Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 127

The corrupted and decayed beam of light pierced through Isaac and the inner walls of the command center, creating a massive hole.
It was a technique that harnessed the full power of an 8-star level. Survival was impossible.
Theodren was certain of it.
[Damage detected within the command center.]
[Initiating automatic repairs.]
The meaningless resistance had ended, and only the emotionless voice of the AI in an alien language could be heard.
[42%]
During the brief commotion, the Celestial Canopy’s release rate had reached 42%.
As Theodren’s gaze fell upon the lone remaining woman, she screamed defiantly.
“Today, you will be purified by darkness!”
It was a contradictory cry. Darkness was the domain of monsters, demons, and fallen angels. Purification of corruption always came from bright light.
‘She’s lost her mind.’
It was the typical rant of a fanatic.
Crying out for salvation while denying reality until the very end.
“Poor little lamb. Sleep forever with your hero.”
They had been defeated, and he had won.
Even the lingering sense of unease had completely vanished.
– Swoosh! –
However, as Theodren shot out a purple line of energy, darkness erupted as if by magic.
The writhing darkness that poured out from the large hole seemed to envelop the entire command center like the underworld.
Theodren’s pupils shook violently.
“What is this?!”
– Swoosh. –
From the rippling shadows, a black figure emerged.
The mysterious being, with black hair flowing and holding a sword, bore a striking resemblance to Isaac.
“Not… dead?”
A distant scent of death seemed to emanate from the shadow.
Even his full-powered fatal attack hadn’t left a scratch.
The ethereal being holding the key, no, the ancient angel’s arrangement for today, was an incomprehensible existence whose level couldn’t be sensed even with the perception of an 8-star.
“Be buried and die.”
The mysterious being waved its hand.
The writhing darkness rose and pressed down on Theodren.
Taking a few steps back, Theodren gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Why, why has a being like you appeared here?!”
– Swoosh―. –
The form of Theodren, with his corrupted wings flapping, became faint and then suddenly shot down to the first floor of the command center.
He reached the circular ancient facility where the key was inserted, but it was already overflowing with black shadows.
He screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Warp me outside! Now!”
But despite his desperate cries, the ancient AI of the ship did not respond.
The writhing shadows continued to expand, eventually enveloping the entire command center. It was as if the shadows had created a new realm of darkness within the command center.
“This can’t be happening!”
– Boom! –
Purple energy exploded from Theodren’s entire body. Multiple rings overlapped above his head and began to spin furiously.
A strange explosion sounded from the sphere formed by the rings, oozing purple foam.
Theodren, with his eyes rolled back, staggered and fired purple beams wildly at the floor.
– Swoosh! –
But the thick beams were all swallowed by the rippling darkness, causing no effect.
“Aaaaargh!”
Beams of light shot in all directions. The spinning ring sphere spewed purple liquid as if vomiting blood.
In his berserk state, Theodren suddenly turned his hostility towards the vulnerable Ophelia.
He spread his tattered wings as if ready to self-destruct, but the dark shadows had already enveloped him.
“No, no. Wait…!”
– Swoosh! –
Finally, the shadows consumed him.
The explosive sounds of the ring sphere and Theodren’s anguished cries were no longer heard.
– Swoosh. –
Slowly, the darkness receded.
The massive shadow fluttered like a long tent and then gathered into one place.
Isaac, who had reclaimed all the vast darkness that had enveloped the command center, returned to his usual appearance as if he had never unfolded the shadow realm.
“…”
Looking distressed, he let out a long sigh and collapsed.
Though he appeared unscathed, he began to press his temples repeatedly, utilizing the technique of ‘Deep Pool Tranquility’”
====
***
====
It was a familiar sight.
Bright lights shone from the sky, and something was blocking the light.
That something was Ophelia’s face, with a faint smile. Her gaze, for some reason, didn’t feel burdensome.
I felt a desire to rest a bit longer like this. It was like being a child under care.
‘I had a mother when I was young too.’
Perhaps my mental barrier had nearly shattered, making me susceptible to such sentimental thoughts.
I asked in a hoarse voice.
“How long has it been?”
“About half a day.”
To think I had been in this position for half a day. If I were an ordinary person, my lower body would have cramped a hundred times over.
I couldn’t impose any further on the princess, who was older than the 500-year history of the Joseon Dynasty.
I lifted my head from Ophelia’s thigh.
“Don’t you need to rest more?”
There was a hint of regret in the princess’s voice. She must have sensed the impending farewell.
‘I was grateful too. Imagine how much more it meant to someone being carried.’
Objectively speaking, he was an overpowered hero beyond human limits.
Having survived multiple death threats and crushed boss monsters with sheer force, it was natural for some affection to develop.
Anyone facing those bright, sparkling eyes would realize that the other person revered and admired them.
It had been tough for both of them, Isaac and the princess.
“You’ve done well to come this far.”
“You too, hero. Thanks to you, I was able to complete my first mission safely. Theodren was really strong. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”
Her first mission as a saint was to prevent the release of a sealed fallen angel. Heaven was truly indifferent, assigning such an insanely difficult task to a novice saint.
‘It seems like it was designed for me to encounter.’
I decided to accept the system’s guidance as a sort of “story.” Just like a player who can’t deviate from the predetermined storyline of a game, I was no different.
Thinking this way made my complicated thoughts a bit clearer.
