When they returned, it was 4 a.m. according to Guundia time. If the world was normal, everyone should be sleeping, but to those belonging to Guundia that had to guard against monsters 24/7, this naturally didn't apply to them.
There were lights in various parts of the fortress, and the guards could not help but put up their guard against Yu IlHan and the Guardian fortress that appeared out of nowhere due to Yu IlHan cancelling his concealment, even though they knew that they wouldn't be able to win against him.
[That's a good atmosphere.]
"I've only seen such a scene in movies."
"I said I'll wipe out all the monsters before coming back, why are they still here?"
[Would darling rest easy if some complete stranger suddenly appeared and said they'll wipe out all the higher existence factions, including the Heaven's Army, for you?]
"It's sad because you're right."
He thought they might not even open the gates, but perhaps there was a separate order from Han YeoRang, as he could enter without any resistance. Of course, he could not stop them from whispering about him.
"That man is...."
"I'm sure of it. He has such beauties by his side."
"My, my."
Kim YeSeul blossomed into a smile after hearing the word 'beauty'. Yu IlHan didn't bother reacting to her. In fact, he was worried that Helièna may show her power and cause a mess, but it seemed like she planned to hide her vicious and violent magic power.
"You're here."
"Oh, Major-General, and...."
"It's been a while."
Lead by the soldiers, he was taken to where Major-General Yoon and Han YeoRang was. Han YeoRang had an imposing aura about her despite wearing tattered armor, and the dignity of a leader could be seen from her. Even after seeing Kim YeSeul and Helièna, she did not back down and greeted Yu IlHan.
"Colonel Han YeoRang."
"I'm glad that you're safe."
Han YeoRang's firm voice sounded very natural to Yu IlHan. Well, in the first place, there was no relationship between the two at all. If any, it was between a weapons trader and customer.
"I'm glad that Colonel Han is safe as well. I did erase all the monsters for now... but it's not like the world has stabilized, so I cannot be sure when an uprising may occur again."
"...That is plenty amazing."
What expression was Han YeoRang supposed to make when Yu IlHan mentioned massacring all the monsters in the world like pulling out weeds from his backyard? Although she already knew this as she heard from Yoon DaeHan, she once again felt the tremendous gap in worlds that they lived in. Yu IlHan didn't even know what kind of thoughts she had and spoke.
"Originally, I planned to take Colonel Han and all the members of Suppression back to Earth. Right now, the Earth is...."
"Yes, I have heard everything. It's developing at a rapid pace, and may even evolve to a higher world in the near future...."
It was good that there was no need for additional explanation. Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders and continued.
"But I feel that Colonel Han is a very important figure in this place. Of course, if you wish for it, I'll take you back to Earth...."
"No."
She shook her head without hesitation. It was exactly as Yu IlHan foresaw.
"As long as there are people who believe in me, I cannot run away to Earth alone."
"It should not be considered as running away. The environment of Earth is harsher than this place."
"But there is you, Mr. Yu IlHan. Just with that one fact alone, Earth will be much safer than this world, as well as a more productive place."
The exaggerated evaluation made him shiver. However, just then, Han YeoRang dropped a bigger bomb.
"So... can you not accept us all?"
"...Sorry?"
Yu IlHan questioned if he heard wrong, but the reply was the same.
The surviving members in this fort only numbers 30 thousand. Right now, we have it tough just surviving, and even if we do survive and live on... we do not have much hope in life."
He did not deny that. Fighting against monsters, and preparing for war whenever they could – that could not be called 'life'.
"But an entire 30 thousand people…"
"We will make our settlement by ourselves. There are plenty of land on Earth without an owner right now. I just want to receive your protection, Mr. Yu IlHan. I want to stay where your eyes can reach."
"...."
Yu IlHan couldn't reply and only looked at Yoon DaeHan. However, just as when he thought that he would help him persuade Han YeoRang, Yoon DaeHan instead tried to persuade him
"In fact, we've decided already. If you permit it, everyone will follow you back to Earth, Mr. Yu IlHan."
"You simply do not know what a higher world signifies. Didn't I say that Earth will become a warzone? It will become a battlefield of beings with absurd power that cannot be compared to the monsters in this world!"
"Even so, we have thought that it is better than drying ourselves out to death in this place."
"...How can you possibly…"
He could not understand what these people were thinking at all. However, Kim YeSeul had a satisfied smile all this time, and Helièna also giggled.
[It really is interesting. Darling is witnessing why humankind can only bring themselves to destruction. Even though they're struggling to escape the current status quo, they're running in a worse direction, thinking that new things will be better!]
"That's no different from you Destruction Demon Army guys."
[Oh my, is that really so? The objective of the Destruction Demon Army, is literally destruction, darling. Destruction that swallows everything up, even themselves. That's why the Destruction Demon Army is not going against their raison d'être.]
"They really are screwed up."
[However, darling is different from those things.]
Helièna's seductive smile tried to grab Yu IlHan's heart.
[Darling isn't planning to let Earth run to meet its maker, right?]
"Well, that is what I hope to do, but well, yeah. You're right."
[Right? People are attracted to your power that makes your beliefs into reality. Receiving the servitude of the inferior as the great one, it's a natural thing.]
And as such, as long as they believed and followed Yu IlHan, they did not pick the wrong head – was this what she meant? It was really complicated.
[Fufufu, how can your pondering face be so cute too...?]
"Hmph."
He pushed away Helièna's face that closed in on his without hesitation, but his hand lacked some strength. Helièna recognized that and a smile hung on her face.
"Very well, then. 30 thousand people. We shall all go to Earth. It's not that hard anyway."
"Thank you."
Han YeoRang's expression darkened after seeing Helièna, who had a might incomparable to hers, acting cute towards Yu IlHan, but as soon as his permission was given, she smiled brightly as if she never had a dark expression and bowed towards him. The her that acted upon emotions did not exist anymore.
Yu IlHan walked up to the walls of the fort with his companions. A slow ringing bell resounded out, alarm magic activated, and the ones that collapsed due to the fatigue of battle all woke up and walked outside. When all members, including the non-combatants, gathered below the wall, Han YeoRang raised her voice and declared.
"From now! We! Shall go to Earth! It's the place I was born on, and it's the place where a Supreme being rules!"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Loud cheers filled the place. Supreme being referred to him? Yu IlHan became dejected. However, the reaction of the people was filled with vitality, and he didn't have any strength to refute that statement.
"Then let's go immediately. Everyone gets on board. We shall all go at the same time."
"This many members... all at once?"
"Sure."
He warped to Earth many times already. No matter how many people he brought, it didn't use that much mana. Yu IlHan dispelled the barrier on the Guardian fortress, and let every remaining survivor of this world into the fortress. Then, he put the crucial items into his inventory.
Everyone got on board the fortress. The abandoned fort, the abandoned lands, the abandoned skies. Yu IlHan muttered while looking at Guundia that were devoid of monsters, and will also be devoid of humans very soon
"What will happen to such a world?"
[Well? It will probably stay abandoned forever, no? It's not like mana has disappeared so monsters will keep appearing, but they will only go through a cycle of appearance, disappearance, and destruction, so there will be no future for this world.]
"Perhaps that has the same meaning of a world where time no longer flows.... The world where everything has stopped. It's an unfortunate thing."
Kim YeSeul Muttered, she felt sadness from Helièna's words. However, Helièna's words hadn't ended yet.
[But, but you know? If it's darling, you might be able to change that.]
"How? Do you want me to come to this world and regularly clean up the monsters?"
[No, no, darling. You're subordinating the mankind of this world under Earth.]
"And so?"
[...fufu, the rest is a secret. If it's darling, you'll find out in no time.]
"You...."
[Fufu.]
Helièna looked at Yu IlHan after speaking. It was a familiar gaze for Yu IlHan. It was very similar to how Liera looked at him normally. He licked his lips as if about to say something, but eventually decided not to.
He felt like he fell into a swamp the more he faced this woman. She was a being that denied his views and standards of action in a straightforward manner.
Her very being was against the natural law. Was it because she was from the Destruction Demon Army? Even though he said that there was a need to control and restrain her by her side, perhaps it was his mistake to come with her.
"Then we'll depart for Earth."
"Earth, what kind of a world would it be?"
"It's a world ruled by someone with overwhelming might. It will be much harsher than here."
"But... but a different life will be waiting for us there."
"Lady Han YeoRang is with us. We have nothing to fear!"
Belief in Han YeoRang, as well as the admiration for the Supreme being – these two were strongly embedded in the people's minds. Even while thinking that they were doing everything in vain, Yu IlHan activated the Warp skill.
"Whoaa."
"This world is...."
When they arrived on Earth after leaping over the dimensional wall, the ones onboard the Guardian fortress all burst out in exclamation. Thick foliage everywhere, as well as absurdly high cliffs!
A tunnel made of seawater that connected the land and the skies. Numerous stone islands inside the tunnel of seawater and bridges of rainbow that connected the islands! It was like the land of paradise!
"Beautiful."
"So beautiful...."
"This world was created by the ruler?"
Everyone looked towards Yu IlHan in shock. Han YeoRang was no exception. Even though she had become adept at controlling her reactions, she couldn't help but regain her girly emotions in front of such a spectacle.
"Amazing, Mr. IlHan...!"
Yu IlHan laughed dryly. He couldn't say that he was the most shocked out of all of them.
He had to work on the stabilization of Earth.
Before Earth completely leapt into becoming a higher world, right now! Immediately!
"Erta?"
[Yes, Yu IlHan, what is it?]
Erta's voice that replied to Yu IlHan's call was calm. It seemed like this team was not aware of what had happened to Earth yet.
"Can you ask Miss MiRae to create a gate so you can come back to Earth first?"
[So it's urgent. I understand.]
Erta had countless good points about her, but her best points were that she was wise and was quick to start working. Yu IlHan cut off the communication there, and looked around the world before putting mana into a clap to gather everyone's attention.
"As you see, the mankind of this world, Earth, were scattered across various other worlds. We don't know when they will be able to come back, but I can't let you live in their original habitats. However, there are plenty of locations where the population was wiped out due to dungeons or large-scale monster attacks, so I'm planning to choose one of those places for all of you to live in."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"I'm planning to work on fixing Earth immediately due to an unforeseen error. So, in the meantime, I hope that the members of Suppression will be able to help Miss Han YeoRang...."
