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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Essence of the Earth Mother
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Athens.
The cultural heart of Greece, a place where the myths of Olympus still breathed.
'It's no wonder they call it a city that lives off tourism.'
Looking around the airport, you could see a mix of all races.
Most of the crowd were tourists who had come to see Athens.
But not everyone had come to Athens just for sightseeing.
Some, adorned with owl-shaped statues or necklaces, were muttering something.
"I pray, I pray. O Athena, goddess of victory."
A middle-aged woman clutched an owl statue, offering a prayer in a desperate voice.
Athena is the patron deity of Athens, the capital of Greece, and the goddess of victory and war.
Tsk—I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
'Praying to those damn gods is useless.'
After the Tower of Babel appeared, it was revealed that the gods, once thought to be mere mythological beings, actually existed.
The Aesir, the Olympians, the Vedic deities.
It was confirmed that various other gods and demons also resided in the upper floors of the Tower.
The world was turned upside down.
Local folk beliefs, once considered of mere literary value, were revived, and the faith of the religious became tangible.
'It's not like those bastards will give you a crumb for believing in them.'
A cynical smile cooled my lips.
The gods do not watch over humanity.
They only extend a hand to humans they deem 'worthy.'
'Those bastards prevented humanity from uniting.'
The ones who caught the gods' eyes.
The so-called Chosen Ones, when the Earth began to be eroded by the Tower, chose to join the world of the gods instead of fighting the Old Gods.
The world of the gods was a paradise reserved only for them.
Barely 10,000 people escaped the dying Earth.
A number that didn't even amount to 0.1% of the seven billion population.
'If only they had stood firm… we wouldn't have been so utterly defeated.'
Grind.
My teeth ground together, making a chilling sound.
Two of the Players who had attained the rank of Monarch betrayed humanity.
All for their own damn safety!
Hoo—I let out a short breath, calming myself.
'It won't happen that way this time.'
Having cooled my anger, I moved toward my destination.
The most famous ruin in Athens is the Parthenon.
A grand temple honoring the patron goddess, Athena.
However, my destination wasn't the Parthenon.
At my current level, I couldn't absorb more than one god-grade essence.
If that's the case, it's best to predate the essence of the highest-grade god, right?
That's why I chose the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Though only sixteen columns remained, as it had collapsed in an earthquake.
Compared to the Parthenon, which had maintained its form even into the 21st century, it felt empty.
'Well, the essence should still be here.'
I walked leisurely through the grass-covered ruins of the Temple of Zeus.
Sniff, sniff.
A scent different from the Primal Seed stimulated my nose.
A place that had once been the focus of countless people's faith.
As a space dedicated to Zeus, its lingering scent permeated the ruins.
I bent down and touched the ground.
Digging through a bit of the grassy soil revealed a marble floor.
I could feel a faint energy.
It was an essence imbued with the 'dignity' of a god.
I immediately activated Predation.
An immense power surged up through my palm.
Indeed.
Even throughout my experiences before regressing, I could count on one hand the number of essences with such a powerful class.
The title 'King of Gods' was no empty boast, it seemed.
[You predate the essence of the Earth Mother, Gaia.]
[Essence Grade: Myth]
Wait, what did you just say?
I was so shocked I almost pulled my hand away from the ground.
The earth goddess, Gaia.
The mother of many divine pantheons, including the Olympians.
A being who is the divinity of the earth, or symbolizes the earth itself.
'Right. She's literally a symbol.'
Even the ancient Greeks who worshipped the Olympians didn't worship Gaia.
Gaia is less a divine being and more a 'concept'—the earth.
I mean... you don't offer thanks every time you walk on the ground, do you?
'I'd hardly heard anything about Gaia in the Tower of Babel, either.'
I never imagined I would absorb Gaia's essence in a temple dedicated to Zeus.
An unexpected variable.
A smile spread across my lips.
'This is even better.'
Gaia's class is categorized as the highest tier.
Even Zeus was of a lower class compared to the Earth Mother who birthed countless gods.
A higher mystery, a greater hierarchy.
An unexpected stroke of fortune had found me.
Swaaaaaa!
An immense energy surged through my palm.
The moment I faced the Earth Mother's essence, it felt like a massive tidal wave was about to swallow me whole.
This... is dangerous.
'If I'm not careful, this energy will devour me.'
Gaia's essence.
It didn't bear me any ill will; rather, it simply possessed the concept of 'earth.'
The earth, which embraces all things.
