『『Quest Legendaris』 telah diselesaikan.』
『『Pencapaian Unik』 telah tercapai!』
『Seluruh wilayah 『Malam Ketiga』 kini dipenuhi Berkah Abadi, dan peserta yang menyaksikan legenda memulihkan sebagian stamina mereka.』
Saat pesan itu muncul—
"Pencapaian Unik!"
"Lagi Pencapaian Unik?"
"Jangan-jadi Tuan Lee Hyuk-soo lagi?"
Orang-orang bergembira. Itu karena, setelah Lee Hyuk-soo meraih 『Pencapaian Unik』 di Malam Kedua, ia mendapat skor kontribusi senilai seribu poin penuh. Namun, bukan hanya 『skor kontribusi』 yang didapatkannya.
"Terima kasih, terima kasih!"
"Kami percaya padamu!"
Orang-orang mengangkat tangan, bersujud berulang kali, mengucapkan rasa syukur dengan tulus.
『Rasa syukur telah disampaikan kepada pelaku 『Pencapaian Unik』.』
『『Kotak Kematian』 tambahan diberikan kepada kedua belah pihak.』
『Stamina dipulihkan.』
Stamina yang habis selama perang melawan Legiun Kematian pulih sebagian. Tapi 『Malam Ketiga』 belum berakhir.
Lee Hyuk-soo menatap langit dan mengepalkan tangan kuat.
『Matanya sudah benar-benar gila.』
Di Bulan Biru Super, mata Aheta tercermin, darinya air mata berdarah mengalir. Dengan mata penuh amarah dan kegilaan, ia melacak sisa manusia satu per satu sambil memerintah Anubis dan Legiun Kematian.
Gwoooooohhhh!
Raungan Anubis bergema dari tak jauh. Anubis yang amok itu monster yang membawa kematian itu sendiri. Kalau bukan karena pengorbanan para paladin, termasuk Gula, para peserta sudah musnah total.
"…Masih dua hari."
"Bisa bertahan?"
Mendengar suara dari belakang, Lee Hyuk-soo menoleh. Tak sadar, sudah banyak orang berkumpul di belakangnya. Mereka yang telah bersenjata kembali dengan bantuan pedagang iblis Dagon.
Pasukan putus asa terakhir yang berkumpul dari setiap faksi. Di antaranya banyak anggota 『Departemen Keamanan Abyss』.
『Bisa bertahan?』
Lee Hyuk-soo menggelengkan kepala dalam hati. Penguasa Bulan Aheta berusaha mati-matian membasmi mereka. Mereka takkan bertahan sehari pun dengan cara biasa.
Jujurnya, dia juga ingin lari. Pemandangan Anubis membantai manusia begitu mengerikan hingga mual. Menghadapinya langsung hanya akan membuat anggota tubuhnya sobek saat masih hidup.
『Ini kesempatan terakhir.』
Tapi kalau mereka tidak berdiri bersama sekarang, tidak akan ada kesempatan berikutnya. Selama 『mata』 itu ada di langit, tidak ada tempat di wilayah 『Malam Ketiga』 untuk mereka lari. Bahkan kalau mati, berlawanan akan membeli waktu.
Lagipula, tidak seperti mereka, 『Legiun Kematian』 masih tersebar. Strategi terakhir: hancurkan mereka satu per satu dan fokuskan kekuatan api ke Anubis sebesar mungkin.
『Anubis masih belum pergi dari pintu masuk kuil.』
Dia mungkin menunggu siapa yang menyelesaikan quest di dalam kuil keluar.
『…Mungkinkah Nabi ada di dalam kuil?』
Dia tidak bisa memikirkan selain Nabi yang bisa meraih Quest Legendaris dan Pencapaian Unik sekaligus. Dan selama Anubis tidak ikut perang secara langsung, masih ada harapan.
…Itu sebabnya.
"Kita harus bertahan."
Saat menatap 『Legiun Kematian』 yang mendekat di kejauhan, Lee Hyuk-soo memejamkan mata tajam dan mencengkeram Pedang Besar Raja Singa.
* * *
"Sialan! Caranya gimana sih… kau bisa mengalahkan Dewa Luar Abadi!!!"
Seluruh keberadaan Aheta gemetar amarah. Energi gelap menyapu ke segala arah, kendali hilang total. Karena itu tak masuk akal. Tidak mungkin Dewa Luar Abadi yang dibebaskan diam-diam memenuhi keinginan, apalagi diburu seperti mangsa.
Manusia biasa tak mungkin melawan keberadaan seperti itu. Bahkan kalau 『Archmage』 adalah avatar Raja Iblis, bahkan kalau dia rasul salah satu Sembilan Penguasa Agung, hasilnya sama saja.