"As you wish."
Major-General Yoon DaeHan nodded with a bright smile as soon as he heard that. It seemed that he thought that Yu IlHan was being considerate of them. Well, let him misunderstand alright. Yu IlHan immediately moved the fortress to the place he had thought of, which was none other than Venezuela.
"This place is...."
"It's the only place where I was shamed, I was unable to help them in time ... one of the things I still have regrets on."
"Mr. Yu IlHan...."
All 30 thousand got off there. The citizens of Venezuela in the past numbered 30 million, but all of them had died. It would be more than enough for 30 thousand people to live in. Even considering the time needed for them to continue with their unique culture and prosper, this kind of environment would be enough.
"Fighting the monsters will be a little tough, but the current Suppression should be able to handle it. Oh."'
Yu IlHan brought the unique-ranked artifacts piled up in Vanguard warehouse and distributed them to the members of Suppression. The equipment they were using right now were good items, but they were all mass-production models he had made when he had inferior abilities to now. Just by switching equipment, their fighting power would increase by 3 times.
"This is really amazing."
"Don't feel bad about using it. I'll clean up the vicinity first."
Yu IlHan gave Han YeoRang and Yoon DaeHan a communication device each.
"Give me a call whenever you're in danger. I'll come immediately."
"...Thank you."
"It won't be easy but... do your best."
"We should be fine as long as you're here, Mr. Yu IlHan."
"That's not what I meant... *sigh*."
Yu IlHan only sighed at Han YeoRang's firm attitude.
They still didn't seem to be aware what a higher world signified. He still had lingering thoughts that he should have just left them in Guundia.
But what was he to do now? They were the ones who followed him as they couldn't endure the situation Guundia anymore. Perhaps Helièna was right. Humanity was just struggling to escape their status quo, heading to their destruction.
'...Though, I won't let them.'
On his way back from Venezuela, Yu IlHan set up the minimum amount of safety devices. He first wiped out the monsters, and installed various traps and automatic weapons made from the materials gathered from those monsters.
If above 'ordinary' monsters, for example, the perverted demons, appeared, they'll activate automatically and even signal Yu IlHan. Before Earth leaped into a higher world, this much preparation should be enough to protect them.
[How kind.]
"If I was really kind, I wouldn't have brought them to Earth."
Yu IlHan snorted at Helièna's remark, and moved to the Korea, the clearing where the gate to Kiroa had once been. Of course, that gate had disappeared, but this area was Yu IlHan's land before. And he had scooped it out to make the Flying fortress.
[My... how beautiful.]
"It really is spectacular."
A lake had formed in the place where it was once like a crater due to a large mass of land being scooped out. Moreover, the surface of the water was glowing faintly, and from time to time, sprouts of water shot upwards to create special shapes – all this implied that the lake was formed from the influence of magic power.
"Yu IlHan, I've arrived. ... oh."
Erta had also arrived at this time through the gate, and also saw the scene. Not only that, the only conclusion she could come to after seeing the current state of Earth, where the lands, skies, and sea were all being twisted apart.
The transformation of Earth into a higher world was in progress. And this was happening very, very rapidly.
"Didn't you say it would take a few years at least?"
"Yeah, I hoped so anyway."
"Well, there's no way a human like you can accurately predict the transformation period. But it's good that we found out before it was too late. And so? You've prepared something right? The reason you called me should also be related to that."
"Indeed."
Yu IlHan thought back to the time when he borrowed Paté's power to bring Helièna's body back to life, and explained his plans. The magic he was planning to cast on Earth was fundamentally not that different.
"I'm planning to slow the time and space applied on Earth by borrowing mom's magic. The mana needed will be supplied by the mana being generated from the Earth itself."
"Uh...."
Although it was like always, this was one of the most absurd declarations by Yu IlHan. Erta couldn't retort and only turned her head around to Kim YeSeul.
"Just from words, it sounds absolutely impossible... so how is it, Kim YeSeul? Does it seem possible?"
"Wouldn't my son be able to do it? I believe in my son."
[This will be interesting. I want to hear the specifics, darling.]
"Good, I'll explain it to you in steps."
If possible, he wanted to get Kang MiRae's help as well, but he could only do with these members as she had other important things to do. Yu IlHan first put a boat on the lake and rowed to the center with the others.
"I'm going to make a magic formation here."
"On this lake? Would that suffice?"
"No, of course not. I'm going to use the artifact I created to draw a magic formation over the entire Earth."
[My, making a magic formation on Earth with an artifact?]
"The entire Earth!?"
Erta remembered something after hearing that.
"The ancient elven magic formation in Dareu. My god."
"Yes, this is the enhanced version. So... I'm going to make what Miss Han YeoRang said, not that far off from the truth."
If he was the only one that could take responsibility for Earth, all he needed to was to conquer it. Yu IlHan was planning to become the ruler of Earth. No one permitted him to, but he didn't plan on getting their permission either.
Noticing what he was thinking, Helièna's face blossomed into a smile.
[Fufu, you're doing well even without me telling you anything, darling. Perhaps our hearts are already synchronized? How joyful.]
"Quite the unpleasant woman, I must say."
"I agree, but this is no time to be quarreling. Focus."
Yu IlHan was not proficient in magic that manipulated space and time. So, he would require Kim YeSeul's help even in the process of making the magic formation.
By creating an artifact that could realize all of her powers, he would etch the magic formation over the Earth and activate it. Finally, he had to finish it off by adding a feature that could maintain the effects of the formation.
"The environment is not that bad. There is a lot of mana in the lake too."
[My.]
When Yu IlHan shook his hand, the surface of the lake shot up according to his lead, and froze in the form of a delicate statue.
A beautiful angel with two pairs of wings extended. It was none other than the figure of Liera when she was a 6th class high angel. Kim YeSeul was curious what kind of magic tricks he used when she saw him and realized that her son had become slightly different.
"My, when did your armor change, son?"
"Blizzard Tyrant's Mixed bone fullplate armor. It's an artifact that allows me to wield water and make it into ice. I'm going to create the artifact by extracting the feature of this armor."
[That's neat, darling. Can't you make a statue of me too?]
"If I feel like it."
When he swung his hand again, the statue changed into water again and fell back into the lake.
"That's why I need the help of the people here. Is it possible to transform mom's ability into the form of a magic formation?"
"It will be difficult for me alone."
[I'll try, darling. That seems interesting.]
"I shall also help. Fortunately, magic formations are my area of specialty."
"Okay then. I'll leave that to the three of you. As for me."
Yu IlHan took off his armor. Then, he took out a 5th class magic stone and extracted all the features relating to water manipulation from the mixed bone fullplate armor. The fullplate armor immediately became dust and scattered with the wind.
"I'll make this lake into an artifact."
[You destroyed a legend-ranked artifact so easily…]
"What I need is the ability to manipulate water, not the armor."
At this point, Yu IlHan did something unbelievable. He just dropped the higher existence's magic stone with the power of water into the lake without any hesitation. Even Helièna couldn't help but tilt her head at that scene.
[Darling... are you alright?]
"I'm going to concentrate. Don't touch me."
Yu IlHan slowly closed his eyes and put his hand on the surface of the water. What he was trying to do right now was extremely simple. Using the magic stone that would control the entire lake as the foundation, he would tie all the water in the lake into a single mass and enchant a thought-soul into it!
To put it easily, he was making a water golem. Of course, this would be impossible without the magic engineering, mana crafting ability, and soul-enchant that had respectively reached the peak of their fields.
'Activate mana crafting and soul enchant at the same time. And a suitable thought-soul would be... yes, you're the best.'
[Are you, serious...?]
The voice that replied to him was extremely low, and was filled with curses. However, to Yu IlHan, who had experienced countless fights even after fighting it, this much was cute.
'Yes I am serious. If it's about protecting the Earth, you should be the strongest.'
[What I want more is to rip you apart to shreds.]
'You're mistaken if you think I'll back down to such a meagre threat. You should have watched from inside me didn't you? Do I have to put it in easy words for you?'
Yu IlHan snorted towards the thought-soul that could do nothing to disturb his mind no matter how much it shouted, and spoke.
'As long as I don't permit it, you cannot do anything. If you do not accept, I'll only look for another one, and if the protective power over Earth becomes weaker as a result, you can only writhe in despair and curse me as you always did. No, in fact, I can just feed you to another thought-soul.'
[You aren't particularly skilled in threatening, or perhaps, you really don't care if I comply or not.]
'You get it. So, what are you going to do?'
[I... want freedom.]
'You are already dead. You are already no longer you, and whatever you thought when you were alive no longer relates to the current you.'
[Despite that I... want freedom.]
'Then very well. Negotiation is over.'
[However.]
The thought-soul held Yu IlHan back.
[If I could live on in a different form, if I could escape my current state... I shall follow your words for a short while.]
'You really aren't good at negotiating either.'
[I was always watching you. If I am not skilled in negotiation, then it is your fault.]
'Hah, who are you blaming? Very well, then. Let us begin.'
Yu IlHan activated the Rule skill that had reached its peak and made a smirk. He voiced out its name, the 'concept' that was embedded in the Akashic Record.
"Chaos Will, become my subordinate."
[...I accept.]
The worst loner and the most brutal being joined hands.
The moment Chaos was subordinated under Yu IlHan, he immediately released it into the lake. No, to be exact, it should be said that he tied the entire lake with the 5th class magic stone, and spread its thought-soul into it.
The mastered mana crafting and soul enchant activated simultaneously and transformed the lake into a golem. Chaos Will spread its consciousness throughout the entire lake, and became able to control it, and proved that it could proficiently use its new body by making a twisted face of Yu IlHan on the surface.
"This damn thing."
[Hmph.]
[Will of the Guardian was complete.]
[Will of the Guardian]
[Rank – Demigod]
[Durability – indestructible as long as a drop of water remains]
[Options –
1. Will not evaporate with a lower-ranked flame.
2. Able to transform into ice and steam at will.
3. Able to absorb water and make it a part of the body.
4. 40% increase in all abilities on Earth]
What once had the name of 'chaos' in its name now harbored 'Guardian'. When he giggled due to it being so funny, Kim YeSeul asked him.
