Chapter 284: The Tempting Demons and Advancing Humanity (3)

Translator: Pai_

Iron, who had descended into the desert that had turned into a sea of fire, silently stared at the Hell Ghost.

Then, with a tense expression, the Hell Ghost swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

–We have no intention of fighting humans.

"How am I supposed to believe that?"

In response to Iron’s question, the Hell Ghost bared his rotten teeth and spoke.

–What we want is the Eastern Continent. So we’ll give up on the Auzria Continent cleanly.

Iron’s brows furrowed at the Hell Ghost’s words.

‘They know that the Eastern Continent is uncomfortable for us.’

As Iron thought that and frowned, the Hell Ghost grinned, revealing his filthy teeth.

His mouth, which stretched all the way to his ears, was grotesque to a disturbing degree.

–If you accept this proposal, we are even willing to form an alliance with the humans.

"An alliance? What benefit does that bring us?"

–Information on the Destruction. We will give you that.

At the Hell Ghost’s words, Iron’s expression hardened.

There was currently almost no information regarding the Destruction.

No one knew who would appear or how they would attack.

‘The biggest threat is the one called Destruction itself...’

Beings capable of annihilating an entire world on their own.

There was no information on such beings.

The bits of intel acquired through Outer Gods or the Dimensional Shop Owner were nowhere near sufficient.

Because of that, from Iron’s perspective, the Hell Ghost’s offer was indeed tempting.

As Iron gave a lukewarm response, the Hell Ghost opened his mouth again as if he had no choice.

–Your hometown.

At the Hell Ghost’s words, Iron stared coldly at him.

Yet despite that expression, the Hell Ghost smiled.

Even in the face of imminent death, the Hell Ghost wore a filthy grin.

–If you hand over the Eastern Continent to us, we will also propose an alliance to Earth’s side. And we will assist them to the best of our ability.

The Hell Ghost’s proposal was a bold one.

Iron, wearing a look of incomprehension, asked.

“Why is Hell going this far?”

–Because of you.

The Hell Ghost said it as if it were obvious.

Because of Iron alone, the outcome of the foretold Destruction was changing.

Humanity should have already perished or become livestock raised by gods or ancient species.

And this world should have been walking toward Destruction, entangled with gods, ancient species, and corrupted beings.

Just as the name “God Game” suggests, it was supposed to be a battlefield where beings who had reached godhood clashed fiercely.

But all of that had been disrupted by a single person.

–In fact, the biggest reason we’re making this offer is because of you, the Apostle of the Lord God.

The Hell Ghost spoke honestly.

–As long as you exist, Destruction here might become difficult. If that’s the case, then we need a base of operations somewhere. From our point of view, somewhere outside your sphere of influence would be best.

At the Hell Ghost’s words, Iron looked at the desert.

A region he wouldn’t have visited if not for the Dimensional Shop.

Unlike demons, the Hell Ghost had settled at the farthest edge of the desert.

A place no one would go out of their way to find.

That in itself was proof of how much they feared Iron.

–If you hadn’t come to this desert, there would’ve been no need to go to the Eastern Continent, but for us, there are no other options.

The Hell Ghost showed a genuinely regretful expression.

–It’s become troublesome for Hell, but it’s better to be somewhere you’re not...

Though the Hell Ghost continued speaking with a pitiful expression, Iron didn’t listen to his grumbling and instead organized his thoughts.

After a long silence, Iron opened his mouth.

“I refuse.”

–…What? What did you say?

The Hell Ghost, who had been grumbling for quite a while, looked at Iron and asked again.

As if he hadn’t heard, the Hell Ghost repeated his question.

But there was no way he hadn’t heard.

Though not as strong as Iron, the Hell Ghost had the power to easily suppress most knights.

He simply didn’t want to believe what he had heard, so he asked again.

“I said I refuse.”

As Iron enunciated each word clearly, as if giving a definitive answer, the Hell Ghost’s expression began to distort.

–You're… making this difficult, aren't you?

The Hell Ghost looked at Iron with a vicious expression.

The momentum emanating from his body blended with the unique aura of those who dwell in Hell, transforming into a terrifying power, but Iron sneered. It was a scene he had already witnessed countless times in his previous life through Hell Cow.

Unlike the incomplete Stage 5 back then, Iron was now a Grand Master.

Kwaang!

–Krrgh...

"You're still alive?"

The Hell Ghost twisted his face as he looked at Iron, who sneered and brought his sword down.

–Do you really think humanity can withstand Destruction on its own?

"Well... One thing's for sure. If we join hands with you now, it’s something we’ll regret for a long time even after Destruction is over."

At Iron’s words, the Hell Ghost’s expression contorted into something more grotesque than that of a demon.

"You said you'd form an alliance with both this place and Earth, right?"

At Iron’s question, the Hell Ghost slowly lifted his head and looked at Iron’s face.

"I’ve thought about it. Let’s say we somehow manage to block Destruction with your help. What comes next?"

As Iron spoke, he tightened his grip on the sword.

"Maybe we’ll have to wager the world in a fight against you. You’ll probably wait until I grow old and die, or cross over to Earth, right?"

As he said that, Iron began to exude killing intent.

From Hell’s perspective, waiting a few hundred years was nothing.

If, after that wait, they could take over this place, it would be more than worth it.

"The moment humanity forms an alliance with you, your system restrictions will disappear or weaken, right? Same goes for Earth? Ah! Or maybe you’ll mess with the contract terms."

They could tamper with the contract clauses and turn hostile at the final moment of Destruction.

If that happens, the Hell Ghosts will pour in endlessly from the lands handed over to Hell.

It was obvious that Hell was targeting the moment Iron would no longer be around. The question was, would humanity by then have built up the forces necessary to stop Hell?

