Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 210: Star, the Illuminati (6)

Known to be nearly or even as skilled as a King-Class Player, the Nine Evils gave up their humanity and turned into demonic beings. Each one of them was considered a walking disaster that even governments around the globe were reluctant to start a conflict with.

The Killer Overlord Czestochowa used to be one of those Evils. Another member of the Nine Evils was Nadine Azram, a Lebanese man who seemed to be in his fifties and had tanned skin. He also had a bounty of over ten billion won on his head, but he moved so much like a ghost that despite the Council’s tenacious manhunt, he remained unapprehended.

Now, however, that same man had shown himself in Germany. He bit on his cigar in annoyance as he observed the situation at the foot of the hill. The Players who participated in the quest [World Net] were moving quickly.

“It’s quite chilly today,” Nadine mumbled. “It’s a good day to shove a small fry into the North Sea.”

The Council didn’t have much influence over the Middle East and South African regions, so Nadine would usually have been wandering around those areas. Nevertheless, he was here in Germany today despite all the risks because of the prophecy he received from the ‘Tian Shi Yuan,’ his Guardian.

「My son, who follows me while embracing <Starlight>. Listen, there is an evil force in your land that dares defy my teachings. Find and punish them on my behalf. Prove that you are my son, my most exceptional first son.」

The ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ called his followers his sons and daughters. When a follower was bestowed with the seat of a priest, they would be known as an exceptional son or a splendid daughter. Among the followers, Nadine was a very exceptional son, which meant he was a high-ranking priest in the religious order that believed in ‘Tian Shi Yuan.’ However, there was a problem.

‘No one can lead his sons and daughters,’ Nadine thought.

‘Tian Shi Yuan’ was a Celestial with a very divine class, so ordinary Players couldn’t even think about having him as their Guardian. Despite not being very popular, he had many followers. In fact, most demonic beings had ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ as their Guardians.

The ‘Big Sick Bug’ was the Guardian of Czestochowa, who used to be known as the Killer Overlord and one of the Nine Evils. However, even the ‘Big Sick Bag’ was part of the <Purple Star Astrology>, which was led by ‘Tian Shi Yuan.’ In other words, he held a rank lower than ‘Tian Shi Yuan.’ Nevertheless, Czestochowa was the one who became an Overlord, not Nadine, because of his rank.

Czestochowa used to be an apostle, while Nadine was just a mere priest. Hence, there was a limit to the Authorities that Nadine could have. Moreover, he was less politically influential than her even though he was just as skilled.

That was mainly due to the other arrogant Overlords who declared that a mere priest couldn’t be considered equal to them. Since he wasn’t his Guardian’s apostle yet, his rank turned into an inferiority complex. Anyone who would point out his rank would be tortured horrifically and shoved into a drum can, which he would then throw into the center of the Pacific Ocean.

However, ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ had suddenly given a prophecy where Nadine was called his Guardian’s first child, among other things. Everyone knew that ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ called his apostle his ‘first child.’ Of course, Nadine wasn’t the only one who had received the prophecy, so the demonic beings that had spread all around the world gathered up in Germany.

It was easy to get on the Council’s radar if this many demonic beings moved at once, but becoming the apostle of ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ was worth the risk. Nadine even postponed the important business he had to take care of in Mexico and smuggled himself into Europe because of his other mission: kill the priest of the ‘Goddess of Massacre and Destruction,’ whom he had never even heard about. Of course, he was certain that he would become the First Son of ‘Tian Shi Yuan.’

“To have a proper bet, I have to rig the bet in a way that would make it favorable to me before I start,” Nadine said.

Even before the quest window of [World Net] popped up, Nadine had already finished negotiating with a number of people.

The Monochrome Horses, the apostles of the ‘Fire Rat Under Broad Daylight.’

Jeff Mustafa, the apostle of the ‘Screeching Woman.’

Kaplan Berisha, the Big Pipe of the ‘Iron-Pipe-Playing Sage.’

Nasser Rica, the Colorful Silk of the ‘Mysterious Silk-Wrapped Man’.

Nadine formed a pact with several of the <Purple Star Astrology> Celestials’ apostles. If he successfully became the apostle of ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ by capturing Chang-Sun, he would give them a huge share of his religious order’s assets.

‘The Doom Breaker is here too.’

Three of the Nine Evils were in the <Purple Star Astrology>—Czestochowa, Nadine, and Sikario, who was more commonly known as the Doom Breaker. While Czestochowa specialized in terrorist attacks and assassinations, Sikario mainly dealt with drugs and assaults using his past experience of working in a South American cartel.

