Chapter 166
Chapter 166
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: The Third Night (17)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the blink of an eye, the Pandarian King's form vanished like a lie.
There was a tale that those who died in the Abyss would turn to smoke as their souls headed to the "true heavens," but in this case, not even a wisp of smoke remained.
Obliteration.
He was gone for good, in the literal sense.
Even summoning the "Soul Reaper" and performing a ritual would be pointless.
'I... never asked his name.'
Facing this utter loss, Park Chan-woo's eyes trembled faintly.
Come to think of it, the Pandarian King hadn't asked for his name either.
He hadn't seemed curious at all.
It was probably the King's consideration.
A natural farewell, without any lingering attachments.
A resolve that there was no need to remember someone who would soon vanish.
'The mountain of ascetics where the Arhats gather.'
...That was where the last survivor of the Pandarians was, wasn't it?
But what should he say when he got there?
Should he relay that the soul of the nameless Pandarian King said, "You were right"?
'If the Demon-Sealing God's Chalice is the emblem of the Heavenly Demon...'
It had no physical form, yet it was undeniably etched into his mind.
If he could prove it, he could converse smoothly with the Arhats and the other "last survivors."
'A promise is a promise.'
Park Chan-woo slowly shook his head.
Right now, there was something else he needed to check first.
'Hall of Fame, huh.'
'Did the system have something like this?'
The problem was that it was a name he'd never heard before.
He'd never heard of anyone ascending to the "Hall of Fame" either.
Sure, some creators in the Abyss had made their own "halls" to rank things, but this was the first time an official system-wide ranking hall had appeared.
Park Chan-woo focused his gaze on the phrase "Hall of Fame."
And then...
It was similar to the "Mysteries Codex," yet different.
The Codex let you register unknown Abyss "mysteries" for valuation and show them off to other seekers.
But the "Hall of Fame" seemed to involve real gains and losses based on rank.
'Transcendent Abyss!'
The most crucial part was the end.
There was definitely a place called the Transcendent Abyss.
It had existed since the Abyss awakened, a land demons couldn't conquer.
No lord dared touch the territory controlled by mysterious Transcendents, hence the name.
'Humanity reached it once, too.'
But they gained nothing from it.
No one earned the Transcendents' recognition.
Humanity had retreated, leaving it as just another enigmatic Abyss region.
Why the Transcendents existed or why their recognition mattered remained unknown.
Who would've thought fame was the key to their approval?
"...Sepiro."
Was this guy an attention-seeker like Han Xin?
Sepiro's name popped up everywhere.
He flaunted his acquired mysteries endlessly in the Codex, too.
...Who knew he'd stake his claim here as well.
'No Great Nine Lords, though.'
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
Demon kings and gods appeared occasionally, but none of the "Great Nine Lords" were listed.
They probably had no need to bother with the Hall.
Absolutes who scorned Transcendent recognition.
Hard to imagine them submitting to judgment.
Sepiro the Dragon God? He was the unpredictable wildcard everyone acknowledged.
He did whatever he wanted, ignoring others' gazes.
'No Aheta either.'
But the Moon Lord Aheta's absence was surprising.
He'd led countless worlds and races to ruin.
Such deeds apparently held little honor.
Park Chan-woo shifted his gaze.
'Immortal Crest.'
Suddenly, a cape lay in his hand.
The Demon King of Karmic Flames' fall had forcibly summoned his crest.
With "100" marked on it, this was surely the rank indicator.
📛 Name:Immortal Crest📜 Description:A special crest granted only to those ranked in the 'Hall of Fame'. Effects vary by rank. Equipping activates 'True Honor'. Wearers are recognized by 'Transcendents' as honorable.
✨ Effects:
(1) Rank 100 reduces all 'damage taken' by 1%.
(2) Rank 100 boosts all 'attack power efficiency' by 10%.
(3) Rank 100 increases all 'equipment levels' by 1.
(4) Higher ranks enhance these effects.
"...Huh."
Damage reduction, attack efficiency, and even boosting equipment levels?
"That's insane."
The effects drew an involuntary gasp of admiration.
If rank 100 was this good, what about the top ones?
