novelDen Chapter 251: The Evil God's Constellation (4)
Chapter 251: The Evil God's Constellation (4)
Translator: DreamscribeThe Constellation Sanctuary.
The place where great Constellations are born!
Every drop of sweat shed today is a joy for the Avatars of tomorrow, and a hope that will save the Dimensional Realm!
The moment the first class of Constellation Candidates, made up of Named Heroes, checked in, a video was uploaded to Arsilan Worlds.
The video was titled "Evil God's Constellation".
It marked the end of the Prologue of Arsilan Saga Episode 6, and the simultaneous start of the main story. And that first piece of content was none other than the Evil God's Constellation.
The Evil God's Tower appeared, and Avatar candidates from various dimensions climbed the tower with all their might. Watching the video through Soul Link made it feel as if the viewer was standing right beside them.
A slender woman whose hair was made of leaves, with a withered flower pinned to it, struggled to lift her spear. For a brief moment, glimpses of her past could be seen.
A warship had burned her forest and her entire family to ashes.
- Kalsus Dimensional Empire, those goddamn bastards!
- Such a beautiful race...!
- Insane..., burned alive just to be used as fuel....
The Kalsus Dimensional Empire had captured her people to use them as firewood. Apparently, they burned for a long time, making them a rather efficient fuel source.
The woman, unable to defeat even a horned rabbit or a goblin, creatures that were utterly trivial opponents for Heroes, simply met her death.
Swish!
One of the three Evil God's Marks on the back of her hand faded away. There were a total of three Evil God's Marks, and once all of them were consumed, one had to leave the Evil God's Tower.
Back in the waiting room on the 1st floor, she knelt down and sobbed.
[Grant me courage. Grant me the strength to move forward.]
The woman prayed desperately, again and again. Then she gripped the shaft of her spear once more, wiped her tears, and began to climb the tower again. The sight stirred the hearts of the Heroes watching.
[May light and darkness be with you....]
A beautiful voice echoed out.
In that instant, power was bestowed upon the woman as she climbed the tower. Her movements changed. When she thrust her spear with all her strength, the goblin's wooden shield shattered, and the spearpoint pierced straight through its heart.
Pshhh!
As the goblin turned to ash and disappeared, the woman let out a ragged breath and slumped to the floor. She picked up the trinket the goblin had dropped and raised it reverently with both hands. It was a sacrificial offering to the Constellation, along with her gratitude.
[O Guardian of Balance, chosen by the Evil God! O Constellation, more brilliant than starlight! Watch over the weak!]
The screen that had been showing the woman gradually panned upward, and the enormous Evil God's Tower came into view.
Standing tall in the abyss, the tower radiated an overwhelming presence. The dense starlight swirling around it formed a galaxy, lighting up its surroundings like a lighthouse.
[Light and darkness of Arsilan! Become Constellations!]
And with that, the video ended.
- Uwaaah! Now I really want to level up.
- Past 150 in Arsilan is brutal. Leveling slows to a crawl.
- Where are we even supposed to grind?
Up to level 150, leveling could be done in all sorts of fun ways through the various events and hunting grounds in Arsilan.
For newbies, it was always a festival.
Everything was new and exciting. With FS Games carpet-bombing them with events, there wasn't a moment of boredom.
If there was a problem, it was with the Heroes in the level 150 range. Going from 150 to 200 took quite a long time.
Since the mid-tier Heroes respected the Vanguard Party, they couldn't easily voice such complaints. Still, they couldn't hide the feeling of being stuck in a rut.
That was when it happened.
An update notice was posted!
[Notice] Update Announcement.
Hello?
This is FS Games.
We would like to inform you of the update details.
[Content Addition Notice]
*The Evil God's Tower and the Constellation System have been added!
Heroes who meet the requirements will periodically receive an invitation from the Evil God to undertake a Constellation Quest. Once you become a Constellation, you can raise an Avatar and earn various rewards, so give it a try!
*The Evil God's Tower (Hero Difficulty) has been added!
Heroes of level 150 or above can also climb the Evil God's Tower. Defeating floor bosses will drop Constellation Fragments, which can be used to craft a 'Constellation Token'.
Once a 'Constellation Token' is completed, regardless of level, you become a Constellation Candidate and can receive the Evil God's invitation.
While climbing the tower, you may even be chosen by a higher Avatar. However, a Constellation (Hero) cannot select another Hero as their Avatar.
*Massive gates have been added to all fields, including Seoul Field. Kalsus Dimensional Empire forces lost in the Dimensional Realm may be swept up by dimensional storms and appear through these massive gates!
*From now on, the Dimensional Auction House will appear in Alusion!
Items obtained in the Dimensional Realm can now be registered directly to the Dimensional Auction House. However, please note that item pickup is only available at the Alusion Dimensional Auction House!
[Event Notice]
*A Newbie Welcome Event is starting!
For details, please refer here (link)!
