novelraw Chapter 228: Open the Door (5)
Chapter 228: Open the Door (5)
Translator: Dreamscribe
Haebyul and the Romance Heroes stared blankly at the scene before them for a while. The place they had arrived at was an enormous space deep within Arsilan. It looked as if the very ground itself had vanished entirely.
Despite being deep underground, the surroundings were not dark.
"Magma...."
"We've seen a planet's core before, so it shouldn't be that surprising, but...."
Magma flowed in plain sight.
It looked as though they had entered an ocean of magma, yet none of it poured into this vast space. Undulating blue currents of energy wrapped around the entire area like a protective membrane.
"What a waste."
Haebyul smacked her lips as she gazed toward the magma. Enormous Magic Stones were visible, and rare resources filled the area. But the blue currents made it impossible to get close.
The blue currents could be seen inside the vast space as well.
She reached out her hand. The blue currents flowed along her hand like threads.
A tingling sensation made her instinctively grab hold of the blue current.
"Huh?"
In that instant, the blue current split apart and a gap formed. Through it, she could see outer space. Haebyul flinched in surprise and stepped back. The gap sealed shut, and the blue currents drifted far away like threads carried on the wind.
FWASH!
The Romance Heroes were not the only ones to arrive. Many Heroes had come through the various Dimension Gates erected across Arsilan.
The enormous space filled with Heroes. Judging by the many figures that appeared in translucent form, the number of channels had clearly increased.
The space itself seemed unstable, shaking violently. At the same time, the blue currents that had been drifting gently began surging like bolts of lightning.
"What's this?"
"Oh, my hands are glowing."
"Is that the light of the Holy Sword?"
Light from the Heroes' Holy Swords flowed out of their hands and streamed toward the center of the vast space. When the Holy Sword light reached the center, the drifting blue currents began merging into one.
CRACKLE-ZAP!
A massive dimensional fissure, sustained by the light of the Holy Swords, was created. It stretched from the floor all the way up to the towering ceiling, and the fissure split into multiple branches, each forming a separate Dimensional Rift leading to a different dimension.
Haebyul studied the rifts closely. Through the gaps, she could see the fragment worlds the quest had mentioned. The moment she observed a fragment world, information appeared before her eyes.
[Possession Chronicle Arsilan]
Hero! You failed to overcome the Lord of Despair and met a true death. Arsilan fell to ruin, and the Lord of Despair grew ever more powerful, becoming a god of all dimensions.
Ella, Helby, and Leon poured every ounce of their power into sending you, the one with the greatest potential, back to the past. The point of regression is the moment when Heroes were first summoned to Arsilan.
We pray that the new Arsilan, beginning from you, will overcome its destruction.
*World Scale: Early Access through Episode 1
*Time Ratio: 5x
*Upon entering the world, you may select Regressed Hero perks.
*Dimension Discoverer: Kevin Maxwell and 220 expedition members
*Dimension Souvenir: 1 discontinued Early Access item, acquired skills and magic
[Hero and the Goddess's Breath 3]
A kingdom at peace.
Erosion appeared without warning, and the kingdom now stands on the brink of destruction. Awakened from a long slumber, you must embark on a lengthy journey to save the kingdom and find the missing princess.
*World Scale: Major city-level
*Time Ratio: 5x
*Upon entering the world, dimensional interference reduces all Hero stats to 10 and all skills to F-rank.
*Dimension Discoverer: Ito Masaru
*Dimension Souvenir: Crafted weapons or dishes, acquired skills and magic
[Starlight Valley War]
Starlight Valley, spread across the vastness of space.
The only way to sustain this unstable Starlight Valley is to spread the mana born from death. You will arrive in soul form and can possess the heroes of Arsilan created by the Authority of Starlight Valley.
Engage in 5v5 combat in Starlight Valley.
*World Scale: Island
*Time Ratio: 5x
*In Starlight Valley, you may possess Arsilan heroes and use their unique skills.
*Dimension Discoverer: Alex Morgan and 40 expedition members
*Dimension Souvenir: Commemorative photo
[Study Hell]
The only way to escape this hellish dimension is to break out or study. Mobilize every ability you have to either escape or acquire enough knowledge to pass a certification exam.
*World Scale: Building
*Time Ratio: 5x
*Your Hero's appearance is retained, but all abilities are sealed due to dimensional interference.
*Dimension Discoverer: Kim Do-woon and 8 expedition members
*Dimension Souvenir: Blood-stained teddy bear, acquired skills
[Heart-Pounding Sion Academy of Love and Friendship]
A world that ends in three years.
What can you do in a world on the verge of the apocalypse?
To protect both love and friendship, you must uncover the secret of the apocalypse and stop the conspiracy lurking within the academy!
Once, ten times, a hundred times....
In the vortex of infinitely looping time, find what matters most!
*World Scale: City-level, 1 semester
*Time Ratio: 5x
*Due to dimensional interference, your level drops to 5 and all skills are adjusted to F-rank. Overcoming trials may unlock hidden potential. Through Ella's guidance, you can bring unlocked potential back to Arsilan.
