Chapter 285

It only took a few days for news of the incident in Lunatic to spread throughout the Mirror World. Although the informants of each race had a part in spreading it, it had mostly been the active work of the two victorious factions.

Barbaria and Underground joined forces against Consanguineus and emerged victorious. Cheon Seong-Hwi of the Union, which was a part of the Underground Confederation, killed the World Ranker Demens Rabies.

Steel King Bafor of Faber killed Berto Motus and the other members of the purebloods, and New Glory Irura of Viridis had fought on par against Abyete, who had reinforced Consanguineus. Lastly, Pseraslav of Barbaria had defeated the Ninth Fiend, Haema Sanguis.

Although truths and lies were subtly intermixed, that was unimportant. What mattered was that the up-and-rising Underground’s reputation had risen to the same level as that of the massive superpowers.

***

A monster resembling black slime stood up and approached an individual like a tsunami in the eastern region of the ninth zone. The individual was a handsome man with ruby-like hair and eyes, wearing an extravagant red robe and white pants with golden embroidery.

“Hmm. Are there no Bachtashas? What was the name of the slime Bachtasha again?” the man wondered as he tilted his head, and so did his golden horns that protruded perpendicular to his temples.

He couldn’t be more relaxed, even as the giant slime monster approached him.

“A... It started with an A... It’s so difficult to memorize the names of lowly creatures,” he mumbled.

“It’s Ajingya. It has only been a few years since he came to us,” said a middle-aged man with black hair and eyes, standing behind the handsome man like a shadow.

He also had horns growing from his temples, but they were black and U-shaped.

“Yes, Ajingya. You have a good memory, Pourbus.”

“I have no choice, Lord Regnator. You won’t remember them, so it comes down to me.” The man named Pourbus approached the black tsunami and asked, “Shall I dispose of them?”

“No need.”

Enormous Draconic Mana surged from Dragon King Regnator’s Dragon Heart and dyed the surroundings. It looked as if everything had stopped.

[Activating Race Skill: Dragon Tongue.]

“Die,” he said.

The os of every Invasive Chaos monster of the slime race making up the black tsunami was shattered, destroying the slime wave. The wave had been composed of the Hispar-rank Elder Slimes and Lang-rank Ancient Slimes, but they couldn’t resist Regnator’s Dragon Tongue.

Regnator placed his hands behind his back as he flew upward.

He stared at the black liquid spreading throughout the ground and asked, “So, what were you saying?”

“Oh, yes. Underground and Barbaria have joined forces to attack Consanguineus.”

“Underground? The group that killed Biphatogenes.”

Regnator frowned. Biphatogenes was his orbital star, who had been working hard to record the history of the Great Dragon Demon War. After failing to do so, Biphatogenes declared he would invade the Capital and offer him the recorded history, to which he accepted.

However, it had only resulted in the death of Biphatogenes and the disbandment of Nivalis. Because of that, Regnator had lost a useful card he had used to keep the outer zones in check.

“Bafor of Faber, Cheon Seong-Hwi of the Union, and Irura of Viridis were the ones who gained fame from this war, and—”

“Forget it. I can’t memorize the names of lowly creatures. That aside, has Permafrost been returned to us?” Regnator interrupted.

Permafrost was a giant, cold territory, spanning from the fourth to fifth zones, that used to be under the control of Nivalis, and was now under Underground’s control as a spoil of war.

“I had contacted the Sēmen about it, and the One-Eyed Judge responded. However, he demands that we acknowledge that Nivalis was under Echion’s banner if we want Permafrost back,” Pourbus replied.

“The insolence!” Regnator shouted, his expression crumpling.

He did not particularly need Permafrost. He was simply dissatisfied with the disgusting fact that his possession had been taken from him.

“You had mentioned that those bastards from Underground handed Biphatogenes’s children to Redeo, correct?” Regnator asked.

“Yes.”

“They sure only do things that piss me off. I would have sent my army to wipe them out if it hadn’t been for Grandis!”

Regnator’s rage shot through the roof once he recalled Grandis, who had personally come to his lair to warn him. His face wrinkled intensely, and ten eyes opened widely.

