Bab 75. Makhluk Kuno
Di Second Night, ada 20 tempat bertahan. Park Chan-woo tidak bermaksud menghancurkan semuanya. Jika ia melakukannya, hal itu akan menimbulkan terlalu banyak perhatian. Para pengungsi, pengejar, Aheta, dan pencipta-pencipta lainnya pasti akan berusaha mengetahui siapa yang bertanggung jawab. Namun, ketika "Orang yang Tidak Diundang" muncul, dan ia meyakinkan bahwa banyak pencipta berpangkat tinggi sedang memerhatikan Second Night, ia mengubah pikirannya. Ia memutuskan. Untuk monoponisasi segalanya. Untuk mencapai tingkat kontribusi yang luar biasa dan mencoreng martabat kemanusiaan ke dalam mata mereka!
Akibatnya, gelar "Traitor yang Licik" berubah menjadi "Penghancur yang Licik." Disertai dengan keuntungan yang membantu dua kali lipat. Reward 10x dari Masterpiece Map pun bertambah, sehingga ia kini akan menerima reward yang luar biasa 20x lipas. Itu saja sudah mustahil. Tapi lalu...
'u2026Quest Legendaris?'
Yang paling mengejutkan adalah kalimat "Quest Legendaris" di akhir pesan. Ia tidak pernah muncul sebelumnya, bahkan dalam semua regresinya sebelumnya, ia tidak pernah melihatnya lebih dari beberapa kali.
'Tidak terduga ini muncul begitu cepat.'
Hatinya mulai berdebar. Kegembiraannya meningkat.
Pencipta-pencipta seringkali menyembunyikan berbagai quest di dalam Abyss yang mereka ciptakan. Quest-quest ini dikategorikan sebagai "Secret Quest," "Hidden Quest," dan "Masterpiece Quest," dan peserta biasa bahkan tidak menyadarinya sama sekali. Banyak pencipta pergi lebih jauh lagi, meninggalkan hiburan pribadi mereka di bawah nama "Hidden Pieces." Tapi Legendary Quest berbeda. Ini bukan quest yang disiapkan oleh Aheta, Lord Bulan.
'Ini sejenis quest serupa dengan "Easter Egg."
"Easter Eggs" adalah salah satu dari sedikit sekali kata kunci yang melintasi seluruh Abyss. Mereka adalah "Misteri," hal-hal yang mustahil dicapai, tak terduga, yang ada di luar semua logika dan teori. Bahkan pencipta-pencipta tidak tahu apa sebenarnya Easter Eggs. Bahkan Great Nine Lords pun tidak tahu.
Park Chan-woo percaya bahwa mereka adalah sisa-sisa yang rahasia ditinggalkan oleh Dewa Pertama yang menciptakan Abyss. Dan Legendary Quest tampaknya mengikuti pola yang serupa.
'Karena Legendary Quest terkait dengan naratif inti Abyss...
Ini seperti sebuah epik. Cerita besar yang berjalan melalui seluruh Abyss. Quest yang terkait dengan naratif tersembunyi bahkan pencipta-pencipta itu sendiri tidak sepenuhnya mengerti. Tapi tidak seperti Easter Eggs, ada satu perbedaan yang penting—
'Legendary Quest segera diumumkan kepada semua peserta ketika muncul.'
Rayaplah. Seseorang sedang menantang sebuah legenda! Undangan untuk bergabung dalam perjalanan ini.
Segera, detailnya digelap.
u300aQuest Legendaris telah muncul!u300b
u300aSiapa yang menantang legenda?u300b
Semua orang yang berpartisipasi di Abyss of Second Night melihat pesan muncul di depan mata mereka.
u300aA "Quest Legendaris" telah muncul!u300b
u300aSeseorang sedang menantang "Legenda."u300b
Tapi isi pesan membuat mereka semua bingung.
"Quest Legendaris?"
"Apa itu?"
"Siapa yang melakukannya?"