True to its nature, Gaia's essence was trying to absorb even my sense of self into the earth.
'If I don't stay focused, I'll be devoured by this essence!'
I bit my lip hard.
The coppery taste of blood in my mouth sharpened my senses.
As if I'd let myself be consumed by the mere lingering scent of a god.
I tenaciously tore at the essence rising through the point of contact with [Predation].
At times, my mind would grow peaceful, wanting to let everything go.
But I steeled my mind with memories from before my regression and didn't stop Predation.
How much time had passed since I began to swallow Gaia's essence?
In my hazy consciousness, where even the sense of time was lost, I saw a light.
[The Blessing of the Earth Mother permeates you.]
[Your Mana Control has greatly increased.]
[Mana has increased by 50.]
[Divine Power has been generated.]
Divine Power...?!
I was so shocked I nearly screamed.
I covered my mouth and observed the inside of my body.
'Divine Power really has taken root.'
Divine Power.
Literally, a power permitted only to gods.
It is the fuel for performing all sorts of miracles, and an essential power for using 'Authorities' derived from a god's origin.
'Though this amount is hardly significant.'
The Divine Power settled at the crown of my head.
Gauging its size, it was no bigger than a grain of millet.
Furthermore, Divine Power cannot be used at will.
You must achieve a feat worthy of being recorded in 'myth' to manifest it.
Before my regression, maybe, but in this life, I haven't lived a life dynamic enough to write a 'myth.'
However, that doesn't mean Divine Power is completely useless.
With my knowledge from before regression, I knew one way to use it.
'Use Divine Power to increase mana sensitivity.'
Mana sensitivity.
The time it takes for a Player to 'perceive' mana.
Mana is consumed in various ways, such as using skills, equipment, or strengthening the body.
For example, to use a skill like [Power Strike], the user must accurately perceive their 'mana.'
It's a concept similar to physical reaction speed.
Mana Perception → Will Manifestation → Skill Activation.
This is the mechanism by which Players utilize mana.
'Wasn't the average Player's mana sensitivity around 0.9 seconds?'
I slowly closed my eyes.
I enhanced my mental power with the Divine Power at the crown of my head.
Mana sensitivity is closely related to the mind.
Since the Divine Power was located at the crown of my head, it was possible to strengthen the power of my soul.
With anticipation, I stimulated the mana within my body.
The mana residing in my body stirred in response to my will.
'About... 0.1 seconds.'
I clenched my fist tightly.
Wow.
That's several times faster than an ordinary Player.
Before, it took me years to achieve that number!
'I can save a lot of time.'
Mana reaction speed enhanced by Gaia's Divine Power!
Mana sensitivity isn't a huge help on the lower floors of the Tower.
But the foundation I'm building now will create a huge difference the higher I climb the Tower.
It's an investment for the future.
'It will also be helpful when learning martial arts in the Tower of Babel.'
Unlike mana, internal energy is much trickier to obtain and control.
If I obtain a secret manual while climbing the Tower, I'll be able to establish my internal energy much faster than before.
'But what ability does Gaia's essence grant?'
I opened my status window to check the new blessing.
[Blessing of the Earth Mother]
Grade: EX
Type: Passive
Blessing Rank: 1
The blessing of Gaia, the origin of countless Old Gods, including the Olympians.
Increases the efficiency of earth-related skills and essences. While both feet are on the ground, Stamina and Health recovery speed are increased by 50%.
"That's insane."
I let out a gasp of admiration.
A constant increase in stamina and health recovery just by having both feet on the ground.
On top of that, it unconditionally increases the efficiency of any earth-related essences.
For a Rank 1 blessing to have such an effect was incredible.
'As expected of the Earth Mother, she's on a different level.'
Blessings are divided into three ranks.
Rank 1 is, of course, the lowest level.
To strengthen a blessing, one must achieve a great deed that would please the corresponding god.
Although in my case, it was more like I stole it with [Predation].
Even the essence of Zeus, which I had originally planned to absorb, wouldn't have granted a blessing this powerful.
'I'll get a lot of use out of this blessing in the tutorial stage.'
I revised the plan in my head.
With the Blessing of the Earth Mother, I could afford to be a bit more aggressive.
The 0th floor of the Tower of Babel opens in a fortnight.
I'm already looking forward to that day.
The moment I lifted my hand from the temple floor.
Rumble!
"An-an earthquake!"
"The gods must be angry!"
As a penalty for Predation, the temple ruins began to collapse.
People scattered, moving away from the temple.
