Chapter 202
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: The Second Sub Quest
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[There is a hidden sub quest!]
[Sub Quest]
└Overcome the trial on your own without the summoner's help
└Success ▶ Immunity Potion granted
[You have completed the sub quest!]
[Immunity Potion has been granted to your inventory.]
The party members who received the sub quest reward looked stunned.
It was a message they had never expected.
“Uh, did you get it too, Black Scythe? The sub quest reward…….”
“I did.”
An unknown potion had been granted as a reward, but Ryu Min knew its value.
[Immunity Potion]
-Classification: Consumable
-Grade: Legendary
-Effect: Grants immunity to all attributes for 1 minute
-Use Restriction: Master grade or higher
-Description: A potion that perfectly resists all attribute damage. Bitter taste upon consumption.
There had once been an Indomitable Resistance Potion in the Tower of Trials.
‘It blocked 95% resistance to the three major attributes.’
This was a superior item that covered a broader range of attributes and provided 100% resistance.
Though the duration was short.
‘It’s a potion that’s hugely helpful in emergencies. Especially against strong opponents.’
Even with 95% resistance, if the opponent’s attribute damage was overwhelming, just 5% could lead to death.
‘That’s why a potion that blocks 100% is far more valuable.’
The Immunity Potion was something that couldn’t be obtained easily.
‘Even Victor might barely be able to make it once he hits max level.’
He didn’t need it now, but having it meant he’d find a use for it someday.
However, the reason the party members were stunned wasn’t just the reward.
“The quest condition was to overcome the trial without the summoner’s help…….”
It was a quest they couldn’t have gotten without following Black Scythe.
“Did you know, Black Scythe? That a sub quest would appear?”
“I’m no prophet. How would I know?”
“You really didn’t?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Ryu Min stuck to denying it despite Min Ju-ri’s questions, but that didn’t resolve her doubts.
“Then how did you know about the traps and avoid them? You couldn’t see anything except the person in front’s back…….”
“Instinct.”
“Huh?”
“I just dodged on instinct.”
It was a half-hearted answer, but Min Ju-ri didn’t press and just accepted it.
‘Well, Black Scythe does have amazing insight…….’
She could only guess that he had some kind of rune that let him detect traps.
“We’ve cleared all five trials now.”
“Not yet. One person hasn’t arrived.”
“Oh, you mean John Delgado.”
Min Ju-ri, who had been glancing at Ryu Min, finally spoke after some hesitation.
“From what I overheard earlier, it seems like things aren’t good between you two…….”
“There was an issue. It’s not for you to worry about.”
“Oh, I’m not prying. I just saw how he acts and wanted to say be careful.”
‘A level 50 worrying about a level 90.’
Ryu Min smiled faintly at Min Ju-ri.
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll be careful.”
“Oh, no. What advice from someone like me? I overstepped with my old lady worries. Of course Black Scythe won’t be in any danger…….”
“I’m human too, so danger is possible. Thanks just for worrying.”
“Y-Yes…….”
Hearing thanks twice made Min Ju-ri feel shy for some reason.
“By the way, when will John Delgado get here? Will he even come?”
“If he doesn’t want to die, he will.”
“What if he doesn’t? He might hold out to get revenge on us.”
“Don’t worry about that. He’ll definitely come.”
Even so, Min Ju-ri anxiously stared at the endless passage.
With the whole party needing to arrive before proceeding, she couldn’t help but worry.
* * *
‘What the fuck…… What’s going on?’
John Delgado stared into the passage’s darkness with bewilderment.
‘They really left? Ignoring my offer?’
Black Scythe hadn’t just ignored the words of a summoner like him—he’d plunged straight into the darkness.
Taking his own party members with him.
‘Crazy bastard throwing his life away over pride?’
Honestly, he couldn’t tell if the guy was dead or alive.
He’d tried using tracking skills just in case, but they didn’t work.
They said nothing but summons worked, and it was true.
‘He’s dead. Yeah, definitely dead.’
John was convinced.
He wouldn’t have made it a few steps before vanishing with his party members.
No matter how great Black Scythe was, he couldn’t see through the darkness, right?
‘Idiots. Dying so pointlessly because they picked the wrong leader.’
Assuming they were already dead as fact, John pulled out one summon.
“I at least need to survive.”
He led with the summon and pushed into the darkness.
If it hit a trap and vanished midway, he’d immediately summon another and find the path again.
After consuming summons to dismantle traps for 10 minutes like that.
‘I see light over there. Guess this is the end.’
Finally reaching the passage’s end, John smiled as he stepped on solid ground.
That’s when it happened.
“You’re here now? Took you long enough.”
John’s face stiffened as if he’d seen a ghost.
Black Scythe was alive.
“H-How……?”
“How did I survive? By dodging the traps and crossing, obviously.”
“…….”
It wasn’t just Black Scythe.
The other party members were staring at him unscathed.
With eyes different from before.
