Chapter 236
1.
The center where all continents are connected.
That place presented a desolate landscape where nothing could be felt.
Moreover, a region that permitted neither plants nor any living creatures stretched out extensively.
A place commonly called the Void Zone.
In this world's most secretive and quietest location, there stood one building, existing firmly and alone.
This building, constructed in an architectural style whose era remained unknown, was majestically positioned at the center of the Void Zone.
And currently, several beings were gathering one by one into that building which forbade the intrusion of any living creature.
Looking at them, each emanating an extraordinary aura, someone would surely say:
Beings who have transcended life.
Beings who have transcended rulers.
Beings who have transcended common sense.
Those who could only reach such a realm by transcending everything.
The Nine Heroes were gathering one by one.
As they each took their seats at the round table, they looked toward the one remaining empty seat.
【Is he not here yet?】
The voice of one hero, half-transparent and overflowing with natural energy, didn't sound like it belonged to this world.
That voice was both mysterious and perhaps fearsome.
However, none of those gathered here felt fear toward that voice.
All of them were equally transcendent beings.
[He is known for being a recluse.]
Another hero responded to the voice brimming with natural energy.
That voice too seemed to resonate somehow.
Judging by its form, it had a mystical appearance as if made of mana.
"......"
As the two heroes spoke thus, another hero gripping a sword frowned deeply.
They had all gathered here in response to the summons, yet the one who had summoned them was late.
He wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to do so.
The last empty seat.
Its owner possessed power that even the heroes present here dared not defy.
As everyone waited silently, before long, chaos began gathering in the void.
Chaos that even the heroes gathered here would find difficult to handle alone condensed and took shape.
A being that appeared both like a child and an old man, seeming both female and male, chaos itself in form, looked around the assembly with an air of arrogance.
The leader of Over Palace and head of the Nine Heroes.
Black Star.
He had arrived.
Then he casually took his seat and spoke:
"Everyone has gathered."
Despite having summoned them, he was the one who arrived last.
Seeing Black Star, everyone felt a sense of awe rising within them.
Though quite a few Hero Councils had been held, the heroes seated at each session had changed considerably.
Whether their lifespans had ended, or they had exhausted all their power and disappeared, or they had died fighting each other.
Due to such occurrences, the owners of the seats had changed countless times, yet only one seat alone...
Black Star's seat had never changed even once since the Nine Heroes were born.
Even though hundreds of years had passed.
For this reason, no hero dared go against his will.
They did not wish to become enemies of Over Palace.
As everyone remained silent, he spoke:
"The reason I summoned you all is simple. I intend to awaken Apophis, who slumbers in legend, and create a festival for the otherworlders."
【......】
[Hmm.]
"......"
Everyone swallowed hard at Black Star's words.
Apophis.
Wasn't that the being like a demon god who had been sealed by the gods in ancient times?
Now he wanted to awaken such a being and hold a festival for otherworlders?
It seemed worthy of being called the ravings of a madman, yet no one said so.
The one who spoke these words was none other than Black Star.
They could not refute him.
However, among them, one spoke:
"......You said you would open Apophis to mere otherworlders?"
The hero bearing a sword asked this.
The hero called Sword Saint in the world, for his swordsmanship was said to have reached the stars.
Loshuin Delgard Rieskan.
At his words, the other heroes looked at him as if asking whether he had lost his mind.
He was the youngest hero seated here and the one most recently elevated to heroship. Was he perhaps being reckless?
Each looked at Loshuin with eyes full of fear.
It wasn't even something that would cause them loss, and it was unrelated to them.
There wasn't even a reason to stop it.
They wondered why he was stepping forward, their expressions showing such thoughts.
However, Loshuin looked at such heroes and spoke with displeasure:
"Apophis is the legendary black-scaled serpent sealed by the gods. It's known that being sealed prevents it from displaying its original power. But handing it over to otherworlders would only benefit the otherworlders, wouldn't it?"
It was like a reproach asking why they would give what belonged to those who lived in this world to otherworlders.
At those words, several heroes, while watching Black Star's reaction, did agree with the Sword Saint's words.
His words weren't wrong, after all.
Weren't all otherworlders nothing but insignificant beings right now?
Potential?
It seemed to exist, but even the otherworlders who had gained the power of lords were all fools who could only use a portion of that power.
Why give Apophis to them?
The Sword Saint's complaints were truly justified.
Even some of the other heroes, while cautious, had come to agree with him.
However, Black Star turned his gaze toward the Sword Saint, and that was all.
It was merely a turn of his gaze.
Yet,
"......!!!"
Kuguuuu.
Just meeting Black Star's gaze made the Sword Saint feel as if his surroundings were distorting and pressing down on him.
It wasn't a real, physical effect.
But feeling as if he would be crushed at any moment, the Sword Saint drew his sword immediately.
