Chapter 254: Chapter 254

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 254

It was over.

By defeating the Colossus Ursus, the forced penalty was successfully removed.

“If the mana and divine power hadn’t reacted, it would have been a disaster.”

Before Ursus could prepare for its massive explosion, it entered a charging state, absorbing energy.

During this process, it couldn’t move and protected itself with a barrier.

This was because the charging process for core energy was designed to trigger an explosion if any other energy interfered.

It might seem like a somewhat forced design, but such a setup was necessary to include a strategy during the production phase.

“That’s the rule, isn’t it?”

The transcendent beings above didn’t simply aim to destroy dimensions—they used humans as playthings to alleviate their boredom.

They enjoyed watching humans struggle in despair.

Thanks to this, Ursus could be easily forced into a groggy state, and its weakened defenses from the explosion created an opening to destroy its core and finish it off.

Players who didn’t understand the detailed process showered Jeong-hoon with praise.

“...What kind of person are you?”

James Marcus approached Jeong-hoon with a puzzled expression.

Jeong-hoon tilted his head.

“What’s the point of that question?”

“...I’ll be honest. My level is higher than yours. And I’m the first warrior class player to achieve the fifth job advancement.”

Indeed, James Marcus was a top star.

How many in the world didn’t know of him?

Most of the players who survived here in the Great Cavern admired James Marcus.

His recruitment skills shone brightly, thanks in large part to his fame.

Even such a figure as James Marcus despaired when faced with the Colossus Ursus.

No matter what he tried, it was an insurmountable foe.

Just standing in its presence was enough to be overwhelmed by its aura and lose the will to fight.

If Jeong-hoon hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have dared to make a move.

Moreover, Jeong-hoon approached and resolved the situation on his own while the creature was hunched over, charging its energy.

“He’s beyond the scope of humanity.”

How could a player in the 400-level range defeat the Colossus Ursus alone?

Could he truly be called human?

“So, are you saying you’re jealous because I did what you couldn’t?”

“That’s not what I mean…!”

“In any case, I have no business with you, so get lost.”

“...Why do you dislike me so much?”

James Marcus tried to read Jeong-hoon’s thoughts with a complicated expression.

However, Jeong-hoon’s expressionless face revealed nothing.

“Do I really need to explain?”

“If it’s because of Alessandro, I sincerely apologize. I honestly didn’t know Alessandro had such intentions.”

James bowed his head.

“Annoying.”

Jeong-hoon didn’t hide his irritation.

Before the regression, James had betrayed him, and now he overlapped with that memory. Jeong-hoon felt a strong urge to twist his neck right then and there.

However, he had resolved not to cross certain lines.

Suppressing his anger, he asked James about his intentions.

“So, are you here to ask me to join your group again?”

James Marcus shook his head.

“No. I know you’ll refuse anyway. I just… wanted to apologize for last time and thank you for hunting Ursus.”

If not for Jeong-hoon, James would have lost his life.

He wanted to express his gratitude here, knowing it would be inappropriate to persist when it was clear Jeong-hoon didn’t want to see him.

“Alright.”

Jeong-hoon nodded and turned away.

Though it felt petty, it was better to draw a clear boundary here.

At that moment, time stopped, and a fissure opened.

Baal’s eyes trembled as if genuinely shocked.

The Colossus Ursus—a dungeon that NPC Rangrang had significantly increased in difficulty, making it virtually impossible to clear.

Yet Jeong-hoon had swiftly defeated it using the sole viable strategy, leaving Baal astonished.

“It was just luck.”

Baal’s crescent-shaped eyes gleamed with amusement.

Despite losing the bet, Baal seemed thoroughly entertained.

“You’re awfully generous, aren’t you?”

Jeong-hoon smirked.

Baal’s gaze narrowed in response.

“Sorry, but I have no intention of forming a contract with anyone.”

Jeong-hoon pointed at the holographic window with his finger.

On the screen, countless transcendents were sending love calls to him.

However, the moment Baal appeared, they all went silent, as if they had vanished into thin air.

The presence of a Demon King-class transcendent had driven them away.

“I don’t need it.”

“Anyway, hand over what you promised.”

n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

[You have acquired 5% of Ultimate Energy.]

An additional 5% of Ultimate Energy was obtained.

With this, his Ultimate Energy surpassed the halfway mark, reaching 54.8%.

‘Good. Just half more to go.’

He was on the verge of reaching a realm no one else had achieved.

Baal’s rewards didn’t stop there.

“And the soul?”

What Jeong-hoon demanded was Baal's strongest human soul in addition to the Ultimate Energy.

Despite his reluctance, Baal handed over the promised soul to Jeong-hoon.

Before Jeong-hoon, a soul with a human form materialized.

It was clad in a black helmet and armor, with a blood-red cape draped over its shoulders and a massive greatsword strapped to its back—a warrior exuding immense strength.

Jeong-hoon felt a strange sense of familiarity with the soul.

“Hmm?”

Jeong-hoon tilted his head in curiosity.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Alright. Then, be on your way.”

Even after the wager concluded, Baal didn’t disappear.

This lunatic had even approached Alessandro to get closer to Jeong-hoon. It was clear he wasn’t the type to simply vanish after something like this.

Jeong-hoon thought for a moment before snapping his fingers.

“Then how about another wager?”

“I’ll hunt the Ultimate Warrior in Rease.”

The Ultimate Warrior.

