novelraw Chapter 75 : O-World (1)
Chapter 75 : O-World (1)
Chapter 75: O-World (1)
[Prophecy: Soon, another Judas shall awaken. (1)]
Judas.
A name that could only symbolize betrayal.
Damn it.
Yohan’s expression twisted sharply.
Only one of the Heavenly Scribes had received this prophecy.
That meant it was extremely classified information.
There was no reason someone like Lee Jaehwan, whose rank was still low, would suddenly be given a prophecy of this level.
Unless, of course, there was a particular reason for it.
‘It must mean that, in one way or another, this has something to do with us.’
At the very least, it concerned Daejeon.
If he narrowed it down even further, it meant that someone currently within O-World would betray them.
That was the most reasonable interpretation.
After Reina and Go Hanil, was there really going to be another betrayal?
‘Rodbrock or Lagertha? Or perhaps Vivian or Lee Jaehwan?’
His thoughts grew tangled.
Calm down.
First, he needed to sort things out one by one.
‘If the prophecy was about the Vikings, it would’ve said Judases—not Judas.’
It was extremely unlikely that only one of the two who acted almost as one mind and body would betray the other.
Vivian was also hard to put on the suspect list.
If she learned the truth and raged, it wouldn’t be betrayal—it would be called “retribution” or “execution.”
But prophecies were absolute.
Though the timing wasn’t fixed, one among them would eventually betray the others.
Whether in this episode or sometime after.
Yohan firmly engraved that in his mind.
“Thanks. That helps a lot.”
“Ju–Judas… it’s not talking about me, right? I swear, it’s not me, bro.”
“Yeah. I believe you. Don’t worry.”
If he were the betrayer, he wouldn’t have revealed the prophecy in the first place.
Would it be too much of a stretch to think he had considered even that possibility?
Tch. His head felt more and more muddled.
Yohan cooled his mind down.
Right now, finding an unknown traitor mattered less than seizing the opportunity created by the rampaging yokai and ghosts.
Of course, leaving this place was not going to be easy.
Flash—!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
A beam of green light slashed through the air.
The ground melted instantly, and holes formed in trees and rocks.
“In my domain… you dare… think you’ll all die… comfortably?!”
Tearing through dozens of ghosts, the master of this base revealed itself.
Blood splattered in heavy droplets.
“Kik… kikik….”
“It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.”
Shredded pieces of half-devoured yokai were scattered all around.
Its mouth gaped open, and its blazing eyes radiated murderous intent so intense it seemed to pierce one’s lungs.
[The master of the base gazes upon the intruders.]
Gluttony, towering high into the sky, spread dozens of its arms wide.
Creak—crack.
Its shriveled arms formed a circle.
A green sphere gathered in its palms.
[Gluttony activates Lv8 ‘Annihilation Cannon’!]
What followed was a nightmarish bombardment.
The field of vision flipped.
The Annihilation Cannon, made of condensed acid lumps, had a property that partially ignored “holy resistance.”
“Uwoooooh!”
Rodbrock roared as he hurled himself forward.
A hellfire erupted where he had been standing a moment earlier.
A thick, murky green cloud spread through the air.
[Status effect: ‘Vision Distortion’ applied!]
Just inhaling that mist distorted one’s sense of distance.
“Hold your breath! Don’t breathe it in!”
But it was too late.
Everyone except Reina had slightly unfocused eyes.
At this rate, even reaching their destination would be difficult.
He scattered Sleet to neutralize some of the toxin, but it was only a temporary fix.
Kwak-kwak-kwang!
Puh-puh-puhng!
The incoming Annihilation Cannons, predicting their escape routes, severely limited their movement range.
Zigzagging—then breaking the rhythm to steal the opponent’s timing.
Tatadada… Tak!
Yohan leapt over the fountain and immediately ran up the stairs.
“Do you think… you can run… away!”
Dozens of arms crawled across the ground toward him.
