Chapter 23: Chapter 23

“Hmm. Goblins seemed to have become Earth’s most dominant species in the time I was gone.”

In ten years, the mountains and rivers changed! While Choi Yeonseung was wandering in the Abyss, Earth’s main race appeared to have changed from humans to goblins.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says no matter how one thinks about it, this isn’t Earth. It says this is the planet of goblins.]

Ephes, the planet of goblins. It was outside the Abyss, but it wasn’t a planet without any magic power like Earth. Rather, it was quite rich in magic power, and it was quite close to the Abyss as well. Hence, even the goblins knew how to use magic. It was a completely different place from Earth, which had no magic power and wasn’t even aware of the Abyss’ existence before the gate opened!

Naturally, their ability to deal with monsters was much better than Earth's. However, that was only for normal monsters. Even the goblins couldn’t deal with monsters with power equal to constellations.

Just like now!

[The planet-eating wolf ‘Acafenrir’ has been found!]

[The skill ‘Suppress the Strong and Support the Weak’ has been activated. The power of your existence will increase significantly if you defeat Acafenrir.]

[The skill ‘Overcome Oneself to Become Strong’ has been activated. The power of your existence will increase significantly if you defeat Acafenrir.]

A giant wolf was running wild, seemingly attempting to devastate the planet. Goblin magicians unleashed 6th and 7th-circle magic while goblin heroes armed with all sorts of artifacts charged, but...

They couldn’t even scratch Acafenrir’s thick skin.

-Awoooooo!

All spells were lifted when Acafenrir howled. The nearby goblin heroes fell, bleeding.

“Get out of the way, I’ll handle this myself!”

“No, Your Majesty!”

Odaigon, the goblin king, grew furious when his subordinates collapsed. The goblins weren’t stupid either. They knew very well that monsters as powerful as Acafenrir couldn’t be caught. Hence, they turned the fight into a battle of attrition!

As soon as countless goblin magicians cast spells to take away the monster’s physical strength, the strongest goblin heroes charged in to deliver critical blows. However, no being would be able to stay calm in this situation. Witnessing his beloved subordinates fall and cough up blood enraged King Odaigon. He had to bring matters into his own hands even if it meant dying today!

“Get lost! If I, the strongest magician, don’t step up, who will? You can’t even pierce his skin!”

Odaigon flew on a wyvern. He was holding the Goblin King’s Staff in his hand, the kingdom’s treasure that contained 7th-circle magic.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

Odaigon?was a good king.

His subordinates tried to stop?Odaigon?with tears in their eyes. He would surely die if he charged in now.

“?”

“What?”

“What type of magic is that?”

A white streak of light suddenly flew over?Acafenrir, causing the goblins to cry out. Was there such magic? A sound soon reverberated, one so loud it made the entire kingdom, the sky, and the ground tremble.

-Yip yip!

For the first time in his life, Acafenrir felt pain and cried out.

‘The monsters of the Abyss and the constellations are too vulnerable to pain.’

As strong beings, they had never trained or been properly hit since birth. Maybe this was why they were particularly vulnerable to pain, so much so that Choi Yeonseung found it absurd!

Choi Yeonseung stretched out his palm. Dozens of concentrated energy spheres appeared in the air.

Origin of the Celestial Meteor Bombardment, the powerful linked movement that rained down dozens of concentrated energy! Not even 7th-circle magic could imitate its penetrating and destructive power. The Origin of the Celestial Meteor Bombardment penetrated Acafenrir’s skin and smashed his muscles.

-Origin of the Celestial Step, Origin of the Celestial Fist, Origin of the Celestial Kick!

Choi Yeonseung disappeared, then a fist containing concentrated?fist?energy hit Acafenrir’s jaw. As it screamed, a kick powerful enough to tear space apart smashed into the back of Acafenrir’s head. Suffering from such a critical blow prevented Acafenrir’s senses from returning. His front paws floundered in an attempt to tear Choi Yeonseung apart, but Choi Yeonseung just stepped away, then got even closer.

One.. two… three times!

