Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 303: Star, the United Army (3)

Cha Ye-Eun examined the traces of mana left in the air to identify the right set of coordinates, then opened up a portal. She said, “What are you waiting for? Come on.”

“…Are you really going to go?” Jin Seok-Tae asked.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Ye-Eun replied.

“No, it’s not that…!” Seok-Tae began. He wanted to ask whether they could really head to ‘Doomsday City’ without making any preparations.

From what he knew, ‘Doomsday City’ was not a Dungeon that they could take lightly; it was the most notorious uncleared Dungeon in the United States. It was filled with such lethal toxins that people would be poisoned just by breathing, and they could die if they stayed in the Dungeon for more than an hour.

Of course, Ye-Eun could potentially take care of those problems with her magic, but the biggest problem was that Chang-Sun, the White Tiger Clan, and the Jaynix Company were presumed to be in the Dungeon. In other words, Seok-Tae and Ye-Eun were practically begging to be killed if they headed there immediately. However…

“We’ll serve as backup.”

…before Seok-Tae could say anything about it, someone approached and bowed; he was the search squad captain, who had arrived to report that his squad had finished arresting everyone responsible.

“Huh?” Seok-Tae exclaimed, unsure what was happening.

Nevertheless, Ye-Eun and the search squad captain nonchalantly looked at each other. Ye-Eun refused, saying, “I don’t really need your help.”

“Do you remember how you saved me and the other guys from Platoon Three?” the captain asked, a serious expression in his blue eyes. “We were stranded in the midst of the Rocky Mountains and almost got killed by demonic beings, but you’re the one who saved us. From what I heard later, the higher-ups wanted to wait before sending you in since the situation was unclear, but you ignored them and started the rescue right away.”

“I did defy that order back then, and got reprimanded. Do you know how heartbroken I was because I got my pay deducted for half a year?” Ye-Eun remarked.

“But thanks to you, my whole platoon and I survived. Halburton was critically injured, but he was able to safely return to his hundred-day-old daughter,” the captain said.

Seok-Tae’s eyes widened, wanting to ask when this event had taken place; it seemed to have happened before he became Ye-Eun’s junior. Nevertheless, he had definitely heard about her legendary accomplishments that were enough to make the Council president very happy, although he was unsure whether a human could truly accomplish all that on her own.

‘So it’s not a coincidence they’re here. Did the president send them…?’ Seok-Tae thought.

He realized that the Council president knew what Ye-Eun was going to do and wanted to help her. No matter what the Council president said to her, she would never listen, so he wanted to have trustworthy reinforcements who were on the same wavelength as her if she was going to stir up trouble.

“Please let us repay your kindness,” the captain insisted.

“It was far from kindness. I just did it so everyone could be happy and well,” Ye-Eun said. She was about to turn down the offer again, but she noticed how serious the captain and his squad members were. She shook her head, as she knew from past experience that people with those kinds of eyes never listened.

‘Being too beautiful always causes trouble.’ With that silly thought in mind, Ye-Eun stepped toward the portal and said, “Enter with caution, everyone. We don’t know what’s going on inside there.”

The captain nodded and signaled his squad members; they put on their gas masks as they reexamined their equipment. When they were done, the captain followed Ye-Eun and commanded, “Head in.”

[You have entered the Dungeon ‘Doomsday City’!]

With a familiar message, the world around them changed. However, the search squad soon realized that they were in the air, plummeting to the ground.

[Your wind elemental spirit is holding up your Party Members!]

Fortunately, Ye-Eun noticed it first and used her magic, making the fall much smoother.

‘…When did she learn elemental spirit magic?’ Seok-Tae thought as he watched Ye-Eun, who had learned another ability before he knew it, as if she were a monster.

Meanwhile, Ye-Eun sharpened her senses and quickly examined her surroundings.

Badump, badump, badump!

For some time, her heart had been racing, as if it wanted to tell her that something was here.

‘What is it? What is calling me?’ Ye-Eun wondered.