"Tanpa 『senjata』 salah satu Sembilan Penguasa, mustahil menghancurkan Dewa Luar!"
Binatang hiperdimensi raksasa di dalam Celah Besar. Hanya 『Sembilan Penguasa Agung』 yang bisa menghadapi keberadaan seperti itu. Itu sebabnya Abyss menyembah dan taat tanpa syarat pada mereka. Bahkan Dewa Luar di Celah Besar hanya takut pada mereka.
Namun, kemungkinan seorang Penguasa menyerahkan senjatanya ke avatar tak terbayangkan. Secara alami, 『Archmage』 seharusnya mati di dalam. Dan yet—
『Dia membunuh Dewa Luar, mendominasi seluruh wilayah, dan bahkan meraih Pencapaian Unik.』
Fakta Pencapaian Unik tercapai berarti Dewa Luar Abadi telah dimusnahkan. Karena Aheta sendiri yang mengaturnya begitu saat merancang sistem.
Tapi bagaimana? Metode absurd apa yang mengubah mustahil jadi kenyataan lagi?
Bahkan Aheta pun tak mampu hal seperti itu.
…Kalau ini terus berlanjut, kebangkrutan pasti. Meluncurkan Bulan Biru Super adalah judi. Langkah yang diambil dengan keyakinan mutlak akan menang. Akibatnya, jutaan manusia berkumpul ke event ini.
『…Jutaan Kotak Kematian sedang dibagikan.』
Tapi pilihan itu kini mengencangkan tali gantung di lehernya. Cukup mengucapkan rasa syukur saja sudah mendapat 『Kotak Kematian』. Kotak Kematian awalnya hanya diberikan ke pemain peringkat atas atau yang menyelesaikan kondisi khusus. Kalau dibagikan sembarangan, nawet gudang harta Aheta tidak akan bertahan. Lebih parah lagi—
『…Artinya Archmage sendirian menerima jutaan Kotak Kematian.』
Pikirannya seperti mati, tangan kaki gemetar tak terkendali.
Semakin banyak Kotak Kematian dikumpulkan, semakin besar kekuatannya. Di skala jutaan, bahkan 『Gudang Harta Tersembunyi』 mungkin terbuka lagi. Dan bukan itu saja.
『Tahu dia masih punya apa lagi.』
Tidak mungkin itu berakhir di situ. Penyihir tamak seperti dia tidak akan puas hanya dengan itu. Pasti dia mendapat hadiah masif tambahan. Aheta semakin panik.
Hak malam?
Hal seperti itu sudah tidak penting. Diskualifikasinya sebagai 『manajer malam』 sudah pasti. Tidak ada pencipta yang akan menyetujui dia lanjut di posisi itu.
Sekarang, hanya dua pilihan baginya.
『Bangkrut, atau tidak.』
Kalau bangkrut, itu akhir. Dia akan tertimbun utang luar biasa dan bisa lenyap total.
Mungkin bisa selamat dengan mengumpulkan 『whale』 dan menarik investasi lebih, tapi dalam situasi ini, tidak ada pencipta tingkat tinggi yang akan investasi ke Aheta.
Lihat saja keadaan sekarang. Jutaan pencipta bahkan tidak menggerakkan 『Avatar』 mereka. Bahkan investor diam saja. Seharusnya mereka mengacaukan manusia dan membunuh setidaknya satu lagi, tapi mereka hanya berdiri menonton.
Artinya mereka pun yakin perang ini akan kalah. Dan membantu Aheta tidak ada gunanya. Oleh karena itu—
"Anubis! Dia harus mati. Apapun caranya, بأي الثمن!"
Tidak ada jalan lain selain membunuh Archmage. Solusi lain tidak terpikir. Aheta menuangkan semua koin tersisa ke sistem. Memperkuat Anubis untuk membunuh Archmage begitu dia muncul, ini satu-satunya cara selamat.
Dan tak lama—
"…Akhirnya kau muncul juga, Archmage!"
Akhirnya, Archmage keluar dari dalam Kuil Abadi. Aheta memusatkan perhatian penuh ke pintu masuk kuil. Ini pertama kali mereka berhadapan langsung. Sampai sekarang, penyihir itu menyembunyikan identitas dan tidak pernah memperlihatkan wajah!
Baru sekarang Aheta bisa melihatnya. Orang yang terus menghalangi dia.
Dan saat dia melihat pria yang muncul di pintu kuil, pupil Aheta bergetar hebat.