‘Damn it. My image is fucked.’
He had no reason to look good, but no reason to get those condemning stares either.
He wanted to yell at them to lower their eyes, but that wasn’t the issue.
The real problem was Black Scythe right in front of him.
“What was it you said to me earlier? Give you 10 million points and kneel to apologize?”
“Uh, w-well, about that…….”
“Let’s talk more after we leave here. Looks like we need to have a physical conversation.”
Realizing what that meant, John grimaced.
‘Fuck, I’m screwed.’
John regretted his past bullying without thinking of the consequences.
‘Who’d have thought Black Scythe could pass on his own…….’
He never imagined this.
‘Lucky bastard.’
He grumbled inwardly, but John didn’t know.
That he was in no position to talk about others’ luck.
[As a summoner, you arrived last in the fifth trial.]
[A penalty is imposed on you for not even considering your party members.]
[All stats permanently reduced by 50%.]
[Summon stats permanently reduced by 50%.]
“What the fuck is this?”
Seeing the message, curses spilled out loud involuntarily.
All stats permanently down 50%?
And not just him, but his summons too?
It was absurd.
Unexpected events piling up left him speechless.
“What’s wrong? Something happen?”
Black Scythe asked shamelessly, but John had no energy to respond.
His mind was blank with despair and frustration.
‘His mental’s completely broken.’
Ryu Min smirked inwardly at the plan going perfectly and looked away.
John Delgado was no threat anymore.
His stats had dropped below level 30 levels.
‘Even so, can’t just leave him be.’
He’d used him for all he was worth, so killing him wouldn’t matter.
No, considering potential backlash, it’d be better to clean him up neatly.
‘For now, check the Messiah side’s situation.’
No need to decide now, so he’d spare his life for the time being.
[You have succeeded in the fifth trial.]
[Your team’s clear time is 00:15:49.]
[Congratulations! You have passed all trials!]
[Experience rewards based on each trial’s record will be given shortly.]
[Calculating experience. Please wait.]
Soon, experience was granted to the party members.
The ones who hadn’t expected much widened their eyes in shock.
Not without reason—they’d jumped 10~12 levels in one go.
“Gasp, Black Scythe! I reached Master grade!”
“Must be level 60.”
“Me too! I finally made Master.”
“I learned a new skill!”
Min Ju-ri, Jeffrey, and Joo Seong-tak checked their skill windows excitedly.
All hitting level 60 and Master grade.
Reading thoughts, even John Delgado was no exception.
‘I only went up 1 level?’
Seeing he’d reached 91, Ryu Min chuckled.
Whatever.
He could hit max level with points anyway.
He just wasn’t leveling on purpose.
“Democracy. What skill did you learn?”
“It’s called [Buff Zone]. Should I try it?”
Ryu Min nodded, and Min Ju-ri reapplied her three-set buffs first, saying they were needed.
[All stats increased by 80% due to Bless skill effect.]
[Attack speed and movement speed increased by 80% due to Swift skill effect.]
[Safety Barrier applied.]
[Protected from 2 physical attacks.]
Enhanced buffs thanks to the grade up.
“Now, Buff Zone.”
As Min Ju-ri activated the skill, a yellow magic circle spread out beneath their feet.
A wide area-of-effect skill covering a 30m radius.
“What’s the effect?”
“While in the area, it boosts the buffs I applied by one stage. And resets the duration.”
Checking, Bless’s stat increase had indeed gone up.
‘To 100%?’
Swift was 100% too, and Safety Barrier protected 3 times.
‘In other words, buffs get strengthened like at max level?’
So what if she cast Buff Zone at max level?
Wouldn’t it go beyond 100% to 120%?
‘An incredible skill.’
Suddenly, Ryu Min looked forward to what she’d learn at max level.
He’d never let her live that long before.
‘I’ll take her all the way this regression.’
Ryu Min, smiling satisfactorily, suddenly turned serious.
His 60m presence detection picked up a lifeform reaction.
‘Who’s that?’
No one should appear at this timing when trials end.
Except the guide angel.
‘No, angels don’t enter here. They wait in the colorless waiting space.’
His loosened tension snapped tight again.
Staring rigidly at one side, Min Ju-ri asked.
“What’s wrong, Black Scythe?”
“Look over there.”
From the darkness Ryu Min watched, a figure emerged.
“An angel?”
What the party saw was none other than an angel.
One with over ten wings, each dozens of meters long.
“…….”
“…….”
The party members kept silent, gauging the situation.
They realized this was no ordinary guide angel.
Even dazed John snapped to attention at the angel’s appearance.
Ryu Min identified it instantly upon seeing it.
‘An archangel?’
Reading thoughts revealed the name.
Sariel, the rank 6 archangel—strangely giving a sense of kinship.
[You must be Black Scythe.]
Sariel drew a curved sword from between its wings in a low, rumbling voice.
[Don’t resist if you don’t want to die. I’ve been ordered to bring you quietly.]