Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Aheta's Fury
-----------------------------------------------------------------
While Lee Hyuk-soo opened his eyes to a new world...
Park Chan-woo watched him, drawing inspiration from the sight.
It was a new realization called enlightenment.
What was enlightenment in the first place?
'A blessing.'
But blessings didn't come to just anyone.
Only those who treated the Abyss with sincerity, those who held firm to their convictions without losing themselves, could reach the realm of enlightenment.
It never visited those who walked only the easy paths, refused to learn, or couldn't accept the truth.
In other words, Lee Hyuk-soo embodied sincerity.
Both in his attitude toward the Abyss and in how he faced himself.
He approached it all with unwavering seriousness, without a hint of jest.
'Enviable.'
Anyone who didn't feel a pang of jealousy watching him would be lying.
He had talent, but his open mind made it possible.
The current Lee Hyuk-soo was like a blank white sheet of paper.
It absorbed everything written upon it.
The exact opposite of Park Chan-woo.
He knew too much now to reinvent himself.
He had witnessed humanity's downfall from beginning to end.
Knowing so much meant he couldn't step into enlightenment over trivial matters.
Regression had given him an advantage, but excess information had become poison.
In the end, he could only build on what he already had.
The days when a single word from another could spark enlightenment were long gone.
If Lee Hyuk-soo was blank paper, Park Chan-woo was pitch-black parchment.
"......"
Soon, Lee Hyuk-soo's eyes, now open, shone far clearer than before.
Like a high monk who had forgotten worldly troubles.
With a gaze full of spirit, he looked at Park Chan-woo and spoke.
"Thank you, Prophet."
A few casual words tossed his way.
That was all it took for Lee Hyuk-soo, who had grasped the truth, to express his heartfelt gratitude.
"...It's not something to be that thankful for."
Park Chan-woo shook his head slightly.
Honestly, it wasn't worth such profound thanks.
'Is he embarrassed?'
Park Chan-woo's averted gaze and demeanor were quite unexpected.
He seemed shy about receiving gratitude.
Lee Hyuk-soo realized he'd misunderstood the Prophet all this time.
He'd pegged him as arrogant, indifferent to others' views from their first meeting.
'I thought he lived in his own world. Turns out he's more humble than I expected.'
Lee Hyuk-soo chuckled inwardly.
For the first time, he sensed 'humanity' in Park Chan-woo.
The Prophet could feel embarrassment too—he was just like any other person.
Besides, those few words weren't trivial to Lee Hyuk-soo.
As the Prophet said, it was like a top ranker sharing golden tips with a newbie just stepping into the world.
Obvious to the ranker, but revolutionary to the newbie.
Priceless knowledge, born only from experience.
Information worth a fortune, given freely without strings.
Of course, Park Chan-woo knew it worked because he'd tried it himself.
But everyone else in humanity still lacked even basic awareness of that single word's difference.
Thanks to this, Lee Hyuk-soo started on a path higher than others, one that let him soar.
"...Then let's get going."
After a brief silence, Park Chan-woo spoke up.
Every minute, every second mattered.
They'd already lingered longer than expected.
No one knew how much time hunting traces of the Legendary Quest, 'Ancient Being,' would take.
Everything ahead was truly unknown territory.
"Follow me. It's going to be a tough journey."
"Hm? No need to form a party?"
"Just tag along."
"Ah, right... The level gap makes partying impossible anyway."
The level difference for partying was 10.
Lee Hyuk-soo had it all wrong.
He assumed his low level prevented partying with the Prophet.
What face would he make learning the truth was the opposite?
Park Chan-woo's level was too low for a party.
Park Chan-woo turned and walked ahead.
'Aheta won't just sit idly by.'
This 'Second Night' domain belonged to Aheta.
But before Aheta claimed it, the 'Ancient Being' was its master.
Unable to kill it, Aheta had sealed it away with 20 shelters.
That meant one thing.
'The Ancient Being. A monster even Aheta couldn't easily slay.'
So Aheta wouldn't welcome its seal breaking.
He'd interfere somehow.
Park Chan-woo unfurled the 'Masterpiece Map.'
Something that never happened before.
An unknown challenge he'd never faced!
Nothing excited his heart like the word 'unknown.'
And success would deal a massive blow to 'Lord of the Moon Aheta.'
How thrilling a journey.
"Keep up."
Park Chan-woo set off at a brisk pace toward the new 'question mark' on the map—the presumed trace of the Ancient Being.
The place where all creators gathered to share opinions.
The 'Creator Community' was ablaze.
Category: Earth.
Posts about that world, in the midst of its Second Night, updated at breakneck speed.
At first, negativity dominated.
They mocked the plan to unleash masses of doppelgangers in the Second Night, copying human data to uncover hidden 'potential.'
Foolish, a coin sink.
Earth had conquered Pride, but its humans seemed utterly worthless to them.
Especially compared to the Twelve Races—like fireflies before the sun.
Doppelgangers were costly magic beasts to raise.
Massing them screamed coin waste.
Of course, their 'copying ability' was top-tier.
Uncover hidden potential via doppelganger, and you'd rake in coins.
Monopolize premium intel.
But could they find 'talent' surpassing the Twelve Races?
Not everyone agreed.
Even one mutant talent among humans would do.
Find it, copy the brilliance.
That's why the doppelgangers.
Worth billions in investment if successful.
Just then, as pros and cons clashed evenly...
An unexpected problem.
A random intruder.
Quick action needed.
If the intruder disrupted Second Night, invested coins could vanish.
But they couldn't intervene directly.
Only host 'Lord of the Moon Aheta' could meddle mid-game.
They could only peek via contract avatars or read result 'messages.'
Aheta had to hunt and erase the intruder himself.
Investors were frantic.
Losing all coins to an 'intruder' would be catastrophic.
Some compensation from Aheta, but not full refund.
Aheta was just as desperate.
This was a massive investment, not pocket change.
But then...
Mountains upon mountains of trouble.
Another issue exploded posts across the board.
Creators invested in Second Night's Abyss received 'messages' too.
Announcing a Legendary Quest's activation.
Implications were huge.
Especially targeting 'Lord of the Moon Aheta'—the community ignited.
Legendary Quests were rare trials in 'named creator' domains.
Prime examples: 108 Demon Kings, 72 Demon Gods, Great Nine Lords.
Aheta wasn't in those groups but was a uniquely special case on their level.
Thus, able to trigger Legendary Quests.
But named creators hated them in their territories.
Why?
The community overflowed with mockery.
Clear the Legendary Quest, and the clearer claimed the 'territory.'
Losing land to mere humans? Utter humiliation!
If it happened, Lord of the Moon's prestige would hit rock bottom.
Why creators watched with glee.
More flocked to 'Earth' and 'Second Night.'
Curious about the outcome.
Flash!
In that instant...
The moon hanging in the night sky of 'Second Night' finally opened its eyes.
Bloodshot eyes, brimming with fury.