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Chapter 235

[Would you like to enter ???]

There’s no description of the dungeon, nor any indication of its level.

Not even a trace of mana can be sensed within the portal.

In other words—

‘It must mean the dungeon’s difficulty is extreme.’

Jeong-hoon had often used the term “extreme” for challenging encounters, but this was likely the greatest trial he’d faced since his return, one that could rival even those from before his regression.

‘It might even be on par with the foes I faced back then.’

Moreover, it was a dungeon where he couldn’t rely on memories from his past life. He would have to overcome it purely with his own skills.

After taking a deep breath, Jeong-hoon indicated his intent to enter.

Immediately, his body was pulled into the portal.

---

[You have entered the Extreme Field.]

“What is this place?”

Contrary to his expectations, the field was completely empty.

But despite its crude appearance, the ground was composed of neatly interlocking blocks.

Then, it happened.

Whoosh.

Pillars of fire erupted from outside the blocks, and magma began to flow onto the field, accompanied by gas that blanketed the area.

However, certain blocks remained untouched by the magma, unaffected by the inferno around them.

[Stepping on a discolored block results in immediate disqualification.]

‘Ah, so that’s the setup.’

A faint smirk formed on Jeong-hoon’s lips.

Now he understood why the ground was composed of blocks. Instead of simply hunting monsters, there was an added elimination mechanism.

And there were only a few safe blocks left.

Each block was barely large enough to fit one person, and he would have to keep track of them while progressing through the dungeon.

[Defeat the Archdemon Zeek.]

In front of Jeong-hoon, the Archdemon Zeek appeared.

‘Doesn’t look easy.’

As soon as he saw Zeek, Jeong-hoon recognized him as a higher-ranked being than Archdemon Rakandra or Archdemon Baramuth.

Though perhaps not Baal’s right-hand, Zeek was certainly a formidable entity.

The fact that such a creature appeared meant that this dungeon was designed with the intent of preventing him from succeeding.

[Be careful! One wrong step and you\'re done for!]

‘Cunning bastard. Truly malicious.’

There was a reason Baal had reduced the eight dungeons to just one.

[Skills allowing flight are disabled.]

[If you remain off a block for more than 30 seconds, you will be automatically disqualified.]

Not even unconventional methods were allowed.

Jeong-hoon leapt to safe blocks, distancing himself from Zeek.

Then, some blocks turned red, while others that had previously changed color returned to normal.

‘It looks like the blocks follow a pattern.’

Jeong-hoon observed the blocks’ color changes, trying to discern the pattern.

Zeek grinned as he slowly approached Jeong-hoon.

Despite stepping haphazardly, Zeek remained unaffected by the blocks.

"Lord Baal is quite taken with you."

"And so?"

"I’m going to kill you and offer your soul to him."

Zeek licked his lips, reaching out.

The archdemon Zeek, currently a transcendent apostle known as the "Corrupted Apostle of Light," had discovered Jeong-hoon at a time when he’d just begun destroying Earth. Jeong-hoon was a mere human, yet one who had the audacity to outright reject Zeek’s contract. A creature too foolish to understand his place—yet somehow, he had caught Baal’s interest. Thanks to this, Zeek had an opportunity to score some points.

‘If I offer this soul, I could become a Demon King.’

A vacant throne remained. If he offered this human’s soul, Baal promised to raise him to the rank of Demon King. To claim that title, this human had to die here.

Even this field was crafted to give Zeek a significant advantage. It would be an impossible battle for him to lose.

"Go ahead if you think you can."

The creature had the nerve to taunt him with unparalleled arrogance.

Fine, then.

Let’s see if he can live up to his words.

[The archdemon Zeek uses "Chains of Blood."]

From Zeek’s hand, hundreds of crimson chains shot out, coiling around Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon drew Leviathan, slicing wide around himself.

[Activating Stance: Initiation.]

The Initiation unleashed a fierce strike, cutting through the blood chains.

