The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 315

[The countdown has ended.]

[You are being forcibly removed from the library.]

As the timer hit zero, his vision went dark, and he returned to the Hall of Ultimacy.

In Jeong-hoon's hand was a single book.

'Got it.'

[Mastery of Ultimacy]

He didn’t manage to obtain the book containing Asura, but this was even more valuable.

What would this one reveal?

He was already looking forward to it.

“…Looks like you gained something.”

Hariel, who had been watching from behind, showed interest in the book.

“Yes. But there’s something I’d like to ask.”

Jeong-hoon said as he placed the book into his inventory.

“What is it?”

“Did you manipulate something by any chance?”

“…What?”

Hariel's face stiffened for a moment.

Seeing that reaction, Jeong-hoon nodded.

“I knew it.”

“W-Wait a minute! What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, it’s obvious that you tampered with something.”

“Cough!”

Seemingly unable to come up with an excuse, Hariel awkwardly cleared her throat and avoided his gaze.

‘Was it Baal?’

Hariel wouldn’t have interfered on her own. If she were going to, she would’ve tried to sabotage the 5th advancement quest as well.

It was clear someone had influenced her — and the most likely person was Baal.

But why give him something better instead of sabotaging him?

‘There must be a reason.’

He’s not the type to act without purpose.

“Why did Baal get involved?”

When Jeong-hoon asked, Hariel scowled.

“…I don’t know either.”

“Is that so?”

As Jeong-hoon narrowed his eyes, Hariel hurriedly added,

“It’s true! All I know is that my lord has taken an interest in you… Hup!”

As if realizing she’d said something she shouldn’t have, Hariel quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

But it was too late.

Jeong-hoon’s mind raced.

“I see… So he’s taken an interest in me?”

That damned game’s designer.

Escanon of the Apocalypse.

‘So he’s giving me power on purpose… just to plunge me into deeper despair later.’

It was proof that despite standing shoulder to shoulder with Baal, Escanon still regarded him as nothing more than a mere pup.

Jeong-hoon's lips twitched.

'Fine. Then I'll gratefully accept it.'

He would make him realize firsthand that such carelessness would lead to defeat.

Jeong-hoon turned around and left the Hall of Ultimacy.

* * *

[Remaining HP: 54.75%]

Yeo Min-Ji panted heavily as she widened the distance between herself and the puppet in front of her.

'Even after hitting it so hard... I couldn’t even cut its health by half.'

The first stage of the 5th advancement quest.

It was a sparring match against a puppet presented by the NPC.

A Level 500 puppet.

A considerable level, but she too had surpassed Level 500 while moving alongside Jeong-hoon, and her overall stats had increased significantly.

Confidently, she had entered the battle, but as time passed, anxiety began to appear on her face.

'I'm running out of time.'

In this prolonged slugfest, Yeo Min-Ji's stamina and mana had already been depleted.

She was barely holding on by relying on potions, but the real issue was the 60-minute time limit.

Already, about 40 minutes had passed, yet the puppet’s HP was still above 50%.

At this rate, she would fail the 5th advancement quest.

'Is there another way?'

Realizing that brute force alone wouldn’t be enough, she hurriedly began to consider alternative strategies.

The puppet suddenly thrust its fist toward her abdomen.

Boom!

However, the puppet's punch still failed to break through Yeo Min-Ji’s Protective Aura.

In that brief opening, she twisted her body and swung her right leg like a whip, striking the puppet’s temple.

'Gale Kick.'

An upgraded kick skill she had improved after completing her 4th advancement.

[Remaining HP: 54.73%]

Even though the attack landed properly, the puppet's HP only dropped by 0.02%.

The enemy was so resilient that 60 minutes felt far too short.

As the puppet staggered, Yeo Min-Ji thrust her fist forward and struck the puppet squarely in the solar plexus.

'Destruction Fist.'

Fourth Form: Ruinous Charge.

A martial art that condenses mana into the fist to deliver a powerful destructive blow.

The impact triggered a shockwave.

Boom!

[Remaining HP: 54.64%]

Its HP had only decreased by an additional 0.09%.

Yeo Min-Ji bit her lip.

Even after unleashing Destruction Fist up to the Fourth Form, its HP had barely dropped by 0.09%.