If power scaled with rank, Sepiro with the #1 crest must have unimaginable gains.
'All three options are broken.'
Damage reduction items existed, like the armor-exclusive "physical damage reduction."
But nothing reduced all damage.
No equipment Park Chan-woo knew had such an option.
Same for overall attack efficiency boosts.
No stat surges came close.
And finally...
'Full equipment level boost!'
The standout feature.
Another way to overcome negative levels.
And it was forced elevation.
It added even past level caps.
Forcing a breakthrough of limits.
...Immortal Crest.
Utterly mad.
Now he had reason to climb the ranks.
His fame was firefly to their suns, but he'd catch up somehow.
'Demon King of Karmic Flames. Must sting bad.'
Losing the crest to dethronement? Infuriating.
Park Chan-woo shrugged and turned to his final check.
The Jewel of Wisdom.
It had crystallized instantly upon taking it from the Pandarian King, becoming the "Radiant Sage's Stone."
A related window appeared.
📛 Name:Radiant Sage's Stone⚙ Level:-72⭐ Grade:Eternal📜 Description:The most beautiful Jewel of Wisdom passed down by Pandarian Kings. Crystallized into a 'Sage's Stone'. Equipment level +1 via 'Immortal Crest'.
✨ Unique Options:
(1) +2 Intelligence per level raised. (+52)
(2) Lends the Sage's Eyes and Wisdom.
Treated as a tool, not equipment.
Straightforward description and options.
Yet each was extraordinary.
'Unlike the Mage's Stone, it applies retroactively.'
The King's obliteration bumped it +2 levels.
From -99 to -73 now—26 levels gained total.
Mage's Stone gave +1 mana per level after acquisition.
This included all prior levels.
And double the boost, no less.
'Lends the Sage's Eyes and Wisdom. What does that mean?'
Option 2 was unclear.
What eyes? What wisdom? How?
He'd learn heading to Zone 4.
...A攻略 guide had appeared.
"...Comrade. Did you purify Zone 3 alone?"
Kankun couldn't hide his shock at Park Chan-woo, who emerged after soloing the 'Pandarian King'.
As seen in Zones 1 and 2, only slaying the zone's apex allowed progression.
He and the orcs had done nothing—meaning Park Chan-woo handled it all.
"The next zone is the last. Let's move."
He didn't affirm outright, but it was as good as confirmation.
'...Truly unfathomable guy.'
Kankun gave up trying to understand.
Park Chan-woo was always like that.
He'd climbed the Tower of Pride in bizarre ways, too.
Who'd guessed he'd alternate between Adora's and his zones?
Same here.
Park Chan-woo forged paths.
Those who couldn't follow couldn't grasp his methods.
'Zone 4. Probably thief-type monsters.'
Kankun and the orcs tensed.
Zone 3 passed without battle, but Zone 4 would differ.
The final zone, right before the Outer God.
Swish!
"M-my sword!"
"Who's there?!"
Then it happened.
Ork screams echoed everywhere.
Their gear was being stolen and destroyed.
'...Invisible. Moving in stealth.'
A monster with masterful stealth.
Stealing and shattering equipment—likely to prepare for the "Outer God."
Stripping them bare before arrival.
Couldn't allow irreverence like wielding weapons before a divine being.
'I'll find you.'
Kankun closed his eyes.
If eyes failed, sense the presence.
Soon, he located it—and was stunned.
'Reaper...!'
A Reaper!
Elusive phantoms impossible to catch.
Too fast for sensing.
Even faster post-chimera fusion.
Natural predators to clumsy orcs.
'...Break through these?'
By arrival, all orc gear would be gone.
Maybe even his.
"Everyone, behind me."
In a flash, Park Chan-woo stepped forward.
Flutter!
He donned the "Immortal Crest."
"True Honor" activated, bathing him in golden light.
The Reapers flinched at his presence.
'Needed a powerful presence, right?'
But this wasn't enough.
Park Chan-woo intended a mightier aura to quake all of Zone 4.
Scaring Reapers from even approaching.
Huuuuw!
He drew a deep breath.
And unleashed.
'Baleful God's Roar.'
Kuuaaaaaang—!