Chapter 269
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: Betrayers in Texas
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They should be in Texas right now.
The betrayers in Texas.
Jeong Hoon had been given just 120 hours.
He planned to wrap up his revenge within that time, prevent the additional apocalypse, and seize some power in the process.
The first apocalypse. Thats where I gained the unknown power.
The rewards granted each time an apocalypse was averted.
The unknown power was one of those rewards.
If he could obtain rewards on that level and return, it would play a huge role in twisting his fate.
And the group of betrayers, including James Marcus, were said to be stopping the apocalypse happening in Texas.
In other words, the apocalypses werent just one.
Even if I dont get the unknown power from clearing an apocalypse-level dungeon, I should be able to obtain something comparable.
The reason hed used the pocket watch right away was not only to investigate the unknown power and exact revenge, but ultimately to achieve his goal of twisting the fate handed to him.
Your fate will not change. Accept the destiny given to you.
How could he not waver after hearing such bullshit?
As New World materialized into reality, starting from the weaker threats step by step, explosive growth in the real world had been difficult to expect.
Despite obtaining so many opportunities, he still couldnt face even a lord-level transcendent.
That made it all the more necessary to grow faster, and his choice was to directly avert apocalypses to gain immense power.
Since he had a track record of directly averting the first apocalypse, the subsequent ones shouldnt be impossible either.
I need to grow as much as possible in these 120 hours.
The time given was just 120 hours.
He might not uncover the unknown power, but Jeong Hoon would devote these 120 hours not just to revenge, but to growth.
That was the only way using the pocket watch would have meaning.
The Designer. To stand toe-to-toe with that bastard.
Revenge, the gameeverything would end by my hand.
Jeong Hoon headed straight to Texas.
At that moment.
Inside a building in Texas, James Marcus and the others were seated, waiting.
Their expressions were extremely grim.
James! What are we going to do now?
Sophia Stephanie Agalet, the black mage and debuff master, asked.
What?
No, how can you just sit there after seeing whats outside the window!
Outside the window, a massive portal rippled.
If they didnt enter that portal and stop the apocalypse, LA would be wiped out entirely.
Yet not one of them, including James Marcus, dared to step into that portal.
It was a dungeon reaching level 2,000.
That meant a monster on an entirely different level from anything theyd fought before lay in wait.
Yeah. James, if we keep dodging, Earth is going to be completely destroyed.
Who wouldve thought something like this would happen right after killing that guy.
Jeong Hoon.
The Korean theyd killed half a year ago.
A former comrade whod once fought alongside them, but whod tried to end this game.
However, when they heard this power would vanish, theyd done whatever it took to stop him.
The result was betrayal.
All to protect this power somehow.
But in protecting that power, the apocalypses had blocked their path.
In just half a year.
Countless cities had been erased.
Even in America alone, 13 states had already vanished.
Over 30 states, including Texas, still held on, but in just 20 more hours, Texas would be gone too.
People were undoubtedly praying desperately for the strongest party to conquer the dungeon.
But the party called the strongest was merely circling the dungeon like this.
If we go in now, we all die.
James Marcus stated firmly.
Why do you think that? Look at our levels. 2,000 is high, but its not impossible.
Sophia countered.
Their levels were nearly 1,000.
A twofold gap, sure, but if they combined their strength, averting the apocalypse wasnt impossible.
But James shook his head.
Its impossible.
Ha So we just watch Texas get erased?
If wed known, we shouldve ended the game like Hoon said.
The room fell silent in an instant.
Back when Jeong Hoon had said they could end the game, Earth had still been in decent shape.
Ravaged by dungeons, yes, but rebuildable.
Plus, theyd been worshipped as gods by the survivors.
Theyd gathered initially to end the game early on, but at some point, theyd gotten drunk on power and forgotten that.
So? Will regretting it bring back dead Hoon?
James broke the silence with an incredulous look.
Jeong Hoon was dead.
Hed personally burned the body and scattered the ashes into the sea.
You saying it makes it kinda funny. Youre the one who killed him.
The one snarking was Lee Hwarang.
Theyd driven Jeong Hoon to the edge, but James Marcus had been the one to finally snuff out his life.
I know full well, so no need to remind me.
Yeah? Then dont forget youre the one who first brought up the power disappearing if the game ends.
Yeah.
Ending the game would make their power vanish.
James Marcus had been the first to voice that.
Hed gone to each one personally, convincing them not to end the game.
At first, many had wanted to end it.
But James succeeded in swaying Louis Verdant, whod been with him the longest, and Louis, with his brainwashing skill, used it to recruit all the comrades.
After killing Jeong Hoon, the brainwashing didnt hold, so it gradually wore off, and the comrades realized it had all been wrong.
But Jeong Hoon, whod fought to end the game, was already dead.
Hwarang, watch your mouth.
Louis Verdant warned him.
Who are you to say that?
At Amelie Reinas words, every eye in the room turned to him.
