Chapter 207

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 207: Chaos

Minwoo stepped outside for a moment with Hayang.

“You cute little thing.”

―Coo?

Hayang tilted her head as Minwoo gently pinched her beak.

“Who do you take after to be so capable?”

―Coo. Coo.

“Your dad? That’s my girl.”

Its personality, or rather, bird-onality, was perfect. Today’s performance was especially dazzling.

“But how did you do that?”

―Coo?

“You usually don’t absorb monster attributes. But today you did.”

―Coo. (Nods)

“Can you do it with other monsters too?”

―Coo. (Shakes head)

“Then what? When can you do it?”

At that moment, Hayang put her beak to the ground and started writing in Hangul.

After some effort, the phrase was complete.

〈Delicious thing!〉

Huh?

What’s this?

Writing Hangul?

With an exclamation mark?

‘When did you learn to write… no, wait.’

Thinking about it, it wasn’t strange that Hayang could write.

It’s a divine beast that understands words like a ghost.

Not to mention, except for special cases, they were together 24 hours a day.

‘You must have learned to write a long time ago. Probably.’

It just showed it today.

“Delicious thing?”

―Coo! (Nods enthusiastically!)

“So you didn’t do it before because everything looked unappetizing?”

―Coo!

“Even the ice dragon?”

―Coo?

“Remember that orc gate where we met a dragon? Not the big one, the small one. Did it look unappetizing?”

―Coo!

“Wow… Hayang’s standards are pretty high, huh? Just like your dad.”

―Coo coo.

The two dragons they met at the orc gate. The dragon didn’t have much of an attribute, but the ice dragon was different.

It was a dragon that froze an entire continent.

But even that looked unappetizing.

‘Well, compared to the Abyss Lord… the ice dragon was inferior.’

If he applied the situation, he could draw this conclusion:

Ice Dragon = Apprentice Witch (Iris)

On the other hand, the Abyss Lord?

Even the full fledged witch, Leluya, seemed to struggle to block a few arrows. Considering this, it could be seen as a monster even higher in rank than a full fledged witch.

‘I don’t know why it was so strong, but….’

Anyway, thanks to that, Hayang was able to eat her fill. It must have been a stroke of luck.

“Well, luck is also a skill.”

―Coo?

“No, never mind. Anyway, according to Hayang, it’s like this, right? She can only absorb monsters overflowing with attributes and strength.”

―Coo!

“Only the attributes she already has? It can’t absorb monsters with completely different attributes?”

Hayang wrote a number on the ground.

〈1.〉

“One? Ah, you only have one attribute slot left?”

―Coo.

“But you can absorb attributes you already have?”

Nod.

Minwoo understood the structure.

With the Chaos attribute filled, there was only one attribute slot left.

If he filled that as well, Hayang would have seven attributes, living up to her name as a Rainbow Phoenix.

‘I’ll leave that blank for now.’

Who knows? Maybe he’ll get lucky again, like today.

‘Anyway, I got a good weapon.’

A few high-ranking monsters related to attributes came to mind.

If he used this well, it seemed like he could duplicate experience points…

He decided to think about that later.

The test of the Chaos attribute came first.

‘I know it’s above the Abyss attribute, but….’

The main ability of the Abyss was mental attacks. If so, Chaos would also have such an ability.

‘There could be other functions as well.’

Minwoo looked at Hayang.

“Want to merge?”

―Coo!

[The Divine Beast is merging with you!]

[Merging complete!]

Hayang burrowed into his body.

Now, for 30 minutes, Minwoo could freely use all of her attributes, and they could communicate through their thoughts.

‘Hayang, Chaos.’

[Coo.]

Hayang’s cry echoed in Minwoo’s mind. A pitch-black energy rose from his body.

[Activating Chaos attribute!]

At that moment, Hayang’s thoughts were shared, and Minwoo realized what this attribute was and what it could do.

‘This is crazy.’

If Absolute Zero was an attribute that could unleash overwhelming cold compared to the existing ice attribute, then this Chaos attribute was an attribute specialized to the extreme in mental attacks.

It wasn’t simply a matter of triggering trauma.

This Chaos attribute…

‘It can forcibly distort memories… and instill trauma?’

It could even forcibly implant non-existent memories to create fear.

It was chilling.

“Siwoo!”

