A dark red world. Under hues that best matched the image of hell
Slosh.
Gurgle.
Squishy sounds of something writhing could be heard.
Along with it,
Grooaaah…
Gurrrraaaak!
Screams that sounded like they came from mouths with damaged tongues or jaws echoed from all directions. And perched like a point halfway up a mountain, on an unusually tall and slimy piece of flesh stood a platinum dragonkin.
“What a peculiar world.”
Shimun slightly furrowed his brow at the mushy and slimy sensation beneath his feet. Even though it was an Arena broadcast, Shimun, who had experienced various maps and dimensions in his past life, ‘A world made of smooth flesh…’
It was the first time he encountered a dimension entirely made of such a substance. It wasn’t surprising.
‘In my previous life, the Ten Hells I encountered were Sword Hell, Greed Hell, and Frozen Hell.’
Considering that Hell maps generally appeared from Challenger Rank onwards, even in his past life, only three Hell maps had appeared, making their occurrence incredibly rare.
And yet, “A mere Master Rank debut participant came here?”
Not even a Grand Master Rank, one step below Challenger, but a mere Master Rank, a newly ascended debut participant, visiting this place?
Even for the giants, the top-rank race in the Arena, it was a highly risky act. Therefore, ‘They must have their own means of survival here, just like the Speech Hell’s Stone in Sword Hell…’
They likely had plans to mitigate the risk.
Thus, ‘Though I have no reason to fear Master Rank giants, it’s best to approach cautiously.’
Even with confidence in his own combat power, it was wise to move as stealthily as possible and approach with caution.
‘I also need to find out why they went to the extent of abandoning the debut match to come to Speech Hell.’
Fortunately, Shimun had the best method for concealing his presence.
Snap.
He immediately snapped his fingers.
Ssss.
And above him, Gloomy grey energy, tinged with ominousness, Gathered rapidly, forming into a helmet akin to a crown.
The Helm of the death Constellation Hades.
“With this, I can stay hidden…”
Snap.
Wearing the helmet, Shimun snapped his fingers again.
Rumble!
With a sudden crash of thunder, a bolt of lightning struck down into Shimun’s hand. However, the form was entirely different from Astrape, Zeus’s weapon, which he had used until now.
Crack!
A hammer flickering with blue lightning. The weapon used by Magnus, one of the high-rankers from Norway in his past life, it was none other than Mjolnir, the weapon of the high-ranked Constellation Thor from Asgard.
Sizzle.
Shimun looked down at the constantly sparking Mjolnir.
‘Mjolnir shows absurd destructive power specifically against giants…’
Magnus, the previous owner of Mjolnir, was known as the Giant Slayer not just because of his immense attack power against giant species.
‘It also has a retrieval function and some tracking ability for giants.’
Mjolnir could be retrieved even when thrown or lost, and although limited, it could track giants to some extent.
Especially, ‘Since the giants who entered this Speech Hell are specific, it should work.’
There were only specific living giants who had entered this Speech Hell.
“Alright, mjolnir, go find them.”
With the intent to track down the giants, Shimun lightly tossed Mjolnir forward.
Whoosh.
Mjolnir flew in a straight line with a heavy whirring sound, then suddenly halted in midair.
Sizzle.
Subsequently, mjolnir began to move its head around as if being guided, discharging small sparks.
Crackle!
It suddenly shot out intense sparks.
‘Looks like it found them.’
Sensing that Mjolnir had successfully located its target,
Zoom.
Shimun used Airwalk, grabbing onto the handle of the rapidly flying Mjolnir.
As if waiting for him, mjolnir soared at tremendous speed, emitting powerful electrical energy.
Crackle!
Grasping the handle, Shimun couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise.
“Huh…?”
He couldn’t hide his astonishment. The reason was simple. Even at a speed reminiscent of a lightning bolt, from the grip on Mjolnir’s handle, ‘This stings a bit.’
Crackle.
He felt a slight stinging.
Naturally, ‘Why is it like this?’
Shimun’s face showed puzzlement.
After all, ‘It was fine when I captured the Nemean Lion.’
