Level -99 Archmage

Chapter 12. Impulse Purchase

“Huff, huff…”

Lee Hyuk-soo exhaled heavily. He had reached 60 consecutive wins without a break. Now, as the 61st booking commenced, a level 13 ghoul emerged, relentlessly pushing him to his limits.

‘…Is he reaching his limit?’

Park Chan-woo observed Lee Hyuk-soo’s condition and stroked his chin.

No matter how good the equipment was, a level 1 fighter taking on enemies above level 13 was no easy feat. Though the gear was of high rank, it was still level 1. Without natural combat instincts, this would have been impossible. More importantly, Lee Hyuk-soo hadn’t had a proper rest for nearly seven hours.

‘20,000 points. That should be enough to buy almost everything I need.’ 

He had already achieved his goal. The Mage’s Stone, which was being sold at a 20% discount, cost 4,000 points. With the remaining points, he could afford two Legendary-grade pieces of equipment. With all of these, he had obtained nearly everything available in The Abyss of the First Night.

“Stay focused, bus driver.”

But Park Chan-woo was not satisfied. Instead, he continued pushing Lee Hyuk-soo, urging him forward every time he showed signs of exhaustion or hesitation.

“Elixirs alone won’t save you. If you want to protect your family, you must become much stronger than this.”

“Tsk. At this rate, you won’t last a week.”

“What do you think you can accomplish with such a pathetic mindset?”

“Get up. Or just die.”

“If you die, it’ll be quite the spectacle. The very people you’re trying to protect will end up in this hellhole too. Do you really think they’ll survive a single day without you?”

“The Abyss doesn’t take pity on those in coma. They’ll be summoned here just as they lie in bed, helplessly devoured by demons.”

“If they’re unconscious, that might be a mercy. But demons will make them regain consciousness, just to make their deaths as excruciating as possible.”

“Damn it…!”

At exactly 63 consecutive wins, Lee Hyuk-soo could no longer hold back.

“Shut up! I get it, so shut the hell up!”

He roared like a wounded beast. The 64th booked opponent: Two Level 16 Zombie Bears. Meanwhile, Lee Hyuk-soo was still level 1. This nightclub did not grant experience points for victories.

“Shut up and just watch. I’ll kill them all myself.”

His eyes locked onto Park Chan-woo with burning determination. Yet, Park Chan-woo was inwardly surprised by his attitude.

‘Is it because his mother is still alive? He hasn’t lost his emotions yet.’

The Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo of the past was emotionally dead. He wandered aimlessly without purpose. If something annoyed him, he cut it down. If something blocked his path, he destroyed it. He was never swayed by emotions. Never had he lost control and cursed like he did today. But the current Lee Hyuk-soo still had emotions.

Thud!

Crash!

The two Zombie Bears soon fell under his greatsword. Park Chan-woo couldn’t help but be astonished.

‘A miracle.’

He had slain foes 15 levels above him. Even with top-tier equipment and elite skills, the usual limit was 10 levels. On top of that, he had fought non-stop for over seven hours. Yet, he had overcome it all. If this wasn’t a miracle, then what was?

『64 Consecutive Wins Achieved!』

『Total Points: 24,800』

The more wins he accumulated, the more points he gained. Just four additional victories from 60 wins had earned him 4,800 points.

“Buy the Lion King’s Belt.”

“Huff… huff… You’re not human…!”

“I appreciate the compliment.”

Hearing such words from the Sword King himself was quite something. After all, wasn’t he the least human of them all? Following Park Chan-woo’s instruction, Lee Hyuk-soo purchased the Lion King’s Belt and then asked:

“Prophet, Dragon General is still alive. Are we just going to sit around?”

Only 30 minutes remained until the First Night of the Abyss ended. It had been 40 minutes since only Dragon General remained among the Twelve Divine Generals, yet the scenario had not cleared. Everyone in the nightclub had already taken the warp and were facing him. They could go anytime as well. Park Chan-woo asked in a quiet voice.

“Why? do you think 1.8 million people still can’t finish him off?”

“Dragon General alone has already killed 50,000 people. By now, most should be too scared to fight…”

Lee Hyuk-soo knew the truth. No matter how many challengers rushed in, once Dragon General overwhelmed them, they would scatter in fear.

That’s why he always crushed the first one who stepped up. Once the first victim was brutally executed, the rest naturally ran away. Dragon General had slaughtered tens of thousands. His sheer terror must have been beyond words.

“At this rate, they won’t win.”

Park Chan-woo nodded. The people in the nightclub had only been watching him and Lee Hyuk-soo. But they left because contribution points were necessary for survival. The only way to gain contribution points was to challenge the Twelve Divine Generals. To make it into the top 20,000 rankings, they had to fight non-stop. Meanwhile, Park Chan-woo and Lee Hyuk-soo had spent all their time booking fights instead, their contribution score was  0.

Meaning at this rate out of 1.8 million survivors, they would die first. If they didn’t do something in the next 30 minutes, they would be executed. Lee Hyuk-soo spoke with disbelief.

“…And you’re still going to keep booking fights?”

“Of course. Made.”

『65th Death Booking: ‘Maid’ has been registered.』

『Using the Lucky Dice.』

『Enemy level reduced by -4.』

Originally, a level 17 monster should have appeared, but thanks to the Lucky Dice, another level 13 ghoul showed up instead.

“…You lunatic.”

Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head. He had no idea what went on in Park Chan-woo’s mind.

“With the Lion King’s Set, it’ll be much easier now.”

“…You’re the real devil.”