Taking advantage of his opponent’s big size, Choi Yeonseung closed in on him and unleashed a flurry of hits. Every time concentrated fist energy hit his body, Acafenrir coughed up blood.

“W-Who is that hero?!”

“This is my first time seeing that species! Is he an elf?” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“His ears are short, though!”

“The monster’s falling!”

The sudden miracle astounded the goblins. A warrior from the sky had rescued them.

“Is it a god of the Abyss?”

“Maybe...!”

The goblins called the constellations of the Abyss ‘gods.’ Considering the constellations’ capabilities, it wouldn’t be farfetched to call them such. If they believed and prayed, the gods would reward them accordingly! However, there was a degree of?compromise. No god would ever come down to kill a monster directly.

Flash!

In the meantime, Choi Yeonseung prepared a blow to finally end Acafenrir. Created during his battle against the constellations, this linked movement remained silent while it was being executed.

Choi Yeonseung stood still, then took?then assumed a sprinter's starting position. The concentrated energy that had been burning around Choi Yeonseung gradually condensed and merged. The entire place was loud and noisy, but Choi Yeonseung’s surroundings were quiet.

Just then, the condensed concentrated energy spread like an explosion. Choi Yeonseung had turned into a ray of light. No, that wasn’t it. He had simply gathered his strength and rushed out so fast that he looked like a beam of light.

The peak of the concentrated Breathing Arts, Origin of the Celestial Meteor Drop!

Choi Yeonseung shot forward and delivered a full-body kick. His toes, where all his power was gathered, contained enough force to kill a constellation. A beam of blazing light pierced through Acafenrir’s weakened skin and thick heart.

[The planet-eating wolf ‘Acafenrir’ has been defeated!]

[The skill ‘Suppress the Strong and Support the Weak’ has been activated. The power of your existence has greatly increased!]

[The skill ‘Overcome Oneself to Become Strong’ has been activated. The power of your existence has greatly increased!]

“Hu!” Choi Yeonseung released his breath in one go. It seemed like a unilaterally overwhelming fight, but Choi Yeonseung was actually nervous. Out of all the fights he had been in, there had never been a smooth one. After all, his power of existence wouldn’t rise unless they were a formidable opponent.

‘Fortunately, everything went according to plan.’

Choi Yeonseung overwhelmed his opponent due to his perfect strategy.

Stun the opponent with the first blow and deliver an onslaught with all his might. Afterward, unleash a special move!

It would’ve been a nuisance if his opponent managed to endure all that.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ compliments you for fighting well.]

‘Thank you.’

If Acafenrir was as prepared as the other cunning constellations, then he would’ve had to literally fight him for hundreds of years or until both of them were exhausted. Even Choi Yeonseung didn’t want to do that.

“Goblins. Don’t tell me you plan on fighting me?”

At his words, a goblin stepped forward. He seemed to be their leader.

Choi Yeonseung frowned.

Was he going to attack?

“At a time when the other gods just watched, you personally stepped in to save my people. I, Goblin King?Odaigon, will take you as my master!”

[Goblin King?Odaigon?worships you!]

[The Ephes Goblin Kingdom has fallen under your control.]

[The power of a constellation becomes stronger as the souls they reign over?increases.]

[The world resonates. Your strength and power of existence have become stronger.]

[You have awakened the authority of a constellation!]

[You have gained the constellation skill ‘Undefeated Incarnation's Realm Declaration.']

[The level of your existence has evolved. You are now an intermediate constellation!]

“...... !”

The message window that popped up surprised Choi Yeonseung. As soon as the goblin kingdom began to worship him, he finally reached the intermediate rank. Moreover, he gained a constellation skill.

‘The power of my existence has been honed.’

Power of existence was a force that could do anything in theory, but the same couldn’t be said in practice. Even constellations couldn’t handle it properly! After all, even they weren’t completely free and infinite. On the contrary, the stronger a constellation was, the more they were bound by the rules. One’s power of existence could only be used according to their name, and it was this skill that sharpened the power of existence.

