Chapter 1279: Demonic Realm Beyond Humanity (2)

“Passengers. Welcome to Onslow Maritime Passenger Terminal.”

“The Onslow Passenger Terminal is one of the largest maritime train platforms on the Eastern Continent, having pioneered and managed sea routes across the entire continent…”

“The maritime train business, which began in the waters near the Sea of Understanding, now operates branches and provides services across the entire continent.”

Beep–

“One first-class ticket for the maritime train to Matif. Confirmed.”

Lennok pushed his luggage forward, passed through the gate, and stepped onto the boarding ramp.

A colossal train, floating motionlessly on the surging blue waves, blared its horn.

WooOOoosh–

A maritime train, luxurious and overwhelmingly vast, as if multiple giant ships were linked together in a line. With a slow thrum, as if announcing its departure, countless passengers boarded the train floating on the sea.

Expensive sports cars and luxury sedans lined up from all directions, entering the individual train compartments, which resembled ships.

Lennok, having boarded the most luxurious first-class compartment, comparable to a cruise ship, let out a small sigh.

“What a hassle. How long has it been since I’ve used a terminal like this…”

Onslow, a mid-sized city located near the Pilenom Autonomous Region.

Unlike other floating islands under the autonomous region’s rule, it didn’t cultivate specialty products or medicinal herbs, but it boasted the largest land area among all the floating islands.

This was the result of a massive success in the maritime train business, which dramatically reduced operating costs by utilizing the property of mana-imbued objects floating in the waters near the Sea of Understanding.

Now, it had firmly established itself as the largest passenger service platform across the entire Eastern Continent.

While waiting for the train’s departure, an announcement continuously flowed from the speakers above the seats.

“The train will depart shortly. Passengers, please take your seats, fasten your seatbelts, and follow the instructions…”

“Passengers. I am Deputy Director Moriel, in charge of operating the maritime train to Matif.”

The day after deciding to depart for the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, Lennok had arrived at Onslow Passenger Terminal, having settled his other identities and disguised himself as an ordinary civilian.

To enter the Demonic Realm, he first had to travel directly to the vicinity of the Central Front to gain access.

This was the result of choosing the fastest mode of transportation to reach the Central Front’s border zone.

‘The chances of it turning out like my trip to Kundara are probably low this time.’

The memory of being caught in a Headro Warlords ambush after hitching a ride on the Thorben Magic Tower while heading to Kundara was still vivid. Hadn’t he avoided using the Western Continent Inner Route ever since encountering the Order Alliance Leader there?

The procedures, experienced after a long time, were somewhat bothersome, but having come this far, he at least had a moment to catch his breath.

Thinking so, Lennok pulled out his tablet from his bag and turned it on.

Since he had time during the journey, he planned to check the Power Ranking that he hadn’t seen before.

Davi, as if on cue, connected to the tablet’s network with a slightly excited expression and accessed the post link.

[Title: Eastern Continent Superhuman Power Ranking 2.1]+245976

Since he last saw it, the post’s title and comment count had changed, indicating several updates.

He scrolled past the other ranks and examined the list of top-tier rankings on the last page.

Familiar names were visible, as if the names on the ranking list hadn’t changed.

[10th. False Star Betagron. Level 8 Magic Engineer. Affiliation: The Designers.]

=Continent’s top military engineering expert.

=Attempted large-scale military experiments several times after entering the ranking as an Apostle-Slayer.

=Succeeded in creating a quasi-Forbidden Armament ‘Ferocity’ using Apostle remains as material, leading to a rise in rank.

=Currently exploring the Forbidden Zone in the Eastern Continent’s interior.

…

[7th. Conqueror Baitan. Level 7 Trait-type Ability User. Lord of Wargear.]

=A warlord currently conquering cities along the Eastern Continent’s coastline.

=Captured seven city-states. Decapitated all five Level 8 Superhumans who governed those cities.

=Successfully identified his hierarchy and was recorded at the point of capturing ten city-states.

=Possesses a growth-type Trait-type Ability that uses decapitation as a trigger.

…

[4th. Black Art Victor. Level 8 Manipulation Spellcaster. Pandemonium.]

[3rd. Third Apostle Hughes. Level 8 Martyr. Guido Cult.]

[2nd. Ezekiel. ? Level ????. Affiliation Erased.]

[1st. Adamant Thunder Van.]

“…”

The rankings hadn’t changed significantly since he last checked the Power Ranking.

One notable point, perhaps, was the new epithet affixed to Victor’s name, one Lennok had never heard before.

“‘Black Art,’ huh…”

It was probably an epithet that had become widely associated with Victor among the rumors circulating, now updated and added to the ranking.

However, having heard about the rankings from Naoise Penn, Lennok couldn’t help but view the Power Ranking differently than before.

The knowledge used to determine the Eastern Continent Power Ranking was provided by Nox Biblio and The Answerer themselves.

But the process of assigning these ranks and evaluations was the result of another Transcendent’s involvement, not Naoise Penn.

