Chapter 44: Revolution (2)
– You have successfully passed the Hell Train's 36th Floor Test. We wish you a pleasant journey until the next trial.
The massive Guardian lay collapsed, its body charred pitch-black. Flames still roared, feeding on its corpse as fuel. Hwarang waved his hand, dispersing the lingering fire.
One month after boarding the Hell Train, we passed the 36th Floor Test.
For me, Maschenny, Hwarang, and Luf, the tests in this section still weren't difficult. Compared to the Ascension Tests—which often required strategy and intellect rather than brute force—the Hell Train's tests, which could all be solved with sheer power, felt almost… easy.
I guess there's a reason people say "if your body is strong, your mind has an easier time."
…Am I going to end up getting dumber at this rate?
With that pointless worry, I returned to the rest cabin with my teammates. They sprawled out however they liked—some on beds, some on sofas—enjoying their break. Meanwhile, I just drank some water and headed out again.
"Hyung, today too?"
"Yeah. I'll leave it to you."
Luf was already waiting outside.
For the past month, I had been searching every spare moment for the God of Guardians, but had found nothing. About a week ago, Luf decided he couldn't stand watching anymore and joined in to help—though he had no idea what exactly we were looking for.
As expected of a Tu Perie Family direct descendant, his main position was Lightbearer, and he was a massive help in exploring. By marking every car we had already visited, we no longer wasted time going to the same places twice.
I spread my shinsu wings, grabbed Luf, and flew at low altitude between train cars. Luf kept supporting me—reinforcing me with shinsu buffs, scanning ahead using his lighthouse, and navigating paths.
"That car's one we visited already. Go down the left corridor."
"Got it."
Thanks to teamwork like that, our time efficiency skyrocketed.
Had I known the difference would be this big, I would've asked him for help ages ago.
After about thirty minutes of flying through car after car, Luf's lighthouse suddenly reacted strangely. His brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?"
"The lighthouse… suddenly vanished. It escaped my control completely. I really doubt there's a better Lightbearer than me in this section, so…"
He was right. No Lightbearer in this area surpassed Luf.
That meant only one thing:
This wasn't hacking. Something else interfered.
For example… the lighthouse may have entered an isolated space blocked off from the outside.
Come to think of it… the Gods of Guardians were hidden in secret rooms.
"Luf, send me the coordinates. I'll fly faster, so hold on tight."
"Sure—but hurry. It'll be nighttime soon. When night comes, the train cars shuffle."
I liked the feeling this time. If Luf was right, once night fell, the cars would move, and finding the room again would become almost impossible.
Hoaquin-Style Shinsu Limit Break – White Comet
A wave of white engulfed my and Luf's bodies, transforming us into a streak of comet-like light.
Leaving a glowing tail behind us, we soared forward at incredible speed.
We reached the place where the lighthouse vanished—
—but immediately collided with unexpected resistance.
KRAAAAH—!!
A pack of Bloomer Guardians, one of the top-ranking Guardians on the Hell Train. Their gigantic bodies completely filled the train car, creating an unnatural scene. Likely some unlucky Regular had provoked one, and the whole group had followed.
How troublesome.
I braked abruptly, landing on the ground mid-flight, and gathered shinsu into my sword. The brilliant white glow drew the attention of all the Bloomer Guardians.
"Luf! Weapon enhancement!"
"Yessir~!"
With Luf's support—combined with White Night's partial activation—I swung horizontally at the Guardians.
A fierce white slash tore through them.
Five of the seven were cleaved cleanly in half and died instantly.
But two still remained.
I prepared to finish them—for only the entire car around us to begin emitting a grinding, gear-turning sound. Not only this car—the one with the missing lighthouse, and several others too.
The signal that the cars were shifting.
Already nighttime, huh.
"Hyung! Before the positions change completely—go!"
Luf yelled at me as I frowned.
If I chased the shifting room now, Luf would be left alone with two Bloomer Guardians.
Would he be okay?
I… am an extreme exception, someone who could fight a whole swarm of Bloomers alone—but Luf was still a D-rank Regular, a Lightbearer, not a front-line fighter.
But Luf gave me a calm smile, as if saying he'd be fine.
If he said so, then I'd trust him.
"Call Hwarang or Maschenny with your pocket!"
With those last instructions, I flew toward the next car.
Luf deployed all five of his lighthouses, drawing the Guardians' aggro.
"Hyung really worries too much. I am a rising star, you know."
Luf's violet lighthouses glowed brightly, forming a massive dome.
It enveloped the two Bloomer Guardians completely.
Even as they panicked and thrashed, the barrier didn't budge.
"Gravity field, shinsu cannon loading. Slowing enemy internal shinsu flow."
Luf grinned wickedly.
After all, he rarely got a chance to deploy his Lightbearer techniques on a large scale due to always being overshadowed by Hwarang-hyung, Maschenny-noona, and me.
He even snapped a selfie with the Bloomers and the glowing dome behind him before continuing his operations.
....
I barely reached the correct car in time.
Just in case, I used my pocket to notify Hwarang and Maschenny about Luf.
Then, scanning the area, I spotted Luf's lighthouse—the one that had been forcibly disconnected.
I retrieved it and ventured deeper into the secret room.
Just as expected, there was a giant inside.
A heavy vibration of shinsu pulsed through the air.
So this is what Bam meant when he said Urek's presence felt overwhelming…?
Snore—Hrrrrk… Snore—Hrrrrk…
The giant was asleep, snoring thunderously.
Behind him were huge gears whose purpose was unclear, and an enormous container.
Blonde hair, wrapped in a red cape.
