SSS-Class Revival Hunter-Chapter 174: My Son Is Too Strong (1)

Uburka, the chairman of Terras, guffawed. “How does our proposal sound, my compatriots? Isn’t my solution perfect?”

No one answered.

“It’s so perfect that everyone has been rendered speechless. Ugor, I see! People’s perspectives are inherently narrow, so when they are immersed in work, they can’t think of even simple solutions. Be grateful! We, Terras, have come to offer you a refreshing solution!”

It was so refreshing that if the solution were food, it would be so raw that it would give people a stomachache. The multi-species allied forces and the Shellmounts both looked like they were chewing on plastic waste.

Dumbstruck, the Skian commander of the allied forces pointed his finger at Uburka. “What the hell is wrong with you fungi?”

“It’s okay. I understand your pettiness, I really do.” Uburka solemnly nodded. “Hmm. Even if the solution is perfect, it’s hard to accept it right away. Somehow, you will still feel defeated. Everyone hates losing, or more accurately, the feeling of losing. Poor you.”

“Ummm...”

“So, we will crush you first!”

Uburka stretched out his left arm. A Terra warrior came up and offered him a spear.

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Uburka slowly took a stance with his eyes closed. When he opened them, his left arm muscles bulged, and a ray of light was released. He wrapped the spear in his bloody red aura and then threw it—no, launched would be more accurate.

Boooooom!

Uburka’s posture was as graceful as that of an Olympic athlete. In contrast, the impact of his spear was barbaric and destructive.

The spear landed in the allied forces’ camp with a loud explosion. A gale of dust and the soldiers’ screams followed. Though no one was seriously injured, they panicked and trampled on each other.

Uburka picked up another spear. This time, he threw it at Slimepolis.

Boooooom!

The spear pierced into the thick castle wall like a sharp nail, leaving a red trace in its wake.

The Skian commander, who had pointed his finger at Uburka, stiffened. The Shellmount soldiers were also taken aback.

Uburka bared his fangs after silencing both armies with just two attacks. “I am the strongest chairman in the six-hundred-year history of the Fire Water Council. The world has granted me a gift in martial arts. My official record is two hundred sixty wins out of two hundred sixty-one fights, and I’ve never been brought to my knees since I became an adult. Warriors who live in the same era as me, you all better wail because I will fuck up your life!”

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

“As you can see, the Terra warriors are already fucked up to a significant level!” Uburka declared, crossing his arms. “When the next full moon rises, representatives of the allied forces and the Shellmounts shall gather in this place to hold a conference. We, Terras, will guarantee your safety. You should take this as a threat, not a proposal! If you don’t come together, I’ll throw another spear.”

The threat didn’t leave any room for a different interpretation.

“If I have no choice but to do that, no one will know where my spear will point. I won’t, you won’t, not even Kekerukker will know! It may pierce one of your commanders’ heads. Shellmounts, it may knock down your gate. Oh, my compatriots, please don’t make me go full savage mode. I’m also afraid of my own power.”

Uburka picked up the ax. “Ugor, I’ll accept your challenges until the next full moon rises. Feel free to come at me until you can vent out all your anger. If you want, you can mobilize your troops to attack. That is, if you are willing to risk losing a bunch of troops!”

[The other six species are afraid of a single warrior.]

[The leader of the species you guide has become the pinnacle of power!]

[You have accomplished something truly remarkable!]

[You have received 900 species points.]

[You now have 900 species points.]

My son was absolutely amazing.

***

We walked around the allied forces’ camp to gather information and discovered both useful and useless bits of trivia. Everyone described the Terras as world-class wackos, and they looked that way in my eyes too.

According to the soldiers’ chatters, the Terras usually lived quietly, but they always suddenly showed up whenever a worldly crisis occurred. As a matter of fact, one hundred years after the era of exodus, it was always the Terras who faced the Shellmounts whenever the Slime Empire launched a large-scale war of conquest on the other species.

What? Their stories sound like bedtime legends. What kind of species is this?

They were my children.

The Viper glanced at the Terra leader with his one eye. “I think that guy would be able to match us too...”

The duels were still ongoing in the field. Instead of engaging in the fights directly, Uburka watched leisurely with his arms crossed and his aura enveloping him. That alone made his presence known.

