Chapter 5: The Price of Power

S-Class Rank 20, Park Sumudang.

S-Class Rank 19, Noryong Munju.

S-Class Rank 18, Final Weapon.

S-Class Rank 17, Yeolhyeol…

…

S-Class Rank 4, Han Jinseong.

S-Class Rank 3, Min Hayul.

They all fell.

Even Cheonma, who had been the last one standing.

“Keuh, keuuh!”

The Fallen Angel, Lucifer, grabbed Cheonma by the neck.

Finally, the most troublesome enemy had been broken.

A look of joy filled Lucifer’s face.

• Ah, even Cheonma…
• No!
• Is this really the end of Korea?
• Where’s Zz? Why isn’t he coming?
• Should we go to the US and bring Ulder Might?
• We should contact Japan and ask for the Sword King to come.

The viewers, watching the live broadcast of Korea’s fate, could only squeeze their eyes shut.

Some citizens even blamed the association for gambling with the lives of hunters.

But blaming them wouldn’t change anything.

The World Boss, [Fallen Angel Lucifer], though not as impactful as [Titan],

was a much more troublesome and vicious enemy.

He was intelligent, used the terrain to his advantage, and even took hostages.

In the end, he had all of Korea’s hunters at his feet.

Everyone hoped Cheonma would rise again, but it was impossible.

Cheonma’s body could no longer endure.

Her fingertips trembled, and her breath grew shallow.

As Lucifer’s grip tightened, a painful groan escaped Cheonma’s lips.

“Keuugh.”

Just as her neck seemed about to snap.

At that moment.

Suddenly, a dark energy began to rise from Cheonma’s body.

Time stopped.

Everything turned gray.

Even Ma Seokdong, who was gasping from the pain of his chest being pierced, Lucifer, and the debris falling from the building all of it stopped.

“Kkeuk?!”

The sudden anomaly.

Cheon Yeoul looked at the system message that only she could see.

[Constellation: ‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ is watching you.]

[‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ wishes to sponsor you.]

[Do you accept the sponsorship?]

“What? A Constellation?”

Constellations are transcendental beings who cannot directly intervene in the world.

Their existence is shrouded in mystery.

Even top-ranked hunters from all over the world know nothing about them.

For such a Constellation to speak to Cheonma.

And even offer sponsorship.

[‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ wishes to sponsor the S-Class skill, ‘Cheonma Simbeop’.]

[With this, your existence can be perfected.]

[Do you accept the sponsorship?]

S-Class Rank 5, Cheonma Cheon Yeoul.

She had been a half-formed martial artist.

She had obtained the S-Class skill, Cheonma Singong, but lacked the martial arts to support it.

Without the resource of ‘magic,’ her Cheonma Singong couldn’t reach its true potential.

The side effects, which gnawed at her body, were a result of this.

Now, the Constellation was offering to fix that.

It was a sweet offer.

‘I don’t know what Constellations are, or their true purpose. Nothing is known. If I accept, it might put me in danger.’

But,

The country was on the brink of collapse.

Kwaaak!

Cheon Yeoul’s remaining fingers dug into her palm.

Her gaze shifted toward the fallen hunters.

‘If I can obtain the Cheonma Simbeop and become a true Cheonma, I might be able to save them.’

If I could save them.

Even if the Constellation is a devil,

I’ll make the deal.

That’s what being a hunter means.

The decision was made.

“I…”

Just as the number above Cheon Yeoul’s head was about to turn negative,

Cheonma suddenly stopped speaking.

Bang!

Time, which had been frozen, resumed moving, and Seoul was engulfed in light.

The light was brighter and warmer than the sun.

The viewers watching the broadcast couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Just moments ago, the atmosphere had been one of impending doom, as if the world were about to end because of Lucifer.

The sky was gloomy, and everything was dark due to the thick clouds.

But then, a dazzling light covered the sky, driving away the darkness in an instant.

The light was so powerful that the broadcast cameras couldn’t capture the scene properly.

The screen was overwhelmed by a blinding white light, and the shape could no longer be recognized.

However, the viewers cheered.

There was only one hunter capable of such a feat.

• “I knew it, I knew it!”
• “It’s Zz. Zz has appeared!”
• “Is this real?”
• “There’s even an article overseas! A new, nation-level hunter has appeared in Korea!”

Even Lucifer sensed the presence of this being.

His expression twisted with malice.

It was as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

As if he couldn’t bear it for a second longer, Lucifer abandoned Cheonma and immediately flew toward the source of the light.

It was like Icarus flying toward the sun.

From that moment on, his fate was sealed.

The closer he got to the light, the more his body began to break apart under its overwhelming power.

His wings were the first to burn, and every time he flapped them, small ashes fell.

“Kreeeek!!!!”

Lucifer shrieked and struggled, but it was futile.

Lucifer vanished without a trace, as if his very existence had been denied.

The overwhelming light didn’t even allow anything to approach it.

That was the difference in power.

It was divine.

FFI (Fatal Familial Insomnia) is a genetic disease with a 100% mortality rate.

It usually manifests in the 40s, so the parents who abandoned me are already dead.

An orphan living aimlessly would have no savings.

I survived on government aid, waiting for my death, living day and night playing games.

“So, she’s the only person who can raise me.”

Even while rubbing my sleepy eyes, I saw everything.

Not only did she wake me up, but she was also tormenting the person who raised me (for about 30 hours).