*The light of the Holy Sword cannot dwell in this dimension.
*Dimension Discoverer: FS Games Erosion Headquarters Dimensional Expedition
*Dimension Souvenir: A letter from someone dear, acquired skills and magic
.
..
...
Haebyul read through the information and could not help but be astonished. It had an early access feel rather than a full release, but over twenty different worlds lay spread out before her. And she could even bring back souvenirs.
"The announcement just went up and already...."
"Twenty-one? Seriously?"
"The developers are listed as expedition members."
"That's insane."
The game company was the Dimensional Expedition, and the developers were expedition members. They had stayed true to the lore.
Haebyul gazed at the Dimensional Rifts, lost in a happy dilemma.
"Where do I even start?"
- Sion Academy, obviously.
- Haebyul, I'm heading to Sion Academy.
- Recruiting Heroes for a friendly match in Starlight Valley.
- 5x time ratio? That's nuts.
Haebyul picked one.
It was a healing game where she could leisurely tend a farm, build a house, and interact with the villagers.
When she selected that world, blue currents burst from the Dimensional Rift and enveloped her.
[A Dimension Key made with Arsilan Gold is required to enter a dimension. However, since the light of the Holy Sword is holding the dimension open this time, it is not needed.]
[The crafting cost of a Dimension Key follows the exchange rate of the Dimension Gate Seoul Field.]
[Using a key allows you to travel directly to the Dimensional Rift.]
"So buying a key is basically buying the game."
The blue currents wrapped around her body converged into a single point and became a palm-sized key. The title of the game was inscribed on the key. This vast space was a storefront for purchasing game titles, and each purchased game could be accessed anytime, anywhere through the key.
"Then...!"
When Haebyul used the key, a door made of blue currents appeared.
[Entering the dimension of 'Healing Life.']
[We hope you will gain diverse experiences and acquire new skills through dimensional travel to help protect Arsilan.]
As Haebyul stepped through the door, her vision flooded with bright light. Her consciousness blurred for a moment, as if she were falling asleep.
"Wow...."
Fields stretched out before her eyes. A small cabin was visible, and various farming tools were laid out on display.
"Now this is what healing's all about!"
- Ugh, watching the stream and I can't move my body. Feels like I possessed the camera or something.
- Guess the time ratio means you can only watch through Soul Link.
- Checked and the time ratio really is 1:5. Insane tech.
- You can use the Soul Link app. Might as well work while watching the stream. 5x time is the best.
"Then shall I try some farming?"
Haebyul grabbed the farming tools with enthusiasm.
- Already boring.
- Snoozefest.
- Seriously so boring lmao
- Stream's dead.
Haebyul ignored the viewers' reactions and carried on. Then she sensed someone approaching from behind and turned around.
"You've arrived? Have you unpacked?"
"Huh?"
"I am Luceren, the village chief. I've been looking after this land that your ancestor left behind."
Luceren, a hero of Arsilan, greeted her with a warm smile. Here, she was not a hero, just a beautiful village chief in the countryside.
Haebyul stared at her for a moment, then quietly leaned into her embrace.
"Oh my. You must have had a hard time."
Luceren gently patted her on the back.
"Hehe...."
- I gotta try this too. Peak content right there.
- So good. I'm jumping in.
- Stream's thriving now.
- Unnie....
- Are there other unnies in there too?
- Long live parallel worlds! Long live the Creator God!
Now this was true healing.
Haebyul's body, mind, and soul were healed in an instant!
* * *
The Arsilan Saga Side Story Episode was still in its early access phase, but the response was overwhelmingly positive. That was only natural, as it was a game made by the most talented developers in the world. It was still an unfinished demo version, but it was more than enough to be enjoyable.
Tiris watched the status of Heroes who had logged into the games from the Magic Tower and nodded.
"Not only their potential, but their very souls are being strengthened."
It was a very good result.
A time ratio of 3x was the stable range, but as long as the space did not expand to a planetary scale, up to 5x was manageable. She had planned to standardize it at 3x, but for now, she intended to observe the situation and either adjust or maintain the current setting.
"Ella and Lady Helby have also logged in."
Both Ella and Helby had connected.
Ella had logged into Heart-Pounding Sion Academy of Love and Friendship, and Helby had entered Starlight Valley.
Jinwoo checked on the Starlight Valley that Helby had entered.
Since players could set their own nicknames, most were anonymous.
- Wow, you're so trash at this ㅋㅋㅋ
- Gah! How dare you....
- Just go die. Your nickname screams attention seeker. Reported.
- W-wait...!
[ColdNoodleStew has slain GorillaElla!]
SMACK!
Helby, who had been mercilessly solo-killed, sat slumped at the base with a dazed expression. Seeing her so deflated was a little pitiable.
Still, wouldn't a humiliation like that make for an excellent learning experience?
Jinwoo chuckled.
The Magic Developers who had been surveying beyond Arsilan's border appeared behind Jinwoo.
"Master, we've discovered a location with abnormally high Erosion readings. Our analysis indicates that numerous Lesser Entities have gathered there. And more are still arriving."
