SWNOVELXO Chapter 89
Chapter 89. Squama Circle (3)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
Who was it that said?
Before the sun is even scorch by flames, it melts everything in its path with sheer heat.
Indeed, it was the same here.
“Arghhhh!!”
“So, so hot!!”
“What are the auxiliary units doing! Deploy the shields now!”
“Magic units, hurry and help! We’ll all burn to death at this rate!”
The weapon of Constellation Surtr, Laevateinn.
Even though it was a degraded version due to tempering, whoooosh.
Sizzle.
The flames, reaching 30% of its potential, set everything around it ablaze.
“Ugh…”
Swinging Laevateinn, Shimun let out a small groan.
‘This feels completely different from Astrape.’
His gaze shifted towards the blazing blade.
‘Astrape was much easier to control.’
How to describe it?
Like trying to hold onto a wild, large chainsaw with just one hand?
Fwoosh.
Laevateinn, once activated and ablaze, was incredibly difficult to control.
Moreover, ‘I have a feeling it’s going to get even harder to control as it grows…’
Usually, as the tempering strength increases, so does the stability of the tempered items.
The same went for control.
Indeed, Astrape too, despite being based on the notoriously hard-to-handle thunder energy and having a completion level of 30%, became easier and more comfortable to control.
So, one might think, ‘Ah, this one will be easier to handle as I grow stronger.’
But Laevateinn was different.
‘I might be safe, but… it feels like it’s going to be hard to distinguish friend from foe as it gets stronger.’
Despite the thunder attribute being known for its difficulty, along with the fire attribute, Unlike Astrape, Laevateinn seemed solely focused on burning everything to ashes.
Fortunately, ‘It seems endlessly benevolent towards me, at least?’
No matter how powerful it becomes, it will always be soft and warm to its owner like spring’s warmth.
-Hehee, as expected from my oppa. You’ve seen right through the difference in the weapons.
A cheerful voice rang out.
Shimun looked down at the center of his chest.
‘The Philosopher’s Stone.’
-You’re right on the mark, brother. Mythic-grade weapons are the weapons of Sovereigns. They inevitably follow the temperament of their owner.
The stone spoke in its usual, light-hearted tone, not as bubbly as usual.
-Astrape, regardless of being a notorious troublemaker, is after all a weapon of Olympus’s ruler. It naturally becomes restrained and refined like its owner.
Then, -But Laevateinn is different.
The voice of the stone grew deeper.
-Constellation Surtr. Not just his personality, but from the start, Surtr was for Asga… Huh? Ah! Damn it!
The Philosopher’s Stone, just as it was getting serious, returned to its usual demeanor.
Shimun realized why the stone had reverted to its original form.
-These damned arena folks! Always with the censorship! The Philosopher’s Stone was indignant due to the conversation being cut off midway.
-Everyone who needs to know already knows, so what big secret is it supposed to be! Ugh, never mind. I must be crazy for expecting common sense from those idiots.
The Philosopher’s Stone slightly swayed from side to side.
Shimun, who knew well that it was a gesture of shaking her head, carefully swept his chest.
Did it have an effect?
-Haah~ To be touched by the hands of such a handsome guy… No, that’s not it!
It calmed down its anger and continued speaking.
-Anyway, you’re totally right about everything. The more complete Laevateinn becomes, the more troublesome it’ll get. It will demand a great deal of attention from its allies.
‘Because it was made for that purpose?’
-Oh? I didn’t mention that part, though?
‘I do have some sense, you know.’
-Hehe! That’s my brother for you! That’s why handsome people really do live up to their looks. Ah, I feel so refreshed despite those idiots causing trouble.
Shimun, amused by the jubilant Philosopher’s Stone, then thought, ‘Though the conversation was interrupted, if I deduce from where it got cut off, perhaps…’
His thoughts turned to the message from Constellation Odin.
‘It must be related to Asgard.’
Since Odin had directly reacted, it seemed obvious.
