Chapter 396: The Three Impossible-Rank Missions, Godless Demon Footage
After dealing with the [Multi-Task Watch] and discovering its new abilities, the first thing Stark tried was to remove it.
Unfortunately though...
[This device is used to send your location to all others in case of danger, please do not remove it.]
"Hm."
Regardless, he still tried.
ZAP!
-10,000!
"Holy shit?!"
[Don't. Remove. It.]
"..."
If he wanted to do that, he would have to cut off his right arm.
And he didn't feel like it doing that for now, especially with everything that was bound to happen.
So in the end, Stark decided to enjoy the privilege of this thing.
He left his [VIP Room], and the exact moment he did... he saw a familiar figure.
"Oh, if it's not the Stark, the man, the legend!"
"..."
Remember that guy back then that tried to recruit Stark to the association?
Well, that was him.
His name was Juan, and unlike last time, he wasn't accompanied by the members of his little group.
Though right now, Stark didn't need to worry, as he was much stronger than Juan.
"We meet again," Stark sighed, his expression neutral, "Why do you wanna talk to me?"
"Nothing much," Juan's grin widened, "It was nice to see you." Explore more at empire
Other than that, Juan walked away, putting his watch on the scanner, one of the vip rooms opening, meaning that he was probably an important person.
"Oh, and by the way," Juan stopped before entering, "People call you the [Chosen One] as an actual nickname now, enjoy!"
With that, Juan entered his room and the door closed automatically behind him.
"Chosen One..." Stark mumbled, "Doesn't sound too bad," he smiled.
While walking in the corridors, lost as he didn't really know where he was going as the place was too big, he saw dozens of other domination users.
They all stopped what they were doing, looking at him with cautious eyes.
The identity of Stark was known by the entire world at this point, many guilds probably trying their hardest to reach out to him.
He was regarded as one of the strongest there were in this world, especially with all the cinematic stuff that happened in the trial, as well as everything he was able to tank.
But even then... Stark didn't feel that good.
He didn't know why, but the constant feeling of dread that he always had intensified.
People both admired and were scared of him.
Someone that can wield a soul heart, magic, has fists that can deal more than 2,000,000 damage per punch, and had the ability to revive, was someone that shouldn't be interacted with.
Eventually, while wandering around the place, he received a notification on his watch.
[Ed: Looks like you're awake, please come to the commander's meeting room from before, we're hosting one right now regarding future missions.]
[Stark: Where is it.]
[Ed: Huh? I mean, just ask the watch, it will guide you, it has many functionalities not specifically said, you know?]
Stark looked at the thing around his wrist.
"Guide me to the commander's meeting room."
Ding!
[You have the authority level to do that, guiding.]
A holographic arrow appeared before his eyes, strangely resembling the one that he got back when he was trying to find [Sierra's Death Path], you know, the one he got from Arthur.
Stark followed the holographic arrow, watching as it hovered in the air before him.
It guided him through the sprawling corridors of the Domination Association's headquarters.
The place was massive, with halls that seemed to stretch endlessly, punctuated by towering doors and reinforced walls.
Other users glanced at him as he passed, their expressions wary. Murmurs followed in his wake.
"That's him…"
"Be careful. He's insane!"
Stark ignored them.
Eventually, the arrow led him to a grand double door, embossed with intricate patterns resembling the flow of magic and energy.
The doors opened automatically as he approached, revealing a large, oval table surrounded by the high-ranking commanders.
Among them were familiar faces: Ed, seated near the center with his usual grin; Oliver, arms crossed, radiating calm authority; Unity, Alexis and Tia.
Stark stepped in, scanning the room before walking to the far end of the table.
"Sit down, we put a chair for you," Ed smiled.
"..."
Stark didn't like that, but he would rather sit than stand.
He pulled out the chair, the sound cutting through the tense atmosphere, and sat down.
The room fell silent, all eyes on him.
Stark leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "What's up?"
Oliver was the one to speak for, his expression just as grim as everyone else's.
"Boy," he called out to Stark.
"..." Stark didn't answer, instead, he looked down at his own palm, his crimson aura dancing around it.
"Remember those tasks that I said were 'impossible', meaning that most people, even us, didn't want to take?"
"Not really."
