Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Third Night (27)
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Lee Hyuk-soo thought to himself.
"There are many strong people in the world."
For example, there were the hidden masters who trained in seclusion without revealing themselves.
People who practiced their own martial arts in mountains, seas, deep forests, and such places.
They could certainly be called strong.
...Until the Abyss appeared, that is.
But after the Abyss emerged, the standard for "strength" had changed.
Those who only trained could never defeat someone who consistently challenged the Abyss.
"Class, level, equipment, skills—all of that became the new measure of power. It's a privilege granted only to those who challenge the Abyss, something unattainable through ordinary training alone, the one way to surpass human limits."
By honing martial arts and challenging the Abyss, one could stand out.
They could grow stronger faster and level up more quickly.
But if they only trained without ever challenging the Abyss, they could never break past "human limits."
...The Abyss was a place that allowed humans to transcend their limits.
Thanks to the things obtainable only there, people could fly through the skies, shatter mountains, and cleave seas.
Imagine a level 1 practitioner who had honed themselves to the extreme fighting an ordinary person who had leveled up to 10 in the Abyss.
Who would win?
"The level 1 practitioner couldn't beat the level 10 ordinary person."
It had become common knowledge.
That was why people desperately tried to level up.
In the Abyss, "level" was the absolute standard of strength.
There might be rare exceptions with insanely bad odds, but in Lee Hyuk-soo's view, such cases were less than one in ten thousand.
Thus, the premise that "higher level means stronger" was clear.
So something was off.
"A high level means a lot of Abyss experience. And a lot of Abyss experience means they've been exposed to others that much more."
Created Abysses were tackled by countless people together.
Stand out, and you'd inevitably catch eyes.
Most of the world's top rankers, as they were called, were known to everyone.
Like a needle in a pocket.
Try to hide it, and it still poked through.
Moreover, since they were talents vital enough to count as national power, nations were bending over backward to gather info on these "strong ones."
...But.
"Park Chan-woo has never been properly exposed. Quietly leveling up without ever hitting people's lips—impossible in the Abyss."
Park Chan-woo's name was utterly unfamiliar.
Wasn't that strange?
To top every test in the Warrior faction meant he was incredibly strong.
Even "Gula," who taught the Taiji Swordsmanship in the second test, had acknowledged Park Chan-woo's strength.
Gula had praised him endlessly, saying he'd been beaten.
Something that couldn't happen unless his level was exceptionally high.
For someone that strong to have never properly revealed himself until now?
...No way.
News about rankers reached you whether you wanted it or not.
Turn on the TV, browse internet communities, or just step out on the street—everything was about them.
Normally, you would've heard the name "Park Chan-woo" ages ago.
Yet no one had.
Even the Abyss Safety Bureau hadn't tracked the name.
First time hearing it was from Han Min-oh here.
"The only exception is the Prophet."
The only strong person unaccounted for in the world was the "Prophet."
The Prophet hid himself thoroughly.
Lee Hyuk-soo was helping keep the Prophet under wraps.
Without him, people would've been suspicious of the Prophet's existence everywhere.
...But the methods were too different.
Park Chan-woo didn't hesitate to reveal himself.
His actions were nothing like the Prophet he knew.
Also, the Prophet was closer to a mage.
Whereas Park Chan-woo had chosen the "Warrior faction" and beaten Gula with a sword.
"Park Chan-woo. Who are you?"
He just couldn't figure it out.
Was Park Chan-woo the Prophet?
Or another strong one who'd never appeared before?
He needed to confirm.
Then, a sudden thought flashed by.
"The person in the 'temple' right now..."
Is the Prophet.
At least that much was certain.
He'd completed the Legendary Quest, achieved the unique feat, and bankrupted the Moon's owner, Aheta.
A chain of miracles no human could accomplish.
The only being capable of all that was the Prophet.
And the Prophet was now at the front of the "Temple of the God of Death."
If Park Chan-woo was there, then he was the Prophet.
"Wh-where are you going, Master?"
"Head back first. I have something to check."
