LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 41: Hidden Wonderland ( its all worthless )
( note real life work started catch up with me from now on three days per chapter )
In the quiet tension of the Hidden Wonderland, Makima and Himeno stood at the edge of the magic circle, close to the spectator seats wall. Their gazes were sharp, the air between them crackling with unspoken challenge. The faint hum of Kang Woo's artifacts surrounded them, treasures scattered carelessly on the ground like the remnants of a forgotten auction.
Makima's yellow-ringed eyes narrowed slightly as she held the Crimson Beherit in her hand, the ominous glow reflecting in her calm expression. "If I get the chance," she said, her voice as smooth as glass, "I will launch an Eclipse ritual. You may call it ambition, but it's my path to equal him—to stand alongside Kang Woo, the Demon King."
Himeno's jaw tightened, her voice hard and unrelenting as her moral compass clashed with Makima's cold resolve. " Makima. You're talking about a ritual that sacrifices everything. People. Lives. For what? So you can keep up with him? You're just as bad as the Crimson Beherit itself."
Makima smirked faintly, unfazed by Himeno's outrage. " Himeno. I've declared my intent already. To remain alongside him, I have to be his equal. I refuse to be left behind."
Reze, who had been observing the building tension, saw an opportunity to interrupt. She took a step forward, her voice lighthearted but strategic. "Hey, Kang Woo," she called out, breaking the silence, "why buy duplicates? Why three of Guts' swords? Why five of those Kakuja Armors? What's the point?"
Her words hung in the air, but Kang Woo remained silent, lost in thought. His crimson eyes were distant, fixed on the holographic inventory hovering before him. What's my next move? His mind turned like gears, ignoring the escalating debate happening at his side.
Aki, glancing between the two women, decided to shift the conversation before it spiraled further. "Himeno-senpai, look at that casket over there." He pointed to the ornate, frost-covered artifact sitting to the side of the pile. "What did Kang Woo call it again…?"
Himeno blinked, momentarily distracted. "Casket of Ancient Winters," she muttered, her voice tinged with reluctant awe.
Makima's teasing tone cut through the moment. "Huh. Never thought you'd remember something like that, Himeno."
Himeno shot her a glare, her arms crossing defensively. "Of course I'd remember it," she snapped back. "Most of Kang Woo's things are real. Too real. Four of those stones could blow this world to pieces, and now they're just scattered here, ignored. How could I forget something like that?"
Her voice softened slightly, her eyes drifting to Aki. "I want a good life. For me. For Aki. When he finally gets his revenge on the Gun Devil… I want us to be happy. Is that so much to ask?"
Aki glanced at her, his gaze softening, though he said nothing.
Reze exhaled, shaking her head as she glanced at Kang Woo again. "You see? This is what happens when you scatter planet-killing weapons everywhere and don't explain yourself. Can't you just answer one question, boss?"
Before Kang Woo could respond, the Crimson Beherit in Makima's hand began to tremble. The faint hum grew louder as cracks appeared on its surface, spreading like veins of blood. A twisted face formed on the Beherit, its grotesque mouth moving of its own accord.
"No despair in you…" it hissed ominously, its voice low and guttural. "Which is no good. FUCKKKKKK!"
Suddenly, the Crimson Beherit shattered into beams of crimson light, evaporating into the air as though it had never existed.
Himeno's face lit up with triumph, her arms flying into the air. "Ha! Serves you right, Makima! The current you is a better person—too good for something like that!"
Makima, though outwardly calm, instantly recognized what had happened. Kang Woo. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, knowing full well it was his reality warping at work. Most people wouldn't understand this subtle manipulation… but I do.
Deciding to play along, Makima let out a small sigh and shrugged. "Whatever you say, Himeno-senpai."
Himeno blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, realizing what Makima had just called her, she grabbed Aki's shoulder and practically jumped with excitement. "Did you hear that, Aki? Makima just called me senpai! I'm better than Makima! Woo-hooooooo!"
Aki turned to Makima, his brow raised. "Really?"
Makima smiled faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "My things are gone, Aki-kun. I may as well ease the situation."
Before anyone could respond, the hologram flickered again, displaying a list of newly purchased items. The group collectively turned toward it as the glowing text appeared:
The Orb Containment Unit (Power Stone) ×1
Mandator IV-class Siege Dreadnought Star Destroyer ×1
Hulkbuster (Iron Man Armor: Mark XLIV) – Arc Reactor not included ×1
Arc Reactor Blueprint Papers and Books ×1
Eternal Flame Chalice (including Eternal Flame) ×1
Pym Shrunken Laboratory (travel bag/building in shrunken state) ×1
Heart-Shaped Herb and Plants ×5
Orcrist (Goblin Cleaver Sword) ×1
Arkenstone Gem ×1
For a moment, silence reigned as everyone processed the sheer absurdity of the purchases.
Reze blinked, rubbing her temple as though trying to make sense of what she was seeing. "No way… Kang Woo, an Imperial Star Destroyer? You're joking, right? That's impossible. That thing is fictional! It's massive! It couldn't possibly—"
Himeno grabbed Aki by the arm, yanking him downward with a panicked shout. "Get downnnnn!"
Everyone ducked instinctively, bracing for impact… but nothing happened.
Slowly, they lifted their heads and turned their gazes skyward. What they saw sent their jaws to the floor.
Hanging silently in the sky above the Hidden Wonderland was the Mandator IV-class Siege Dreadnought Star Destroyer, its immense silhouette casting an ominous shadow. The massive starship loomed over them like an impossibly large predator frozen mid-hunt.
