Chapter 275
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 275
Chapter Title: One Who Transcends Humanity Lv. 10
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Title One Who Transcends Humanity grows to Lv. 10.
As he claimed his rewards, the title Jeong Hoon had wanted grew to Lv. 10.
One Who Transcends Humanity Lv. 10
-Type: Unique Evolving Title
-Grade: Celestial
-Automatically manipulates natural mana, restoring mana at regular intervals.
-Can permanently annihilate dungeons. (However, higher-grade dungeons cannot be annihilated.)
-Partially immune to the influence of Transcendents.
Having reached Lv. 10, the mana recovery speed had become several times faster.
Even against a Demon King-tier, I won't be at any disadvantage.
Demon King-tier.
His words were spot on.
Before his regression, Jeong Hoon's title had been at level 4.
Even in that state, he had emerged victorious in a 1-on-1 against an Apostle-tier Transcendent.
And at that time, he had barely consumed any fortuitous encounters.
The fact that he could fight on equal footing was entirely thanks to the title.
As the scope of immunity to a Transcendent's 'aura' expanded, he became able to stand against that 'aura.'
'Even at level 3, I was able to hunt Darcan, who was near Lord-tier, largely because of the Seven Deadly Sins.'
If he had to fight without the Seven Deadly Sins, no matter how capable Jeong Hoon was, he wouldn't have been able to take it down.
The 'Enhanced Judgment of Death' activated by the Seven Deadly Sins, which was immune to 'aura' influence.
'No matter what, the Seven Deadly Sins is playing a crucial role for me right now.'
With business concluded, Jeong Hoon turned to leave.
Having claimed his rewards, it was time to head back.
The survivors, including James Marcus, were still rooted to the spot.
They couldn't believe that they had taken down Darcan, a Lord-tier.
"Master! You've returned!"
Michael, who had been waiting outside, greeted Jeong Hoon respectfully.
"Yeah."
Jeong Hoon's gaze turned.
In the corner, the Seven Deadly Sins was snoring away.
"Master, that thing devoured all the stats from the deceased."
"Is that so?"
The deceased.
They were the ones swept away by Darcan's counterattack in a single blow.
From Jeong Hoon's perspective, they were traitors as well, so he felt no pity whatsoever.
If anything, he was grateful that the Seven Deadly Sins had taken care of absorbing their stats on its own.
'Let's take a look.'
Seven Deadly Sins
-Type: Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath
-Level: ?? (Grows by absorbing stats)
-Grade: Legendary
Detailed Stats
-Strength: 382
-Agility: 371
-Vitality: 390
-Defense: 381
-Wisdom: 362
-Mana: 388
-Mental Strength: 370
The Seven Deadly Sins' stats were now approaching 400 across the board.
A little more absorption, and breaking through 400 would be a breeze.
"Master, and those bastards aren't worth dealing with."
Michael pointed at James Marcus and Louis Verdant.
At that, their shoulders twitched, and they averted their eyes from Jeong Hoon.
"Why? What happened?"
"They were bragging about stabbing you in the back."
"S-Stabbing you in the back?!"
"They just meant it's fortunate that I wasn't the one who took that power, but Jeong Hoon instead!"
James Marcus and Louis Verdant hurriedly protested.
Jeong Hoon's eyes narrowed at the sight.
"Either way, that's the vibe they were giving off, right?"
"That's..."
"Sorry..."
Jeong Hoon let out a quiet sigh and spoke.
"This second apocalypse happened to have me around, but the third won't. You get what that means, don't you?"
"......"
"......"
James Marcus and Louis Verdant's faces darkened in an instant.
To complete the episode at 100, they had to endure a total of three apocalypses.
In the first apocalypse, they gained an unknown power.
In the second, a power that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a Demon King-tier Transcendent.
But the second had only been stopped because Jeong Hoon was there.
Without him, surviving the thirdwith its ramped-up difficultywould be impossible.
"Why so quiet?"
"Hoon, please. Can't you join us for the third apocalypse too?"
James Marcus, face thick as steel, made the request.
Michael's face flushed with rage at the shamelessness.
"Wow, after stabbing you in the back, they've got no shame. Crazy bastards."
Jeong Hoon raised a hand to stop him.
"Michael, enough. Let's go."
"Master! Are you saying you're going to help these things?"
"Why?"
"No, you're not some pushover... Agh!"
Michael hurriedly clamped his mouth shut with his hand.
He felt like he'd just said something he shouldn't have.
But Jeong Hoon's expression remained calm.
He fully agreed with Michael.
Helping them now would make him the biggest fool.
Jeong Hoon had no intention of that, and besides, it was impossible to stick around.
'I only have 7 hours left.'
The time inside that portal flowed differently from outside, leaving him with 7 hours.
If it were the same, he would've been forcibly ejected before even clearing the trial.
"Let's go."
"......Yes!"
Michael replied energetically.
He had to leave before Jeong Hoon could say anything else.
Fortunately, Jeong Hoon said nothing more and sent Michael and the sleeping Seven Deadly Sins in the corner back.
He then glared at James Marcus and said,
"Like Michael said, I have no intention of helping you."
"......Hoon, I know you're angry. But we can't stop the apocalypse with our power alone."
"Probably not. And if you stay out without entering, penalties will stack up, and Earth will eventually be wiped out."
"......"
Michael's face hardened.
Regional annihilation.
That was the penalty, and it had already stacked to a considerable level.
