Chapter 115: 21st Floor. God of Jealousy, Zelesi (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: 21st Floor. God of Jealousy, Zelesi (3)
Despair over defeat. And bitterness.
Those emotions were truly horrific.
They were feelings so potent that even the great transcendents and gods could not endure them, eventually fading into nothingness. To face even a fragment of them was to invite collapse. One would break and crumble. Kang Jun-hyeok had accepted the weight of those emotions from three different beings all at once.
It was no different from poison.
A venom potent enough to slay ten thousand high priests and still have plenty to spare.
Yet, despite being injected with such toxicity, Kang Jun-hyeok remained utterly composed.
‘As if this were anything new.’
Despair and bitterness.
These were things he had already experienced.
In truth, Kang Jun-hyeok was no different from those failures.
He had been defeated.
He had failed to save the universe and had fallen miserably.
No. He was even more wretched than them. He hadn't even been able to give his best. He had been so foolish and stupid that he had yielded the power he should have taken for himself to someone else.
If anything, Kang Jun-hyeok was envious of them.
At least you all were able to give your all.
You were able to put everything on the line and fight, suffering a defeat without regrets.
I couldn't even do that. And it was because of my own stupidity, nothing else.
[……?]
Even when faced with that crushing despair, Kang Jun-hyeok’s expression did not flicker. Zelesi was taken aback. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke in a low, steady voice.
“Jealousy... It isn't a wrong emotion.”
He had failed, just like them.
But thanks to the high priest Milarepa, he had gained one more chance. In that sense, Zelesi’s jealousy was certainly justified.
“So, this time...”
I will never again do anything I regret.
I will challenge everything with my full strength and stand tall in the fight.
Even while facing the despair of the losers, Kang Jun-hyeok reaffirmed his resolve. Zelesi was lost for words. She simply stared at him blankly.
* * *
At that moment.
In reality, Kang Jun-hyeok was trapped in a dark space. The Master of All Weapons muttered.
[Mental interference. Is she trying to break his spirit? I don't know what she's showing him, but it won't be easy.]
Zelesi had offered her Authority as bait. It meant she intended to break Kang Jun-hyeok.
[What do you think?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok looked upon the Rooting Tree with his own two eyes and remained unaffected. Why would he be swayed by a mental attack now?]
[I'll give you that. But Zelesi will likely target a different area.]
[A different area?]
[The boy is certainly special. He was fine even after seeing the Rooting Tree. But that was thanks to his confidence in himself and his belief in the future.]
I can win against that thing.
I may be weak now, but I can grow strong enough to break it one day.
It was because he possessed that belief and will that he remained sane. That was the Master of All Weapons' assessment.
[Zelesi will try to break that belief. She'll try to show him that his confidence is meaningless. She'll show him a miserable reality and try to crush his will. Since she knows how to do that better than anyone, it won't be easy for Kang Jun-hyeok.]
[……Nonsense.]
Eldiria dismissed the Master of All Weapons' words. However, her voice carried a faint trace of anxiety. The God of Jealousy was a powerful deity, one who was exceptionally skilled at achieving her ends.
‘Surely he won't break over something like this.’
Did you not say you would achieve revenge for me?
Did you not say you would act as the agent of my will?
That means... surely, you haven't forgotten the promise you made to me?
Just as those anxious emotions began to rise, the space surrounding Kang Jun-hyeok’s body began to shatter. It was a sign that the trial was over. Eldiria’s voice instantly brightened.
[Haha! Look, Master of All Weapons. What did I tell you? Didn't I say this boy was special!]
[It's over already?]
The Master of All Weapons was shocked. Zelesi was trying to break Kang Jun-hyeok’s mind. Since a god was personally interfering, he thought it would take at least a month—years, at most.
But it ended in just a few minutes?
Was the trial easier than expected?
Or...
CRACK!
The space shattered, and Kang Jun-hyeok revealed himself. A shockwave shook the surroundings. After catching his breath for a moment, he opened his eyes. There wasn't a single flicker of hesitation in his gaze.
[Proficiency in Mental Immunity has increased from D to C.]
[Proficiency in Mental Immunity has increased from C to B.]
[Proficiency in Mental Immunity has increased significantly.]
Eldiria spoke in a gentle voice.
[You've returned. I knew you could do it.]
[What happened in there?]
“Just a moment, I'll tell you later.”
Kang Jun-hyeok looked toward the Altar. The energy of the Altar was wavering as if agitated.
“Your jealousy and rage... I understand them. In a way, they could be seen as right. But I will not give up.”
He would undo the wrong choices and reclaim the universe. His unwavering will was directed at Zelesi. After a long silence, Zelesi finally spoke.
[I hate you.]
It was jealousy.
A bottomless, abyssal jealousy.
[I hate you. I hate you. I hate you so much...]
The voice slowly faded away. Zelesi’s presence vanished, and the Quest ended.
[Trial Cleared.]
[21st Floor Quest Cleared.]
[Rewards will be determined based on your performance.]
[Calculating achievement rate...]
[Calculation complete.]
[Achievement Rate: 100%]
[Perfect Clear. Congratulations! Additional rewards will be granted.]
[The effect of the Title: Perfect Player has been added.]
[2,679 Gold has been granted.]
[You have obtained the Perfect Clear reward: Necklace - Thorn of Zelesi.]
[You have obtained the Perfect Clear reward: Active Skill - Heaven-Defying Spear of Jealousy.]