Ye-Eun never ignored this kind of feeling. She was well aware of the fact that she had been born totally different from other people, so she relied on her instincts more than anyone else.

―It’s here.

―What are you doing? Look.

―Look at this spot.

Ye-Eun endured her stinging migraine. As she was high up in the air, she had a full view of the city, but the sight below her feet was such a mess that it was impossible to say anything good about it.

The city looked like an exact replica of modern Seoul, but it was in ruins due to the lethal toxins in the air and the battles taking place across it, giving it an ominous air. The part that caught Ye-Eun’s attention was a gigantic cell mass on the west side of the city. Reeking and exuding lethal toxins, the grotesque cell mass continuously expanded and contracted.

“W-What is that…?!”

“...What in the world are the White Tiger Clan and the Jaynix Company doing?”

“I’m detecting very strong malice.”

Seok-Tae and the three members of the search squad were unable to maintain their composure, but Ye-Eun was unusually calm. The voices inside her head were now screaming, not merely echoing.

―No, it’s not there. It’s here!

―Yes, it’s here. Here!

―Right! That’s right!

Ye-Eun’s eyes widened. She saw a chaotic battle taking place between numerous Celestials, Players, and machines, situated amid the black cell mass.

―Yes!

In the center of the battlefield, a spatial gap appeared in the center, and someone clawed their way out from it. Ye-Eun could tell it was Sword Sky Tiger Munseong.

Badump, badump, badump!

At that moment, Ye-Eun felt light-headed, as her heart beat so intensely she felt as if it would burst. All her veins contracted as her muscles tensed. As her blood quickly circulated through her body, her mana started to break out of her control. The shivers running down her spine overwhelmed her. It only lasted for a split second, but she would faint if she failed to overcome her dizziness.

[Warning! You have fallen into an ‘Abnormal’ state for an unknown reason.]

[Warning!]

…

All her instincts were basically screaming at her, telling her not to go. It was dangerous pursuing Munseong, and she would be slaughtered for sure. Ye-Eun had a feeling that her instincts were right, but…

―Come here. Yes, come over here.

The problem was that the whisper echoing in her head was tempting her to head in that direction. In contrast to the overwhelming sense of crisis, she had a strong urge to go there.

“Seonbae?” Seok-Tae called out, noticing that Ye-Eun’s condition was different.

“…I have no other choice,” Ye-Eun muttered.

“Huh?” Seok-Tae responded.

Unable to answer Seok-Tae’s question…

Paaaah!

…Ye-Eun darted forward in Munseong’s direction, deserting Seok-Tae and the search squad.

“Huh? Huuuuhh? Seonbae? Seonbae! Shit! What the heck is going on?! Let’s go over there! Come on! Please hurry up!” Seok-Tae called out, gesturing at the search squad as soon as they landed on the ground and telling them to follow Ye-Eun.

* * *

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh―!

As Chang-Sun charged, [Nothung] drew arcs in the air. Although Heoju hurriedly retreated backward and narrowly dodged Chang-Sun’s attacks, it was no use, as Chang-Sun was aiming for an empty space, not Heoju.

Slash―!

[Nothung] clawed through space itself, causing it to break into pieces that slid in opposite directions and eventually leaving a deep wound in Heoju’s exposed waist.

Splassh!

Heoju’s blood splattered in the air, but there was something worse than the physical injury; the attack contained Chang-Sun’s divine power.

『Damn it…!』

[Nothung] was a weapon used to kill Celestials. In other words, it could destroy one’s Divine Class and <Myth>, leaving one’s soul deeply scarred by a single cut from the blade. That was why [Nothung] was called the god-slayer sword and terrorized Celestials.

Heoju’s next problem arrived immediately afterward. Swinging [Gram], Chang-Sun closed in on Heoju; however, as Heoju was not a dragon, not all of the dragon-slayer sword’ abilities worked on him. Nevertheless, Chang-Sun was still able to deliver a remarkably destructive attack with [Gram] and leave a wound on Heoju’s left arm, which was left shredded as if he had been clawed by a tiger. It looked as if it would fall off at any minute.

