Chapter 132
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Progenitor's Blood
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This was a very long time ago.
"He's... he's awake!"
"Whoa... he actually woke up!"
"Finn's the real deal..."
The players nearby had heard the news about Kang Seol's game board and came rushing over without a second thought.
"You cleared the Labyrinth of Trials?"
"No way... Was that even possible?"
"And it ate so many of my horses!"
"Finn! It's Finn!"
Until now, no one had ever conquered the Labyrinth of Trials.
No matter how much their stats increased, a ruin that broke the mind like the Labyrinth of Trials was too much even for the strongest horses.
Moreover, in a situation where everyone considered it foolish to send nurtured horses into a labyrinth where they risked death,
Kang Seol's eventual breakthrough left the gods in utter shock.
"The Progenitor's Blood really lives up to the hype..."
"But he hasn't even fully awakened yet, right?"
"Snowman's just operating him well, that's all."
"What's the reward gonna be? What's it gonna be? What's it gonna be?"
"Hey, quiet down a bit..."
The Labyrinth of Trials, which had never been cleared before—what treasure would it yield?
"Huh? But this..."
[Finn Modria's Quirk: Strong Goodness takes effect.]
[Finn Modria ignores the choices and acts on his own.]
[Action influenced by normal disposition.]
"Wha... what?"
"We're screwed! Finn..."
As Kang Seol clamped his mouth shut and watched the results, the gods chattered away.
"Soul Liberation?"
"Insane!"
"That blows all the rewards!"
Whirrr...
The soul blessing effect rang out.
Everyone held off on judging as a flood of bonus stats poured in.
"Huh? But with these bonus stats..."
"No, what would it have given for picking the beast?"
"Even just the Shepherd would've..."
"Soul Liberation is always a loss. This quirk just screwed it up..."
"Yeah, after all that effort, of all things..."
"Quiet, everyone. Snowman's shaking."
Kang Seol didn't rage or complain. To him, this outcome was somewhat predictable.
'Knew it might happen...'
Finn was special.
The Progenitor's Blood he'd acquired was also due to his noble heart, so it wasn't like the quirk had only brought losses.
...Why, though?'
Why had Finn made this choice? That was what intrigued Kang Seol.
It was Finn who'd endured the trials, not him, so no other emotions stirred at the odd decision.
Just curiosity.
So Kang Seol simply watched what he did.
[Finn Modria tears his clothing.]
[Finn Modria writes something on the cloth.]
[Wraps something in the cloth and places it in the Harvester's Lantern.]
[The Harvester's Lantern returns to normal.]
But even Kang Seol couldn't help being stunned by what happened next.
"Huh?"
"...What the hell?"
"Check it! Quick!"
"What's missing?"
Kang Seol checked Finn's inventory and his jaw dropped.
"...Gone."
"What?"
"What's gone?"
"It's gone..."
The item that had vanished from the inventory. It was something that absolutely could not be lost.
"The Progenitor's Blood... it's gone!"
Kang Seol unwrapped the cloth Finn had left and checked its contents.
'Finally checking it.'
What on earth was written in this letter?
- Left by Finn Modria for the ascetic. If you've found this letter, you're likely the one who reached the end of the Labyrinth of Trials and liberated the souls trapped in the Harvester's Lantern.
Finn had left this letter specifically for that person.
- First, my thanks. Thanks to your actions, countless souls trapped in the labyrinth have regained their freedom, as per the natural order and their wishes.
The content wasn't long.
- Guiding the lost is valuable in itself, but your good deed deserves reward. For that reason, I've left my item here.
Kang Seol paused reading the letter and spotted a small crystal vial.
A red liquid filled about a third of the vial, sloshing around.
- This is Progenitor's Blood. It can draw out the full potential of the blood flowing in one's body. With effort from the consumer, it will gradually reveal its true value.
The vial had originally been full. Finn, its original owner, had consumed more than half.
- But sadly, it's not a flawless power. Consuming Progenitor's Blood is an intensely painful and prolonged process. And... there are side effects.
'Side effects?'
Kang Seol's eyes widened at this first he'd heard of it.
How could he know everything happening in the game board?
All he got were interface messages.
