Chapter 240: Star, Mimisbrunnr (5)

Chapter 240: Star, Mimisbrunnr (5)

Chang-Sun quickly sprinted across the surface of the water like a lightning bolt coursing through the ground.

『Will you take the offer?』 Armand asked as Chang-Sun ran.

Unsure about what she meant, Chang-Sun frowned. “What do you mean?”

『I’m asking if you’ll take the Evil Dragon’s offer.』Armand elaborated. Chang-Sun looked back at the little elemental spirit who resembled Ithaca. Suffocating silence filled the air until Armand broke it.

『Tiamat is not only the head of <Nammu> but also the fifth-strongest Celestial in <Heaven>. There is a reason why something like the Nine Heavens exists.』

Nine Heavens usually meant the highest sky or the nine celestial bodies circling around the earth. Grand Heaven, Clear Heaven, Vast Heaven, Flame Heaven, and Black Heaven were in the center, east, west, south, and north respectively. Sun Heaven, Red Heaven, Transformation Heaven, and Faraway Heaven were located in the intermediate directions.

However, the Nine Heavens’ meaning in <Heaven> was a little different. It referred to the Celestials who were close to reaching Emperor-level. Tiamat, one of the Nine Heavens, was called Faraway Heaven and was located in the northwest. Chang-Sun would get a very powerful ally if he married her.

“Marriage shouldn’t be taken so lightly,” Chang-Sun said.

『That is why I’m saying this. Someone like Tiamat wouldn’t joke about making such an offer, and there is no better way to make allies than becoming one family through marriage.』

What was Armand trying to say? Was she telling Chang-Sun to take Tiamat’s offer for his revenge? There was definitely no downside to becoming Tiamat’s husband. Tiamat was one of the Nine Heavens, and she was preparing to wage war against the ‘Taurus.’ As the saying went, ‘The enemy of one’s enemy was one’s friend.’ Since Tiamat had a favorable impression of Chang-Sun, she would be a great help to him in the future.

Although Armand seemed to be advising Chang-Sun to marry Tiamat, Armand’s expressionless look caught his eye. Considering Armand knew Chang-Sun and Ithaca’s past yet still suggested this... was it because she wanted to cut all ties related to Ithaca, whom she deeply hated? Or was the lingering feeling in his heart telling him not to let Ithaca go?

However, Armand just looked at Chang-Sun, saying nothing more. It was as if she genuinely wished to hear what Chang-Sun thought.

“This doesn’t seem like the right place to talk about this, so let’s discuss it later. But let me make one thing clear,” Chang-Sun said.

They were now getting closer to the ghost ship, two-thirds of which had already sunk.

“I’ll never get married out of necessity. That just means I’m abusing other people’s sincerity.”

Only after Chang-Sun plummeted did he come to realize that he shouldn’t be abusing people’s goodwill even if it was for his own benefit.

『... Is that so?』 Armand quietly mumbled and ended the discussion. Chang-Sun wasn’t sure if she got the answer to her question or held back her curiosity. 『That’s certainly your choice to make. It’s not something I should stick my nose in. Just... save my sisters, please.』

“Of course.” Chang-Sun lightly tapped the [Yuchang Sword] and the [Zhan Lu Sword] against each other.

Clanngg!

The two divine swords emitted milky-white light. Now that he thought about it, this was his first time using Double Sword Resonance using only Ou Yezi’s divine swords. Although the swords’ had different attributes, they were created by the same blacksmith, so they would most likely resonate very well.

As Chang-Sun expected, the two divine swords’ divine energies, which were seeping into Chang-Sun, merged with each other and amplified their power dozens of times. A part of his black lightning energy turned white.

[The ‘Yuchang Sword’ and the ‘Zhan Lu Sword’ have resonated, creating a significant amount of divine energy!]

[The swords have been coated with sacred white lightning.]

[Concentrating the great will of the Absolute Good.]

Woosh, woosh, woosh...!

Approaching the ghost ship, Chang-Sun spun like a top. It seemed as if he was ice skating.

[The Skill ‘Black Mountain King’s Claws’ has been activated in quick succession!]

[The Skill's damage has increased according to the level of an Authority.]

Woosh!

Woosh―!

Chang-Sun fired four white lightning bolts. The ones launched from the [Yuchang Sword] moved from the bottom left to the upper right. They were quick and sharp, like an assassin stabbing their target with daggers. On the other hand, the [Zhan Lu Sword] lived up to its reputation of being the sword of monarchs. As if a monarch themselves had swung their sword upward, the sword’s lightning bolts struck the left part of the ship, swept across the deck, and dropped down to the right part of the ship. Creating an X, the lightning bolts repeatedly overlapped with each other and butchered the ghost ship.

