The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 274

WHOOM...

"What's going on..."

“D-did the Golden Divine Statue do that?”

Hye Myeong and Mi Ah were surprised.

"The path extended again..."

They had already obtained the Luminous Bell.

However, the path continued to stretch onward.

Hye Myeong looked at Seol, making a serious expression, and said to the others.

"We don't know how long the path is, so how about we rest a bit before moving on?"

Chi Woo nodded vigorously.

"That sounds good."

Having reached their physical limits, the rest of the group didn't object to Hye Myeong's suggestion.

Seol, who still had some things left to check, welcomed the idea.

Upon watching everyone fall asleep quickly, despite the absurd thing that had just happened, he could sense how tight the schedule had been so far.

Not everyone had Seol's endurance.

With some time to spare, Seol began checking the things he hadn't been able to before.

First, he was worried about Shade's Soul, which Agony had swallowed.

Nothing much had changed. However, a new ability related to Shade had been added.

[[Haunted - Shade's Iron Wall (Unique)]

- When Agony defends against an attack and reduces the damage taken by more than 80%, it restores 5% of the user’s missing Ghost Energy. Additionally, the chance of blocking an attack increases by 5%; if blocking is triggered by elemental damage, the damage reduction is increased by 10%.]

'So it's an ability related to defense.'

This was much better than gaining a new offensive ability.

Since Phantom’s Blades was an ability that consumed Ghost Energy, gaining another Ghost Energy-consuming ability would have been troublesome.

If Seol consciously activated this ability, he could restore his Ghost Energy fairly quickly and then use it for another Phantom’s Blade, which ignores defense, achieving a balanced offense and defense.

'The downside is I don't have a lot of Ghost Energy.'

It was a good start.

Next, he examined the equipment he had just obtained.

First, the Inflexible Theory Skill Book.

'Oof...'

Equipment suitable for a Magician or someone with a related class. Seol already had Agony. And since Ur, a Wizard, couldn't use equipment, he had to dispose of this.

- One stack for now.

- One fail, hahaha.

Next was the Mysterious Double-Edged Axe.

As expected, its performance was inferior to Karen and Karuna's weapons. He didn't have an appropriate summon to give this to.

'Two?'

Had he ever been this unlucky?

He felt foolish for having high expectations after defeating Shade.

- Two fails, hahaha.

- What if the third one fails, too?

- Snowman's mind will break, haha.

- I want to see that, hahaha.

- Yes~ This is how things should be~

- You've been using up all your luck in advance ^^

- Oof... This is making me feel better~

Seol had consistently been getting good equipment. That's why the viewers mocked him, saying that this was normal.

Feeling anxious, Seol checked the next item.

'This isn't even an item.'

[[Unusual Parchment Piece]

Rank: Divine Relic

Recommended Level: 38 - 50

Weight: 0.1 kg

Special Ability: A piece of parchment engraved with an important secret of the 'The Ruins of Watala.']

'Divine Relic?'

- Divine Relic?

- That's a Divine Relic?

- What kind of saving pitch is this? Damn it.

- But it doesn't seem to be equipment.

A single picture was drawn on the piece of parchment. It depicted figures of beings with covered eyes, bowing their heads to the ground as if worshipping someone.

The target of their reverence was a huge eye.

'What's this...?'

At that moment.

Ziinng...

[The Unusual Parchment Piece is resonating.]

Pssss...

With that message, the piece of parchment suddenly crumbled to dust and disappeared.

Seol's expression became one of disbelief.

He felt drained.

It seemed like he had inhaled the energy of the piece of parchment, but nothing seemed to have changed.

'Did Shade obtain this and come here because of it?'

He couldn’t be sure.

After all, there was no way to revive the deceased Shade.

The dust that was in his hand scattered somewhere and disappeared.

Seol checked the last item.

It was huge leather armor.

The moment he lifted it, he felt something.

'This doesn't seem ordinary...'

A message confirming his intuition popped up.

[Peerless: You've acquired Submission.]

[You have acquired an item that didn't exist in the world previously.]

- NOOO!!!

- Are you okay?

- I had a bad feeling, hahaha.

- I knew something big was coming...

[[Peerless: Submission]

Rank: Peerless

Recommended Level: 43 - 52

Defense: 210

Durability: 180/180

Weight: 0.1 kg

Leather armor imbued with the power of Shade, the evil spirit. As Shade's soul dissipated, the evil energy contained within the armor evaporated.

Basic Abilities: +50 Strength, +52 Intelligence, +55 Constitution

Special Abilities: Enhancement Enhanced (Unique), Diminishing Diminished (Unique) applied, Natural Ruler (Unique) applied, Health regeneration increases based on maximum Intelligence, Mana regeneration increases based on maximum Health.]

'Yes!'

No matter how many ambiguous items he got, they couldn't compare to a solid Peerless item.

'Fortunately, the options are perfect.'

Jamad was the only one in the group who wore leather equipment, and it turned out that this item was well-suited for him.

- Three stats increased by 50? Is this for real?

- Look at how it selectively boosts the best stats.

- Jamad: Dad isn't sleeping. I'm watching everything.

