Chapter 238: Chapter 238

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 238

Ha-Jin and Bong-Goo moved forward, holding pickaxes.

As they went a bit further inside, they found a heap of minerals labeled "EXP."

"Brother, there’s a mineral labeled EXP here!"

"Let’s mine it quickly."

"Yes!"

Bong-Goo immediately started mining.

Thanks to their unique-grade pickaxes, mining was exceptionally easy.

As they mined the experience minerals, the minerals disappeared, and a message appeared before them.

[You have gained 2,000,000 EXP.]

With just one swing, they earned a whopping 2 million experience points.

It was the amount of experience that would normally take nearly an hour of hunting, but they gained it with a single mining attempt.

And it didn’t stop at just 2 million.

[You have gained 5,000,000 EXP.]

Some minerals even granted 5 million experience points.

“This is insane… Now I understand why Hoon said it’s easy to break through Level 301.”

Ha-Jin couldn’t help but marvel as he continued mining.

No matter how much they mined, the EXP-labeled minerals seemed endless, and as they repeatedly gained experience, their levels increased rapidly.

“Wow… At this rate, won’t we hit Level 350 instead of just 301?”

“Who knows? I heard that once you surpass 301, the experience required for leveling up doubles.”

“It doubles from here…? That’s just brutal.”

It was no wonder rankers held their status.

“Still, just breaking through 301 is something. Let’s mine as much as we can.”

They were given only two hours.

The time was so precious that every second felt invaluable.

On top of that, they had to think about recording the process.

They planned to edit the footage into a video and upload it to YouTube.

***

“Damn it! If only I’d known a bit earlier, I could’ve taken that hidden theme for myself.”

“Haha, if you’re so upset, you should’ve found it before me.”

“You irritating bastard…”

This was the conversation between Alessandro Bryden and Liu Xiaolong.

The topic was the hidden theme Alessandro had been desperately searching for.

Despite his frantic efforts to locate it, the hidden theme was taken by the mage who was moving with Liu Xiaolong.

“So it’s right here.”

A hidden theme.

Before his regression, Jeong-hoon was called the All Master, but he didn’t think of himself that way.

“Because I didn’t truly reach the peak in every field.”

Jeong-hoon hadn’t reached the pinnacle.

He had merely reached a certain level in every field, which naturally earned him that nickname.

Especially in magic—didn’t he only know how to use Magic Missile back then?

“What a laughable nickname.”

Even now, the only magic he had mastered was Magic Missile.

Because he mastered it with steadfast will, it was of legendary grade, and its level was maxed out.

Additionally, there was Lightning Bolt.

It was still epic, and its block skill was legendary.

Having mastered only three spells so far, he intended to learn more magic in this hidden theme.

Jeong-hoon, who had been moving forward without hesitation, suddenly stopped.

‘Found it.’n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

A familiar crystal orb embedded in the wall.

It was the very same crystal orb that had guided Jeong-hoon to the hidden theme.

‘Let’s get started.’

There was no need to mine it with a pickaxe.

Jeong-hoon simply reached out and placed his hand on the crystal orb.

A single exclamation mark appeared above the orb.

[You have discovered a hidden theme!]

[You have gained 5,000 achievement points!]

Discovery of the hidden theme.

[Would you like to move to the Brilliant Archmage's Vault?]

“Move.”

As soon as Jeong-hoon accepted, his body was enveloped in a blue light and absorbed into the crystal orb.

***

[You have entered the Brilliant Archmage's Vault.]

[You have gained an additional 10,000 achievement points.]

A new hidden theme: the Brilliant Archmage's Vault.

Despite being called a vault, it was an expansive space that hardly fit the term.

‘The Brilliant Archmage.’

There was only one mage who carried that title: Sol, the God of Magic.

The apex of white magic, Sol was revered as a god, and this hidden theme was one of the legacies he had left behind—a brilliant vein of mana.

‘I’ve been here before.’

Jeong-hoon had already visited hidden themes twice in the past.

