Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Skill Devouring to the 666th Floor Episode 052

52. Terra’s Vessel

What is Terra?

The essence of gods, the source that makes their existence possible.

In other words, it was the very power that the gods possessed.

Naturally, it was something that should never be shared with anyone.

It was the energy that allowed them to exist as gods, so how could they?

[You’re insane. You’ve lost your mind.]

That was why Orcus was pointing his finger at me in disbelief.

[Asking us to share Terra. Are you in your right mind? Regressor?]

“Of course. I’m more clear-headed than ever.”

An expected reaction.

That’s why I responded calmly.

Though the other gods couldn’t do the same.

[Tae, Tae Seong. You knew about the existence of Terra as well?]

Kairos’s question.

Looking at his expression, he was quite shocked.

“I know about it. It’s the gods’ energy, isn’t it?”

[Even if you’re a Regressor, how do you know that? Did we reveal it before your regression?]

This time it was Harmonion’s question.

He seemed curious about how I knew.

‘I didn’t want to know at first either.’

The time when the Twelve Apostles were annihilated under the Three Gods’ command and I alone survived.

The Three Gods were in despair.

How to overcome this crisis.

Whether they could reach the 666th Floor with just a low-level tanker like me.

‘I was also engulfed in shock at the time.’

I even felt anger.

It wasn’t that I believed in and followed the Three Gods, these foolish deities.

These things had ultimately driven my teammates to their deaths!

‘That’s when I realized. No matter how excellent you are, it’s useless under a foolish commander. If there’s a next life, I must never move according to the Three Gods’ will.’

At that moment when my head was boiling with rage.

They experimented on me.

To see what would happen if Terra was injected into a human.

‘They probably thought that sharing Terra with a human would make them at least a little stronger.’

They probably never considered what would happen to me in the process.

It was a method they tried as a last hope anyway.

This is why I know about Terra.

‘I almost died.’

Humans cannot handle the power of gods, Terra.

Because they don’t have the vessel for it.

‘The process of implanting Terra involves terrible pain.’

But if you can endure the pain and stabilize the Terra?

You can become somewhat stronger.

Since you also gain an Achievement.

‘Though it only amounted to cutting off one of Amon’s arms…’

This time will be different.

Because I plan to obtain more Terra than in my previous life.

“However I came to know about Terra, that’s not important. What’s important is…”

I looked straight at Orcus and continued.

“Orcus’s heart.”

[My… heart?]

“Do you really want to save Liu Weihao?”

Orcus nodded vigorously.

[Of course!]

“Enough to give up your most precious thing?”

[….]

Orcus hesitated for a moment.

Could he give up Terra for Weihao?

That’s what I was asking.

And Orcus was hesitating about his answer.

‘It won’t be easy. Terra is the most important source for all gods.’

It was the same when the Three Gods injected Terra into me and experimented in the past.

They argued several times over whose Terra to use.

‘Just seeing how they bickered and fought, not wanting to give it to each other, showed how important Terra is.’

That’s why I don’t know what decision Orcus will make either.

Whether his affection for Weihao is enough to give up his Terra or not.

So, some persuasion is needed here.

“The only one who can control Weihao is probably Orcus, his Sponsoring Spirit. But in a situation where you can’t intervene in reality, wouldn’t it be too dangerous to make him an ally? No one knows when that madman might turn. Of course, if you had Orcus’s Terra, that would be a different story.”

[Are you saying my Terra is absolutely necessary to subdue him?]

“That’s right. A wild horse needs a stronger bridle. If I don’t become stronger than I am now, it will be difficult to control Weihao.”

[Hmm….]

“Don’t feel too burdened. If I feel that Weihao is a true ally, I’ll return the Terra to you then.”

[Huh? You’ll return it?]

It seemed like something he hadn’t thought of, as Orcus’s eyes widened.

“Of course. It’s part of your power, so how could I keep it forever? I should return it when the time comes.”

Of course, it was a lie.

I had no intention of doing that whatsoever.

‘Now, what will you do, Orcus?’

When I looked at him, he avoided my gaze like a cornered rat.

“Have you decided? Orcus?”

[Ahem, wa, wait. I’m thinking about it.]