Sikario was also participating in this quest. He and Nadine wished to be known as an Overlord like Czestochowa, so they agreed to work together to aim for perfection and promised to have half of Chang-Sun’s head each.

Aside from these apostles, Nadine’s subordinates, whom he had been training in secret, were also on the move. Likewise, Sikario was also leading his people to hunt Chang-Sun.

‘I don’t know if the rumor of Lee Chang-Sun killing Czestochowa is true, but it doesn’t matter. He won’t be able to escape this siege.’ Nadine chuckled.

From the French intelligence agency, one of Nadine’s subordinates had brought him information about Chang-Sun killing the Killer Overlord and displaying strength equal to that of the Immortal Overlord. No matter how hard Nadine thought about it, it was nonsense.

“Killing the Killer Overlord, my ass.” Nadine shook his head, still biting the cigar.

And even if the information his subordinates brought him was real, it still wouldn’t matter. After all, in the center of the [World Net] was a big trap Chang-Sun had no idea about.

“There will be no need for you all to step in, so just stand there and watch.” Nadine glanced somewhere and turned in the opposite direction, thick cigar smoke spreading out from his mouth.

[The Subordinate ‘Peculiar Warring Deity’ is watching you.]

[The Subordinate ‘Brave Mutant General’ clicks his tongue, saying you will suffer if things do not go according to plan.]

…

[The Subordinates of the Celestial ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ are protecting you!]

Four faint several-meter-tall shadows appeared behind Nadine and disappeared. The ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ himself had sent his subjects for Nadine.

“I hope Sikario brings the package as soon as possible…” Nadine muttered to himself.

He obviously believed he would successfully complete this task.

‘I’ll get this job done first, then capture the priest of the ‘Goddess of Massacre and Destruction’ or something. I heard that one is a female elf… hehe! I’ll finally get to have some fun after so long.’

* * *

Meanwhile, Sikario led the people who made up the first layer of the siege. However, contrary to Nadine’s expectations, Sikario screamed, in great shock, “… Unbelievable!”

Sikario was thrilled until less than half an hour ago, thinking he would capture and bring Chang-Sun to his Guardian in no time. Nadine was idiotically planning on using Sikario as his pawn, so Sikario planned to backstab Nadine and have Chang-Sun’s head all to himself, ultimately hoarding all the quest rewards as well. However, it didn’t take long for Sikario to realize how wrong he was.

Rumble―!Boom, boom, boom!

“Arghhh!”

“Get out of—!”

“Shit! Move out of the way! Let my pants go!”

“Bring me with you, please! I don’t want to die!”

“Let me go!”

Whenever purple sparks flew up in the air, earsplitting explosions shook the ground as if a cannon had been fired. Although thunder should echo in the sky, it was reverberating across the ground, making them feel as if their ears were literally going to split. Moreover, lightning crashed non-stop, not just once, so even the ones without PTSD got traumatized.

When the lightning bombardment stopped, the area reeked with the thick smell of blood and something burning. If it had just been any other lightning, Sikario would have snorted, saying that it was all flash and no substance—no, all the other Players forming the siege would have reacted the same way since most of them were wanted demonic beings. Their guts were incomparably bigger than civilians’.

However, Chang-Sun’s lightning was powerful—no, destructive. With a simple vertical swing of his sword, he created tsunamis out of lightning bolts and swept the ground with it, instantly turning over a dozen Players into lumps of coal.

The Players activated their flashy skills and cast their most powerful defense magic spells, but every time purple lightning bolts struck the ground, their attacks were nullified and their barriers were shattered. Those in the area where the bolts struck were pulverized without a trace, be it humans, trees, or boulders. Moreover, the lightning tsunami flattened the nearby hills, leaving only scorch marks behind as evidence that a lightning bolt had struck it.

Such a sight was bound to destroy anyone’s morale.

[The Skill ‘Flaming Lightning Bolt’ has been activated. Your divine and demonic energies are increasing its damage!]

A siege? A human barricade? Outnumbering the opponent? Those strategies could have worked against some people. However, using them against someone with overwhelming power was no different from putting one’s head in a guillotine and begging to be killed.

In Sikario’s eyes, Chang-Sun was a Giant holding up the blade of that guillotine. In fact, a purple Giant was actually standing behind Chang-Sun, swinging its sword whenever Chang-Sun swung his. It got rid of everything standing in their way, leaving no path unscathed.

