Chapter 271
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: The Second Annihilation
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The second annihilation.
Jeong Hoon lost his life the moment he finished the first annihilation.
He got hit in the back of the head.
Even so, the reason he knew about the annihilations that followed was because there were conditions that triggered them.
First, twenty years after reality manifested.
And the second was when the episode completion reached 99.
Once that 99 was hit, three annihilations would be forced upon them, and blocking all three would unlock the final episode to achieve 100.
Jeong Hoon knew this, so he believed that stopping those three annihilations would end the game.
But according to James, the second annihilation was impossible to clear.
Going in alone here would mean a 100 chance of failure.
In that case, using these guys would raise the odds of clearing it.
They were betrayers, but their skills were undeniably top-notch.
You mean... we block the annihilation together...?
Jamess eyes trembled as he asked.
Dont die here. Go in and die instead.
...I see.
Youre the same. If we stay like this, Texas gets wiped out too. Give it time, and the whole Earth follows.
Jeong Hoon was right.
They had to close that dungeon to stop the second annihilation and regain some peace, even if just for a while.
Got it. Well go in, so please stop now.
Amelie Reina spoke up.
She had realized that Jeong Hoon pressuring James and threatening them was all to force them toward that dungeon.
Remaining time: 117 hours.
I have to stop the annihilation within this time.
The reward for stopping the second annihilation would be beyond imagination.
Claiming that reward would help beat the fate the mysterious crystal ball had spouted.
Hoon, like I said, the second annihilation... its difficulty is so high, Ive never cleared it even once.
James Marcus kept warning them that entering the dungeon meant total annihilation.
Go in.
Of course, Jeong Hoon had no intention of listening.
It was a dungeon they had to clear anyway.
If they couldnt handle even this one annihilation, how could they face the ones above it?
...Alright.
James Marcus nodded heavily.
He had personally snapped Jeong Hoons neck to trigger the regression.
Yet he had kept dodging the second annihilation out of fear.
If youre going to atone, do it right.
Then Alessandro Braiden grabbed him in a panic.
Wait! Youre closing it now?
Yeah.
Hey, James. If what you say is true, well all die!
The second annihilation.
An annihilation that couldnt be stopped.
That was why James could only watch as countless regions got wiped out.
But he couldnt stand by any longer.
Alessandro, this is our only chance.
Our only chance now?
James Marcus nodded.
When Hoon came back, thats the chance.
It was hard to believe, but Jeong Hoon had come back to life.
That meant he had regressed to a parallel world and, for some reason, shown up here.
Either way, they had only one choice.
Enter that dungeon.
Leave it open, and the annihilations would keep coming until Earth was destroyed.
Hoons on a whole other level from the last time I saw him.
Just look at how he overwhelmed James.
Jeong Hoon had the moniker All Master back then, but he wasnt strong enough to face them all.
Even at 100 power, a full assault wouldve taken him down easily.
But now? Even a full assault might not guarantee victory.
With Jeong Hoon joining them, maybe they could avoid the total wipe James warned about?
I told you. I regressed.
Now he would explain the strategy for the dungeon.
Rushing in without prep meant annihilation.
Tell me.
Jeong Hoon asked for the dungeon strategy.
Better to master it than kill them out of revenge.
They needed power to twist this damned fate anyway.
James nodded and opened his mouth.
Its special ability is Reflection. It even goes invincible for a set time and reflects three times the damage it took to a target of its choice whenever it wants.
And it could chain the special ability anytime, so surviving once didnt mean it was over.
James Marcus had fought while dodging that ability as best he could, but he still died to Reflection in the end.
So, not something you can just overpower?
Chaebol heir Paul Raymond nodded as if he understood.
Right.
Rank?
Demon King-class. Equivalent to a Lord-class.
A Demon King-class matching a Lord-class.
Everyones faces darkened at those words.
Apostle-class could be taken down, but Demon King-class was a brutal opponent.
And not just any Demon King-class, but one rivaling a Lord-class.
It made sense why James had repeated regressions.
If wed maxed Ultimate Energy to 100, it mightve been different...
Ultimate Energy at 100.
Gather it all, and you qualify for ultimate power.
James Marcus had strived for that Ultimate Energy, but he couldnt reach 100 before the second annihilation.
He couldnt even hit 10.
Huh? Didnt Master gather 100?
Right. If Master reaches the ultimate realm and stops that annihilation, it should work.
No, that wouldnt do.
Remaining time: 117 hours.
Gaining ultimate power in that time might be impossible.
And using the pocket watch after gaining it wasnt an option either.
Ultimate Energy was never meant to reach 100 in the first place.
Filling it to 100 was all thanks to the bet with Baal.
Gathering energy and claiming power were two different things.
It said fate couldnt be changed, so claiming ultimate power was probably impossible.
Even heavenly power required killing a Demon King-class avatar.
Ultimate power would be exponentially harder.
Jeong Hoon had felt powerless against a Lord-class.
Gaining ultimate power in this state? Impossible.
That was why he planned to grow while stopping the annihilation and claim ultimate power then.
