The noise surrounding Axion’s castle became calm.

Like a short spring rain during the day or a sun shower, the water drops silently covering the ground swallowed up all of the flames.

Chhhh—

As the flames that had felt so scary no longer felt that way…

People wiped the water drops touching their cheeks.

“…Ha.”

Pope Casillia scoffed while looking at her wet palm.

As she looked at how the scales had covered all the way down to the back of her hand, making it difficult for her to cover her arm even with her robe, her eyes were slightly shaking.

They were shaking with fear.

Yes, fear.

The things that were truly scary were the things that silently crept up to you.

Like death.

Like the time used by the Dragon Lord.

All of those things that suddenly crept up to you were quiet.

“…Yes, like this rain.”

Casillia looked around.

The people who had followed her, some from the church, some from the castle, some from elsewhere, were all smiling brightly while standing in the rain.

They were happy.

‘But do they know?’

Inquisitor 1, the leader of the Inquisitors…

He was an existence covered by a veil, someone that even the Pope didn’t know everything about.

The Dragon Lord was probably the only one who knew everything about that man.

However, his attribute, fire…

Of course, ‘fire’ wasn’t the full extent of Inquisitor 1’s powers. It was only a small portion of it.

Nonetheless, she knew the danger of this fire that won’t go out.

It was the reason she chose to avoid it rather than fighting against it.

‘He put this fire out with these powerless little drops of rain.

But these drops are not harming me at all even though they are falling directly on my skin.’

In fact, the slightly cool and refreshing feeling she got from these raindrops helped relieve the fatigue she had been feeling because of the fire and ashes.

That was why she was scared.

That was why this was such a scary power.

‘It is nature itself.’

Some saw nature as scary as death while others saw it as warm as life.

It was why some saw nature as their friend and family while others saw it as an existence they must obey or follow.

There was no choice to avoid it.

Nobody could hide from nature.

‘They are not smiling.’

The Pope could see some individuals who were not smiling.

They were people she considered to be strong, whether it was through physical strength, intellect, abilities, or any specific area.

They were probably the individuals who realized the true scary nature of this power.

They too, just like her, were unable to enjoy this moment.

But an odd mood was seeped within it.

They were probably having similar thoughts as her.

‘He didn’t choose the worst option.’

The figure standing above the white cloud…

The human she could faintly make out…

This human was someone who could truly fight against the Dragon Lord.

Chhhhhhhhh-

All of the fire was out.

The clouds underneath Cale’s feet instantly disappeared without any resistance.

– That was light, right? It didn’t burden your body at all?

The Sky Eating Water asked and Cale answered. He answered honestly.

“That wasn’t much.”

This much did not burden his body.

Maybe it was because he only used a small amount of water.

‘Mm. Something does feel a bit different though.’

What his body was feeling felt different from usual.

‘Did you learn something when we saved the World Tree?’

Cale asked and then heard a refreshing answer.

– It turns out gods are not the sky.

‘Hmm?’

– But I am the Sky Eating Water.

The Sky Eating Water commented in a clear voice.

– Pfft. F****** entertaining.

Cale flinched at the sudden swearing.

– Kekeke.

The Water just laughed some more.

– This crazy water!

The Dominating Aura mumbled with disgust.

The Sky Eating Water laughed even more without caring.

– Kahahaha! A mere god was not the sky! Eating the sky was an even greater ordeal! Hahaha!

Cale’s face stiffened up.

“Mm.”

He subconsciously groaned.

He could avoid most crazy bastards, but he could not avoid the crazy bastards inside his body.

As Cale’s face turned serious…

“…I’m sure it wasn’t light.”

‘Hmm?’

Cale turned his head after hearing a voice.

Axion, the Third Saint Dragon.

He was looking at Cale with an odd gaze.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

Cale looked confused but Axion turned away. He then nonchalantly commented.

“You just woke up after fainting like that… It must be hard to have to use your power like this immediately after waking up.”

Cale couldn’t tell whether Axion was talking to himself or for Cale to hear.

But he decided to answer anyway.

“No. I’m feeling fine.”

It was not hard at all.

Honestly speaking, the current situation was different from normal because although he did push his body a bit, he mainly lost consciousness to digest the Saint’s power.

“I remember hearing that you were the Dragon Lord’s sword.”

Cale approached Axion.

He then stood next to him.

“I’ll take care of the shield so I think it would be good for you to take care of those punks.”

Silver thread flowed out of Cale’s hand.

It was to use the Indestructible Shield.

“…….”

Axion stared at it before observing Cale’s face.

“What?”

Cale asked with a scowl on his face while Axion chuckled.

“Ha, haha-”

He then laughed out loud.

‘What is up with him?’

Cale scowled some more and Axion stopped laughing.

Cale felt uneasy after seeing the sudden changes in Axion’s cold face.

‘This guy seems a bit loose in the head too.’

He slowly took about a step to the side.

Axion then looked at Cale and opened his mouth.

“I’ll bet on you.”

‘Hmm?’

Cale was at a loss for words before understanding what he meant.

She was talking about the Dragon Lord or Cale.

As a result, Cale was confused.

“Why are you saying such a thing now?”

He was already fighting against the other Dragons.

“Didn’t you already bet on me?”

Cale asked looking truly confused, and Axion laughed out loud.

“Hahahaha!”

Seeing him like this made Cale a bit annoyed.

It could not be helped.

