Chapter 512

[The System (Trade) has been opened.]

[The System (Store) has been opened.]

A mixture of joy and sorrow spread among the Awakened because the gap had widened between those who had faithfully completed the loot collection quests and those who had not. The reputation score, which determined the status of the Awakened, now showed a new usage. It could be checked through the coins allocated to their accounts.

The value of the coins refunded by reputation score was significantly higher than selfishly holding onto any spoils. Seong-Il could feel his face flushing as soon as he opened the shop window.

[Available Coins: 1,000,000 C]

He was confident that he had accumulated the highest reputation score by performing miscellaneous collection quests, including the records of Saint Cassian. Nonetheless, a million coins were clearly a special favor that He had bestowed upon him.

Thank you, Odin.

Almost everything was sold in the store system. There were items, skills, traits, and insignias. There was even a portion of level augmentation, which he had never seen before.

Indeed, He was not just pushing the Awakened to the edge without any countermeasures. Despite the disappearance of the light pillar barrier and starting off with build scores, many groups’ destruction was planned on the battlefield.

However, the Awakened themselves could change the future if they fully utilized His arrangements. Moreover, the trade system had a more crucial function than trading itself.

Seong-Il instinctively felt cautious, which was different from his hot breath that was coming out involuntarily. He could not believe that this feature was available.

[Caliber: Am I actually sending this? Please reply when you get it.]

[You have sent a message to Mary noona.]

[Mary noona has read the message.]

[You have received a message from Mary noona.]

[Mary noona: Are you okay?]

At that moment, Seong-Il felt two things at the same time. One was anger toward the Old One, who could have implemented this in the first place but did not. The other was awe for the miracle that He had accomplished. If this kind of communication had been possible in the Stage of Advent, then a variety of possibilities would have opened up as a way to suppress confrontations and secret fights.

Also, driving Ji-Hoon’s group as hunting dogs would have been unnecessary.

[Caliber: Thanks to you, I am fine. By the way, is Odin alright?]

[Mary noona: He will not be okay if we fail. This is the matter of our lives.]

[Caliber: Of course, I know that. If there is something I need to keep in mind, tell me now.]

[Mary noona: There is Doom Caso, but don’t worry too much about it. It is not your responsibility.]

[Caliber: Anything is fine. Really. I wouldn’t care even if I have to handle crap, as long as I can end this mess. I will faithfully do as you say.]

[Mary noona: Nah, the light pillar is the source of Doom Kaos’s power.]

Then, Seong-Il was finally convinced of the reason why he prepared for this moment even by expending so much power.

[Mary noona: The final result depends on you. Everything will be determined by how many light pillars you destroy. Is that too much for you?]

[Caliber: If you trust me that much, then I should live up to your expectations. Don’t worry, noona. I am not a coward. I am not going to think about the lower ones.]

[Mary noona: I do not have any hope for others.]

[Caliber: Same, but let me ask you something.]

[Mary noona: Go ahead.]

[Caliber: What will happen to our homeland if we fail? Will it really be the end?]

[Mary noona: You deserve to know the truth, and you are right. Everything will be annihilated by either Doom Kaos or the King of Hell.]

[Caliber: King of Hell? What do you mean?]

[Mary noona: The one who was in charge of the mainland until now was the King of Hell. Our goals are the same in a broader sense, but not in detail. Just like how I love Seon-Hu and how you trust him, so does the King of Hell.]

Seong-Il did not have any deep interaction with the King of Hell, but it was quite expected of what he would do.

The shrewd rulers had shown something in common while going through the Stage of Advent. When they suffered any damage, they always retaliated, even if it caused them more harm. Only after that did they start figuring out whether it was better to cooperate or continue fighting based on the balance of power between them and the opponents.

The rulers who once dominated the Stage of Advent were naturally good at those games, and retaliation was one of the characteristics they brought in. In other words, it was the principle of life. The King of Hell was one of the most likely to regard this as the truth. He would have left instructions in the club in case this operation failed.

Seong-Il could imagine all of humanity armed with awakening drugs. The scene of people jumping into the fire… It was a truly horrifying spectacle even in his imagination.

[Caliber: Did Odin approve of this?]

[Mary noona: Seon-Hu believes in the King of Hell as much as he trusts himself and us.]

***

[Caliber: I understand what you are saying. You must have felt burdened, but thank you for telling me. My favorite tripe restaurant is on the mainland. We will be able to talk about today with a smile and bottles of soju later. I will treat you then.]

[Mary noona: Caliber! The invincible Caliber! You got this!]

