Chapter 10: Ancient Coleoptera

Lakrak looked at Zaol and asked, “Why do you think that?”

Zaol raised a finger.

“First of all, God will not just overlook our danger. If we fight, God will surely help you, chief.”

“Yes, I believe in God too. But that’s not just a drake that is a few years old. Seeing how it can shake the earth’s core just by moving in its sleep, we’ll have to level the playing field somehow even with God taking over my body.”

Sung-Woon was surprised by Lakrak’s accurate judgment, but he was even more interested in Zaol’s opinion. He briefly took a look at Zaol’s stats.

[Zaol (Warrior Lv.3/Mediator Lv.1)

Strength 26

Intelligence 35

Sociability 28

Intuition 11]

‘The Mediator class means that one is trusted by the clan. I already knew, but her Intelligence level is higher than Lakrak’s. It keeps on rising. But the most interesting thing is this special ability, “Intuition”.’

It was a special ability that hadn’t popped up until recently. It was perhaps newly created due to recent experiences.

“The warriors and I are here too,” said Zaol.

“I know you warriors are strong, but that won’t help in a fight against that kind of monster.”

Zaol shook her head.

“Chief, before we left the hill, do you remember what the iron craftsman did to heat the iron?”

“Hmm…”

Lakrak could imitate the actions, but he did not understand exactly what purposes the tasks served and what effects they had. There already was an iron craftsman, so as the leader of the clan, he had no reason to learn the work of one, which was a more fitting role for a leader to assume as civilization developed, and labor work was being divided.

‘But Zaol isn’t wrong either.’

Sung-Woon waited for Zaol’s next words.

“Chief, you also know that air is needed for a fire to grow.”

“That’s right.”

“Until now, we have been blowing air with our mouths, waving our hands, or ripping large pieces of bark and fanning them. However, the iron craftsman seems to use a different method.”

“Ah, the things called ‘bellows,’ right?”

Zaol nodded.

“I asked the craftsman if I could try it, and it was able to blow much more wind and was more convenient. Why do you think that is?”

“Are you saying that by using tools, less power can be used to project more power?

“That is right.”

“But we do not have a tool like the bellows. Also, that tool was made by the craftsman after much thought.”

“We won’t need such a sophisticated tool.”

“Then?”

“The monster we need to deal with is sleeping at the bottom of that hillside, and we are up here. We’re no different than a craftsman sitting in front of a forge. If we prepare and act accordingly, we’ll be able to heat the metal.”

These words alone didn’t make sense to Lakrak or the rest of the warriors, but Zaol proceeded to tell them a specific idea she had in mind. Lakrak and the warriors nodded and took it well.

That was also true for Sung-Woon. Sung-Woon used a Miracle to summon a blue butterfly in front of Lakrak.

‘I’m sure this will be enough of a confirmation for him.’

The warriors wondered what was happening as a blue butterfly appeared out of season in the wilderness. Lakrak stared blankly at the butterfly’s wings, and his eyes began to shine. He raised the corners of his mouth.

“God has given permission. Zaol, let’s do as you said.”

***

The hillside was steep and rugged. At the bottom of the hillside, where the Ancient Coleoptera was twisting and sleeping, there was a steep slope of about 70° angle. This meant that were Lakrak and his warriors to fight the Ancient Coleoptera there, they wouldn’t be able to easily move around due to the steep slope and would likely come into direct contact with the Ancient Coleoptera. On the other hand, the giant Ancient Coleoptera had many legs, so it would be able to climb an even steeper slope.

‘But it won’t matter because Lakrak will be the only one to get close to it.’

According to plans, the only time Lakrak was going to approach the Ancient Coleoptera was when they were going to kill it.

Lakrak was standing on a mountain ridge overlooking the Ancient Coleoptera.

“This boulder, that boulder, and that one will do?”

“Each of them is about half the size of the monster. It should be enough,” said Zaol, nodding.

Warriors were stationed beside the boulders that Lakrak had pointed to. They weren't bare handed. They found and uprooted a few tall trees in the area and were each holding one in its entirety.

‘Rolling the boulders and crushing it to death.’

It was indeed a simple plan, but a plan that required imagination.

‘Even Lakrak thought confronting and fighting it face to face was the only way.’

But Zaol, on the other hand, thought differently. Zaol didn’t know exactly how to express it, but she was using her knowledge to prove with real actions that moving large things with little strength was possible.

In Sung-Woon’s eyes, her knowledge could be referred to as ‘physics’ to systematize it.

‘She’s basically applying the principles of mass and kinetic energy alongside positional energy and leverage.’

That didn’t mean Zaol would suddenly become a physicist.

‘However, just as the iron craftsman’s skills influenced Zaol’s intuition, one event could influence many individuals.’

“Get started,” said Lakrak.

At Lakrak’s words, Zaol raised her arm and sent a signal to the others. The warriors stuck the tree logs under the boulders on the ridgeline of the mountain before tilting them upwards, hard. The boulders didn’t move right away.

Zaol said in a low voice, “Work together. When I raise my hand, push, and when I lower my hand, leave the boulders to shake.”

As Zaol signaled to a beat, the boulders gradually started to shake more and more. It was not long until a boulder rolled over the ridge.

‘It’s time for me to step up.’

If possible, it would be better for all three boulders to go over the ridge and crush the Ancient Coleoptera at once.

Sung-Woon took over Lakrak with Divine Control.

Sung-Woon=Lakrak successfully pushed the second boulder that was about to roll over the ridge with great force. Then he proceeded to push the third boulder hard, which wasn’t moving easily due to it being the largest one out of the three.

“It’s going over!”

