Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 183

Memorial Service (8)

A ray of light shone through the gaps of the stinging negative energy. Good and evil coexist. Its very existence was a bundle of contradictions.

A hero might engage in illegal activities, or a monster might love nature.

Exceptional cases exist anywhere and anytime. Everything is ultimately a matter of probability. Nothing is impossible.

Looking back, the birth of human civilization must have been close to a miracle. By an extremely low probability, the planet Earth became optimized for the emergence of life.

The phenomena unfolding before our eyes are the result of endless evolution and coincidences overlapping. So, my brain accepted that exceptional cases like that golden tree could exist.

Kwaaang!

The tree and the demon clashed.

It’s a spectacle reminiscent of monster battles in special effects films. The internal conflicts of Emperors fighting for control of their consciousness unfolded on a grand scale.

[The divine tree did not forget the grace.]

[The sacred tree grasped the wishes of the people.]

‘So this was that episode.’

As I observed the contradictory phenomenon, I vaguely remembered.

As I recall, this underworld was a parade of fakes. In other words, tricks that could confuse users were spread out here and there.

‘For example.’

That golden tree had been worshipped by local folk believers for a long time and became ethereal. Then it underwent monsterization due to a unique magic stone – that was roughly the setting I remember.

Whatever it is, although it’s a monster now, judging by its name and status messages, it’s closer to an NPC that helps us.

‘But the difference in specs is quite severe.’

I gave the order to help the golden tree. However…

Tadadatat.

Flash!

“Haap!”

[Yeo Jin-soo used ‘Giant Slash’.]

[Yeo Jin-soo inflicted minimal damage.]

Yeo Jin-soo’s sword attack, which leapt out with good momentum, drew a thin scratch on the shoulder of the giant evil spirit, but as expected, it didn’t deal much damage.

The target of the angered evil spirit changed instantly.

I placed my finger on the bottom left to activate the Final Finish at any moment.

Ziiing!

Whiriri― Paat!

Jin-soo barely avoided the negative energy beams spurting in all directions and landed on the ground. Even Jin-soo, with his overwhelmingly quick movements, was in such a state.

The rest of the team members can’t even approach carelessly.

This is what a difference in specs looks like. No matter how excellent the strategy and tactics, they are powerless in the face of an overwhelming difference in strength.

I quickly checked the information of the giant evil spirit.

【Information Window】

▶ Name: Fused Crowd Fear

▶ Level: 100

▶ Classification: Evil Spirit

▶ Mutation: [Hive Mind Lv.1]

▶ Skill: [Fusion]

With only one mutation and one skill, yet its level is 100. It’s an opponent that not only the team members but even the experienced Flame Emperor and God Hand find difficult to handle.

One way or another, I would have to step in eventually.

‘So this is how it turns out.’

The mission difficulty was very high. The reward was just a measly 2 billion in cash and 1,000 points.

While carrying out such a mission, I encountered the original thought bodies of Flame Emperor and God Hand, and in the underworld unfolding before our eyes, two Emperor-class monsters and an evil spirit are engaged in the battle of the century.

‘I have no choice but to accept it.’

It’s fate or the story. No matter how high the degree of freedom in a game, there’s always a set framework. The character of Director Isaac himself must be a whirlpool of destiny.

If you can’t avoid it, you have no choice but to face it and fight.

Tukwagwagwang!

Dozens of wooden fists extending from the golden tree unleashed a magnificent series of punches.

As the giant body of the evil spirit collapsed, the heaven and earth shook.

‘I can’t help but pay attention.’

Meanwhile, the chat was flooding with messages. After checking some of them through the automatic translator, I found that unfavorable public opinion was boiling.

―Is this person Isaac? I can’t understand him. Why isn’t this hero attacking the monsters?

―Please show us your power. I heard you’re incredibly strong. Why are you just standing by?

―The cold man with blue eyes (laughing emoji). Extremely composed appearance. His cold personality stands out (scared face emoji x3).

Come to think of it, this live stream was the first broadcast I turned on since becoming an SS-class hero.

In other words, it’s my global debut stage.

“Haap!”

Puhwaaaak!

Peobeobeobeong―

Flame Emperor’s flames caused a chain of explosions, and Gil-seong’s missiles were fired, burning and bursting the evil spirit that had fallen to the ground.

