Chapter 163 : Altar of the Sea (5)

[You have defeated the Servant of the Sea God alone.]

[The Blessing of the Sea God is being transferred.]

The Blessing of the Sea God.

It was a blessing that all contributors could receive upon clearing the Altar of the Sea event.

Its main effects included the ability to breathe freely underwater and an increase in all stats.

Thanks to this, I was able to clearly hear the messages even as I was sinking into the sea with all my strength gone.

[Additional reward, the Trait of the Sea God will be given.]

A list of additional rewards I could receive rang in my head.

I was surprised that a Trait was being given as a reward.

– Tide Control

– Lord of the Deep

– Tsunami Summon

‘Tide Control,’ which allowed me to control the sea's currents as I wished, ‘Lord of the Deep,’ which could summon the monsters of the deep sea, and ‘Tsunami Summon,’ which could call forth a tsunami large enough to cover the land.

They were all incredible traits.

If I could obtain any one of these, I might be able to rule the seas.

‘But it's not what I need right now.’

If I had started near the sea and grown up with it as my background, I would have wanted to buy it for a fortune, but circumstances were different now.

I eventually had to head to Myeolji.

If I could choose a trait, it was better to pick one that would be useful there as well.

For me, who had no notable traits other than the ‘Dragon Heart,’ this was a very precious opportunity.

– Sea Giant

– Salt Wind

The two traits above could be used regardless of the field or the sea, but there were also traits that didn't suit my current self.

There was no reason to choose ‘Sea Giant’ when Keldric possessed [Gigantification], even if the attributes were different, and there was no need to add a new wind attribute when I already had fire and lightning.

My current build was more or less complete.

Especially on the offensive side, it was flawless.

I had built a much better offensive build than I had imagined when I came to this world.

Ten Thousand Thunderbolts Breaking the Heavens and Star-Devouring Severance.

In addition to these two Fourfold Transformations, I had several Tunes that could be used for attack.

[Rush], [Cutting], [Black Flame], [Gravity Manipulation], [Red Thread]…….

I also had a defensive Tune, [Intangible Armor], and a mobility skill, [Wings of Ainsitel].

What I lacked most right now was a Tune related to regeneration.

For minor wounds, the mana gushing from the Dragon Heart helped with recovery to some extent. And I had a reliable companion, Everchen, who could use Heal.

But I needed a recovery skill I could use myself.

I felt it clearly when I fought the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.

The reason I was driven to the brink of death and activated by Mutis was not because I was attacked by the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.

It was simply because my own body couldn't withstand my own attacks.

If I obtained a recovery-related trait, not only would my chances of escaping a crisis increase, but the burden of attacking would also be reduced.

It was when I was so desperately hoping for a recovery skill.

– Sea's Healing

There it was.

***

Thanks to the Blessing of the Sea God, I could breathe even in the sea. But my body lacked strength.

I was continuously sinking.

But as soon as I obtained the ‘Sea's Healing’ trait, my body's condition changed instantly.

I had been turned into a wreck while in my lightning state.

The accumulated wounds remained on my flesh.

My body had been crushed by air resistance just from holding a sword at the speed of light.

On top of that, I had even swung the sword, so my condition was horrifically bad.

But my body, in contact with the seawater, immediately began to recover.

My torn hands healed, and my broken bones began to mend.

The Dragon Heart, not to be outdone, pumped furiously, pouring mana throughout my body.

‘I’ve come down too deep.’

It was the deep sea, where even sunlight barely reached.

Huge fish were circling around me, watching for an opportunity.

At that moment, bubbles rose and a person approached quickly.

I could make out his face as he came closer. It was Keldric.

“Ueuaeogeuk……!”

Keldric grabbed my wrist and muttered something.

Of course, the sound wasn't transmitted clearly, and only bubbles erupted fiercely from Keldric's mouth.

Please take me with you.

I said so, but of course, my voice probably didn't reach Keldric well either.

Salty seawater invaded my mouth, and only bubbles formed.

But Keldric, as if he understood, started to ascend while holding my wrist.

Before long, Everchen also appeared in the water.

He too grabbed my other wrist and swam towards the surface.

Strength gradually began to return to my body, but the overwhelming fatigue did not subside.

