Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Creating an Abyss
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The "Creation Abyss" was the exclusive domain of the Creators.
It was a trial that only the Lords of the Abyss could craft.
This was a privilege not granted even to the Twelve Races, nor to their sovereigns.
But what if...
What if a human, not a Lord of the Abyss, got involved in creating a "Creation Abyss"?
"The demons' Abysses are biased."
Most were designed to mock and humiliate humans.
There were scarcely any Creators with the skill to design a truly thrilling, pulse-pounding, tension-filled "gambling den."
Even the Creators couldn't help it—they were demons, after all.
Demons inherently found great amusement in toying with their opponents.
How much more so for these Creators, the "Lords of the Abyss"?
They were kings who wielded absolute power within their territories.
Born stronger than other beings, they were monsters who had climbed to the top by crushing countless weaklings.
Thus, they had never known defeat.
They didn't understand what it meant to be weak.
They had no inkling of the plight of the feeble.
Naturally, they knew nothing of humans starting from Level 1.
Just as it was written somewhere, they churned out "Creation Abysses" like factory products, sticking to the same old formulas.
Which meant...
Earth still lacked a proper "Creation Abyss."
One where humans and Creators could truly clash.
One that would have even the betting Creators gripping their seats in suspense.
Such a blood-soaked Creation Abyss was absent.
It was inevitable.
After all, it had been less than two months since the Abyss had touched down on Earth.
Demons who already scorned humans weren't about to grasp humanity in such a short time.
In the past, decent "Creation Abysses" only started appearing after humanity's average level surpassed 50.
An average of 50 came only after 95% of humanity had perished.
Only the strong survived, spiking the average dramatically.
That was when true "competition" began.
"A well-crafted Creation Abyss stimulates both Creators and humanity."
All Creators were immensely powerful.
Naturally, they had little interest in the battles of lowly humans.
So many slapped together "Creation Abysses" following the standard guides and linked them up.
But as someone once said...
"Creators don't realize that fights between the weak are the most entertaining."
That battles among the powerless made for the most riveting content.
True gambles where no one knew who would win.
Park Chan-woo intended to create such an Abyss, drawing the Creators' attention and setting up a proper stage.
He judged that alone would recoup the investment handsomely.
"Let's create a Creation Abyss together?"
Adora echoed the words as if they were utter nonsense.
An understandable reaction.
Investing in a Creation Abyss was bizarre enough, but proposing to do it together? Utter madness.
She must have thought a human clueless about the Abyss could never craft one.
Park Chan-woo knew exactly what worried her.
He knew it all, but he planned to charge ahead like a rhinoceros with a single horn.
"No need to worry..."
"Very well, let's do it."
"...?"
"Let's create a 'Creation Abyss' together."
"...Are you sure?"
The permission came so easily that Park Chan-woo's eyes widened in bewilderment.
He even asked again to confirm.
This concerned her very safety—her life hung in the balance.
Failure meant bankruptcy.
And bankruptcy meant death.
Adora surely knew that.
Yet she agreed to stake her life alongside him.
'Have we built that level of trust?'
...He wasn't sure.
They had endured hardships together in the Tower of Pride, but their time together wasn't that long.
Besides, he was inherently distrustful, slow to believe others, and would never hand over complete control.
If their positions were reversed, he'd have shut down the idea with a sharp rebuke.
The easy acceptance made him suspect hidden motives...
"Thanks to you, I became a Creator. So this 'Creator' authority is as much yours as it is mine."
...Was it that simple?
Maybe Adora viewed the world too naively.
Not wrong, but it wouldn't help her survive the harsh Abyss.
Even if she'd used the "Black Witch's Pinky Finger" he obtained to become a Creator, wielding that authority was her responsibility.
Thus, it couldn't all be his.
'Too complacent.'
A degree of selfishness was essential for surviving the Abyss.
The soft-hearted and weak had all died.
You had to protect your rights and look out for your own interests.
Seeing Adora's carefree attitude inexplicably tightened his chest.
He would never say something like that.
It created a weakness for himself.
It even carried a nuance of concession.
If there were no ulterior motives, she was far too naive.
'Concessions are a luxury.'
In the apocalypse, Park Chan-woo had clung ever tighter to what was "his."
