Level -99 Archmage

Chapter 23. The Elixir Addict

Park Chan-woo had never experienced this “Dungeon Abyss” before. Just like the “First Night Abyss,” he had never directly encountered it. In the first place, he had only seriously begun conquering Abysses more than six months from now. Only after the first Racial War ended did he finally start to move. After 120 million people, randomly selected as “sacrifices,” disappeared. Having tasted that horrifying terror, Park Chan-woo had no choice but to act. Because every last hope he could rely on had vanished. He instinctively realized that true hell had begun. And he knew that if he didn’t put in the effort, he wouldn’t survive in the world that was about to unfold. When 120 million people vanished at once, the world came to a standstill. While everyone else froze, Park Chan-woo moved. That was why, despite starting late, he was able to reach level 99 faster than anyone else.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Even if he hadn’t experienced the Abyss firsthand, he had always kept himself informed about it. As fearful as he was, his curiosity was just as great. He never disregarded past events as mere history. The accumulation of such information aided his survival and rapid growth. Naturally, he had also acquired a fair amount of knowledge about the “Dungeon Abyss.”

— “The Water God Abyss isn’t meant to be cleared. The Water God, that bastard was truly terrifying.”

— “But it has the greatest rewards out of all dungeons.”

— “I’ve heard plenty of stories about people finding elixirs there.”

— “The faster you enter, the greater the benefits you can obtain.”

— “But if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t go in. Those filthy “Avatars” ran wild like madmen.”

People had a unanimous opinion about that day. It was truly a nightmare. Especially when it came to the “Water God Abyss,” many swore they would never enter it again. It was the dungeon with the highest concentration of “Avatars” running rampant.

‘So the reason the Avatars swarmed in… wasn’t just because of the high points awarded.’

He had underestimated it. He thought the Avatars gathered to obstruct the dungeon’s completion. After all, the Water God Abyss had an astronomical clearance value of 1,000 points. The highest among all Dungeon Abysses. But that wasn’t the real reason. There was a deeper explanation as to why Yoo Hanseop had led people into the Water God Abyss from the very beginning. He had sensed something was off, and as expected, there was another reason behind it.

‘Yoo Hanseop knows the locations of the treasures buried in the Water God Abyss.’

Park Chan-woo silently followed behind Yoo Hanseop. Seeing how confidently he chose his direction, Park Chan-woo became certain. Yoo Hanseop was undoubtedly familiar with the geography of this place. And beyond that, he likely knew the locations of hidden treasures as well.

‘His contracted Creator must have told him.’

Yoo Hanseop had made a contract with a Creator. And countless other Creators had sent their Avatars into the Water God Abyss. Now he understood why so many Avatars had gathered there.

‘…The Water God Abyss. This place was made for the Avatars.’

Sometimes, Creators would construct special Abysses to cultivate their contracted Avatars. Or they would collaborate with other Creators. This case was likely the latter. The Creator who built the Water God Abyss had collaborated with other Creators. By placing “arrangements” within the dungeon, they provided a growth engine for their Avatars. The best example of this was the “elixirs.”

‘It’s not easy to place elixirs in an Abyss. That can be done only in a properly structured Abyss like this one.’

The rewards a Creator could place within an Abyss depended on its environment. And elixirs were among the most difficult rewards to handle. This was because most Abysses were designed with “death” as their theme. On lands where everything had perished, how could proper medicinal herbs or elixirs even exist?

In contrast, the Water God Abyss was different from typical Abysses, it had a well-maintained environment. With its high inherent value, it was an ideal place to plant elixirs.

‘The reason so many elixirs have been found in the Water God Abyss follows the same logic. If the Creator had arranged various elixirs here for the Avatars…’

Splash!

“Damn it! Why isn’t it here?!”

Yoo Hanseop slammed his fist into the lakeside. Whatever he was expecting to find wasn’t there, and his frustration boiled over. Even though Park Chan-woo was nearby, Yoo Hanseop didn’t notice him.

‘Nonexistence remains valid within the Abyss.’

Outside, people could perceive Park Chan-woo. But inside the Abyss, even fellow humans couldn’t recognize him at first. Using this, he had devised a plan.

‘Those damn Avatars. I’m going to rob them all.’

Park Chan-woo despised Avatars. They were more repulsive than insects. At least insects enriched the soil or became food for other creatures. But these Avatars contributed nothing to humanity’s survival.

At first, they pretended to be helpful. But in the end, they were the ones who ruined the world, there was no debate about that. If he was stealing from Avatars, wasn’t that practically an act of justice?

“Is the map wrong? Or did someone get here before me?”

Yoo Hanseop pulled a map out of his inventory and spread it open. The spot he was standing on was clearly marked with an X. The words “Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng” were neatly inscribed beside it. But it wasn’t there. There was no way the map was incorrect, so did someone enter before him?

“Damn it!”

Yoo Hanseop furiously scratched his head. The Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng was an elixir he absolutely had to obtain. The only reason he had led people here first was because of its effects.

‘It’s supposed to enhance pure stats, right?’

When leveling up, pure stats increased. On average, each level granted an increase of about 5 points. The Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng boosted this average by approximately 0.5. Moreover, it even retroactively applied the increase to past levels. Elixirs like this either enhanced base stats or improved stat growth rates. If you had the chance to acquire one, you absolutely had to

.

“If I find whoever took it, I’ll kill them!”

Crack!

With rage-filled eyes, Yoo Hanseop shoved the map back into his inventory. He then left the lakeside, looking for his scattered companions.

‘His Creator must have given him a map.’

