Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 211: Star, the Illuminati (7)

“R-run!”

After Sikario got killed, the Players hurriedly fled without caring about the World Net. Within seconds, the siege crumbled down.

‘Dígĕro Ignis… It’s way better than I expected,’ Chang-Sun thought.

The others likely didn’t notice due to Chang-Sun’s iron mask, but he was smiling whilst using Dígĕro Ignis. Although he wasn’t using it as well as he hoped, he could still utilize it quite proficiently. It was safe to assume that he was now at the level of Ghost Spear, which was his nickname before he had <Exuviated> and earned the divine name of ‘Divine Twilight.’

‘My nervous system has been upgraded. I like how I can now control every cell in my body.’

Chang-Sun became so sturdy that a sword wouldn’t be able to leave even a scratch on him, but he could move way faster and deliver a lot more destructive blows than before. Even Chang-Sun was amazed by the change. Besides, Dígĕro Ignis also enhanced his thinking ability, intuition, and judgment. It artificially put him in Samadhi to give him absolute concentration on this battle.

‘I understand now why he said I have to accumulate this much lightning energy to obtain <Blood Lightning>.’

The purpose of <Blood Lightning> was to tweak one’s nervous system and allow them to utilize their talent and potential to the limit while retaining control over their body.

“You’re just going to use lightning energy to smash and crash stuff? You’re one confident idiot,” the Fourth Elder said.

“That’s weird,” Chang-Sun mumbled.

“What is?”

“The One-horned Tribe only knows how to fight, so it’s a bit odd to hear that from one of its members.”

“… You’re not wrong, but… Anyhow! That’s not the only way you should use your lightning energy, okay?”

The Fourth Elder, who had taught Chang-Sun the method to get <Blood Lightning>, told him that he would quickly become fatigued if he only dispersed lightning energy.

“Embrace it,” the Fourth Elder continued.

“How? It’s too strong. I’ll die if I make a mistake,” Chang-Sun asked.

“In my tribe, one’s body is considered a small universe. Have you heard about how your brain’s neural network resembles the universe’s interstellar system?”

“I thought that was pseudoscience.”

“You and your mouth… It’s more than that. Your head is the sky, your feet are the ground, and your spine is the pillar of those two. Likewise, your body is a pathway between the sky and the ground. The human body also has three hundred and sixty acupuncture points, just like the number of days that makes up a year. Your five viceras symbolize the five elements of the universe, and your six entrails serve as the six meridians. With those two…”

“Get to the point.”

“… In other words, your body is bigger, wider, and can embrace many things since it’s a small universe.”

“Hmm…”

“The idiots who don’t know anything say bullcrap about how one’s body is a prison for their soul and that they should <Exuviate> through spiritual growth. But what can someone do if they can’t even control their own body properly?”

“…!” Chang-Sun’s eyes widened.

The Fourth Elder’s remark shocked Chang-Sun. At some point, the people who wished to achieve <Exuviation> and <Transcendence> would start neglecting physical training and focus on developing their souls. Before this conversation, Chang-Sun had also thought and done the same thing. While going through battle after battle, Chang-Sun had always pondered about how he should train physically and what would be the most efficient way to utilize his mana, but he had only focused on increasing his Class after his <Exuviation>. However, the Fourth Elder coldly said that it was wrong.

“A neural system needs electric impulses to work, and the same goes for cells and brains, which means you can do a lot more if you can control these electrical impulses.” The Fourth Elder grinned.

“… You’re telling me to use lightning energy as a method to control my body?” Chang-Sun summarized.

“Why not?”

“…!”

“Using lightning energy, put every cell in your body under your control. What do you think would happen if you can also control the electrical impulses going to your brain?”

“Gosh…”

“Body, mana, thinking ability… you can control everything in accordance with your will. Talent? Potential? Limit? Why do they matter when you can control yourself?”

The first and most important factor in self-cultivation was having complete control over oneself. The concept of oneself not only included one’s soul and mind but also one’s body.

“Then you’ll be able to utilize your mind, qi, and body as you please. From that moment…”

“No human can beat me,” Chang-Sun interrupted.

“Bingo.”

