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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Acquiring a Catastrophic Reward
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Rewards poured in like a tidal wave.
Especially considering these were the rewards from the first Abyss, the names were shockingly impressive.
Setting aside the Gold Box, a Platinum Box, no less!
And not just any Platinum Box.
'A 3-star Platinum Box... I didn't even get a regular Platinum Box until I was over level 70. I've never even seen a 3-star one.'
They called it a miracle that transcended the inscrutable.
He'd soloed a Fallen Ghost that was 109 levels higher than him, so praising it as a 'mythic feat' wouldn't be enough.
Yet even Park Chan-woo hadn't expected a 3-star Platinum Box as a reward.
There were five types of 'boxes' obtainable in the Abyss.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.
The Diamond Box was a 'dedicated box' only available after reaching level 99, so for almost everyone, Platinum was the highest grade.
The reward quality jumped sharply with each star attached.
Let alone three?
He couldn't even imagine what it might give.
'Only about 1% of people got a Gold Box from their first Abyss.'
In truth, even a Gold Box was a huge deal.
In the past, fewer than 20% survived, getting just a lone Bronze Box.
Those who got a 'Gold Box' from their first Abyss made up around 1% of the total population.
But this time, survival rates exceeded 90%, with 824 survivors—a miracle.
And all 824 got Gold Boxes. Utterly unprecedented.
'Not a single one got a Platinum Box.'
And yet, he could confidently say no Platinum Boxes were obtained.
If there had been, Park Chan-woo would have known.
The gear from Platinum Boxes was immensely helpful for navigating the Abyss ahead.
Just one step above Gold, but the treasures were on another dimension.
Anyone who got one would have skyrocketed in power, monopolizing all gains.
Park Chan-woo couldn't have missed someone like that.
That was exactly why he'd wanted to return to the moment the first Abyss opened.
'Growth speed depends on the first Abyss rewards.'
His past self had been too slow, too late.
He hadn't seriously started tackling the Abyss until half a year from now.
Only when society had completely collapsed did he finally move.
...How much he'd regretted it.
If he'd shortened that time, seized the high ground faster, he wouldn't have gone to extremes like sacrificing Sepiro to go back.
Especially—he was certain that nailing the first Abyss rewards alone would have changed his 'growth ceiling.'
'Anyway.'
Park Chan-woo glanced at the text floating in the air once more.
The rewards were insane, but what came after was too.
Numerous Creators were showing interest in him.
Park Chan-woo chuckled.
'The Creator who made this Abyss might go bankrupt.'
The 'Creators' were the ones who designed the Abyss's content.
There existed supreme beings who placed the Fallen Ghost and forced 881 people into a deadly game of tag.
They had no ties to the Twelve Races—the 'Lords of the Abyss.'
Their bets on this Abyss had set the 'expected survival rate' at 21.7%.
But over four times that—93.5%—had survived.
The betting Creators lost all their 'Coins,' and the host Creator who opened the Abyss likely spat out '824 Gold Boxes' and a '3-star Platinum Box,' heading straight to bankruptcy.
'It should be showing up any moment now.'
He steadied his dizzy mind to the end.
Soon, Park Chan-woo inwardly shouted Eureka at the new messages.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Host 'Panting Asura' demands a reward exchange, claiming to offer something better. If accepted, acquire '100 Gold Boxes' instead of 'Platinum Box (★★★)'. Additionally, a 'Divine Vessel Contract' with 'Panting Asura' becomes possible. Opting for 'Divine Vessel Contract' over 'Apostle Contract' grants buffs in Abysses created by 'Panting Asura' and inheritance of a 'Secret Class'.
Just as Park Chan-woo had predicted.
'Doesn't want to go bankrupt after all.'
In the past, Creators had gone bankrupt a few times.
Each time, they'd writhe desperately for recovery, cozying up to those who'd cleared their Abysses with all sorts of excuses.
The most common ploy was 'reward downgrades.'
Pretending to offer something better, using goodwill as bait to subtly shrink rewards and avoid bankruptcy.
Not just his, but the other 823 survivors' rewards too—they'd try to minimize them all.
'If I knew nothing, I'd have accepted.'
For someone clueless, it'd be tempting.
They might bite, thinking they could ally with the hell's creator.
100 over 1? Dreaming of becoming an unprecedented powerhouse via Divine Vessel over Apostle Contract.
But Park Chan-woo knew.
It was a trap.
Just the thrashing of something desperate to avoid ruin.
100 Gold Boxes?
No joke—it couldn't compare to one Platinum Box.
Higher-tier boxes were irreplaceable.
The gear grade gap was insurmountable.
Let alone a 3-star Platinum.
'Divine Vessel Contract is slave contract. Just wordplay.'
Creators.
Better to keep distance from those Abyss Lords.
Become a Divine Vessel, and you'd be heavily influenced by them.
Forced summons to their Abysses, orders to rig 'survival rates'—it happened.
Secretly killing to lower rates if too high.
Plenty of Divine Vessels pulled such 'trolling.'
"Get... lost."
Park Chan-woo flashed a triumphant smile, flipping them the bird.
Instantly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "No! This can't happen! What a waste of a qualification!" Host 'Panting Asura' has gone bankrupt! 'Panting Asura' has been stripped of 'Creator' status. Due to massive debt, 'Lord' rank has been demoted. For your major contribution to bankrupting a 'Creator,' you receive '3 Coins.' Coins allow escape from unwanted Abysses.