Right beside him, Park Chan-woo smiled. Thanks to that, he had also gotten a look at the map. And more importantly—

『The ‘Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng’ has begun to be absorbed.』

『The energy of the ‘Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng’ spreads through your body.』

The elixir’s effects had started to kick in. However, he was uncertain.

‘Status condition: Weakest. All my pure stats are fixed at 1.’

The Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng was supposed to enhance “pure stats.” But Park Chan-woo’s pure stats were locked at a fixed value. Would the elixir be able to override this effect? Still, there was a possibility. Elixirs in the Abyss were extremely rare and powerful. The Elixir itself is something like an herb that grows over a long period, absorbing the essence of nature. It does not align with the barren environment of the Abyss. Unless it was a major event like this, where the creators collaborated to strengthen their Incarnations, it was something one could rarely even glimpse. So—

『The energy of the Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng assists your entire body.』

『Due to the status ailment ‘Weakest,’ pure stats are not adjusted.』

『Attack power increases by 30 for 100 hours.』

『Defense power increases by 30 for 100 hours.』

‘…It seems that instead of stat adjustments, it manifests as an immediate buff effect.’

…It worked.

Although it did not increase pure stats or provide any adjustments, instead, attack and defense power sharply increased. Park Chan-woo nodded.

‘This isn’t bad at all.’

In fact, it might be even better. The fundamental reason for increasing stats is ‘attack power’ and ‘defense power.’ To attack stronger and take less damage. Although it was closer to a ‘buff’ lasting for 100 hours, considering that his total attack power was 159 and total defense power was 46, this was an absurd increase. Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.

‘I might actually be able to kill the Water God in one hit.’

A dungeon that everyone had given up on clearing. A monster that was said to be impossible to kill! He planned to take down that monster, the one known as ‘Water God,’ in a single strike. And to achieve that plan, he intended to take every single Elixir that the creators had prepared to strengthen their Incarnations.

‘That guy must have come here to obtain something as well.’

The strongest Incarnation of humanity. A true powerhouse contracted with the ‘Great Nine Lords.’ Possessing strength and talent on another level, it was even speculated that he might have surpassed level 100. Why would he have been frequenting the Water God Abyss? It seemed unlikely, but just in case, there was even a possibility that he had already formed an Incarnation contract with the ‘Great Nine Lords.’

Park Chan-woo clenched his fist.

‘…Whatever he wants, I’ll take it instead.’

* * *

Yoo Hanseop was losing his mind. After barely regrouping the scattered people and restarting the ‘treasure hunt’…

‘Why! Why is there nothing here!’

He had followed the map exactly. Yet, in the marked locations, nothing remained. Not a single treasure that the creator had arranged for him.

‘Oh, damn it! My great Creator! What is happening here? Why is there not a single treasure you have prepared for me?’

There was no answer. To begin with, having a free conversation with the Creator was nothing more than a dream. For the Creator was a divine being.

【…My child.】

Then, a clear voice of the Creator resonated in Yoo Hanseop’s ears.

Tensing up, Yoo Hanseop listened closely.

【Something unknown is stirring in this place. It seems there is an intruder threatening us.】

‘Tell me who it is. I will do whatever it takes to kill them.’

【It is surely the Incarnation of another Creator. There is one among us who has broken the agreement. A shameless thief who dares to touch what is ours.】

The Creators had an implicit agreement. Creating the Abyss themselves and setting up arrangements for their Incarnations required an immense amount of Coins. Especially, establishing the environment necessary for an Elixir was exceedingly difficult. Yet, in every aspect, the ‘Water God Abyss’ was flawless. Its environment was perfectly structured. Thus, by paying a certain price to the host, they had decided to place their Incarnations’ arrangements in this location. And those arrangements were not to be touched by anyone else. Only the Creator who placed the arrangement and their Incarnation had the right to claim it. Every precaution had been taken, even marking the locations on the map to prevent overlap. But, everything was stolen. Someone had taken them first. One of the Creators who knew about this plan was the culprit. Or perhaps, every single one of them, except itself, was the culprit.

【We cannot just stand by and take this. We must change our approach.】

‘Just say the word. I will obey.’

【We shall now take the arrangements that other Creators have set up.】

‘If my identity as an Incarnation is revealed in the process, what should I do?’

【Kill them before they realize. Eliminate every human and every other Incarnation who notices.】

‘……Understood.’

A cold gleam of killing intent flashed in Yoo Hanseop’s eyes. At that moment, Other Incarnations were receiving similar messages from their contracted Creators.

【These thieving bastards!】

【I should have never trusted the other Creators in the first place.】

【How dare they steal the Elixirs I prepared!】

【My Incarnation, annihilate those thieves without leaving a single one alive!】

Thus, a war between Incarnations had begun.

* * *

Inside the cave.

Park Chan-woo carefully picked up a small ‘gourd bottle’ lying deep within the cavern. Then, he pulled off the stopper and gulped down its contents.

『You have consumed a drop of the Elixir ‘Purified Azure Essence.’』

『Attack power increases by 60 for 100 hours.』

『Defense power increases by 60 for 100 hours.』

『You have consumed more than 20 types of Elixirs in a short period.』

『Title ‘Elixir Addict’ acquired.』

『All Elixir effects increased by 10%.』

『Attack Power: 1114 (159+955)』

『Defense Power: 1,001 (46+955)』

…….

『You have consumed an excessive number of Elixirs at once.』

『This clearly exceeds the limits of the human body.』

『Normally, your life force would be disrupted, leading to a rampage and eventual crippling.』

『However, due to the status ailment ‘Weakest,’ the consumed Elixirs are producing entirely different effects.』

『Since the effects manifested as buffs, the medicinal properties have spread across your entire body over an extended period.』

『The remaining medicinal properties of the Elixirs are merging,

resulting in a special transformation of your physique.』