[External Event Notice]
*Ticketing for Magical Girl Scheherazade's Hologram Musical Performance is beginning!
*Hologram Theaters have been completed in 12 locations nationwide! Reservations can be conveniently made at any time through the Soul Link app.
*A collaboration between Arsilan Saga goods and hair-loss treatments is launching. If you purchase the 'Grow-Grow Springy Elf' plushie, it will come with a hair-loss treatment included.
We hope you enjoy Arsilan Saga!
Thank you!
Anonymous1: We can climb the tower too?
└Anonymous2: Hero difficulty ㅋㅋㅋ insane.
Anonymous3: We might even get help from a Constellation..., wow, they're really going all-in on looking after mid-tier Heroes.
└Anonymous4: Hail the Creator God. For real. I'm tearing up.
Anonymous5: Oh! Guys, I got my ticket ㅋㅋ I bought a light stick too.
└Anonymous6: Damn it. I failed. 0.1-second cutoff.
Arsilan Worlds erupted into another frenzy.
The mid-tier Heroes had always been the most awkwardly placed group, and now that they were being looked after through this massive content, praise poured in. They weren't just being taken care of, they were practically the main characters. They could become Avatars, and if they grew stronger still, they might even rise to the rank of Constellation!
Hail the Creator God!
Such cries burst out from every corner of Arsilan!
* * *
The two weeks of lessons that began at the Constellation Sanctuary were like actual combat. No, they were actual combat itself.
"Urgh?!"
"Gack!"
Helby drove the Heroes relentlessly, slaughtering them one after another. The remains of Heroes dissolving into particles of light were caught by a black hand, which then immediately resurrected them.
One could not die in the Constellation Sanctuary. If one died, they were instantly revived and had to continue training.
Although Soul Link greatly dulled the pain, the Heroes felt strangely exhausted. It was as if the strain fell not on the body, but on the mind, or perhaps the soul. At times they wanted to give up, but the prestigious title of first-class Constellation hovered before their eyes, and they couldn't.
The very first Constellations of Arsilan!
The chance to be the first to enjoy Constellation content!
There was no way they could miss this.
The Heroes endured Helby's training. The more training they received, the more clearly they saw their own shortcomings.
Whenever Helby pointed out their weaknesses, they studied in the library or trained on their own at the training grounds.
[You have grasped the essence of C-rank wind attribute magic!]
A mage Hero mastered C-rank magic, achieving significant growth. It was an excellent opportunity to rebuild their foundations from the ground up.
Helby also gave harsh private instruction to Heroes who showed promise.
"Nngh!"
"Pathetic. You cannot become a Constellation at that level."
NorthernGrandDuke blocked Helby's attack with red Aura spewing from her double-edged axe, but the Aura shattered far too easily. She died and got back up dozens of times, yet couldn't find a way through.
"Learn proper mana control. Because you rely on instinct alone, your Aura can't rise above the basics."
Helby summoned a tentacled monster and drove NorthernGrandDuke into a corner. Anyone else might have given up, but as befitted the number-one ranker, she fought the monster for a long time, pouring herself into Aura training.
[You have grasped the deeper essence of Aura!]
*[B] Aura Circulation
A method of blending Aura with one's breath to use it properly.
Moving beyond the stage of using Aura by instinct alone, you can now resonate with your internal mana through breathing, wielding Aura like a third hand. From simple telekinesis to unfolding a protective barrier of Aura, and even gathering Aura to launch B-rank ranged attacks.
At the moment of enlightenment, NorthernGrandDuke felt an intense rush of pleasure. She had heard that the Enlightenment System had been updated, but only now could she feel it for herself.
NorthernGrandDuke felt she could now understand, just a little, the techniques General Gord had used.
If one reached the pinnacle of Aura usage, one could surely pull off such feats with complete freedom.
'...What an insane game.'
Just how far was Arsilan Saga going to evolve?
The line between reality and the game was already blurred, and in many ways the game had actually surpassed reality.
This sense of accomplishment, and the thrill of growing through training, was an experience that could never be felt in reality.
The body's dopamine tends to dull and grow used to things as one ages, but the pleasure of the soul growing never diminished.
"You're finally starting to be useful."
"Thank you, Constellation-nim."
The potential that the Heroes had expanded through side stories and various experiences was now blooming here.
Jinwoo inspected the Heroes' conditions and felt satisfied.
Going back to inspect the basics and review everything from the ground up was something no one wanted to do. Yet through this Constellation content, they were able to build solid foundations. Some Heroes even leveled up through this training alone.
Two weeks passed, and the exams began.
The written exam was conducted in the library of the Constellation Sanctuary. Ella appeared as the proctor.
"Well then, the first Arsilan Constellation Exam will now begin."
The written exam covered information every Constellation should know, as well as content ranging from the basics to advanced principles of each Hero's specialization. Since the exams had been created through the Magic Tower, they differed for each individual.
"Ugh, uuugh! My head hurts."
"Hmm...."
