Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 174: Star, The First Station (6)

[You have entered the Hidden Dungeon ‘Rhaegaren’!]

It was quite menacing to see several-meter-tall Giants shouting as they glared. For a moment, Chang-Sun watched them blankly, completely mesmerized by their fighting spirit.

The Giant warrior who talked to Chang-Sun from the very front was especially impressive. After all, he was holding something stronger than any other Giant warrior’s fighting spirit. Even if Chang-Sun came here in his prime—no, even if the ‘Divine Twilight’ himself came here, he wasn’t sure he could win against the Giant warrior. At that moment, Chang-Sun realized that the being before him was holding an unfathomable depth. A universal being gigantic enough to cover not only civilizations and planets but even universes was inside that tiny body.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ unknowingly drops her jaw, feeling overwhelmed by the imposing Giant warrior!]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ narrows her eyes, thinking it has been a long time since she saw these nerve-wracking Giants. ]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ smiles bitterly as he watches the Giants, whom he was once close to.]

…

[Many deities hold their breath.]

[A few stars narrow their eyes, thinking the shadows of <Muspelheim> are too thick!]

…

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ greatly marvels at you for finding this Hidden Dungeon!]

Even the Celestials seemingly groaned when the Fire Giants of <Muspelheim>, which had been known to be extinct, appeared. They knew that the Fire Giants in front of him were just fragments of the actual ones from a plane that had gone through <Extinction>, though. No matter how much they struggled, they wouldn’t be able to do anything because they didn’t have souls anymore. Celestials despised this kind of existence as much as they loathed mortals—no, Celestials hated this more.

Even so, the Fire Giants still released a very powerful aura, which was unusual for the beings that were living in a plane that had met <Extinction>. Although it would never happen, if they pointed their spears at <Heaven>... something really horrible would occur.

Thud…! Rumble!

At that moment, the Giant warrior standing at the front loudly stomped once more, shaking the ground—no, shaking the world hard as if he was the only one on it.

Exuding a powerful aura, the Giant warrior asked, 『I’ll repeat my question. Are you the new successor of our deceased king? Your soul is definitely human, but I can clearly smell our deceased king’s scent from you. That’s why we allowed you to enter even though you’re suspicious. Who in the world are you?』

Chang-Sun knew he had to answer the warrior properly.

‘He said these Giants will trample all over me if I give the wrong answer,’ he recalled.

“The ‘Rhaegaren’ is Surtr’s heart and the ‘resolve’ left by the Fire Giants after they met <Extinction>. Hence, it is only natural for the qualification test to get ‘Laevateinn’ to be very tricky.” Thanatos warned Chang-Sun.

‘Laevateinn’ wasn’t an ordinary relic. It was the legacy of the Fire Giants, of <Muspelheim>, which was why Chang-Sun already thought acquiring it could never be easy. Relics with extraordinary power often gave out tests to choose their owner.

‘But I only expected Surtr’s shadow to show up, not every shadow of <Muspelheim>.’ Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes.

After deeply inhaling and exhaling, Chang-Sun yelled, “My name is Lee Chang-Sun.”

[The Title ‘Jigwi Demon Incarnation’ has been applied, creating a firestorm!]

Woosh!

The Fire Giants were natural-born warriors, so they had a strong tendency to despise the weak. That was why it would be in Chang-Sun’s best interest to remain confident in front of them. When he spread the Jigwi’s wings, navy blue fire swirled around him in a concentric circle, spreading all over the place.

Chang-Sun had <Molted> twice and awakaned as a Giant, acquiring the <Muspelheim> fire as a result. The navy blue fire was currently mixed with that flame. Hence, his fire was no longer just an ordinary Eon Fire. It had now become <Retribution Fire>, and it had <Darkness> mixed in. The new <Retribution Fire> was so hot that it only rose when it was used to purify souls with a lot of bad karma.

“I wish to challenge you and take ‘Laevateinn’. Shadows of the fallen <Muspelheim>, do you still have enough courage to accept my challenge?” Chang-Sun provoked them. Some might think it was cheesy, but it was very effective for these Giants.

[You have provoked the Fire Giants!]

[All the monsters inside the Dungeon have become hostile toward you!]

[You have become the public enemy of <Muspelheim>. Prove your value to change this outcome.]

The intimidating aura from numerous Giants pressured Chang-Sun, but he just thought, ‘… It’s bearable.’