[Players who have Perfect Cleared the 21st Floor: 1.]
[You are the only one!]
[Universe Announcement.]
[Please offer your congratulations! Everyone in the universe! A Perfect Player of the 21st Floor has appeared. This is a feat that no one has ever achieved before!]
[Feat +3]
Kang Jun-hyeok returned to Earth.
* * *
Back on Earth, Kang Jun-hyeok slowly sat down in a chair. Eldiria, unable to contain her curiosity, asked.
[What kind of trial did Zelesi give you?]
“It was nothing much.”
Kang Jun-hyeok explained the contents of the trial. Upon hearing the explanation, the Master of All Weapons and Eldiria were stunned.
[She showed you our failures?]
[……Zelesi, that crazy bitch!]
Eldiria exploded in rage. Even though she was beyond the dimensions, the space momentarily trembled.
“There were no detailed memories. She just thrust the emotions that Alessandro, the Master of All Weapons, Eldiria, and the God of Jealousy herself felt in the past into me.”
[How dare she defile someone else's memories with her filthy feet. I want to kill her, but I can't even do that since she's stuck in the Tower. It's beyond irritating.]
Eldiria clicked her tongue with murderous intent. After a brief silence, the Master of All Weapons spoke slowly.
[So you're saying that even after experiencing our emotions, you resolved it in just a few minutes.]
[……Ah.]
Realizing the significance of that a moment later, Eldiria paused. Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.
“I suppose so.”
[Good grief. Where on earth did a thing like you come from?]
“It wasn't exactly easy.”
Defeat and despair.
They were emotions he hadn't felt in a long time. The memories of regret and failure had resurfaced vividly.
It didn't feel great.
But because of that, he was able to steel his resolve once more.
He would win.
He would move toward the right answer without regret. He clenched his fist.
[Passive Skill: Mental Immunity]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: B
• Effect: Near-absolute immunity to mental attacks and damage. Interference techniques such as illusions and brainwashing also do not work.
The proficiency of his Mental Immunity skill had reached B.
It was the first skill to reach B-rank in this life. It was only natural, considering he had directly experienced the emotions of transcendents. It would have been strange if it hadn't reached A.
While immunity to mental attacks was something he already possessed inherently, making the skill somewhat redundant, he was now also able to exclude techniques like illusions and brainwashing.
[Necklace: Thorn of Zelesi]
• Part: Necklace
• Rank: Mid-Rank
• Stats:
• Strength +3 ~ 5
• Speed +3 ~ 5
• Defense +5 ~ 8
• Equipment Ability: The higher the opponent's abilities are compared to yours, the more the necklace's stats increase.
• Description: An artifact created with Zelesi's feelings of jealousy. It harbors jealousy toward all things in the world. If a weak person possesses it, they will be consumed by the emotion of jealousy and become a wreck.
The stats increased the more the opponent outranked him. Considering he wouldn't have much trouble against an equal opponent anyway, it was effectively a necklace that provided 5 Strength, 5 Speed, and 8 Defense. These were very high values.
[Active Skill: Heaven-Defying Spear of Jealousy]
• Rank: Authority
• Proficiency: F
• Cooldown: 3 days
• Effect: Throws a spear imbued with the Authority of Jealousy. It possesses powerful physical force and shakes the emotions of the opponent it strikes. The higher the opponent's rank and power compared to yours, the more the spear's power increases.
“Just like the God of Jealousy.”
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a small chuckle. Both the artifact and the Authority were effective against those stronger than him. It was exactly the kind of effect he needed most right now.
The effect of the Perfect Player title was Feat +2. It was an excellent effect, though it didn't mean much to the current Kang Jun-hyeok.
Lying down on his bed, Kang Jun-hyeok reflected on the memories the God of Jealousy had shown him.
Alessandro.
The renowned free knight.
The one who had mocked him and offered him a false opportunity was none other than the Administrator of Earth.
This was information even Kang Jun-hyeok hadn't known.
‘He really does have a nasty personality.’
The Administrator of Earth was full of whims and irritability. He enjoyed teasing people and had little patience.
‘……Come to think of it.’
The Administrator's whims.
There was a time when they had created a massive event.
A capricious event that drew in every Player on Earth.
It was almost time for that. He would have to prepare.
“Ah. Right. I still have this.”
Kang Jun-hyeok muttered as if he had suddenly remembered something.
“Status Window.”
[Kang Jun-hyeok]
• Level: 29
• Health: 990
• Strength: 70
• Speed: 64
• Internal Energy: 21
• Mana: 16
• Feat: 104
• Attack Power: + ? + 4
• Defense: + 61
His Health was just shy of reaching a thousand. His Strength and Speed had surpassed 50, and his Internal Energy and Mana were not low either.
‘And I'm still only on the 21st Floor.’
They were stats that made him smile just by looking at them.
And among them, there was one stat with the highest value.
It was the Feat stat.
It was so difficult to obtain that some Players never earned a single point in it. Because of that, it was equally difficult to increase. The average value for it was usually a quarter of the other stats.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok had Perfect Cleared every floor.
As a result, his Feat stat had reached a value even higher than his other stats.
And the Feat stat was special among all stats. It was earned by achieving great deeds while climbing the Tower, and it rose whenever one produced significant results.
Because of that, unlike other stats, there were special rewards once it reached a certain value.
Shhhhk.
System windows began to appear one after another in front of Kang Jun-hyeok. He began to check them with a joyful smile.