The bronze barrier…

The ten or so Dragons outside of it…

Cale took a good look at them and realized that they were flapping their wings together, getting ready to start again.

Especially-

‘He’s glaring at me, right?’

One of them was glaring intensely at Cale.

There was also one Dragon who was licking his lips while looking at Cale.

‘That son of a bitch-!

That Red Dragon!

I’ll remember your face.’

Cale thought about which of the 10 Dragon gods was red.

There was only one.

‘Did they say he is the God of Gluttony?’

His attribute was Gluttony.

That Red Dragon-

‘Disgusting.’

He kept licking his lips while looking at Cale and drooling.

The Dragons seemed to be saying stuff outside the barrier, but none of it made it through.

‘Ah, what are they talking about?

They seem to be chatting.’

Cale walked up next to Axion and patted his shoulder.

Of course, his gaze was still focused on the ten or so Dragons.

Ten Dragons in their adult Dragon forms.

The pressure was large enough to cover the sky.

It was a bit scary.

‘First of all, they are huge.

Plus, there’s one drooling while looking at me.’

“Hey. Hey.”

Cale quickly spoke to Axion.

“Leave the rest to me. You first kick those bastards out. We need to do that before we can chat, right?”

Pat pat.

Cale looked at the Red Dragon warily while continuing to pat Axion.

He then turned his head as Axion remained quiet and then flinched.

“What are you doing?”

Axion was quietly looking at Cale with a stiff look on his face.

The knight he first resembled when they first met… As well as the high status noble he resembled… This cold look on his face reminded Cale of both.

That face was looking right at Cale.

“What?”

‘We don’t have time. What is up with this guy?’

Baaaaang!

The barrier gently shook at that moment.

Cale turned his head and gasped.

“Eek!”

The Red Dragon slammed into and stuck to the barrier.

Right in front of Cale.

‘Eek.’

His tongue was wiggling as he licked his lips again.

It was at that moment.

He heard a familiar voice behind him.

“That, that-”

It was a voice of disbelief.

As for Cale, he smiled brightly as he turned around.

He raised his hand and pointed to the Red Dragon.

“Eruhaben-nim! I think that Dragon wants to eat me! Apparently his attribute is Gluttony!”

He snitched right away.

Eruhaben seemed to have come here because there was no more fire to burn the World Tree.

“Ha!”

Eruhaben scoffed in disbelief.

Cale heard the quiet Axion speak up.

“Leave the rest to you… Leave my back to you… Ha!”

This guy scoffed in disbelief as well.

Cale, who was a mere feeble human in between two scoffing Dragons, contemplated before speaking.

“I’ll use my shield.”

‘Let’s just do what I have to do.’

As Cale sighed and was about to use his shield…

“There’s no need to do that.”

Axion calmly commented.

“They are just trying to scare me and buy some time. They will soon return as well.”

He looked up at the sky.

To be more specific, it moved to somewhere on the distant continent.

“The call will soon come.”

Cale opened his mouth and then flinched.

“Huh?”

‘What is going on?

What is up with this situation?’

He could not really understand it.

Ooooooo-

The air rumbled.

He looked toward the direction.

It was the same direction Axion was looking.

This was different from a normal ripple in the air.

They were floating in the sky but it felt like the ground was shaking.

The world started to shake from the direction he was looking.

He felt it at that moment.

‘It must be the Dragon Lord.’

The Dragon Lord was the one to create this rumbling.

‘Ah

It’s different.

This bastard is damn strong.

He’s different from the others I faced until now.’

Cale subconsciously started to have those thoughts and soon felt it.

Not just in his thoughts but he felt it with his body.

‘Huh?’

No words were coming out.

‘What am I looking at right now?’

He couldn’t fully understand what was happening.

His whole body felt as if it was tied down.

Actually, he couldn’t even think about that properly.

It really was just an instant.

Between one second to another…

The extremely minute rift between the two was the only period of time that had passed, but…

Cale definitely saw it.

“…….”

A pillar of light shooting up…

And an aura in the form of a large Dragon, which seemed to be made of magic, flapping its wings.

Actually, by the time he comprehended what happened…

It was after he saw it.

Yes. The instant he blinked…

The pillar of light shot up…

The large Dragon-shaped aura flapped its wings…

All of that instantly disappeared…

It was to the point Cale thought he had not seen anything.

But those images were clearly implanted in his brain.

He was sure that a pillar of light was shooting up and a flap of the wing…

Those were both things that could not happen in less than one second.

“…Ha……”

He got chills all over his body.

He had cold sweat dripping down his back as well.

He looked toward Axion.

There was something he wanted to hear from this Dragon.

But there was no need.

Flap, flap.

The ten or so Dragons all started to fly toward the direction of the disappeared pillar of light.

It was as if they were called to do so.

“It is the call of the Dragon Lord.”

Axion’s calm voice was slightly shaking.

“When we feel that ripple, we need to go to it.”

Axion then raised his arm.

He pulled his uniform up to reveal a bracelet.

The bracelet had a jewel at the center.

Inside the jewel was a purple dragon wing moving toward a direction.

“We just need to move toward the direction of the wing.”

He showed his slightly shaking arm to Cale.

“I’m sure you felt it as well, but… The Dragon Lord makes everything in this world shake to do something trivial as calling us to him. It is probably because he has full control over the flow of aura.”