The first was the Field of Overflowing Mana, designed to make inscribing circles easier.

The second was Sol’s Hall, a legacy left not directly by Sol, but by his disciple, where Jeong-hoon had learned Lightning Bolt and Block.

‘This Brilliant Archmage’s Vault, however, was directly created by Sol.’

Unlike Sol’s Hall, which had been prepared by a disciple, the vault was Sol’s personal dwelling.

He was known for choosing secluded and unreachable locations, and this volcano was one such place.

Originally, his dwelling had existed in another dimension.

However, with the game merging with reality, his dwelling was transformed into a hidden theme, taking its place in the volcanic cliffs.

“All right, let’s get searching.”

This was a rare opportunity to learn new magic and inscribe additional circles.

Jeong-hoon began exploring, examining the tools that Sol had used one by one.

Most of the items were magical artifacts, carefully arranged by Sol for those who would eventually visit this place.

‘He wanted someone to finish the game.’

These preparations had been made long ago, during the collapse of a certain dimension.

They were born of Sol’s desperate wish for future generations to bring this filthy game to an end.

[You have discovered a tome brimming with mana.]

It was exactly these kinds of items.

Jeong-hoon picked the worn tome with his hands.

As he did, the tome glowed and merged into his body.

[You have inscribed an additional circle.]

[Your circles have increased to ‘4.’]

Merely acquiring the magic tome had elevated Jeong-hoon to the 4th Circle—a leap of two entire levels.

‘That’s why Alessandro was so bitter about missing this.’

This hidden theme couldn’t even be compared to Sol’s Hall.

And the preparations here were only just beginning.

The next magical artifact Jeong-hoon picked up was a staff.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary wooden branch, but this staff was one that Sol himself had wielded.

[You have discovered the Brilliant Staff of Sol.]

[You can randomly learn one spell from the magic available within your current circle.]

[Additionally, each time your circle increases, you can randomly learn a spell corresponding to that circle.]

The staff allowed the automatic acquisition of Sol’s magic, who had reached the pinnacle of white magic.

For Jeong-hoon, who couldn’t learn magic through traditional means, this artifact was a godsend.

He secured the staff. Though it wasn’t designed for combat, it was essential for learning new spells as his circles increased.

‘Assuming I reach the 9th Circle, I’d be able to learn 9th Circle magic instantly.’

Alessandro Bryden.

Even he had failed to break through the barrier of the 9th Circle.

If Alessandro had visited this place, he might have overcome that wall.

That was why he regretted losing the hidden theme to Liu Xiaolong so deeply.

It wasn’t just the ease of advancing circles; this was essentially a cheat item that granted new spells immediately.

Jeong-hoon channeled mana into the staff.

The staff glowed momentarily before merging with him.

[*You have acquired the spell “Fly” (Epic).*]

A 3rd Circle spell, Fly.

A smile formed on Jeong-hoon’s lips.

‘Perfect. Of all the spells, I got Fly.’

With this, he could now fly freely.

But it wasn’t over yet.

[*You have acquired the spell “Holy of Glory” (Legendary).*]

Jeong-hoon’s eyes widened.

‘Holy of Glory?’

It was a spell automatically learned upon reaching the 4th Circle, yet one he had never encountered before.

---

Holy of Glory

- Type: Active

- Level: 1

- Grade: Legendary

- Effect: Consumes 20% mana to purify all aspects of a designated target. (Does not activate if the target’s disparity is too great.)

- Cooldown: 240 seconds

---

It wasn’t a combat or buff spell, but Jeong-hoon was certain it was exclusive to Sol.

The reason was simple: Sol primarily wielded light-attribute magic.

Light-attribute spells were exceptionally rare, with most mages barely reaching a foundational level of proficiency.

Yet here he was, having learned a 4th Circle light-attribute spell—not at a basic level but a masterful one.

‘There will surely come a time when this spell will prove invaluable.’

