Chapter 156 - 30 Days Later (1)
Chapter 156 – 30 Days Later (1)
At my house in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.
“That’s why I am in a place called Region 0 now.”
I confessed to my father, brother, sister and Director Sok that I am currently in Region 0 after meeting a man named Pablo in the Sabre Steel Tooth Tiger Habitat and refusing his offer to join his guild.
Of course, I also told them that Region 0 was not the same as Region 53 which meant Korea. It was a place for those who possessed level 1200 Privilege reality actualization.
“By the way, crossing the wall…”
Director Sok could not finish his words after hearing my explanation.
Of course, I knew what he wanted to say because I was also very curious about it.
“Yeah. That guy named Pablo seemed to be able to cross through the wall. Besides, it seemed that he could also send others to another region.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Of course, if the wall or channel separating each country disappears later, Pablo’s ability as it is now will be meaningless. But for now, his ability was extremely powerful.
Anyway, I kept talking to them about Region 0 for some time because I had a lot to say about what I experienced in each stage.
But I didn’t mention the root because although I was 100% certain that it was the root, I could not control it as I wished.
“I’m currently finishing Stage 7, but there’s a high possibility that I might end up stopping in Stage 8 or Stage 9. It is much more difficult than I thought.”
Yes, it was really difficult, and there was a strong possibility that it would become far more difficult in the future, for I had little possibility of getting stronger within the 30 days in Region 0
The main reason for that was because my status window was locked, so the remaining stat points or level-ups I received as a reward were temporarily useless.
In other words, it was impossible for me to invest the remaining stat points in Intellect even though I already had them.
Moreover, after I increased my reality actualization rate to 7%, I often shouted “Use coins!”
Why? Because I had a surplus of coins and there might be somebody who increased it past 7% in the meantime.
And I did the same after having been moved to Region 0.
Well, I shouted it more often because even an additional 1% was critical for me in Region 0.
[Lumen, Asirante entered Region 0 with a 7% actualization rate.
-During 30 days of testing, you can’t change your actualization rate.
-Additional points will be given at the end of the test if you clear a stage higher than the one a normal person can clear with a 7% actualization rate.]
Even if someone raised their actualization rate to 8% or 9%, I had to stay at 7% as long as I was in Region 0.
Eventually, the level of difficulty will increase as I continue to clear the stages, but I had no choice but to stick with the same actualization rate as before during my stay in Region 0.
Of course, there was something I could rely on, namely, the root that suddenly appeared before me without notice.
‘If I can control the root exactly as I want…’
Then maybe it would be possible for me to go to a higher stage than I thought because the root could easily get rid of the Rascal Fairies.
Anyway, Pablo with the trait ‘Penetrating Wall,’ my current area of Region 0 and the guild called ‘Lucia’ that Pablo asked me to join were all very unusual, so I talked with my family members and Director Sok late into the night.
When we were almost done talking, my sister opened her mouth casually, “By the way, the situation is very exquisite. When you obtained the level 1200 Privilege: Reality Actualization in the level 500 only arena quest, a man named Pablo popped out, right? If you didn’t get the reality actualization at that moment…”
“…”
I didn’t say anything in response to her words because I was not so sure if Pablo appeared because I acquired the level 1200 Privilege: Reality Actualization, or if I randomly acquired the level 1200 Privilege: Reality Actualization since Pablo would soon appear before me.
Of course, I also thought I was lucky.
But I quickly shook my head because even if I was lucky, I had to come to Region 0 after using all the coins to increase the actualization rate as much as possible, even if I would get additional points with a lower actualization rate.
Anyway, on that day I talked with them late into the night, so I slept in my home, and very soundly at that, for I seemed to have used up my energy while clearing each stage.
As a matter of fact, it was quite stressful for me to exercise only 7% of my total ability with only Ice Ball and Ice Bolt.
I felt very refreshed the next morning perhaps because I had a good sleep.
It was already past lunchtime, so I quickly washed my face and had lunch with my mother and sister since my dad and older brother had gone to work.
Then I returned to my one-room studio.
What did I do after that?
Of course, I accessed ‘Revival Legend’.
[You will be logged in to Stage 7 in Region 0.]
Unlike before, a message rang every time I logged in after I was forcibly moved to Region 0.
Soon Stage 7 appeared in front of me.
It was empty.
Of course, there were ten Rascal Fairies in one corner that I could kill if I wanted to.
But I sat down on the ground, resting my chin on my hand.
“Hmm. Obviously, it’s amazing for me to have reached Stage 7 with 7% actualization rate.”
I don’t want to brag about myself, but it’s extraordinarily for me to reach Stage 7 with only a 7% actualization rate. Actually, I was about to clear it.
What if someone else with a 7% actualization rate like me challenges Stage 7?
Of course, anyone can clear Stage 1 easily.
The fact that anybody has reached a 7% actualization rate means that he is at least level 1200 anyway, excluding an exceptional case like me.
Moreover, no matter how many orcs there were in Stage 1, they were simply orcs. The Gray wolves that appeared in Stage 2 were much more powerful monsters that were incomparable to orcs.
And it was the same for Stage 3 as well.
Moreover, considering that one would have to wait for an hour upon death instead of being resurrected immediately, they would probably end up hitting Stage 3 or Stage 4 at most.
Even if they reached Stage 4, they would be unable to clear it.
However, I will get additional points for having never died and clearing Stage 7 with a 7% actualization rate.
I muttered to myself, “I guess this is enough.”
Then I raised my head and looked at the sky.
[24 days, 13 hours and 32 minutes remaining.]
Since I set foot here in Region 0, the time remaining has always appeared in the sky.
So, I thought of getting rid of the remaining ten Rascal Fairies driven into a corner during the last ten minutes. In that case, I would reach Stage 8 after clearing Stage 7 completely.
Of course, my number of deaths will remain at zero like before.
I felt I would receive a nice reward for my achievement up to now.
But I got pissed off at that moment.
“Damn it! How should I spend 24 days and 13 hours?”
24 days and 13 hours was very long for me.
So, idling away for such a long time without doing anything would be a huge loss to me.
And apart from the loss, I felt it was so unfair.
Currently, this was the period where the 50% EXP buff applied thanks to Korea’s winning the 4th Anniversary event.
At that moment, the word dilemma came to my mind.
I was in an awkward situation, to say the least. But I didn’t agonize for long because there was only one choice in the end.
I stood up right away, then charged at the ten Rascal Fairies.
Of course, they also started attacking me. However, they were too weak to block my attack.
In the end, it took less than ten minutes for them to stop fluttering their wings.
At that moment, a message rang.
[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared Stage 7.
-As a reward for clearing Stage 7, you will get 350,000 points.
-Your level goes up by 10 for clearing Stage 7.
-You have received additional points to your score at the end of the test because you had 0 deaths while clearing Stage 7.
-Stage 8 will open in 10 minutes.]
This time, I enjoyed an increase of ten levels.
I liked it. Honestly, I felt good about whatever came out because the remaining stat points, coins, or trait shards were very valuable to me, no matter what.
“By the way, I hope the monsters appearing in Stage 8 are not ranged monsters.”
For the ten minutes until the appearance of monsters in Stage 8, I kept my fingers crossed that they were not ranged.
Of course, I prayed for something else, namely, the root.
If it’s going to come out anyway, I really wished it could come out from the beginning instead of making me hope for its appearance while fighting the monsters.
Anyway, ten minutes quickly passed, and I was ready to attack right away.
Soon Stage 8 appeared before my eyes.
“….”