Completion Unlocked
I must see every novel I enter through to its conclusion. That was one of the contracts I made with the heavens when I received this system—a vow never to abandon any novel's world.
That's why I'd asked the angel about it before. What exactly does it take to complete a novel?
Her answer was always the same.
"You'll know when the time comes!"
The angel never gave me a straight answer. Which left me constantly pondering: How do I complete a novel? When do real web novels actually end?
I didn't know much, but there was one thing I could be sure of.
At the very least, the novel had to reach the point where it went on indefinite hiatus before completion became possible.
"Status window."
The novel 'Terraforming' has passed the indefinite hiatus point!
From now on, 'Terraforming' can be completed!
[TIP]
'Completion' becomes freely available once the novel passes the indefinite hiatus point!
But beware. Once you select 'Complete,' there's no going back.
Completing a novel grants rewards. The value of those rewards depends on the 'completion quality' at the moment of finalization.
Current 'Terraforming' completion quality: 13%
[Open-ended finale. No different from abandonment.]
*Note: Completion quality fluctuates in real-time based on the story's progression. In extreme cases, it could drop from 100% to 70% overnight.
Quality peaks right after an 'episode' concludes. But starting a new one drags it down.
In other words, quality signals the ideal timing for completion.
Even after completion, you can still enter the novel. But you won't revive if you die inside anymore.
No time reversal. And once you exit, time inside won't freeze—it flows 1:1 with Earth time.
"...This is nuts. Kinda unexpected, though? I can complete it whenever I want?"
In a way, it made perfect sense. When do real web novels end? When the creator decides they're done.
Whether it's a trash fire or a perfect wrap-up with every plot thread tied off, the act of completing it is purely the creator's call.
And I was basically the new creator for all these novels that lost theirs. The worlds were real dimensions, sure... but as long as they were still 'novels,' it stood to reason I could end them at will.
"...So that's the plot thread Baby Angel planted way back when."
She'd said I was smart enough to catch on once I had the info. And sure enough, the moment the time came, I did.
When she gave me the low-grade potion, Baby Angel called it a spoiler: 'The moment you complete a novel, items obtainable from it appear in the shop.'
I figured it was harmless foreknowledge, but she warned it could have a huge impact on me.
She wouldn't say exactly how it might sway my decisions.
Now I got it.
"So even if I ignore quality and just complete it... items still pop up in the shop. Yeah, that's a spoiler alright. Without knowing, I'd have obsessed over maxing quality."
Completing now would give crap rewards, but new skills might hit the shop. Plus, it'd free up a slot for a fresh novel.
"...Nah. Better to raise quality first instead of rushing."
Not because of the no-revive penalty post-completion.
The rewards.
I had no idea how good they were yet. But...
I hadn't died once so far. Zero penalties on my completion rewards.
I couldn't bank on the next novel—or the one after—going this smoothly.
"This might be... my best shot at the biggest completion reward I'll ever get."
No way was I squandering that.
My new goal: boost completion quality.
I turned back to the status window.
[Name] Park Chanyoung
[Job] -
[Strength] 18 → 20
[Agility] 18 → 20
[Vitality] 17 → 20
[Intelligence] 7 → 8
[Dexterity] 16 → 19
[Charm] -3 → 31
[Mana] 120 → 151
[Traits] 『Natural Healing』
Buff from Sunryeong Ilil Manyowolwol , +6 to all stats except Charm (00:00:02)
Buff from Prum, +33% growth rate for Strength, Agility, Vitality stats (00:51:23)
Effect of Monghwan Orb, time remaining until ■■■ ■■: 1,631 hours 41 minutes 32 seconds. (1631:41:32)
Current novel in progress, 'Terraforming' completion quality - 13%
[Open-ended finale. No different from abandonment.]
Held Karma: 3,275
A versatile ability. A rare trait granting mental regeneration rather than resistance.
Wound Regeneration (Minor)
Stamina Regeneration (Minor)
Mental Regeneration (Minor)
Mana Regeneration (Minor)
Mental Attack Resistance 5%
Physical Attack Resistance 5%
Magic Attack Resistance 5%
I'd dumped a ton of Karma into appearance editing recently, so not much was left. But that wasn't the point.
"Oh! There it is! But... still censored, huh."
Monghwan Orb effect, time remaining until ■■■ ■■: 1,631 hours 41 minutes 32 seconds.
That's the line in the status window.
I'd seen censored buffs like this before. Back when I used the Jeongcheon Orb to stop time, I opened the status to tweak my looks and spotted a similar masked effect.
Probably because I hadn't checked the item info properly—it stayed hidden.
No issue before. With the Jeongcheon Orb, I knew the effect from the original novel anyway: time frozen for a year.
But this time, I had no clue what the Monghwan Orb did.
I did some quick math on the timer.
"Hmm... a little over two months?"
If it was just sending my body seven years back, no way it'd have a timer like that. Something happens after two months, hence the countdown.
"Monghwan... Monghwan..."
