Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 096

[Gil-seong defeated the ‘Sand Specter’!]
[Seo Eun-ha’s brilliance envelops Gil-seong.]
[Gil-seong delivered a fatal blow to the ‘Sand Specter Variant’.]
Meanwhile, the members are struggling on the upper deck due to the mysterious Emperor-class monster. Among them, Seo Eun-ha and Gil-seong, especially the ADC Gil-seong, have been having a hard time since earlier. I should return and take care of them a bit more.
Endure even if it’s tough. We’re all trying to survive together.
[Combat Gauge: 46%]
‘It’s a bit unsettling.’
While returning the way she came, she is hunting down as many Sand Specters as possible in all directions. It’s fortunate that the sandstorm has noticeably weakened, allowing her to snipe even the ones far away.
Still, the gauge is filling up quite fast, and it seems like I’ll be able to refill it to 100% in another 30 minutes.
‘Let’s do a quick check.’
I utilized the remaining time and opened my inventory to check the loot obtained from the fusion of six Lord-class spirits.
The core of the highest-grade evil spirit, which is the most expensive, has been consumed by Gunggi, so I’ll pass on that. The rest were quite valuable. Especially this.
[Quick Enlightenment Rebirth Stone]
▶ Classification: Material ⇨ Reinforcement Material
▶ Grade: Legendary
▶ Description: A soul stone that greatly aids in breakthroughs. Can also be used as a supplementary material for elixirs.
▶ Effect: Can assist in breakthroughs up to 4-star grade. Greatly increases the gauge for breakthroughs.
I’ve consumed not just one, but two legendary-grade Rebirth Stones that can be used up to a whopping 4-star grade. If I use these Rebirth Stones as supplementary materials to obtain other primary materials and make elixirs, I can significantly boost the members’ breakthrough gauges.
[Gil-seong’s soul stirs.]
[Gil-seong’s spirit has reached ‘2-star’!]
“Success.”
Right at that moment, the long-awaited message appeared. Gil-seong, who attempted a breakthrough in the previous battle, finally grew to 2 stars. It was rewarding to have fed her elixir and filled her breakthrough gauge to over 80%.
[You feel proud of Gil-seong’s growth.]
Proud indeed.
Now, if only Jin-soo and Eun-ha’s 2-star advancements are completed, we can assemble an elite squad with all members at the 2-star level. Since the remaining two also have plenty of breakthrough gauge, if the opportunity for a breakthrough arises, their grades will be smoothly enhanced.
[More than two heroes in the affiliation have reached 2-star, fulfilling the achievement condition.]
[Achievement ‘Outstanding Boss’ achieved. Obtained ‘Lower Battle Skill Draw Ticket’ 1.]
‘What’s this now?’
Unexpectedly, the system handed out a reward. An achievement, no less. And a battle skill draw ticket, at that. It’s a concept not seen in Clan of Heroes before.
‘So, this was hidden.’
It seemed that when affiliated heroes are grown by meeting specific conditions, they clear what’s called an ‘achievement.’
Roughly speaking, points are for daily skills, and achievements reward combat skills.
‘This means…’
It’s another way to directly enhance Isaac’s specs. Depending on what the draw ticket offers, of course.
But if the draw ticket grants a unique magic stone battle skill, it would be incredibly delightful. Even if not, I just hope it doesn’t give out utterly useless items.
[Gil-seong uses ‘Creation Beam.’]
[Gil-seong defeated the ‘Sand Specter Variant.’]
[Gil-seong inflicted a critical injury on the ‘Sand Specter Champion.’]
[Hwang Man-deuk received minor injuries.]
[Seo Eun-ha…]
The combat gauge, which was gradually rising, was filled to the brim after 40 minutes.
[Combat Gauge: 100%]
‘It’s filling up slower than I thought.’
If it had been a chaotic battle, it would have been filled up in less than 10 minutes. It might be worth considering adding the ‘Self-harm & Recovery’ mechanism for the members. If it was only increasing by 1% every 10 minutes, then it might be noticeable if it increases by 5% each time. But whether it’s worth wasting the precious equipment slot of the members needs to be compared.
Sigh…
The sandstorm, which had been weakening since earlier, had now weakened to the point where it could hardly be called a storm anymore. The combat gauge must have been refilled again, and with Flame Emperor and Yoho by my side, there was nothing to fear.
‘I worried for nothing.’
