A gigantic mountain pierced through the clouds. Or rather, should it be called a statue?
Th-th-thump.
Even the smallest movement of its head created tremors, fitting its massive size.
“What is the matter?”
matter…
ter…
The immense voice echoed louder than thunder, and before it.
『The Constellation Flame Emperor Shennong’s unofficial intervention in the Arena has been confirmed, and hence we came here.
A message window from Galaxy Arena appeared.
To that.
Flash.
From the head protruding above the clouds, a red light appeared.
To be precise.
“Intervention?”
ter…
ion…
A menacing red glow emanated from its eyes. A gaze so terrifying that it felt like it could burn one’s soul just by facing it.
『Yes, an ‘unofficial intervention’ without Arena’s approval.』
Galaxy Arena remained unfazed. It continued.
『If you plan to deny it, please reconsider.』
Swoosh.
The flickering message window of Galaxy Arena. At its center.
Whoosh!
An ember fragment emerged, radiating heat.
『The analysis of the collected evidence revealed no power other than that of the Constellation Flame Emperor Shennong.』
Galaxy Arena delivered the final nail. Normally, various privileges and honors towards a Constellation would include arguments and reconsiderations.
But wasn’t the evidence too clear?
Even Flame Emperor Shennong himself understood this well.
“…….”
Flame Emperor Shennong silently stared at the message window.
“……What is the penalty?”
alty…
ty…
Without any complaints or rebuttals. He only inquired about the incoming penalty. Perhaps surprised that he acknowledged it so cleanly.
『You are aware, but if not now, there will be no opportunity for a formal complaint…』
Galaxy Arena was even providing a chance, having warned earlier not to plan on denying.
“What is the penalty?”
alty…
ty…
Flame Emperor Shennong repeated his question unwaveringly.
To that.
『According to Galaxy Arena regulations, twice the causality used in the intervention will be confiscated.』
『For the next month, a manager-level observer will be assigned to Constellation ‘Flame Emperor Shennong.’』
Galaxy Arena began to list the penalties one by one.
『Additionally, since this incident involved the subordinate race, the entire giant race will also receive collective penalties.』
『The details of the penalties are as follows.』
– For the next 3 months, the awakening rate of the giant race will decrease by 10%.
– For the next 3 months, the Arena rewards for the giant race will decrease by 10%.
– For the next 6 months, the appearance rate of higher-grade attributes for the giant race will decrease by 5%.
At the end of the cloud-laden troposphere. Clear phrases were displayed prominently. Flame Emperor Shennong, who silently read through them, responded.
“I confirm.”
firm…
rm…
He replied with a steady voice. Galaxy Arena seemed to observe Flame Emperor Shennong for a while.
“…”
With silence.
Perhaps sensing their gaze?
“However, I have one question.”
tion…
on…
The red gleam focused on Galaxy Arena. Despite the penalties imposed on the entire giant race. For the first time, emotion flickered in his previously indifferent gaze.
It was none other than.
“Who was involved in this matter?”
matter…
ter…
It was curiosity. Reflecting this sentiment.
“Right, who exactly was involved, that you ignored all customary lubrication and strictly followed the manual?”
A different voice chimed in from the side. Unlike the red gleam of Flame Emperor Shennong. A new colossal figure with a blue gleam in its eyes appeared.
『Long time no see, Constellation Satan.』
Galaxy Arena acknowledged with a brief message.
“Yeah, yeah, long time no see. So, I’m even more curious.”
Thump, thump, thump.
Satan, nodding his enormous head, continued.
『For a penalty notice like this to warrant a direct visit from a manager like you…』
Normally, such penalties would be communicated unilaterally by the system. There was no need for a top-ranked manager from Galaxy Arena to show up in person.
Especially with the evident proof of Flame Emperor Shennong’s artifact laying it all out. There was no need for a verbal argument with a Constellation caught in the act.
A simple, direct notification would have sufficed. Yet here they were, making a personal appearance.
“What exactly happened?”
Satan asked with a gaze full of mystery.
To which.
『…』
As if reluctant to mention it. Galaxy Arena remained tightly sealed in silence.
“Oh, hey. Shennong?”
Th-th-thump.
As if something clicked. Satan glanced briefly at Flame Emperor Shennong. Flame Emperor Shennong did not respond.
He just stared at his artifact, the ember fragment, which Galaxy Arena presented.
Then.
Whoosh!