Vwoom—

Then the puppet swung its fist in a counterattack, and Yeo Min-Ji quickly stepped back before driving her elbow into its solar plexus with her full weight behind it.

Fourth Form: Destructive Charge.

[Remaining HP: 54.55%]

Her remaining HP was 54.55%.

There was still a long way to go.

The Fourth Form could be used a total of three times.

Just as she was preparing her final Destructive Charge...

[The special ability of the Gauntlet of Annihilation has been activated.]

Yeo Min-Ji's eyes widened.

It was a Legendary-grade item she had obtained in Dalvis.

Jeong-Hoon had enhanced it for her, and it had been upgraded to Celestial rank in the City of Enhancement.

[‘God of Annihilation’ descends.]

[The seal on ‘Fist of Ultimate Destruction’ is temporarily released.]

[Upon using ‘Fist of Ultimate Destruction,’ ‘Price of Ruin’ will automatically activate. (Penalty)]

An overpowered option with only a 0.01% activation rate.

The probability was incredibly low, but once activated, she wouldn't lose to any opponent easily.

It could instantly kill monsters significantly lower in level than her, and even against those of similar or higher levels, it would drastically reduce their HP.

Of course, such an overpowered option naturally came with a penalty.

‘Didn’t they say accepting the God of Annihilation would cause continuous strain?’

On top of that, her HP would steadily drain, and each time she used the Fist of Ultimate Destruction, a certain amount of HP would be sacrificed as an equivalent exchange.

In short, it was a high-risk, high-reward skill.

That’s why, when the God of Annihilation descended, there was also the choice to reject it.

But right now, rejecting it wasn’t an option for her.

‘I have to finish the Fifth Advancement.’

Even when playing through a capsule, Jeong-Hoon had always seemed so far ahead. But now, he was so much further beyond that it couldn’t even be compared.

She respected Jeong-Hoon, but at the same time, she was jealous.

No matter how hard she pushed herself, why was he always climbing higher while she remained stuck in place?

Why was she always the one receiving help but never the one giving it?

‘I don’t want to stay in the background anymore.’

Even after venturing into the Demon Realm with Jeong-Hoon, Yeo Min-Ji still felt like she had been nothing more than part of the scenery.

She had done nothing but stand idly by and watch.

How was that any different from a baby bird sitting still, waiting to be fed?

With jealousy and frustration toward her powerless self boiling inside her, she had ignited her determination to succeed no matter what.

‘Don’t waver. I have to succeed.’

Resolving herself, Yeo Min-Ji accepted the God of Annihilation.

[Entering ‘God of Annihilation’ mode.]

[All stats increase by 50% temporarily.]

[20% of your HP will be offered as tribute.]

[The HP sacrificed as tribute cannot be recovered until ‘God of Annihilation’ mode ends.]

As 20% of her HP was consumed, dizziness overtook her.

Gritting her teeth, Yeo Min-Ji closed in on the puppet and launched her fist at it.

The puppet raised its arm to guard.

Crunch!

As her fist collided with the puppet's arm, the sound of bones breaking echoed, and her punch pierced through the guard, landing squarely on its face.

'Fist of Annihilation.'

[Remaining HP: 47.73%]

The puppet's HP, which had barely decreased before, dropped by nearly 7% from a single punch.

Throb—

Yeo Min-Ji grimaced.

While landing the Fist of Annihilation, her own HP had decreased by 4%.

On top of that, she felt considerable pain.

It was only 4%, but the recoil was intense enough to momentarily throw her off balance.

‘I must succeed.’

But she couldn't stop here.

Yeo Min-Ji began pummeling the puppet again with the Fist of Annihilation.

The puppet's HP rapidly diminished.

* * *

Meanwhile...

Jeong-Hoon had returned home from the Hall of the Ultimate.

He pulled his smartphone from his pocket to check for any messages, but there was none from the group that had set off for the fifth trial.

“I guess I finished too fast.”

Having reached the ultimate realm, the difficulty of quests had drastically increased.

As someone who had completed the fifth trial before his regression, Jeong-Hoon could clearly feel the heightened difficulty.

However, ever since he reached the level of the Sovereign Class, difficulty no longer mattered.

No matter what appeared, nothing could stand in his way.

‘My rapid growth in the Outer World played a big part.’

Even Jeong-Hoon hadn't expected to grow this powerful.

