Chapter 234
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: Evolving the Seven Deadly Sins
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Would you like to open the Unknown Box (Sin)?
Unknown Box (Sin).
What item could be inside?
Open it.
Jeong Hoon inserted the key into the hole with a tense expression.
He slowly turned the perfectly fitting key to the right.
Click.
The boxs lock released, and a burst of light filled the room.
You have acquired the Evolution Stone (Seven Deadly Sins).
The light faded, leaving a single black gem shining brilliantly inside the box.
This is?
Jeong Hoon picked up the evolution stone.
At that moment, Sloth, who had retreated into its shell out of exhaustion, peeked its head out again.
Kiiing.
You want this?
Kiiing.
As if to say yes, Sloth nodded vigorously.
Evolution Stone (Seven Deadly Sins)
-Type: Consumable
-Rank: ??
-Upgrades a Seven Deadly Sin by one stage.
-However, the Seven Deadly Sins rank must be Unique or higher.
He could see why Sloth coveted this gem.
One stage upgrade?
Did that mean Unique to Legendary?
The thought left him feeling a bit disappointed.
Reaching Legendary from Unique was something he could achieve through ability absorption anyway.
Using it now would be far less efficient than waiting until it hits Legendary.
But Sloth seemed eager to devour it right away, crawling up Jeong Hoons arm toward the gem.
Lets eat it later.
Kiiing.
Sloth ignored him completely, clearly having no intention of waiting.
Fine. Whatever.
If it was this desperate, there had to be a reason.
Jeong Hoon handed the gem to Sloth.
Sloth began absorbing its energy.
The Seven Deadly Sin will be upgraded by one stage.
Black mana rose from Sloths body, enveloping it entirely.
This is?
Jeong Hoons eyes widened.
It wasnt just a rank increase.
The form of its enveloped body began to slowly change.
Sloths snail-like shell shrank, arms and legs formed, and a pair of wings sprouted.
Its original body reshaped into a head as the mana dissipated.
What an utterly grotesque thing.
At least the old form was kinda cute.
As Mukho and Anima said, the previous appearance had been much better.
For a moment, wrapped in mana, it had seemed like it might turn into a fairybut true to its Seven Deadly Sin nature, it became a demon.
Ha, I thought I was gonna suffocate.
It could even speak now.
Seven Deadly Sins
-Type: Sloth, Gluttony
-Level: ?? (Grows by absorbing stats)
-Rank: Legendary
Detailed Stats
-Strength: 208
-Agility: 205
-Vitality: 204
-Defense: 207
-Wisdom: 205
-Mana: 206
-Mental Strength: 204
The rank had indeed risen to Legendary, and all stats had instantly surpassed 200.
And one more thing had been added.
Gluttony.
It had started with just Sloth, but the evolution stone added another sin.
Werent they supposed to be acquired one by one?
He had obtained Sloth through a Seven Deadly Sins box.
So he assumed the rest were sealed in similar boxes.
That assumption was proven spectacularly wrong.
This Seven Deadly Sins is originally one entity.
In other words, the box had sealed the Seven Deadly Sins itself.
He didnt know why that Demon King-level Transcendent had it, but once all sins were unlocked, the Seven Deadly Sins would reach its complete form.
So its still far from complete?
Exactly. But thanks to you finding the evolution stone, Ive regained a bit of my power.
Really?
Yeah! Now I can even talk.
Jeong Hoon nodded at the Seven Deadly Sins demon sitting before himno, calling it Sloth no longer fit.
Alright, now that you can talk, Ive got a few questions.
Sure, ask away.
Are all seven sins yours?
The seven sins? Pretty much. I was split into seven and sealed.
I see.
Yeah. The ones from the Seven Deadly Sins boxes and the Unknown Boxestheyre all me.
Why were you sealed?
No idea.
No idea?
Yeah. I lost almost all my memories when I was sealed. I dont even know who split me into seven and did it.
The Seven Deadly Sins eyes didnt suggest it was lying.
Damn, thats a real letdown.
Now that it could talk, he wanted to ask about the game and the Transcendents.
And so much more.
But if even it didnt know who sealed it, this was a total bust.
What a worthless piece of trash. Not a scrap of useful info.
Thats a bit harsh.
No, its spot on. I dont remember a thing What a load of crap. Why open your mouth and get our hopes up?
Hey now.
Im just voicing what you think.
Jeong Hoon had nothing to say.
He shared Mukhos sentiments exactly.
If I collect the remaining five, will you regain your memories?
He asked on the off chance.
And got a positive response.
Probably!
Probably? Not certain?
Yeah. Before the evolution stone, I had no memories at all. Just an instinct to devour everything.
Ah, so the stone restored part of them?
Exactly!
In the end, to get clues, hed have to gather all five remaining sins.
Might as well complete the episode.
