The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage
Chapter 241

3.

It had been four days since Seong first heard about Apophis and started hunting demons.

With a deep sigh, he stepped out of the capsule.

“Phew.”

Was it because the efficiency was starting to drop?

No, that wasn’t it.

The experience required to level up had increased tremendously, but in terms of pure efficiency, this method was still incredible.

Just before logging out, Seong had checked his status screen:

【Status Window】

『Seong』

『Lv 198』

『Class』 → 『Overlord』

『Titles』 → 『Lord (Legendary)』 ...and 42 others.

『Stats』

→ 《Strength: 290 (223+67)》

《Agility: 290 (223+67)》

《Stamina: 290 (223+67)》

《Intelligence: 753 (579+174)》

《Wisdom: 753 (579+174)》

《Mental Strength: 138 (125+13)》

《Dexterity: 16 (14+2)》

『Bonus Stat Points』 → 《0》

Reaching level 198 in just four days was an absolutely absurd feat.

According to Kalina, there were only five days left before Apophis was released.

At this pace, reaching level 200 was not only possible but inevitable.

So there was no concern about leveling.

Then why was he sighing?

Simple.

It’s just too boring.

Seong felt it, and so did his subordinates.

Well, to be fair, Leonic, Valtar, and Silvanor were having the time of their lives slaughtering demons.

But the rest of his subordinates were growing restless.

He could have left them to continue grinding while he handled quests or something else, but he felt bad just ditching them.

Besides, if he got too far away, he wouldn’t gain experience from their kills.

With no real alternative, he had just been mindlessly farming demons.

That was why he had sighed when stepping out of the capsule.

Once the whole Apophis situation ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) was settled, at least things would get interesting again.

Holding onto that hope, he left his room.

As soon as he stepped out, a voice greeted him.

“Why are you sighing like that?”

“Oh.”

It was his older sister, Yu Mina, looking at him with concern.

Seong chuckled and shrugged.

“Just getting a little bored of leveling.”

“Oh, yeah? What level are you now?”

“198.”

“...That’s insanely fast.”

Sure, the level range he was in was notoriously tedious.

But even so, his leveling speed was unbelievable.

At this stage, gaining 10 levels in a month was considered normal.

Yet, in just a few days, he was already staring down level 200.

It was ridiculous.

But then...

Didn’t Luna’s team say they were leveling at about the same speed?

Seong was either matching or slightly outpacing the Luna Team.

The difference was—

Luna’s team was grinding at their absolute limit, while this guy is complaining about being bored.

Luna Team was practically overworking themselves to level this fast.

Yet Seong, who was moving even faster, was sighing about how dull it was.

Was this even the same game?

Yu Mina shook her head in disbelief.

Her little brother was just built different.

Seong changed the subject.

“What about you? Are you making good progress?”

“Hmm? What do you—oh. Yeah.”

Yu Mina realized what he was asking and nodded.

Since they had gotten the information ahead of time, she was preparing to eliminate the other solo rankers.

That meant gathering intelligence on all remaining solo rankers and studying their playstyles.

She was also leveling in the process.

Seeing her confident nod, Seong smiled.

“Looks like I need to step it up too.”

“Well, it’s going to be a gathering of the most promising players across all servers. If you get into the ranked tier, you’ll merge into the global rankings—but you’re still in the pre-merge phase.”

“Yeah, I know.”

In Eternal World, servers merged as players advanced toward the Central Continent.

It wasn’t a total separation; if someone moved between continents, their server designation would change accordingly.

But realistically, the barriers between servers were so high that it was practically a complete split.

Traveling to other continents was a major ordeal.

As Seong mulled over that thought, preparing to eat, both Yu Mina’s phone and his own phone buzzed at the same time.

They checked the notifications.

[Global Server Announcement]

[A large-scale event will take place in five days, based on the East Asia Server's timeline.]

[Major Event: 『Temple of Apophis』]

[For details, please visit the official homepage.]

After reading the message, the two of them locked eyes.

Then they both nodded.

It’s finally happening.

4.

A land untouched by players.

No, not just players—this vast plain was forbidden even to most powerful beings.

And in the middle of this vast expanse, a towering conical mountain stood, like the fangs of a great beast.

It was so immense that its peak seemed to pierce the heavens.

This awe-inspiring sight was known as Kzarcas’ Fang, named after the legendary wolf of ancient mythology, Kzarcas.

At the very peak of this mountain, where fierce winds howled, stood a lone man, his cloak billowing wildly.

Despite the wind’s relentless assault, only his clothes and cloak fluttered.

He himself stood unshaken.

From this vantage point, the land below was obscured by clouds.

Perhaps that was why—

Standing here, one could almost believe they had become a god.

But the Sword Saint knew better.

He was no god.

Even though his sword had touched the stars, earning him the title of Sword Saint, he was still just a frog at the bottom of a well.

For beyond the stars, countless more stars remained.

