Chapter 140

Far in the past, in Elemensia. The otherworlder known as Gauntlet had overcome countless hardships and was gradually adapting to this new world. And then, several years later.

While exploring a dungeon, he chanced upon an old man. Somehow, they ended up traveling together, and at the moment the old man's life reached its end, Gauntlet inherited one of his unique abilities.

A unique ability was a power that only one being in the entire dimension could possess. In other words, no two users could have the same ability—until the user died or passed it on to someone else.

Back to the point. The unique ability Gauntlet received was called Equivalent Confrontation.

The Equivalent Confrontation ability allowed the user to unfold their personal domain, the Field of Balance, and forcibly invite a single opponent into it for a duel on equal footing. It didn't matter how strong the opponent was. Even a higher god couldn't refuse an invitation to the Field of Balance.

That was the nature of Equivalent Confrontation—an absolute power designed so that no one could decline the challenge.

Of course, there were limitations on who could be invited. Only opponents stronger than the user themselves.

But it wasn't an ability that could be used without limit. There was a cap on the number of times it could be activated after acquisition.

Anyway. Once the opponent was drawn into the Field of Balance, they would duel. If the user won, they permanently gained a power matching the defeated foe's level.

Not the opponent's exact abilities, but something equivalent—a force that settled into the user proportional to the victor's strength. For example, if the user had talent in magic, they'd gain amplified magical power; if in superpowers, those would be enhanced instead.

But if they lost? The user's very existence would be erased.

To put it simply: fail to win an Equivalent Confrontation, and you die. The opponent faced the same fate, naturally.

When Gauntlet received the ability, he had asked the old man why he was passing it on to him specifically.

"Why give a power like this to me?"

"Because my days are numbered anyway."

"That doesn't feel like the whole story... There are plenty of other people around. There must be some reason you're choosing me."

"You brat. When an elder offers you a precious gift, just accept it gratefully. Why all the questions?"

"It's too suspicious to just take it blindly. Sure, I'm grateful for a unique ability when I have nothing—but I at least want to know the reason."

"...You're a real pain. Fine, I'll give you the short version, so listen up. There are three more reasons I'm passing this to you."

The old man, who had once reached S-grade hazard level with his unique ability in his youth, briefly served as a hero before retiring early to live quietly as an adventurer, plopped down on the spot. Then he explained the additional three reasons.

First: Gauntlet, like himself, was a pure physical fighter who relied solely on the strength of his body. The old man judged it too risky to pass his ability to someone who wielded magic or superpowers. Simply growing stronger physically was fine, but amplifying magic or superpowers to a higher level could lead to unpredictable power surges—potentially birthing some outrageous ability that shattered the world's balance and laws. That's why he chose Gauntlet, a fellow physical specialist, as his successor.

Second: Having traveled with Gauntlet, he'd assessed his character. A successor's personality was crucial. If a twisted individual got this power, Elemensia could face catastrophe. In the old man's eyes, Gauntlet wasn't the type to harm others without reason. Most people grew arrogant with sudden immense power, but Gauntlet? His physical growth was abnormally fast even compared to others. With proper training, he'd progressed at an insane rate—a clear sign of exceptional talent.

Yet there wasn't a trace of arrogance in him. No petty ambitions either. In a world rife with betrayal, death, war, and slaughter like Elemensia, he dreamed only of escaping to his original peaceful world to... play some game or whatever. All things considered, Gauntlet was the ideal successor.

Finally, the third reason.

"...Above all, Gauntlet, you're my one and only disciple, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

"It's only natural for a master to pass a fine ability to his pupil. I'd hardly relish handing it to a stranger. For the record, I received this from my own master."

"Wait, hold on. Master? Disciple? What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why would I be your disciple?"

Gauntlet had seen the old man as nothing more than a companion. He'd never once thought of him as a master. The old man felt differently, of course. He'd viewed Gauntlet as his disciple from the start.

"What nonsense is this? You've been my disciple since we started traveling together."

"You've never taught me a single thing. How could you be my master without any instruction?"

"Such things don't matter between master and disciple."

"I thought teaching was the key part of that relationship..."

"Don't sweat the small stuff. Anyway, remember this: the ability has a limit of five uses. Don't forget."

Ignoring Gauntlet's dumbfounded look, the old man pressed on.

"And don't go charging off to face the Demon King or Archdemon right after getting it. At your current D-grade, you'd die before even activating it. Aim to steadily build up to A-grade—strong enough to stand before an S-grade without losing your mind. That's my recommendation."

The old man added that, then gazed at Gauntlet and reiterated.

"Take it slow, absorb foes from the lower ranks step by step, and you'll reach S-grade in no time."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Then for the finale, use it on an S-grade monster?"

