Leveling with the Gods

C366

Craaaack, crackle-.

When Zeus appeared, all surrounding sounds disappeared.

No one dared to approach or even raise their head towards him.

The reason was singular.

Because he was Zeus.

"Answer."

Craaaack, crack, crack-.

"Ugh...!"

"Krgh...!"

An electric shock ran through their bodies.

The pain that spread across their shoulders and their entire bodies due to Zeus's wrath was indescribable.

A power that overwhelmed thousands of Rankers and Players individually.

"Did you really think you'd get away with this?"

He wasn't saying this just to Theseus and the other Players.

But also to Poseidon.

A message directed at him, who killed the Administrator and seized the first floor, carrying out unimaginable actions.

Zeus's gaze turned back to Poseidon.

Although Zeus had appeared, Poseidon showed no signs of shock in his eyes.

"You're still arrogant."

Bang!

The waves surged.

The magic that began to grow around Poseidon made Zeus curl his lips.

"The confidence of a weakling can be arrogance, but for those who have power, it becomes majesty."

"That's why it's arrogance."

Kyaah-!!

Kya-!

The waves roared. Dozens, hundreds of waves turned into dragons and bared their teeth at Zeus.

On the head of one of those dragons, Poseidon, who was standing on it, blinked his blue eyes.

"You won't defeat me."

"...You've changed quite a bit, haven't you?"

Crack-!

Lightning bolted in Zeus's hand.

Poseidon's magic and Zeus's magic clashed in the air.

Neither gave way first. A lance made of water also formed in Poseidon's hand.

Since hearing the news that the Administrator died at Poseidon's hands, he found it strange.

"He seems like a different person."

His personality had changed.

Until now, Poseidon had been a half-crazy, temperamental, and timid person who couldn't do important things at the right time.

That's why, among his two older brothers, Zeus especially ignored Poseidon.

But what's happening now?

"It seems he's acquired majesty."

Of course, Players become stronger as they level up and polish their skills.

But even if they become stronger, they don't change their innate disposition or acquire something they didn't have from the beginning.

"What happened at the peak?"

If Poseidon also went through a trial like him and thus obtained a divine rank and divine power.

Perhaps this transformation would be possible.

But it didn't seem to be such a simple reason. Zeus himself went through that process to obtain his divine rank, so he knew it well.

"It's suspicious."

The premonition was so strong he felt like his nose would wrinkle.

And when Zeus had that kind of premonition, it was always true.

So...

"Well..."

He had no choice but to confirm it himself.

"Why don't you show that power that killed the Administrator?"

Craaaack-!!

The battle between the two Gods began in the First Floor World, where the Administrator was no longer present.

"Ugh, ugh."

"Ugh-!"

Craaarck, crack, crack-le!

Theseus and the other Rankers scattered in all directions.

It was to avoid being hit by the Lightning Bolt and Tsunami.

The combat between two Gods with similar powers was such that not even individual Rankers dared to intervene.

"What should we do?"

"It's Zeus he's facing."

Craaaaaack-!

Another Lightning Bolt struck from the sky once more.

The sea surged, and the Tsunami crashed into Zeus's body. The storm of water and lightning mixed and whipped about.

Performing natural disasters effortlessly. The battle between Zeus and Poseidon was a level even high-level Rankers wouldn't dare to interrupt.

"Even if it's my father, I can't guarantee it."

No.

He wouldn't have been able to say that in the first place.

Zeus, who was he?

The great King of Olympus, a recognized High Ranker even within this Tower.

For those with enemies in Olympus, it would be difficult for them to dare mention that name.

But now...

Teseo couldn't hide his excited expression despite having words of concern in his mouth.

'It's for real.'

Teseo cast his gaze upon Poseidon, who was battling in the sea.

'He's really becoming an opponent.'

It was ambivalent.

Although he had confirmed his father's fight through the video, defeating an Administrator...

Above all, the existence of Administrators was like the heavens to Players; just by looking, they couldn't grasp how high they were.

But Zeus was different.

For Olympus Players, he was someone who stood in a place higher than anyone else. It would be unthinkable for someone to cause him trouble or defeat him.

Moreover, at this moment, his position had not only returned to its former state but had risen even higher.

"What about the other Guilds? No news from any of them?"

It was time to call for help from nearby Guilds. If Poseidon were to be defeated by Zeus here, everything would be over.

"That's..."

"What's that? Speak up!"

"It's a bit complicated right now."

"What?"

"We've received an order from Asgard..."

"Asgard?"

"Yes, they told us not to help Poseidon."

Teseo's spine chilled.

He thought they would eventually clash, but Asgard was already moving.

No, it wasn't just that they were moving.

'If they've issued an order, it means they've already unsheathed their swords. Why?'

The first floor wasn't Asgard's territory. And it's not like Asgard and the Administrators had a close relationship.

