BRDM 178

chapter 178

Flash! Flash!!

“…What on earth is happening over there?”

Ramon and his party clung to the tip of the growing beanstalk.

The closer they got to the heavens, the more their faces hardened.

Lightning flashed between the white clouds.

Fierce, unrelenting winds blew.

The number of fallen Sea Beasts increased with every moment.

And, the intense aura of combat made their skin tingle and sent chills down their spines.

Ramon wondered if he was the only one sensing danger, but

‘Luciano’s expression is also tense. Hercules and Perseus as well.’

He swallowed dryly at the peculiar tension exhibited by these beings, known as the strongest in the real world.

‘If Aiakos, who is waiting outside the dungeon, saw this, he’d probably react the same way.’

Whatever was happening up there, it was certainly extraordinary.

Gure, until now, had never shown his full strength. But surely, he was unleashing a power equivalent to it now.

‘What in the world is Gure doing…?’

Ramon swallowed hard.

Just as he was hoping the beanstalk they were standing on would quickly reach the heavens,

“…This won’t do.”

Hercules clicked his tongue and lightly tilted his neck.

Perseus and Luciano, who had been picking off the falling Sea Beasts one by one, turned their gaze to him.

“There should only be giant warriors up there… but I need to see with my own eyes what’s going on.”

“Stop—”

Luciano tried to read Hercules’ deep competitive instinct through his mask and stop him, but

[Legacy: ‘Hero Who Completed the 12 Labors’ is fully activated!]

Ka-BOOM!

Screeeeeeetch—

Ignoring the warning, Hercules stepped onto the beanstalk and leapt toward the heavens.

The force was so intense that half the leaves they were standing on were torn away.

Yet, in the next instant, he had already reached high into the sky.

“You damn bastard!”

Luciano’s face twisted in rage.

Whatever was happening to Gure, Hercules’ interference was certain to ruin it.

[Legacy: ‘Sea Serpent That Devours the Moon’ attempts to leap!]

[Legacy: ‘King Who Defeated Medusa’ summons the divine horse Pegasus to take flight!]

Bang!

Screeeeee!

Luciano clenched the cigar in his mouth, stepping onto the ice formed from condensed moisture to leap into the sky.

Perseus summoned a white horse, mounted it, and grasped the reins as they ascended like a tiny island.

Watching them rise, Ramon shouted,

“Damn! Hurry! Quick!”

The assault team poured more magic into the beanstalk.

Whoosh!

“Where are the warriors? What about the other citizens?!”

“Almost everyone has crossed the [Gate]! Only the Queen remains!!”

Giant Queen Hela pushed back the pursuing Sea Beasts with her warhammer and nodded.

The evacuation was now complete.

Although the appearance of the Demon King made the Sea Beasts’ pursuit more relentless, they managed to finish without major losses.

All thanks to the new court mage.

‘Pater…!’

Hela glanced at Lee Hyun.

A stranger who showed unparalleled power even against the Demon King’s clones.

The aura he radiated was too fierce to be called a mere mage, making her believe he was of the same “kind.” She handed him the halberd… and thankfully, her intuition proved correct.

In fact, when he slightly removed his mask, his unexpectedly handsome face surprised her.

“That halberd is one of the treasures my ancestors treasured most alongside the heart of our Utgard. I must return it.”

Muttering this possibly-never-to-be-kept promise, she turned her body.

“All remaining personnel, cross the [Gate]! Do not leave a single person behind! Utgard never abandons its comrades!!”

“Follow the Queen!”

“Withdraw to the [Gate]! All remaining warriors, return quickly!!”

As the remaining forces turned toward the gate,

‘My people! Where do you think you’re going?! You must unite with me!!’

At that moment, the Sea King, writhing in pain under Lee Hyun’s grip, turned his gaze.

Ka-BOOM!!

Forcibly tearing his limbs bound by chains, he threw his massive body toward the dungeon giants.

“…!?”

An unbelievable sight even for those watching.

Although his size was nearly halved, he still towered over 20 meters.

A massive shadow loomed over the heads of the retreating giant warriors.

“Damn it…!”

Hela gritted her teeth and lunged forward.

“Your Majesty!!”

“No! Stop!!”

Her subordinates’ urgent cries reached her ears, but she didn’t listen.

All that mattered was protecting her people.

It seemed the battle would not go their way until the very end.

Lee Hyun frowned at the Sea King’s strange behavior.

He had been smashing its head to finish it, yet it unexpectedly discarded its most vital parts.

A concept only possible for a collective formed from multiple Sea Beasts.

Shssss!

No longer a lizard, it took the form of a viper and pierced the air.

[Activating Douksini’s Trust!]

Flash!

Lee Hyun became a streak of light, tailing the Sea King closely.

If it reached the dungeon giants, resurrection would begin.

That had to be stopped.

‘Too fast!’

It was almost impossible to catch up.

‘What now?’

[‘Holy Relic: Kingoa’ spins violently, accelerating incident speed!]

In the slowed time, Lee Hyun sought a way to destroy the Sea King in a single strike.

