Volume 3, Chapter 206 - Underground World (2/2)
âThe old gods thanked the new gods and returned to their respective realms as they chose to stop fighting and live quietly.â
The same was true for the lives they gave birth to.
The elves chose the mysterious water and forest.
The demihumans that lived in the plains chose the grassy meadows and the deep forest.
The dragons chose the tall mountain ranges.
The giants chose to live underground.
âYouâre telling me these are giants?â
The giants born from the gods of starfaring vanished from the surface and chose to live underground. Theyâre probably a different race from the mindless giant (Gigantopitecus) that Gi Zu once met.
A closer look at the images of the giants showed 4 eyes that dazzled like gems lined up on what seemed to be its head. It wasnât possible to pluck them out and take a closer look but they were probably actual gems, in fact. They looked somewhat similar to humans, but there were those among them with 3 or 4 arms. And there were even those with scales growing all over their body. They were probably about 3 times bigger than the ogres too. They were truly giants.
As the Goblin King admired the spectacles, he walked between the right stone columns. The Goblin King did not know who it was that made this giant construct, but regardless, the Goblin king believed that that person deserved respect. The giant images, or rather statues, were so exquisitely made that they actually seemed alive.
Not once had the Goblin King seen such lifelike structures of giants until now.
When the Goblin King passed the right columns, light reflected before the king. When he turned his sight, he noticed that it was the brilliance from the gem eyes of the giant statue.
The Goblin King stopped and looked up at the giant. What caught his interest was the strange glimmer in those red jewels. The direction of the light should have been fixed, but for some reason, it seemed to be reflecting straight for the kingâs line of sight.
ââŠWhatâs going on?â
It was as if the gems were specifically trying to illuminate the king himself.
As the Goblin King muttered out his question, he reached for zweihander.
ââŠWho are you?â
A voice that seemed to reverberate from the very depths of the earth reached the kingâs ears. The statue of the giant before him shook a little, then creaking sounds resounded from the right pillars.
âSmall one, who is neither man nor beastâŠ
The jewels sparkled several times. They seemed to be some sort of sign or perhaps the giant was simply looking at him, but either way, it couldnât have simply been the Goblin Kingâs imagination.
âYou shanât go further.â
The Goblin King couldnât hide his shock when the statue first spoke, but now, he was starting to regain calm. But when he thought about how all the statues here could possibly be giants, he couldnât help
but shiver as he wondered how many giants could be hiding here in this section.
The Goblin King looked up at the talking giant.
âI⊠Have business up ahead!â The Goblin King boldly declared as he puffed out his chest.
âPast here⊠Lies the underworld⊠Dark and vast⊠The world of the dead⊠That is not a place⊠you should tread.â
âThat worldâs master is calling me.â
âThe master of the underworld⊠Master⊠Ohh, hateful goddess of the underworld, Atesia. Noble Altesia. Pitiful goddess of vengeance, Altesia!â
The giant spoke in a way that seemed to be both crying and reciting.
âOnly the dead⊠May go to their worldâŠâ
The giant moved a little from the stone pillar and his head turned to the Goblin King.
âIf that⊠which is not dead⊠were to go there⊠then he too shall become⊠dead.â
âUnfortunately, I have something that needs doing even if means gambling with death.â
The number of lives that the Goblin King carried on his two shoulders could no longer be counted. Perhaps it was even they, who valued their lives, who led him.
As the Goblin King boldly announced that, he went deeper in. The giant looked at the small back moving away and stirred a little.
âHateful Altesia⊠We lay in slumber now⊠But one day⊠We shall enter⊠the underworldâŠâ
The giant spoke no more and silence returned to the pillars.
As the Goblin King passed the giants and walked further in, the tunnel in which darkness ruled returned.
The darkness within it was even greater than before.
When the Goblin King passed it, the gigantic remnants of rotten armor appeared before the Goblin King. It was as if a great war had occurred here and scattered them. On the other hand, the armor seemed to be the right size for the giants. A giant sword whose blade was chipped. A bent unusable shield made out of unknown material. A spear with a chipped spearhead.
When the Goblin King passed all those, he knew he was close.
Before the king was a giant door he could only look up at. A gate might be better suited to describe it than a door. It extended so high up abve that when he looked up only darkness could be seen. It was so majestic that he wouldnât doubt it if he were told this was the gate to the underworld.
But as grand as the gate was, what really assured the king that he was close was none other than the giant snake coiled around the gate. It was small compared to the gate, but it was still a giant snake. Scales could be seen standing up along its back like a cockscomb and there even seemed to be a mane. ON its dark brown speckles and blackish brown vertical stripes were countless scars.
âState your business.â
When the giant snake opened its eyes, the words it uttered weighed heavily upon the Goblin Kingâs shoulders. It was as if the very words themselves had a force of gravity to them.
âI have business with the underworldâs master!â The Goblin King boldly declared.
The giant snake narrowed its eyes. âYou donât strike me as a dog sent by the giants, butâŠâ
As the giant snake raised up its head, pressure from the wind rose up a little.
ââŠVerid and Bedydia⊠Youâre here too?â
The giant snake smiled as it opened its mouth. Fangs that could crush boulders could be seen closely packed inside its mouth.
âIs it⊠time?â
The giant snake wasnât talking to the Goblin King but to Verid, who was inside him.
âNo, Perseval. We are only here at the masterâs behest. We are here to have this one receive his blessing.â
The earth devouring snake, Perseval, looked suspiciously at the Goblin King, and the Goblin King in turn looked suspiciously at his right arm, where Verid was, but without any response, he could only look back up at the giant snake.
The giant snake stared at the Goblin King for a while, then he smiled. That expression stank very much like human.