Dia menatap tanpa sadar ke perlengkapan pria itu. Sabuk Baal, Tongkat Pohon Dunia, Bintang Kesombongan yang terlihat di Kodeks Misteri, Sepatu Bot Shatyros, setiap satu-nya adalah harta karun. Tapi—
"…Lambang Keabadian?"
Yang mengejutkan Aheta adalah 『Lambang Keabadian』. Itu bukti 『orang terhormat』, sesuatu yang bahkan Aheta tidak pernah dapatkan. Dia punya banyak harta dan relik, tapi tidak itu. Dan memakai Lambang Keabadian berarti—
"Dia… bukan Avatar?"…
…Itu berarti dia bukan Avatar siapapun. Avatar seorang Penguasa tidak pernah bisa dianggap 『terhormat』. Boneka yang dikendalikan orang lain tidak bisa bicara soal kehormatan. Aheta yakin mutlak Archmage adalah Avatar salah satu Sembilan Penguasa. Tapi kalau bukan—
Itu berarti dia memperoleh semua perlengkapan itu sendiri. Bahwa dia meraih semua prestasi itu sendirian.
Ding!
『Wilayah 『Malam Ketiga» sedang dimakan Makhluk Ilahi Cygnus!』
『Dalam satu jam, 『Makhluk Ilahi Cygnus』 akan memakan seluruh 『Tanah Abadi』 beserta 『Bulan Biru Super』.』
…Dan kejutannya belum berakhir. Saat Archmage memperlihatkan diri, mereka bisa merasakan kehadiran 『Makhluk Ilahi Cygnus』 yang mendiami ranah 『langit sejati』.
Dan Makhluk Ilahi itu mulai memakan seluruh wilayah sebagai nutrisi.
『Dia memakan Bulan Biru Super juga.』
Masih ada 47 jam. Tapi kalau wilayah dan Bulan Biru Super dimakan, 『Malam Ketiga』 akan berakhir paksa.
Dan manusia akan menang, itu tidak boleh terjadi. Aheta berteriak sekuat tenaga.
"Anubis! Kau apa-apaan?! Bunuh dia sekarang!"
Anubis masih ada. Komandan tertinggi kematian, kematian itu sendiri!
…Tapi anehnya, Anubis tidak bergerak. Dia tidak taat pada perintah mutlak Aheta. Padahal seharusnya dia sudah dikucurkan segala emosi, hanya memiliki keinginan penghancuran. Malah, dia gemetar sambil menatap sesuatu.
"Anubis! Kau menolak perintahku?!"
Crack!
Aheta mengertakkan gigi. Waktu tersisa sedikit, tapi Anubis seperti rusak. Apakah dia menuangkan terlalu banyak koin?
Tapi tidak lama dia sadar itu bukan alasannya. Aheta menggerakkan mata bulan ke pintu masuk kuil.
…Dan dia melihatnya. Alasan Anubis tidak bisa bergerak.
Di antara Archmage dan Anubis, ada sesuatu. Sesuatu yang mirip Anubis, tapi lebih kecil, mendekat tidak dengan kematian, tapi mekar dengan kehidupan yang gemilang.
Seperti asal kehidupan abadi itu sendiri. Aheta langsung mengenali tubuh itu terbuat dari apa.
『Sesuatu yang menyerap Dewa Luar Abadi dan DNA keberadaan terkuat.』
…Keberadaan yang mustahil. Bagaimana ada yang bisa menyerap esensi dewa dan kehidupan terkuat sekaligus?
Dan yet, itu nyata. Itu Anubis Kehidupan, kebalikan mutlak dari kematian.
"Apa itu… makhluk…?"
Menatapnya, bahkan Aheta hanya bisa bergumam bingung. Lambang Keabadian, Makhluk Ilahi, semuanya menakjubkan. Tapi—
"Makhluk absurd itu…"
…Bahkan semua keajaiban lain digabungkan tidak bisa banding dengan satu keberadaan itu saja.
Chapter 171. The Third Night (22)
『The 'Legendary Quest' has been cleared.』
『The 'Unique Achievement' has been accomplished!』
『The entire territory of the 'Third Night' is now imbued with the Blessing of Eternity, and the participants who witnessed the legend recover a portion of their stamina.』
The moment the message appeared—
“A Unique Achievement!”
“Another Unique Achievement?”
“Don’t tell me it was Mr. Lee Hyuk-soo again?”
The people erupted with excitement. That’s because, after Lee Hyuk-soo achieved a ‘Unique Achievement’ during the Second Night, he had received a contribution score worth a full thousand points. However, it wasn’t just the ‘contribution score’ he had gained.
“Thank you, thank you!”