“ONCE I OBTAIN THE MASTER STONE, GRANDIS! CURIOSITAS! CREO! YOU WILL BE THE FIRST ONES I WILL KILL!” he screamed.

The time was quickly approaching. The ninth zone had been reclaimed, and if the information they had given him was correct, there was only one zone remaining.

The Master Stone is located in the tenth zone! Once that day comes, the outer zones won’t matter in the slightest, Regnator thought to quell his rage.

He closed his ten eyes and asked, “And what of Rahab?”

“He is headed to the underwater city, Gurzes,” Pourbus replied.

“Gurzes?”

“He mentioned he would kill Natantes.”

“Tell him to cease his nonsense and return immediately!”

“Yes, my lord,” Pourbus replied hesitantly as he bowed.

However, he said inwardly, Master Rahab wouldn’t listen even if I told him. He’s furious that Pseraslav, who was twenty-third in the world ranking, became a member of the Ten Lords and Fiends before him.

Hence, Rahab had given up on the vacant seat of the Tenth Fiend and headed to Gurzes to kill Natantes, whose reputation was fluctuating.

He even took Lord Regnator’s treasure with him... Should I tell him?

Pourbus was in anguish as the middleman, glancing repeatedly at Regnator.

***

Two beastfolk were sitting across from each other at a small bonfire inside Primal Cave, located in the western region of the eighth zone. One was Pseraslav, a wolf beastfolk with red-gold fur, and the other was a monkey beastfolk with white fur on his body and golden fur around his wrinkly face like a mane.

“Haha. So, you’re telling me your spoil of war isn’t even the history of the race or causality, but a measly piece of the Master Plot?” the monkey beastfolk said as he rolled a piece of the red gem around his black hand, staring at Pseraslav.

[Bloodstream Stone Piece (1/3)

Description: A piece of the Bloodstream Stone that holds the past, present, and future of the race Vampire. It contains TIME, one of the pieces of the Master Plot.]

“Keh. I killed the Ninth Fiend, didn’t I, you greedy geezer? I did my part,” Pseraslav said.

“Are you sure you were the one who killed that bastard Haema?”

“Of course, it was. Who else could it have been but me?”

“Ranko was saying that you were unconscious.”

“That was because of the supernova impostor you taught me. Maybe you should have taught it to me better.”

“Nothing but lies coming out of your mouth, eh? Haha,” said the monkey beastfolk as he stroked his golden beard with a smile, revealing his crooked teeth.

He was the Sixth Lord, Beast King Modak.

“Keh, you think I’m lying? Do you have proof?”

“It’s just a feeling.”

“See? You don’t know anything.”

“You little prick. You were backstabbed, weren’t you?”

Seeing Pseraslav’s silence, Modak spat on the bonfire and said, “Ptooey! Your magnitude was reduced, and you were backstabbed? Good going, you dumbass.”

“Grrr! I’m one of the Ten Lords and Fiends like you now!”

“Oh, are you now? If you’re so amazing, then why don’t I just kick you outta here? I think I saw Rahab’s goons lurking around here. I’m sure they’d love to have a taste of you while you’re weak.”

Pseraslav clicked his tongue as he saw the flash in Modak’s eyes. He said submissively, “I’ll stay a little longer.”

“Huuu. Oh, wolf. The world is changing rapidly. Now isn’t the time for us to be doing this.” Modak sighed and continued seriously, “The ninth zone was reclaimed, and if my hunch is correct... the tenth zone will be the last.”

“Grr? You mean...”

“I mean the protagonist who will obtain the Master Stone and record the ending plot in the Akashic Records will be born.”

Pseraslav remained silent.

“And I believe that protagonist will be one of us, the beastfolk,” Modak said.

“Grrr! Don’t state the obvious!” Pseraslav roared. “Awooo! The Master Stone will be mine!”

Modak stared at Pseraslav intently, then said, “Then you had better get ready. Enhance your magnitude.”

“Keh, you don’t have to tell me.”

“Hahah, you had best hurry. I received an offer from the Third Fiend.”