Jeongcheon stops heaven and earth—time itself.
So what did Monghwan mean? Dream. Illusion. Something ephemeral, fleeting, all smoke and mirrors.
"Monghwan Orb... Orb of Illusion... Orb of Dreams..."
Pure speculation, but one hypothesis clicked.
What if, after those two months tick down, my body—shifted seven years back—snaps back to the original timeline?
'Dreams always end when time runs out.'
Nothing better coming to mind... so I'd operate under that assumption for now.
*
The training was... different from the past. Or future, rather.
No clear guidelines set yet? Or maybe Chris Bennett and Brack were just that competent? Either way, the intensity was brutal.
Not tailored to individual skill—just pegged to the average across all trainees.
...Meaning about 50% of us couldn't keep up properly.
"Guh... huff... *cough*... *cough cough*..."
"You okay?"
*Nod nod.*
"*Cough*... huff... huff..."
Chris Bennett nodded at my question but could barely hold herself up. Looked like she was fighting back vomit just because I was there.
The bottom 10% got it worst. No mercy—they just pushed on schedule regardless.
Fuck this... Come to think of it, that day Ri Shaolin and 'Gwangnyeon-i' played their 'game,' I overheard Brack and Gwangnyeon-i discussing 'casualty rates' and 'deaths' in a meeting... That was the future talking?
The day they deliberately let trainees rebel. Gwangnyeon-i and Brack had tuned training intensity based on casualty and death stats.
Here in the present—seven years back—deaths were actually happening mid-training. Maybe not at the Northern Training Camp, but elsewhere.
They'd survived this hell themselves, so of course they'd care about fatalities.
No joke: three months like this, and base-stat weakling Chris Bennett wouldn't last.
I'd unwittingly contributed to the harshness. Clearing most drills with time to spare had skewed this batch's 'average' upward.
So I made a point to help the stragglers. Especially the ones struggling hardest—like Chris Bennett.
"Y-you... okay?"
"Y-yeah... thanks..."
A few others were helping the exhausted too. Seeing top-dog me pitch in for the weak got some higher-stamina upper-rankers joining surreptitiously.
My influence was spreading that vibe through the camp.
Sure, a few shot me dirty looks, figuring I was a hypocrite. But not many.
Most took my good intentions at face value.
Why? 'Cause I'm hot.
In real life—not online—facing a handsome guy makes you interpret his actions positively. Even if a hot actor pulls trash right in front of you, people think, 'There must be some reason I don't get.'
Exhibit A: Baek Hamin. He'd been pulling scum moves from day one, but it took over a month for his friends to bail.
Good looks bought him extra chances.
If an ugly bastard did that, half would've ditched before the truth even hit.
Looks were a cheat-code weapon. And I wielded mine like a pro.
*
A week into basic endurance training, the camp hierarchy solidified.
Number one: me, with overwhelming stamina.
Two: some new Chinese guy named Wang Zagen.
And three...
[Name] Brack
[Job] -
[Strength] 12
[Agility] 10
[Vitality] 14
[Intelligence] 7
[Dexterity] 11
[Charm] 26
[Traits] -
Brack, hustling even harder than me to help trainees.
Were Chris Bennett and Brack same batch? Explained why they seemed tight.
Not shocked Brack cracked top fingers. As I said before, ex-mercenary in Earth's Foreign Legion. Plus, ran a gym—never skipped a workout. Stamina like that? Expected.
"You good?"
"Y-yeah... Th-thanks again, Chanyoung..."
Chris Bennett dipped her head shyly at my words. Seemed embarrassed to be a burden.
Hard to believe this timid girl turns into that foul-mouthed Gwangnyeon-i...
And while I was looking after Chris Bennett...
"Hypocrite bastard..."
*Ptooey.*
A guy muttered that under his breath at me, spat on the ground with a twisted face, and turned away.
That was Wang Zagen. Number two in camp rankings—right under me.
He'd pull faces whenever I helped others. One of those twisted souls who saw me as a fake.
But... did he think I'd let that slide with saintly grace?
If so, big mistake.
Like with Ri Shaolin, I'm no pushover for provocations. Never have been, never will.
"Hey. Worm."
*Step step...*
*Thud!*
"...You talking to me?"
"Why play dumb? You know you're the worm better than anyone."
"Watch your mouth! You little shithole country punk!!"
"Look at you right now... Isn't this petty bullshit the exact opposite of that 'great nation' crap your people yap about? Ah... so that's why you're Chinese? Fair enough."
"You fucking prick!!!"
*Thud thud thud!*
Provocation worked like a charm. Wang Zagen's ugly mug twisted into demon mode.
Fists clenched, charging me.
Just as I'd hoped.
*Hoo!*
*Pow—!*
"Guh... ack...!!"
Fucking scum. I held back on Ri Shaolin 'cause she was a 'pretty' girl.
You're a dude with a dick—why should I?
I slammed a clean Il Jeong Gwon straight into charging Wang Zagen's gut.