Chapter 328
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 328
Chapter Title: Hero
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Hero.
A noble being who saves the world.
Before levels were displayed, Shiron had taken great pride in the title of Hero.
He prided himself on fostering harmony among races and contributing to world peace by triumphing in battles against evil forces.
"Isn't this just what a hero should do?"
"Hero! Please visit our village and resolve our troubles!"
However, as time passed, people stopped viewing the hero's sacrifices as noble and instead took them for granted.
Even so, he continued to sacrifice himself, believing it was simply his duty as a hero.
Then, an absolute numerical value called a level appeared before everyone of all races, and the world changed.
"Wow, so leveling up makes you stronger?"
"No need for training anymore. Just rack up experience points and you get stronger right away."
With the advent of levels, they became the measure of power.
Countless people rushed into dungeons to seize that power.
As a result, requests for the hero's help with dungeons drastically decreased.
"The hero's level is pretty high... but if we try hard, we can catch up, right?"
At the time, Shiron's level was 350.
Naturally, many set Shiron as their goal to surpass, and factions emerged to hinder his leveling.
If Shiron voiced his frustration, ten times the bitter retorts came back.
"Is the hero being greedy right now?"
"Wow... I never saw it this way, but that greed is no joke."
It was absurd.
Humans who once begged for help with every dungeon outbreak were now checking him.
"Hero, you needn't bear all these burdens alone. Aid in the growth of our knights."
Even the rulers of nations treated him the same.
They saw commanding the hero as entirely natural.
"What is this? This filthy feeling."
For the first time, Shiron felt disillusioned with being a hero.
Yet, due to his ingrained habits as a hero, he couldn't show it outwardly and quietly obeyed.
Until someone approached him.
'???' Pities You.
It happened while he was sharing monster knowledge to help the knights conquer dungeons.
A strange message appeared before Shiron.
'What is this?'
'???' says you have accumulated enough good deeds to ascend. Promises to grant you the power to rule the world if you contract with them.
He had been chosen.
That contract turned Shiron's life 180 degrees.
Shiron, approaching Jeong Hoon, suddenly halted.
"Remember this. We are created beings. No matter how much glory we enjoy, we are destined to rot in the end."
"So?"
"...You're not oblivious, so you must have realized by now."
Shiron gazed at Jeong Hoon with a look of pity.
"So you're telling me to submit and live like you?"
"Heh, not submitchosen. We have transcended humanity to become complete gods."
He's steeped in this vile chosen-people ideology.
Or, since he was chosen, maybe it's not entirely wrong.
"Fuck that. I'll never accept it."
He would end this damned game and live a regret-free life in a peaceful world.
As a human.
"Tsk. Do you know why I'm hesitating to kill you right now, even though I could?"
"Because my skills are a waste."
"Correct. You, not even at level 800, put on an astonishing performance. I sensed potential in that."
"Don't repeat yourself."
Because there's no way I'm listening.
Jeong Hoon stepped forward with Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
Stance 1: Heavenly Demon Stance activated.
He simultaneously unleashed Heavenly Demon Stance, swinging Leviathan without restraint.
His sword strikes sharply targeted Shiron's neck and waist.
But Shiron casually swung his sword with one hand, deflecting every strike.
"Please don't refuse my mercy."
"Crazy bastard."
Stance 1: Heavenly Demon Stance activated.
Jeong Hoon's Heavenly Demon Stance bore down on Shiron.
Yet Shiron deflected all the strikes nonchalantly, smiling leisurely.
"As expected, it's a waste... Ugh!"
Shiron's words cut off abruptly.
The hand not gripping Leviathan had precisely struck his side.
Since it pierced the Hero's Blessing to deal damage, Shiron's face couldn't help but fill with shock.
"Why? Surprised your blessing got nullified?"
Jeong Hoon's lips curled into a smirk.
"It's useless."
Shiron attacked Jeong Hoon's left shoulder with his free hand.
Yet Jeong Hoon's expression remained utterly calm.
'No way... invincible...?!"
Shiron instantly saw through Jeong Hoon's ability.
But it was already too late.
Jeong Hoon exploited the opening created by the punch to strike his abdomen again.
"Urk!"
The Hero's Blessing failed once more.
It had to.
The fist technique Jeong Hoon wielded was True Heavenly Demon Fist Technique.
This technique nullifies defense by 80 probability.
More precisely, it nullifies any defense.
Be it the overwhelming physical defense, armor, or skills.
Thus, the blessing, being a defensive skill, could be nullified.
The problem was that the bastard's health had only dropped by a mere 2.
'If I could just reach 5 stars, I'd clear the quest.'
Limited to 1 star, it didn't meet the quest completion conditions.
Barrier of Light activated.
Jeong Hoon activated Barrier of Light and thrust his fist again.
But this time, Shiron grabbed his wrist, neutralizing it.
"Did you think you could take me down with the same trick again?"
Shiron had regained his composure and smiled brightly.
He then twisted Jeong Hoon's wrist with force.
The barrier shattered instantly, accompanied by the crunch of bone, distorting Jeong Hoon's face.
"Urk!"
Shiron released his grip and spoke.
"Impressive that you wield holy power, but it's worthless against me, who is becoming a god."
