Episode 167.
[The risk of the dungeon has been adjusted to high. Please be careful.]
The last message popped up in Jung Si-woo’s retina and disappeared. But he couldn’t do anything about that either because of the timing of the Ant Cave and Jung Si-woo’s realization of who the boss arrived at the same time. The existence of this dungeon, or the system’s power, had been proven not to be absolute.
[You noticed me…so that means you’ve already fought against another god.]
“Yes, of course. You’re a lot stronger than them.”
Jung Si-woo had fought with Laia’s descendant in the past, but he was so weak that he was sorry to compare him to Hector. Although he was an elite monster, his ability was reduced in many ways due to his rapid descent, and the monster’s level was considerably lower than that of an Armored Orc. The nature and environment of God’s power were crucially different.
On the contrary, now Hecto had the advantage of an integrated dungeon and emerged as the best stage in the world to reveal his power.
“So how the hell did he do that? Since the system governs integrated dungeons, it would have been too difficult to descend like that…”
[I’ve seen through the principles of the creation of Ant Cave dungeons a long time ago. What is the medium of the dungeon? It’s the sign of a player. Now, do you understand?]
That was enough. Jung Si-woo recalled a ghost report he had received when he first entered the dungeon. Indeed, from creating an integrated dungeon to the descent of Hecto, all of these were possible because of the ghost of a player carrying fragments of Hecto. Of course, you didn’t have to ask what happened to the ghost.
[In a temple ruled by my name, my powers are amplified. Of course, it’s only a small portion of my strength that I’ve come here…now; it is also true that my soul and mind are concentrated here. That’s how much I admire you, the warrior of the earth, Jung Si-woo!]
He fully revealed his hidden energy and pressured Jung Si-woo. A being of a far higher rank could kneel to another being of a lower rank! However, Jung Si-woo’s complexion was quite calm while facing him.
“Are you trying to fight me?”
[Hmm…!?]
The moment he thought blue sparks were splashing over the scale tightly wrapped around his body, the Mana of Hecto was stretched out into the air and wrapped around Jung Si-woo’s body before being cut off. As soon as Hecto’s eyes widened, Jung Si-woo rushed straight toward him.
“Let’s get started!”
[Get started? Ha!]
The active skill carved into his soul didn’t work, and while Hecto questioned the situation, he was a combat maniac. He quickly focused on fighting like the God he was; he could determine the reason later. After killing Jung Si-woo and retrieving his body!
[Wahaha!]
“Hmph…!”
The hammer, which was put down to destroy him, was blocked by his ax raised last second. Jung Si-woo realized that his enemy was strengthened, so he tried to force the hammer down to avail. Rather, he began to push his body back gradually! No matter how strong the god controlling the body was, the base was an Armored Orc. He was confident that he would no longer be pushed into a close game unless they could fix their breathing pattern and muscle tension!
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“This isn’t your best, is it?”
[You can’t recognize it even with your eyes open. Do you think so?]
However, Hecto was shocked at the ease of Jung Si-woo’s provocation. Now the Earth was barely reaching the New Age. There was a limit to the capacity of mana that the world could embrace, and it was also because intruders couldn’t openly enter their bodies.
“Die!”
[Ouhhh!]
And it was no exception to humans and monsters living inside the world, so it was normal if there were no individual differences, let alone species limitations. The world’s mana shouldn’t have allowed it to other objects that made up the world.
[But why?]
“Is it possible to handle the same passive skill with different efficiency by God…but you won’t be able to keep your eyes on me forever!”
[Hmph!]
A hammer with incredible physical strength flew upward in a tight orbit. It was too fast to avoid, so he had to stop it, but no matter how effectively he prevented the attack, the power contained in it hit Hecto, pushing him back. Mechanics that change patterns every hundredth of a second tried to mitigate damage, but it only slowed down the collapse!
[Whoa, haaaah!]
I had no choice but to admit it: this was a mistake caused by his complacency. In recent years, Hecto had rarely moved his headquarters to the battlefield. Even when he descended, he had no real reason to prepare his body because he defeated the enemy with that spirit alone. The spirit of God didn’t completely make the body he descended into his own.
[But even so…]
No matter how fast the world was moving toward the next step, as mana filled the earth, both living and nonliving things changed. Even so, the power of this human being now was strangely strong. Wasn’t this a force only suited to a fighter on the front lines of the Full Age?
“Hoo-hoo!”
[Hah! Ha… hold on…Ha…!]
It was only at the moment after dozens of repeated clashes when the pillar that formed the temple was cracking that Hecto recalled what he had heard from other gods. It was that Jung Si-woo might have his ability. Those who had just realized their origins in the land where Mana was enlightened thought they couldn’t have any unique abilities. So he ignored their story, but now he couldn’t deny the fact even though the situation was this bad.
[Unique ability…I see; it’s the uniqueness of strength. You were indeed a candidate for a God born on this earth!]
“I don’t care about being God’s candidate… I think you’re not looking at it properly.”
