Chapter 421: Chapter 421

I stroked my chin thoughtfully, looking at the system window that had appeared before me.

「Karma Shop Ver.2 Update」 had been incredibly useful.

The 『VIP Market』, which offered special items for Awakened individuals, and the 『Item Purchase』 menu, which allowed him to easily acquire items from other dimensions… they had both been invaluable assets.

So, he naturally had high expectations for the upgraded version…

“…I didn’t expect this.”

…but he couldn’t help but stare at the updated list with a bewildered expression.

The shop’s overall structure was similar to the previous version, with a few new additions.

But as he was happily browsing the new items, a single word, a single… category, suddenly caught his attention.

The word ‘Earth’, added to the menu that had previously been limited to other dimensions.

“…So, I can now… buy things from Earth with Karma points?”

It wasn't exactly a… groundbreaking feature.

With his current influence, he could easily acquire most things without having to use Karma points.

In fact, it was more cost-effective to use Earth’s currency, which was much easier to acquire than Karma.

‘…But that’s not the point. Why did this change occur?’

The Karma Shop had always maintained a clear separation from Earth.

An Awakened individual usually encountered it after being transported to another dimension.

And once they returned to Earth, having accumulated 1 million Karma points, the Karma Shop disappeared, and they lost access to it.

‘…Well, I’m an exception, since I… bypassed the system.’

He had been transported to another dimension after awakening his unique skill, but he had also… remained on Earth.

That contradiction was the reason why he could still use the Karma Shop.

I selected the ‘Earth’ category and began browsing the items, my expression serious.

He had used this menu countless times, so it didn’t take long for him to understand its… limitations.

And the conclusion he reached…

“Wow, they even sell… fighter jets and aircraft carriers? And what’s this? A space shuttle? They’re not actually selling… nuclear warheads, are they…? They are?!”

…was that there was nothing the Karma Shop didn’t sell.

Of course, the cost-effectiveness was… abysmal, compared to the magical items from other dimensions.

“I can buy an adult Dragon Heart for less than 2 million Karma points… and a fighter jet costs 100,000? An aircraft carrier without any planes costs over 10 million? Who would buy this?”

But the fact that he could buy them, if he wanted to… it was still… impressive.

But with prices like these… he wouldn’t be buying anything from the ‘Earth’ category.

He sighed, forcing himself to look away from the… nuclear warhead, its name alone enough to… make him nervous.

‘…What does the system want from me?’

He was certain that the system, this vast and incomprehensible entity that governed countless worlds, had some kind of… agenda.

Perhaps his discovery of the system’s… loophole… hadn’t been a coincidence.

And the rest of the 『Karma Shop Ver.3』 update was similar.

The 『VIP Market』 now included an 『Invitation (1,000,000)』, which could forcibly awaken an ordinary Earthling, and a 『Return Ticket (2,000,000)』, which could be used to pay for a returnee’s trip back to Earth.

And there were also… convenience items, like 『Odin’s Eye』, which allowed him to observe any location on Earth by continuously consuming Karma, and 『Hermes’ Footsteps』, which allowed him to instantly teleport to any location.

He finally understood the theme of this update.

‘…It’s all related to Earth.’

As if he had finally been granted… permission to interfere.

And the reason for this change… was probably this.

『Karma Market Share (5%)』

A single line, displayed at the bottom of the Karma Shop window.

I narrowed my eyes, staring at it.

‘…Market share? Of what? The system? Earth? Or other dimensions? What happens when it reaches 100%? Do I just have to accumulate Karma? Only usable points? Or the total accumulated points?’

His thoughts raced, a chaotic mess of questions and hypotheses.

He had been so focused on destroying Heaven’s Turn Society… and now, he was faced with an unknown variable, a new… game he didn’t understand.

But amidst the confusion, he instinctively knew…

‘…I don’t know what it is, but I have to increase it.’

…that it was somehow… related to his current activities.

After all, wasn't that what the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society was also doing?

He had god-like power on Earth… but he was still traveling to other dimensions, accumulating Karma.

And if it wasn’t just for… power… but to fulfill this ‘market share’ requirement…?

‘…I can’t let him win.’

I nodded slowly, making a decision.

He would postpone the purchase of the 『Divine Fragment of the Imprisoned Human God』, despite its tempting price.

He would wait for it to decrease further… and then use it as a… trump card, a hidden weapon.

And then, his phone, which he had left on the side, began to vibrate.

A notification for an incoming email.

The sender was ‘CCTV’.

Andrew Weaver, whom he had tasked with various… errands in exchange for the language translation magic tool Howard had created.

I opened the email, my expression turning serious.

It contained not only a report on his assigned task, but also several screenshots of… foreign news articles.

And thanks to 「Xenoglossy」, he could read the original text without needing the attached translation.

His eyebrows twitched as he finished reading.

Reports of a demon sighting in Southeast Asia.

It seemed like someone was trying to… control the information, as most of the articles had already been taken down.

And the report focused on the demon’s potential connection to Heaven’s Turn Society.

I tapped my fingers against the table, lost in thought.

He had just recently had a… rather exciting encounter with numerous demons in the Demon World.

‘…If this is true, he’s not ordinary.’

It wasn't strange for there to be demons on Earth.

Some Earthlings, transported to other worlds, would do anything to survive, and making a deal with a demon was a relatively easy way to gain power.

‘…Though it comes with significant risks.’