- The more addicted to Progenitor's Blood one becomes, the more a certain will invades the mind. That will is purely good, like a young child, yet evil. If the one who obtains this item loses their center to that will and gets consumed by it, horrific consequences will follow. Even I... couldn't bring myself to touch the last of the Progenitor's Blood. Afterward, I agonized over how to dispose of it.
'...So that's how it was.'
Kang Seol hadn't known.
What troubles Finn had faced with the Progenitor's Blood.
- And after passing through this labyrinth, I decided. To leave this item here.
"......"
- I hoped that someday, one with an indomitable spirit would conquer the labyrinth and liberate all souls, and only then obtain this item. Please, use it wisely. And...
Pop!
Kang Seol flicked off the specially sealed lid of the glass vial and downed its contents without hesitation.
Gulp...
A bitter taste filled his mouth.
A thick aroma escaped from his nose, ears, mouth—every part of his body.
His whole body began to heat up.
- Someday, I hope to meet you.
Finn's letter ended there, and Kang Seol dropped the cloth used as stationery.
Thud...
Grrrrr!
"Guhhh..."
Park Chang-sik stared at Kang Seol in shock before backing away.
"Th-that's..."
Kang Seol's body floated slightly into the air.
Unable to hold back the groans any longer, he screamed.
"Gaaaaaaah!"
Crack... craaaack...
It was bizarre.
Kang Seol's missing right arm began to regenerate.
Sticky red slime twisted like threads, forming a mass. Gradually, it took the shape of an arm.
[Accepted Progenitor's Blood.]
[Progenitor's Blood ravages the body.]
[Progenitor's Blood restores the body to perfect condition.]
Sssshhh...
Like blood with a will of its own, it spewed red mist to form Kang Seol's arm—and even expelled the foul energy from within his body.
"Urgh..."
Park Chang-sik panicked, pinched his nose, and backed further away. The smell around Kang Seol felt dangerous to breathe in.
Craaaack...
"Gaaaaah!"
The sound of Kang Seol's bones realigning echoed.
[Body returns to purity.]
[Progenitor's Blood expands its domain contentedly.]
Just as it stabilized somewhat, a second shock hit.
Thud...
"Guhk..."
Whirr... whir...
Shadows stretched long behind Kang Seol.
It was Karen, Karuna, and Jamad.
Linked to Kang Seol by red lines, they writhed in pain.
"Gaaargh..."
"Gaaaaah!"
"Aaaaaah!"
[Enlightenment! Awakening new ability.]
[Persistent: Awakening Kinship.]
[All beings of Kinship have 10% increased life drain when near another Kinship member. Does not stack.]
Gurgle... gurgle...
The red lines connecting Kang Seol and his summons pulsed, spilling blood.
[Enlightenment! Awakening new ability.]
[Persistent: Awakening Progenitor.]
[Forms bloodline. Body recovery speed rises dramatically.]
[Enlightenment! Awakening new ability.]
[Persistent: Awakening Superior Bloodline.]
[Beings inheriting Progenitor's blood have all stats increased by 20%.]
Whirrr!
Kang Seol's summons reverted to shadows immediately upon inheriting the bloodline ability.
"Guhhhh..."
Kang Seol, eyes bloodshot, slowly descended to the ground.
[Progenitor's Blood flows through the Ability Tree.]
[New ability unlocked in the Ability Tree.]
"Haa..."
Kang Seol let out a shallow sigh.
Once grounded, he flexed his newly bare right arm. It moved as intended, with no issues.
[Wasn't it a prosthetic? Was hoping for some body alchemy...]
Didn't he have no arm? It grew back while I did dishes?
Come out, gadget multi-arm!
What item is this that it works instantly like that?
That's not cheating?
[Progenitor's Blood slumbers contentedly.]
[Special Achievement 'Sea of Blood' achieved.]
[Special Title 「Progenitor」 acquired.]
"Hoo..."
The Progenitor's Blood was a developable ability.
Just as Finn had tamed it to create numerous ultimate arts, this wasn't the end of its effects.
'It'll sleep for a while now, at least...'
Kang Seol gazed at the Harvester's Lantern. It was now empty.
He alternated looks between the empty lantern and empty vial.