If someone among the Transcendent beings on the outer continents was creating these rankings with the help of The Answerer, what would be their purpose and identity?

‘Considering The Answerer’s words, it’s highly likely to be someone from the Second World…’

The Second World was the era with the most intense struggles among Ascendants throughout the three cycles.

Therefore, it was a self-admitted fact that the Transcendent beings who existed in the Second World were accustomed to the act of determining superiority in power.

However, one thing that still bothered him was what kind of beings the Transcendent individuals who succeeded in ascension in the Old World truly were.

He still didn’t know how they succeeded in ascension, how they existed in the current world, or what their purpose was.

Ultimately, what Lennok held in his hands were only the inherent evaluations and analyses written in this Power Ranking.

Since he had boarded the train, there was still time, so it would be good to check the other ranking lists he had skipped before.

Thinking so, Lennok silently scrolled up to look at the other top-tier ranking lists he had previously bypassed.

[5th. Fusion Spell Master. Level 8 Fusion Spellcaster. Order Alliance.]

=The Alliance’s supernova, currently receiving the most attention on the Eastern Front.

=Uses a unique spellcraft that merges Bloodline Ability with Attribute Magic.

=A direct descendant of one of the Three Great Noble Houses of the Central Nobles. One of the Alliance Leader’s Successor Disciples.

=Was a strong candidate for Grand Spell Master after the Conjunction Spell Master’s death, but declined for unknown reasons.

…

[3rd. Third Apostle Hughes. Level 8 Martyr. Guido Cult.]

=An elite force of the Guido Cult. The Third Apostle, serving ‘The Shredder,’ the Outer Sea’s Demise. Appears as a young boy.

=A meritorious figure who has existed as an Apostle since the early days of the Cult. Known for being violent and mentally unstable.

=Numerous records state he was solely responsible for one-on-one battles during the Holy War.

=Seemed to be dedicated to conquering the Central Forward Base, but recently appeared on the Eastern Continent, thus noted in the ranking.

‘Descendant of the Three Great Noble Houses. A founding member of the Cult…’

Fusion Spell Master of the Order Alliance. Third Apostle of the Guido Cult. Lennok’s eyes narrowed at these names he couldn’t simply overlook.

Each of them was a top-tier Transcendent from the Alliance and the Cult, composed of all sorts of bizarre monsters and Transcendent beings.

Among them, a supernova who had been a candidate for Grand Spell Master, and an Apostle holding the formidable third rank.

These were undoubtedly among the most dangerous Transcendent individuals currently on the Eastern Continent.

Although the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, where Lennok was headed, was closer to the southern region than the Eastern Front, making an encounter unlikely, it was certainly necessary to remember their names and information.

And, most importantly–

[6th. Cheonbeon Evan Martinez. Level 8 Pyromancer. Unaffiliated.]

=Eastern Front’s strongest Pyromancer. Successor of Ascendant Jindun. Apostle-Slayer.

=Attended the Deadrise Legion Parade. Declined and resigned immediately after inheriting the Fourth Legion Commander position.

=Clashed with the Marshal upon his return to the Legion, burned a corner of the 2nd Command, and was defeated. Subsequently went missing.

=Rose to 3rd place due to the elimination of higher ranks. Subsequently dropped to 6th place in consideration of the Legion Parade incident.

“…”

As expected, Cheonbeon’s name was also on the ranking.

Since he had appeared at the Legion Parade under the identity of Cheonbeon, there was no way the ranking’s author wouldn’t have considered it.

Additional actions and analyses, more detailed than the author’s original description, were also written below.

=Target for recruitment by Central Front conquest-oriented organizations. Presumed to have already contacted The Agency.

=Numerous rumors suggest he is preparing to participate in the Central Front conquest after clashing with the Legion.

=Presumed to have recently undergone a large-scale adjustment and alteration of his Pyromancy and other abilities.

=A perceived drop in reputation from the Central due to the Legion Parade’s defeat. Reflected in the ranking’s calculation.

The rank remained the same at 5th, but the newly added content below was not very positive.

If the evaluation of Cheonbeon was being updated again due to the Legion Parade incident, it wasn’t surprising.

But the part Lennok was concerned about in the ranking wasn’t that issue.

‘They know about The Agency’s business. Indeed…’

No one knew that Lennok, under the identity of Cheonbeon, had contacted The Agency, except for Euphoria Aosel, who had witnessed it directly.

Yet, the mere fact that this information appeared in the Power Ranking had some meaning.

Considering the author’s identity he had previously speculated, it was true that his gaze kept returning to it.

‘Where should I begin?’

It was self-evident that Transcendent beings who succeeded in ascension were monsters who had reached an uncharted realm.

Even more so now that he fully understood that the Megiddo core, handed to him by the Director, was the item needed to meet Ethan Bajour.

He knew that only after ending the project and resolving Kaiser’s fate would there be a next step.

If the ‘Ethan’ mentioned by the Director was still somewhere in the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, then Lennok-

“You seem interested in the Power Ranking.”