Jeong-hoon, having stored the staff in his inventory, continued to explore the warehouse.

‘There should be one more.’

According to Liu Xiaolong, the hidden preparations within this space numbered three in total.

Jeong-hoon eventually came to a halt before a wall adorned with a massive portrait of Sol.

The painting depicted the grand figure of Sol in exquisite detail.

“This is it.”

Jeong-hoon reached out to touch the portrait.

As soon as his hand made contact, the painting glowed brightly and merged into him.

[You have acquired all accumulated experience.]

The final preparation was pure experience points.

[Your level has increased.]

[All stats have increased by +1.]

[Bonus stat points have been awarded: +1.]

.

.

.

Levels surged wildly.

‘I’ve already surpassed 400.’

When the notifications stopped, his level had soared to 431.

“This is insane. I can start my 5th advancement now.”

The 5th class advancement quest, a milestone only accessible to those who reached Level 401 or higher, was now within his grasp.

But it wouldn’t be that simple.

[You lack the ultimate energy required.]

[You cannot begin the 5th advancement quest.]

Even with his Legendary Hidden Class, Martial Emperor, Jeong-hoon’s next path forward was obstructed.

To unlock the 5th advancement, he needed to fill his Ultimate Energy to 100%.

‘Only then can I stand against Demon King-level threats.’

At present, even with all his buffs active, he could only handle Apostle-class opponents.

This gap made it clear he wasn’t yet on par with Demon Kings.

It was then that a new notification appeared.

[You have inherited a portion of Sol's accumulated Ultimate Energy.]

[You have gained an additional 36.8% Ultimate Energy.]

Over a third of the energy required had been transferred in an instant.

‘Why...?’

Jeong-hoon’s eyes flickered with confusion.

Based on what Liu Xiaolong had shared, this inheritance should have ended with gaining experience points.

At that moment, the portrait of Sol completely vanished.

[I have been waiting for this moment.]

A voice unfamiliar yet commanding echoed in Jeong-hoon’s mind.

He instantly recognized the voice’s owner.

“Sol?”

[Yes. That is what people call me.]

“How is this possible?”

[Because you have opened the path to the ultimate.]

The Path to the Ultimate.

With 8% of the Ultimate Energy gathered, Jeong-hoon had officially qualified to begin the quest.

“So that’s why I could access this?”

[To be precise, it was designed to only react to those who meet the qualifications.]

“I see. Then why did you choose to approach me?”

[Before answering, I have a question for you. Has much time passed since this game’s outbreak?]

“Not really. It hasn’t been that long.”

[...I see. What about penalties?]

“I haven’t received a single one.”

[Is that true?!]

Sol’s voice rose in astonishment, brimming with excitement.

Jeong-hoon nodded firmly.

“Yes, it’s true.”

[...Then perhaps this is different.]

“What is?”

[Ending the game. Preventing this madness from repeating itself.]

“You don’t need to say it. I’ll make sure that happens.”

[Good... In that case, I’ll provide you with coordinates. Head there.]

A message window appeared in front of Jeong-hoon.

“What’s this place?”

[You’ll find something that can help you complete the Path to the Ultimate quest.]

“Is that so?”

[It’s a path I couldn’t break through myself. I hope you’ll succeed where I failed and challenge the Architect.]

Sol was aware of the Architect.

This meant he had already reached the Architect once before.

“If that’s the case, tell me everything you know about the Architect.”

[I cannot.]

“You can’t?”

Jeong-hoon’s brows furrowed, his expression hardening.

That wasn’t the answer he wanted.

[I’m sorry. That’s beyond my ability to interfere.]

“You... Don’t tell me, you’re in the Architect’s grasp.”

[...]

Sol remained silent, but his silence spoke volumes.

“So, that’s the message? That no matter how much I struggle, it’s all futile?”

A crooked smile twisted Jeong-hoon’s lips.

If Sol could interfere even slightly, it was likely because the Architect allowed it.

‘Architect, you’ll regret ever underestimating me.’

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]