"If I'd studied like this, I would've gotten into a good college...."
The broadcast chat was also blocked, so no help could be received. Once the written exam ended, the papers were automatically collected. The practical exam began immediately after.
The proctor for the practical exam was Helby.
When Helby snapped her fingers, everyone was transported to Luzen. It was a Domain of Erosion in Luzen. Much of the Erosion had been eliminated, but some still remained.
Helby stretched out her hand, and bracelets made of transparent gemstones were distributed to the Heroes.
"Hunt down the Erosion and dye those bracelets black. The practical exam ends in 12 hours."
When Helby stretched out her hand, the ground split open, and pillars and walls rose up. They grew wide and high like mountain ranges, surrounding the Heroes. A colossal colosseum large enough to hold several cities was completed in an instant. Constellations were carved into the massive pillars, and many of the pillars were still empty.
"Constellation-nim! If we become Constellations, will we be engraved on those pillars?"
"Yes. You will be engraved according to your grades. And your symbols will also be left in various places throughout the Evil God's Tower. Avatar candidates may see those symbols and approach you first."
The Heroes' faces filled with excitement.
When Helby extended her hand, space tore open, and every Erosion that had been hiding was dragged into view. The Erosion entities piled up like mountains, stacked in huge heaps.
[Prove your strength!]
The practical exam had begun!
The Heroes fought well against the Erosion. They displayed movements far more refined and sharper than before.
Haebyul's growth stood out.
The way she formed a combo with the spirits she summoned while fighting the Erosion was rather elegant.
- This is seriously brutal.
- Without the training, it would've been a one-second kill.
- The footwork we learned actually helps here.
NorthernGrandDuke was head and shoulders above the rest. She unleashed Aura, massacring Lesser Entities. She had now become strong enough to single-handedly take down one of the Lesser Entities that had once devoured Arsilan, and then some. It was a strength that left no awkwardness in calling her a Constellation.
In the end, without a single dropout, everyone managed to dye their bracelets black.
They were once again summoned back to the Constellation Sanctuary.
Ella and Helby stood side by side, welcoming the Heroes.
Ella clapped her hands for them.
"Congratulations. You have earned the qualification of Constellation."
The Heroes rejoiced and shouted in celebration.
"A Constellation can gaze upon the entrance that leads to becoming a Transcendent Being. As you grow, you may become Transcendent Beings, and perhaps one day, even gods."
It was a story for the distant future, but the possibility was undeniably there.
[Quest completed!]
[Constellation] The Power to Twist Fate
A Constellation possesses the power to twist fate.
Choose an Avatar suited to you, and twist the tragic fate that awaits them. The more your Constellation grows in strength and renown, the more honor and power you, too, will gain.
Constellation Marks were added to the backs of the Heroes' hands.
[You have obtained the Constellation Mark! As long as you bear the Constellation Mark, you can observe the Evil God's Tower at any time, and travel to the Constellation Sanctuary.]
[You can customize your Constellation Mark. Create a mark that represents you!]
The Heroes grinned as they looked at the starlight rippling on the backs of their hands.
Everyone immediately dove into customization. NorthernGrandDuke's was an axe that looked stained with blood, and Haebyul's was a bow with what seemed like the power of spirits flowing from it.
Once a design was claimed first, similar-looking marks were prohibited for others. It was a clear show of respect for the Vanguard Party.
"Heheheh!"
"Now then, shall we pick an Avatar?"
"An Avatar overflowing with talent...!"
"Ooh! There are quite a lot of Avatar candidates gathered on the 1st floor right now!"
The Heroes who had become Constellations immediately pulled up the info window and observed the interior of the Evil God's Tower. As it happened, a group of newcomers had just arrived on the 1st floor. They began to examine them with the Avatar's Eye and take note.
[Northern Valkyrie (NorthernGrandDuke) examines Gloron's muscles.]
[Spirit Archer (Haebyul) takes an interest in 'Alke'. Saddened by Alke's past, she decides to watch over her.]
[Bomber of Love (HoHoGamMan) desires only beautiful Avatars.]
[GodHand (HandGenius) grasps the true identity of the Bomber of Love and is embarrassed.]
[Spirit Archer (Haebyul) pretends not to notice the Bomber of Love.]
The identities of the Constellations were not disclosed, but since the Constellations' names represented them well, their identities could often be guessed.
Haebyul gazed at 'Alke' and then pressed the star-shaped icon.
['Alke' has been added to Favorites.]
By setting a noteworthy Avatar candidate to 'Favorites', their status could be checked at any time. Two Avatar selection tickets were given at the start. Because of that, the Heroes didn't pick their Avatars right away, instead observing carefully.
- This is super fun though?
- Feels like a raising sim.
- Guys, I just started climbing the tower. The Constellations are apparently looking at me favorably?
- If you're level 150 or above, come to the tower right now. It's seriously great here.
The Grand Constellation Era had begun in Arsilan Saga!
*****
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