The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 286

The instant death effect activated.

This was possible because Jeong-hoon exceeded the stats of the Puppet.

Brrrr-

The Puppet trembled violently before disintegrating completely.

There wasn’t even time to summon the Seven Deadly Sins.

Though it was regretful, for now, it was meaningful enough to have passed the trial.

[Using Divine Healing.]

Jeong-hoon used Divine Healing to recover his body.

“Phew… That was tough.”

He sat down for a moment.

[Master! Are you okay?!]

‘Are you all right?!’

Jeong-hoon nodded weakly.

“Yes. Fortunately, it seems I didn’t die.”

[Wow… Who would’ve thought instant death would trigger there?]

‘If it hadn’t, it would’ve been truly dangerous.’

The damage from the Ghost Sword was beyond imagination.

Thanks to Mukho and the defensive power of his equipment, along with Jeong-hoon’s natural defense, he avoided being completely severed, but he lost so much blood that he was driven to the brink of shock.

Had instant death not activated, it would’ve been truly perilous.

“Let’s rest for a bit before moving on.”

For over two months, he had been gathering materials without rest, and then he had to face the transcendent’s Puppet under grueling conditions.

‘It wasn’t just Demon King-class. It was closer to Sovereign-class.’

The Shadow King he faced previously—

The Puppet completely surpassed him.

Facing such an opponent under absurd conditions inevitably pushed him to his mental limits.

Jeong-hoon repeatedly used Divine Healing as he rested.

***

Thirty minutes had passed since Jeong-hoon entered the portal.

<This is strange. Why is he taking so long?>

Baal tilted his head in confusion.

A special condition.

One of the conditions was to subjugate within thirty minutes.

Yet, even though thirty minutes had passed, Jeong-hoon hadn’t returned.

“This is strange… It’s impossible for that human to have succeeded.”

Harphael’s previously confident expression now brimmed with unease.

After thirty minutes, it would result in automatic disqualification.

At that point, he should have been forcibly ejected from the portal, so why hadn’t the human returned?

<Don’t tell me he actually succeeded in subjugating it?>

“That is absolutely impossible! That Puppet was created by projecting Perlis, who had reached the Sovereign-class through sheer physical abilities!”

It was impossible for a human to defeat Perlis’s Puppet.

Especially when there were as many as four extremely harsh conditions attached to the trial.

<Then how do you explain this situation?>

Baal’s voice carried a hint of killing intent.

At his fury, Harphael immediately prostrated himself.

“I apologize. Please wait a little longer. The human is bound to fail.”

<Do you think I’m doing this because I want to hear your apologies?>

“T-that’s not….”

<Why hasn’t the human come out yet? Don’t tell me you’re about to say he died in there?>

“……”

Harphael remained silent.

The possibility of the human passing the trial was zero.

Yet, with more than 30 minutes having passed and no return, it could only mean he had died inside.

<Didn’t you say you would adjust it?>

Baal was angrier than ever.

The only reason he was wasting time here was for the contract with Jeong-hoon.

And yet, for a mere guide to dare kill the human he had chosen?

If Jeong-hoon were to return as a cold corpse, Harphael would be torn apart on the spot.

“……”

Harphael turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.

Though he had set the difficulty to the maximum, he hadn’t expected things to go this far.

And then it happened.

The portal wavered, and Jeong-hoon suddenly emerged.

<…He’s back?>

Baal’s gaze shifted from Harphael to Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon was returning unharmed.

‘I-I’m alive….’

Harphael nearly collapsed on the spot.

The sheer intensity of Baal’s killing intent… it was something he never wanted to experience again.

But wait a moment.

Returning well past the 30-minute mark… could it be?

“I’ve completed the subjugation.”

At Jeong-hoon’s calm declaration of success, Harphael stared at him as though he had seen a ghost.

“L-lies…!”

He had defeated Perlis’s Puppet?

And under all those extreme conditions?

“Check for yourself.”

Harphael quickly examined the portal.

And upon confirming Jeong-hoon’s words to be true, he was overwhelmed with shock.

“This is impossible… This can’t be….”

“Baal, it seems like I’ll be winning this bet after all.”

Jeong-hoon smirked at Baal.

<…How did you subjugate it?>

“I got lucky. Without the Shadow King’s dagger, it would’ve been difficult.”

That was the truth.

If not for the Shadow King’s dagger, and if he hadn’t properly utilized the shadow options within it, subjugating the puppet would have been impossible.

<…You truly are remarkable.>

Baal clicked his tongue.

He hadn’t thought Jeong-hoon was dead, but he never expected him to return successfully like this.

“So, what’s the final stage?”

There was no time for leisurely conversation.

A significant amount of time had already been spent gathering materials, subjugating the puppet, and resting afterward.

He needed to quickly finish the final trial and claim the ultimate power.

“…There isn’t one.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s no final stage… I poured everything from the third stage into the second stage….”

That was the truth.

Harphael hadn’t merely raised the difficulty to its maximum.

He had completely removed the third stage, merging its level with the second stage to project Perlis.

If he hadn’t done so, a transcendent far weaker than Perlis would have been projected to create the puppet.

“So, that means I’ve clearly won?”

<…Guide, is what he says true?>

Baal’s voice trembled with rage.

“I-I’m sorry….”

Harphael, looking as though he had aged several years, prostrated himself once again.

“There’s no need to apologize. You were just doing your job.”

“…Thank you.”

When Jeong-hoon stood up for him, Harphael, moved to tears, expressed his gratitude.

<Damn it….>

“Now, how about handing over the reward?”

The Ultimate Stars—three of them.

With those three, Mukho and Anima could be upgraded straight to Ultimate, bypassing Celestial.

‘The Shadow King’s spear and dagger—they were incredible, truly fitting of the Ultimate rank.’

