Chapter 217

Chapter 217
## Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: Abyss King

The day began.

Every participant from the Korean Hero Alliance who had entered Pangeniar carried a look of pure exhilaration.

“Incredible…!”

“Is this truly the headquarters for Korea?”

“Rundella serves as our primary base…!!”

“Sniff!”

The air was thick with emotion, and several members were visibly weeping.

Park Tae-woo, leading the alliance, was caught in the same wave of sentiment.

‘At long last, a home for our people.’

The ancient ruins of Rundella!

With the hostilities against Isera concluded, the “Oh Five Powers” had followed through on their word and transferred the ruined city of Rundella to them.

Now that the perimeter was secure and the necessary defenses were established, the alliance had officially moved in.

《The Lord of ‘Rundella,’ ‘Park Tae-woo,’ has arrived.》

《You have unlocked the hidden trait ‘Rundella’s Ruler’ (All attributes increase by +1 when in effect).》

《Announce your leadership to the local population.》

《315,779 inhabitants await the arrival of their sovereign.》

《Established tax rate: 35%》

《There are 550 unexplored ruins within the vicinity.》

《’Ruin Dungeons’ can only be accessed by the city’s master.》

《Registered ‘Hero Alliance Members’ are granted tax-free status in this territory.》

The reality of it felt like a dream, but the system notifications appearing in his field of vision were undeniable.

This was data accessible only to the one who held the city.

“Lord Leader, are those tears?”

“Keep it down, show some respect.”

“Finally. Korea can hold its head high and truly thrive now.”

Park Tae-woo brushed the moisture from his eyes.

He tried to remain composed, but the relief was overwhelming.

‘The days of Korea being disregarded are over.’

Securing a base city carried more weight than any roster of players or individual legends.

In the current era of Pangeniar, a nation’s status was defined by whether or not it controlled a city.

The difference in development between those with a base and those without was staggering.

This was precisely why Dark Star focused their support on nations with cities during the Isera crisis.

‘The potential for growth is limitless.’

They could generate revenue through taxes to fund superior equipment.

The dungeons within the city walls provided far better experience and loot than those found in the wild.

This meant they could safely level up new recruits, which was essential now that the maximum level threshold had been increased.

Furthermore, there were deeper advantages.

‘The true treasures known only to lords: inter-city commerce and diplomacy. We can mobilize armies and coordinate massive dungeon expeditions that were once out of reach. This is just the surface of what we can achieve.’

Historically, Korea had been forced into secondary roles.

While other city masters targeted high-value ‘raid bosses,’ Koreans were brought in as cheap labor.

Now, they were the ones in control.

They possessed the wealth and the manpower to dictate their own path.

“But Lord… will the Six Hero Associations really let this slide?”

“What choice do they have? They didn’t dare interfere when Oh Five Powers held the title.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the group.

Since the former master of Rundella was an elite, it was possible the Hero Association he belonged to would object.

However, when Oh Five Powers seized Rundella originally, that organization remained silent.

Would they really challenge a transfer that was officially sanctioned by Oh Five Powers?

“Is the pact with Oh Five Powers genuine?”

“It is,” Park Tae-woo confirmed with a nod.

Though not a formal public treaty, the city hadn’t been gifted without a reason.

“Where is the proof? The Six Hero Associations won’t hesitate unless they see a clear deterrent.”

It was a logical concern.

The joy of the acquisition was tempered by the fear of it being taken away.

Park Tae-woo offered a confident smirk.

“Look at the teleportation nodes.”

“The nodes? What about…”

The members who hurried to the warp gates were left speechless.

Every connection to the Six Hero Associations had been cut, but one specific link remained active.

“No way!”

“Is this for real?”

“The ‘Labyrinth City’… it’s linked?”

There was no stronger evidence.

Active warp connections between cities signaled a mutual alliance.

It was a public declaration of unity.

The Hero Associations wouldn’t dare move against them now.

Oh Five Powers was the premier strength serving the White King and the warrior who took down ‘Sword Saint Riley,’ a figure of untouchable power in the Abyss Labyrinth.

A titan among players.

Nobody would pick a fight with him lightly.

“We have to ask, Lord. What is your connection to Oh Five Powers?”

“Exactly. Giving away a city isn’t a small gesture… it must be something deep.”

At this point, curiosity was at its peak.

Every eye in the alliance was fixed on Park Tae-woo.

After a pensive silence, Park Tae-woo spoke.

“He is my elder brother.”

“Excuse me?”

“What kind of brother?”

The response left the crowd bewildered.

In truth, Park Tae-woo had never met Oh Five Powers face-to-face.

His knowledge of the man came solely through Hudson.

Yet, when he considered their bond, he felt an instinctive urge to refer to him as an older brother.

“…He is a man we must follow with everything we have. He saved our nation from Isera’s corruption and provided us with Rundella.”

The debt owed was greater than any life could pay.

Claiming to be Oh Five Powers’ younger brother felt arrogant right now.

He had to get stronger, and quickly.

Only by reaching new heights of power could he hope to return even a fraction of what had been given.

‘I won’t stop at this city. The landscape of Pangeniar is in total disarray. This chaos is the perfect opportunity to seize true authority.’

