Trait Hoarder

Chapter 262

Soul War – Part 1

Right after returning on the Red Cougar.

I threw myself onto the bed.

“Ughhhh.”

I’m going to die, seriously.

My entire body hurt.

Like I’d been rolled up in a straw mat and beaten.

I just didn’t show it, but fighting the Four Bosses and then the Saintess… the accumulated damage had piled up neatly.

Even thinking about the barrage of psychic powers fired by a thousand superhumans gave me chills.

If I hadn’t kept activating [Indomitable] every 0.1 seconds to purify it, I’d be dead.

Even so, the lingering damage and curse effects were still clinging to my body.

Ssshhhh—

Might as well deal with that while I’m at it.

I purify with [Indomitable] and heal with the Sacred Knight.

Then, after equipping [Undying] and chugging down a bottle of Elixir—done healing.

My body is perfectly clean.

Except for one thing.

That foreign object jammed deep in my heart’s mana circuit.

[Are you happy?]

It felt like that’s what it was asking.

Telling me to surrender my neck.

To offer up both soul and body, and rest in peace.

Even now, I could hear that dark, melancholic whisper.

[Master. Welcome home.]

“Oh, been a while.”

How long had it been?

My mansion.

Lately, I’d mostly been living in the Sky River’s private quarters.

I sat up and headed to the bathroom.

No time to waste.

I had to analyze the thing I stole from the Shadow Temple, and fast.

First order of business, obviously, was removing the terminal lodged in my heart.

I approached the magical bathtub.

The mansion’s housekeeping spirit responded.

[Master. Shall I prepare your bath?]

“Just activate the magic bathtub. Don’t need anything else. Don’t even fill it with water.”

[Uh? Y-yes, understood.]

The spirit stammered for a moment.

Soon, the magical bathtub activated.

As various magical arrays began to glow, I took the Sky River out of my pocket.

Folded up, it looked like a toy boat.

The goddess spoke to me.

[Hm? What is it? Wait a moment. Sword Star. What’s going on with your condition? Why is the Old Father’s Brand stamped on your heart?]

“That’s just how it turned out, Goddess. I have a request. Could you fill this bath with the element of water?”

[The element of water? And what exactly would that mean to you? Sword Star, what you need to do is erase the brand on your chest immediately. That brand—only someone on the level of Thor or Gaia can remove it. Go to them right now and get it erased!]

“Eh. That would mean I’d have to pledge myself to them, wouldn’t it?”

[Having faith in this world isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s far better than getting devoured by the Old Father!]

“I know a better way. You just need to help me a little, Goddess.”

[Honestly… I don’t know whether to call this reckless or brave…]

The goddess went silent for a moment.

Then the River Goddess floated up on her own.

Hovering above the magic bathtub, she released the element of water like a waterfall.

[Fine. I’ve already entrusted my body to you. I’ll believe in you once more.]

“Knew you were sharp. Just enjoy the show.”

The magical bathtub filled with pure elemental water.

It looked like a mass of mist, or a blob of pale blue light, or perhaps clear lakewater shining with crystal brilliance.

I pulled out an Elixir from the golf bag.

Pop!

No hesitation.

One bottle, two bottles—easily more than a hundred.

Of course, that wasn’t enough to fill the magical bathtub.

Not that I intended to fill it with just that.

Pop!

The water element reacted with the Elixir.

Light exploded outward, and the liquid transformed into something new.

You could call it the Spring of Rebirth, or the Fountain of Youth.

Even if it was artificially made.

I stripped down and stepped inside.

The Spring of Rebirth began to embrace me.

It was just right.

The temperature, the Elixir concentration, the amplified magic circle effects—everything.

[Hmph.]

A small fairy-like image of the goddess rose from the River Goddess.

[You did a Nectar Bath before. Now it’s an Elixir Bath? Why not go all out and use a thousand bottles like last time?]

“That’d be overkill. This much is perfect.”

Because Elixir isn’t the main thing.

The key is the element of water—and fire.

In the game, it appears later under the name Taegukcheon.

A top-tier hot spring that surpasses even divine and mana springs.

It forms due to the massive earthquake during Episode 5, Gate of Hell, so at this point in time, it doesn’t exist yet.

Which means I have to make it myself.

I stretched out my hand.

Equipped [Supreme Flame] and released it.

The technique was the same as when growing the World Tree.

Gently, like sunlight bathing the earth—only the element of fire, spread gently.

Pure elemental fire seeped into the magical bathtub.

Mixing with the element of water, forming a mysterious harmony.

Elixir, water, fire—a triple symphony.

The result that emerged—

A dynamic equilibrium.

Taeguk.

[Huh!]

The goddess let out a strange sound of awe.

She could see it too.

The threads of fate of the world, intertwining and unraveling in this small bathtub, forming the shape of a Taeguk.

I surrendered my body to it.

Let myself sink in without a thought.

As if being pulled into a dream.

As if being dragged into a deep, deep world of sleep.

‘Nice…’

How many hours passed?

A warmth began to rise from my lower abdomen.

