novelraw Chapter 163: Reverse (2)
Chapter 163: Reverse (2)
Translator: Dreamscribe
The 1st FS Games Erosion Headquarters Company Dinner!
The dinner continued in a joyful atmosphere.
Hasman and Hallon struck poses as they raised their glasses, and Luceren and Garsha blended into the mood, quietly chatting. Everyone who knew the truth of Episode 4 had officially joined FS Games' Erosion Headquarters.
Creating new identities wasn’t difficult.
With Jinwoo’s magic, money, and connections, it could be quickly resolved.
It would be a great help for the many things to be done going forward. After all, there were many limits to what Jinwoo could do alone.
The Research Lab had various convenient facilities, so there was nothing lacking for everyone to stay there. Inside the Research Lab, there were no people, so they could act freely. In the pleasant atmosphere, Jinwoo successfully wrapped up the dinner.
The next day.
“Aren’t you all going back?”
Jinwoo said this while looking at those who were still around.
The representatives of the cities with schedules had returned, but the others showed no signs of leaving.
“This body must be weak, I keep getting sleepy.”
Helby fell asleep on the sofa while reading a comic book. Around her were piles of snacks and soda.
Jinwoo poked her cheek with his finger, but she was completely asleep and didn’t respond. She felt even more cat-like than the Beastkin. She was thoroughly enjoying the feeling of sleep that came from the fatigue accumulating in her body.
Hallon and Hasman walked around outside, enjoying the attention pouring onto them.
“We have received the reward for overcoming the Trial of Light.”
“So this... is what life is? Just how much of life have I missed out on....”
The Archmage is the god of light!
Hallon, the former pope of Ella, even showed signs of wanting to serve Jinwoo as a new god. The two of them had tears in their eyes, touched by the favorable gazes they were receiving for the first time in their lives.
They looked like they were about to ascend through the Soul Gate.
‘...They’re even doing SNS now.’
Even though no one had taught them, the two uploaded photos to SNS.
The photos, taken while posing dramatically, received quite a lot of attention. Hasman even boasted that he got a modeling offer.
“I think we can add equipment from the Magic Tower. I’ll upgrade the facilities at the Research Lab too. Hmm, maybe building a Magic Tower in Seoul wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Tiris had gone around the electronics market and returned with lots of purchases, while Tia had bought a large number of books from a bookstore.
Ella went sightseeing.
‘Hmm....’
They all seemed happy, so Jinwoo decided to let them be.
Since all of them held important positions, they had never been able to enjoy themselves freely in Arsilan. Now, like Heroes, they could hide everything and enjoy their freedom.
Jinwoo’s Research Lab had become a healing space!
Tia, who had been reading a book, turned her gaze to Jinwoo.
“By the way, about the next Grand Rift. For reversed Leon to appear, things can’t go too smoothly, even if we don’t fail to block the Rift, right?”
“That’s probably true.”
“Then the place where the next Grand Rift appears will be quite difficult.”
Most likely, yes?
It was going to be a bit tough. It wasn’t something to be happy about just because it was the next in line, but of course, the branch managers or Heroes had no way of knowing that.
Let’s keep it a secret forever.
“Then I’ll work on the scenario.”
“I’ll create the physical body. You can look forward to it.”
Tia and Tiris became very serious.
Everything about reversed Leon would be entrusted to them.
Arsilan was still steeped in the euphoria of victory. The optimistic belief that they could defeat any enemy had taken root in everyone’s hearts. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it needed to be checked at least once.
They couldn’t always win when fighting higher beings of Erosion.
‘Then....’
Even if they fell, how they fell would matter. For that reason, Episode 4 Chapter 2 was going to be a bit more intense.
Of course, fun and emotion would be packed in generously.
Because that’s our Arsilan Saga!
***
As the Seoul Field was revealed and everyone from Arsilan grew accustomed to Seoul, a new Main Quest appeared. When approaching the rifts engraved across various parts of Seoul, the quest would immediately pop up.
[Seoul] Erosion's Plan
Though the Grand Rift in Seoul has been sealed, the crisis is not yet over. The dimension is still rippling unstably, and Erosion will begin its invasion once more. Analyze the rifts located in Seoul to uncover the plan of Erosion.
Restriction: -
Reward: ???
The quest content was to analyze the rifts in the Seoul Field and uncover Erosion’s plan and movements.
“Erosion's Plan?”
“Does that mean we can find out where the next invasion will happen?”
“Looks like it.”
“Wow! I still have tons of quests left but now I’m a newbie again.”
Interpreting the rifts wasn’t a difficult task.
By creating Rift Analyzers in Arsilan’s major cities and bringing them to the rifts in Seoul Field, the quest could be cleared and information obtained immediately.
