Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 103

– Thud. Thud. –
Dressed in a black suit, Isaac, diligently scooped up water. The depth of the pond had noticeably decreased, but it still maintained a depth of over 10 meters.
Isaac spent a while scooping up water and meticulously stored hundreds of liters of water in his inventory.
The spring of magic was a rare special terrain in the Otherworld, and the spring water was imbued with pure magic, making it an excellent material in itself.
Just drinking it would enhance one’s magic, and it could be used as an additive when refining monster by-products or as an supporting material for elixirs.
– Swish. –
Although he had gathered plenty of spring water, there was still one important thing left. 1 meter, 2 meters… 5 meters.
As the depth increased, the darkness grew thicker. The pressure in the pond tightly squeezed Isaac’s body, but now that he was proficient in handling magic with his Cross Technique, he could easily dive near the bottom of the pond.
– Hum―Hum. –
In one corner of the bottom, the form of a faint bluish aquatic plant appeared. It flickered at regular intervals, and as Isaac approached, it seemed to bloom as if it had been waiting for him.
The identity of the aquatic plant was a lushly grown fishweed. Isaac gazed at the fluttering fishweed for a moment, then grinned and reached out his hand.
Hum…
Then, the fishweed, which had been shimmering with a refreshing blue light, stopped glowing. The fishweed exuded a distinct spirituality, and it even seemed to have developed a bit of intellect.
– Hum―Hum. –
As Isaac withdrew his hand, which had been about to grasp the fishweed, it began to shimmer with a blue light again.
– Hummm―! –
In an instant, the glow intensified. The thread-like branches of the fishweed began to intertwine at regular intervals. Surprisingly, they took on the form of certain sentences.
‘Ancient language?’
The sentences were neither the language of the Ligno Giants nor the languages of various monster races received by Chief Timberlord. Although there were some similarities to the ancient language that Ifrit had received in terms of certain patterns and shapes, it was clearly a different language system.
– Swoosh. –
– Hummm… –
As soon as he reached out his hand again, the blue light faded, and the meticulously drawn characters disappeared in an instant.
– Click. –
The fishweed, seemingly imbued with intelligence, swatted Isaac’s right hand with its branch-like stems, as if to indicate not to pluck it.
– Hummm―! –
As Isaac withdrew his hand and observed the fishweed intently, a courteous blue light emanated, illuminating complex hieroglyphic-like symbols once again.
‘Let’s memorize and take a look.’
Among the various useful techniques included in the Cross Technique, one of them was the Empty Record Technique, which allowed one to memorize the contents of thick books or scrolls as if taking a screenshot, instantly memorizing them.
Carefully articulating the incantation, as the technique unfolded, the blue characters illuminated by the fishweed were imprinted as a whole in Isaac’s mind. Although he didn’t understand, he had stored them.
– Hummm―! –
– Swoosh. –
As soon as the task was completed, the fishweed withered away as if ending its own life. Hastily reaching out, Isaac tried to collect the fishweed, but he sensed no spirituality or magic.
Feeling troubled, Isaac put the dead fishweed in his inventory and skillfully swam out of the pond.
Reduced to the size of a sparrow, Ifrit asks, “Did you gather the materials well?”
“No. It just showed me strange characters and then suddenly died.”
“Strange characters?”
“Yeah. I’ll show you later.”
Replicating the memorized sentences with the Empty Record Technique was not a difficult task at all. For now, it was a bit disappointing that the plant Ifrit had taken notice of wasn’t a legendary-grade material.
– Swoosh. –
Having retrieved the Nexus Jet from the cave, Isaac left the Abyss of Guilt behind with light steps. Around the cave, various uncontaminated lush plants were growing abundantly.
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The Screaming Land. Thousands of kilometers away from the sanctuary of the Ligno Giants, in the vast plains known as the “Plains of Ruin,” an enormous number of monsters were gathered, bustling about.
– Doom―Doom. –
Thousands of Ligno Giants were arranged in rows, and occasionally, the majestic sound of drums echoed across the land.
In addition to the Ligno Giants, numerous other monster species were deployed on the outskirts, lowering their posture.
There seemed to be hardly any monsters that were not developed intellectually, and those who dared to cause disturbances or disrupt etiquette were immediately dragged out and executed.
– Kururururu. –
Two tree giants pulled a massive cart. Behind them, a procession of carts continued endlessly, piled high with countless medicinal herbs, magic stones, monster by-products, and blue beads containing spirituality, to the extent that it was impossible to count them all.
At the entrance of the banquet hall, a Lord-class Ligno Giant with a fiery gaze was none other than the 500-year-old tree giant who had first met Isaac and led them to the Screaming Land.
Before long, other monsters began to enter the banquet hall.
– Thud. Woong. Thud. –
From afar, a giant water buffalo parted the procession and entered. On the back of the water buffalo monster was a serene pavilion, inside of which fox monsters transformed into the shapes of human women fluttered about in enchanting costumes, displaying a charming figure.