“When… will he run out of mana? And what is up with his accuracy?” Sikario pulled on his hair.

He wasn’t sure if the Giant was Chang-Sun’s summon or Guardian, but Chang-Sun was repeatedly using such destructive kills while maintaining the Giant’s form. Taking those into consideration, his mana was bound to be depleted soon. However, although Sikari wasn’t sure if Chang-Sun was just faking it, Chang-Sun didn’t look tired at all. Moreover, although he boasted immense damage output, his attacks shouldn’t be hitting as strong or should even be completely missing the enemies standing far away from him!

[The Authority ‘Mamushi Eye’ has been activated, locating the enemies.]

[The Authority ‘Perfect Marksmanship’ has been activated, successfully striking the located enemies.]

Distance didn’t prove to be a problem for Chang-Sun to defeat everyone, though. As a result, the Players stopped the siege and fled as fast as they could, leaving too many weapons behind. However, the part that terrified Sikario the most was that…

“Save… me…!”

“Please… don’t leave me…!”

the Destructive lightning bolts sweeping through the ground killed almost no one—no, perhaps everyone was still alive even though they had lost their limbs or sustained burns all over themselves. That was what made it difficult to think they were truly alive.

Sikario assumed that Chang-Sun was trying to avoid getting arrested for murder. According to the international law of Players, whether or not a Player killed another was a definitive factor in deciding if their actions were acts of self-defense. Under normal circumstances, Sikario would have thought Chang-Sun was acting too stupid and said that he was acting soft because he was scared of what the others thought. However, although it seemed Chang-Sun was definitely worried about international law, he seemed to have a bigger picture in mind.

[Fear is spreading across the battlefield!]

Instilling fear among the Players… The earsplitting thunder, blinding light, and thick burning smell were definitely horrible, but the people screaming in pain and despair were in a state where death seemed to be a more peaceful ending. The sight ought to be horrifying. To make things worse, they all used to be colleagues who laughed, chatted, and got drunk together until reality stopped showing them mercy. They were demonic beings, but they still cared for one another.

[The Celestial ‘Screeching Woman’ screams because her followers are dropping like flies!]

[The Celestial ‘Iron-Pipe-Playing Sage’ plays a plaintive tune with his iron pipe.]

[The Celestial ‘Silk-Wrapped Mysterious Man’ is shaking in anger.]

…

[The Celestial ‘Fire Rat Under Broad Daylight’ becomes furious and asks why there are only idiots around here!]

[The Celestial ‘Impetuous Dragon Horse General’ urges his apostle!]

‘Fuck!’ Sikario cursed.

The request of his Guardian, who always bestowed him with great power, made his heart race. Sikario found joy in tormenting the weak, so the last thing he wanted to do was voluntarily walk into hellfire. His iron mask, blue eyes, white hair, lightning energy, Giant… Everything about Chang-Sun petrified Sikario.

[The Celestial ‘Impetuous Dragon Horse General’ threatens you that he will revoke your apostle status if you don’t follow his order!]

[You are not actively undertaking the quest right now.]

[Undertake the quest.]

[Undertake the quest.]

…

[If you fail the quest, you will lose your apostle status and your Guardian’s blessings.]

Sikario’s Guardian was basically asking him to shove his head into a guillotine. Unfortunately, he had no other options. He would be lucky if he just lost his apostle status after running away from here. What would happen if he had to retire as a Player? His enemies would come at him like hyenas. Becoming a demonic being meant living life on the edge.

In the end, Sikario slowly pulled out his kukri[1] and calmed his breathing, telling himself that even if Chang-Sun had an infinite amount of mana, he would have become tired after fighting against that many people.

Paah―!

Sikario sprinted toward Chang-Sun, looking nervous.

[The Player ‘Sikario Escobar’ has died!]

A short message soon popped up.

[The [World Net] is quickly crumbling down!]

[The Celestial ‘Impetuous Dragon Horse General’ is in great shock upon witnessing how his apostle lost his head with a single strike.]

[The Celestial ‘Screeching Woman’ screams due to the battle’s unexpected turn.]

[The Celestial ‘Iron-Pipe-Playing Sage’ plays a funeral march.]

…

[The <Purple Astrology> star signs became silent.]

[Several Celestials who have been watching the situation are in shock.]

[The <Management Bureau> employees are rewriting the assessment report about the Player ‘Lee Chang-Sun.’]

…

[<Heaven> is in shock!]

1. It’s like a curved machete/dagger. It’s the national weapon of Nepal. ☜