Chapter 380

'Could this be... the work of the third entity?'

The retraction of his finger, continuously and minutely repeating in slight reversals.

It was a phenomenon that Seong Jihan had experienced once before.

The sensation of time reversing.

This occurred when Annihilation God's Secret: Return of the Light was used properly.

But now, to see it unfold just to prevent Pythia's coronation ceremony...

'It appears the final sovereign constellation is likely the third disciple.'

Seong Jihan judged so and simultaneously harbored doubts.

'Why is he attempting to stop me from choosing Pythia?'

With BattleNet administrators involved, all eyes were focused on this location.

As Pythia said, if information were publicly disclosed here, it wouldn't benefit the third constellation either.

Yet they were impeding this.

'Well, if I continuously keep trying, Return of the Light can't be used infinitely.'

With all administrators watching the current situation.

Even though he could manipulate slight moments with Return of the Light, if it prolonged, the administrators would surely catch on.

If he truly desired Pythia's Level 8 Dominion trait, the right move was to persist here and continue his attempts.

However,

'I am curious why he's doing this...'

The third disciple, using the power to rewind time to send Seong Jihan signals.

Disclosing the information might shed some light on his incomprehensible actions.

After deep contemplation, Seong Jihan reached a conclusion.

"I want to see the next constellation."

"No, wait a moment...! I said I'd give you the Dominion Level. Please, choose me!"

Despite Pythia's attempts to stop him,

"No. Reveal the next constellation."

Seong Jihan confirmed that he would see the next constellation.

- ?? Giving up on Dominion Level 8?

- Does he not know how hard it is to raise constellation levels?

- Even just rising 1 or 2 levels would be significant.

- Who says no to free gains? LOL

- But can you trust her words? She might backstab once chosen.

- There's that, too...

Viewers couldn't hide their curiosity about Seong Jihan's decision.

It was incomprehensible to let go of a chance to boost constellation levels so easily.

Proceeding disclosure while viewers remained puzzled.

[Information about the sovereign constellations will be revealed.]

As the last sovereign constellation's appearance gradually emerged,

"Haa..."

Pythia deeply sighed.

* * *

A pale face with long, black hair flowing down.

The third disciple looked like a young man.

A man of similar height to Seong Jihan with striking features and

"We finally meet."

He glared at Seong Jihan, his eyes glowing red.

"Nice to meet you, the one who awakened me."

"You are the third disciple?"

"Yes. In this world, I was known as Ashoka."

The third disciple confirmed his identity as King Ashoka, as Pythia had suggested.

Gilgamesh, looking at him with interest, spoke.

"So, you have fully awakened, Ashoka?"

"Not fully. Only my consciousness is active, my true self remains sealed."

"Is the Martial God still suppressing you?"

"Something like that. I also haven't awakened as it's not yet my time."

Ashoka turned to Pythia.

"So rest assured, prophet."

"...What do you mean?"

"I won't act recklessly."

"Let's see... we'll be watching."

Finishing his conversation with the two, Ashoka turned back to Seong Jihan.

"So, would you choose me?"

[Take my test.]

At Ashoka's word's end,

His voice echoed inside Seong Jihan's mind as if it were an auditory hallucination.

'Is his true self communicating telepathically?'

Seong Jihan thought as he responded,

"So, what's your Dominion level?"

"I cannot tell you that."

[The Dominion level I can offer now is 8. Equivalent to Pythia.]

"Hmm..."

[However, you must pass my test.]

Wouldn't Pythia, who offers it for free, be better?

But as if he read Seong Jihan's mind, Ashoka continued.

[Pythia... trust her in usual times, but not at decisive moments.]

Decisive moments.

Was he implying this moment now?

'It was suspicious how she suddenly gained the Dominion trait.'

Pythia, who was so incongruous with sovereign constellations.

It was already strange she suddenly got this trait, and to have it at Level 8 was even more dubious.

Not that he could fully trust Ashoka before her either.

"Pythia, now that Ashoka has been revealed, is our earlier deal off?"

"The earlier deal... about passing the throne?"

She glanced at Ashoka and then spoke.

"...Still possible. For now."

"For now?"

"Even though he appeared, nothing significant has happened. So, choose me rather than having the coronation with him."

Despite saying information disclosure would cancel the coronation earlier, now changing her words once more.

Seong Jihan gazed at her calmly.

"I suppose I have to proceed with Ashoka's coronation instead."

"No...! Why?"

"Your words kept changing about this. It's hard to trust you."

"..."

Pythia kept silent quietly.

"Haha, wise choice. Handing over constellation traits so easily... there must be ulterior motives."

Not chosen by Seong Jihan, Gilgamesh watched with a smile.

And then,

[Do you choose the sovereign constellation 'Ashoka' as the coronation ceremony participant?]

"Yes."

At Seong Jihan's answer, the two constellations began to disappear.

"...Ashoka. I trust in your assurance not to act reckless."

"We shall see."

With the two constellations gone,

[The coronation ceremony protagonist, 'Ashoka,' designates the map.]

[Special map, 'Calamitous Flames,' summons player Seong Jihan.]

The map for the coronation ceremony.

Seong Jihan was summoned to 'Calamitous Flames.'

* *

Whoosh...!

The special map, Calamitous Flames.

As the name suggested, it was filled entirely with flames.

-Is this hellfire?

-Was it designed just to burn the player alive? LOL nothing but flames here.

-Doesn't look any different for aliens, huh? They see only flames too.