‘Undefeated Incarnation's Realm Declaration... It spreads my territory around me. Does it mean attracting opponents into my world?’ I’ll try to use it if I get the chance to fight against a constellation one-on-one.’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says you did a good job. It is telling you to do the same with Earth.]

‘People on Earth won’t believe in me just because I beat up a monster.’

Earth was different from this small planet, which only had tens of thousands of goblins.

What if Choi Yeonseung killed a monster right now? He would be recognized as a great hunter and gain tremendous popularity. That had been the case even before Choi Yeonseung left. Famous hunters were like superstars!

However, that was it. They wouldn’t react the same way as the goblin kingdom, which shouted, ‘Wow! Let’s worship Choi Yeonseung!’

First of all, Choi Yeonseung was a Korean hunter. Other countries would somehow criticize him by saying, ‘Hmph, my country’s hunter XX is better.’ Since?A-grade hunters and above?were treated as strategic weapons, governments would try to recruit Choi Yeonseung or keep him in check.

The governments wouldn’t take it lightly if they learned that Choi Yeonseung was trying to become Earth’s master. It didn’t matter how many times Choi Yeonseung shouted, ‘In order to stop the invasion of the Abyss’ evil gods, everyone has to trust me and give me strength!’ Nobody would believe him. Rather, they would likely join forces instead or use other methods to keep him in check.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is asking what you’re planning to do.]

-As advised by the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires, I should hide my purpose and gain trust.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is asking if you’re going to pretend to be kind.]

-No. Doing that has limitations. It also doesn’t fit my personality.

Among the hunters, some prioritized helping people over money or fame. If a dangerous dungeon opened and everyone avoided attacking it, they would take the lead in raiding it. They also donated monster materials to affected areas. Such hunters were bound to be respected regardless of their skills and popularity. Hunters would say something like ‘I acknowledge it if it is XX!’

However, Choi Yeonseung didn’t aim to be such a hunter.

‘Those who act good are bound to get exploited. If I slip up even once, my image will be destroyed.’

Pretending to be good had its limits. Others constantly took advantage of such hunters. Appealing to their compassion would be enough to manipulate them.

‘One of the Canadian clans risked their lives to clear all the B+ grade dungeons in China, but... The Chinese government spread false rumors about them in exchange.’

To save face, they spread bad rumors about the Canadian hunter team, stating that they only did that because they were greedy for the dungeons’ rewards, that other Chinese teams tried to enter but they entered first, that they ignored the Chinese hunters, etc...

In the end, the Canadian hunter team suffered a lot of criticism in China.

He remembered watching the broadcast at the time and cursing like other hunters, ‘Hey?is that really what's going on?’

That’s right. If a rumor spread that a person who did a hundred good things did one bad thing, then their image would be shattered.

‘Being a good hunter’ was a strategy with too many weaknesses!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is asking what you’re planning to do.]

-Trust can be earned through my skills.

Regardless of who he was up against, they were bound to eventually kneel if they were in enough trouble.

If an unsolvable dungeon opened in the middle of their country’s capital, they wouldn’t be saying things like, ‘This hunter?won't be able to reject our country's request’ or ‘This hunter can’t be greedy.’

If he were strong enough, they would kneel before him and beg earnestly, saying things like, ‘Please help us just this once!’

In the end, the best way for hunters to build trust was through their skills. How bad their personality or what crime they committed didn’t matter. All that mattered was whether they could kill monsters. He had to make the world think, ‘In order to clear this dungeon, we have to call Choi Yeonseung!’

-If I’m recognized as the strongest hunter on Earth, trust will naturally follow.

It was also known?as the?‘he’s a jerk, but he’s the only one I can trust!’ strategy.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that’s good and all, but it shouldn’t be discovered that you are a constellation.]

-You don’t have to worry. I’m used to fighting without the power of existence.

He had spent a longer time fighting without using the power of existence than with it.

The martial arts that Choi Yeonseung had perfected wasn’t such a weak weapon that it would lose its shine just because he didn’t imbue it with the power of existence.