Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Super Jackpot
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Park Chan-woo smiled as he gazed at the messages popping up one after another before he knew it.
'Incredible.'
He had achieved far more certain results than expected.
The moment he accepted the pact, victory was sealed.
No matter how much the gatekeeper Azos struggled, it was inevitable.
A warrior who had never experienced negative levels had no chance of defeating him.
However, something unexpected had occurred.
'Azos lost consciousness and clearly saw something. The instant he surpassed zero's domain and touched negative levels.'
Of course, Park Chan-woo himself existed in that negative level domain.
But he hadn't crossed through it step by step like Azos had.
When he regressed and opened his eyes, he was already at -99.
There was bound to be a clear difference from Azos, who had descended level by level from 0.
He was extremely curious about what it was, but Azos couldn't speak.
In other words...
'...Something he shouldn't see, something he can't even put into words.'
What could frighten a warrior who had reached the 10th realm?
A pact etched into the soul, no less.
He had inscribed a new pact offering his soul right before the Messenger of Pacts.
The soul meant the entirety of one's existence, so naturally, this contract ranked far higher than a typical pact.
Wasn't it intriguing?
Park Chan-woo felt like he was going mad with curiosity.
What on earth was this thing he couldn't see or speak of!
Absolute submission.
Even in a state of utter obedience, the gatekeeper Azos had sealed his own lips.
Did that mean his obedience was false?
'The evidence is that I even got a title.'
Park Chan-woo focused on his newly acquired title.
Title: Subjugator of Valhalla's Warrior
Description: You subjugated Valhalla's warrior, gatekeeper Azos, down to his soul. As long as this title exists, Azos will absolutely obey within Khan's Palace. Moreover, he will instinctively fear the title's owner. Deep in his soul.
A title that forces submission on someone.
Extremely unique.
The existence of the title proved it wasn't fake.
Yet he still couldn't speak...
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
'Something above even the Messenger of Pacts?'
The messengers who governed Abyss's balance and rules.
Could there be something above the supremely powerful Messenger of Pacts?
The Messenger of Pacts was a monster that could rival named Creators.
He glanced sideways.
Where his gaze landed.
There.
Tremble tremble tremble tremble!
...stood the gatekeeper Azos, shaking like a leaf as he stared at him.
Who would believe this Azos was Valhalla's warrior?
His eyes were those of a fawn facing its natural predator.
Azos was undoubtedly feeling fear toward Park Chan-woo.
'Just looking at him, the title seems to be working fine.'
Even with the title active, he couldn't speak.
Forcing his mouth open might cause some backlash.
So, for now, he decided to pull back a step.
"Move on to the next trial. Lead the way."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Azos nodded vigorously and turned around.
Afterward, he advanced slowly, escorting Park Chan-woo like a bodyguard.
A level 99 slave... no, bodyguard.
'Reliable.'
He hadn't figured out what lay beyond zero's domain, but this was good enough.
The immediate priority was clearing 'Khan's Palace'.
Park Chan-woo followed confidently behind Azos.
Passing through the entrance, they entered the next room.
"......Huh."
"What the hell are these contribution points...?"
Park Chan-woo marveled, and Lee Hyuk-soo was equally stunned.
He too had earned contribution points by clearing the trial.
"How many did you get?"
"...Two million points."
Even Lee Hyuk-soo, devoid of emotional fluctuations, couldn't hide his surprise at suddenly gaining 2 million contribution points.
While Lee Hyuk-soo got 2 million, Park Chan-woo had snagged a whopping 20 million.
A simple tenfold difference.
Why the gap?
'Thanks to the Masterpiece Map and the Secret Destroyer's qualification, I can earn up to 20 times the contribution points.'
This trial alone yielded 1 million base points.
Lee Hyuk-soo got double due to his qualification, while Park Chan-woo got twenty times.
This surpassed the total contribution points Park Chan-woo had amassed in the 'Second Night' so far by a wide margin.
'Twenty million from the first trial.'
Even more astonishing was that this was just the beginning.
He had cleared the trial with a solution method that didn't exist before.
A basic trial passable just by presenting the key.
Who would think to subdue the gatekeeper and make him a subordinate, even if defeating him in battle?
The same would hold for the rest.
Clearing trials with Azos would naturally count as 'non-existent solutions', racking up extra contribution points continuously.
