Chapter 250
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: The Red Eye's Bargain
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"What the hell are you!"
Alessandro shot up from his seat in horror.
A massive red eye writhing in the distorted rift of empty space.
Just looking at it sent chills racing down his spine, flooding him with dread.
Heh heh, yes. This is a human for you.
It murmured softly, scanning Alessandro from head to toe.
"What are you!"
Alessandro bellowed.
Me? You could call me the one who can grant you power.
"Power...?"
Didn't I just say it? Anyone will dojust kill those bastards.
That was right.
He had just said that.
Alessandro wiped the tears from his eyes and asked.
"So you're saying you can give me the power to kill them?"
Correct.
The red eye curved like a crescent moon.
"...."
Why hesitate? You can't get revenge in that state.
It was true.
Everything it said was true, but how could he trust something like that and ask for power?
"...There must be a price, right?"
Sharp one, aren't you? Yes, there is a price.
"What is it?"
Your soul.
"My soul...?"
Alessandro Braiden's eyes wavered.
He never imagined it would demand his soul.
Of course, if you succeed in your revenge, that's another story.
"What...?"
If you succeed, I'll cancel taking your soul.
Succeed in revenge?
Then what would that red eye gain?
"...Why make that offer?"
Alessandro stared into its eye, trying to read its thoughts.
But every time their gazes met, a chill washed over him, forcing him to look away first.
Does it need a reason?
"...."
Refuse, and there'll be no more chances.
"What exactly do you mean by power?"
What you desire.
"Stats! Can you restore my stats?!"
Of course. Not just restoreI can raise them even higher.
Alessandro's eyes widened hugely.
Restore his stats and boost them further?
For a mage, mana stats were absolute.
Mana stats represented total mana capacity, essential for casting high-circle spells.
Higher mana meant more spells and better combat viability.
"If I succeed in revenge, you really cancel taking my soul, right?!"
Yes. I'll grant you power beyond comparison. But only if you succeed. Fail, and your soul is mine.
It was a gamble.
Success meant everything; failure meant eternal torment even in death.
Madness filled Alessandro's eyes.
"I...!"
Great Cavern: You have entered the Sealed Giant God Soldier Urs.
Jeong Hoon was the first to arrive in the Great Cavern.
Moments later, rankers began appearing one by one.
'Quite a crowd.'
Jeong Hoon's lips twitched.
Familiar faces stood out among them.
'Sophia.'
The French Black Mage.
Sophia Stephanie Agalet.
Her demeanor was always cold, but she'd helped him learn magic.
Alessandro Braiden had always disliked him, but not Sophia.
She'd contributed to him learning Magic Missile at circle 1.
Of course, that was all in the past.
'Amazing. Still struggling to survive in that state.'
The debuff master had choked him with twenty debuffs.
Was that why?
Jeong Hoon's fist clenched naturally.
She wasn't the only one.
Spear Master Liu Shaolong, who had shredded his body with the Flame Spear.
Abyss Assassin Rick Void, who had done the same with Verdandi's Fang.
Louis Verdant, who had risen to High Priest alongside Amelie.
Even Paul Raymond, who had perfectly handled sniper duty from the rear.
Quite a number.
Jeong Chang-ho, one of the betrayers, was there too, though his presence was minor compared to the others.
But being among the betrayers was enough to mark him as a target.
'Looking at them like this, there sure are a lot of betrayers.'
Then James Marcus and Amelie Reina appeared.
Even without all the betrayers gathered, there were already seven.
But now wasn't the time to focus on them.
The massive golem in the Great Cavern's center.
That was the Sealed Giant God Soldier Urs.
A barrier surrounded Urs; it had to be broken first to defeat him.
'Before regression, they couldn't even break that barrier.'
Ridiculously, even with rankers from around the world gathered, they failed to breach it.
That maxed out the forced penalty, drastically reducing the global population.
It was why Jeong Hoon had lost his home and become a wanderer.
Which was all the more reason to slay Urs.
"Come on, everyone! Welcome!"
At that moment, an NPC appeared before Urs.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Langlang
-Level: 999
-Job: Event NPC
It was the event NPC Langlang.
'This is what they call an event.'
Jeong Hoon shot Langlang a casual glare before looking away.
"I'm Langlang, the helper for the Giant God Soldier Urs extermination event!"
Langlang shouted cheerfully, his voice echoing through the cavern.
"Hm?"
"What the fuck, a joke?"
"Why's the penalty disguised as an event?"
The surrounding reactions were predictably icy.
Langlang ignored them, grinning as he clapped.
"Before we start the event, we'll wait 20 minutes! Not everyone's here yet!"
Then, the legs of Jeong Hoon and all the rankers were bound by black thorns.
