Chapter 282
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 282
Chapter Title: Appraising the Shadow Options
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Shadow Option Appraisal Gem
-Type: Consumable
-Rank: Celestial
-A gem that can set shadow options.
-Can only be used on shadow equipment or equipment capable of setting shadow options.
The gems were stored in a large pouch.
At first, Jeong Hoon had no idea what they were for, but now he understood how they worked.
He pulled one out.
To appraise shadow options, 5 gems are required.
Five?
That's a lot for a single appraisal.
Fortunately, with fifty gems, he could try it ten times.
Jeong Hoon consumed five gems to appraise the shadow option.
Shadow option appraisal successful.
Can create one clone. However, cannot project oneself.
That was the first shadow option.
The same one the Shadow King wielded.
The Shadow King had projected Jeong Hoon to create a copy, then summoned a horde of clones tailored to it.
This dagger could only make one clone, but it still seemed useful if used situationally.
Jeong Hoon immediately appraised the next option.
Shadow option appraisal successful.
Absorbs the shadow of a designated target. Cooldown: 120 hours
Shadow absorption?
What happens when you absorb it?
Jeong Hoon tilted his head.
Try absorbing something right now!
Mukho, equally curious, urged him to test it.
Yeah. Lets try it later.
There were no suitable monsters around to test it on right now, so he passed.
Jeong Hoon stowed the dagger and drew his spear.
This spear was the reward for subjugating the Shadow King.
Spear arts are something Im confident in, too.
Before his regression, spear arts were the second skill hed mastered after swordsmanship.
Hed poured nearly as much training time into it.
Hoon, why not ditch Martial Artist and go full Spear Master?
That was what Liu Xiaolong had said while watching his training.
Theyd even sparred one-on-one, filling in each others gaps.
Why?
No, youve got insane talent for spear arts! Its ridiculous.
Liu Xiaolong had initially been unimpressed with Jeong Hoon, but his explosive growth changed his mind.
After that, hed eagerly shared his personal techniques through intense spars.
Jeong Hoon appreciated it, but he didnt want to limit himself to spear arts.
No thanks.
What a waste.
Liu Xiaolong had smacked his lips.
But Jeong Hoon never specialized solely in spears.
Hed chosen Martial Artist because it allowed growth without weapons, but afterward, he aimed to master every weapon, advancing step by step.
Would you like to use the Shadow Inscription Stone on Shadow Kings Spear?
Use it.
Using Shadow Inscription Stone.
Shadow Kings Spear regains its original power.
Now the spear was unlocked, too.
Shadow Kings Spear
-Type: Spear
-Rank: Ultimate
-Attack Power: ??? (Adjusts to 2x wearers level)
-Critical Hit Rate: 30
-Remaining Durability: 100
-Special Ability (1): Absorbs attacks from a designated target to activate one of the spears five abilities.
-Special Ability (2): Passive: Bleed activates with 10 chance. (Bleed damage: 50)
-Special Ability (3): Passive: Healing Seal activates with 10 chance. (Healing Seal debuff applied randomly for 130 seconds.)
-Shadow Option (1): Can be set
-Shadow Option (2): Can be set
The stats are identical to the dagger.
Probably because it was the Shadow Kings gear.
Either way, it was just as satisfying as the dagger.
Thisll be great for sweeping through hordes of enemies.
No limits on targets.
That meant Bleed and Healing Seal would apply even against hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands.
If the dagger shone in one-on-one fights, the spear excelled against masses.
Now it was time to set the shadow options.
Shadow option appraisal successful.
Can use Active: Shadow Crescent Moon. Cooldown: 15 seconds
Shadow Crescent Moon?
Curious, Jeong Hoon gripped the spear, activated the skill, and swung it wide.
Shadow Crescent Moon triggered, leaving a black afterimage where the spear passed, with a faint light sparkling.
It had a dreamy vibe on the surface, but hidden within was a razor-sharp edge that could slice anything.
Shadow Crescent Moon
-Type: Active
-Rank: Ultimate
-A black shadow that devours the bright moon.
-A spear thrust dealing 500 damage, hitting up to 18 targets at once.
-Ignores 20 of enemy defense.
-Debuff: Temporary vision block (1.5 seconds).
-Cooldown: 15 seconds
Jackpot.
A mere 15-second cooldown, with insane spear thrust damage.
The ultimate arrow with a 300-second cooldown boasted 1,300 damage, but this fell shortyet hitting up to 18 targets for 500 made up for it.
Plus 20 defense ignore and 1.5-second vision block.
With such a short cooldown, it was a proper Ultimate-grade active skill.
