Chapter 200: The First Universe Quest (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 200: The First Universe Quest (10)
"Is it really possible to alter the rewards like this?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am?"
"…I see."
Kang Jun-hyeok was stunned. He hadn't known that an Administrator could arbitrarily increase the rewards of a Universe Quest. In his past life, no one had ever received such blatant preferential treatment.
While the revelation was surprising, it was a massive gain for him. He wasn't about to complain.
"In exchange, one of the rewards will be lower than usual! By about 50%, maybe?"
"That’s not a problem at all. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. I should be the one thanking you," the Administrator cackled. "Seeing that loudmouthed brat shut up like a mouse was incredibly satisfying!"
Jun-hyeok fell into a happy dilemma. If he could choose two rewards, what would be the best combination? After a moment of deliberation, he made his choice.
"First, a Unique Skill. And for the second, I’d like an increase in a specific stat."
"Good! Which stat should I raise?"
"Psychic, please."
The Psychic stat dictated the output and capacity of one's supernatural abilities. For Jun-hyeok, this governed his Telekinesis—the very force required to operate Pixie's Mana Box.
Up until now, his Psychic pool was so small that he couldn't utilize it effectively in actual combat. He could manage it during practice, but the consumption rate was far too high for the chaos of a real battle.
Furthermore, raising the Psychic stat was notoriously difficult. A Player usually had to reach the specific floors dedicated to supernatural powers, and even then, it required specialized training methods. It was a stat best raised whenever the opportunity arose.
As for the Unique Skill, that was naturally his top priority. Pleased with Jun-hyeok's answer, Pixie grinned and snapped her fingers.
"Here. Take it!"
[Psychic +14]
The stat surged by a staggering 14 points in an instant. It was more than double his previous total. He immediately felt the change—both the potency and the total capacity of his psychic power had expanded significantly.
Then came the real prize.
[You have acquired the Unique Active Skill: Stat Imbuement.]
[Active Skill: Stat Imbuement]
[Grade: Unique]
[Proficiency: F]
[Cooldown: 1 hour]
[Effect: Stats such as Internal Energy, Mana, Psychic, and Divine Power can be imbued into skills during activation.]
Imbuement?
Jun-hyeok’s mind raced as he processed the implications. As the full scope of the skill’s utility dawned on him, his eyes widened. This single skill was arguably more valuable than almost everything else he had acquired so far.
The Administrator waved her hand dismissively.
"Ah, that was fun. See you next time! I suggest you work hard at climbing the Tower in the meantime!"
The world distorted. Space itself shifted, and a moment later, Kang Jun-hyeok was back on Earth.
[The first Universe Quest has ended.]
[Well done, everyone!]
A system window appeared, officially announcing the conclusion of the event.
* * *
The Universe Quest was over.
Players from different planets had met, exchanged cultures, and fought side-by-side. The bizarre experience left them reeling with a whirlwind of emotions. Consequently, the Community was in an absolute uproar.
[Cheongjeo (36th Floor): I can't believe merfolk actually exist. I never even imagined it.]
[Alondo (45th Floor): That’s our line. Internal Energy is such a mysterious power. To think you can use it so freely even underwater... it was a great exchange.]
[Charang (59th Floor): The universe is vast. To think there are those even stronger than me.]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): It was a pleasant meeting, Charang. Our duel was of great help to me as well.]
[Aloanian Hasat (61st Floor): You all worked hard in the water. What kind of quests did you have? It seems different types were assigned to each planet.]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): Our quest was to deal with a giant tree monster. It was incredibly powerful.]
[Aloanian Hasat (61st Floor): Ours was a quest to remove pollutants that were fouling the ocean.]
As people shared their details, it became clear that there were hundreds of different quests. The enemies were diverse, and every mission had been carried out under the protection of god-like beings.
This pointed to a chilling reality: their enemies were so numerous that they were spread across the entire universe, and they were so powerful that they couldn't be faced without divine intervention.
[Aloanian Hasat (61st Floor): It would have been impossible if the God of the Sea hadn't protected us. We might have been wiped out. Beings that rot your mind just by looking at them… those are the things we have to deal with.]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): It was the same here. Without the protection of the divine spirit, we would have been annihilated.]
The "Victors" they were destined to face were formidable. The Players who had faced them directly felt their morale wavering. However, there was one achievement that stood out above the rest.
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): An announcement was posted saying a planet achieved a Perfect Clear. Where was it?]
[Tuvalt Shadowstar (67th Floor): Over here.]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): A 67th-floor player? You must be strong. Which planet did you team up with?]
[Tuvalt Shadowstar (67th Floor): Earth.]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): Earth. If it's Earth…]
Dang Jung-ryeong’s post cut off, but everyone knew what he was going to say.
Kang Jun-hyeok.
It was the planet of the "Perfect Player."
