Rewards and the Road to Jeju

The moment he got home, he collapsed onto the sofa like a sack of potatoes.

"Ugh... it's over...!"

He had no idea how he'd even made it back here on foot.

Kero, who had been guarding the house, came trotting over and started licking his hand.

"Kero, I'll get you some food..."

Gabriel, clutching a bag of dog food, staggered forward before face-planting right into the dog bowl. The kibble she'd been holding spilled everywhere, and Kero happily started scarfing it up.

Gabriel was exhausted enough to collapse like that. She must have gone all out against Pride.

"Jeez. Collapsing from fatigue like that? What happened to apostle dignity—"

Thud.

Lucifer took a few more steps before keeling over.

"Ugh."

"That's enough. Rest. That's an order."

"But dinner..."

"We'll just order delivery."

He stopped Lucifer from forcing herself up and opened the delivery app.

"...Thank you."

Lucifer nodded weakly from her prone position on the floor. That was how brutal the fight had been.

The Apocalypse Apostle of the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride.

She had been far stronger than Lucifer and Gabriel had anticipated.

Stalling her had been the best they could manage.

'If I hadn't gone...'

It had definitely been dangerous.

Gabriel and Lucifer could have lost their lives. Every hunter inside the Apocalypse Temple would have been wiped out.

'She was ridiculously strong.'

Way beyond what the briefing had suggested.

'Even the two of them together said they'd win only if they got lucky.'

But it hadn't even been close.

It had been a razor-thin margin.

'I might need to take their estimates with a grain of salt.'

They weren't bluffing on purpose.

They probably just didn't know.

There was a world of difference between judging from their thrones as constellations and fighting on the ground in the mortal realm.

Like the gap between watching MMA on TV and stepping into the ring yourself.

'Or maybe their own power is so overwhelming that gauging earthly threats is hard for them.'

Given the transcendent scale of their original strength, sizing up mortal combat power might be tricky.

He made a mental note of that.

"..."

Leaning back on the sofa, he shifted only his eyes to gaze at the system window.

The ultimate skill's cooldown was a monstrous 444 days.

"Lucifer, does the ultimate skill not get cooldown reductions?"

"Well... yes, that's correct."

Lucifer, sprawled on the floor, hesitated briefly before answering. She was gauging info restrictions.

"There are items specifically for ultimates. Reset scrolls probably work the same."

"No way to get them now, though."

"Indeed. You're the only one in the world with an ultimate skill, Master."

Unique or not, what good was it with that cooldown?

He turned his gaze back to the system window.

'Still, if I play it right...'

The reward for slaying the Apocalypse Apostle was Myth grade.

He wasn't even hoping for a Myth reset scroll.

Like with the Death Wave, he anticipated some system expansion.

Right on cue.

Crackle, crackle—!

Red sparks erupted in the air.

'Oh.'

The reward already?

Speak of the devil.

The Death Wave rewards ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had settled quickly too.

The sparks died down, revealing the payout.

Not bad at all. A ton of stuff.

"Pretty generous."

"May I take a look?"

Lucifer struggled to prop herself up and peered over.

"Impressive."

A black stone and earrings materialized. The rest—coins, soulstones, Legend emblems—were familiar by now.

"This..."

The stone dropped from Pride. Now he had two.

Lucifer gave a quick rundown.

"Think of it as an item that permanently lifts restrictions."

"Like a limit breaker?"

"Not quite that strong... maybe 0.2 of one?"

Two wasn't enough to activate. He'd stockpile more for later.

Next, the item.

Earrings embedded with red gems.

The description was no joke.

A defensive item.

"Whoa, this... is good."

His biggest worry was instant death.

Like with Pride, enemies were always top-tier.

Attacks he couldn't sense coming? No counterplay.

But with this, the game changed.

Even against the strongest foes, he'd get one free pass.

'3 seconds of damage immunity.'

Plenty of time to land Instant Death.

"Congratulations, Master. This one's a game-changer."

"Congrats on the god-roll, boss."

Gabriel clapped lazily from the floor. High praise indeed.

The rest: coins, emblems, and Pride's UR soul.

Previous souls were SSR; this was UR.

"Kinda wasteful for soul infusion."

"There are uses, but save it for now."

"Like what?"

"Dark sorcery puppets, or fuse with Kero..."