He hadnt expected the second annihilations difficulty to be this insane.
Anyway, once inside the dungeon, the whole place became its domain.
But we cant not go in...
The room fell silent at his mutter.
Jamess repeated regressions meant his parallel selves died every time.
He must have shared strategies like this every time.
With Jamess personality, he wouldve spilled everything and emphasized the strategy repeatedly.
Just like now.
Its doable.
Jeong Hoon broke the silence.
He had experience facing Demon King-class transcendents, regressions included.
Especially Byulrang, the Demon King-class transcendent from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult during the Path to Ultimate quest.
Byulrang, near Lord-class, was on another level from Apostlesten minutes was his limit holding out.
Saying it was doable was a lie, but his calm demeanor made the betrayers eyes tremble.
You serious?!
James Marcus grabbed Jeong Hoons hand and asked.
Let go.
He released it immediately at the chilling tone.
I-Its really true?
Yeah. So we memorize the strategy properly and head right in.
O-Okay.
Hope flickered in James Marcuss eyes.
He began explaining the strategy in earnest.
A Demon King-class transcendent gathered from repeated regressions.
A dragonkin named Darkan.
Second Annihilation: Will you enter Darkan?
The second annihilation.
The party led by James Marcus accepted entry.
Jeong Hoon followed them in.
Upon entering the dungeon, a massive cave greeted them, along with a gigantic dragon.
Hoh, fearless humans have come.
Dragonkin transcendent.
Darkan.
Its slit pupils swept over them, overwhelming pressure enough on its own.
Hair stood on end from tension, arms and legs trembled faintly.
Aura-wise, its above Byulrang.
But compared to the Mist hed recently faced, it was manageable.
To Jeong Hoon, Darkan wasnt Lord-class.
Just a top-tier Demon King-class transcendent.
True Lords were another dimension.
Watch out! It starts right away!
James Marcus shouted.
At that moment, Darkan breathed fire.
But not at themit sprayed the surroundings, forming a blazing ring.
Debuff: All stats reduced by 20.
Debuff: Debuff removal impossible.
Debuff: Random skill sealed.
It wasnt just a cage of flames.
The moment the fire rose, three debuffs hit.
Skill seal plus 20 stat reduction.
A brutal combo.
Jeong Hoon immediately triggered Holy Orb of Glory.
Holy Orb of Glory skill is sealed and cannot be used.
Holy Orb of Glory consumed 20 mana to purify everything.
Of all things, it sealed that, blocking purification.
Debuff removal impossible too.
Hed planned to purify with Holy Orb since removal was blocked.
Meaning they had to fight with the penalties active.
Damn, key skills are sealed.
Just like James said.
Everyone, move as planned!
Those whod heard the full strategy from James Marcus stayed calm and took their positions.
But to Darkan, it looked like children playing.
It yawned and beckoned with a finger.
Come whenever.
Attack!
James Marcus charged with shield and sword.
Martial Artist Maxim Perion and Spear Master Liu Xiaolong followed.
Dark Lord Kaneda Shun mass-summoned shadow knights to surround Darkan.
Fall back.
In the gap, Poisoner Min Jin-ho reached up.
A torrent of deadly poison rained on Darkans head.
As it got drenched, gunfire rang out.
Paul Raymond nailed Darkans head with a sniper rifle.
Full assault!
Alessandro Braiden deployed magic, and everyone unleashed skills on Darkan.
But Jeong Hoon stood still, just watching.
This bastards acting cocky.
Jeong Hoon noticed Darkans nonchalance.
Futile efforts.
As predicted, Darkan muttered, went invincible, and absorbed all incoming attacks.
Similar to Byulrangs ability at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But Byulrang reflected double damageDarkan tripled it.
Alessandro!
James called out, and Alessandro instantly wrapped Absolute Barrier around Darkan.
A level beyond the parallel world Alessandros version.
Hed ascended to heavenly realm now, after all.
Predictable tricks!
Darkan roared, damaging the Absolute Barrier by 32.
The debuffs kept it from 100 power.
Still, Alessandro stayed composed, layering Absolute Barriers.
The initial magic was setup for chaining them.
But the first shattered instantly.
The follow-ups started cracking too.
Crash!
The Absolute Barriers fully broke.
Darkan targeted everyone present to reflect the absorbed attacks.
James knew its habit of raising a hand before Reflecting and yelled urgently.
Hwarang!
Okay.
Now Lee Hwarangs turn.
He loosed his prepped Arrow of Annihilation at Darkan.
Enhance.
Iwase Haruto buffed Lee Hwarangs attack power, massively enlarging the arrow.
When Darkan tried Reflecting, it wasnt invincible and couldnt absorb.
Strike then for damage.
Pathetic.
But Darkan, as if expecting it, absorbed the arrow too.
What?!
James Marcuss eyes widened.
Through repeated regressions, that opening had always worked first time.
Not this time.
I wanted to play more, but looks like I cant.
Darkan finally triggered Reflect.
The designated targets bodies exploded in unison.