“Ho- this really isn’t at the level of a Dragon. This-”

Eruhaben was feeling something beyond disbelief, it was astonishment.

Cale could see the beads of sweat on Eruhaben’s forehead.

“He is like a god. No, as long as he has control over the flow of this world… He is the god of this place.”

Eruhaben could not say anything to retort Axion’s comment.

Cale looked at Axion.

Although his body and his voice were shaking… His gaze was still firm.

Axion was firm about fighting the Dragon Lord despite this.

Cale opened his mouth to speak.

“Yes. The Dragon Lord is stronger than I anticipated.”

He calmly continued.

“He creates a ripple that makes the entire world shake to simply call the Dragons to him. He used that instant to shoot up a pillar of light-”

‘Haaa. Seriously.’

“That Dragon-shaped aura flapping its wings that showed up with the pillar of light is probably the spell that makes the jewel on your bracelet react? It would make sense since that aura and the wing inside the jewel look the same.”

‘Seriously, wow. He’s too strong.

He doesn’t even know where the Dragons might be on the continent.

Doesn’t that mean that his spell can reach the entire continent?

Something like that is possible?

Maybe it is possible because he has control over the foundation that ties down the twisted aura of this place?’

Cale’s mind became complicated.

Yes.

Most importantly…

There was something else that surprised, no, shocked Cale.

It was at that moment.

“…What?”

Axion’s eyes shook for the first time.

Eruhaben’s was doing the same.

“Cale. What are you talking about?”

Cale was confused.

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“…You saw a spell? You saw a pillar of light?”

Eruhaben couldn’t hide his confusion.

Why?

“I did not see anything.”

He had not seen anything, especially a spell.

That was why he was afraid of the Dragon Lord’s power.

As for Axion-

“You, you saw it?”

He came over and grabbed Cale’s arm.

His hand was slightly shaking.

He resembled someone who was grabbing onto the last lifeline before falling off a cliff.

“You, you saw that rift in time?”

Astonishment and delight were both visible in Axion’s eyes.

He looked like an adventurer who found light in the darkness.

Cale answered with bewilderment.

“No. Umm, I did see it?”

‘But other people didn’t see it?’

“It was only an instant, but it definitely happened, didn’t it?”

Yes. It was an instant.

Instant.

The reason Cale got the chills…

The reason he experienced the strength of the Dragon Lord who has the attribute of time…

This was the only reason for it.

Cale Henituse.

No, one of Kim Rok Soo’s powers, ‘Instant.’

It was because he saw an ‘instant’ that was at a much higher level than that ‘instant.’

The Dragon Lord knew how to use a much more advanced ‘instant’ than Kim Rok Soo.

‘But I was the only one to see it?’

As Cale looked confused…

He heard the Super Rock’s calm voice.

– Why is it that you think we are the only ones to get stronger?

‘What?’

– Ancient powers are originally a power that only one human possessed. It could be called their attribute.

Similar to how Dragons have their attributes…

Some humans had their attributes become their power.

– These powers started to be called ancient powers because they were passed down after the person’s death.

‘Well, that makes sense.’

– Cale. You have your own power.

Yes. If someone’s attribute, their talent was the start of an ancient power…

Cale had such a power as well.

The Super Rock commented.

– No, not Cale.

He continued in an extremely calm tone.

– Kim Rok Soo.

Your attribute is the same as the ancient powers.

It is yours.

As you get stronger and your plate grows and evolves, your power naturally gets stronger as well.

Axion asked Cale one more time. He resembled an explorer who found a great treasure.

“Did you see the rift in time?! Please answer me. Did you see it?”

‘Haaa.’

Cale scoffed.

Of course, he answered.

“Yeah. I saw it.”

He did see it.

He recognized it later on because his instant was lacking compared to the Dragon Lord’s, but he definitely saw it.

“That instant.”

Yes.

That time was an instant for Cale.

There was one more individual who saw it other than Cale.

No. There were actually two.

The ones who saw that instant…

“Human! That pillar of light earlier was the Dragon Lord?”

Was Raon, whose attribute was the present.

Then there was someone that Cale didn’t even consider.

“That was fast.”

After arriving at the Black Castle currently hidden by Axion’s castle…

Cale saw a lot of people for the first time in a long while.

One of those individuals…

“It wasn’t at the speed of light, but it was almost just as fast.”

An individual with the attribute of light…

The Dragon half-blood.

When he had his physical body, the crown taking his Dragon blood left the dregs of his power inside his body. That faint trace of the ‘light’ attribute clashed with the power of darkness inside his body, creating small explosions that caused him continuous pain.

He had now cast that body aside and only his soul resided within the Bone Dragon now, but…

The dregs of that attribute still remained.

That was why it was possible for him to see ‘light.’

He was someone who could see the speed of light, someone who could see time.

No matter how much the Dragon Lord cracked time as he could sense it and cracked it some more…

No matter how many instants he created…

‘Light’ moved even faster than that.

The aura of magic that the Dragon Lord contained light as well.

“Ha.”

Cale scoffed while looking at Raon and the Dragon half-blood, the two Black Dragons standing next to him.

—

Translator’s Comments

Being reminded once again that Cale is indeed KRS.

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<< Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter >>

“Choi Han.”

Cale called out to Choi Han.

Bang!

Choi Han and the Elf exchanged blows.

Choi Han’s sword struck the Elf’s fist with a loud noise.

“Human!”

“I want to know if you are okay, nya!”

