Chapter 154: [GT Bonus Chapter 2/2] Confrontation With The Gale Overlord
Though Linsley held himself to a set of principles, he wasn't bound to them in all circumstances. He understood when it was necessary to adapt.
His values prioritized the greater good, favoring the majority—especially the marginalized inferiors and wasteborn who were already benefiting from the security and opportunities the Sinclair Order offered.
Even the Overlords he had enslaved weren't deprived of their dignity. Although they were forbidden from looking down on the inferiors, their families continued to live comfortably on their hard-earned wealth.
'The Gale Overlord and his family are already part of the privileged minority in the Diviner World,' Linsley thought, a hint of disdain in his gaze. 'Sacrificing their happiness to ensure a better life for countless others is not only logical, but morally justified.'
Yet, he couldn't ignore the lingering unease. The Gale Overlord's family included innocent children and those with no hand in his schemes.
'If it's avoidable, I'd rather spare them the consequences,' he resolved. 'But if all else fails, I'll do what's necessary.'
Determined, Linsley focused on creating a tool to help him locate the Gale Overlord.
Drawing upon his Real Fantasy gift, he envisioned a compass capable of pinpointing any person he sought. Seconds later, a unique item materialized in his hand: the Locator Compass.
The device was forged of crystalline amethyst, with a golden needle in its center. Linsley's flux pulsed through it, activating its ability to track specific individuals. The compass's needle spun, vibrating slightly, then settled, pointing westward.
'So, he's hiding in that direction,' Linsley mused, a confident gleam in his eyes.
The Locator Compass allowed Linsley to pinpoint any individual within his world, its needle unwaveringly pointing in the target's direction regardless of barriers, obstacles, or terrain. With this, even walls, mountains, and buildings couldn't obscure the compass's guidance.
However, Linsley's Real Fantasy gift went a step further: he granted himself the ability to ignore physical barriers altogether.
With a swift enhancement of super speed, he launched himself from the Gale Foundation's headquarters, determined to uncover the hidden location of the elusive Gale Overlord.
...
Within minutes, he reached the remote western edge of the Gale Continent.
The compass needle spun wildly, a sure sign that the Gale Overlord was near—likely underground.
In the middle of a desolate forest clearing, where Level 6 monsters prowled, he sensed the faint flux pressure of the Overlord. Hidden deep below, an underground facility radiated with faint but detectable energy.
As for its depth, Linsley calculated it to be several kilometers beneath the surface—securely out of sight from the average wanderer but no match for his abilities.
'Time to finish this,' he thought, extending his Real Fantasy's influence downward.
He crafted a descending path straight through the earth, an effortless opening leading him deeper and deeper, past natural rock layers and reinforced barriers.
As Linsley descended into the massive underground chamber, he was met with the sight of a sophisticated, heavily fortified facility.
Rows of protective barriers lined the entrance, each humming with energy, and security formations flickered to life, reacting to his presence. Yet, all of the defenses seemed to pale in comparison to the figure standing at the heart of the chamber—the Gale Overlord himself, his face a blend of reluctant recognition and fury.
The Gale Overlord appeared ancient, a relic of countless battles and eras long past. His once-imposing frame had grown gaunt with age, yet his eyes still burned with an indomitable fierceness, defiant and alive. Deep lines, carved by the weight of experience and hardship, marked his face.
Silver hair, streaked with dark remnants of youth, fell to his shoulders, and his weathered hands gripped a cane crafted from enchanted wood. Runes etched along its length pulsed faintly, hints of his once-potent power still evident beneath his aged exterior.
His armor, though scarred and dulled by time, bore the unmistakable marks of countless victories, each one a testament to the strength he once wielded.
He met Linsley's gaze with a piercing stare—a mix of resignation and defiance—as the two locked eyes, knowing that the inevitable confrontation was at hand.
"So, you've come all this way just to find me," the Gale Overlord said, his voice a gravelly echo, hardened by centuries of war and leadership. "Yet, despite all your victories, you pursue an old man hiding in shadows. What do you hope to gain from this, Linsley?"
Linsley gave a calm smile, his tone unwavering. "You and I both know you're more than just an old man in hiding. With the loyalty and power you still command, you're a threat to everything I've built, and you know I can't allow that."
The Gale Overlord chuckled, though bitterness lingered in his gaze. "And here I thought you were here for justice, for your so-called 'greater good.' But it's power you seek, like all who rise to the top. Tell me, then—are you any different from the countless others who've come before you?"
Linsley's eyes hardened, his voice cutting through the Overlord's defiance. "Different enough that I'm standing here with a purpose. I'm not here to conquer for the sake of power but to end the grip you and the Gale Foundation have held over this continent, suffocating those you deem inferior. My methods may be ruthless, but unlike you, I don't cling to my power at the expense of everyone else."
The Gale Overlord's gaze narrowed. "Then let's see if you have the strength to claim the ideals you spout."
With a wave of his cane, the ancient overlord summoned a storm of wind and pressure, filling the chamber with a violent force that ripped through the air.
The energy twisted into blades, each sharpened by the raw flux that emanated from his cane, before they launched toward Linsley with blinding speed.
Linsley stood unmoved, flicking his hand to bring forth a shield from his Real Fantasy gift, which deflected the oncoming storm with minimal effort. His gaze didn't waver, locked onto the Gale Overlord.
"Impressive," Linsley remarked, "but that alone won't be enough."
With a subtle gesture, Linsley summoned an array of golden weapons, each one suspended mid-air and humming with energy.
In an instant, the chamber lit up with an onslaught as Linsley's weapons rained down, aiming to overwhelm the Gale Overlord.