Chapter 121
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Extermination Rune
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Amid the warriors' cheers, Jeong Hoon held Ilion's head high.
Waaaaah!
The roars grew even louder.
You succeeded.
Cain approached Jeong Hoon with an awestruck expression and dropped to one knee.
Jeong Hoon nodded at the sight.
Yes. What about the tribesmen?
Thanks to you, we rescued all the survivors.
Thats a relief.
Yes. We also recovered the bodies of our comrades who fell to that damned beast.
Yes.
They hadnt saved everyone, but it was fortunate they hadnt been too late.
Gratitude to the true warrior!
The rescued tribal warriors knelt and bowed their heads.
Well, they should be grateful. Who do they think saved their sorry hides? Hey, Master, see the second guy from the right in the back row? That punks barely bowing.
Are you seriously trying to make me look like trash?
Trash? You save someones life and call them trash?
Even if you save them, their attitude afterward is what matters.
What are you on about? If someone saves you, you ought to rip out your own gall bladder for them.
Listening to Mukho and Animas back-and-forth made his head spin.
Jeong Hoon ignored them and approached the tribal warriors, casting Healing.
As the holy power-based healing poured over them, the warriors faces relaxed noticeably.
At the same time, awe and respect filled their expressions.
Ooh.
The true warrior even possesses the power of healing.
Now they were outright praising him, and Jeong Hoon, starting to feel burdened, plugged his ears metaphorically and headed back to the village.
The children, including Elder Ibator, were waiting for them.
And above Elder Ibators head, an exclamation mark was blinking.
You really did it.
The Ibator who had once underestimated Jeong Hoon was gone.
When he returned having saved the warriors dying of poison, she too had acknowledged him as the true warrior.
Without Jeong Hoon, they wouldnt have slain the wicked Ilionand theyd have only watched as their tribe faced extinction.
Yes.
Thank you. Without you, our tribe wouldve been wiped out before long.
Everyone nodded at Ibators words.
Then Cain stepped forward and spoke.
Elder, we cant just send away the true warrior who saved us.
The other tribal warriors chimed in.
Thats right!
We must hold a feast tonight!
Ill hunt some owl bears! And well open the wine weve been saving at my place!
Waaaaah!
Energized by the healing, they looked ready to head out and hunt owl bears right then.
Shouldve skipped the healing if hed known this would happen.
Fortunately, Cain wasnt clueless.
Enough! I meant we need to give proper compensation, not throw a feast!
Oh.
Youre right.
The warriors nodded in understanding.
A tribe on the brink of annihilation without Jeong Hoon.
He had saved them.
No reward could truly suffice.
Ibator didnt hesitate and held out a red stone.
Extermination Rune
This was the Extermination Rune Jeong Chang-ho should have claimed.
Elder!
At the runes appearance, Cain and the warriors eyes went wide.
Isnt that our tribes symbol?
No, even so, thats.
Moments ago, theyd seemed ready to give anything, but now they hesitated.
That rune was like a guardian deity protecting their tribe.
Handing over their guardian deity as thanks wasnt easy.
Ibator barked at them.
You fools! You think this is your guardian deity?!
They flinched.
The warriors looked puzzled for a moment.
Ibator eyed them pitifully and continued.
If this were your guardian deity, it wouldnt have just sat there watching you all die.
!
And it wasnt this hunk of rock that saved you.
!
The warriors eyes widened further with each word from Ibator.
She was absolutely right.
Jeong Hoon, the true warriornot that stonehad saved them.
They felt ashamed for even hesitating moments ago.
So, its settled then. Will you accept this?
Ibator extended the rune.
Jeong Hoon nodded and took it.
You have acquired the Extermination Rune.
Now the Extermination Rune was in Jeong Hoons hands.
You have completed all quests in Theme Dungeon: Ilions Castle. 50,000 achievement points have been awarded.
The Achievement Shop level has increased to 5.
You have acquired the title Guardian God of the Ilion Tribe.
Hed earned a whopping 50,000 achievement points, leveling up the Achievement Shop to 5 as well.
Perfect. About time to put these to good use.
Jeong Hoon had deliberately held off spending achievement points.
The reason? The rune in his hand.
Runes couldnt be used immediately upon acquisition; they required additional processingand that process needed achievement points.
Then, a rainbow-colored question mark appeared blinking above Ibators head.
Hold on. Whats this?
Recalling the incident with the Fist King, Jeong Hoon touched the question mark.
Secret Quest: Hero of the Beginner Region (Stage 1)
-Restriction: User who has acquired the title Village Protector title Guardian God of the Ilion Tribe
-Reward: Title Hero of the Beginner Region (Stage 1)
-Description: Upgrade the title Village Protector to the title Hero of the Beginner Region (Stage 1).
Finally, time to evolve the title.
The Evolving Title hed obtained with his hidden class and evolved via the Fist King.
Now it was time to evolve it once more.
You have completed the Secret Quest.
The title Village Protector has been upgraded to the title Hero of the Beginner Region (Stage 1).
