Chapter 66

If the empire learns of this fact and participates in the labyrinth, a great disaster will occur.

Anyway.

'I need to prepare.'

Giving ten days for entry time means to complete all preparations and then enter.

It also implies that the pieces of the Golden Rule needed for exploring the labyrinth should be filled in.

'The pieces are sufficient.'

I have pieces that can last nearly a thousand hours, so there's no need to worry about this part.

However, the one thing that concerns me is the presence of a party.

Isaac and Isabella.

Both of them possess pieces of the broken Golden Rule.

We obtained them together while overcoming trials.

Though they only amount to dozens of hours, it's clear that they will be helpful in the early stages.

I need to properly enhance their abilities during the remaining time, and I also need to increase my own proficiency to prepare.

'There’s no time to delay the rewards.'

The Abyssal Labyrinth, where I must pour all my resources.

I immediately took out the golden fruit from my pocket.

A gift from the Radiant Throne of the Glorious Hero, calling it a reward.

It's a kind of elixir.

However, my body was resistant to the effects of ordinary elixirs. Due to my many talents and traits, consuming elixirs wouldn't improve me any further.

'This fruit is different.'

But this fruit is different.

So different that it's a big deal.

To be honest, I hesitated because it seemed dangerous, but now there's no time to hesitate.

Without hesitation, I swallowed the fruit.

At that moment.

<'World Tree Fruit' has been consumed.>

Gurgle! Gurgle!

My stomach churned violently, and an immense pain swept through my body.

“...!”

I bit my lip and clamped my mouth shut.

If I opened my mouth, I would have vomited the fruit at that moment.

An unimaginable rejection reaction.

This level of agony was something I had never experienced since becoming a player.

I clutched my throat with both hands. The fruit continued to stimulate my throat as if it were about to burst out.

I was already thrashing about.

My whole body turned red, and my mind grew distant.

‘Mad...!’

Regret flooded in, but I couldn't give up once I had started.

Just as my mind was about to fade away.

<'World Tree Fruit' is beginning to be digested.>

<Achievement 'Taboo Breaker' has been unlocked.>

<The effects of the fruit are starting to spread throughout the body.>

<Undigested energy is being expelled.>

<All energy is being absorbed by 'Glutton'.>

<Absorption rate 110%!>

<Successfully absorbed the 'Holy Lineage' contained in the seed of the fruit!>

<Hidden trait 'Druid's Nature Affinity' has evolved to 'High Druid's Great Nature'.>

<Nature-related talents are specialized.>

<A new skill has been created.>

...

*

The Underworld.

The Demon King, seated on the throne at the end of the realm, looked down at his body.

‘This body... is perfect.’

The Demon King was in the process of making Wilhelm's body completely his own.

The more his control strengthened, the more he marveled.

A body honed to the extreme.

Although the star that was granted with life was taken away, the experience of surpassing limits still remained in the body.

The Demon King had never seen such a perfectly formed body in all his long life.

Even though he cannot grow further due to the goddess's trick, it is sufficient.

If he can make it completely his own, he will be several times stronger than before.

“The ‘Abyssal Labyrinth’ has opened, my lord.”

The seven rulers of the resurrected layers knelt before the Demon King.

Hearing their words, the Demon King stroked his chin with interest.

“The spirits of the abyss are finally beginning to emerge.”

“Will you just watch, my lord?”

“Of course not.”

The Demon King chuckled and clapped his hands.

Then, a woman appeared from the darkness.

The rulers of the layers were quite surprised to see the woman.

“Is she...?”

“Isn’t she the wicked lackey of the goddess’s cult?”

The Demon King nodded.

Then, he looked at the woman and spoke.

“You know what you must do, Saint Seira.”

“Yes.”

Saint Seira, who sacrificed herself to protect her comrades in the grand expedition.

She did not die.

To be precise, she was not killed.

Instead, all her will was eradicated, and she was turned into a puppet.

The Demon King's smile deepened.

‘Despair in all that you once thought was hope, humans.’

Attitude towards a deity

How much did I struggle in pain?

I resisted the temptation to log out nearly a hundred times before the pain subsided.

I instinctively knew that logging out and fleeing would significantly affect the absorption rate.

“Are you feeling better?”

“... Hudson.”

When I opened my eyes, I was in the bedroom.

Hudson was sitting beside me.