– Kiiieeeek! –
The water buffalo carrying the pavilion arrived with a sharp, terrifying cry that tore through the sky. The cry belonged to a giant raven monster, towering over dozens of meters.
– Hwoong― Hwoong― Woong! –
An ornate golden throne hung from the back of the raven monster that descended into the center of the banquet hall, where a bulky, bipedal lion monster was seated.
“Timberlord! It’s been a while. You’ve strengthened the legendary-grade mutation by two levels over the past 100 years.”
“I can’t fool the Lion King’s vision. You… well, the Lion King here… has increased the legendary-grade mutation by three levels!”
“Hahaha! I was lucky. I chewed up the treasure of the Ethereal found in the ancient ruins, and it seems to have suited my body well.”
“Hehe, truly befitting of the Lion King. Leaving that aside, it seems inconvenient for our esteemed queen to mingle with us.”
– Chororor. –
As Chief Timberlord finished speaking, the tent covering the pavilion erected on the back of the water buffalo was lifted.
Inside, a seemingly innocent and yet alluring human woman fanned herself gracefully, receiving the admiration of the onlookers.
“Hello, I am Alopex, who now rules over the Ice Palace.”
The woman’s voice was as cold as frozen ice, but within it, there was a strange energy that captivated males.
As Queen Alopex greeted them, Chief Timberlord’s demeanor softened slightly, while the Lion King laughed heartily and responded.
“Hahaha! Do you want to make me, the Lion King, your bedmate? That would be unbearable!”
“Oh my, I must have involuntarily exuded an unmarried aura in my voice. I hope there are no misunderstandings between the two of you.”
Alopex snickered cunningly. Chief Timberlord, who had furrowed his brows, responded amiably.
“A misunderstanding, you say? Then, since we’re already here, let me clarify any misunderstandings that may arise.”
“What might that be?”
“For the sake of our grand cause, we have recruited an Ethereal. It was a choice for the sake of our Ligno Giant tribe, so please don’t be dismayed.”
“An Ethereal…! What does that mean? Are you suggesting that we should join forces with prey?”
“You hit the nail on the head. He is an Awakened One who stands shoulder to shoulder with our Emperors, and we recruited him willingly, even giving up the root of the Fire Lily.”
At the mention of giving up the Fire Lily, this time, the Lion King was startled and widened his eyes.
“No, giving the Fire Lily to an Ethereal! You should have asked for me instead and my brother to come!”
“Hahaha, Lion King. Don’t worry. If this endeavor succeeds, all those tributes will belong entirely to our tribe. There will be plenty of items for trade afterwards.”
“But still, giving up the Fire Lily is regrettable. Will you not stop me from eliminating Eaglemaw and taking the Fire Lily from him?”
“It doesn’t matter. After Eaglemaw dies, what difference does it make? We were planning to get rid of it with our own hands after use anyway. There’s no reason to stop what saves us the trouble.”
“In that case! It seems that Her Majesty the Queen also has an opportunity.”
“That’s for you two to figure out.”
As Chief Timberlord made his declaration, the Lion King and Queen Alopex exchanged fierce glances. Both seemed unwilling to yield the Fire Lily, but suddenly the Lion King’s face took on a sinister expression.
“How many days can your night last with just one root of the Fire Lily?”
“Very presumptuous. I am the Queen who rules the Ice Palace. If you speak such blasphemy again, I will freeze that impious mouth of yours!”
“Oh my, it seems that our lovely Queen Majesty is quite upset. I will deeply reflect, so please forgive me for what I didn’t hear.”
Whether they aimed for each other’s lives or joined forces, it was the natural order of the microcosm.
Chief Timberlord, with a trembling head, attempted to tidy up the situation.
“Now, whatever happen after, we must join hands with that Ethereal, as you well know.”
“Haha, I’m eager to see the face of that prey. Where is he?”
“He’ll be here soon.”
– Thud. Thud. Thud! –
Even after the arrival of the Lion King and the Queen of the Ice Palace, the procession of giant monsters laden with various materials and by-products continued uninterrupted outside the banquet hall.
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***
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Through the clouds filling the sky over the Plains of Ruin, a single lever appeared. The identity of the lever was the Harmony Clan’s jet, the Nexus Jet.
After ten days of training, Isaac arrived at the location Timberlord had informed him of.
Below was a massive banquet hall, and outside the hall, thousands of monsters were densely arranged, as if practicing for the tribute ceremony.
– Sssuuuuung. –
As the altitude decreased and the Nexus Jet landed on the ground, a young man, Isaac, descended from within. It was a return just three days after ten.
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***
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“That…!”
The monsters seemed strange.
While most of the monsters, including the Ligno Giants, were greatly surprised and stepped aside, some monsters blinked their eyes and showed signs of regaining their appetite.
“Grrrr!”
Boldly, a rare low-level variant beast revealed its presence.
‘This is troublesome.’
