Chapter 76: The First Apostle

Descension.

A player’s apostle could help in many ways, and Descension was the most direct one among them.

Sung-Woon stopped himself before pressing Yes and thought things through once more.

‘It’s good that Lakrak became an apostle, but I can’t send him down there just for revenge.’

Thinking there was no other choice, Sung-Woon checked Lakrak’s abilities as an apostle.

‘…What?’

Sung-Woon blinked a couple of times.

‘He’s strong.’

Once ascended, an apostle’s abilities and skills would reflect the reputation and various titles they had earned throughout their life.

‘Becoming an apostle means becoming a character in the story.’

Sung-Woon approved of Lakrak’s Descension.

***

Quezle sent all the Lizardmen to the bottom of the hill, and he went down last.

Thanks to Lakrak’s sacrifice, everyone was able to evacuate.

‘However…’

Quezle’s heart was torn by the fact that he had to tell Zaol of Lakrak’s death. Zaol was known to be an easy going person, but that wasn’t entirely true. She was just good at ignoring her feelings.

Regardless, Quezle thought that Lakrak’s death would be the foundation for not only the future Lizardmen, but also for all citizens of Black Scale, and perhaps everyone on this continent. The foundation for a moral code to help those in need.

‘Many of the continent have fought to fill their stomachs and get their hands on precious things until now. And those kinds of people probably won’t ever disappear. However, the significant imprint that Lakrak has left on this continent won’t ever disappear, either.’

But there was something that Quezle thought was unfortunate.

‘You didn’t get to defeat that evil god.’

Right then, as if the heavens were answering Quezle’s lament, a rumble shook the ground. Quezle looked up, so did the Lizardmen, Vampires, the Vampires’ slaves, and even 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik. They all looked up at the sky. It was clear and empty with only shining stars filling the void. There was no way there would be thunder.

Meanwhile, it seemed that 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik had noticed the origin of the rumble. They hesitated and suddenly stepped back before raising the weapons in their hands and getting ready to charge. Their reaction left the mortals, including Quezle, wondering about the same thing.

‘...What are they looking out for?’

The evil god wasn’t looking at the fortress, the Lizardmen, the Vampires, or the Vampires’ slaves. Then what had caught their attention suddenly appeared.

Boom!

A large beam of light struck down on the ground. And before the beam of light dimmed, 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik struck where the light shone on with their hammer. But strangely enough, the hammer wasn’t able to touch the ground. It bounced off of something instead, and 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s huge body swayed from side to side.

-You…you damn…!

Finally, the thing that 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik had tried to attack was revealed to everyone. It was a Lizardmen with black scales. The strongly built figure was cladded in armor, and anyone could see that he was far from ordinary. Blue lightning crackled non-stop along his body, and whenever his power hit the ground, sputtering sparks left behind burn marks. His sharp golden eyes glowed even though he should be too far for anyone to make out his features, and there was a radiant golden halo around his head like a crown. Everyone there knew his name.

“Lakrak!”

Quezle, and all those Lakrak had saved through his sacrifice, shouted his name.

In Lakrak’s hand, there was a beautifully shaped spear made of gold.

癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik seemed unable to accept that Lakrak had returned.

-How dare you…you mortal!

Lakrak ignored 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s rage. Twisting his body, he lowered himself and bent his knees.

癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik brought down their blade, but Lakrak was faster. He kicked off the ground and soared up towards 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s shoulders.

Boom!

Lakrak’s trajectory itself became a bolt of lightning and pierced through 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s shoulder.

-...!

It more than pierced through the god’s flesh, but left a hole about a meter deep.

-How can this be…!?

It seemed that 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik was very bewildered because before Lakrak died, he had been unable to even leave a mark on 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s body. Knowing Lakrak’s abilities, however, Sung-Woon thought the results were only obvious.

[Lakrak (Warrior Lv.6 / King Lv.6 / Apostle Lv.13)

Strength 167(+d13)

Intelligence 155(+d13)

Sociability 132(+d13)

Willingness 287

Leadership 115

Trickery 82

Perseverance 74

(...)]

Lakrak’s priest level had been converted into his apostle level, and his abilities increased by a ridiculous amount.

He was still inferior to 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik in terms of pure stats while they were using Hierophany. 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s Divinity level was 16. Even excluding the strength their enlarged physique would provide, their Divine Power modifier, ‘d’, was still three levels over that of Lakrak. So even though Lakrak was able to leave wounds on 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s body, it should’ve been difficult for him to defeat them.

‘Yes. But that is only a part of the powers the apostle has obtained.’

An apostle’s true powers came from their skills.

[(...)

Armor Creation: Creates their own armor. The level of the armory would be the same as the apostle’s level.

Great Hunter: Strength+d4 when dealing with enemies bigger than themself.

Thunder Lizard: They can use Faith points to use Electric Attack (Read more).

First Chosen One: Ability levels additionally rise in proportion to current Faith points.

Tribal Chief of Black-Scale Tribe: Additional Sociability+d4 for every Black-Scaled Lizardman.

King of Black Scale: Additional Sociability+d4 for every citizen of Black Scale.

The One Who Guides the Way: Additional Sociability+d4 for every individual who knows of Lakrak.]