He let out a deep sigh of relief and then asked with a serious expression.

“Why didn’t you log out?”

Hudson had already figured out that I was a player.

From the moment he brought me the top-tier elixir.

He knew because he was a player himself.

Moreover, he also knew my name, Randolph, so it would be strange if he didn’t.

I shook my head and sat up.

“How much time has passed?”

“Two days. You didn’t log out once during that time. Did you take some kind of special elixir?”

“Yes.”

The fruit of the World Tree.

To maximize its absorption rate, I didn’t log out for two days.

I gritted my teeth and endured the endless pain.

Hudson shook his head.

“Most players log out when they take such things. No player can endure pain for two days.”

I didn’t know that.

Elixir.

It refers to a medicine with potent effects.

When consumed, they usually cause pain, and most players can’t bear it and log out.

But after enduring this time, I realized that logging out isn’t always the best option.

“I stayed by your side, just in case something happened. Of course, Priest Andrew is always on standby outside... Don’t do such a foolish thing again.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“You’re going to do it again?”

“Taking an elixir and logging out reduces the absorption rate.”

I was certain. Logging out reduces the absorption rate. To get the proper effect, I had to endure the pain completely.

“It’s only about a 1% difference.”

“1% is significant.”

“...”

Hudson looked at me, speechless, as if wondering what kind of person would do this.

Would anyone really endure such pain for two days just for a 1% difference?

‘Probably not.’

But that 1% accumulated to make Wilhelm.

I knew this well, so I didn’t give up.

After a moment of thought, Hudson seemed to make a decision and spoke firmly.

“Mr. Randolph, are you taking good care of your real body?”

“Just enough to not die...”

“... You didn’t log out for two days, and you call that enough?”

“Since becoming a player, my real body has become strangely resilient.”

“It’s a placebo. Players’ real bodies are the same as ordinary people’s.”

Placebo effect.

Believing a fake to be real and thus achieving the same effect.

Players who have strong warrior bodies in the game believe their real bodies are also strong.

But reality is different.

Hudson knew better than anyone the gap between Pangea and the real world.

‘It’s true, though.’

But my real body has indeed become stronger.

Muscles grew without exercise, and my strength was enough to lift a person. I could even go without water for a few days.

Not to Randolph’s level, but far beyond that of an average human.

Is it the same for other players?

“Do you know that the ‘Abyssal Labyrinth’ will open in seven days?”

“I know.”

“The players are in an uproar. From the interdimensional community to... According to my personal sources, it seems that not only players will participate.”

“If not just players, who else will participate?”

“The goddess’s cult and the Earth God’s cult have been talking about the Abyssal Labyrinth since the announcement.”

“Hmm.”

My mind became clear.

The goddess’s cult and the Earth God’s cult. The two largest groups on the continent are making the same noise.

It won’t take long for everyone on the continent to know.

Or perhaps they already do.

And if not just players, but Pangea’s strong participants join in?

‘It will be a hellish scene.’

It doesn’t seem easy.

I didn’t ask about the broken pieces of the Golden Rule required for entry.

The monsters in Kramdel also had broken pieces of the Golden Rule.

Moreover, unlike Pangeans, players have limitations.

Hudson also pointed this out accurately.

“It seems to be a long-term battle. Since logging out resets your position, you need someone to manage your real body.”

“That’s true.”

I don’t know how long it will take to conquer the labyrinth.

If a fierce battle breaks out, it will take even longer.

Entering without proper preparation could lead to a big problem.

Most importantly, even if the broken pieces of the Golden Rule last nearly a thousand hours, logging out to consider your real body will reset your position in the labyrinth.

No matter how strong your real body has become, it’s not superhuman enough to be left alone for dozens of days.

And the same goes for other players.

“If you don’t have anyone to manage your real body, come to the UK.”

“The UK?”

“Of course, I know that Phantom doesn’t rely on anyone... But if you come to the UK, I can provide reliable and discreet assistance.”

While speaking, Hudson inwardly shook his head.

He knew I was Phantom, but that was all.

No one knows who Phantom is in the real world.

Thorough secrecy.

There’s no way someone like me would break that.

“I will.”

“Really...? Ah! Cough! Cough!”

Hudson started coughing, taken aback by the unexpected answer.

It seemed he couldn’t believe it was real.

‘Hudson is trustworthy.’

He was the man