“We believe in you!”
People clasped their hands together. They kept bowing their heads, sincerely expressing their gratitude.
『Gratitude has been conveyed to the achiever of the ‘Unique Achievement.’』
『An additional ‘Death Box’ is granted to both parties.』
『Stamina has been restored.』
The stamina consumed during the war against the Legion of Death was partially restored. But the ‘Third Night’ was still not over.
Lee Hyuk-soo looked up toward the sky and clenched his fist tightly.
‘His eyes have completely gone mad.’
In the Super Blue Moon, Aheta’s eyes were reflected, from them, bloody tears flowed. With eyes full of rage and madness, she was tracking down the remaining humans one by one while commanding Anubis and the Legion of Death.
Gwoooooohhhh!
The cry of Anubis echoed from not far away. The berserk Anubis was a monster that brought death incarnate. If not for the sacrifice of the paladins, including Gula, the participants would have been utterly annihilated.
“…Two days remain.”
“Can we hold out?”
Hearing a voice from behind, Lee Hyuk-soo turned around. Before he realized it, a considerable number of people had gathered behind him. They were those who had rearmed themselves with the help of the demon merchant Dagon.
The last desperate forces gathered from every faction. Among them were many members of the ‘Abyss Safety Department.’
‘Can we hold out?’
Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head internally. The Moon Lord Aheta was desperately trying to wipe them out. They wouldn’t last even a day through normal means.
Truthfully, he wanted to run away too. The sight of Anubis massacring humanity was so horrific it made him sick. Facing him head-on would result in his limbs being torn apart while still alive.
‘This is the final chance.’
But if they didn’t stand together now, there would be no next chance. As long as that ‘eye’ remained in the sky, there was no place in the territory of the ‘Third Night’ for them to escape to. Even if it meant death, resisting would buy them time.
After all, unlike them, the ‘Legion of Death’ was still scattered. The final strategy was to crush them one by one and concentrate their firepower on Anubis as much as possible.
‘Anubis still hasn’t left the entrance of the temple.’
He was probably waiting for whoever had completed the quest inside the temple to appear.
‘…Could the Prophet be inside the temple?’
He couldn’t think of anyone other than the Prophet who could achieve both the Legendary Quest and the Unique Achievement. And as long as Anubis didn’t directly participate in the war, there was still hope.
…That’s why.
“We have to hold on.”
As he looked at the approaching ‘Legion of Death’ in the distance, Lee Hyuk-soo twisted his eyes fiercely and gripped the Lion King’s greatsword.
* * *
“Damn it! Just how the hell… did you deal with the Outer God of Eternity!!!”
Aheta’s entire being trembled with rage. Dark energy swept in all directions, raging out of control. Because it simply didn’t make sense. There was no way a liberated Outer God of Eternity would quietly grant a wish, let alone be hunted like some prey.
A mere mortal couldn’t possibly contend with such an existence. Even if the ‘Archmage’ were an avatar of a Demon Lord, even if he were the apostle of one of the Nine Great Lords, it would be no different.
“Without the ‘weapon’ of one of the Nine Lords, it should be impossible to destroy an Outer God!”
The colossal hyperdimensional beasts within the Great Rift. Only the ‘Nine Great Lords’ could face such beings. That’s why the Abyss worshipped and obeyed them unconditionally. Even the Outer Gods of the Great Rift feared only them.
However, the possibility of a Lord handing their weapon to an avatar was unthinkable. Naturally, the ‘Archmage’ should’ve perished inside. And yet—
‘He killed an Outer God, dominated the entire territory, and even achieved a Unique Achievement.’
The fact that a Unique Achievement had been accomplished meant that the Outer God of Eternity had been annihilated. Because Aheta had set it up that way when designing the system.
But how? What absurd method had turned the impossible into reality again?
Even Aheta couldn’t do such a thing.
…If this continued, bankruptcy was guaranteed. Launching the Super Blue Moon had been a gamble. It was a move made with absolute confidence in victory. As a result, millions of humans had flocked to the event.
‘…Millions of Death Boxes are being distributed.’
But that choice was now tightening a noose around her neck. Even simply expressing gratitude was enough to receive a ‘Death Box.’ Death Boxes were originally awarded only to top-ranking players or those who completed special conditions. If they were handed out indiscriminately, not even Aheta’s treasure vault would survive the onslaught. Worse still—
‘…That means the Archmage alone is receiving millions of Death Boxes.’
Her mind felt like it had shut down, her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.
The more Death Boxes one collected, the greater their power became. At a scale of millions, even the ‘Hidden Treasure Vault’ might reopen. And that wasn’t all.
