Chapter 212
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: First Episode: The Fallen Merhen Kingdom
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Views: 68,121,883
It had only been a day since uploading the video.
The views had already surpassed 50 million and were nearing 70 million.
Jang Dae-hwi kept hitting F5 with his finger to refresh.
No way lol, so where the hell is this place?
Do we have to rush to South Korea right now?
I want to rush thereplease reveal the location!
Fr, even foreigners are joining in;; Can we even get a piece of this?
I'm seriously losing my mind lololol
The comments had easily surpassed 100,000.
Every single one was demanding the dungeon's location.
If the video hits 50 million views, please post the coordinates on the community.
Jeong Hoon had sent dozens of coordinates along with that message.
Is this really right?
What hed sent were coordinates for a specific area.
Jang Dae-hwi had asked if it was a mistake, but Jeong Hoon confirmed it was correct and asked him to post them again.
In the end, Jang Dae-hwi uploaded the coordinates Jeong Hoon had given him to the community.
The moment the post went up, comments poured in like theyd been waiting.
What the hell is all this?
No way one of these is the right answer?
Come on lololol this is too much
Lmao, so its basically a lottery?
Jang Dae-hwi felt conflicted too.
Why had he asked to post so many coordinates?
As expected, the reaction was cold.
But not long after, it flipped 180 degrees.
Huh? What? This ones the right one?!
Its the answer!
This is the path to the mine!
Whoa lololol
What? But why do all these coordinates point to the same dungeon?
Insane lolololol
Jang Dae-hwis eyes widened as he read the comments.
What...? No way all those coordinates pointed to the same dungeon?
Jeong Hoon was taking a break inside one of the half-destroyed buildings.
The dungeon location should be out by now.
Strangely, there wasnt just one door leading to the dungeon.
They were scattered across the world, so whoever found one first got it.
Plus, with Shinwas executives largely wiped out, the group that could interfere with players in this dungeon was effectively dismantled.
I didnt want to wipe out Shinwa entirely.
Many had followed Sa Jae-hyeok and signed contracts, but among those whod split from Shinwa, some had been working to end the game.
Sweeping them all away at once didnt sit well with him.
Im jealous... Using that engraving stone just as a hair accessory.
...I shouldve taken it myself.
Unaware of Jeong Hoons thoughts, Mukho and Anima kept muttering in voices full of regret.
I told you Ill do it for you later.
The hair accessory was just a condition for clearing the dungeon Baal had offered.
But they couldnt keep waiting here.
There was more to do while Raigrina stabilized the engraving stones power.
They hadnt come to this special dungeon solely for the engraving stones stabilization.
New special dungeon generated.
You can now enter a new episode.
Theyd earned the right to enter a new episode.
Its also the key to ending the game.
Blocking the penalty alone wouldnt end the game.
Complete 100 episodes to acquire a crucial clue for shutting down New World.
That was it.
Jeong Hoon hadnt staked his life on growth just to survive.
With New World turning real, the episodes had begun.
The creators had set up these stages, and clearing them was the only way to end the game.
Of course, it wasnt easy.
Clearing one episode meant tackling a harder one next for the count to progress.
Before his regression, Jeong Hoon had cleared 99 episodes, with only the last one left.
The betrayal right when victory was one step away fueled his rage even more.
The Annihilator Who Cannot Return says youre faster than expected. Theyll be watching you even more closely.
The Guardian Corrupted by the Abyss shows curiosity toward you.
The Judge of the Heavens tilts their head. They say its far too early for an episode to begin.
Jeong Hoon ignored the Transcendents messages and opened the episode.
The newly added episode window.
Starting the first episode.
EP.1 The Fallen Merhen Kingdom
The episode starting from this special dungeon was the Merhen Kingdom.
Jeong Hoon had grown there before and even received treasure from the king.
As the episode began, an alchemist approached him.
Um... are you busy by any chance?
NPC Info
-Nickname: Hapaes
-Level: 165
-Job: Alchemist (Recovery)
He was an alchemist named Hapaes.
A question mark blinked above his head.
Episode Quest: Search the Merhen Kingdom
-Restriction: Perfect clear of monster wave in the Alchemist District
-Reward: Proceed to next quest EXP
-Description: Search the Merhen Kingdom.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest and asked.
Whats going on?
...The truth is, after the sudden catastrophe, we cant get to the Merhen Kingdom anymore.
Before Jeong Hoon arrived, theyd tried requesting aid from Merhen Kingdom due to a monster ambush.
But the barrier prevented entry.
Clearing the monster wave lifted the barrier, but now monsters blocked the path, making it hard to enter.
I see.
So... I hate to ask, but could you clear the path to the Merhen Kingdom for us?
For some reason, Merhen Kingdom was leaving the monsters blocking the path alone.
Got it.
