The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 201

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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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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 201
201. The Fifth Trial
[A hidden Sub Quest is available!]
【Sub Quest】
└Clear 3 or more trials solo
└Upon success ▶ Rune Bundle awarded
[Sub Quest completed!]
[Rune Bundle has been added to your inventory.]
Ryu Min smiled with satisfaction upon seeing the reward.
‘There it is. The Sub Quest reward.’
The reason I stepped forward to clear the trials alone was none other than this.
I needed to obtain the Sub Quest reward.
‘The first trial doesn’t count since I didn’t tank it myself.’
From the second through fourth trials, I handled everything alone.
That’s how I secured the reward, but there’s actually another Sub Quest in this round.
‘That’s also why I brought the Necromancer along.’
In the final, fifth trial, I plan to use the Necromancer to claim the second Sub Quest reward as well.
‘Not just for me, but for all party members.’
Of course, the Necromancer is excluded from the party.
‘Should I try opening it then?’
Ryu Min immediately manipulated the system and used the Rune Bundle.
[Rune Bundle has been used.]
[Congratulations! The ‘Rune of Reputation’ has been drawn!]
[The acquired rune is automatically inscribed onto the player’s body!]
[Rune of Reputation]
-Effect: Reputation received in the Other World increases by one tier. Neutrality does not exist, and you receive favorable treatment wherever you go.
Even I don’t know what rune will emerge from the Rune Bundle.
Whether the outcome is determined at the moment of acquisition or not, a new rune has appeared each round.
‘So I didn’t have particularly high expectations….’
Yet quite an excellent rune emerged.
‘Reputation received in the Other World increases by one tier.’
This means neutral can rise to favorable, and favorable can rise to very favorable.
Sure enough, after obtaining the rune, reputations changed.
[Humanity’s reputation toward the Last Regressor has risen from ‘Eternal Nemesis’ to ‘Hostile’.]
[The Demon’s reputation toward Black Scythe has risen from ‘Favorable’ to ‘Very Favorable’.]
[Humanity’s reputation toward Black Scythe has risen from ‘Favorable’ to ‘Very Favorable’.]
[The Elf’s reputation toward Black Scythe has risen from ‘Very Favorable’ to ‘Eternal Ally’.]
[The Dwarf’s reputation toward the Forerunner has risen from ‘Favorable’ to ‘Very Favorable’.]
…
…
…
Every reputation had risen by one tier.
Black Scythe included, along with every title I possessed.
‘Excluding the Time Reversal at the end, I should be able to receive favorable treatment from all races now.’
All neutral reputations had shifted to favorable, and the already good ones had improved further.
Especially the reputations with Demons, Dwarves, and Elves.
Since there was something to gain from them, Ryu Min’s lips naturally curved upward.
‘This will save me quite a bit of time.’
Without needing to grind reputation painstakingly, obtaining what I wanted had become far easier.
‘Round 13 is basically a free clear at this point.’
I’d originally planned to seek out only the Elves in Round 13, but now I’d have to visit the Dwarves as well.
With his business concluded, Ryu Min nodded toward his waiting teammates.
“Let’s move out.”
Thanks to Ryu Min, the party members cleared the trial smoothly and soon arrived at the location of the final trial.
“Is this it?”
Before them lay a path shrouded in absolute darkness, as impenetrable as an abyss.
Unable to discern what lay beyond, they hesitated to take a step forward when a message suddenly appeared.
【Fifth Trial】
└All party members must navigate past the traps and reach the End of Corridor within one hour
└Success: Register as a surviving team and grant experience based on performance
└Failure: All members annihilated
‘All members annihilated on failure?’
As John Delgado faltered, an explanatory message rose before them.
[Before you lies an Abyss Darkness Corridor that cannot be illuminated by any light.]
[Traps are scattered throughout the darkness, and any who touch them will be annihilated instantly.]
[However, when a target is annihilated, the trap is simultaneously removed and will not regenerate.]
[If all party members safely avoid the traps and reach the End of Corridor within the time limit, the trial will conclude.]
[Conversely, if you fail to reach the End of Corridor before time expires, it will be deemed a failure.]
[Note: All skills except summoning are prohibited in this place.]
[Your vision is limited, so rely on each other’s backs and proceed with composure.]
As this was the final trial, failure meant certain annihilation for all.
Moreover, merely touching a trap meant instant annihilation.
It was a trial that inspired dread just hearing about it, yet for some reason, John Delgado’s lips were twitching upward.
The reason was simple—he had already grasped the solution.
‘So to traverse that lightless corridor, I need to clear the traps by using my summons, right?’
Realizing that he was precisely what this trial needed, John Delgado’s expression shifted subtly.
His lips curled into a cunning smile.
“It looks like this trial is absolutely impossible without summons, doesn’t it?”
“That seems to be the case. What do we do?”
“You lot should count yourselves fortunate.”
“What? I don’t understand….”
At Min Ju-ri’s words, John Delgado arrogantly tilted his chin upward.
“As it happens, my class specializes in summoning creatures.”
His tone and expression had shifted.
And rightfully so.
From this moment forward, he could consider himself in the dominant position.
That’s why he found the courage to speak so brazenly to Black Scythe.
“Hey, Black Scythe.”
Since they were party members, damage wouldn’t even register on him—there was nothing to fear.
“What do you think about this? A trial has appeared that’s absolutely impossible to clear without my cooperation?”