If he hadn't found the five Seven Deadly Sins, he would have struggled considerably.

‘Master! Open it quickly!’

‘I’m curious too. What exactly is this Ultimate Mastery?’

Mukho and Anima urged Jeong-Hoon impatiently as he delayed opening the book.

“Wait.”

Before using the Ultimate Mastery, he decided to open the Sin Box first.

[Would you like to open the box?]

[Be careful, once chosen, it cannot be undone.]

“Open.”

As the box opened, black light seeped out from within.

[You have obtained the Sin Relic: Pride.]

[You have been cursed.]

[You have been cursed.]

[You have been cursed.]

Upon obtaining the Sin Relic, a torrent of curses poured in.

[Your HP is rapidly decreasing!]

[Your HP is rapidly decreasing!]

[Your HP is rapidly decreasing!]

Jeong-Hoon calmly used Safeguard.

[Using Safeguard.]

In the past, he would have needed to use Safeguard multiple times, but now, once was enough for Jeong-Hoon.

With a single use of Safeguard, all the curses vanished as if they had evaporated.

[Seven Deadly Sins]

- Types: Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, Pride

- Level: ?? (Grows by absorbing stats)

- Rank: Celestial

With this, four out of the seven were now gathered, and the Seven Deadly Sins had advanced by one stage.

It wasn’t just a growth in rank or stats — his actual body had evolved by one stage.

“Heh heh heh, Escanor! You damned bastard! I’ve already regained more than half my power! Do you see this?”

The Seven Deadly Sins shouted loudly while looking at the sky outside the window.

Although a grin stretched across its face, its voice carried an indescribable rage.

Since Escanor had sealed it by splitting it into seven parts, this reaction was understandable.

“Seven Deadly Sins.”

At Jeong-Hoon's call, the Seven Deadly Sins turned its head.

“Hm?”

“Did you recover more of your memories?”

Now that four parts had been gathered, the Seven Deadly Sins had regained additional memories.

“Yeah. I’ve remembered a fair bit about that bastard now.”

“Good. Then tell me about his combat abilities.”

“Well... one thing's certain: if you go after him now, you’ll die 100% for sure.”

The Seven Deadly Sins answered without a moment's hesitation.

It was the expected answer, so Jeong-Hoon wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Alright. Then tell me everything you know.”

“Got it.”

* * *

The Seven Deadly Sins finished its explanation.

Information about Escanor.

And information about this game.

As expected, most of it was surface-level knowledge, with nothing particularly useful.

‘Learning about Escanor through Baal played a huge role.’

Everything about Escanor.

That information was now in Jeong-Hoon's hands.

Without it, even the surface-level information would have been crucial.

“Do you have any more questions?”

The Seven Deadly Sins asked with eyes full of hope, as if craving praise.

“No. You can go now.”

“…That's it?”

“I’ll give you something nice to feed on soon.”

“You promised!”

Apparently satisfied with that answer, the Seven Deadly Sins beamed brightly before leaving.

‘Finally!’

‘That damn demon, he was so clueless it was frustrating.’

‘Alright, alright, let's hurry and take out the book.’

‘I’m already excited to see what comes out.’

Mukho and Anima, who had been listening with bored expressions, suddenly had their eyes sparkle with interest.

Jeong-Hoon chuckled and retrieved the ‘Ultimate Mastery’ book from his inventory.

===

[Ultimate Mastery]

- Type: Skill Book

- Rank: Ultimate

- ???

===

Until it was used, its contents remained unknown.

“I wonder what it'll be.”

With a slightly tense expression, Jeong-Hoon activated the skill book.

A hologram appeared before him.

[You can learn one skill from the list.]

[Please select the desired skill.]

So, he could choose a skill from the list?

It wasn’t even random — he could actually pick the one he wanted.

Jeong-Hoon began examining the skills listed one by one.

There were so many that he had to scroll down to view them all.

‘Master! Do you have to pick one from this list?’

Mukho curiously scanned the list.

‘Which one seems good? Master, can you take a closer look at them?’

Unfortunately, no.

All Jeong-Hoon could see were the skill names in the list.

That made it even more important to choose carefully.

“Hmm, what should I pick?”

As he scrolled down slowly, deep in thought…

“Huh?! Why is that here?”

A skill that caught Jeong-Hoon's eye appeared on the list.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]