As soon as I heard those words, I felt disappointed.

He’s still hesitating?

Is his attachment to his first Apostle only this much?

‘At this rate, I might not be able to get the Terra?’

Just as I was about to sigh.

[I’ve decided.]

Orcus spoke with a resolute expression.

[I’ll give you part of my Terra.]

‘Oh!’

I cheered inwardly.

But.

[However, just a very small amount.]

He’s going to set limits?

How dare he, in front of me?

“I’ll decide the amount.”

[What?]

“100 Terra. I need to receive at least that much.”

Orcus’s eyes shook greatly.

It seemed like a much higher number than he expected.

‘Still, 100 Terra is a conscientious request.’

Compared to the energy Orcus possesses, it’s only an extremely small part.

But even giving that much seems precious to him, as he narrows his eyes.

[Isn’t that too much?]

“How much were you originally thinking of giving?”

[I was going to give about 5….]

Instantly, anger surged up from my chest.

‘He was trying to settle it with just 5 Terra?’

This is too outrageous to let slide.

“That’s ridiculous. Is the value of your Apostle only that much?”

[….]

“This won’t do. I’m raising it to 150 Terra.”

[What!?]

Orcus was startled.

He fidgets around like someone whose feet are on fire.

[How can that be! We agreed on 100 Terra!]

“Just 5 Terra to settle this is insulting. I won’t accept it. Give me 150 Terra.”

[Hey, human! No, Regressor! What are you trying to do right now? Isn’t this too much?]

“The one being too much is you, Orcus. It’s not like I don’t know how much Terra you have, yet you’re only offering a mere 5 Terra? That’s really too much. I need to receive at least 150 Terra.”

[Ah, no… where does that even make sense, really… It should be 100!]

He was whining that even 100 was too much earlier, but now that I raised it to 150, he must be dying from the loss.

[…Can’t you lower it a bit? How about 110…?]

“I’ll reduce it to 145.”

[That’s still high. How about 115…?]

“Then let’s go with 140.”

[Ah, fine. 120! How about that?]

“140. This is already a big concession on my part.”

[Hah…]

Orcus finally let out a sigh as if giving up.

[Fine. Let’s go with 140.]

Negotiation concluded.

I got 40% more than the originally proposed amount.

The faces of the other two gods watching this process showed clear amazement.

[Tae Seong. Just how much do you know about Terra?]

[It’s already surprising that you know about Terra, but to grasp the exact amounts… You’re probably the first human to see through the gods’ Terra.]

Right, I’d be the first.

Though I don’t actually know the exact amounts.

I’m just making rough guesses.

‘How would I know how much Terra Orcus has?’

But the Three Gods have no choice but to believe my words.

I’m the only one who has experienced the future.

Whatever I say, they have to accept it without doubt.

This is the greatest advantage gained from revealing my identity as a Regressor.

“Then, give me 140 Terra right now. Don’t think about cheating me since I’ll notice if you give even 1 less.”

[Ah, fine.]

Orcus said that and extended his hand.

[Take my hand.]

“Yes.”

The same situation as when I received Terra before.

Orcus must be curious.

About what will happen to me after receiving Terra.

As if he was curious about that part.

[Let me ask you something before injecting the Terra.]

Orcus spoke up.

[What are you planning to use the Terra for after receiving it?]

“To become stronger.”

[Can you really become stronger by receiving Terra?]

“Yes.”

[A human vessel shouldn’t be able to handle a god’s power, right?]

“Whether it’s possible or not, you can check after giving it to me.”

[Hmm, fine.]

Orcus took my hand.

With a face full of regret.

[Here it comes.]

“Yes.”

What will happen?

A situation where the other gods are also watching with interest at this first attempt.

Soon, something was transmitted through Orcus’s hand.

It wasn’t mana, nor Dark Magic, nor white magic.

Something new.

To be precise, that feeling I had experienced once before.

‘It’s Terra.’

The system showed an abnormal reaction to the foreign energy seeping into my body.

[Warning! Unknown energy detected.]

[This energy is incompatible with the user.]

[Block the energy’s approach? Y/N]

Terra is energy that doesn’t suit the vessel called human.

Perhaps that’s why the system helps to exclude it.