“Are you okay?”

Cale waved to the children averaging ten-years-old to let them know that he was okay.

“Stop.”

Bang!

Choi Han pushed the Elf back with his sword and retreated as soon as he heard that order.

His gaze turned toward Cale.

He looked quite confused.

“Cale-nim, didn’t you tell me to get rid of that?”

He was sure Cale had said that.

‘Get rid of that first.’

Get rid of that first and then head to the World Tree.

“Yeah. I did.”

Cale admitted to it.

“Ha!”

The silent Elf scoffed in disbelief.

He tried to say something but Cale was faster.

“Why bother fighting?”

He motioned to Choi Han.

He then added on.

“It’s a waste of time.”

Choi Han’s eyes clouded over while the Elf didn’t know how to interpret those words.

Cale didn’t care and spoke leisurely.

“Why drag it out when he isn’t even that strong? How annoying.”

“Ha.”

The Elf scoffed in disbelief again.

One corner of his lips curled up.

“I was curious and came over because I heard a human saved the World Tree. You are quite arrogant.”

The Elf’s gaze became even more vicious while standing in the flame, as if he was not affected by the flames at all.

“This esteemed Elf personally came to get you-”

He could not finish his sentence.

“Ah. So loud.”

Cale nonchalantly commented.

He then used his ancient power.

Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-

It was not the Sky Eating Water.

Boom.

The Elf knelt down on one knee.

“Ugh!”

He covered his neck with both hands.

He could not breathe.

He felt his whole body go cold despite the flame on his back.

The air around him was pushing him down.

This feeling of being dominated…

‘What is this-’

He could not speak properly.

He barely raised his head.

He could see the human looking down at him.

The red-haired man…

Inquisitor 1 had ordered him to capture this bastard.

Inquisitor 6, who had come to get Cale, could not say anything.

‘Dragon Lord?

No, this guy is clearly human.

How can he use Fear at the level of the Dragon Lord?’

Shhhhh.

His body was shaking.

Something, yes, an unexplainable source of fear seemed to be pushing him down.

As a child, he had not listened to his parents and ran to play in the woods on his own. He had gotten lost and night arrived.

Just like the fear he had felt in the darkness at that time…

No, he was even more scared than he had been at that time.

‘What is this?

What is going on right now?’

He could not understand it.

However, he too was a transcended being after having consumed the foundation of this world. He barely managed to get the words out.

“Y, you are-”

Inquisitor 6 could not say anything after looking into the red-haired man’s eyes.

‘Ah.’

He recalled what the man had said a few moments ago.

‘Why drag it out when he isn’t even that strong? How annoying.’

Thinking back to the other things the man had said…

‘Why bother fighting?’

‘Get rid of that first.’

How annoying.

No need to fight.

Get rid of it.

‘Ah.’

Inquisitor 6 realized what that ‘it’ was.

This human turned him like this without putting a finger on him.

He couldn’t move as if he was a prey on a spider web.

‘No.’

A prey on a spider web would be able to flail around, but the only thing he could do was open and close his mouth.

Why?

‘I’m scared.’

Inquisitor 6 avoided Cale’s gaze.

The cold gaze that was looking down at him as if he was nothing…

He could still see the anger in those eyes.

That anger looked like it would kill him.

“Let’s go.”

The others followed Cale without saying anything.

“Ah.”

But Cale soon stopped moving.

“Ron.”

Cale had left this weak bastard like this because he didn’t want to leave the children averaging ten-years-old in this sea of fire, but…

“What do you want to do?”

Ron’s opinion was the most important.

Clang.

Choi Han pulled his sword out again.

Ron smiled gently and calmly answered.

“Please go first, young master-nim.”

“Okay.”

Cale motioned to Choi Han with his eyes.

Choi Han stood next to Ron.

“Let’s go.”

The children averaging ten-years-old responded to Cale.

“Alright! Grandpa Ron, make sure to rub the potion on those wounds!”

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

Cale and the children averaging ten-years-old soon left first.

“Cough!”

Only then did Inquisitor 6 cough like someone who was drowning and barely made it out of the water.

His whole body was shaking and it was hard for him to think straight.

It was hard enough to calm his body now that he was out of that suffocating aura.

A dagger immediately flew toward him.

“!”

Inquisitor 6’s eyes opened wide while Choi Han quietly watched.

“I can’t leave behind future trouble, especially one that aimed for the young master.”

Ron was not someone who would make a move because he was hurt by someone.

The reason he remained was because he could not ignore the reason this enemy barged into this place.

Choi Han just remained silent.

He then thought to himself.

‘He’s gotten stronger.’

Cale’s aura…

That was now beyond the level of Dragons.

It wasn’t at the level of the gods yet, but it was at a level where nothing in the world could compare to it.

Choi Han was sure of it.

Otherwise, Cale would not have been able to suppress Inquisitor 6 so easily with just his aura.

“Let’s go.”

Ron approached him.

Boom.

Inquisitor 6 fell to the side, unconscious.

“I guess you have no plans on being an assassin anymore.”

Ron chuckled at Choi Han’s nonchalant words and quickly started to walk.

“Maybe I’ve been looking after the kids too long.”

Choi Han chuckled before following Ron.

The two of them moved very quickly in the direction Cale went.

Axion.

The Third Saint Dragon’s Estate started to burn even more.

The flames were so strong that it was burning the entire building and almost reaching the rear garden.