Tap!

Chang-Sun stopped spinning and fired the last, fifth claw, which was as strong as attacks mixed with an Authority.

Swoosh!

Rumble―!

The [Black Mountain King’s Fifth Claw] dropped down to the center of the deck and spread white lightning energy everywhere, completely obliterating the ghost ship. It looked as if a giant tiger had indiscriminately clawed it to pieces. Dozens of the ship’s fragments flew in the air like fireworks.

Woosh, woosh, woosh.

Much to the <Troop> members’ bewilderment, the ghost ship was now sinking, and they could do nothing to stop it. They were already in chaos due to the sudden [Dragon Breath] attack and the Celestials’ ambush. Now, white lightning bolts were raining down on them.

Made up of the swords’ divine energies, the sacred white lightning bolts were the most efficient in purifying or exorcizing evil. With the lightning bolts imbued with the resolve of the Absolute Good, the <Troop> members, who were monster or demonic Celestials, were basically struck with a natural disaster.

Rumble, rumble, rumble―!

Rumble!

“Arghhh!”

“W-what in the world...!”

“Urggghhhh!! Why isn’t the fire going out?! Why? Whyyy?!”

The white lightning bolts left behind white flames that dealt significant damage to the <Troop> members who didn’t have enough resistance to divine energy. Qi Gong, Lie Si, Jun, and the other executives weren’t better off. In fact, things were worse for them since they were busy fighting against four Celestials.

Paaaah―!

Chang-Sun leaped down to the sinking deck. Many Celestials looked at him, but he simply charged onward, paying them no attention. After all, he only had one target in this operation.

“Qi Gong...” Chang-Sun put on his iron mask and quietly mumbled, “... it was you.”

―Somewhere quiet.

―Somewhere cozy.

―I don’t want to fight.

The [Chunjun Sword]’s attributes were related to nature, which also meant something or someone’s inherent character. Although it was a sword, the [Chunjun Sword] refused to be used as one because it hated artificiality and combat.

‘I can make that happen,’ Chang-Sun told the [Chunjun sword].

Chang-Sun liked the [Chunjun Sword]. It would be boring if every sword specialized in combat, so having one or two swords like the [Chunjun Sword] didn’t seem that bad.

‘So come with me,’ Chang-Sun offered.

―You won’t fight?

―You’re also fighting right now.

―I don’t like getting hurt.

‘Yes, I fight,’ Chang-Sun replied.

―Then...

―No.

‘But I promise that I won’t force you. Besides...’ Chang-Sun trailed off.

The [Yuchang Sword] and the [Zhan Lu Sword] howled.

‘Won’t it better to stay with your friends than your current owner?’ Chang-Sun smiled.

―Friends?

―Friends...

―Zhan Lu is there.

―Yuchang is also there!

―Other friends seem to be with him too.

―Will everything be okay with friends?

―Will it be okay?

―I think it’ll be okay.

―I think so!

―Then...

―Then!

―Let’s follow him.

―Let’s go.

―Yes.

―What do I need to do...

―to follow you?

Chang-Sun and the [Chunjun Sword] exchanged numerous words within a short moment.

[You have successfully gained the favor of the ‘Chunjun Sword’ using the Effect of the Trait ‘Close-Combat Master’!]

[‘Chunjun Sword’ has chosen a different owner.]

Like the [Yuchang Sword] and the [Zhan Lu Sword], the light the [Chunjun Sword] was emitting gradually changed to milky-white sacred light.

‘Just come with me. That is all you have to do.’

―Okay!

The [Chunjun Sword] shone brighter.

Boom!

“... Hup!” Qi Gong inhaled sharply.

Qi Gong tried to swing the [Chunjun Sword] when Chang-Sun went for Qi Gong’s wrist using the [Yuchang Sword], but he flinched in surprise instead. Seemingly shaking off Qi Gong’s hand, the [Chunjun Sword] exploded.

Woosh, woosh, woosh!

The [Chunjun Sword] flew up. After letting go of the [Yuchang Sword] and the [Zhan Lu Sword], Chang-Sun reached out for the divine sword that was circling in the air. Qi Gong held out his hand toward it as well, but Chang-Sun was quicker. The [Chunjun Sword] ended up in the latter’s possession.

“N—!” Qi Gong tried to scream, but it was too late.

[The Effect of the Trait ‘Sword Forest’ has been applied, unsealing the sealed memory of the ‘Chunjun Sword’!]

[A hidden Trait has been awakened.]

At that moment, a fresh forest scent spread across the gloomy battlefields.