Like a firewall blocking malicious programs.

But.

‘Why would I block it? It’s a path to becoming stronger.’

Ignoring the system’s warning, I pressed N.

Then.

[Unknown energy is flowing in.]

Energy began to invade my body.

I could feel the power of a god.

And.

‘Kuk!’

Pain that felt like tearing as well.

[Warning! Unknown energy is attacking the user’s soul.]

[Analyzing energy.]

[Please wait a moment.]

This message had appeared in the past too.

The analysis result revealed it was Terra.

[Analysis complete.]

[The inflowing energy is ‘Terra’.]

[It is the source of gods, energy that doesn’t suit the user.]

[If handled wrongly, your soul could be devoured.]

[Shall we expel it right now? Y/N]

If I pressed Y, my body would start all activities to reject Terra.

But.

[You have selected N.]

[Preparing to accept Terra.]

[As a side effect, your soul may be devoured.]

I accepted the risk.

Because I had already experienced it once.

‘If I did it once, why can’t I do it twice?’

I closed my eyes and concentrated to accept Terra.

I used my specialty, Mana Control, to help open the path.

So that Terra could fully settle in my body.

The pain felt during this process was my burden to bear.

‘Kuk.’

A groan almost escaped, but I barely managed to grit my teeth.

I endured to the end despite pain like a blade scraping my blood vessels.

If I couldn’t endure even this much pain, regression would be meaningless.

I gathered my mind and concentrated again.

I pushed the pain to the back of my consciousness since it was interfering.

I focused solely on accepting Terra.

With all my strength.

As a result.

[You have succeeded in accepting Terra.]

I succeeded in stably absorbing Terra.

And.

[You are the first human to accept Terra.]

[Achievement will be added.]

A new Achievement was created.

Even seeing the message, I wasn’t surprised.

It was something I had experienced in the past, and this Achievement was exactly what I had been aiming for from the start.

▶Vessel of Terra (SS)

―Acquisition condition: The first human to absorb and stabilize Terra.

―Effect: All stats permanently increase by 10% of Terra amount.

Since I received 140 Terra, it’s an Achievement that increases stats by 14.

And that’s for all stats.

‘This Achievement is different from Achievements received through Labyrinth conquest. It’s an Achievement gained by accepting Terra.’

Therefore, there’s no need to wait 10 days, nor worry about others stealing it.

The moment I receive it, it permanently becomes mine.

The gods watching probably don’t know this fact.

“Phew…”

[Are you alright? Tae Seong? Your expression doesn’t look good…]

“Yes. It hurt a bit, but it was bearable.”

[Don’t tell me you accepted Terra? With a human body?]

When I nodded, Kairos and Harmonion were surprised.

However, the one most shocked was Orcus, who had directly given me the Terra.

[H-how could a lowly human…?]

“Why? Did you think I was going to die?”

[Ah, no… normally it’s impossible for a human soul to accept Terra.]

“You gave it to me knowing that?”

[….]

When I glared at him, Orcus completely turned his back.

‘Well, he’s not wrong. If Terra had been injected into another human, their soul would have been devoured and they would have gone insane.’

I managed to control it with magic, but otherwise I might have ended up the same way.

Whatever the case, the gods were looking at me with new eyes.

Their reaction showed they never expected me to fully accept the Terra.

[Tae Seong. Are there any changes in your body?]

“There are changes. I feel somewhat stronger.”

[Is that so? I can’t tell from the outside.]

Of course you can’t tell.

But I can see it in exact numbers.

My stats have definitely increased.

‘Plus it’s written in my Status Window. The amount of Terra.’

Terra 140 displayed below my held Credits.

Looking at that, I bowed my head toward Orcus.

“You gave me 140 Terra as promised. Thank you.”

[Oh, y… yes.]

“Then, I’ll go keep my promise as well.”

Orcus’s sullen expression instantly brightened.

[Right! You promised to save my Apostle, didn’t you? Save him no matter what! If you don’t, I’ll take the Terra back! Though I’m not sure if I can take it back…]

“Yes, don’t worry. I keep my promises.”

With those words, I left the Eternal Room.

‘I will save him.’

Though I only plan to keep him barely alive.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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