Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Newly Arrived Essence
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The world expands bit by bit.
The hazy world sharpens into focus.
[This is the location of 'Theme 2.']
[Please wait a moment.]
[Calculating rewards.]
[Please wait a moment.]
[Calculating rewards.]
…….
I must have missed them because I was unconscious.
Messages piled up in one corner of my vision.
“Guh, guh-heuk!”
My eyes snapped open, and ragged breaths burst out.
The breaths I hadn’t been able to catch properly due to the pain in my lungs exploded all at once.
My body craved oxygen like mad, my stomach growled with hunger, and my restored muscles screamed.
“Huhk, huhk!”
I kept gasping for air.
The human body is so fickle.
When the Fire Essence was inside, all those desires stayed quiet.
But the moment my body felt a bit better, they started running wild.
Back then, I wanted to die. Now, I wanted to live.
“Team Leader? Are you awake?”
Mui Hana was definitely no quack.
She was closer to a miracle doctor.
Before I passed out, neither Vladimir nor I were in any state resembling a human.
“…….”
I instinctively looked over my body.
Most wounds had healed, broken bones had mended.
Even the melted muscles had regenerated and taken their places.
It was a recovery impossible even if the legendary divine physician Hua Tuo came back to life.
“Your recovery speed is impressive. Waking up after just two days.”
She smiled brightly.
Her eyes brimmed with confidence.
I bowed my head to her.
“Thank you. I recovered well thanks to you.”
“Oh, no need. I’m the one who should thank you. I got to take down a dragon because of you.”
A dragon……
That colossal thing.
That horrific monster we could have just passed by at first sight.
We took it down after all.
Oh, right.
“……Two days? Time’s already passed?”
I asked.
In that instant, two emotions mixed.
First.
What happened to the ordeal?
Don’t we have to do Theme 3?
And second.
How did she heal me in just two days?
“…….”
I looked around.
The spot where Vladimir should have been was empty.
He seemed to have recovered earlier than me.
“Don’t worry. The senior examiner said plenty of recovery time would be given. For now, rest up more. You need to greet your comrades and claim your rewards.”
“Ah.”
Right, rewards.
This world is all about give and take.
Effort always brings equal reward.
Whether it’s the [Ten Thousand Hours Rule] or whatever excuses they make.
[Please wait a moment.]
[Calculating rewards.]
…….
I scrolled down through the quite stacked messages.
Soon, a welcome message appeared.
[Ding!]
[Reward calculation complete.]
[Rewards will be distributed according to contribution.]
[Announcement to all participants.]
The contribution message was there.
[Calculating contributions.]
[Survivors: 7]
[The system ranks a total of 7 people.]
‘Seven…….’
A leaderboard like in Theme 1 popped up.
Normally, rainbow effects would burst and make you feel good.
But since I checked late, no such thing this time.
[Contribution results.]
[Decimal values rounded up.]
[1st - 26%]
[2nd - 19%]
[3rd - 18%]
[4th - 10%]
[5th - 10%]
[6th - 10%]
[7th - 10%]
The results were more balanced than expected.
Compared to me hogging 99% alone in the previous theme, this was at least conscientious?
The total from 1st to 7th not hitting exactly 100% was because of the rounding up of decimals.
“Saw it?”
Mui Hana smiled.
“Surprisingly, I’m 3rd. Haha!”
“Oh, 3rd place?”
“Yeah. As you’d expect, 2nd is Vladimir, who saved you. Seems he got big points for spatial magic.”
Spot on.
Without Vladimir, things would’ve been much harder.
His was the greatest feat—entering the Giant Dragon’s core.
Plus, he chose sacrifice in my place.
Without his sacrifice, it’d likely be Aranbalon breathing right now, not us.
And beyond that.
Supreme Sword Maximilian.
Judgment Spear, who chewed through everything with grit and loyalty.
Kapu, who alerted us to the dragon and scouted its interior.
Olena Zelensky, who handled protection and movement with water magic.
‘No one was useless.’
No dead weight.
That’s why contributions were evenly distributed.
And I.
[Your contribution is 26%, placing you 1st overall.]
[Choose your reward.]
Was 1st, as expected.
Honestly, if I wasn’t 1st, I’d complain.
No matter what, I was the one who directly slew the dragon.
[The appropriate reward for you is the ‘SS-Grade Gift Box.’]
[The Gift Box bestows an item most needed by you, matching the grade.]
Flash!
Bright light poured out.
[Selecting the appropriate reward guarantees 100% acquisition.]
[However, you may expend probability to acquire a reward up to two grades higher.]
[Choose carefully.]
[100% chance - SS-Grade Gift Box]
[30% chance - SSS-Grade Gift Box]
[1% chance - ???-Grade Gift Box]
[Failure to acquire a higher-grade reward results in no reward.]
“Ah…….”
As expected.
Same as last time.
It stung a bit that Poison Fog and dragon slaying gave the same rewards.
But instead.
“Rewards up?”
“Yeah.”
“SS-Grade? Or SSS? Hehe, we all got SS-Grade.”
“……!”
All my comrades except me got SS-Grade rewards.
Hmm.
That balances things out.
I’d worried I’d hog all the good stuff again.
This wasn’t being a sucker—it was consideration.
They didn’t abandon me.
They risked their lives for me.
And fought to the end for us.
‘I’ll gift them some Drimir weapons later.’
Return what you receive.
Repay favors received.
