Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Outer God's "Begone!" Game (2)
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Pew!
The Venom Knife that had dropped when the fire extinguisher exploded returned thanks to [Object Rewind].
Between the Venom Knife and Dokgo Hyun stood the incarnation of the Outer God.
The incarnation tried to dodge, but Dokgo Hyun was clinging to it, trembling.
This cumbersome baggage had to be removed first if it wanted to evade.
But Dokgo Hyun couldn't back off.
The 'Begone! Retreat' command had to be something the listener could actually carry out.
Yet Dokgo Hyun had thrown his entire body at the incarnation.
In other words, his shoulders and knees were shattered, his nerves screaming, leaving him barely able to twitch his fingers and lips.
So even hearing the 'Begone! Retreat' command, he couldn't move.
Splat!
In the end, the Venom Knife plunged into the back of the Outer God's incarnation.
Perfectly into the spot where the fire extinguisher's metal shard had struck.
Unfamiliar sensations made the Outer God's incarnation sigh in dismay.
Kwaaaaa...!
The Outer God's incarnation emitted a burst of light and vanished.
Clang!
Thud!
The Venom Knife hit the floor, and Dokgo Hyun collapsed as well.
"Ugh."
He felt like he was on the verge of death, but as he slowly circulated his mana through his body, his condition began to recover bit by bit.
'Barely made it...!'
Dokgo Hyun assessed the situation from his prone position.
'But why hasn't the mission clear message popped up?'
If the incarnation—or some other entity—attacked him now while he was down, he'd definitely die.
Step. Step.
Someone approached.
'Those footsteps...!'
"Are you insane, human?"
"Kh, kuhk."
Dokgo Hyun barely managed to prop himself up on his trembling limbs and sat on the floor.
Looking down at him was the Total Administrator.
It was impossible to tell if this was his main body or a clone, but the Total Administrator spoke.
"Even if your [Time Distortion] is an S-rank skill, killing an Outer God's incarnation in the first phase of the preliminaries? Unbelievable."
"It... was... dead?"
"Yes. An incarnation, mind you."
"St... still, the rewards must be huge, right?"
"Uh, yeah... that's the problem."
The Total Administrator scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"We didn't anticipate a player killing an Outer God's incarnation in the preliminaries, so we haven't programmed the rewards yet. That's why the message hasn't appeared..."
"What...!"
"Ah, don't look so deflated. That's why I'm here—to fix it. How about three rewards on the spot?"
The Total Administrator offered three rewards.
A. Immediately acquire a desired special skill.
B. Ultimate skill upgrade.
C. Full recovery of stamina and mana.
"What do you think?"
"N-not just one of three...?"
"All three."
"S-sounds good."
Getting another special skill right away was appealing, but the ultimate upgrade especially caught his eye.
Full recovery was a massive boon too.
When he'd rammed into the incarnation with his body, it hadn't felt normal at all. If the clear reward restored everything, that was a huge relief.
"What about the mission clear reward?"
"Ah, we'll count it as clearing Mission 7, but no hint."
The mission required defeating the incarnation or surviving five minutes, but he'd killed it outright while it stood.
An extreme exception.
So, no hint for now.
"Aw, that's a shame."
"Really? Hmm."
The Total Administrator pondered briefly.
"Strictly speaking, you didn't meet the exact clear conditions, but you might as well have... I'll add it to your rewards."
D. One hint note.
"Whoa...!"
Dokgo Hyun's mood lifted.
Four amazing rewards all at once—despite the ordeal, he was thrilled.
"Heh. With the Total Administrator here in person, no one's getting shortchanged."
"Yes. Thank y—"
He caught himself mid-gratitude.
Thanking the mastermind behind all this felt awkward.
Switching from grateful to sour-faced would look weird too.
"Heh. Still some time left, but the other teams are waiting, so claim your rewards first?"
The Total Administrator spoke understandingly, and Dokgo Hyun nodded.
At that moment.
These "various rewards" were exactly what the Total Administrator had just described.
"Recovery first."
"Next, special skill acquisition!"
It was the special skill Dokgo Hyun had wanted for a while.
A skill that distorted time to read memories from nearby objects or people.
It would give him an overwhelming edge in information warfare.
"You probably know this already, but special skills come naturally with probability as you use skills. You just got it early."
"I know. Still, more options upfront is great. Next, upgrade the ultimate skill."
"Hmm."
Dokgo Hyun hesitated before the ultimate skill upgrade options.
