Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The End of Vast Misfortune
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-You... What trickery have you pulled?!
The Sphinx, despite its legendary specs, wasn't as strong as I'd expected.
In fact, it fell short of my imagination. The Sphinx I'd pictured in my head wasn't a combat-type monster wielding special attack skills.
The Sphinx was a monster that devoured humans who failed its riddles, relying solely on its physical prowess.
Yet its massive body couldn't easily dodge my sword. Its powerfully muscled tail couldn't strike me either.
'No, it's just that the Infinite stat is ridiculously overpowered.'
My opponent was a boss monster rated [F+]. Even though our stat grades differed by a full two ranks, the current balance showed almost no gap between the Sphinx's power and mine.
If anything, I held a slight edge. My sword grazed its enormous body, leaving wounds that multiplied across its flesh.
Whether out of rage or some scheme, it roared a question at me.
-Damn you! How dare a puny human like you insult me, a creation of the sun?!
"No matter how grand your titles or backing, you're just a monster that kills people for fun."
At my insult, the Sphinx briefly bowed its head. Just as I wondered if it was giving up and lunged toward it...
The overwhelming vitality and power surging through my body like it might burst faltered for a moment, losing some of its strength.
-Kuhahaha! You're no puny human! You're a monster bearing the seed of myth that carves stars into the Abyss sky! What overwhelming power!
"Damn it."
I hadn't expected a skill like that. In an instant, its single activation flipped the slight advantage.
Bam! Clang! Thud! Crunch!
Sword clashed with massive paws, fists with sturdy fangs in fierce exchanges.
I was on the defensive. I distanced myself briefly to reassess.
'Seo Mi-na won't hold out much longer either.'
Pre-regression Seo Mi-na had been a genius all-rounder wielding both guns and magic. But right now, as an unpolished prospect, she was awkwardly mediocre at everything.
Her lightning powers were undoubtedly strong. But that was it.
'Still, she's holding up well.'
Her foe was a typical assassin, disadvantaged in open one-on-one. That let her last longer, but not beyond ten minutes.
"Kuhahaha! Hit me more! I don't know why you hung out with that dimwit, but die regretting your poor judgment!"
I could see her lightning weakening. Mana stat deficiency.
"Damn! Nothing ever goes smoothly."
-Kuhuhu! Foolish human! What a pity. I must end the seed of myth with my own hands! If my divinity hadn't fallen, I'd offer you to that one...
"......"
I clamped my mouth shut, wary of another skill. The Sphinx eyed me with amusement, scanning me head to toe.
-As expected, even idiots learn from one trap! Fine. Let's end this. I'll kill you with your own seed!
I gritted my teeth, raised my sword... and unleashed my final card: the First Wing of Pride.
Shraaak!
A brilliantly glowing wing sprouted, wrapping me in light.
The stolen power was forgotten as violently overwhelming strength filled my body.
"This... is F-rank Infinite's power?"
I could see it. The Sphinx's charging leg, its attack path clear.
I felt it. Only when its leg neared my head did I casually shift aside in perfect evasion.
Body control peaked; optimal moves came instinctively. No formal sword training, yet my blade targeted only weaknesses.
-Kraaak! How?! How do you have so much immense power?!
My sword didn't stop amid its frenzy. To etch this sensation into memory, I slashed and dodged in a trance, feeling the blade.
Slash... Thud!
When the colossal Sphinx finally fell, I had just three minutes left.
-This... can't... be... I am... the sun's... creation... Krarara! Sun... why... have you... lost your... light?
Fresh from eons of sealing, it hadn't imagined dying hours later. Bleeding golden blood, it prayed skyward.
"Ptoo! Damn bastard."
I ignored it and kicked away Kang Cheol-woo, who was pinning Seo Mi-na's throat.
"I'm so sick of you guys."
"Guhhh! You fucking bastard! How dare you attack me?!"
Thud!
"Yeah, I did. What're you gonna do about it, you piece of trash?"
