Chapter 16. Majesty From Another World (5)
Mars's knees slammed into the ground.
What pressed down on his shoulders wasn't merely the weight of the sky.
It was the blood humanity had spilled over thousands of years.
The curses of the defeated.
The grudges of fallen soldiers.
And the endless suffering accumulated throughout history.
All of it poured onto him at once as punishment.
“Ghhhh... AAAAAARGH!!!”
His bloodshot eyes bulged.
Even while coughing up blood, he stretched out one hand.
He seemed to be reaching for the red helmet that had fallen to the ground.
But the helmet had already turned into nothing more than a light cap.
A useless piece of cloth without any power.
“This is... unfair...!”
His voice trembled.
“There's no way a rookie Majesty should have this kind of qualification!”
CRACK!
His arm bent unnaturally.
His spine snapped.
Crunch. Crunch, crunch!
His body was driven into the ground.
Every bone inside him shattered.
And yet...
A final desperate laugh escaped his lips.
“Hehehe...!”
Blood streamed from his eyes like tears.
“But... the others... won't leave you alone...”
His grin widened.
“The plundering has only just begun...!”
His eyes rolled back.
Still crushed beneath the weight of the world, Mars's body was swallowed into his Artifact.
At that moment...
Voices echoed from all around.
“We won!”
“He won!”
Jooheon looked toward the city where the cheering was coming from.
Something like holographic screens floated before the citizens.
“Oh my god! Seo Jooheon really defeated the invader, right?!”
People were cheering as they watched Jooheon on the screen.
Judging by the situation...
Jooheon's gaze stopped.
“...Is the whole world watching this?”
It wasn't only the city.
Over the ocean.
Across deserts.
In the sky.
Thousands.
Tens of thousands.
Countless gazes were fixed on this place at the same time.
Majesty Yoo Jaeha noticed his expression.
“Because Mars declared a <Majesty War>.”
He had approached without Jooheon noticing.
Naturally, he added the explanation in an irritating tone.
“The moment one Majesty declares a Majesty War against another, Rulebook turns the fight into a broadcast event across every dimension.”
He smiled faintly.
“The losing world becomes a 'colony' of the winner.”
A colony?
“Once that happens, the world might have to pay taxes under the excuse of protection fees.”
“Depending on the Majesty's political style, people might even have to pay with their lifespan.”
“Either way, daily life changes completely.”
He shrugged.
“A Majesty War is basically an all-in bet.”
“You normally don't declare one unless you're absolutely sure you'll win.”
He looked toward where Mars had disappeared.
“That idiot used it far too casually.”
So that was how it worked.
Sure enough...
Majesties from other worlds began reacting.
[Mars... lost?]
[Impossible. There's no way someone like him would collapse...]
[...A worldline with a 'Chief God Territory' really is special.]
[Beginner's luck.]
[Even a rookie Majesty is still a Majesty. Mars was the idiot for invading without researching first.]
They spoke lightly.
But they all understood.
A Majesty just like them...
Had been brutally crushed.
And the Executors would certainly take notice of Jooheon now.
Meanwhile...
Once the red helmet and triumphal arch shattered and scattered...
The broadcast windows disappeared.
A system message appeared.
[Invader 'Mars O'Connell' has been defeated.]
[Rewards distributed: Heart Recovery / Special Privilege Acquisition.]
A Majesty's Heart dropped onto the ground like a crimson crystal.
Jooheon picked it up.
“...A Majesty's Heart.”
The moment he held it...
A familiar blue system window appeared.
[Majesty's Heart obtained.]
[A Majesty's Heart is equivalent in value to an SSS-Grade Artifact and may be used as a physical resource.]
[Mars O'Connell's Majesty Ability: Authority of the Conqueror.]
Jooheon frowned.
Authority of the Conqueror.
What was its actual value?
Owning something valuable meant becoming a target.
As if reading his thoughts, Majesty Jaeha spoke.
“Just use it.”
Jooheon looked over.
“You beat Mars even though you're a rookie.”
Jaeha smirked.
“His market value probably dropped quite a bit because of that.”
Then he added mockingly:
“You can use absorbed authority to protect your territory.”
“And honestly...”
He laughed.
“A Conqueror's authority suits someone as unreasonable as you.”
Even while saying that, Jaeha chuckled.
“Still, Mars wasn't exactly a high-level Majesty.”
“Don't expect too much.”
So it's basically a dud?
Jooheon looked disappointed as he played with the heart.
Then...
[It appears possible to modify this ability using my Devouring ability so that it better matches Seo Jooheon's personality.]
Oh.
As expected from this pig of a Crow that would devour anything from the sun downward.
It was actually useful at times like this.
[Modifying ability to match Majesty Seo Jooheon's individuality.]
[Success!]
Jooheon's eyes lit up.
If it's a Conqueror's Artifact, maybe it'll be something like Chairman Kwon's conquest-type ability.
That could be pretty useful—
[New Ability: <Fight Among Yourselves> (S-Grade)]
[Effect: Whether superior or subordinate, everyone regards one another as a conqueror and begins fighting.]
“......”
A vein appeared on Jooheon's forehead.
It was perfect for turning an enemy camp into chaos.
But the name alone sounded evil.
“Hey, Crow.”
Jooheon glared.
“I was expecting something cool and impressive.”
[This is simply the result of honestly reflecting Majesty's malicious personality.]
“What?”
“Malicious?”
“You bastard...!”
[It is merely a factual assessment.]
Cup-Ramen Jaeha also laughed.
[As expected, Captain's personality never changes!]
[The Artifact knows its owner way too well!]
Jooheon slowly turned his head.
Then spoke coldly.
“Someone bring me boiling water.”
[AAAAAH!!!]
[I'LL DIE IF YOU POUR WATER IN NOW!!!]
In the middle of the chaotic hideout...
Majesty Yoo Jaeha secretly peeked at Jooheon's new ability through the Mini Rulebook.
His eyes narrowed.
...S-Grade?
According to his calculations...
That authority should have remained around B-Grade.
But the moment Seo Jooheon became the variable...
Its grade jumped.
The relaxed smile on Majesty Jaeha's face slowly disappeared.
Then...
[Rulebook is enraged after discovering that Majesty Seo Jooheon is alive.]
[Rulebook is confused and asking why you are still alive.]
Jooheon snorted.
“I won a Majesty War.”
He grinned.
“Don't I get a reward?”
He'd only said it as a joke.
But a furious red message appeared.
[You have won a Majesty War and received a small reward from Rulebook.]
[Reward: One Majesty Title acquired.]
[Acquired Title: Majesty of Chaos.]
[Presence greatly increased.]
