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Chapter 670: The Dreaming Machine (4)

Transcendent.

A Grade 2 being that inhabits the higher universe.

Because they rarely intervene in the affairs of the lower universe, information about them was not well known.

Only scattered anecdotes drifted through the cosmos—stories of those who had written their own myths and, among them, a few who had brought down Transcendents.

But one thing was certain.

‘They really are transcendent beings, just like their name suggests. Just catching its interest makes my Prestige Level break through the ceiling.’

「+2.4 from arousing a Transcendent’s interest」

With each level increase, the required “experience” for the next growth in Prestige Level rises drastically.

In other words, a Level 56 individual gaining 0.2 experience and a Level 57 individual gaining 0.2 are entirely different matters.

So for growth as high as 2.4 to occur merely from arousing interest…

‘This is a crazy highway. I might be able to achieve in an instant what would have taken half a lifetime.’

Just from receiving a single glance, his Prestige Level had jumped from 56 to 58.

Then what would happen if he actually did something?

That was why, without realizing it, Yeongwoo had already placed his hand on the Bastard at his waist.

Srrk.

But he was also aware that this attempt could very well be the first and last movement of his life.

As Chancellor Herisa had said earlier, “hostility” was a universal language—anyone could recognize it, and anyone would feel displeasure at it.

Still, wasn’t it possible that he would never again meet a Transcendent at such close range?

“……”

As Yeongwoo lowered his stance threateningly and fixed his gaze on the opponent, the Transcendent soon approached, its massive body moving with fluid grace.

Then, at a point about ten meters away from Yeongwoo, it lifted part of its body upward.

Like a snake raising its head.

“…My god.”

In a small stir, Herisa let out an involuntary murmur.

The Transcendent, which looked like a gigantic white band, possessed a force that overwhelmed everyone present even without emitting any kind of Prestige.

Even Yeongwoo, who prided himself on having the greatest curiosity in the universe, could no longer take another step forward.

‘…Damn it. I can’t even bring myself to try.’

Because he couldn’t read any intent from the opponent, paradoxically, Yeongwoo couldn’t dare to cross the “line.”

What would follow was perfectly unpredictable.

‘This is true power. It’s on an entirely different level.’

As Yeongwoo blinked and stared at the Transcendent’s surface, which looked incredibly soft, Quiad spoke in a low voice.

—A very taciturn one has arrived.

“Taciturn…? Then are other Transcendents talkative?”

—At the very least, the one who gave me my epithet enjoyed conversation.

“Ah.”

Well, Quiad hadn’t been born a Grade 3 being either, so he must have encountered a Transcendent at the moment of his ascension.

“Just now, simply by drawing a bit of its interest, my Prestige Level went up by 2.4.”

—And so you dared to raise your blade against it?

“If, by some chance, that were possible… I could become something completely different.”

—You would taste a fleeting moment of growth, and then be extinguished at once. Even if everyone here rushed it together, not a single scratch would be left on it.

“…That’s absurd.”

It was unbelievable, and yet at the same time, utterly believable.

Meeting a Transcendent was truly a bizarre experience.

“Then how do you even kill a Transcendent?”

—Why do you seek to kill a Transcendent?

“I’m not trying to kill one. But this sword… as far as I know, it’s a sword forged by killing a Transcendent.”

Yeongwoo pointed at the Bastard with his eyes.

He had heard the origin of this Bastard directly from the giant Gameta he had met in the dungeon ‘Temple of Valor.’

≪Only those who write their own myths can leave behind their feats as tangible legacies. Vesedel killed a Transcendent and gave birth to the Bastard.≫

Of course, that was only what Gameta had said.

Yeongwoo himself had never seen Vesedel’s records, so it might not be true.

But considering the circumstances—and even the Bastard’s inherent abilities—wasn’t it a fairly convincing claim?

What Gameta had said.

And soon, Quiad reinforced Gameta’s final words.

—I too have heard that the Bastard is a sword forged from killing a Transcendent. However, only those who bear the name Vesedel would know the truth.

He was referring to Chairman Dogo, the current Vesedel.

—If the Bastard is truly a myth born from the extinction of a Transcendent, then the method of bringing them to death would also be known by Vesedel.

“Then… are there no precedents of anyone other than Vesedel defeating a Transcendent?”

—The universe is vast. Nothing can be stated with certainty.

It meant that while Quiad himself didn’t know of any, the world he inhabited was only a fraction of the entire universe, so he couldn’t give a definitive answer.

“But at least, it’s safe to interpret that it’s ‘extremely rare,’ right?”

—It would be as rare as a Grade 4 being defeating Dogo.

“…Huh.”

At Quiad’s words, Yeongwoo unconsciously froze.