If they were completely consumed by the demon they contracted with, they would lose their status as Awakened, just like undead.

So, the demon contractors who returned to Earth were all incredibly powerful individuals, their willpower strong enough to resist the corruption.

And even those who simply borrowed a demon’s power were rare… let alone those who had become demons themselves, like Ken.

‘…And he’s been sighted near Singapore, my next target?’

The ‘demon’ in Andrew’s report, its appearance and abilities seemingly… authentic, was clearly not an ordinary individual.

And the fact that Andrew, despite his unique skill 「Trajectory Observation」, hadn’t been able to track him down, only gathering information indirectly through analysis and deduction, further strengthened his suspicions.

‘…At least Marquis-level. …Or perhaps even… Demon King level.’

His estimated threat level varied significantly… but it couldn’t be helped.

Even Andrew, a skilled and reliable informant, couldn't gather much information without direct observation.

He had done a good job, considering the circumstances.

‘…I should increase his salary. He has a lot of work to do, and I have to treat my employees well.’

He thought he heard a faint voice, a desperate plea for a vacation instead of a raise, echoing in his mind…

…but it must have been his imagination.

Who would refuse a raise?

“This is… unexpected. I didn’t think I’d find them .”

Andrew, in his report, had also mentioned something else.

A faction that was being targeted by a demon and its affiliated organization.

He had learned about it while investigating the demon’s activities.

‘…So, there are others who oppose Heaven’s Turn Society. Though their situation doesn’t seem very good.’

A secret society, a group of like-minded individuals fighting a lonely battle against a common enemy.

He had found… allies.

An abandoned house, filled with dust and debris.

“Cough—! Hack, hack!”

A rough cough, echoing through the empty rooms.

The person coughing was trying to suppress it, but it was no use.

It wasn't an ordinary cough.

“Are you alright, Ahn? Perhaps you should…”

A man with a sturdy build spoke cautiously, but the woman with short, black hair, her body curled up on the floor, simply shook her head, her hand clutching a bloodstained handkerchief.

…she took a deep breath and slowly sat up, a blue flame flickering in her hand, incinerating the blood on the handkerchief, turning it from red to white.

She carefully folded the handkerchief and put it away, then sighed softly.

“I can’t afford to rest. If I do, they’ll find us.”

“…But even for a moment…”

“No. How many of our comrades have died because of our… carelessness?”

The man couldn’t argue with her sharp retort.

She was right. Their situation was precarious.

Even a brief moment of rest could be… fatal.

If it wasn't for her, they would have all been killed long ago.

“…I’m sorry. If only I had the power to fight that demon…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Three superhumans have already died fighting that demon. Even a coordinated ambush wasn’t enough. You would just be… another corpse.”

Her tone was mocking, but her green eyes were filled with concern.

The demon that had forced them into hiding, scattering them across Southeast Asia, was a formidable opponent.

“Huu— I hope the others are safe… Ah! Damn that snake! He’s so… underhanded! Bringing reinforcements to a duel! You call yourself a man?!”

Ahn, who had been focusing on maintaining her power, suddenly burst into a fit of rage, unable to contain her anger any longer.

Their carefully laid plans, their hopes and dreams… shattered by the unexpected arrival of reinforcements.

“Ugh, if it wasn’t for that… Oracle hag… we could have handled the Executioner…”

They wouldn't have won, but they could have at least retreated with minimal casualties, regrouped, and planned their next move.

It would have been much better than their current situation, fleeing from the Philippines to Vietnam, their organization in shambles.

“…Huu! I have to calm down. I can’t afford to lose my composure.”

She took a deep breath, trying to regain her calm.

Her ability, her power, was their only hope.

And the lives of her scattered comrades depended on her.

“Where are Beki and Ddol? They’re taking too long.”

And then, as she calmed down,

…she frowned, realizing that the two who had gone out on reconnaissance hadn't returned yet.

She could usually sense their presence… but she was currently using all her power to disrupt Oracle’s precognitive abilities. She didn't have any energy to spare.

The sturdy man standing next to her suddenly blocked her path.

He sniffed the air, his aura flaring, and then spoke, his voice low and grim.

“What?! How? Is it because I… lost my temper earlier? No, that’s impossible…”

“It’s targeting us. It’s coming this way.”

Her face hardened at his words.

Their location being compromised was a serious matter.

It put not only them, but also their scattered comrades, the members of the ‘Burning Torch’, in danger.

She gritted her teeth, her mind racing, as the approaching footsteps grew louder, closer.

The intruder wasn't even trying to conceal its presence.

And as Jose’s body began to transform, his fur growing thicker, his muscles bulging, his form shifting and changing,

…until he finally took the form of a bipedal beast,

“Huu, finally found you. He tells me to ‘find them’, without giving me any details. What kind of…”

…a man, opening the door, entered the abandoned house.

“That damn human… He treats people like… our Demon King… It must be my imagination.”

He grumbled, his voice filled with annoyance, seemingly oblivious to their presence, their hostile auras.

And then, noticing their glares, he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

He cleared his throat and spoke, his words strangely… formal, despite his casual demeanor.

He used his innate ability, a demon’s unique communication skill, to convey his greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Miyamoto Ken.”

His voice was filled with a genuine… warmth, a… friendliness that was… unsettling.

“I’ve come to… save you from your despair.”

But unfortunately, his intentions weren’t conveyed properly.

His greeting was met with a fist, covered in thick, dark fur.