Chapter 36

Hardship comes before happiness.

Wasn’t there a saying that after hardship comes joy?

Park Chan-woo smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the fruits of his labor laid out before him.

‘Ordinary Time Attack Abysses couldn’t even hold a candle to this.’

There are special types of Abysses where one must clear trials or missions within a set time limit.

These are called “Time Attack Abysses,” and in the past, Park Chan-woo had earned a solid reputation in this field.

However, even he had no choice but to click his tongue at the mission to clear thirteen dungeons within ten hours.

Even though he had started after conserving his stamina as much as possible, it had been a close call.

On top of that, he was under several status ailments.

Enduring the pain that felt as if his muscles would tear, he moved tirelessly throughout [Fever Time].

‘…This wasn’t something a human should be doing.’

He couldn’t even remember how many times he had nearly lost consciousness.

Even if his attack and defense stats were inflated with elixirs, his stamina and mana stats remained the same.

Because of the repeated acts of running like mad and casting magic, the accumulated fatigue overloaded his brain.

Pushed to its limits, his brain constantly tried to sever its connection with his body.

It was a primal instinct, forcing him to sleep in order to recover.

‘I’ve been asleep the whole day.’

By resisting that instinct, Park Chan-woo ended up sleeping for twenty-four hours straight.

He fell into the clutches of the sleep demon without even checking his rewards.

No matter how superhuman his mental fortitude was, there was no way he could endure when both stamina and mana were completely depleted.

At least the Abyss hadn’t invaded during that time.

If he hadn’t seen the message “The Abyss will not encroach for one day” beforehand, he wouldn’t have dared to sleep so soundly.

“……I slept well.”

It had been a truly refreshing sleep after a long time.

Even after regressing, it had been nothing but restless days.

His body felt as light as a feather.

Park Chan-woo stretched lightly and began reading the messages he hadn’t had the chance to check.

《Settling the results achieved during [Fever Time].》

《Cleared a total of thirteen dungeons, including the “Dungeon of Fire.”》

《Bankrupted fifteen Creators.》

《Succeeded in bankrupting the most Creators in the fastest time.》

《An immortal achievement that will be remembered forever.》

《The cries of the bankrupted Creators spread through the Abyss.》

《Title “Nemesis of Creators” has been granted.》

《You have obtained 20 Coins.》

《Dungeon clear rewards have been doubled: 10 Gold Boxes (★), 4 Gold Boxes (★★), 2 Gold Boxes (★★★★), 2 Platinum Boxes (★), and 2 Platinum Boxes (★★★) acquired.》

…Unbelievable.

Even seeing the messages with his own eyes, it was hard to believe.

The 20 Coins, the title acquisition, and the doubled dungeon rewards—every single one of them was something to celebrate.

‘Already at 41 Coins.’

The more the better.

Coins were valuable.

They granted chances to escape from future Abysses and were the only resource tradable between Earth and the Abyss.

Not to mention the demons—soon, all of humanity would be desperately wishing for these Coins.

‘Money will become worthless.’

Until now, it had been an era where money ruled everything.

Those who held money held power and shaped the world.

But soon, the value of money would plummet.

An era where Coins equaled power was approaching.

A treasure more precious than any fortune.

A world where Coins meant everything!

Those who caught on to the Abyss’s rules would be scrambling to gather Coins.

But Park Chan-woo had no need to scramble.

A solid stash of 41 Coins would be enough to sustain his survival.

Unless a Demon King-tier Lord specifically targeted him, there was no way he’d run out of Coins.

The only possible threat to his stash at this point was if the [Master of the Moon] Ahheta devoted everything he had to erase Park Chan-woo.

However, Park Chan-woo doubted Ahheta still had that kind of strength.

‘Ahheta lost a significant number of Coins in this Abyss.’

He was certain of it.

Ahheta had prepared the most elaborate plans among all the Creators, aiming to ensure that Han Shin would clear the dungeons.

But that entire plan had been stolen away, and every dungeon was cleared.

By Park Chan-woo.

Things that absolutely should not have failed had all crumbled.

He couldn’t even imagine how massive Ahheta’s losses must have been.

Thus, Ahheta would surely try to recover his losses during the “Second Night of the Abyss.”

‘If I’m lucky, I might be able to bankrupt Ahheta before the Fifth Night of the Abyss.’

The Night of the Abyss occurs once a month, on the day of the full moon.

And when the “Sixth Night of the Abyss” begins, the “First Species War” will erupt.

If Park Chan-woo could bankrupt Ahheta before that, then the Species War could proceed in a way far more favorable to humanity.

Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.

Enough with the hymn to Coins.

It was time to check the rest of the rewards.

‘Two 3-Star Platinum Boxes.’

Among the rewards, he had no fewer than two [3-Star Platinum Boxes].

He had earned one by clearing the Water God Dragon Abyss, and two more by clearing the thirteen dungeons, making a total of three [3-Star Platinum Boxes].

And that wasn’t all.

‘There’s also the title related to Creators.’

Titles were already rare.

Titles related to Creators were even rarer.

Park Chan-woo immediately turned his gaze to the newly acquired title.

* * *

Title: Nemesis of Creators

Effect: The holder of the title “Nemesis of Creators” cannot be dominated by fear, intimidation, fascination, or other influences stemming from Creators. The title’s effects also apply effectively in Abysses where Creators have directly created “Mental Disruptions.”

* * *

‘…Mental immunity effect!’

Park Chan-woo’s pupils dilated.

A title granting mental immunity—but limited to Creators.

However, only [Lords of the Abyss] could become Creators.

The Lords of the Abyss referred to “High-Ranking Demons,” meaning the effect could possibly extend to demons below that rank as well.

Above all, the explanation that it could even ignore the effects of “Creator Spaces” sent a shiver down Park Chan-woo’s spine.

