Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Team Death Match (2)
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Back to the present.
Han Seongcheon speculated and doubted for the first time why his own skill was a mediocre C-grade.
'[Cautionary Advice] wasn't absolute?'
Having lost to Dokgo Hyun in rock-paper-scissors for the first time, Han Seongcheon's resolve wavered.
'Right. That's it. Lord Themaron isn't wrong. My lord, Themaron, isn't wrong! There must be some greater meaning.'
With that mindset, he looked ahead at the stage.
Crackle...
The underground parking lot was dimly lit, with flickering fluorescent lights.
About half the spaces were occupied by cars, and water dripped from the ceiling pipes.
"[Holy Armor]."
Flash!
A pure white, radiant armor enveloped his entire body.
It had the drawback of revealing his position to Dokgo Hyun due to the light, but for Han Seongcheon, defense was more important.
He could leave the aftermath to his summons.
"[Holy Warrior Summon]."
Flash!
Holy warriors residing in Themaron's dimension appeared.
Three warriors clad in black full plate armor and barrel helms materialized.
'Only three?'
Han Seongcheon clicked his tongue.
During the tutorial, ten holy warriors had appeared, but now only three.
'Why?'
There was one reason.
It was a lack of [Prayer Power].
[Prayer Power] was directly proportional to the desperation of the followers.
'These useless followers!'
The followers were safe in the gymnasium right now.
Only their leader and cult head, Han Seongcheon, had been sent to this dangerous stage to fight.
In other words, with the followers' prayers lacking desperation, the skill's power had weakened.
'This is a problem.'
That was when it happened.
Krunch!!
A dagger flew from somewhere and pierced a holy warrior's helmet.
"Grk..."
Thud.
The holy warrior died.
What was truly shocking came next.
Whoosh!
The embedded dagger returned to somewhere.
Han Seongcheon, unaware of [Object Rewind], was horrified.
'A skill that controls daggers?'
He was way off the mark.
Tap tap!
Footsteps echoed from the pillar side.
"Over there!"
He hurled the [Holy Hammer].
A heavy golden hammer glowing with light flew toward the parking pillar.
Boom!!
Upon impact, the [Holy Hammer] unleashed a shockwave infused with holy power.
But no one was near the pillar.
"Over here."
Before he knew it, Dokgo Hyun was behind Han Seongcheon's summons.
Dokgo Hyun had used [Afterimage Creation] behind the pillar, leaving an illusion and footsteps, then quietly circled to the opposite side.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Slash! Slash!
With [Instant Acceleration] applied to his greatsword, he swung twice, killing the summons.
'Th-this can't be!'
Han Seongcheon was stunned.
He had thought the leader duel would be cautious, dragging out to the time limit.
But it ended absurdly quickly.
Swoom!!
Dokgo Hyun swung his greatsword down.
Crack!!
Han Seongcheon's [Holy Armor] shattered in a single blow.
"Gah!"
Han Seongcheon rolled across the floor.
"N-no way. The [Holy Armor]..."
"I gave it a smack, and it was just some clumped mana, right?"
If the followers were nearby and their prayers pure, the [Holy Armor] could deflect even a greatsword.
But not now.
Dokgo Hyun raised his greatsword high.
"I'll take your head in one swing, so don't move."
"W-wait...!!"
He swung once more.
Swoosh!!
This time, it should cleanly sever the neck.
But.
Bang!!
A [Holy Shield] auto-activated near Han Seongcheon's neck.
This message appeared for both attacker and defender, so Dokgo Hyun could see it too.
"Fascinating skill. Like my heterophenomenon skills, but with high versatility."
Dokgo Hyun said that as he reached toward the [Holy Shield].
"[Instant Acceleration]."
Flash!
Thanks to the bonus from his mana exceeding 100, Dokgo Hyun's special skills had increased range and efficiency.
In other words, [Instant Acceleration]'s scope now included not just himself or objects, but the opponent and even the duration of their active skills.
However, such a technique only worked in very close proximity.
'In short, accelerate the opponent's skill duration itself to end it!'
The moment the remaining time hit mere seconds.
"Aaaah! Lord! Save me! Activate the ultimate skill [Salvation]!!"
Dokgo Hyun swung his sword.
At the same time, Han Seongcheon shouted.
"I offer the sacrifice!!"
Flash!!
Everything froze.
'Huh?'
Thanks to the passive effect of [Time Distortion], Dokgo Hyun's time perception was acutely sensitive, making the sensation even stranger.
Time resumed normally, but Dokgo Hyun couldn't move easily.
Shwooo...
Black ink-like bubbles appeared in the air.
Crack...
Space tore open, and Han Seongcheon's underlings, who had been casually praying in the gymnasium, appeared.