"Son, what did you just do?"
"I made the lake into a golem."
"That's not something you should so casually say like you've ate toast for breakfast! You were supposed to make an artifact that will draw the magic formation but you made a golem!? How is that different from claiming to be a vegan when you're cooking meat!?"
"But I never lied. The Will of the Guardian will draw the magic formation by itself."
"...!"
The smart Erta immediately realized what he was trying to do with that. Kim YeSeul and Helièna were the same.
[Oh, how did you think up of such a thing? Well, this golem may actually be able to do it. And it can move as it wishes to as well....]
"Seeping into the Earth and carving it would even be possible if necessary. I wondered what you were thinking but this is really... absurd."
"That's why the only thing remaining thing is the magic formation."
Yu IlHan checked the state of the lake golem, Will of the Guardian, that just came to be and told his companions.
"We need to make a magic formation that can hold back the flow of time on Earth as soon as possible."
"Leave it to us. We found a hint now."
However, it wasn't as easy as it was said. This was not something that could be solved with just Yu IlHan hurrying, so he decided to focus on making an artifact that would reinforce the magic formation while he was waiting for the magic formation to be finished.
Although this was obvious, he couldn't have complete faith in the magic formation in order to delay the Earth's leap into the realm of higher worlds. Wouldn't he have to do everything he could? For that, Yu IlHan started pulling out the feathers of angels and fallen angels.
[Is it a similar device to Hundred Eyes?]
"Well, the principle is similar since I'm using the feathers, but their objective is completely different."
Feathers belonging to angels and fallen angels had the power of transform the energy into a specific attribute, compress it, and eject it out. What Yu IlHan focused on was none other than the absorption and compression.
The reason Earth was evolving, in the end, was because the concentration of mana on Earth was getting higher. Then, if he prevented the mana concentration from increasing, wouldn't the evolution be delayed as well? Compressing the mana with the feathers and making it disappear!
[And where would it disappear to?]
"Dareu."
[Master...]
"The war in Dareu is settled for now, and there's still a lot of time until the 6th Great Cataclysm there so it should not be a problem. And it's not like I'll release it immediately into Dareu. I'm going to make a separate device that gathers mana."
[Leaving everything aside, is there a method that can make mana leap over dimensions?]
"Good question. However, that will be solved if I just imbue the functions of my Warp skill into an artifact. Isn't it simple?"
[Hoo, yeah, right.]
Yu IlHan ignored Orochi's sarcasm and first created the artifacts that would be placed in Dareu. As this had to compress and store large quantities of mana, the material he went with was of course, the 8th wing of Brilliant Light, Natière! He dismantled all three pairs of wings that Natière had and pulled out her bones and ground it.
What he chose as sub-material was the 6th class dragon, Teraka. He pulled out the hardest bone he had and mixed Natière's bone powder and shaped it with Eternal Flame to make a gigantic cylinder that was over 3 meters in diameter and over 50 meters tall. The glistening black cylinder looked very intimidating.
[Why is it a cylinder?]
"Well, wouldn't I need a container to contain energy?"
[You're blatantly hiding things, master.]
"Sometimes, concealing things has more beauty."
He applied Natière's powdered feathers and magic stone powder on the inside of the cylinder. To finish it off, he mana crafted it with Teraka's magic stone. The results were satisfying.
"Good, that should serve as a good foundation...."
[You really look like you're enjoying yourself....]
And the more Yu IlHan enjoyed his work, the more horrifying the results came to be, mainly against the enemies! He checked the finished product including its heat capacity and durability, before lightly telling the ones that were working on the magic formation."
"I'll go to Dareu for a little."
"Like I said, even if you tell us like you're going out to a convenience store or something... oh, sheesh! Just go already!"
Yu IlHan laughed at Erta's reply and activated Warp. Now, it only took him one minute for the teleportation to Dareu to activate. Like what he said to Mirfa before, going back and forth two worlds was almost nothing to him right now.
'Of course, I won't be able to go meet her this time....'
Although he felt sorry remembering Mirfa's sad gaze towards him, unfortunately for her, Earth was at an emergency right now. And actually, he even felt pressured by the women who had romantic feelings towards him.
[It's something that a ruler has to experience. From what I see, it's good that you're accepting and acknowledging that it was because you have a strong power.]
"Damned dragonkin power freaks."
He looked for the place where the mana was most agitated within Dareu to install the cylinder. Of course, he didn't forget to make it so that no one other than him could touch it. Imbuing his concealment ability onto artifacts was as easy as pie right now! Unless he came and intentionally revealed it, no one would be able to discover it.
[I can now feel what master has made. Isn't that a weapon that has a lot of uses after Earth has become a higher world?]
"That's why it's two birds with one stone."
Well, it was exactly as he had described it so Orochi couldn't really retort. If one action could acquire two achievements, there would be nothing better! While Orochi became silent, Yu IlHan finished installing and quickly returned to Earth.
"Now I'm going to make a device that will send the gathered mana to Dareu."
[I've long since given up on trying to understand the things you do, so do whatever you want.]
"You should chime in to make me more enthusiastic. Such a bland guy."
[It's all your fault.]
The amount of feathers of angels and fallen angels literally amounted to an 'insane' quantity, and he gathered around 60 percent of all of it and powdered it with some magic stones.
He lightly mana-crafted on those lightly in order to synchronize them, and mixed them with the bones of dragons including Teraka's, to create hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of small cylinders, each about 30 centimeters long. And in just 4 days. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he made more than 10 per second!
[...How can you be so fast?]
"As I always said before, the time taken to do repetitive work will become shorter the more proficient you get in it."
[....]
Yu IlHan's reply to Orochi's retort (Orochi forgot that it shouldn't have asked) still lacked any persuasive power whatsoever. Becoming proficient was enough to make things with such a ridiculous speed?
[A blessing of a god really is strange.... Of course, master's existence is even stranger!]
"Haha, I'll be embarrassed if you praise me so much."
[I'm not!]
"Good, now let's do the wide-area mana crafting...."
[Wide-area!?]
Yu IlHan ground the all lower-class magic stones he didn't use until now and, mana crafted the several million artifacts at once. After that, he started installing them on various parts of the Earth. Another four days was used in this process.
Later, when Will of the Guardian formed the magic formation that covered the entire Earth, these artifacts will also go under the control of the Will of the Guardian, and receive its protection. Really, it could be said to be a meticulous preparation.
Only then did Kim YeSeul succeed in calculating the specifics for a magic formation that was at the scale of the Earth, and imbued her own powers inside it. It was all thanks to Erta and Helièna's help.
"I've really learned a lot. I can even feel that it may reach the realm of advanced skills one day."
"That goes for me as well. Magic that manipulates time and space using pure distortion of mana without the interference of higher mana, just by coming into contact with such a thing enabled me to do a lot of things."
[Oh my, I'm happy to hear that I was of help. Then you'll speak well about me to darling, right?]
"Fufu, I shall."
Although this was not within Yu IlHan's intentions, it seemed like Kim YeSeul became closer to Erta and Helièna in the process. He received the blueprint from Kim YeSeul with an awkward expression.
"If you expand this, then you should be able to slow the advancement of Earth."
"Thanks, mom. I believed in you."
Yu IlHan interpreted the blueprint by himself and absorbed the complete knowledge about the magic formation using the Record skill. Even though he wasn't enlightened with the magic of manipulating space and time, and only recorded a magic formation with just one specific purpose, the Record skill experienced an explosive growth and was now over level 70. The value of this blueprint was that high.
"However, you know that it will be useless without my mana, right?"
"Of course, that's why I'll need your help, mom."
Yu IlHan transferred his knowledge he acquired from the Record skill to the Will of the Guardian who was waiting in the form of a lake.
[...So I need to apply this on Earth, you mean?]
"Of course, it won't be perfect. However, you should know the lay of Earth better than most of us do, no?"
[Stop with the flattery. I can only think you're showing disdain to me.]
"I'm not joking. The reason I chose you as the container for the magic formation is precisely because of that. I do know that you treated me as an obstacle, but what I'm trying to do is to maintain as a proper world. So... let's do this properly."
[.... Hmph.]
Although it snorted, it did not deny Yu IlHan's words. Yu IlHan laughed and grabbed Kim YeSeul's hand to put it on the surface of the water.
"Now you only need to emit as much mana as you can possibly emit."
"Would that do?"
"Yeah, this guy will do the rest, amplifying and transforming it."
"Okay then."
Kim YeSeul poured her mana into the lake. The Will of the Guardian accepted the mana as if it had waited for it and started transforming its body little by little. When the entire lake emitted a faint light, Erta and Helièna, who were watching, all exclaimed as if they had waited for this moment.
"Really... I'm glad that I'm by Yu IlHan's side. To think I can see such a spectacle… to think I could see a golem made from a lake becoming magic itself…"
[My, and darling is still a lower existence. Aah, I can't endure my beating heart. Darling, can't you give me a kiss? Please?]
Yu IlHan ignored her words. Just helping the Will of the Guardian to implement the magic made him busy enough.
"You can do it, right?"
[... it's a simple matter.]
The light emitted by the lake became brighter as time passed, and the surface level eventually started decreasing. A portion of the Will of the Guardian that escaped through the underground absorbed the moisture within the grounds to become bigger, spreading slowly, but surely, throughout the various parts of Earth.
[I.]
It transferred its intention to Yu IlHan with a voice that was contained resolve, like the first time it attacked Yu IlHan. No, perhaps this was its declaration to all beings in this world.
[Shall protect Earth.]
The cause and effect predestined on Earth was delayed by a long time.
"It's a spectacle you won't see again so engrave it into your memory."
"I... am doing that already."
"Oh my god."
[Wow, the ego of that golem is not an ordinary one either.]
The Will of the Guardian that accepted all of the information on the magic formation, succeeded in perfectly analyzing and amplifying its effects, and spread around to the surroundings in an instant, leaving the original lake empty.
As there was higher probability of destruction if it was too close to the surface, it decided to activate the magic formation around 10 kilometers deep underground, and went downwards. However, the key players who participated in this work, including Kim YeSeul, who supplied the mana, could clearly feel its movements.
"The water levels are decreasing rapidly. Looks like the bottom will show at any moment."
