I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 87

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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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#Episode 87.
The revealed rewards were a crimson orb and a ring embedded with a jewel shaped like an eye.
I examined the two rewards laid before me.
While the rewards themselves didn’t specify who had granted them, it was immediately apparent upon sight.
―A thoroughly sinister aura.
At Onyx’s words, I nodded and studied the ring.
The ring emanated an aura that could only be described as malevolent. Its very appearance reinforced that impression.
I set the ring aside for now and examined the crimson orb first.
[Emblem of the Unyielding]
[Grade: Unique]
[An emblem imbued with the power of Unyielding History. When held in your hand, you feel a vibration like a heartbeat from within. It increases your strength.]
[Blessing of Unyielding History: Once per day, you can exert overwhelming power for a brief duration.]
“Excellent.”
This was clearly a superb artifact.
‘And it’s a gemstone-type too.’
Typically, gemstone artifacts like this are valued one tier higher than ordinary equipment.
That’s because they can be combined with gear.
No matter how exceptional a sword is, you can only wield one unless you’re using dual blades, but these can be used in multiples.
‘It’s a shame it boosts strength though.’
Considering my combat style, strength wasn’t a particularly vital stat.
But then again, there was no reason I had to use it myself.
‘Karon might benefit from it.’
Watching Karon fight, each strike carries substantial weight. He favors large swords too.
‘I’ll decide after I return.’
I placed the Emblem of the Unyielding into my inventory and shifted my gaze to the ring.
“Hmm.”
Something about it—both its appearance and the aura it radiated—made it look like a cursed artifact.
I stared intently at the ring, and its description appeared.
[Oath of Corruption]
[Grade: Epic]
[A ring infused with the malice of a transcendent being. The blood-red band, intricately crafted as if mocking reason itself, carries an uncanny allure that twists the hearts of those who gaze upon it. While wearing it, you seem to hear endless whispers from somewhere.]
[Blessing of the Evil God: All abilities increase dramatically, and you gain the ability to freely manipulate demonic energy.]
[Mark of Corruption: From the moment you equip it, you hear endless whispers. There is only one way to escape these whispers—death.]
“Epic grade….”
An Epic grade artifact, no less.
And looking at its effects, they were remarkably straightforward—a dramatic increase in all abilities and the ability to manipulate a special force called demonic energy. Clearly an excellent artifact.
However, there was a problem: it came with a penalty.
“This really is a cursed item.”
The Mark of Corruption’s description was vague, but it clearly didn’t seem like a beneficial effect.
It was an effect I absolutely did not want to experience.
As I reread the description, something suddenly came to mind.
“Come to think of it, there’s no real reason I have to be the one wearing this, is there?”
Especially looking at the final line—it stated that ‘death is the only escape from this whisper.’
I glanced at the undead standing blankly beside me.
The ones who were already ‘dead.’
“Try putting this on.”
I handed the ring to one of the undead.
The undead obediently took the ring and slipped it onto its finger.
Whoooosh—!
In an instant, a powerful aura surged around the undead, and its body turned pitch black.
Merely by equipping the ring, the undead’s presence became remarkably dense.
Moreover, the aura I felt was nearly on par with Karon’s. In some respects, it even surpassed his.
“Karon. Attack this one. And you—do your best to defend against it.”
At my command, Karon immediately approached the undead and swung his sword.
The undead stretched both arms forward.
Clang—!
In the next moment, Karon’s blade was deflected with a sharp metallic ring.
I saw it clearly.
The instant the sword and undead collided, a black barrier-like membrane unfurled before the impact, blocking the attack entirely.
Clang, clang, clang—!
Karon swung his sword several more times, but the attacks didn’t land at all.
“Is that mana?”
It seemed the Evil God had indeed offered an extraordinary artifact as a reward.
However, there was still something I needed to verify.
“Stop for now. And you—is there anything uncomfortable? Anything strange?”
The undead I questioned stood vacant for a moment, then clicked its jawbone together.
A sign that it didn’t understand.
I observed it a bit longer just to be sure, but the undead seemed perfectly fine.
―It appears the undead suffer no ill effects, Master.
“Right? That works out well.”
If that’s the case, I could use this without worrying about penalties.
It wasn’t a loss that I couldn’t wear it myself. My undead were legitimate combat assets, after all.
“Good. I’ll leave the ring with you. And for your name….”
The undead wearing the ring was a skeleton, and its body, which had originally been a dull gray, was now stained black.
“Black?”
―Isn’t that a bit too simple, Master?
The moment I suggested the name—black bones, therefore Black—Onyx immediately objected.
“Then what would you call it?”
―I think Nox would be fitting.
Nox. Night, darkness. It was frustrating to admit, but it did sound better than Black.
“That’s right. Nox. Your name is Nox.”
As I bestowed the name, Nox’s eyes grew even more luminous. It was the birth of the third undead to receive a name, following Karon and Araktar.
“Now, all of you return.”
I then drew out a pouch and issued commands to the undead.
They were all unsummoned in an instant, reverting to bone fragments that were sucked into the pouch I held.
I placed it in my inventory and looked ahead once more.
Messages cascaded before my eyes.
