Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: The Third Night (3)
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Humanity had learned from past experience that the "Night Trial" began on nights when the full moon rose.
Even though the first and second nights had recorded high survival rates, the participants knew better.
"One wrong move, and we're all dead meat!"
"Don't even think about entering."
"Don't even look at it!"
"If it weren't for Savior Lee Hyuk-soo, we'd all be goners!"
If Lee Hyuk-soo hadn't slain the Dragon God General on the first night, 1.98 million out of 2 million participants would have died.
If he hadn't achieved the "sole accomplishment" on the second night, at least 800,000 out of 1 million participants would have perished.
...The Night Trial was dangerous.
It was the Abyss that allowed the most entrants—and the one where the most could die.
Even if the first two times were sheer luck, whether a third miracle was possible remained unknown.
Especially since even Lee Hyuk-soo himself advised against entering the Night Trial unless one was confident in their abilities.
Of course, plenty of people pushed back against that claim.
"What about all the people who got stronger thanks to the Night Trial?"
"Every survivor from the second night got a Platinum Box, right?"
"They're just trying to hog all the power for themselves."
"You think we can't see through their greed for exclusive rewards?"
"Ugh, that pisses me off!"
The gap between those who had entered and those who hadn't only widened.
The caliber of rewards from the Night Trial was beyond what most Creator Abysses could match.
In particular, the Platinum Boxes that every survivor of the second night obtained were credited with raising humanity's average strength by a full level.
Countless high-grade equipment had flooded the market as a result.
Among them, a tiny few had even scored "Legendary" gear.
But they'd sucked up all the honey for themselves and now had the nerve to tell others not to enter?
"Super Blue Moon!"
"It's a festival!"
"No participant limit!"
"Jackpot!"
The moment the full moon rose.
The "uninitiated" who checked their messages cheered in delight.
All previous Night Trials had participant limits.
And this wasn't just any full moon—it was a Super Blue Moon!
It was a total festival atmosphere.
On the other hand...
Those who had experienced the Night Trial began to grow anxious.
Disaster alerts flooded phones across Korea.
Loudspeakers blared warnings, and every TV channel urged people not to enter the Night Trial.
If masses entered the third night and suffered near-total annihilation, it wouldn't just be a national disaster—it'd be a global catastrophe.
"...We're backed into a corner."
Abyss Disaster Center.
The hub monitoring real-time Abyss status across Korea's map.
Lee Hyuk-soo muttered under his breath inside the center.
His eyes turned to the massive screen.
It displayed live feeds of every identified Abyss in Korea and their surroundings.
Minister Park Sang-min, standing beside him, nodded gravely.
"We've made considerable preparations, but..."
Pursuing the Incarnation Alliance, recruiting talent, preparing for the third night.
They'd done it all meticulously, but no one had foreseen this.
Just looking at the moon granted entry to this hell.
...With no participant limit, no less.
"How many will enter?"
"...We're assuming around 1.5% on average."
"Even without a limit?"
"......"
Minister Park Sang-min fell silent.
They hadn't accounted for that scenario.
Even 1.5% of 50 million was 750,000 people.
And that was with limits in place—once full, entry was blocked.
Without limits, entrants could pour in nonstop for five days.
"5%..."
Minister Park Sang-min murmured softly.
Lee Hyuk-soo frowned.
"That's 2.5 million in Korea alone?"
"...That's the minimum estimate. Who knew the Platinum Boxes from the second night's survivors would backfire like this..."
The Night Trial's reputation had improved.
It seemed worth challenging.
The rewards were too good relative to the survival rate.
Abyss powerhouses were treated like VIPs on Earth.
High levels or gear naturally elevated one's status.
Thus, the Night Abyss was a land of opportunity.
Whoosh!
"We need to end this as fast as possible."
Lee Hyuk-soo clenched his fist tightly.
He couldn't rely on the Prophet again.
This time, he'd handle it himself.
He'd grown considerably stronger in the meantime.
Minister Park Sang-min shook his head.
"Why divide us into factions?"
"The first night scattered the Twelve Divine Generals worldwide. The second divided us into 'Hunters' and 'Fugitives.' Probably..."
"Probably?"
"War."
"...!!!"
War?
Forcing humanity to fight itself?
But it made sense.
Past nights pitted designated groups against each other.
Sticking to that pattern meant inter-faction warfare.
"Then we should all join the same faction..."