'A gives 16 total minutes rewindable; B gives 16 minutes 30 seconds. B seems better.'
But A increased uses to four, allowing more flexible splits.
'This is the bigger gain.'
Three daily three-minute regressions sounded plentiful, but he'd save one as insurance, leaving only two for comfortable use.
Now with four, his options widened dramatically.
'Yes!'
In a death game where one mistake meant death, an extra regression was like gaining an extra life.
With all rewards claimed, Dokgo Hyun asked first.
"So, an Outer God—is that like a Transcendent?"
The Total Administrator answered readily, surprisingly.
"Very different. Transcendents are far superior; think of Outer Gods as much lower."
"Huh, Outer Gods seem weaker than I thought."
"..."
The Total Administrator stared at Dokgo Hyun in disbelief.
"Don't you know what an Outer God is? Rulers possessing at least two stellar systems larger than our solar system. Compared to Earthlings, they're incomparably beyond reach."
"Sounds impressive in theory, but it died by my hand anyway."
"It came as an incarnation, and the sacrifice was a measly ten. Even a lesser Outer God can kill you if underestimated. Right now, several Outer Gods are inquiring about you at Admin HQ."
That sent a chill down his spine.
"Can Outer Gods interfere in my missions going forward?"
"Nah, they're basically spectators. Direct intervention? Unlikely. But like earlier, contractors using skills to sacrifice others temporarily summon them—that's possible. And..."
"And...?"
"Ahem. There might be Outer Gods in strategic alliances with Admin HQ—that's all I'll say. Oops, too much info."
"Got it."
Dokgo Hyun decided there was no need to fear Outer Gods preemptively.
If one allied with Admin HQ, it meant they were managed.
So, no abnormal incidents likely.
"Well then, back to where you were..."
"Wait!"
"What?"
"You have to give the hint."
"Huh? I've given plenty."
"Hey! Those were just answers to my questions—not the hint."
"Sigh."
He was right.
"I want a proper hint on paper, like before."
"..."
"Give it! The hint! My personal paper hint! Gimme!!"
"Ugh, such a pain. Here."
The Total Administrator gestured in the air, and a note flew to Dokgo Hyun.
Dokgo Hyun unfolded it immediately.
No telling if it'd say 'Fooled ya!' later.
"This is...!"
A hint for the next mission.
Dokgo Hyun stared holes through the hint.
Noticing his fixation, the Total Administrator added:
"For the record, I just deliver hints—I don't know the contents. I managed tutorial hints myself, but preliminaries hints come straight from Admin HQ. I only handled delivery this time."
"Huh? Oh, right."
"So! If you're mad at me about the hint... I won't hold back!"
"N-no. Great hint. No reason to be mad. Thanks."
"Hmph. Good then."
The Total Administrator finally seemed satisfied.
"Now, back to your original spot? Gather your stuff."
"Ah, wait. One sec."
Dokgo Hyun picked up the broken greatsword.
The Total Administrator snorted.
"Heh. Snapped clean in half. What're you gonna do with that scrap?"
"..."
"Hey? Answer me."
Dokgo Hyun examined the broken greatsword.
'It's got divine power on it.'
Yes.
This greatsword had struck the Outer God's incarnation and shattered.
Faint traces of Outer God power lingered.
'If I restore just the weapon while leaving the divine power intact...?'
"[Object Restoration]."
Vrrrrrr...!
Dokgo Hyun had restored the fully wrecked Venom Knife before.
That required [Hyper Mode]'s power, but this—essentially a normal weapon—was far easier.
Flash!
"Gasp?!"
"N-no way!"
Dokgo Hyun and the Total Administrator were both stunned.
"I-impossible...! Self-developing a technique to graft Outer God blood onto metal. And you're just a 2000s-era Earthling...!"
The Total Administrator trembled.
"Eh, can't use it more than once anyway. Shall we head back?"
"... Many eyes will be on you from now on, Dokgo Hyun. Especially mine."
The Total Administrator left those parting words before sending Dokgo Hyun back.
The gymnasium.
The crowd had thinned dramatically.
Flash!
Dokgo Hyun appeared suddenly.
"Ah?!"
"Leader!"
"You okay?!"
Eun Jua, Kang O-su, and Choi Han-pung from Group 41 fussed over him.
Bloodstains covered Dokgo Hyun everywhere—especially the dried trail from his ear, which looked horrifying.
"Wow."
Dokgo Hyun's reaction was mildly pleased.
It felt like ages since he'd seen them.
"Anyway, I won."