Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 100
>Chapter Title: Gamillion's Ring
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 100
>100.
[Gamillion's Ring]
>[Grade: Heroic]
>[Description: A blood ring cherished by Gamillion Adran for ages.
>This special ring feeds on its owner's blood, instantly boosting the user's stats when it consumes a large amount at once.]
>[Level Restriction: 30]
>[Wearing Restriction: Kashyar's Successor]
>[Physical Defense: 126]
>[Magic Resistance: 113]
>- Mana +2
>- Vitality +4
>- HP +500
>[Special Option: When health drops sharply, the ring absorbs blood. Activating it temporarily boosts the user's stats proportional to the blood absorbed. (Cooldown: 3 minutes)]
'Oh, jackpot.'
A full-on Heroic-grade ring, no less.
Its performance was solid, as expected from a level 30s Heroic item.
A counter-type option specialized for seizing reversal opportunities when taking heavy damage.
Not the highest utility in everyday use, but it more than pulls its weight in a pinch.
'Pairs perfectly with Karuk's Essence Ring.'
Was this what a main quest class was all about?
Even thinking of it as a job quest, the rewards were absurdly good for the effort, drawing a smile unbidden.
All he'd done was hunt down some monsters, and he'd scored a Heroic ring.
No guild in GOOS would hand out treats like this.
'Ah, I believe...!'
The old Do-hyun, griping about main quests giving trash rewards? Long gone.
All that remained was Kaiser, the devout follower praising Kashyar.
Heroic item handed over? He'd do it a hundred times over. Damn right.
"Looks like it suits you well. I'm glad."
"Of course. What's next? Let's get right to it."
Gamillion, who'd been smiling warmly at his enthusiasm, suddenly grew solemn.
"Speaking of which... I have something to tell you."
"...What is it?"
Do-hyun's expression turned serious in kind.
The vibe screamed it was no small matter.
Gamillion glanced around, then clapped his hands sharply. An opaque barrier sprang up around a 20-meter radius.
['Silence Room' has formed.]
>[The Silence Room will collapse if you cancel it or take heavy damage.]
"This is...?"
"Can't have word leaking out, can we?"
They were in the corridors of Lair's Grand Temple. Whatever came next, as enemies of the gods, leaks wouldn't do them any favors.
What surprised Do-hyun, though, was that Gamillion had this trick up his sleeve.
'Stealth, barriers... What the hell's his class? Red name means not a combat job, at least...'
Guy was full of surprises, no doubt.
Had to be, to serve royalty.
As Do-hyun admired the setup, Gamillion finished and spoke in a low, heavy voice.
"You know the Great War ended with the Abyss's emergence."
"Yes."
"The Abyss is that kind of existence. Lurking everywhere, a terror that brings great peril. That's why I've always stayed vigilant."
If gods were humanity's foes, the Abyss were enemies to all races.
Ruling the underworld, they could emerge anytime, anywhere—always close by.
Their return would spell catastrophe.
That was the reason.
"Foolish humans following vile gods, but to watch the Abyss, we had to mingle with them. Brion has the most high priests, after all."
Why Gamillion had built a religion and aliases to cozy up to them.
Most high priests meant most corrupt ones, too.
Three contractors with the Abyss had popped up in the last thirty years alone.
He had every reason to be hypersensitive.
"So, what have you found?"
Gamillion shook his head at Do-hyun's abrupt question.
"Quiet as the grave. No activity for centuries. They deliberately erased history, but mainly, they never surfaced, so they faded from memory easily."
"Ah."
"We weren't overly concerned either... but lately, their movements are off."
Traces of the Abyss started cropping up everywhere, and contractor sightings ramped up over decades.
Still sporadic, but unusual.
Dormant for centuries, then suddenly stirring?
"Never this blatant before... but the last few days? Highly suspicious. Reports of Abyss traces in multiple spots across other cities, too."
"..."
"Something's up. They don't move without reason."
A perfectly reasonable suspicion, explaining Gamillion's frequent temple visits lately.
Then, by chance, the successor appeared—and was tangled with the Abyss.
"I'd planned to wait longer... but this must be fate."
Gamillion didn't buy coincidence.
Everything had cause and effect; "chance" was just inevitability, destiny.
Meeting the successor today only strengthened that conviction.
"I can entrust this to you, Successor. Will you help with this matter?"
"Of course. What do I need to do?"
"Kashyar once said, 'Prepare kindling, and a hundred battles burn bright.' Knowing your enemy is crucial. Will you investigate with me?"
Ding-.
Gamillion's resolute voice ended, and a cheery alert rang out.
Followed by the message window.
[Job-linked quest 'Abyss Investigation' has been generated.]