The Emperor-class monster flying from afar seemed to change direction midway. If it hadn’t, we would have encountered it sooner.
“Turn back.”
Following my command, the three levers flew in the direction that could bypass the sandstorm in the shortest distance.
We have ten days left. It’s a tight schedule. We might encounter some other anomaly in the meantime.
So, let’s manage stress well and keep the condition of the hard-working members in top shape. Not just physically but psychologically, there might be considerable anxiety. This is the right timing for a carrot rather than a stick.
– Zzing. –
“Leader, leader! I reached 2 stars!”
It’s not like Gil-seong came down from the lift, jumping up and down, making a fuss. She must have dreamed of reaching 2 stars, so I should give some reaction, even if forced.
“Everyone did a great job. Especially you, Gil-seong. You performed your ADC role well.”
“Hehe! And, and?”
“Don’t get too carried away. Congratulations on reaching 2 stars.”
“Yay~ I got praised by the leader. Satisfied.”
Even though she’s not on an entertainment show, why is her excitement always like this? She must be exhausted physically and mentally from shooting incessantly, yet…
‘It keeps happening, huh. Time is the best remedy.’
Hwang Man-deuk and Eun-ha, who tend to be more observant than Gil-seong, kept glancing at me. Seeing an Emperor-class monster being sliced in one fell swoop would have had a big impact.
Even if you’ve experienced similar patterns a few times, since the scale keeps getting larger, it’s hard to adapt. Even as the person in charge, I’m always flustered, so are they used to it?
“What are you staring at, kid?”
“Ah, um! Hehe.”
I messed up Jin-soo’s hair, making his cheeks flushed and his eyes sparkling. Such actions may not mean much to me, but they could greatly contribute to the healthy development of this child’s sense of self.
– Vroom! –
The Nexus Jet, freed from the penalty of the fierce sandstorm, flew again at nearly the speed of sound.
Not long after, a strange terrain was detected on the radar network. It was a massive structure nestled deep in a pit, resembling a grand church or cathedral, with protective barriers drawn around it.
‘Could it be an ancient ruin?’
The scent of potential riches was in the air.
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Just as a sparrow cannot ignore the grain mill, the expedition team for the elixir of life made their way beneath the sacred atmosphere of a massive structure. The building resembled a grand church or cathedral, and a protective barrier encircling it was cracked.
Crucially, there was a hole at the entrance large enough for a person to pass through, so there was no way to just ignore it.
However, unfortunately, after a couple of hours of searching, the expedition concluded that there were no significant treasures inside the ruins. It seemed that someone had already finished exploring the ruins.
The heroes left their regrets behind and boarded the levers again. As if the encounter with the sandstorm had acted as a form of atonement, they flew for two more days without encountering powerful monsters or natural disasters and arrived at a mountain range filled with strangely shaped rocks.
Beyond the mountain range stretched a vast plain, which was none other than the ‘Screaming Lands’, the most treacherous land in the underworld.
The reason for such a name in a seemingly ordinary place was that when the sun set and night fell, unidentifiable screams echoed throughout the area.
However, apart from the initial expedition, very few humans had set foot in the Screaming Lands, so no one had been able to solve the mystery of why chilling screams spread every night.
“From here, we’ll split up and enter. Gather at the destination in 10 hours using your prepared methods. If discovered, attract attention as agreed.”
Responding to Isaac’s orders, the leader of the expedition and the awakened, Flame Emperor and Yoho, replied with stern faces. The Screaming Lands was indeed a dangerous place.
The dominant species here were the relatively docile Ligno Giants among the giant species. However, they were 1.5 times larger than regular giants, and their communication system was tightly knit with pheromone signals unique to their race.
Moreover, as an outer region of the underworld, the Screaming Lands had a high concentration negative energy, hosting dozens of Lord-class monsters. They were a race with several times the power of the Sand Specters encountered earlier.
– Rumble. –
The lever of Clan Light of Creation, led by Flame Emperor, was engulfed in searing flames. They had decided to hide their presence from the sun at high altitude and descend vertically near their destination.
However, being in the sky didn’t guarantee safety in the Screaming Lands. While the Ligno Giants dominating the ground were a more dangerous force, the sky here was the territory of various avian monsters that had absorbed high concentrations negative energy.
[I’ll go first, Oppa. See you there. Be careful, Flame Emperor.]
– Vroooom. –
Meanwhile, the lever of Dawn Clan’s, ridden by Yoho, was surrounded by a pink sphere, which soon became translucent and eventually completely concealed its appearance.