At Sung-Woon=Lakrak’s shout, accompanied by the huge explosion shaking the mountains that the falling boulders had triggered, the Ancient Coleoptera raised its head. It seemed that the Ancient Coleoptera didn’t recognize what was going on. However, it quickly raised itself up.

‘But it’s not a smart creature.’

If it was smart, it would have avoided the boulders. However, the Ancient Coleoptera perceived the boulder rolling towards it as a challenge rather than a danger. It ran towards the first boulder, and the boulder rolled down at a tremendous speed before hitting its head.

Kaaaooo!

As the Ancient Coleoptera let out a fierce sound in pain, the second boulder that had been rolling and bouncing down the slope towards the creature’s back collided with it. In addition to the remains of the ancient stone structure that was hanging on top of the creature, the Beetle’s back was completely bent. However, its vitality still seemed vigorous.

‘That won’t work.’

Sung-Woon=Lakrak clasped his spear and did a triple jump from the mountain ridge. Flying 300 meters across the air, Sung-Woon=Lakrak twisted his body and threw the spear.

Bang!

The spear shot through the air like a ray of light and penetrated through the Ancient Coleoptera’s shell as it struggled to raise itself back up. Speaking in terms of surface area, it was a small wound, but it was enough to restrain its movement for a moment.

‘There’s no need to deal a finishing blow.’

The third boulder directly landed on the Ancient Coleoptera’s head.

[Abomination Hunting: Your clan has killed the ‘Abomination: Ancient Coleoptera’!]

***

Lakrak sent a warrior to gather the rest of the Lizardmen and Orcs. After seeing the death of the giant monster, the group roared for Lakrak, the warriors, and for the ‘Great Beetle God.’

As a reward, Sung-Woon used the Faith points obtained to conjure a Miracle to provide them with food. It wasn’t the increased Faith points that mattered. Sung-Woon’s Divinity level hadn’t changed. Leveling up had gotten slower, and there wasn’t much XP.

‘But that wasn’t why I wanted to hunt the Abomination.’

[You have received ‘Essence of Abomination’ as a reward for hunting an Abomination.]

When it came to being a god, their greatest power was the ability to ‘create’ something. Just as Sung-Woon was able to create enough maggots to feed the Lizardman due to his Small Area: Insects, each god was able to create resources according to their areas by using Faith points. However, to create something that doesn’t exist in the world, resources that were equally uncommon had to be used.

‘And that would be the Essence of Abomination.’

The Essence naturally existed in the world, in other words, it was a spirit or abomination that was left behind by the gods who, according to the storyline of the game, had left the planet. Defeating a greater existence, such as a higher level fiend, could yield such Essence. And with this Essence, it would be possible to create a ‘creature’.

The creature made by the god could grow, and at a higher level, it would obtain the title ‘Apostles’ or ‘Incarnations’ and could be employed as useful strategic weapons in place of god’s will. They would be used as Faith generators by spreading the god’s prestige themselves.

‘I won’t make one right away as it costs a lot to maintain in the beginning.’

It was better to create a creature at another time even if all the necessary resources had been collected. For now, it was a priority to use Faith points to help Lakrak and the group, but at least Sung-Woon had learned that the ‘Creature Maker' program that was in the game The Lost World was also available to him now. He left the program window open within his view.

‘I have lots of time, so I should be able to take things easy.’

Sung-Woon was thinking of ideas for his first creature when a system message that he hadn’t expected appeared.

[Lakrak’s Clan…]

***

Lakrak cut off the tip of the Ancient Coleoptera’s foot and put it into his mouth before promptly spitting it out.

“It tastes bad. I don’t think it’s edible.”

“Why don’t we build a brazier and try to boil or cook it?”

“Hmm…”

Lakrak didn’t expect much of the outcome, but he thought it was better than doing nothing.

“Go ahead.”

After saying this, he walked up to the Ancient Coleoptera. Many of the Lizardmen were sitting around it and talking in low voices amongst themselves, but they didn’t dare get closer in case the fearful creature was still alive. Zaol also thought they should be careful as they didn’t know much about this behemoth.

“It is dangerous, chief.”

“It’s dead, and God knows that, so it's true.”

“Hmm… Point taken.”

“I saw something on top of it before I killed it, but it must have been crushed by the boulder, or broken.”

Lakrak murmured when he saw the broken altar on the Ancient Coleoptera’s back.

Zaol smiled.

“You’re upset because there’s no harvest even though we hunted, aren’t you?”

Lakrak couldn’t deny it. He succeeded in killing the monster that prevented the clan from going forward and raised the prestige of God, so that should have been enough of a harvest in itself. Still, it was somewhat a shame they didn’t gain more from it.

“I didn’t know it would taste so bad.”

“Don’t worry. It might taste different if we cook it differently.”

“Hm.”

“Also, the shell is hard. It might be of use if we rip it off and take it.”

“That sounds fine.”

Zaol strode up and stood next to Lakrak.

“Lakrak.”

“What?”

“Why don’t we pick up our conversation where we left off?”

“Hm?”

“I want to know the answer to the question I asked.”

“What was the question again?”

“About a companion.”

Lakrak cleared his throat and looked away. There lay the altar broken by the boulder, and inside of it, something was shining, reflecting light from the sunset.

“What is that?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“No, there’s something there.”

Only after Lakrak pointed at it with his finger did Zaol see it too.

Zaol ordered the warriors to use the same principle of leverage they had employed when rolling the boulders over, and something was revealed among the fragments of the altar. It had been crushed by the boulder, but they could still see that it was a tablet made of gold.

Lakrak picked up the golden tablet.

“Zaol, what did you think this is?”

Lakrak found the tablet strange. It had a number of winding lines engraved, seemingly following some complicated rules.

[Lakrak’s Clan has discovered ‘Writing’!]