The gratitude Seong-Il felt toward Yeon-Hee was real. Although she was cold toward the other Awakened, she had always been consistently kind to him. It was especially true in her last message. He could feel her care in trying to lessen his burden.

You got this, too, sis. We can do this.

Seong-il turned his head back. Each attack group was gathering separately to discuss future plans there according to his orders. Since Seong-Il was responsible for the light pillars, their focus was solely on the night attack. Thus, most of the weapons that they mentioned were specialized in defense.

Seong-Il would have liked to use his coins to complement them, but he could barely even take care of himself with that much. While his level was higher than Him in the past, His skills and traits were of an unbelievably high quality.

One of the main reasons why He could destroy the light pillar alone was His unified will and a special trait. The trait enhanced combat effects as the battle time extended! Therefore, He did not even sleep in order to maintain that trait.

However, Seong-Il did not have such a trait at the moment. Even if he could keep such a will and mindset, the urgent matter was to make up for that gap as much as possible.

A weapon that enhances ability as the battle continues.

Moreover, things would not end just by destroying one light pillar. There would be endless wars, and it had to be that way.

Until recently, what stood out to Seong-Il was the rapid level enhancement and weapons that could strengthen his main power from bare hands.

[Wrist Guard of Fist Destroyer]

Anyone who saw it would have known that it was for Seong-Il. Nonetheless, the weapon he was primarily looking for was something imbued with the power to sustain combat. He could not afford to recklessly waste coins until he found it.

Seong-Il shifted his attention to the trade window. Many items were already listed and requests were pouring in just as much. Familiar names caught his eye, and Hera stood out remarkably because the message posted by the challenger Awakened was pinned at the top and emphasized in bold.

[* Bulletin Board]

[Title: Seeking a weapon with a sustaining combat capability.

Writer: Hera

Content: Do not hesitate to contact me if you believe that your item has the effect of enhancing abilities each time you persist in battle. I, Hera, am ready to humbly accept your offer, whether it is F or S-class. If this trade proves to be of great help to me, I will never forget your contribution even after the war is over. What you truly need to prepare for is the ‘beginning’ that will open after the end. Let’s start the end with me, Hera, dear Awakened.]

This fucking bitch?

It was impossible for Hera not to know about His history. Even if she was not aware of it, she was also a crafty ruler and knew what she needed the most.

Seong-Il was initially upset, but then acknowledged it. At this point, each and every Awakened in the challenger section was important. He had to welcome if these assholes were sincere, instead of grinding teeth in rage due to ‘competition.’

However, it was hard to expect the same will as His from these guys, so Seong-Il stirred his Sense to raise a stronger voice. He read letter by letter. When a request was being completed, something happened.

[A strategic supply box has arrived.]

Strategic supply box?

Seeing that there was no particular reaction from the other Awakened, it seemed to have popped up only for him. Seong-Il knew where and what the box was. When it opened and a brilliant light stretched out, Seong-Il became genuinely worried. The color of the hue and the degree of the power was the same when he received the breastplate.

He must have used a lot of energy preparing for the Final Stage.

Can you give all of this to me like that? You are going to lose a lot. I am nothing…

The light that appeared out of the box poured toward Seong-Il’s entire body. There was a trait in there.

[A strategic supply box has been opened.]

It was a trait fully filled with proficiency levels! Seong-Il was finally able to know what the name of the trait that He had activated was.

[Passion (Trait)

Effect: Strengthens nine levels of combat effects in proportion to combat time.

Level One. From the start of the battle up to one hour

– The speed of injury regeneration significantly increases.

Level Two. From the end of Level One up to one hour

– The probability of traits and items activation significantly increases.

Level Three. From the end of Level Two up to one hour

– Physical Resistance and Magic Resistance significantly increase.

Level Four. From the end of Level Three up to one hour

– There is a high probability that skill cooldown time will greatly decrease.

Level Five. From the end of Level Four up to one hour

– The charging speed of all items’ defenses significantly increases.

Level Six: From the end of Level Five up to one hour

– Resistance to all negative effects moderately increases.

Level Seven: From the end of Level Six up to one hour

– All effects up to Level Six are enhanced.

Level Eight. From the end of Level Seven up to one hour

– Power Resistance slightly increases.

Level Nine. From the end of Level Eight up to one hour

– A powerful defensive system that protects body, mind, and soul is completed.

* As long as battle continues, the effects of the nine levels are maintained.

Proficiency Level Eight.

Cooldown Time: 1 day]

[You have acquired the trait ‘Passion’ from the strategic supply box.]