Louis Verdant let out an irritated sigh under the stares.
There were reasons for everything.
Reasons? Reasons we can accept?
Tycoon Paul Raymond asked with a hardened face.
Louis Verdant nodded.
Yeah. Ask James for the details.
All eyes turned to James Marcus.
Phew, Louis. I didnt tell you to keep it to yourself.
Then how long were you going to hide it? We all betrayed Hoon. You want us to live with guilt forever?
Thats.
That was when it happened.
Bang!
The door flew open, and a man in his early twenties walked in slowly.
Found you.
!
Everyones eyes widened.
Jeong Hoon, who shouldve been dead, stood there perfectly fine.
Looking much younger, even.
So this is where you were hiding.
Jeong Hoon glared at each of them with contemptuous eyes.
Outside the window right now, the portal imposing the apocalypse penalty rippled.
To avert the apocalypse, they had to clear that dungeon and close it.
Yet these damn bastards were just sitting here watching.
Hey, miss me?
Jeong Hoon stared at James Marcus with a murderous face.
Take a good look. This isnt just abilityits authority. The source that lets you place the world beneath you.
James Marcus, whod spouted nonsense like that while trying to end his life.
Jeong Hoon stepped into Heavenly Demon Supremacy, arriving before James Marcus in an instant.
But these guys had reached the heavenly realm too, so reading Jeong Hoons movements wasnt hard.
Even so, they couldnt move a single step.
They were too shocked that hed come back alive.
.
James Marcus, grabbed by the collar, said nothing.
Ill give your loose mouth a chance to speak. Still think we shouldnt end the game?
Howd you get here?
Jeong Hoons grip tightened.
Did I say you could ask questions?
Guh.
James Marcus groaned, struggling to breathe.
Youre next after this bastard, so stay put.
Jeong Hoon warned the betrayers in a voice laced with killing intent, then glared at James Marcus again.
But the corner of James Marcuss mouth slowly curled up.
As expected Sending you away was the right call.
What?
Regression It succeeded.
In that moment, the strength drained from Jeong Hoons hand.
Hed never dreamed the word regression would come from James Marcuss mouth.
You.
Cough! Cough! Thanks And Im really sorry for putting that role on you.
Jeong Hoon furrowed his brow.
How did you know?
Ill give you that answer from earlier. I think this game absolutely has to end.
Ha.
What the hell was this situation?
Jeong Hoon had planned to wipe them all out here and close the dungeon outside.
Yet James Marcus had mentioned regression and flipped his stance.
No excuses. Kill meyou have my word I wont resent you.
Jamess face as he said that was utterly serious.
There wasnt a hint of falsehood in his eyes.
Master Where the hell did you come from?
A regressor I see. Now everything clicks perfectly.
Mukho and Animas mutterings didnt even register in Jeong Hoons head.
His mind was pure chaos right now.
James Marcus, spill everything you know right now.
Activating Brainwash.
Jeong Hoon cast brainwash on him.
Brainwash grade is too low. Brainwash fails to activate.
But the epic-grade brainwash didnt work on James.
Youve even gotten brainwash Fine. Ill tell you everything, so hold off on killing me a bit.
.
Jeong Hoon nodded silently.
What I say from now on Itll be hard to believe, but its all true.
James Marcus slowly began his story.
Regression.
The ability to live a life youd already lived once more.
And James Marcus was a regressor.
The key to that regression was the first apocalypse.
Avert the first apocalypse, and you gain an unknown power.
At first, he hadnt known it was the power of regression.
Hed just judged it as an energy similar to, but slightly different from, mana.
But the second apocalypse.
James Marcus wiped out in that dungeon of otherworldly difficulty, losing his life.
That was his first regression.
To be precise, hed possessed his past self in a parallel world.
After regressing, he grew explosively again, gathered comrades, and challenged the apocalypse once more.
Kuhk!
But it ended the same.
Failing to stop the second apocalypse, total annihilation.
Yet with the regression power from the first, he regressed again and diligently gathered opportunities to grow.
Aaaahk!
And death again before the second apocalypse.
He didnt know how many times he repeated it.
Mentally exhausted, he even thought quitting and dying might be better.
Death would make everything easier.
This is the last time.
If there was no progress this time, he planned to accept death quietly.
And thats when he met Jeong Hoon.
The first new comrade in endless regressions.
Unimpressive at first glance, but with absurd potential lurking inside.
That potential was stronger than all the others combined.
But the existing comrades, blind to Jeong Hoons potential, grew dissatisfied.
James, whyd you bring in a guy like that?
Ha, low level, low grade. Hell definitely drag us down.
Please. Get rid of that martial artist.
He knew.
Cant you trust me a little? Hoon will definitely be a huge help to us.
And those words proved true.
Jeong Hoon began growing at a insane pace, absorbing their battles like a sponge just by watching.
The most astonishing was his memory.
Perfect recall, not forgetting even the smallest detail.
James saw hope there.
Hoon might create a different future from mine.