Their aura was so strong that its pressure would have internally injured him before. However, having awakened as a Giant, he currently remained unaffected. He felt suffocated—no, he felt the strong desire to win against all of them in combat rising from his heart. Chang-Sun probably felt this way due to [Giant’s Courage] and [Giant’s Fighting Spirit], considering all <Muspelheim> Giants had such instinctive desires.

Chang-Sun intentionally provoked them so they would recognize him as a contender. The requirements to reach the ‘Rhaegaren’ differed depending on whether the person was an invader or visitor.

‘If I’m an invader, then I have to fight all of them, but that would get me killed,’ Chang-Sun thought.

However, he could acquire the right to become the Giant King or the successor of the Giant King once he got recognized as a contender because traditionally, those who were talented were the ones who inherited the Fire Giant King’s throne, not the blood kin of the previous king.

『You’re one smooth talker.』

The Giant warrior, who was wearing a knight helm, dumbfoundedly chuckled when he noticed Chang-Sun’s goal. However, as a Giant, he wasn’t going to let Chang-Sun's provocation slide.

『Time to determine if you’re worthy enough to do so, then. Let’s begin.』

[Commencing the Dungeon Quest!]

[Quest Theme: Overcoming.]

[You have entered <Muspelheim>, a plane that has been met with <Extinction>, as a visitor. However, you have now also become a contender who wishes to challenge and conquer the <Muspelheim> strongholds.]

[Accept the challenge of the ‘Rhaegaren,’ their sacred land. To get to the center of the ‘Rhaegaren,’ you have to pass 36 strongholds, defeating the gatekeeper of each stronghold to get to the next.]

[The Fire Giants, the <Muspelheim> residents, are natural-born warriors. Hence, they strongly uphold the principle of ‘the strongest takes everything.’ Passing all 36 strongholds and acquiring ‘Laevateinn’ will make the Fire Giants accept you as the Giant King’s heir.]

『Get out of the way!』

The Giant warrior shouted, and the Giant soldiers standing in formation split in half and made way for Chang-Sun, revealing a long road to a spiky stone mountain. It seemed Chang-Sun had to go to that mountain.

『Our strongholds stand at the end of this road. If you can pass all of them and return with the ‘Laevateinn,’ we will accept you and recognize you as one of us, our blood brother, and our king’s heir.』

Chang-Sun nodded and slowly walked across the road, feeling the Giants glare at him as he passed them.

‘That’s quite threatening,’ Chang-Sun observed.

He momentarily thought the phrase ‘death glare’ was the most accurate way to describe these Giants’ glares. That was how hostile the Giant soldiers were to Chang-Sun, the contender who provoked them.

Any of the Giants could take a swing at Chang-Sun right now, but he didn’t care. In fact, he didn’t even stay on guard. He would let them attack him if they wanted since he knew it was all part of their tests to determine whether or not Chang-Sun had the guts to pass by them without being fazed.

‘If I hesitate or stay on guard even a little bit here, they’ll just smirk at me,’ Chang-Sun assumed.

Chang-Sun had to acquire ‘Laevateinn’ through this Dungeon Quest, but before he could, he would have to prove that he was worthy enough to become the Giant King, which meant the shadows of <Muspelheim> had to acknowledge him. Anyone who had declared that he was going to become the Giant King’s heir shouldn’t act weak around the shadows.

‘Although the <Muspelheim> Giants are natural-born warriors, they’re also soldiers. They value honor and pride more than their lives, so they’ll never gang up on me or try to stab me in the back,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Even if one of them tried to spring out at him, he was confident that he wouldn’t be blindly attacked.

Kiyoo!

With its eyes wide open, Cadmus observed its surroundings as it sat on Chang-Sun’s right shoulder. As long as Cadmus was with Chang-Sun, he didn’t have to worry about getting ambushed. After getting past the Giant soldiers, he climbed up the stone mountain, seeing the gigantic stronghold where the Giants stayed when he was already halfway up. It was so big that Chang-Sun had to tilt his head far back to see its entirety.

『You really did come.』

Before Chang-Sun stood another Giant warrior exuding a similar aura as the one he had met at the foot of the hill, but this one was carrying two axes on his back. The warrior’s helmet tilted back a little, letting Chang-Sun see his amused eyes. The warrior quietly chuckled.

