Chapter 350: Gift (2)

A deep, deep underground sanctuary somewhere on Earth where not even light reached.

Underneath a massive spider statue, the High Priest of the Shadow, Persen, was kneeling.

“The plan in Shanghai was overturned, but thanks to Lady Magenta's noble sacrifice, Earth's mana concentration has broken through the critical point we desired.”

Priest Santos, lined up behind him, said after gulping down his saliva.

The incident of descending the Spider Queen Magenta in Shanghai, China. Although they experienced a painful blunder of completely handing over China after she was subjugated by a monster outside the standard named Kim Minwoo, the Shadow never stopped.

No, there was no reason to stop.

Persen smiled beamingly.

“It was a necessary sacrifice. And, it was a noble sacrifice. How much of the ark's power has been gathered?”

“It will not be long, High Priest. Speaking of which…… around when should we move?”

“There is no need to rush.”

Persen laughed turbidly and slowly raised his body.

“Kim Minwoo. That wicked seed must be frantic to step on our tail right about now. Through the information power of Ilsung and the Cult, and cooperation with other countries. However…….”

Behind the High Priest's back, a darkness thicker than pitch-black wavered.

“How could one dare to pierce through the shadow of the abyss with human eyes.”

The great Apostle Hadronox.

The absolute veil of concealment spewed by that massive spider was perfectly covering the Shadow's bases scattered all over the world.

Thanks to that, even though the tail kept getting cut off, the torso remained intact and healthy.

“The starting of the ark will be carried out when humans are at their most careless. By using the most massive city entirely as a sacrifice, that is.”

＊ ＊ ＊

South Korea, Ilsung Group Headquarters Top Floor Office.

“……The traces have been cut off entirely.”

The Ilsung Group's Information Team Leader put down the report with a face clearly showing fatigue.

“Following the China incident, the Shadow's sleeper cells scattered across the world have disappeared as if evaporating. Mexico, Italy, Africa…… the tails have been cut off, but all clues leading to the torso have been erased. How an organization of over tens of thousands of people can hide this cleanly…….”

The Information Team Leader let out a long sigh.

“It's not just our problem. The US NSA, China's Ministry of State Security, and even the European Union Joint Intelligence Agency are all in the same situation. No country has been able to lay a finger on the Shadow's main body.”

Kim Minwoo looked down out the window with his chin propped on his hand.

“It's not because the Information Team is incompetent, Team Leader. You worked hard.”

“……I am ashamed, Guild Leader.”

The Information Team Leader stepped back, and Kim Minwoo's brow furrowed.

‘They didn't hide with human abilities.’

The High Priest could certainly hide tightly.

However, for even the guys below him to remain so thoroughly unrevealed was close to impossible.

Hadronox's ability came to mind.

Spiders were also creatures with a knack for hiding.

Considering that…….

‘It seems Hadronox made a move.’

If not for that, it was a structure where not a single trace could fail to be revealed when searching the entire globe with hundreds and thousands of satellites from various countries, and powerful nations cooperating with one mind to conduct search operations.

Shadow.

True to that name, it was certain that the Apostle of the Outer God they served, Hadronox, was personally covering them with its own authority.

‘They said they were preparing an ark.’

The upcoming descent of the Outer Gods, where even world ranker-class Awakened would die off.

A fortress and altar to survive in that cataclysm.

For them to be hiding this quietly like dead mice meant that the plan had reached its final stage.

“Well, let them come if they want.”

Kim Minwoo raised the corners of his mouth chillingly.

They would pop out eventually.

At that time, the office door swung open abruptly.

“B-Boss! Heueoeong, I really thought I was going to die!”

Choi Yuna, whose dark circles had come down below her chin, staggered in.

In her arms, a brilliantly shining golden box was carefully held.

“We did it……! Baal's elixirs! We extracted a whopping forty more!”

“Wow, our Ms. Yuna. You've really become the god of alchemy.”

As Kim Minwoo admired while taking the golden box, Choi Yuna looked back and gestured.

“It was absolutely impossible just by myself! If it weren't for the assistants, I would have already died from overwork and been working as your summon, Boss.”

Cheolgeureok―!

Cheolgeureok―! 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

What entered the office following behind Choi Yuna was none other than ten magnificent Dragon Tooth Soldier High-tier Alchemists.

Massive dragon skeletons reaching 3 meters in height.

Leather pouches made from dragon stomachs were hanging from their waists, and red reverse-scale crucibles spewing boiling heat were held in one of their hands.

If it were during their Mid-tier Alchemist days in the past, they would have blown everything up while handling Ancient+ grade rare materials, but the current guys who had awakened dragon alchemy were different.

When Choi Yuna controlled the core process of manufacturing Baal's elixirs, the Dragon Tooth Soldiers perfectly matched her pace by grinding bones and refining blood with their tireless stamina and exquisite dragon techniques.

It was an infinite power factory created by the collaboration of humanity's best alchemist and the best undead technicians.

“You really worked hard. The Dragon Tooth Soldiers suffered too. I'll insert a generous bonus so it won't be disappointing, so you take a good rest for now, Ms. Yuna.”

