Chapter 37
His brow furrowed instinctively.
A Gold Box?
He had thrown in an excessive number of boxes—several 1-Star and 3-Star Platinum Boxes included.
And yet, the result was merely a Gold Box?
‘Wasn’t the maximum number of stars for a box five?’
Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary Gold Box.
It was a 7-Star.
Typically, the number of stars a random box could have was limited.
Five stars were supposed to be the cap—that was basic common knowledge.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond.
Even special-colored boxes could not be enhanced beyond five stars.
He had never heard of a 6-Star Box appearing.
And yet, not a 6-Star but a 7-Star Box had popped out.
…An event far beyond common sense.
Even Park Chan-woo, experiencing this for the first time, was at a loss for words.
‘More stars were added, but the grade dropped.’
Still, the problem remained—the box’s grade.
Despite inputting several Platinum Boxes, the resulting box was downgraded to Gold.
This was a first.
Normally, when a “Combination Zone” appeared, it was known that the grade would increase. Dropping in grade was unheard of.
‘…Usually, a higher-grade box is preferable to one with more stars.’
Even if a box had many stars, grade superiority was almost absolute.
For example, a 3-Star Bronze Box could not replace a regular Silver Box, and a 3-Star Silver Box could not replace a Gold Box.
It was said that from 4-Stars onward things changed, but in general, grade trumped enhancement.
Park Chan-woo took a deep breath as he stared at the completed 7-Star Gold Box.
‘Significant luck was involved. There must be a reason it turned into a Gold Box.’
When the combination occurred, the [Easter Egg (001)] had brought fortune.
The Easter Egg had the ability to bring one piece of fortune with each level-up, and the phrase “gathered” indicated that multiple fortunes had been attached.
The fortune it brought was anything but ordinary.
With just one piece of fortune, he had once turned the “Cursed Anubis” into the “Radiant Anubis.” It had never brought misfortune.
Now, a 7-Star Gold Box completed with multiple fortunes.
There had to be a reason the grade dropped.
However… if, by the slimmest chance, it failed to meet expectations, the blow would be irreparable.
He had invested enough boxes to replace his entire gear set.
Fwooo—
He calmed his breathing once more and glared at the box.
‘Open.’
《Opening ‘Gold Box (★★★★★★★)’.》
《You have obtained ‘Arahan’s Golden Mystery’!》
Name: Arahan’s Golden Mystery
Level: -89
Grade: Ancient
Description: The ultimate ideal attainable by practitioners. A mystery completed by a being of pure enlightenment, who had nothing more to learn or train in relation to gold.
Equipment Type: Shoulder Guard
Defense: 35
Durability: Indestructible
Unique Options:
(1) Generates a “Golden Aura” around the wearer.
(2) Attack and defense increase according to the number of Coins possessed.
(3) If the number of Coins possessed exceeds a certain threshold, the grade of the “Golden Mystery” increases.
(4) Unlocks when holding over 100 Coins.
(5) Unlocks when holding over 500 Coins.
“……!!”
His eyes shot open.
It felt as if he had been struck in the head with a blunt weapon.
The reward that emerged from the 7-Star Gold Box was that stimulating.
In a positive sense, not a negative one.
‘Arahan!’
The name Arahan carried heavy significance.
The ultimate ideal a practitioner could reach.
Only a select few worthy practitioners could earn the title of “Arahan.”
It meant achieving the pinnacle of a field.
If it was Arahan’s Golden Mystery, it meant he had set a landmark in the realm of gold.
‘Indestructible, ability scaling with the number of Coins.’
It was truly fantastical.
The value of gold lies in its incorruptibility.
Equipment with the “Indestructible” option was virtually nonexistent even in the Abyss.
There was even a saying that acquiring indestructible equipment was harder than plucking stars from the sky.
Moreover, attack and defense stats increased with the number of Coins possessed, and the equipment could even upgrade its grade—there were hidden unlocks as well.
‘There’s no limit to the grade upgrades. Could it even reach the Zero grade?’
Zero-grade equipment only dropped from “Diamond Boxes.”
And Diamond Boxes were only obtainable after reaching Level 99, making them an extremely distant goal for Park Chan-woo.
But if “Arahan’s Golden Mystery” could scale its grade with the number of Coins, and there was no upper limit, then reaching Zero grade might be entirely possible!
Park Chan-woo quickly checked the obtained “Golden Aura.”
Name: Golden Aura
Description: Shares the aura with the wearer and those deeply bonded. The abilities of “Golden Aura” are the same as the second option of “Arahan’s Golden Mystery.”
Increase in Attack and Defense: 41
Entities under the Aura: Park Chan-woo, Radiant Anubis
‘…They stack.’
The options of the Golden Mystery and the Golden Aura stacked.
Meaning, his attack and defense increased by double the number of Coins he possessed.
Currently, holding 41 Coins, his attack and defense had increased by 82 each through the equipment’s option and the aura’s ability.
…Insane.
Absolutely insane.
‘No wonder they call me the Nemesis of Creators.’
Coins could only be earned by bankrupting Creators.
Now, the use of Coins had expanded even further.