Mereka tidak bisa tahu siapa yang menantang apa. Dan itu belum semua.
u300a...... Waktu yang tersisa untuk "Second Night" telah diperpanjang 24 jam lagi.u300b
u300bJika "penantang Quest Legendaris" mati atau gagal, "Abyss of the Night" akan segera berakhir.u300b
u300bBila penantang berhasil, semua peserta akan diberikan gelar "Saksi dari Legenda."u300b
Pesan-pesan berikutnya membuat mereka semua kaget dan takut.
"Diperpanjang 24 jam...?
"Tunggu, berarti ini tidak akan berakhir sampai besok?"
"Apa yang sedang terjadi?"
Panik menyebar. Tidak ada yang mengira bahwa Abyss of the Night, seperti namanya, hanya berlangsung pada malam hari, akan tiba-tiba diperpanjang selama sehari penuh. Bukankah itu akan membuat namanya tidak bermakna?
Sementara semua orang masih bingung, mereka melihat bagian terakhir dari pesan dan semakin bingung.
"Tunggu, katanya kita dapat gelar?"
"Apa sih gelar itu?"
"Sumpah! Gelar adalah sesuatu yang sangat sulit untuk didapatkan...!"
"Dan katanya semua orang dapatnya jika tantian berhasil!"
"Wow!"
Orang-orang yang memahami nilai gelar tidak bisa menyalin kegembiraannya. Gelar adalah sebuah nama samaran yang melambangkan identitas seseorang dan merupakan salah satu dari banyak cara untuk meningkatkan kemampuan. Sebagian besar gelar meningkatkan statistik yang tidak bisa ditingkatkan oleh perlengkapan atau item, menjadikannya harta karun yang berharga jika bisa didapatkan.
Misalnya: resistensi elemen, efek khusus, keteguhan mental, dan banyak lagi!
Manfaatnya pun banyak, tapi hanya sedikit yang bisa memiliki gelar. Itulah seberapa sulitnya mereka.
"...Mereka semua bersorak untuk hal yang tidak penting."
Han Shin berkata sambil melihat pesan-pesan itu. Ekspresinya agak tidak senang. Di belakangnya, pasukan 500 doppelganger. Di pandangannya, jelas, ia adalah raja sebenarnya dari Second Night. Tidak ada yang berani menantang Han Shin. Han Shin adalah Raja dari Second Night. Dan bagaimanapun, seseorang yang mendapatkan lebih banyak perhatian daripadanya? Tidak masuk akal. Dan itu adalah tantangan yang mustahil.
"Quest Legendaris adalah tantangan yang melampaui kemampuan manusia."
Setelah membentuk kontrak dengan Aheta, Lord Bulan, Han Shin memiliki pengetahuan mendalam tentang sistem Abyss. Tentu saja, ia juga tahu tentang Quest Legendaris. Tapi manusia belum mencapai inti Abyss. Itu sederhana tidak mungkin untuk diselesaikan.
"Quest Legendaris hanya muncul di Abyss yang diciptakan oleh pencipta terkenal."
Demon Kings, Demon Gods, dan Great Nine Lords! Wilayah mereka adalah satu-satunya tempat yang muncul Quest Legendaris. Para monster sejati yang menguasai inti Abyss. Tampaknya karena Abyss of the Night ini milik Aheta, Lord Bulan, quest ini muncul secara kebetulan.
Namun... Ada sedikit rasa penasaran. Siapa yang melakukannya? Siapa yang berhasil membuka Quest Legendaris sebelum dia?
"Seorang Mage."
Han Shin menoleh. Di depan matanya, ada sebidang tanah yang terbakar. Tempat di mana sebuah shelter dulu berdiri. Seseorang telah menyerangnya. Dan dengan satu pukulan, ia menghancurkan seluruhnya. Berdasarkan skala kehancamannya, pasti adalah hasil dari seorang Mage.
Masalahnya, ini bukanlah pertama kalinya.
"Seorang Mage yang kuat sedang secara sistematis menghancurkan shelters."
Tapi Mage adalah kelas yang tidak populer. Terlalu banyak pembatasan, terlalu sedikit kesehatan, dan sangat sedikit item yang bisa dipakai, sangat sedikit yang memilih jalannya sebagai seorang Mage.
Bisakah ada seorang penyihir di kalangan manusia yang mampu menyihir seperti itu? Setelah melihat bahwa shelter pengungsi hancur, pasti adalah pengejar, pasti manusia.
