Chapter 217
Park Chan-woo was, in his own way, self-aware.
He was the type to avoid losses at all costs.
He would use any means necessary to achieve his goals.
Sacrifice for someone else? A life of dedication and service?
That kind of life—collectively called a “noble spirit”—didn’t suit Park Chan-woo’s temperament.
If he had any of it, it would be no more than a speck of dust in a distant universe.
That meant he was far from virtuous, honest, or dignified.
The goal he pursued in life was, without a doubt, closer to “full possession.”
…Simply put.
‘This and that are mine.’
‘What is mine is naturally mine, and if what is yours is useful, it will soon become mine as well.’
That was his life motto.
It was the mindset he needed to live a stable, comfortable life in the Abyss.
The moment he allowed losses and started getting stripped of things, everyone would pounce on him like ravenous beasts.
Before his regression, because he traveled alone, hyena-like bastards were always tailing him.
Pretending to be weak, pretending to be strong, pretending to be sympathetic—they would show up anytime, anywhere, trying to provoke confusion and carelessness.
‘There were more than enough who wanted to steal my Karma and kill me for fame.’
He had reached the Level cap of 99.
Among the Level 99 Awakeners, he was the only one with a [Dual Class], making him an object of awe in his own way.
Since he always traveled alone and was known to have done the most “Abyss Runs,” he must have looked like a “Golden Goblin” to greedy bastards.
Killing him would make them famous as a “Master Slayer.”
Those who reached Level 99 were called “Masters,” not Rankers or High Rankers.
And the easiest “Master” in the world was him.
‘Those bastards used everyone, regardless of gender or age, to try to kill me. There was even a crazy bastard who hid poison and bombs in a child and detonated them.’
That was why he had no choice but to be selfish.
It wasn’t that some specific organization was targeting him.
It was simply the sorrow of someone without companions.
Traveling alone made him an easy target.
Even strong lions or tigers could be hunted and eaten by beasts when alone.
Then someone might ask.
-Why don’t you create or join an organization?
The answer was simple.
‘There’s no one to trust in this Abyss.’
Because of how the Abyss worked, there was no one he could trust.
No matter how strong the camaraderie, imagine entering a Creation Abyss where you have to kill each other to move forward—or to get out.
If the Creator went crazy and made escape impossible, could they really reach a happy ending without killing anyone?
He had seen it countless times.
Division leads to annihilation.
It wouldn’t matter to someone like Han Shin, who didn’t care about other people’s deaths and sacrifices.
That bastard would kill all the companions and survive alone.
Park Chan-woo couldn’t do that.
He wasn’t as unhinged as Han Shin.
If he couldn’t be ruthless and evil, it was better to be alone.
So Park Chan-woo repeated his motto in his head.
He wanted to become stronger.
That was why his eyes lit up whenever he saw good equipment or tools.
If there was even a single piece of good equipment under the heavens, he had to get his hands on it to be satisfied.
Blinded by power.
A shameless person who moved only for his own desires.
That was how he defined the human named Park Chan-woo.
‘They think I’m Sephiro.’
Arcana was mistaken.
He didn’t know why Arcana, the leader of the Tribe of Despair, was calling him “Dragon God Sephiro.”
‘Is it because Ataraxia is with me?’
Maybe they thought so because they saw Ataraxia behind him.
Or perhaps something resonated between them as members of the same Tribe of Despair.
Either way, it was a golden opportunity.
The Dragon’s Heart was right in front of him.
The ultimate material any magician would covet.
To obtain the Kirin’s Horn and the Dragon’s Heart in the Tower Of God?
Nothing could be better.
He could immediately think of more than ten things he could do with them.
It would surely accelerate his growth.
He stopped Chronos and approached Arcana.
There was nothing particularly noble behind it.
‘Let’s act like Sephiro.’
He was merely imitating Dragon God Sephiro, just as he did in front of Ataraxia.
But when he actually tried to act, something held him back.
Confusion surfaced.
‘…Sephiro has no compassion.’
Compassion.
Sephiro never pitied those in difficulty—not even his own kind.
In some ways, Sephiro was worse than Han Shin.
If it were Sephiro, he would have cursed Arcana here, or ignored him.
So what should he do?
-D, Di, ear… P, lea, se… sa, ve… u, s… We, we… ha, ve… bee, n… wai, tin, g… Se, phi, ro… Your Highness…!
…This pitiful dragon.
The monster who had believed in and waited for Sephiro for an eternity.
The one who had abandoned himself, convinced Sephiro would save everyone.
…How was he supposed to treat him?
Seeing the hidden story only made it clearer.
Arcana was an honorable being.
And an ignoble person was standing before him.
Park Chan-woo was selfish.
He wasn’t used to acknowledging others, much less comforting them.
He lived alone, and that was comfortable.
‘I can’t do that.’
And yet, he couldn’t act like Sephiro.
What this pitiful beast needed was a word of comfort—something Sephiro would never give.
If he only wanted the Dragon’s Heart, he could simply tell him to hand it over and get lost.
That would be the most Sephiro-like thing to do.