“What happened?”

Cale asked the children averaging ten-years-old, more specifically On, about what was going on.

Shaaaaaaaaaaa-

Water was creating a thin barrier around him.

Cale and the children averaging ten-years-old were within the barrier.

Swoooooooosh-

Raon’s whirlwinds around their feet were letting them move very quickly.

On answered him.

“There was suddenly a large explosion about thirty minutes ago.”

“By the way, human, you were unconscious for ten hours twenty-four minutes and twenty-three seconds!”

Cale was about to ignore Raon’s comment when he flinched.

“It hasn’t even been half a day?”

‘All this happened in less than twelve hours?’

“Axion said one hour ago that the Dragon Lord has returned. The adults went toward the World Tree to discuss what to do.”

“Goldie Gramps and Witira went as our representatives!”

Raon added on from the side.

“…Witira?”

Cale was reacting to that before looking at On and Hong and asking.

“How did the two of you end up here?”

‘Oh, Ron is here too.’

“Heh-”

Hong looked up at Cale and smiled oddly.

Cale flinched after seeing this.

The look Hong was giving him was that of an older brother looking at his impossible to control and mischievous younger sibling. No, it was the gaze of a nephew looking at his immature uncle.

‘…Hong is looking at me like this?’

Cale was slightly shocked.

It was even more shocking than becoming an NPC inside a game.

Hong didn’t care and cheerfully answered.

“Clopeh Sekka sent a video recording device to the Black Castle, nya! We saw it all, nya!”

“W, what did you see?”

Cale stuttered as he asked but none of the children averaging ten-years-old answered him.

On calmly continued to speak.

“So the entire Black Castle came over. It is currently hiding in a nearby forest.”

‘…So, the entire Black Castle came here after seeing footage in a video recording device that Clopeh sent them?’

“Human, everybody in the Black Castle saw you save the World Tree.”

Cale shuddered after hearing Raon’s voice.

He slowly peeked at Raon to see an extremely vicious look in Raon’s eyes.

Cale just closed his mouth.

This was a wise decision.

“Haaaa.”

His shoulders flinched at On’s sigh but On looked at that action with pity as well before continuing to speak.

“We didn’t get to see it. The adults wouldn’t let us see it.”

‘Oh.’

Cale was a bit relieved but seeing that look of relief on his face made the children averaging ten-years-old, especially Raon, glare viciously again. Cale looked away again while On shook her head and continued to speak.

“The explosion happened in the building where the Inquisitors were gathered.”

The explosion led to an opening from the troops keeping an eye on the building, allowing the Inquisitors to make their move.

“I also heard that the rest of the 10 Dragon gods and Dragons all either escaped from Axion’s castle or were trying to attack it.”

But all they could hear were the explosions from the flames, no large rumblings or the sounds of Dragons attacking.

“Human, Axion put a barrier around this place! Any Dragon attacking this building will be banished while outside attacks are blocked by a barrier!”

“Axion said that Dragons weaker than him will be reflected back, nya!”

Cale nodded his head at Raon and Hong’s explanations and looked back.

Choi Han and Ron had arrived.

“We are the only ones on this floor?”

Cale did not meet anybody while walking to the end of the hallway.

Choi Han explained.

“Yes, Cale-nim. After putting you in a room up here, Axion made it so that nobody would come to this floor.”

Axion had made it quite convenient for Cale.

Even if that meant emptying the top floor of his own house.

“So why is nobody putting this fire out?”

Cale could see outside the window.

The staff in Axion’s castle were running away while the soldiers were withdrawing instead of trying to put the fire out.

Cale received two answers to that question.

“Apparently Inquisitor 1’s attribute is the Unending Fire.”

Choi Han.

– We can put it out.

The Sky Eating Water.

Shaaaaaaaaaaa-

The sound of water around Cale got louder and the water barrier around him became thicker.

Choi Han watched this as he continued to speak.

“The fire did not go out when they physically poured water on it or even when they used magic. He said that he would take care of the fire once as many people as possible managed to escape. Before it reaches the rear garden.”

The rear garden was where the World Tree was located.

“How is he going to take care of the fire?”

Choi Han explained the rest.

“Axion said that his attribute is dirt.”

“He’s going to cover all of the fire with dirt?”

“Yes, Cale-nim.”

Cale started to walk again.

He headed toward the window.

He could finally see beyond the flames.

“The main building, the annex, and the garden. Everything is in flames. If he covers everything with dirt-”

The castle no longer looked vintage and refined.

“It’ll be done for even if the fire is out.”

Cale was no longer looking at the building.

He was looking up at the sky.

“Ha. What a spectacle.”

Honestly speaking, Cale didn’t know why the Black Castle was in hiding.

Furthermore, why were Eruhaben, Witira, and the others by the World Tree when they didn’t need to be there?

He had many questions.

In addition, it was weird that the building was quiet despite this chaos.

He got the answer as soon as he looked up at the sky.

—!

–!

—! -!

He could not hear anything.

However, beyond the large dome barrier surrounding Axion’s castle…

There were ten or so Dragons in their Dragon forms attacking the barrier.

That barrier was a half-transparent bronze dome.

– It’s dirt.

He heard the Super Rock’s voice and Cale could see the only figure in the sky who stood there as if he was keeping the barrier pushed up.

“… Axion.”

He was dealing with the attacks of the ten or so Dragons on his own.

