Absolute Dweller-Chapter 256

[Thank you for your hard work, everyone.]

I spoke to the retainers who had gathered in one place.

[You've really done well to make it this far.]

The condition of the retainers was far from ideal.

It had been three months since the World Tree began to reveal itself on Earth, and the retainers had created a path toward the central dimension of the World Tree by following the dimensional map.

During that time, the retainers had managed on little sleep, pushing through the mission.

It wasn’t even unusual that they hadn’t been able to bathe for several days, and among those who had broken their limits, there were many who had gone without sleep for a week.

Including avatars and those like Ha Dong-geon, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Kim Myung-hwan, who reached level 80, there had been no official break for over 100 days.

[Now, we just need to tackle the dimensional door in front of you, and the last stage will be upon us.]

The long war was nearing its end.

In chess terms, it was a checkmate situation.

[As much as I want to begin immediately, as you all know, the closer we get to the central dimension, the stronger the elves become.]

Just a short while ago, elves above level 80 were guarding as protectors.

[Being the heart of it all, the toughest ones will likely show up.]

Therefore, it was best to begin the mission when the retainers were in their best condition.

I closed the dimensional gate and spoke.

[Unfortunately, I can’t give you much time.]

The World Tree's movements, aiming to destroy Earth, were still progressing steadily.

The only rest I could offer them was...

[Three days. I’ll give you exactly three days. Use that time to recover your condition as much as possible.]

Of course, there were ways to force recovery using quest rewards.

However, this method had clear limits.

It could certainly remove physical fatigue, but mental exhaustion remained, accumulating over time.

Moreover, this method had been repeatedly used in the over 100 days of fighting against the World Tree in different dimensions.

Everyone had probably already reached their limit.

‘I really need rest... desperately.’

I summoned the retainers to a luxury hotel at Baekdusan.

It was the optimal building for fatigue recovery.

A hotel that wasn’t even on the construction list but had special effects applicable to citizens.

‘I was really surprised back then.’

As my recovery skills as the Absolute Master of the House of the Absolute grew, the number and level of the Toyongi increased significantly.

During that time, a leader among the Toyongi appeared, one unlike the usual Toyongi.

Unlike the ordinary Toyongi, who were focused only on work, this one took charge on-site and delegated tasks.

Moreover, he went beyond simply restoring existing buildings to creating new ones.

‘Was it after the parking lot that had been restored collapsed?’

More solid, meticulous designs.

The first concrete with enhanced durability was used.

Apartments with no floor noise and towering skyscrapers.

These were not just creative works.

They were created with thorough practicality and safety in mind.

Moreover, the buildings he created contained special power.

The peak of his architectural activity came in the summer of the year before last.

Suddenly, after borrowing the power of not only all Toyongi but also the earth spirits, he built a giant luxury hotel near Baekdusan.

Dozens of outdoor hot springs.

An infinity pool with a variety of themed water facilities in the basement.

A giant accommodation facility that could house thousands.

With this perfect combination, the entire hotel gained a 300% increase in fatigue recovery speed, and some hot springs and baths temporarily increased stamina by 50% or helped people sleep better.

There were other facilities with buffs such as increased skin elasticity and immunity.

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It was thanks to this luxury hotel that the retainers had been able to endure the grueling 100-day march.

Even just a few hours of rest were of great help.

That’s why, before the major battle, I summoned all the retainers to this place.

[Well then, I’ll see you in three days.]

The retainers relieved their fatigue in their own ways.

Some went to the outdoor hot springs or the swimming pool, but most went directly to their rooms, quickly washed up, and then went straight to bed.

Only about a hundred of them enjoyed the hot spring bath on the first day.

Ha Dong-geon was one of those hundred.

His wife, Kim Ga-young, looked at him with a worried expression.

“Are you sure you’re okay without sleeping?”

“I’m fine.”

There was one reason why he, the most exhausted after the past 100 days, hadn’t gone to sleep.

“It’s more efficient to use the hot spring and then sleep.”

That was the logical reason for his decision.

Even so, lifting his eyelids, which felt as heavy as lead, was almost impossible without extraordinary mental strength.

Kim Ga-young pouted.

“Can’t you just rest your eyes for a bit?”

“No. It won’t just be a little. If that happens, it’ll be an inefficient use of time.”

Sigh.

Ha Dong-geon spoke in a calm tone to persuade her.

“Jae-hyun said we should rest as much as we can, so we need to live up to his expectations.”

“You’re being petty about it?”

“Just a little more. We’re not going far. We only need to go to that place.”

Kim Ga-young sighed deeply as if the earth had fallen away and nodded.

“Alright.”

They moved to a place where one hot spring water led to 16 private spaces.

This was a place designed for families or friends to enjoy private hot springs.

It was a space with a buff that enhanced the effect of sleep, and most of those who had gone to the outdoor hot springs on the first day without sleeping had gathered there.