Even after achieving <Transcendence>, Celestials cultivated themselves to have complete control over their body, mind, and qi. During their training, they naturally learned to control their mana and complete their skills. However, the Fourth Elder had told Chang-Sun to reach that level while he was still a mortal since that was the only way to learn the basics of <Blood Lightning>.

That was why Chang-Sun created <Dusk Lightning>. Aside from increasing his damage output, it allowed him to control his body and strike his enemies more efficiently. In addition, he had to complete himself.

Pzz, pzzz! Rumble―!

[The Player ‘Lee Chang-Sun’ is dominating the battlefield!]

It looked as if no one could go up against Chang-Sun, who was indiscriminately emitting purple lightning sparks.

[Many <Purple Star Astrology> Celestials wonder about your identity greatly!]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ watches you silently, his hands faintly trembling.]

Heoju seemed to be confused in many ways, maybe because Chang-Sun reminded him of some old memories as Chang-Sun had planned.

[61% of the ‘World Net’ members have been incapacitated.]

[12% of the ‘World Net’ members are shaken up.]

[23% of the ‘World Net’ members attempt to flee.]

Despite how much havoc Chang-Sun had wreaked, he still had trouble controlling the adrenaline that was rushing in every corner of his body, so he wanted to keep chasing them… However, he couldn’t because it looked like the ‘Tian Shi Yuan’ wasn’t the only one who was waiting for him from afar. Of course, he couldn’t let the other people go.

‘I pulled out my ‘sword’, so I better use it to the fullest to crush their spirits so much that they’ll never be able to hold up their heads high in my direction.’

[The ‘Changgwi Cave’ has opened!]

Shadow spread behind Chang-Sun like an ocean wave, and dozens of will o’ wisps appeared. Like people’s breath in winter, the ferocious Undead Army soldiers released gray ghost energy as they sat on Ghost Devil Horses. Due to his progress in his conquest of the Changgwi Cave, Chang-Sun now had around fifty subordinates.

「We await your command,」Jin said.

Chang-Sun instructed, “Kill them all.”

「Yes, master!」

At Jin’s shout, the Undead Army soldiers marched.

Roarrr!

[Your Subordinate ‘Sinmara’ has activated the Skill ‘Giant’s Roar,’ decreasing the enemies’ morale drastically!]

Chang-Sun took over the battlefield in a flash.

* * *

‘Huh…!’ Baek Gyeo-Ul was rendered speechless.

He already knew how great Chang-Sun’s ability was, but he never expected Chang-Sun would dominate the battlefield like this. The Player that had died just now was Sikario, known to be one of the Nine Evils and to be as skilled as a King-Class Player. He was even arrogantly nicknamed Doom Breaker, which showed that predestined fates meant nothing to him. Even so, the renowned Players were powerless before Chang-Sun’s sword.

「Kill them all!」

In contrast, Chang-Sun’s subordinates were now the ones hunting down the enemies, so they weren’t going to miss this chance. Acting as a vanguard, Jin Prezia issued orders, and dozens of Undead Army soldiers charged, riding their Ghost Devil Horses.

[The Authority ‘Demon Face’ has been activated, bestowing the masks to your subordinates!]

Chang-Sun’s executive subordinates grabbed masks assigned to them before they used their reins.

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has worn the ‘Lion Demon Face,’ increasing his Strength and Agility significantly!]

The first one to wear the mask was Jin. As he had already experienced the effect of [Demon Face], he had no hesitation in wearing it.

Click―!

[The ice attribute of your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has been enhanced.]

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has acquired the immortality attribute.]

[The Synchronization rate of your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ with you, his king, has increased!]

「Yes, yes!」

[Lion Demon Face] fit Jin so perfectly that it was as if it had always been his face in the first place. The mask used to look sad, seemingly about to cry any minute, but it now looked very angry. Jin’s eyes, as ferocious as a lion, the king of the jungle, could be seen through its two eyeholes.

Pzzzz―! Ooo―! Ooooo―!

Jin kept emitting ghost energy as he rode his horse forward, but when his ice attribute was enhanced, the energy became more ominous. Plaintive ghost wails echoed as if Jin was carrying a ghost on his back. Jin infused a considerable amount of his ice and ghost energies into the [Frost King’s Greatsword], slowly covering it in ice.

Craack―!