He knew Quiad was using that expression as a metaphor for something ‘extremely difficult,’ but coincidentally, that very impossibility was slowly becoming reality.

Wasn’t Lemu—the one who had once crossed blades with Chairman Dogo and been defeated—now on the verge of ascending to a Grade 3 being today?

Of course, even if Lemu were reborn as a Grade 3 being, it didn’t mean he could immediately defeat the Chairman, but could anyone guarantee the distant future?

In any case, Lemu had succeeded in crossing the wall that had stood between himself and the Grade 3 beings.

“So… how strong is Chairman Dogo?”

At that, Quiad looked up toward the Transcendent and let out a hollow laugh.

—To dare ask such a question in front of a Transcendent… how amusing.

“But you said they’re mostly only seen in the higher universe, and practically separate beings, right? Then in the universe I actually live in, wouldn’t a Grade 3 being be close to the peak?”

Quiad tilted his head slightly.

—The peak, you say. If one interprets ‘the universe’ narrowly, that may not be entirely wrong.

Then Quiad’s eyes narrowed.

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—I have not personally crossed blades with Dogo, but if his reputation holds no falsehoods, then he could be said to be one of those close to the peak.

‘Chairman Dogo’s reputation…’

Just what kind of things were being said about the Chairman among Grade 3 beings?

Yeongwoo was extremely curious about that, but he knew well that this was not the right time.

Because the Transcendent, which had been floating in the air, suddenly opened the thousands of eyes covering its entire body all at once.

“…Ugh.”

The atmosphere of the Transcendent, now covered in eyes, was completely different from when it had been peacefully swimming through the darkness moments ago.

If before it had felt like a mysterious creature, now…

‘W-what the hell, it’s a complete monster.’

Moreover, the eyeballs covering the Transcendent’s body moved as if each were a separate entity.

In effect, it possessed thousands of gazes.

And then, at last—

Piiit!

Thousands of pupils all focused on Yeongwoo at once.

“Ugh.”

As Yeongwoo withdrew his hand from the Bastard, only then did the thousands of gazes disperse again.

Toward both Yeongwoo and Lemu.

It seemed to have developed interest in both of them simultaneously.

And for Lemu—the one undergoing ascension—this was an extremely bad sign.

□ O Transcendent, I have pierced through countless futures for this moment.

Unable to hold back any longer, Lemu turned toward the Transcendent first and lowered his posture.

At that moment, for the first time, certain meanings began to flow out from the dark current.

【Machine.】

Machine.

It was referring to Lemu.

The Transcendent had begun to speak.

But not through sound, nor even through transcendent characters.

Simply by perceiving the flow of meaning, its intent embedded itself directly into the mind.

【Within the cradle, I felt a gaze. So it was a machine.】

Cradle, gaze.

Unfriendly meanings poured out.

But it wasn’t difficult for Yeongwoo to infer that this referred to the higher universe and Lemu’s Observatory.

Wasn’t it widely known that the Typesetter lay within the higher universe?

So the Transcendent was saying that it had continuously felt the gaze of the Machine Tower observing that place.

□ Typesetter…. Are you perhaps someone who directly sees the typesetting?

Excited by the Transcendent’s words, Lemu forgot himself and asked a question.

At that, the Transcendent blinked its thousands of eyes once.

Then, instead of answering, it sent forth another meaning.

【I shall call you the One Who Pierces.】

Lemu’s epithet had just been created.

And astonishingly, the presence of Lemu—who had been maintaining an extremely humble posture—swelled to an absurd degree.

“……!”

This was a change so immense that no one belonging to the lower universe could fail to notice it, and even Lemu himself widened his eyes and trembled faintly.

□ …This.

A Grade 3 being.

With the creation of a unique designation for Lemu in the higher universe, his cosmic status had simultaneously ascended.

There were no radiant lights falling from the sky, nor any tremendous explosions of energy.

Simply, with a single designation from the Transcendent—who had likely come representing the higher universe—Lemu’s very existence had changed.

‘This is insane. What the hell, is it some kind of god?’

As Yeongwoo reflexively tensed his body and harbored hostility, the gazes that had been on Lemu snapped back toward him.

After maintaining silence for a moment, another meaning soon flowed.

【Bearer of the sword, you require a name to mark you. For the sake of the other beings in the cradle.】

“…What?”

As Yeongwoo frowned at the unexpected words, Quiad, who stood behind him, spoke urgently.

—Hurry and demand a name. Before this opportunity passes.

“A name? But you just called me something. The bearer of the sword.”

Quiad waved his hand.

—That is merely because you lack an epithet, so it used a similar designation. Bearer of the sword is Dogo’s epithet.

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