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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 329
When Jeong-hoon's vision brightened again, a vast expanse of space stretched out before him.
‘…Where is this?’
He glanced around.
Suddenly, his body was pulled somewhere, and his vision faded to black before brightening once more.
This time, he was no longer in space. Instead, he stood in the open lot in front of his apartment complex.
The apartment was still intact, unaffected by any penalties.
It was at that moment—
Kwaaang!
With a deafening roar, the apartment collapsed in an instant, a massive sandstorm sweeping through Jeong-hoon.
‘…….’
He silently watched the scene unfold.
Explosions continued to erupt in succession, followed by meteors raining down from the sky.
A textbook example of penalty symptoms.
‘Why are they showing this to me, the owner?’
Beside him, Mukho watched with a bewildered expression.
“In simple terms, it’s a way of telling you to accept the offer. Unless you want to die.”
The entity was persistent.
It urged him—abandon your humanity and become a Transcendent.
“Correct.”
Clap, clap, clap.
Hearing the sound of applause from behind, Jeong-hoon turned his head.
There stood Escanon, watching him with a satisfied smile.
“Do you always ignore what others say?”
“Haha, of course. Why should I bother listening to a mortal?”
Jeong-hoon's lips twisted into a smirk.
If it were up to him, he’d end that smug face right now. But he lacked the strength—for now.
‘Master, why not just become a Transcendent?’
At that moment, Anima, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke.
Jeong-hoon's eyebrow twitched.
‘What kind of bullshit is that?’
Sensing his hostility, Anima broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly added,
‘W-Well… You can’t fight him in your current state, can you?’
‘So?’
‘I mean… for now, why not bide your time? Become a Transcendent, grow stronger, and then kill Escanon when the time is right…?’
‘Pointless.’
Jeong-hoon’s goal wasn’t as simple as killing Escanon.
He had to end this damned game completely and restore peace.
Even if he pathetically accepted Escanon’s offer to survive, it wouldn’t bring peace to Earth.
Escanon was only interested in keeping him alive—nothing more.
He had no intention of saving Earth itself.
“…Hey. Then let me ask you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s say I accept your offer. Does that mean I can stop this destruction?”
"It would be troublesome for one destined to become a god to take interest in mere creations. They are not like you. You must follow the natural order."
As expected.
"Then get lost. I will never accept your offer."
"What a pity. Why are you so desperate to die?"
"I'll be coming for you soon. Be ready."
"Haha, very well. Then, let’s do this."
Escanon snapped his fingers.
Jeong-hoon's vision darkened before brightening again, revealing the image of his mother before him.
His face hardened.
"…What do you think you're doing?"
"I will save your family as well. Of course, they will be placed at the lowest rank."
"……."
"Oh, it's not a bad offer. I intend to place you right beneath me. Even if they are at the bottom, you should be able to protect them."
From Escanon’s perspective, this was an extraordinary proposal.
He was offering a sovereign-class position.
'Master…….'
Jeong-hoon remained silent.
Interpreting his silence as hesitation, Siron smiled and added,
"Think it over and give me your answer when we meet again. If you wish, I can save a few more besides just your family."
* * *
When his vision darkened and brightened once more, he was standing atop the table in the Alliance Hall.
But none of the leaders were present.
The table and chairs had aged and deteriorated over time.
Only one portal exit remained.
[Secret Episode: "The Hero Who Became a God" has been fully completed.]
[The episode’s grade was ‘EX.’]
[The secret episode has been registered in the collection.]
[It forms a synergy with the Monster Collection.]
[Synergy Level 4 has been applied.]
[All stats +20%, damage +20%, all skill damage +20%.]
[Episode completion increased by 9%.]
It was done.
Episode completion: 99%.
Though the collection wasn't fully at 100%, completing the secret episode had raised synergy to Level 4.
[Since the episode has reached 99% completion, further deterioration will not occur.]
And with that, he had fulfilled the conditions set by the enemy, extinguishing the immediate crisis.
'Master, I'm sorry.'
At Anima’s apology, Jeong-hoon turned his head.
Anima's face was filled with remorse.
"As long as you understand."
'…Thank you.'
"Let's go back."
Jeong-hoon stepped out through the exit.
[Current Damage Level: 36%]
The current damage level of Earth was 36%.
That was a full 5% increase from when Jeong-hoon had entered the Alliance Hall.
‘Is it because things were pushed forward before everyone could grow stronger…? The rate of increase is abnormally fast.’
He had managed to put out the immediate fire, but that was all.
The situation was still far from good.
To stop the damage level from rising so sharply, the abnormal dungeons had to be closed. But with them spawning all over the world like weeds, how could Jeong-hoon possibly handle it all alone?
Even if James Marcus’ party, who had broken through Darvis, took action, the overall situation wouldn’t change much.
Jeong-hoon pulled out the standard-issue smartphone he had purchased with points and tried contacting his mother.
Since he had already registered it with magic, the connection was established without difficulty.
[Hun-ah!]
His mother’s voice came through the phone.
“Yes, Mother. Where are you right now?”
[Ah, I was clearing a dungeon, but I’m taking a short break.]
“A dungeon?”
[Yes. I’m gathering Celestial Energy.]
“Ah, I see.”
He had given Yeo Min-Ji information about the source of Celestial Energy and a potion bag.
[We’re all together right now. Did something happen?]
“No, I was just curious, so I called.”
[Alright. Don’t worry too much.]
“Yes. Take care.”