But…
“You’ve suffered.”
He couldn’t.
Because he wasn’t Sephiro.
He was different from Han Shin—and different from the countless human masses who went berserk at the end of the century.
Park Chan-woo…
In truth, he wasn’t heartless.
Even as the Abyss encroached and the world became a mess.
Even when Creators, treating humans as toys, began to focus on “betrayal” and “defection,” or “rebellion,” rather than “overcoming trials” in Abyss content.
He was disgusted by those meaningless deaths, so he chose isolation.
The fact that he valued power but didn’t become an [Incarnation] came from the same place.
Park Chan-woo gave up the act.
He just wanted to comfort this pitiful dragon.
Even if it was based on a misunderstanding.
Even if he wasn’t the real Sephiro.
“I will not forget your noble will.”
In an instant, Arcana’s soul began to merge with his soul.
Waves of Mana intertwined.
At that moment, Park Chan-woo’s soul became a little more noble.
Well, it didn’t matter.
Saying what he wanted to say.
Doing what he wanted to do—and achieving it.
That was the only reason he had regressed.
“Arcana, leader of the Tribe of Despair. Your sacrifice has saved all dragons.”
At the same time, Arcana, the Dragon of Despair, regained his form.
Only for an extremely short time.
Even so, Arcana protected himself to the very end.
He didn’t forget who he was.
That was what Park Chan-woo wanted.
His original intention.
Then—
Ding!
[You have received the recognition of ‘one who failed but was more noble than anyone else.’]
[Arcana’s soul makes you a little more noble.]
[‘Fame (Karma)’ greatly increases.]
[Your ‘Hall of Fame’ ranking rises by 2 stages (96th).]
[The Divine Spirit Magic ‘Elysion’ resolves Arcana’s Curse.]
[‘Elysion’ shines even brighter.]
[Listening to stories, acknowledging them, and being acknowledged. That is the true use of ‘Elysion’!]
[As your soul becomes more noble, the grade of the Divine Spirit Magic ‘Elysion’ reaches ‘Two Stars.’]
The Divine Spirit Magic [Elysion] was different from ordinary magic.
Its stage didn’t rise just because of high Mana or enlightenment.
He had been wrong.
He had thought [Elysion] would grow stronger someday simply by consuming curses.
‘The nobility of the soul.’
That was the only way to strengthen [Elysion].
Making his soul noble.
The curses of the Abyss, the stories of failures.
Acknowledging them—and being acknowledged in return—meant Park Chan-woo’s soul would gradually become more noble.
And that wasn’t all.
His eyes trembled slightly.
‘[Easter Egg].’
The eggs that had been following him merged.
They became one, completed as [Easter Egg(003)].
Epic.
By ending the story, it had become a [Stigmata].
‘Divine Stigmata…!’
The problem was the words modifying it.
Divine Stigmata.
In other words, [Easter Egg] was indeed a trace of the Creator.
His speculation had just been confirmed as reality.
With a trembling heart, he checked the third trace of God.
A long passage appeared before his eyes.
[To the great being who does not tolerate failure, yet knows how to acknowledge it.]
[The end signifies a new beginning.]
[Arcana will also begin a new story with you.]
[One who has overcome countless adversities and created a ‘beginning,’ one who has climbed the Tower without ever giving up and has challenged even higher stages, one who has not avoided trials and has dug into the truth, even surpassing ‘God’s intention.’]
[One of the five masters of the Tower, ‘the Will of Mana,’ acknowledges you.]
[True Mana is the dignity of existence and the nobility of the soul.]
[The path to the ‘Land of the Golden Nuck’ is opened.]
Land of the Golden Nuck?
It was the first time he had heard of that place.
But what mattered more right now was the [Easter Egg(003)] that appeared after.
[==========]
[Name: Easter Egg(003)]
[Level: None]
[Description: The third egg completed as a Divine Stigmata. It is like a proof that can only be achieved by those who challenge the impossible. Also, all ‘Easter Eggs’ exist above the rules of the Abyss.]
[Equipped Part: None, Possession Effect]
[Unique Option (003): Increases the grade of all ‘Boxes’ acquired or possessed by one stage.]
[==========]
“……!”
He wasn’t wrong to think he was going crazy.
An option that raises the grade of Boxes?
He had never even heard of it.
It was the option everyone dreamed of—yet one that could never exist in reality.
But it had appeared.
As an [Easter Egg]. As a sacred trace of God.
‘Could it be?’
He hurriedly checked the Boxes in his inventory.
And he was horrified.
‘……The grades have all gone up by one stage.’
Every Box had gained one additional star.
Among them, the most noticeable was—
‘7-Star Platinum Box.’
The 6-Star Platinum Box he obtained after clearing the 20th floor had gained one more star.
Hah.
Not a 7-Star Gold Box, but a 7-Star Platinum Box.
Hadn’t he obtained the Golden Mystery of the Arahan from a 7-Star Gold Box?
Moreover, right now, in front of his eyes—visible only to him—
‘……[Combination Zone].’
…There was a [Combination Zone] left, where all Boxes could be combined to complete a single Box.