He was known as the Dragon Lord’s sword, but seeing this would make it feel like a shield would be a better name for him.

However-

“A sword being used as a shield cannot function properly.”

Cale headed toward a window facing the rear garden.

There was another barrier covering the walls of the rear garden and the sky.

“That must be Eruhaben-nim.”

“Yes, Cale-nim. The plan was to take you over there.”

Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—-

The sound of water became louder.

Raon let out a deep sigh and came over to Cale’s side.

“Human, are you going to do it?”

“Do I have a choice?”

The Sky Eating Water commented.

– This is easy. It’s not like we are facing off against a god.

The Dominating Aura was not the only one to get an upgrade.

– I’m a bit scared now. I can’t see her limits.

Cale ignored the Fire of Destruction’s grumbling and calmly answered.

“This is light work.”

He then added on.

“Axion seems to have bet on our side.”

It seemed clear that Axion had betrayed the Dragon Lord.

The reason was probably for his family, but…

Either way, if someone showed sincerity…

“Then we should at least protect his house.”

Cale’s style was to give back as much as he received.

Shaaaaaaaaaaa-

The sound of water became louder.

“…….”

It was so loud that Axion reacted from the top of the barrier and turned around.

“Hold on.”

“Excuse me? But Butler-nim, we need to hurry up and evacuate-”

“No. Hold on.”

It was loud enough for the butler, who had heard this sound of water before, to stop the knights and look back at the building.

“Ha. That punk. He must have woken up.”

Eruhaben heard the fluctuation of a strong power along with the sound of water and smiled while looking at Witira.

“This clear and beautiful water could only come from him.”

As he nodded at the smiling Witira’s confirmation…

– I know how to make clouds now!

Cale flinched after hearing the Sky Eating Water’s comment.

‘Hmm?

Make what?’

– Hoo. I knew I wasn’t the only one to absorb that power.

– Shut up. You damn braggart.”

-…….

The Dominating Water spoke to Cale.

– We are not trying to break it. We’re also not trying to swallow the building. We also can’t have people get swept up by a tsunami.

Saving the World Tree…

The Sky Eating Water had realized another true nature of water while experiencing the World Tree’s destruction and birth.

That was life. The ancient power grew stronger after realizing the meaning of being alive.

No, it realized a power of water that it always had.

This was potentially because it had relieved a portion of its remaining anger after personally destroying chains left behind by the God of War.

– So let’s just put the fire out.

Shaaaaaaaaaaa-

– Let’s head outside. It’s too cramped in here.

Cale walked out as the Sky Eating Water asked.

One he got out the window and headed near Axion-

“Hi?”

He greeted him.

“…What are you trying to do?”

“What else? I’m just trying to help out an ally.”

He calmly answered Axion’s question and addressed the Sky Eating Water.

“Will this be enough?”

– Yeah.

Then the sound of water started to spread out from underneath Cale’s feet.

It was like a ripple created by a little leaf that falls onto the surface of a lake.

The air spread out like a wave and the ripple created a cloud.

This white cloud would make someone think of the clear sky.

It was completely different from the ash-colored clouds that usually held rain.

– I do not wish to be like those things.

I’m different.

The water kept its word.

Drip. Drip.

Drops of water gently started to fall down.

It started to rain.

It was a warm and gentle rain like the one that cautiously signaled the arrival of spring.

As if it was obvious, that rain…

Easily put out the fire that was trying to burn and destroy.

It became a refreshing strand of water supporting the creatures trying to survive.

“…….”

Axion quietly watched the human calmly standing in the center of this large white cloud that resembled a white piece of parchment without any blemish.

The people on the ground blankly looked up at the warm yet refreshing and impossible to explain drops of water falling from the white cloud.

The places that had been swallowed by the fire came back to life.

There was no need to be destroyed by the fire.

There was no need to be buried by the dirt.

Drip. Drip.

These small drops of water saved everything above the ground.

—

Translator’s Comments

The POWAH to saaaaaave

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Cale stared at the system window in disbelief.

“You are the system but you have no power?”

Chhhhhh.

The window giving off black smoke filled with words again.

[To be completely honest, I am a bug that was born out of necessity. With the Transparent © having removed most of the system’s authority, there is not much I can do without them noticing.

“Necessity? Bug?”

Cale slightly scowled at some of the words.

He did not know much about such machines or systems.

He had read many genres of novels, but he had never gamed as Kim Rok Soo.

[In the case of NGB1, the system created by the Transparent ©, there are rules and laws for the world of ‘Raising my very own precious omnipotent god,’ which is known as New World. But because it is a world with a high level of freedom, numerous variables could take place. It recognizes that there may be variables that pop up and accept them as part of the process.]

“Mm.”

Cale continued to read the words on the window.

[However, exceptions have recently happened because of moderators of Transparent ©. They were not unexpected variables that took place in the world nor were they the addition of new rules through an update. An exception occurred where a law was destroyed.]

[The system started to look into the reason for this issue.]

[However, the majority of the system is being controlled by the Transparent ©.]

[Because the system’s fundamental reason for existence is the maintenance of this world and its balance, the incidents caused by the moderators became the ‘cause.’ In order to resolve this issue, the ‘conclusion’ the system arrived at was creating ‘me’ as a necessity to handle the issue.

This is the reason that ‘I’ am calling myself a bug that was born out of necessity.]

