Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: God's Tower (18)
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Park Chan-woo was the type who had a pretty good grasp of his own nature.
He had an extreme aversion to taking losses.
When it came to achieving his goals, no means or methods were off-limits.
Sacrificing for someone else?
A life of devotion and service?
All those things lumped together under the banner of "noble spirit"—a life of selflessness—didn't suit Park Chan-woo's temperament at all.
If he had to compare it to something, it might be like a speck of dust in some distant corner of the universe, barely visible.
In other words, he was far removed from integrity, honesty, or dignity.
No matter what anyone said, the pinnacle of his life's aspirations was "total possession."
...Simply put.
-This is mine, that is mine, everything is mine.
-What's mine is obviously mine, and if something of yours seems useful enough, it'll soon be mine too.
That was his life's motto.
It was practically a mindset he had to ingrain for a stable, comfortable life in the Abyss, unshaken by external forces.
Once you tolerate a single loss and let yourself get taken advantage of, everyone swarms like hungry ghosts.
Given his solitary wanderings before his regression, there were always hyenas stalking him, eyeing him as prey.
Some pretended to be weak, others strong, some played on sympathy—popping up anytime, anywhere to exploit his confusion or lapses in guard.
'There were more than enough who tried to steal my coins and kill me for the honor.'
The one who had reached the level cap of 99.
Among all the level 99 Awakeners, he was the only one with a "Dual Class," making him an object of some reverence.
He roamed alone meticulously, and it was known he'd cleared the most "Abyss Runs," so to the greedy ones, he must have looked like a golden goblin.
Killing him would let them make a name as a "Master Slayer."
Those who hit level 99 weren't just rankers or high rankers—they were called "Masters."
And he was the world's most vulnerable "Master."
'They used anyone—men, women, young, old—to get at me. There were even lunatics who hid poison and bombs in kids to set them off.'
That was why he had no choice but to act selfishly.
There wasn't any specific organization targeting him, per se.
It was just the sorrow of the lone wolf.
Traveling solo made you an easy mark.
Even the strongest lions or tigers get hunted and devoured when alone.
So someone might ask:
-Why not form a group or join one?
The answer was simple.
'In this Abyss, there's no one you can trust.'
The Abyss's erratic nature meant no human was truly reliable.
No matter how tight-knit the camaraderie, imagine entering a Creator Abyss where "you have to kill each other to progress or escape."
If the Creator went mad and made escape impossible, could you really all walk out alive without a single death?
He'd seen it happen countless times.
Division leads to annihilation.
If you were like Hyeon-sin, casually shrugging off others' deaths and sacrifices, it wouldn't matter.
A guy like that would just kill all his allies and survive alone.
But he couldn't do that.
He wasn't as unhinged as Hyeon-sin.
If you couldn't be ruthless or wicked enough, better off alone.
And so, Park Chan-woo always repeated his motto in his head.
He sought to grow stronger.
That was why.
When "good gear" or tools appeared before him, his eyes would glaze over.
If there was even one decent piece of equipment up in the heavens, he wouldn't rest until it was in his hands.
He was blinded by power.
A scoundrel who moved only for his own desires.
That was how he defined himself: Park Chan-woo.
'She thinks I'm Sepiro.'
Arcana was mistaken.
He didn't know why Arcana, the leader of the Despair Clan, was calling him "Dragon God Sepiro."
'Maybe because of Ataraxia?'
She might have seen Ataraxia behind him and jumped to conclusions.
Perhaps there was some kinship as fellow members of the Despair Clan.
This was a golden opportunity.
The dragon heart was right there.
The ultimate material any mage would covet.
Snagging both the kirin's horn and the dragon heart from God's Tower?
Perfect.
Over ten ideas for what he could do with it immediately sprang to mind.
It was certain to turbocharge his growth.
He blocked Chronos and approached Arcana.
There was no lofty spirit behind this action.
'Time to play Sepiro.'
Just like with Ataraxia, he'd mimic Dragon God Sepiro.
But as he tried to act, something held him back.
Confusion flooded his mind.
'...Sepiro has no compassion.'
Compassion.
He never pitied those in distress.
Not even his own kin.