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has activated the Skill ‘Frozen Realm’!]

In seconds, Jin caught up to a group of Players and fiercely swung the [Frost King’s Greatsword] at them. Seeing the gigantic greatsword right in front of his eyes, Beppetto, the Crocodile Tear Clan leader, turned pale.

“N-no…!

When Beppetto received the quest from the <Purple Star Astrology>, he giggled and just thought it would be a good way to earn some money. He didn’t expect to regret accepting it. The fact that his greed to become famous after killing the Tyrant turned into his demise made him want to turn back time.

Beppetto’s twenty subordinates. who had followed him as they giggled, felt the same. However, before they could even pray for their wishes to come true, an ice tsunami had already swept them away and trapped them in sturdy ice, immortalizing their shocked and terrified expressions.

Woosh―!

Crack, crack!

“Arghh! Arggghh!”

“How can such a summon…!”

“D-don’t come…!”

The Players who encountered Jin all fell into shock. Where did Chang-Sun get such a summon? No, can he even be called a summon? Jin’s aura was so overwhelming that he seemed capable of defeating most high-rankers, and he was also as intelligent as a human!

The Players could now tell for certain that Chang-Sun was already a King-Class Player. Nevertheless, they still couldn’t fathom how Chang-Sun could control such summons when he himself had such a high combat power. It was a well-known fact that a monster summoner or an elemental-spirit summoner couldn’t be powerful in physical combat.

However, completely nullifying what the Players knew, Chang-Sun showed otherwise. To make things worse, Chang-Sun seemed to have no intention to hide his abilities anymore.

Clanggg!

Raising hell among the Players, JIn’s eyes gleamed in excitement when his [Frost King’s Greatsword] was blocked for the first time. Thinking he had finally met a worthy opponent, he grinned.

「Oh! You stopped me?」

“How dare… a summon beat my Clan members?”

[The Celestial ‘Screeching Woman’ screams at her apostle to kill that ominous summon this instant!]

Just like Xue Yong, the ‘Music Star’ Yue He[1] was one of the great Celestial of the <Purple Star Astrology> and was one of Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends. When she revealed her animosity, Jeff Mustafa, her apostle, did the same.

Jeff was less popular than the Crna Ruka, but he mainly operated in Albania and led a Clan that was quite famous in the criminal underworld. Unfortunately for him, that very Clan had nearly been annihilated here. Although Chang-Sun just threw some lightning bolts, and Jin, his summon, swung his sword indiscriminately, it was more than enough.

「Calling me a summon makes me feel very displeased. You’re degrading me too much.」

Jin was full of pride and self-love, so he Jeff’s remark dumbfounded him.

「I’m the direct heir of the Prezia family, Arcadia’s prestigious noble family, and…」

Jin paused for a moment. This was not the time to mention the name of ‘Divine Twilight,’ the great Celestial who had created countless <Myths> even in Arcadia. Until Chang-Sun could rise again, Jin would stay by his side as his first subordinate.

「.. the first sword of a fiend who will make you meet your doom.」

Wearing the [Lion Demon Face], Jin’s eyes shone more brilliantly than ever.

「I’ll make you regret your rash remark.」

Clang, clang, clang!

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ is fighting against the Player ‘Jeff Mustafa’!]

While Jin was going up against Jeff…

[Your Subordinate ‘Elfin Root’ has worn the ‘Wolf Demon Face,’ drastically increasing its Agility and Intelligence!]

[The tree attribute of your Subordinate ‘Elfin Root’ has been enhanced.]

…

[The Synchronization rate of your Subordinate ‘Elfin Root’ with you, its king, has increased!]

[Your Subordinate ‘Sinmara’ has worn the ‘Lizard Demon Face’!]

…

The Elfin put on the beaming [Wolf Demon Face], and Sinmara used the high-spirited [Lizard Demon Face].

Click―!

With the clicking sounds of the masks…

Woosh, woosh, woosh…!

Their ghost energies amplified, and they blew in every direction, striking the barricade.

[Achievement unlocked!]

“An army of soldiers wearing demon faces”

Reward: Synchronization rate +5%. Create solidarity. Amplifying ghost energy.

1. Yue He is also from the novel Water Margin and is actually a man, but he’s a she in this novel. ☜