Chapter 395
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 395
Chapter Title: Humility
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You have acquired the ??? Box.
To open the box, you require recognition from a Principality.
Jeong Hoon smirked as he checked the message.
"Whats this recognition from a Principality?"
"In simple terms, it means gaining the boxs approval. Each one of those boxes possesses intelligence."
"So you just handed it over? Since Id need its recognition to open it anyway?"
"It could be, or it couldnt."
Michael shrugged.
"Well, then, Ive got the box, so Ill be on my way."
"Wait. Take this."
What Michael held out was a single orb.
"Whats this?"
"A Spirit Orb. Itll help you gain recognition."
"Do I eat it?"
"Yes. Consuming it will fool the boxs senses to some extent. Thatll drastically lower the difficulty."
"Just the one?"
"Hm? Sorry, but its the only one I have."
"Is that so?"
When Jeong Hoon eyed him suspiciously, Michael waved his hands and took a step back.
"Dont look at me like that. Its true."
"A big shot like an Archangel saying he doesnt have any more just makes me doubt it."
"Big shot...? Its something even I only received one of from the Lord. Technically, I got it along with the box."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Ive been saving it to give to someone worthy. No other Archangel has more than one. Its precious."
It didnt seem like a lie.
"Understood."
With that, Jeong Hoon wrapped up his conversation with Michael, pocketing the Spirit Orb as well.
After sending Jeong Hoon off, Michael returned to the divine realm.
"Howd it go?"
Uriel was sitting there in the divine realm, waiting for him.
"Howd what go?"
Unlike when dealing with Jeong Hoon, Michaels expression didnt change in the slightest.
Even so, Uriel continued casually.
"How was that human?"
"I dont know what answer youre hoping for, but you wont get the one you want."
"Thats fine. I already heard it."
"What?"
"I could tell you were pretty impressed, even though you didnt say a word."
"."
"Well, now that Ive got my answer, I should prepare too, right?"
"Stand by. Youre last."
"Im last?"
Uriel pointed at himself and tilted his head.
"Yes. Didnt you expend a lot of power fetching that authority?"
"Its power from the Lord anyway, so what?"
"Still, no reason to show your face too often."
"Tsk, are you jealous right now?"
"Jealous? As if Id harbor such a vile emotionone of the seven deadly sins, no less."
Michael glared at Uriel with a murderous look.
"I was just kidding, so ease up."
Uriel took a step back.
There was no gain in provoking Michaels anger.
"One more word of that nonsense, and I wont let it slide."
"Got it. Im sorry."
"Tsk."
"So, that human pulled the holy sword? Why isnt the signal registering?"
"He didnt pull it."
"Oh, really?"
"Guess he doesnt want to rely on gods."
"After getting screwed over by a Transcendent, he probably doesnt want to get used again."
"Used?"
Michael glared at Uriel once more.
Uriel backed away further as he added,
"Be honest. Anyone who wields the holy sword is absolutely obedient to the divine realms commands."
"."
"Even if he needs power, he doesnt want to become a tool of the divine realm."
"Even though without that holy sword, he cant cut down the demons of the demonic realm?"
"Hell find another way. Like the Seven Virtues wed hand over, for instance."
"."
"Anyway, lets watch and see. Its the first being to appear in millions of years."
It wasnt for nothing that the Archangels were making moves.
"I handed over the Spirit Orb."
"Oh? That Spirit Orb?"
Uriel let out a short exclamation.
The Spirit Orb was something each Archangel possessed only one of. Consuming it massively boosted divine power.
For those without it, it granted the ability to wield divine energy.
Even ascending to demigod status required conditions to handle divine powerand this Spirit Orb let you pass those conditions.
"I merely helped him pass the Principalitys trial."
"Honestly, he couldve passed without it."
Opening the divine realm meant he was more than qualifiedoverflowing, even.
Imperfect divine energy.
The fact that hed opened the divine realm with what was called creative force meant he wielded it at a considerable level.
Itd be weirder if he failed the Principalitys trial.
"Just in case is still a thing."
Michael.
He must really like that human.
"Fine. Your choices have never been wrong."
??? Box
Jeong Hoon informed everyone of their next destination and pulled out the box.
The one hed received from Michael.
"Whats this recognition from a Principality?"
Jeong Hoon reached out toward the box.
It snapped open, and chains of light wrapped around his wrist.
He tried to yank his hand free on instinct, but the chains held fast with unbelievable strength.
Testing your qualifications.
Endure to the best of your ability.
Fail to endure, and youll be trapped forever.
With those messages, the chains began dragging him in, to devour him.
At this rate, hed be swallowed into the box.
Is this why he told me to consume the Spirit Orb?
He hadnt eaten it, wondering if he really needed to borrow that power.
Master! Eat the Spirit Orb!
