Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Elixir of Transcendence
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"Can't sell it? Then I'll consume it. Do I just eat it?"
It was time to take the top-tier elixir.
Of course, it wasn't that simple.
"Recite your stat window first. No fibbing since this is for the elixir."
"Ah, my personal info..."
"Cut the crap and write it on the floor. If you're really unhappy, I'll write mine too."
And so, we revealed our stats to each other.
ID: Han Jaeyeon
Class: Sword God (Mythic)
Title: New Adventurer (Common)
Level: 64
Strength: 415(+566) Stamina: 201(+420)
Vitality: 360(+454) Agility: 62(+515)
Mana: 30(+430) Mana Affinity: 81(+311) Magic Resistance: 55(+359)
Regeneration: 120(+400) Mana Regen: 66(+406) Luck: 10(+32)
Free Stats: 0
Status: Normal
Merlin whistled as he checked my stats.
"Wow, your average stats are insanely high. But they're all over the place... Is this the downside of that collection system?"
Revenge characters couldn't have extreme stat distributions. It might be possible early on, but once spending crossed a certain threshold, you had to fill every collection.
In fact, I'd filled nearly every collection except for the insane one requiring multiple +9 Legendaries. The only differentiation was pumping job proficiency—a whale-only content—into Strength.
Merlin's stat window was different.
Title
GM
ID
Merlin
Status
Normal
Vitality
121
Magic Resistance
Immune
Strength
185
Mental Power
61
Stamina
98
Internal Energy
1,199
Magic Power
1,199
Regeneration
86
Mana Control
1,022
Reflex
180
Luck
None
EXP
0혼
Owned Currency
9,999,993,331,111,123G 21S 20C
"What the hell is this...?"
His average stats were lower than mine. Way lower, suspiciously so.
But a few stats stood out as weird.
"Magic Power... 1,199...? Internal Energy 1,199...?"
Mana Control was a bit less at 1,022, but still. No matter how I looked at it, something was off.
"Must be some different formula? The stat window structure is totally different too."
"Stat windows vary by creator. There are supposedly dozens floating around the greater universe... But the formulas should be the same."
I couldn't help but ask incredulously.
"So... you're saying you really have over 1,000 stats? Not just 1,000, but over 1,100?"
"I cheesed it to hit 1,100 by dumping everything else. My body's so frail I could catch a cold."
Stats jumped in tiers every 100 points, and 900 was the so-called Transcendent stat—a realm of transcendence in itself.
An area unreachable without some insane opportunity or special bloodline. Even most Archmages fell short of 900 Magic Power or Mana Affinity.
But reaching 999 was even harder.
999 was the infamous [Limit Stat].
The ceiling of stats any being could achieve in the material world. Even a dragon accumulating mana until death couldn't surpass it.
'In other words... this is an Authority. It means he possesses Divinity.'
To break past limit stats, one needed a miracle transcending the physical world.
Innate Divinity or Authority forged through effort and feats.
Thus, stats over 1,000 were called [Authority Stats], qualifications for mid-tier gods—Emperor Class.
"If your Internal Energy is 1,100 stats, how many kalpas is that?"
Merlin gave me a look like I was an idiot.
"At this level, who talks kalpas? Raw quantity means nothing."
"But roughly?"
"Hmm, passed 100 kalpas (6,000 years) ages ago. Probably cleared 1,000 kalpas (60,000 years) too."
"No way, that's insane."
Straight-up madness. A millennium of Internal Energy was mythical, let alone 1,000 kalpas? The scale was so absurd it sounded like bragging—and serious bragging at that!
Regardless of my shock, he clutched his head at my stats.
"Anyway, this is tricky... But your Strength is nearly 900, so there's hope. Revenge has reset potions, right? Use one and pump Mana Affinity to 900. You can't control the elixir's power without hitting Transcendent there."
" Mana Affinity 900... Maybe possible..."
I downed the potion. I'd rebuilt stats so many times, no fear left.
[Consumed Reset Potion!]
[Bonus Points +4,400!]
I'd been spreading bonus points into Strength, Vitality, and Regeneration. Without enough Vitality, my Strength could wreck my body, and dumping into one stat lost efficiency over time.
'But right now, with a short-term goal, all-in it is.'
Even then, Mana Affinity wouldn't hit 900. Short by over 100 stats!
But I had a way.
★☆Job Change Complete☆★
[Star Seeker (Legendary)]
Mana +100, Mana Affinity +180, Mana Regen +100, Vitality +60, Magic Resistance +60
Mana Regen Speed +50%.
[Memorize]
[Thousand Enchant]
Job changed to the Legendary Mage class to cover the gap.
'No announcements here, huh. If this were Ardenia, it'd notify Transcendent stat unlock.'
As I flipped through 7 Legendary cards, Merlin handed over a glowing red gem. scorching from afar, but cool to the touch.