Chang-Sun remarked, “Now you’re even worse than a mere kitty-cat, scurrying away like a rat.”

『How dare you?! How dare you mock me?! Me!』

Heoju scowled, but he was already so bloody he was practically unrecognizable. The tide of this battle had already turned completely in Chang-Sun’s favor, but Heoju kept fighting as if it was far from over.

Roar!

Heoju roared thunderously with bloodshot eyes.

Paah!

A pool of light enveloped him, and a colossal tiger that was dozens of times bigger than Heoju’s previous form appeared. It was Heoju’s real body. How large was he? He was at least three, no, five meters tall, but he was so bloody and in such rough condition that it was difficult to tell whether he was a white tiger or a blood tiger. Nevertheless, he looked big enough to crush Chang-Sun.

However, Chang-Sun chuckled without a single trace of fear on his face, finding Heoju’s attempt pathetic. Driving [Gram] and [Nothung] into the ground, he picked up his Nameless Spear, which was close by.

Paah…!

The [Ice Crystal] in the Nameless Spear released white frost, then red lightning sparks flew into the air, dyeing the spearhead red. Meanwhile, Heoju flew at Chang-Sun, who quickly slid past below him.

Slash―!

Whimper!

A thick line of blood appeared along the path of Heoju’s charge. All the way from the nape of his neck to his bottom, a long wound stretched, inflicted by the Nameless Spear. The wound was evidently serious, and judging from his groaning and deep frown, Heoju seemed to be in a lot of pain.

However, Heoju quickly stopped bleeding as the ice energy from the [Ice Crystal] froze his wound. Heoju’s thick skin gradually turned pale, and Chang-Sun clearly saw a black toxin entering his system through his veins. The Ice Toxin that Chang-Sun had coated his spearhead in using [Blood Toxin] was spreading.

[The Ice Toxin you injected using the Skill ‘Blood Toxin’ is acting up!]

[The Effect ‘Thousand Toxin Immunity’ has been applied, making the toxin more lethal.]

[Your enemy has entered the ‘Poisoned’ state!]

…

[Your enemy has fallen into the ‘Fatal’ state!]

…

『Shit, shit, shiiiiiit!』

Looking at Heoju, who was quickly growing hysterical, Chang-Sun’s eyes shone. As soon as the toxin overwhelmed Heoju, golden light particles flew up from him—<Starlight>. They were undoubtedly part of Ithaca’s <Starlight>, which Heoju had absorbed by eating the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan]. It was also evidence that Heoju’s Divine Class was collapsing due to the accumulating damage.

‘I need to take it,’ Chang-Sun thought, overwhelmed by a sense of duty to retrieve the <Starlight> no matter what. It was his old lover’s legacy, which she had left for Chang-Sun, so he had to take it back by any means necessary and bring back the children’s sisters for them.

Pzzzz!

Rumble―!

Paah―!

The vermilion lightning energy surrounding the Nameless Spear flared up, creating earsplitting thunder after combining with the storm of Chang-Sun’s Class. Clawing the ground with his Nameless Spear, Chang-Sun leaped in Heoju’s direction. Heoju also took a high leap and deflected Chang-Sun’s spear attack in his huge form, swinging his tail like a whip.

Boom! Boom! Booom!

Chang-Sun thrust the Nameless Spear high into the air, stopping Heoju’s tail from striking his head. At the same time, he reached out his right hand and drew the Nameless Saber, which happened to have been driven into the ground nearby.

The Nameless Saber was as destructive as its sheer size implied. With an explosive sound that resembled the detonation of space itself, Chang-Sun jumped high into the air like a lightning bolt and delivered an attack that swept across Heoju’s left hind leg using the Nameless Saber.

Roooar!

A painful roar shook the ground, and Chang-Sun could see the <Starlight> in Heoju’s blood as it poured down.