However, ‘The conversation was completely cut off after “Asga”, so it’s impossible to deduce what comes next.’
It was impossible to guess what would happen thereafter.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t too bothered.
‘Well, we’ll find out when the time comes.’
Given Odin and the Black Goat’s reactions.
Eventually, the time would reveal all.
With a slight shrug, Shimun looked towards where Laevateinn made its mark.
“Kekekekek!”
With a dark and diagonal slash across its body.
“Keaaaaah!!”
Drachel, frenzied and frothing at the mouth, was being devoured in real-time by flames.
Despite being an awakened Dragonkin, Drachel’s appearance was miserably far from its title.
Crack.
A sound like something breaking came from Drachel.
As intended by Shimun, the necklace that had been blocking Astrape’s thunder strike shattered.
‘Tsk, such a pity. To block Astrape’s thunder, it had to be at least SS-rank.’
Of course, there was no guarantee that Drachel would drop the necklace.
Licking his lips in regret, Shimun retracted Laevateinn and, spark.
Raised the white spear, Astrape, he held in his left hand.
“Sorry about this. It’s not usually my style to cause pain like this.”
Though an enemy, Shimun aimed Astrape with a somewhat sympathetic expression at the pitiful sight of Drachel.
“Can’t help it for 2,000 achievement points, right? You understand?”
As if Drachel could respond in such a state!
All Drachel could do was, “Ke, kekeul!”
Struggle in desperation against the flames consuming its body.
“Well then, goodbye.”
With that, Shimun ended Drachel’s pain.
Crackle and Flash!
The lightning from Astrape struck like a flash of light, Engulfing Drachel’s burning body in an instant.
[You have single-handedly defeated Dragoknight ‘Drachel’.]You have received 2,000 achievement points as a reward.
You have slain a member of the Ssquaum Circle for the first time as a Earthling.
You receive 5,000 achievement points.
The message window scrolled up rapidly.
Then.
[Constellation Zeus chuckles, “Never thought Laevateinn could be controlled like that…”.]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon laughs mischievously, “Haha, Zeus. You should also try to make a good impression on him.”]
[Constellation Odin and the Black Goat smile with satisfaction at your actions.]
[The Constellations donate 5,000 achievement points.]
The support from the Constellations followed.
* * *
Drahel vanished without leaving any trace.
-… Crazy.
-Is this right? Guys?
-One-shotting that tough drag?
-NN. It was two shots. Well, it felt like one-shot but was two.
-That drag seemed like a named mob, and it just got pierced through LOL.
-Even though drags are weak to fire attribute, this is a bit…
Levatine’s overwhelming attack momentarily shook the chat window, but it quickly rebounded.
Especially.
-Have never seen such a drag before?
-And Gold caught it, even more unbelievable.
-There must have been some nerf to the drag itself. Even though it’s an uprank match, it’s still within the gold arena.
-Agreed. Plus, the fire attribute attack is like poison to drag, seems like a good match?
-Still, this doesn’t make sense. Guys, haven’t you hunted drags?
-If a nerf means nothing, defeating Dayna means it’s seriously strong.
-For real. Dayna, that thing could go toe to toe with diamond LOL.
The chat, seemingly from players ranked Platinum and above, poured in rapidly.
Considering this was a Gold rank broadcast, the level seemed impressively high.
Of course.
-.. What are they even talking about…
-Seems like the celestials have arrived.
-Include us too, bros.
-Constellation my foot LOL. I could talk that big too.
-Agreed. What’s a drag LOL. I could beat it too.
-What’s so great about a drag LOL. People who’d die from a single lick speaking up.
-LOL, truly. All these phone-plats are showing, completely.
-Got caught immediately, didn’t they? Black Goat, please throw the phone-plats out~.
Even the viewers who couldn’t participate in the high-level player chats had their fun.
Regardless.
-All the noobs getting bashed LOL. A drag seems like your buddy to you!
-But really, seems like there’s a high number of top-ranking players here. Chat’s different.
