Second Life Ranker

The light swallowed the glass bottle and slowly took the form of a person. 

「A Homunculus.」 Rebecca muttered to herself. The artificial human body was extremely tempting to her.

‘I’ll make you one in the future, so don’t worry.’

「Thanks.」 Rebecca smiled wryly at how easily Yeon-woo had read her mind. She nodded. Since she wasn’t even a soul, she couldn’t help being obsessed with real things. She was already used to being a spirit, but she still wanted a physical body.

Yeon-woo put Rebecca’s envy aside and focused on the light in front of him. It scattered and left Brahm behind, who looked the same as ever. No one would ever think he’d changed, but Yeon-woo knew that no blood flowed through that cold body.

[The resurrection of a once-great being has been completed. You have successfully created a new body.]

[The godly soul has started to take on an evil inclination.]

[You have gained the Demonic Factors.]

[You have gained the Demonic Factors.]

[Congratulations! You found a new way to control death. The range of your power has broadened.]

[You have made an achievement that is not easily accomplished. Additional karma will be provided.]

[You have acquired 5,000 karma.]

[You have acquired 3,000 additional karma.]

[Finish the contract with the godly soul (Homunculus). Additional rewards will be provided.]

[The resurrected godly soul (Homunculus) has sworn allegiance to you. From now, he will be bound to the Despair of the Black King to become your sword and shield.]

[You have made an achievement that is not easily accomplished. Additional karma will be provided.]

…..

[The gods and demons watching from the 98th floor express shock.]

[Multiple gods are discussing this.]

[A few gods have expressed dissatisfaction. It is a bad atmosphere.]

[A few gods are uncomfortable. Some gods suggest more discussions about you.]

[The godly society <Deva> shows the most reaction.]

[The godly society <Olympus> has a neutral stance.]

[The godly society <Asgard> doesn’t have any opinion.]

…..

[Hermes is looking at you with calm eyes.]

[Athena is cheering you on.]

[Poseidon is deep in thought. He begins to form a negative opinion about you since you dirtied the honor of a god.]

[<Asgard> contemplates offering you an Apostle position.]

[Hephaestus also wonders whether to offer you an Apostle position.]

[Dionysus…]

…..

[A few demonic societies are having deep conversations about you.]

[A few demons are happy.]

[The demonic society <L’Infernal> shows no interest.]

…..

Even though his level wasn’t as high as before, Brahm’s power was still significant. He had once been a higher being, and despite being injured by Agares, he still hadn’t completely lost the gods who’d followed him in the past.

However, after he died dishonorably and even bound himself to a player who wasn’t even a ranker, the gods and demons were thrown into chaos. Thankfully, Olympus didn’t seem to be responding negatively. Was it the influence of Hermes and Athena?

The only thing that had changed was that Poseidon, who used to be interested in him, had now turned his back on him. However, the younger generation of Olympus, including Ares, Hephaestus, and Dionysus, was interested in him. 

The happiest of all were the demons. Only L’Infernal remained quiet. They were usually known for their permissiveness, so they should have been pleased, but they were probably upset that Agares had returned with injuries.

Yeon-woo could feel his own level had increased as well. Brahm’s soul was so large that it was acknowledged as one of Yeon-woo’s accomplishments. He clenched his fists. He could feel that his subconscious had expanded, and the pressure of his soul had grown more intense at the same time. 

Mental skills like Time Difference and his power would probably become more efficient. [Will you name the resurrected godly soul (Homunculus)?]

“Brahm.”

[The name ‘Brahm’ has been chosen for the resurrected godly soul (Homunculus).]

[Loyalty has increased by 30 points.]

[Control has increased by 20 points.]

[Brahm (Homunculus)’s soul cannot handle its level with its current body. The stats are being adjusted.]

[The overall stats have decreased by 21 points.]

[The overall stats have decreased by 17 points.]

…..

[Brahm (Homunculus)’s stat readjustment has been completed. However, the level of the soul is the same, and the potential has not changed. The original level can be earned once more. Quick growth is advised.]

After the barrage of messages ended, Brahm slowly opened his eyes afer he realized that the contract was over. 

“Brahm!” Sesha jumped on Brahm. Brahm held out his arms to lift his granddaughter in the air. He stroked Sesha’s head for some time. He wasn’t used to his new body yet, but he was still grateful that he could hug his granddaughter.  

“Brahm, you’re cold. And stiff.” Sesha turned her face away and complained. They were traits that came with being a Homunculus, but Sesha’s words made Brahm anxious since he hadn’t anticipated this. 

Yeon-woo just laughed at the sight. Sesha had Brahm twisted around her finger.

***

After that, Yeon-woo and Brahm spoke for a long time, mostly about Jeong-woo. Yeon-woo was happy to find someone who could talk about his brother’s time in the Tower, and Brahm was happy to reminisce.

However, the person who enjoyed the conversation most was Sesha. She listened with wide eyes, asking questions occasionally. She’d never met or seen her father, but she was happy to have one. However, sometimes her questions were met with silence.

“But why didn’t Dad stay with Mom?” She meant Ananta.