[You have discovered an unidentified being’s <Starlight>!]

[A common feature has been found between Twilight, your Divinity, and the <Starlight>. The common feature is: Quirinale!]

[Absorbing the <Starlight>!]

The <Starlight> was automatically absorbed into Chang-Sun as if it knew where it belonged.

[You have absorbed the <Starlight>!]

[Your Class has slightly increased.]

[Your Class has slightly increased.]

…

『N-No! What are you doing?! That’s mine! Why are you taking what’s mine?! How dare you!』

Heoju writhed frantically, desperately trying to grab onto the <Starlight>.

After betraying his clan, he had ridden high on the power he acquired, feeling confident that he was untouchable. However, after joining <Purple Star Astrology>, he realized that he had only been a big fish in a small pond. He had not even been as strong as the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends. A <Star>? Despite being called that, he had actually been the lowest of them all, so it was more accurate to refer to him as a mere low-ranking soldier.

However, the being who had shocked Heoju the most was ‘Divine Twilight’. Twilight was the phenomenon that made the sun set and the night come, and ‘Divine Twilight’ had earned his arrogant Divine Name by causing Celestials to plummet and extinguishing their light. Such a Divine Name was very fitting for the actions of ‘Divine Twilight’.

His Divine Class had been so strong that even stealing a glance at him from far away made Heoju’s skin sting. Even the people who normally swaggered in front of Heoju had never been able to hold up their heads high in front of ‘Divine Twilight’. Even the Celestials who definitely had higher Divine Classes furtively avoided Twilight.

That fact… had been indescribably thrilling for Heoju the white tiger. After finding out that Twilight had been born mortal, Heoju’s excitement had turned into rapture.

Heoju could become strong too!

From his perspective, Heoju and Twilight were similar in many ways. They had both been weak, but they had overcome all their hardships and become strong. Twilight had surpassed his limits as a mortal, and Heoju had broken through the limits of his sickly nature. The difference was that Twilight was far ahead of him; however, Heoju had thought that perhaps he could learn from following in Twilight’s footsteps. He had firmly believed that he had chosen the right answer.

As such, after Twilight underwent the Divine Trial upon his defeat, Heoju had tried to track down all traces of him. Heoju had conducted thorough research on what kinds of accomplishments Twilight had earned in Arcadia, which eventually led him to Earth, Twilight’s home world.

Earth! Everything about the plane was amazing. The whole planet was on the edge of civilization and barbarism. Heoju had accumulated Faith in what could be called the center of universes, then finally found the source of Twilight’s power.

Finding the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan]... Acquiring power… At one point, Heoju had even successfully reached a stage where he could proudly say that he was the new Twilight. But… But… Perhaps that was nothing but a futile dream, doomed to disappear when he awoke.

『This power is…! Mine…! The power I tried to acquire…! Twilight’s…! Huff! Huff!』

Heoju shrieked, trembling. Every single part of his real body was ruined. Chang-Sun’s Ice Toxin had quickly demolished his Divine Class, and he had lost most of his <Starlight> to Chang-Sun. Heoju blinked, but his eyes were blank. As if he were seeing hallucinations, he kept moving his paws to grab something, but the only thing he could do was flinch.

Heoju had never been Chang-Sun’s match in the first place.

With emotionless eyes, Chang-Sun looked down at Heoju. While absorbing Ithaca’s <Starlight>, he had been able to see Heoju’s <Myth>. It was only filled with negative emotions, such as his inferiority complex, jealousy, envy, and greed.

In the end, that was Heoju’s limit. Instead of trying to increase his own strength, he had only tried to take from those who were greater than him in secret, burning with jealousy. Thus, Chang-Sun did not sympathize with Heoju at all, believing he had reaped the fruit of his own actions.

‘Just as I did in the past,’ Chang-Sun thought, holding his bloody Nameless Spear high; and then, he quickly thrust it downward.

Stab!