Chapter 88

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 88

Chapter Title: Aether's Robe

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Kreeeech!

Ego clashed against True Chronos's scythe. Seizing the opening as his gaze shifted toward Se-bin, I deliberately fired Ego just past his cheek.

The bullet grazed his cheek. Crimson blood trickled down his face, snapping his head toward me.

"You... filthy worm!"

Boom!!

'He took the bait.'

True Chronos's eyes flashed fiercely as he swung his scythe upward from below. I evaded instantly with the harpoon gun.

But he closed the gap in a flash.

Upward from below, then a diagonal slash rightward from above, followed by a horizontal sweep. I summoned my shield, deflecting each assault bit by bit, and his patterns emerged.

I deliberately dropped into a slight crouch. True Chronos furrowed his brow and gripped his scythe low, slashing upward once more.

Clang.

My shield shattered, white motes of light sparkling between us.

'As expected.'

He was avoiding overhead slams. He was clearly hung up on failing to yank the scythe free from the ground back in phase three.

And the fireballs? Sealed away—he hadn't even glanced at them. Phase four boiled down to neutralizing that scythe and ending him in one shot.

Crunch.

"Gah!"

True Chronos drove the butt of his scythe handle into my gut.

"Pathetic."

'Air...!'

The sudden blow sent my body tumbling backward. I rolled several meters.

My lungs burned like fire. Ribs definitely cracked—100%. If I was lucky, maybe just fractured.

I lifted my head. True Chronos loomed over me, scythe raised high. One slam now, and he'd win. Yet he hesitated.

In that case...

"Yeah. Just kill me already."

'Time to make him drop his guard.'

I sprawled out spread-eagled, practically begging him to smash me flat. True Chronos smirked, as if it was ridiculous.

Swish.

He finally wound up for the overhead strike. Eyes locked on the razor-sharp blade, I tightened my grip on Ego.

"Farewell."

Whoosh!

True Chronos's massive scythe plummeted toward my head like lightning.

Boom!!

I conjured a shield on instinct, angling the blow toward the ground. The shield cracked wide open, but the scythe didn't pierce my skull. A storm of black dust whipped up as the blade slammed inches from my head.

"Wha...!"

Thud!

I leaped atop the scythe. My weight drove it even deeper into the earth.

"You... foolish... grk!"

"Finally caught you."

Straddling the scythe, I seized True Chronos by the hair. Panicked, he could only thrash the weapon fruitlessly.

Click.

I jammed Ego right against his face. His eyes bulged like they might pop.

'Ego, hit him with the big one.'

'You got it.'

Bang!!

Ego unleashed a thunderous shot, as if avenging me personally. True Chronos took it point-blank, no chance to dodge.

Woooong—

The air shuddered violently, sweeping away every speck of dust around us. True Chronos's face exploded like a dropped statue, his body crumbling in its wake.

Crackle.

His form dissolved into powder, the scythe melting into a viscous sludge. As he vanished, I dropped to the ground, legs giving out completely.

"Aghhh..."

"Ji-ui!"

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"

The earlier blow to my gut throbbed unbearably now. Cha Do-yun Hunter hurriedly applied Sky Breeze for treatment, but it only dulled the pain—nowhere near enough to mend the shattered ribs.

'Hope Simmani's holding strong.'

I pulled up my status window and checked the blessing first.

Thank goodness—I'd cleared it within the duration.

♪♩♬

Lips clenched, breaths ragged, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when a beautiful harp melody suddenly filled the air.

I raised my head. Angels with enormous white wings descended from the heavens, their bodies shimmering like stardust. They flew past Zeus, gathering around me.

"We couldn't deliver it to Lady Themis again."

"Lady Themis won't accept it. What choice do we have?"

"But if we tell her we failed again, Lady Gaia will surely be furious!"

'Never seen this pattern before...'

I remembered getting the item straight from Zeus and heading out the gate. Now these angels were putting on a little skit.

