Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 109

Key

– Swoosh. –
Isaac summoned the Nexus Jet and swiftly climbed into the cockpit. As he settled deeply into the pilot’s seat, the hardships of the past fortnight flashed through his mind like a film reel.
The adventure in the Screaming Land had been filled with dangerous moments, but ultimately, it had yielded tremendous gains. He had acquired dozens of rare herbs of hero-grade or higher from various parts of the Screaming Land, consistently enhanced the Karna Blade, and secured hundreds of liters of magical spring water.
Most importantly, obtaining the Tier 2 variant Eaglemaw’s magic stones, by-products, and the magical space at the end was the jackpot of jackpots. The magical space contained Tier 2 materials, magic stones, and several treasures—items that were impossible to find on Earth and whose value couldn’t be measured in money.
‘And I was able to gauge the specifications of the Final Finish.’
When Isaac first encountered Eaglemaw, transformed into the giant orange bird, a message had appeared before his eyes.
[Progress is insufficient.]
Progress.
Isaac speculated that it referred to the storyline of Season 1 or the progress of a timed quest.
‘I sensed it intuitively. That thing wouldn’t die in one hit.’
From this experience, Isaac realized that the ‘finishing blow’ of the Final Finish didn’t work on beings of Tier 2 or higher. He estimated that the current maximum output of the Final Finish could purify an Emperor-class monster in a single strike.
This was why he hadn’t confronted Eaglemaw head-on from the start but had instead bided his time. Eaglemaw had only been purified in the final blow after its heart was pierced by the guardian tree’s thorn.
“It’ll probably take about six days.”
After all the hardships, it was time to return to Earth.
Isaac commanded the AI to return at full speed. There was much to do. Upon returning, he needed to find out whether DRR’s terror attack had failed or succeeded. He also had to train Hwang Man-deuk in darkening techniques and quickly enhance the star ranks of the remaining members.
Money was no longer an issue. The wealth Isaac had amassed on this journey would exceed tens of trillions.
Just as he was about to focus on clan management and strategize.
– Beep—Beep. –
“What is it?”
Suddenly, the automatic warning alarm of the lever blared. An unidentified object was rapidly approaching the Nexus Jet.
Isaac’s eyes narrowed as he quickly assessed the situation. The unexpected threat added another layer of complexity to his already intricate plans. With a deep breath, he prepared to face whatever challenge lay ahead.
– Whoosh! –
– Swoosh. –
“What the!”
The unidentified flying object approached so quickly that the Nexus Jet had no time to execute evasive maneuvers. A massive net unfurled in the sky, ensnaring the Nexus Jet completely.
“Damn it.”
Startled, Isaac gripped the Karna Blade and immediately retracted the lever into the magical space. Using the mana channeled through his sword, he summoned his energy and leaped beyond the net’s reach.
– Flash! –
Once free from the net, Isaac quickly resummoned the Nexus Jet, cranked the engine to its maximum output, and began to flee. The unidentified flying object appeared to be a gigantic crane, and atop it stood an elderly man dressed in black robes.
– Beep—Beep. –
The warning lights wouldn’t stop flashing. The crane carrying the elderly man was rapidly closing the distance, moving much faster than the Nexus Jet.
‘This is an opponent I can’t handle without using my leader skills.’
His survival instincts made that clear.
‘And perhaps…’
Even with his battle gauge refilled to 100%, he might not be able to win. This was the greatest crisis he had faced since diving into the hidden world.
– Whoosh. –
– Flap—Flap. –
The giant crane effortlessly flapped its wings, keeping pace right beside the Nexus Jet. The external camera showed the elderly man in black robes standing majestically on the crane’s back, his hands clasped behind him.
‘Begging for mercy might be my only option.’
Realizing further escape was futile, Isaac reluctantly retracted the Nexus Jet and descended slowly on his energy.
The mysterious elderly man in black robes had already approached Isaac, observing him with curious eyes.
– Thump—Thump! –
Isaac’s heart pounded in his chest.
“A 3-star? Hmm, you do look exactly like the picture… Are you Isaac, the hero from Earth?”
The elderly man’s foreign language was peculiar, but Isaac could vaguely understand it. The language was part of the memories Ifrit had transferred to him.
Although the Black Robe Elder’s foreign language resonated within Isaac’s mind, allowing him to understand the meaning even without knowing the language, Isaac decided to use the mental communication technique he had learned from Chief Timberlord.
“Yes, that’s correct. What business do you have with me, sir?”
Isaac asked calmly and respectfully, though his heart pounded as if it might burst. This was because the information window of the Black Robe Elder was clearly displayed before his eyes.
The Black Robe Elder’s name was Gojeok a 6-star Ethereal with a level of 115. He was an absolute being who had entered the small world from the vast Terraria beyond the Celestial Canopy.
“I heard you possess a sword with a demon engraved on the hilt. Is that true?”
“Are you referring to this?”
Swallowing hard, Isaac retrieved the Karna Blade from his inventory and showed it to the Black Robe Elder. The elder’s eyes widened in astonishment as he questioned Isaac.
“How is this possible?! What have you done to this sword? Tell me everything, down to the last detail!”
“Yes. This was obtained in a country called South Korea on Earth…”
Isaac knew he was dealing with a 6-star Ethereal. These beings would tear down a person’s mental defenses and extract information, leaving them a shell of their former self if they were curious enough. The only way to survive was to be completely submissive.