“Uhhhh, he won’t just match us. He can crush us if we don’t go all out,” I said. “You heard the guy. He’s said to be the strongest warrior in the history of Terras and was born with a phenomenal gift for martial arts. His potential is probably higher than ours.”

“Come on. We’re guardian gods to them! It’ll be embarrassing if our own kids kick our asses!”

“Isn’t that okay, though? It’s not like we became their guardians because we’re stronger than them.”

“You just don’t care because he’s from your species!”

Maybe Uburka can help me later.

I changed the subject. “Anyway, there has to be a reason this time period was chosen for this stage. A quest window didn’t pop up this time, so we have to figure out what the stage-clear conditions are without any help. I think one of the species, excluding the Shellmounts, is at risk of extinction.”

The Black Witch nodded. “Yeah, I think so too. One species, or perhaps several, have to be in danger of extinction. Just like the last stage was about the six species escaping slavery or perishing under the Shellmounts’ reign.”

The Paladin stroked her chin. “I see. At least one species will be eliminated per stage.”

“Yup, and the Hunters who rule those species will also be eliminated.”

“That makes sense. So which species is closest to destruction now?”

The Countess folded her fan. “It probably won’t be the Shellmounts. The snails were eliminated on the thirty-second floor.”

“I guess Terras are also off the list. Look at their spirit—”

“No, hold it, Paladin,” the Countess interrupted.

The Paladin tilted her head. “Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“I’d say it’s quite the opposite. I’m guessing the Terras are the ones on the brink of extinction,” the Countess speculated.

We all blinked.

“Terras? With those muscles?”

“No way.”

The Countess tapped her palm with the tip of her fan. “Now, hear me out. The Terras can get the two sides to negotiate as they wish. Not only is their army strong, but both the allied forces and the Shellmounts are concerned about each other, making it difficult to attack the Terras. But what happens after negotiations are done?”

Her eyes, sharp like a cat’s, narrowed. “Until now, the multi-species alliance has remained united to take down the Shellmounts. Unity is possible only when there is a common enemy. However, after the forced peace negotiation, the common enemy is bound to change. Think about it. Who could that be?”

“They will start seeing the Terras as enemies instead of the Shellmounts,” I said with a frown. “The Terras are too strong. The leaders of the other species cannot help but watch out for them. Either they'll disband the allied forces and acknowledge the hegemony of Terra, or they’ll keep the alliance and engage in a power struggle with the Terras.”

The Countess grinned. “Now we’re talking. That’s what I think, at least. And unless the allied forces are extremely stupid, it’s unlikely they will disband their union. It’s more likely that a secret pact will be made, something along the lines of ‘The king of Terra is too strong now, so let’s just wait until he dies.’”

“Hmm.”

“Umm...”

My fellow Hunters were lost in thought.

“Right now, the Terras are strong, but there is no guarantee that they’ll continue to be strong for the upcoming generations. Their leader already proclaimed that there has been no Terra stronger than him in history. Hegemony is easier gained than maintained.”

I also knew that at least one species would be eliminated because I had my strategy guide all planned out thanks to my regression. The Countess listened to my hint and pointed out that Terra could be in danger.

Now, this is a colleague.

True colleagues complemented each other’s ideas. Feeling happy, I continued our discussion.

“What do you think I should do, MA Master?”

The Countess flashed me a cat-like smile. “It’s simple, Death King. Use magic to maintain the hegemony. You can tell the Terras aren’t exactly experienced politicians just by looking at them. Although they are brutes when it comes to raw power, they’re heading in one direction. Force that has a direction planned out is power, not violence. Others want to obtain this power.”

“What do you mean?”

“Haha. Remember how the other guild leaders and I treated you?” the Countess asked, tapping me on the shoulder with the tip of her fan. “You were an unprecedented super rookie. We could have been afraid of you and ostracized you, but what happened instead?”

I held my chin up. “You guys used me. To be more precise, you bought my reputation. In return for my cooperation, I demanded equal treatment with you.”

“Yes, it was a win-win for both of us. Clearly, the Terras are powerful. If other species see that the Terras’ power can be beneficial to them, then the Terras won’t fall. Do you see what you have to do now?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

I taught the Terras how to endure the world last time. Now it was time to show kindness to the world.

