The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2

Chapter 631:

Western Sector.

It was known to be the place where Yggdrasil existed.

As Seong Jihan proceeded along the path guided by Noah, he frowned while looking at the luminous clocks positioned along the corridor.

"There are quite a few clocks here."

[Yes. The Western Sector is the most important among the four external sectors.]

"Really? More important than the Infinite Sword in the North or Hephaestus in the South?"

[Yes. The Western Sector is the place that has been with Ark since its inception. There's a significant difference in importance compared to the sectors added later.]

Was it that significant?

As Seong Jihan stared anew at the corridor with surprise,

[Please do not remove the luminous clocks with golden light. The Western Sector is a place where Urd has fortified her defenses thoroughly, destroying those clocks may risk awakening her.]

"Is that so? Then how do we get through?"

[The solution is simple. Just don't destroy them. Moreover, we have someone with the Power of Protection.]

"Heh heh... Is it my turn?"

Id, who had been trailing closely behind Seong Jihan, stepped forward with a triumphant expression when he was summoned.

When he unfolded his Power of Protection,

Buzz...

A barrier of light completely enveloped the group.

"Even though you used the Power of Protection, it's better if you eliminate the clocks without golden light. We don't know what might happen if many of them swarm us."

"That's easy enough."

Whoosh...!

As Seong Jihan extended his finger, the luminous clocks burst into flames instantly.

All the clocks except the golden ones were precisely targeted and burned away.

Watching this, Id's eyebrow twitched.

"Your power is truly amazing every time I see it. How can you control it so precisely?"

"Well, you get there with practice."

"Ha. Practice... I never thought I'd hear that from someone from the server."

While Id was dumbfounded by Seong Jihan's reply, the group continued clearing the clocks and reached the entrance of the Western Sector.

Upon arrival,

A large green door blocked their path.

"Now, I'll take the lead. Please open a small gap in the barrier."

"Sure."

Sss...

Noah's Divine Eye emerged through a gap in the barrier,

And flashed light before the door.

Then,

Creak...

The green door slowly opened.

'She didn't open it using the Power of Observation... Does she still have the authority of the Ark's supervisor?'

As Seong Jihan pondered while watching the door open,

[Let's proceed inside.]

Noah was the first to slip through the opening in the door.

As Seong Jihan's party followed her inside,

Swoosh...

A towering tree shimmering with pure white light stood tall.

"Hmm. But can that really be called a tree?"

Upon closer inspection, it was only shaped like a tree.

The trunk, branches, and leaves were all made of shining metal,

Giving it a distinctly artificial feel rather than a natural one.

However,

'Even though it's made of metal, the life force I feel... is incomparable to any World Tree I've seen so far.'

Despite its appearance, the life energy it emitted was similar to the World Trees he had seen up to now,

But the amount and purity were on a different level.

Compared to the metallic tree before him, the World Trees he had seen could be considered just ordinary big trees.

As Seong Jihan assessed the power of the tree before him,

[Being from the server, to replace your organs with more efficient ones, you need to register your name in Yggdrasil's registry.]

Noah introduced a new topic.

"...Register my name?"

[Yes.]

As soon as she finished speaking,

Buzz...

A screen emerged from the metallic tree.

On it:

[Would you like to register with 'Yggdrasil'?]

[Name: ]

[Please fill out the Data Backup Agreement.]

Not only was there a space to enter a name,

But also a message prompting him to fill out a data backup agreement.

"I usually avoid signing up for things randomly. Has future society become less concerned about such things?"

"Ha. What are you talking about! Even in this era, if someone tells you to sign up for something, you should look at it with suspicion first. You... After all the trouble we went through to get here, now you're telling us to register our names on that tree?"

As Seong Jihan voiced his doubts, Id became even more agitated, doubting Noah's proposal.

Indeed, some truths never change, no matter the era.

As Seong Jihan showed caution toward Noah's proposal,

[I understand your hesitation.]

Noah replied as if she had anticipated it and continued.

[However, registering your name in Yggdrasil will benefit you as well.]

"Why's that?"

[Once the Transcendent Being is completed, the first ones to be restored will be those listed in Yggdrasil's registry.]

"...What does that mean?"

[Haven't you found it puzzling?]

"...? What?"

In response to Seong Jihan's question, Noah answered.

[When the Transcendent Being fully integrates humanity to become a new creator, there will be groundbreaking changes for the human species... But what good does that do for us?]

"What good does that do for us?"

Seong Jihan blinked upon hearing this.

"You said humanity needs suns for Photonic Transformation, right? Since those are lacking, you're redoing everything. Was that a lie?"

[No, that's true. However, as Id mentioned, we had time before the suns were depleted. Sacrificing the present for the future was a bit premature.]

"W-what...? So I was right? Then why did you create the Transcendent Being? Frankly, those at the top would have more to lose."

Id expressed his doubts upon hearing Noah's words.

Creating the Transcendent Being would require a decision from the higher-ups.

Honestly, the ones who would suffer the most losses from this project would be those who have a lot.

Yet, the human government proceeded with it—what was the reason...?