There were so many vicious Abysses that contaminated the mind and induced confusion.

Unless one’s [Intelligence] stat was high or they possessed skills or tools to protect their mind, there was no escaping those effects.

‘It’ll truly shine in sniper Abysses where Creators directly intervene.’

A smile naturally formed on his lips.

Previously, in the Abyss where Kim Byung-han was targeted, Park Chan-woo had faced the [Gremory of Lamentation] directly.

The fear from that encounter still lingered.

He had been so overwhelmed by primal terror that he couldn’t even move.

If a similar situation occurred again, this time, he would no longer be overwhelmed.

Moreover—

‘…I remember now. Gremory’s face.’

At the very moment he obtained the “Nemesis of Creators” title.

The face of Gremory, hidden in the depths like a mist, finally resurfaced.

Park Chan-woo recalled the scene from back then.

When he tried to hand over the [Oath Ring of the Dead] obtained from killing Andariel, the [Gremory of Lamentation] appeared through a “Gate.”

At the time, all Park Chan-woo had seen was Gremory’s pure white hand.

However, Gremory had revealed her full form.

He had immediately bowed and placed the ring on her hand, but he had definitely seen it.

Even though he had clearly seen it, he had been unable to remember until now.

As if his mind had forcibly locked away the memory, warning him he must not recall it.

No mere human could withstand the existence of a Demon King.

Had he faced Gremory’s face head-on and engraved it into his memory, he would no longer be among the living.

His heart would have stopped and sent him to the afterlife.

And yet, now he remembered.

Gremory’s face.

Her full figure standing before the Gate.

‘Beautiful.’

Even Park Chan-woo, who lacked an artistic sense, found Gremory beautiful.

A beauty beyond anything of this world, a grace beyond description.

A strong sense of regret lingered for a moment.

That he hadn’t properly met her gaze.

【Human who knows honor. The day is not far when my help shall reach you…】

Still, the day of reunion wasn’t far off.

Because the [Gremory of Lamentation] had said so herself.

If he could look into her eyes properly, if he had another chance to meet a Demon King-level existence face-to-face, there was something Park Chan-woo wanted to ask.

‘What exactly are you trying to do?’

Their goal, their objective.

At first, he had thought it was just simple entertainment.

But they were more serious than he had ever imagined.

They wagered their very existence on the game.

What fueled them? He was truly curious but had been unable to reach the truth in the past.

He had never had the chance to confront a named Creator leading the Abyss at a Demon King level or higher.

Ding!

At that moment, another message flickered before his eyes.

《Final settlement begins.》

“…Final settlement?”

Hadn’t the settlement already ended?

Was there still more to settle?

《A special opportunity granted to those who exceed their limits!》

《You may combine unopened boxes into a higher-grade box once.》

《’Combination Zone’ is generated.》

《Please place unopened boxes into the zone.》

《The number and quality of the unopened boxes placed will determine the grade of the resulting box.》

《The ‘Combination Zone’ will disappear in 60 seconds.》

…Was there such a thing?

‘Looks like the rumors were true.’

He had heard whispers that gaining too many rewards could trigger another opportunity.

But Park Chan-woo had never experienced it himself.

There were so few who had that it had seemed like an empty rumor, but it appeared to be real.

Woong! Woong!

A brilliant zone of light formed in front of him.

If he placed unopened boxes inside, they would automatically combine.

Without hesitation, Park Chan-woo threw in all his “Gold Boxes.”

‘What about the Platinum Boxes?’

Fifty seconds left.

He had to decide quickly.

‘It is about time to replace my equipment anyway.’

Normally, equipment would be replaced every 10 levels.

Especially since his current gear—[Demonic Shoulder Guards (-98Lv, Epic)], [Demonic Armor (-98Lv, Epic)], and [Demonic Gauntlets (-98Lv, Epic)]—urgently needed upgrading.

To replace at least three pieces, he would need several “Platinum Boxes.”

Naturally, he couldn’t help but deliberate about how to handle the two [Platinum Boxes (★)] and three [Platinum Boxes (★★★)].

Park Chan-woo made his decision quickly.

《Combining:

10 Gold Boxes (★),

4 Gold Boxes (★★),

2 Gold Boxes (★★★★),

2 Platinum Boxes (★),

3 Platinum Boxes (★★★).》

He decided to throw everything he had obtained into the combination.

If he was going to do it anyway, it was better to bet everything on one certainty rather than end up with multiple mediocre results.

At that moment.

Fwooooosh!

A fierce wave of light engulfed the surroundings.

《Level up!》

《Level up!》

《First ‘Limit Break Quest’ has begun.》

《Forced completion of the ‘Limit Break Quest’ by obtaining transcendental experience.》

《You have reached ‘-89 Level’.》

The overwhelming experience granted forcibly shattered his limit level.

However, this was merely a byproduct of the combination process.

A byproduct strong enough to smash through the limit level.

The final product was beyond imagination.

《The fortune of ‘Easter Egg (001)’ is gathering!》

Park Chan-woo swallowed dryly as he stared at the Combination Zone.

It couldn’t get any more perfect than this.

Even the luck of an Easter Egg had been added.

Moreover, the phrase “gathering” implied not just one but a substantial amount of luck.

Truly perfect.

He didn’t know what grade the finished product would be, but with a combination like this, it would be at least a 4-star Platinum Box.

Perhaps even a 5-star Platinum Box.

There was even a high probability of obtaining a “Diamond Box,” a box exclusive to level 99, or a “Special Box” like the one where the [Radiant Anubis] had slumbered.

Just thinking about it was enough to fill him with joy.

Pop!

《’Combination’ complete.》

《Congratulations! ‘Gold Box (★★★★★★★)’ has been completed!》

“…………Huh?”