-It’s a gold broadcast, but he was 1st in a debut match. They’ll be interested since they’ll meet him soon.
-Yep. Kim Shimun going to plat is just a matter of time.
-Exactly. Just looking at the uprank matches, Galaxy Arena already considers him plat.
It seemed clear to everyone that compared to other gold broadcasts, the level of viewers here was higher, and that Shimun was of platinum-tier player quality.
And then.
“What do you think, Andrew?”
A middle-aged black man watching all this unfold in real time asked, looking away from the screen.
To which, “Hmm. Definitely different, alright.”
The man named Andrew said as he sat up from lying on the sofa.
“Kim Shihyuk, the Sword Saint, also ranked first in his gold debut, right?”
“Right. That Asian is no different.”
The word ‘Asian’, tinged with a peculiar accent.
“That damn ‘Asian’. Hey, colin, it’s not the ’90s anymore.”
Andrew let out a deep sigh and said, “Please be aware of your surroundings. Making such statements could cause a media uproar, especially coming from someone who’s supposed to embody the American Dream.”
“So what? It’s just a word used to describe them.”
“It’s not the word, it’s your accent…! Ah, colin. What if I reported you for racial discrimination?”
“What can I do if our super ‘white’ rookie decides to? Just have to accept it.”
“Ha.”
Andrew laughed sardonically.
However, colin, the middle-aged black man referred to, merely smiled smugly.
“Enough talking. Anyway.”
Andrew glanced towards a giant screen mounted on one side of the room.
“It’s definitely different from the usual golds. It might even be stronger than Sword Saint Kim Shihyuk.”
“Andrew, Kim Shihyuk is a ranker. This isn’t about golds.”
“I’m talking about Kim Shihyuk during his gold days, colin.”
“Aah. I see.”
Colin nodded and said, “Then those rumors about the growth buff must be true.”
“The Guild Growth Buff leaked by the Night Hunter?”
“Right. And considering the connection between the Night Hunter and the Sword Saint…”
“The Sword Saint must be a part of that guild?”
“If not, how else would such a monster emerge from Asia?”
“Colin, please, that view of Asia…”
Andrew couldn’t finish his sentence.
‘Damned old-timer. Speaking up is just a waste of my breath.’
Suppressing his irritation, Andrew spoke up, “Anyway, just looking at this player, Kim Shimun, it’s clear. I should join that growth guild.”
“Derrick already contacted me about sending you to that guild.”
“The guild master, really? That’s unexpected.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, but Colin’s smile grew broader, “It’s all because the guild master cares about you. Sadly, ron missed out since there’s only one T. O. But that’s something we black folks are used to.”
“Colin, it’s more about my arena performance…”
“Aah, it’s fine. I’m used to it. While you’re gone from the guild, I plan to give Ron your share of the support too. I can concede that much.”
Despite Colin’s casual and smug smile, could there be a hint of an edge, or is it my imagination?
‘No way.’
Frustrated yet swallowing his irritation, Andrew replied, “Of course. I do feel sorry for Ron, getting this opportunity.”
Colin received the answer he most desired.
After all, he was the vice-master of the American Dream.
“Ha-ha! You’re young and progressive. Your mindset alone is enough. That’s how change happens, bit by bit. Out with the old, as they say.”
As Andrew had anticipated, colin’s pointed smile softened.
“Just so you know, since you’re joining the guild only for a while, don’t worry about being left in Asia. Ah!”
Colin turned off the screen and continued, “Try to find out what’s the source of that guild buff.”
“Is that possible? They’ll probably try hard to conceal it.”
“No need to know for sure, but considering your abilities, I thought it might be possible.”
True to Colin’s words, ‘My abilities might just make it possible.’
The chances of uncovering the elusive source behind that incredible guild growth buff seemed higher.
Andrew nodded.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Good. With that buff, we can escape the humiliation of being grouped with the Asian powerhouses and become the greatest guild in the world.”
“…Indeed.”
Andrew forced out a reply and left the room.