‘Thank you. I'll just rest a little.’

I went limp and let my companions lead me up to the surface.

The closer we got to the sea surface, the brighter my vision became.

Puhat!

We came out of the water together.

“You did it! You did it!”

Keldric shouted, embracing me.

My whole body shook, and even my head felt dizzy.

But laughter also came out.

“Haha, haha, that's right. We did it.”

The sunlight shone brightly on me and my companions.

***

By the time I was completely out of the seawater, my body had already fully recovered.

As I was taking off my top to wring out the water, the Lizard King Urseca appeared before my eyes.

Behind his head, the shape of a circle floated like a halo.

This was the effect that occurred when the Lizardfolk received the Blessing of the Sea God.

Not only Urseca, but the other Lizardfolk also had halos.

“You went through. A lot. Sir.”

Urseca used formal speech, unlike before.

It was awkward to see a Lizardfolk trying to use human grammar, but I smiled and replied.

“Not at all, are you alright, Lord Urseca?”

Instead of answering, Urseca knelt down.

……Why is he doing this?

***

Urseca was a renowned Lizard King.

He always put his tribe first and worked hard for the Lizardfolk under his command.

His path was quite different from the Lizard Kings of previous eras.

When difficulties arose, he did not try to solve them only within the Lizardfolk tribe but actively received outside help.

Under Urseca's command, the Lizardfolk were no longer an isolated race stuck between the swamp and the sea.

In particular, bringing the Black Veil into his territory was one of Urseca's achievements.

The beasts of the sea became a great threat if they were not periodically exterminated.

This was because the sea beasts would build up their forces in an instant and invade the Lizardfolk territory.

The reason Urseca brought in the Black Veil was not simply because he lacked military power, but also to learn how to organize an outside force.

The Black Veil did not just show their organizational skills.

The daughter of the head of Adjak's 3rd Autonomous Region.

Soler, who led the Black Veil, fought the beasts at the forefront.

Even after being swallowed into a beast's stomach, she did not give up and tore the beast apart from the inside to get out.

Seeing Soler like that, Urseca had an epiphany.

Urseca came to reconsider what kind of image a leader of an organization should show.

After that, Urseca vowed not to just enjoy the power of being the Lizard King but to act for the tribe, leading from the very front.

Just then, the long-standing wish of the Lizardfolk, the Altar of the Sea, lit up with a green light.

Urseca knew well how important the altar was to the tribe.

So, for everyone's sake, he intended to fulfill the altar's condition and bestow the ‘Blessing of the Sea God’ upon all Lizardfolk.

……Until he saw his wife's pupils turn green.

“Me. It's okay. For Lizard. I die.”

“No. Outside house. Do not come out.”

Urseca's wife, Dichenbe, also knew how much the Altar of the Sea meant to Urseca. So she tried to choose sacrifice, but Urseca stopped her.

There must be another way.

Urseca intended to hide the fact that his wife's pupil color had changed for as long as he could.

In the end, Urseca found a way in the records of his ancestors to receive the Blessing of the Sea God without offering a sacrifice.

It was to offer a fake sacrifice instead of the green-eyed Lizardfolk the altar wanted and kill the servant of the Sea God to steal the god's blessing.

Urseca was no fool.

He also knew that choosing this method would lead to the sacrifice of many Lizardfolk.

That was why Urseca could not easily bring up the idea of fighting the servant of the Sea God to his other kin.

While Urseca continued to worry, Dichenbe still pleaded for him to sacrifice her.

It was because she knew well that Urseca cherished the Lizardfolk tribe as much as the Altar of the Sea.

It was when the two Lizardfolk were arguing…….

“King. We. Know.”

“Worry. Tell us.”

The Lizard warriors came to see Urseca.

All Lizardfolk were well aware of the legend of the Altar of the Sea.

Some of them had noticed that the king's wife had not left her home for several days and had come to check.

“Still. Worrying. I am.”

Urseca was flustered and avoided the topic.

But the Lizardfolk did not leave their king alone.

“Altar. Not needed. King, Queen. Must live.”

“Blessing of the Sea. Without it. Lizard. Strong.”

“Or. Another way. Is there?”

Urseca had been worried that the Lizardfolk would tell him to sacrifice his wife for the sake of the tribe's wish.