After exchanging bittersweet words with the princess, I descended to the first floor of the command center and inserted the deputy captain’s key, the Karna Blade, into the circular slot.
The sword trembled violently for a moment before the vibrations subsided, and the ancient ark’s AI appeared, bowing mechanically.
[Welcome, new deputy captain.]
[The new captain, Theodren, died 11 hours, 56 minutes, and 21 seconds ago.]
[All authority of the ship is now entrusted to the deputy captain.]
[Reconfiguring authorization codes…]
Shortly after, I became the deputy captain with the ability to control the ship.
Understanding the command structure, the first thing I did was redeploy the Celestial Canopy.
The ancient AI showed me images and videos confirming that 2nd-tier beings had invaded the outskirts of the small world and caused chaos during the half-day interval.
Earth was not yet ready to embrace Season 2.
While I could have redirected the power used to deploy the Celestial Canopy to move the ark, that was something for the future.
The ship used a 3rd-tier item, the ‘World Stone’, as its power source. To maintain the Celestial Canopy indefinitely, all the World Stone’s power had to be used for the barrier.
‘I need to quickly awaken my team members.’
Although I had become an overpowered hero, there was still much to be done.
The immediate time-sensitive quest was related to the growth of the clan.
Structurally, the system wanted me to not only dominate battles but also manage the clan and help its members grow.
So far, the only quest directly related to me, Isaac, was the ‘S-rank Promotion’. The rest were all quests for the members or the clan as a whole.
‘I don’t know what the ultimate goal is.’
The system had given me harsh trials, but through them, my soul, ‘Lee Geon-ha’, had matured significantly. I liked this world of Clan of Heroes.
Even though it was full of annoying and tough tasks, I decided to live the life of a hero.
The life of a hero I was forced into and the life of a hero I chose. The nuances were different from the very description.
[The Celestial Canopy has been deployed 100%.]
About five hours later, the Celestial Canopy, which Theodren had disrupted, was fully operational.
Through the holographic screen of the ship, which allowed me to observe the entire small world, I confirmed that the commotion had subsided. I then received training from the ancient AI on the ship’s functions and usage, and engaged in some idle chatter with Ophelia, who couldn’t hide her disappointment.
She only brightened up after I promised to visit the Grace family in the future.
It was time to return to my long-missed homeland.
“Noah, can I communicate with you from Earth, the adjacent realm?”
Noah.
That was the name of the ancient AI controlling the Trial’s Ark.
[Of course.]
[The deputy captain can warp anywhere within the small world and communicate with me. This also applies to the three adjacent realms within the small world.]
Having the ancient AI’s support at all times and the ability to warp anywhere was indeed fitting for a colossal ark that managed the entire small world.
“We’ll meet again soon, won’t we?”
“Of course. Until then, work hard to elevate your level. And do not speak of what transpired here.”
“Naturally.”
After bidding farewell to Ophelia, I forcibly warped her and all other participants of the Commanding Peak from the ship to the outside of the small world.
Next, it was my turn.
I set the coordinates to Earth, South Korea, Seoul, and then to the rooftop of a certain building.
[Initiating warp.]
– Flash! –
The familiar spectacle of light enveloped my body.
====
***
====
At the edge of the blue sky.
Shining stars crossed the high skies of the city.
– Chaaang! –
– Swoosh―. –
Those star-like objects were, in fact, a young man with demonic wings, a massive magic soldier, and a white-haired swordsman.
As the white-haired swordsman slashed horizontally, a long trajectory cut through the atmosphere.
The young man with demonic wings summoned a black magic circle in the air with a cold smile on his lips. From the hexagram-like magic circle, a giant arm emerged and clashed with the swordsman’s strike.
– Boom! –
A thunderous explosion shook the blue sky.
Meanwhile, a magic soldier with the upper body of a gorilla and grotesquely developed lower body muscles charged at the white-haired swordsman, swinging a heavy fist.
– Thud! –
The white-haired swordsman was pushed back hundreds of meters by the immense physical force. As he lost his balance and fell, a winged white horse suddenly appeared beside him and carried him.
The winged horse, drawing a graceful U-turn, ascended back into the sky, snorting vigorously.
“I expected more from someone called the Sword Emperor. All you do is run like a rat.”
“…Why is a demon like you siding with the DRR? And with an Emperor-class magic soldier, no less. Shouldn’t you be more concerned with expanding your territory in the underworld?”
“DRR, you say. Do you think I care about a petty criminal organization of this small civilization? We only need high-quality spiritual energy. If you hand over a million 1-star spiritual energies, we will withdraw.”
“Nonsense! Do you think we heroes will stand by and watch innocent people be sacrificed?”
“Heh, I expected you to say that.”
Meanwhile, at the same time.
On the outskirts of the city, a blond man shot light from his fingers at a hero in a yellow suit, who was emitting intense sparks from his entire body. The yellow-suited hero countered the incoming light beam with blue electricity, destroying it.
And just a few kilometers away in a parking lot, a silver-haired, red-eyed boy was exchanging punches with a hero in a red suit who was spewing flames.
“Heroes from other countries are nowhere to be seen. Isn’t this too much? They should know that if South Korea falls, they’ll be next.”
“Shut up!”
A flame in the shape of a dragon’s head opened its jaws wide towards the silver-haired boy.
– Whoosh―. –
– Boom! –