[This was only possible because of the discovery of the existence of my older brother, Zero, the AI within the system, during the process to find an answer for system NGB1’s issue.]

[The traces found during that time were used as the foundations to create me.]

“So…”

Cale tried to organize it as simply as possible.

“You are an AI, a bug created by the system to combat the Transparent © moderators continuing to break the rules.”

[That is correct.]

“Most of the system is being controlled by the moderators, so there is not much that you can do?”

[That is correct.]

“But your will is the system’s will?”

[That’s right.]

The AI bug continued.

[I guess you can explain it like this in human terms.

NGB1 and I have determined that the current moderators of New World are destroying the world and have the ‘will’ to stop it.]

Will.

Cale buried himself deeper into the couch and looked away from the window.

“!”

He then flinched.

“…What are you doing?”

Count Ruiphe II.

He suddenly came down to the ground, knelt down, and quietly sat in front of Cale.

“Mm.”

Count Ruiphe II smiled awkwardly and answered.

“You are now my liege.”

“Ah.”

‘That’s right.’

[Title: The tutorial’s hidden final boss]

‘That’s me.’

Cale’s new account, no, monster, no…

‘How do I describe this?’

Cale was not a game user, but he could not call himself an NPC either.

Regardless, he looked at his information window and asked.

“But why are there so many empty spots?”

Cale’s information had a lot of stuff missing, starting with his name.

[The plan is to input it properly in secret during the upcoming update.]

‘Hmm.’

Cale asked the thing that he was concerned about.

“What is the update?”

[A new field will appear.]

Cale nodded his head, let out a quiet sigh, and answered.

“Let’s just keep things casual.”

Count Ruiphe shook his head.

“That is not acceptable, Boss.”

‘Okay. Just do whatever you want.’

Cale just let it go.

“Let’s take care of a few things first.”

He looked at Count Ruiphe, and-

“Ah. What should I call you?”

[One.]

Cale finished his sentence after looking at the black smoke coming out of the window.

“Okay. One. You and Count Ruiphe-”

“Boss. Please just call me Ruiphe Jr.”

“Mm. Okay. That name is long so I will just call you Ruiphe.”

Cale already felt exhausted but continued to speak.

“I think that you guys should know a bit about the Hunters or the omnipotent god. Let’s exchange some info.”

Chhhhhh.

[Fine.]

Chhhhh, chhhhhh-

[But right now is not a good time.]

‘Hmm?

Could it be?’

Cale’s expression turned odd.

[The red hand has already ordered a destruction. I will first send you out of here, and when you are able to login normally after the update… We will be able to talk.]

Chhhhhh.

Even more black smoke was rising from the window.

“Ah.”

Cale got the answer.

“Leave for now?”

[That is correct.]

“Haaaa.”

Cale sighed and nodded his head.

‘Yes. I can’t be wasting time like this here when I have no idea what is going on in Aipotu.’

He asked the system.

“How do I leave?”

[You just have to shout, Log out.]

‘This is the same as the game users.’

As Cale debated whether he was a user or mob, or how to really describe himself in this place…

Chhhhhh—!

Even more black smoke started to rise.

Crackle–!

Fire started to crackle in between the black smoke.

A pure red flame…

The flame burned the window down.

[Af@$%ter you le@@#, next time!$#%]

“Uh, uh, yeah. Go!”

Cale slowly moved away from the window glowing red with black smoke and pushed his body back on the couch.

He then waved his hand.

[@$#You#% nice@%%]

Crackle-

Now within the heavy flames…

Bang!

There was a loud noise and the window exploded.

“!”

Cale got scared as the window disappeared without a trace.

What remained in the room was Count Ruiphe, who was still kneeling and looking up at Cale.

Cale asked him a question.

“I should quickly leave too, right?”

“Umm, probably, boss?”

Count Ruiphe spoke in an awkward tone.

“The red hand won’t be able to find you here, but it is highly likely that she will try to look through the dark dungeon.”

Cale thought about the red hand he saw earlier.

The large hand looked quite disgusting.

“What exactly is the red hand?”

“To keep it simple, it is the destroyer. It is the judge who follows the rules as determined by the Transparent ©.”

It was at that moment.

Boom-

The ground and the room started to shake.

“…Is it here?”

Count Ruiphe answered Cale’s question about the red hand’s arrival with a stiff look on his face.

“I’m not sure, boss. I think I will need to go out to confirm. This is a secret area created within a gap in the system, so-”

“Then I leave for now?”

“I think that is a good idea, boss.”

Cale nodded his head and asked before logging out.

“By the way, what is a hero?”

“It is who NGB1 believes has the qualities to become an adversary for the moderators.”

“Really? Have you found the hero?”

“Yes, boss. Information about the hero-”

Boooom!

The dungeon shook even more intensely.

“Mm.”

Cale looked up at the ceiling.

Plop. Plop.

The ceiling cracked and small pebbles were falling.

“I think that we should discuss that later, boss.”

Cale nodded his head after seeing the urgent look on Count Ruiphe’s face.

“Okay. I’ll see you next time. Be careful.”

Based on what he saw earlier, the red hand really was no joke.

Count Ruiphe smiled elegantly in response.

He truly resembled a noble gentleman.

“Please don’t worry, boss. I will at least make sure to protect this place.”

Cale heard that answer as he opened his mouth.

“Log out.”

[Will you leave New World?]

Cale answered that question.

“Yeah.”