'...Jackpot.'
Not just any jackpot.
A mind-blowing super jackpot.
Gatekeeper Azos was one of the mightiest warriors even within 'Khan's Palace'.
True to his name, Azos never strayed from the palace entrance.
When he appeared, the warrior overseeing the next trial tilted his head.
"...Hm? Azos, why are you here?"
"There's a situation. Sorry, but step aside."
"Hold on. You're abandoning the palace entrance to interfere with my trial?"
"...There's a situation. Sorry."
Azos gripped his spear.
The second trial was 'making the warrior inside the circle move even a single step'.
However, the level of the second trial's warrior was worlds below Azos's.
At best, level 80.
Not even comparable to level 99 Azos.
The moment he swung his spear with intent...
Krummble rumble!
The palace shook.
His spear tip surged forward with overwhelming force, gouging the path it took.
A thrust that powerful and swift.
"You mad bastard...!"
The victim couldn't help cursing.
But to survive, he had to move.
The warrior quickly stepped out of the circle and scowled.
"...The Great Khan won't forgive this. Gatekeeper Azos!"
"The Great Khan will understand."
Azos shook his head.
The Khan was a conqueror.
A being who once made even Abyss's demons tremble.
Though sealed after defeat by the Moon's Lord Aheta, he was no one to be underestimated.
Above all, the Great Khan loved and respected 'irregularities'.
He would surely understand Azos's circumstances.
Moreover...
...that challenger behind him.
He couldn't defy that human's words.
'Even turning around terrifies me. Frightens me. I've never felt this in my life.'
A fear he'd never known on any battlefield was now carved into his entire body.
Azos couldn't even think of looking back.
Obeying orders and advancing was all he could do.
Absolute obedience!
If word got out that Valhalla's elite warrior had submitted to a mere human, he'd face ridicule from all.
'...That challenger isn't human. Something far more inscrutable. A being that shouldn't exist, can't exist—an unknown monster.'
Beyond zero's domain.
One who wielded the negative domain freely!
Existing in an endless abyss.
If what he saw was true...
'What lies even deeper, at the very bottom?'
Shudder!
His body trembled again.
God-like entities.
Not just the demon gods dwelling in Abyss.
Daring to say, existences far more complex than those.
Moreover, Azos had only seen down to minus 44.
That human was much deeper.
At the very bottom.
'Don't think. Don't recall.'
Azos shook his head repeatedly.
He had to forget.
Better to erase it from his mind.
Otherwise, he'd lose his sense of self again.
"The gatekeeper's gone mad!"
The warrior clicked his tongue and retreated.
The second trial cleared effortlessly.
Crossing the door once more...
Already 40 million points.
"...Is it really okay to farm contribution points this easily?"
"I told you. Carve your own path."
Park Chan-woo shrugged at Lee Hyuk-soo's question.
Untrodden paths weren't enough.
In the Abyss, creating entirely new paths was the way to reach the top.
Plus, it wasn't bad for Lee Hyuk-soo to rack up points too.
Even if ten times less than his own, 4 million was VVIP level at the Contribution Shop.
If Lee Hyuk-soo grew strong and became humanity's savior, he could perform well in the 'Racial War' too.
Not being a solo battle, Park Chan-woo couldn't handle everything alone.
And this wasn't the end.
"Azos. How many trials to reach the end of 'Khan's Palace'?"
Azos answered cautiously to Park Chan-woo's question.
"...Ten."
"Insane."
Lee Hyuk-soo blurted out in admiration without thinking.
Ten trials.
Eight more to go!
Though he didn't show it, Park Chan-woo was just as shocked.
'Clear them all like this, and it's 200 million contribution points.'
200 million exceeded his initial goal.
"What happens if we conquer all ten trials?"
"If all are cleared, the 'Great Khan' will unseal and appear."
As expected.
Now he understood the intent of these trials.
The journey of the key-bearing challenger to the 'Great Khan'.
Reaching the Khan would offer even greater contribution point opportunities.
On par with everything earned so far.
'Khan's Palace. At least 300 million points.'
300 million.
Dizzying just to imagine.
He couldn't even guess what rewards awaited for wrapping up the 'Second Night' with 300 million points.
'Brace yourself, Aheta.'
Suddenly, the Moon's Lord Aheta weeping vividly flashed in his mind.