“Now, get moving, bus driver. We’re running out of time.”

Lee Hyuk-soo bit his lip. Time was running out, they couldn’t keep booking fights forever. Yet, Park Chan-woo showed no intention of leaving. Still, Lee Hyuk-soo had already chosen to follow him.

A so-called prophet. A man who had slain a demon and armed him to the teeth. And, deep down, Lee Hyuk-soo knew the truth. This man had no ill intentions toward him. Unlike the ones who rejected him for being different, Park Chan-woo simply wanted him to become stronger.

‘What a monster…’

Was it because he had met a creature even more monstrous than himself? Rather, his heart felt at ease.

Whoosh!

Lee Hyuk-soo swung the Lion King’s greatsword at the ghoul. Then—

『Due to the ‘Lion King Set’ effect, attack power increases by 1,000 when facing the dead.』

『Additionally, all stats increase by 1, and the ‘Indomitable’ effect is granted.』

『‘Indomitable’: When receiving a fatal blow, you resist for 3 seconds.』

『The ‘Indomitable’ effect applies only once.』

He decapitated the ghoul even more easily than before.

“Made.”

“…”

Without rest, the next opponent appeared. And then, three more times after that. After using up all of his luck dice and achieving 68 consecutive victories—

『Your Booking Points have exceeded 30,000!』

『You have achieved the challenge ‘An Absolutely Unattainable Score.’』

『A Hidden Piece has been activated.』

『An additional ‘Treasure Vault’ hidden by the ‘Master of the Moon’ has revealed itself.』

Shhh!

Another veil was lifted. And beyond that veil—

“…!!”

Park Chan-woo’s pupils dilated involuntarily. He hadn’t expected such a ‘Hidden Piece’ to be concealed here. And among the treasures was—

‘Void’…!

‘Void’ was an item every mage dreamed of. It far surpassed the Philosopher’s Stone in rank. Although the Philosopher’s Stone was a stone that could grow, the two couldn’t even be compared. Even among the newly revealed treasures, it was undoubtedly the most outstanding. Before he knew it, Park Chan-woo’s hands were moving busily.

『You have purchased ‘Nothingness (Eternal).』

『20,000 points have been consumed.』

By the time he realized, he had already made the impulsive purchase.

‘The legacy of the Infinite Mage. There’s no way I could pass this up.’

Of course, he had no regrets. ‘Void’ was a relic of the powerful incarnation who had suddenly appeared three years later and swept across the world, known as the ‘Infinite Mage.’ It was one of the treasures Park Chan-woo, who walked the path of a mage, had always wanted the most. He had never been able to obtain it, yet here it was! Park Chan-woo glanced sideways at Lee Hyuk-soo and spoke.

“Lee Hyuk-soo.”

“…Only 15 minutes left now.”

“Let’s fight two more times.”

“…Are you seriously planning to die?”

“It’s fine. Killing the Dragon God General will only take three seconds.”

“…?”

Something that 1.8 million people had failed to accomplish, he claimed he could do it in just three seconds? He was filled with doubts.

“Made.”

Lee Hyuk-soo’s will didn’t matter in the first place. Until he achieved his goal, Park Chan-woo was determined to press forward like an unstoppable force.

“Please, just stop…!!!”

Unable to hold back anymore, Lee Hyuk-soo let out a desperate scream.

* * *

At the site where the 63 Building should have been, the Dragon God General stood with his arms crossed. Having wiped out the surrounding crowd, no more humans dared to challenge him.

“Aheta, things are not going according to your plan.”

Once again, the Dragon God General spoke the name ‘Aheta.’

Aheta, the name of the one who governed the ‘Abyss of Night,’ the Master of the Moon. He was the one who had imprisoned the Dragon God General and the Twelve Divine Generals in this ‘Abyss.’ However, while he may have slain the other generals, he could not kill the Dragon God General.

“Foolish one. Did you truly believe such weaklings could stand against me?”

Humans were too weak. They couldn’t even approach him. Even with overwhelming numbers, they were worlds apart in strength. Such a gap in power could never be bridged by sheer numbers. Aheta must know this. From a distance, the humans were merely watching him. Though he could feel their gazes, they were nothing more than demoralized stragglers. What could they possibly do now, without the courage to even approach him? Only five minutes remained until the night ended. When the sun rose, this Abyss would also come to an end.

“Hm?”

At that moment—

A single human was walking toward him.

“Oh-ho. You certainly carry a different aura from the ones I’ve fought so far. But…”

Lee Hyuk-soo. It was him. Wearing the Lion King Set, he was approaching the Dragon God General. Even the Dragon God General could tell that his equipment was unlike the others. But something was odd.

‘You’re practically on the verge of death, yet you’re challenging me, the Dragon God General?’

Lee Hyuk-soo had already crossed the boundary of death. Lifeless eyes, slumped shoulders, countless wounds covered his body, making it no surprise if he collapsed at any moment.

‘Foolish.’

The Dragon God General extended his twelve arms. Regardless of his opponent’s condition, he showed no mercy. Gripping twelve crescent blades, he swung them at the foolish human approaching him.

“Be cut down without a trace.”

Shhh!

His power manifested, looking almost like a divine authority. Now, the human would be shredded into hundreds, thousands of pieces.

“Hm?”

But contrary to his expectations, Lee Hyuk-soo remained unscathed.

The Dragon God General tilted his head in confusion. Not only was he unharmed—

Thud, thud, thud!

—Lee Hyuk-soo suddenly made a very quick jump toward him. Before long, he reached the Dragon God General and swung his greatsword.

BOOOOM!