Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Return (2)
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Crow did nothing, only watched me.
Even so, it felt as if several cold blades were pressed against my neck.
‘Ugh…!’
My insides felt twisted after resisting his magic for only a brief moment.
An A-rank player would have fainted instantly from that.
“Kyuu…!”
Perceiving it as hostility, Lasty bared her teeth in a threatening display.
As expected of a Dragon of the End, even if she was still young.
To not be pushed back by magic of this caliber.
“Lasty, stand down. He’s not trying to fight.”
“Kyu…”
Lasty glanced back at me worriedly, then flapped her wings and landed on my shoulder as instructed.
‘Focus.’
This was a test of sorts.
A test to see if I was qualified to approach the truth.
I calmed my breathing and calmly circulated my magic.
I wouldn’t resist it.
I would simply let it flow past me, naturally, as if facing a flowing stream.
Then, unlike before, it became easier to breathe.
“Hmm?”
Crow’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
The magic receded.
Only then could I finally let out the breath I was holding.
“I acquired this a while ago.”
I handed Crow the ‘Second Memo’ I had obtained after defeating the Calamity of Defiance.
Crow read the words written on the memo, then looked back and forth between me and the paper, his expression shocked.
“That Ain fellow, when did he… no, then don't tell me you…?”
Muttering something, Crow clamped his mouth shut.
‘I knew it.’
I clenched my fist inwardly.
Asking Crow was the right answer.
The first memo revealed the truth about the game End of Apocalypse.
The second memo contained the story of EOA’s creator.
[The First Three. That is what we were called.]
[Raven, called the Sword God, for there was nothing he couldn't cut with his sword. And two great mages, Ain and Velode.]
[Among them, I, Ain, one day became able to speak with the ‘Annihilator’ across dimensions.]
[He was a being filled with rage and hatred, sorrow and anguish.]
[We spoke at length, but his objective was firm.]
[The destruction of all existing dimensions.]
[Through our many conversations, I came to accept his reasons for having such a goal, but I could not accept the goal itself.]
[Therefore, I established the EOA Project and proceeded with the plan step by step.]
[I had already fallen out with Velode, who insisted we must accept the power of the otherworld to stop it, so I had no choice but to conduct the research alone.]
[What I was able to glean from my conversations with the Annihilator was that one must not blindly trust the System.]
[Thus, my main focus was on creating a power external to the System. A device not controlled by the System, to prepare for a time when players might be unable to use its power.]
[Then, a certain accident occurred.]
The memo ended there.
[The maximum succession rate for ‘Playable Character’ increases to 95%.]
[The effect of ‘Speciality’ is enhanced.]
[The skill slot limit has been expanded from 5 to 6.]
[One seal on the fifth option has been released.]
[One seal remains.]
Reading this memo had also enhanced my unique ability, Main Player.
I hadn't felt the effects yet, as I still hadn't filled all my skill slots.
The fifth option, not yet fully unlocked, also weighed on my mind.
‘This has never happened before.’
One at a time.
Unlike in the past, when rewards were given steadily without delay, this time it was being unusually stingy.
‘Is it because the effect is that exceptional?’
It was a common occurrence.
The better the performance, the more difficult and lengthy the process of obtaining that power.
That’s why I was all the more expectant.
It was as good as implying that this effect was even greater than that of Playable Character or Speciality, which I had obtained all at once.
“You said you’ve obtained two memos so far?”
Crow’s words cut through my thoughts.
I immediately nodded.
“That’s right.”
“I didn’t understand when that friend entrusted this to me, but now I think I do.”
“That being…?”
Crow took out what looked like a finely crafted jewel from his pocket.
The moment I used Extreme Eye to identify it, a chill ran down my spine.
“This is what Ain left with me. He asked me to be sure to pass it on if the right person appeared.”
It was a dimension stone.
Not the simple kind processed by Min Gyeong-hoon, but one that had undergone special processing.
It contained an amount of energy far more immense than any dimension stone I had ever seen.
“What in the world is this…?”
“I do not know. But you will. No, you will come to know.”
As I held the dimension stone, which fit perfectly in my hand, I could feel it more clearly.
A monstrously terrifying magic was swirling within it.
The original stones had the effect of absorbing a calamity’s power, but one of this caliber seemed capable of absorbing the power of a complete Primordial Fiend or a Dragon of the End without issue.
[‘???’ is reacting to the unique ability, ‘Main Player’.]
[Compatibility confirmed.]
[Beginning assimilation.]
“What?”
The question was fleeting.
*Pang!*
The dimension stone seemed to explode, and all the magic contained within was instantly absorbed into my body.
“Guuuhk…!”
Pain.
It felt like every blood vessel in my body was bursting.
Uncontrolled magic raged in all directions, as if trying to tear its way out of my body.
Startled, Lasty flew around me, checking on my well-being.
“Kyu! Kyu!”
I didn't even have the leeway to answer her.
I bit my lip so hard it bled.
I had to control it.
I had a strong premonition that if I couldn't, all the blood vessels in my body would rupture, and I would die.
*Kwoooosh!*
The speed of my blood flow quickened.
