Chapter 152: The Final Test (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 152: The Final Test (6)
Countless players challenged him to duels, only to be systematically defeated.
As time ticked away, the end of the test drew near.
Before returning to Earth, the players gathered to discuss their future plans. Some attempted to approach Kang Jun-hyeok, but he turned them all away.
"I have business to attend to."
Over the past three days, there was one player who hadn't sought him out even once.
Kang Jun-hyeok began to walk. He entered a building located on the outskirts of the Amusement Park. There, he found the high monk, Milarepa.
The monk sat in quiet meditation, eyes closed. Kang Jun-hyeok approached him slowly and spoke.
"Have you reached the state of Nirvana?"
"If one is burdened by worldly desires, the ferry will never leave the shore. I am barely keeping afloat a vessel that threatens to sink under the weight of my own anguish."
That was Milarepa’s reply.
Opening his eyes, he slowly looked up at Kang Jun-hyeok.
"I will reach the state of Nirvana one day. That is a phrase I often use with my acquaintances. Yet, you have asked me that very question. Is it... a mere coincidence?"
"Since mere coincidence does not exist in this world, it must be an Auspicious Encounter."
Milarepa’s eyes widened at Kang Jun-hyeok’s answer.
An Auspicious Encounter.
It was a concept rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, signifying that because simple coincidences do not exist, miracles and fate overlap to bring about inevitable events. It was also a phrase Milarepa used frequently.
Milarepa let out a low groan.
"I do not know you. We have never met. Yet, you clearly know me. And that relationship... it could not have been short or shallow."
Many emotions flickered in Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes as he looked at the monk.
"Joy, longing, guilt... and resolve."
Muttering softly, Milarepa peered into Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes. Their gazes met, searching each other's inner selves. Milarepa looked deep into the core of the man before him.
In that moment, Milarepa flinched and recoiled. His eyes trembled with shock.
"...What on earth have you experienced?"
The emotions contained in Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes were profound. It was like staring into an abyss. Just facing a fragment of it caused the monk's state of selfless meditation to waver.
"It is not from here. It is not something from such a small domain. Where... just what did you..."
"Many things happened."
"Amitabha. Amitabha."
Milarepa pressed his palms together in prayer.
He could not fathom what could have possibly occurred. The idea that someone who had witnessed the end of the world had returned to the past was beyond his imagination. However, Milarepa simply accepted the weight of it.
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke again.
"The 'you' of now wouldn't know, but I came to express my gratitude."
To offer his thanks. That was the sole reason he had sought out Milarepa. Though the Milarepa of his past life and the Milarepa of now were separate individuals, he still wanted to convey those words.
Milarepa asked with a calm expression, "What do you desire at the end of all this?"
"To set right what is wrong."
"How can you judge what is wrong and what is right?"
"The path I walk is the answer. Everything else is wrong."
"Amitabha."
Milarepa closed his eyes.
"You are walking a path of penance. What karma are you burdened with? I suppose I can neither understand nor bear your weight. Therefore, with this unworthy body, I shall pray that your wishes come true."
"That is enough."
Kang Jun-hyeok turned around. As he was about to leave, Milarepa stopped him.
"I have one question."
"What is it?"
"Did the 'me' you met reach the state of Nirvana?"
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a short, dry chuckle.
"No. Unfortunately, he did not. He was full of worldly desires and longings until the very end."
"That is quite unfortunate."
Milarepa laughed heartily.
* * *
[The Final Test has ended.]
[Final Test Grade Evaluation.]
[Players Defeated: 99.]
[Incredible! You are the only player in the entire universe to defeat every other participant single-handedly.]
[Universe Announcement.]
[Please offer your congratulations! A player has appeared who defeated all 99 other players alone during the test. This is a unique and unparalleled feat. We hope you all follow his example and continue to climb the Tower diligently!]
[A special reward befitting your brilliant achievement will be granted.]
[Please select one of the following rewards.]
[1. Gold befitting your grade.]
[2. Powerful Unique Equipment.]
[3. Powerful Unique Skill.]
[4. A very special material item.]
The Final Test was over. Now it was time for the rewards. Naturally, he was given a special selection. Looking at the window, Kang Jun-hyeok stroked his chin.
Which one should I pick?
Unlike the second test, this time the rewards weren't "fitting" skills, but simply "powerful" ones. In that case, the choice was clear.
"Number 3."
[Selection: Powerful Unique Skill.]