Overwhelming destructive power was necessary.

Only one way:

‘Secondary Awakening…!’

A ranker must undergo three awakenings to become a High Ranker.

• First Awakening: all stat multipliers surpass 100

• Second Awakening: surpass 200

• Third Awakening: surpass 300, opening the path to High Ranker

Currently, Lee Hyun’s six stats were in the high 200s.

However, he had not unlocked any secondary functions. He had not attempted the Second Awakening.

The reason was simple:

‘To ascend even higher.’

He knew his level was unprecedented.

Even after only the First Awakening, he could rival High Rankers.

All six secondary functions were unlocked only at SS-rank, a deliberate choice.

Therefore,

‘Secondary functions must reach at least SSS-rank to be worth it.’

SSS-rank could only be unlocked by top-tier High Rankers. But Lee Hyun, claiming to be Zeus’ successor, considered it natural.

So, he waited for the perfect timing.

Now, though earlier than expected, the moment wasn’t bad.

Indeed, the urgent situation made it even better.

‘Astrefe’s Fragment… I still don’t know how it was acquired, but if I can combine it properly in the secondary function…!’

If the First Awakening had been through the Queen of Eyes, the Second Awakening would be through Zeus.

The moment he decided,

Flash!!

Lee Hyun’s eyes blazed.

Whoosh!

[Resuming the previously halted Secondary Awakening!]

[All functions now imbued with Astrefe’s power. Strong lightning attributes applied; new forms of awakening initiated.]

[Linked to ‘Trait: Douksini’s Brain’ and ‘Lightning Combat’]

[Searching for appropriate secondary functions…]

……

Ting, tititit-ing—

Sounds of awakening echoed through Lee Hyun’s limbs. Magic circuits expanded, cores overheating.

Whoooosh!

Previously, circuits had acted as a cooling system for lightning output; now their durability had strengthened, increasing output.

[Thunder flows through the veins. ‘Brontē’ added to Power!]
[Can now cut through air like lightning. ‘Aiolos’ added to Agility!]
[Absolute life force and endurance acquired. ‘Hebraios’ added to Stamina!]
[All magic and sorcery channeled through lightning. ‘Elektron’ added to Mana!]
[Intelligence that governs heaven and earth acquired. ‘Pronoia’ added to Intelligence!]
[Gained cunning to acquire divine techniques. ‘Technē’ added to Skill!]

Brontē, Aiolos, Hebraios, Elektron, Pronoia, Technē…

Superpowers from Zeus mythology, connected to Astrefe.

[Secondary Awakening Complete!]
[Rank greatly increased.]

As the final message appeared,

Flash!

Lee Hyun’s eyes blazed a deeper blue lightning.

And,

Whoosh!!

Time in the world had returned to normal.

The Secondary Awakening was completed in an instant.

To others, it seemed as if his existence had changed in a single moment.

‘…What is this,’

By the time the Sea King realized, it was too late.

Flash!

Lee Hyun appeared before the Sea King, halberd ready.

“…!!”

Hela, about to confront the Sea King, widened her eyes. This tiny human had suddenly appeared to protect her.

Ka-rumble!!

[Lightning output exceeded Douksini’s maximum (SS)!]
[Skill proficiency drastically increased; upgraded to new skill.]
[Congratulations! ‘Douksini’s Thunder Breath’ is born.]

[Douksini’s Thunder Breath (SSS)]

The breath of Douksini, filled with battlefield rage, revenge, despair, and pain, now merges with the godly thunder, exploding like a storm.

This skill channels inner emotion into lightning incarnate. The more intense the emotion, the wider and deeper the effect on the world.

• Type: Unique Skill, Semi-Automatic Enhancement

• Proficiency: 0%

• Origin: Legend ‘Curse of the Seven Star Rock’

All the power of the Second Awakening concentrated into the halberd, splitting the world vertically.

Ka-rumble!!

[Douksini’s Roar Explodes!]

Lee Hyun stood directly before the Sea King.

A new form of lightning, beyond rage, sliced the Sea King from snout to tail.

Swoosh!!

The Sea King was bisected without resistance. Falling bodies turned to ash instantly.

Puff…

[Hidden Boss Monster defeated!]
[Treasure acquired. All conditions completed.]
[Dungeon closure initiated.]

……

[Dungeon closure temporarily halted for unknown reasons.]

Perhaps because Sun Wukong is still confronting the sealed Demon King?

Ignoring the paused dungeon closure, Lee Hyun exhaled deeply.

“Haa… haa…”

The lightning that had burned like the world itself quickly faded.

“You.”

“Hurry. Before others arrive.”

Hela, granted permission, seemed to have many things to say, but Lee Hyun returned her halberd and waved his hand.

Still holding the blazing halberd, she stood blankly for a moment, then nodded and disappeared.

“Exhausting… I could use a rest.”

Lee Hyun sighed and readjusted his mask.

Three trajectories were already reaching the open sea.

As expected.

Tap!

After a moment, someone stood on the ruined battlefield.

“…Did you make this battlefield?”

A large figure, blatantly displaying competitive intent.

Hercules.