Chapter 101 – Heavenly Palace Tournament Main Round

On the dawn of the day the Heavenly Palace Tournament main event began.

All members belonging to the Galaxy Guild gathered at the guild house.

The new recruits, having been assigned their respective rooms, unpacked their belongings.

After everyone had settled in and gathered in the lobby, Lee Hanseong divided them into teams.

“Now that everyone is here, I will now assign the teams you will be working with.”

When there were only five people, operating as a single party was fine.

But now that the guild had ten members, at least two parties were necessary.

“First, I will call out Team 1.”

Starting with Lee Hanseong, the names of the three initial members—Jin Yuseong, Park Seongcheol, and Yu Sehee—were called.

When only the last spot remained, Kim Yul’s eyes sparkled as if hoping to be called.

But the name that came from Lee Hanseong’s mouth was not his.

“…Seo Minah.”

“Ah…”

Their reactions were opposite.

Kim Yul let out a sigh, while Seo Minah gave a faint smile.

“Team 1 seems to be gathering only promising candidates.”

An Gyeongseok muttered softly after checking the lineup of Team 1.

That wasn’t the only reason, but since it wasn’t an incorrect statement, Lee Hanseong nodded.

In truth, the bigger reason for choosing Seo Minah for the last spot was to keep a potential risk factor under control.

“The remaining members whose names were not called will be Team 2.”

“Who will be the team leader?”

“Mr. Baek Hyeonwoo, please take the role of team leader for Team 2.”

He gave the team leader position to Baek Hyeonwoo, who had joined a bit earlier.

“And Mr. An Gyeongseok, as a Mid-Rank Awakener, will serve as Vice Team Leader to assist Mr. Hyeonwoo.”

“Very good.”

Perhaps because it aligned with his original purpose of protecting Baek Hyeonwoo, An Gyeongseok readily accepted the vice team leader position.

“Is Mr. Do Junwoo also okay with this?”

“Anyway, I’m already busy enough focusing solely on combat, so I have no complaints.”

“Then, with that, the formal organization is complete. Congratulations to everyone on joining the Galaxy Guild.”

Clap clap clap clap!

When Lee Hanseong greeted them with congratulations for becoming official guild members, the others responded with applause.

“In that spirit, I will first give you the gift you’ve been anticipating.”

Vroom- vroom- vroom- vroom- vroom-

Lee Hanseong activated his Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, perceived the souls of the new guild members, and unfolded his Spirit Particle Manipulation.

Five new connection points were added to the framework of the Guarantee of the Righteous Will.

Simultaneously, corresponding connection points were engraved onto the souls of the new recruits.

“……!”

At first, the new recruits felt a sense of rejection at the sensation of interference with their souls and tried to resist. But soon, perhaps judging that it wasn’t harmful since it was called a gift, their resistance vanished.

Whoosh!

Once the work on each soul was completed, just as with the existing guild members before, the effects of the Guarantee of the Righteous Will were shared.

In an instant, their grades were promoted by one level, and the new recruits’ eyes widened.

Jingle.

Moreover, Kim Yul, who was 4-Star, rose to 5-Star and even obtained a Treasure Vessel in the form of a staff with six rings—a stone staff.

“Is this… the Guild Master’s ability to raise grades?”

“No, that’s not it. I’ve shared the folklore of the Folklore Treasure I obtained with you.”

“Whoa! A Folklore Treasure!”

Kim Yul exclaimed with exaggerated admiration.

His gaze towards Lee Hanseong was so bright it was almost burdensome.

“And I’ve also raised your Synchronization Rate with your Spirit to its limit, so you should have unlocked new Awakening Skills.”

“Is it really okay for you to bestow so much upon us already?”

As if unable to believe they had gained growth that would normally require over a month of life-risking effort in an instant, Shin Gyumin asked.

“Wasn’t this what you were hoping for when you joined?”

“That’s true, but…”

Shin Gyumin was worried about cases where people only receive benefits and then betray the guild.

Reading that thought with his Insightful Eye, Lee Hanseong added a remark.

“Besides, those who would take the power and leave wouldn’t have received it in the first place.”

“Aha, that’s a relief then. But…”

Shin Gyumin spoke hesitantly.

“By any chance, can you also share the Folklore Treasure’s effect with my Thunder?”

A Tamer’s strength is ultimately determined by the level of the Awakened Monsters they tame.

Becoming stronger themselves isn’t bad, but it’s more efficient for the Awakened Monsters that fight directly to become stronger.

“Ah, right. Mr. Shin Gyumin is a Tamer. Is Thunder the name of your Thunder Hawk?”

“Yes. Intuitive, right?”

“It’s a cool name.”