Even if it wasn't earned through his sole effort, once it was in his grasp, it was his— that mindset had carried him through.
At this rate, he'd have no trouble pushing for 7:3 or even 8:2 instead of 6:4.
...Hold on.
If he could raise his share, why not?
It meant more coins, faster growth.
Success could bring a windfall.
Her territory was his anyway, and his investment would dwarf hers.
Adjusting the split seemed fair.
...Hmm.
Having sorted his thoughts, Park Chan-woo spoke.
"I was thinking 6 for me, 4 for you, but I've changed my mind."
"Mm. This land is yours. If you're investing too, adjusting the split is only natural."
Adora nodded.
She'd thought 6:4 was generous already.
With borrowed land and barely 50 coins, what claim could she make?
Park Chan-woo agreed, but his thinking diverged slightly.
"How about 5:5?"
"...Not 6:4?"
"On second thought, 5:5 feels right. I have the land and coins, but I can't make a 'Creation Abyss' alone. And you'd handle all the maintenance too."
He made the impossible possible.
That alone warranted half the share.
He could've demanded more.
That's why he proposed 5:5.
He'd even considered yielding up to 70% max.
Creating a Creation Abyss didn't end with making it.
Adora would handle all management.
How grueling that was—how much oversight it demanded—just look at the "Second Night."
Even mighty Aheta had done nothing amid all the interference.
The intruder, "Black Dragon Ataraxia," appearing was sheer luck.
She drew open aggro, letting him roam freely.
Without her, he wouldn't have reached Khan's Palace so swiftly.
For a fleeting moment, Adora's expression softened.
Her face was as coldly impassive as ever, but perhaps a hint of warmth crept in.
"Understood. We'll do that."
Adora replied.
Still a crisp answer.
But the moment she finished, her face reverted to its usual chill.
'Did I imagine it?'
Or maybe it was his fancy.
Look at that icy visage.
Ask a hundred passersby, and all would say, "Cold as frost in the fifth lunar month."
He cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking.
"...I'm planning to invest about 100 coins."
"A hundred?"
"150 to properly fill it out. I'll invest more if needed."
"...You sure?"
This was humanity's first challenge.
He'd be the first human to meddle in a "Creation Abyss."
One heavily influenced by him, no less.
This investment was a steal.
If it went as planned, he'd reap far more coins.
Adora needed coins to make a name in the Abyss too.
To expand territory, craft more "Creation Abysses."
In a word...
"Win-win."
"Win-win?"
"Means our interests and benefits align."
Impossible alone, but possible with Adora.
They needed each other.
Of course, he had confidence.
Park Chan-woo.
In the past, he'd been one of the strongest, fifth to hit Level 99.
Started late, rose fastest.
Why?
'No one matched my Abyss completion rate.'
He'd experienced more Creation Abysses than anyone in humanity.
Chaining them day and night, unbound by anything.
So he was confident.
Confident in victory.
Confident in success.
'I'll make it perfect. Look forward to it, Creators.'
Park Chan-woo curled one corner of his mouth upward.
A week had already passed since the "Second Night" ended.
The world was quieter than expected.
No massive Abysses had erupted since.
The number of Abysses itself had dwindled.
No one knew why, but for those who'd been bled dry daily, it was welcome news.
It was that shocking to the Creators.
The Moon's Lord Aheta defeated in a mere "Second Night."
Not just any defeat—a total rout.
Unprecedented.
Creators who'd bet on Aheta took massive losses.
The Creator community was ablaze.
All venting disappointment in Aheta.
But at the center was "humanity."
Humans.
How had such an inferior, frail race defeated the "Moon's Lord"?
Until they confirmed it, they couldn't recklessly link Creation Abysses to Earth.
That was why the number of Creation Abysses spawning on Earth had dropped.
Still, their amusements continued—just not through Creation Abysses.
Betting, instead.
Ironically, fewer Creation Abysses meant more Creators betting.
Nothing beat the thrill of finding stimulating, fun ones to bet on and win.
Betting on Earth's Abysses let them probe humans too—a twofer.
As Creators scoured Earth for remaining Creation Abysses...
A few Creators took interest.
No new Abysses were being created on Earth currently.
Not until they understood Aheta's total defeat.
The responding Creator—
No, Adora posted on the "Creator Community."