A massive pot-like vessel.
Just seeing them was enough to know—
This was the God of Guardians, the Rice Pot.
We had finally found the hidden room.
Excited, I stepped forward—
—and at that moment, the God of Guardians opened his eyes.
"Nice to meet you, I'm—!"
Before I could even finish my greeting, the God of Guardians leapt high into the air toward me.
The ground shook violently as his fist came crashing down—
…What?
"W–Wait a second!"
BOOM!
I barely flung myself aside, avoiding the massive fist that smashed into the ground. I had no time to catch my breath—because now, a gigantic foot tried to stomp me flat.
I formed shinsu wings and shot upward to avoid it—
but the giant reached out to grab me.
With that enormous body came terrifying reach.
Right before his hand could close around me, I swung my sword with full force at his palm. Using the recoil, I escaped upward, widening the distance as much as I could.
The problem was… the God of Guardians could also fly.
"Intruder… begone."
"Not an intruder, actually—I'm an Irregular here for the Revolution."
"…What?"
The God of Guardians stared at me for a few seconds—then scoffed.
A massive amount of shinsu gathered in his hand. Even from afar, the pressure was absurd.
"Nonsense. You're clearly a child of the Tower's soul. This Rice Pot can only be used by one who opened the door and entered. You, who are not one of them, have no right."
No, seriously—I DID walk in through the door.
No matter what I said, he refused to listen.
It reminded me a lot of how I ignored the Mirotic Guardian telling me to go back…
Ah. So this is karma.
"To disturb my sleep—and even lie? I have no reason to let a filthy liar live."
The moment he finished speaking, a massive Bang flew at me.
I had already begun gathering shinsu into my sword, so I activated White Night's partial mode and cleaved downward.
The huge projectile split in half and exploded.
The God of Guardians looked genuinely surprised.
Using the smoke to hide my movement, I activated a technique.
Twelve swords appeared in the sky—
not massive ones, but regular shinsu blades.
The giant versions had too much delay; now I needed something continuous, fast, and sustainable.
The God of Guardians narrowed his eyes.
"What is that…?"
"Let's both cool our heads for a moment."
Hoaquin-Style Shinsu Control — Meteor Shower
The shinsu swords spun like drills, scattering white sparks, their penetration power increasing drastically. Then they rained down on the God of Guardians like falling stars.
Each sword carried several times the force of a normal shinsu blade. Twelve streaks of white light flew at him with terrifying speed—a true meteor shower.
And they did not stop there.
Every time one sword struck and exploded, another formed immediately to replace it, striking again.
Normally, this would drain shinsu in seconds. But through my unique control skill, "Root," I continuously supplied all the shinsu needed.
In theory, it was an unlimited shinsu bombardment.
"W–What is this…?!"
The Meteor Shower continued relentlessly, explosions shaking the room. It felt cathartic, like paying him back for attacking first. The God of Guardians tried retaliating by forming two massive bangs, but they were easily shredded by the falling swords.
Then the bombardment resumed.
"Grrr… Stop!"
A roar erupted from him, unleashing a shockwave of shinsu.
All twelve swords shattered at once.
I could have continued, but he didn't follow up with another attack, so I paused as well.
"You… are not an ordinary Regular. I'll give one final warning. Leave."
"No, I told you—I'm an Irregular."
"Still lying—"
He glared harshly.
So, what? You're trying to convince me you just happen to have a bit more strength than a Regular?
The God of Guardians' shinsu flared violently.
This was genuinely dangerous.
I needed to convince him somehow.
Why doesn't he believe me?!
Something only Irregulars would know…
V? Arlene? No… no…
"Disappear—!"
"AH! THE GOD-SLAYING TECHNIQUES! Please teach me the God-Slaying Techniques!"
It was a technique only Irregulars could learn, but it didn't exactly prove I was one. Still—if it stopped him, I didn't care.
And my gamble…
Paid off.
The high-powered shinsu cannon he fired suddenly veered away, smashing into the wall instead of me.
After the vortex of energy settled, the God of Guardians stared at me, confused.
"…How do you know about that? Don't tell me—did Arie Hon tell you—?"
Before he could get angry again, I thrust both hands forward desperately.
"No! My father isn't the type to worry about me or explain anything! Anyway, I AM an Irregular. I was inside the Tower, left, and re-entered through the door. Ask Headon if you want!"
The God of Guardians exhaled roughly, then pointed a shaking finger at me.
"I can recognize Irregulars at a glance. But from you, I sensed nothing. Explain that."
"Then don't 'glance'. Look properly. Even my father didn't realize I'm an Irregular."
"…You insolent brat…"
The God of Guardians stared at me without blinking, eyes intense.
10 seconds passed.
20 seconds—
His expression grew… uncertain.
30 seconds—
Confusion.
40 seconds—
His face turned to shock.
50 seconds—
He began sweating.
And at the 60-second mark—
The God of Guardians pressed his palms together and bowed to me.
"…You know, if you had just looked carefully from the start, this would've been easier for both of us."
"My apologies… For some reason, your presence felt far too faint… No wonder Hon failed to notice as well."
And honestly, who would imagine that someone from inside the Tower is an Irregular?
He muttered excuses as I coldly stood.
"I came all this way because I thought the God of Guardians might be lonely—and to receive the Revolution. But getting kicked out on our first meeting? That's really disappointing. Anyway, I'll be leaving. I doubt we'll meet again before I disembark."
I turned away sharply, pretending to leave the hidden room.
Truthfully…
I was pretty offended.
"W–Wait! Boy! I'm sorry! Please wait!"
The roles had reversed completely.
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