Chapter 383
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 383
Chapter Title: Survival Preparations
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When Jeong Hoon returned to Seoul, the first round had already concluded.
Hoon, did you wrap things up okay?
Yeah. Thanks to you, I came back with some gains.
Thats a relief.
Hed heard that the first round had been entirely carried by his mother.
If she hadnt stepped up, it might not have ended so smoothly.
Though its drawn some suspicion because of it.
Harmageddon and Ullion had taken root in their doubts after witnessing his mothers overwhelming power and were now poking around the divine realm.
Well, theyd returned to Earth in line with her warning, so they wouldnt get caught for now.
More importantly, he needed to focus on the second round.
Psyche, what do you plan to do with the divine stones youre collecting?
When he messaged Psyche, a reply came back soon after.
Im gathering energy. To completely erase Tenebris.
Erase Tenebris.
Tsk. Why does my guess always hit the mark?
Tenebris shook his head as if fed up.
Where?
Why?
I plan to absorb the energy.
Thats too reckless. Youre not planning to protect Earth?
Thats why Im telling you.
Huh?
Regulate the energy. To a level I can absorb.
Then I wont be able to play spy afterward. You know that, right?
Youll get caught 100 if you keep pushing it here anyway.
Ill check the situation and get back to you.
Hed given Psyche prior warning.
Doesnt this mean youll have to join the second round yourself instead of using a clone?
Jeong Hoon shook his head.
As planned, hed deploy a clone for the second round.
First, he needed to see how theyd react.
If the first round was a territory war, then the second is survival.
Survival.
Ten humans from Earth versus ten from the superior racesthe side that reaches zero survivors first is eliminated.
In other words, killing all ten superior race members would secure the second round win.
Then I should sit this one out, right?
Damien Laud raised his hand.
As a chronicler, hed handled checkpoint verification.
But he wouldnt have much to do in the second round.
There might be something if they looked, but Jeong Hoon planned to end it faster.
Oh, whats this? Your speech is fixed now?
At Jeong Hoons remark, Damien flushed and cleared his throat.
I apologize for my previous blunder. Since wed be fighting back-to-back, I had this foolish notion to test your qualifications
Yeah?
It was a bit unexpected.
Hed figured Damiens pride would keep him sulking for a while.
Then Bong-gu quietly approached and whispered.
Bro, his attitude changed after seeing Madams marksmanship.
Jeong Hoon nodded in understanding.
Yeah.
Damien wasnt the type to apologize easily.
Then Damien Laud is out. And two of you three as well.
Jeong Hoon pointed at Sophia, Amelie, and Louis Verdant.
Sophia shot up from her seat.
No, why?
Her face was full of dissatisfaction.
Hmm, no need for you to step up in the second round?
You wont know until we try, right?
Yeah?
Jeong Hoon summoned Michael, who was resting inside.
She flinched as Michael suddenly appeared.
You called?
Oh, Michael. Got a question for you.
Ask away.
Are you better than her?
Jeong Hoon pointed at Sophia.
Michael tilted his head and scanned Sophia up and down.
.
Sophia couldnt say a word.
Unlike her, who hadnt reached level 2,000, Michael was past 3,000 and nearing 4,000.
Even by levels alone, the gap was hugenot to mention if they dug deeper.
Hmm, hard to say.
But Michael dodged with a vague answer.
You dont know?
Yeah. Black Mages around her level are usually a real pain to deal with.
Sophias shoulders shot up at his honest words.
Hmm, but you can win anyway?
Of course.
Good enough.
Satisfied, Jeong Hoon sent Michael back.
Fine. Ill sit out the second round.
Pleased at being acknowledged by a level 4,000 Michael, she yielded her spot willingly.
Next were Louis Verdant and Amelie Reina.
Both holy specialists, so he planned to take just one.
Louis raised his hand.
Her healing is far superior to mine. So it makes sense for me to sit out.
No Youre way better in other areas.
Amelie hurriedly objected, but Louis smiled and shook his head.
It was true he excelled, but compared to everyone here, he wouldnt contribute muchso sitting out was wise.
Just for the second round. Rounds will continue. Its about pacing your stamina.
Got it.