"Wait, I have an idea."

"What is it?"

Swish.

'Huh...?'

A soft cloth draped over me. Tilting my head, I saw a faintly sparkling white fabric.

"Let's give it to this human—he looks the most like Lady Themis!"

Keeeeeng—

Swish.

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter, don't tell me this is...?"

"Ha, haha..."

'Jackpot.'

Aether's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Robe. An item that had never surfaced in countless timelines—now in my hands.

Crunch.

"Ugh!"

First things first: fix these ribs.

The sharp pain stabbed with the slightest movement, vision swimming.

'River Styx, activate.'

Drip.

A water drop hit the surface. Just like that, the agony across my body vanished.

I shot to my feet and probed my ribs. No pain—in fact, they felt sturdier than before.

"Your body's okay?"

"Yeah... this item's got a healing skill. Time-limited, though."

I answered Cha Do-yun Hunter and scooped up Aether's Robe from the ground. It radiated an untouchable sanctity.

A quick glance at the others—they wore identical expressions of awe.

'Let's try it on.'

It could shift forms at will. I stowed my jumper in my inventory and draped the robe over my shoulders.

Fwaaash—

Visualizing something like my jumper, the robe began to glow.

Thump.

It transformed into a pristine white hooded jacket. Slipping it on, it fit like a glove—so light I felt naked.

"Nice catch."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter chuckled and turned toward the gate first. The others hurried after.

Flashbulbs exploded through the rift as Ha Mi-jun Hunter pried open the gate—blinding even to glimpse.

"They're back!!"

"Woooow!"

"Phew~"

"Congrats!"

Cheers and gasps assaulted my ears. The auto-translator struggled; some lines spat out in foreign tongues.

"Is that what he's wearing?"

"More modern than I thought."

"Wasn't it just cloth on the broadcast?"

"Top-grade item. Shape-shifting's par for the course."

Snippets about Aether's Robe floated over.

"Congratulations!"

A Greek Hunter Association staffer appeared with a bouquet. As Cha Do-yun Hunter fumbled to take it, Ha Mi-jun Hunter shoved a timer at the staffer.

The staffer glanced at it, eyes widening, then grabbed the mic.

"Announcing the official clear time."

She held the timer aloft for the cameras.

"The dispatched team from the Korea Hunter Association has cleared the Greek S-rank Dungeon in 4 days, 21 hours, and 15 minutes."

Shutter clicks rained down like a summer storm.

4 days and 21 hours... A full day faster ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than the prior record. Proof our all-out, do-or-die focus had paid off.

'And Aether's Robe is the biggest haul.'

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter! Is the item you're wearing Aether's Robe?!"

A woman's voice pierced the camera scrum. The Greek staffer thrust a mic my way; I took it.

"Yes, it is."

"S-rank?"

"Will you register its info?"

"Any special traits? Please share!"

The legendary robe drew more buzz than the time attack record.

Sharing dungeon item details was hunter etiquette. It helped pinpoint hidden loot or decode dungeon quirks.

'But not ready to spill yet.'

First time seeing this item myself. No clue on penalties—or if certain hunters might come sniffing. Blabbing now could invite trouble.

"Haven't fully checked it out yet. I'll consult the Association and share what I can."

Best to defer politely. My measured words thinned the reporter barrage.

"Well done. You're growing up."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter's praise warmed the back of my neck, oddly itchy.

Screeech.

"Whoa!"

"What the?!"

"Driver lost his mind?!"

Suddenly, our minivan barreled past the press, screeching to a halt beside us. I stepped back with the others, staring. The door flew open.

The Hunter Association staffer who'd driven us here was inside.

"Hunters!"

"Yo, prince. Bit aggressive for congrats..."

"You need to head home now!"

'What?'

Face ashen, the staffer panted before continuing.

"A new S-rank Gate has appeared in Gapyeong!!"