Chapter 126. Achievement (2)
It was nothing more than a tiny murmur, yet the gaze of everyone around me fixated on me.
However, instead of acknowledging them, I delved deeper into my thoughts.
“The criteria for the Gold Rank is ten million.”
Once I reached the Gold Rank, I would be able to overpower a 5-star evolved species with sheer physical strength alone.
Having experienced the difference of a single rank firsthand, I was confident of this.
In the Silver Rank, I already possessed physical abilities comparable to the 4 and 5-star ranks.
Reaching the Gold Rank would place me on par with evolved species even stronger than that.
“Would I even be able to face off against a General-Rank?”
The difficulty level of this game was relatively consistent and precise.
Monsters that players had to face were systematically divided by levels according to the player’s level.
Therefore, I believed the hypothesis forming in my mind held some validity.
Now it was time to examine if this method could truly be realized.
“How can I supplement my mana?”
First, there was the option of using the auction feature.
If I could increase mana through that function, advancing to the Gold Rank would be feasible enough.
However, in reality, theoretical feasibility often bordered on impossibility.
“The additional mana needed is nine million…”
Could I secure that much mana with the help of other players?
In this ongoing main scenario situation?
“No.”
It wasn’t just a matter of a mere one to two million, but a whopping nine million.
That’s not a number that can be filled with the help of one or two people.
The more people I had to convince, the lesser the chance of achieving the goal without any variables.
Moreover, any mana used for shops or auctions must be purified.
If I borrowed all the purified mana from someone, they would be left with only corrupted mana.
“Their Chaos Index would skyrocket.”
Knowing this, it’s unlikely many would be willing to lend me mana.
“Ethan and Lily, among the Betas, may have more freedom from such restrictions, but their numbers are not many.”
Even regardless, how many people would lend mana, that they’ve absorbed through their sweat and effort, to others?
“Even I wouldn’t consider lending mine.”
Ultimately, sourcing mana through auctions seemed far too unrealistic.
Therefore, another method had to be found.
As I pondered repeatedly, an item stored deep in my inventory came to mind.
With a brief hesitation, I retrieved the item.
「Karlos’ Authority One-time Use Ticket」
It was a reward I’d acquired back when I didn’t even know what was happening in Bihar.
“It was said to be hard to obtain, so I saved it.”
The Karlos Order, in general, has fewer priests or holy knights compared to other orders.
Furthermore, even the priests rarely receive blessings.
Hence, I had saved it for a later time when it might be necessary.
But I couldn’t afford to save it while my life was hanging by a thread.
I clutched the ticket in my hand, pondering.
“Karlos’ authority is akin to an exchange.”
Delving into the essence of this power, it was structured to create something in exchange for sacrificing misfortune.
“I don’t quite understand how this power is related to the doctrine of grace.”
I quickly dropped the question to avoid sitting through a near three-hour lecture on doctrine.
Therefore, I still didn’t know why this power symbolized grace.
But I knew that Karlos’ authority could help me overcome this crisis.
“Karlos’ authority defines misfortune based on the user’s subjective judgment.”
In other words, this power lacked objectivity.
This was both the greatest flaw and advantage of Karlos’ authority.
Knowing this, I had a strange sense of certainty.
“At the very least, I think I’m extremely unfortunate right now.”
In a situation where my life could be at risk, calling it unfortunate seems an understatement.
Might I not be able to gain something substantial to overcome this predicament, paying with this misfortune?
“If it grants mana in exchange for misfortune, that’d be good.”
And it’d be even better if it removed all those outside the barrier.
All threats surrounding me would vanish then.
“It’s worth a try.”
Regardless of the outcome, it was better than hoping players would lend me mana and just sucking my fingers.
Even if this attempt failed, there was a lesser evil to avoid the worst.
The numerous presences standing behind me signified that.
“Excluding my party members, there are 9 Silver Ranks, and 37 Bronze Ranks.”
Considering the average mana levels of the players, it might be just barely possible.
With firm resolve, mana could be prepared in some way.
I bit down hard after organizing my thoughts.
I had no intention of killing innocent people indiscriminately.
I didn’t believe in the weight of lives being unbalanced either.
However, if the time came when I must choose, my choice was clear.
“Don’t waver, Kang Hyunwoo.”
If avoiding the worst required choosing the lesser evil, I wouldn’t hesitate.
I clenched my fist tightly to hide the slight trembling, taking a deep breath.
Meanwhile, I calmed my unsettled emotions.
“This is only if it comes to the worst situation.”
If Karlos’ authority could help avoid the worst, then the tragedy won’t happen.
I gritted my teeth, tightening the grip on the ticket.
“Just relying on this dreadful gamble…”
I detested the situation, but ignoring it wouldn’t solve anything.
“Hyung, Kim Yul.”
With my plan hastily organized, I called upon my party members.
Then, conveying the plan as concisely as possible, I spoke.
“Prepare for any circumstances.”
It was a cue to prepare for battle, just in case.
“… I gotcha.”
“Rough ones, I can handle them myself. Don’t worry.”
Yang Taeho nodded with a stern expression, while Kim Yul quietly moved to a advantageous position to leap where the other players were, rather than towards the direction of the evolved species and the General-Rank.
After confirming the preparations made by the two, I repeated to myself sincerely that I was truly, heavily unfortunate as I tore the ticket.
As an unfamiliar divinity seeped in, the world in my view began to change.