[Abyss Investigation]
>- Grade: Main Quest, Job Quest
>- Description: The Abyss's recent movements are suspicious.
>Gamillion senses ill omens and believes probing this incident will reveal something.
>Join him in checking temples that might know about the Abyss.
>- Brion Temple Investigation (0 / 3)
>- Quest Success: Links to follow-up quest '???'.
>- Quest Failure: Job quest deleted, job revoked.
'Doesn't look tough.'
A simple investigation quest.
Not like the last ones—exterminate nearby monsters or scour the rocky woods.
Just tag along to temples with Gamillion. Done.
'Paving the way for the next quest, probably.'
With two hours to kill anyway, it was a win for Do-hyun.
"Sure."
Clap!
Gamillion clapped again, dispelling the Silence Room, and flashed a grin.
"Then I'll head left. Take the other side."
"Got it. Meet at the center."
They nodded and split from the Grand Temple, heading opposite ways.
Gamillion left, Do-hyun right.
Splitting for efficiency, reconvene at the central fountain.
Step step.
How many steps later?
-Hey, Master. Temple over there. Looks big.
>-Riza!
"Yeah."
A city befitting the Holy Empire—temples dotted everywhere after just a short walk. Not just that one, either.
Glance around, and more temple-like buildings sprinkled in the distance.
With ten thousand gods, temples were a dime a dozen.
-...Huh? What gives. Why pass it by, Master?
>-Riza riza?
But Do-hyun didn't head there.
Cool as ice, ignoring them entirely, his stride purposeful and unwavering.
Baffled, Jihad looked up at Do-hyun—
-...?
Jihad felt a strange familiarity.
This eerie, familiar sensation. He'd felt it a few times before.
-No way...?
Staring in disbelief, Jihad let out an 'Ah...'.
Twitching nostrils, eyes alight with subtle excitement.
Face seemed impassive at a glance, but Jihad, ever attuned to Do-hyun's moods, couldn't be fooled.
-Ah, that moment's here.
Like gazing at a zealot receiving an irresistible oracle.
Jihad nodded in resignation.
Do-hyun halted, drawing a deep breath.
Ahead: a decently wide alley, packed wall-to-wall with people.
"Mmm~ Good vibes."
Do-hyun's lips curled in satisfaction.
-Riza?
>-Jiji, Ellyza. Bad for you to see this often.
Ellyza poked her head from the robe pocket, but Jihad shook his head.
Jihad's take rang true—this spot was more harmful than helpful.
"Graaaah! Heroic gear dropped!!"
"ShiiX!! Let go! I'm done for—I'm gonna die!"
"Who called this a hot spot? All trash rares!"
"Ooh... Silver. Beat the odds."
An alley where a man stripped his top in anguish and a woman prayed to the gods coexisted.
Despair for some, joy for others.
The madness and desperation here defied calling it "wholesome."
So focused, not one noticed Do-hyun's arrival.
-Hurry it up, Master.
"Don't worry. Feeling good this time."
Brion's second hot spot: Verdic Alley.
Soaking in the aura, ducking into a corner to dodge eyes, Do-hyun opened his inventory.
Main quest? Important, sure.
'Even the greatest mountains wait after a meal—gotta pull cards first.'
But card pulls were just as crucial.
No sweat, and who knew when he'd hit another hot spot?
[Use Intermediate Skill Draw Ticket?]
Do-hyun's eyes sparkled at the glowing card pack.
Jihad's gaze chilled, but thankfully ignored, he survived unscathed.
[Using Intermediate Skill Draw Ticket.]
Fwoosh!
Tearing the pack unleashed blinding light, flooding his vision.
Amid faint shit-tier glows, two slim silver streaks.
Normally he'd pick carefully, but... sometimes gacha hits that day.
When one option just *feels* right.
Today was it.
'These days, it's bust or boom.'
But Do-hyun had Truth's Eye, the cheat trait.
No bust this time.
Rare-grade was guaranteed anyway!
'This one!'
No hesitation—left. A message popped up.
[Congratulations.]
>[Rare skill 'Madness' acquired.]
'Huh?'
Do-hyun's eyes widened.
But with a strange delight.
Of course.
[Madness]
>- Grade: Rare
>- Restriction: Berserker line
>- Description: A warrior steeped in madness never retreats.
>Pain unquenched by kills only makes them stronger...
>- Effect: For 90 seconds, lose 1% health per second. Stats and all speeds rise with health loss.
>Health won't drop below 1% from this effect.
>- Cooldown: 120 seconds
'Madness'—Kaiser's longtime ally, core burst DPS member.
The mascot skill of the infamously Fighting Chicken, Kkukku Dak Kkukku.