“So what are you trying to say?”
John Delgado’s lips twisted into a smile.
“You still have points left, right? Just hand over ten million points to me. And get on your knees and beg for your life. Then maybe—just maybe—I’ll show you some mercy.”
“Excuse me, John Delgado! What are you doing right now….”
“Shut your mouth, Buffer! I’m talking to Black Scythe right now!”
John Delgado vented his anger on the innocent Min Ju-ri before turning his gaze back to Black Scythe.
“What? Can’t do it? Then you’ll have to die here.”
“That means you’ll die too?”
“Yeah. Honestly, I’d love to clear this myself and lead the charge, but then you’d all follow me around like chicks, wouldn’t you? So I’d rather we all die together.”
“You’d throw away your own life for a mere grudge?”
“A mere grudge?”
John Delgado’s eyebrows twitched.
“You severed my limbs and call it a mere grudge? You still don’t grasp the gravity of this situation? Do you need to actually experience annihilation before you come to your senses? Huh?”
John Delgado shouted, venting all his accumulated resentment, and spoke with deliberate intent.
“Ten million points and a sincere apology. If you don’t provide these two things right now, I won’t cooperate. Then not only you, but your entire party will be annihilated. Me? I don’t care if I die. As long as I can take you with me.”
But truthfully, it was nothing more than an empty threat.
Who in this world would sacrifice their own life just to kill someone else?
Though his desire for revenge burned fiercely, John Delgado wasn’t willing to go that far.
‘But I need to bluff like this for him to accept the deal, right?’
To make Black Scythe kneel, I had to come on strong.
Besides, his lifeline was in my hands anyway—there was no reason to be afraid.
‘Once I get those ten million points, I’ll buy experience packs and reach max level instantly. Then I’ll be on par with Black Scythe right now.’
I’d even prepared contingencies for after the clear was complete and the party disbanded.
I hadn’t set ten million points as the condition thoughtlessly.
‘You have no choice but to accept. Why? Because your life—and your party members’ lives—depend on it. Kehehehe.’
As long as he was human, he couldn’t be without guilt.
To save his party members, he’d have no choice but to submit to me.
Or so I thought.
“Get lost.”
“Understood. So you’re accepting the deal… What?”
John Delgado’s mind went blank at the unexpected answer.
“What did you just say?”
“Get out of the way. We’ll clear this on our own.”
“Ha, you’ve lost your mind. Didn’t you hear the explanation? Touch a trap and you vanish instantly. There’s no way to illuminate the darkness, and no method to avoid the traps and advance. Even someone as skilled as you has no choice but to rely on my summons, right?”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
“What?”
John Delgado, bewildered by such baseless confidence, let out a scornful laugh.
“Damn it, fine. Go ahead and try. Looks like you’re planning to rely on pure instinct—don’t come crying to me if you get erased.”
Black Scythe ignored John Delgado’s warning and stepped toward the corridor.
The Abyss Darkness Corridor stretched in all directions—nothing but darkness wherever one looked.
It would have been natural to fear even setting foot in such a space, yet Black Scythe took the first step without hesitation.
‘Huh? He’s fine?’
Black Scythe stood perfectly intact, as if walking on solid ground above the darkness, and glanced back at his companions.
“What are you doing? Come on, follow me.”
“Yes!”
“Line up single file and follow. Don’t fall more than three steps behind the person in front of you. One wrong step and you’re gone.”
With those words, Black Scythe led the way forward.
Walking through the darkness was no difficult feat for him.
* * *
‘He’s panicking.’
Ryu Min let out a quiet chuckle as he observed the Necromancer standing alone.
‘Well, he should be. He’s walking through this hellish abyss without a single summon.’
According to the standard strategy, summoned creatures were essential for this trial.
One would send the summon ahead, and if it fell into a trap and vanished, they’d send another summon down a different path.
That was the core strategy for navigating this trial.
But as a returner, Ryu Min had no need for summoned creatures.
‘I’ve memorized the entire path.’
I know where it’s safe to go and where the traps are, even without seeing them.
I’ve learned and memorized it all through experience.
‘Five more steps and a trap appears.’
Ryu Min sidestepped two paces to avoid the trap.
And just like that, my party members followed along like a train of cars.
‘This way, there’s no risk of being erased. No need for a summoner at all.’
In fact, the Cave of Trials was something I could clear alone.
I’d only gathered party members out of necessity to progress through the trial.
Honestly, it didn’t matter who my party members were—the trial was already in the bag.
‘Some might ask: if you can clear it alone, why bother including the Necromancer in your party?’
The reason was simple.
I needed to trigger the second sub-quest.
‘The condition for the second sub-quest is [Overcome the trial through your own strength without the aid of a summoner].’
In other words, if I let the Necromancer come in last and the rest of the team reaches the End of Corridor first, the second sub-quest will be completed.
‘And everyone except the Necromancer will receive the sub-quest reward.’
But what happens to the Necromancer who enters last?
Not only does he fail to receive the reward, but he also receives a permanent debuff.
That was the reason I forced John Delgado into the party.
To complete the second sub-quest and inflict a permanent debuff on him.
‘If you tried to assassinate me, you have to pay the price.’
Ryu Min smiled as he stepped on the final ground.
Tap—
As Ryu Min was followed by Min Ju-ri, Jeffrey, and Ju Sung-tak safely reaching the End of Corridor, a message appeared.
[You have completed the sub-quest!]

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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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