The most notable change was the black smoke densely filling the surroundings.
Though no words of explanation were given, I understood just by looking.
“That’s it.”
It was the misfortune perceived by everyone gathered here, including me, manifesting itself in the form of smoke.
“Paying misfortune that brings no benefit to me, for acquiring something helpful…”
That’s an overwhelmingly potent authority, if it weren’t for the downside of unpredictable outcomes.
Even in admiration, I busied my eyes, searching.
For what I presumed was the greatest misfortune.
However, it turns out I didn’t need to scour far and wide.
Smoke bloomed prominently from the center, darkest and densest around me.
Could it be because of my intense attachment to life?
Or subconsciously thinking I’m responsible for the escorting line here?
“Does it really matter why in this situation?”
Thanks to my misfortune, an opportunity emerged, and it was time to seize it.
Swallowing my dry throat, I grasped the black smoke enveloping the area.
Moments later, the smoke was drawn into my body, causing a slight commotion around.
“W-What is this?”
“What’s happening?”
“The crack in the barrier is disappearing!”
The cracks in the barrier began vanishing with each wisp of smoke absorbed.
“What on earth is happening?”
“Does it matter? The cracks are gone!”
“It matters! Knowing the reason is how we survive inside here!”
Of course, not all cracks disappeared, stopping at around 80 or 90%.
As I could no longer draw in any more misfortune.
“So a one-time authority has its limits with misfortune of this magnitude.”
After collecting all possible misfortune through the authority, I blinked inappropriately for the situation.
No subsequent changes occurred, no matter how long I waited.
The misfortune brought through the authority had repaired the barrier. That was it.
“Is this really a god’s authority?”
Repairing barriers can also be done by spatial mages, can’t it?
I was standing, stunned because the situation was as absurd as it was confounding.
“Huh.”
Suddenly, mana began to swell inside me.
An utterly bizarre sensation. Like blowing air into a balloon inside me.
Grasping at the surreal sensation, I staggered, clutching Yang Taeho’s shoulder nearby.
“K?”
“Hyung?”
I had no time to reply to my party members calling out.
As the overwhelming sensation waned, numbers appeared at the upper left corner of my view.
“Time Limit: 00:30:00”
The timer, initially set at a full 30 minutes, began moving immediately.
There was no need to rack my brain to understand the situation unfolding.
It was enough to predict what was happening through the newly displayed system window.
“Do you wish to proceed with the 3rd Awakening? (Y/N)”
The solution proposed by the one-time Karlos’ authority was perfectly timed.
Almost like it was reading my thoughts.
The unfolding situation was slightly unsettling, but it wasn’t the time for deeper contemplation.
All relevant plans for various outcomes had been outlined.
“The opportunity Karlos’ authority granted me is only 30 minutes.”
There was no time to hesitate.
Despite the foggy state from the sudden increase in mana, I forced myself to speak.
“Hyung, I’m going for the 3rd Awakening.”
“You’re serious?”
No time to explain everything to the bewildered Yang Taeho.
I had already pressed the Yes button.
* * *
As a wild crash echoed and the barrier shattered into pieces, blue flashes covered the perimeter’s 3 o’clock direction.
“Run, run! Faster!”
“What are the Silver Ranks doing?! They need to block!”
“We only have two hands, you know?”
“Find a way to dodge properly!”
Almost simultaneously, the humans hiding within the barrier began running en masse toward the same direction.
A select few even took the lead to clear the path.
The evolved species, frozen still from the electric shock following the blue flashes, easily let them pass.
“Kuruk?”
The General-Rank, observing the scene, tilted its head.
It couldn’t comprehend why they would partake in such a foolish act.
They couldn’t go far because of the double barrier anyway.
While watching the rapidly distancing humans and the busyly pursuing 5-star evolved species, the General-Rank began to move slowly.
Its command was the annihilation of the Demi-humans.
“Kurrr…”
Leaving any surviving Demi-humans would be unforgivable.
The General-Rank hastened its leisurely steps.
Thanks to that, it soon found the clustered humans at the edge of the double barrier.
“See? They couldn’t go far. Why did they run?”
If they had died back there, there would have been no need for this tiresome pursuit.
“Kuruk, kuruk.”
Expressing discontent, the General-Rank rolled its tongue and reached out.
There was no longer a barrier to protect these humans.
It intended to warp the space their bodies touched, severing head from torso instantaneously.
Yet, before the General-Rank could manifest magic,
Thud, thud, thud!
Some humans swiftly drove shields into the ground.
“We can’t widen it! Stay close!”
“Climb on!”
“Pick up the child! Quick, quick!”
Then, humans positioned behind them shouted busily.
A golden canopy materialized, centered around the shields.
“Kururuk!”
Recognizing what the phenomenon meant, the General-Rank reacted vehemently and lunged forth.
It aimed to shatter it before the golden canopy could complete.
However, an obstruction appeared before the General-Rank reached its target.
“Why don’t we have some fun?”
A human with golden eyes.
Not even having felt its presence, its emergence was startlingly sudden.
What ensued after was no less abrupt.
Crash-!
The General-Rank, unable to evade the human’s kick, was flung backward.
As a result, many evolved species in that direction were swept away as well.
Meanwhile, the human who had kicked the General-Rank leaped high into the air.
Standing on the red platform that appeared mid-air, the figure spat out blood-tinted saliva, murmuring.
Damned System