Minister Park Sang-min ventured cautiously.
Pool our strength to fight together.
But Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head.
"We need to send people to every faction."
"Why?"
"Playing into the Creator's hands will get us all killed. We absolutely cannot move as they expect."
He'd learned from the Prophet.
They had to forge their own path.
Strike the Creators from behind to survive.
"You mean to stop the war?"
"Yes."
The Creator planned to fracture humanity into warring factions.
So, prevent the war outright.
"Heading to the Warrior faction?"
"Yes. That's where the most people will be."
"Then the Abyss Safety Division will move separately. We'll distribute by class."
"Good luck, Minister."
"...Let's all survive and meet again."
Minister Park Sang-min's expression hardened.
Lee Hyuk-soo bowed briefly to the minister before heading out.
"Let's go, Han Min-oh."
"Yes, Master!"
Around the same time.
Demon Merchant Dagon was briefing Park Chan-woo on the intel he'd gathered.
"Aheta has advanced the Super Blue Moon's appearance."
"Faster than expected."
"He's trying to wipe out humanity, that Aheta!"
Dagon cried out in shock.
Super Blue Moon.
Aheta's secret weapon to remove Night Trial entry limits.
But... Super Blue Moons only appeared when Aheta targeted a world for annihilation.
Park Chan-woo nodded calmly.
"He's planning to summon the Temple of Death, then."
"Yes! ...Yes? Ah, exactly. He's definitely trying to summon the Temple of Death to Earth."
Temple of Death.
The worst Abyss humanity had failed to conquer in the past—not even entering it.
They'd lost to the gatekeeper, Anubis.
It was then designated a forbidden zone, entry banned.
But the Temple of Death had only been used as a Creator Abyss until now.
Dagon meant something entirely different.
'Guiding the entire Earth into the Temple of Death.'
The Super Blue Moon existed solely for that.
The whole world would be drawn into the Temple of Death and perish.
That explained the "festival" in the message.
'A festival for demons.'
Not humanity's—for the demons.
The world's demise would flood them with coins.
'Summoning a Super Blue Moon means war between humanity and the Temple of Death.'
A war with death itself was beginning.
Defeat would summon death to Earth.
...Fleeting memories flashed through his mind.
'The orcs fell the same way.'
When he consumed the Full Blood Potion, ten thousand orc souls joined him.
They'd perished due to the Temple of Death.
Defeated in war against death.
'You've crossed the line, Aheta.'
Crossed it too far.
Forcing Park Chan-woo to stand his ground.
But...
'You'll have to risk just as much.'
Defeat would cost Aheta astronomical losses.
The sheer number of entrants was on another level.
High survival rates alone could bankrupt him.
Still, something puzzled him.
"But why divide into factions? It's just humanity versus death anyway."
Dagon tilted his head too.
Death's forces outclassed humanity.
They stood no chance.
Current humanity was weaker than the orcs.
"Probably to balance things before the war starts."
"Ah, right... Aheta doesn't have authority for a one-sided slaughter."
Many Creators had their eyes on Earth.
If Aheta unilaterally destroyed it, backlash was inevitable.
Aheta was just the Night Game's creator.
Two failures meant he needed the most entertaining show yet.
A blatantly unbalanced game would only disappoint.
Dividing factions was likely to create that balance.
"And to draw me out."
"...You mean you, Contractor?"
"Yeah."
He'd already seen through Aheta's intent.
The bastard was openly provoking him.
'The message mentioned Mystery.'
Proof Aheta had checked the Mystery Codex.
Otherwise, no need to mention it.
He planned to track down the one who took Baal's Belt and kill him.
"Got the shop permissions?"
"Yes. Authority to run a 'target shop' secured."
"Good work."
Demon merchants would thrive in the third night too.
No way they'd miss this festival.
This kept channels open for close cooperation with Dagon.
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
'He thinks I'm an Archmage.'
He'd expect entry into the Mage faction.
Traps galore to identify him there.
Obvious without looking.
But he wasn't just any mage.
Park Chan-woo looked up at the sky.
Ding!
The third night was viciously brutal.
Not just ordeals—it even incited war among humans.
Aheta had gone all-in.
And Park Chan-woo accepted the bet.
'Anubis, huh.'
Conveniently, he had a similar entity with him.
His Radiant Anubis, Poong-shil.
Park Chan-woo took a deep breath.
With quiet fury, he entered the third night.
At the same moment.
Ding!