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Chapter 1
"Found it."
A palace made of gold flashed before Seun’s eyes. Not only were the floors and pillars of the palace covered in gold, but the entire place was adorned in it. No ordinary wealthy person could possess such a vast amount of gold.
The sight was so dazzling that it was hard to see. It’s as if one was looking at a heavenly path made of gold. However, Seun knew that this place was anything but a path to heaven.
-Player Jeong Seun entered the "Temple of Ten Thousand Demons (Manma Temple)."
Temple of Ten Thousand Demons, also known as Pandemonium.
As the name suggests, this was where ten thousand demons reside, and this place was also the capital of hell. The temple was said to have been created by the Demon of Greed, who led his demons through the infernal mountains that vomit up black clouds, using gold bullion obtained from them.
It was also famous as the place where the seven demons corresponding to the Seven Deadly Sins held a council to discuss the destruction of the world.
"I never thought it would actually fall this far."
Seun was currently on the 92nd floor of the Tower. In a tower that was known to be endless, this was the highest level players had ever reached.
However, the temple, known as the gathering place for the seven demons known as Evil Gods, was originally a structure that should be located at the top floor of the tower, where the Holy Thrones were located.
"Should this be considered a fortunate accident?"
The Third Great War of Gods and Demons. This war was so devastating it resulted in the annihilation of all demons in the tower, including the Evil Gods themselves. Consequently, all traces of evil, including the temple, were forcefully removed from the top floor. Thanks to that, Seun was able to find Manma Temple.
After the war, the power of evil was annihilated, and peace returned to the Tower.
‘Until all the Thrones are devoured, that is.’
Had they been waiting for that moment? Not long after the demons were annihilated, a new enemy emerged atop the tower where the Thrones reside.
The Outer.
A mysterious enemy that appeared from somewhere higher than the top of the Tower.
Not only had the Evil Gods, who made up half of the throne, been wiped out, but Divine Gods had also been greatly weakened as a result of confronting the Evil Gods.
As the saying goes, in a fight between whales, the shrimp's back gets broken. Similarly, the number of Neutral Gods decreased by more than half. To make matters worse, the Outer possessed power surpassing even the Divine Gods.
The Holy Thrones desperately tried to stop the Outer, but they ultimately lost the battle.
"From then on, it was no different from living in hell."
Once at the top of the tower, the Outers divided their bodies and sent them spilling out below. Unable to withstand this, the overwhelmed monsters poured down to the lower floors, fleeing in terror.
There was no way the players, weakened by the disappearance of the Holy Thrones, could hold them all back.
Eventually, even before the rest of the Outers arrived, the player society had already collapsed.
That was the current situation that the Tower was facing.
-First player to have entered the Manma Temple.
-Earned a historic achievement.
-Earned 100,000,000 points as a reward.
-Entered the Divine Realm in a human body.
-Achieved an amazing achievement.
-Earned 10,000,000 points as a reward.
As expected, Manma Temple.
As soon as he took a step, numerous system messages appeared, and points known as achievements poured in. Normally, this would have put a smile on Seun’s face.
"I won’t be able to use them anymore, so what's the point?"
The player society had completely collapsed due to the arrival of the Outer. So no matter how many points he earned, it would mean nothing now that he had no place to spend them. He swallowed a bitter laugh and walked on the glittering gold. Turning his head, he saw beautiful decorations everywhere.
"It's truly magnificent."
Indeed, truly befitting a structure created by the God of Greed. Exquisite and delicate craftsmanship that seemed impossible without dwarves, golden liquid spurting through fountains, and even golden statues of the seven Evil Gods.
"Even Zeus's temple wasn't this grand."
The God among gods. Even the temple of Zeus, the most powerful of the twelve gods of Olympus, couldn't compare. Part of me wanted to take my time exploring the temple.
Kuring!
Crash-
"They seem to always be in a hurry."
Vibrations echoed throughout the temple and gold dust fell from the ceiling. It's clear that the Outers were attacking, somehow knowing Seun’s location, the last remaining player on the 92nd floor.
A short walk later, an ornate entrance to the temple's interior appeared, but this was not Seun’s destination.
"It must be here."
The Manma Temple was said to be the place where the seven demons held their council, but regardless of what others say, the true master was Mammon, the God of Greed.
Now that all the gods, including Mamon, were annihilated through the war, there was only one thing that Seun was searching for in the temple.
"Mamon's treasury."
The gold and silver treasures that the God of Greed had collected over the eons.
It was the only way to make the current situation worth all the trouble of scouring through various books, unearthing the wisdom of sages, and collecting hidden pieces within dungeons.
-Unique skill, 'Guide of the Journey,' is used.
Zing!
***read at novelworldtranslations.blogspot.com***
A golden arrow resembling a compass floats above Seun's head.
