Chapter 189
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: The Countdown Begins
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Republic of Korea, Seoul.
Countless people stood in the streets.
Unlike usual, they had stopped in place, all staring up at the sky.
Whats that?
120?
It was the black letters etched into the sky above.
Those black letters were formed from storm clouds.
And there was more than one set of clouds.
Every certain distance, storm clouds displayed "120," making it visible to everyone on Earth.
What the hell is that.
One would be one thing, but that many?
What is it? Did someone make it on purpose?
Its amazing.
People tilted their heads in confusion.
The number "120" made of storm clouds.
Then, new black letters formed above those clouds.
The countdown begins.
The letters appeared in the commonly used languages of each country.
At the announcement that the countdown would start, people stared up at the sky with dumbfounded expressions.
-119:59:58
At that moment, the "120" scattered, and the countdown began.
The numbers carved into the clouds started to decrease.
What the hell is that?!
What Am I dreaming right now?
Fuck, I mustve lived too long.
Panic spread among the people in an instant.
WhisperzlJangHaJin12 - Hoon: Hey! You see the sky?!
After the siege battle ended, Ha-jin, who had logged out, logged back into the game.
He immediately sent a whisper to Jeong Hoon.
WhisperHoon - zlJangHaJin12: Im in-game, so no.
WhisperzlJangHaJin12 - Hoon: Whoa Log out right now and check it out! Something insane is happening!
WhisperHoon - zlJangHaJin12: What the hells going on?
WhisperzlJangHaJin12 - Hoon: A number appeared in the sky and its counting down like a timer! Not in the gamein reality!
Jeong Hoons face hardened slightly.
Its already started.
Could it be otherwise?
Jeong Hoon had entered New World relatively late but wreaked havoc from the beginner zone onward.
They must have judged that if left unchecked, he would grow uncontrollably.
Thus, the countdown began earlier than expected.
In 120 hours from now, New World would become reality.
No time.
Jeong Hoon quickened his pace and reached the northern end of Leas.
At the northern end loomed a massive portal flickering away, guarded by an NPC.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Haoz
-Level: 250
-Job: Leas Portal Guardian
Where are you headed?
The Celestial Hall.
The Celestial Hall was a secret theme.
A place only those who had gathered all Celestial Energy could reach.
For reference, before his regression, up until New World became reality, no one had accessed the Celestial Hall.
Meaning Jeong Hoon was the first to head there while the game was still running.
Hmm? Wheres that? This portal isnt connected to anywhere like that.
Even the guardian Haoz didnt know of it.
Could you check once?
It wont be there.
Haoz examined the portal with a skeptical look.
Moments later, his eyes widened in shock.
The Celestial Hall, which shouldnt have been there, was now listed.
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly.
Its there, right?
Y-Yeah It is?
Then Ill head to the Celestial Hall.
D-Do you even know what that place is?
Who knows. Ill just go see.
I see.
Haoz stepped aside without further comment.
Thank you.
Jeong Hoon entered the portal.
Moving to the Celestial Hall.
Selecting the Celestial Hall, his body was sucked into the portal.
Earth Korea headquarters.
CEO Yoon Jin-ho stared incredulously at the official notice, checking it over and over.
Earth and Genesis will disband effective immediately.
-We thank all our dedicated employees for your hard work.
We have determined that New World no longer needs to continue.
Thus, we will proceed with swift disbandment.
Please review the attached file for detailed procedures.
This notice had been sent directly from headquarters.
Replies were prohibited; it could only be viewed.
The content stated that Earth would disband immediately, and Genesis would vanish as well.
No Why the hell?
Just days ago, he had successfully met with other Earth branches.
It had been a briefing on the games direction and a meeting for joint successful operations.
Yet headquarters suddenly decided on disbandment.
Yoon Jin-ho couldnt comprehend it.
He picked up his smartphone and dialed somewhere.
Yes, sir?
Come to my office right now.
Understood!
The call ended, and soon someone knocked on the door.
Knock. Knock.
Come in.
At Yoon Jin-hos permission, the door opened, and a man in his early fifties entered.
It was Executive Director Park Min-su, whom he trusted deeply.
Yes, Director. You called?
I have some bad news to share.
Bad news?
Park Min-su tilted his head.
Better to show you than tell. Take a look at this.
Yoon Jin-ho showed him the notice from headquarters.
What the hell does this mean?
Having read it, Park Min-su stared at Yoon Jin-ho with a blank expression.
His eyes pleaded for an explanation of what this notice meant.
Its exactly as it says They plan to disband both Earth and Genesis.
No waythen what about New World?! What about our company stock?!
New World was still hugely popular.
Disbanding Earth was tantamount to abandoning New World, or worse, terminating service.
To suddenly abandon a game enjoyed by 2 billion people worldwide.
I dont know.
Ha Maybe its a hack, and someone leaked fake info?
That seemed more plausible.
I hope so But the possibility is zero.
I see.
Park Min-su nodded with a heavy heart.
More importantly, things have been chaotic lately, havent they?