It looked like a swarm of starving piranhas rushing in.
The Sin of Gluttony, who stuffed everything within reach into its massive jaws, made no distinction between humans and yokai.
“Tch!”
Reina instantly pulled out shining webs.
[Reina activates Unique Ability ‘Arcade World’!]
Shhhhhh—
She made them as sticky as possible, trying to slow its movements even a little.
And surprisingly, against Gluttony—who had dozens of arms—that tactic worked quite well.
“Graaaaaaah!”
Gluttony roared in irritation.
The sticky webs tangled around its limbs, greatly hindering its movements.
“Huh? Wh–Why is that working so well?”
Reina looked genuinely startled.
‘That’s why you can never underestimate compatibility.’
In specific situations, how and against what kind of enemy one fought—
That kind of strategic depth was precisely the charm and essence of Forbidden Book.
They melted into the foggy distance caused by Sleet during the confusion.
Since the enemy couldn’t figure out where they had gone, they could at least buy a few minutes.
Yohan pulled out a map.
“Rodbrock, you go this way. Lagertha, that way. Jaehwan, hide inside that building.”
“You mean to split up?”
“What’s in these places anyway?”
Rodbrock and Lagertha immediately asked as they checked the map.
“You’ll find out once you get there.”
The various facilities within O-World had gained special abilities and effects due to being turned into bases.
Given their traits and professions, the two of them would probably be able to use them.
“I’ll stay near the food court.”
Lee Jaehwan chose what looked to be the safest spot.
Since a Heavenly Scribe was far removed from combat, hiding was the best move in a situation like this.
Still, he’d have to prepare some kind of self-defense item or skill for him later.
Finally—
“Reina. You stay with me.”
“What’s our role?”
What else?
“We’re going to hold out here until those two return.”
“Wait—hold out? Just the two of us?”
Reina’s face instantly turned pale.
She looked like a rice cake covered thickly in glutinous powder.
Her eyebrows twitched several times per second—it almost looked like a broken toy.
Yohan lightly patted her shoulder.
“It’s possible.”
If he used the preparations wisely, they could somehow manage.
After all, he hadn’t come to O-World just to run away.
Well, Reina, who wasn’t fully prepared, might drop out midway, but that couldn’t be helped.
Sacrifices were inevitable in battle.
“Warrior of Steel, will that be alright? If we leave too, it’ll get even tougher for you.”
“The more you succeed in your part, the higher the chance we have of beating Gluttony. So focus on your job.”
“And if we fail?”
“Hmm… I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
However—
“Someone once said…”
That the great warriors of the North never failed the missions they were given.
“Understood. I’ll make sure to live up to that expectation.”
Rodbrock nodded, his expression firmer than usual.
“I’ll be back as fast as I can, Brother Kang!”
Lagertha also dashed toward the location marked on the map.
Now then—time to start the real game here, too.
Wooooong!
Yohan drew out the hidden card he’d been saving in his Subspace.
An item he’d brought from the Louvre Museum—Statue of Nike of Samothrace.
Depending on how mana was infused into it, it could demonstrate anywhere from 1% to 100% of its power.
‘If used properly, it’ll be a tremendous help. But without the right method, it’s nothing more than goblin-level clay.’
He infused 16% into the head, 8% into the left arm, 17% into the right arm, 15% into each leg—and finally—
27% into the body, and 1% each into the sword and shield.
[Magical energy distribution optimized.]
[Statue of Nike of Samothrace manifests!]
A sharp, gleaming blade. A shield as solid as iron.
And clad in dazzling armor—
The holy Goddess of Victory, who still retained a fragment of divine power, appeared before them.
—To the one who breathed life into the relic made in my image. Until the power of this statue fades, I shall grant your wish.
“Thank you. Then please, face the darkness that dwells in this land.”
—So shall it be.
Boom!
Nike turned her body.
Crackle—!
White sparks spread in every direction.
‘A fully manifested Nike statue can exert power equivalent to a 4th-Rank Divinity.’