-Can't even see where Seong Jihan is;

Due to the raging flames, even Seong Jihan, who should navigate the map, wasn't visible on BattleTube.

As people were perplexed, wondering where he could be,

'Is this the test?'

Seong Jihan, amidst the flames, scrutinized his intact body.

Not only his body, but even his clothes weren't scorched in Calamitous Flames.

Though he had prepared defenses upon being summoned,

'The flames here... seem to have no intention of burning me.'

Despite his preparations seeming unnecessary, the fire didn't harm Seong Jihan at all.

What kind of test is this?

At that moment,

[You have far more "Red" than expected.]

Ashoka's voice echoed again.

[Utilize your stat Red to find me.]

Ashoka spoke with certainty regarding the stat 'Red.'

He seemed to understand this ability thoroughly.

'Indeed, the stat 'Red' was permanently consumed when Return of the Light was used against the Little Sun... there must be a connection.'

Seong Jihan drew out the Phoenix Flag, unleashing the power of 'Red.'

Fundamental Divine Arts,

Heavenly Dragon Thunder Fire:

Dragon Thunder.

From the tip of the spear surged crimson electricity enveloped in flames.

It radiated in all directions but soon was engulfed by the flames.

However,

'There's a path where Dragon Thunder persists.'

In the fierce flames, Seong Jihan followed the lingering trail of Dragon Thunder.

Where he went, the flames were notably weaker compared to surrounding areas.

Following the trail of Dragon Thunder,

"Ho..."

He exited the flaming region, stepping onto a land covered in red soil.

In contrast to him advancing into a new zone,

-Still just flames; this map is crap.

-Which channel is this? Joined thinking there were admins, but just flames?

-That's over. But they might return, so waiting.

-Ha, are you kidding? What's this?

BattleTube viewers, seeing the same flames, voiced their complaints.

'Seems Ashoka did something to block external information.'

Watching their reactions, Seong Jihan assessed the situation while surveying his surroundings.

The barren land paved with red soil.

Above, the fierce flames he had passed kept burning.

Walking across the red soil,

'This is...'

A staircase descending deep into the earth.

Stretching endlessly to an unknown depth.

'I need to go down.'

Thud. Thud.

Walking cautiously down the stairs,

Rumble!

A section of the grand staircase collapsed.

[Ugh... Ugh...]

From there, emerged a skeleton with red bones, groaning.

The red-skinned undead, human-sized, approached Seong Jihan.

[Release me now...!]

Rumble!

As it charged,

The ground around the stairs crumbled, unleashing undead monsters.

Skeletons, zombies, and ghosts.

The types of undead varied, but all shared the common characteristic of emitting a red hue.

'Their movements are slow, not very strong.'

With such weak opponents, formidable martial arts wouldn't be necessary.

Igniting the dark blade, he lightly swung in the air.

Fundamental Divine Art,

Triad of Martial Mastery:

Total Annihilation Horizontal Sweep

Swoosh!

At a single stroke, the undead horde split apart simultaneously.

However,

[This... cannot... end...!]

Whoosh!

Flames erupted from the bodies of the red undead, restoring them to their previous forms.

Despite the light swing, seeing their easy recovery,

Seong Jihan observed the red undead's actions before pulling out his spear.

"Then."

Crackle!

Crimson electricity rose from the spear's tip.

With greater firepower, it showered the undead.

Whoosh!

[Ahh...]

[At last... I die!]

Struck by Dragon Thunder, the undead's bodies burned, emitting delight.

They rejoiced at their demise.

Having wiped out the enemies, Seong Jihan peered below.

'No need to engage them. Should I just jump down?'

Initially descending slowly, one step at a time,

The enemies, vulnerable to 'Red,' weren't that threatening.

No need to waste time, better to finish this quickly.

Whoosh!

Seong Jihan leaped into the abyss below the endless staircase.

Rumble!

[Descend step by step...]

[Give me death!]

Lurking undead emerged from the trembling ground above.

But he didn't intend to confront them.

As he descended, causing all the undead to rise, reaching the subterranean end,

Flash!

A crimson light emanated from Seong Jihan's body.

[Follow the steps, walk down slowly.]

Ashoka's voice echoed.

Whoosh!

Then, Seong Jihan was back at the staircase entrance.

'...Winding back time to enforce the rule to descend the steps?'

Return of the Light.

Using a time-reversing power for such a trivial matter was ridiculous.

Although amused,

"Understood."

He decided to comply with the directive.

Step by step, descending slowly,

[Finally... I die...!]

Burning the yearning-for-rest undead with Dragon Thunder,

After descending countless steps,

[Kill me too!]

Whoosh!

Among the undead struck by Dragon Thunder, some remained incomplete.

['Red' stat is insufficient.]

[Would you like to increase the 'Red' stat?]

Despite their feebleness, inadequate 'Red' stat rendered them invincible.

The system kindly suggested raising the stat.

"If it were that easy to raise..."

Seong Jihan responded.

Rumble...!

A segment of the stairway crumbled, revealing a small altar.

An altar, red in hue, large enough for one person to lie upon.

An emerging system message illuminated the altar.

[Offer an ally as a sacrifice to gain abilities.]

[Suggested sacrifice: Yoon Seah]

[Offering her will increase the 'Red' stat by 100.]

Offering Yoon Seah as a sacrifice to gain 100 points in 'Red?'

"Are you insane?"

Bang!

Seong Jihan saw the message and kicked the altar.