Magic coursed through my body like a tidal wave, forcibly clearing my energy pathways.
“So this is what it was.”
Crow came up behind me and placed a hand on my back.
“I will help you, so follow my lead.”
A new stream of magic entered my body, leading the way.
Without a moment to think, I followed its path and controlled the magic.
Then, the magic that had been rampaging wildly through my body began to stabilize.
[All magic has been absorbed.]
[You have acquired the unique ability, Godslayer (神殺者).]
[Current proficiency for ‘Godslayer’ is 0%.]
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Exhausted to the point of collapse, I fell to the ground.
Thinking about how much longer I would have had to endure that pain if Crow hadn't helped, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.
‘Godslayer.’
[Unique Abilities: Main Player (EX), Godslayer (神殺者) (EX)]
I opened my status window to check.
I knew I could gain one more unique ability thanks to the effect of ‘One Who Started from the End’.
I had been contemplating which divine power would be best to obtain, but that dilemma had vanished in an instant.
Another EX-rank.
That alone was enough to prove its worth.
‘And it’s a type that requires building proficiency.’
There were occasional abilities like that.
Growth-types, which were weak initially but grew stronger as proficiency increased, boasting outstanding performance later on.
Low-grade ones had low expectations, but an A-rank one was considered quite good, and an S-rank was a jackpot.
But Godslayer was an EX-rank.
The corners of my mouth naturally twitched, trying to curl into a smile.
[Hunt divinity to build proficiency.]
The description for Godslayer was simple.
Hunt divinity, befitting the name of one who kills gods.
That, of course, included ‘avatars with divine power’.
“It seems you’ve gained a good power.”
“It’s thanks to your help.”
As some of my strength returned, I dispelled the darkness.
People passing by, who had wondered what was happening, quickly lost interest and hurried on their way.
“Ain, that fellow, he figured something out. But because of one major incident, he met his end and couldn't tell me everything. No, not just me, no one else would know the detailed circumstances.”
The second memo ended with the words that a certain accident had occurred.
Crow was likely talking about that major incident.
“Surpass me. Then you will know everything.”
Crow stared at me intently as he tossed out those words.
“That was the plan all along.”
“Your spirit is admirable.”
Crow smirked, then turned his back as if to go about his business.
But he stopped after only a few steps.
“…Come to think of it, I believe I saw Ain meeting with the Prophet frequently.”
I immediately recalled the first memo.
EOA was able to simulate so many different futures thanks to the Prophet’s assistance.
‘I guess that’s the only way.’
The Prophet.
To get the answers, I had no choice but to find him.
Crow had already vanished, to the point where even my magic detection couldn't find him.
“Kyuu.”
Lasty gently nudged her head against my cheek.
She must have been very worried.
I chuckled and stroked Lasty’s head.
***
“I believe I instructed you not to touch Kim Se-hyeon yet.”
“I just had a little chat. You don’t need to worry.”
The one who received the glare answered with a sly smile.
“What did you talk about, Clover?”
As the man’s gaze fell upon him, the one called Clover momentarily trembled.
‘This one is formidable, too.’
Even though he had known him for several months, meeting his eyes still made Clover break out in a cold sweat.
His body even trembled as if from a chill.
Such was the man who was the leader of Salvatio.
He revealed his identity to no one.
He had never even given a name.
Neither a real one nor an alias.
Everyone simply called him ‘Leader’ and followed him.
He had the charisma to make everyone obey him with his power alone.
‘But things are different now.’
A broad smile returned to Clover’s face.
“I’ve been waiting for someone like him to appear.”
“You were hoping for someone like Kim Se-hyeon to appear?”
“Yes. I’ve hoped for it for a long time. To become the greatest villain, there must be a hero to match! The moment he becomes a hero who captures everyone’s attention, I will break him. Yes. I will thoroughly shatter that righteous heart of his. So that he can never recover.”
Clover’s unfocused eyes gleamed maniacally.
The sense of intimidation he had felt from the Leader was now gone.
“I know you value him, but if you’re going to test him anyway, I might as well do it myself, right?”
“…”
“Still no words. Huh? Come to think of it, you have a surprisingly similar scent to him. How strange.”
“If you run that mouth any further, I’ll make sure you can never use it again.”
“Oh my, my own life is precious to me. If I’ve offended you, I’ll stop right away.”
Clover smiled faintly and backed away.
*That snake-like bastard.*
The man stared at Clover’s retreating back with cold, sunken eyes.
Although Clover’s abilities were exceptional, placing him fifth within Salvatio, almost no one liked him.
It was because he revealed his fanatical side from time to time, just like now.
‘Now that he’s been targeted by someone like that, things will only get harder.’
He wasn't worried about Kim Se-hyeon.
If asked which he preferred, 100 times out of 100, he would choose to push him into a crisis.
‘Still, you must be able to overcome a trial like this, Kim Se-hyeon.’
He lightly touched the edge of his mask.
The worn mask he had been wearing ever since everything began.
In his reflection in the mirror, the word ‘NONAME’, scrawled in a corner of the mask, was particularly conspicuous.
‘If you are to reach the True Ending.’