Chapter 347
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 347
Chapter Title: The Void Chalice
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The method of using the chalice was simple.
Void Chalice
Select the desired ability.
1. Clone
2. Amplification
3. Manifestation
4. Proliferation
When he gripped the chalice in his hand, he could select one of these four abilities.
First up, Clone.
You have selected Clone.
A clone connected to the main body will be created.
A mass of black liquid surged from the chalice in Jeong Hoon's hand, rapidly taking shape.
It was a clone constructed based on Jeong Hoon's own existence.
A perfect clone containing mana, holy power, and creation energy.
"Hoo, just as I thought."
Abaddon must have used a divine relic to create and send out that clone.
Exactly as expected.
So what about the second one, Amplification?
He tried to use Amplification, but nothing happened.
"Hmm? It doesn't boost stats?"
He'd assumed Amplification would naturally increase his power.
To use Amplification, you need to absorb damage first. Damage you inflict yourself doesn't count, of course.
"Tricky."
That's not all. The absorbed damage only amplifies temporarily, then fades after a while.
"Got it."
It was a shame it was temporary, but it could be seen as an invincible skill that even created variables during absorption.
And the one he used to return your abilities was Manifestation.
"As expected, it was a divine relic ability."
Yeah. Simply put, it takes absorbed attacks and throws them back without amplifying them.
"Hmm? So you can't use Amplification and Manifestation at the same time?"
Right. And you can use it as much as you want with no limits until the chalice's contents run out.
Using a clone to actively exploit Amplification and Manifestation would definitely be devastating.
As long as he didn't get caught off-guard like with Abaddon, it was essentially invincible.
The main body wouldn't take damage as long as the clone held up.
Of course, something like Overlord's Wrath that forced damage through would change things.
"I get why that guy was so obsessed with this relic. It's got such clear strengths and weaknesses."
To be precise, this wasn't truly invincible.
It had a clear counter, just like the ability he'd unleashed himself.
He was probably trying to cover the weaknesses.
"Yeah. And the Seven Sins would've had a relic to cover them."
Otherwise, there'd be no need to take on such risks.
Jeong Hoon summoned the Seven Sins.
"Huh? Why'd you call me?"
"Hand over the relic."
Jeong Hoon extended his hand toward the Seven Sins.
"Relic...?"
At the mention of the relic, the Seven Sins' face stiffened for a moment before relaxing.
This bastard remembers.
The corner of Jeong Hoon's mouth curled up.
"You'd better drop any thoughts of playing dumb."
"No... if you suddenly tell me to hand it over..."
"So you do have it?"
"...Yeah."
In the end, the Seven Sins confessed the truth.
It hadn't recovered all its memories, but acquiring the fourth sin had jogged its memory of one particularly cherished relic, which it had been hiding ever since.
"Why hide it?"
"...Because it felt like you'd take it if I told you."
"Correct."
"Ha, Master. Can't you let this one slide?"
"I need it to fully unseal you."
"You can win without stuff like this!"
"No can do. I need that relic of yours."
To crush Escannon more decisively, he needed one more relic.
If the Seven Sins handed it over in that situation, Jeong Hoon's victory would be even more assured.
"Sorry... If I could take it out, I would've done it ages ago."
"Hmm? You can't take it out?"
"Yeah. I hid it in the deepest part of myself, and pulling it out requires a special ability."
"So you can't use that ability yet?"
"Right."
That made sense. It had hidden it so well that even when sealed by Escannon, it hadn't been taken.
"In the end, I have to settle this with the Void Chalice."
"...Um, once my seal's fully broken, you'll take this relic, right?"
"Yeah. I need it to deal with the rest."
"Hmm."
The Seven Sins crossed its arms and fell into thought.
I can hear its brain grinding from here.
Agreed.
That guy.
It was making its reluctance plain as day on its face.
"For the record, if you don't hand it over, I'll erase you."
"Erase...?"
"Yeah. And whatever you're hiding, I can just rip it out by force."
As Jeong Hoon grinned and spoke, the Seven Sins shuddered.
"Haha... When did I say I didn't want to hand it over?"
"You think I don't know you're scheming to weasel out of it right now?"
"Ugh! That's..."
The Seven Sins stammered, unable to come up with an excuse.
"Choose. Hand it over nicely? Or should I take it by force?"
"Ugh... Devil. Master's a devil!"
"Who's the total package of all sins if not you?"
"I got split into seven by that damned bastard and stitched back together!"
"So you're not a devil?"
"No... I am a devil, but..."
"Then I'm still better than you."
At least I'm human.
Jeong Hoon added that as he stood up.
"...As soon as I can use the ability, I'll hand it over right away."
"That's more like it."
Don't settle for wordsget a solid promise. Guys like that have backstabbing as a passive skill.
Tenebris didn't trust the Seven Sins.
It declared that the moment the seal broke, it'd stab him in the back.
