Overgeared Chapter 1184:
[You have suffered catastrophic damage!]
[The body that has become a living dead has been severely damaged . ]
[The blood of the victims trapped in your body is flowing backward, causing your body to collapse . ]
There were three penalties that a player who changed race to an undead type would experience—their agility was significantly reduced, some skills were sealed, and the effects of recovery magic were reversed . However, the black horse jiangshi didn’t have the reduced agility and skills sealing penalties .
This was why the combat power of the black horse jiangshi was overwhelming . The flying horse jiangshi were regarded as legends but the black horse jiangshi was actually the strongest . However, it wasn’t universal . The black horse jiangshi had frightening side effects .
“Uh . . . Uwaaaaack!”
The cost of death was huge . This was because he lost a considerable amount of the blood of 300 people he was injected with during the 33 day ceremony . The amount of experience lost when a black horse jiangshi died was nearly double that of a typical player and it took as long as two days to revive . It was rare for him to die but this time, he met a bad opponent .
“Grid! Gridddd!” Veradin roared . He gave up his human dignity in the spirit of revenge on Grid but he suffered a great loss in reverse, rather than getting revenge . He was so furious that he felt like crying .
“ . . . ”
Grid didn’t even look at him . The sense of alienation that Veradin felt was indescribable .
‘To him, I’m nothing . ’
There was a rush of futility . In the world that turned grey, Veradin pressed the log out button . It was his final logout—Veradin didn’t want to return to Satisfy again .
“Hey . ”
Grid broke through Veradin and the jiangshi and met the daoist . The daoist’s name was Sabaek . [1] He wore a black robe and hat and his face was painted white . He looked like a messenger of the underworld .
“Are you the daoist who turned that trash into a jiangshi?”
“That’s right . I’m also the one who created the mark you have . ”
“ . . . ?”
What was the mark he had? Grid cocked his head to the side in a puzzled manner before recalling an item . He only had one mark .
[Mark of Evolution]
[Rating: Unique
A functional marker developed by the alchemy facility .
If this mark is attached to your body, one of your strength, agility, stamina, or intelligence stats will increase by 200 .
User Restriction: Level 200 or higher .
Weight: 0]
The Mark of Evolution was one of the reasons why Grid became obsessed with the alchemy facility . If he hadn’t encountered this mark then Grid might’ve stopped investing in Reidan’s alchemy facility .
“Did you make this?” Grid felt a strong distrust . It was puzzling that the daoist, who was associated with Veradin, would suddenly talk about the Mark of Evolution .
“I know that the mark was made by an alchemy facility in the Hwan Kingdom . ”
The Hwan Kingdom was a kingdom of the Five Seniors and the yangbans . Humans weren’t permitted to visit . The Cho king had clearly said so .
Sabaek questioned the suspicious Grid, “Do you see the yangbans as great men who will study and hone alchemy?”
“ . . . !” Grid noticed his mistake . He was reminded of the scene where Garam mocked Pagma’s sword dances and blacksmithing .
‘That’s right . It is clear that the yangbans would think of alchemy as insignificant . ’
However, they had high-quality technology . This meant they borrowed the power of humans . There was a high possibility that the daoist’s argument was correct .
Grid pointed a blade at Sabaek’s neck . “Last time, the blue tiger told me that the wicked daoists are the minions of the Hwan Kingdom . ”
Jiangshi were undead that could only be manufactured at the expense of people . It meant the daoists who made them were wicked daoists . The blue tiger said that 10 years ago, a wicked daoist scattered garlic and mugwort around the area of Bukdu Mountain to deceive the spiritual creatures .
“I was told that spirits who ascend will become subordinates to the society of gods and are forced to become minions of the Five Seniors . The reason you sprinkled mugwort and garlic around Bukdu Mountain is to eventually turn all spirits into the minions of the Five Seniors . ”
“Hrmm . . . ”
“The reason you create confusion is for the yangbans . Every time they calm down the confusion you have created, their faith will build up . ”
Grid was certain and cornered Sabaek . Grid recognized Sabaek as an assassin sent from the Hwan Kingdom . However, Sabaek responded in an unexpected manner, “Your reasoning is very simplistic . I was looking forward to meeting you since you revived an old **** but I’m disappointed . ”
“ . . . ?”
“It is true that those who belong to the society of the gods can’t disobey the will of a **** . It is just that the concept of a **** doesn’t only mean the Five Seniors . The red phoenix you have resurrected this time is also a **** . ”
“ . . . !”
“The resurrection of the red phoenix gave a choice to those who ascended . I’m sure the daoist immortals of the Peach Blossom Spring are currently considering if they should stand on the side of the Five Seniors or the red phoenix . In addition, most of the spirits who become daoist immortals will be on the side of the red phoenix . It makes sense for sacred creatures to follow the Four Gods . ”
“Are you trying to make the intelligent creatures ascend to empower the Four Gods who will be resurrected one day?” Braham stepped up on behalf of Grid who didn’t understand . As he approached, he stood by Grid and observed Sabaek with an interested gaze . “There are transcendents in the east . ”
“Transcendents . . . ?”
A chill went down Grid’s spine . If Sabaek was a transcendent then the problem was serious . Grid couldn’t detect Sabaek’s status . This meant that Sabaek’s status was above Grid’s . A smile spread on Sabaek’s face . He seemed pleased that there was someone he could converse with . “My name is Sabaek . To the world, I am known as the boss of the evil daoists . ”
“Braham . I am a magician who serves Grid here . ”
“ . . . Overgeared King Grid . ”
Grid was discontent as he was forced to introduce himself . It was because there were many parts that were unconvincing . “There is still something I need to ask . Why sacrifice people to make the jiangshi?”