The creation of Rift Analyzers was fairly easy, so the information was gathered quickly. In this way, the Heroes spent a month clearing Seoul’s quests and collecting data.
[Sufficient data has been collected to allow interpretation. Would you like to analyze the rift information? If not, the next analysis will be available in 14 days.]
The decision was made by majority vote.
Most Heroes chose to interpret the data.
[Analyzing...]
*Remaining time: 12 hours
The remaining time appeared above the Dimension Gate.
The information collected via the Rift Analyzers at the Dimension Gate was scheduled to be released in 12 hours.
‘Is it finally going public?’
‘The whole world is watching right now.’
‘It’s being broadcast live on the news.’
‘More nerve-wracking than announcing the Olympics host city.’
‘The city with the next Grand Rift will hit the jackpot for sure.’
If a Grand Rift appears, it’s a jackpot!
Countless Heroes and Arsilan players will flood in, bringing massive profit to the city! Unlike the Olympics, there was no need to invest ridiculous amounts into infrastructure.
Officials from various countries gathered to monitor Arsilan Saga.
Amid that atmosphere, 12 hours passed.
‘Is it today?’
California Governor Tom Marston was full of anticipation.
Uniquely, he had once dominated the film industry as a Hollywood actor. After retiring, he was elected governor and remained actively involved. As someone once called the “national actor” of America, expectations were high.
But hell had unfolded.
The stress crushed him, and the pressure of public opinion made it hard to breathe.
Any slip of the tongue would be seized upon and followed him like a tattoo for life. On top of that, his awkward rookie days became memes that haunted him.
The image of the handsome actor who performed action scenes without stunt doubles was gone, and only an outdated figure with a rounded belly, called a boomer, remained. The only way he somewhat restored his image was by actively partnering with FS Games and introducing pro-FS Games policies.
It hadn’t been a politically motivated move.
He was also a Hero who loved Arsilan and had pursued it purely from the heart.
When he returned home, only a silent mansion welcomed him. He quickly washed up and headed to the bedroom. Though it was still early, he immediately put on his Soul Link and lay down.
From now on, it was his precious healing time!
“You’re here, youngest.”
“Yes! Sorry I’m late!”
The Helby Lovers Group welcomed him.
His Hero name was HelGovernor. He initially tried to go with HelGovernor-General, but it felt too obvious, so he dropped the last syllable. The Helby Lovers Group called him “Governor,” but the more he heard it, the weirder the pronunciation sounded.
HelGovernor was recently able to join the Helby Lovers Group after passing their strict verification process. He scored excellently by answering 196 out of 200 Helby-related questions correctly.
“We’re heading to Solis, so get ready.”
“Yup! Got it!”
He was adored by the Heroes of the Helby Lovers Group!
In Arsilan, status or age didn’t matter. The youngest was always the youngest. And that was incredibly healing for him.
When Helby nim gave him praise, it felt like he had the whole world.
‘You’re pretty decent.’
That memory was still vivid.
Yeah, this is life! He had found his true life in Arsilan!
He headed to Solis with the Helby Lovers Group.
In front of the Grand Temple of Solis, a Dimension Gate had appeared. Upon entering the Dimension Gate, countless doors would emerge, but at the moment, only the door labeled “Seoul” could be opened.
Heroes gathered in front of the Dimension Gates located in various cities, waiting for the information release in a cheerful atmosphere.
He gulped and clasped his hands together.
‘Please, please, please! Los Angeles!’
He prayed earnestly, even offering a prayer to Helby nim.
He wanted to show Helby nim the overwhelming greatness of LA!
‘Paris, Paris, Paris.’
‘Cairo, Cairo....’
‘Tokyo! Tokyo!’
‘London!’
.
..
....
Other Heroes could be seen acting similarly to HelGovernor, and even viewers and officials watching through the broadcast were all hoping it would be their country selected.
“London....”
“Hm?”
A blonde female Hero kept muttering “London”.
Then, her eyes met with HelGovernor’s.
“LA....”
“London....”
A tense atmosphere settled between the two. Thus, a strange phenomenon occurred among the Heroes, they were all hoping Erosion would invade their own country.
[Analysis complete!]
[The higher existence of Erosion, the Lord of Despair, reveals itself.]
Ash-gray smoke erupted above the Dimension Gate, and the surroundings darkened. As the sky turned gray, the surrounding environment changed.
A space filled with thick Erosion was revealed.
A colossal being made of eyes advanced, splitting the space. Its appearance was so horrific and repulsive that it instilled a sense of ‘despair’ in those who looked at it.
“Wow....”
“Is that its true body?”
“Insane....”
The Heroes who watched the Lord of Despair realized it.
The upper existences of Erosion were overwhelmingly powerful enemies that completely transcended the concept of life.
Between the cracks in the space, a blue planet could be seen.