『People normally freak out while passing through that army. Even the one before you did.』

Uninterested in chitchatting, Chang-Sun was about to ignore the warrior’s remark and tell him to lead the way, but hearing the latter part of what the warrior had to say made him pay attention.

“Someone has come to this place before me?” Chang-Sun asked.

『Yes, I think he’s at the thirtieth stronghold by now.』

The warrior nodded, making Chang-Sun’s eyes widen a bit.

‘Someone else managed to pass through Surtr’s veins? How?’ Chang-Sun couldn’t help wondering.

Surtr’s blood was so hot that it even disintegrated Eon Fire, so Chang-Sun had to come as prepared as he could be. Even then, he still had a hard time passing through Surtr’s veins. He even had to <Molt> to barely reach the ‘Rhaegaren.’ However, someone else had arrived here before him, which was hard to believe. Chang-Sun tried to remember if any of the Players who had entered the ‘Wuthering Stone Desert’ were talented enough to do so, but he couldn’t think of anyone.

‘Did a Player from another civilization use a different Gate…?’ Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes.

It wasn’t impossible, considering no one knew which plane a Dungeon would be connected to.

‘I’ll find out once I get there,’ Chang-Sun thought as he decided to catch up with the earlier visitor as soon as possible.

He couldn’t let someone who didn’t even know the true identity of the ‘Rhaegaren’ conquer this place. On top of that, many parts of his plan could go awry if the previous visitor acquired ‘Laevateinn.’ Besides, he had to hurry since the desert train ANG would depart in a day anyway.

Having such thoughts, Chang-Sun slowly resumed walking. The warrior carrying axes walked beside him like a guide and asked,『You know the basics of the challenge, don’t you?』

Chang-Sun nodded, so the axe warrior gave more details.

『There are thirty-six strongholds. The more strongholds you pass, the stronger the warriors you’ll encounter by the gate. You can’t possibly win against our warriors, but you don’t have to worry. They’ll fight with as many handicaps as needed.』

Judging from his tone when he mentioned the word handicap, the axe warrior was clearly mocking Chang-Sun, but he didn’t care since he was not reckless. Although Chang-Sun had become a Giant by <Molting>, he wasn’t certain if he could win against these Giant warriors, who had gone through countless battles and killed numerous Celestials.

Considering the first Giant warrior that Chang-Sun met was as strong as the ‘Divine Twilight,’ how was he supposed to beat the axe warrior in his current state? These Giant warriors were already fighting and warring deities that considered most Celestials below them, so they were bound to offer to fight with handicaps, and Chang-Sun had no reason to refuse their offer.

Those who had confidence in their ability would feel humiliated and refuse the Giants’ offer. Thinking Chang-Sun would do the same, the axe warrior was looking forward to seeing his reaction, but he just gestured at the axe warrior to continue. Hence, the warrior clicked his tongue in disappointment and continued.

『Passing each stronghold is very simple. You just have to defeat its guardian or earn their recognition. Whether or not you can get to the next stronghold depends on them. Simple, right? Any questions?』

“No.” Chang-Sun shook his head, making the axe warrior smile slightly.

『You don’t talk too much and you only care about getting the job done, huh? That’s good. I wish all the other contenders could be like you.』

Although it had only been a very short moment since they had met, the axe warrior seemed to like Chang-Sun very much. In the warrior’s eyes, Chang-Sun probably looked like a monk as he silently marched forward to achieve his goal, which was the type of hero that the Giants blindly looked up to. Of course, Chang-Sun didn’t care what the axe warrior thought. Tilting his head, he said, “Is that so? Anyway, I would like you to open the door now.”

『I will.』

The axe warrior nodded. After some time, they reached the first gate, which was also gigantic and had faded stone engravings on its surface. Curling up the ends of his mouth, the axe warrior put his hand on the gate.

『Do your best.』

As soon as the axe warrior finished speaking, the stone gate opened wide.

Woosh―!

Beyond it, extremely hot winds blew, greatly tousling Chang-Sun’s hair. At that moment…

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ wants to say something to you.]

Perhaps because Chang-Sun had acquired the Title ‘Great Devil’s Disciple,’ Mephistopheles uncharacteristically actively reacted. Wondering if Mephistopheles was trying to cheer for him, Chang-Sun looked at the message window.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ warns you that he would beat your soul out of you if you lose, adding that he can never stand the sight of his disciple getting defeated by some random guy!]

His message seemed ominous for some reason.