"Just eat it," he said.
"Feels like too much power... Won't I go mad from qi deviation?"
"I'll control it. The dantian is a virtual organ fixed by will, so I can manage it from the inner world. Since you've fully entered my inner world... I can even handle your qi circulation."
"Got it."
I nodded calmly.
'All things considered... I'm lucky.'
If Merlin were an evil Transcendent, my link to his inner world and wrecked vessel would've been disastrous.
My Game God's Apostle title might draw intervention from Daeha, but...
He wouldn't babysit me 24/7 like a parent. Useless.
'Even if he had no other use, trading a Transcendent elixir for 7 Legendary cards is nuts.'
That thought sparked suspicion.
'What if it's a trap?'
Coming from brutal medieval lands full of betrayal, I knew human malice popped up unpredictably. Couldn't ignore the red flags.
Gooooh--.
Then, red energy enveloped my body.
"Urk...!?"
I tried flinging the gem away in panic, but it stuck to my hand.
No—it sank into my palm, into my body!
'No! It really is a trap!?'
Merlin's scream hit my ears as I freaked.
"What?! I'm being ejected from the inner world! No, not physical change—why!? Metamorphosis? But you already went through that!"
His genuine panic—unlike his prior composure—suggested it wasn't his doing.
Problem was, that didn't fix shit!
And then.
Pop!
I was booted from Merlin's inner world.
* * *
Biotic Force differed from typical supernatural abilities.
Unlike martial arts, magic, chakra, aura, shamanism, etc., which geniuses could awaken as 'firsts' even in mundane worlds... Biotic Force couldn't be self-awakened. External intervention was mandatory.
Biofactor.
This astonishing invention from the Leonhardt Empire—a cosmic nation spanning thousands of planets—had become a major supernatural power in mere centuries.
Because of it, Biotic Force was easier to start than others.
Just eat Biofactors produced periodically by other practitioners.
And Han Jaeyeon...
Had already consumed one long ago.
He thought it'd been 'digested and shat out,' but no way.
Biofactors fundamentally evolved the target's DNA—they weren't digestible. It'd merely dormant due to his trash Mana Affinity.
And now.
The Transcendent elixir's power, entering via his soul, awakened the Biofactor dormant in his flesh housing that soul.
Shaaaaaa--!
"What? Sudden rain without warning... Huh? No clouds?"
"Ugh! What wind?!"
"Wait, aren't those street trees growing right now?"
"The flowers are on fire! Is this an event?"
Gwanghwamun Square erupted in chaos. Tourists and walkers froze at the bizarre phenomenon.
Goooooh---
An unknown wave spread. Every citizen of 34th Earth—where all humanity had abilities—felt it.
"Ah, this feeling..."
"Weird..."
Not fear or terror, but an indescribable sensation left everyone baffled. And it wasn't just civilians.
Beep--! Beep--! Beep--! Beep--!
Alarms blared out of nowhere. A piercing, impossible-to-ignore screech made people wince.
"Argh! My ears! What the hell?!"
"Huh? Choco?"
"What's this? My phone..."
As people looked around, broadcasts kicked in.
[Alert! Alert! This is a real situation. All citizens, move to safe zones per evacuation protocols. Repeating: This is real. Evacuate to safe zones!]
[Level 20 Supernatural Disaster Warning! Level 20 Supernatural Disaster—All citizens...]
Amid the chaos outside.
Jaeyeon's studio was a wreck.
Crack! Crunch! Snap!
Rip! Screeech!
Bones shattered, skin tore to shreds. Muscles snapped, organs burst.
Blood boiled, fluids dried to sticky residue. Even his brain pulped completely.
A corpse too mangled to call one. Anyone seeing it would've dismissed survival.
Yes. Jaeyeon was dead.
Medically, utterly deceased.
However.
Supernaturally, no.
'Something... something's wrong.'
In a limbo beyond inner and outer worlds, Jaeyeon sensed it. He knew there was a problem, but not why.
He couldn't recall the Biofactor from ages ago—over 20 years for him.
'Must be... qi deviation?'
So he assumed. He'd even requested Internal Energy from Merlin for this reason.
'Hoo...'
Trapped in sensationless void, he could only do his best.
'Qi deviation means orthodox martial arts. Recite the Reverse Muscle Rejuvenation Scripture.'
Clinging to fading consciousness, he began reciting formulas.
Buddhist or Daoist orthodox arts. Evil arts like Quick Advance. Demonic like Heavenly Demon Divine Art or Mana Absorption.
Sword formulas, saber formulas, etc.
Commentary records explaining martial perspectives.
Fierce battles lived, brushes with life and death.
Slowly. Very slowly...
Collating all his martial insights—
Thump.
In line with that desperate single-minded focus.
His body began evolving.