Well, since it wasn’t a very difficult request, he added one more new connection point to the Guarantee of the Righteous Will.

Vroom-

The ‘Thunder Hawk,’ which was a Three-Star Beast, evolved into a Four-Star Beast, and a faint wind began to blow around it.

Whoosh- Crackle- Crackle-

Having gained the wind attribute in addition to lightning, it now wielded dual attributes.

“This is a Thunderstorm Hawk! I’ll repay this favor twofold! Guild Master.”

“Yes. You can repay it gradually. Now, let’s head out soon.”

Lightly accepting Shin Gyumin’s thanks, Lee Hanseong checked the time and led the guild members outside the guild house.

It was almost time for the Heavenly Palace Tournament main event to begin.

* * *

The location where the Heavenly Palace Tournament main event unfolded was not Earth.

[The Heavenly Slaughter Constellation and the Sun Constellation construct a Reverse World.]

[The Reverse World ‘Celestial Sky Path’ has opened.]

[All participants who have advanced to the main event of the Heavenly Palace Tournament, promising candidate division, please use your entry tickets to enter the Celestial Sky Path.]

The start of the Heavenly Palace Tournament main event, announced worldwide via the Constellations’ message.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!

Along with it, the existence of a massive Sky Island, previously unseen, appeared in the sky.

Around the Sky Island, made visible from anywhere in the world, hologram-like projections floated everywhere, showing the interior arena.

This was precisely why the Heavenly Palace Tournament could become a global festival.

“Then, shall we go?”

Park Seongcheol said, taking out the golden ticket he received from James Lee, while Jin Yuseong took out the one he received upon passing the preliminaries.

With the will to use them, the tickets dispersed into particles of light and enveloped their bodies.

Pop.

Immediately after, the Divine Forms of the two vanished.

Simultaneously, the two appeared in the projections of the Celestial Sky Path.

No, not just the two of them; Mid-Rank Awakeners from all over the world who had advanced to the main event began to reveal themselves one after another.

“Oh. Baek Woohyeon is there too.”

An Gyeongseok spotted Baek Woohyeon among them and acted familiar.

Baek Hyeonwoo also nodded, seemingly pleased to see his cousin.

As some time passed, no new participants appeared.

The 16 main event qualifiers selected from the Korean preliminaries.

And the 8 seed qualifiers each chosen by the Sun and Heavenly Slaughter.

All 32 participants had entered.

“Two from our guild are participating in the Heavenly Palace Tournament. Is that why you told us to gather starting today, to watch together?”

“Well, that’s part of it. But we’re not watching from here; we’ll be heading there soon too.”

“Huh?”

When Kim Yul spoke, Lee Hanseong pointed to a projection among those of the Celestial Sky Path that showed the spectator seats around the arena and answered.

Most of the empty seats weren’t sold separately.

Only ability.

Only those strong enough to enter the Reverse World Celestial Sky Path through their own individual abilities could occupy those seats.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to withstand the aftermath of the battles.

“Everyone, get ready to go. I’m going to open a gate leading to the Celestial Sky Path now.”

The location of the Celestial Sky Path was concealed by the Constellation’s Blessing, making it inaccessible by ordinary means.

That’s why Lee Hanseong deliberately had his comrades participate in the Heavenly Palace Tournament.

To use them as beacons to enter the Celestial Sky Path.

‘When I thought about intervening in the Heavenly Palace Tournament from the dungeon, I planned to use Colonization and Shrinking Earth to get there… but now there’s a better method.’

Using Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, he traced the connection points with Jin Yuseong and Park Seongcheol to pinpoint the coordinates of the Celestial Sky Path.

“Spatial Connection.”

He opened a gate using Hyu’s Second Awakening Skill.

Perhaps because it was an Awakening Skill that traversed Reverse Worlds from the start, breaking through the Celestial Sky Path’s resistance was easier than expected.

Zzzzing-

“Let’s go.”

Lee Hanseong stepped towards the spatial gate that opened before him.

Thud.

The next moment, he appeared in one of the seats in the Celestial Sky Path.

“He really opened a gate leading to the Celestial Sky Path?”

“I believed it from the start.”

When Seo Minah showed a surprised expression, Kim Yul spoke with a calm face, as if scolding her for her disbelief.

Under Seo Minah’s gaze that seemed to say ‘what do you expect me to do?’

Yu Sehee urged them.

“Enough chit-chat, let’s go quickly. Maintaining the gate for long will be a burden for Hanseong too.”

“Yes.”

The guild members began to hurriedly pass through the gate one after another.

The remaining Team 1 members, Yu Sehee and Seo Minah, entered first, followed by Lycan and Team 2.