They could be used to escape the Abyss, to trade, and simply possessing them boosted his stats.
With hidden options yet to be unlocked and a grade that scaled based on the number of Coins possessed, imagining how much stronger he could become was beyond comprehension.
Moreover, “Arahan’s Golden Mystery” was armor.
Armor with an attached attack stat was exceedingly rare.
And it even carried an aura.
A treasure among treasures, laden with layers of rarity.
It was a mystery born from astronomical odds—how could he not feel ecstatic?
《Unequipping ‘Demonic Shoulder Guards (-98Lv, Epic)’.》
《Equipping ‘Arahan’s Golden Mystery (-89Lv, Ancient)’.》
The moment he equipped it, golden radiant light gleamed on both his shoulders.
The aura of light soon extended to the [Radiant Anubis] as well.
This was the true advantage of an aura.
They were strengthened together.
‘It must apply to pets, summons, or party members as well.’
Though the exact standards for “deep bond” were unclear, if it worked on the [Radiant Anubis], it could surely extend even further.
Magnificent.
Assuming he held a substantial number of Coins, the [Arahan’s Golden Mystery] possessed the ability to rival—or even surpass—[Eternal]-grade equipment.
…Now, only one thing remained.
‘The World Tree Fruit.’
He had been saving it to consume after the Dungeon Abyss ended.
A fruit capable of erasing all detrimental status ailments.
It might cleanse him of his current [Weakest], [Frail], [Feeble], [Nonexistent], and [Terminal] conditions.
Of course, he had reaped significant benefits from [Nonexistent], but strictly speaking, it was still a debuff.
‘If only [Terminal] could be erased…’
If he didn’t erase the minus levels, he would die within 500 days.
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible to erase the minus levels within 500 days.
He still had to raise his level by 90 more. Even if his growth rate was abnormally fast, there were limits.
Even if all the status ailments couldn’t be removed, he at least hoped that [Terminal] could be.
Slowly, he took out the [World Tree Fruit] and shoved it into his mouth.
Gulp!
《You have consumed the ‘World Tree Fruit’.》
《A sacred effect settles within your body.》
《Removing undesirable status ailments.》
《Removing status ailments.》
《Removing status ailments.》
《Removing status ailments…》
《Unable to remove.》
…What?
Unable to remove? What did that even mean?
The [World Tree Fruit]’s efficacy was absolute.
It could even cancel out tailored curses inflicted through sniper Abysses by Creators!
《The effect of the ‘World Tree Fruit’ has been nullified by the ‘Sealed Demon God’s Chalice’.》
《Due to the ‘Sealed Demon God’s Chalice’, the deadline for [Terminal] has been shortened.》
《To restore the original deadline for [Terminal], you must offer a tribute to the God of Offerings.》
Whoooosh!
In an instant, a cold wind blew, and darkness engulfed his vision.
He could see nothing.
The world was swallowed by darkness.
‘Sealed Demon God’s Chalice?’
Why was that name suddenly appearing?
The Sealed Demon God’s Chalice was originally the item that had imprisoned the God of Offerings.
It was an item that Park Chan-woo no longer possessed.
And yet, it suddenly nullified the effects of the [World Tree Fruit]?
Even shortened the deadline for [Terminal]?
An impossible situation had occurred.
Originally, he had sacrificed the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice in order to return to the past.
It should have disappeared without a trace.
‘Wasn’t the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice consumed as a sacrifice?’
And yet, how could it interfere like this?
Park Chan-woo gritted his teeth.
Darkness was steadily creeping in.
He instinctively knew.
This darkness was death.
As the deadline for [Terminal] shortened, death was approaching.
To offset it, he had to offer a tribute to the God of Offerings.
‘The God of Offerings is still aiding me. But the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice is pushing me off a cliff.’
He thought calmly.
After returning to the past, the God of Offerings had disappeared, but the system left behind by the God was still operating.
Likewise, if the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice had vanished, but something left inside it was still active…
Wait.
What had been inside the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice?
‘…Sephiro.’
Half of Sephiro.
Could it be tied to his status ailments like [Terminal]?
Was that curse gnawing away at him all along?
…Could the God of Offerings’ silence also be related to this?
《Offering ‘Demonic Helmet’ as tribute.》
《Offering ‘Demonic Shoulder Guards’ as tribute.》
《Offering ‘Demonic Boots’ as tribute.》
《Tribute is woefully insufficient.》
He offered all the unnecessary items he had, but it was still not enough.
Moreover, if he had to offer something of true value, it would inevitably mean his currently equipped gear or his Coins.
But he couldn’t sacrifice those.
Even if he offset the death, it would still end in ruin.
He couldn’t let all his efforts so far go to waste.
‘Better to die than to throw it all away.’
His vision blurred.
He fell deeper into the darkness.
He desperately tried to maintain his consciousness but failed.
Kyuuing! Kyuuing!
At that moment, a familiar sound rang from somewhere.
Just before he lost consciousness.
As if it were a hallucination or a hallucinated voice…
At that moment.
《’Radiant Anubis’ offers itself as a tribute.》
A miracle occurred.
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