The unique skills were based on the titles Lakrak had had before he died.

‘Great Hunter is what deflected the hammer.’

癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik raised their bow and put an arrow to the bowstring. Then they aimed at Lakrak, who had flown past their shoulder and was still in the air.

But Lakrak wasn’t simply falling back to the ground. As he extended his hands, a golden bow was conjured in the air.

‘Armor Creation.’

Lakrak pulled the intangible bowstring.

‘...I’m guessing Thunder Lizard is also being used.’

The electric currents in the air gathered and formed into the shape of an arrow.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

-...Die!

癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s arrow shot out from the bowstring. It was big enough to completely crush Lakrak.

Lakrak didn’t blink as he pulled his bowstring as far back as possible and let go, aiming at the arrow flying towards him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The high voltage of electricity rumbled and roared like it would make the atmosphere burst. The beam of light Lakrak had shot evaporated 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s arrow before hitting them in the side.

-...Kugh!

癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik grabbed the side of their body with one hand and staggered.

-To an apostle…that just acquired their Divinity…I…

At that moment, Lakrak’s body produced lightning again and shot at 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik. Its power couldn’t be ignored even with 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s Divine Powers. Then 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik stabbed at Lakrak with their spear as he ran toward them.

-...Did you think I would be defeated by that!?

Lakrak vanished before reappearing on top of the spear 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s had swung at him. With agile steps, he ran along the spear.

-You fool!

The moment 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik pulled back their spear, Lakrak leaped into the sky. At a rough estimate, he had soared 200 meters into the air with one leap. 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik raised their head and looked up at Lakrak.

‘Chief of Black-Scale Tribe, King of Black Scale, and The One Who Guides the Way are all skills that elevate Lakrka’s Sociability based on a particular group.’

Lakrak held his spear with both his hands, flickered, and turned into a blue light again.

‘And on top of that, the skill, First Chosen One, would buff his abilities in proportion to his total Faith points.’

Lakrak fell towards the middle of 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s forehead. At the same time, 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s weapons shot towards Lakrak, who had turned into light again.

‘The Faith points Lakrak has obtained is based on his Sociability, that is, his charisma. The more prayers about Lakrak accumulate, the stronger he gets.’

Everyone watching the legendary battle wished for Lakrak’s victory.

And someone shouted, “Larkak! Destroy the evil!”

As they so wished, the blue light penetrated through the evil god.

***

癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik’s manifestation through Hierophany split in half. The dead body of the evil god soon turned into ash as it got exposed to the rising sunlight, and it scattered in the wind sweeping up the hill before disappearing into the sky.

With the red dawn casting from the horizon, one by one, people started to look at Lakrak. Standing in the middle of the hill, Lakrak looked around with one leg on a small boulder. He looked towards the Vampires, the Vampires’ slaves, and then his warriors.

Quezle blankly stood before running up to Lakrak.

“King Lakrak! Oh, my king!”

Lakrak smiled. Quezle repeatedly bowed down at Lakrak’s feet.

Lakrak then said.

-Quezle.

“Yes, go ahead, my lord.”

-I need to leave now.

Quezle raised his head.

“No, you mustn’t. You just came back. What do you mean you need to go again?”

-This is the law of the heavens.?

“But you must go back to the palace and say your last goodbyes…”

-Stop!

Lakrak roared.

-Are the heavens a joke to you?

Quezle shut his mouth. Lakrak’s eyes were full of mischief, but Quezle didn’t notice because of the tears in his eyes.

Lakrak used the rest of the Faith points left on the spear in his hand, which he had used to kill 癤Woo bbit瑜swem ssik. There was no change to the outer appearance, but on the system side, the spear had turned into a weapon that mortal beings could also wield in addition to apostles.

-Accept this spear.

“This is…”

As Lakrak held out his spear, Quezle accepted it with both hands.

-I will leave the spear that killed the evil god with Black Scale. This is an object of God, so treat it with great care.

“Of course. We will make it the treasure of our country and only use it in times of crisis.”

Lakrak nodded.

-Do not worry. Even after I leave, I will protect Black Scale as God’s apostle.?

“I will make sure that the name of Lakrak is never forgotten on this land.”

-That is not the important thing, Quezle.

“What?”

Lakrak patted Quezle on the shoulder.

-You would have already understood.

At those words, Quezle’s eyes widened. Of course he knew what Lakrak meant.

The faith Lakrak had demonstrated would forever be the talk of all Lizardmen and citizens of Black Scale. And if Owen was to spread Lakrak’s tales in faraway places, Quezle thought he should be making records of what Lakrak’s doctrine was.

Lakrak tapped Quezle on the shoulder.

-And please complete the remaining work.

Quezle couldn’t answer when he was choking on his tears. He simply nodded.

“Yes, of course I will do so.”

As Quezle sniffed and struggled to wipe away all his tears, Lakrak vanished on the spot.

***

137 years passed.

***

The 23rd year of King of Serenity ruling Orazen of Black Scale.

On one side of the palace, a conversation took place in the second library that the royalties and nobles used.

There was one Human and one Lizardman. The Human looked down at the courtyard before looking at the Lizardman.

“So…you’re saying that the third prince should be the crown prince?”