The ember fragment blazed fiercely. It expanded rapidly, as if burning the entire world, enveloping not only the message from Galaxy Arena but also the colossal figures of Flame Emperor Shennong and Satan.
Whoosh.
It finally stopped expanding.
“Now then, is this enough?”
Constellation Satan, as if smiling.
Spoke with a narrowed gleam in his eyes.
“Come on, spill it. Not even a primordial god could penetrate this.”
Was that the final blow?
『…Even so, it’s difficult to mention.』
The manager, who had kept silent, finally spoke up.
“Oh, come on! After all we’ve given you, are you really going to act like this?”
Satan spoke with a chuckle, but that was all.
『Among the managers, a few like me might be accepting such things and helping out, but not many.』
The manager spoke with an unashamed tone about the bribes. Neither Flame Emperor Shennong nor Satan found it impudent.
Rather.
“This makes me even more curious. Who exactly is causing this?”
They looked at the manager with even more curious eyes. It was no surprise.
“Even though you’re not a top-level manager, you’re still quite capable, right?”
There are ranks among the managers, but. The giant race did not just align with any random manager.
Considering the level of bribes they handed out. It was far beyond what ordinary races in the Arena could manage.
Naturally, they had carefully selected the manager to bribe. So for that manager to act this cautiously?
And then.
『Although I can’t give you specifics, I can tell you that the two Jotuns who participated this time reached the Abyssal Hell.』
With the manager’s words, both colossal figures immediately stiffened their gaze. It was no wonder.
“Abyssal Hell?”
ell…
ell…
“What nonsense is this? Didn’t the emperor say the Bull Demon King’s seal is in the Speech Hell?”
The two hells seemed far too different from each other.
Then.
“Wait.”
Something seemed to click.
“Even if it’s the Abyssal Hell, the current King Wudao Zhuanlun is a distant relative of yours, Shennong, isn’t he?”
Th-th-thump.
Satan tilted his enormous head, his eyes narrowing.
“There’s no reason there should be any particular issues?”
He wasn’t the only one.
“Hmm…”
mm…
mm…
Flame Emperor Shennong, who had shown no reaction so far, also ignited his red gleam. The reason was simple.
Although the relationship with King Wudao Zhuanlun wasn’t profoundly close. They weren’t complete strangers, so he wouldn’t ignore the two Jotuns who fell into the Abyssal Hell.
Especially since they had the divine relic of his distant relative, Flame Emperor Shennong.
Moreover.
“Velyaz. That smart guy wouldn’t have handled it poorly…”
Velyaz, one of the central figures in this Master Rank debut match and one of the most promising young giants.
Even the colossal figures like themselves kept an eye on him; it’s unlikely he would make a mistake with King Wudao Zhuanlun.
Thus, two possibilities remained.
One was.
“Could it be that the Emperor, that cunning bastard, deceived us?”
That the Constellation Emperor directly involved with the Bull Demon King’s seal had deceived them.
And the other was.
“Or did a primordial god really intervene?”
A primordial god. The entity Satan jokingly mentioned earlier might truly have intervened. Considering the Abyssal Hell.
“Unless the Emperor wishes to start a war with us immediately. He wouldn’t deceive us like this…”
And considering the current relationship between the Emperor and Flame Emperor Shennong. The likelihood leaned towards the latter.
“Let’s see, the primordial god closest to the Abyssal Hell is…”
“The Goddess of the Night, Nyx. That’s her domain.”
domain…
ain…
The primordial god closest to the Abyssal Hell. It suggested the involvement of the Goddess of the Night, Nyx.
To affirm this.
『Ahem…!』
The manager let out a cough-like groan.
And.
“Ha, haha!”
Satan chuckled dryly. It was no surprise.
“Nyx? That wretched old hag whom even those other guys shudder at, why would she interfere in a Master debut match?”
The Goddess of the Night, Nyx. There wasn’t anyone here unaware of her.
『Anyhow. I’ve relayed everything I can.』
The manager, perhaps uneasy about Nyx being mentioned.
『And talks of the dimensional counter-offensive are surfacing, so prepare yourselves accordingly.』
With that last piece of information about the dimensional counter-offensive.
Swoosh.
The manager finally disappeared completely. A silence lingered briefly between Flame Emperor Shennong and Satan.
Then.
Whoosh.
The barrier isolating the space created by Flame Emperor Shennong vanished.
“Satan, contact Cruach. Specifically, his patron.”
To his patron.
tron…
Flame Emperor Shennong’s gaze directed towards Satan.
