Pick Me Up!

The golden flames erased the wheat fields, engulfed the horizon, and set the sky ablaze.

At the center of the flames stood Phryos, his cape fluttering. With each sweep of the fire, new locations were drawn amidst the disappearing scenery.

‘This place…’

A land barely a span wide.

Could it really be a place prepared for Pria?

“The throne of the empire… has been empty for countless eons.”

The wheat field vanished, and in its place, a vast plaza emerged.

The outdoor plaza, adorned with marble, was lined with rows of marble columns. At the far end of the columns stood a grand throne forged of gold and silver.

“At last, the time has come to fill the empty seat.”

“What do you think, o Pactmakers?”

Behind the prince, four figures in robes stood upright. The man on the far right removed his hood, revealing long, flowing black hair. A jet-black crown rested atop his head. The fierce-looking young man smirked.

「Is that even a question? If not that arrogant bastard, who else could be worthy?」

A name tag floated above the youth.

[Dragon Overlord]

[Halkion Syraos Lv.999]

The woman next to him lowered her hood.

[Wave King]

[Deltari Assinis Lv.999]

With cascading white hair and a pristine crown, the woman stared at me with a cold expression.

「You’re late. We’ve been waiting for a long time.」

The girl beside her removed her hood next.

[Blue Wing King]

[Shutenberg Elschtadt Lv.999]

「…….」

Her sapphire-blue eyes, though empty, gave the clear impression that they were focused on me.

Lastly, the boy on the left lowered his hood.

[Red Tail King]

[Rantia Nyaor Lv.999]

In total, there were four of them. They stared at me with piercing gazes, as if seeing through to the very core of my being.

“If so…”

The prince surveyed the plaza. A grin, tinged with elation, spread across his face.

“What do my brothers think? Can we truly entrust everything to this man?”

I narrowed my eyes.

The expansive marble plaza shimmered as golden particles coalesced. Shadows began to rise between the columns, each one bearing its own title above its head.

[Blind Saintess]

[Liane Lv.99]

[Divine Water Dragon]

[Krthaat Lv.99]

[Beast King]

[Kiadni Viksavi Lv.99]

[Head of Shutenberg]

[Perseine Liddell von Strabern Lv.99]

[Seeker of Arcane Magic]

[Kurushah Lv.99]

[Grand Commander of the Holy Knights of the Order]

[Dosmek Karda Lv.99]

[Heir of Assinis]

[Delfin von…….]

The shimmering light filled the vast plaza with crowds, sometimes converging and sometimes dispersing. Hundreds of pairs of eyes turned toward me.

These people…

‘Heroes of the past.’

They were monsters I had encountered, crossed swords with, and ultimately defeated during my ascent of the tower.

From the heads of the four great families to leaders of various races, from famed warriors of renown to archmages who had reached the pinnacle of their discipline.

“Why not the prince? How should we entrust Townia to this… clueless upstart?”

The blue-haired female mage glared at me.

Perseine Liddell von Strabern.

Head of the Shutenberg family and a mage I had once fought.

“Kahaha! What can we do now? What’s done is done!”

The Beast King, Kiadni, let out a hearty laugh, his bold gaze fixed on me.

“I knew you’d get here, mighty warrior!”

I let out a dry chuckle.

There was nothing else to do but laugh. The very creatures whose necks I had personally wrung were now standing before me, offering their strength.

“If it’s for Townia, it’s only right to accept.”

A girl in a white robe stepped forward. Her closed eyes softened into a gentle curve.

The leader of the Tel-Ikar Order, the saintess.

“If you truly have the potential… I will not hesitate.”

“Kakaka! Foolish human! Just like you destroyed my masterpiece, destroy everything else as well!”

A hunched lizardman waved his staff.

That one… He was the arcane mage who had controlled the giant golem, wasn’t he?

I shifted my gaze.

The golden flames spread beyond the plaza, endlessly filling the illusion of a vast field. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers, massive monsters, ancient races from myths, and legendary creatures I could never have imagined—all of Townia’s beings had been brought to life.

“Brothers.”

Phryos spoke from the throne. Silence descended across the entire field.

“This man seeks to embark on a journey. A journey that we walked, but could not finish. In the past, I promised you freedom. Yet, to my shame, I lacked the strength to bear that burden. This man, who shares my golden lineage, is the one who has glimpsed the end of destiny. Furthermore, he has endured countless trials—”

“Sorry to interrupt.”

“Hmm?”

I raised my hand.

“Wrap it up quickly. I’m short on time.”

“…….”

“You talk too much.”

The prince widened his eyes in surprise, then burst into laughter.

“Ahaha! Aha, ahaha! My apologies! I wanted to strike a pose one last time.”

“As long as you get it.”

“In that case, let’s begin right away.”

Phryos rose from the throne. Before everyone present, he pointed at me.

「This man, Israthio al Ragnar, will revive Townia!」

“……”

「Liberate the souls of our brothers!」

The saintess, Liane, bowed her head to me. Her body turned into a beam of light and shot toward me.

Boom!

I stumbled back a step. It felt like being struck in the solar plexus by a massive log.

‘This… hurts.’

Though I’d undergone numerous fusions before, this pain was incomparable. Unlike previous times, their data wasn’t being processed through any intermediary but was instead being injected directly into me.

「Endure it!」

I planted Bifrost firmly into the ground. Simultaneously, the countless heroes scattered throughout the plaza dissolved into light.

I gripped the hilt tightly.

A colossal wave of light surged into my body.

‘All of them… Level 99.’

Not just one or two.

At least thousands, by a conservative estimate.

An overwhelming flood of information began to burn my brain.

‘…….’

My vision turned white. Beyond the faint haze, fragments of their pasts appeared. They were so jumbled that I couldn’t distinguish one from another. Like a vortex. Like muddy water. Like twisted chaos.

‘So this is why they break down.’

Crack.

I clenched my teeth so hard they felt like they’d shatter. If I let go of my grip on reason, even for a moment, my very self would cease to exist.

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★★★)’ has leveled up!]

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★★★)’ has leveled up!]

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★★★)’ has leveled up!]

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★★★)’ has leveled…]

To the side of my blurred vision, countless level-up messages appeared. My level before entering this place had been 99, so this was a breakthrough.

‘But this still isn’t…’

Enough.

It’s nowhere near enough.

To face them. To rip off their heads, crush their guts, and tear their corpses apart, I’ll need much more power.

Boom!

I slammed Bifrost into the ground. Cracks spread outward from the embedded blade.

[Warning!]

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★★★)’ has reached the level cap!]

[Error Code 0413 – Further growth is impossible.]

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!