"It's increasing in size while absorbing water from all over the Earth, so the water levels will decrease as a whole."
Since she had finished the magic formation, there was nothing for Kim YeSeul to do. They immediately left the lake and stood on land. Even while they did that, the magic formation's expansion was happening non-stop, and Yu IlHan was still focusing on the magic formation.
"No, not yet."
"It only just covered Gangnam. No, it's Seoul now. And Gyeongi-do... it's expanding at a rapid rate."
[Well, the amount of water it's absorbing will increase as time goes. Whoaa, how fun. Can you feel a part of the magic formation we've created being etched into this country?]
He focused his consciousness on the Will of the Guardian. No matter how far apart they were, as long as its foundation was a thought-soul, it was possible for Yu IlHan to communicate with it.
[There are no problems.]
'Something always happens to those that are overly confident. Be careful and concentrate.'
The magic formation beyond Korea and to Japan and China. The golem froze its body solid and was implementing the magic formation at rapid speeds.
Sharing its senses, Yu IlHan felt like his head was exploding, but he suppressed the pain. He still had one more thing to do.
[The mana of Earth is resisting violently, darling. I don't think it's going to be obediently trapped under the magic formation.]
"I predicted that much. But it's not like the magic formation is the only card I prepared."
The millions of dragon bone pillars that Yu IlHan had created. The trigger that activated them was in Yu IlHan's hand in the form of a pendant.
It was none other than a remote-control that he had created using the principles of resonance that once appeared in the Thunder hammer! The pendant that had Teraka's skull as the base, and was decorated with his eyes, had a frighteningly strong magic power, and was flashing dangerously.
"This pendant has the abilities to both suck the surrounding mana, and the power to resonate with artifacts made of the same materials. And those that belong to a special network of artifacts."
"So to put it simply, it's like setting a channel?"
"Exactly."
When he gripped on the pendant to activate it, the pendant sucked the surrounding mana and at the same time, gave a command to millions of artifacts scattered over Earth – to suck the mana of Earth and send it to Dareu!
However, even Erta and Kim YeSeul couldn't possibly feel something of a global scale, so the only one that could shiver in excitement at the destructive results that occurred from a light motion was Helièna.
[Oh my, my god. How can.... Aah, wonderful.]
She even felt a sense of bliss when the millions of artifacts simultaneously sucked the mana and made it disappear. Although a lot of preparation was needed, controlling the mana of a world with a single gesture made Yu IlHan look like the Supreme being that ruled over numerous worlds!
"...Hm? I suddenly feel like I've lost my vitality a little."
"It's not just 'a little'. I feel that my shoulders are light as well. The mana concentration is definitely lowering."
When the concentration of mana started being lowered for real, Kim YeSeul and Erta also felt something and tilted their heads. Yu IlHan made a small smile at them and focused more. The millions of artifacts had successfully activated, so this was the perfect moment for the magic formation to act now that the mana covering Earth had become weaker!
[Good!]
The Will of the Guardian voiced out. The golem that already spread to three continents once again sucked the water of Earth to become bigger, and pierced the Earth's crust to cover the entire Earth!
[I will envelop everything!]
"It really does suit you."
[Master really is cruel.]
"It's nothing new."
Yu IlHan closed his eyes and thought up of the figure of Earth in his head. The magic formation that was perfectly designed by Kim YeSeul, Erta, and Helièna was completed into a perfectly spherical magic formation that covered the Earth.
[The magic.]
Feelings the end of its body meeting another end at the other side of Earth, achieving its purpose, the Will of the Guardian voiced out with deep emotion.
[Activates.]
At that moment, everything on Earth became slower.
"...Wow."
Yu IlHan barely managed to say that out loud. As he had made everything on Earth slower than usual, Yu IlHan was also naturally affected by the magic formation.
"This is crazy. It's like training just by being here."
"Training? Ordinary lower existences wouldn't even be able to move in such an environment! Han YeoRang! We need to go check up on them!"
Screamed Erta. Even she was feeling difficulties in moving despite the fact that she had gained insights into the manipulation of space and time thanks to working with Kim YeSeul, AND even though she had activated a magic on herself to resist it! The other lower existences wouldn't even be able to move!
However, someone denied her opinion, and it was none other than the caster of the magic, Kim YeSeul herself.
"Everything on Earth has become slower, so the speed of external stimulation and the internal processing speed would equally be slowed down. So Erta, your words implying that lower existences cannot move are wrong."
Meaning, they were only moving slowly in the views of people that were aware of the slowness due to the magic formation, and the people themselves wouldn't feel a thing. In other words....
"In other words, we are already resisting against this magic. And it's difficult because we're trying to ignore the slowed time on Earth and are trying to move as fast as usual. ...And tremendously quickly to boot."
He didn't remember when the last time he sweated was, but even Yu IlHan was sweating right now. Right now, he felt like he was moving slightly slower than usual, considering that the Earth had slowed down, he was moving really fast!
[That's it, darling. Darling's movement speeds should have decreased more than normal, no?]
"Hmmm.... This is really nothing new, but we really are in a situation where science can go screw itself."
Although he had to realize that from the moment Earth was stopped by God, this time, it was his own doing.
Yu IlHan once again thought that he was not ordinary. Of course, this applied more to the crux of this matter, his mother. Perhaps the Fifth they were talking about would not be him, but his mother?
"Anyway, it's two birds with one stone. The ones that cannot notice this magic will just move normally, while we, resisting against the magic, are training even while we do nothing. Hm, perfect."
"Yes. I understand that you're a total pervert!"
[However, the magic could not be more perfect. The golem called the Will of the Guardian too... yes, has been placed well. Now that the magic formation is complete, not only are there very few ways to damage it, even if it does get destroyed....]
"It can be restored if it just absorbs more water."
Yu IlHan made a smirk. Although he was sweating a lot due to resisting against the power of the magic formation, his smirk could not be more evil.
[It's the first time I've seen such a perfect magic formation. No one could have done this in reality.]
"You can praise me more at times like these."
[Ufufu.]
Boasted Yu IlHan, unlike his usual self. Helièna giggled since she thought Yu IlHan was adorable, and Erta didn't like Helièna's smile and only stomped on the ground with her shoes.
At that moment, there were presences of those that tried to enter Earth. Unless it was the leaders of each faction, the only one that can enter the closed-off Earth was Kang MiRae. Of course, Yu IlHan knew that it was her and did not activate the Ruler of Dimensions skill.
[It seems like they've sensed your presence and are coming here... oh, they're here.]
[Uaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]
As soon as Helièna's words ended, Mystic's shouts hit everyone's ear drums. Of course, they knew why she was screaming.
"Welcome back, Mystic."
[Masteeeeeeeeeeeeer! Just what did you do to Earth!]
"I made everything go slower."
[Don't say such an absurd thing so calmly! Don't reply to me so calmly!]
Even while speaking like a machine gun, Mystic's movements were very careful. The reason was simple – some people on board the Flying fortress could not recognize the effects of the magic formation.
A tragedy would occur if Mystic moved fast while they were moving slowly! She was really wise.
"Wwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
"Hm."
Yu IlHan found a figure of someone that was trying to shout something very slowly.
The identity of this guy, that had become very strong, but was still 3rd class, was Michael Smithson, the leader of Metal Knights, one of the pivots of the Front Line Alliance, as well as the most elite guild in England.
"Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssssstteeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr."
"Goddamn."
But he was too slow. Moving his lips moving so slowly, Yu IlHan subconsciously gripped his fist. He wanted to smack this guy on the face! Even though he knew that this guy had done nothing wrong!
"It seems like I should give up on conversing with this guy under the effects of the magic formation."
"You can converse with him if you give up resisting against the magic."
"I don't want to converse with him to the point that I have to do that."
"My son, you're quite cold...."
"They're coming."
Perhaps it was set beforehand that Mystic would be the one that would transport the members of the Front Line Alliance, as Yu IlHan's party members all resisted against the effects of the magic formation and jumped down. Yu IlHan caught Yumir who came down first and patted him.
"Mir, you're holding out well."
"It's amazing, dad! I feel like I'm training just by standing here!"
"As expected of father and son, they said the exact same thing."
"Mr. IlHaaaaaaaan!"
"IlHan, is this that magic? I thought you were planning to do it later, but you did it already?"
"...Fuuu."
Erta made a surprised expression after seeing quite a few members resisting against the magic formation and not just Na YuNa, Liera and Kang MiRae.
"It's amazing that a lower existence is resisting this magic formation in the first place. Yu IlHan, this means that the ones by your side are all unusual."
"Of course, if they were normal, they wouldn't have held out until now."
Yu IlHan gave a chic reply to Erta, and laughed when he saw the members that gathered around him. He ignored Liera and Helièna having a staring contest.
"There's around a week left, so please do your best until then. Let's meet again after that."
"One week left until what?"
Yu IlHan was about to reply that it was the cool-down time of the Hourglass of Eternity, but thought up of something and took it out. The hourglass was still flipped, indicating that it could not be used. Once all the sand fell to the bottom, he would be able to activate it again.
But....
"Hoo, what's this?"
Unlike usual, the sand particles fell at very slow speeds. Of course, as this was a God-ranked artifact, it was resisting against the magic formation, but at this rate, they wouldn't be able to use it even after one month passed, not to mention one week. However, this also indicated one other fact....
"This will be interesting."
"Uh, he has an evil smile again."
"Uu, that smile is so cool...."
[My, ex-angel. We agree on one thing at least.]
Yu IlHan looked forward to the time he could activate the barrier again and made an evil smirk.
Perhaps a profit he had never expected, and one that was huge, maybe waiting for him.
Of course, not all of the Front Line Alliance clans were willing to return to Earth, especially those who knew the capabilities of higher existences. These people did not like the fact that they would have to put their lives on the line to return Earth to normal.
"I don't think this way of living is bad."
This... clan from the Front Line Alliance which he did not know the name of, but the master of this clan shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.
"I don't feel the need to risk my life. Oh, I'm not treating you like a fool, nor do I think that this is hopeless. However... a lot of things have already changed. Returning everything back to how it once was sounds, well, inefficient to me."
"Efficiency, you say."