- If it were Karen, she would have already jumped out and taken it, lol.

[[Enhancement Enhanced (Unique)]

- During battle, when using enhancement abilities, the enhanced value increases up to 10%. The value is determined by the duration of the enhancement ability. The type of enhancement also affects the enhancement value.]

'Enhancement abilities... Does it apply to titles, too?'

It seemed that passive enhances weren't included, but even so, it was still quite useful.

It was definitely better to have it than not.

[[Diminishing Diminished (Unique)]

- During battle, when hit by a weakening ability, the debuff value decreases up to 20%. The value is determined by the duration of the weakening ability. The type of debuff also affects the value of the weakening.]

There were many abilities that weakened by a considerable amount. That was probably why the number of this one was higher.

'This will be useful for dealing with Slowed or Rooted.'

The more abilities you have to counter Abnormal Status effects, the better. Having already experienced the effects of Atonement, Submission would probably be highly useful at crucial moments.

[[Natural Ruler (Unique)]

- Grants the user 100 points of the Special Stat: Dignity.]

[Special Stat: Dignity has been confirmed.]

[Special Stat: Dignity has been unlocked.]

'Ah, dignity!'

As your level increases, special stats that differ from the general ones begin appearing.

Dignity was one of them. It gave you an advantageous position while interacting with others.

- Special stat!

- But isn't Jamad going to use that anyway?

- Then Jamad will be overflowing with Dignity!

- Maybe that's a good thing?

- If Jamad gets a special stat, will Snowman get it, too?

- I don't think that will be the case.

- I hope that's not the case! I want Snowman to be ridiculed!

- Hey, you too?

The other extra effects, like the ones related to Health and Mana recovery, were a perfect match for the current Jamad, so this item had to go to him.

'Ah, also...'

Seol recalled an item he had forgotten about.

[Jamad, the Totality of Nature equips Peerless: Submission.]

[Jamad, the Totality of Nature equips Scout's Tailwind Boots.]

- Hmm...? Seeing how you've prepared this, it seems you were waiting for me.

Jamad expressed his gratitude with a slightly roundabout comment.

- Y-you didn't have to prepare this for me. Were you waiting for me to come back?

- What's up with that tone, lol.

- The Snowman's dating sim continues today, too.

Seol looked at the items that went to Jamad and tried to soothe his disappointment.

Although strengthening his summons was a way for him to become stronger, it felt like he hadn't gained much.

'Ah, the title.'

[[Special Title: The One Who Severed the Right Arm]

Related Achievement: Bang-Crack-Swish (Adventure: Watala's Inheritance)

Special Ability: It increases the fear felt by enemies when a body part is destroyed.]

'Even the title is underwhelming...'

A special title with an ambiguous effect. Aside from the Peerless item, the rewards from this adventure were a bit disappointing.

Seol gazed into the darkness beyond the path ahead. He wished that whatever was hidden beyond it would make up for this disappointment.

[Adventure 33. (Special) 'True Power'

You've obtained the Luminous Bell, but it seems that there's more hidden within the Ruins of Watala. Whether you're satisfied with the Luminous Bell and return now or venture to the end of the ruins is entirely up to you.

Objective: Escape the Ruins of Watala or explore them further.

Caution. This Adventure can change at a moment’s notice.

Remaining Time:「Unknown」]

Fortunately, the description no longer mentioned any danger.

Now that Seol's group had finished resting, they walked along the path ahead.

After walking for about 20 minutes, Chi Woo asked.

"Seol."

"Yes?"

"Why do you look like that? Did something bad happen?"

"It's nothing..."

- Yes, something bad happened.

- I got nothing!

- The piece of parchment burned up, and my summon took the Peerless item!

- If you put it that way, he really did get nothing, hahaha.

As they walked for another 10 minutes, they reached another cliff.

It was a path that required applying Watala's teachings to move forward.

"Okay, then..."

"We're going to stay here."

Said Hye Myeong, standing beside Mi Ah and Seol Hong.

"What...?"

"I can feel it, the energy of the Golden Divine Statue."

"What do you mean...?"

"If there's something ahead, it probably won't be a path meant for me."

"..."

Because the ruins collapsed, Hye Myeong had gotten nothing after obtaining the Luminous Bell. If something were left beyond this, and if Hye Myeong were to acquire it...

'The future would change...'

Was the Golden Divine Statue trying to tell Hye Myeong that? Or was it just a coincidence?

"Hahaha! It seems the roles have reversed from yesterday, Seol."

- Go forward, Hye Myeong.

Hye Myeong smiled.

"Seol, go ahead. Chi Woo, you too. I'll be waiting."

Seol and Chi Woo nodded.

In reality, Seol was curious.

If Seol Hong, Mi Ah, or anyone else had solely focused on awakening, what would they have gotten?

Now, it was time to test that.

"I'll be back."

Seol and Chi Woo took a deep breath and then leaped forward.

Paf—!

BOOM...

In an instant, Seol and Chi Woo left the rest of the group behind.

BOOM—!

As if a mouth was being shut, the space closed up.

"Seol..."

Hye Myeong silently watched his fading figure.