In a way, Sepiro was even worse than Hyeon-sin.
Sepiro would curse or belittle Arcana here.
So what should he do?
—D-Dr... Sa... Sa... ve... m-me... You... ha-ve... Lo... rd... Se-pi-ro...!
...This pitiful dragon.
This monster who had believed in and waited for Sepiro through eons.
The one who abandoned herself, believing Sepiro would save them all!
...How should he treat her?
Confirming the hidden backstory only solidified it.
She was honorable.
A dishonorable man now faced a noble one.
Park Chan-woo was selfish.
He wasn't used to acknowledging or comforting others.
He'd been thoroughly alone, and it suited him.
'I can't do it.'
Yet.
He couldn't play Sepiro.
What this pitiful beast needed was a word of comfort.
Something Sepiro would never do.
If he only wanted the dragon heart, he could just demand it and tell her to scram.
That would be the most Dragon God Sepiro-like response.
But ...
"You did well."
He couldn't.
Because he wasn't Sepiro.
Different from Hyeon-sin, different from the frenzied masses at the end times.
Park Chan-woo ...
In truth, he wasn't heartless.
Even as the Abyss eroded the world into madness.
Even when Creators started twisting Abyss content from "overcoming trials" to focuses on "betrayal," "treachery," or "rebellion," treating humans like toys.
He'd grown sick of those meaningless deaths and chosen isolation.
It was the same reason he valued strength without becoming a fanatic.
Park Chan-woo abandoned the act.
He just wanted to comfort this pitiful dragon.
Even if it stemmed from delusion.
Even if he wasn't the real Sepiro.
"I will never forget your noble will."
In that instant.
Arcana's soul began to resonate with his.
Mana wavelengths intertwined.
In this moment, Park Chan-woo's soul grew even nobler.
So what?
It didn't matter.
Saying what he wanted.
Doing what he wanted, achieving it.
That was the only reason he'd regressed.
"Arcana, leader of the Despair Clan. Your sacrifice saved all dragons."
At the same time, the dragon of despair, Arcana, regained her true form.
If only for a fleeting moment.
Arcana had held onto herself until the end.
She hadn't forgotten who she was.
That was exactly what Park Chan-woo desired.
One's original heart.
It was then.
Holy Spirit Magic Elysion was different from ordinary spells.
It didn't advance simply through high mana or enlightenment.
Until now, he'd been mistaken.
He'd thought absorbing curses would eventually strengthen Elysion.
'The nobility of the soul.'
That was the only way to empower Elysion.
Nobly forging his soul.
The Abyss's curses, the tales of the failed.
Acknowledging them all and being acknowledged in return would gradually ennoble Park Chan-woo's soul.
And that wasn't all.
His eyes trembled faintly.
'Easter Egg.'
The eggs that had followed him merged.
Combining into one, completing "Easter Egg (003)."
An epic.
Concluding the story turned it into a divine stigmata.
'God's Stigmata...!'
The problem was the descriptor before it.
God's Stigmata.
In other words, "Easter Eggs" were indeed traces of the Creators.
His hypothesis confirmed in reality.
With trembling heart, he checked the third divine trace.
A long passage appeared before his eyes.
Land of the Golden Hen?
A name he'd never heard before.
But right now, checking "Easter Egg (003)" that followed was more pressing.
"...!"
...He hadn't thought it was insane for nothing.
An option that boosted box star ratings?
He'd never even heard of it.
Something everyone dreamed of but could never exist in reality.
Yet here it was.
Easter Egg. As a sacred trace of the gods!
'No way?'
He hurriedly checked his inventory boxes.
And nearly fainted.
'...Every single one's grade has gone up by one tier.'
Each box had an extra star.
The most eye-catching among them?
'7-Star Platinum Box.'
The 6-Star Platinum Box from clearing floor 20 now had an extra star.
Ha.
Not even a 7-Star Gold Box—a 7-Star Platinum Box.
Hadn't even Arhat's Golden Mystery come from a 7-Star Gold Box?
And moreover.
Right before his eyes, visible only to him.
'...Combination Area.'
...A "Combination Area" remained, where he could merge all boxes into one ultimate box.