Chapter 309 (1/2)
The qualification to become a god…
The administrator’s statement was similar to the system message. It seemed that he knew what kind of powers Su-hyeun had acquired.
Su-hyeun went on, “Can you tell me what exactly this qualification is?”
“It is as it says,” the administrator answered matter-of-factly. “It pertains to the qualification of godhood and the authority accompanying that. It’s an ability that gods possess.” The administrator was looking at Su-hyeun’s sword as he spoke. “The power contained in that sword has a similar story. What you have gained is the qualification of ‘strength’ out of several qualifications that the godly beings possess.”
“The qualification of strength?”
“Simply put, your physical strength has exceeded that of a human.”
“Does that mean the three-digit mark is the boundary?” Su-hyeun clarified.
“More or less. But that shouldn’t be the end, though. Various qualifications for godhood exist out there, and even if it’s the same type of qualification, there’s also the difference in class to consider.”
The three digits in a stat denoted the boundary between a man and a divine being.
According to the administrator, 100 points was not the maximum limit attainable for a stat. Since the ‘class’ and the gap in strength also existed within the scope of godhood, any value higher than 100 must exist as well.
“Although a bit of a shortcut has been taken here, with this, you have now acquired three types of qualifications for godhood.” The administrator narrowed his eyes and gestured as he spoke, “The clouds, the wind, and now, strength.”
The ‘clouds’ and the ‘wind’ indicated the Somersault cloud and the Palm Leaf.
“The first two might be nothing more than half-realized powers. But still, depending on how you utilize them, they can become full-fledged ones,” the administrator explained.
“Just how many qualifications for godhood are there?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
“You don’t have to be specific,” Su-hyeun pressed on. “Even a vague explanation will do.”
“There are way too many of them to count.” The administrator shook his head. “In general, acquiring just one qualification is enough for you to be referred to as a quasi-god. However, I really don’t know what the requirements are to become a ‘full’ god. But I can assure you that I have never seen or heard of a god that possessed countless qualifications.”
The administrator scratched his head the moment he finished. He felt he had said too much, including unnecessary information.
“Argh! Whatever. Okay. So you’re here to take up the next challenge, right?”
“Yes, I am. But when I got here the first time, that plaza didn’t exist.”
“No plaza exists in this place,” the administrator remarked, shaking his head, as if Su-hyeun had said something outrageous. “I’ll be directly sending you to the next floor.”
“In that case, what about the hints for the floor…”
“No hints from now on.”
Shuwuk, shuk—
The administrator crouched on the ground and began drawing a circle with his finger. “Even we don’t know anything, you see.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, I don’t have any hint to give you. Okay? All done.” The administrator finished drawing a circle and some lines that resembled a star on the ground, then dusted his hand in satisfaction. “Get inside.”
“…”
Su-hyeun stepped into the circle. He didn’t say a word, but he was in doubt. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of magic circle this was. Once inside, he began to sense a unique power emanating from it.
This simple magic circle turned out to be a door to a different dimension.
“You’ll see for yourself when you get there. Alright, now then…”
Snap!
Ging!
When the administrator snapped his fingers, the magic circle began emitting bright light.
“We believe in you.”
Along with those words, the view before Su-hyeun’s very eyes transformed.
***
Caw! Caw!
BOOM!
The cawing of a huge crow and a loud footstep intertwined with the sound of wind rustling past the tall grass.
The new scenery was a forest. However, it was far too different from a typical one.
‘Trees here are absolutely tall.’
Su-hyeun couldn’t recognize what these trees were. The whole forest seemed to be made solely out of these huge, thick trees, at least 100 meters tall.
He quietly roamed around the forest. He found a stump and decided to take a rest. Then a message popped up.
[Prevent the birth of the next predator.]
“…?”
That message was somewhat familiar. He was told of it before.
It was almost akin to the message from the trial back on the 100th floor: to prevent the birth of Fafnir.
If the 100th floor’s trial was a type of test the administrators had prepared, then this would be the beginning of the ‘real’ thing.
‘Preventing the birth of a predator means…’
BOOM!
Su-hyeun turned his head to where the sound came from. He saw a huge monster that resembled a dinosaur in the midst of trees.
‘Could it be that creature?’
Krr!
Green spittle drooled out from the maw of this dinosaur-like monster with yellow eyes. Its size was almost as big as a small apartment block.
Drip. Dribble.
The thick drool landed on the ground. The grass melted as if the spit was contagious. If the spit was that bad already, then its blood could be deadly.
‘Is it a venomous monster? It looks like a physical…’
Whoosh!
Crack! Crunch!
Slam!
The dinosaur-like monster swung its front limb. Su-hyeun moved quickly and leapt up. The trees swayed and then fell to the ground.
BANG!
“Well, I guess it fights with its body.”
Tak.
Su-hyeun landed on a thick branch above and looked down on the creature. Its huge head turned to Su-hyeun’s direction. Su-hyeun noticed that the monster could actually see him from afar. Even its movement was agile as well.
‘With this kind of skill, this thing must be stronger than a senior monster of an average-strength blue dungeon.’
However, such a thing wouldn’t be enough.
‘This monster isn’t going to be a predator.’
It certainly was strong, but it was not exactly overwhelming. Compared to the black dragon Su-hyeun encountered, the one that Bradley ended up devouring, this monster was lacking in many aspects.
“Still, this guy wouldn’t be so bad as a new summo—”
Crack! Crunch!
Su-hyeun quickly turned his head to a different direction. He sensed that someone—or something—was coming, and it was moving fast.
Swoosh!
Whoosh!
A wild beast sprang out from the trees. It leapt towards the enormous monster’s head. It attacked the creature with its claws, scratching its head.
Rip!
Ki-aah!
The monster howled.
The beast ripped its face. It continued to howl in pain, flailing its limbs. Its eyes were badly injured that it couldn’t see anymore. It hit a number of trees as it moved aimlessly.
The wild beast then moved closer to the monster. It stood at its rear.
Pow!