In New World, progressing from the free city of Rease to the next town, Darvis, required fulfilling a specific condition: defeating the Ultimate Warrior, who was a Death Knight.

The Ultimate Warrior guarded the gateway to Darvis.

‘And after the game's reality adaptation, the Ultimate Warrior’s level jumped to 1,100.’

The warrior’s role remained the same: to block access to Darvis.

However, Jeong-hoon intended to pass through Rease and head toward Darvis.

Darvis was included in the Episode Collection, making it a critical destination.

Jeong-hoon couldn’t remain stagnant, merely fending off penalties indefinitely.

Darvis also held numerous hidden opportunities, including an unrevealed hidden theme.

Jeong-hoon aimed to collect all these opportunities, surpass level 500, and eventually reach level 600.

‘If I get the wager reward for defeating the Ultimate Warrior, it’ll be a huge gain for me.’

However, Baal’s expression soured, clearly unimpressed by the proposed wager.

Indeed, the Colossus Ursus represented the highest difficulty, with no discernible level limit.

Meanwhile, the Ultimate Warrior’s level was fixed at 1,100.

Could Jeong-hoon, who had bested Ursus, possibly fail against the Ultimate Warrior?

Still, Jeong-hoon had nothing to lose.

“If you don’t want to, just say no.”

“You want to add a condition?”

"Let's hear it first."

The Dark Soul.

According to the New World guidebook, the Ultimate Warrior had an exceedingly low probability of dropping this item upon defeat.

The exact drop rate was undisclosed, but players collectively deemed it effectively zero.

This was because, since the launch of New World, no one had ever succeeded in obtaining it, despite the countless Ultimate Warriors that had been slain.

“You’re trying to make sure you win, aren’t you?”

“Do you even know how low the odds are?”

Baal, knowing Jeong-hoon’s desire for Ultimate Energy, once again used it as a bargaining chip.

But Jeong-hoon was aiming for something different this time.

"Add something more, and I’ll agree."

"Experience points."

Jeong-hoon didn’t need items right now. What he needed was raw power.

"One quintillion."

Baal was momentarily speechless at the absurd figure.

"What’s wrong? Is it too much?"

"Deal."

Experience points in the trillions.

With that amount, Jeong-hoon could break past level 500 in an instant.

Frankly, he hadn’t expected Baal to offer such an amount, so hearing the demon suggest a trillion made this negotiation all the sweeter.

"Got it."

As Baal disappeared, time, which had been momentarily frozen, resumed its flow.

***

[Breaking News: Forced Penalty Removed!]

[The Hero Who Removed the Penalty is Korean!]

Shortly after the forced penalty was lifted, countless articles flooded the internet.

Their content highlighted that the hero responsible for eliminating the penalty was none other than a Korean player.

This event sent Korea’s reputation skyrocketing on the global stage.

[Korea, Now the Center of the World!]

-James Marcus? Oh, he’s nothing. Korea reigns supreme!

└ Why does your tone sound so smug? LOL.

└ But seriously, who was the Korean player?

└ Most people didn’t even survive. Is he okay?

└ According to the articles, he’s a Martial Artist over level 400!

└ Yeo Min-Ji? No way, she hasn’t even hit level 400 yet.

Amid countless speculations online, Ha-Jin grinned ear to ear.

“Of course, it’s Hun! I knew you’d pull it off!”

He slung his arm over Jeong-hoon’s shoulder as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Don’t cling to me. It’s annoying."

“Hey! Friends don’t reject each other!”

“Stop spouting nonsense.”

Having removed the penalty, Jeong-hoon wasted no time summoning Ha-Jin and Bong-Goo.

Since Bong-Goo hadn’t completed his quest yet, only Ha-Jin arrived first.

“Anyway, I’ve finished the fourth advancement, just like you said.”

Ha-Jin had been able to come early because he completed the fourth advancement quest for his Dark Lord class.

“Good. Now we just need Bong-Goo to wrap things up.”

Considering his quest was likely less difficult than Ha-Jin’s, Jeong-hoon couldn’t fathom why it was taking him so long.

‘Maybe I should’ve pushed him harder.’

"Kids, have some fruit."

At that moment, Jeong-hoon’s mother entered, carrying a platter of sliced apples and melons.

Having completed her quest as well, she was now taking a well-deserved rest.

“Yes, ma’am! Thank you so much!”

Ha-Jin respectfully accepted the plate of fruit and placed it on the table.

“Mom, do you have some time?”

“Hmm? Why?”

“I was thinking of heading to Rease in a few days, and I was hoping you could come along.”

“Rease? Sure.”

“Yes. Now that we’ve completed the fourth advancement, we’re planning to move to Darvis.”

Darvis.

A village accessible only to those level 301 or higher and who had completed their fourth advancement.

After the world’s reality shift, the path had been sealed, requiring the defeat of the Ultimate Warrior to proceed.

The main reason Jeong-hoon had delayed going to Darvis was to ensure that his mother, Ha-Jin, and Bong-Goo could also cross over.

‘Ah, I need to include the Ho-Yeong Guild members too.’

He planned to gather all those who had completed the fourth advancement for a raid on the Ultimate Warrior.

If luck was on his side and the Dark Soul dropped, that would be ideal—but who knew how long it would take?

‘I’ll have to use some tricks.’

Relying on sheer effort alone wouldn’t be enough to secure such an elusive drop.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]