"Wh-where is this?"
"Oh god."
"We got teleported...?"
Pop!! Pop!!
Pop whoosh!!
The followers began exploding and dying.
The corpses of the dead followers turned into black bubbles, flying into the hovering black mass and merging.
"Eek?!"
"Kyaaak!"
Pop!! Pop!!
Several followers died, but it was still far short of the required sacrifices.
Caught off guard by the spectacle, not just Dokgo Hyun but even Han Seongcheon was bewildered.
All followers died, leaving only Han Seongcheon.
"L-Lord...?"
Han Seongcheon trembled.
Deep in his mind, something whispered.
[Sacrifice yourself.]
With those words, Han Seongcheon realized.
'I was just a toy.'
The 'lord' he served, the Outer God, had no interest in his survival.
He had merely been an amusing plaything.
But now, the lord was bored.
A more entertaining toy had appeared in Dokgo Hyun.
So, it decided to sacrifice Han Seongcheon and all his followers, then descend as an avatar itself.
"Looord!!!"
For the first time, he cried out in resentment.
Those were Han Seongcheon's last words.
Pop!!
"Kuh...!"
Only then did Dokgo Hyun regain his composure.
Groooowl...
The entire underground parking lot turned pitch black, and within the dark world, a pure white mannequin-like figure emerged.
The black world gradually returned to normal.
And the bizarre mannequin-like entity made a friendly gesture as it spoke.
Each vibration of its voice felt like activating a skill.
'Kuh. This is the real deal. Even the voice.'
If he hadn't poured 100 mana into resistance, each word from the opponent might have shaken his mana and killed him.
Themaron's avatar introduced itself.
"Sorry, but."
Dokgo Hyun knew the opponent's level was far superior and spoke cautiously.
"I refuse."
"I cleared the mission, so I need to go back."
"Yes. I'm a player, so the mission."
The Outer God's avatar shuddered.
As if the Outer God's aura short-circuited with the system managed by the Control Bureau, a mission window appeared.
Outer God Themaron's Mission: Simon Says or Takedown Game
-Objective: Achieve either of two goals for clear.
A. Obey all commands given by Themaron's avatar.
However, only obey after Themaron says 'Simon says.' Do not obey commands without 'Simon says.'
Themaron's avatar can issue any command, but must only give commands the player can actually perform.
B. Slam Themaron's avatar to the gymnasium floor.
Any means allowed. Clear if shoulder or knee fully touches the floor.
Player may attack freely, but Themaron's avatar can only defend, dodge, or command—no counterattacks.
📍 Time Limit: 5 minutes.
🎁 Success Bonus: Qualifier Mission 7 clear + 1 hint.
💀 Failure Penalty: Death.
💡 Hint: You'll probably die.
"...!"
This was his first Outer God mission.
Since it came in proper mission format through the system, it wasn't fake.
The problem was the hint.
'I'll probably die?'
Such a blunt, opinionated hint made even the bold Dokgo Hyun tense up.
The Outer God Themaron's voice and manner grew clearer.
Perhaps connecting as player and mission made its presence more defined.
"Still no. I don't even know what an Outer God is. Suspicious."
Pop!!
Dokgo Hyun's body exploded from the inside.
No defense, no dodge—not even minimal resistance was possible.
His body just exploded.
Like a boy reading a comic book having the whole thing ripped apart.
No matter how strong or fast the protagonist inside, overcoming the hand from outside the pages was impossible.
'Ah.'
Dokgo Hyun, left with only his head, fell toward the floor.
In the moment of death.
'[3-Minute Regression].'
Dokgo Hyun used his ultimate.
But.
'What?'
Shrrrk...
Time rewound slowly.
But not 3 minutes—only about 18 seconds, a tenth of the full duration.
Dokgo Hyun's body returned to normal.
Merely 18 seconds rewound.
As Dokgo Hyun tried to regain his calm.
"...!!"
Goosebumps covered Dokgo Hyun's body.
And once more, the mission window from about 20 seconds ago reappeared.
"...YES."
Dokgo Hyun had no choice.
Refusing would mean death again.
'Only one [3-Minute Regression] left.'
He could use [3-Minute Regression] only three times a day.
It refilled at midnight, but with one left, he couldn't waste it now.
"I have questions about the mission."
"Until you say 'Simon says,' I can do anything, even attack you, right?"
"To confirm: throughout the mission, I'm basically free unless it's a 'Simon says' command, right?"
The pure white mannequin-like being spread its arms wide.
"So, within 5 minutes, either perfectly obey your 'Simon says' commands or take you down before that?"
Dokgo Hyun confirmed repeatedly.
With [3-Minute Regression] effectively sealed, he needed utmost certainty now more than ever.
The pure white mannequin grinned widely.