Episode 222 Transcendence (2)
The Elven Kingdom had successfully overcome the threat of continental collapse thanks to Harris’s efforts. However, the aftereffects of the incident were far from insignificant.
Not only were there massive casualties from the Lycanthrope and giant invasions, but they also had to deal with the numerous abyssal cracks that had appeared throughout the outer regions.
But at least they had a new transcendent High Elf to protect the World Tree, and they could receive support from the neighboring countries to deal with the cracks near the borders, so it wasn’t a complete disaster.
The real disaster was unfolding in the Ion Continent, not Enamel.
It was a human world, slowly but surely falling into ruin from the Immortal King’s relentless attacks.
Kaboom—! Boom!
Flames erupted from every corner of the village, accompanied by deafening explosions.
“Kyaaaack!”
“Run! We need to get out of the city… Ugh!”“Mommy… Mommy…!”
People fled in terror, while…
Clang! Clang!
[Kieeeeek!]
Crack—!
Undead swarmed through the village, slaughtering the remaining soldiers who had been trying to protect it.
It was a tragic sight, but it was no longer a rare occurrence in the Ion Continent.
No matter how accurately the Saint predicted the attack locations, they couldn’t defend against everything.
The relentless waves of undead eventually broke through their defenses, especially in weaker countries.
The three western kingdoms, unable to hold on any longer, had swallowed their pride and made a pact with the Talia Kingdom, requesting the vampires’ aid. 𝐫АΝՕᛒÈṡ
Of course, they had to make significant concessions in the process.
But as everyone else struggled, there was one group that was achieving unprecedented success…
The saviors who were on a winning streak, the continent’s hope led by the Saint of the Main God Church…
Kaboom—!
[Ugh!]
“Hahaha! Die!”
…The hero party.
In the heart of a battlefield swarming with undead…
Harley stood in the center of a massive crater, grinning ferociously as he crushed the head of a Death Knight in his hand.
[Grrr… Impossible… My blade… only a scratch…!]
The Death Knight roared in fury, its dark magic power surging towards Harley, trying to corrupt him.
It was an attack that could kill an ordinary person with a single touch and even a master-level warrior would be cursed if they weren’t protected by aura.
[How can you… with your bare hands…!]
But it was meaningless against Harley, whose body had transcended its limits and become the “Ultimate Evolved Lifeform”.
His life force and madness repelled all attacks below a certain level.
“Huh? No, no! You did well! I never thought you could actually hurt me! Hahaha!”
The Death Knight, despite being a low-ranking executive, was still a commander dispatched from the Immortal Fortress.
He was a master-level monster who had been rampaging through the southern part of the Lesque Kingdom, summoning reinforcements through his body and single-handedly wiping out their initial target.
But he had only managed to leave a few scratches on Harley, which had already regenerated without a trace.
It was a pathetic result, considering his infamous reputation.
Crunch!
Harley tightened his grip, crushing the Death Knight’s helmet.
Even a weapon imbued with aura couldn’t withstand his overwhelming strength.
[Grrr… You… Apostle of Madness! The Immortal King will not…!]
“No, you’re wrong.”
Crackle!
Metal fragments sprayed from between Harley’s fingers as his fist tightened.
The helmet, once shaped like a skull, was now a crumpled mess, lying on the ground.
“That’s enough.”
He casually ripped off the Death Knight’s chestplate, crushing its heart, and then stood up, brushing off his hands.
The surrounding undead were sent flying like ragdolls as he casually shook his body.
He swatted them away with his hands and feet, crushing them, and then licked his lips, watching his companions eliminate the remaining undead.
‘He was a bit fun, but… still not enough.’
His primal instincts, amplified after his transcendence, were insatiable.
He craved only one thing now.
A fierce battle against a worthy opponent, delicious and nutritious meat in abundance, the urge to destroy everything in his path, and the desire to showcase his power to the world…
‘Wait, isn’t that more than one thing? Well, whatever!’
His desires were being fulfilled, but it wasn’t enough.
He was barely holding on, desperately clinging to the last shred of his rationality.
‘I want to attack the Immortal Fortress! There are so many strong guys there, it would be so much fun! And that King’s crystal… It was pretty good. It would have been even better if I had hunted him down and eaten it myself. Speaking of which, I’m running low on dragon meat… Are there any dragons hiding around here? Maybe I should become a dragon hunter?’
Random thoughts, driven by his primal instincts, flashed through his simplified mind.
And as he was lost in thought, his gaze fell on the vast desert in the distance.
‘When are we going to the south…? That High Chieftain guy, he must be strong, right? And that old woman is waiting for me… Huh? What if she thinks I’m scared and ran away? Oh, no!’