It was a planet all Heroes were deeply familiar with, Earth.
Hundreds of millions of tentacles extended from the eyes, attempting to consume Earth, but they could not move forward, as if blocked by something. The golden light of Ella and the starlight of the guardian dragon were forming a massive shield around Earth.
The Lord of Despair tore off Erosion from its body and created a large hand with a giant eyeball embedded in it.
It bypassed the barrier and invaded the hidden world of Earth.
It first reached the skies over Seoul and split the air above with its claw. It was showing the process of a Grand Rift forming.
Through the Grand Rift, the space connected to the Erosion Realm.
When the Heroes sealed Seoul’s Grand Rift, the claw was severed and the hand melted away.
The reappearing hand of despair began searching for the next location. Each time it passed over the skies of different countries, sighs could be heard.
[The Lord of Despair seeks to engrave a Grand Rift. It has chosen the perfect stage to bring down despair.]
At the peak of tension, the Grand Rift was engraved!
As the location of the engraved Grand Rift was revealed, gasps and sighs erupted.
It was none other than Los Angeles.
And with that, the surrounding view returned to normal.
“Y-YESSSS!!”
HelGovernor clenched both fists and shouted. The blonde woman beside him sighed and lowered her head. HelGovernor, as if to flaunt it, rejoiced even more in front of her.
“It happened! Yes! Aaaah! I won!”
Did he win?
The Helby Lovers Group chuckled at their youngest member’s antics.
Hellhound approached HelGovernor.
“Governor, you said you were American, right?”
“Yes, I live in LA.”
“If we visit, will you give us a tour?”
“Of course! Hyungs, I’ll give you the full VIP service. Just hit me up!”
HelGovernor knew LA better than anyone else.
In his overwhelming excitement, he made that promise.
‘[Breaking News] Los Angeles! Successfully Attracts Grand Rift!’
‘Why LA?’
‘When is the next Grand Rift?’
‘Why did the Lord of Despair personally choose LA?’
‘Mayor of LA states: The Lord of Despair made a very wise decision....’
Real-time articles poured out nonstop.
HelGovernor quickly posted on SNS.
[Tom Marston]
Congratulations! LA!
We will spare no support as we move forward with Arsilan.
O Arsilans! Please save LA!
#GrandRift #HeroesAreComing #LA #FSGames #CreatorGod
His post on SNS was flooded with likes, and his public image skyrocketed!
Unlike usual, a flood of favorable articles poured out. HelGovernor couldn’t stop smiling as he checked the news through the Soul Link app.
‘This is life!’
Had he been living for this very day? He felt that happy. As soon as news spread that a Grand Rift had formed, the Kingdom of Sillion immediately began taking countermeasures.
Leon appeared in front of the royal palace and looked at the gathered Heroes.
“The higher existence of Erosion, the Lord of Despair, is once again targeting your world, Heroes. But this is an opponent we’ve already defeated once. If we remain vigilant and prepare thoroughly, we will be able to repel it again with the power of Arsilan.”
Yes, it was an opponent they had already beaten once.
Ella nim and Helby nim would surely help as well. Powerful Arsilan citizens were with them.
Above all, we Heroes are strong!
Even against that Embodiment of Despair that once seemed unbeatable, they had triumphed and protected Seoul!
The morale of the Heroes surged to the sky.
The Arsilan people felt the same.
Leon nodded with a gentle smile on his lips.
“The light and Holy Sword of Arsilan will always be with you! We shall be victorious!”
Our King Leon had always been with us.
HelGovernor shouted with excitement as a thrill surged through his body.
“Let’s go ahead and prepare thoroughly! For Arsilan! For Earth!”
“For Arsilan!”
“For LA!”
“Let’s gooo!”
Thanks to clearing the Main Quest, they were able to cross over to LA before the Grand Rift opened.
‘Perfect!’
HelGovernor nodded to himself with that thought.
Though something about it felt slightly off, all worries disappeared the moment he saw Leon nim’s smile.
We will be victorious again!
And LA would become the most important stage in the Arsilan Saga!
[Los Angeles, the next location of the Grand Rift, has been added to the Dimension Gate.]
The Dimension Gate shone brightly as the new stage was added.
“First, I guess we should finish all the Seoul quests before heading over.”
“Well, we’ve got some time anyway.”
“Let’s wrap up the daily quests for today.”
The Heroes were overflowing with confidence.
Arsilan Worlds was ablaze with excitement over the Grand Rift storyline.
And the number of active users soared sharply, surpassing 80 million. With one good event after another, the mood turned into a grand festival.
“We must prepare thoroughly.”
Leon looked upon the atmosphere with a deep smile on his lips.
“Very thoroughly....”
What would happen if they didn’t?
Leon’s smile looked especially beautiful.