Isaac detailed how he had come into possession of the Karna Blade and the process of periodically infusing it with mana to enhance it.
As Isaac’s explanation continued, the Black Robe Elder’s face became increasingly puzzled.
“You simply infused it with mana to enhance it? I can’t understand that. And why has your level, which was at 3-star, suddenly become so ordinary? Don’t tell me you’re using some peculiar technique to hide your energy. It’s impossible for beings from your small world to evade my eyes.”
“Heroes on Earth use a unique power called ‘talent.’ This power allowed us to purify the monsters crossing through the rifts and dramatically restore human civilization, which was on the brink of extinction. My talent allows me to unleash explosive mana momentarily, but it leaves me almost unable to use mana at other times.”
The Black Robe Elder scrutinized Isaac’s eyes to judge the truth of his words. Isaac’s blue eyes remained steady and calm. Maintaining such composure under the fear of death was nearly impossible. The elder concluded that Isaac’s eyes were not those of a liar.
“It seems you are telling the truth.”
“How could I lie to a venerable senior like you?”
“It appears you know what kind of being I am. In that case, you must come with me. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime for you.”
– Whoosh. –
The Black Robe Elder’s words carried an air of finality. Isaac knew he had little choice but to comply, hoping that this unexpected turn of events might indeed lead to something beneficial. As he prepared to follow the elder, he couldn’t help but wonder what lay ahead in this new chapter of his journey.
Wrapped in a whirlwind of mana, Isaac found himself suddenly perched on the back of the giant crane. The Black Robe Elder’s technique was so exceptional that resistance was futile.
– Screech! –
The giant crane, carrying Isaac and the Black Robe Elder, soared through the hidden world’s sky at Mach 5. Only a refreshing mountain breeze remained where they had vanished.
====
***
====
Under the pitch-black night sky, with the celestial stars shining brilliantly, a jagged rocky mountain stood tall, seemingly trying to obscure the galaxy spread across the heavens. The rough surface of the mountain was adorned with various rocks, sporadic flowers and trees, and patterns resembling animals. Under the serene moonlight, the shadows within these patterns seemed to come alive, dancing mysteriously.
The shadows appeared to be part of nature, yet they sporadically emitted fierce negative energy, preventing earthly creatures from climbing the mountain.
– Screech. –
At that moment, a gigantic avian monster, several hundred meters in length, flew towards the midsection of the colossal rocky mountain, drawn by the mountain’s majestic energy.
– Whoosh! –
However, as the avian monster attempted to ascend the mountain and soar through the vast sky, a fierce gale surrounded the mountain. The sudden disaster left the giant avian monster frozen solid, causing it to plummet helplessly.
– Crash! –
The giant avian monster shattered into hundreds of pieces upon hitting the jagged rocks. It seemed as though the mountain harbored a will to destroy all matter and spirit, preventing any ascent.
– Whoosh! –
– Boom. –
As the gale subsided and the tranquil moonlight began to illuminate the world once more, a black sphere rose, ascending endlessly beyond the midsection of the rocky mountain. Unlike the previous avian monster, the black sphere ignored the fierce gale, ascending as if it intended to reach the cosmos.
– Swoosh… –
As the black sphere pierced through the atmosphere and reached a certain point, the gale abruptly ceased. Instead, billowing clouds spread across the sky, with the peak of the rocky mountain protruding from their center.
The black sphere shot towards the steep basin at the mountain’s summit.
– Crack. –
The black sphere shattered, revealing a giant crane flapping its wings as if hatching from an egg. Atop the giant crane’s back sat the imposing Black Robe Elder and a young man in a black suit—Isaac and his captor, Gojeok.
“Gojeok, what brings you here with an uninvited guest? Please don’t make things difficult for us.”
A middle-aged man with long hair draped over his gray robe suddenly appeared at the edge of the steep basin. He seemed familiar with the Black Robe Elder.
“Make things difficult? Gorgog, you’ll be so pleased with what I’ve brought that you’ll flip over.”
“Are you mocking me for being part of the frog-like Progomos species? It’s late, so let’s head up. There are quite a few formidable competitors in this Celestial Tournament.”
“Let’s go. Follow me.”
“Yes.”
Isaac complied with the Black Robe Elder’s command. This place was more familiar to him than anyone else. He needed to observe his surroundings and look for opportunities.
‘So, I’ve come here?’
This was Celestial Gate Mountain, the heart of the small world. It was a treacherous place where even Tier 1 beings couldn’t reach the summit due to the harsh winds at the mountain’s midsection. It was also where the ancient machinery that deployed the Celestial Canopy was located.
‘Focus on survival.’
He had just confirmed that the Final Finish didn’t work on Tier 2 beings. If he hadn’t realized this, he might have launched a surprise attack on the Black Robe Elder and met his end.
– Rumble. –
Gorgog, the Tier 2 variant frog monster, placed his hand on a section of the wall, causing a hidden door to slide open. Inside, remnants of an ancient civilization were preserved. The intricate iron walls were covered in futuristic patterns and designs. As they walked down the corridor, lights automatically illuminated the dark passage.
– Buzz. –
A mysterious blue light scanned Isaac, the Black Robe Elder, and the robed middle-aged man. The other two seemed accustomed to this and continued walking confidently.
At the end of the advanced corridor was a disc-shaped elevator large enough to hold hundreds of people.