Ignoring Han Min-oh's shout, Lee Hyuk-soo broke into a mad sprint.
Toward the Temple of the God of Death.
He had to confirm it.
Moments later, upon reaching the temple entrance.
...Lee Hyuk-soo spotted the man standing there.
"You...!"
Of course, chaos erupted.
Especially on Earth.
A newborn dimension bankrupted in just three months.
But the most unbelievable part was elsewhere.
That was why Aheta had amassed such immense wealth.
Night manager.
It was authority handed directly by the Demon Gods.
Managing Nights was more tedious than it seemed.
Opening Nights in every newborn dimension to maintain balance required diligence.
So minor "rule breaks" were overlooked.
Fraud for investments, manifesting personally in one's Created Abyss—usually just a warning.
But if.
The Demon God herself had punished Aheta directly?
"You've all heard the news by now."
A massive castle.
Inside, a long oval table.
Dozens of demons sat gathered, staring at one man.
A man with an eagle-like face and sharp fangs scanned them as he spoke.
"It's true—Aheta was punished. Demon God Gremory acted personally."
"Demon God Gremory?"
"The 'Recluse'?"
Murmurs rose around the table.
Other Demon Gods were known, but especially Gremory—no one in the Abyss hadn't heard of her.
Famous for never appearing at external events.
Demons who'd seen her could be counted on one hand.
Yet Gremory had come out?
To punish Aheta, no less?
"Exact reason's unknown. But the other Demon Gods seem pretty troubled by it too. Thanks to that—"
The man grinned and continued.
"We have a shot at appointing the next Night manager from our side."
"Ooh!"
"Finally!"
The demons cheered.
Night management was every demon's dream.
But the Demon Gods had appointed directly, so no chances until now.
Even lords superior to Aheta could only lick their chops.
Touch Aheta, and it'd be seen as rebellion against the Demon Gods.
"This proves the Demon Gods admit picking Aheta was a mistake. He was easy to handle but too dumb. Wasted that huge Night authority on personal greed, never even used it properly..."
Aheta was infamous as a "newborn dimension hunter," but it was more mockery.
Proof he'd gutted the "goose that laid golden eggs" countless times.
Night authority was immense.
Periodic chances to create vast Created Abysses.
Influence spread was inevitable.
Appointing a new manager would shake the stagnant Abyss profoundly.
In short, the signal flare for a massive upheaval.
With Demon God Gremory punishing Aheta herself, other Demon Gods wouldn't dare interfere lightly.
"Then let's begin the 'Demon King Conference.'"
At last, the Demon Kings began to move.
The buzz wasn't limited to demons.
"The Abyss is in an uproar."
"That arrogant Moon's owner Aheta is done for?"
"Puhaha! Isn't that great!"
The news spread to all dimensions linked to the Abyss.
Even to the strongest beings called the Twelve Races.
Aheta's bankruptcy was that shocking.
No one mourned his "death."
Countless races were throwing festivals over it.
And among those who heard was "him."
"......"
Dragon God Sepiro.
He, who had divided himself into tens of millions, hundreds of millions for analysis, opened his eyes.
In an instant, he grasped the Abyss's changes and rumors.
Aheta's bankruptcy, Demon God Gremory's personal punishment—all of it.
Even the Demon King Conference underway to select the new Night manager.
He knew it all just by opening his eyes.
"Making a fuss over nothing."
Such rumors didn't pique Sepiro's interest.
Even news of the great nine lords—he'd react the same.
Nothing short of extraordinary stirred him.
And right now, what gripped his interest most was none other than himself.
"......Found it."
He'd caught the error.
Surprisingly, it was close by.
A change utterly unexpected, unfelt.
He should've known, yet didn't.
This drastic shift.
Something he'd assumed was there... was gone.
Or rather, it vanished the moment he recognized it.
Smirk!
Dragon God Sepiro smiled.
A smile of pure innocence.
Right now, Sepiro felt unprecedented, massive intrigue.
It was precisely—
"Where did one of my hearts go?"