Since he had to do the episode anyway, Jeong Hoon accepted without hesitation.
Really?!
Hapaes lit up at his firm answer.
Yes. I had business in Merhen Kingdom anyway.
Then Im counting on you! This is the best reward I can offer.
Hapaes held out a potion that slightly boosted all stats.
It was the best he could give at his level.
Sure. Thank you.
Jeong Hoon gratefully accepted the reward and headed to Merhen Kingdom.
The barrier was down, but the path ahead was still blocked.
To pass, he needed the green portalwhich was another dungeon.
Enter Lv.165 Northern Path?
Enter.
It wasnt just Merhen Kingdom.
Many territories had been ravaged by monsters, with not a single survivor in sight.
Whoa... This is seriously bad.
I lived a long time, but this is a first for me.
It would be.
The dimensions used for episodes were all considered destroyed.
The NPCs still alive were a device created by the Transcendents with creation powers to alleviate their boredom.
To watch their creations struggle between hope and despair.
Of course, higher-grade monsters than the entry level requirement swarmed, making clears impossible without top-tier camouflage potions.
Human! Die!
At that moment, a Giant Lizardman that had been hiding lunged at Jeong Hoon.
Slash
But Jeong Hoon didnt flinch, slicing its throat with Leviathan.
Gurk!
After wiping out the last Giant Lizardman, a portal appeared ahead.
You can proceed to the next area.
Jeong Hoon took the portal to the next area.
And arrived at Merhen Kingdom.
I wonder if theyre still alive.
Jeong Hoon headed straight for the stables upon arrival.
As expected, monsters had trashed the place, so he had to cut them down one by one.
You damn bastards!
Luckily, Jeong Hoon wasnt the only one hunting monsters.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Ragan
-Level: 245
-Job: Merhen Kingdom Knight Captain
A familiar face.
Knight Captain Ragan.
He was busy subjugating monsters with his knights.
Jeong Hoon spread his Heavenly Wings, slashing monsters as he joined them.
Long time no see.
As he got close, Jeong Hoon greeted first.
Ragan, focused on the monsters, turned to him, his eyes widening hugely.
Hoon!
Lets clean up the situation first.
With Jeong Hoons help, the monsters were quickly dealt with.
Once everything settled, the knights slumped down, exhausted, to rest.
Hoon! Thanks for coming. You arent hurt anywhere, are you?
Ragan asked with a mix of gratitude and worry.
No, Im fine.
Jeong Hoon grinned.
I see. Youve gotten ridiculously stronger since last time. Your level seems low, though...
Im hiding my level due to circumstances.
Ah, got it.
More importantly, what about the others?
...
Ragans face darkened instantly.
That was answer enough.
...I see.
Jeong Hoon approached the knights and cast Advanced Healing.
Using Advanced Healing.
There were about fifty knights left.
The rest must all be dead.
Thank you...
How can we ever repay this kindness...
The knights expressed thanks, but their faces were grim.
Not even a flicker of hope in their eyes.
Hoon... How are things elsewhere?
Ragan asked.
Elsewhere?
Other regions. Portals arent working, and communications are down.
Probably not much different...
I figured...
Ragan just nodded, unsurprised as if hed expected it.
Is the palace safe?
It is. If the palace fell, we wouldnt be here either.
I see.
At that moment, an exclamation mark blinked above Ragans head.
Quest completed.
Acquired 2,000,000 EXP.
You can now undertake the next quest.
Then a question mark blinked above Ragans head again.
Episode Quest: Search the Merhen Kingdom (2)
-Restriction: Complete Merhen Kingdom search quest
-Reward: Proceed to next quest EXP
-Description: Eliminate all red portals lurking in Merhen Kingdom.
Accept the quest. Failure to remove them within the time limit will force-end the episode.
The next quest was to remove the red portals in the kingdom.
The original dungeon had vanished, replaced by red portals.
The problem was monsters endlessly pouring from them.
Fail to remove them, and the episode force-ends, dooming Merhen entirely.
Not accepting would be better in some ways.
But a force-end meant the Alchemist District would fall too.
That would erase the Celestial Engraving Stone hed left with Raigrina.
Of course, that wouldnt happen.
It was an episode he couldnt fail.
Accept.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest.
Ragan started gravely.
Monsters will keep pouring out, probably.
Whys that?
Jeong Hoon played dumb and asked back.
Ragan sighed deeply before continuing.
Red portals have appeared all over Merhen Kingdom... Thats why the monsters keep coming.
Have you tried removing them?
We couldnt even attempt it...
It had been dawn.
A sudden explosion turned Merhen Kingdom into ruins.
Worse, monster attacks followed, crumbling the kingdom overnight.
Ragan had rushed with his knights to fight back, but even defending the palace was a struggle.
I see.
Jeong Hoon finished healing and stood.
Hm? Where are you going?
To remove the portals.