The Hound's Demise and Shifting Fates
Sa Choiheon opened his eyes.
'Why am I on the ground...?'
Sa Choiheon, regaining his senses, pushed himself up. This wasn't inside the dungeon. It was outside, on ground covered in grass.
When had he lost consciousness?
Sa Choiheon clutched his dazed head.
He had definitely been fighting Cerberus in the dungeon's grand cavern.
Gabriel's fist had smashed through Cerberus's barrier, erasing a pattern that should have been dodged.
As he and Lucifer poured on the attacks, Cerberus was gradually losing strength.
- At this rate, we'll just take it down... Master, leave that to me.
Lucifer had definitely said that.
Before Sa Choiheon could even respond,
explosive black magic energy had engulfed the cavern.
It was unmistakably Lucifer's.
'...The restrictions were lifted.'
The system's binding force, which had restrained the apostle's power, had vanished.
'Did Mumyeong get his hands on that artifact?'
Sa Choiheon was dumbfounded.
An artifact that released restrictions did exist. However, it was something impossible to obtain at this stage.
'Nothing comes to mind except the Death Wave reward.'
Considering the absurd achievement contribution of 99,999 points, it was possible.
In any case, Sa Choiheon had been swept away by Lucifer's flood of black magic and lost consciousness.
No, more precisely, Lucifer had deliberately overwhelmed him.
The power of an apostle with restrictions lifted was too much for Sa Choiheon right now.
'Showing is faster than telling, huh.'
It was so ridiculous he didn't even have the energy to get angry.
But the results were clear.
The massive stone gate forming the dungeon was gone.
There was no sign of Cerberus anywhere.
Red blood soaked the ground. Fur fragments presumed to be from Cerberus were scattered everywhere.
The sky was clear.
There was no trace of Cerberus's energy anywhere around.
The phantom beast Cerberus was dead.
'...Does this even make sense?'
Sa Choiheon smiled bitterly. He felt ridiculous for having worried earlier.
Sa Choiheon recalled.
Events from before his regression.
After the tutorial ended, the gates of the underworld had opened. To stop the hellhound Cerberus, hunters from around the world had to band together.
Several European cities were destroyed before Cerberus finally fell.
Even a weakened Cerberus was a catastrophe for the current hunters.
"Ha..."
Sa Choiheon let out a hollow laugh.
"What, you're awake, human? Weak as hell."
Lucifer smirked mischievously and patted Sa Choiheon's shoulder. What an annoying guy.
"Just caught a quick nap."
"Yeah? Should've slept forever."
"Too much to do for that."
Mumyeong's forces were beyond Sa Choiheon's expectations.
Far beyond prediction.
Measuring that strength might be laughable.
A being of off-the-charts power, unbound even by the experience of a regressor like Sa Choiheon.
'Even so, we don't know how long that power will hold.'
The enemies to come would surpass common sense just like Mumyeong. There might come a moment when his power failed.
'This kind of impulsive action is problematic...'
As Sa Choiheon thought that, he froze in place.
Cerberus Defeated
Contribution Rank: 2nd Place
A translucent system window floated before Sa Choiheon.
Rewards for defeating Cerberus.
Sa Choiheon's contribution was 2nd place.
To borrow Lucifer's expression, it was like adding a single spoon to a feast, but the rewards were still his.
"Mumyeong..."
Sa Choiheon's eyes widened as he read the rewards.
This round wasn't the only thing changing because of Mumyeong. A regressor in contact with him, Sa Choiheon's fate was bound to shift as well.
"You're the best."
And right here, now.
Sa Choiheon's future had drastically changed.
And in a distant location.
Another being whose fate had drastically changed.
The ma-in strategist Roland.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Roland was fleeing with all his might. The moment Cerberus died instantly, he had turned tail.
He judged it unwinnable.
A monster. A monster.
Mumyeong was an absurd monster.
'Couldn't sense it, couldn't see anything.'
Roland possessed high-tier detection magic. Yet even he hadn't felt Mumyeong's presence or the method of attack.
Long ago, he had glimpsed the ultimate technique of a top ma-in. It was overwhelmingly powerful, beyond comprehension.
But Mumyeong's realm was a dimension higher.
Like a 2D being unable to intuitively grasp 3D.
Roland had sensed nothing.