Yoon Jin-ho changed the subject to vent his frustration.
Youre telling me.
Park Min-su nodded and glanced out the window at the sky.
119:24:32
The numbers displayed in the sky.
Anyone could see they were counting down.
The same numbers were counting down worldwide, birthing countless doomsayers.
The Earth is doomed.
That countdown is our remaining time.
We must prepare for death.
And the majority sided with them.
No one could properly explain the countdown.
As a result, supermarkets, convenience stores, online mallseverything essential was long out of stock due to hoarding.
Ive heard rumors that the countdown is related to New World.
Indeed.
New World and that countdown.
Eerily, the countdown started shortly after the headquarters dev team posted an announcement.
Hey, doesnt it seem like New World is connected to that sky timer?
-Check the announcement. It says the countdown begins. In my opinion, its definitely New World!
Dont talk nonsense lololol
Wtf lololol even so, thats too much right?
No matter how advanced the tech, controlling nature is impossible lolol
But the timing is too perfect, like the OP said.
Well find out after those 120 hours anyway. What happens lolol
It was plenty suspiciousthe timing was too perfect.
I dont think so, no matter how I look at it.
But Park Min-su didnt buy such far-fetched talk.
You think?
Yes. New World is amazing, sure, but its just a game.
Yeah, I agree.
A game is just a game.
Otherwise, with superhuman stats and flashy skills straight out of fantasy.
Even a hyper-realistic VR game must be distinguished from reality.
You have entered the Celestial Hall.
You are the first to explore this secret theme.
50,000 achievement points awarded.
Even long after New Worlds launch, Jeong Hoon was the first to enter the Celestial Hall.
Yet the Celestial Hall, which should have been a grand temple, had regressed to ancient civilization levels.
Rightonce reality merges, the hall completes.
That was because it would be perfectly implemented upon reality merger.
Meaning he had entered too early.
They didnt make gathering Celestial Energy easy.
Thus, no top rankers worldwide had obtained Celestial Power.
If Jeong Hoon claimed it here, he would be the first post-regression to reach the heavens.
Jeong Hoon hurried to the temple doors.
The doors were mere frames; the inside was fully visible.
And floating before them was an NPC.
NPC Info
-Nickname: ??
-Level: ??
-Job: Guide of the Heavens
An NPC with no nickname or level displayed.
The NPC gazed boredly at the sky.
Jeong Hoon approached.
Excuse me.
At the call, the NPC slowly lowered his head and met Jeong Hoons eyes.
Then his eyes widened.
Outlander? How did you?
I qualified, so I could come.
Qualified?
Yes.
He tilted his head and scanned Jeong Hoons body.
His pupils trembled wildly.
No way Youve filled Celestial Energy to the brim?!
Yes.
Impossible How? Celestial Energy cant reach 100.
Indeed.
The reason no one had reached the celestial realm.
A limit prevented gathering 100 Celestial Energy.
Good luck.
Jeong Hoon smiled.
Normally, it would take long after reality merger to hit 100, but his bet with Ling-Ling got him there instantly.
Luck shouldnt solve that.
Is that so? Anyway, I qualified, so I want the Celestial Power.
Is that right?
The NPC slowly landed.
Then the surroundings shifted instantly.
From the temple to atop heavenly clouds.
The blazing sun shone down, and the unsteppable clouds felt like plush beds.
A familiar sensation from before regression.
A rainbow question mark now blinked above the NPCs head, which hadnt been there before.
Secret Quest: Celestial Power
-Restriction: 100 Celestial Energy achieved
-Reward: New power
-Description: You have qualified to reach the heavens. Complete the quest presented by the NPC to claim that power.
Its here.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest.
Whats the quest?
It wont be easy.
I know.
The countdown had begun.
No time to dawdle.
Alright? Then heres the first quest.
The NPC snapped his fingers.
A holographic list unfurled before them.
Gather these materials.
-Raplantra Seeds x10
-Har-Mind Wills x10
-King Rausts Axe x1
You want me to gather these?
Quick on the uptake. Good.
The NPC grinned.
The materials didnt seem too many, but reality differed.
First, Raplantra.
Raplantra was a Lv.240 boss monster.
Pre-regression, when Jeong Hoon challenged Celestial Power, he was over Lv.500.
So he hunted Uranok, a Lv.520 boss, not Raplantra.
Levels adjusted accordingly.
But one commonality: abysmal drop rates.
Drop rate was 1, right?
1.
One drop per 100 hunts.
Good luck might yield it in under 10, but bad luck meant over 100 with none.
Har-Minds Will was the same.
The real issue is that King Raust.
As expected, King Rausts axe drop rate was probably 0.05.
Absurdly low.
Repeating hunts like this, he wouldnt gather them in 5 daysmaybe not even 10.
But Jeong Hoon had done this quest once before.
He knew a way to drastically cut time.
Is gathering these all?
Yes. Bring them, and Ill give the next quest.
Got it.
Fine. Exit through that portal, and youll see some dungeons. The monsters listed are there.
Yes.