“Human power alone can’t stand against the Hwan Kingdom so I am gathering an army of immortals . It is for the peace of the world . ”
“Can you seriously consider the peace of the world when damage is being done to civilians?”
“It can’t be helped . Most of the daoists who follow me are actually wicked . They make jiangshi and enjoy hurting people . I can’t control them . ”
“ . . . ?”
“I can’t openly say that I want to rebel against the Hwan Kingdom . None of the daoists who follow me know my reality and purpose . I am forced to match them on the surface . ”
“ . . . ”
“It is a necessary evil . In order to gather the strong, I need the cooperation of the wicked daoists . In order to gather the wicked daoists, I need to disguise myself as one . . . well, there is no need for anger . Once peace is restored to the world in the future, I will make the wicked daoists pay the price for their sins . ”
The short conversation allowed Grid to notice it—Sabaek was similar to Pagma .
“Are you on your way to meet the sacred creatures? Please let me accompany you as well . I have to persuade them to let all the intelligent creatures ascend . ” Sabaek politely requested . He told them that he had struggled for the world longer than anyone else and noticed a world that was wrong before anyone else .
“I don’t want to . ”
“ . . . ?”
Sabaek’s expression stiffened and his smiling eyes cooled . Grid flinched back somewhat but he didn’t avoid eye contact . “Your justice is wrong . Your way is wrong . I don’t intend to cooperate with you . ”
“Haha . . . ” Sabaek burst out laughing . He shook his head with a ridiculing expression . “My justice is wrong? I am wrong? Were my ears mistaken just now?”
Duguen!
Grid’s heart thumped . His transcendent senses warned him of danger . Grid reflexively prepared for battle but Braham stepped forward and stared at Sabaek . “What will you do if you are offended?”
“ . . . . . . ” Sabaek shut his mouth . He took a step back like he had been living a lie . “I will back down today . Think about it until we meet again . It would be good for you if you work with me . ”
Sabaek’s body disappeared like he vanished into the ground . Braham stood still for a moment as he tracked Sabaek . Then he looked back at Grid . “Relax your expression . He was already a transcendent when you were normal . ”
“ . . . Yes . ”
The second pope Chreshler was also a transcendent . Sabaek might be better compared to Chreshler . Chreshler was a strange pervert while Sabaek was pursuing peace for the world . The problem was that Sabaek’s method was wrong .
‘Peace built up using people’s misery isn’t true peace . ’ Pagma had already proved it . Grid recalled Pagma, who felt regret in his last moments, and urged Braham, “Hurry . ”
“Yes . ”
Grid used Shunpo while Braham teleported . They leapt through space again and again and soon arrived at the community of toothless tigers .
***
Zibal proved the great power of the magic machines in last year’s National Competition and was one of the strong candidates to win this year’s PvP . Many viewers were looking forward to Zibal’s participation in PvP . Surprisingly, ZIbal was absent from PvP . It was because Kraugel had vowed to join PvP .
‘Going to an event where Kraugel will win the gold medal will just be in vain . ’
Zibal was a master among masters . He had already witnessed the explosive potential of Sword Saint Kraugel several times . Kraugel had the potential to someday catch up with Grid . It was Zibal’s decision not to compete against Kraugel, even if he had the magic machine . This year, Zibal would be really serious .
‘I will give up my pride in this year’s National Competition and win for the United States . ’
There was no Grid in this year’s National Competition . If the United States didn’t win then the face of his people would be lost . He had to win . Therefore . . .
『 The American player Zibal is entering! 』
This year, Zibal participated in the target processing event . High rankers from Canada and China, as well as Yura of South Korea, were the strong candidates . Zibal planned to eliminate the variables .
‘If I win a gold medal here, it will deal a big blow to the other powers . ’
Zibal looked at Yura, who was in a duo with a player whose ranking was below 1,000 . She wasn’t competing together with Jishuka, who had naturalized to South Korea this year . “What is South Korea thinking?”
“?”
“Target processing is an event that can maximize the strengths of both you and Jishuka . If the two of you were to be sent out as a duo, South Korea would be more likely to win a gold medal . Why did they only send you?”
If Yura and Jishuka competed together in the same event then he would’ve been wary . However, he wasn’t nervous of a South Korea without Grid . It was sad that they lost their possibility of winning just because they wanted to spread out their talents .
The sound of bells announced the start of the event .
“Well . . . try and win a silver medal,” Zibal encouraged Yura as he boarded Raiders .
“Fire,” Zibal commanded .
The eight guns installed on Raider’s upper body and the six on its lower body opened fire at the same time, firing missiles at the targets floating in the sky . He imagined himself winning the gold medal while achieving the best record in the target processing history . However, he witnessed the explosion of dozens of missiles before they reached the target .
“What . . . ?”
Zibal was shocked for a while because he couldn’t understand the situation . Then he looked at the situation around him through Raiders’ eyes . All the projectiles fired by the hundreds of players were exploding in the air, just like the missiles Raiders fired . Hundreds of projectiles were scattered to ashes before they reached their targets .
“This is ridiculous!”
A blackened world—thousands of bullets emerged from the black hole rising under the Hell Moon and destroyed all the targets and projectiles in the area .
‘Yura!’
Zibal’s gaze shot toward Yura’s position . She was still standing at the starting point . She stood in place and inserted her gun’s muzzle into the black hole she had summoned, continuously shooting . It was utilizing the Hell Leap skill that wowed Kraugel last year to the absolute limits .
『 South Korea’s representative, Yura, has destroyed all targets! 』
『 The record is 23 seconds . . . ! It is the fastest record ever! 』
“ . . . . . . ”
Zibal closed his mouth . He vowed that in the future, he wouldn’t only be humble to Grid and Kraugel, but also to Yura .
[1] Can mean 400/eldest brother/master poet