I blended into the crowd and disappeared.
* * *
I returned to Korea immediately.
My steps were light, having obtained something even better than I had planned.
'Staying any longer would just cost more money, right?'
The salary I saved up in the military.
I'd spent most of my prepaid tuition on this trip.
My balance wasn't zero, but a strange sense of crisis sent a chill down my spine.
'I have to think of it as an investment.'
I shook my head with a bitter smile.
It's money I can earn back quickly just by climbing the Tower of Babel.
Let's just consider it a surer investment than putting money into stocks or crypto.
Even after returning to Korea, there was no time to rest.
'The tutorial starts on the 1st of every month. I still have time.'
Six days remaining.
I traveled around the country, visiting places famous for their myths, legends, and folktales.
It would be easier to buy an artifact imbued with [Divinity].
But I didn't have much money left in my bank account.
As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.
What can you do? I had to do the legwork myself.
"Found it."
I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow.
The past few days of hard work had paid off.
A house-sized boulder located on the slopes of Mount Jiri.
A sweet fragrance stimulated my nose, as if honey were hidden inside the black rock.
The 'essence' I had been so desperately searching for.
'I was lucky.'
I placed my hand on the rock and used [Predation].
[You predate the essence of the Child General, Uturi.]
[Essence Grade: Ancient]
[Essence Predated: 100%]
[Skill - Monstrous Strength has been added.]
[Monstrous Strength]
Grade: ★★★
Type: Active
Strikes with a force equal to the user's Strength stat + 300%.
Increases to weapon attack power are not included in the skill's coefficient.
The Child General, Uturi.
A 'Child General' legend passed down throughout the Korean peninsula.
A 3-star skill.
Worth the trouble of climbing Mount Jiri, wasn't it?
I clenched my fist tightly.
* *
Finally, the morning of the first day of November dawned.
The day of reckoning!
I was in a far better state than before my regression, so I wasn't worried about something like the tutorial.
Entry to the tutorial began at 10 a.m., so I left a little early and headed for Jamsil.
The Tower of Babel in Korea was located about three kilometers south of Jamsil Bridge.
The area around the Tower of Babel was packed with people.
"A barrier shield approved by the Player Association, only three million won!"
"An essential item for the tutorial! A dagger with built-in cooking and heating skills, available for five million won!"
"Cheap, cheap! You'll regret it in the tutorial if you pass this up!"
Merchants hawking their wares, determined to fleece the wallets of beginners.
"Big brother, you have to come back from the Tower of Babel alive!"
"Go, Kim Namjoon, 45th class of Pungnam Middle School!"
There were also families and friends who had come to see off the Players entering the Tower.
An atmosphere that didn't have a single gram of solemnity.
It was truly a festival-like atmosphere.
Before the synchronization between the Tower and the world exceeded 50%, there was no penalty for dying during a mission.
With no burden or fear of death.
At this stage, receiving an invitation to the Tower of Babel was considered the same as winning the lottery.
A chance to strike it rich.
Everyone must be lost in their sweet dreams.
"Isn't that Park Junseok, the Platinum-grade Player from the Flower Knights Guild?"
"There aren't even fifty Platinum-grades in the whole country."
Platinum, huh.
You'd be at that grade when you entered the 51st to 60th floors.
[Unranked: 1st - 10th Floor]
[Iron: 11th - 20th Floor]
[Bronze: 21st - 30th Floor]
...
A Player's grade changes every ten floors.
At intervals like the 10th, 20th, and 30th floors, you have to fight a promotion battle.
Since the Tower of Babel appeared on Earth ten years ago, being Platinum-grade meant you were an incredibly skilled person.
But that name doesn't ring a bell.
Meaning he didn't accomplish much in the distant future.
The ones I remember were all powerhouses.
No, to be precise, it was an environment where you couldn't survive unless you were a 'powerhouse.'
If you couldn't fend off the invasion of the Old Gods, you were destined to die a meaningless death.
'The only one I can trust is myself.'
I pulled my attention away from the crowd and organized my thoughts.
The Tower of Babel's tutorial.
I went over the opportunities and essences that could only be obtained here, steeling my resolve.
[The Gates of the Tower of Babel are opening.]
[Those who have received an invitation to the Tower, please enter through the gates.]
Rumble!
The marble gates swung open with a tremendous noise.
An impenetrable darkness lay beyond.
The sight, like an abyss, stimulated a person's fundamental fear.
The crowd froze.
I walked past them and was the first to step through the gates.