He wondered what Mukho and Anima would be like after reaching Ultimate rank.

The thought filled him with anticipation.

[Heh, hurry up and hand them over.]

‘Demonic fool, that’s why you shouldn’t make reckless bets.’

Mukho and Anima mocked Baal.

Of course, Baal couldn’t hear their taunts. Begrudgingly, he handed over the three Ultimate Stars to Jeong-hoon.

<…Fine. A promise is a promise.>

As Baal spoke, three fragments radiating an intense light were delivered into Jeong-hoon’s inventory.

[Ultimate Star]

-A powerful item imbued with ultimate power.

-Can upgrade Celestial (fully enhanced) equipment. (Success rate: 100%)

The Ultimate Stars boasted a 100% success rate.

‘I’ll need to fully enhance them first.’

Jeong-hoon nodded to himself.

His inventory was already filled with upgraded equipment.

Although all of them are unusable, extracting them will yield corresponding enhancement stones.

“Alright. See you in the next bet.”

<…Can’t you stay just a little longer before you leave?>

“Why? You want to see me gain power, don’t you?”

<That’s right.>

Baal readily admitted it.

“Suit yourself.”

Since there was no reason to hide it, Jeong-hoon allowed it without hesitation.

“…Shall you claim the power right away?”

Harphael asked cautiously.

“Yes, let’s do it.”

When Jeong-hoon nodded, an exclamation mark flickered above Harphael’s head.

[You have completed the quest.]

Upon completing the quest, light poured from the heavens and engulfed Jeong-hoon in an instant.

Knowing that this was the process of awakening the ultimate power, Jeong-hoon calmly surrendered himself to the light.

[You are embracing a new power.]

[You have reached the Ultimate.]

His heart pounded with anticipation.

[The rank of the Martial Emperor has increased from Celestial to Ultimate.]

It was unbelievable.

A realm he couldn’t reach in his previous life—he had now stepped into it.

[Skill: Celestial Aura evolves into Ultimate Aura.]

[Skill: Formless Fist evolves into True Formless Fist.]

[Skill: Heavenly Step evolves into True Heavenly Step.]

[Skill: Heavenly Body evolves into True Heavenly Body.]

[The maximum rank of Steadfast Will has been lifted. (Celestial -> Ultimate)]

[All skills acquired through Steadfast Will have been upgraded.]

[[Title] The One Who Transcends Humanity has increased by one rank. (Title level remains at 10.)]

He had done it.

By obtaining the ultimate power, he had ascended to a higher dimension.

[Ultimate Aura]

- Type: Active

- Rank: Ultimate

- An aura usable only by those who have reached the ultimate state.

- When the aura is active, all attack and defense stats increase by 40% (stackable).

- Reduces the attack and defense stats of all enemies within a 500m radius by 20% (stackable).

- Provides a buff of +15% attack and +15% defense to designated allies (not stackable).

- Increases all debuff resistance capabilities by 50% (stackable).

It was incredible.

The stats doubled just from raising the aura's rank by one level.

And that wasn’t all.

[The One Who Transcends Humanity Lv.10]

- Type: Unique Evolution Title

-Grade: Ultimate

-Automatically utilizes the mana of nature to recover magic power at regular intervals.

-Can permanently destroy a dungeon. (However, high-grade dungeons cannot be destroyed.)

-Partially unaffected by the influence of Transcendents. (The extent of immunity is determined by the rank of the Transcendent.)

The title "One Who Has Transcended Humanity" had also evolved to Ultimate.

‘At this level, I could probably take down that puppet in no time.’

An Ultimate title.

Now, even those at the Sovereign Class could be fought on equal footing.

‘Could I even take on Baal?’

Jeong-hoon glanced at the crimson eyes staring at him.

Baal was a Demon King of the Demon Realm.

It wouldn’t be easy, but now, he might be able to land a few hits.

<Heh, are you trying to surpass me?>

At moments like this, the creature was perceptive.

Jeong-hoon shook his head.

“Not at all.”

<They say a puppy doesn’t fear a tiger.>

“How do you even know that proverb?”

<I’ve picked up a few things while watching humans.>

“Is that so?”

<In any case, you’ll never surpass me. So don’t get arrogant.>

Would that really be the case?

Jeong-hoon’s lips twitched faintly.

***

“Why hasn’t he contacted us yet…?”

Ha-jin sighed in frustration.

It had been over a month and a half since he acquired his fateful opportunity.

Yet he still hadn’t left Darvis.

The reason was Jeong-hoon’s lack of contact.

“Hyung, could something bad have happened to him?”@@novelbin@@

“Hey, don’t say such ominous things. Words have power.”

“I mean… what else could explain why he’s suddenly gone silent?”

At Bong-goo’s comment, Ha-jin fell silent.

‘Wait for me to contact you.’

Those were Jeong-hoon’s last words before communication ceased.

For now, the best thing to do was patiently wait for Jeong-hoon.

“Bong-goo, can you just keep quiet for a bit?”

Nearby, Jeong-hoon’s mother, Lee Na-yeon, sat silently waiting.

Though she was smiling, her eyes were anything but calm.

Bong-goo flinched at her gaze and awkwardly nodded.

“Ah… Sorry.”

Only then did Lee Na-yeon relax her expression and wave her hand dismissively.

“It’s fine.”

She was deeply worried about her son, too.

However, her calm demeanor was because she trusted Jeong-hoon.

‘He told me not to worry about him…’

Still, as time passed, that trust began to waver.

With concern-filled eyes, Lee Na-yeon stared at her smartphone.

And then, it happened.

Bzzzt-

Her phone vibrated as a message arrived.

The sender was none other than Jeong-hoon.

Lee Na-yeon’s face brightened instantly.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]