One day, when the Sea Guild made its way and went floor by floor, pushing out the Administrators, they might clash with Asgard's territory, but this was too fast.

"Still, we've asked other Guilds to hurry up and come to help."

"I've done that too."

If several other Grand Guilds, including Satan, came to their aid, stopping Zeus wouldn't be so difficult.

'Yes, that's good.'

It turned out better than expected.

Capture Zeus here and then start deploying the Sea Guild.

Maybe it could be even better than what they had originally planned.

The problem was Asgard.

'No, there's no problem.'

Kwak-.

Teseo clenched his fist.

Right now, he was certain.

The fate of the Tower would change depending on the outcome of this battle.

Right now, he was on a historic scene.

And maybe because of that conviction.

No one noticed that the color of the sky was gradually changing to purple.

Except for two people.

YuWon and Odin, who were traveling on Asgard's ship, briefly stepped out to the bow.

You could see white landscapes passing rapidly before them. They were the sights between the Tower's floors.

"What's the next floor?"

"It's the Seventh Floor."

"Seventh floor..."

YuWon calculated the remaining time.

Fortunately, Asgard's ship was as fast a means of transport as the Sun Chariot.

Maybe a few more hours.

With that, they should be able to reach the bottom of the Tower.

"What about Mimir?"

"He's resting a bit."

"Well, using his Vision for several days must have been exhausting."

After that response, Odin closed his eyes again and turned his gaze outward.

It was as if he didn't want to talk for much longer. Not getting a response, YuWon sat away from him.

'Is he preparing?'

Until the Ragnarok, Odin rarely personally got involved in battles.

He already had enough strength to be known as the strongest among active rankers, and finding someone who wanted to fight him had been difficult.

A long time ago, the senses had dulled due to prolonged rest.

This time, Odin seemed to be regaining them.

How much time had passed since then?

"I have a bad feeling," he said.

Odin opened his eyes again and spoke.

"It seems like this battle will be the beginning of an even greater struggle."

There was no way to explain the nature of his unease with words.

But it was more a certainty than a feeling.

There would soon be an even bigger fight.

The death of the Administrator and the collapse of the city on the first floor were just the beginning; that's what Odin felt.

"Why do you think that?"

"Satan has started to move."

Satan.

That guy who became a single-digit High Ranker just before Son OhGong appeared.

Before becoming a High Ranker, he didn't show great talent, but at some point, his ranking rose rapidly.

A long time ago, there was a famous story about a Medium Guild that clashed with Satan and disappeared without a trace in his hands.

"He's a fatalist/apocalyptic. The destruction of the Tower is his only concern."

"I know."

"You know?"

Odin made an expression as if he didn't know how he knew that for a moment, but he nodded shortly after.

"It seems something happened on your part as well. Sometimes I forget that you come from the future."

"I always thought we'd cross paths at some point. That guy really caused us a lot of trouble."

Somehow, though he didn't know how, Satan moved early. But YuWon felt that things turned out well.

Anyway, at some point, they would have to face that guy.

If they resolved it here, they would have one less problem to deal with later.

"The fact that Satan has moved means that this matter drew him in. It's almost as if he's close to his damnation."

"Due to the death of the Administrator, I suppose."

"The collapse of the system is such a dangerous task. Not only Satan, but also Nova, Zodiac, Dragon Palace, and various Guilds have allied with Poseidon and are working together. That's how the rift began."

A Tower without an Administrator.

Guilds seeking advancement and revolution to a higher level.

System change always brings blood with it.

They dreamed of expelling the Administrators, focusing their attention on Poseidon.

"That rift...".

Rumble-.

It was then...

Within the white landscape, another ship gradually approaching came into YuWon's view.

"I see another ship here."

Just in case, he confirmed through the Golden Cinder Eyes.

Misinterpreting an innocent passing ship would be a big problem.

"That pattern... is it the Zodiac Guild?"

The Zodiac Guild. It was a Guild that allied with Poseidon.

Like Odin and YuWon, if they were taking a ship and heading to the lower floors, the destination was obvious.

Odin and YuWon's eyes met. Both realized they had similar thoughts just through their glances.

As they went up to the front of the ship, Odin asked:

"Has Zeus arrived yet?"

"He informed me, but it seems he still doesn't remember Chronos."

"So how did he get here?"

"He didn't have any restrictions to begin with. He simply moved on his own."

"Really?"

Swish-.

With one hand holding a sword and the other holding Gungnir, Odin assumed a throwing stance.

"So, before we get there, we'll have to take care of those despicable guys."

"I agree."

Screech-.

The opponent was the Zodiac Guild.

The entire Guild didn't move, but it was still a massive Guild.

On the other hand, on YuWon's side, they brought a minimal number of people due to their haste.

But YuWon wasn't worried at all.

'Let's work together after so long.'

After all, the strongest warrior was by his side.