Yeon-woo laughed bitterly. If his brother had chosen Ananta instead of Vieira Dune, or if they had even met earlier, wouldn’t  everything be different? But then, Sesha wouldn’t have been born. Yeon-woo just hugged her in response. What should he say? The fact that he didn’t have the words because he was bad at expressing himself made him feel a bit sad.

***

“How’s your body?” Yeon-woo asked Brahm when Sesha was already asleep. However, he continued carrying her. He’d never had the chance to hold her properly before, and he wanted to do it now.

“It’s not comfortable. But I’ll get used to it. It was like this when I first made a physical body too.”

Yeon-woo nodded in understanding. Inside the temporary Homunculus body, Brahm wasn’t even as strong as a ranker. He probably felt imprisoned.

“However, it’s a relief that this body can be adjusted at any time. I’m planning on getting my body back slowly. And after that…” Brahm didn’t say more, but Yeon-woo understood his meaning. He was going to look for his holiness. Yeon-woo would have to work hard as well for it. Even though Brahm had lost his power, his knowledge was intact, and his Homunculus would probably grow fast. 

“Now.” Brahm narrowed his eyes. “Explain what you meant about Sesha and Ananta.”

Yeon-woo had said that they would find a way to save the two, and so Brahm had thrown away his pride as a god and bound himself to Yeon-woo.

“Before that, take a look at this first.”

Brahm’s eyes widened. Rune letters had appeared on Yeon-woo’s hand and set up simulations of two magic circles. Brahm knew the first one well. It was a transmutation circle made by combining a demon-summoning circle and a sealing circle. The other one was a little different, and when Brahm realized what it was, his eyes trembled. “You…is this…?”

“Do you recognize it?”

“Well, there’s no way I wouldn’t!”

Yeon-woo had pulled out the formula of the Philosopher’s Stone which he’d created from his painstaking research. Brahm clenched his fists. The Philosopher’s Stone was like an all-in-one item that functioned like a Dragon Heart. Every alchemist dreamed of making it, including Brahm.

Brahm had been confident that he was the alchemist closest to achieving this goal in the Tower since the power he had as a god was creation, and he still possessed the trait. However, the object that Yeon-woo had pulled out surpassed his knowledge. Was it possible that a knowledge greater than a god’s existed?

“Vieira Dune pulled out the important parts after finding it, so I don’t know the specifics.”

Sparks flashed in Brahm’s eyes. Vieira Dune. It was a name that he could chew and spit out. “And?”

“While I was taking revenge for Jeong-woo, I came across this accidentally. I’m trying to interpret it now, but if we combine it with the Book of Mercury, what would happen?” Brahm understood what Yeon-woo was saying. “The Philosopher’s Stone could be completed. And if that formula was used to make a transmutation circle…” Brahm trembled. He would have a chance to catch a demon and heal Sesha. She would even be able to grow and develop. Yeon-woo also wouldn’t have to struggle on his own and he could receive Brahm’s help.

‘I can just use the Devil Core from Agares.’ Yeon-woo slowly organized his thoughts as he spoke. “We won’t have to risk summoning a demon from the ninety-eighth floor. If we use Agares’ vestige, we’ll be able to make a low-level demon easily.

Brahm nodded. Although the Guardians had used the system call to restore the stage, not everything would be erased. He was fairly certain that the twenty-third floor was now a land of demons that players wouldn’t be able to enter easily. Brahm looked at Yeon-woo with expectant eyes, as if encouraging him to go on. “And after that?”

“I’m planning on going to the Kelat Auction.”

“Auction?”

Brahm’s expression turned strange. The Kelat Auction was a large market that drew a crowd that ranged from players who’d dropped out to high rankers. Players put up items they couldn’t use anymore for people to bid on.

Because Yeon-woo had hoarded the hidden pieces and received Henova’s help, he hadn’t really needed to go to the auction. The scale of the market was huge, and countless people went there everyday. However, he was planning on using the place to exact revenge. It seemed a random choice at first, but Brahm quickly understood what Yeon-woo was trying to do. “You’re planning on putting the Philosopher’s Stone up for auction.”

Yeon-woo calmly nodded. “Yes. Of course, I’ll remove the important formulas, but I’m also planning on adding a few other artifacts to it.”

“People will go crazy.” Brahm laughed in disbelief. The entire Tower would be turned inside out.

“And Red Dragon’s reaction will be pretty big, as well.”

“Mm? Why them? They’re not too concerned with the things that happen below the seventy-eighth floor.”

“The Summer Queen’s Dragon Heart is currently dried up, and so she is desperately looking for the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Brahm was stunned.

“If the Summer Queen makes a move, so will Red Dragon. And the other clans will have no choice but to find out what they’re after. Everyone will be in a frenzy to look for the real formula of the Philosopher’s Stone.”

“And then, you’re going to set up the Walpurgisnacht and draw attention to them?” Brahm laughed coldly. Ananta was probably still somewhere fighting the Walpurgisnacht. If people like Red Dragon focused on them, they would be swept away. There was no way an ant nest would stay intact after a herd of elephants stomped by. 

There would be total pandemonium, and things would be as great as the war between the Cheonghwado and Red Dragon. 

“Yes. And then,” Yeon-woo’s eyes flashed coldly. “We can begin our witch hunt.”