Chapter 2309 – 2309. God’S Atlantis
「You have entered Sector 774, the Crossroads Shelter.」
Sector 774 was a place where a total of 108 roads intersected. There were roads in all directions. Along the roads were many wooden huts. They were huts that could not be called good condition, even as a figure of speech. However, some of the huts had people living in them. There were signs of life, such as lights leaking out.
‘I was told to find Road 23.’
I scan the roads carefully. If you look closely at the ground, the number 45 is engraved. This is Road 45. The road leading to the hut next to it also had a number. 81. These were addresses. Hut number 81 on Road 45.
‘What I need to find is 23-106. Hut number 106 on Road 23.’
The road right next to it was number 44, so it wasn’t difficult to find. The roads and huts were all numbered in order.
‘Tsk. What a pain. Why not just meet at the usual place?’
I know what Samuel is worried about. A spy was caught recently. He must be trying to prevent information from leaking.
‘Since when has he been so thorough…? No, is he being thorough because it’s related to Tiamat’s Heart?’
Anyway, after moving for 30 minutes, I found the meeting place.
‘I can sense three presences in the hut. Two are Helten and White, so who is the other one? One of Helten’s executives?’
I don’t know. I’ll find out when I go inside. I approached the hut and opened the old door.
「Entering Hut 23-106. Direct combat is impossible in this hut for 10 hours, 41 minutes, and 23 seconds.」
It was a characteristic of Sector 774. The huts in this sector become impossible for direct combat for 12 hours upon initial entry. However, you could still do things like poisoning the water or setting traps at the entrance, so you couldn’t be completely at ease.
“You’re here. It’s been a while. Well, I guess it’s only been a while from my perspective?”
Samuel, sitting in a chair in the center of the hut, waved his hand. White was standing next to him. Next to her, Lucas was kneeling with his hands and feet tied, a gag in his mouth, an eye patch on his eyes, and earplugs in his ears.
“I don’t see the reason for meeting here. Did you think I wouldn’t want to give you Tiamat’s Heart and would start a fight?”
“Haha. It’s not like that. The safety guarantee of this hut is close to a joke. You can’t have direct combat inside, but ranged attacks from the outside work. The reason I chose this place is… because it’s close.”
“Close? To where?”
“Camelot Legion. It’s an hour away from here. If you move a little faster, you can get there in 10 minutes.”
Samuel said, looking at the restrained Lucas.
I’ve dug up and know Lucas’s information. Lucas Spencer. The master of the Camelot Legion. The guy who directly targeted me in the civilization conquest.
“Are you trying to show off that you caught that guy?”
“Of course not. This is just a gift I brought along the way. If it weren’t for you, I would have failed the challenge in Sector 7,500 and wouldn’t have been able to challenge it again.”
“I can give you Tiamat’s Heart. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
I took Tiamat’s Heart out of my inventory and held it in my right hand. The heart, which looked similar to a human heart, was beating on my palm.
“Of course, I know. I can’t just take something like this and shut my mouth. Tiamat’s Heart is an SS-rank heart. I happen to have an item of the same rank. Choose one of the two.”
Samuel opened a subspace and placed items on the table.
One was a luxurious white glove with embroidery of a sword and shield, and the other was a dark purple coat that stimulated chuunibyou.
I checked the information of the two items.
「Sacred Duel Gloves.
Can be used on one target.
A one-on-one duel with the target is established.
No one can interfere with the duel.
Remaining uses: 3/3
Rank: SS」
「Wizard Killer.
Absorbs up to 3 spells depending on stats.
Stats increase for 10 minutes depending on the amount and level of absorbed magic.
Damage is reduced by 50% when hit by magic.
Rank: SS」
What immediately caught my eye was the dark purple coat. Even if they are both SS-rank items, this one is among the top.
Damage is reduced by 50% when hit by magic. This alone would be a terrible effect for mages.
“Depending on stats? Exactly what kind of magic can it absorb?”
“It can absorb any kind of magic, regardless of the type. Everything from simple and powerful elemental magic to complex illusions and barriers. There is a condition that your stats must be high though. If your total stats are over 500, you can absorb magic below S rank without taking damage.”
“And the absorbed magic becomes a buff that increases stats.”
I can’t help but say it’s awesome.
But my hand reached for the gloves, not the coat.
“I’ll take the gloves.”
“Unexpected. I thought you’d choose the Wizard Killer. The gloves even have a limited number of uses.”
“The Wizard Killer is useless if the opponent isn’t a mage.”
“It can also absorb magic traps and barriers set up in dungeons.”
“Traps can be smashed, and barriers can be torn. I like the gloves.”
