100 Floors All Master - Chapter 268
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master of 100 Floors Episode 268
61st Floor. The Universe’s Extreme Environment (2)
Mandala Planet.
A world where one could rightly call it home to the harshest natural environment in the universe. In exchange, it held mysterious catalysts and materials to match.
Many had come seeking those materials, yet few succeeded. Even the universe’s strongest found survival difficult in such extreme conditions.
But none of this meant anything to Kang Jun-hyeok.
Crunch-crunch-crunch.
A portion of the world was being crushed into the shape of a sphere.
The Infinite Gravity Domain.
One of the extreme natural environments that existed on Mandala Planet, where endless gravity was compressed and concentrated.
And within that domain lay a rapidly condensed mass waiting to be claimed.
He had to take it.
The problem was that approach itself was impossible. The gravity of the Infinite Gravity Domain was thousands of times that of Earth. And the closer one drew, the stronger the gravity became—at point-blank range, it approached black hole levels.
An extreme region where even a middling 4th Tier could lose their life.
[Stealth.]
Whoosh.
That gravity no longer touches him.
Isolated from the world, Kang Jun-hyeok approaches the sphere lightly. After three seconds, the moment his hand closes on it, intense gravity applies. In an instant his body begins to crumple and his health drains away.
[Reset. Stealth.]
But gravity fails to touch him once more.
Kang Jun-hyeok retrieves the sphere and escapes.
Next comes a space where energy is compressed to madness—a bomb of a space that would obliterate an entire area if even a single feather intervened.
[Stealth.]
[Crack Movement.]
He seizes the imperfect fuel mass within that space and withdraws.
[Crack Movement.]
Crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch!
The fuel mass in Kang Jun-hyeok’s hand attempts to detonate. A direct hit would pierce through all his defense and reduce his health to zero.
[Gap Distortion.]
He swallows that explosion with Gap Distortion.
[Really now.]
[Ha ha ha. This is absurd.]
Manbyeonggi and Eldyria laugh in utter disbelief.
Mandala Planet—the harshest world in the universe.
Even 3rd Tiers struggled to survive it, and 4th Tiers couldn’t afford carelessness. When the universe’s strongest gathered and gave their all to challenge it, many failed to claim even a single material.
Yet Kang Jun-hyeok was conquering Mandala Planet far too easily.
It went beyond absurdity—it felt hollow.
[Yes. That was the power of the Victors.]
Absolute authority that ignored the laws and principles of the original universe. They had been defeated before that power. Manbyeonggi muttered bitterly.
[All the strength I—we built up holds no value whatsoever before their authority. I knew it, but that doesn’t make it feel good.]
“That so? I see it differently.”
[Hm?]
The Victors’ authority is certainly formidable.
But the powers of the universe were not inferior in the slightest.
Pixie’s magic.
Manbyeonggi’s Divine Technique.
The Taeheo Mubyeon and others.
The ultimate principles left by the universe’s geniuses are truly magnificent. Though they may fall short in compatibility against the Victors, in terms of value they could arguably surpass them.
Manbyeonggi fell silent at those words, then spoke.
[Even as empty words, I’m grateful you say such things.]
His voice was calm but sincere. Words that held meaning precisely because they came from Kang Jun-hyeok, no one else. Kang Jun-hyeok shrugged.
“They’re not empty words.”
Kang Jun-hyeok moved to the next location.
Crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch!
A space where thousands of lightning bolts strike down by the second. Among them was a single bolt with physical substance.
“Hoo.”
Steadying his breath, he enters the lightning. Moving quickly, he raises the shield with both hands.
Crack-crack-crack-crack-bang!
Lightning lashes out at Kang Jun-hyeok in an instant. Hundreds of bolts strike simultaneously in a single second, yet he endures with the shield’s defense and pulls out the gem.
Shimmer-shimmer-shimmer.
An emerald.
Its effect was strong repulsion against matter.
Crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch!
The lightning with physical substance crashes down.
Crushing pressure tears through the shield and bears down on Kang Jun-hyeok. He steadies his breath and draws his blade.
[Pixie’s Mana Control.]
[Pixie’s Mana Box.]
[Taeheo Mubyeon.]
He controls the power contained within the lightning perfectly and suppresses it.
Moments later, undulating lightning rested in Kang Jun-hyeok’s hands.
Having achieved his goal, Kang Jun-hyeok withdrew and spoke.
“The Victors’ authority is certainly powerful. But that’s merely a concept. Precise regulation of force—modulation—becomes impossible for them.”
Lightning with physical force is incredibly delicate. At the moment of impact, one must control perfectly so the force doesn’t escape outward. Precise force manipulation is required, something the Victors’ authority cannot achieve.
Had he tried to swallow it with Gap Distortion, the lightning would have lost its power and become nothing but a meaningless fragment.
The authority from beyond the universe.
The power of the universe.
Both must be claimed to achieve victory.
Kang Jun-hyeok knew this fact better than anyone.
Only one who had seen an ending could possess such certainty. Both fell silent.
Thereafter, Kang Jun-hyeok continued gathering materials. Sometimes wielding the Victors’ authority, sometimes the universe’s power—over the course of one week, he successfully obtained five materials in total.
[61st Floor Quest Clear.]
[Your reward will be determined by your performance.]
[Calculating achievement rate……]
[Calculation complete.]