[You have completed the objective of the 56th Floor]
[You receive a High-Grade Mana Stone as a reward]
[You have been the first to complete all waves]
[You have achieved a Clear Rank of ‘SSS’]
[You receive ‘???’s Egg’ as an additional reward]
Clear messages. All of them.
Along with a sizable High-Grade Mana Stone, I received an egg roughly the size of a human head.
“What is this?”
The mana stone was nothing particularly unusual, but the egg was utterly unexpected.
I stared at it, hoping for a description, but nothing came to mind.
I attempted to place it in my inventory, but the egg refused to fit.
Wondering why, I pondered for a moment, and one possibility occurred to me.
‘Living creatures cannot be stored in the inventory, or so I was told.’
That seemed to be the reason.
I scratched my chin and decided to return to my Territory.
After all, my strength was nearly depleted, and I couldn’t ascend to the next floor while carrying this egg.
Having made my decision, I returned to my Territory at once.
Whoooosh—
Soon after I departed, several silhouettes materialized in the space where the battle had taken place.
They surveyed the battlefield with their eyes while conversing.
―His growth rate defies imagination. It’s truly astounding.
A lean man with a bow slung across his back spoke with his arms crossed.
Immediately beside him, a woman with long flowing hair spoke in a sharp voice.
―I recognized his worth from the beginning. So don’t covet what’s mine.
―Is that so? He seemed to show little interest in you.
It wasn’t the lean man who responded, but rather the muscular man standing furthest back.
The woman shot the man a piercing glare and spoke.
―What are you talking about! I saw how pleased he was with my rewards!
―Of course he was, since you’re giving excessively. Tsk tsk, courting a mortal rather than receiving their worship—how pathetic.
―Excessive? And what about what you’ve given?
―I have merely provided what befits the trial….
Just as the atmosphere was about to turn hostile.
The lean man who had spoken first opened his mouth again.
―Sargon’s fury seemed ready to pierce the heavens.
The muscular man and the long-haired woman reacted immediately to those words.
―And rightly so. He put on quite the show of involvement, only to have his precious artifact immediately surrendered.
―Just thinking about how that wicked creature’s face must have contorted in rage fills me with satisfaction.
―Without question, he’ll make another move soon, in whatever form he can manage.
The other two nodded at those final words.
―That too shall be his burden to bear.
―If he cannot overcome it, then it ends there.
Their interest extended no further than that. The eyes of transcendents were not fixed upon this single place alone.
―But if he does overcome it, he will draw the attention of far more. Just as he did when he conquered the trials before.
Still, it was true that Jung Han-sung was the climber receiving the most attention among mortals who had recently entered The Tower.
Otherwise, this many transcendents would never have gathered to witness him.
―Then, I shall take my leave.
―I should be going as well.
With that, they exchanged a few more words before dispersing.
The lone male ranker who remained glanced once more at the site where the battle had unfolded, then vanished elsewhere.
* * *
A spacious living room.
I sprawled across the sofa.
“Hmm….”
The reason I, who normally only ate and slept at home, had returned to my house on Earth was simple enough.
I had stopped by the Territory to leave behind the egg I’d received as a reward, then returned to Earth’s house for a quick shower.
But then a sudden appointment had been made.
‘Or perhaps not so sudden.’
In truth, the message had arrived several hours ago. I simply hadn’t checked it while in The Tower, and only confirmed it after returning just now.
“Once I head back, I’ll need to examine the spoils. Check over all the undead comprehensively…. And above all, I need to decide on a main channel.”
I gazed into empty space, mentally cataloging my tasks.
I wasn’t normally one to rush through work, but this time I intended to clear all my accumulated tasks before ascending The Tower again.
It was because of what happened in the Wave.
‘I finished it smoothly enough, but that’s precisely why I suspect he’s laying even more vicious traps next time.’
Before, he had managed to corner me reasonably well, but this time I had shattered the Evil God’s trap far too easily by my own assessment.
It was only because I could break through it smoothly by using Rodos, my trump card….
But would he really harbor such resentment over those details?
Next time, he would certainly prepare traps several times more dangerous than this.
So there was only one thing I could do.
‘I must grow stronger faster than he anticipates.’
Refusing to be satisfied with my current strength and continuing to push forward.
That was the reason I had survived his traps until now.
With such thoughts, I mentally reviewed my tasks once more, one by one.
About ten minutes had passed in this manner.
Ding dong—.
The doorbell chimed.
I rose from my seat and walked toward the door. Checking the screen, I found a familiar face standing there.
Whoosh.
The door slid open, and a booming voice rang out.
“Hello, hyung!”
It was Cho Cheon-woong who had come to find me.
“Ah, come in.”
As I gestured, Cho Cheon-woong bowed respectfully, removed his shoes, and stepped inside.
I then settled back onto the sofa and offered him the seat across from me.
Cho Cheon-woong sat down immediately, his expression turning serious.
“As I mentioned beforehand, I am ready.”
“Before you enter, then?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
The reason Cho Cheon-woong had come all the way to my home was simple.
He had finally earned the right to enter the Unclaimed Territory—my Territory.
Cho Cheon-woong spoke with eyes burning with fervent determination.
“I will offer my core to your Territory, hyung!”

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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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