Chapter 369

Chapter 369. The Birth of a Hero (6)

This applied to the Damned System as well.

‘There was no information shared by the gods of Bihar,’

Damned System explained, reporting that even after facing dangers three or four times, it could not uncover the true powers.

As I had witnessed, it only continued the battle with the corrupted divinity materialized in black.

This situation immensely differed from clearly knowing the authorities of Karklein and Angramoti.

I absentmindedly rubbed the strands of Rashar’s hair in my hand as I muttered, “It seems Senoa had a clue…”

Rashar’s shoulder slightly trembled. However, neither she nor I mentioned nor delved into her reaction further.

Rashar knew that I hunted the gods of Bihar. I had neither intentions of hiding it nor of compromising on this matter.

She may have some guilty conscience from abandoning the gods herself.

Nonetheless, once Rashar decided to live on Earth, she couldn’t blame me for pursuing this problem.

It was for our sake, after all.

I backed away from speaking, allowing Rashar some emotional space, and returned to my thoughts.

‘It’s clear that she knows something.’

Hence, she left an odd message instructing me not to get caught.

‘Should I meet her?’

Logically, it made sense to meet Senoa as I knew too little about the enemy while wanting to catch Omby.

There was a way to meet him, after all.

“Given the location, finding it isn’t entirely impossible once the System returns to resume the search.”

If Senoa continued to pursue Omby, finding both their locations would be feasible.

Thus, searching for Senoa was indeed worth a try.

But when found and met, I pondered if that meeting would be entirely beneficial?

This required some deliberation.

Senoa was unlikely to welcome me.

“It would be insane to welcome someone who had hunted her brethren.”

It wasn’t surprising if she came at me with a blade, determined to kill at first sight.

Yet, I felt little guilt for hunting the gods of Bihar.

From the start, the gods of Bihar intended to consume and discard us like pawns.

I merely responded in kind instead of quietly enduring.

Thus, I had assumed there would be neither compromise nor exchange with the remaining gods.

“I believed that what remained between us was merely a pursuit.”

However, Senoa was difficult to define entirely as an enemy.

The attitude she had shown when we briefly encountered a few days ago was troubling.

“Perhaps she was just preoccupied during the battle.”

Maybe she had dealt with me practically because there was no lingering bitterness.

Having had minimal direct encounters with Senoa left me unsure.

Of course, all these thoughts were ultimately meaningless.

‘It’s something I’ll have to eventually do, so why stress over it?’

If we met and she attacked, I would respond accordingly. With her experience in battles, it could even benefit me.

If instead she indicated a willingness to converse, I would try to acquire information.

If some sort of exchange was required for the gained information, I would weigh the costs and gains.

I summed up my previously tangled thoughts as simply as possible.

At that moment, the awaited message appeared.

「SYSTEM restored.」

「Barrier fully operational.」

「Trait Berserker activated.」

「System switched to support mode for player Kang Hyunwoo.」

The System was back.

Perhaps sensing its approach, everyone present trembled slightly.

Yang Taeho’s voice, echoing from outside the tent, abruptly halted as well.

“No need to worry, this one’s on our side.”

While reassuring them, the System displayed its message.

《System Message》

《Kang Hyunwoo, I wish to express my deepest gratitude.》

《Thanks to you, I was able to escape the crisis.》

《I truly appreciate it.》

I straightened my posture from leaning toward Rashar as I spoke, “Current status?”

Though countless questions floated in my head, I chose the most pragmatic one.

I had always detested the System, causing much chaos, so admitting its struggle now would hurt my pride.

‘Not like I was the only one going through hardship.’

Despite knowing I’d be criticized for being petty, I had no intention of changing my mind.

Thus, maintaining a neutral expression, I awaited the response.

《System Message》

《I am much better now.》

The System’s subsequent words furrowed my brows.

Sharply, I reproached, “Lay out your exact status. Tell me precisely what you can do currently, what needs support from me or my apostles, and share concrete information so I can align my actions accordingly.”

A breach had previously opened up in our defenses, but concluding it with a mere ‘I’m okay now’ wasn’t sufficient.

Attempting to harden my softened heart led to unexpectedly pointed words escaping my lips, though I made no attempt to soften them, and the System simply replied nonchalantly.

《System Message》

《Understood. With the barrier now fully operational, new Holes will open at a pace that will minimize harm to players.》

《However, I have limited means for additional intervention on Holes that have already forcibly opened.》

《Furthermore, as I expended significant divinity during restoration, providing material support for the physical world will be challenging for the time being.》

《And next…》

The System message continued extensively.

As I scrolled down, more and more details became apparent.

From this, I learned precisely what the System could currently accomplish.

Having meticulously reviewed the lengthy System message, I responded.

“Handling the ones already opened will be the responsibility of the physical world. There will be some casualties, but… leave the closing to us. Focus on gathering authority. If closing Holes hinders accumulating divinity, it’s okay to open them slightly more than average. It hasn’t been long since the calamity, so everyone should still have enough stamina. They’ll manage.”

The number of Holes lingering above had already reduced drastically.