She should be able to buy them some time even against Gluttony.
And then—
Yohan focused mana into his left index finger.
He slowly traced characters into the air with his magic.
Ancient Yokai Script.
Runes meaning [Obedience], [Bond], and [Prey] combined into a single phrase.
[Lantern Bottle begins to sing.]
[Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (百鬼夜祝祭) activates!]
[The yokai and spirits begin their midnight banquet.]
Run No. 869.
Back then, he had become the King of the Hundred Ghosts through the profession known as Spirit Caller.
Like a Western necromancer, he had once commanded a legion alone—an army of countless ghosts and yokai.
Of course, he no longer possessed the same abilities and skills as back then.
“Kikik.”
“Familiar… scent. Fragrant. I like it.”
“I can… feel… the aura of a king.”
His body remembered that sensation vividly.
So then—
It was time to lead that same army once more.
Just then—
Tudududu—
From another passage, figures wearing black hoods rushed in.
It was the Requiem Cult’s priest, Kain Belmaier, and the priests who followed him.
“Hah, so now you’re even commanding yokai? And to think you’ve subjugated creatures created using our cult’s sacred relics.”
Kain clicked his tongue after glancing at the statue and the yokai.
“You’re looking well yourself. Guess sticking close to your boss has been treating you nicely—no stress, huh?”
“Survival by siding with the strong—that’s the essence of this episode, isn’t it? I’m merely following that principle better than anyone else.”
Always running his mouth.
He’d have to ask Kim Geunsik to dig up detailed intel on that guy later.
“Before we begin—are you still unwilling to join us?”
“No.”
“I see… haha. Getting rejected by a man over and over really doesn’t feel great.”
Kain’s smile vanished in an instant.
His eyes, now cold as ice, held not a trace of hesitation or lingering emotion.
Thunk.
The lollipop he’d been chewing fell to the ground.
And that was the signal.
[Kain activates Skill Lv1 ‘Sphere of Vengeful Spirits’!]
[Beckerman Benedict activates Lv1 ‘Cursed Arrow’!]
[Roan activates…!]
[…Activating!]
The barrage of spells was unleashed all at once.
Kwakwakwakwa!
The yokai hurled themselves forward to intercept the bombardment.
They said when a woman held a grudge, frost would fall in midsummer—
But when a man held a grudge, the curse would strike from beneath your feet without warning.
＊＊＊
Kwaang!
Rodbrock vaulted high and lifted his head.
Passing the plaza before the waterfall where the battle raged, he entered deeper within—where the amusement rides began to appear.
“So that’s what he meant…”
He finally understood what Yohan’s earlier words implied.
A massive ship swinging up and down—the Viking.
Even though there were no real waves, before Rodbrock’s eyes was a vessel cleaving through rough seas.
Indeed, this could not have been made for anyone but him.
The problem was—
“Grrr…”
“Gwooooh!”
—Minotaurs wielding enormous hammers and halberds were standing guard around it.
Seven in total.
Each one bore the Divine Rank of a Moon (月).
Just then—
Kwakwakwakwa!
Kwakwang! Puhpuhpuhng!
A deafening explosion resounded from far away.
The ground quaked violently.
Every hair on his body bristled as though pricked by countless needles.
“Glu…ttony.”
Rodbrock’s pupils trembled.
The real battle had begun.
The Requiem Cult’s priests—and the master of this base, protected by them—
Their overwhelming power surpassed imagination itself.
‘They’re fighting that monster right now?’
There was no time to sit and groan.
He had to break through.
As fast as possible.
To protect the comrades who were holding the line.
Thud!
No need for strategy or tactics.
Like a true Viking warrior, all he needed was to charge head-on with his body.
All that mattered was a burning heart—and the will to protect someone.
“Khahaha! My comrades are waiting. Come at me, you calves—all at once!”
Blue mana began to spread slowly across Rodbrock’s axe.