Ill keep that in mind.
Their expressions turned resolute at the call to prep for future rounds.
So, with three out, whos coming in?
James Marcus raised his hand and asked.
Me first.
Jeong Hoon pointed at himself, and the living room buzzed.
Natural reaction, with level 10,000 Jeong Hoon entering the second round personally.
Precisely, a clone modeled after me.
With that, Jeong Hoon used the Origin of Good and Evil to create a clone.
Everyone stared in wonder at the identical clone standing beside him.
Replicates your abilities?
Yeah. This clone will handle the second round solo.
And the other two?
The Black Mage I summoned earlier and one secret weapon resting oh-so-sweetly.
Harmageddon and Ullion returned soon after.
No results?
At Beelzebubs question, Harmageddon shrugged.
Its fine. We only meant to threaten anyway.
Threaten?
They probably sensed us chasing and turned back, right? Dont you think?
Harmageddon said, gazing at the ceiling.
Beelzebub stared at him in disbelief.
What? Whore you talking to?
Exactly. Who am I talking to?
Weirdo. Youre back early, though. Plenty of time till the second round.
Logos said it: Hell have no choice but to show up this round.
The second round opponents for humanity were the elves.
A race very familiar to humans.
But this round, theyd be etched as terrifying in human minds.
After all, the environment was tailored to favor the elves.
But whats that got to do with him joining?
Added a restriction.
Restriction?
Every set time, well forcibly claim one life from each side.
Oho, so no dragging it out like round one.
Yeah. And announcing it before the round starts will make him desperate.
Thats it?
Would that alone make him desperate?
Heh heh, of course not.
Logos grinned confidently.
Four days until the second round.
Short for regrouping, but enough.
More like theyd rigged it so no dragging this time.
Theyre dead set on catching you this round.
Yeah.
New rule added.
From the second round, every six hours from start, one participant life from each side forcibly taken.
So, to avoid deaths, end the round within six hours.
Dragging it out in round one was the issue.
Still, it bought time to scout the divine realm.
You wont get caught anyway.
Gotta rampage from the start.
Second round foes: elves.
Hed seen an elf elder at the alliance hall.
That elder was level 1,200.
Seemed manageable, but as a superior race, likely different from regular elves.
Thats why Fenrir and Michael.
Even if the clone got nabbed to the divine realm mid-rampage, their power would wipe the elves.
With the rest, victory was certain.
Would you like to start the Demigod (1) quest?
During the four-day regroup, Jeong Hoon would tackle the quest.
Finish it in four days flat.
A quest auto-generated during divine energy collection.
Must be a reason for it.
Starting quest.
With the start message, his vision went dark.
You have entered the divine realm.
Pursuing the quest, Jeong Hoon was transported back to the divine realm.
Movement is impossible during the quest.
Even movement restricted.
This is tricky Totally different from last time?
The divine realm he saw now was 180 degrees from before.
It had resembled the human realm, but this one brimmed with holiness at its core.
Just being here felt ecstatic.
Could mountains, rivers, and flora be this beautiful?
Whoa Master, this place is the best.
A place like this exists?
Jeong Hoon walked slowly.
How long had he gone?
Wheee!
Im it this time!
Try hiding now!
Childrens giggling echoed from the brush.
Pure voices free of worry.
Pushing through, Jeong Hoon found a child only waist-high.
Huh? Whore you, big bro?
Not human.
Half wolf, half human.
A beastkin.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Kua
-Level: X
-Job: Beastkin
No level.
Meaning the child had died once.
Unlike the demon souls from before, this one was pristine.
Uh, well.
Jeong Hoon pondered his response.
Quest had started, but no messages since enteringjust wandering.
Wanna play with us, big bro?
Nah.
No quest prompt over the kid.
Meaning unrelated to quest progress.
Aww Too bad. Wouldve been fun with you.
Kua looked disappointed, then another kid burst from the brush.
Kua! Why havent you started chasing!
NPC Info
-Nickname: Hapi
-Level: X
-Job: Orc
An orc this time.
Different from the slaughter-mad orcs hed cut down.
This orc radiated pure life, no hostility.
A question mark blinked above the orcs head.