"No. Don't exhaust all your uses like I did. Always save at least one."

"Why? Isn't S-grade the world's strongest?"

"I thought so too. But there's always something above."

"You're not saying there are things stronger than S-grade, are you?"

"...Recent intel suggests there are SS-grade threats. Unconfirmed, mind you. They hide their power normally, but your ability should pierce right through it."

"I've never encountered one before... but yeah, if I did, I'd know instantly. If they're deliberately concealing it, the hazard reading would trigger."

"Anyway, time to transfer the ability. It might fail if you're tense, so relax completely. Embrace it like you're welcoming the outside world."

Finishing the talk, the old man placed his hand on Gauntlet's heart and began the transfer. About three hours later, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was done.

"Did it work?"

"Yes, it's complete. All the power I gained from it is gone now."

"Your hazard level has dropped, yeah. But I don't feel any different..."

Gauntlet bowed his head, prodding his body here and there.

"Hmm... You said five uses, right? That's not too few, so mind if I test it here?"

"How? There's no one to use it on."

Gauntlet stared blankly at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠old man. With a sigh, he said,

"Planning to kill me?"

"Oh, right. Using it means one of us dies. Guess I'll head into the nearby forest and find something stronger than me."

"Since it's your first time, I'll come along. Hesitation from doubt could cause a failure. Better to have a spotter just in case."

"Thanks."

Gauntlet bowed politely, then lifted his head and scanned the old man's body slowly.

"But even after transferring it and losing that power, you're still B-grade? Were you B-grade before getting the ability?"

"Before receiving it from my master... 50 years ago, I was D-grade. But I trained diligently for 15 more years after, preparing for the day it might vanish. I didn't feel much growth, but seeing you now, my pure strength must have improved independently."

The old man smiled in satisfaction, quietly pleased with his own latent talent.

"You gave up training for the last 35 years, huh... Anyway, I shouldn't rely on the ability either. Gotta keep training steadily, just in case."

As they headed to the forest, Gauntlet realized something odd.

"Wait... Didn't you say you used up all five? Starting from D: C, B, A, S... That's only four."

"Even same ranks have power gaps. I used it twice on A-grades."

"Oh, right."

"Your head's gotten fuzzy lately. Don't neglect your brain amid all that body training. Oh, and I forgot one detail: if you don't use the next Equivalent Confrontation within a year of the first, you lose all remaining uses."

"You save the most important part for last... Wait, doesn't that make saving the fifth impossible? Even spacing them yearly maxes at five years."

"Hm. Now that you mention it... Yeah, that's why I burned through them all. Old age is messing with my memory."

"...Just checking, but no side effects like memory loss, right?"

"Don't worry. No side effects that I recall."

"After that display? Hard to trust."

"Disciple distrusting his master? Have faith."

They bantered on, heading into the forest to test the ability.

The old man had once lived a life of honor, however briefly—as a hero in his youth.

But when he helped slay the Demon King, he was cursed. The death curse left by the dying king bound him for life.

Gauntlet didn't know, but a number had been etched on the old man's chest: 13,000 days. The time he had left. A death sentence.

Realizing this, he abandoned the hero's path to seek a cure. He never found one.

In the end, he let it go. No more wasting life on a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cure. He'd retire to a quiet island nation, live simply as an adventurer, and enjoy his remaining days.

The day after transferring the ability, the number on the old man's chest ticked from 1 to 0.

Accepting his end, he reflected on his life, smiled thinking of Gauntlet's face, and quietly closed his eyes.

Gauntlet learned of the old man's death too late. No tears fell. He'd grown numb to death.

"Never thought you'd go so suddenly... I've buried you in the best place I could afford. Rest in peace."

He spent his entire savings to inter the body in the grand cemetery—reserved for the wealthy, regardless of fame.

And on the tombstone, he had this engraved:

After leaving the remote island nation, Gauntlet used his new power to rise as a powerhouse known only to those in the know.

Time flowed on. When only one use of the inherited ability remained.

While dungeon delving, Gauntlet discovered a door deep in what seemed the dungeon's heart.

As he slowly pushed it open.

Whoosh—!

His body was engulfed in blinding light, teleporting him to a stark white void.

Not beyond the door, but somewhere else entirely.

...Boss room? That door must've been a spatial transfer.

It wasn't part of the dungeon at all.

And that thing in front of me is the boss... Wait. What the hell is that hazard level...?

Gauntlet flinched, stepping back. Swallowing hard, he thought:

The dungeon boss before him was an unprecedentedly mighty monster. Time to use the fifth—and final—chance he'd hoarded for 11 months.

"Welcome. I am the Time Eater..."

"Equivalent Confrontation."

Without hesitation, Gauntlet activated the ability, unfolding the final Field of Balance.