But they wished for Urseca's happiness more than the clan's wish.

They were not ignorant of the king's efforts to revive the Lizardfolk tribe.

In the end, after deep discussion, the Lizardfolk decided to kill the servant of the Sea God without sacrificing one of their own as a tribute.

They requested help from the Black Veil, and they readily accepted.

Urseca immediately made a doll by casting plaster while preparing a strategy with the Black Veil.

It was then that Polarin Adjak and his party arrived.

Soler made a request to Urseca.

“Polarin and his party are stronger than me. If they help, they will surely be a great asset.”

“Apostle of Divinity. I know. Request help. Please. Do it.”

“I understand. But it seems there’s something they want too.”

“What is it?”

“The support of the Lizardfolk and our Black Veil. Would that be possible?”

“Of course. For Lizard. Those who fight. Lizard. Don't forget. Will not.”

And so, Polarin and his companions also joined the plan.

Urseca was half-convinced at first.

He had never fought the servant of the Sea God, but the Lizardfolk were one of the strongest races among the beastkin.

Moreover, the Black Veil led by Soler was also a strong force.

Although Soler rated Polarin and his companions highly, he actually believed that he could win against the servant of the Sea God with his original forces.

After learning that Polarin could use electric currents, he entrusted him with the strike team, but even then, he did not fully trust him.

“Plan. Fails. Lizard. Steps up.”

“King. Command. We obey.”

While entrusting the task to Polarin's group, Urseca also had his own people thoroughly prepared.

After making thorough preparations, Urseca sent the Lizard warriors into the sea first.

And before going into the sea, he said to Soler.

“If I faint. Back. Stab with a knife. Please. I. Quickly. Wake up.”

“……I'll do that.”

Urseca also considered the possibility that Polarin would not be able to defeat the servant of the Sea God.

In that case, he himself would have to see it to the end.

Urseca and Soler entered the sea.

There were no obstacles on the way to the altar where the green light was emitting.

Urseca placed the painstakingly made plaster doll on the altar.

Although it was a fake sacrifice, Urseca had modeled it after his wife.

It was to strengthen his resolve by destroying the plaster doll that had the form of his wife.

‘Many Lizardfolk died in Dichenbe's place. Their lives are also precious. I will think that my wife died here and become a king who puts the Lizardfolk first from now on.’

The green light from the altar began to pour over the plaster doll.

As the light gradually intensified, Urseca threw a harpoon and shattered it.

Then, an explosive light burst out from the altar.

Simultaneously, all sorts of curses poured down on him and Urseca could not withstand the curses and lost consciousness.

……When the fainted Urseca came to his senses, it was when he felt a terrible pain in his back.

Soler had stabbed Urseca in the back with a knife.

Soler carried the stabbed Urseca on her back and swam to the surface of the sea.

Thanks to the knife deeply embedded in his back, Urseca was able to escape from his fainted state.

The pain had awakened him.

But he could not recover from the other status effects.

Parts of Urseca's body were petrified or melting, and his senses were not intact.

But more surprising than his own body's condition was the servant of the Sea God.

The Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.

An island-sized octopus was enraged.

It was no different from a calamity coming to life and moving.

Urseca, far from fighting the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes properly, lost the confidence to even wield his prized curved sword.

Soler's Fourfold Transformation became a red Unmu and attacked the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes, but it took no damage at all.

The Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes quickly rushed to the surface to kill those who had offered it a fake sacrifice.

Only then did Urseca realize how absurd his decision had been.

It was because of his ignorance that Urseca had dared to make a plan to face the servant.

An ominous premonition arose that his decision would lead all the Lizardfolk he loved to their deaths.

But Soler succeeded in escaping to the surface with Urseca.

Soler gasped for breath.

No matter how outstanding Soler was, it was not easy to swim quickly while carrying Urseca, who was much larger than her, after having released her Fourfold Transformation.

But the reward for Urseca taking the altar's curse with his whole body, and the reward for Soler's narrow escape, were about to disappear.

The enraged Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes burst out of the sea first and tried to kill Soler and Urseca.

‘This is it…….’

Just as Urseca resigned himself, a lightning bolt suddenly fell from the sky.

Kwarururung!

Polarin had charged at the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.

The light carved the calamity.