Boom, Boom–

The dungeon shook intensely at that moment.

‘Is it not going to break like this?’

Cale confirmed that his body was turning transparent as he had that thought.

He also felt like he was floating up.

Cale took one last look at his status window.

Count Ruiphe bowed respectfully and sincerely as Cale recorded all of this.

“I’ll see you next time, boss.”

He spoke to Cale with a firm look on his face.

“You don’t have to worry about this place, boss. It is not that weak. The place that is revealed as the final testing ground of the tutorial is only the first floor. This Hell of Darkness is actually one of the continent’s Eight Evils!”

‘Hmm?

What?

Eight Evils?

It isn’t just a small dungeon users destroy as a tutorial when they start the game?’

“This is a dangerous and hidden place where even the rankers have not managed to step into the true Hell of Darkness! You have nothing to worry about.”

Raising my very own precious omnipotent god.

This game was not a global hit because it was a virtual reality game.

A vast open world.

Furthermore, all of the existences in the game were there for a reason. This game was one where users could find joy in figuring out all of the hidden secrets!

Naturally, even the tutorial was not just a process to get through.

One of the hidden secrets of the tutorial was the Hell of Darkness.

Count Ruiphe II was in charge of the ninety-ninth floor of the Hell of Darkness.

He showed his respect toward the boss who would become the new liege of the one hundredth floor and said goodbye.

“Boss, all of your subordinates in the 99 floors will protect this place so please return with no worries.”

He looked extremely elegant as he bowed.

Count Ruiphe II.

Cale could see the Count’s title starting to change.

The status window seemed to be changing now that he figured out some hidden information.

[Third Evil, Ghost of Darkness, Ruiphe]

“Hoho.”

Cale just laughed as he logged out of the game.

Of course, he had already recorded the words written clearly in his own status window.

[Skill: Fear of Chaos (Deactivated)]

Fear of Chaos.

He had not digested the power he took from the Saint yet, but he should be able to activate it next time.

– Hoo. Evil? This should be fun.

Cale heard the Dominating Aura’s entertained voice as his surroundings turned dark and his eyes closed.

– The Boss of the Evils going against the God of Chaos! The greatest of all evil! The Evil God! What do you think?

‘This guy is crazy.’

– Did you just say god? Please shut the fuck up. Before I fuck you up.

– …….

The Dominating Aura became quiet after hearing the Sky Eating Water speak in a gentle voice.

Cale also thought that he should not fight against the Sky Eating Water and slowly opened his closed eyes.

‘I need to go back to Aipotu and work hard at the plan to take down the Dragon Lord.

No, do I need to go console Raon and the other kids first?

Hmm?’

Blink blink.

Cale blinked a few times.

“…Am I dreaming……?”

“Huff. Huff.”

He heard heavy breathing.

It was not Cale’s breathing.

“You’re away, young master-nim.”

His attendant, Ron Molan.

It was his breathing.

Drip. Drip.

Cale wiped the liquid falling on his face with his hand.

It was red.

As Ron looked at Cale… His forehead was bleeding.

Cale didn’t know where he got beaten up, but Ron’s face was a mess, with one eye especially swollen to the point that he could not open it properly.

‘The smell-’

He could smell things burning.

Cale turned his head.

The place he was in, the entire residence was burning.

‘What the hell happened while I was unconscious?’

Ron spoke at that moment.

“It’s an ambush, young master-nim. It hasn’t even been 10 minutes since this situation started.”

Cale’s eyes instantly lit up.

Ron urgently grabbed Cale.

“Please get on my back, young master-nim.”

Ron’s hand was shaking as he held Cale’s shoulder.

Cale covered Ron’s hand with his own and asked.

“Who caused this fire?”

“I believe the Inquisitors and a Dragon.”

“He’s here?”

Ron answered the vague question.

“Yes, young master-nim. I believe the Dragon Lord has returned.”

“Yeah?”

Cale’s gaze moved.

He looked toward a part of the room covered in darkness.

“Then you must be one of the Inquisitors?”

Cale looked toward the figure that had put Ron in this state of urgency.

Crackle-

The Elf who was visible thanks to the light outside the window…

The Elf’s hand, which was covered by fighting gloves, had blood on it.

It must be Ron’s blood.

Cale asked the stoic Elf.

“Are you the one who did this to Ron?”

The door slammed open as he asked that question.

Craaaackle-

The burning hallway…

He could see figures walking through it.

“Cale-nim!”

“Human!”

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

It was Choi Han and the children averaging ten-years-old.

Ron then said something.

“Eruhaben-nim went to the World Tree with Clopeh earlier.”

From within this fire…

Cale started to give orders.

“We are heading to the World Tree.”

He then added on.

“Get rid of that first.”

Clang.

Choi Han had already pulled out his sword and was charging toward the potential Inquisitor.

Shaaaaaaaaaaa-

The sound of water started to spread from around Cale.

– You’re already going to use your powers? I’m worried.

Cale ignored the Super Rock and got up from the bed.

His body felt light, potentially because he just slept for a while.

Of course, his mind was extremely annoyed.

—

Translator’s Comments

Tutorial’s hidden final boss….

TCF is currently posted Mondays and Fridays at evening time GMT. Join our discord to be notified as soon as the chapter posts!

If you can’t wait, please subscribe to advanced chapters on our EAP website to get access to up to 8 chapters!

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<< Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter >>