Player who Returned 10,000 years Later

Side Story Chapter 162: Primordial Knowledge (4)

“What the hell are you talking about?” Cha Yeon-Joo asked.

Asking for a way to give Akart a good beating was far too vague of a question.

“I don’t mean beating him up physically.” Oh Kang-Woo smiled. “I should be able to find a way to deal a large blow to his plan at the very least.”

“How…?”

Yeon-Joo frowned, having no idea what Kang-Woo had in mind.

“Just a second, let me organize my thoughts.”

Kang-Woo also needed time to think because he had only just thought of it. He closed his eyes and thought deeply of schemes that could flip the massively disadvantageous situation in his favor. He slowly opened his eyes again.

‘Yeah.’

He thought of three questions to ask the Primordial Knowledge. The way to flip the script popped into his head.

There could be a better idea— no, he was sure there was.

‘But we don’t have time.’

Since Akart had said they would meet again soon, Kang-Woo did not have much time left.

“First question,” Kang-Woo remarked. “Tell me Midir’s awakening conditions.”

Midir, the demonic sword that devoured despair and was powerful enough to handle the condensing of the Flames of Voracity, was a growth-type weapon. In other words, Midir was not in its perfect form.

Riiing!

[Searching the Primordial Records…]

[The primary awakening condition of Midir, the despair-eating sword, is to plunge one world into despair. The final awakening condition is to plunge two worlds into despair.]

There was a primary and a final condition. They were likely the conditions needed to awaken Midir, currently a ten-star weapon, to eleven and twelve stars respectively.

‘Plunge a world into despair, huh?’

It was truly fitting for a weapon that devoured despair. Others may have cursed at how absurd the conditions were but it was fairly simple for Kang-Woo. Plunging a world into despair was a piece of cake for him.

“But about these conditions… do I just need to plunge two worlds into despair or are the two conditions combined and I have to plunge three worlds into despair in total?”

Kang-Woo wasn’t sure if the condition was reset after clearing the primary condition or if it carried into the final condition. The answer was given to him simpler than he had expected.

[You may plunge two worlds in total into despair.]

[The above answer is considered an additional explanation of the first answer, hence it will not count toward the three answers.]

“Whoa, impeccable service.”

‘But I’m glad it’s just two and not three.’

It was only natural that two was easier than three.

“What does this have to do with dealing a blow to Akart…?” asked Yeon-Joo as she tilted her head.

Kang-Woo would certainly have an easier time against Akart if Midir was fully awakened but was a little anticlimactic after Kang-Woo claimed he could find a way to set back Akart’s plan.

“Also, does awakening that thing even change anything?” Yeon-Joo continued.

Midir was a powerful weapon but was just a weapon. Having such a powerful weapon could significantly boost a regular Player’s combat prowess but Kang-Woo was so strong that weapons had minuscule effects on his strength.

“No, I doubt it,” Kang-Woo remarked leisurely. “In terms of its capabilities as a weapon, that is.”

“What does that mean…?”

Kang-Woo smiled and chuckled. He was not awakening Midir in hopes that it would grow stronger. As Yeon-Joo said, Kang-Woo was too strong for weapons to affect his strength.

“Well… we can talk about that later. Let’s get a way to deal Akart a good one from the Primordial Knowledge.”

“Fufu. It looks like you’ve thought of a good idea,” Lilith said as she approached the smiling Kang-Woo and hugged his arm. She asked with shining eyes, “May I ask what you have in mind?”

“Just a second.” Kang-Woo slightly turned his head and asked the second question, “Tell me how to get to Akart’s paradise.”

Kang-Woo found out about the existence of paradise during the Church of Radiance incident. He also found out from his conversation with Akart that he was moving the souls of people on Earth to another world to save them.

‘In other words, the paradise exists.’

Kang-Woo did not know if the place was truly paradise or not but he was at least sure there was a world Akart created to save the souls of people on Earth.

‘And I’d bet Akart is there.’

Akart had created the world himself. If he was preparing to invade Earth, he was likely doing it there.

Riiing!

[Akart’s world Luceo Pure cannot be accessed directly from Earth. It can be entered through the satellite world Zexal.]

Kang-Woo had been to a satellite world before; it was one of the worlds in the Triad’s vicinity. They were significantly smaller than regular worlds.

‘Just like a stepping stone, I have to go to that satellite world first before I can reach Akart’s world.’