“I cannot exert my power for a while.”
While…
ile…
“Well, we’ll handle it. I’ll contact you again soon.”
With Satan’s response.
Swoosh.
The gleaming eyes of the two colossal figures vanished without a trace.
*
Dark crimson.
A color that best matches the image of hell itself.
Drip.
Squish.
The sound of something squirming in the sticky environment.
Grrraa…
Arghhh!
Screams, as if the tongues or jaws were damaged, echoed from all directions.
The Speech Hell, the fifth of the ten hells.
Not in the Arena.
He had stepped into hell while still alive.
“Comfortable.”
A handsome man with clear features. Shimun looked around with a satisfied face. Although it was still a bizarre area.
‘I didn’t expect they’d bring me this close.’
An environment with a familiar structure he had seen not long ago. And even the enormous statue of the tiny human akin to a mountain.
Having arrived at the Demon King’s seal, Shimun saw.
“We can protect you for exactly 30 minutes based on Earth time.”
“Time limit: 29 minutes 58 seconds.”
Confirming the message that appeared before him.
“Such a tight schedule.”
He chuckled softly. And as if in response.
– Can’t be helped. Those guys are notorious penny-pinchers.
A cheerful voice echoed from his chest.
– They’re probably agonizing over it right now.
“Indeed.”
Nodding at the Philosopher’s Stone’s sarcastic remark, Shimun.
Thump.
Immediately began walking toward the Demon King’s seal.
– But oppa. How do you plan to break that seal?
The Philosopher’s Stone voiced its doubts.
Understandably so.
“You gave away Flame Emperor Shennong’s relic, didn’t you?”
Although it was for extracting and storing divinity. He had given the potentially helpful relic for breaking the seal to Galaxy Arena.
“And that’s the Emperor’s seal. You’ve completely turned away from the celestial world. What are you going to do?”
To which.
“That’s true. But we discussed it earlier… Oh.”
Shimun tilted his head and let out a small exclamation.
‘Ah, that guy was unconscious at that time.’
The Goddess of the Night, Nyx. Defeated by her in a tremendous battle, the Philosopher’s Stone had been sprawled on the floor at that time.
Of course, it was likely he hadn’t heard. Recalling that dizzying moment, Shimun said.
“Heavenly Demon did recommend asking for Enma’s help, but I have someone better.”
As if shaking off that memory. He subtly shook his head as he spoke.
『Hehe. Right, you have me, your nunim, don’t you?』
Nyx’s message window appeared immediately.
『Not to disregard Enma, but there’s a difference in rank. Using the same causality, I can be more efficient.』
Nyx spoke confidently.
– Ugh! Calling yourself ‘nunim’ and talking about ranks. Disgusting!
The Philosopher’s Stone quivered with sincere contempt, but that was it. Shimun had no intention of experiencing such a clash again.
“Then please take care of it, Nyx.”
He promptly took out a golden hair. One strand of Sun Wukong’s hair from his inventory and handed it to her.
“Leave it to me. Even though this is the Speech Hell, it is still within the realm of death.”
Swish.
Absorbing the hair, Nyx continued.
“But as for the Bull Demon King… tsk. It’s better for Shimun to see it for himself.”
She clicked her tongue briefly and then.
Whoosh.
Released black energy filled with sparkling stars, like the night sky. How much time had passed?
Whirling…
Nyx’s swirling energy gradually faded.
“Quest ‘Seal of the Seven Stars’ completed.”
“Reward: 100,000 Achievement Points.”
With the quest completion and reward window appearing.
– Hey! Kim Shimun! You already found hyungnim? I knew you could do it!
A playful voice sounded from behind. Turning around.
– Wow! The Speech Hell? No wonder I couldn’t find it despite all my poking around. Anyway… that Emperor really is devious.
Golden hair and tail as if they were made from pure gold. Matching golden eyes burning with zeal. It was none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, the quest giver.
Since it was another dimension.
– But you too, how did you know the hyungnim’s seal was here?
Appearing as a sort of hologram. Sun Wukong approached in a semi-transparent form.
-However, Shimun didn’t answer his question.
To be precise, he couldn’t.
Because.
Crack…
– Huh?
With the sound of something breaking. The gigantic statue of the Bull Demon King, like a great mountain. More precisely, the entire body of the Bull Demon King, which had returned to its original form due to Nyx’s power.
Spluuurt!!
It exploded into a fountain of blood and shattered into pieces.