It was power far beyond ma-in realms.
Why was such power given to a mere human,
to a single individual?
Roland couldn't comprehend it.
What was the strict system doing? That human's existence was surely a flaw or error.
Terrified, Roland leaped through space to escape.
Second consecutive failure after the Death Wave.
Ma-in society would never tolerate this failure.
Roland knew well the fate of failed ma-in.
'...I can't just go back.'
Now it was a matter of survival. To live against ma-in assassins and higher ma-in, he'd do anything.
This was different from before.
Roland held the Key of the Apocalypse.
'The higher-ups' worries? Screw that.'
He was sick of the upper echelons fearing a mere inferior hero.
With a powerful being like Mumyeong already appeared, the conclusion was clear.
'I'll summon the end with my own hands.'
The descent of the Seven Deadly Sins.
The tutorial would end soon.
Roland didn't doubt his choice.
To survive, he had to do anything.
"...I was a fool, Mumyeong. Accept my thanks."
Sa Choiheon, checking his system window, suddenly said that.
"What, got some good rewards?"
Lucifer sneered with a sly grin. Sa Choiheon nodded.
"Yeah."
His eyes had changed. Burning fiercely, perhaps.
I inwardly sighed in relief.
'Thought he'd be mad.'
Lucifer had knocked him out without permission and dragged Cerberus outside to finish it.
Of course, I wouldn't have done it without certainty.
A slight pang of conscience...
"I'm off."
But Sa Choiheon looked extremely satisfied.
"This... I'll repay you somehow. In some form."
He even said that outright. No complaints about being knocked out or what if it went wrong.
If anything, he was offering repayment.
Sa Choiheon looked at me and said,
"Soon, I'll root out the ma-in hiding in Korea. Clear out the obstacles, take over the Association, and your range of operations will expand, Mumyeong."
Pardon?
Lucifer furrowed his brow in bewilderment too.
"Hey, Sa Choiheon, human. Let's talk this out. What the hell?"
"It means I finally have the power for it. What you demanded..."
Sa Choiheon pulled something from his pocket and tossed it.
"...?"
Gabriel caught it.
It looked like a smartphone, but thicker.
"Communication terminal. The only line connected to me. Free from eavesdropping or surveillance. Send messages here if needed. See you."
Sa Choiheon vanished. A fierce wind whipped up where he had stood.
"What the. That guy just says his piece and leaves."
Lucifer clicked his tongue.
Sa Choiheon had his own plans, it seemed. Just how good were those rewards...
We'd benefited too, in fact.
Info on Cerberus came from him.
I turned my gaze to the system window before me.
Phantom Beast Cerberus defeated.
Contribution Rank: 1st Place
Rewards corresponding to 'Ultra-Legendary' clear level granted.
'Oh...'
Truly ultra-legendary grade.
I took the weapon fragments first.
Then the Apostle Enhancement Stone.
The Underworld Hound's Collar, and even Legendary+ armor.
Catching a strong beast yielded substantial returns.
'Wait. Where's the drop item?'
But no drop item from this Cerberus. I asked Lucifer about it.
Yeah, that's because it was an incomplete summon. Losses from forcibly pulling it with magi energy. It was weaker than the real Cerberus too.
Because it was an incompletely summoned entity.
"But that ma-in. Isn't it dangerous if we don't stop it soon?"
The culprit behind this, like the Death Wave, was a ma-in.
Summoning an ultra-legendary beast—what couldn't they do? As Sa Choiheon said, no small issue.
Just like he said. Pretty annoying bunch—hard to even find where they're hiding.
Honestly, for us, it's better to leave 'em be.
No, still, leaving them is...
K-Kero exploded...
Gabriel still couldn't accept Cerberus's death.
"Got an item classified as a pet, though."
Whoa. I'll walk it daily, feed it every day, bathe it often.
Gabriel's eyes sparkled.
"Alright, good work everyone. Return."
And the ma-in issue—for now, set it aside.
Sa Choiheon said he'd find them, so... he must have a way.
He'd already left.
Nothing I could do right now.
Yes, returning now.
Coming right now.
Time to check the items.
Defense +410
Damage Reduction Lv.5
Soul Equipment
A bone armor lay before me. A faint energy emanated from the purple-tinged armor.