"Well..." Oliver sighed, snapping his fingers, and suddenly, Stark's [Multi-Task Watch] lit up.
Ding!
[You have received three Impossible-Rank missions!]
"Deal with them."
"..."
Stark almost wanted to summon [Heaven's Spear] to deal with them all, but he stopped himself.
The audacity was insane.
Ed leaned forward, his grin softening into something more serious.
"We call them [Impossible-Rank Missions] because no one is willing to take them, everyone who tried never returned."
Oliver gestured, and a holographic map appeared over the table, displaying three distinct markers spread across Rheria.
Each pulsed ominously, radiating a deep crimson hue.
Stark's bored expression didn't change. "Still not interested."
He had apostles to take care of, and he wanted to do it before that timer reached zero, as he feared it could be linked to the godless demon's descent.
If a single apostle remained by then, they would possibly control an army big enough to wipe out the entirety of humanity.
Why was Stark the only one to deal with them? That is the question many may wonder if they looked back at everything.
Well...
"There's an apostle at each of these locations," Oliver revealed out of nowhere.
And the moment he did that, Stark's eyes widened.
"Do you people know how dangerous the apostles are?" he asked, his expression darkening.
"Yeah."
All of them nodded, and Stark's rage grew a little more.
"You people know they can wipe out countries, right?"
"..."
No one answered except for Oliver.
"We don't care, kid, they're linked to us and this world, so we need them out," the leader of the Domination Association stared at Stark in the eyes, his gaze unwavering, "We want you to deal with them."
"If you want them out so much, then about... I don't know... killing them yourself?"
"We can't."
"How so?" Stark's smile widened, raising his eyebrows.
If each of these people were supposedly stronger than he was, then what was stopping them?
Oliver with his domination expansion could probably deal with all five remaining apostles, or at least the first three of the fifth line.
"We can't," Ed repeated the same words, snapping his fingers.
A holographic screen appeared in the middle of the table, everyone able to see it.
And then...
Bzzzt...
The video began playing.
It showed a mysterious portal.
Dark, swirling energy pulling at the very air around it. Oliver and the commanders were there, standing before it, preparing to enter.
But just as Oliver stepped forward...
[Conditions not met. Access denied.]
[Bring the Chosen One.]
Stark's smirk faded slightly.
The screen glitched faintly as the message repeated, locking them out.
It was clear: no matter how strong or skilled they were, the portal refused their entry.
"I don't get it," Stark said flatly. "If something's blocking you, then why the hell did you say nobody comes back alive?"
"Just watch," Oliver said quietly.
The video continued.
As the commanders hesitated whether to return back or not, the ground beneath them began to shift.
A low rumble echoed through the surroundings, and the skies above turned an unnatural crimson.
Then, without warning...
Drip… drip…
Blood. It began to rain blood.
"What the hell…?" Stark whispered as even the Oliver on-screen tensed, his face betraying a rare glimpse of shock.
Then it hit, the overwhelming aura.
Even through the screen, Stark felt it: an oppressive, suffocating energy that sent chills through his core. It was familiar. Too familiar.
'Godless Demon…' Stark's eyes widened.
On the video, the air cracked and warped.
Slowly, a massive figure emerged, a silhouette that dwarfed everything in sight, its size rivaling even the [Angel of the Spear].
The creature's form was shrouded in shadow, its aura blotting out the very light.
The commanders froze, terror written across their faces. Even Oliver stood still, unable to react to the sheer power radiating before him.
"Another bunch of boring fools," the Godless Demon's voice rumbled through the screen, deep and guttural, as though reality itself trembled from its words. "Goodbye."
The figure raised its colossal arm, its massive hand casting a shadow that seemed to engulf everything.
Just as the hand began to descend, Ed on-screen suddenly sprang into action.
He activated a small device on his wrist, a teleportation gadget, just in time.
The video ended abruptly as the commanders vanished, narrowly escaping annihilation.
Silence settled over the room.
Oliver's expression turned grim. "Now you understand. Everyone who went before us likely met the same fate. After encountering that… we gave these missions the [Impossible] rating. No one should go there anymore."
Stark exhaled through his nose, his gaze unreadable. "Why me, then?" He smiled faintly, though he already knew the answer.
Ed leaned back in his chair, shrugging nonchalantly. "Well, because your ID literally says Chosen One, duh."