Yes! You need that recognition anyway!
No, no need.
Jeong Hoon summoned his creative force and unleashed it at maximum output.
In that state, he yanked his arm back.
Craaaack
In that instant, the chains snapped powerless.
You have received the Lords recognition.
You may now open the box.
"As expected, creative force works too."
Hed anticipated it, but he hadnt expected it to be this straightforward.
Master, the Spirit Orb we didnt need it?
Yeah. I yelled about it without thinking when you were getting pulled in.
As Mukho and Anima said, without creative force, he wouldve had to consume the Spirit Orb no questions asked.
That chain binding his right hand just now hadnt reacted at all to mana or holy power.
And if hed had less creative force, hed have been swallowed all the same.
Of course, opening the divine realm had burned through a massive amount, but he still had enough left to handle a qualification trial like this without issue.
"Shall we open the box then?"
Would you like to open the Seven Virtues Box?
Once chosen, this cannot be undone. Proceed with caution.
"Open."
As he opened it, the sealed box swung wide, pure white light spilling out before something shot straight into Jeong Hoons chest.
It happened too fast for him to react.
You have acquired Humility.
The acquired Virtue is etched into your soul.
You have acquired Primordial Fragments x2.
Unlike the Seven Deadly Sins, the Virtues took a different form.
Where the Sins had confronted him in snail-like shapes, the Virtues entered his body in a near-parasitic fashion.
No visible change at all.
What the hell is this?
Jeong Hoon fiddled with his chest.
No change to levels, stats, skillsnothing.
"This isnt weird, right?"
Feeling oddly uneasy, he headed back to the chapel.
"Why are you here again?"
Roel greeted Jeong Hoon with a fed-up look.
"I kept your secret, and this is how you treat me?"
"No! Thats already over with, isnt it?"
"So?"
"Ugh youre a real devil."
"Anyway, I got one of the Seven Virtues."
"That was fast?"
"Yeah. They handed it right over."
"Wasnt it Michael?"
"Yep."
"Huh? No way. He just gave it up easily?"
"You really dont know anything about the Virtues?"
"Nope."
"Is that so? I heard you definitely knew something."
Jeong Hoon furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
"What do I know? What did you hear?"
Roel felt like he was about to lose his mind and jump.
What on earth had he heard to come interrogating again?
Seeing that reaction, Jeong Hoon nodded.
"Okay, you really dont know."
"Were you testing me just now?"
Only then did Roel realize hed been had, his face flushing red.
"Sorry. Just checking if you were hiding anything."
"Ugh seriously."
"In exchange, Ill definitely keep the secret."
"What do you mean you werent planning to before?"
"Yep."
His brazen response left her speechless.
"Talking to you really feels like it shortens my lifespan."
"Ill keep it, so tell me about the next linked quest?"
"Go to Arandis."
Arandis.
The town after Atlas.
With a minimum entry requirement of 500, it was a place with zero solid info.
A tiny handful, including James Marcus, were said to have broken through to Arandis, but none had shared details.
James Marcus was probably there.
"Got it."
"Before that, clear as many quests in Atlas as you can. Thats how youll get the next box from the angel stationed in Arandis."
"That was the plan."
Several conditions were needed to head to Arandis.
One was completing over 80 of the quests assigned in Atlas.
Which made doing quests essential.
Too bad. Wouldve been nice to learn something about the Virtues.
Mukho smacked his lips in disappointment.
"Its fine. Ill just ask the next Archangel handing over a box."
At that moment,
James Marcus visited Atlas.
"James?"
"Whys James, who should be on the America server, here?"
The users residing in Atlas couldnt help but be stunned, and for good reasonthis was the Korea server.
Different servers meant you couldnt run into each other even in the same city.
So how could James from America be on the Korea server?
New World didnt allow free server transfers, so their shock was natural.
But they didnt know.
That after HQ moved to the divine realm, Earth Corp had been dissolved, and server transfers freed up.
James Marcus had only learned this himself recently.
Theres a level 1,000 here?
Hed switched to the Korea server specifically because of the level 1,000 users emergence.
The post on Worldcom had spread far and wide, reaching even his ears.
Breaking news! Level 1,000 spotted in Atlas!
-Level 1,000 appeared lololol (photo)
A level 1,000 user in Atlas.
Synthetic or not, James Marcus couldnt help but be shaken.
He, the worldwide rank 1, had been dethroned in an instant.
It was so absurd he wanted to call it fake, but follow-up posts shattered that hope.
Doesnt look like a bug
-I took this with effort, check it out (video)
A short 26-second clip.
More than enough to send chills down James Marcuss spine.
So hed come to confirm it himself, transferring to the Korea server.
Where are you? That user.
With the sole goal of spotting that user, James Marcus began scouring every corner of Atlas.