It was rather good news since he needed to fulfill Midir’s awakening conditions anyway.

“But the problem is how we can get to this world called Zexal…” Kang-Woo slurred.

“Zexal?” Si-Hun tilted his head. “Did you just say Zexal?”

“Huh? Yeah, why?”

Kang-Woo wondered why Si-Hun knew something about a world Kang-Woo had never heard about.

“Well… there was an otherworldly invasion in Aernor when you were still in the Tower of Creation,” Si-Hun remarked.

“Yeah, I’ve heard. You were taking care of that issue before you came here, right?”

‘Could it be?’

“The outer world that invaded Aernor is named Zexal,” Si-Hun answered.

“Hah,” Kang-Woo couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘What a fucking coincidence.’

It was far too extraordinary to call a coincidence.

‘No… it’s probably not.’

Kang-Woo had asked the Primordial Knowledge to tell him a way to get to Akart’s paradise. Since he received an answer, it meant there already existed a way for them to go from Earth to Akart’s world.

‘I would bet I never would’ve gotten an answer if Zexal hadn’t invaded Aernor.’

Or he might have gotten an alternative method.

‘Whatever the case.’

They could reach Akart’s world through Zexal.

“Hyung-nim. Umm… Did you ask for a way to get to Akart’s world because…” Si-Hun slurred with a serious face.

Kang-Woo smiled and nodded. “Yup.”

There was only one reason why Kang-Woo used one of three precious chances to find a way to Akart’s world.

“We don’t have to suck our thumbs and wait just because Akart declared he could come to us, do we?”

Kang-Woo had no choice but to prepare when Bael invaded years ago but it was different now.

“We’re going to strike Akart first.”

Nothing was more important than striking first in war. Kang-Woo had no choice but to yield the initiative until now because he had always been on the defending side but there was no need to since he found out how to go to Akart’s world. The world facing its end would not be Earth but Akart’s world.

‘That’s… the method I’ve thought of to deal a large blow to Akart.’

“Gahahahahaha!!! Good!! I love it!!!” Balrog laughed heartily as he clapped.

He was more than welcoming of such a development as a warrior.

Lilith smiled seductively and nodded. “Hmm. You have a point. We’ve only been on the defense when dealing with otherworldly invasions.”

“Hm! I can rampage as much as I want in my true form there, right?”

“I will follow you anywhere, Kang-Woo.”

Echidna and Seol-Ah clenched their fists.

“Aha, so this is what you meant by giving him a good beating.”

Yeon-Joo smiled widely and lightly stretched. The plan was not as complex as she had expected— it was rather simple, hence why she liked it even more.

“Hehe, nice. I never liked always having to give up the initiative.”

The defense was always in the advantage during a siege but the offense was always in the advantage in an interplanetary war.

“I see, how like you.” Layla nodded unexpectedly calmly. She stared at Kang-Woo with deeply sunken eyes and asked, “But… will you be a match for Akart?”

She was being realistic; there was no point in striking first if they were no match for Akart.

“I never would’ve even suggested it if I wasn’t.”

“Fufu, that’s true.” Layla nodded with a smile.

‘Well, I’m not completely sure.’

Not even Kang-Woo could be sure of his victory against Akart. A Titan who possessed the Primordial Light was as powerful as one could guess.

‘But…’

Avoiding a battle because one was unsure of victory was idiotic. Akart knew who Kang-Woo was and what he possessed, hence he would never let Kang-Woo be.

‘He would chase me down even if I abandoned Earth.’

The battle would not end unless one of them died. There was no point in avoiding the battle just because he was unsure of victory.

‘Besides…’

Kang-Woo couldn’t be sure but he was confident in his victory as long as his plan worked.

“Hehehe! Shall we prepare to go to this Zexal world right away?” asked Balrog as he bared his teeth and flexed his bulging red muscles, raring to go.

“No, Balrog. Stay out of this one,” Kang-Woo said.

“Pardon…?” Balrog’s eyes widened. He looked as if he had been smacked on the back of his head. He shouted, “Wh-What do you mean, my king?!”

Kang-Woo’s comrades were also staring at him in disbelief, never having expected him to leave Balrog out of a battle.

Kang-Woo snickered and continued, “I have another mission for you.”

“What mission…?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

Kang-Woo was planning on getting the one who could be considered as the cornerstone of this entire plan.

“Right, then. Third question.” Kang-Woo turned away from Balrog and asked, “Where is Amon right now?”