Chapter 984: Three Gifts (2/2)
Upon seeing him, Krune raised his hand, speaking with a light tone, ”Yo!”
Gehen let out a wry smile, descending down the stairs below the throne, walking towards Krune as he said, ”I believe this is the first time we are meeting in person.”
”Indeed.” Krune nodded, sensing the suffocating pressure from Gehen as he thought, 'He's strong!'
A glance was enough for him to know that Gehen was close to achieving the status as a Supreme Monster. It was a stark contrast to Krune, who had barely entered the realm recently. If they fought right now, Krune would probably lose within a couple of rounds. And, this was in the case he used his Ocean Heart to the limit.
So, it was apparent how strong Gehen was. He was very well the strongest human in Layer 3 now.
”I apologize for scheming against you back then. You and the Seamstress were too much of a threat to my plans back then,” Gehen expressed his apologies.
Krune waved his hands as he replied, ”It's fine, actually. We don't even resent you for that. Rather, it gave us plenty of time to obtain everything we needed from here.”
”Are you planning to head to Layer 2 now?” Gehen asked.
”Yep.” Krune nodded. ”We'll just wait until a Checkpoint Turtle appears nearby.”
”If that's the case, I have a deal to propose,” Gehen said, glancing at Krune's expression to see that the other party was interested before continuing. ”I am in communication with a city in Layer 2. It works somewhat like an oracle of sorts. But in actuality, we just chat using our tablets. I'll be able to send you to a city of your choice where you'll be treated as a hero that has been sent to rescue them.”
”Is that the setting up there?” Krune frowned, feeling that it would be a pain to be treated as a hero.
”Yes.” Gehen nodded as he explained, ”The seven kings before you too were also sent as heroes. Those without an active ability won't get this privilege. They would simply be dropped in random dangerous zones. If you don't intend to go as a hero, you would also be dropped in a random dangerous zone.”
”Wait, you mentioned about cities…” Krune frowned as he thought about it. ”Very few people should have gone up from here. So, how are cities even formed?”
”People have been transported to Layer 3, same as here. Though, the only difference is that they had been transported around a couple thousand years ago,” Gehen explained. ”So, they have formed their own culture there.”
”Are there are perks in being a hero?” Krune asked.
”There are no immediate perks, to be frank with you,” Gehen replied. ”But, you'll have better sources for resources. And, let me be brutally honest with you…”
He said with a solemn tone, ”Those that went up without becoming heroes have died, all of them. Layer 2 is even more dangerous and resource-scarce compared to Layer 3.”
”Is that why you decided to stay behind?” Krune asked.
”Not really. My plan was to remain here from the start. That's why I entered this Sub-Realm in the first place,” Gehen answered. ”I had to endure too much pressure from my family. Well, you can simply say that I turned tail from my responsibilities.”
”Well, being an Emperor should be plenty annoying.” Krune laughed.
”Indeed.” Gehen laughed alone. ”Nevertheless, I chose this life. Plus, I do like the feeling that I'm shaping a path for humanity here. I'm getting addicted to this sense of purpose.”
”Alright.” Krune shrugged. ”I'll pick being a hero. I'm also quite curious of what I will experience as one anyway.”
He then beckoned for Gehen to follow him, ”Since I'll be leaving this place, I thought of giving you some gifts as fellow active ability users.”
”Gifts? But why, though?” Gehen was surprised. The fact that Krune didn't bear a grudge against him itself was a gift to him. But on top of that, Krune said that he was even giving him a gift. If he said he wasn't curious about it, he would be lying.
Arriving at the boat, Krune detached the compartment at the back, dragging it back to the throne room as he opened it, showing the four Motor Fishes and four Tongue Fishes within as he explained, ”These are my gifts to you. I upgraded the Motor Fishes beyond their natural limits. Now, when they reach adulthood, they would attain the Mutant status.”
”Mutant status upon reaching adulthood?” Gehen inhaled a sharp breath of air.
Seeing his reaction, Krune smirked, intending to rile him up even further. ”Also, if you keep them alive for long enough, there's a good chance they would become Kings.”
”Kings?” Gehen exclaimed as his breathing grew ragged.
”Last but not least, even though it needs numerous conditions to be met, if you grow enough of them, one of them might reach the status of an Emperor, their natural limit,” Krune said, watching Gehen pinch himself to see that he wasn't dreaming.
Laughing, he showed the Tongue Fish as he continued, ”They are more or less similar to the Motor Fish. But they can attack using their tongue. A Mutant's tongue reaches 50 meters in length, a King's reaches 75 meters in length, and an Emperor's reaches 100 meters in length. Moreover, this species is also as tamed as a Motor Fish.”
After that, he threw a small box to Gehen, watching him catch it and open it to see a couple of seeds within. Krune then explained, ”Rope Bush King seeds. These Rope Bushes have strong stems and threads that can be used for everything. They are what the Monster Geckos use in their fishing rods.”
”How…do you know about them?” Gehen asked in surprise.
”Well...” Krune laughed awkwardly as he replied, ”I was the reason they spilled out of their Primary Landmass in the first place. Anyways, these seeds would create a Rope Bush strong enough to be used in a Monster Gecko King's fishing rod. Since I was the reason they have become dangerous, I hope you would use these three gifts of mine to protect humanity.”