Constellation 'Master of the Black Star' envies you.
'Hold on... Damage Reduction Lv.5?'
My eyes widened checking the item.
'Insane.'
The max skill level on items was known to be 3 so far.
Yet this Underworld Armor's skill was 5.
'An item with max-level skill.'
Note: Only the highest item skill applies. No stacking.
Damage Reduction Lv.5
Reduces incoming damage by 25%.
Overwhelming defense paired with top skill.
The strongest existing armor.
No Legendary+ armor existed worldwide anyway.
Swish.
I tried equipping the armor.
Soul-Equip Item.
Only item abilities apply.
Defense increased. 184 → 594
It sank into my body like melting away. Equipped, but felt like wearing nothing.
'So that's what soul-equip means.'
I swung my arms.
No restrictions from the armor. No weight felt.
Of course, defense fully applied.
Overwhelming defense secured.
Tough enough for an S-rank dungeon right now.
'Insane.'
Survival now guaranteed.
Most attacks won't faze me.
Next...
Raises apostle's rank by one step.
Usable only on Legendary or below.
The Apostle Enhancement Stone Lucifer wanted so badly appeared.
"Lucifer, you're gonna love this."
No way. Master, did that drop?
"It did. Apostle Enhancement Stone."
Lucifer was thrilled.
"We'll use it when you return."
Yes, understood!
Lucifer reaching Legendary+ would definitely boost our forces. I'd seen Gabriel's strength with my own eyes.
Can contain and command Cerberus's soul.
Next item this.
In short, raise a beast as pet.
Many hunters had pets. But making a massive boss one? Rare.
Maybe one or two overseas.
Having an ultra-legendary beast as pet... probably just me now.
'Not bad.'
Combat power guaranteed.
Useful when apostles are away.
Gabriel can use it when she returns.
"Now then..."
I turned to another system window in the air.
Mission cleared.
- Goal: Defeat Phantom Beast Cerberus 1/1
- Reward: Red Blood - Vulcan's Auxiliary Hammer
The mission from the Volcano Blacksmith cleared perfectly.
Constellation 'Volcano Blacksmith' is astounded by your exploits.
Constellation 'Otherworld Discipline' feels hollow at the easy mission.
What's wrong with easy? Well, easy by my standards. Actually not simple at all.
Shaa—!
Red light descended, forming a hammer of fitting size. Handle wrapped in red cloth.
Grabbing it, it felt like it could repair anything.
'With this...'
Thud.
Completely broken soul lantern, unusable.
I took the soul lantern from inventory and set it down.
'To repair, like this?'
Gripped the hammer and lightly tapped the lantern. With intent to repair.
Clink, clink.
The lantern glowed... but no change.
No reaction.
Clink clink clink.
Tapped all sides, same. No sign of fixing. Only then did I look up.
"No way."
Constellation 'Volcano Blacksmith' recommends acquiring a skill.
Constellation 'Master of the Black Star' protests.
Needed the related skill.
No wonder it gave it so easily.
Constellation 'Volcano Blacksmith' wishes to propose a new mission.
Clear new mission for the skill, huh.
Hammer was a demo.
As I pondered how,
Lucifer's thought transmission came.
Master, ignore that guy's missions. Once you start fulfilling constellation demands, no end. That was their plan from the start.
"But no easy way to get blacksmith skill."
Craftsman hunters never teach skills easily.
Could find one to apprentice, but doubtful for sacred relic.
Yeah, normal repair skill won't cut it. It's a sacred relic.
"Then?"
Need a genius blacksmith with insane talent.
First that came to mind: 'El' workshop producing luxury items.
Their craftsmen made top-grade items. World's most famous item forge.
Hunters lined up for their gear.
Unrealistic for me. Costly, no way my turn soon.
No need to worry.
Lucifer spoke as if prepared for this.
Cheon Iryeong. That kid's around. Her talent works in all fields, not just combat.
Rank 3 Cheon Iryeong.
She was an All Master.
Her aptitude innate.
Have her learn blacksmith skill. It'll turn out great. She wants to be Mumyeong's disciple—use that to lure her.
...You devil.
Haha, not that much. Your praise leaves me flustered. I'll strive harder.
Lucifer's voice sounded bashful.
Right.
This guy's a fallen angel.