No one could say for sure.

One thing was certain, Hell wasn’t making this offer for nothing.

‘Those cunning bastards wouldn’t do something that doesn’t benefit them.’

Thinking that, Iron released divine power.

It was clear that Hell was hiding even more than what Iron had already figured out.

It was possible that an alliance with Hell would weaken the Lord God's control or the barrier.

In the worst case, the system might stop fully supporting humanity.

From Iron’s perspective, there was no reason to take such a risk.

"Tell Hell this. Humanity has no intention of cooperating with you bastards."

With those words, Iron brought his sword down, and the Hell Ghost, unable to withstand any longer, disintegrated on the spot.

At that moment, the gate to Hell, which the Hell Ghost had been suppressing, opened.

It had been deliberately disguised as something other than a Hell Gate, but upon the Hell Ghost’s death, it was exposed.

"A barrier?"

Iron looked at the circular shield formed in front of the Hell Gate.

–Kieeeek!

–Kyaaaargh!

Grotesque monsters tried to push through the Hell Gate, but they were all blocked by the circular shield.

Some powerful beings forced their way through the barrier.

However, the moment they passed through, they weakened drastically and were extinguished by the white flames Iron had spread nearby.

"That guy might’ve been strong too."

Iron looked at the Hell Ghost who had been obliterated by him.

Even those who made it through the barrier appeared quite strong. If the Hell Ghost could use a certain level of power despite such overwhelming restrictions, he must have been one of the stronger beings in Hell.

Thunk!

Despite being constantly annihilated by Iron’s divine power, the Hell Ghosts continued to try to emerge.

They were desperate to protect the Hell Gate at all costs.

But Iron crushed their hopes completely.

He formed a massive white sword and slashed downward in a vertical line.

The white sword, filled with the maximum amount of divine power he could infuse, erased the Hell Gate in an instant.

[By completely purging the corrupted beings from the Auzria Continent, the Lord God has fully seized control over the continent.]

–The blessing of the Lord God is granted to both humanity and the ancient species.

–The barrier across the Auzria Continent is strengthened by the power of the Lord God. The power of corrupted beings crossing into the continent will be further weakened.

–Gate locations are now marked across the entire continent.

As soon as the Hell Gate was destroyed, the scheduled rewards poured in.

However, the reward Iron was most eagerly waiting for had yet to arrive.

"What is it? Why aren’t they giving it?"

Iron muttered with a slightly disappointed expression.

–You have become a Hero of the Continent. Achievement reward... is on hold.

"On hold? Are you kidding me?"

Iron looked up at the sky with an incredulous expression.

Just as the irritated Iron raised his hand toward the sky, about to flip it off.

–Player Lee Jung-hoo nim’s personal rewards have reached the limit.

At the sudden system message, Iron tilted his head.

"...Limit?"

Iron murmured as he recalled his abilities.

Steel Body – max.

Nature’s Limbs – max.

Giant’s Descent.

Fusion.

Heart of the World Tree.

At this point, Iron didn’t really need anything more.

If he upgraded the Heart of the World Tree right now, his body would explode from the overwhelming power, and Fusion was already a reward so burdensome that even the system struggled with it.

Then couldn't the system just give something else as a reward? But it seemed that the system had judged that no miscellaneous reward could make Iron any stronger.

–Your power has reached the limit of a mortal. Congratulations on reaching max level within the system.

With a fanfare, the system congratulated Iron.

But Iron only scowled, silently glaring at the sky.

Then the system voice came again.

–The power of the system cannot create a Transcendent. From here on, you must walk the path yourself.

The realm of the Transcendent.

It was a level one had to attain on their own.

A supreme domain from which even most gods could be looked down upon.

Only those who stood among the highest gods, such as Odin or Heurimre, could even dare to reach for the realm of Transcendence, so the system deemed it meaningless to grant further rewards to Iron.

"...So you’re saying I can’t get any more rewards?"

At Iron’s question, the system was silent for a moment.

–For your outstanding achievement in completely dominating the continent, we offer you one proposal.

"What is it?"

In response to Iron’s question, the system made a special offer.

–We will fully awaken one of your Divine Beasts. However! That Divine Beast will be sealed until the final moment of Destruction.

"...What?"

Just as Iron made an incredulous face, the Baepsae suddenly pecked him on the head.

–Tweet!

"You..."

When the Baepsae told him to agree, Iron blankly looked at the small bird.

Watching the Baepsae urge him, Iron realized the Divine Beast in question was the Baepsae and stared blankly at the sky.

"So... my achievement reward... isn't enough?"

–As the Hero of the Continent, it is not enough to awaken ‘him’. Therefore, a penalty is required.

"What... are you...?"

Iron looked at the Baepsae that had flown in front of his face.

Seeing the creature urging him to agree quickly, Iron wore a conflicted expression.

He had to part ways with the one who had been with him since the beginning of this life.

He would have to endure the hardest times without the Baepsae.

Perhaps because of that, Iron’s face was more solemn than ever.

–Tweet! Tweet tweet!

At the urging cries of the Baepsae, Iron finally gave a small nod.

The Baepsae had never been wrong in its choices, so he had no choice but to follow its decision this time as well.

–We honor your resolve. From this moment, the Divine Beast will slumber until the final moment of Destruction.

The moment the system message ended, the Baepsae’s body began to fade, and the divine energy that had filled its small form started to weaken. And at last, the moment the Baepsae completely disappeared, a system window appeared.

[Fragments of the sun scattered across Earth are now infusing into the Divine Beast. The Divine Beast begins to reclaim its former exalted rank of ?.]

***

To support me for my translations, you can check out my Patreon here –>https://patreon.com/Pai_

If you enjoy this novel, please review and rate it at Novelupdates. Thanks! 😊