He would climb.

He would reach a height where no one could look down on them again.

The days of shame were over.

For the sake of his country, the alliance, and his own pride.

He would reach the top.

And he would settle his debt.

Park Tae-woo’s knuckles turned white as he squeezed his fist.

Observing this scene,

‘Mankind is such a source of amusement.’

The seventh sovereign of the underworld, the great Basara, wore a thin smile.

She was currently inhabiting the body of an Awakener to blend in with the humans.

She had successfully joined the Korean alliance and even utilized an Earth-based vessel to ‘log in’ to Pangeniar.

Because of this, she felt she had gained a deeper understanding of the laws of dimensional interference set by the goddess.

It was a feat only Basara could manage.

There was more to discover, but she didn’t care for the details.

‘Perhaps I should provide a little assistance?’

The current drama was far more engaging.

Oh Five Powers Randolph was the master of the dragon deity that slew Isera and the previous soul of ‘Wilhelm.’

How far would Park Tae-woo go, fueled by his devotion to his ‘big brother’?

Did he truly possess the qualities to stand by that man?

‘The foundation is promising.’

She decided to put him to the test.

Naturally, this was just a game to pass the time until her formal reunion with Wilhelm.

She was simply idling until Wilhelm arrived at the destination she had envisioned.

Basara felt a slight warmth in her cheeks at the thought of him.

‘Our paths will cross again soon, Wilhelm.’

—

The Balan Kingdom.

The monarch sat across from a guest, his expression tight with dread.

The presence of this single man had rendered the surrounding guards and advisors breathless.

It was the sovereign of the Iron Kingdom, King Frederick.

A tyrant who thrived on conflict and had already wiped two nations off the map.

His current sights were set on this land, the Balan Kingdom.

‘I knew he was erratic, but to walk in here with only six companions…’

Was it extreme confidence?

Or did he simply view the Balan Kingdom as no threat at all?

King Frederick had arrived with just five knights.

Taking his life now would theoretically stop the war.

And yet…

‘It’s paralyzing.’

Just being in his presence felt like an assault on the mind.

The Balan King was no stranger to the battlefield.

He had stood among heroes and navigated many conflicts.

But he had never seen a man like this.

A man whose very gaze seemed to choke the air out of the room.

“…Are you here to demand our capitulation?”

“Ha! Do you think I’d bother traveling here for something so tedious?”

King Frederick kicked his boots up onto the table with a heavy thud.

“H-How dare you…!”

“Such blatant disrespect!”

The advisors of Balan erupted in anger, but their King signaled for silence.

The disparity between the Iron and Balan Kingdoms was enormous.

Whether in land, military might, or resources—Balan was outmatched.

Yet the enemy had come to talk instead of launching an assault.

“Then what is your purpose here, King Frederick?”

“I don’t want anything from you. I am simply presenting an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

With an arrogant shrug, King Frederick elaborated.

“I’ve heard Balan is famous for its order of knights. So, let us test that. Your five greatest warriors against my five. A duel to the end.”

“And the prize for us?”

“If you manage to win the majority, fine. I will grant you the right to keep breathing.”

“…The right to keep breathing?”

The statement was baffling.

He wasn’t promising to end the war or stop the invasion.

He was offering them their lives as if they were already forfeit.

It was the talk of a madman.

“The Balan Kingdom has nothing of value to wager against me in a real bet. Thus—I am wagering your very existence.”

“…And if we are defeated, what do we lose?”

“Lose? Didn’t I just say you have nothing to offer?”

King Frederick’s grin widened.

“If you lose, it’s over. Total destruction. I will leave nothing standing—not a person, not a blade of grass. I’ll burn it all to the ground.”

“That is an insane proposition.”

“Indeed, my generosity is quite shocking. However, if this contest manages to entertain me, I might reconsider the ‘invasion.’ Besides, I see you have some interesting pieces on the board.”

King Frederick’s eyes scanned the room behind the Balan King.

Most were beneath his notice, but two individuals caught his attention.

“—Serengeti, the White Knight of the Great Expedition, and the Sea Saintess who was presumed dead. You’ve gathered quite the crowd.”

“An attack on us will bring the wrath of the Goddess Church upon you, King Frederick.”

“The Goddess Church? Hah! Do you think that toothless organization is enough to give me pause?”

The Goddess Church was the most influential faith in existence.

Its power reached across all of Pangeniar, rivaling any empire.

Yet King Frederick spoke of it with utter contempt, showing no fear because he had no reason to.

“The contest begins tomorrow at mid-day. Do try not to bore me.”

—

The Abyss.

The most profound and shadowed realm.

In those depths, a massive entity stirred.

It had detected a presence within its territory.

Normally, such an intrusion wouldn’t cause this monster to move.

It had consumed countless other lords and dominated multiple layers of the void, earning its name as the ‘Abyss King.’

However.

There was a specific scent clinging to these intruders.

A familiar, sharp aroma that was impossible to ignore.

A low vibration shook the darkness.

The Abyss King shifted its mountain-sized frame.

The very fabric of the abyss began to swirl as the titan moved.

Finally, it opened its eyes.

《’God’s Flesh Hybrid’ is watching you.》