My mind cleared completely, and the fatigue clinging to me unknowingly vanished without a trace.

Acquired the trait: [Repose]

Fwoosh!

I leapt out of the magical bathtub.

The goddess tilted her head, looking at me curiously.

[It’s good you gained a new ability, but that alone won’t erase the Old Father’s Brand.]

“Of course not. This is just a material, a component.”

I began equipping the traits I had gathered, one by one.

[Meditation] [Contemplation] [Reflection]

[Rest] [Recovery] [Repose]

Was it because all conditions were finally met?

All six traits began reacting to each other.

Mana circuits interconnected and sparked like fire.

[That is…]

The goddess could see the result too.

The blue glow in her face flickered faintly.

I slowly equipped my gear in front of her.

First, I put on the Star Spawn protective suit, then layered the Black Tiger tracksuit over it.

On my left hip—Black Tiger Sword.

On my right—Mjolnir.

Aegis was mounted on my forearm, gleaming with presence.

Ring of Eclipse and Prophet’s Ring on my fingers, Heart of the World Tree around my neck.

On my head—Dragon Monarch’s Crown.

Golden Dragon Belt on my waist, Phoenix Shoes on my feet.

Confirmed I had the golden fleece and the Red-infused armguards.

Finally, I packed the Royal Jeongjo Gun, Mountain Wail Rocket Launcher, Hailstorm, Elixirs, and Ambrosia into my armory case and slung the golf bag over my shoulder—preparations complete.

I didn’t bring the Bottomless Pouch.

Wouldn’t work where I’m going anyway.

[Isn’t this too dangerous?]

The goddess expressed concern, but I gave her a brief smile.

“Standing still like this would be even more dangerous.”

[That may be true… Just be careful.]

“Yes. Thank you.”

I grabbed the Black Tiger Sword.

Focused my resolve and began combining traits.

Pop!

A white light flashed.

The light rising from my mana circuit wrapped around me.

Like a spiderweb or leaf veins—interconnected mana pathways.

Then, they merged into one and completed a superior trait.

[Rapture]

Arcane Seoul’s most powerful purification trait.

I told you once, right?

With this alone, even acquired mutants can function without any side effects.

It wipes out any kind of debuff.

“Goddess, I’ll leave it to you.”

[You really treat me like your personal servant. Fine. I’ll collect interest on interest on this later. Return safely with your soul intact, and hurry up and reach Level 9.]

“Haha, thank you.”

Seducing the River Goddess really was an excellent choice.

A housekeeping spirit, an elemental supplier, and a personal bodyguard.

A full-time, unpaid, all-purpose servant.

I gave a small laugh, then hardened my expression.

I equipped the traits that would protect me, then focused my mind on the trait [Rapture].

As I infused mana, the circuits began to glow intensely.

White light spread in jagged lines, consuming both my body and my mind.

Fwaaah!

A sensation of being sucked somewhere.

A corridor of light welcomed me.

Brilliant white lines streaked past behind me.

Time stretched like molten taffy.

No, just for a moment—

When I came to my senses, I was in a strange place.

‘This is…’

Not my room.

A vast open space.

A barren wasteland.

The earth was blackened.

No rocks, no trees to be seen.

The view stretched out endlessly to the horizon.

The only thing visible—was the black sky.

And a faintly glowing golden nebula, scattered across it.

I knew this place.

‘The Divine Kingdom.’

The afterlife constructed by the Old Father.

Or to be exact, a copy of it.

That’s why I came fully armed.

Because this happens in the game too.

Back then, it was just a background illustration.

‘Where is the Old Father?’

I’d have to fight in this mental world.

I had to drive him out.

If I lost, he’d take my body. That’d be the end.

Isn’t that dangerous?

Not even close.

A godlike entity appearing in a mental realm is just a fragment, a tiny clone at most.

A character with proper traits and equipment could beat one even at Level 7.

‘Let’s extract some information.’

As long as I don’t let my guard down.

This is my chance to talk to the Old Father.

The one who would normally try to devour me on sight.

This is the only chance I’ll get to speak with him properly—and pull some intel.

I glanced around.

No landmarks in sight.

It was my first time exploring the copied Divine Kingdom too.

After a brief pause, I looked up at the sky.

‘In the Divine Kingdom field, the Black-Gold Constellation is the key.’

After killing the eight mid-bosses.

And sinking the Ascending Saintess’s airship, the Divine Kingdom field opens.

There, you follow the largest of the golden stars in the sky.

‘There it is.’

From my perspective, at 9 o’clock.

A mass that looked like a dragon, like the World Tree, like a twisted monster—or a hideous humanoid blob.

Yeah, a blob.

A form shaped by squishing golden light together and threading black streaks into it.

That was the one.

I began walking toward it.

My left hand resting on the Black Tiger Sword at my waist.

I could already feel the gazes watching me, waiting for an opening.

“Screeeech!”

“Kieeek!”

Monsters leapt out.

Creatures resembling the Black-Gold Constellation.

At first glance, they looked humanoid—then they seemed more like corrupted slime variants.

Shlaaash!