"Isn't everyone doing well in other worlds? But from your words, Earth will become more dangerous than these other worlds, no? If so, staying here will be the happier and safer alternative. Isn't it natural that we would think like this?"
Yes. He did expect someone to mention that, but....
Yu IlHan asked the guy in an emotionless voice.
"Do you really think they're all doing well? And that I need to leave them alone?"
"...."
After hearing Yu IlHan's question, he was silent for a little, before turning his head away from him and replying to him in a small voice.
"Look, I'm not as strong as you... so I can't even imagine resisting against the angels. If I had absolute power like you, I would have been able to act just and cool like you. But I'm not, am I? Insult me however you wish... but the vast majority of humans, including me, have something called limits in their courage and talent."
"...."
Yu IlHan decided to give up on persuading him. Perhaps they were similar to their clan leader, or perhaps they wanted to stay by his side, the clan members wished to remain in that world as well, so he had to leave without any gains.
His companions only chatted while looking at the scenery from the Guardian fortress since he didn't put any of his emotions on the surface, but Orochi, who could share his complex feelings to a little extent, spoke to Yu IlHan, which was very unlike him.
[You haven't forgotten that you are a very special case, right? His reactions could be said to be reasonable. In fact, those that follow you without any hesitation are the strange ones.]
"Of course, I'm also aware that I'm very lucky."
Although he didn't want to consider his millennium alone on Earth as luck, he could not deny the fact that he reached his current level of ability through a very special process. Perhaps that was precisely why something nagged his mind.
However, Orochi didn't seem to like his reply and heaved a sigh.
[I will not say anything if you want to say that is luck, but you have no confidence in your own ability. I think that you can have more assurance in yourself.]
"I get what you're trying to say. ...I didn't know there would come a day I would say these words to you, but thanks."
[Everyone keeps changing for as long as they are alive. Although I cannot say that I am 'alive' right now... I also feel the slightest bit of thanks when I feel my transformed self.]
"Do you really have to say 'the slightest bit'?"
[If you know that I'm not in a position to be completely thankful to you, you should be aware that my expression of appreciation is a miracle in and of itself? Haha.]
"Pff."
Yu IlHan subconsciously laughed while conversing with Orochi. Once, he had fought against him with his life on the line, but it was funny that they were having a heartfelt conversation right now.
Everyone changes, whether slowly or rapidly, through encounters with other beings, and Yu IlHan was no exception. He was simply unable to feel it when he was a loner.
If he han known this before, then perhaps he would have treated his thousand years he spent on Earth with Liera a little differently – that was the only disappointing fact.
Putting that aside.
"Orochi, don't you need a body?"
[For now, I feel the most joy rampaging around as your weapon on the battlefield, so I do not see the need just yet. Hm, I see. I shall request it at a later date.]
"Later, okay. I'll remember it."
He thought that he would get an interesting result if he used Echjar's body, but to do that, he had to raise Orochi's league a little. As Orochi grew as Yu IlHan did, it seemed like there was indeed a method to do that, it was impossible for now. Possessing a 4th class dragon right now didn't mean anything after all.
[So it wasn't kindness towards me but your desire to make something strange again.]
"Please take it as killing two birds with one stone."
At that point, the Warp skill activated and transported the companions to Earth again. Immediately, the magic formation started pressuring Yu IlHan and his companions. If he brought someone else back, he would have to slow the speed of the Guardian fortress to protect them, but unfortunately, he had none.
"Then should we go to the next world right away?"
"Son, don't you need to open that barrier soon?"
"Wait a moment."
Yu IlHan checked the state of the Hourglass. As he had been to several worlds that were not Earth, the cool-down time of the Hourglass of Eternity was decreasing without being affected much by Earth, and from the looks of it, another four days were required for him to re-use it.
"Good, I think I can go to around 30 more worlds in that time."
[Whew, darling likes to work so much. Don't you want to enjoy a date with me once in a while?]
"Don't even dream of it. Yu IlHan can even endure Liera's seduction."
[But I'm not that scatterbrain ex-angel. Darling, play with me, please?]
"Hmph."
Yu IlHan pushed away Helièna's face after she lightly ignored Erta's remarks and tried to hit on him. Then, he checked whether the Will of the Guardian was still in place, as well as the millions of artifacts scattered over Earth, before activating Warp to his next destination.
That world had met its doom.
"Damn, this looks worse than Guundia."
[Darling, the people of Earth...?]
"Yu IlHan landed on one of the civilizations that had burnt to the ground and activated the Record skill. After reading through the records slowly, he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
"There is not a single person belonging to Earth in this world anymore. And they were quite a strong clan too...."
"Belonging to Earth? You mean that there were... other people?"
"Yeah."
Yu IlHan acknowledged Kim YeSeul's sharp remarks and activated the Warp skill once again. He couldn't help it since he didn't know, but it wasn't like he could just ignore the surviving people suffering due to monsters, so he planned to do everything he could do for them.
When he moved with Warp, there was a war between a patch of humans and a field of monsters.
"Arggggggh!"
"Run... everyone!"
[Kuoaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]
[Disgusting humans, bad tasting and weak things.]
[End them all! End them all!]
The majority of the humans could not understand monsters' speech, but Yu IlHan felt disgusted whenever he heard monsters speaking. They were the same wherever he went!
Perhaps there was no development from them because they had no creativity – thought Yu IlHan as he shot out all the artifacts. The group of artifacts that swept the monsters looked akin to an army of Valkyries on orders of a god.
"There's no need to hide anything here. Wipe them all out!"
[Darling, want some help?]
"I'll appreciate it if you do. Let's finish this quickly."
As soon as Yu IlHan gave the permission, Helièna unfurled her wings and flew upwards. Erta and Kim YeSeul also used their abilities to wipe out the monsters in the surroundings. The ones that were fighting against the monsters in the battlefield were shocked after they saw them
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical Hit!]
"The monsters..."
"Are disappearing."
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical Hit!]
[Cri....]
"Who are they!?"
"Ah, aaaah."
"...God."
The monsters in the vicinity were massacred, and Yu IlHan didn't stop there and made the Guardian fortress wipe out the monsters in other regions as well. Seeing that, someone whispered lightly in fear.
"He is God."
"Yes, that must be it."
"God himself has come to a world that the angels abandoned."
Yu IlHan didn't even know that the people were treating him as a God, and focused on killing the monsters. He had no plans on wiping all the monsters in this world, but he at least planned to dispose of monsters that were near to human settlements.
Like that, around 3 hours passed when the cleaning was almost finished. Yu IlHan ignored the people who were absent-mindedly staring at the fortress and was about to Warp away. However, Helièna grabbed his hand lightly at that moment.
[Darling, it seems like they have something to say.]
"What?"
When Yu IlHan looked down, he did definitely hear the people shouting something. He really wished to ignore them but... he shrugged his shoulders and lowered the Guardian fortress. The closer he became, the clearer he could hear them.
"Please don't leave us!"
"Please stay by our side!"
"Oh, Lord God, please!"
"...What?"
God? Him? Yu IlHan became absent-minded for a moment since he could not understand when Helièna finally burst out laughing. He stared at Helièna and spoke.
"I'm a human though."
"We do not mind how you think you are. To us, you are God."
"Please save us!"
"More than this?"
"Oh God, please!"
They were complete thieves alright. Of course, he knew their urgency, and their hopes to grab onto a piece of straw if necessary, but Yu IlHan wasn't in the leisure to play Sim City in another world.
"I'm sorry, but you need to protect this world on your own. I came here looking for something else but it was no longer here, I'm planning to leave now."
"Then please take us!"
Yu IlHan replied coldly.
"I'm in a world that's incomparably harsher than this place. Even if you follow me, what awaits you is even harsher suffering so endure in this place."
"But isn't God in that place?"
"Please save us!"
"God, please!"
The people eventually got on their knees and put their heads on the ground, which made Yu IlHan dumbfounded. He somehow felt like he felt something similar not too long ago....
[It's going well, isn't it, darling?]
Helièna only smiled suspiciously. Yu IlHan was agonized for a moment, but he couldn't find a way to stop the people who were courting death so he could only reply like this.
After that, Yu IlHan had travelled many other worlds as well, but a portion of them had already met its doom, or were heading towards one. The majority of the survivors wished to go under Yu IlHan, and he brought them back to Earth, even while not understanding why.
Kang MiRae and company experienced the same thing, and the ones that were brought to Earth by them bowed their heads towards Yu IlHan and the others even while moving slowly due to the effects of the magic formation.
"Weeeeeeeeeee shhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllll llllllllllllooooooooooooooooyaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllll-"
"...Well."
Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders while looking at the people who acted like clowns.
"It's their lives. I guess it's up to them to decide."
Four days later, Yu IlHan finally became able to reactivate the Hourglass of Eternity. The number of worlds he had been to in the meantime was 42, four of which had met its doom.
At this point, the number of people from other worlds numbered over one hundred thousand.
"What the hell is this? There are over a hundred thousand people from other worlds!"
Liera peeked over Yu IlHan's shoulders to look at the figures of people who filled a certain region of Earth, before making an expression that suggested she couldn't believe it. Yu IlHan shrugged and replied.
"You guys brought them back too."
"That's true, but...."
"It's funny to see them move so slowly altogether~. Mr. IlHan, can't you control the speed of the time? The speed!"
"There's no such advanced feature yet. Eih, get off me, all of you."
"Hiing."
All of Yu IlHan's companions had gathered in one place. Liera was alright, but when more people started to stick to him to 'supplement their Yu IlHan vitamins', Yu IlHan got annoyed and shook them all off before checking with ERta.
"There aren't any people who are resisting the magic formation other than us, right?"
"At first, yes. However, after some of them realized that we were moving too rapidly, there were some that noticed the magic cast over Earth. Of course, that does not change anything, but there are exactly three people who have regained 40% of their normal movements by resisting."
The three referred to Carina Malatesta of Magia, Michael Smithson of Metal Knights, and Takagaki Asuha of Magic Dragon.
Looking at them, Yu IlHan realized that they had achieved their 4th class in such a short time. Considering that Han YeoRang, the leader of one entire world, was at 3rd class right now, their realm of achievement was shocking.
"Why is that?"