'Just as expected.'
One Creator down from the start.
Thoroughly satisfying.
Full without eating—like a free meal.
Plus Coins on top.
'Three escape Coins right at the start. My old party would have died of envy.'
Dare he say, Coins were the best treasure.
Treasure of treasures.
Freedom to bail from trash Abysses.
Abyss difficulties rose over time.
Some dragged on forever with meager rewards.
Or targeted specific people.
So-called 'Sniper Abysses.'
Without Coins when sniped, 95% death chance.
Getting escape Coins was like chasing stars.
Thus, not drawing Creator attention was key.
Yet he'd snagged three right away.
No worries dealing with Creators now.
'Even Creators opening Sniper Abysses feel the burden. Escapes hit hard.'
Abysses pitted participants against hosts.
Host failure meant host damage.
Bankruptcy, like this.
So.
'No contracts with you lot.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ All Apostle offers rejected. Offering Creators are offended.
'Mad? Snipe me then.'
Now even Sniper Abysses were fine.
Apostle Contracts for classes?
A way, sure—but Park Chan-woo had no intent to deal with Abyss Lords.
Creators: give one, demand two.
He'd walk his own path alone.
Only then did Park Chan-woo close his eyes peacefully.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
When he opened his eyes, the world had changed.
📰 Breaking News "The 'Abyss' that struck the entire world simultaneously—what is that place?" 📰 Breaking News "Seoul death toll estimated at minimum 100,000." 📰 Breaking News "Humanity's Awakening and the Path Forward?" 📰 Breaking News "The End Has Come!"
TV, newspapers, internet—everything buzzed with Abyss talk.
Late afternoon.
Park Chan-woo, finally dragging himself home, showered and slumped on the bed.
Towel-drying his hair roughly while fiddling with his phone, TV news droning in the background.
"...Was it always this tricky?"
Twenty years away from electronics made even muscle memory a struggle.
In half a year, societal infrastructure would crumble completely.
'The massive Abyss opening half a year from now. The first encounter with the Twelve Races—if I can just minimize the damage then...'
At least nations could function.
The gap between maintained and collapsed infrastructure was heaven and earth.
But that 'massive Abyss'—the 'First Racial War'—was no joke.
Even against their weakest soldiers, humanity got crushed.
Result: 120 million offered up.
Ten million each to every Race.
Thinking of it still boiled his blood.
"God of Offerings. How long you gonna sleep?"
He muttered to himself.
The God of Offerings stayed silent.
If it'd returned with him, it'd respond—but nothing.
Something else was off too.
He'd clearly seen the message: more offerings needed to revive the God of Offerings.
"Hey. You didn't sacrifice your soul to send me back, did you?"
Unlikely, but he said it as a joke.
The God of Offerings was strict give-and-take.
Never took a loss.
Contracted it by chance on the magic path, but it never gave more than offered.
No way it'd sacrifice his soul to send him back.
'...Probably just sleeping.'
It'd gone quiet for days sometimes before.
Park Chan-woo shook it off.
More pressing matters now.
'Level only went up by 1.'
From -99 to -98.
Absurd.
He'd expected at least 5.
At -99, low EXP needs could storm levels.
But no.
'If I don't return to normal levels, I die within 500 days.'
Normal levels meant 'level 1.'
In other words, 99 more levels ahead.
Just 1 in this chaos.
His vision darkened.
Not in 500 days—within 500 days. The uncertainty terrified.
Worse.
'...Leveled up, but no stat gains.'
Stats still at minimum 1.
'Weakest' status locked base stats at 1.
But ways to grow existed.
'Boost via gear unique options, class effects, buffs, God of Offerings tributes.'
Only base stats locked—add-ons could rise.
Plenty of ways, especially with better rewards from level gaps.
Sorting his thoughts, Park Chan-woo fetched the two boxes.
Gold Box and 3-star Platinum Box.
'Unboxing time—thrilling.'
No reason to delay.
More exciting than luxury unboxings.
This was his favorite part.
Running Abysses, collecting boxes, digging treasures.
He opened the Gold Box first.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Opening 'Gold Box'. Acquired 'Demon's Pauldrons (Epic)'! ⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Demon's Pauldrons 🎚️ Level: -98 🏷️ Grade: Epic 📝 Description: Pauldrons favored by upper Abyss demons. Low level reduces defense and durability. 👕 Equip Slot: Shoulders 🛡️ Defense: 2 💎 Durability: 110 ✨ Unique Option: +2 Vitality, +2 Strength
"Oh...!"
Park Chan-woo let out a short cheer.
Not bad.
Same grade as Dragon Slayer Blade, but unique option far superior.
Perfect for him.
Placing the skull-etched pauldrons on his shoulders, they auto-resized to fit.
'Much better.'
+2 Vitality and Strength eased his body noticeably.
Base stats locked at 1, but add-ons applied fully.
One left.
Level up first? An option, but not his plan.
'Hoarding turns treasure to trash.'
Abyss didn't allow babying loot.
Wear till durability broke or better came—then tribute to God of Offerings for other gains.
Park Chan-woo carefully opened the 3-star Platinum Box.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Opening 'Platinum Box (★★★)'. Platinum Box reward transcends three times. 'Eternal' grade reward confirmed. Choose one from the five rewards below. World Tree Staff, Helmet of the Demon King Slayer, Heart of the True Demon Dragon, Star Magic Tome, Greatsword of Ghaz Knight
"...!!!"