Isaac didn’t want to waste mana recklessly at the moment, and Final Finish wasn’t even an option. It seemed that Timberlord had brought in monsters that dwelled outside, and these creatures were not ones to underestimate.
If other monsters were frightened and retreated, they should know how to submit, but there was no such thing at all.
‘In any case, underestimating them will lead to death.’
And those who charge at him, he will kill. That’s the only way for him to survive.
Armed with the ruthless laws of nature, he spoke sternly.
“Do you not know who I am? You there, Tree Giant. Bring forth the leader.”
“That…!”
The variant-level Tree Giant, who caught my gaze, dashed out without a word. Certainly, those guys listened well.
‘Some of them will serve as examples.’
Amidst that, low-level monsters kept flocking. The scent of spirituality stimulated their appetites.
he unhesitatingly gripped the Karna Blade.
– Uuuung. –
As Isaac accepted mana from the sword and manipulated the Cross Technique, a 3-star mana boiled throughout his body.
– Hwaruk. –
– Boom! –
“Kreeeek!”
The hyena-like variant beast was engulfed in blue flames. The creature tried to extinguish the flames by rolling on the ground, but in the end, it perished in the fire.
‘It’s going well.’
The use of mana through Cross Technique became much smoother. Even when dealing with the same output as ten days ago, the mana consumption decreased by a third.
“Kieee!”
When the variant monster died in an instant, other monsters hesitated and backed away. However, whether they trusted their own numbers or not, new monsters continued to salivate and step forward.
‘It won’t do with just one or two.’
In a moment that seemed deceptively calm, hundreds, even thousands of monsters might charge. If he doesn’t kill them, he will die. This place was a den of monsters, a gathering place for a monster army.
“They’re demanding to be killed, huh.”
– Waaahh! –
As the azure bird flapped its wings,
“Kreeeek!”
“Gwooaaaack!”
Dozens of monsters screamed in agony as they burned in blue flames. The smell of roasting meat wafted through the air. Those who howled in the fire perished without exception.
‘Now, come on, that’s enough.’
Intentionally sneering, Isaac calmly collected materials and mana stones from the corpses of the monsters. With a considerable amount of points obtained, it was an unexpected harvest.
– Sssrrrr. –
– Boom. –
Before long, a champion-level Ligno Giant emerged from underground. Seeing the creature bowing its waist, the uneasy feeling in my heart gradually eased.
“Mas…ter… Guide… You.”
“You’ve come quickly.”
The Tree Giant walked ahead and drove away the monsters drooling towards Isaac. Only then did the low-level monsters, whose intellect was not fully developed, realize their limits and did not even turn their heads in this direction.
It was a novel experience.
‘He’s skilled, but…’
The day had come when Isaac could kill monsters without the help of his comrades. Amidst the pounding fear of death, a faint sense of achievement rose in his chest.
– Thud. –
However, before he could fully enjoy the subtle satisfaction, he had to take a few steps back from the banquet hall and stop.
“Could it be… the Ethereal who has joined us?”
In revealing attire, with a white fox tail protruding from behind. Other than that, her appearance resembled that of a beautiful human woman.
‘A Lord-class!’
She was a Lord-class fox monster native to the polar region. Judging by his tone, he seemed to be highly intelligent and proficient in transformation magic.
The arrogant fox monster, crossing her arms, asks again, “No. You’re just a 3-star, so you must be a servant of that awakened one. Where is your master? Did you come alone?”
She might suddenly launch a preemptive strike. The anxiety resurfaced. Let’s try Ice Breaking first.
“It seems you’ve heard about me. I am no one’s servant.”
As Isaac opened his mouth, he casually sheathed the Karna Blade. It would be better to return to normal rather than emit 3-star level mana.
“Huh?! The mana disappeared in an instant. Are you really an awakened one?”
“That’s right. You’re a fox monster. Your habitat should be in the polar regions. It’s rare for you to come to this hot area.”
“It’s none of your concern. Anyway, before entering, I will give you some advice. First, always use honorifics in front of the queen. Second, always bow your head to show respect in front of the queen. Third, always obey the queen’s orders…”
The crazy fox monster started to babble nonsense. Honestly, showing respect wasn’t a big deal, but my body was so sensitive.
Stress kept accumulating steadily, and before long, my temper would explode.
‘The queen is probably the emperor. So, she’s on the same level as Timberlord.’
This Lord-class fox monster seemed to be an extreme case of deference. Chief Timberlord acknowledged Isaac as superior to him, so there was no reason to approach this queen with such a submissive attitude. If anything, it would only stir up unnecessary trouble.
After all, in the natural world of the other world, power was everything. Even a bear encountered while hiking might run away if you spread your arms threateningly.
“…That’s all. I hope you understand my words well.”
He is not sorry at all.
Activating Final Finish, Isaac summoned Gunggi and swung it hard at the humanoid fox monster who had been annoying him.
“Get lost.”
– Boom! –