“Oh! It seems we’re the first to occupy the spectator seats! That must mean the Guild Master’s ability is that outstanding.”

Kim Yul immediately began praising Lee Hanseong upon arriving at the Celestial Sky Path.

It was true they arrived early, but others arriving late wasn’t because their abilities were lacking.

They were simply putting on a deliberate show of tardiness, considering it beneath their pride to arrive early and secure seats before the matches even began.

“Now that everyone’s here, take your seats and sit down.”

Confirming everyone had passed through, Lee Hanseong released the Spatial Connection.

Since many of his connection points already remained at the guild house, he could simply unfold Spatial Connection again when returning.

Maintaining it further would just waste Starlight.

Of course, he could withstand that level of consumption easily.

But anyway, even if he maintained the connection, it would soon be forcibly severed.

‘Because Unchain’s terror will begin immediately.’

Once the matches started and eliminated participants appeared, losers would be expelled from the Celestial Sky Path. So, to kill as many promising candidates as possible, they had no choice but to target now, before the matches began.

With the spectator seats not yet occupied, there would be almost no interference.

Sure enough.

“Huh?”

An Gyeongseok, who looked up at the shadow suddenly cast over the sky, stiffened his expression.

“Everyone, be careful!”

No sooner had he shielded Baek Hyeonwoo and warned them.

Crrrrrunch-!!!

A Wolf’s Maw, incomparably larger than the one Lee Hanseong had previously unleashed with the Twilight Orb, swallowed the Celestial Sky Path.

“Everyone, prepare for battle.”

Lee Hanseong calmly ordered the guild members while invoking Divine Possession with Pheidippides.

Probably right now, outside, the whole world would be bewildered by the sudden disappearance of the Celestial Sky Path.

But the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord and the Sun Star King would soon grasp the abnormality and come to help.

We just need to hold out until then.

Ssssssss.

“The Starlight is leaking out.”

“The power of release-type attacks will drop by about 30%.”

While the Celestial Sky Path’s inherent Reverse World blocking power was preventing the Twilight Orb from being completely digested, it couldn’t stop the Starlight from being gradually absorbed.

Do Junwoo and An Gyeongseok, who had also immediately invoked Seven Star Spirits like Lee Hanseong, noticed this fact and shared it with the allies.

“By any chance, Guild Master, do you know anything about this situation? At a glance, that wolf earlier… it seemed like the original of the Authority you showed during the Hundred-Man Slaughter.”

Among them, An Gyeongseok, having even recognized the Twilight Orb that swallowed the Celestial Sky Path, pressed Lee Hanseong.

“I don’t know for sure either, but it’s probably the same Authority.”

“Then?”

“However, just because the Authority used is the same doesn’t mean everyone is related to me.”

“So you don’t know.”

“But one thing is certain. The one who used the Authority didn’t swallow the Celestial Sky Path with good intentions.”

“I’ll trust that for now.”

It was then.

-Kyahahahahaha!

A black-winged Fallen Angel, laughing like a madwoman, revealed herself in the sky of the Celestial Sky Path.

“Kuhuk!”

“Cough!”

Just from hearing the laughter, the lower-ranked Awakeners all vomited blood simultaneously.

A mighty grade rivaling the Black Knight.

The opponent was a 10-Star Quasi-Divine Grade Awakener.

Groooooowl!

Kim Yul and Lycan, who had reached 5-Star, were in a state where they could fight to some extent.

But Yu Sehee, Baek Hyeonwoo, Shin Gyumin, Seo Minah, and others were practically excluded from combat.

Clank… clank…

To make matters worse, an unignorable sound of footsteps came from the arena passageway.

A sword-like aura mingling with the sound of iron armor clashing.

The Black Knight had appeared as well.

‘Two 10-Star Rank Awakeners.’

No, if we count the one who unleashed the Twilight Orb, three.

But Lee Hanseong’s calculation was too hasty.

“There were already unlucky ones in the spectator seats?”

A strange being who suddenly spoke to them right next to their seats in the spectator area.

Unlike the Fallen Angel or Black Knight, he didn’t radiate an aura, but all the hairs on their bodies stood on end.

Their instincts were warning them.

Though he looked like an ordinary person, he too was likely a 10-Star Rank Awakener.

“Well, I’ll blame you for arriving early.”

Swoooosh-

The man who said that began to feel increasingly massive.

The illusion felt as he gradually revealed his aura.

No, it wasn’t an illusion.

The man was actually growing.

‘Gigantification!’

A white giant, now so large the arena seemed small, was looking down at them.

“……!”

It was the first moment when all four of what would later be called the Heresy Four Stars—Unchain’s Four Heavenly Kings—had appeared.