'If I hadn't known the Progenitor's Blood was in there... would I have picked Soul Liberation?'
- And while alive, do good deeds when you can.
With Toki's words lodged like a thorn in his heart, no one could know the outcome of what hadn't happened.
"Ha..."
Next, the titles earned from conquering the labyrinth.
Special Title: Godfather
Related Achievement: What the hell (Adventure: Shared Suffering)
Special Ability: Mental magic resistance dice always +2.
Special Title: Progenitor
Related Achievement: Sea of Blood (Adventure: Shared Suffering)
Special Ability: Bloodline development speed +10%.
Feat Title: Ascetic
Related Achievement: True Trial (Adventure: Shared Suffering)
Special Ability: Greatly increased chance for newly created abilities to become ultimate arts.
'All solid effects.'
He'd felt acutely in this battle how much mental magic resistance dice affected fights. A flat +2 was excellent.
'Progenitor ability... bloodline-related.'
Makes sense after drinking the Progenitor's Blood.
'And the Feat Title.'
This was his first Feat Title as a Shadow Summoner.
Unlike First Achievement titles, these were earned by completing the feat regardless of order—and the effects were tremendous.
'Though the difficulty was brutal...'
With titles checked, only one step left to exit the labyrinth.
Clink.
A tiny box formed at Kang Seol's feet.
Like a ring case.
Click.
Kang Seol opened it to find a ring inside.
[Labyrinth Gift confirmed.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Ability points acquired.]
[Beggar's special ability activates.]
[Additional ability points acquired.]
[Ascetic's Seal (Harvester) acquired.]
[Wondrous Discovery! New form of relic discovered.]
[Your meager wisdom cannot comprehend this relic.]
'The labyrinth pass...'
Across the continent, there were countless labyrinths beyond just the Labyrinth of Trials.
To enter one for the first time required a limited invitation: the labyrinth token.
'But with this seal...'
Conquering one labyrinth granted a seal allowing entry to any labyrinth without a token.
Of course, the seal wasn't just for entry. It had far more uses otherwise.
'The seal itself is powerful.'
Seals exhibited special performance no normal gear could match.
'Same as what Finn got.'
Ignores Abomination Curse?
So you can just equip abominations?
Jackpot!
Go nuts lol you'd equip it even if told to wear it on gear slot.
Looks like a heavy metal ring for some old dude.
Ring that screams "sell me from a dead cat" lol
The ring was very thin, engraved with the Harvester's skull emblem.
Like a layered ring, Kang Seol casually slipped it onto a finger already wearing one. He turned to Park Chang-sik to speak.
"Now, let's head b..."
"......"
Kang Seol couldn't finish.
Park Chang-sik stared vacantly at the ring in the case.
He shook his head and approached Kang Seol.
"I don't deserve this."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"I had to kill my comrades with my own hands in the labyrinth... and couldn't save a single one."
"Self-blame is..."
"But you saved everyone."
"......"
Park Chang-sik's eyes were earnest.
He must have resolved something seeing Kang Seol liberate the souls.
"Only you subdued the labyrinth. ...I broke here. I won't come to places like this for a while... and don't need something like this. Please, use it in my stead."
An Inconceivable-grade seal.
What must it feel like to yield a labyrinth-exclusive treasure to another?
Kang Seol couldn't refuse his resolute expression.
"I'll treasure it."
"Thank you... thank you. My comrades would want this too..."
The ring engraved with the beast emblem.
As Kang Seol put it on another finger, something wondrous happened.
Swoosh...
Clink!
Clatter...
The seals connected with a thin chain.
Kang Seol checked status immediately.
Abomination set complete!
Options are insane!
Buying unused abominations~ Will trade for snacks~
Double double ring lol
It was time for Kang Seol's party to end their long journey and return.
Fooosh...
They were enveloped in blue particles.
Swoooosh...
And soon, they teleported.
Ziiing—
They returned near the outpost Audenin.
"Huff... huff..."
"Urp..."
Having spent so long trapped in the humid labyrinth air, their bodies reacted violently to the fresh air flooding their lungs.
Collapsed spread-eagle on the ground, chuckling deliriously, a message appeared in their vision.
[Next: Score rankings for current Adventure 18.]