Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Achieving a Mythic Feat
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Park Chan-woo was one of humanity's five strongest.
He was the fourth to reach the level cap of 99, and among all level 99 Awakeners, he alone possessed a "Dual Class," making him an object of awe.
Yet no matter how much he achieved the level cap or equipped legendary treasures, he could never defeat a "species lord" like Dragon God Sepiro.
They simply existed on a different plane.
"Humans can barely scrape into the Tenth Realm at best, but species lords are monsters of at least the Thirteenth Realm."
They used the term "realms" to describe such overwhelming power.
For example, the First Realm equated to human levels 1 through 10.
Humanity's maximum level of 99 meant they could never surpass the Tenth Realm, no matter how strong they grew.
In reality, without completing a "Realm Breakthrough Quest" every ten levels, no further leveling was possible.
It was a climb, one grueling step at a time.
But the lords of the twelve species, the "Twelve Species Lords," were different.
They were monsters of at least the Thirteenth Realm.
In level terms, roughly 130.
A gap of over 30 levels made victory impossible, of course.
And even a difference of just 10 levels drastically reduced the odds.
109 levels?
"Not impossible."
Park Chan-woo was a mage.
Though he had taken up magic late in life, he was one who pierced through truths in his pursuit.
A mage's path was to turn the impossible possible, then layer even more possibilities atop what was already feasible.
So.
"It looks impossible... but there's potential."
He wouldn't overlook even the slimmest chance.
The greater the trial overcome, the greater Abyss's rewards.
Bridging a gap like this—what reward might it yield? He couldn't even imagine.
"Hey! Park Chan-woo! What the hell are you doing there, you bastard!"
It was then.
A man was charging toward him from nearby.
He had a sturdy build and a vaguely familiar face.
"Who was it again?"
Park Chan-woo furrowed his brow.
Then he nodded.
"My old boss at work, I think."
Twenty-seven years old. Around this time, Park Chan-woo had been working at a company.
A securities firm in Ilsan, where his boss had constantly berated him over poor performance.
He'd quit a few months later due to bad results, but regretted not leaving sooner.
It had left him with severe depression and social anxiety.
"Right. Kim Byung-han."
Now it all came back.
The first Abyss had opened during a weekday lunch break.
He'd been taking a walk in the park near the office when it pulled him in.
Kim Byung-han must have been caught for similar reasons.
Though he hadn't run into him specifically during that first Abyss.
They'd both been too busy hiding, so it made sense.
"Chan-woo, you okay? Not hurt anywhere?"
Kim Byung-han approached, his tone laced with concern.
His eyes flicked briefly to the Dragon Slayer Blade.
"Damn it. I need a weapon to protect myself."
After the Abyss opened, the park had turned into hell.
Monsters had burst out, slaughtering people left and right.
Every hiding spot was packed, so staying put meant getting eaten by one eventually.
That's when he spotted Park Chan-woo.
His subordinate by the lakeside, clutching a massive sword.
With that blade, he'd be invincible.
He could drive off the crowds and claim a prime hiding spot.
In the worst case, he could use it to fight monsters—or feed Park Chan-woo to them.
The kid might have a big sword, but he was timid and introverted.
"Lucky break. Finding a pushover like this here."
To Park Chan-woo, Kim Byung-han was nothing more or less than a mark.
A little coaxing, and he'd do as told.
"It's dangerous, so let's stick together. Yeah? Stay here, and that monster'll gobble you up."
"Long time no see, pig."
"Pig...? What the hell?"
Shing.
Park Chan-woo raised the Dragon Slayer Blade and pressed it close to Kim Byung-han's throat.
"Gah...! What the fuck, you little shit? It's me! Your team leader, Kim Byung-han!"
It was a sword with perfect form, even if its attack power was a measly 1.
Kim Byung-han had no idea it belonged to a level -99 wielder and shrank back.
"P-Park Chan-woo! What the hell are you doing? Drop that sword right now!"
"Scream, and the Fallen Ghosts come. Keep yelling if you wanna get eaten."
"...!"
Kim Byung-han clamped his mouth shut.
Then he stared at Park Chan-woo in disbelief.
"Did he take something? Why's he suddenly like this?"
This was uncharted territory.
Park Chan-woo had always obeyed without question.
Whenever stress built up, he'd embarrass him, berate him: "You're useless to the company—pack your shit and get out."
He'd never pushed back once.
That coward was now holding a blade to his throat.
"Chan-woo, come on, let's talk this out..."
"Forward."
"...Huh?"
"If you wanna live, go forward."
Poke, poke.
He jabbed the blade tip into Kim Byung-han's occiput.
"What the fuck is this guy doing?"
Kim Byung-han glared at him in fury for a moment.
And then.
"W-What?"
He quickly averted his eyes.
He'd locked gazes with a cold, abyss-like stare he'd never seen from Park Chan-woo before.