‘Who knows what else he has in store.’
That couldn’t possibly be the end. A greedy mage like him would never be satisfied with just that. He had undoubtedly obtained additional massive rewards as well. Aheta grew increasingly frantic.
Night rights?
Such things no longer mattered. Her disqualification as the ‘manager of the night’ was already certain. No creator would approve of her continuing in that role.
Now, only two choices remained for her.
‘Go bankrupt, or don’t.’
If she went bankrupt, that was the end. She’d be burdened with an overwhelming debt and could disappear entirely.
She might be able to survive by gathering ‘whales’ and attracting more investment, but in this situation, no high-tier creator would invest in Aheta.
Just look at the current state of things. Countless creators weren’t even mobilizing their ‘Avatars.’ Even the investors were doing nothing. They were supposed to stir up chaos among the humans and eliminate even one more, but instead, they just stood by, watching.
That meant even they were convinced this war would be lost. And that helping Aheta would serve no purpose. Therefore—
“Anubis! He must die. No matter what, at all costs!”
There was no other way but to kill the Archmage. No other solution came to mind. Aheta poured all her remaining coins into the system. Strengthening Anubis to kill the Archmage the moment he appeared, this was his final means of survival.
And before long—
“…You’ve finally shown yourself, Archmage!”
At last, the Archmage appeared from within the Temple of Eternity. Aheta focused all his attention on the entrance of the temple. It was the first time they were facing each other directly. Until now, the mage had hidden his identity and never revealed his face!
Only now could Aheta finally lay eyes on him. The one who had continuously thwarted him.
And then as she looked at the man appearing at the temple’s entrance, Aheta’s pupils quivered violently.
She stared unconsciously at the man’s gear. Baal’s Belt, the World Tree’s Staff, the Star of Arrogance seen in the Tome of Mysteries, Shatyros’s Boots, each and every one of them was a treasure. But—
“…The Emblem of the Immortal?”
What shocked Aheta was the ‘Emblem of the Immortal.’ It was proof of an ‘honored one,’ something even Aheta had never obtained. She possessed many treasures and relics, but not that one. And to be wearing the Emblem of the Immortal meant—
“He’s… not an Avatar?”
…That meant he was not someone’s Avatar. An Avatar of a Lord could never be considered ‘honored.’ A puppet controlled by another could never speak of honor. Aheta had been utterly convinced the Archmage was the Avatar of one of the Nine Lords. But if not—
That meant he had acquired all that gear on his own. That he had accomplished all those feats alone.
Ding!
『The territory of the 'Third Night' is being devoured by the Divine Beast Cygnus!』
『In one hour, 'Divine Beast Cygnus' will devour the entire 'Land of Eternity' along with the 'Super Blue Moon.'』
…And the surprises didn’t end there. The moment the Archmage revealed himself, they could sense the presence of the ‘Divine Beast Cygnus,’ dwelling in the realm of the ‘true sky.’
And the Divine Beast had begun consuming the entire territory as nourishment.
‘It’s devouring the Super Blue Moon as well.’
There were still 47 hours left. But if the territory and Super Blue Moon were devoured, the ‘Third Night’ would be forcibly ended.
And the humans would win, that couldn’t be allowed. Aheta screamed with all her might.
“Anubis! What are you doing?! Kill him now!”
Anubis still remained. The supreme commander of death, the death itself!
…But for some reason, Anubis didn’t move. He did not obey Aheta’s absolute command. Even though he should’ve been stripped of all emotion, possessed only by the desire for destruction. Instead, he trembled as he stared at something.
“Anubis! Are you refusing to obey my command?!”
Crack!
Aheta ground her teeth. Time was running out, yet Anubis seemed to be malfunctioning. Had she poured in too many coins?
But it didn’t take long to realize that wasn’t the reason. Aheta moved the moon’s eye to focus on the temple entrance.
…And she saw it. The reason Anubis could not move.
Between the Archmage and Anubis, there was something. Something that resembled Anubis, but smaller, approaching not with death, but blossoming with radiant life.
It seemed like the very origin of eternal life. Aheta instantly recognized what that body was made of.
‘Something that absorbed both the Outer God of Eternity and the DNA of the strongest being.’
…It was an impossible existence. How could anything absorb the essence of both a god and the strongest lifeform?
And yet, it was real. That was Anubis of Life, the complete opposite of death.
“What is that… thing…?”
Staring at it, even Aheta could only mumble in a daze. The Emblem of the Immortal, the Divine Beast, they were all astonishing. But—
“That absurd lifeform…”
…Even all those other marvels combined couldn’t compare to that one single being.
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