"Perhaps it's because just resisting against this magic is a tremendous achievement. Normally, even 4th class being shouldn't be able to endure it. People of Earth are really strange."
"Michael Smithson, before, he was a guy with no guts at all, but I guess he's progressed a lot. Humans sure are interesting."
[*Sigh*, I can't believe that we'll need to defend Earth, which will become the center of attention of all universes with those maggots. Darling, do something about it.]
"I'll try."
Yu IlHan called the three. As they were late in their reaction, it was difficult to have a conversation with them, but he pushed his patience to his limits and told them. The contents were simple.
"Do you guys want to train within the Hourglass of Eternity with us?"
"Of course! (2.5 times slower)"
Takagaki Asuha replied immediately, while Carina Malatesta and Michael Smithson looked at each other for a little before nodding their heads.
"Okay. (2.5 times slower)"
"I shall (2.5 times slower)"
Having gotten their answers, there was no need to hesitate now. Yu IlHan created a barrier that surrounded the two fortresses, his companions, the three clan masters, and finally the Dragon's Army that hadn't been affected by the magic in the first place.
"Wow, the range is so much larger than before~."
"The effect of the magic doesn't disappear even within this barrier. Hm, but the pressure on my body is a little less now."
Kim YeSeul was surprised while looking around inside the barrier. However, the most surprised ones were the clan masters that entered the barrier with them.
"Fuu, I can finally move better now!"
"Ooh, you can speak faster now."
"Phew."
They were able to resist the magic to a certain extent, and now that they were inside a God-ranked artifact which could also resist the effect of the magic, they could move at normal speeds.
"Eeeeeek."
After Michael Smithson gained complete control over his body, he immediately turned his head around to Yu IlHan and shouted his lungs out.
"Just what did you do to Earth, mister Unique! I think I get it, but still!"
"I couldn't help it since Earth was developing too fast. You understand me, right? Though, I do not really need your understanding either."
"Uaaaaaaaah! This guy irritates me as always!"
Meanwhile, Takagaki Asuha shouted towards Yu IlHan with glittering eyes.
"Amazing, Lord Susanoo! Now you can manipulate space and time!"
"No, this is the power of my companions...."
"Amazing! I knew you were the reincarnation of the god Susanoo!"
"Hey, you aren't listening are you?"
"Aaah, Lord Susanoo...!"
Although a seedling could be seen from her before, it seemed like she now harbored something like religious faith towards Yu IlHan, after she watched him leap through dimensions and cast a magic on a global scale. That heavy gaze, the same gaze he saw from elves, and the gaze that could not simply be called admiration!
"Lord Susanoo, so cool."
"Right, this woman's hopeless as well."
He made a groan and turned his head around to see the final one, Carina Malatesta, and saw that she was taking a deep breath.
"Why are you taking a deep bre...oh."
"Fuh!"
"Miss Malatesta? Kugh!"
Before Yu IlHan could stop them, Carina Malatesta assaulted Michael Smithson. 'Assaulted' without causing much physical damage, but rather by knee-kicking him on the abdomen to make him fall down and 'assault' him from the top with a kiss. As there was a paralysis magic within the knee-kick, he couldn't resist at all.
"Uhp! Uhhhhp!?"
"Stay still."
"... Looks like she had a lot of stress piled up."
Yu IlHan decided to leave the lioness Carina Malatesta and the pitiful rabbit Michael Smithson alone for a while. The ones that were watching the passionate scene that occurred as soon as the barrier opened also coughed awkwardly and turned away their gazes.
"Then let us do our own thing."
"Dad, what do I do?"
"Mir just has to eat dragon meat and bathe in the Cradle of Miracles. If you get bored, practice your skills too."
"I can do that!"
Yu IlHan took out the Cradle of Miracles in one corner of the barrier and filled it with Echjar's blood. He explained to his companions that were absent-mindedly looking at the glowing Cradle of Miracles.
"From now, we will all share this Cradle of Miracles. There are a lot of people, so when bathing, many of us should go in at the same time according to gender. The children belonging to the Dragon's Army are small so more of them should fit."
[Mixed bathing with darling? How marvelous.]
"DIdn't I just say 'according to gender'?"
He shushed Helièna and continued explaining.
"Although I'm not sure about this yet, there is a high probability that the Cradle of Miracles may lead us into the realm of higher existences. Even if weren't the case, I believe you can acquire new abilities if you succeed in resonating with the dragon's blood within the cradle. So everyone should go in periodically."
"Yes."
"Understood."
The next thing they had to do was of course, training. The only place they could train without worrying about the flow of time was the barrier made from the Hourglass of Eternity.
"To think we acquired 2 months that amounts to less than a second on the outside, it really is an amazing artifact...."
"Well, I'm not sure about if it's really just two months."
Yu IlHan denied Kang MiRae's mutter that she voiced out in surprise. He looked at the Hourglass of Eternity. After the barrier had been activated, the Hourglass had flipped and the sand was now falling down once again. However, the speed was very slow, and it definitely didn't look like it would be flipped again in just two months.
"Mr. IlHan, this is...."
"It's just as you see. The slow magic cast over the entire globe made the cooldown time of the barrier slow down. That is why I thought that the slow magic may even affect the barrier's duration time and... and it seems like I was spot on."
"This is... broken."
Muttered Liera. Yu IlHan lightly nodded and agreed with her. Erta still found this absurd.
"That magic worked against a God-ranked artifact!? At this point, I'm even wondering how we can move so normally within the effects of the magic!"
"Well, through sheer tenacity and stubbornness."
"You're wrong if you can explain everything with just those two words!"
"You guys always explained me with the wrong things though."
Erta was frustrated after she heard Yu IlHan's words and flailed her arms around – she looked quite cute doing that.
"But it really is like that!"
"Yeah, and that goes for now as well."
"Uuuuuuu...!"
He couldn't help it since that was the truth. One may think that non-life-forms may endure better against this magic than the life-forms, but that wasn't true as the higher monsters that were late 4th class were all affected without exception.
Just as Erta's mind was about to be tangled into a mess, Yu IlHan raised his thumbs up with a uselessly fresh smile.
"Have more confidence in your tenacity!"
"Shut up!"
[And so?]
Helièna, who regained her calm relatively faster than the others, looked at Yu IlHan and asked.
[This barrier, how long do you think it'll last?]
"Just looking at the state of the Hourglass now, around a year and a half."
[The barrier can be activated once every two months, so under the assumption that darling will keep patrolling other worlds, we would have several more opportunities to be inside this barrier before Earth becomes a higher world.]
"Well, yeah."
[Darling... really amazing.]
This was the first temporal advantage Yu IlHan had gained ever since he lived a thousand years alone on Earth, as he had to move around very busily after the 1st Great Cataclysm. Inside the barrier, he at least had the time to train his skill profeciencies and work on his crafting!
When Yu IlHan was about finished with explaining the duration of the barrier and what they all had to do, Carina Malatesta finally let go of Michael Smithson, seemingly satisfied.
"Fuu, tssp."
Even though she had just assaulted a man, she licked her lips calmly, which looked very scary. Looking at Michael Smithson trembling below her, Yu IlHan felt pity for him for the first time.
"M, Miss Malatesta...."
"Call me Carina, okay?"
"...Carina."
"Very good. Our family only allows parents, teachers and family to call us by our name. Now that my family are all scattered across other worlds and my teacher is in another world, the only one that is allowed to call my name on Earth is you. Please remember that."
"I, I understand. Please call me Michael as well."
"That's the answer I wanted, Michael."
Carina Malatesta's figure that won what she wanted with force was very bright. Perhaps it was the few years of separation and suffering that had made her strong! In the past, Micahel Smithson had romantic feelings towards Kang MiRae, but looking at things now, it seemed that Carina Malatesta's bold approach was quite effective.
Only after she fished up a man's life, did she look back to Yu IlHan once more.
"Although my greetings are late... thank you. Mr. Yu IlHan. Thanks to you, I could finally meet the one I love."
Carina Malatesta seemed to have completely thrown away the haughty rich-lady demeanor of before as she bowed her head politely towards Yu IlHan. However, Yu IlHan was more joyful towards her heartfelt words rather than her change in attitude.
The burden that remained inside him after hearing that if there was really a need to protect Earth, had finally disappeared a little.
"Well... glad to hear that I helped you."
"There should be a lot of others like me. Ones that are suffering due to the loss of their loved ones, ones that were separated from their close friends, as well as people who have lost their parents and children."
Carina Malatesta's eyes glistened.
"So, please let me help you so that those people can all reunite together."
"Of course. ... Of course. Please take care of me from now on."
"I shall now follow you as leader from now on. Please give me any orders."
After hearing that Yu IlHan pondered for a little before looking around to Takagaki Asuha and Michael Smithson as well to speak.
"Then I shall have you guys level up first. Your levels are still way too low."
"I'm also 4th class now, though, I should still be lower than you.... But level up? How? There are no monsters here."
Yu IlHan turned around. The place his gaze headed to was none other than where Erta was.
"Erta, you can summon monsters in here, right? The ones on Earth."
"Saying such irresponsible things again... Of course."
"So you can't do it, well then."
Just as Yu IlHan was about to go with Plan B, Erta gave a confident smile towards him and spoke.
"I can naturally do it."
"Hey, you've gotten better at fooling others?"
"Well, I was fooled a lot by a certain someone until now."
Even the exchange of deals that occurred between the angels when he was still an Angel's Partner finished smoothly. Erta raised her hand after turning around to the clan masters who had expressions of shock.
"Well, then. Can you all prepare for battle?"
"Wait, the three of us have never fought together bef-"
"That much."
When Erta swung her hand as if to cut Micahel Smithson's excuses off, a gigantic monster appeared in front of the three of them. It was a demonic monster that was definitely within the late 200s! From its vibrating body, it was definitely a vibration demon.
"You can just do it now."
"You devillllllllll!"
[Kuoooooooooooooooh!]
Like that, the curtain to year and a half of barrier life had smoothly been raised.
Yu IlHan watched as the clan masters fought against the demons with a satisfied smile.
"Hm, very smooth."
[Kwhooooooooooooooh!]
"Smooth!? You think this is SMOOTH!? Yes, right now! We're 'smoothly' dying!"