Jeong Hoon staggered back.
A single twist had completely shattered the bones in his wrist.
God's Healing activated.
He quickly restored his pulverized wrist with God's Healing and took a deep breath.
'The skill gap is too clear.'
Now his remaining health was 8.
If he could just whittle down that 8 somehow, he could complete the quest.
Jeong Hoon raised Leviathan again, aiming at Shiron.
"You're still not giving up, even after all this?"
"If I were going to quit, I wouldn't have come this far."
"Yes, so I'm giving you a chance."
"You're giving me chillscut it out."
That's a sickness. A sickness.
Stance 3: Heavenly Demon Annihilation Stance activated.
Jeong Hoon activated Heavenly Demon Annihilation Stance to pierce Shiron's throat.
Leviathan's blade tip sharply dove toward Shiron.
"A fine thrust. But that's as far as it goes."
Shiron drew a large circle with his sword, then slashed down forcefully from above.
A yellow flash erupted, instantly engulfing Jeong Hoon.
Grand Braver.
It slices everything it touches thousands, tens of thousands of times, leaving no trace.
"Too bad. If you'd accepted obediently...!"
Shiron couldn't finish.
The flash that had engulfed Jeong Hoon reversed, swallowing Shiron instead.
And Jeong Hoon, who should have left no trace from Grand Braver, stood perfectly fine.
Rune of Counterattack activated.
Because he had used the Rune of Counterattack.
True Asura activated. (Limit: 180 seconds)
Stage 1: Asura entered.
And True Asura triggered upon meeting the damage dealtreceived conditions.
Two phantom arms materialized behind Jeong Hoon.
'Is it over?'
Mukho's question prompted Jeong Hoon to shake his head.
'No.'
Regrettably, even after returning Grand Braver, Shiron was unscathed.
The Hero's Blessing had protected him.
But it hadn't protected perfectlythe blessing was 100 destroyed, and his health dropped an additional 4.
His pride badly scratched, Shiron glared at Jeong Hoon murderously.
"How is it? Impressions of facing your own abilities?"
"I'll stop trying to tempt you now. From here on, full power."
"About time."
The phantom arms each gripped a spear and Leviathan.
Jeong Hoon himself held nothing, clenching only his fists.
Whoosh
In that instant, a sword strike flew toward Jeong Hoon's face.
Barrier of Light activated.
Jeong Hoon activated Barrier of Light and stepped with Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
The barrier shattered with a crash and vanished, the sword tip grazing his nape.
'Urgh... can't fully dodge, huh.'
God's Healing activated.
He swiftly healed the gash on his neck with God's Healing and closed in on Shiron.
Since Shiron had decided to finish him, creating distance was as good as begging to die.
The phantom arms swung Shadow King's Spear and Leviathan.
Clang!
Shiron swung his sword, lightly deflecting the spear and Leviathan from the phantom arms.
In that gap, as Jeong Hoon aimed for his abdomen with Heavenly Demon Fist Technique.
Block activated.
Jeong Hoon's invincibility skill, Block, triggered.
Invisible, but Shiron's sword had grazed his neck.
Simultaneously, Jeong Hoon's fist precisely struck Shiron's abdomen.
Stage 2: Frenzy entered.
Entering stage 2 Frenzy added two more phantom arms, increasing attack speed by 1.2 times.
"Urk! So persistent."
Jeong Hoon didn't reply and thrust his fist once more.
This time, Heavenly Demon Fist Technique 2 stars.
Simultaneously, 120 seconds passed, entering another 1.3 seconds of invincibility.
Shiron seemed to swing his sword, but Jeong Hoon ignored it and continued unfolding the fist technique.
Shiron's health is now 90 or below.
Done.
With the quest completion message, Jeong Hoon finally withdrew his fist and stepped back.
"...Ha."
Shiron gave a hollow smile, pressing his forehead.
He had completely stopped attacking, an exclamation mark blinking above his head.
Quest completed.
100,000,000 experience gained.
Next quest available.
Next quest.
'No way it wants me to fully take him down?'
He had barely reached below 90 using every invincibility skill.
If the next quest demanded perfect subjugation of Shiron, his odds were zero.
Secret Episode Quest: Recognition
-Restriction: Rival Quest completed
-Reward: ??
-Description: The designer recognizes you. Earn his recognition to cap the episode.
But the next quest completely defied Jeong Hoon's expectations.
'Who recognizes me?'
The episode felt off.
Like it was hastily slapped together.
With a hunch, Jeong Hoon accepted the quest.
Shiron sheathed his sword and clapped.
"As expected, I like you."
"...You?"
"Pardon?"
"Escannon."
They say even a hunch can kill.
Mentioning Escannon, Shiron beamed and nodded.
"How is it? Can't boast about my human days, but it's a decent look, right?"
Jeong Hoon couldn't help but be shocked.
The info on Escannon from Baal.
Not a single word mentioned he was human.
Thus, he hadn't suspected Shiron and Escannon were the same.
"This secret episodeyou threw it together?"
"Sharp as ever."
"Why?"
"You're the most intriguing of all races I've seen. Plus, things I want to tell you."
"Tell me?"
"Yes."
Shironno, Escannonsnapped his fingers.
Jeong Hoon's vision went black.