It seemed to utilize the illusionary technique of a nine-tailed fox. As long as Yoho’s lever didn’t approach the Lord-class Ligno Giants, its identity would remain hidden.
– Ssshh… –
A faint sound emanated from the space where the pink sphere had been. Then, the surrounding air rippled faintly, and everything disappeared into the distance.
[We’ll depart as well.]
Flame Emperor’s lever engulfed in flames rose vertically into the high sky.
“…”
As the S-class heroes vanished using their talents for stealth, Isaac fell silent for a moment. With a bitter taste in his mouth, he switched the Nexus Jet to low-noise mode and activated the shield he had prepared in advance.
The Nexus Jet was then shrouded in a translucent barrier, making its form blurry, but compared to Yoho’s concealment technique where the lever had completely vanished, it fell far short.
“Hmm, let’s depart too.”
Upon recognizing Isaac’s voice, the AI began to maneuver the Nexus Jet slowly. The speed was a mere 250 km/h.
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The small houses made of winding paved roads and yellow bricks created a picturesque scene with their old-fashioned living and landscaping. The sunlight sparkled on the orange roofs, while the aged spires exuded a serene charm at the heart of the village.
In a typical rural European village, there was a lively atmosphere of everyday life. Residents bought vegetables at the market, children played on the streets, and the elderly gathered in front of the church to share cheerful stories.
Outside the village, the wheat fields formed golden waves, swaying in the wind as if dancing. The moderately warm breeze carried a rich aroma, reaching even the well-groomed hair of a middle-aged man, with striking silver strands.
– Thud. –
“Ouch!”
However, as the middle-aged man enjoyed the gentle breeze, a child playing tag with friends accidentally collided with him. Kneeling down, the middle-aged man gently caressed the child’s head, who seemed on the verge of tears due to the collision.
“You should be careful.”
Surprisingly, the pain seemed to vanish as the child, now smiling mischievously, resumed playing.
Watching the scene with satisfaction, the silver-haired middle-aged man soon entered a sparsely populated restaurant. Inside, there were only a young Asian couple, who seemed like lovers. The man approached them with measured steps and took a seat at their table.
The silver-haired middle-aged man smiled softly as he looked at the Asian couple. However, in the next moment, their faces seemed to change into strange, grotesque expressions.
Despite the odd transformation, the Asian couple simply chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the eerie change.
Meanwhile, the restaurant owner, who was about to take their order, stood frozen in place, looking absent-minded as if lost in thought.
“It’s been a while.”
As the middle-aged man spoke, the faces of the young Asian couple changed again, this time displaying wrinkles as if they aged instantaneously. Among them, the Asian man smiled kindly as he greeted back.
“May the grace of God be with you. Welcome, brethren. I hope your journey here wasn’t too uncomfortable.”
“Not at all. We found ourselves thoroughly secured by you two. It’s quite remarkable to see such individuals willing to endure risks and come all the way here.”
“Haha! We have plenty of time. Serve us generously with your most confident dishes.”
The dilated-eyed restaurant owner, as if entranced by the command of the middle-aged Asian man, hurriedly went into the kitchen.
“This may turn out to be the most uncomfortable dining experience of the year. Bishop Warden, are you ready to indulge in some worldly pleasures?”
“Warden, indeed. I’ve used that name before. But now, I’ve adopted a more respectable new name, ‘Cheongunja,’ so let’s bury the past grievances and engage in constructive dialogue that can benefit us both.”
“You’ve crossed rivers that shouldn’t have been crossed several times to try to restrain us, haven’t you? But we both overcame the trial of being you and became bishops, so in a way, we’ve become catalysts for each other’s growth. Over time, the resentment has faded. So, wouldn’t we come to such an uncomfortable gathering?”
“Haha! You’re quite candid. There’s no reason for me not to introduce my people. This is my companion, Damwol Seonja. She’s a remarkable talent who has embraced the noble aspirations of our Black Salvation Alliance to save the masses.”
“I can’t express how delighted I am to meet the illustrious ‘Disaster.’ I sincerely hope today becomes a meaningful day.”
The silver-haired young man gazed piercingly at the woman introduced by the middle-aged man, then quickly masked his thoughts with a faint smile.
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m fortunate to hold the position of bishop.”
They continued their mundane conversation for a while, but beneath the surface, a cold aura lingered, making it seem like any moment tension could erupt.