“I’ll respect your choice. Once a duel is established, nothing can interfere. Not even gods or the system. Maybe even mirror illusions won’t work.”
“…Is it possible that a duel might not be established?”
“Nothing is perfect in this world. Nothing is complete.”
True. If I use Heavenly Heart when I’m affected by the effect of these gloves, I’ll be released immediately.
A paradox.
If there is a shield that can definitely block, there is also a spear that can definitely pierce.
I handed Tiamat’s Heart to Samuel.
“Oh, if you need my help, just say so. I’ll help as much as I can as a reward for this.”
I succeeded in putting Samuel in my debt. Samuel is skilled, so he will be helpful later.
My gaze turned to Lucas. I felt good at the thought of taking this guy to hell and tormenting him.
“You’re not asking how I’m going to use Tiamat’s Heart. Do you already know?”
“Samuel. Have you forgotten who I am?”
“…A regressor. So you knew White’s identity.”
“It’s Pandora.”
Pandora. The first human created by the gods. And the starting point of all disasters and hope.
Samuel’s goal is to turn her into a weapon to kill the gods. Tiamat’s Heart is just one of the materials for that.
However, the Samuel in the original story failed to complete it.
“So you know. You must know what I’m trying to do.”
Samuel gave Tiamat’s Heart to White. White took off her mask.
A pure white face appeared. Everything from her skin to her hair and eyes was white. I quietly swallowed a groan as I looked at her.
I hadn’t thought much about it until now. There weren’t any special descriptions of her in the original story. But seeing her in person, she was an incredible beauty. She had a doll-like feel, but… it can’t be helped since she’s not complete.
‘I’ll have to take her when she’s complete.’
I haven’t yet grasped the exact power of Samuel, the leader of Helten. I might even lose. And even if I take her now, she’s not complete, so it would just add to my work.
She opened her mouth wide and swallowed Tiamat’s Heart. Blood splattered, but she didn’t care at all. White’s white eyes turned purple. It was like purple had been added to a pure white canvas.
White crouched on the floor and hugged her legs with both arms. Then she closed her eyes and buried her face in her knees.
“It seems she’s starting to evolve. Thank you, Heavenly Demon. Thanks to you, things will go smoothly.”
Samuel lifted White up.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yeah. I have a lot to do. Oh, Lucas Spencer was secretly sponsored by a veterinarian.”
“…That’s the first I’ve heard of that.”
When he was tortured in the United States, he didn’t say a word about the veterinarian.
‘He must have had hope that he could return after the conquest was over.’
It’s different now. He has no hope.
I’m going to take him to hell and find out everything from A to Z.
Before leaving, Samuel hesitated and asked me a question.
“Heavenly Demon. Did the future me… kill the gods?”
“Pandora was not completed.”
“…Right. I have to complete her this time.”
Samuel left.
Before releasing Lucas’s restraints, I cut his arms and legs with my Flower Flame Dagger.
“Ugh, ugh!”
He freaks out with the gag in his mouth. I hit his head a few times with my fist, and he quieted down. I stopped the bleeding with acupressure. He’s the master of a legion, so he won’t die even if I leave him in this state for a while.
I released all of his restraints. The guy’s eyes widened as he saw my face.
“You, you are…?! The leader of the United States!”
Lucas was afraid but also hated me. He showed hatred towards me even while being endlessly impregnated and tortured in the United States. I had to acknowledge his mental strength. But that’s beside the point.
“I don’t like it.”
He flinched as I raised my fist. But he still spoke as if he had to say what he wanted to say.
“I know that you are part of Helten along with that guy. I’ve already had a composite sketch of you and that guy’s faces drawn and spread around. How does it feel to be a public enemy? Fortunately, it’s not too late yet. If you release me and return the Holy Sword, I’ll drop the matter of Helten.”
“Helten was a public enemy from the start. A composite sketch? You’re pathetic. Do you think Helten is that easy? As if you could do anything?”
I can be sure. Samuel has already finished all the preparations. It’s not for nothing that Samuel’s title is Sage.
“Don’t bluff…!”
“Bluff my ass.”
Slap.
I slapped Lucas’s cheek with my palm. I didn’t put much strength into it. It was also slow. But that’s why it was even more humiliating, and he could grasp reality. That even this slow palm could not be blocked by his severed arms and legs.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Lucas screamed. The bluff was already gone. Faced with the harsh reality, he writhed like a bug.
“Please save me! Please! Please save me! I’ll do anything! Please!!”
“I don’t just kill the bastards who tried to kill me. I’ll let you live, so rest assured.”
If it were a beautiful woman, I might have shown some mercy… but this guy was a man.
“C-can’t you just, just kill me?”
I sneered and stomped on his face.