Michael Smithson despaired. It felt like the tentacles that battered against his shield would pierce him along with the flimsy thing at any moment. Yu IlHan tilted his head and called for Na YuNa.
"Miss YuNa."
"Okay, I won't let them die. Just enough so that they don't die."
"Devil! DEVILLLLLLL!"
[Krhaaaaaaaaaaaahk!]
Normally, the three would not be able to go against the demon by themselves. However, the holy maiden with unbelievably good looks and ability backed them up so they were boosted to a point where they could just barely be able to confront it with the three of them!
"Wow, I can see their coordination and strength increasing."
"It's a good thing. If the others were able to resist even a little against this slowing magic, then I'd be able to bring them here and train them."
"Don't be too hurried about it, and let's raise them up first, son. We have plenty of time now."
"That's true, I guess...."
He couldn't look after them forever. Yu lHan left the three to Na YuNa and Erta and turned around. He still had a lot of other things to do.
"Then should I have a wonderful crafting time now?"
[But why are you looking at me, master?]
"Well, you probably know the reason more than I do."
The Flying fortress experienced a lot of things in its growth. Thanks to the growth potential it had as a God-ranked artifact, it could use the records it had absorbed now to enhance the functionalities of its artifacts by boosting their durability or the like.
However, just that was not enough. Using the materials from countless higher existence's remains in Yu IlHan's inventory, he would be able to make it grow and reach greater heights!
[Any more is impossible, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!]
"The first will be 'Thousand Eyes'. You know what I'll do, right!"
[You insane master!]
Yu IlHan gathered all the remaining feathers of angels and fallen angels and started crafting 900 more mirrors. Mystic had grown until now, and she should be able to control a thousand mirrors at once!
[I can't, I cannot do it.]
"No, you can do it. If you don't, you won't be able to endure in the upcoming war!"
[Tyrant! You tyrant!]
Since he had experience making those before, he didn't require much time while making those mirrors. Yu IlHan's working speed that became faster and faster the more he made them was enough to attract the attention of others that entered the barrier.
"Don't look at me and do your own thing everyone."
"Yes!"
Yu IlHan made 900 mirrors in under 14 hours. Then, he seemed to ponder on something before making another four of them. He used all the remaining materials to make four of the biggest and baddest mirrors!
[Why four? Is it because 1,004 (Angel)?] (T/N: 1,004 sounds the same as 'angel' in Korean)
"No, it's because the enemies would be surprised if they see four more even though it's called 'Thousand Eyes'."
[...Yeah, I did kinda expect it to be something like that.]
Hundred Eyes to Thousand Eyes – the transformation in the scale and power of the artifact changed the rank as well. From Chaos to Demigod!
Yu IlHan was slightly disappointed since he was aiming for God rank, but since the Flying fortress was upgraded as he had originally intended to, he decided to leave it there.
"Then what more should I add?"
[Master? Isn't your trust in me a little too high...?]
"I know precisely what you can and cannot handle so don't worry about it."
[That makes me even more worried though!]
The majority of the higher existences belonging to the Destruction Demon Army were those that evolved from monsters, and a lot of the time, their blood and flesh contained extreme poison. Moreover, all of them had unique properties and when mixed with others, the level of poison sometimes evolved to something else.
Finally, they were the poison from higher existences, and naturally worked against higher existences as well. Among the Destruction Demon Army members, there were many that attacked their enemies with the poison they possessed. Of course, Yu IlHan had the evolved version of Extreme poison resistance, Falling Down, so wasn't affected by any of them!
Yes. The second method to upgrade the Flying fortress was poison. There were plenty \of Destruction Demon Army bodies in his inventory, so he had enough materials as well.
"There are too many samples... should I try mixing them as I go along?"
[How are you going to test the toxicity?]
Yu IlHan replied with a smile at Mystic's very reasonable question.
"Simple, I just need to eat it. Falling Down contains Extreme poison resistance, so if I eat poison, I can train Falling Down as well, isn't it killing two birds with one stone?"
[Such a perverse plan. Oh, it's nothing new since it's master, I guess....]
First he classified them according to the type of poison they had, and squeezed their carcasses dry of blood. Like that, he acquired a total of several millions liters of blood of a few thousand different types. At that point, Yu IlHan believed in his instinct and just randomly started mixing them.
"No, this is too weak. This too, and this one is too weak as well"
[Don't throw it on the ground! The fortress is dissolving!]
"This is weak too... and hm, is this a little stronger?"
He put aside the mixtures that showed strong capabilities, then mixed them with each other, and with weaker ones as well. It was literally finding the most toxic poison in the infinite possibilities. Yu IlHan's work flowed on like that.
What was shocking was that when he got used to mixing the poisons, his hand movements became absurdly fast!
[You aren't normal!]
"Yes, I'm not normal!"
[Don't be so proud of it!]
Three or four poisons appeared and disappeared every second. The weaker poisons were thrown away, the stronger poison was mass produced, and new poison, with the stronger poison as the base, was produced again.
There wouldn't be so many poisons being created and destroyed in a single place throughout the entire history of the universe. No, in the first place, there was no precedent of someone killing so many higher existences with poison in their bodies!
"I came to see what IlHan was up to and... why do I see hell in one part of the Flying fortress?"
"Liera, I get that you want to watch, but right now I'm busy, so go spar with the others or something."
Tens of thousands of jars of different colored poison boiling alongside each other looked frightening, and Liera approaching him could be said to be an act that required a lot of courage. Even she could not approach him past a certain distance.
"IlHan, that thing over there that's twitching by itself…. is poison right?"
"Don't worry too much. It's just that a strand of life is about to be born in the poison."
"How is that a small issue!?"
"I can stop it, it's fine."
Monsters being born from mana was a common occurrence, and therefore, monsters being born in highly concentrated mana poison was not rare either. Yu IlHan stirred it to mercilessly trample on the sign of life and drank a ladle of it.
"Hmm."
The moment he inhaled it, a spicy smell that was perhaps what a thousand-year-old mature fart would smell like hit his nose and his larynx, and the strong wave of hot poison that came along with it twitched like an eel and messed up his digestive system.
When Yu IlHan opened his mouth as he couldn't bear it, a thick green burp came out. A thousand years of love may suddenly disappear when one saw this.
"Hiik."
"I give it a 10/10 death points."
"...Are you alright?"
"Well, yeah of cou-."
Just as he was replying, a completely unexpected text appeared on his eyes.
[You have mastered the skill, Cooking. You are proficient in all kinds of cooking containing magic and mana. Water and fire attribute resistance and attack power increase by 30%.]
"Huh."
"What is it?"
Yu IlHan looked at the ladle on his hand silently before shrugging his shoulders. Although it was quite surprising, this wasn't the first time something like this happened if he thought about it. In any case, his ability to come up with poisons increased, and his fire attribute and water attribute controls became stronger as well. So it was a good thing!
Liera sensed the change that occurred to him and asked him in confusion.
"IlHan, I feel like you've become stronger just now...?"
"You'll be frustrated if I say it so I'll keep it a secret."
"...?"
Of course, not that anyone would eat poison just because the final element in training the Cooking skill was poison!
He sent Liera off before combining poison again. And after around three days, he acquired three types of poison that he liked, and made about 20 liters each. Although this was extremely little in quantity compared to what he started with, Yu IlHan thought that this was a success.
"Looks like if I get the affinity right, I may just be able to kill 6th class being with this too."
[The corpses of the Destruction Demon Army are so thin... even though they didn't reach the peaks of their worlds just to become some materials for poison!]
He created and installed additional traps using the poison on the Flying fortress, and applied poison to most of the blades that existed inside the fortress.
The evilest part about this poison was that it contained slight hints of magic cooking in it. Normally, it would be worse than any extreme poison, but it would transform as soon as Yu IlHan wished for it and would attack the enemy! Not only could this prevent allies from being killed by the poison, it would also become possible to drive back the enemies efficiently.
"Above all, I can deceive the enemies, making them think that this is just some run of the mill ,weak poison."
[You're the evilest, master!]
However, Yu IlHan's evil plans had just begun. After he created the poison, he used the dried out bodies of the Destruction Demon Army to reinforce the Flying fortress! As a result, the outer wall of the fortress became stronger, all artifacts became sharper, the weapons in the mansion were reinforced, and the number of traps increased as well.
Even after all that, there was not much difference in the information about the Flying fortress.
"Still no good...? The Flying fortress is the first one that made me dance so much!"
[You want to transcend the God-rank, right, master? It's impossible so give it up.]
"Of course, I should give up if it's impossible. But I haven't tried the impossible until now!]
[You're being too stubborn!]
If the Destruction Demon Army didn't work, then he would only use the remains of higher existences from other factions! He upgraded the Flying fortress using angels, fallen angels, and garden gatekeepers. The already absurd power of the Flying fortress continued to increase.
Hundreds of 5th class magic stones were added, and the holy region was enhanced as well. Right now, there was no meaning in counting the number of artifacts anymore.
Despite that, the Flying fortress stayed at God rank.
[I said it's impossible.]
"Fuu...."
Only then did Yu IlHan accept reality. Wasn't even the Heaven's Army unaware that there was something above God rank? It was no wonder since Yu IlHan, the master of blacksmithing and mana crafting, couldn't do it either after all this time!
[You'll give up now, right?]
"Yes, now I should...."
Muttered Yu IlHan with a depressed voice.
"Do the impossible."
[Are you going to tell me that you didn't do the impossible until now, master!?]
"Of course."
Yu IlHan nodded seriously and raised his hand in the air. At that moment, a body that filled one region of the barrier, appeared.
"Impossible refers to a situation where I have to invest this guy's remains."
[,,,,,,My god.]
That was none other than a Chief Gatekeeper of the Garden of Sunset, Kelatuke.
[Really... how did I manage to kill this guy?]
"That's what I want to ask you. It really is horrible now that I look at him again. I'll be instantly crushed if I went against this guy head on."
[Well, he was considerably strong even among the 7th class ones. If it was me, I couldn't have killed it one on one. It was only possible because Natière was there as well.]
Helièna was having a bloody fight with Liera until just a moment ago, but when Yu IlHan took out Kelatuke's body, she didn't lose the opportunity to appeal to him and flew towards him. She wanted him to pamper her since it was thanks to her effort that he acquired this body.