He drew his sword that could cut through space and all concepts.
Still, the pressure did not lessen.
"——!?"
For the first time drawing his trusted sword, the Sword Saint was baffled by the unrelenting pressure.
Seeing that, Black Star spoke to him.
Amidst the dizziness and confusion of both sight and mind, and in a state where even speaking was impossible, Black Star's voice came through chillingly clear.
"Ah, I am not asking for permission now."
"......"
Was this a notification?
Among fellow heroes?
Seeing the reaction of the others, who sat quietly as if that was natural.
The Sword Saint, never imagining the first Hero Council would be such a place, involuntarily turned his head in fear to look at Black Star.
And he saw.
"......Ah."
There was endless chaos that he dared not even approach.
Alone, he could never resist it.
It was a monster.
Three heroes? No, even that wouldn't be enough.
At least five would be needed to oppose it.
And all would have to stake their lives to fight such a monster.
Realizing this truth, the Sword Saint's strength drained from his body.
Black Star then averted his gaze from the Sword Saint.
"The reason I open Apophis not to satisfy my own selfish desires but to share it with the otherworlders, I believe you all understand."
With those words, the heroes nodded.
【Indeed, my disciples would be pleased.】
[Among my disciples, there were otherworlders too.]
"Is there anyone here who does not have an otherworlder as a disciple?"
At the words of the other three heroes, the Sword Saint bit his lip.
Among his disciples, there were no otherworlders.
He didn't even want to understand why heroes who had repeatedly transcended and were said to have skills reaching the stars would take otherworlders as disciples.
The Sword Saint simply wanted to escape this humiliating gathering.
As all the heroes gave their reluctant consent, Black Star spoke one last time.
"I will open Apophis."
All the heroes nodded their heads, except the Sword Saint who bit his lips, bowed his head, and trembled.
Watching this, Black Star thought to himself,
"Again, he plans to play petty games with the hero."
He even considered eliminating that insignificant fool right then but shook his head inwardly.
It did not matter anyway.
"The successor has already begun taking action."
No one of his kind should interfere with the great one's plan.
Without any other topics or matters to discuss among the heroes, the Hero Council ended, and one by one, the heroes from the continents rose and left.
Of course, the Sword Saint was the first to leave.
Watching these heroes, Black Star whispered with amusement,
"I wonder how far the disciples of other children can reach the successor."
Saying this, Black Star rose from his seat.
Then two heroes remained nearby to bow their heads.
【Finally, we can present a great gift to the successor.】
[With all heroes cooperating like this, even the will of the world can do nothing.]
One was a fairy-like being shaped by the energy of nature, known as the King of Spirits and called the Spirit Saint because their natural energy reached the stars.
The other, called the Mana Saint, was known as the King of all magicians, whose mana reached the heavens.
Both bowed their heads to Black Star and spoke.
No matter that Black Star was the leader, he would never be followed to this extent by others.
In other words, it was only possible because both belonged to Over Palace.
Seeing them, Black Star said,
"It will take several days for Apophis to awaken. Until then, mobilize your disciples."
【We shall do so.】
[Of course.]
At their reply, Black Star nodded as he watched them.
One more remained, but he thought that one would handle things well on their own, and moved on.
With Apophis' awakening approaching, he would be busy from now on.
Turning away, Black Star was soon at Over Palace, sensing the energy of Apophis sleeping in emptiness and smiled.
"I shall offer this tribute."
For the sake of their new master alone.
2.
Hero Council.
Though it was more of a notification than a real meeting.
By the time it ended,
Seonghyun emerged from a capsule, lost in deep thought.
"Apophis."
After hearing the explanation from Karina,
He understood the Hero Council was held to awaken Apophis for his sake.
The scale could really grow this big, thought Seonghyun.
Still, since it would be beneficial to him,
"So, this is an event that people of all level ranges can enjoy."
And they intended to give Seonghyun a special reward...
But to get that, he had to reach level 200.
However, Over Palace prepared hunting grounds for this, so it didn't seem too difficult.
Only...
"I guess I should share this information?"
Since he already had the info, sharing it with the guild seemed wise.
There was no harm for Seonghyun in sharing the info because he was basically entering Over Palace's stage.
It didn't matter.
Even searching the E-World website or community on the computer, there was no information about Apophis.
Still, since they were in the same guild,
This was the time to help each other.
Just as Seonghyun thought this and was about to contact Rapid and Ahn Yoojin,
Yoo Mina came out of her capsule and asked while looking at Seonghyun,
"Seonghyun, you should eat. What are you doing?"
Hearing that, Seonghyun briefly looked at Yoo Mina and thought,
When everyone reaches full level, Yoo Mina would participate too.
Since they said they'd be divided by levels,
"Will there be fights just among single rankers?"
This seemed somewhat intriguing.