An intense exchange of attacks followed, but the battle situation was grim.

[Gil-seong’s ‘Long-range Interception’ inflicted minimal damage.]

[Hwang Man-deuk barely blocked the negative energy beam of the evil spirit ‘Fused Crowd Fear’.]

[Seo Eun-ha’s ‘Burning Fighting Spirit’ enveloped the heroes.]

[Yeo Jin-soo’s ‘Giant Splitting’ inflicted minimal damage.]

[Hwang Man-deuk’s…..]

This was the reality.

People want Isaac to single-handedly dominate, but not only the team members but even S-class heroes are still overwhelmed by the Emperor.

This pattern has been consistent since returning from the Ark of Trials.

‘It’s not something that can be done with orders.’

The viewers’ sentiment is also deteriorating.

The image I built in Korea has become useless.

Viewers from all over the world know Isaac as just being strong, but they don’t know the detailed narrative.

If we drag this out any longer, it might even hinder the completion of the main quest. The transformation of ‘expectation’ into disappointment can happen in an instant.

Sreureureurk―

Hwaaaat.

For a moment, the form of the evil spirit sprawled on the ground scattered like smoke, then regathered in mid-air. It was a strange divine technique.

“Grrrrrr!”

As the evil spirit roared, a high concentration of negative energy was released. The expressions of the team members and Flame Emperor, who seemed to be holding up well, became deeply furrowed.

[The mental barriers of the heroes all shook at once.]

[The heroes’ fighting spirit has been dampened.]

The system messages continued to remind us of the reality.

I wanted to spend time with the team members. I wanted to contemplate what ‘ultimate’ I could achieve.

But the harsh reality didn’t allow for such luxury.

Woowoong―

[Hero ‘God Hand’s restoration technique gently caressed the heroes’ mental barriers.]

[The heroes regained their composure.]

Thanks to God Hand’s efforts, the frightened heroes regained their senses.

Peobeobeobeobeok!

The thick branches of the golden tree unleashed another formidable series of punches. In this earth-shattering pattern, the heroes are merely supporting actors helping the golden tree’s victory.

‘I’ll ignore it for now.’

It had become a familiar occurrence by now.

I closed the chat window, turning a blind eye to the viewers’ sentiments.

Kugugung―

Grrrrrr!

[The difficulty has increased.]

―Current difficulty: Level 4

After the entire underworld shook once, two giant evil spirits emerged from the ground. With this, there were now three Emperor-class evil spirits.

‘This isn’t the standard of Season 1.’

The situation became a bit clearer.

The corrupted spirits must have clung to the golden tree, and the golden tree must have been resisting to not lose its sense of self.

The folk religion practitioner who kidnapped citizens with cursed talismans must be nothing more than a scarecrow possessed by the will of the evil spirit.

Flame Emperor, who had turned pale, said.

“I think it’s impossible for us to handle those things!”

It was a fact I already knew.

I was just waiting for the bored genius’s brain to fully grasp the situation.

‘There’s no point in purifying the golden tree right away.’

If we purify the underworld in this state, the evil spirits that haven’t achieved fusion will go berserk.

It would be better to wait for the fusion and then deal with it all at once to avoid complications.

I asked, just in case.

“God Hand. Do you sense any villains around?”

“Villains, you say? The negative energy from those things is so powerful that… Do you have some suspicion?”

“I had detected a bishop-level villain from DRR nearby. I lost track of him because he used some strange ability.”

“A DRR villain!”

It seemed that even God Hand’s talent for contact restoration couldn’t detect any suspicious presence.

‘I don’t want to use Unlimited Mode if I can help it.’

Beyond the strain on the mental barrier, I felt like something fundamental was being chipped away. It felt like my sense of self was being eroded with each use.

That’s why I tried to achieve awakening, but I hadn’t yet reached mental maturity.

‘The key is to deal with it all at once.’

Puwhaaaaaaa!

[The difficulty has increased.]

―Current difficulty: Level 5

The concentration of negative energy in the underworld intensified exponentially.

Additionally, five more giant evil spirits burst out from the ground. A total of eight Emperor-class evil spirits. It was enough power to destroy an entire nation and then some.

‘Just how many spirits have been corrupted?’

It seemed to be in the range of several million to tens of millions.

As the evil spirits roared in unison, the golden tree, unwilling to back down, shook its lush canopy, but…

Crack!