"...."
"Seems he controls the environment."
They were briefly startled but quickly regained their composure as befitted rankers.
All over level 400.
Meaning vast combat experience.
This was nothing to them.
"More are arriving."
As Langlang said, high-level users poured into the Great Cavern.
Among them was Alessandro Braiden.
Jeong Hoon's eye twitched.
'Alessandro? Why's he here?'
He had drained all his stats with the Seven Deadly Sins.
Even at over 500, he was now no better than a level 20-30 mage.
Jeong Hoon expected him to stay hidden, but here he was, bold as brass.
Their eyes met, and Alessandro's burned with rage.
Murderous intent poured from him, as if he'd kill Jeong Hoon right then.
And the immense mana emanating from his body.
'Someone intervened.'
Jeong Hoon was certain he'd become an avatar.
No other explanation for that reaction.
But who?
'Not Apostle-level.'
Apostles could only contract inside dungeons.
And they couldn't restore Alessandro's power.
Meaning at least Demon Lord-level.
'Interesting.'
Jeong Hoon had planned to let him suffer, not die so eagerly.
Restored stats also meant the Seven Deadly Sins could drain him again.
"Alessandro!"
Then James Marcus called his name.
Alessandro, who had been glaring at Jeong Hoon, turned.
Murderous intent flickered in James's eyes too.
"James, we'll settle things later."
Alessandro smirked.
"Alessandro...."
James Marcus trailed off.
His rage was beyond imagination.
"You too, bitch."
Alessandro turned to glare at Amelie Reina beside him.
"What a pathetic worm."
Amelie Reina met his gaze with icy disdain.
"Alright, time's up, so here's the event briefing!"
After 20 minutes, Langlang clapped.
The binding thorns vanished, freeing their movements.
"Oh, and pointless antics mean forced ejection."
Langlang warned Alessandro.
He had tried to cast a spell the moment he was free.
"...Tch."
Alessandro reluctantly canceled it.
Only then did Langlang float up slowly, pointing at Urs.
"Here's the event! Before you is the sealed Giant God Soldier Urs!"
Giant God Soldier Urs.
Its arms and legs were bound by massive chains, head bowed motionless.
"When the event starts, the seal breaks! Destroy Urs within the time limit, reduce its HP to zero!"
Simple enough.
Defeat Urs.
But it wouldn't be easy.
Then, a ranker raised his hand.
Someone Jeong Hoon knew.
Spear Master Liu Shaolong.
"Hey. You said it's an event?"
"Yes. An event."
"So there are rewards, right?"
Langlang grinned and nodded.
"Correct! Now, about those rewards."
A message appeared before everyone, including Jeong Hoon.
Rewards based on contribution!
1st: Legendary Celestial Grade Item Box (Random) - 5050 chance
2nd: Legendary Grade Item Box (Random)
...
Lower ranks got lower-grade boxes.
1st place even offered a shot at Celestial.
With even odds.
"Celestial?"
"There's a grade above Legendary...?"
Celestial grade was unknown until now.
Rankers stared at the message in shock.
"Ready to defeat Urs?!"
"Not yet."
Jeong Hoon raised his hand.
Langlang tilted his head at him.
"Having trouble understanding, human? Why not?"
"Got a question."
Jeong Hoon smiled at Langlang.
"Yes. Ask."
"The barrier vanishes at the start, right?"
"...."
Langlang said nothing.
He couldn't, probably.
He was an NPC under the Transcendent's orders.
Meaning ordered to prevent clearing this dungeon.
"Why the silence?"
"Ahem, break the barrier and defeat Urs."
"One more. Can the barrier be destroyed by physical or magic attacks?"
"...."
No answer, as expected.
'As I thought.'
Even with all rankers gathered before regression, failing the barrier meant no way to break it.
"If attacks don't work, is there another method?"
"...."
"The silence means no way to break it."
"Ahem, sharper than you look."
Langlang coughed awkwardly, smiling.
The plan to rush with event rewards had backfired.
"I get ityou're scheming to prevent the kill."
Rankers glared at Langlang at Jeong Hoon's words.
"Forcing max penalty, huh."
"Hey! You messing with us?!"
As the mood soured, Langlang clapped.
Black thorns reappeared, binding them again.
"Calm down! I'm just the event helper. Only obligated to brief on Urs extermination."
"What?"
"Briefing's doneI'm out! Event starts when I vanish! 12-hour limit! Fighting!"
Langlang disappeared.
The thorns released, and a '12:00' timer appeared in the air.
'Playing it like that, huh?'
Jeong Hoon smirked at where Langlang had been.
They wanted failure, but Jeong Hoon had no intention of giving up easily.