“The Third Fiend? Fallen Angel Corruptela?” Pseraslav asked, his eyes widening.

Fallen Angel Corruptela used to be a member of Orbis and the leader of the archangels. However, he betrayed Creo one day and decimated one of Orbis’s legions by himself. He was the only fallen angel in the Mirror World.

“Haha, yes. Corruptela may be strong, but he has no faction. He wants to attack Orbis and kill God of Heaven Creo.”

“And you want Barbaria to help him? Geezer... I’m sure you know how many of us will die from a battle like that. Even if you are the chairman, you can’t—”

“Haha, only the victors survive in this world, wolf. Creo is currently the one closest to the Master Stone. It’s over for us anyway if he gets his hands on the Master Stone.”

Pseraslav remained silent.

“Be ready. Those who have been biding their time will begin to make their move all at once. An era of great turmoil is upon us!”

***

Cheers that shook heaven and earth echoed throughout the Capital. Millions of humans filled the streets, welcoming their heroes. A tram crawled on the ground like a long serpent, and on its roof were the heroes of Underground who had returned from Lunatic.

“Gahaha! I am Noda, a dwarf warrior! I used this halberd to cleave over a hundred of those damn vampires’ heads!”

“I am Dieter Sheller of Clan January! I killed a hundred more than this dwarf!”

“Hmph, then I let three hundred vampires taste my arrows.”

The dwarf, human, and elf war heroes were covered in blood, but their appearance only amplified their gallantry in the citizens’ eyes. They had become much closer after the experience of fighting alongside each other and protecting each other’s backs.

Just then, the rearmost car of the tram caught the crowd's attention, and explosive cheers, unlike any before, echoed throughout the city.

“Ahem, humans are quite enthusiastic. I have never experienced this kind of victory parade,” said Bafor as he looked around from the top of the tram with his arms crossed.

“Same for me. Not even Viridis was like this after becoming free from Sefirot,” Irura agreed from beside him.

“It’s because of the frustration we had recently faced from Nivalis. To humans, this is the first victory we have experienced in a war against another race,” Seong-Hwi remarked with a smile.

We never experienced a victory like this in my past life, he thought.

Humans were an inferior race that had been pushed out of the mainstream. They had never spread their name throughout the Mirror World to this extent before.

Although it’s technically Underground’s name instead of humanity, no one can disrespect us anymore!

Seong-Hwi could feel his chest filling with emotions. It was a fascinating sensation that proved none of what he had done so far was meaningless.

Have I been pressing and wearing myself down all this time to feel this sensation?

He closed his eyes as he listened to the cheers. It felt as if he could hear Lee Kang-San’s first declaration of Underground.

“I will name this confederation, Underground! We, who have been buried in the dirt, will rise. Let’s bask in the sunlight of the Mirror World’s center!”

Can you hear these cheers, Lee Kang-San? The name you’ve created is echoing throughout the Mirror World, Seong-Hwi said inwardly, wishing Kang-San were still alive.

He cleared his emotions as he opened his eyes, then asked, “Lord Bafor. Where is Master Grandis?”

“He has likely arrived at the Empire State Building by now. We shifted all the attention to here, after all,” Bafor replied.

“I never expected him to come to the Capital,” Irura remarked.

“It must be to give us a clear answer about Pangaea,” Seong-Hwi said as he nodded. “We must receive his permission. Only then can Underground take the next step.”

“Right you are. Together is a necessity,” Bafor said.

“Master Taidzu has also brought Chiron of Arimaspi, so we also need to sort that out.”

“They are probably with Elementum in the Empire State Building. They must have met Master Grandis by now.”

Seong-Hwi nodded and looked down at the tram’s roof. Inside the tram were Echo, Gilder Roy, and the fairies of the Vindicta Resistance.

“We must grow even bigger. Big enough to weather any storm!” Seong-Hwi said firmly, his words filled with resolve.

The thunderous cheers stimulated his Destiny Force, giving him certainty about the future as it circulated his entire body.

“Underground is on the track now.”

No one could stop its advance.

***

Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.

Job 8:7