Since closing them is inevitable, removing them at a slightly faster pace could be advantageous.

“With increased divinity, finding Senoa should become easier.”

《System Message》

《Are you referring to the Senoa of Humility?》

“Yes, I need to meet her to possibly gain information on Omby. Currently, it’s the only feasible information-gathering route, so please focus on that search.”

《System Message》

《Understood.》

The System, too, seemed to agree that we lacked information.

Thus, it accepted my suggestion without objection.

I would have been content if it had stopped there.

《System Message》

《I fully agree and wish to support Kang Hyunwoo’s view. However, personally, I fear you may be rushing things too much.》

Musing with hesitation, the System added unnecessarily.

“What?”

《System Message》

〈As you know having experienced it yourself, Omby is not an easy opponent.》

It claimed that it had never seen a god of that rank, albeit it wasn’t an primordial god.

Maintaining consciousness despite such corruption of divinity seemed suspicious.

It wasn’t guaranteed but hinted at having potentially devoured an primordial god from another dimension.

Therefore, it was entirely different from all foes encountered so far.

《System Message》

Though I may have been ambushed this time, ordinarily, I hide very well. I’ll make greater efforts to shield us, so perhaps Kang Hyunwoo could afford to build your rank and skills more leisurely…?

“Blocking and hiding is endless, something you already know. That’s why you nurtured me.”

《System Message》

《But Omby is dangerous. I’m concerned you might truly perish.》

I retorted with furrowed brows.

“Who doesn’t know that?”

Did it take me for a fool?

The understanding that this wasn’t child’s play and that I could Die had never once escaped me since becoming a player.

Yet, for the System to deliberately remind me of that to halt me arose annoyance.

“I never said I’d charge in immediately, just that we should do what we can for now, so why all the nagging lately?”

《System Message》

《Oh, nagging! I merely worry for Kang Hyunwoo…》

I dismissed the System’s message without fully reading it, further reprimanding it.

“I don’t need those concerns, so put them elsewhere.”

Post silence, suddenly—Boom!

“Heek!”

“What is this?”

“Wh-what happened! Was that another attack?”

Reacting to the intense shock shaking around the tent, everyone prepared for battle with tension.

However, I merely glared at the System message, ignoring the others.

《System Message》

《If you merely perceive it as nagging, so be it! I shall stop holding back on the nagging hereafter!》

Was it expressing its displeasure by staging such a protest?

I was about to rebuke the System as anger simmered, yet it vanished hastily before I could retort.

The System’s presence faded just like that, leaving me momentarily glaring where it had been.

‘Sometimes it truly seems like a child.’

Exhaling a long sigh, I shook my head.

Then, I seated those who had stopped mid-meal, ensuring they continued dining.

“It’s gone now, so finish your meals.”

Though Angramoti had been hunted, the war wasn’t over yet.

We had to quickly recover and hunt down the legion commanders appearing in various regions.

* * *

With Angramoti’s appearance, six legion commanders emerged.

Among them, Lily hunted one, and on my way to retrieve Yang Taeho, I hunted another.

“Four remain.”

While hunting Angramoti, my apostles had subtly accumulated their own skills.

Unlike previously, hunting a legion commander should be feasible for them.

However, to ensure caution, I sent them in pairs.

Naturally, one remaining commander fell under my responsibility.

The commander I faced was in China.

The authority of that legion commander involved controlling corpses.

Thus, the association retreated, temporarily ending battles on that front.

Then, avoiding clashes with enemy forces as much as possible, they awaited someone capable of dealing with the commander to arrive.

Finally, I had arrived.

Having prepared for battle upon arrival, I gritted my teeth at the sight of the monsters visible from the cliff.

“Unbelievable.”

Amidst the Evolved Species were the scattered corpses of players.

“You won’t Die easily.”

As I stood at the vanguard hunting the legion commander, I adjusted my grip on my spear, my face stiffening.

With a firm tap, I struck the ground lightly with the spear.

The action bore no particular meaning.

At best, it was slight venting rage at the commander toying with players who deserved peaceful rest.

Yet, unexpected events unfolded from that simple action.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Others began striking the ground with their feet or weapons following my lead.

The reverberation, originating from where I stood, widened, eventually prompting players across the area to collectively pound the ground.

A grand resonance akin to an earthquake enveloped us, shaking the earth extensively.

Within this vibration, another sound emerged.

“K!”

“K!”

The sudden cheers from the player troops flustered me.

Presumably, it stemmed from the video released by the association.

Having visualized and directly witnessed my battle, they were likely moved.

Whether it was inspiration from having seen my victory over an equally daunting adversary in Angramoti.

Regardless of the reason, I gulped and clenched my fists tightly.

The surge of divinity flowing into me had intensified greatly.

The players present began believing fiercely in my victory.

Droplets that once dwindled rapidly transformed into streams, the streams then swiftly filling my depleted divinity.

Inhaled deeply alongside the swift, soaring sensation that fortified and strengthened me further.

Loaded with belief, I took up my spear and murmured.

“Victory.”

Retreat was not an option for us standing here.

Annihilation was our sole course.

Damned System