Chapter 138 – Summons (３)

‘…A Heart.’

The crest etched right in the center of the gate—one he knew all too well.

It was the Heart of the Ancient God.

The heart split into ten fragments.

[Perhaps what you seek lies within.]

Libre, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke.

[My heart is seething.]

Kutamo, who had kept his mouth shut for a long while after Libre’s scolding, chimed in as well.

Though even now, he was cautiously watching Libre’s mood.

“I’ll open the gate for you first.”

Martin said.

“My role ends at opening the door. What comes after… that’s entirely for Master Jun to handle on your own. Are you prepared?”

What awaited beyond?

He had no idea what events would unfold.

So Martin’s words might have been a warning.

But there was no way Gijun would back down, scared by that.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

Gijun was a bit tense, but the feeling of anticipation was stronger.

Because he was certain something incredible awaited him.

‘Maybe…’

Just as Libre had said a moment ago.

And perhaps what Gijun had been waiting for—the thing that matched the emblem carved on this door—lay sleeping inside.

‘If what’s in there really is the Heart.’

Another fragment of the ancient god’s Heart.

If that’s what waited beyond this threshold.

‘Then the Quest ahead, and the battles in the deeper dark…’

Gijun would grasp a firmer Strength for the coming fight and press forward.

“Alright.”

Martin pulled a Dagger from his belt.

It looked plain, unadorned—just an ordinary dagger.

Then, slowly, Martin channeled divine power into the blade.

Whoooom!

The Sword in his hand blazed with brilliant light.

At the same time, unknown characters rose along the blade.

[That’s an ancient script.]

Libre’s voice reached him.

[It was the language ancient humans used to commune with the gods. Probably no one alive today can read it.]

In that moment, the letters fully etched themselves onto the Sword.

Shhhrrr—

Martin slid the blade into the slot carved through the center of the door.

For a moment—

A low, swelling hum erupted, the air itself vibrating in response.

The light of the Sword extended across the entire door, and soon a radiant glow burst forth from the massive portal itself.

“…”

Gijun narrowed his eyes.

The light was so dazzling it was hard to keep them open.

Then, again.

Kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh-KUH!

The enormous gate groaned as it began to move.

It was opening.

The moment Martin registered the gate swinging wide, he spun around.

“I mustn’t even look inside.”

“….”

Gijun swallowed hard, his throat bobbing, and said,

“…I’ll be back, then.”

“Yes.”

With that single word, Gijun took a step past the threshold.

And then—

A thunderous barrage exploded against the air—Boom-boom-boom-boom!

A storm-like surge of force came crashing down toward him.

*

“They’ve just entered inside.”

“Amazing. To think such a place was hidden within the Papal Court.”

“It’s never been shown to the world once. This fact must never leak outside.”

“Of course.”

After Gijun stepped through the colossal doors beneath the Papal Court, Hera and Martin exchanged words for a moment.

Martin spoke with a grave expression.

“The flow of this game is shifting right now. Even in the quests we’re running, phenomena unlike before are emerging.”

Both of them were in agreement.

“The quest we were undertaking was the same. This quest, too, began with an oracle that descended on His Holiness the Pope. And the moment we saw Lord Jun, another oracle came down. It makes me think—maybe all of this is part of the oracle’s design.”

“That thing called an oracle is quite mysterious.”

“Yes. I believe it’s the sum total of the operating company’s technology in creating this game. It feels like more than just predicting the future—it’s as if it’s sketching out a grand board.”

“This Real Spirit game… the more I learn, the less I understand it.”

“I feel the same. Sometimes I wonder if this world isn’t a game at all, but another real world entirely.”

Hera let out a laugh at that.

“Impossible, I know. Still, now that the Skull guild is practically dismantled, the most important thing is for our two guilds to pool our strength.”

Hera spoke.

Martin nodded.

That was why the two of them had gathered.

To coordinate on what was coming.

“Yes. We too would like to request the Saint guild’s cooperation. This upcoming Quest demands a large-scale force. As you know, our guild alone lacks the strength to carry it out.”

“Don’t worry. If you invite our guild to take part in such a monumental Quest, it would be our honor.”

With that, the two clasped hands.

The joint Quest between the two giant guilds was about to begin.

“Though of course, the core of it all will be Jun.”

At Hera’s words, Martin nodded again.

He knew it well.

With the oracle already given, he understood that nothing could be done without Gijun’s help.

“Then I should be going. I have publicity to handle for this Quest.”

Hera moved.

The massive Quest was about to begin.

Of course, she had no intention of letting this big event proceed in silence.

After Hera left, Martin turned to head back toward the basement to greet Gijun.

But then—

“Master Martin.”

“Your Holiness.”

The Pope had come down to find Martin.

“What brings you all the way down here?”

“I was uneasy about sending that mage down to the basement alone, so I came to check.”

The Pope spoke with a worried expression.