BOOM—!

BOOM—!

The ruins continued transforming.

Seol shot forward like a bullet, narrowly escaping the closing ruins, and kept running straight ahead.

"Ugh..."

Whir!

Whoosh!

This wasn't just the ruins changing.

'The entire space... is getting distorted.'

Just like Shade’s mental realm, the ruins were enveloping him. The difference was that the threats they were facing were all invisible structures.

- This Watala guy is amazing...!

At some point, Seol merged with Jamad. Because of this, Jamad could also feel what Seol was experiencing. Even Jamad could tell that the energy emanating from the space was not ordinary.

BOOM!

BOOM!

Chi Woo was keeping up with the flow better than expected. How many times had he already crossed the line between life and death?

However, that quickly reached its limit.

"Ah...!"

Whoosh...

Chi Woo's hair turned golden. As if he had realized something, he began to lag far behind, with a vague look in his eyes.

Seol glanced at him briefly before continuing to run forward.

Whir—!

Woosh—!

His speed seemed to keep increasing.

BOOM!

BOOM—!

As Seol's speed increased, so did the sharpness of his reactions, but it seemed that he would soon be overwhelmed by the changing environment, too.

'Is this as far as I can get...?'

At that moment…

[Watala's memory is reacting.]

'Watala's memory...?'

A scene appeared before Seol's eyes. It showed how the ruins would transform, where the path would lead, and even how to break through it.

'Is this... No way.'

Seol recalled the piece of parchment he had obtained from Shade. The golden energy that he inhaled.

'I can see it...!'

- What?

Seol's eyes were set ablaze.

Just like that time he carried everyone and fled from Shade.

BOOM—!

BOOOM!

Seol spun his body and soared into the air.

- Danger...

A massive stone loomed ahead.

Seol momentarily separated from Jamad, who had fused with him and bounced to the opposite side.

Whoosh...

The two narrowly dodged the stone.

Whir—!

And then, they pulled back together and merged once again.

Having experienced Seol's actions, Jamad was seized by a strange sensation.

Whoosh...

The space continued to change.

The ceiling descended, and the ground surged violently upward.

Seol went through these obstacles like a fish in water.

They were movements that defied one's understanding.

However, there was something that made them possible.

- Hahaha!

Seol's heart pounded as if it would burst.

At some point, he entered an unknown realm.

Whoosh—!

Seol's movements weren't cutting through the wind. They were cutting through space.

- Over there!

Seol flew to the place where a light was leaking out.

Crash—!

BOOM!

The ruins that tried to crush him ultimately failed their goal.

Whoosh...

As Seol emerged into the light, he felt momentarily dazed.

He felt as if he were floating across space.

In reality, his surroundings had been cleared of the debris that had been floating around, and he was standing in a scene that resembled the night sky.

- Ah... What is this...

A golden light emanated from Jamad's eyes. And the same was true for Seol.

Swoosh...

Something rose.

Something radiating an intense light.

Whir...

It was a huge eyeball.

Seol and Jamad trembled as they saw the huge eyeball whose size overwhelmed them.

'This... Is what was drawn on the piece of parchment...'

As the eye stared directly at Seol, he felt fragmented memories pouring into him.

'Ah...'

And he realized who Watala was.'

'He's the progenitor of the Soul Eyes Tribe...'

A transcendent being who had shared its power with the Soul Eyes Tribe.

Seol and Jamad had now encountered Watala in the flesh.

Watala didn't say anything.

Giinngg...

Watala handed a glowing, golden orb to Seol.

'This...'

As Seol took hold of it, the radiant orb began spinning fiercely.

Whir—!

'Ugh...'

A mysterious energy enveloped his body, while the orb in his hand gradually lost its radiance.

Swoosh...

Watala's figure started to fade slowly.

And as if he were slowly closing his eyes.

Paf—!

Kang Seol...

"Kang Seol!"

"Oof..."

"Kang Seol! What happened?"

"What...?"

Seol realized that Hye Myeong was shaking him. Chi Woo also woke up at the same time.

"Th-this..."

Chi Woo also seemed confused.

Seol asked Hye Myeong.

"What happened?"

"What...?"

"No, I don't remember..."

Hye Myeong explained.

"You two were supposed to go ahead, but right before you went, both of you suddenly collapsed."

"Ah..."

Chi Woo and Seol looked at each other.

The experience they had just gone through was different from what Hye Myeong was describing.

How could that be?

'Was this Watala's trick?'

If that were the case, why would Watala do such a thing?

As Seol held his throbbing head.

[A wonderful discovery! You have visited Watala.]

[Watala has gifted you the seed of the Buddha manifesting in numerous forms to save the people of the world, the 'One Body, Multiple Avatars',]

Crack—!

A loud crack came out of Seol's chest.

He reached into his clothes and pulled something out.

It was the golden orb that had lost a bit of light.

'This...'

[The seed is sprouting.]

Something was planted in his chest.

[The soil is not yet fertile. It requires proper time or immense power to bloom.]

It wasn't a power he could wield immediately.

However, something in the message caught his attention.

'Wait, if it just needs time...'