“…Yawn. You’re a bad child, aren’t you? I’m the one who should be spoiled with just smiles and no complaints.”

It seems the world calls that ‘pong pong.’

But I love naps.

I’d even say it’s love.

I now know how happy a good nap can make you feel.

So, I need someone to raise me.

Someone who’ll give me three meals a day, cover me with blankets,

and leave the air conditioner running without complaining, while paying the management fees without delay.

“Big house, super soft bed. It must be expensive. A person like me, a dust-like existence, should just sleep all day.”

In Seoul, there are homes like that, with high points for virtue, and even the person is young.

I don’t know for sure, but they probably make a seven-figure salary.

A person who has the capability to live like that…

But that black thing not only woke me up but was now tormenting my protector.

“Sigh. On top of that, some strange guy is whispering in the sky.”

It felt like a pushy insurance salesman or someone trying to sell me religion.

Seeing the situation, I immediately cut off whatever was going on.

Then

A gaze!

“Huh?”

[‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ is watching you.]

[‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ is asking how the Constellation is interfering in the lower world to hinder them.]

“I’m not a Constellation; I’m an angel.”

[‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ says they’ll watch.]

[‘Master of Ten Thousand Deaths’ withdraws the ritual cast over the lower world.]

“What was that?”

• Not sure, but.

I dealt with it.

“Then, is the only one left the corrupted General?”

Light emanated from my fingertips.

No matter how I looked at it, I wasn’t going to lose.

If I swung this, the blackened one would be obliterated.

Then, I suddenly remembered.

The fear I endured in the Alarm Hell.

“…………I ran out in anger, but isn’t it a loss for me to deal with the corrupted one?”

That’s a bit tricky.

So, I quickly stopped what I was about to do.

But then—

That guy spread his wings and flew toward me on his own.

“Hey, don’t come near me. If you touch me, I’ll report you to Hell, you know?”

But my desperate plea was ignored.

The way he slowly reached out to me, even though he was in pain, was terrifying.

“Ugh, this is creepy. A perverted lolicon… Please don’t obsess over me. I don’t want to be loved by someone like you.”

It was the opposite attribute, and just approaching me was enough to kill him.

Why was he coming toward me while burning up?

Am I that delicious to him?

“Ugh, the system message is probably going to come up again…”

[Kaaaaaah!]

As expected, he couldn’t hold out and screamed before disappearing.

It felt pointless.

And, as expected

[You have achieved 70% contribution in the World Boss攻略.]

[You have been selected as the top contributor for defeating ‘Fallen Angel Lucifer’.]

A system message appeared.

“Contribution has been calculated.”

“Target: World Boss Monster, Entity Name [Fallen Angel Lucifer].”

• 1st place: Zz
• 2nd place: Cheonma
• 3rd place: Min Hayul
• 4th place: Ma Seokdong

[You have achieved MVP status in the overall contribution.]

[World Boss kill MVP rewards are granted.]

[World Boss kill rewards are granted.]

[You have gained a massive amount of experience points.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Level 10 → 11]
[Level 11 → 12]
[Level 12 → 13]

“Skill Draw Ticket (Guaranteed S-grade) acquired.”

“Item Draw Ticket (Guaranteed Legendary) acquired.”

“Due to your racial traits, you harvest the soul of [Fallen Angel Lucifer]. The harvested soul is stored in Halo.”

“You have obtained the soul of Fallen Angel Lucifer (SSR).”

“Legendary Points: 1 point earned.”

“Current points: Legendary 2 points.”

“You have unused skill draw tickets. Please use them.”

“You have unused item draw tickets. Please use them.”

“… I wasn’t hoping for this.”

But.

I guess I’ll have to make a choice again for it to end.

Whoosh!

As I started the card draw, five cards appeared, and this time, I just picked one that was close to me.

Ding!

“You have learned a skill.”

“Fate Summon.”

Grade: S
Description: Summons the being most closely connected to you.
Cooldown: One-time skill.

Ding!

“You have acquired an item.”

“Grandmother Samsin’s Teddy Bear.”
“Item Grade: Legendary.”
“Item Type: Two-handed weapon.”

[Description]
A teddy bear blessed by Grandmother Samsin. Infused with her energy, it helps protect and guide children to grow up healthily.

[Abilities and Effects]

1. Samsin’s Fate: Increases the wearer’s luck, greatly enhancing item drop rates and the chance of discovering items.
2. Samsin’s Warmth: The person wearing the teddy bear feels mental stability and peace, gaining 50% resistance to magical attacks and mental assaults.
3. Samsin’s Wrath: Each time the wearer defeats an enemy, their attack power permanently increases by 1. Current attack power: 1.

Just reading it made me tired.

There were so many details.

“Isn’t it common sense to avoid reading anything longer than three characters?”

I had been listless while playing the game, so I skipped through everything.

Flipping through the messages quickly, I realized I was now holding the teddy bear.

“Hm?”

I wondered what material it was made of.

It was soft and felt nice.

“I don’t really understand it, but maybe I like it a little.”

It’s perfect for hugging and sleeping.

Then

[MVP Interview]

[The top World Boss contributor can send a message about the strategy to all hunters worldwide.]

[Leave a brief message about the strategy for defeating World Boss ‘Fallen Angel Lucifer’.]

Once again, I was forced to share my thoughts.

I had nothing to say, so what was I supposed to say…?

So, I just left a quick comment.

“Dunno.”

Now, I needed to go back to sleep.