During the previous main arena battle in the ‘Nemean Valley’. When he used Mjolnir against the Gigantes and the Nemean Lion, hadn’t everything been fine?
Moreover, ‘I even fused it with Astrape using Ars Magna. Everything was perfectly fine…’
Even when he had used “Dischord of Two Thunder Gods”, an Ars Magna made by fusing with the other mythic-grade artifact, astrape, Shimun had felt no pain or encountered any issues at all.
Yet now, despite it being as mild as static electricity, he suddenly felt pain?
Because of this, ‘Should I alchemize Járngreipr, and use it like Magnus did in my past life?’
Just as Shimun thought of Járngreipr, another mythical equipment of Thor,
『Constellation Thor laughs, saying, “Ha! Look at that. Isn’t my lightning power amazing?”』
A notification of Thor’s reaction appeared before Shimun’s eyes. Thor seemed quite satisfied with the current situation.
『Constellation Thor pounds his chest and exclaims, “Zeus! Do you see this? Though I am a high-ranked Constellation, my thunder power isn’t inferior to yours!”』
Thor showed a confident reaction but nothing more. Instead of a counter-response,
『Constellation Zeus clicks his tongue, saying, “Tsk. Truly like a high-ranked Constellation… Pathetic.”』
『Constellation Thor huffs, saying, “What did you say?!”』
Thor was immediately enraged by Zeus’s response. However, Zeus, the King of the Olympian gods, seemed unfazed.
『Constellation Zeus continues, saying, “It’s merely because this boy’s alchemy level has increased, leading to a stronger Mjolnir than before.”』
Zeus continued speaking without hesitation.
『Constellation Thor sneers, retorting, “Ha! Well said. By that logic, your Astrape should be the same.”』
Thor did not back down.
『Constellation Thor smirks, saying, “Yet your thunder power did no such harm. Isn’t it you who is pathetic?”』
『Constellation Zeus sighs deeply, saying, “Do I have to explain everything to you?”』
Then,
『Constellation Zeus explains, “Listen closely. My Astrape, despite being thunder power, is quite stable because this boy uses it frequently.”』
Zeus gave a disdainful look.
『Constellation Zeus continues, “In contrast, your Mjolnir is rarely used, even by you, its owner, who has to wear gloves to wield it. It’s purely a destructive, brute-force weapon.”』
He no longer even looked at Thor. Thor was at a loss for words due to Zeus’s sharp rebuke.
『Constellation Odin shakes his head, saying, “Zeus? You have to understand. The kid is just lacking up there because he’s always fighting.”』
Odin shook his head in disappointment.
And with a sigh from Odin, Thor remained silent for a while before speaking,
『Constellation Thor says, “So… Kim Shimun? Could you please… use my Mjolnir more often?”』 he said weakly, like a deflated puppy.
Even as a mortal, Shimun felt pity for Thor’s reaction.
“Uh… I’ll try to use it more.”
With Shimun’s reluctant agreement,
『Constellation Thor says, “Thank you! Truly!”』
Thor smiled shyly, watching for Shimun’s reaction.
『Your other Constellations snicker or shake their heads.』
Thor’s humiliation came to an end.
Because of this, ‘Considering Thor is a high-ranked Constellation, it’s a bit sad to see him like this…’
Shimun glanced at the empty space with a somewhat pitying look.
Then, ‘Well, at least I figured out why Mjolnir stings.’
A weapon focused solely on destruction, to the extent that even its owner Thor needed gloves to handle it. With Shimun’s higher alchemy level, some of this destructive power was leaking out, ‘Thankfully, it’s still at the level of static electricity…’
The stinging was still mild. If he continued to familiarize himself with Mjolnir’s lightning power, he wouldn’t need to alchemize Járngreipr.
‘I’ll use Mjolnir more frequently to prepare for the battles ahead with the giants.’
Determined to make more use of Mjolnir, Shimun let the hammer guide him through the air.
*
Swish.
Like fabric fluttering in the wind, a figure in black funeral attire swept across the ground as he moved.
Thud.
Behind him, even on a floor that seemed to be made of writhing flesh,
Thud.
Two giants followed, creating heavy vibrations with their steps.
Among them, the rough-looking giant spoke up.