No emotion at all.
Not a hint of agitation in this situation.
"Was he... always like this?"
No. Park Chan-woo was weak. In a crisis like this, he'd panic and faint from sheer frailty.
But this Park Chan-woo seemed like a total stranger.
More like a ghost or demon. Had the Abyss driven him mad?
"O-Okay. I'll go. I'm going."
Kim Byung-han shuffled forward slowly.
Kieeeek!
A Fallen Ghost's cry echoed from not far off.
Poke.
"Forward."
"Th-There's a monster right ahead..."
"For-ward."
Was he actually insane?
No way he'd drag them both down to die!
"Crazy bastard...!"
Kim Byung-han bit his lip.
Shouldn't have come over.
Who could've guessed Park Chan-woo was this far gone?
But he couldn't refuse.
Park Chan-woo held the hilt.
A few more steps, and then.
"Aaagh!"
"Gurk...!"
Two nearby people—a man and a woman—met their end at a Fallen Ghost's claws.
He watched it happen live.
Kim Byung-han froze, unable to move further.
His mind went blank white.
That was the moment.
"Ah, ah..."
Their eyes met.
The Fallen Ghost's.
Kii, kiiieeeek!
The Fallen Ghost switched targets.
It charged straight at Kim Byung-han.
"D-D-Death!"
His legs gave out, and he collapsed.
He pissed himself and squeezed his eyes shut.
"As expected. It can't perceive me at all."
In a flash, Park Chan-woo stood before Kim Byung-han.
Thanks to using him as bait, it was confirmed.
Even at this close range, the Fallen Ghost only had eyes for Kim Byung-han.
He even stepped back a bit on purpose, but the target didn't change.
All eight eyes fixed solely on Kim Byung-han.
"One last check: whether it perceives me even if I attack."
Non-Existence.
Its lack of presence was confirmed.
Next: whether his very existence registered upon attack.
"Hey, pants-pisser. If you wanna live, scamper off like a dog that way."
Park Chan-woo pointed to the lakeside.
"H-Hiaaaagh!"
Kim Byung-han finally snapped to and scrambled up, bolting in the indicated direction.
Kiiieeeek!
The Fallen Ghost veered after him.
Park Chan-woo steadied his breath.
And as it barreled past him.
"Fallen Ghost's weak point: just below the navel."
A conduit for mana flow.
The softest spot—a solid punch could deal serious damage.
Park Chan-woo slashed the Dragon Slayer Blade precisely below its navel.
Clang!
"......"
The blade bounced off.
"What the...?"
He couldn't believe it.
A sword, no less—and not even a scratch? It just repelled entirely?
The nightmare combo of Strength 1 and Attack Power 1.
His shoulder throbbed like it might dislocate.
Kik?
The Fallen Ghost halted and cocked its head.
It must have felt something hit it—hard not to stop.
The Fallen Ghost turned to Park Chan-woo.
"I offer the Dragon Slayer Blade as sacrifice to empower my strength for 10 seconds, O God of Offerings."
The God of Offerings did not respond.
Instead, a system message in the same vein appeared.
Sacrificing a high-grade treasure for a mere 10 seconds of enhancement.
With his rock-bottom base stats, it yielded a substantial boost.
"The contract still holds."
It was a pact forged in his soul.
As long as his soul endured, the God of Offerings had no choice but to heed.
"Resurrection tribute, though?"
One mystery: the phrasing about tributes for "resurrection."
Kiaaaagh!
...No time to dwell.
The Fallen Ghost had finally fully perceived Park Chan-woo.
Crisis.
But crisis bred opportunity.
Park Chan-woo gripped the Dragon Slayer Blade at an angle.
Breath's distance. No missing now.
He thrust with all his might below the navel.
Stab!
The blade sank deep.
He twisted it viciously.
Kiaaaagh!
The Fallen Ghost screamed.
But it didn't die.
He had to end it within 10 seconds.
Stab!
Splat!
Blood splashed his face.
Even as it blinded him, he didn't stop.
He swung relentlessly, pulverizing the weak point.
Stab, slash, twist, stab again.
In just over 10 seconds, Park Chan-woo's body was drenched head to toe in the Fallen Ghost's blood.
Thud!
Finally, it collapsed.
And at that instant.
The blade's form faded, then disappeared.
But that wasn't the end.
The backlash hit hard.
As tension released, his entire body cramped in agony.
He couldn't endure it.
Park Chan-woo sprawled flat on the ground in a 대 shape.
"Urgh...!"
He couldn't even twitch a finger.
For a moment, he wondered if he'd die like this.
As his mind began to drift away.
What?
Me, dying in 500 days?
Park Chan-woo screamed internally but lacked even the strength to open his mouth.
This was worse.
Worse than he'd imagined.
Still, they say good follows bad.
Endless messages scrolled by.
Staring at them, Park Chan-woo could muster only one word.
"...Huh."