“…”

Before he knew it, the elderly gentleman seated next to him was looking his way.

The old man, undeterred by Lennok’s lack of response, turned his head and said with a smile.

“It’s the hottest topic in the continent-wide communities these days. Isn’t it famous?”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. Its popularity is so immense that similar rankings have sprung up like mushrooms in other continents, too.”

The old man chuckled.

“However, no one can match the information gathering of the original, so there’s a lot of controversy, but the Eastern Continent Power Ranking, directly posted by the original author, is different. There’s no one who wouldn’t be interested after a new version comes out.”

“…”

Well, that was only natural, since the ranking’s author was directly pulling related information from Nox Biblio.

Even as Lennok thought this, the old man, who had glanced at the list reflected on the tablet, chuckled.

“Were you looking at the evaluations of Cheonbeon and Black Art? They are the two people with the most intense ranking controversies currently. You have good discernment.”

“I apologize, but it’s not a field I’m very familiar with…”

“Black Art, who achieved tremendous feats during the subjugation campaign, or Cheonbeon, who once fought on equal footing with Adamant Thunder. Isn’t there fierce public debate over which one is superior?”

“…”

Even with Lennok’s overt attempts to distance himself, the elderly gentleman remained incredibly persistent.

Was it because there weren’t many people in the first-class compartment of this vast maritime train? Or perhaps because he had overheard Lennok’s mumbled words?

Aside from the woman sleeping with sunglasses on far away, the old gentleman seemed to have no other conversational partner and continued to talk to Lennok.

“The controversy is even more intense because Black Art is ranked 4th and Cheonbeon has been pushed down to 6th. Especially since Pandemonium’s followers are so fervent, perhaps that’s why it’s becoming an even hotter topic…”

[He doesn’t need someone to talk to, he just seems like an organism who’s extremely interested in the Power Ranking?]

‘…’

“Ahem, this is a secret I’m only telling you, but… I actually think Black Art deserves the higher rank.”

He hadn’t asked, but the old gentleman, with a slightly embarrassed expression, offered his unasked opinion.

It seemed that, in the old gentleman’s mind, he had already built enough intimacy with Lennok to consider him a conversational partner for discussing the Power Ranking.

“When determining these kinds of rankings, one must prioritize recent achievements, and objectively, isn’t it true that Black Art’s accomplishments were far superior to Cheonbeon’s?”

“…”

Seeing Lennok hesitate, the old gentleman offered a benevolent smile.

“It’s true that Cheonbeon once confronted Adamant Thunder to save the Lighthouse Keeper, but ultimately, their duel ended in a result closer to Cheonbeon’s defeat. Considering that Black Art and Adamant Thunder couldn’t reach a conclusion in the subjugation campaign, isn’t there a clear difference?”

“…”

“Originally, it was known that Cheonbeon’s magical abilities couldn’t match Adamant Thunder’s. Though it’s a characteristic of Pyromancy, the need for warm-up time and its specialization in wide-area bombardment rather than one-on-one combat makes it fundamentally incompatible with Lightning Magic…”

“Hey, old man.”

At that moment, a sharp voice came from the seat across from the old gentleman.

The woman, who had been lying as if asleep just a moment ago, lowered her sunglasses and glared at them.

Her impression was sharp, almost glamorous. Her subtly elegant blue eyes.

The woman, who had swept back her blue-tinted curly hair that reached her shoulders, abruptly stood up.

She walked down the aisle of the moving train and stopped in front of the seats where Lennok and the old man were sitting.

Seen up close, her distinct glamorous impression was even clearer. She stared down at the old man and spoke.

“I don’t know what kind of nonsense you two have been talking about this whole time.”

“Oh, my apologies. I’m getting old and too meddlesome…”

The elderly gentleman finally came to his senses and cleared his throat, looking abashed.

He must have realized that he had gotten too excited and talked too much. He had been relieved that their seats were a bit far apart, but it seemed their conversation had been clearly audible from there.

The old man, who had been leaning towards Lennok, returned to his original posture and bowed his head apologetically to the woman.

“I apologize for being inconsiderate of other passengers. From now on, I will be quiet so as not to disturb anyone-”

“There’s no way Cheonbeon is weaker than Black Art, so his rank can’t be lower.”

“…Eh?”

It took a while before the old man, who had politely bowed his head, could utter a question in return.

The woman looked down at the old man with a sharp gaze and scoffed.

“Cheonbeon is a Transcendent who single-handedly defeated the Order Alliance’s Conjunction Spell Master. Do you think a criminal like Pandemonium’s Black Art could stand a chance against him in a direct fight?”

“…That’s…”

“If they truly fought, Black Art would be on the run the entire time, and all his precious Magic Scribes would be burnt to ashes. Take back what you just said!”

As Lennok was rendered speechless by the aggressive outburst he never expected to hear from her, Davi shook her head back and forth.

[That one was just the same type of organism, too.]

“…”