He had already earned plenty of Gold through duels. Unique equipment had lower long-term value. Material items were decent, but since the blacksmith who could use them was currently overwhelmed, they would be hard to utilize immediately.
Therefore, he chose the skill.
[You have acquired the Active Skill: Enhancement.]
[Active Skill: Enhancement]
Grade: Unique
Proficiency: F
Cooldown: 1 hour
Description: When activated alongside another Active Skill, it increases the proficiency of that skill by one rank for that single activation. The proficiency increase limit is B. There is no limit on the grade of the skill it can be applied to.
A Unique grade skill. After reading the description, Kang Jun-hyeok let out an impressed exclamation.
"This is good."
It increased a skill's proficiency. F to E, E to D, D to C, and C to B. Considering that the difference in effect based on proficiency was massive, this was highly valuable. Furthermore, while the proficiency was capped at B, there was no limit on the grade of the skill it could enhance.
It was perfect for skills where proficiency was notoriously difficult to raise, such as True Ancestor Awakening, Judgment of the Law, or Rift Movement.
The cooldown was only one hour—not long at all. Kang Jun-hyeok raised a finger.
'I wish...'
For bread to fall.
[Enhancement activated. Pixie's Faint Miracle activated.]
Normally, only a single loaf of bread would have appeared, but since the proficiency had been boosted from F to E, several loaves tumbled down. Their quality also looked significantly better.
Kang Jun-hyeok picked up one of the loaves and took a bite. The texture and taste were far superior to before. He wore a satisfied expression.
At that moment, a system window appeared.
[Congratulations, everyone. All tests have concluded. You who have survived this far and proven yourselves can now proudly call yourselves Players.]
Some might have felt relieved seeing those words, thinking the nightmare was finally over. But it wasn't. Rather, this was only the beginning.
The Master of All Weapons muttered, "It starts now."
System windows filled with a cheerful tone appeared in a row.
[Now, let us introduce the representatives of each planet!]
[Representative of Planet Ishtar: Tukan Tak.]
[Representative of Planet Rominaburush: Abradiano.]
[Representative of Cheongryeong Planet: Namgung Cheon.]
.
.
.
[Representative of Planet Earth: Kang Jun-hyeok.]
There were literally countless names. Hundreds of lines of text obscured his vision. Before he could even process his confusion, more system windows appeared in succession.
[The Community is expanding to the universe.]
[Players belonging to the Lower, Middle, and Upper groups from the Final Test will have separate communities.]
[The tests have ended, and now the true trials are about to begin! Interact with players from across the universe. Share information and build your strength.]
[In a few months, the first Universe Quest will take place.]
[Good luck to everyone!]
"...What?"
"Wh-what is this?"
The eyes of the people who had returned to Earth widened in shock.
Expansion to the universe? True trials?
Struggling to understand the implications, they hurriedly opened the Community. They were immediately struck with horror.
[Abochunoa (44th Floor): Hmm. Hello?]
[Churung (43rd Floor): Nice to meet you all.]
[Rubon Chia (55th Floor): I didn't expect it to expand like this.]
Posts were being uploaded to the Community at an insane speed. It was difficult to even click on a single thread. It was a level of activity hundreds of times greater than anything they had seen before. Olivia bit her lip.
"This... this can't be..."
Expansion to the universe. What did that imply? It wasn't hard to guess. Olivia raised a trembling hand.
The Community had been split into three: The Lower 50% group, the Middle 50% group, and finally, the Upper 100 group.
She clicked on the Upper group community. In that instant, she gasped.
[Charang (58th Floor): Quite a lot is happening.]
[Achunta Ru (59th Floor): Hello, everyone.]
There were far too many posts for just a hundred people. And they were all names she didn't recognize. Most importantly, while the strongest player on Earth was on the 59th floor, she saw other players already at that level.
As she scanned the Community with trembling eyes, Olivia's pupils dilated.
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): Everyone seems confused. How about we introduce ourselves?]
The 64th floor. It easily surpassed Earth's peak. At that suggestion, someone sneered.
[Charang (58th Floor): How about the one who spoke first introduces himself?]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): Hmm. Fair enough.]
At the post that followed, Olivia closed her eyes with a groan. It was the moment her slight doubts vanished, replaced by a crushing certainty.
She realized they had been living in a very, very small world.
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): I am the 27th Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Dang Jung-ryeong. I look forward to working with you all.]
[Aloanian Hasat (60th Floor): Then I shall introduce myself as well. I am Aloanian Hasat, the twenty-fourth believer of Pokatoria, the God of the Sea. It is a pleasure to meet you all.]