“Yes, hyung! Did you call?”

Minwoo stared at Siwoo, who came running from afar like lightning.

“…Why are you looking at me like that? And why is your body so dark?”

“I used Hayang’s ability.”

“Ah, that merging thing?”

“Yeah.”

Siwoo nodded.

A while ago, when Jonas from the Griff family visited and fought with Minwoo, Minwoo used an icy attribute that was chilling just to look at. He said it was one of Hayang’s abilities.

It was similar now, except for the difference in color.

‘Then it must be the Abyss attribute.’

The black color was reminiscent of it.

“So?”

Siwoo asked.

“I was trying to figure out what this ability is… and now I think I know how to use it.”

Minwoo could see it.

Siwoo’s head.

To be precise, the area where his brain was located.

Several black lumps were flickering there. The big ones were the size of a fist, and the small ones were the size of a grain of rice.

The moment Minwoo concentrated on the largest lump…

[‘Chaos’ pierces through the target’s trauma!]

A few memories flashed by.

A burning amusement park.

People screaming and running away.

Minwoo understood.

This was Siwoo’s memory of when he lost his family.

The chaotic energy that filled Minwoo’s body began to decrease rapidly.

It consumed quite a bit.

And he felt it.

If he used the Chaos energy here, he could distort this memory.

Or he could even create a new, nightmarish memory.

Of course, Minwoo had no intention of doing that to Siwoo, his colleague and good younger brother. He was just trying to see how to use the ability.

“…Hyung?”

“Ah, sorry. I was experimenting with the ability.”

“So, what kind of ability is it?”

“It’s interesting. And a bit creepy.”

“Are you not going to tell me? I’m curious…”

“Hmm… I can see memories.”

“Memories?”

“If I use this attribute, I can see the other person’s bad memories. And I think I can also forcibly distort or amplify those memories.”

“…Huh? What kind of crazy ability is that?”

“I know, right?”

“What did you see in me?”

“What you were talking about earlier during our spar.”

“Ah…”

Siwoo’s face paled.

“Sorry.”

“No, why would you be sorry? I told you just a moment ago.”

“That’s true. Actually, that’s why I called you.”

“Aha. It definitely feels less like being stripped naked. But isn’t that a scary ability? Not only can you forcibly pierce through memories… but you can also distort them.”

“It’s not all good. It seems to have a lot of drawbacks.”

“Drawbacks?”

“Mental attacks aren’t easy, right? Mental strength. No, let’s call it a mental barrier. If the opponent has a high barrier, the range I can distort will be very limited.”

“Aha.”

“Also… there could be opponents who don’t have any trauma. And I think there needs to be some plausibility in memory distortion.”

“…Plausibility?”

“It’s hard to make someone who isn’t afraid of bugs scared of them. On the other hand, if someone is already afraid of bugs, it’s easier to make them even more scared.”

“…Aha.”

“Also, it’s an ability that’s more useful against monsters than people. Monsters and people have very different values.”

“Ah, right. Creating trauma would be a challenge. If a monster is strong enough to use this ability on, it’s probably very strong. And what a strong monster would be afraid of… hmm…”

“That’s a problem too. It seems like it’s harder to distort monster memories than human memories. Well, that’s it for now. I think I’ll have to actually use it to figure out the rest.”

Minwoo released the merge.

Hayang slipped out of his body and plopped down on his shoulder.

“Divine beasts are truly legendary. How do they get in and out of the body? Do they become liquid or something?”

“That’s why they’re divine beasts. Anyway… we should head back to Earth.”

“Huh? We’re not going deeper?”

“Hayang absorbed the Abyss Lord’s attribute.”

“Right?”

“It seems to have sucked in something like memories from that time. Considering that… it seems like it would be tough to go deeper than the abyss right now.”

While merged with Hayang, Minwoo could directly feel its memories and emotions. He originally wanted to try going beyond the inner sea, but it seemed difficult now.

‘First of all, Hayang is full.’

There was a limit to how much of each attribute Hayang could absorb per day.

The Abyss attribute was already full.

It was like a person being stuffed to the brim.

Hayang needed time to digest, and even if Minwoo’s resistance to the abyss increased due to receiving the attribute, it seemed like it would be difficult to endure for long in the depths.

‘Getting the pearl in the abyss… is impossible for now.’