'It's fine. That won't happen.'
How can you be sure?
'I'll erase it the second I sense any hint of betrayal.'
Jeong Hoon didn't fully trust the Seven Sins either.
It was a devil.
Devils like Baal could backstab at any momenthow could he trust it 100?
If it showed any sign of betrayal, he'd mercilessly erase it and take the relic.
Never drop your guard. It stole and hid a relic. It wouldn't be strange if it betrayed you anytime.
'True enough.'
Jeong Hoon sent the Seven Sins away and examined the Void Chalice again.
"By the way, what's this Proliferation in the Void Chalice?"
Proliferation? What ability is that... Oh, it must be a new upgrade from absorbing the creation energy.
"Yeah."
What ability did Proliferation hold?
Jeong Hoon activated Proliferation.
But unlike before, nothing happened.
'What? Does it need a condition?'
Otherwise, there was no reason for no reaction.
Set a target.
As he pondered, a message appeared before him.
'Base? Ah, I get it.'
Jeong Hoon approached the fallen Abaddon and held out the chalice.
Huh? What are you doing now?
"It's the guy we sucked dry, but maybe the chalice can still absorb something from it."
No way. To use that, the opponent needs to attack... Huh?!
Tenebris's words cut off.
Black liquid poured from the Void Chalice in Jeong Hoon's hand, swallowing Abaddon's corpse.
The sticky liquid that engulfed it flowed back into the chalice, returning to a calm state.
"It works?"
Is it thanks to the creation energy?
The newly added Proliferation due to the creation energy.
Jeong Hoon nodded.
"Yeah. I tried it on a hunch, and good thing I did."
When he brought the Void Chalice close to Abaddon, creation energy extended like threads, probing him.
Once the probing finished, black liquid poured out, activating Proliferation.
Proliferation devoured the target's existence to grow its belly.
And unlike Amplification or Manifestation, the absorbed energy didn't deplete.
'Creation energy is accumulating.'
A tiny amount of creation energy that had been used to make the clone was restored.
It felt similar to how named power accumulated bit by bit when hunting monsters.
Of course, that named power wasn't creation energy and was useless except for unsealing Tenebris, but the Void Chalice was different.
Even if slight, creation energy was recovering.
This covered the biggest weakness.
And that wasn't all.
Extracting memories from the target.
'Four Seasons of the End' has been added.
It even absorbed and added abilities the guy had used.
This was Proliferation.
'Time to tackle the episode now?'
The purpose of coming here.
It was to successfully complete the episode.
"You're late..."
Escannon muttered with a grave expression.
By now, the human should have been eliminated and back.
"No way he betrayed me?"
Given the total radio silence, that possibility couldn't be ruled out.
That explained why it hadn't handed over the promised sin.
Hand it over first and get backstabbed? No thanks.
But it felt like he'd just been backstabbed.
"He's sided with the human."
Escannon's fist clenched.
What it wanted was the sin it possessed.
It had coveted that sin enough to defy the Named's will, so if it went to the human instead, there'd be no need to defy anythingand it'd get the sin too.
"It dared weigh me against that human..."
If the betrayal was real, it wouldn't let it slide.
Secret Episode: All Corruptions Completed.
The episode rank was 'EX'.
Finishing the episode was simple.
It was about assisting Escannonnow shed of its human guiseas it took Jeocheon's seat.
It left a foul taste, but it was necessary to progress the episode.
By the time he raced to the episode's end, Jeong Hoon died at Escannon's hands.
It was an illusion, so he didn't actually die, but the episode ended without him even struggling.
"Ha... annoying."
Jeong Hoon let out an irritated sigh and scratched his head vigorously.
What? What happened in there?
Since the episode played out as an illusion via NPC, no one but Jeong Hoon knew the details.
"...I died to him."
Escannon?
"Yeah."
He'd accessed the code for episode info and rewards.
And lowered the difficulty drastically.
He'd rushed through the episode accordingly, but the endingdeathcouldn't be changed.
Well, nothing for it. Looks like it ran from another person's perspective.
"Spot on."
Couldn't use any abilities?
"Nope. Couldn't even resist."
Whatever. It's just an illusion. We can take him out for real later.
"Yeah."
Jeong Hoon obtained two Sin Chests via the NPC.
Episode completion reaches 100.
Hidden reward unavailable due to unmet conditions.
"Just the third annihilation left now."
That hidden reward was no doubt a meeting with Escannon.
'Wait up. I'll be there soon.'
Jeong Hoon ground his teeth inwardly as he pulled out all the acquired Sin Chests.
Now it was time to unseal the Seven Sins further.
He suspected two more would activate the ability to extract the relic.
That would let him eliminate Escannon more reliably.
Open the chest?
Choices cannot be undone. Proceed with caution.
"Open."
The chest opened, spilling black light from within the sealed box.