Thud
Pada saat itu, Han Shin berkata dengan mendengar suara langkah kaki yang mendekat. "Kamu terlambat, Lee Hyuksoo."
"...."
Orang yang muncul adalah Lee Hyuksoo. Meskipun telah melihat pasukan 500 doppelganger, ia maju tanpa rasa takut. Ia sudah merasakannya di 'Abyss of the Water God', pria ini tidak dalam keadaan yang benar. Tapi ia mengakui. Lee Hyuksoo adalah 'Raja Malam Pertama.' Ia memiliki keahlian dan bakat luar biasa. Jika memungkinkan, Han Shin ingin memiliki dia di sisi sendiri.
"Siapa menurutmu yang melakukan ini?"
"...Tidak tahu."
Lee Hyuksoo memandang tanah yang terbakar dengan ekspresi yang sama sekali tidak terbaca. Lalu Han Shin berkata.
"Itu adalah sihir petir yang kuat. Sihir yang sama yang membunuh Dewa Air sebelumnya sebelum kita bisa."
"Aku tidak benar-benar tahu."
Lee Hyuksoo mengekang ilmunya. Di sebenarnya, ia mengenali sihir itu saat pertama melihatnya. 'Nabi. Itu adalah sihirnya.'
Chapter 75. The Ancient Being There were 20 shelters in the Second Night. Park Chan-woo had no intention of destroying all of them. If he did, it would attract too much attention. The fugitives, the pursuers, Aheta, and other creators would surely try to find out who was responsible. But when the "Uninvited One" appeared, and he became convinced that numerous high-ranking creators were paying attention to the Second Night, he changed his mind. He made up his mind. To monopolize everything. To achieve an overwhelming level of contribution and carve the dignity of humanity into their very eyes! As a result, the title of "Stealthy Traitor" evolved into "Stealthy Destroyer." Along with a perk that doubled his rewards. The 10x reward from the Masterpiece Map was doubled again, meaning he would now receive an astonishing 20x the rewards. That alone was already unbelievable. But then... ‘…Legendary Quest?’ What shocked him the most was the phrase "Legendary Quest" at the end of the message. It had never appeared before, not even in his previous regressions had he seen it more than a few times. ‘I didn't expect this to appear so soon.’ His heart began to pound. His excitement surged. Creators often hide various quests within the Abyss they create. These quests were categorized as "Secret Quests," "Hidden Quests," and "Masterpiece Quests," and ordinary participants never even realized they existed. Many creators went further, leaving behind their own private amusements under the name "Hidden Pieces." But the Legendary Quest was different. This was not a quest prepared by Aheta, the Lunar Lord. ‘It's a quest in a similar vein to an 'Easter Egg.’ "Easter Eggs" were one of the rare few keywords that transcended the entire Abyss. They were "Mysteries", things that were impossible to achieve, unfathomable, existing beyond all logic and theory. Even the creators had no idea what Easter Eggs truly were. Not even the Great Nine Lords. Park Chan-woo believed that they were remnants secretly left behind by the First God who created the Abyss. And the Legendary Quest seemed to follow a similar pattern. ‘Since Legendary Quests are related to the core narrative of the Abyss…’ It was something like an epic. A grand story that ran through the entire Abyss. A quest tied to a hidden narrative even the creators themselves did not fully understand. But unlike Easter Eggs, there was one crucial difference— ‘Legendary Quests are immediately announced to all participants upon their appearance.’ Revere it. Someone is challenging a legend! An invitation to join in this journey. Soon, the details were revealed. 『This "Abyss of the Second Night" originally belonged to another **Ancient Being.』 『The 20 hidden "shelters" served as seals that weakened that being's power.』 『O you who have broken all the seals alone!』 『You are granted the Key of the Challenger.』 『Find the traces left by the Ancient Being and open the door.』 『However, to open the door, you will need another of your kind.』 『The Masterpiece Map will display the location.』 『……The remaining time for the "Second Night" has been extended by 24 hours.』 『However, should the "Legendary Quest" challenger perish or fail, the "Abyss of the Night" will immediately conclude.』 『If the challenger succeeds, all participants will be granted the title of "Witness to the Legend."』 * * * At the same time. Everyone participating in the Abyss of the Second Night saw a message appear before their eyes. 