The only unique skill that allowed Seun, who had neither the right choice of seat nor overwhelming combat ability, to climb to the 92nd floor of the tower and find Manma Temple.
Guide of the Journey was a skill that was highly regarded as the best in exploration, adventure, and discovery. Well, thanks to it, he was often taken advantage of and put in danger, but without this skill, it would have been impossible for him to be alive today.
Thud-
"They hid it well."
It was in a remote corner of the temple. After pushing the center of the wall and tilting the golden candlestick, the floor opened up to reveal a wide staircase.
"The secret staircase hidden in the Manma Temple."
There was no need for thoughts. This was the path leading straight to the treasury of the God of Greed, Mamon.
Thump! Creak-
As Seun descended the stairs, the vibrations under his feet became stronger. Sensing that there was not much time left, Seun's footsteps quickened even more.
After going down the spiral staircase, Seun finally saw the door to the treasury. Seun then raised his hand above the door that only the God of Greed could enter.
Creak!
Mana surged like electricity and rejected Seun's touch
"Felces. The day I would be grateful to that bastard has come."
Seun took out a golden key from his pocket. A key whose item information hadn't been confirmed by any of skills. It was a reward from a top-tier dungeon, and when he couldn't figure out what it was for, Seun remembered the disgusted face of Felces, who had thrown it to him as a reward. After that, Seun also forgot about the existence of the key for a while, but he was able to find out about it while investigating the Manma Temple. Seun discovered that this the golden key was for entering Mamon's treasury.
Clank!
Creak!
The massive golden door opened. For the first time in a place filled with nothing but gold, Seun saw something other than gold.
"Crazy, this is all treasure?"
-You have entered the Treasury of Greed.
-The first player to enter the Treasury of Greed.
-Earned a historic achievement.
-Earned 100,000,000 points as a reward.
The system messages did not catch Seun's attention. When he saw the golden temple, his eyes sparkled like gold.
"Cursed sword, Tyrfing, Martial Arts Scroll of Heavenly Demon, forgotten Ancient Magic Scroll of the Eight Circles, and even Dragon Heart..."
Each and every one of these extraordinary treasures was piled high in this spacious warehouse. Not only for players but even for Gods, there were objects worthy of drooling in every direction. Seun was almost overcome with greed.
Kugu-gwung!
"There’s no time."
A resounding vibration brought Seun back to his senses. Suppressing his greed, Seun searched through the place, weaving his way through countless gold and silver treasures. The amount of treasure was overwhelming, and it seemed like he would have to stay here for months to find what he was looking for, but he had the Guide of the Journey skill. By following the golden arrows above his head, he finally found the item he was looking for.
[Hourglass of Kronos]
The Hourglass of Kronos, the God of Time. It was the only way to escape the tower that was about to collapse.
"Well, I wouldn't say escape."
If the hourglass was used, the only thing one can turn back was the user’s own time. And even then, the user would end up repeating the present moment.
"But if we can stop the Great War."
At the very least, I can stop the Outers from attacking, right? Seun thought so. No, even if I don't rely on the power of the demons and gods, if I use the knowledge I have now to the fullest.
"If I climb the tower and personally block the Outsiders..."
At the very least, the worst would be avoided.
And a little revenge along the way.
Since Seun had already thought of everything, he didn’t hesitate in using the hourglass.
-Resetting the time in the 'Tower' for the first time.
A new beginning. The plan was flawless.
As he climbed the tower, his mind was filled with the maps of his journey, the books he’d read, and the knowledge of the hidden pieces he’d gained from his fellow players.
Whatever it takes, I will stop this from happening. I will not be foolish enough to repeat the mistakes of the past.
-Used Hourglass of Kronos
-Time remaining until all the grains of sand fall: 9 minutes 58 seconds...…
As Seun rewound the hourglass, and the golden grains of sand began to trickle out.
Since turning back time was an act that goes against the laws of causality, it seemed to take longer than he expected. Seun, unfortunately, had no time to leisurely wait for it.
Kwaang!
Woosh-
"You came all the way here."
The ceiling of the golden treasury collapsed.
As the palace of a demon, its durability should be too strong for even a god to break.
Indeed, it was the power of an Outer that had swallowed the Seat and taken control of the top of the tower.
"You-ahh!"
In the middle of the collapsed ceiling, the figure of an Outer briefly revealed itself.
A fierce roar so loud it could burst eardrums resounded. Despite being just a remnant of an Outer, not even its actual form, Seun’s hands trembled in the face of it.
Under normal circumstances, he would have immediately retreated to avoid the creature, but things were different now.
"Only 10 minutes left. Where should I thoroughly enjoy myself during that time?"
[Zeus' lightning bolt, Astraphe]
-One of three treasures created by the first giant, Cyclops, for Zeus, king of the 12 gods of Olympus and ruler of the heavens.
Ding!
The Astrape emitted a brilliant light in Seun's hand.
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