If they let the third apocalypse slide like this, Earth would vanish in an instant.
"Either way, I'll be forcibly sent back in 7 hours."
"......Sent back?"
"Of course. The time I could spend here was only 120 hours."
"I see......"
James chewed his lip.
If Jeong Hoon left, Earth was doomed.
"James, if you'd chosen not to betray me, it wouldn't have come to this."
"......"
"If you were going to send me back, you should've explained properly. Instead, you all tried to kill me with that bullshit about fearing I'd take your power?"
"Sorry......"
"If I could, I'd kill you myself, but you're not worth dirtying my hands."
"......"
"If you want atonement, enter the third apocalypse yourself. Face the enemy and fight to the end."
"......Got it."
James nodded heavily.
The remaining survivors said nothing.
No matter what, they had wronged Jeong Hoon.
Jeong Hoon was no longer part of that world.
Remaining time has reached '0'. Returning automatically.
Psyche's pocket watch forcibly returned Jeong Hoon to his original world.
The return was simple.
His vision went black, and when it cleared, he was back at the spot where he had used Psyche's pocket watch.
You're back?
Baal, who had apparently been waiting, spoke up the moment he saw Jeong Hoon.
Jeong Hoon looked up to meet the red eyes.
"Yeah. I had a great trip."
Looks like you achieved something.
"Yeah."
Jeong Hoon checked his title.
The one that had been only level 3 was now level 10.
With this title, claiming the ultimate power didn't seem impossible.
Shall we make a bet then?
Baal's eyes curved like a crescent moon.
"Another bet?"
Why else would I wait around for you this long?
"Long? How much time passed since I left?"
10 Days.
120 hours.
The time Jeong Hoon had spent using the watch was only 120 hours5 daysbut here, twice that, 10 days, had passed.
'Time flows differently depending on the dimension.'
Jeong Hoon nodded and said,
"If it's a bet, you're talking about the ultimate power, right?"
Correct.
"Hmm, you think I can't obtain the ultimate power?"
Yes. The ultimate power is forbidden to humans. No matter how much you've transcended, you're still human in the end.
Jeong Hoon's lip twitched.
"You're deliberately provoking me."
Kukuku, whether it's provocation or not, we'll see. What do you say? Accept the bet?
"What's your stake?"
What could he even take from Baal?
The Ultimate Star.
"The Ultimate Star?"
Yes. A material to upgrade the weapon you currently have.
"Hmm, that's tempting."
It certainly was appealing, but Jeong Hoon deliberately trailed off.
Something else you want?
"Add one more to that, and I'll accept."
What?
"Simply put, I want two."
Two Ultimate Stars.
That should be the minimum.
......Greedy, aren't you?
Jeong Hoon grinned.
"So, you're backing out?"
What? I never said that.
"Then it's two Ultimate Stars on the line?"
Fine. But if you fail, like before, you contract with me.
"Call."
Before claiming the ultimate power, Jeong Hoon did a quick check-in with everyone who had crossed over to Darvis.
The first reply came from Ha-jin.
It'll be over soon, but it might take a bit.
Ha-jin had headed to the Naiobi Dukedom in the north.
'The Naiobi Dukedom was where you acquire the ancient relic, right?'
The Naiobi Dukedom had produced Swordmasters for generations.
The Empire's Sword.
Guardian of the North.
All terms referred to Naiobi.
He had sent Ha-jin there specifically because, after materialization, it had been modified to allow acquiring an ancient relic.
Of course, there was only one ancient relic, and whoever got it first owned it.
'If it's almost done, that means he's gotten close to the relic.'
However, claiming the ancient relic was no easy process.
Especially taming the relic's spirit in the final trialit was insanely difficult.
'I should give him a tip.'
Without a tip, he'd never pass the final trial.
Jeong Hoon sent Ha-jin the tip for taming the relic's spirit.
Whoa, got it. I'll try this.
A reply came from Ha-jin.
What about the others? Why no contact?
As he wondered, a message arrived from Bong-gu, right on cue.
Bro! I just finished!
Fortunately, Bong-gu seemed to have succeeded in acquiring his fortuitous encounter.
'Good. What'd you get?'
Bong-gu had headed to the Balder-mann Marquisate in the west.
The fortuitous encounter there was a dagger.
A Legendary-grade dagger at that.
It was on par with the one Jeong Hoon had, Anima.
With Bong-gu ascending to Shadow King, adding a Legendary dagger should create great synergy.
Heh heh, I got something amazing. I'll show you when I get back!
Jeong Hoon chuckled.
He didn't need to brag; he already knew what it was.
'Is Mom busy?'
Mom, Yeo Sun-woo, and Yeo Min-ji still hadn't replied.
Master, how does regression feel?
'Yeah, I'm curious too.'
Through Psyche's pocket watch, Muk-ho and Anima had realized Jeong Hoon was a regressor.
"It's alright."
Just alright?
'Hm?'
It seemed like an unexpected answer.
Of course, before using the watch, he would've said it was the best.
It was a chance to fix regrets and change the future.
But this regression wasn't just turning back time.
It was regressing to a parallel world's version of himself, so strictly speaking, the original world's him was dead.
'In a way, it could be seen as possession.'
If it was a parallel world regression, where did this world's original self go?
Jeong Hoon pondered that.
"For now, let's obtain the ultimate power."
Such questions would get answers eventually.
For now, focus on the present.