebuilding civilization."
"Indeed. That's certainly a good condition."
The conversation continued.
And the three people soon succeeded in finding a satisfactory agreement.
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The second-ranked Great Overlord, Belred.
His essence was that of a recluse and a seeker.
Unlike other Great Overlords who each enjoyed domination, ruling, slaughter, or amusement.
Achieving 'transcendence,' which all demons dream of, was the only goal remaining in his life.
For this reason, he rarely appeared in public, and demons gave him the name Belred, 'The One Who Lurks in Hiding.'
It was after a truly long time that he revealed himself to attack Earth beyond Nastrond.
Thus, he became the ruler of Europe.
There was a separate reason why he chose Europe.
Europe had always been the continent of magicians where black magic, magic, and occult arts were most developed.
Even in the Middle Ages, when the hidden world's occult arts were closest to humans before the Gate Era.
Europe had many magicians who gained special powers through contact with demons.
The story of Mephistopheles and Faust was particularly famous.
Besides that, many magicians, witches, and alchemists sold their souls to demons in pursuit of sweet truth.
That's why he came to the European continent rather than the United States, Northeast Asia, or the Middle East.
He hoped that knowledge, now forgotten even among demons, might have been passed down and could help his transcendence.
However.
Even there, he didn't find knowledge that could help him or interesting enemies.
Most of them didn't go beyond the level of trivial skills, remnants of knowledge discarded by lower demons and developed as side branches through their own transmission.
Occasionally, ancient magicians equivalent to S-rank or special Awakened would stand in his way and fight desperately.
But human military power was merely, at best, at a level where even if all the Korean Awakened, said to have the strongest forces, rushed in together, they would helplessly collapse before lower-ranked Great Overlords like Malek or Andromalius.
"If it's going to be like this, I should have just stayed in Nastrond."
With those words, he created his own floating castle somewhere in the heart of Western Europe, between France and Germany, and secluded himself.
Then, leaving destruction and dominion to his subordinates, he himself was immersed in training and meditation to surpass his current state.
'...What is transcendence?'
'What Belphegor has and I don't.'
'What is it?'
'Is transcendence a single state determined from birth?'
'Or is it simply extremely difficult to reach the end, even with the potential?'
Many questions followed one after another, but he couldn't find a clear answer.
But recently, there was a being who had caused ripples in his mind.
Jeong Su-hyeon.
The only being who had achieved transcendence while being human, and one of the only Transcendents existing in the current world.
A being that Belphegor himself strangely paid attention to.
'Belphegor knew of Jeong Su-hyeon's potential. How on earth?'
There were more than just one or two questions.
'How could a human, a mayfly who hasn't even lived 20 years, reach the state of transcendence?'
Even Ju Taeyang, a human born with the body and mind of a dragon, had barely set foot on the edge of transcendence after living nearly four times as long.
It was truly surprising that Jeong Su-hyeon, who at that time couldn't handle even one Malek even when joining forces with Ju Taeyang, disappeared for a year after the massive explosion that consumed Malek, and then returned.
Not only that, but the returned Su-hyeon killed Andromalius, Crosell, Furcas, Allocer, and Nebirhos.
Though a recluse, he kept his subordinates' eyes and ears open.
He could watch Su-hyeon's battles through vivid magical images.
It was truly a marvelous sight.
A higher state than Crosell.
Stronger power than Allocer.
Superior skill than Furcas.
The ability to return to the original world even when trapped in the multi-dimension, from which even he couldn't guarantee his return—wasn't that truly the ability of a Transcendent?
He trembled.
And he sensed.
'Now he will come looking for me.'
If he truly was one who had transcended.
He would not be able to defeat Jeong Su-hyeon.
But despite that, he was eagerly anticipating Su-hyeon's arrival.
There were too many things he was curious about.
And sometimes, the clash of fists speaks more eloquently than words.
Perhaps he could find a clue to transcendence.
...However.
Even he hadn't anticipated this situation.
"Join hands with you?"
"Yes."
In the deepest part of the floating castle, where even Belphegor's eyes couldn't reach.
"Me, a demon, and you, a human?"
Belred was confused about how to react to this outrageous proposal.
"That's right."
"...Haha."
Though he was laughing, he didn't find it funny at all.
"You, what exactly are you thinking?"
"Before that."
Su-hyeon raised his hand.
"May I ask for a cup of tea?"
"...?"
"..."
Belred, who had been dumbfounded, growled.
"Shall I mix in poison?"
"If you have a deadly poison that can kill me."
Su-hyeon calmly replied.
"That wouldn't be too bad either."