Himeno, still holding onto Aki, let out a shaky breath. "Kang Woo, you seriously need to control what you're summoning. I thought that damn ship was about to crush us!"
Reze, her mouth agape, whispered, "It's real. How the fuck is it real?!"
Kang Woo, meanwhile, remained entirely focused, his crimson eyes locked onto an object in his hand: the Orb Containment Unit holding the Power Stone. He stood still, his fingers tracing the edge of the glowing orb as though considering its power.
The group's voices barely registered to him as the hum of the Power Stone's energy resonated faintly in the air.
Makima, who had been observing Kang Woo intently, broke the silence, her yellow-ringed eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Kang Woo," she said softly, her tone edged with intrigue. "That ship… and now the Power Stone? What exactly are you planning?"
Suddenly, the hologram above flickered, and a mechanical voice rang out:
"Congratulations, Player. You have acquired the Arkenstone, the treasure of Mount Erebor. Demonstrating 1% of its wealth as a symbol of your fortune."
Kang Woo's expression shifted instantly. "Oh shit."
Before anyone could react, Kang Woo thrust his hand forward, manipulating his Darkness Manipulation. A massive shadow surged from the ground, forming a colossal umbrella-like shield above the group. The sky darkened for a fleeting moment.
Then it happened.
Gold coins, rubies, diamonds, and solid gold bars began to rain from the heavens, cascading down like a storm of wealth. For exactly three seconds, the glittering treasure fell, filling the magic circle to a height of nearly one centimeter before stopping.
The group stood frozen, dumbfounded as the precious metals and gems clinked against the ground.
Taiyo, who had been watching from the spectator seats, suddenly descended via an ice bridge that formed beneath his feet, stopping near Aki. "Aki! Look! We just got rich! I mean, Kang Woo just got rich!" His voice was an odd mix of excitement and disbelief.
"Shhhh," Aki said quietly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Kang Woo carefully. "Wait…"
Kang Woo, completely unfazed by the chaos, calmly lifted the Orb Containment Unit for all to see. With a slight twist, the container opened, and the glowing purple stone—the Power Stone—was revealed. Its vibrant energy pulsed like a heartbeat, illuminating his face with its unnatural glow.
Himeno exhaled sharply, pointing at the stone. "That's the Power Stone Kang Woo's been bragging about. One more to go."
Aki nodded. "One more to go. The Soul Stone…"
The Angel Devil, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. His voice was dry and deadpan but tinged with genuine confusion. "I have no idea what's happening anymore. A ship appeared out of nowhere. Kang Woo's artifacts and tech are clattering onto the ground like junk at a yard sale… and now it's raining gold. I'm done."
Kang Woo, ignoring Angel Devil's commentary, closed the container around the Power Stone with a sharp snap. His crimson eyes scanned the group before he shrugged nonchalantly. "I have everything now, right? Five Infinity Stones, a giant Star Wars ship in the sky, all this treasure—" he gestured dramatically to the glittering wealth surrounding their feet— "what else could you possibly ask for? Just be grateful."
Reze tilted her head, her voice carrying a nervous edge. "Boss, you're sounding a little… scary."
Kang Woo's smirk sharpened into something unhinged, and he threw his head back with a dark laugh. "And I spent 15 million Malevolent Points on rerolls and useless shit, right?! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The group flinched slightly at his manic outburst. Himeno exchanged an uneasy glance with Aki, while Makima merely watched with her ever-present calm.
Abruptly, Kang Woo's laughter stopped, his expression turning deadly serious. "No, it's not," he said quietly, his tone hard. Without another word, he tossed the Orb Containment Unit containing the Power Stone into the air.
The group collectively gasped.
"What are you doing?!" Aki shouted.
The orb soared high, spinning through the air until it collided with the engine core of the Star Destroyer hanging above. A pulse of purple energy rippled outward as the impact resonated through the massive ship.
For a tense moment, nothing happened.
Then, with a rumbling groan that echoed across the sky, the Star Destroyer began to descend. Its massive form tilted forward, trailing smoke and arcs of blue lightning as it plummeted toward the distant mountains.
The ship crashed with a thunderous boom, the ground trembling beneath their feet. A massive plume of smoke and debris rose into the sky, but the Hidden Wonderland remained unharmed, the impact site safely far away.
The group turned to Kang Woo in disbelief. Himeno's voice cracked as she shouted, "Kang Woo, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!"
Kang Woo exhaled deeply, his expression unreadable as he replied, "What I want isn't there at all. It's not here—nor anywhere in this world. I thought confirming the Infinity Stones' existence would lead me to something that could satisfy my curiosity… but no. There's something this universe lacks because it doesn't have it in the first place. And the system doesn't do shit."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Without another word, Kang Woo turned and sat down again, his posture slouched as though deep in thought, his crimson eyes shutting slowly.
Makima, watching him closely, moved to sit beside him. The yellow rings in her eyes softened as she tilted her head slightly, her voice gentle yet unwavering. "Kang Woo, it's not power you're seeking, is it? You're searching for something you lost." She paused, her calm tone carrying genuine intent. "I don't understand the concept of universes yet. I only know worlds—like the one where our planet resides. But I can help you find it, after all… I'm your first wife."
Kang Woo's eyelids remained closed, but a faint smirk appeared on his lips, his voice low but resolute. "Yes… Thank you, Makima. But this one—I need to finish myself."