"Hah! Do you think such crude swordsmanship can sever my chains?"

The scattered chains quickly reformed.

These Chains of Blood were crafted from the archdemon’s own blood and mana. They couldn’t be severed by a mere sword!

"So it seems."

Yet, Jeong-hoon’s face remained calm, his expression utterly unbothered.

"Annoying little pest."

Zeek scowled. He’d sensed it from the moment he’d offered him a contract—this one was irritating on every level.

[Blackfield is activated.]

[All attributes increased by 1.5 times.]

[All monsters within the field have a 10% reduction in all attributes.]

Jeong-hoon activated the Blackfield.

[All attributes increased by 15%.]

[20% damage reduction applied.]

[Time limit: 1 hour.]

On top of that, his Stat Amplification Ring activated.

[Probability of "Poison Attack" activation increased by 4% for 1 hour.]

And he was far from done.

[Special ability of the Dominator’s Grasp activated.]

[All attributes increased by 10%.]

[Attack power and proficiency of all weapons increased by 10%.]

The Dominator’s Grasp.

[Special ability of the Headdress infused with the Spirit of the Divine Beast activated.]

[Attack power and defense increased by 40%.]

The headdress imbued with the spirit of the Divine Beast.

[Using Celestial Aura.]

A starlight aura emanated from Jeong-hoon’s body, enveloping him in a soft, radiant glow.

[Attack power and defense increased by 20%.]

[Archdemon Zeek\'s attack power and defense reduced by 10%.]

Now fully boosted, Jeong-hoon unfolded his Heavenly Steps.

‘The block pattern is consistent.’

The blocks shifted in a set pattern every 20 seconds. The block that had just turned red with lava returned to its original state.

Landing on that block, Jeong-hoon unleashed another First Form, severing the Chains of Blood attempting to ensnare him once more.

[Activating First Form.]

[Passive skill "Destruction" activated.]

His passive skill kicked in.

‘It activated.’

[Destruction Sword]

- Type: Active

- Level: 10

- Rank: Legendary

- Unleashes a sword strike that annihilates all it touches.

- First Form: Initiation

- Second Form: Encroachment

- Third Form: Annihilation

- Unique Passive: Destruction

[TL/N: Destruction Sword is an active skill Jeong-Hoon applies on Leviathan]

A sword skill that eradicates all.

Upon reaching Legendary rank, the skill gained a new passive: Destruction. This passive, which activates with low probability, allows Jeong-hoon to negate any power for 10 seconds, making it an extraordinary skill. This was why his swordsmanship alone had reached the realm of Grandmaster.

However, it had a drawback: it could only reactivate every 12 hours—a limitation that, at the celestial stage, could be somewhat mitigated.

As Jeong-hoon wielded Leviathan, cutting down the Chains of Blood, they no longer regenerated.

Zeek’s face twisted with shock.

"Wh-why?!"

"Why? Curious?"

Jeong-hoon grinned.

Zeek’s face flushed in anger at his smirk.

"I swear I’ll kill you with my own hands!"

[Archdemon Zeek uses "Death Road."]

The ground beneath Zeek turned black, forming a deep black carpet that extended toward Jeong-hoon, bridging the gap between them.

Jeong-hoon used his Heavenly Steps to retreat onto a safe block.

The Death Road extended, stretching swiftly toward him.

[Remaining on the Death Road for more than 10 seconds will result in instant death.]

As expected of a transcendent apostle—his power was absurd.

Even divine power had no effect here.

‘Still not enough.’

Even with his skill at Legendary rank and maxed level, it was insufficient.

"Let me out!"

At that moment, a desperate voice echoed from the Seven Sins Bell.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot about that."

Jeong-hoon immediately summoned the Seven Sins Bell.

Seeing it, Zeek’s face froze in shock.

"What… What is that?!"

He seemed to recognize the Seven Sins Bell.

"Hey, you asshole! You know who I am, don’t you?"

The bell seemed to be thinking the same thing, as it directed its question at Zeek.