Whoosh―

Outnumbered, the golden tree was helplessly pushed back by the group lynching.

Its once-lush canopy was torn apart, its divine appearance now in shambles.

Crunch―

Crack!

They pounced like a pack of hyenas tearing into a herbivore.

In the end, surrounded by eight giant evil spirits, the golden tree couldn’t escape the fate of becoming prey.

[Failed to achieve the additional objective.]

[Fusion begins.]

Squirm. Squirm.

Wriggle!

The eight giant evil spirits that had taken their fill began to merge into one. Soon, the true boss monster of the underworld would be born.

Eun-ha, who had turned pale, asked with a trembling voice.

“Leader?”

“It’s okay.”

[The members’ anxious hearts were put at ease.]

[You felt a renewed sense of pride at the members’ complete trust.]

I don’t know what there is to be proud of. Honestly, the anxiety was much greater.

I had been feeling uneasy for a while now.

The genius brain kept whispering. Don’t use the Final Finish recklessly.

There’s a trap somewhere. My survival instinct was screaming so.

Flap―!

It was then that the space in the area distorted.

‘So that was it.’

At the eastern edge of the underworld.

Familiar faces appeared as if removing a spatial veil. My prediction soon materialized in the form of a specific information window.

The identity of the trio was none other than DRR’s leader Morpheus, bishop Specter, and Goliath.

The vague sense of unease finally took concrete form.

Woooong―

‘A wide-area magic circle?’

A magic circle encompassing the entire underworld spread out unnoticed. I reflexively activated Final Finish, manipulating shadows to leap through space with all the heroes.

[‘Final Finish’ has been used.]

[The next attack will be enhanced with one-hit kill power.]

Sruuuuk―

Flaaaaash!

As soon as we escaped the range of the magic circle, the bizarre geometric shapes and magical characters that made up the circle emitted a dark red light.

[It’s a high-dimensional summoning circle.]

‘It’s a summoning circle infused with blood magic.’

It was a sudden development.

Cold sweat ran down my back. We had nearly been offered as sacrifices.

The mastermind behind this absurd situation opened his mouth.

“Hahaha! I’ve been waiting for this very moment. Hero Isaac, we finally meet, you famous person. Thanks to you, our DRR has been dismantled.”

“……”

It seems like it was drawn in advance.

From the perfect veil to the instantly spread magic circle. It must all be Specter’s doing. It was an extremely troublesome application.

Fwooooosh―

Groooooan───

[The evil spirits attempting fusion have been offered as sacrifices.]

[It’s a new phase.]

The large-scale magic circle swallowed the evil spirits.

The situation took a drastic turn.

I pulled the heroes back.

“Don’t get involved.”

The members hesitantly retreated.

It wasn’t ripe yet. Both the members and the two S-class heroes still had room to grow stronger. But now wasn’t the time.

Lives could be lost in the blink of an eye.

Squirm― Gulp.

The magic circle that had covered the entire underworld shrank to a smaller size.

Splat. Crunch. Splash.

A grotesque arm emerged from the miniaturized magic circle. Soon after, a head, chest, and lower body drenched in moist liquid emerged.

My heart sank as our eyes met. Though emaciated, it exuded an imperial aura. Its thin arms and legs creaked eerily.

【Information Window】

▶ Name: Dagon Immersed in Blood

▶ Level: 135

▶ Classification: Monster

▶ Mutations: [Blood Magic Lv.10][Corrupted Evil Lv.5][Overwhelming Vitality Lv.8][Strange Regeneration Lv.6][Energy Occupation Lv.3]

▶ Skills: [Blood Manipulation][Blood Absorption]

Sruuuk―

The being that was fully summoned, shedding its sticky mucus, was a demon belonging to the upper echelons of the 2-tier mutant class.

The leader Morpheus, who summoned him, immediately fell to his knees.

“Ah! Great Dagon. We are in your presence, master.”

“Hooh. Not bad. To think you could summon me. Young servant, speak your request. Let’s resolve this quickly so I can claim the spirits of this place.”

“Please eliminate those things!”

Morpheus’s finger pointed in our direction.

‘Heartless bastard.’

Since he couldn’t handle it himself, he brought the thug he serves.

Bam!

I immediately leaped, throwing a punch straight at Dagon’s face.

Claaaaaang!