[Those at the top weren't so noble. They all took out insurance.]

"...That insurance is Yggdrasil?"

[Yes. After perfecting humanity through the Transcendent Being, they arranged to be the first to be resurrected.]

"Forcing all of humanity into the Transcendent Being while finding a way to save themselves. Quite meticulous."

Indeed.

Human leaders have stayed the same, even in the future.

Seong Jihan looked at the screen on the metallic tree with a smirk.

"Did you also register your name here?"

[Yes.]

As soon as Seong Jihan asked,

Buzz...

The screen changed, revealing Noah's name in the registry.

[The 'Yggdrasil Registry' was top secret among top secrets. Except for the highest echelons, no one could write their names here... But I received special permission since I had to work as the Ark's supervisor.]

"And you're letting me write my name in such an important place?"

[Yes. Then, when the Transcendent Being is completed and the great fusion occurs, you can be resurrected immediately. Unlike other normals.]

"W-what about me? Can I write too?"

Just moments ago, Id was saying that you should look at any sign-up with suspicion,

But after hearing Noah's words, his attitude changed 180 degrees.

He was desperate to write his name there.

[You cannot do so yet.]

"Why not!"

[Because you haven't made enough contributions to be registered. Also, there's only one slot allowed for an isolate, and I've already taken it.]

"What? But in that case, what about him...?"

[The being from the server is already considered a 'normal' by our standards. There's a slot available for him.]

"Ah... Right. You said he was hiding his traits... Ha. I'm envious..."

As Id looked at Seong Jihan with envy,

He shrugged.

"Well, I'm not going to do it anyway."

"Huh? Why not...?"

"You should be cautious about putting your name somewhere. Didn't you say that?"

"That's true, but... Isn't this different?"

"Different how?"

From his perspective, it was just as suspicious.

Moreover,

'I'm really bothered by this data backup.'

In this place, data backup likely meant something similar to handing over all his information.

He had no desire to join such a dubious 'insurance' plan.

Besides,

'Even if everything Noah says is true... Even if I'm resurrected from Yggdrasil's registry, I'd be the only one from the server. They wouldn't leave me alone.'

Yggdrasil's registry contained only the highest echelons of the new humanity.

Even if he somehow get resurrected there, they wouldn't tolerate an 'alien' like Seong Jihan.

Having judged that, he refused to sign up.

[Is that so? If you don't wish to, there's nothing I can do.]

Noah didn't try to persuade him further as if she had anticipated this.

"You're backing off easily?"

[You probably have a lot to think about. I understand. However, please keep in mind that if you don't register your name in the registry, conquering Urd will take considerable time, and you'll face numerous challenges.]

"Why is that?"

[Without registering your name in Yggdrasil's registry, it's impossible to replace your internal organs with optimal ones.]

"Well, it can't be helped."

Selling his name just to upgrade my body to the latest model—he'd rather stick with the old one.

[Then I will provide you with standard organs. We'll focus on replacing them with ones that have excellent concealment effects to avoid detection by Urd's avatar in your server.]

"Alright... So, will there be surgery?"

If they were replacing internal organs with those of the new humanity, surely there would be some complex procedures, right?

As Seong Jihan thought about surgery,

"Surgery...? You really are a primitive man."

[We can upgrade your organs without using such outdated methods.]

Thud.

A sphere of light dropped to the ground.

As Seong Jihan looked at it curiously,

Noah continued.

[Grasp the light to evolve your internal organs.]

"...That's all?"

[Yes. Upgrading standard organs is simple.]

Hmm.

They did seem like people from the future.

As Seong Jihan thought while looking at the sphere of light,

The Red Administrator spoke to him.

[Don't just absorb the light as it is, be very cautious. I recommend using your Blue power to absorb the light and monitor any changes selectively. They seem as deceitful as Urd.]

'Of course.'

The higher-ups of the new humanity, who created Ark and initiated the Transcendent Being project forced their own kind into merging while finding a way to save themselves.

How could he trust such people?

Seong Jihan maximized his Blue stat within his body and reached out to the sphere of light.

Then,

Buzz...

[Proceeding to evolve your organs by imbuing them with the attribute of light.]

[Adding basic functions...]

[Please disable the protection function.]

A mechanical voice echoed in his ears as light shimmered from Seong Jihan's body.

Perhaps due to interference from the Blue stat, the evolution process didn't proceed further.

'Should I allow access to one organ?'

What was the most useless organ in the body?

As Seong Jihan pondered for a moment,

[Detected a fragment of the Key of Life.]

[You are a secondary authorized user of 'Yggdrasil'.]

[You can view the basic functions added to the light organs. Would you like to view them?]

The mechanical voice suddenly mentioned the Key of Life.

'The fragment of the key... Wasn't that used to create the game-type Tower?'

It was the last legacy left by Yggdrasil after witnessing the Void Urd.

Recalling the time when he created the Tower,

"Show me."

When he said that,

[The added basic functions are 'Location Tracking', 'Real-Time Monitoring', and 'Criminal Rehabilitation'.]

[Would you like to maintain these functions?]

The mechanical voice listed unexpected functions.