With that, the call ended.
‘From here on, I should probably move alone.’
Episode Completion: 99%.
That meant the first destruction was about to begin.
* * *
Los Angeles, USA.
“What should we do? There’s no way we can close all of these.”
“At this rate, we’ll just have to stand by and watch the damage level rise….”
The James Marcus Party, having returned to Earth from Darvis, made Los Angeles their first destination.
The reason they chose LA was simple—since they had traveled to Darvis from LA, their return point was also LA.
However, they couldn’t leave because they had already found 16 abnormal dungeons in the city alone.
And every single one of them boasted a difficulty so monstrous that they couldn’t even consider clearing them.
“…….”
James Marcus stared at a portal, his face grim.
[Lv.1,200 Giant Subterranean Cavern – Would you like to enter?]
Normally, abnormal dungeons did not display level indicators.
Some had high levels, but more often than not, the level was unreadable due to the sheer disparity in power.
However, now that the damage level had exceeded 30%, the newly renewed dungeons revealed their levels—no matter how high they were.
The problem was that all of them had absurdly high levels, making even the thought of clearing them impossible.
“Level 1,200… If we go in without any strategy, we’re 100% dead.”
They had leveled up while completing quests in Darvis, but their growth hadn’t been overwhelming.
At best, they had managed to close a few abnormal dungeons below level 800, but at their current level, clearing a level 1,200 dungeon was out of the question.
[Destruction is imminent.]
At that moment, a message appeared before everyone, including James Marcus.
“Destruction…?”
“What are they trying to do now?”
Everyone who checked the message frowned deeply.
They were already forced to endure additional penalties since they couldn’t close all the abnormal dungeons—and now, on top of that, destruction was coming?
“Are they trying to completely wipe out Earth…?”
James Marcus muttered in disbelief.
“Will that East Asian step in?”
Dark Mage Sophia carefully brought up the East Asian man.
HoneyTube’s No.1.
The one who had single-handedly defeated the Colossus Ursus and uploaded a video of slaying the Ultimate Knight.
If anyone could stop this destruction, it would be him.
“He’ll step in.”
There was no doubt—he would act to stop the destruction.
* * *
‘This is it.’
The place where the first destruction would begin.
A massive portal appearing across all regions of the world.
Stepping through it would lead to the first destruction—and to the mysterious power that had caused his regression.
‘It might not just be a power that sends people back in time.’
At the time, the mysterious power had taken the form of red mana, settling deep within his dantian.
It was extremely similar to mana—even the way it was used was identical.
However, he had collapsed while attempting to wield it, as he was on the brink of death. That was when he regressed.
‘And Siron seemed unaware of this power.’
If Siron had known about it, he would have mentioned it to Jeong-hoon.
But he never brought it up, not even once.
That meant the mysterious power was likely arranged by someone other than Siron.
‘Master, if it seems impossible, you can regress again.’
‘Yeah, you can just come back and find us again.’
No, that wasn’t an option.
“Even if I go back and wipe everything out again, the result will be the same.”
Even with regression, it would be impossible to gain enough power to stand against Siron.
That bastard would definitely interfere.
Instead of regressing, he had to find a way to use the arrangement differently.
Bzzz—
Just then, a call came from his mother.
Jeong-hoon pulled out his smartphone and answered.
“Yes.”
[Hun-ah, are you really okay on your own?]
He had already informed everyone, including his mother, through a prior message.
He told them not to panic upon receiving the destruction message and assured them that he would personally prevent it.
So, they should focus on gathering celestial energy without worry.
“Of course.”
[…Alright. If anything happens, you can contact us here immediately, right?]
Despite everything he had shown so far, his mother still seemed worried about him.
Jeong-hoon smiled.
“Yes. I will.”
[Alright. I’ll trust you.]
With that, the call ended.
Jeong-hoon approached the portal.
[First Destruction: Fate—Would you like to enter?]
First Destruction.
Jeong-hoon accepted the entry prompt and stepped inside the dungeon.
He already knew what being lurked within.
So, he would eliminate it quickly and obtain the mysterious power.
“It’s been a while.”
However, inside the dungeon, it was not an Apostle-class Transcendent waiting for him.
“…Baal.”
The lord who ruled over the 96th Demon Realm.
It was Baal.
“Hm? Why do you look so surprised?”
Baal tilted his head.
“Why are you here?”
“Why else? My liege ordered me to welcome you.”
“Siron did?”
Jeong-hoon frowned.
‘Didn’t he demand an answer?’
That bastard had tried to recruit him countless times.
And now he sent Baal instead?
‘…Does he plan to eliminate Baal and put me in his place?’
That would make sense.
“He probably intends to get rid of me.”
Baal had come to the same conclusion.
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
There wasn’t a trace of displeasure on Baal’s face—his expression was utterly calm.
It was as if he had already accepted everything.
“My liege’s commands are absolute. Personal feelings have no place.”
His voice was as dry as kindling wood.
“A loyal dog, I see.”
Jeong-hoon gripped Leviathan in his hand.
He didn’t exactly dislike the guy.
Even if their cooperation stemmed from bets, Baal had helped him when it mattered.
But if Baal stood in his way of obtaining the mysterious power, that was a different story.
“Heh. Before that, how about one last bet?”
“You want to bet again?”
Jeong-hoon scoffed in disbelief.
This guy really was obsessed with gambling.
“It’s an offer that won’t be bad for you either.”
“…Fine. Let’s hear it.”
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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