They were currently in the southernmost part of the Lesque Kingdom.
Which meant…
They were close to the Tribal Federation.
‘…Maybe I should just…’
As he realized that, his primal instincts surged.
His patience, already worn thin from the influence of his other avatars, finally snapped.
Harley grinned, revealing his sharp fangs.
______________________
Back in the Immortal Fortress, preparations for the next invasion were underway.
But the leader of the Immortal Army was sitting leisurely on his throne, lost in thought, leaving everything to his subordinates.
-Heinrich: Hans! Where are you going?! I told you to wait a little longer!
-Harley: Khahaha! I’ve endured enough! I’ll be back after I take that bastard’s head!
-Heinz the Second: I wish I could just solve everything so easily. Those Obaifo bastards, their connections are so complex that I can’t even figure out where to start. If I eliminate them all, it’ll lead to a full-scale war.
-Hubert: It seems like Brokoslack’s takeover of the Talia Kingdom left a strong impression. He’s even more sophisticated now. He must have been studying hard while he was hiding.
-Hugo: Guys, shouldn’t we try to stop Harley first…?
-Howard: Hmph! That guy, he’s practically invincible now. It doesn’t matter. But while he’s there, tell him to bring back some Detrium! It’s only found in the southern desert, and Hubert can’t get his hands on it now because of the trade embargo.
Their thoughts interweaved in his mind.
Without their main body to lead them, they had to communicate this way…
It had already been over a day in Earth time.
According to Hugo’s diagnosis, it would take about three days for him to wake up, so maybe he would regain consciousness in about two weeks.
[Hmm, two weeks…]
Immortal King Hannibal Strauss pondered that fact and began a serious self-reflection.
He had been deeply impressed by the recent incident in Enamel and had realized something.
‘…I haven’t achieved anything significant. I was too soft. I thought I was only motivated by profit, but it seems the memories from my previous life are still influencing me.’
He was just sending his minions to wreak havoc on the continent…
And Oath of Heaven’s Defiance, which he had underestimated as a nuisance, was trying to sink an entire continent?!
They had even almost succeeded. If it wasn’t for Harris, who had the World Tree’s backing…
The amount of Karma he could have gained…
Crack!
Hannibal clenched his fist, crushing the armrest of his bone throne.
He didn’t have muscles, but he could still exert incredible strength with dark magic.
‘This is humiliating. To think I’m inferior to those bastards!’
He was impressed by their ambition, but he couldn’t accept it.
He was the true mastermind of this world!
He had always defeated Oath of Heaven’s Defiance… He had even subjugated most of their executives.
‘…I was wrong to underestimate them. They were the ones who opened the abyss and released madness. I should have taken them more seriously.’
It was time to change his approach.
He wanted to just ignore his promise and launch a full-scale invasion, but that would probably backfire once his main body woke up.
He would have to keep pushing forward to make up for the lost time and resources… but his main body wouldn’t tolerate a full-scale war.
‘But I don’t have time to come up with a new plan. They said they’ve been preparing for at least a decade.’
He racked his brains, searching for a solution.
The release of madness, the assassination attempt on the princess, the Lycanthrope invasion of Enamel, the Tribal Federation’s declaration of war, the Republic being taken over by the Obaifo Clan…
Considering the scale of their previous actions, their future plans were bound to have a significant impact.
And then…
‘I’ll just take everything for myself.’
Of course, Karma was based on causality, so he wouldn’t gain much by just stealing their plans.
It would be better than doing nothing, but… he wanted to do it properly.
-Heinrich: Hans! What are you doing?! This is already too much! You’re going to cause even more problems…!
His righteous and troublesome alter ego, Heinrich, started protesting…
-Hannibal Strauss: Hmm, let me correct you. I’m not Hans, I’m Hannibal Strauss.
-Heinrich: I thought we agreed to give up on that…
He ignored the chatter in his mind and looked around.
The bright moon and stars in the night sky, the shimmering sand dunes illuminated by their light, and…
A city in the distance, illuminated by countless torches, even at this late hour.
It was the Tribal Federation, Harley’s target.
And more specifically…
It was ‘Beorsen’, the High Chieftain’s base and the center of the coup, according to his intel.
Clang, clang, clang—!
“Emergency! Emergency! All forces to battle stations!”
“Summon the Berserkers immediately!”
Wooong—
They were well-prepared, as expected of an important stronghold.
The city was instantly enveloped in a strange barrier as soon as he appeared.
[Khehehe— This is good! It’s been a while since I’ve been to the human world. I can’t wait to crush those pathetic defenses.]
The Immortal King had arrived in the south.
And he was ready to overturn everything.
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