Chapter 114 (1/2)

An achievement rate of 100 percent.

It needed only one more point to reach that figure after Ouroboros’s death, and by killing Raeng and the dark magicians, Su-hyeun managed to fully achieve his goal.

It was unknown why Raeng was counted as that single percentage point of remaining threat despite Ouroboros being dead, but nevertheless, Su-hyeun should have been celebrating the fact that the trial of the 30th floor had been perfectly cleared.

“Can you stand?” Malcolm asked as he supported Su-hyeun’s body.

Even then, the old man continued to sneak several glances at the gigantic monster’s corpse. This whole thing must’ve been too mystifying for him even now.

“I was feeling momentarily dizzy, that’s all. You don’t have to worry about me, sir.”

“That’s good to hear. By the way, that thing just now….”

“It’s the power I acquired after killing Ouroboros.”

“Can you safely handle it?”

Malcolm, the foremost expert on Ouroboros, was asking that question.

Indeed, Su-hyeun had to experience some real hardship during the process of acquiring Ouroboros’s power. Thankfully, he managed to absorb the monster’s magical energy through the transfiguration skill, but even now, utilizing this power remained a tough prospect without resorting to his trait first.

It was obvious that you’d have to pay a hefty price when acquiring great power.

“I can,” replied Su-hyeun confidently.

It wasn’t going to be too difficult.

<<I’ve possessed an even greater power than this before, after all.>>

Su-hyeun used to be the best. He had wielded power several times greater than this one in the past, and not only that, he was in perfect control over it, too.

Indeed, the newly-acquired power that happened to be resistant to his control didn’t even pose a problem. No, he wanted to start dancing in happiness from the fact that he could get stronger so much quicker now.

Malcolm seemed relieved by that reply as he began nodding his head. “Well, then. That’s a relief. Huhuhuh.”

After helping Su-hyeun up, the old man must’ve lost his own strength instead as he plopped down on the ground. Then he stared at Ouroboros’s corpse and opened his mouth. “Thank you.”

“Sir, it was nothing much.”

“Saying that it’s nothing much…No, you’ve achieved a truly amazing feat.”

It was unimaginable that the mighty Ouroboros was killed off. To think that the karma he “created” had been exorcised, just like that.

“Thank you. Truly, I’m grateful. I can’t even fathom how I should repay this debt….”

“Sir.” Su-hyeun lowered himself and held Malcolm’s hand as the latter remained squatting on the ground. “I’m also grateful.”

“Mm? What do you mean, grateful? I haven’t done anything.”

“A small goodwill shown to someone can be a great act of kindness to that person. The hospitality you have shown me is exactly that, sir.”

For the past few days, Malcolm treated Su-hyeun well without expecting anything in return. He provided a place to sleep and food to eat to an unknown foreigner. That stranger with an unknown background was permitted to read any book he wanted, too.

Hell, Malcolm even taught him information regarding Miru, as well.

Even if they were all down to his guilty conscience, Su-hyeun still thought of them as an act of kindness.

“It can’t be.”

“It is. The killing of Ouroboros was my own act of kindness to you, sir.”

Su-hyeun’s words caused Malcolm’s eyes to tremble greatly.

“Please don’t be too burdened by this, sir.”

“Young man, your body, it’s….”

Su-hyeun’s body was gradually getting fainter.

Not too long after that, even the hand holding Malcolm’s felt like a mirage without a physical form. The old man reached out with his other hand to grasp Su-hyeun’s shoulder.

However, his hand simply wandered in the empty air.

Su-hyeun had completely vanished into thin air.

“Huh-uh….”

This was like a waking dream.

A man named Su-hyeun who used to stand right before his eyes had disappeared.

For a long while, Malcolm remained sitting on the ground, quietly ruminating on what Su-hyeun had said.

* * *

[You have acquired 500,000 achievement points.]

[You attained the maximum attainable achievement level.]

[The 30th floor’s trial has been perfectly cleared.]

[Achievement ranking is being tallied.]

[You have reached first place.]

[Stamina has increased by one…]

[….]

[Acquired the Trait Ouroboros’s Third Eye. It will be recorded as a new permanent trait.]

[Your new trait is overlapping with the Transfiguration Skill: Third Eye. You can now acquire a new trait by using the transfiguration skill.]

Messages popped up one after the other in his head.

The first thing to catch his attention was the enormous amount of achievement points, as well as the acquisition of a brand new trait.

<<The third eye has been recorded as a permanent trait?>>

A permanent trait was a term denoting a special attribute that an awakener could possess. In other words, this trait was exactly like a passive skill engraved into one’s body.

The transfiguration skill allowed him to temporarily use such traits. Although him having to acquire a trait to use first was slightly inconvenient, it was still undoubtedly a cheat skill that let him use any trait he desired.

Normally, an awakener possessing a trait was a rare thing to see. It was not something that could be purchased through achievement points, so traits were deemed to be exceptionally difficult to acquire.

Even only a small handful of S-Ranks was lucky enough to possess a trait. Awakeners with traits of the dragon-like Hwang Jun-peong used their gifts to make a name for themselves.

“Ouroboros’s trait, is it…”

Seeing how it won against the transfiguration skill’s version, the pure third eye of Ouroboros must’ve been a higher-rated trait of the two. When considering the fact that both should have been the same “third eye,” the pure version was most likely the more complete of the two.

<<In any case, this will now let me use two different traits, won’t it?>>

The third eye alone was a truly excellent trait already. He was sure of it since he had experienced its effect first hand.

Sure, it was a wee bit inconvenient that he now had to hunt for a new trait, and for some reason, it kind of felt like he didn’t get any special reward for his troubles, either.

<<Well, it’s still not bad, considering.>>

Su-hyeun decided to look at it positively.

Regardless, the third eye was destined to be swapped out in the future, anyway. He had already made up his mind a long time ago on which trait he wanted to acquire through the transfiguration skill.

So, the rewards he received today would get the chance to shine brightly when he finally acquired that trait he wanted while still retaining the third eye.