"Yes, thanks. Thanks to you, I have another opportunity."
[Ufufu.]
In the past, he was affected by Helièna's charm, and fought with the 8th wing of Brilliant Light, Natière in vain and in the end, took his own life. However, the magic power remaining within the body was enormous and the body had repaired itself, and right now, it had completely recovered and made people wonder if he was really dead.
"For now I need to... dismantle this."
[You look more serious than ever before, master.... Sometimes, I envy your useless passion.]
"Don't say it's useless."
Yu IlHan raised the Eight-tailed dragon spear and put on a fire. This was the translucent flame that Yu IlHan only became able to use after receiving the blessing of the goddess of fire, and with the effects of all sorts of titles and skills as well!
The compressed flame that stayed at the tip of the spear was very faint, just enough to be visible, but the power it contained was frightening. Just this could be the reason why Yu IlHan could receive the blessing of the goddess of fire.
[I can feel the energy of dragons as well.]
"This is Blaze enhanced by Dragonic blood, plus Orochi's flame, the purple flames, as well as the Eternal Flame put together."
[If the Heart of Fire that master possesses is added to this, I think you may be able to enhance it even further.]
"Let's talk about that after I finish this."
He held the spear by the end of the shaft and pierced the blade into Kelatuke's head. If he was alive, even that would have been hard, but right now it was unable to resist. The blade went in smoothly like it was cutting tofu. Yu IlHan raised it little by little while taking deep breaths. Blood scattered everywhere, but he caught them all using the container he had prepared beforehand.
"Good, I think this will work."
His speed with the spear became faster. The gigantic armored shark over hundred meters in size showed more and more of its inner flesh when Na YuNa shouted in joy.
"Mr. IlHan! I want shark's fin soup~!"
"If I boil soup with this guy's fins, it would be enough to feed all the people who entered the barrier."
"Dad, I'm hungry as well."
"Didn't you eat a lot of dragon meat!?"
"Shark meat looks tastier!"
Yu IlHan was dismantling Kelatuke with the intention of reinforcing the Flying fortress, but the rest of his companions only wanted to eat shark meat.
In fact, shark meat was very good as a food ingredient if you left aside the fact that it rotted pretty fast, but Kelatuke's meat had a lot of mana and would not rot even if it was left out for 100 years. Somehow, as a cook with level 100 Cooking, Yu IlHan also had the urge for shark sushi.
"... Well, I have no need for the flesh so should we eat it?"
"So we're eating it...."
Yu IlHan cleanly separated all of its bones and the metallic armor, cutting the soft fins and flesh into chunks suitable for making sushi. He cut the fins into pieces to boil it into soup, cut the flesh into sashimi and thicker slices, grilled it, boiled it, etc... looking at the cooking Yu IlHan, Kang MiRae and Na YuNa somehow felt a sense of defeat.
"I still can't make doenjang-guk...."
"It's good that Mr. IlHan is cooking for us, but this somehow feels wrong. Is this really fine?"
"Dad, quickly! Quickly!"
Cooking also became faster when he got used to it. Yu IlHan used a mere three hours to cook enough shark cooking to feed even the 8 thousand children of the Dragon's Army. Since he used the Cradle of Miracles to cook, the toxicity was not that high either!
"...My."
"Kyaak, so delicious!"
Kang MiRae and Na YuNa were feeling awkward, but all that flew away after tasting the shark meat food, and they started focusing on the cooking. The others were the same.
"Son, how did you get the fishy smell out?"
"A drop of breath works wonders against shark's smell!"
"It's mom's loss."
Even Kim YeSeul admitted her defeat!
[Kelatuke didn't become 7th class to end up as a bowl of shark's fin soup....]
"Life would be no fun with a set destination."
[It should be more fun than becoming sushi at least... ah, so delish. Darling really can do anything.]
Kelatuke's body was very huge, and even though they had their fill, more than 95% of the body was remaining. Yu IlHan cut apart the flesh into suitable pieces and stored it inside his inventory, and finally started on upgrading the Flying fortress.
"Mystic, what do you think this fortress lacks as the main system?"
[Well, common sense?]
"Not the one that you lack, but what the fortress lacks."
[Materials?]
"It was my mistake to ask you. The answer is defensive power."
The Flying fortress had the ability to cast a barrier over itself at the expenditure of mana. If it came down to it, the barrier also protected the fortress from the shock when it smashed into places to attack. However, in Yu IlHan's mind, that was not enough when attacking higher existences. Barrier cast by mana could easily be ripped apart even by him as well!
"So, now I'm going to enhance the barrier with the metallic armor."
[Such an absurd thing again....]
To say it again, Kelatuke's body was ginormous. Of course, it was no problem to envelop the entire fortress with the armor he possessed.
Yu IlHan first mana crafted each of the metallic scales so that it became transparent, and installed scale shooters on the outer perimeter of the Flying fortress so it could naturally launch scales and cover the Flying fortress when the barrier activated. It was a device that reacted to a certain type of mana, and it was a very delicately designed engine, but to the master of magic engineering, this kind of device was as easy as pie.
"Of course, it's also possible to just shoot the scales with the launcher, and it can also shoot out the scales from the barrier when the stress on the barrier is too high."
[That's not the end, right? There's no way you would stop at just there.]
Of course, there was one more part left. It was the enhancement of the barrier itself! If rotation was applied to the barrier, the armored scales on top of it would spin like mad like a drill, and once the Flying fortress charged forward in that state, it would literally grind apart anything on its path!
[That's not human!]
"Yes, I'll stop being human. No, I'll surpass all humans! Mystiiiiiiiic!"
[Stop being so light hearted at such a serious moment!]
Yu IlHan had to consume a considerable amount of 5th class magic stones for this process. As all the work was done under meticulous planning and design and with over-the-top materials, success was predestined! The most frightening drill across all universes came out of it.
[Annihilator's Flying fortress was complete.]
And it finally happened – the 'it' that Yu IlHan had been waiting for.
[Annihilator's Flying fortress]
[Rank – Eternal]
[Durability – 100,000,000/100,000,000]
[User restrictions – Yu IlHan]
[Options –
1. Recovers durability by absorbing the mana and life force of nearby enemies.
2. Automatically shoots down all entrants without permission.
3. Grows by absorbing records of various beings.
4. Flight enabled. Sudden acceleration, sudden levitation, sudden falling enabled.
5. All items within the fortress as well as the fortress itself is treated like the user's equipped item. The ones in party with the fortress's user may receive protection from the fortress, and will be treated like a member of it.
6. 20% increase in defense power and attack power of all artifacts in the fortress.
7. 20% increase in defense power and attack power of all artifacts in the fortress.
8. Able to attack and defend using a special barrier.
9. Chances of miracles increase within the holy region.]
[A creation that surpassed technology, records, and miracles. It is not yet complete due to a single missing piece, but it will be completed soon.]
[You have created an Eternal-ranked creation. You have acquired the title, 'Surpasser'.]
"Hm?"
Finally, our dear Flying fortress! Became a rank higher than God! Yu IlHan wanted to cry tears of joy.
However, the title that he acquired after making the Eternal ranked treasure tugged at his mind. Surpasser? What did he surpass? What was the ability of the title? There was nothing that he could understand about it.
[What is it, darling?]
"No, it's nothing."
Even if he wanted to explain it to the others, the only one that acquired this title was him. They would not be able to understand.
Although it was slightly different from what he had expected, he had succeeded in upgrading the Flying fortress so he decided to leave it there.
However, Mystic, grabbed him just as he was about to turn around.
[Master, I feel strange.]
"Why, is the common sense you didn't have about to appear or something?"
[I feel like I need to cough but it's stifled! Uaaaaaaaaaah, so frustrating!]
Yu IlHan thought that the 'missing piece' was what made her frustrated. However, if he knew what it was, wouldn't he have completed it immediately? He shrugged his shoulders and asked.
"Should I tickle you or something?"
[No, what did you do to the fortress! I'm frustrated! I feel stifllllllled!]
Even after that Mystic screamed about being stifled for quite a while, but there was nothing Yu IlHan could do. He asked Orochi to do something, but Orochi only sighed and replied like this.
[When a woman is frustrated and angry, it's best to just leave her alone rather than asking why. That's the best way to minimize damage.]
"Ooh, aren't you wise?"
[Master's an idiot! Orochi's even more of an idiot!]
When he told the others that the Flying fortress was now of Eternal rank, the others were confused at first, but then become shocked at the fact that there was a rank above God at all. Even the most experienced one, Helièna, made an awkward expression.
[Eternal? It's the first time I heard of that, darling. I've seen quite a few blacksmithing masters in my life... but even they couldn't make anything better than God ranked.]
"Perhaps we're witnessing the birth of an item that had never existed since the conception of the Akashic Record."
[The first... perhaps. Fufu, I'm happy that I can spend this time with darling.]
"You aren't the only one here. I'm here as well, and IlHan is mine."
The upgrade of the Flying fortress was finished successfully. Although he did spend all of Kelatuke's metallic armor, the results were good so Yu IlHan was satisfied. Moreover.
"I'm glad that I didn't have to do the impossible-impossible. I still have his bones!"
[There's still something left....]
However, Kelatuke's bones had another use from the beginning. Yu IlHan piled them up on one side of the barrier and took out a portion of Echjar's bones on another. Then, he took out Echjar's DRAGON HEART, and the Heart of Fire as well.
"From now, don't approach this side."
He warned the others with a firm voice, and took off everything, including the gauntlet made from Chaos Will's remains as well as the Infernal dragon body. Orochi asked him.
[Do you think you can make it now, master?]
"Yes."
Yu IlHan nodded without hesitation, before taking out an anvil and a hammer and taking a deep breath.
He had enough materials. He also had a clear objective known as the Eternal rank.
Now, it was finally the time to complete his ideal armor.
Author's notes
The crafting scene is getting a little long, but this is the most important crafting process in the entire storyline so I cannot skip it. I'll try to make it as interesting as possible!
Translator's notes
A whopping $722 in just one night…..
The queue is now $622. Good on you donors.
Btw, the guy I mentioned yesterday (the one that keeps donating 100$ whenever queue runs out) donated YET AGAIN. Sheesh, are you really fine with doing that?