How was he supposed to find Seven Deadly Sins hed never even seen?
What a frustrating situation.
Nah! Its not like that! Part of my power is sealed, so of course I can sense it.
Really? So you can track them?
Bingo!
Okay.
Then add searching for the remaining sins to the plan.
Where are the rest?
The Seven Deadly Sins pointed upward with a finger.
Not on Earth, at least. Up there.
So another Transcendent has them.
Seems like it.
Then youll know if they get close?
Yeah.
Okay.
Approaching Transcendents comes first, then.
Jeong Hoons eyes gleamed.
To approach Transcendents, he needed to enter dungeons.
Thats when Apostle-level ones would draw near.
Jeong Hoon had been ignoring them, but countless Transcendents had sent calls.
This time was no different.
Calls flooded in every time he entered a dungeon and shone.
But no reaction from the Seven Deadly Sins.
Well, with only five left.
Apostle-level calls numbered over 10,000.
He couldnt narrow it to just Apostles either.
The first sin had come from the Demon King-level Mandora.
So hed have to check all the higher ones toomaking the odds extremely low.
Thats when it happened.
A rift opened before Jeong Hoon, revealing a familiar gaze.
The time has come.
It was Baal.
Found the next dungeon?
Yes. But I decided eight was too many. How about narrowing it to one this time?
From eight to one?
Yes. I dont think its a bad deal for you.
Jeong Hoons lips twisted upward.
You didnt make the dungeon yourself, did you?
No responsestruck a nerve.
Thats why you asked for time to look around.
You never cease to surprise me, human. Sharp as ever.
Gotta have that much intuition.
Offering such favorable terms meant it was a dungeon impossible to clear.
That bastard!
A reaction from the Seven Deadly Sins.
Its form had changed, so hed sent it back to where Fenrir and Michael were for the search.
And set it to alert him like this if it sensed something.
Oh? Baal has one?
Jeong Hoons eyes flashed.
Seems that way?
Baals gaze curved like a crescent moon.
Yeah. But Id like to tweak one reward.
Reward? Sorry, but I cant boost Ultimate Energy any further.
Leave Ultimate Energy as is. Change the Legendary-or-higher item.
Hmm. To what?
Sin.
Mentioning sin made Baals curved gaze narrow.
How did you know?
I got one.
Kuhuhu, to think youd claim that one. Youre no ordinary human.
So, will you change it?
What if I dont?
No reason for me to enter your dungeon then.
It was a gamble.
If Baal refused, that sin was lost.
No big deal.
He could always find the others.
Even incomplete, partial memories would suffice.
Baal stared piercingly at Jeong Hoon.
But no trace of anxiety in him.
Meaning no regrets if the change was denied.
Whatll it be?
Fine. Accepted.
The gamble paid off.
Damn, he really wants my soul bad.
Why else change the rewards?
Call. So wheres the dungeon I need to clear?
Ill give you a ticket. Use it to go.
As Baal spoke, a ticket fluttered down before Jeong Hoon.
Express Round-Trip Ticket
-Teleport instantly to the set coordinates.
Start right away?
Yes. No prep time.
Hed tweaked the bet and rewards.
Baal wasnt showing mercy this time.
Perfect.
Jeong Hoon grinned and tore the ticket.
The call failed to connect. Beeep
What the hell? Why isnt he picking up?
Ha-jin stared at his smartphone in confusion.
Hed sent texts too, but the 1 stayed unread.
Hyungnim must be busy?
In front sat Kim Bong-gu slurping iced chocolate.
Seems like it.
Is it okay to slack off this long?
It had been ages since Jeong Hoon gave them a break.
Still no word from him.
Hed even visited Hoyoung a few times on support requests.
They were guild members, after all.
Something didnt happen to him, right?
He wasnt the type to go radio silent like this.
Seeing Ha-jins worried face, Kim Bong-gu chuckled.
No way. Thatll never happen.
What kind of guy was Jeong Hoon?
Overwhelming from the game days, calm and contributory post-actualization.
If something happened to hyungnim, Earth might as well be done.
You trust Hoon too much, dont you?
Even Ha-jin relied heavily on him.
Dont worry! I stake my sister on ithyungnims fine! Hes just busy.
Why drag your sister into this?
The tickets coordinates led deep into some cave.
Wheres this?
No portal in sight.
Jeong Hoon advanced slowly.
Searing heat enveloped him.
The source: magma.
Under a volcano.
Without New World stats, his body wouldve melted instantly.
The toxic gas flooding his lungs was no joke either.
Using Light Barrier.
As he deployed the barrier and stepped forward, a rift opened, revealing Baals gaze.
How is it? Nice and toasty, eh?
Wheres the portal? I dont see it.
Huhu, not yet. Creating it now.
A portal slowly materialized before him.