ââŠVery well. As one one whom Verid has entered and Bedydia has entrusted his will, I shanât object to it, you who leads the yet small chaos.â
The earth devouring snake peeked at the king from in front. Its eyesâ hue was a deep blue that looked like a jewel. It was like the color of the deep see.
âDoth thou seekest power? Though death be thine toll?â
The snake spoke like a priest would on oneâs wedding day, but the Goblin King nodded nevertheless.
ââŠI do.â
Perhaps this was what Altesia had intended, the Goblin King thought as he accepted the power that could lead him to death.
âThen taketh mine power and fulfill our desire.â
âWhat is it that you desire?â
âTo let Hekaterinaâs (Goddess of Glory and Victory) song resound throughout the land!â
âSo be it! I promise you that with these two hands of mine I will bring a victory so grand even gods would turn!â
Pleased, the earth devouring snake laughed and bellowed out a great howl That shook the whole underground world. In the next moment, the earth devouring snak bit its own flesh and sprinkled its own blood upon the Goblin King.
Smoke sizzled out of the Goblin King as he looked around him.
âFeel free to take the giantsâ treasure there for yourself.â
There were several sparkling treasures around the place where the giant snake had coiled itself, but there were far too many things that the Goblin King could not carry with him.
Out of that pile, the Goblin King pulled out one weapon.
âThe Guardian Sword of the Giants, Titan Dagger, huh? A fitting weapon for you weaklings.â
âI will keep my promise. You just wait here.â
âWell said. Now then, itâs a bit too early for you to be coming here. Go! Go forth and run! Run and return to the surface from whence you came!â
The Goblin King walked back the way he came and went back up to the surface.
âI hope you become a crack upon the world.â
After the Goblin King left , the armored giant that exited the pillar appeared before the earth devouring snake.
âDid you awake from your slumber because you sensed I was hurt? What a troublesome curse.â
âWe⊠will be the sword⊠of vengeance⊠that shall avenge our ancestors!â
In the world beneath the ground, after the Goblin King left, a battle that would be spoken of in myths was unfolding.
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Race: Goblin
Level: 1
Class: Imperial; Great Emperor
Possessed Skills: Supreme Ruler of the Demon Children of Chaos; Defiant Soul; World Devouring Howl; Sword Mastery A-; Road of the High King; Kingâs Soul; Rulerâs Wisdom III; Servant of the Gods (previously translated as Household of the Gods); The High King's Oath; Flowing Magic Control; OneEyed Snakeâs Evil Eye; Raging Conqueror's Soul (previously translated as something else â I believe â but the entry is missing); The King's Dance at the Edge of Death; Third Impact (The Third Chant); Warrior's Instinct; Guided One; The King who Calls Forth Chaos; Favor of the Sealed War God (Previously used the world blessing too â but it seems there's actually a distinction between the various blessing-related terms); Sacred Favor of the Underworld Goddess
Attributes: Darkness; Death
Divine Protection: The Underworld Goddess (Altesia)
Subordinate Beasts: Rook Kobold (Hasu Lv56); Gray Wolf (Gastra Lv20); Gray Wolf (Cynthia Lv42); Orc King (Bui Lv96)
Abnormal Status: One-Eyed Snake's Blessing; TwinHeaded Snake's Protection; EarthDevouring Snake's Blessing
Skill: Supreme Ruler of the Demon Children of Chaos (Previously Ruler of the Demon Children of Chaos)
âCharm towards tribal goblins (HIGH) (No changes from previous level.)
âThe abilities of goblins under your rule are increased. (HIGH) (Previously just MEDIUM)
âThe effect of the charm on a subordinate will wear off upon their death unless the goblin is an adherent. (No changes)
Skill: Road of the Supreme King (Previously Dominator)
âIncreases the maximum population that can be ruled (EXTREMELY HIGH). (Previously just HIGH)
âCharm toward species other than goblins (MEDIUM). (Previously just LOW)
âDirectives to those directly under you are absolute. (No changes)
Skill: The High Kingâs Oath (Probably an evolved version of the Kingâs Dance at the Edge of Death, which previously just dealt x2 damage of oneâs incurred damage toward an enemy.)
âCan use the ether of the underworld in exchange for ensured damage to oneself.
âStrength, Agility, Ether Capacity, and Physical Defense are greatly increased (EXTREMELY HIGH) but healing skills will no longer be able to heal oneself.
Skill: Sacred Favor of the underworld Goddess) (Previously just blessing of the underworld goddess)
âCharm toward those who have received her divine protection (HIGH). (Previously MEDIUM)
âHate from those with the light attribute (MEDIUM). (Previously LOW)
âCharm toward those with the darkness attribute (MEDIUM). (Previously Low)
Abnormal Status: Earth-Devouring Snakeâs Blessing âAll other blessings are strengthened.
Abnormal Status: Blessing of the one-eyed snake
âStamina regeneration (HIGH). (Previously MEDIUM)
âEther is easier to control. (No change)
Abnormal Status: Protection of the Twin-Headed Snake
âStamina regeneration while fighting in the Fortress of the Abyss (EXTREMELY HIGH). (Previously just HIGH).
âStamina regeneration while fighting in the Forest of Darkness (HIGH). (Previously MEDIUM according to the author, but V2 Skill Summary says LOW. Was there another level up somewhere?)
âThe growth rate of the goblins under your leadership is increased (MEDIUM). (Previously just LOW)
Skill: Favor of the Sealed War God (Same name as before)
âDefense, physical strength, and ether will all be raised when leading an army (HIGH). (Previously had no rating.)
âOneâs instinct is now more accurate when looking around the battlefield. (No changes)
Item: Titan Dagger
âA dagger used by a giant in ancient times as a defensive weapon. To other races, it looks like a great sword.