***

[You have purchased Dream Appearance.]

[You have used 100 species points!]

[You now have 800 species points.]

That night, I entered the dream of Uburka, the chairman of Terras, to tell him that if the peace negotiations were carried out in this manner, the Terras would be in danger. Although everyone now recognized how powerful they were, he and the other Terras would face a serious crisis in the future.

“Ugor.”

In his dream, Uburka was sitting in the middle of a mud pond. His lotus position was perfect, like a monk who spent a fair share of his time at the temple.

Oh my god. Is he meditating?

It was Floating Duckweed Crossing Water[1], No, should I call it Floating Duckweed Sitting Water instead? Uburka was using his aura exquisitely so he wouldn’t sink into the pond.

Teacher would have loved him if she met him...

When I approached, Uburka asked, “Who is it?”

He had his eyes closed. He detected my presence purely using his senses and aura like a Peak-Tier martial artist.

“My muscles are twitching. I don’t sense any hostility from you, but I also sense an unusual energy.”

“You sense hostility with your muscles?” I asked.

“Ugor. It’s said that the mind and body are one. When someone is angry, their facial muscles twitch first. Muscles express emotions. What reason is there for my muscles not to sense hostility?”

What was with this dude? Not only was he gifted in martial arts, but he also had the knack of sugarcoating bullshit.

“Uburka. Child, listen to me. I am Kekerukker, the one you regard as a scummy friend.”

Only then did Uburka open his eyes to give me a piercing stare with his bright red eyes. “Oh, you’re Kekerukker?”

“That’s right, Chairman of Terra. I’m the one who helped your species escape from the primordial forest, and also lent you a hand when you wanted to get out of Slimepolis.”

Uburka laughed. “Interesting! Ugor, ugor. According to a story passed down for generations, Gorke, the first apostle, met Kekerukker in his dream and got beaten up every time they met. Puren who claims to be Kekerukker, have you come here to beat me up?”

“No... Child, I don’t think you can be beaten. And, honestly, I don’t know whether I’ll win in a fight against you.”

Uburka frowned. “Tsk, tsk, look at you, backing down already. Then what is it? If you didn’t come here to duel, what did you come here for?”

“I came to warn you that your species may be in danger.”

I told him the Countess’ speculation. It was plausible, and I agreed with it, so I explained it quite smoothly.

Uburka looked at me with amusement at first, but as I continued, his expression became serious.

“Are you saying that we’re so strong that we may perish instead?” he asked.

“It won’t lead to complete destruction, but there is a possibility of your species declining. No matter how strong you and the other Terras are, you cannot handle all the six species on your own.”

“Uhm. I see...”

“So, my advice is to not blindly force the other species for a peace negotiation, Uburka. You have to give them some justification and let them gain something from this. I think—”

Uburka raised his left hand. “Wait. You can stop there.”

“Huh?”

“I understand that you didn’t come here with hostility, judging from how quiet my biceps and chest muscles are. If there had been even the slightest lie in what you said, my muscles would have twitched.”

The era of the ego sword passed and gave way to the era of ego muscles? What kind of horror was this?

“But whether I’ll listen to your advice is another matter. We, Terras, don’t take advice from those who are weaker than us.”

“What?”

“You can meddle in another person’s business only if you are stronger than them.”

Uburka slowly stood up from his lotus position. As expected, his aura utilization was almost perfect. When he stood up, he left ripples in the mud pond, nothing more.

“Bring it on!” Uburka beckoned at me with his left index finger. “If you beat me, I’ll listen to your advice!”

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t react right away. Uburka stepped on the surface of the pond.

“If you don’t come at me, then I will!”

“H-hold on! I’m your guardian god. Your eternal friend, you know. I’m like a father to you guys, so are you really going to attack me?” I asked in a rush.

“If you’re really Kekerukker, that means you’re the guy who beat up Gorke, who was no different from your own child. A father is bound to get back what he did to his children. Even if I beat you up, Kekerukker, you can’t say anything about it!”

What the hell? He had a point.

The great muscular goblin swung his fist, spitting out the most unfilial line of all time.

“Brace yourself, ‘Papa!’”

1. He’s talking about the martial arts technique where one can cross water just by using the duckweed floating on it. ☜