That line... It felt oddly familiar. Maybe it was just his imagination.

“……”

Zeek fell silent, as if struck speechless.

In response, the Seven Sins Bell unleashed its Enhanced Judgment of Death upon him.

"If you don’t attack, you’ll die, huh?"

Enhanced Judgment of Death.

The terrifying aspect of this ability is that its power doesn’t depend on the bell’s stats.

In other words, it has the same effect as when it used the Enhanced Judgment of Death against Baramuth.

"Damn it!"

[Archdemon Zeek uses Death Mines.]

Countless dark spheres appeared around Zeek.

Spikes began to emerge from these dark spheres like sea urchins, and, like his chains of blood, they shot toward Jeong-hoon.

Where the chains served to bind him, these mines would explode the instant they made contact.

[*Barrier of Light* activated.]

Legendary Max-level Barrier of Light.

Crash!

The mines exploded upon impact with the barrier, causing cracks to form across its surface.

"It’s not going to hold for much longer."

On top of that, Jeong-hoon had to continuously change positions with Heavenly Steps to avoid the Black Carpet attack, adjusting to the shifting block patterns.

"Just hang in there a bit longer!"

The Seven Sins Bell clung to Jeong-hoon’s back, cheering him on with all its might.

"I’ll kill you! I’ll tear you apart!"

As the countdown progressed, Zeek became more desperate, drawing a dark scythe.

[Archdemon Zeek uses Death Scythe.]

Zeek swung the scythe with full force.

A black storm surged forward, engulfing Jeong-hoon.

At that moment, Jeong-hoon dispelled his Barrier of Light.

[*Rune of Counter Attack* activated.]

[Absorbed attacks can now be returned.]

He did so to unleash the Rune of Counter Attack.

Jeong-hoon absorbed all incoming attacks for 15 seconds.

And then, he returned every bit of it to Zeek.

"W-What?!"

Zeek hurriedly activated a defensive skill.

[Archdemon Zeek uses Block.]

Block.

A dark barrier formed around Zeek’s body.

Boom!

The Death Mines and Death Scythe storm pounded against him.

Yet, as expected from Block, Zeek remained undamaged.

"Now’s the time."

Block granted invulnerability for 10 seconds, blocking all attacks.

Once the 10 seconds passed, the barrier vanished.

Jeong-hoon immediately activated Heavenly Steps.

[Third Form: Annihilation activated.]

The tip of Leviathan’s blade pierced through Zeek.

“Gah!”

Zeek let out a groan of pain from the substantial damage.

[First Form: Initiation activated.]

Jeong-hoon launched a relentless barrage with Initiation, evading the ongoing Death Road by sidestepping across the blocks and attacking whenever Zeek showed an opening.

"This is insane!"

Zeek couldn’t even think about swinging the Death Scythe. Jeong-hoon kept him entirely on the defensive, denying him the chance to launch a storm with a wide swing.

Finally, the countdown reached zero.

[Death activated against Archdemon Zeek.]

With the Enhanced Judgment of Death, blood began pouring from Zeek’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. He collapsed, completely incapacitated.

Normally, Block could’ve shielded him, but he had already used it to counter act Jeong-hoon’s counterattack. Reuse required time, but the countdown gave him only three minutes—nowhere near enough to activate it again.

Of course, Jeong-hoon wasn’t about to stop there.

[Hundred Swords Tempest activated.]

Hundreds of sword slashes rained down upon Zeek as Hundred Swords Tempest activated.

Zeek’s body erupted in flames.

“Aah! No! It’s mine to consume!”

At that moment, the Seven Sins Bell clinging to Jeong-hoon’s back pulled on his clothes, its face turning white with terror.

[Aagh! Stop pulling, you filthy demon!]

Mukho screamed.

“Alright, alright, calm down.”

Judging that the flames had done enough, Jeong-hoon canceled Hundred Swords Tempest.

In an instant, the blazing flames that had engulfed Zeek subsided.