“Hehe…… Yes! Thank you!”

Choi Yuna immediately sprawled out on the office sofa and fell into a sleep like she had fainted.

When Kim Minwoo opened the box, forty terrible and great elixirs, created by infinitely butchering the Great Lord Baal—who was once ranked 1st in the Demon Realm—were spewing out enough mana to fill the office.

‘With this, there will be more than enough to take care of all the guild members.’

Kim Minwoo let out a satisfied smile and flicked his finger in the empty air.

[Opening the Guild Shop.]

It was a hidden function of the VVIP Shop that he had unlocked in the Heavenly City.

[You have selected Delivery (1,000 points per delivery).]

[You can instantly send desired items to a target in a desired location, such as Earth or the Heavenly City.]

“It’s expensive, but isn't this what I earned Merit Points for?”

Kim Minwoo coolly paid 4,000 Merit Points.

He then divided the elixirs into portions and designated the recipients.

[Sending 10 sets of ‘Baal’s Elixir’ to ‘Seo Yerim’!]

[Sending 10 sets of ‘Baal’s Elixir’ to ‘Park Siwoo’!]

[Sending 10 sets of ‘Baal’s Elixir’ to ‘Han Siah’!]

[Sending 10 sets of ‘Baal’s Elixir’ to ‘Namgung Min’!]

＊ ＊ ＊

Paat―!

At the same time. Heavenly City District 5.

“Kuhahaha! It slices, it slices! The toys here are much tougher than on Earth!”

In the middle of a shambles reeking of blood.

Namgung Min was wielding his twin daggers like thunderbolts, butchering the high-ranking Awakened of District 5.

Next to him, Han Siah, wearing a pitch-black dress, was harvesting lives like a reaper while wielding a giant scythe.

It was the moment they were literally grinding through District 5 under Kim Minwoo's orders.

A golden box dropped in front of the two.

[A message from Guild Leader Kim Minwoo: Guild Member Bonus.]

“……A package sent by the Brother?”

The same box arrived in front of Park Siwoo, who was hunting in another district, and Seo Yerim, who was sweating in her private training room in Heavenly City District 6.

The eyes of the four, who reflexively checked the detailed information of the item, widened simultaneously as if they would pop out.

[Baal’s Elixir]

[Grade: Ancient+.]

[An elixir made from Baal’s bones, teeth, hair, and materials from ultra-high-ranking demons. Special effects are given when consuming multiple.]

[Effect 1. Upon consumption, increases all stats by 50. A maximum of ten can be consumed.]

[Effect 2. Special effect upon consuming 5 — ‘Baal’s Resilience’ is always active.]

[Effect 3. Upon consuming all 10, one of the skills possessed by Baal is randomly generated.]

The four fell silent at the same time.

‘Ancient+ grade?’

A grade that was hard to see even in this Heavenly City, let alone on Earth.

Moreover, if they ate all 10, all their stats would be inflated by a whopping 500, they would gain resilience close to immortality, and even a mysterious skill was given.

Park Siwoo grabbed the elixirs with trembling hands and stuffed them into his mouth.

It was the same for the other three.

[Consuming Ancient+ grade elixirs in succession!]

[All stats rise explosively!]

[Set effect is activated!]

[Special Passive: ‘Baal’s Resilience’ is permanently instilled!]

[Even if you suffer a critical wound, as long as the head remains, you will regenerate in an instant!]

[One of Baal’s skills is randomly generated!]

“Ha, crazy……”

Namgung Min, who was standing on a pile of corpses from the Ascender Guild in District 5, burst into a hollow laugh.

The left arm that had just been torn to shreds by a guild executive's desperate magic wriggled like a slime and regenerated perfectly in just 10 seconds.

It was an overwhelming life force and boiling murderous intent that sent chills even down his own spine.

Namgung Min licked the bloodstains on his mouth with his tongue and giggled.

“The welfare of this guild is killer, isn't it?”

“Kill him! Stop that crazy bastard!”

Namgung Min shot toward the guild members who were rushing in terrified, with a speed that had become even more hideous.

At the same time.

In the middle of the main hall of District 5, which had become a sea of blood, the Saintess of Death Han Siah, wearing a pitch-black priestess dress, put down her scythe and lay flat on the floor. She was clutching the box that had contained the elixirs like a holy relic, shedding hot tears and offering fanatical prayers.

‘Ah, my great Master. You save us with your gracious blood and flesh, so I shall dedicate this body to butchering all the non-believers……!’

And in the private training room in District 6 of the Heavenly City.

Seo Yerim was standing dazed, looking at the mana arrows fluctuating in her hand as if they would explode.

Finally, in a hunting ground somewhere in the Heavenly City.

Park Siwoo, unable to control his overflowing power, raised the Holy Sword Arpesia and roared toward the empty air.

“It’s crazy! It’s really crazy! Brother is a god!!! Long live Kim Minwoo!!!”

They were already protagonist-level monsters with cheat-like talent.

It was the moment they were given wings in the form of Baal’s near-immortal resilience and out-of-standard stats.

Chapter 351