However, aside from that one individual, Earth was considered a weak world—a place without magic, internal energy, or psychic powers. Dang Jung-ryeong asked cautiously:
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): Would it be possible to exchange information? How did you achieve a Perfect Clear, and who contributed the most? I know your planet has many strong individuals. Did their collective power play the major role?]
No matter how great Kang Jun-hyeok was, he was still just one man. Since it was a Universe Quest, collective strength should have been necessary. It was a question meant to gauge Earth's true potential.
However, Tuvalt’s response was completely unexpected.
[Tuvalt Shadowstar (67th Floor): Ah. Come to think of it, it’s about time I did this.]
[Dang Jung-ryeong (64th Floor): What do you mean?]
[Tuvalt Shadowstar (67th Floor): Kang Jun-hyeok.]
A short post calling out the Perfect Player's name appeared. The Community held its breath. They were well aware of the friction between Tuvalt and Jun-hyeok, and they waited for the inevitable explosion.
[Tuvalt Shadowstar (67th Floor): I respect you.
You are incredible.
You control your own strength perfectly and possess outstanding mastery over Internal Energy, Mana, and Divinity. Even I was shocked by how flawlessly you handle those powers. But that wasn't the part that truly amazed me.
You are not a swordsman, a mage, or a believer.
You are a Player.
While you handle each power, you do not depend on them. You use them purely as tools. You integrate them all, linking skills to draw out overwhelming power. It was a level of mastery I could never hope to reach.
Not only do you possess strength that dwarfs mine, but you also have the ability to lead and deploy the talents of others perfectly. I am ashamed to have ever called myself a king.
Kang Jun-hyeok, I respect you. I truly hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future. I sincerely apologize for my rudeness until now.]
"…Huh?"
"Wh-what?"
Every Player watching the feed was stunned. It was somewhat expected that Tuvalt might post an apology or a message of respect—after all, Jun-hyeok was the "Perfect Player." Even if his floor was lower, his uniqueness made him a force to be reckoned with.
But Tuvalt’s post went far beyond a simple concession. It was a declaration of deep, sincere reverence. This wasn't a post forced out of him by a loss; it was a confession from the heart.
This meant only one thing: Tuvalt had been defeated so thoroughly—both physically and mentally—that he no longer saw Jun-hyeok as a rival, but as an idol.
"…What on earth happened?"
"That arrogant 67th-floor king changed like that?"
The questions didn't end there. Tuvalt’s post mentioned that Jun-hyeok handled Internal Energy, Mana, and Divinity.
"Wasn't Earth supposed to be a planet with nothing?"
"Did he acquire them while climbing the Tower? I know that’s possible, but all three?"
While rare, it wasn't unheard of for Players to learn magic or martial arts in the Tower. However, a Player who had mastered all of them was unheard of.
Who was Kang Jun-hyeok? Just how deep did his power go? That question began to ripple across the entire universe.
* * *
At that same time, Kang Jun-hyeok had moved to the mountain behind his home.
The area was a wasteland of crumbling rock. Locals who occasionally walked nearby had grown used to the ruined state of the mountain, accepting the destruction as the "new normal."
Jun-hyeok caught his breath and activated a skill.
"Pixie's Mana Box."
Vrrr.
He summoned the Mana Box and moved it with Telekinesis. Because his Psychic stat had doubled, the box moved faster and lasted much longer than before. At this level, it was finally a viable tool for combat.
The stat increase was a tangible change he could feel immediately. Now, it was time for the main event.
[Active Skill: Stat Imbuement]
[Grade: Unique]
[Proficiency: F]
[Cooldown: 1 hour]
He was now able to pour his stats directly into his skills. Jun-hyeok drew his sword and channeled Internal Energy.
"Internal Energy. Sword Ki and Sword Wind."
The sword ki exploded.
BOOM!
The power was incomparable to anything he had produced before. The sword ki shrieked through the air, striking the ruined mountain range, splitting boulders, and pulverizing the earth into dust. The entire area was leveled.
Jun-hyeok let out a low whistle. "Just as I expected."
By default, skills had fixed damage. While their power increased with level and proficiency, they usually weren't affected by a Player's raw stats unless specifically stated (like with Repulsion). This was why many high-level experts looked down on skills—no matter how much Mana or Internal Energy they accumulated, the skill's output remained stagnant.
But Stat Imbuement shattered that logic. By consuming stats, he could manually overclock the power of the skill itself.
After waiting out the one-hour cooldown, Jun-hyeok clenched his fist.
"Divine Power. Glory of the Lost God."
Whirrrrr!
A light even more intense than before illuminated the world. The skill’s holy pressure had increased noticeably.
It was a magnificent addition to his arsenal. It allowed him to concentrate his power with terrifying efficiency. The only drawback was the cost—the consumption was nearly double that of a normal activation. Even for him, it was a heavy burden.
The solution, however, was simple. He just had to raise his stats until the burden no longer mattered.
"I'll have to climb hard," he muttered happily to himself, heading back home.