I swung my sword.

[Supreme Flame] incinerated the monsters.

‘What a pain.’

Just like the Divine Kingdom field in the game.

The world, the monsters appearing—identical.

Only the level seemed slightly lower.

In the game, Divine Kingdom monsters were at least Level 6.

Here, the ones I encountered felt more like Level 5.

In other words, a copy.

“Buzz off.”

I picked up the Royal Jeongjo Gun for the first time in a while.

Transformed it into rifle mode.

Spotted the monsters still buried underground and opened fire first.

[Invincible Gun] [Supreme Flame] [Bright Eyes]

[Ambush] [Critical] [Fatal]

With [Bright Eyes], I found their weak points.

Aiming straight at the red-glowing cores—the mana nuclei—I fired.

[Supreme Flame] ignited the explosion.

With [Ambush], critical hits were guaranteed, and both the chance and damage were amplified.

That was the end.

“Kiiiieek!”

“Kyaaaack!”

They screamed and crumbled, their mana cores vanishing too.

A shame, really.

If this were the real world instead of my mental realm, I could’ve claimed all of that.

‘Look at me, getting stingy.’

Can’t help it.

The guy who used to scrounge in a 2-pyeong goshiwon hasn’t gone anywhere.

Even now, as a multitrillion-won tycoon, I’d still pick up a 100-won coin off the street without a second thought.

Blazed forward at full speed.

Behind me, only trails of ash and scattered mana core dust remained.

“Graaah!”

Sure feels like the real Divine Kingdom.

All sorts of monsters are spawning.

Grotesque Dragons.

Pitch-Black Spirits.

Gold-Mine Angels.

Mutant Trees.

Faceless Giants.

Eight-Armed Freaks, and more.

But in front of my gun, they’re all one-shot fodder.

Too many of them?

I just whip out the Mountain Wail Rocket Launcher and fire away—done.

[Supreme Flame] has overwhelming advantage against them.

Bonus damage, extra crit chance, even instant death procs.

There’s a reason I ran around so damn much crafting Supreme Flame.

Grrrrnnn—

I was deep into the slaughter, steadily pushing forward, when it finally happened.

The change I’d been waiting for.

The ground crumbled, and the Black-Gold Constellation above began to descend.

It twisted like a cosmic worm.

Mouthed silently like a galactic eel.

‘Close… but different.’

Originally, this place should have both the angelic and demonic factions.

Four Archangels and Four Demon Dukes protect the Divine Kingdom.

You have to defeat them to enter the Grand Palace.

But since this is a cheap replica, looks like all that’s been skipped.

I stepped onto the descending constellation and began to ascend.

My feet sank deep, like into a swamp.

Mana squelched around me, trying to consume me.

I used [Rapture] to repel it.

Using [Rapture] inside the mind world that I entered with [Rapture]—pure audacity.

Each time I activated it, the constellation contracted, pulling my body deeper in, as if teleporting me.

The world vanished.

The wasteland I’d walked was gone.

All that remained were the floating bands of constellation like a cosmic trail… and a faintly distant Grand Palace.

[Come forth.]

A voice rang out clearly.

[Come to me.]

A voice I hadn’t even realized was there.

Now growing stronger with each passing second.

And with it, the mana trying to consume me grew stronger, too.

Now it clung to me like a thick cloud.

[Come to me… Come toooo meee…]

The voice stretched like an echo.

Even the voice was laced with a deep, intoxicating lure.

This is no joke.

A single misstep and I might actually lose.

But right then, as if it had been waiting—one trait rose to the surface.

[Hero]

The trait granted to me by the Legion Commander through personal combat.

It equipped itself almost by force, and vitality surged through me.

A fiery heat coursed through my whole body while my head remained cool.

Temptation?

That overwhelming presence clouding my mind?

Thanks to [Hero], I brushed it all aside.

As expected of [Hero].

The strongest boss-only buff skill in the game.

[Vajra Body] [Indomitable] [Magic Resistance]

[Sacred Knight] [Supreme Flame]

With those, I assembled the appropriate trait set.

The Old Father’s voice no longer affected me.

So I straightened my back.

Squared my shoulders with pride.

And strode confidently into the Grand Palace.

Gothic spires loomed above like the tentacles of a cosmic monster, glaring down at me.

Step, step.

The corridor was steeped in silence.

So vast even dozens of thirty-meter iron giants could walk shoulder to shoulder and still have space.

I walked alone.

Shadows danced, clawing at my mind.

They begged for my body, brushed past my ears, and left faint scars on my psyche.

Anyone else would’ve already fled in terror.

But my will remained firm.

Whether shadows licked at my nape, ghosts cackled in my ears, or demons sang songs of despair, I ignored them all and walked forward.

At the end of the corridor.

The heart of the throne room, wickedly beautiful.

A Black-Gold Throne rose like a demonic fortress.

And on it sat a certain presence.

[Welcome.]

The presence spoke with a voice that had no vocal cords.

[To my Divine Kingdom.]

A humanoid shape formed from crushed void and shattered light.

It was the Old Father.