[Achievement Rate: 100%]
[Perfect Clear. Congratulations! Additional rewards are being granted.]
[The effect of Title: Perfect Player has been added.]
[13,113 Gold has been awarded.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Essence of Thousand-Lock Waterfall] has been obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Stabilized Gravity Concentration Sphere] has been obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Compressed Fusion Element] has been obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Fragment of Inner Core] has been obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Heavenly Cloud Mass] has been obtained.]
[Players who have Perfect Cleared the 61st Floor: 1.]
[You alone!]
[Universal Announcement.]
[Congratulations to all of you throughout the universe! A Perfect Player of the 61st Floor has appeared. An achievement no one has attained until now!]
[Achievement +6]
[Essence of Thousand-Lock Waterfall]
[Grade: High]
[The Thousand-Lock Waterfall, where nothing external can ever be brought in. The essence of a small stream existing within it. It has maintained its purity for tens of millions of years.]
[Stabilized Gravity Concentration Sphere]
[Grade: High]
[The concentration of gravity before becoming a black hole. Paradoxically, what should be incredibly unstable has become the most stable state through physical laws.]
Each one was a high-grade material. The remaining three were of similar caliber. Kang Jun-hyeok immediately sought out the Blacksmith. Upon seeing the materials, the Blacksmith let out an exclamation.
“Ho. This is—”
Among all the materials Kang Jun-hyeok had brought before, these ranked among the finest. And he had brought five of them.
“The 61st Floor was Mandala Planet. That explains it. Still, it couldn’t have been easy. ……Come to think of it, you possess the Victors’ authority. Then it’s not impossible.”
The Blacksmith, having reached his own conclusion, tapped the materials here and there.
“Then what do you desire? With this much, I could forge five pieces of decent equipment.”
Each material was incredibly valuable. He could replace five different equipment slots. But Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head.
“No. Not five pieces.”
“Hm?”
“I wish for all these materials to be used in crafting a single piece of equipment.”
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke quietly.
* * *
The types of equipment a Player can wear are: helmet, upper body armor, wristguards, lower body armor, shoes, necklace, two rings, and weapon and shield.
Ten slots in total.
This was a fixed value determined by the System, something that could never be changed. No matter how precious the equipment obtained, one ultimately had to discard previously worn gear.
But eventually, as one acquired more equipment, one reaches a point where pieces become so outstanding and excellent that no better equipment can be found.
People called such equipment graduation-grade gear.
‘About time I forged one.’
The Blacksmith stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I understand your thinking. Rather than five pieces of equipment you’ll eventually have to replace anyway, you want one piece that will last until the very end.”
“I believe that with the materials I’ve brought, it’s not impossible.”
“You’re not wrong. Each one holds immense value in the universe. This much would certainly be sufficient. Hmm.”
The Blacksmith examined the materials intently.
A few minutes later, he spoke.
“But it’s impossible right now.”
“Why is that?”
“A central core is lacking.”
The Blacksmith tapped the materials again.
“Each one’s power and individuality are too intense. If I forge equipment this way, they won’t harmonize and I’ll end up with something twisted. I need a single core to encompass and harmonize all of this.”
A material capable of controlling and suppressing high-grade materials.
Supreme-grade material.
That was what he meant.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s expression did not change. Graduation-grade equipment demanded difficulty proportional to its performance. One supreme-grade material would certainly be necessary.
A dragon heart, a piece of the World Tree, the horn of a demon lord—materials of the highest caliber.
‘I’ll have to struggle through the next floor.’
The 62nd Floor.
There, he should be able to obtain supreme-grade materials. But to do so, he would have to risk his life.
But that was always the case. Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.
“I’ll bring it.”
“Wait.”
The Blacksmith smiled with amusement.
Kang Jun-hyeok conveyed his memory to Pixie. She wore a strange expression.
[You’ve been valuing our power more highly than I thought. Not a bad feeling, though.]
[300 Starlight.]
The effect of the Perfect Player title was a boost to all resistances.
He had been intending to train before entering the next floor once preparations were complete.
A system window, broadcast throughout the entire universe, appeared before him.
[Universal Announcement.]
[Hello, everyone. This is the Tower Administrator.]
[It’s been quite some time since after the Second Universe Quest concluded!]
[You should have grasped the direction you must take in the Second Universe Quest. Did you gain sufficient understanding of it? And are you walking the correct path in accordance with that direction?]
[I do hope so. Otherwise, surviving what comes next will not be easy.]
[In two months’ time, the Third Universe Quest will commence.]
“At last.”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes grew serious.
The First Universe Quest had signaled the true beginning.
The Second Universe Quest had shown Players what they should do, what their purpose was, and what they must face.
And the Third Universe Quest would be proof.
A true trial.
[What you must do in the Third Universe Quest is simple.]
[Prove it.]
[Prove your strength.]
[Prove your resolve.]
[Prove your worth.]
[Fail to do so, and you will lose your qualification.]
[So for the remaining two months, climb the Tower with your life on the line. Cultivate your power and strengthen your resolve. Then we shall meet again in two months’ time.]
Unlike before, the text of the system window carried a grave tone.
The Players throughout the universe sensed something amiss and felt their bodies grow cold.
Kang Jun-hyeok alone smiled with composure.
“That’s good.”
Two months remained.
He would cultivate his strength as much as possible until then. Kang Jun-hyeok gathered his power and began his training.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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