When Kim Ga-young checked the situation there, she said in a somewhat bright voice.

“There’s no space. Wouldn’t it be better to just go back and sleep?”

However.

A sound was heard from one of the 16 rooms as someone exited the bath.

“Seems like a team just finished.”

Since Ha Dong-geon’s senses were heightened to the extreme, he immediately understood the situation.

Kim Ga-young did the same, letting out a short sigh.

It was a sigh full of resignation.

At that moment.

“Hyung? Noona?”

Just as I was about to leave the bath, the first to emerge was Kim Myung-hwan, Kim Ga-young’s younger brother, who had become more famous under the title "Master of the Sword."

And beside him was his partner, Kim Hye-na.

Kim Hye-na locked eyes with Kim Ga-young and immediately sent a compassionate look her way.

Kim Ga-young saw the look and sighed once again.

“Both my brother and my husband... How can they think so similarly?”

At that, Ha Dong-geon and Kim Myung-hwan exchanged satisfied smiles as they looked at each other.

“As expected, you are the older one.”

“Wow, Myung-hwan, you must be exhausted, but that’s amazing.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll head off first. As Jae-hyun instructed, I need to make the most of every second to recover my fatigue.”

“Alright, you should rest quickly.”

It was uncanny how alike they were, even in their thoughts.

Kim Ga-young muttered lightly.

“If someone saw us, they’d probably think that you, Dong-geon, are his older brother, not me.”

Ha Dong-geon and Kim Ga-young only enjoyed the hot spring for as long as the buff would last, before heading straight to their rooms and collapsing into bed.

Three days later, Ha Dong-geon woke up in top condition.

***

The promised morning had arrived.

After three days, the retainers’ eyes sparkled with energy.

‘All preparations are complete.’

Before the retainers, with determination in their eyes, I spoke.

‘Dimensional gate opening.’

Creeeek—

I opened the gate leading to the dimension where the true heart of the World Tree lay.

[Please enter.]

Starting with the avatar, Ha Dong-geon, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Kim Myung-hwan, all of whom had reached level 80, threw themselves into the gate first, followed by the rest of the retainers who entered one after the other.

‘A forest.’

As soon as they passed through the dimensional gate, the scene before them was as expected: a dense forest.

[Please wait.]

After confirming that all the retainers had entered the gate, I gave my instructions.

[From here on, we will split into teams. Start with reconnaissance.]

I had no idea what level the creatures in this place were.

‘I think we can manage up to the 80-level range…’

Even when Lee Joon-hyuk had only broken through his first limit, he had managed to hunt an Ice Dragon in an instant dungeon.

Though he had lost his divine status, he was still effectively an 87-level being.

And he had been able to hunt such a creature alone.

Even though his abilities were well-suited to dealing with Ice Dragons, this would normally have been impossible.

What made it possible was the combination of [Bloom], ‘Enhancement’, and the Legendary options attached to his artifacts.

And then...

‘The black energy works incredibly well against the World Tree.’

Among all the gods I had devoured, including the Immortal Specter, Yamata-no-Orochi, Ice Dragon, and the World Tree’s power, the most deadly to the World Tree was the black energy.

‘The fact that it’s the highest grade of energy I possess doesn’t hurt, but it’s especially strong against the World Tree.’

With the black energy before it, the World Tree’s power was as weak as a mouse before a cat.

But then, suddenly...

‘This is strange.’

There was a reason I had sent the avatar, Ha Dong-geon, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Kim Myung-hwan into the gate first.

Dimensional gates tended to generate near the World Tree, so fierce battles usually erupted from the beginning.

But now...

‘Why is it so quiet?’

The calm before the storm.

The complete absence of a surprise attack felt very uncomfortable.

As I pondered the situation, that’s when it happened.

[Hey.]

Uncharacteristically, the avatar spoke first.

Using the Absolute Master’s vision, I could see his expression was subtly twisted.

Prepared to reverse time at any moment, I asked.

[What’s going on? Is there a problem?]

[If it’s a problem, then yes.]

Suddenly, the avatar’s body teleported.

With the Absolute Master’s vision activated in the area surrounding him, I was able to confirm the environment where he had moved.

It was still the same forest as before.

The ground was dirt, and there were trees densely packed around.

The only difference was that the retainers, who had been waiting nearby, were gone, leaving only the avatar behind.

[What do you think?]

[What about it?]

The avatar maintained a serious expression and continued speaking.

[Do you know where I just moved?]

[Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.]

Normally, I would have teased him by saying, ‘Wow, you’re impatient,’ but this time, there was no trace of humor in his tone.

He spoke.

[I just used Clairvoyance and Teleportation together. And the location I moved to is about 100km above us. That means I’m now in a location 100km above the point where we entered the dimensional gate.]

...What?