Wish the dagger had an active like this.
He briefly regretted it and considered resetting, but without testing the current setup, he decided against rushing.
Jeong Hoon used the remaining shadow option appraisal gems.
Shadow option appraisal successful.
Absorbs the shadow of a designated target. Cooldown: 120 hours
The second option matched the daggers second one.
Okay. This is plenty.
Now it was time to claim the ultimate power.
Jeong Hoon turned and headed for the portal leading to the exit.
This is taking quite a while.
Baal reappeared, gazing at the portal Jeong Hoon had entered.
His eyes curved like crescent moonsbecause if Jeong Hoon failed, hed get to make a contract.
No need to worry.
Hariel smiled smugly.
The Shadow King waiting inside.
Gwen was a demon lord-class Transcendent.
Over 300 levels higher than him, with a vastly superior presence.
To perfectly clear Ultimate Path (2), one had to crush the Shadow Kingan impossible feat for a human.
He was obviously doomed to fail.
A scrub barely at level 500. No way he succeeds.
But Baal thought differently.
He might succeed.
What? No way Even a genius human couldnt take down Gwen.
Ive been so sure before, only to eat my words multiple times
Hariel felt a pang of hurt.
Sure, he was weak, but he was still beyond what any human could aspire to.
It was natural for him to judge by those standards.
Yet Baal was saying those standards were wrong.
Just whats so special about that human?
Hurt turned to curiosity.
If the lord said so, there must be something to the human.
And soon, Hariels expectations were utterly shattered.
The human emerged.
Perfectly fine, no less.
Huh?
Hariel stared dumbly as the human grinned and approached.
Success.
An exclamation mark blinked above Hariels head.
It meant the quest was complete.
Quest completed.
Qualified to challenge for the ultimate power.
If Ultimate Path (1) was an episode, Ultimate Path (2) was about clearing the dungeon to prove ones worth.
Now that hed proven it, he could challenge for the ultimate power.
No way This cant be.
Hariel muttered in shock, his face blank.
Baal, why are you here anyway?
Jeong Hoon turned to Baal.
Heh, its the bet. Isnt it obvious? I can only contract if you fail.
Sounds like youre planning to interfere and crank up the difficulty.
Baal clamped his mouth shut, hit right on the mark.
Tch. So thats why the dungeon was so tough.
Ahem.
Planning to mess with the difficulty later too?
You never said not to.
Baal confessed honestly.
If hed failed Ultimate Path (2), things wouldve gone smoothly.
Who knew hed clear it so cleanly?
Baal had half-expected it, but this human was a real monster.
Then hear this: Dont touch the difficulty.
Hmm, cant do that.
Baal grinned.
He shouldve said no meddling before the bet.
The bet was already underway; he couldnt back out now.
But Jeong Hoon continued calmly, expression unchanged.
Why? Scared of losing the bet again?
Yeah. Im scared. Youre too unpredictable.
Jeong Hoon smirked at the frank admission.
A lord whos all fear.
What?
Baal frowned, pride stung.
Am I wrong? If you werent scared, you wouldnt pull stunts like this.
Baal fell silent again.
The fact bomb left him dizzy, no retort coming.
But youre a bit off.
Off?
Baals eyes trembled faintly.
Our bet was whether I claim the ultimate power. Right?
Yes. Correct.
Did we allow interference in the process?
He hadnt forbidden it, but neither had he permitted it.
After some thought, Baal answered.
No, we didnt.
Then you just watch. Isnt that the rule?
Youve sullied a sacred bet.
Umm
If you touch it one more time, Ill never bet with you again.
Jeong Hoon played hardball.
Baal loved bets.
Especially ones with him.
Denying that to such a guy was a nail in the coffin.
Fine. I wont touch it anymore.
Baal pondered, then backed down.
If he meddled now and Jeong Hoon still succeeded?
No more bets after.
Better to just observeit profited him more.
Pardon? You wont adjust the difficulty?
Hariel blurted in shock.
Hed maxed the difficulty under Baals subtle pressure.
Clearing Ultimate Path (2) was off-script, but he was confident the human wouldnt claim the ultimate power.
Tougher trials awaited with even higher difficulty.
But no adjustments? That changed everything.
Whatever trick hed used, it felled the Shadow King.
Revert the difficulty, and claiming the ultimate power wasnt impossible.
Add one more reward.
Jeong Hoon cut in.
Reward?
Yeah. Add a reward, and Ill allow difficulty tweaks.
Baals eyes lit up.
What kind of reward?
Jeong Hoon smiled and pulled out his prepared line.