“Hey. How much farther do we have to go?”
Despite there being more than a twofold difference in their sizes,
『Silence.』
The figure in black funeral attire replied coldly. He halted his steps and turned slightly.
『Though Lord Enma commanded it, a mere Master Rank insect dares…』
Revealing only his pale mouth under a long hat, he glanced back at the two giants.
Why was that?
Despite only showing his pale mouth under the long hat,
『How dare you speak to me, a servant of Enma?』
The servant of King Enma radiated a sense of contempt.
Because of this, “You…”
The rough-looking giant, Lungtnir, trembled slightly with a rising sense of humiliation but did nothing more. The Kings of Hell are all high-ranked Constellations, and King Enma is a Constellation comparable to a Divine King.
Naturally, he was not in a position to address King Enma’s servant carelessly. This place was the Speech Hell, King Enma’s domain.
In other words, a place where his servant could exercise power without restriction.
‘Damn it!’
Swallowing his curses, Lungtnir said, “If I have offended you, I apologize.”
He reluctantly bowed his large head and pride. But was it still not enough?
『You don’t understand anything, do you? Typical of giants.』
Sneering and turning away, King Enma’s servant added,
『Tsk! Why does Lord Enma even bother with these ignorant beings…』
Without hiding his displeasure, he continued walking. How long had they been walking like this?
After what seemed like an endlessly humiliating march for the giants,
『Here it is.』
King Enma’s servant finally stopped walking and spitting out contempt. A colossal statue that resembled a small mountain.
Taking this as his cue, Lungtnir rushed towards the statue,
Thud.
But was abruptly stopped.
“Oof.”
The repulsive force that even pushed back the body of a Grand Master Rank giant made his eyes widen.
『What an idiot. Typical giants…』
King Enma’s servant sneered again. The statue as tall as a mountain. Glancing at it, he added,
『Don’t tell me you walked all the way here without knowing that thing is sealed?』
He glanced at the more intellectual-looking giant, Velyaz.
As if understanding the servant’s evaluation, “Of course. Moreover, Lord Shennong has bestowed a power suitable for this task upon us.”
Velyaz revealed a fragment of flame with a significant aura from his pocket and answered respectfully.
Perhaps satisfied with his attitude,
『Hmph. Not all giants are foolish. Well, being the top-rank race in the Arena, it’s expected that there’d be one like you.』
King Enma’s servant nodded slightly, with a bit less contempt,
『Lord Enma’s order was to guide you here and no further. I shall take my leave…』
Just as he was turning away,
『Who’s there?!』
The voice, which had been cold until now, suddenly roared. It wasn’t just the volume that increased.
Screeee!
A ghostly wail.
The kind of sound that could distort space itself, and at the epicenter of that distorted space,
Srrk.
A blurry figure about 2 meters tall briefly appeared. However, as the ghostly wail passed, it vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared.
『You insolent…』
Was it because something had withstood his ghostly wail?
Unlike his previous expression of mere displeasure, King Enma’s servant now displayed clear anger.
『Fine. You little rat. I’ll slice you out along with this space!!』
Gasp!
The two giants beside him shivered in fear as he exuded intense rage.
He promptly swung his arm.
Then,
Crack!
Like glass shattering against an object, the space instantly cracked.
Soon,
Shatter!
The cracked space broke apart, revealing a platinum dragonkin at the center of the now-empty black void, much like a starless universe.
Because of this,
『W-what…』
King Enma’s servant opened his pale lips slightly.
It was no wonder.
‘How could a mere dragonkin withstand my power…!’
He was a servant of King Enma, a Constellation comparable to a Divine King. Moreover, this was Speech Hell, where he could exert his maximum strength.
How could a mere dragonkin withstand a strike that could tear apart space itself?
And then, “Wait, what?!”
“That one!”
Recognizing the identity of the platinum dragonkin,
“How is he here?!”
Lungtnir and Velyaz couldn’t hide their surprise.
However, “What on earth did you abandon the debut match for, only to come here…?”
Was the dragonkin not interested in his three adversaries?
He merely, “Looks like I’ve lucked out?”
Looked at the enormous statue with a peculiar smile.