"Sphinx! What the hell? Kill this guy now...?"
Kang Cheol-woo yelled at the Sphinx in fury, then froze.
"Wha... how? This can't be. We offered a Unique-grade item! You... you can't do this! I restored your beloved solar authority! Just a bit of divinity recovery and you'd beat anyone!"
Desperately cursing the Sphinx in disbelief, he turned to me approaching and recoiled.
"Our bad blood with your company really won't end. I would've come for you later anyway. No need to greet me like this."
"W-wait! S-spare me!"
"Not killing you yet. Let's start with a beating."
Two minutes left. I spent one meticulously pulverizing Kang Cheol-woo.
Broke arms, snapped legs, crushed fingers, yanked teeth.
Cruel, maybe. But compared to what I endured pre-regression... mere child's play.
I was amazed I'd survived back then.
"...Ugh... ugh...!"
Leaving the jaw-shattered mute, I approached the Sphinx.
-Cough! Kuhuhu... Here to finish me? Take my life quick and claim the Black Sun. Now I remember... why I was sealed here. Why I bear that damned god Atum's power.
Suddenly resigned to death, I proposed a deal.
"I'll spare you."
-...What nonsense?
"Instead, transfer that Black Sun to that bastard."
-...Kuhuhu. Kuhahaha! Humans are endlessly amusing. But no. I have no desire to live on.
No dice, huh. I glanced at the Black Sun signaling time's end and nodded.
"Pity. Then I'll kill you and head to the next floor. I'll conquer this hidden stage."
As I raised my sword to his throat...
-Wait! W-wait... Can you swear it?
"Swear what?"
-Swear you'll fully conquer this pyramid! Swear on the sun!
"Gladly. I'll definitely conquer this pyramid. That's why I'm pushing on despite the backstabs."
-...... Fine. I accept.
The Sphinx's golden eyes blackened. The Black Sun above me vanished, reappearing over twitching Kang Cheol-woo.
"Good choice."
I pulled my best potion from inventory and poured it into its mouth.
Shaaa!
Wounds began healing slowly, but not enough to move yet.
"Saved you. Heal the rest yourself."
-Damn human... Fine. If you 'fully' conquer floor 7, my rank and power return. Keep your oath. Perfect conquest, you wretched human!
"I got it, seriously. Stay put; I'm busy now."
Leaving the Sphinx, I grabbed another potion and doused fallen Kang Cheol-woo.
Wounds healed rapidly on contact. But incompletely.
Bones half-mended, teeth half-grown, fingers partially restored—grotesquely warped.
"Th-this... fuhking...!"
"Still got energy to curse? More beating then."
Why potion him? One reason: Couldn't repay all pre-regression misery, but let him savor some before his scripted end.
I told Seo Mi-na to rest and spent ages pounding, stabbing, smashing him.
"A... ah... nooo!!"
Ten minutes later, he expired with a final gurgle. One rotten tie severed.
As Kang Cheol-woo died, rage-filled messages rose like it was over.
"Then...?!"
As expected. Unyielding gifted a grin-splitting smile.
"All into Infinite stat!"
Vwoong!
Infinite rose by 15, easing Equivalent Exchange's aftertaste with satisfying power.
-Hurry and conquer this pyramid! You won't break your promise, right?!
"Who're you to lecture? You didn't keep yours with Kang Cheol-woo."
-Kugh! You really won't?!
"Rest up. You'll die pushing like this."
-......Admit it. You can clear the upper floors. But no arrogance. The one above dwarfs me in brilliance and might. If that display was your all... you'll die on 7.
Chilling murder warning from the Sphinx. I schooled my gaze, pondering carefully.
'Gut feeling: pyramid ends at 7.'
Meaning the true ruler lurked on 7.
And if a legendary like Sphinx groveled in worship...
'The Sun.'
The entity it obsessed over. But no fear. Now's leagues from then.
Suppressing excitement, I checked inventory. Infinite up 10 demanded it.