His concern was only natural.

As everyone knew, the Papal Court’s basement was a place sealed for millennia.

Even the Pope himself had no idea what might happen inside.

“That mage is a very important figure. My instincts tell me they are surely the messenger chosen by the divine. They will be indispensable in resolving the crisis we face.”

At the Pope’s words, Martin nodded in agreement.

“Yes, that is certain. But there’s no need to worry. That mage has already astonished the world several times over. I’m sure they will return safely soon.”

“…I hope so.”

“If you’re truly so concerned, would you like to come greet them with me?”

At Martin’s suggestion, the Pope answered with a bright expression.

“An excellent idea.”

“Then let’s go together.”

And so the two of them moved back toward the Papal Court’s basement.

*

‘There it is.’

Right before Gijun’s eyes stood a massive crystal.

Its form was identical to the Heart Shard he had seen before.

‘So it really was hidden here.’

Who would have thought a Heart Shard was concealed beneath the Papal Court?

‘So this is why they hid it away for thousands of years.’

To keep it from falling into anyone else’s hands.

Hidden with absolute thoroughness.

Even the Pope couldn’t enter, and Martin said he couldn’t even see inside—that’s how tightly they’d guarded it.

‘Maybe it was their last bastion.’

Some fragments had already fallen into the Monarchs’ hands, no doubt.

This meant they’d hidden this one piece here, utterly beyond reach, so that not all the Heart’s fragments would slip away to them.

‘Well, I’ll put this to good use now.’

Gijun murmured that to himself and stepped forward, approaching the shard.

Then he reached out and laid his hand upon it.

Thump!

The pulse of the Heart thundered against his ears.

It beat wildly, surging with life.

No complicated process followed.

As always, the Heart melded with him—natural as breathing.

[Ancient Heart]

– Completion 5/10

– Magic Attack +600% (+200%)

– MP Consumption Reduced by 70%

– MP Recovery Speed +120% (+20%)

– Casting Speed +80%

– Magic Power Stat Efficiency x5 (+1)

– Bonus Magic Power +5 per Level (+1)

– Magic Skill Proficiency Gain +110% (+20%)

– Experience Gain +150% (+50%)

>Summon Avatar

>Double Explosion

[Double Explosion]

– Deals damage equal to 200% of Magic Attack each time a Heat of the Boiling Flame is added.

‘…Five pieces.’

At last, five pieces of the Heart in hand.

And one new ability added alongside them.

Its name was Double Explosion.

An ability that worked in concert with Boiling Flame.

‘This has become a monstrous skill.’

Even without it, I’d felt the power of Boiling Flame firsthand more than a few times.

The force that built with ten stacks had crushed even the Monarch Liberta last time.

And now that already-devastating ability had gotten a boost.

‘Now every ember carries bonus damage.’

Originally, Boiling Flame increased Fireball’s damage by 15% per ember added.

But now, each time an ember formed, it ripped into the enemy for 200% of Magic Attack.

Of course, that 200% figure probably doesn’t stack—but the damage every time an ember ignites is nothing to sneeze at.

‘This ability will really shine when I’m fighting boss-tier monsters.’

The Overwhelm effect on the armor Tubaku made me worked great against trash mobs.

And now I’ve got an ability that cranks up my firepower even more in boss fights.

If those two effects combine properly, my combat strength could multiply several times over.

‘Good.’

Gijun clenched his fist.

‘Time to head out.’

No other events triggered.

No reason to linger here any longer.

No room to feel empty—not even a moment for it.

“The real fight starts now.”

I’m going to be busy again.

With that, Gijun left the underground chamber and rose to the Papal Court’s surface level.

And there, the Pope and Martin were waiting for him.

“…Thank heavens.”

The Pope gripped Gijun’s hand tightly.

“To have you come all the way down here…”

Gijun asked, his voice carrying a note of surprise.

He hadn’t expected the Pope to descend this deep.

“I came to greet you, worried that something might have gone wrong inside…”

For an instant, the Pope’s pupils flickered.

He had just realized something.

That a far more formidable strength now emanated from Gijun.

“…I see now that my concern was unfounded. Truly, you are the messenger chosen by God.”

[Heh heh heh. That human seems to have a decent eye.]

Libre’s laughter brushed against Gijun’s ears.

With a faint smile, Gijun spoke to the Pope.

“Then could you tell me what I need to do now?”

It was time to get to the point.

This was about the Quest—the very reason Gijun had come here.

“First, let me tell you…”

The Pope’s lips slowly parted.

“The gate to the Celestial Realm has opened.”

“…The Celestial Realm?”

Gijun tilted his head.

First Tartaros, now the Celestial Realm.

That should be good news, shouldn’t it?

When one said ‘Celestial Realm,’ he pictured angels and something like a palace of God.

But the response that came was far from what he’d expected.

“The Celestial Realm has already been conquered. By the Magin.”