『A "Legendary Quest" has appeared!』 『Someone is challenging a "Legend."』 But the contents left them utterly puzzled. "Legendary Quest?" "What’s that?" "Who's doing it?" They had no way of knowing who was challenging what. And that wasn't all. 『……The remaining time for the "Second Night" has been extended by 24 hours.』 『Should the "Legendary Quest" challenger perish or fail, the "Abyss of the Night" will immediately conclude.』 『If the challenger succeeds, all participants will be granted the title of "Witness to the Legend."』 The following messages filled them with shock and terror. "It got extended by 24 hours…?" "Wait, so this won't end until tomorrow?" "What the hell is going on?" Panic ensued. No one had imagined that the Abyss of the Night. which, as its name suggested, only took place at night, would suddenly be extended for an entire day. Wouldn't that make the name meaningless? While everyone was reeling in astonishment, they saw the last part of the message and became even more confused. "Hold on. It says we get a title?" "What's a title?" "Holy crap! Titles are incredibly hard to get…!" "And it says everyone gets one if the challenge succeeds!" "Whoa!" Those who understood the value of titles couldn't contain their excitement. A title was a moniker that signified one's identity and served as one of the many ways to enhance one's abilities. Most titles boosted stats that couldn't be improved by equipment or items, making them priceless treasures if one could obtain them. For example: elemental resistance, special effects, mental fortitude, and so on! The benefits were countless, but only a select few could possess titles. That’s how difficult they were to obtain. "…They're making a fuss over nothing." Han Shin muttered, looking at the messages. His expression was slightly displeased. Behind him stood an army of 500 doppelgangers. At a glance, it was clear, he was the true ruler of the Second Night. No one dared to challenge Han Shin. Han Shin was the King of the Second Night. And yet, someone was attracting more attention than him? Absurd. And for an impossible challenge, no less. "Legendary Quests are challenges beyond humanity's reach." Having formed a contract with Aheta, the Lunar Lord, Han Shin had deep knowledge of the Abyss's system. Naturally, he also knew about the Legendary Quest. But humanity had yet to reach the core of the Abyss. It was simply not possible to clear it. "Legendary Quests only appear in Abysses created by renowned creators." The Demon Kings, Demon Gods, and the Great Nine Lords! Their territories were the only places where Legendary Quests occurred. The true monsters reigning at the heart of the Abyss. It seemed that since this Abyss of the Night belonged to Aheta, the Lunar Lord, the quest had triggered by chance. Still… He was a little curious. Who was it? Who had unlocked the Legendary Quest before him? "A Mage." Han Shin turned his head. Before his eyes lay a vast expanse of scorched earth. The place where a shelter once stood. Someone had attacked it. And with a single blow, they had obliterated it. Judging by the scale of destruction, it had to be the work of a Mage. The problem was, this wasn’t the first time. "A powerful Mage is systematically destroying shelters." But Mages were an unpopular class. Too many restrictions, too little health, and too few equippable items, very few chose the path of a Mage. Could there be a wizard among humans capable of wielding such magic? Seeing that the fugitive’s shelter was destroyed, it must have been a pursuer, surely a human. Thud At that moment, Han Shin spoke at the sound of approaching footsteps. “You're a step too late, Lee Hyuksoo.” “……” The one who appeared was Lee Hyuksoo. Despite having seen the army of 500 doppelgangers, he approached without fear. He had already felt it in the ‘Abyss of the Water God’, this man was not in his right mind. But he acknowledged it. Lee Hyuksoo was the ‘First Night King.’ He had more than enough skill and exceptional talent. If possible, Han Shin would have liked to have him by his side. “Who do you think did this?” “…Not sure.” Lee Hyuksoo gazed at the scorched ground with an unreadable expression. Then Han Shin spoke. “It was powerful lightning magic. The same magic that killed the Water God before we could.” “I don’t really know.” Lee Hyuksoo feigned ignorance. In truth, he recognized it the moment he saw it. ‘The Prophet. It’s his magic. He is here.’ The destruction of the shelter was caused by the Prophet’s magic. The same powerful lightning magic that had slain the Water God in a single strike and evaporated the entire lake where it had resided. Han Shin’s insight was sharp, but Lee Hyuksoo had no intention of revealing the truth to him. For some reason, Han Shin was an extremely unsettling presence. Moreover, Han Shin had gathered the ‘Symbols of the Fugitive’ to form a doppelganger army. ‘Not killing doppelgangers means he allowed others to die.’ A staggering number, 500 in total. Could such an army have been assembled without any sacrifices? For a doppelganger to maintain its human form, the original human must die. Which meant that for those 500 doppelgangers to exist, at least 500 humans had perished. Even if Han Shin hadn’t killed them directly, he had likely played a part in their deaths. ‘Han Shin is like a god of destruction.’ It wasn’t certain yet if Han Shin was truly such a being. But he seemed to be hiding a massive secret. Unpleasant, unsettling, and somehow irrational. Everything he did felt like hypocrisy. Eventually, Han Shin tilted his head at Lee Hyuksoo’s answer. “Is that so? Did I misjudge?” “…It could be the work of the so-called ‘Uninvited One.’” “Ah, that one exists too.” Han Shin stroked his chin. It wasn’t an impossible theory. In an instant, Han Shin’s gaze sharpened. “Even now, do you have no intention of joining me?” “No.” A prompt reply. More resolute than before. Han Shin smirked. “If you won’t join me, what if I decide to kill you?” Though he was smiling, his killing intent was real. If he couldn’t have him, he would destroy him. It was as if that was his intent. Lee Hyuksoo met Han Shin’s eyes head-on. 500 doppelgangers and Han Shin himself. Even in a one-on-one fight, he couldn’t guarantee victory. A battle here would mean certain defeat. However— Screech! Lee Hyuksoo gripped the Lion King’s greatsword. That was his answer to Han Shin’s question. He had no intention of running. He would fight with everything he had. “…Tsk, what a shame.” Han Shin clicked his tongue at Lee Hyuksoo’s stance. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to recruit him just yet. But it would be a waste to kill him here. What to do? Should he take his time, slowly convincing him? After all, time was on his side. The world, and the very nature of existence, were all on his side. Han Shin shrugged. “It was just a joke. There’s no need for us to fight here. But I’ll give you one piece of advice.” At the same time, the smile disappeared from his face. Even his killing intent vanished. With an utterly emotionless gaze, he stared at Lee Hyuksoo. “If you ever point your sword at me again, your head will roll.” With that, Han Shin turned away. He then left the area with the prisoners. Once Han Shin had disappeared from sight— “……” Lee Hyuksoo slowly lowered his sword. Thump. Thump. Thump. His heart pounded wildly. This was the first time he had felt like this. He had faced countless monsters, yet never had he felt such tension. ‘He’s hiding his true power.’ Lee Hyuksoo was certain. Han Shin had not yet revealed his full strength. Even assembling those 500 doppelgangers had likely been nothing more than a trivial amusement for him. If they were to truly clash, he would never win. Not yet. Not for now. But perhaps it was the sheer intensity of his tension, his body felt paralyzed, refusing to move. For a long time, Lee Hyuksoo simply stood there. “Hey.” Thud Until someone tapped his shoulder. He hadn’t sensed their presence at all, causing Lee Hyuksoo to frown as he turned his head. And then— “……!!!” He quickly leaped back, gripping the Lion King’s greatsword once more. Even when facing Han Shin, he had shown no emotion. But now, he was visibly shaken as he shouted. “You…!” “It’s been a while, Lee Hyuksoo.” A familiar face. The one who appeared was none other than ‘The Prophet.’ His appearance had changed slightly, but there was no mistaking it. However, there was an ‘X’ mark on his chest. Lee Hyuksoo’s eyes instantly grew cold. His expression turned ice-cold. Lee Hyuksoo pointed his sword at the Prophet. That thing was not the Prophet. That thing— “…A doppelganger.” It was a fugitive disguised as the Prophet. A doppelganger.
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