Jinwoo checked immediately.
So many had gathered that they could be detected through the Barrier. Erosion beings were normally prideful and self-important, preferring to act alone. The fact that they were congregating like this suggested they were taking the current situation very seriously.
'What are they scheming?'
Were they planning to hold some kind of meeting?
Jinwoo fell into thought for a moment, then broke into a grin.
"I should pay them a visit."
"What a fascinating plan. Do you intend to go in disguise?"
"Hmm, a Higher Entity would be ideal."
Tiris's eyes sparkled when she heard Jinwoo's words.
Two Higher Entities of Erosion were being held captive in the Soul Moon. Using them to create a disguise would be child's play.
"I'll be back."
"Yes, we will keep watch over Arsilan."
Jinwoo moved to the Soul Moon.
Until now, the Underworld had been located within Arsilan, but with the creation of the Soul Moon, it had been relocated there. The same was true of the Celestial Realm. Now, no one could access them from outside without Jinwoo's permission.
The Soul Moon was as massive as Levannas.
The entire moon was pure white and smooth, as if carved from white marble. Particles of light from Earth and Arsilan rained down like a shower, and enormous temples and various buildings stood across its surface. Statues of the heroes who had given everything for Arsilan had been erected there as well.
When Jinwoo set foot on the surface, cracks formed in the ground and a passage leading into the interior of the Soul Moon opened up.
Jinwoo entered the passage.
Deep within lay the Underworld. He passed through the place where Heroes arrived upon death and continued descending further. The area where the Erosion beings suffered was at the very bottom.
[GYAAAARGH!]
[GURRRGH!]
[AAAARGH!]
[H-hgh! AAAAH! P-please, have mercy....]
The Erosion beings screamed in agony, enduring near-infinite torment. Jinwoo had even applied a 10x time acceleration to this place. He approached the Lord of Despair and the Lord of Greed.
This place, too, was a game.
The Erosion beings had been reduced to the most wretched of existences, subjected to a hell of torture at the hands of Arsilan citizens, Heroes, and demons. The only difference from reality was that the intensity of the suffering was infinite.
"Hanging in there, I see."
The Lord of Despair had been turned into a cockroach and was being slowly crushed underfoot. Each time his body burst, he immediately regenerated and dropped into a room filled with insecticide.
It was a very entertaining game.
[P-please..., please just let me rest for one second. Please....]
Pride no longer existed within him. If the pain would stop for even a single moment, he would do anything. But Jinwoo showed no mercy.
"Your soul will disintegrate eventually. Hold on until then."
Of course, he would restore it every time a crack formed in the soul.
Jinwoo examined the Lord of Despair and the Lord of Greed. He extracted the information embedded in their souls and rapidly decoded it through the Magic Tower. With mana, he could convincingly replicate the aura of Erosion.
"Now then, time for a little customization."
Jinwoo shaped a form blazing with black flames. Staring into those black flames, one could feel an abyss that seemed ready to devour everything in existence.
Jinwoo layered the black flames over Leon's body, the one he was currently using. They settled over him as naturally as a skin.
[AH, AAARGH!]
His voice sounded horrific, like multiple calamities fused into one.
This was convincing enough to pass as a Higher Entity of Erosion. As a test, he approached the Lord of Greed in the adjacent cell.
[H-hgh! Y-you...! G-get me out of here! P-please, I'm begging you! I'll do anything!]
Even the Lord of Greed was completely fooled.
Hope radiated from the creature's will. He believed a higher Erosion being had infiltrated the Soul Moon.
[Escape, you say..., what can a wretched thing like you, with nothing to your name, possibly offer me?]
[I-I'll be your slave if I must.]
Humble in an instant.
Jinwoo nodded and stepped closer to the Lord of Greed. The creature's soul flooded with elation and joy.
At last, freedom from this torment!
The mere thought was enough to drive him mad with happiness. Jinwoo's hand stretched out toward him, slowly, slowly.
The creature desperately wished for that hand to touch him.
Just before it made contact,
STOP.
It halted right in front of him.
[Wh-what is the matter?]
[Hmm.... I'm bored. Sing me a song.]
[Pardon? A-a song, you say?]
The suffering continued even now.
The Lord of Greed immediately sang with everything he had. It was not pleasant to listen to, but Jinwoo was fairly satisfied.
[Did that please you? Then I beg you to release me now. This lowly slave implores you.]
Jinwoo smirked and briefly extinguished the black flames. Leon's face was revealed beneath.
[Got you.]
[GH, GYAAAAAAAAAAAAH! HWAAAAAAAAAH!]
The Lord of Greed, his hope shattered, screamed and then broke into wailing sobs.
Was this not the very definition of false hope torture?
Jinwoo laughed at him, gave him a wave, and teleported beyond Arsilan's border.
Far in the distance, Erosion auras could be detected.
"Well then...."
Jinwoo headed toward the location in high spirits.
He was eager to find out what they were plotting.
It was the feeling of a gamer encountering new content.