Leveling with the Gods

Amaterasu walked through the center of the room.

He was restless, eagerly awaiting something.

Pudeuk-.

A screech was heard. When he looked out the window, all he saw was a hazy sky.

Nothing out of the ordinary.

"Are you playing with me?"

The player's kit remained silent, no response.

There was no news of Kim YuWon, who had gone in search of the Yata Mirror.

This meant one of two things.

Either he had the Yata Mirror and had disappeared, or he was dead.

However, strangely, Amaterasu didn't think YuWon was dead.

It was an unfounded suspicion, but it was a gut feeling. Since their first encounter, Kim YuWon had seemed like a high-ranking player, maybe even one of the top 20 or 10.

Someone like that couldn't have died.

The reason he couldn't communicate with him was probably because he had the Yata Mirror.

'Even if he did, there's no way a single player could betray me.'

He was very aware of YuWon's abilities.

He had heard the rumors and knew he had won his fight against Ares.

He had seen it firsthand and thought he was quite good.

But even if he was, he was still far below himself.

Furthermore, there was no reason to believe he would make the wrong decision in the heat of the moment.

If that were the case, there was only one reason.

"Asgard......."

He trusted the background he had behind him.

He must have believed in Asgard's strong shield and stabbed him in the back.

'Do you think you'll get away with it?'

The Yata Mirror had to be in his hands.

He had a rough idea of where Susanoo's Sacred Treasure was located.

At the last moment, they found out it had disappeared on the first floor, so it was as if he was already halfway there.

But what if the Yata Mirror fell into Asgard's hands here?

He couldn't allow that.

Tick, tock, tick-.

Amaterasu impatiently tapped his player's kit.

He sent a message to the other players and Rankers stored in his player's kit, located on the 44th floor.

-Supervise the perimeter of the Trial Center. Don't let him reach the next floor.

Kim YuWon would definitely try to ascend to the next floor.

He was a brilliant talent. A talent that even the Rankers, not to mention the High Ranks, found ridiculous.

No.

He already possessed the strength of a High Rank.

It shouldn't be difficult to find him if they kept an eye on the Trial Room.

"The greed for the top is the same for everyone."

He knew well the players' greed to reach the highest point.

He had been one in the past, and so had everyone else.

So he was certain.

"He's definitely on this floor."

"I thought you were on the 44th floor."

Ding-.

Hercules served tea.

YuWon looked at the small teacup that seemed like a toy in his large hand and asked curiously.

"It seems you have an inappropriate fondness for tea."

"Inappropriate? What do you mean?"

"It's because with your appearance, it seems like the only thing you drink is beer."

"You shouldn't judge people by their appearance."

Sitting across from each other at the dining table inside a cabin, YuWon drank the tea that Hercules handed to him.

In the tranquility of the forest.

After the battle with Olympus, Hercules had returned home and spent the rest of his time in the forest.

Pak.

Pushing aside one of the chairs, someone approached and sat next to YuWon.

Turning to the side, YuWon saw Pandora and asked.

"What about Pandora? Is she okay?"

For some reason, Pandora didn't want to leave YuWon's side.

This time was no different.

And to release such Pandora, YuWon entrusted her to Hercules.

Even if he couldn't help it at that time.

Now, as if she couldn't separate, Pandora clung to YuWon's side.

"She still seems a little reluctant to meet people. Probably because of Zeus."

Hercules hurriedly offered Pandora a cup of tea.

"This is for you. Drink it."

"...Yes."

Pandora, who had been staring at the teacup Hercules handed her, nodded.

Her expression changed slightly when she looked at YuWon. It was as if she was resentful of him for leaving her behind.

"It seems she has a different expression lately."

"She was like that after you suddenly disappeared. I guess she's getting better."

"Well, that's good to hear."

"Even if it's just for Pandora's sake, you should drop by when you have time. I don't know if you're a healer, or that little one next to you is, but she needs you."

"I can't promise, but I'll be here for a while."

Dreuk-.

Hercules, who was about to take a seat, froze at the unexpected response.

"Here? Why?"

"Why not? Do you have all this money and can't treat me to a meal?"

"No, I didn't mean that..."

Hercules, taken aback for a moment, hesitated before continuing.

"I thought you would keep climbing... I heard your goal was the top of this Tower, the ceiling."

YuWon was different from other Rankers.

Even Hercules knew that.

That's why he thought YuWon would keep climbing the tower. Since the war with Olympus was over, even more so, he wouldn't rest anymore.

"I can't keep climbing."

"But why?"

"Because there was a little fight."

"A fight?"

Seeing the puzzled expression on Hercules' face asking what he was talking about, YuWon explained what had happened.

Floor 44.

A world of criminals.

The Three Precious Children and the Three Sacred Treasures.

YuWon took out the Yata Mirror and the Kusanagi Sword and placed them on the table.

"So, you're saying these are two of the Three Sacred Treasures?"

With a rare look of surprise, Hercules touched the Yata Mirror and Kusanagi.