Fuse with Kero?

"Diabolical. Scum of humanity."

Gabriel snatched Kero and glared daggers at Lucifer, who got a low growl in return.

"J-Just kidding, of course."

Lucifer backpedaled fast. Didn't look like a joke.

The system upgrades were solid too.

• Myth rewards now possible from Legend+ drops.

'This is the real prize.'

Probability-based, so luck-dependent.

Rest: 1.5x EXP, level cap to 15.

"Solid haul."

Already overkill rewards.

"Hmm, big constellations should be swarming by now... unless someone's blocking the flow on purpose."

Lucifer muttered seriously, brow furrowed.

They'd show up soon enough.

Rewards checked and confirmed.

The fatigue was easing up a bit, thanks to them.

"By the way..."

Something had been nagging at him.

He rose from the sofa and headed to the balcony.

Unsettling currents churned in the sky above, faint sparks flashing amid the thunderheads.

"Better than this morning, but still off."

The atmosphere had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shifted since the Apocalypse Apostle appeared. He turned to Lucifer and Gabriel.

"No matter how you slice it."

Until now, he'd observed from a safe distance. Demon slaying, Death Wave, even Cerberus—all from the sidelines.

But this time, he'd had to step into the Apocalypse Temple himself.

One undeniable fact had emerged.

"This won't cut it."

He was too weak.

Other hunters might flip out at that. Weak? With Instant Death?

But the danger had been real.

"This isn't the last one, right?"

Lucifer and Gabriel exchanged awkward smiles.

No guarantee worse than the Seven Deadly Sins wouldn't show.

And even this Pride fight...

Without the repaired Soul Lantern, or Sa Choiheon and Cheon Iryeong...

He might have died.

"...No harm in getting stronger."

The vision from the Star of Prophets flashed in his mind.

A ruined world. Failing to stop the apostle might have made it reality.

He needed to push harder: gather cooldown gear, learn new skills, move proactively.

Not desperate training, but no wasting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Instant Death potential.

Besides, he didn't need max power.

'Just enough to see and dodge enemy attacks.'

That alone guaranteed victory in every fight.

Be a spectator-level fighter, rule as absolute top dog.

What a broken ability.

"I'll help with all my heart, Master. Anything you need, just say the word. I'll get it, no matter what."

"Even if it's not crimes..."

"Anti-crime vibes."

"No, why are you both looking at me like that...? I'm not that insane. If it's your order, Master, I'll respect laws and morals."

He chuckled and spoke.

"And... the most important thing's left."

"Most important?"

"Gotta make money."

He'd just hit A-rank.

S-rank in about three days.

But this raid netted a Myth item.

'Earrings of the Apocalypse.'

Damage immunity option. Safety concerns? Sorted.

Emergency? Feather-summon Lucifer and Gabriel.

'Association ma-in purged, Sa Choiheon declared safe...'

Safety locked down.

He checked his inventory.

Magic stones and items piled up. Black Imugi's Annihilation Sword still there.

"Association's got my back now."

"Yes. No more ma-in. They'll support you fully."

Sa Choiheon knew the hideout anyway.

Gabriel-vetted as trustworthy.

"Time to sell these properly."

Separate from powering up.

The landlord dream lived on.

The Apocalypse Temple clear sent shockwaves through the major guilds.

The returning guild hunters were buzzing.

"Mumyeong cleared an ultra-high gate solo!"

"Michael, you should've seen it."

"Right? We're busting our asses holding the line, and Mumyeong just boom!"

Telling friends was standard; some even sold info for cash.

The clear itself wasn't huge news.

No guild casualties. Short clear time. Outsiders called the Association's warning overblown.

Seemed routine from outside.

No insiders to spill, though.

Word of Mumyeong still spread overseas.

America's rank 3 guild New Heaven.

"This Mumyeong from Korea is supposed to be nuts."

"Got time for that? Freak monster in the west."

"Seven Deadly Sins, right? Mumyeong one-shot the same kind."

"...Filter the rumors."

"Not one-shot maybe, but for real..."

Japan's rank 1 guild Mugen.

"Hayato, heard about Korea's new star?"

"Yeah. Tied to the lightning in Korea and the US?"

"Yup. Mumyeong at the center."

"Worth checking out."

China's rank 2 guild Hyopgaek.