You are the first to acquire the title Hero of the Beginner Region (Stage 1). 30,000 achievement points have been awarded.
Done.
The title had evolved once more.
Hero of the Beginner Region (Stage 1)
-Type: Evolving Title
-Rank: Epic
-All attack power increased by 2.5.
-All skill damage increased by 3.
-Acquired experience increased by 1.5.
Some options had vanished with the evolution, replaced by new ones.
Jackpot!
A 3 boost to all skill damage was an excellent option.
Meaning every skill I use gets extra damage.
And Stage 1 implied a Stage 2 existed.
Hed probably evolve it naturally upon acquiring the next beginner region title.
Warrior, if its alright with you, care to join us for a drink?
Cain approached and asked.
Everyones eyes and ears turned to Jeong Hoons mouth.
His answer would dictate what came next.
Sorry, but I need to head back.
He wanted to join the feast, but Jeong Hoon had come here originally to close the random gate.
With Ilion defeated, it was time to return to the palace for his reward.
No way.
Then the owl bears? What about the wine Lukel was gonna bring out?
Man We dont get to drink our wine?
Life sucks.
No helping their disappointment.
Hm? Seems another outsiders coming.
Ibator murmured, gazing toward the forest.
Jeong Chang-ho.
Jeong Hoon knew immediately who it was.
Then Ill be off.
Time to hurry even more.
Safe travels, warrior.
Cain raised his sword in salute.
The others followed suit, weary expressions and all.
Yes. Thank you.
I cant believe theres a theme dungeon in a place like this.
Jeong Chang-ho grimaced and brushed the dirt off his robe.
Dust poured off.
The journey here had been grueling.
A swamp far from the hunting grounds for Lv. 250 users.
Beyond the swamp lay parched, bone-dry land devoid of even a drop of moisture.
No monsters, no living creatures at all.
Worse, dust storms whipped through like typhoons, making it a place no one wanted to cross.
Hurry up and find it. If the clues are right, the Ilion tribes hiding somewhere around here.
Ignis, the fire spirit.
His attitude grated, but as a spiritist, Ignis was Jeong Chang-hos source of power.
The irreplaceable soulmate whod gotten him this far.
Youre not even looking properly?
The rune stone only found in dungeons officially for Lv. 220.
A clue to the Extermination Rune obtained while collecting them.
Regarding the Tribes
A vague clue at besta report-like document detailing each tribes habits.
Jeong Chang-ho had deciphered it to learn the Ilion tribe held the Extermination Rune.
If those guys really have the Extermination Rune!
Ignis evolving to ifrit wouldnt be a pipe dream.
That was why Jeong Chang-ho braved this dust storm.
But nothing lay ahead.
Hm? Theres some kind of pit over there.
The spot Ignis pointed to was a hole barely big enough for one person.
Ha, youre not seriously saying thats the entrance, are you?
Jeong Chang-ho had cleared theme dungeons twice before.
Theme dungeon entrances were usually portals, distinctly different from normal ones and easy to spot.
It couldnt be this pit.
Then whats here? A bust?
Damn Ignis.
But undeniably, no portal was anywhere in sightwhen one shouldve been.
Sigh, fine.
Jeong Chang-ho approached the pit casually, half-heartedly sticking his foot in to prove a point.
His body was instantly sucked in, teleporting him to the theme dungeon.
See? I was right after all. Tsk.
Ignis looked at Jeong Chang-ho pityingly.
He cut a ridiculous figure sprawled on the ground.
Ha, what kind of filthy dump is this?
Jeong Chang-ho shot up in disbelief.
Anyway, this is the place. I sense people nearby.
His mouth was foul, but the guy was reliable at times like this.
Okay. Lets go.
Jeong Chang-ho and Ignis crossed the forest in a flash, arriving at the Ilion tribes village.
Cain and the warriors stood guard, eyeing him warily.
State your identity!
Jeong Chang-ho narrowed his eyes.
This is weird.
The NPCs were definitely Ilion tribe, but no quests appeared above their heads.
Unlike normal quests, theme dungeons belonged to whoever cleared them firstand no quests meant someone had already visited and cleared this one.
Do you know anything about the Extermination Rune?
Mentioning it made Cain smirk.
Oh, that? Someone else already took it. The true warrior, that is.
What?!
At that moment.
Merhen Royal Castle, northern wall.
Hoon, when the hell are you coming out.
Lagan stared worriedly at the violently shaking gate.
The gate was slowly expanding, now visible to everyone.
And it showed no signs of being cleared.
This is bad, isnt it?
He went in alone Maybe he died?
No way He quelled the mana storm himself. No one like that dies easily.
The mood grew restless as time dragged on.
Quiet, all of you!
Lagan froze the atmosphere in an instant.
Someone was risking his life inside, and these onlookers were fidgeting?!
Fury welled in Lagan, but he suppressed it.
Thats when it happened.
Hes out!
The gate opened, and Jeong Hoon emerged.