A strange sensation ran through his fingertips. It was definitely not an ordinary object.

"You have a knack for finding things like this."

"It was pure coincidence."

"It doesn't seem like something you can come across by accident."

They were right.

The Three Sacred Treasures were an item that even the Three Precious Children could only find one of, even after searching together.

But to think that he had saved two out of those three treasures.

"As for the Three Precious Children, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi are still remaining, right? I don't know about Tsukuyomi, but I remember that Amaterasu's ranking is quite high."

Amaterasu's rank is higher than the other two Gods, except Zeus.

No matter how skilled YuWon was, at this moment he was a difficult existence to handle.

"Do you want me to help you?"

Hercules' eyes gleamed fiercely.

They were the eyes of battle.

An unexpected reaction.

He, who clearly hated fighting, offered to assist in a fight himself.

"I wondered if he would listen to me even if I asked him."

YuWon hesitated for a moment.

With Hercules' help, things would be easy. Currently, Hercules was ranked among the top 20, far above the Three Precious Children.

With his strength, this fight shouldn't be too difficult.

"But..."

It was best for Hercules to stay where he was now.

He needed the right items.

He had faced a high-level High Rank without anything, without items, with his bare body.

The only reason he was able to become one of the top 10 was because he obtained the right items.

"This guy should stay here for a while."

This matter had to end on his terms.

If he really needed Hercules' help, he would have it, but not for this.

"It's okay, I can handle this on my own."

"Wouldn't it be difficult that way?"

"No way."

Hercules seemed bewildered by YuWon's confidence.

Seeing that expression, YuWon asked.

"Why?"

"It's obviously a ridiculous fight."

"But?"

"I think you'll win, for some reason."

YuWon had won the war against Olympus.

This time, even if he didn't have any other allies, the opponent was too different.

Compared to Olympus or Zeus, the Three Precious Children were very insignificant opponents. Although Amaterasu was a bit dangerous, he thought he would somehow overcome it.

"But if you're going to fight, why are you waiting here?"

"Because we need time to fight properly."

"Time?"

"I entrusted something, and I need to stay until it's complete."

In other words, waiting until Hephaestus completed the object he had entrusted to him.

He didn't know how long it would take, whether days or months.

Perhaps it would take years.

That's why he had chosen this place.

"So let's take care of ourselves for a while. Maybe a little longer."

This was Hercules' house.

A place that not even the Three Precious Children dared to invade.

So this place was perfect.

"And in the meantime..."

Druk-.

After finishing his tea, YuWon stood up and asked.

"Can you help me?"

Chuk-.

YuWon and Hercules ran to a place far from the cabin.

Pandora moved away from them and ate some snacks. It seemed Hercules had bought the snacks to feed her.

"Are you telling me to help you practice your Gigantization?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Well, you see, my Gigantization is still a child."

YuWon remembered the first time he encountered Hercules' Gigantization.

"Shouldn't I learn a bit from you, an adult?"

Gigantization was an ability that only Hercules possessed in this Tower.

Naturally, there weren't many clues about Gigantization. Besides, at this moment, YuWon didn't have a chance to encounter a giant.

"Even if you say that, I have nothing to teach you."

"You don't have to teach me."

"So, what should we do?"

"Fight against me."

YuWon didn't draw his sword.

With just his bare body, he faced Hercules, and Hercules laughed in disbelief.

"Are you trying to fight me with your fists?"

"Don't be so hard. I want you to fight me without killing me."

"Without killing you..."

Hercules pondered the words for a moment, then opened and closed his fists several times.

And in the next moment...

Bum-.

Hercules' fist extended in front of him.

Shaa-.

He could feel the Arcane Power emanating from his fist, crushing his body.

He barely managed to avoid being knocked away, and in the next moment, he felt his stomach churning.

Thud-.-.

"Kugh!"

Blood spurted from YuWon's mouth.

His stomach organs seemed to burst. As the sensation continued, his body shape collapsed.

Kwadeuk, Kwadeudeuk-.

Crunch, crunch-.

The ground began to crumble. The floor collapsed, and Liu YuWon's body plummeted.

In front of Hercules with his fist extended.

An enormous cliff appeared in front of him.

"Mmm…"

Hercules alternated his gaze between his fist and the bottom of the cliff.

Gigantization punch.

It was a skill he rarely had to use. Unless he was fighting against Zeus or the like, there were very few battles that justified using Gigantization.

"Without killing you..."

Once again, he contemplated YuWon's demands in his mouth.

"I'm sorry, but that's the difficult part."

Translator's Note.

The Current Ranking Is:

-Now-

[Poseidon – 72]

[Hades - 61]

[Susanoo - 57 (dead)]

[Amaterasu – 52]

[Hercules – 21]

[Zeus-9]

[Kim YuWon-X]

-Future-

[Poseidon – 43]

[Hades – 34]

[Susanoo - #57 (dead)]

[Amaterasu – 13]

[Hercules – 3]

[Zeus-5]

[Kim YuWon-4]