Avenge grudges incurred.
My simple, clear creed.
I didn’t begrudge or envy their high rewards.
Quite the opposite—I was glad.
“Everyone picked 100%. Said they’re not lucky enough for more. Imagine picking higher and missing SS-Grade. Ugh, terrifying. Feels like the next life’s calling.”
“Wise choice. Barely survived—suicide’s crossing the line. That’s bad.”
“Yeah, actually…… That’s why they all went off to test their weapons. Didn’t want to disturb your rest.”
She spoke softly, then remembered something.
And chuckled.
“Oh, sudden thought. Vladimir’s hilarious too. Wakes up coughing like he’s dying, sees reward, jumps up, and heads to train? So funny. Heh heh.”
Funny?
Hmm.
Maybe it was.
Sorry to Mui Hana, but my full focus was on the reward.
No laughter came.
“Was he? SS-Grade weapons are worth it.”
A soulless reply.
Not because I disliked her.
Just how badly I wanted to check the reward.
“Right? Admit it. First time this grade appears in the mortal world.”
Grade.
Yeah.
I didn’t know until participating in Delaila’s ordeal.
SSS above SS.
God-Slaying above SSS.
God-Slaying implies Gods exist, right?
Opposites, maybe?
No way to know.
“Ahem. Well then…… Mui Hana?”
I cleared my throat and looked at her.
Silent signal: time to pick reward.
“Oh, bothering you. I’ll step aside.”
Smiling Mui Hana turned without delay and walked off.
Comrades probably that way.
Luckily, quick on the uptake.
‘Even comrades…… This is complicated to explain.’
What faces if I say 100% ???-Grade Gift Box? What fuss?
Too messy.
Hunters don’t share weapon info anyway—fine like this.
‘Alright.’
Rub rub!
I rubbed my hands and swallowed.
Goosebumps already rising.
Uwaaa.
Exciting.
So exciting!
[Item: Reward Probability Amplification Scroll]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Scroll]
[Description: Scroll that increases reward acquisition plausibility by 1 million ‘Ordeal Points.’]
[Effect 1: Sets target reward acquisition probability to 100%.]
The scroll I bought after Floa.
I took it out carefully, like handling treasure.
Mess it up, glitch—disaster.
Handle with care.
“Huaaah.”
I stared at the message.
Finger pointed at the bottom option.
Tip trembled slightly.
‘I’ll take the 1% ???-Grade Gift Box.’
Silent shout, and—
Rip!
Tore the golden scroll in hand.
[Using ‘Reward Probability Amplification Scroll’ (S-Grade).]
[Sets acquisition probability of any target reward to 100%.]
Dazzling light wrapped around me twice.
[Selecting reward.]
[Congratulations!]
[★☆Big To the Box☆★]
[Acquired ‘???-Grade Gift Box.’]
In my hands.
A box emitting mystical light appeared.
[Item: ???-Grade Gift Box]
[Grade: ???]
[Type: Box]
[Description: Open it. The item you need most will appear.]
[Effect 1: Acquire ???-Grade item.]
“Keuk!”
Always chillingly simple description.
And it glowed on its own.
No time to waste.
Open it now!
Fwoop!
Untied the box and opened it.
[Opening ‘???-Grade Gift Box.’]
Rumble rumble rumble!
Mystical light and the box vibrated.
Thankfully, no earth-shaking.
Amplification energy began swirling everywhere.
Kwa-gaga-gang!
Visible only to me.
No one else could see.
[Item selection begins!]
[The Gift Box detects you have a dedicated weapon!]
Right.
My dedicated weapon that played a huge role this time: Sealed Spirit of the Seven Essences (1/7).
[Item determined!]
This Gift Box decided fast.
[Decides to reinforce the weapon you’re using.]
No hesitation.
Reinforcing my weapon.
“…….”
Only one possibility.
[Searching the world per plausibility.]
[Searching for item.]
[……………ing.]
Exactly.
Kugugu-gu!
Vibration turned violent.
Box shook wildly, and soon.
[Ding!]
[Item found!]
Shaking stopped.
And.
The mystical light swirling around shifted to blue.
“Blue?”
[The Fire Essence frowns.]
“Huh!”
Fire Essence.
It reacted again.
[The displeased Fire Essence asks what you’re doing here.]
[The Water Essence sneers.]
[The Water Essence asks if asking that knowingly means lacking intelligence.]
Sss!
At the same time.
Blue hue added to the red staff I held.
Precisely.
Half and half, pushing and pulling.
A power struggle.
Wow.
Fire and water not getting along—classic setup.
But the essences seemed plenty classic.
[Ding!]
[God-Slaying Grade item, Sealed Spirit of the Seven Essences (1/7) updated.]
[Acquired Sealed Spirit of the Seven Essences (2/7).]
Aah, yes!
I immediately checked the item info.
[Item: Sealed Spirit of the Seven Essences (2/7)]
[Grade: God-Slaying]
[Type: Weapon]
[Description: Fragment of the seven essences even primordial gods feared. Seal releases when all attribute essences collected. Currently holds Fire Essence and Water Essence.]
[Effect 1: Transforms to user’s desired form.]
[Effect 2: Absolutely indestructible.]
[Effect 3: Uses power of collected essences.]
[Effect 4: Vitality +2,000.]
“Insane?”
Vitality 2,000?
1,000 more than before?
Seeing Effect 4.
I finally let slip a curse.