Jung Si-woo drove him to the end of the boss room while laughing at him to his heart’s content. Then, starting with his arms, his skill level has risen, and now his tattoos, which covered almost half his body, glowed red. His spirit nearly doubled in an instant.
“I haven’t been using all my power yet!”
[Huh!?]
Yes, it wasn’t that important, but he entered the boss room and started a surprise battle, and so far, Jung Si-woo had been plagued by a powerful penalty. And it was only now that more than half of the penalty time had passed that he was back on his feet.
“Ha!”
[Danger…!]
Realizing that something was wrong, Hecto’s urgent ax bounced off Jung Si-woo’s hammer, and Jung Si-woo grabbed the hammer that was about to bounce and hit him again! Even if you don’t think about super strikes fast and strong rebound, the reason appeared on Jung Si-woo’s retina.
[He learned to force and maintain the mana used in the active skill with his ability so that the power could be re-expressed to a slightly reduced level.]
[Learned player-specific skill repeat (active). At this point, you can apply it limitedly to your active skills, and you can repeat them up to one extra time without consuming additional mana]
“So that works?!”
“Not usually!”
Although it was a skill awakened in the flash of the moment, the effect was great! Most of the mechanical devices that covered his left arm were crushed.
“Now, let’s get to something you’re hiding. Or just say goodbye.”
[Whoo, whoo….]
Hecto, who had never expected to give up the upper hand against a lower being, was dumbfounded and just laughed.
[Clearly…I was complacent, and the body in my power was weak. This one was, among other things, a weakly armored orc.]
He suddenly began to relentlessly peel off his subordination! It may have been before the battle, but it seemed ugly to say that now, but Jung Si-woo didn’t give in to sloppiness on the outside, and he strengthened his posture. Then he went on.
[I admit that I failed as an armored orc.]
“Oh, it’s a typical pattern when you reveal your hidden moves, Oppa!”
“Thank you for your advice. I’m thinking the same thing.”
Hecto slowly lifted himself. Shockingly enough, fragments of the temple could be seen clinging to his broken and battered body. However, even before the shocking scene of repairing himself to the temple, Jung Si-woo couldn’t hide his expectation of anticipation. He was so excited that he asked him.
“So, is this God’s realm from now on?”
[You’re so sensible.]
Hecto’s response was positive, spreading out his arms covered with machinery, flesh, and stone. That was the full-fledged start sign. Unprecedented energy seemed to boil up in his form, and all the objects in the boss room, which had remained in the form of the temple, were returned to mana and began to be absorbed!
“Is that the real power of the Hecto?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Oppa, why aren’t you attacking…ahhhh.”
He could have lost his mind. It was overwhelming and indiscriminate violence that made you feel like your body would disintegrate and be absorbed if you lost your mind! Jung Si-woo instinctively wrapped his arms around Soo-rin and looked back. Caina was protecting Yong Se-ha.
[In fact, I liked you quite a bit.]
“Sorry, I don’t think I like you.”
Jung Si-woo hit the ball first, and Hecto laughed as if he had expected it.
[So condescending, pretending to notice anything first, and trying to appeal to your psychological superiority…I like it. That’s why you’re like me.]
“Haha.”
He was stabbed in a sore spot. Even if someone else saw through Jung Si-woo’s bluff, he usually couldn’t spit it out. But he was different. Even at this moment, his damaged body was being restored. It didn’t matter whether it was living or nonliving to fill the void. The power was what was important.
[Come here, you’ve shown unexpected strength…]
“Ah-rin, back off. Go to Caina.”
“But Oppa…”
“Hurry up.”
Over the newly sprung arms, a huge new sprouted battle-ax was caught. It was a disposable weapon created by the power of Hecto, but it reached the realm of novelty with strength, sharpness, and power that no player on Earth could dream of.
[In return, I will also show you the power of an area beyond your recognition.]
It’s like playing a new boss game. Even in the game, the boss who was devastated by the player instantly recovered all their HP! Of course, the player was always the winner at the end of the game, but no one knew the reality. They fight each other with all their might, win or lose!
“Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!”
There was no such thing as an attempt to avoid it. Rather, it wasn’t wrong to say that it had been pursued throughout his life. Jung Si-woo grabbed the punishment of the Demon God in both hands and rushed to destroy the God in front of him.
But.
“Hmph!”
Jung Si-woo’s rush, which seemed to be strengthened by force to push him away, stopped like a robot that lost its power.
“Kkkkkk…”
[I cannot help but acknowledge your power.]
Hecto’s mouth twisted wickedly. The ax, born with the power of Hecto, evolved into a weapon that absorbed even the power exerted on it and returned it to the enemy, making it impossible to compete in the form of power that existed in this world.
[But true power cannot be prevented by just that!]
As soon as the ax in his hand let out a red and black light, the inexplicable force denying common sense shifted the direction of all the forces acting in the space to only Jung Si-woo. As it did, a torrent of violence compressed on Jung Si-woo to kill him!