And he understood all too well—

He was merely trapped in a narrow world.

But rather than despair, his eyes shone with determination.

I will break free.

He would cast aside this well—

And.

I will become the master of the world.

He had no doubt.

For now, he was nothing more than a man whose ambition had yet to manifest.

But the day would come when his aspirations would be realized.

And the event that would mark the first step toward that future—

Was about to take place here.

Though it was called a fang, Kzarcas’ Fang was vast.

And there, at its peak, the Sword Saint waited.

This was a place that did not open its doors to the weak.

Yet, he had no doubts.

And soon—

“You’re here.”

This was their first time meeting face-to-face.

Or rather, their second—

They had briefly seen each other at the Heroic Council.

As the wind roared, a dark shadow flickered, momentarily blocking the sun.

A figure emerged from the darkness—

Or rather, the shadow itself seemed to take form.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

A man clad in black assassin garb, his upper body appearing to rise from the darkness beneath him.

The Sword Saint addressed him.

“Dark Star. You’re prepared, I assume?”

Dark Star.

The King of Assassins, known also as the King of Shadows.

At the Sword Saint’s words, the man slowly emerged from the shadow, nodding.

Then, with an almost accusatory glare, he asked—

“The item?”

His voice was devoid of emotion, focused solely on the matter at hand.

Annoyed by the tone, the Sword Saint narrowed his eyes.

But he had no choice.

He nodded.

Seeing that, Dark Star nodded in return.

Then he spoke in a low voice.

“Good. I will entrust this task to my disciple.”

As Dark Star took a step forward,

A strange distortion rippled through the air.

Like the shimmering heat of a scorching summer day,

A powerful aura erupted, saturating the atmosphere.

Every molecule in the vicinity seemed to sharpen into invisible blades.

Simply breathing could cause one’s throat to be slit.

It was a pressure so intense that even the air itself seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

Yet, within this deadly domain, Dark Star remained utterly unaffected.

Around him, the very concept of killing intent seemed to die, like a blade dulled beyond repair.

His sheer presence nullified aggression.

With that suffocating aura pressing down, Dark Star tilted his head.

“...Are you testing me?”

His tone was almost mocking.

As if to ask— Are you serious?

The Sword Saint’s expression twisted in irritation.

As expected of another Hero.

No openings at all.

Even a momentary lapse would have changed everything.

But right now, if they clashed—

Neither could guarantee victory.

Recognizing this, the Sword Saint retracted his pressure.

Yet, he did not back down.

Instead, he asked—

“Can we trust this outsider?”

The Sword Saint never trusted outsiders.

They could betray him at any moment.

But Dark Star only scoffed.

“Trust? What nonsense. It is a mere tool. I trust nothing and no one.”

“...Good. I’m the same.”

Though they glared at each other, their words carried a strange sense of agreement.

Then, with a sharp motion, the Sword Saint hurled something forward.

Two objects shot through the air.

If they were weapons, they could have shattered everything in their path.

But Dark Star did not react with hostility.

Instead, he calmly caught them.

Upon inspecting them, he murmured—

“A shoulder insignia and an emblem.”

“They are both relics of Hero Hindel.”

“This will be enough for my disciple to eliminate the heir of Overpalace.”

“It must succeed.”

“It will. But if, by some chance, it fails—”

A cold smile formed on Dark Star’s lips.

“Then next time, I will personally assist you with my full strength.”

“....”

At those words, the Sword Saint narrowed his eyes at Dark Star.

But in the end, nothing would change.

And if the plan failed—

He could use Dark Star himself.

Betrayal? That was not a concern.

Like himself, Dark Star had spent his life shackled by Overpalace.

They both despised Overpalace more than anything.

The enemy of my enemy is my ally.

Recalling that saying, the Sword Saint spoke.

“If it fails, you will take action yourself.”

“I swear upon my name.”

Hearing that, the Sword Saint’s tension eased.

A name-sworn promise.

That was enough to be certain.

The relics of Hero Hindel were valuable items.

But if the plan failed and Dark Star joined him...

It wouldn’t be a loss.

One way or another, I will destroy them.

He had hoped to manipulate another Hero into doing the work, as he had done before.

But thinking of Luke, the so-called Hero, made him scowl.

Control through deception was no longer an option.

If needed, he would resort to mind control—

Or another method, like they had done in Hindel’s time.

However—

If Dark Star’s plan succeeded...

Then everything could change.

With that thought, the Sword Saint vanished from sight.

And left alone—

Dark Star gazed dispassionately at the two relics in his hands.

His expression betrayed no emotion.

But then—

He made a call.

A voice echoed in response.

“Black Star, I have secured Hero Hindel’s relics. I will deliver them to the heir.”

[You have done well.]

“...No. It is only thanks to your wisdom, Master.”

The Sword Saint had no idea.

Dark Star was also part of Overpalace.

Even the world beyond the well was just another cage.

[Deliver it properly to our successor.]

“I shall. Without fail.”