Minwoo wanted to get potential materials, but it wasn’t like he could never come back here. It seemed better to return when he was prepared.

Minwoo and Siwoo went back to find Leluya. She was squatting in front of the Abyss Lord’s corpse, examining it.

“We’ll be going back. Oh, can we visit this place again next time?”

―If you wish.

―But not for a while.

―The witches are very busy.

“It will be a few months at the earliest.”

―That’s fine.

Leluya nodded.

Minwoo had expressed his intention to revisit.

“Anyway, thanks for your help.”

―Don’t mention it. It was the Grand Witch’s order, so of course I had to carry it out.

―But…

―There’s something that bothers me after checking.

“Something bothersome?”

―The Abyss Lord’s corpse.

―Upon examination, it seems a foul energy was injected into it.

―It’s damp, moist, and utterly disgusting. And familiar.

Leluya said, chewing on her words.

The Abyss Lord’s corpse was being examined by Leluya for “research purposes.”

To find out why it was much stronger than expected. It seemed the analysis results were out.

“So, what is it?”

―The spider moved.

―A subordinate and apostle of the Outer God.

―The Shadow Apostle, Hardronox. It seems his venom was injected.

“…Hardronox? Could it be, this?”

Minwoo took out a statue from his inventory.

A tiny spider statue he obtained after defeating Jonas.

The name of this statue was the Statue of Hardronox.

―Yes, that’s it. It seems the spider has already reached out to your planet.

“…Let’s say that’s true. But why is such a monster involved with the Abyss Lord? If it injected venom, was it aiming for this too?”

―No. If the spider had aimed for it, it would have died a long time ago.

―It’s called venom, but it’s a kind of stimulant. A stimulant to strengthen the Abyss Lord.

―Remember, I opened the portal, right?

“You did.”

―Portals are two-way. In other words, before I opened the portal, someone visited here and made preparations.

―A cunning spider would have spread its webs everywhere.

―They would have quickly figured out my destination.

“They were aiming for you?”

―That’s what I thought until just now.

―Rather than aiming for me, I thought they might have been aiming for one of the witches.

―But… I’m starting to think that might not be the case. Seeing that you have the statue… you must be entangled with the spider too.

“If they wanted to target me, why not just come and kill me directly? I don’t think I could handle a monster like that right now.”

―If a giant moves directly, the ground would shake, right? Then many beings would feel the vibrations.

“You said they injected venom. Doesn’t that mean they came here?”

―The spider has many children. It has plenty of hands and feet to use.

It seemed they used underlings to inject the venom.

That aside…

“So, it’s not easy for them to move directly? Is that why it was quiet on Earth too?”

―Perhaps.

―If they were aiming for you, they might have thought you weren’t worth the effort of moving directly to deal with you.

―Or they might have other ulterior motives. Everything is still uncertain. But…

Leluya’s eyes turned serious.

―Whether it’s aiming for you or the Witch Council, it’s clear that it’s starting to move in earnest.

―So be careful.

―Spiders are cunning. Very much so.

“…You seem to dislike them a lot? Ananke said the same thing.”

Grand Witch Ananke.

She was clearly an enemy of the Outer Gods.

It seemed Leluya was no different.

―That’s right. The enemies of Ananke are also the enemies of our Raven School.

―Of course, I don’t know if all witches feel that way…

Leluya stood up.

―I’ll send you back.

―To Earth.

―By the way… your homeland seems to be in turmoil.

“Huh?”

―You’ll find out when you get there.

―Farewell.

Leluya opened a portal.

Minwoo gathered his companions and stepped through the portal. Leluya, who had helped them return, disappeared as suddenly as she had arrived.

And…

Minwoo was soon able to find out what the “turmoil” Leluya mentioned was.

That was because…

[Hokkaido, Japan, S-rank gate explosion? Fire spirits pour out! The S-rank gate boss, the Fire Spirit King, appears and…]

[Sakura Guild raid failed! SS-rank Awakened Katsuro, along with many high-ranking Awakened, have died…]

[Experts unanimously agree that this is a clear anomaly…]

[World Gate Association issues emergency alert! The ‘Fire Spirit King’ is designated as a special alert monster…]

[Japan refuses international aid? Despite claims to resolve the issue domestically, Hokkaido falls…]

The outside world was in chaos.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]