"Master, incredible hunter popped up in Korea!"

"Tch. What's the fuss? How strong can they be?"

"No interest? I'll go then."

"...Never said that."

"Heh, wanna hear?"

And Korea's rank 1 guild Bulmyeol.

Shaaa—

Golden light gathered in the darkened guild master's office, forming a woman in a black cloak.

"You've decided to side with Mumyeong?"

Elise Grainzer of the Star of Prophets. Her ash-gray eyes pierced the shadows toward Sa Choiheon from behind her half-mask.

"No privacy with you people? Knock first."

Sa Choiheon, gazing at the night sky through the wide window, furrowed his brow.

He'd just wrapped a packed schedule: raid presser, Association purge, nipping future unrest, even interrogating ma-in Roland.

Irritated, he spoke curtly.

"Elise Grainzer. Get to the point."

Star of Prophets.

Goal: thwart ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠humanity's extinction.

Early on, they'd shared aims. Same endgame, he'd thought.

But destiny diverged.

Sa Choiheon aimed to stop system-induced doom. Humanity's survival was non-negotiable.

Prophets deemed the system unstoppable; save elites, reboot era.

Thwart doom, or preserve humanity?

He chose the former. They, the latter.

Far future stuff, though.

Unlike endgame Sa Choiheon, prophets didn't know the true finale.

They hustled earnestly against apocalypse.

"Another Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, has descended."

Old news from Roland's interrogation. Pride's pattern fit.

One apostle per sin summonable.

"Early apocalypse apostle, but... Mumyeong killed Pride, bought us time. Humanity breathes."

Sins didn't cooperate. Prep window open.

Elise approached the desk, tracing a line in the air.

"Sa Choiheon, I bring knowledge to change the future."

Seven stars linked into the Big Dipper, glowing gold.

"The seven stars that alter fate."

Seven stars.

He'd heard it to death.

Humanity's seven powerhouses.

Even in doomed futures, they endured, wielding massive influence.

Intriguing if he weren't a returner.

"Korea's special. Holds three."

She pointed at him.

"You're one."

"Quick question. Mumyeong one of them?"

"...No."

Delayed reply.

"Why?"

Seven stars: overwhelming elites. Lineup shifted by circumstance.

Mumyeong surpassed them.

Obvious inclusion, yet...

"He could doom the world."

Hero or villain potential.

Mumyeong couldn't be a star.

"Hmm."

Prophets' arbitrary title. Irrelevant, but juicy info.

Sa Choiheon snapped his fingers.

"I'll pass that along to Mumyeong."

"Uh..."

Awkward silence.

Rare prophet stutter.

She'd panicked. First time. Sa Choiheon's lips curved slyly.

Clearing her throat, she continued.

"...Second star falls on Korea in three days."

This, he couldn't ignore.

Second star usually fixed.

Already? Way early.

Or set since apostle arrival?

Issue: Mumyeong clash.

What happened if they collided...

"Location?"

"Jeju Island."

"Where's Mumyeong then?"

"Mumyeong is irregular. Prophecies don't apply."

New intel. Sa Choiheon's brow twitched.

"The rest is on you. Prophecy delivered. Any questions? I'll go."

He let her leave.

Shh.

Elise dissolved into golden dust, like she'd never been.

Alone in the dark, Sa Choiheon gazed outward again.

"Jeju Island..."

Monster-infested hellscape.

Second star.

Fitting origin for that maniac.

Jeju lockdown for a while.

No immediate Mumyeong run-in.

Next morning.

Well-rested, he checked on the apostles.

"All good."

"Recovered."

Apostle regen was unreal.

Good food, good sleep—back to peak. Test instance gate? New record.

Timed with a stopwatch, no rewards.

Pride loss had them grinding teeth.

"Lunch for item sales, then head out."

He checked his terminal.

Lunch: Sa Choiheon meet. Key sale session.

Then straight off.

He'd pondered overnight.

Power foundation: levels.

Efficient fast-level method?

Avoid outside drama.

Instances? Coin sink. A-rank pricier.

Leveling bottleneck.

"Somewhere to go full throttle would be ideal."

"Wanna rampage and hone power."

Apostles agreed.

Answer clear.

Deserted spot.

Monster-packed? Better.

Korea had one perfect fit.

"We're going to Jeju Island."

He declared boldly.