Chapter 56

The Black Rose clan had spent a full year actively leveling up their characters. Their wise leader led his comrades through the most treacherous dungeons, pushing them to their limits. Even the weakest recruits he gathered into his party grew into formidable forces.

Teamwork drills, skill grinding, prime hunting spots, dungeon strategies—Black Rose was a factory for power-leveling characters of any class or specialization. Starting from level 300, the focus shifted to skill development under extreme conditions.

The clan leader was a Level 670 mage, one of the strongest in the world. He was always either raiding or attending clan meetings. Rumors claimed he never logged out, though every member had seen him vanish before their eyes at least once.

Bernard founded his clan right after the ritual. His brothers and sisters, trapped in this world, awaited worthy opponents. He loved each of them and did everything he could to hasten their liberation. In his past life, he had been a God of War, a master of combat. Now, he was building a factory to forge the world’s strongest army.

Progress was an endless war. Once the balance of power shifted, demand for his clan’s services would skyrocket. "Give two men weapons, and they’ll kill each other on their own." Every god thought that way. But what mattered was that people would grow stronger—and the Wanderers had proven it last time. They’d prove it again. Bernardo would simply stoke the flames of war.

Margul, the Patron of Dragons, declared that an age of war was coming—and his flock would side with one of the young gods. For him, this was a chance to test his strength against the new divine pantheon. To that end, he had personally crafted a quest to slay one of the dragons.

"What if they’re not ready? The young gods are still weak."

"We should find out. Besides, they might pool their strength for one decisive strike."

"Aren’t you afraid of final death? That violates Izumi’s terms."

"Why? As I understood it, he meant dying at the hands of a worthy opponent." Margul quoted, "‘Only the worthy shall pass.’"

"But not to a bunch of weaklings."

"Believe me, if I deem them weak, I won’t just roll over. I can wait a little longer, then test them again. Either way, the humans won’t steal my flock."

"Tch. Too bad Izumi won’t appear until the first Chosen One arrives."

"Well, he’s not on Thanatos. Maybe the Chosen is already here, just somewhere else."

"You think there’s some lone Level 1000 out there that nobody knows about?" Bernardo laughed heartily. Margul was one of the few he could speak to freely—a rare moment of joy in good company.

Thanatos, the Isle of Gods, sat at the heart of the inhabited world. Four vast continents were surrounded by a single endless ocean. Legends called it an island, but in truth, it was a small continent—a place of power. The strongest and oldest beings dwelled there: descendants of the first titans, dragons, demons, and other ancient creatures. The angelic race also lived on Thanatos. The entire isle was surrounded by monsters Level 1000 and above, earning the ocean its name—the Ocean of Terror. It was there, last time, that they had met Izumi. He had come from beyond, explaining his arrival as a response to the first Chosen One appearing in this world.

"Brother, don’t die too soon. I fear losing you. I have few close to me in this world—the thought of being alone terrifies me. You could be the last to go. Let’s wait until the Wanderers reach the island. They’ll be far stronger then, and we’ll have a real fight."

"I’ll think about it. I’ll think carefully."