Why would someone do such a thing? It’s quite the funny question.
Wind Rapid Blade is young and completely intoxicated by his own strength.
But even so, he can’t be foolish enough to think he can take down the final boss at just level 70.
“Has he lost his mind? What does he think he can do alone…”
“He probably thinks he can do it.”
“Why?”
Jeoksa asked with genuine curiosity.
I chuckled as I retrieved the Holy Power from the white-horned creature’s horn.
“I kept the 4th phase active for a bit to check the horn’s composition. Looks like the buff kicked back in and gave him a boost of confidence.”
The 4th phase is a buff that significantly increases stats and abilities available at that level.
Having already received the buff, Wind Rapid Blade must have felt invincible, brimming with the confidence that he could overcome anything.
With the buff activated and with no one around but myself and his older brother, it’s no wonder he feels tempted with the boss right before him.
Upon hearing this, Jeoksa let out a sigh.
[LOL]
[You immature…]
[Jeoksa is gonna lose all his hair]
[Is it already over?]
[Looping again?]
[Poor Jeoksa]
“…First, let’s prepare. I was ready to loop multiple times. The gauge is at 54%… Wait, why has it gone up so much?”
“I’m doing pretty well, aren’t I?”
Wind Rapid Blade has only sustained minor scratches but he’s actually landing effective hits on a level 130 boss.
His body moves in a divine way, and the wind is embedded in his sword.
At this rate, he might rival users in the top 30 ranks.
‘But anything above rank 10 is just out of reach.’
However, he’s so caught up in his strength that he has many openings and keeps nudging the Red Horse’s horn.
Did he think that was a weak spot?
It’s not wrong, but if he doesn’t have the power to break the weakness, he’ll just fill the gauge and create a negative effect instead.
Still, I want to keep watching him fight because he’s giving it his all, but…
“There’s no time left.”
[00:01:50]
I have no remaining 4th phase time.
Jeoksa quickly cut five more horns from the foals and stuffed them into his inventory.
In the meantime, the circulation gauge climbs rapidly.
[Current circulation gauge – 90%]
“Then I’m heading out. One person needs to stay behind for future responses.”
Is Wind Rapid Blade already being treated like a nobody?
Jeoksa prepared to log out, and while I was fiddling with the horns, I pulled out my staff and opened a portal to another dimension.
A space I’m very familiar with.
“Don’t leave it. Just put it here.”
“Huh? The inventory won’t accept it. You have to log out for it to be recognized.”
“No way.”
“This won’t work either. I tried.”
The ‘Space of Despair’ connected to the soul was already proven by trapping the Spirit of Darkness in the highland of the Blue Forest.
At that time, after sending the boss, the Spirit of Darkness, to the Space of Despair, I tried to get recognized for defeating the World Boss, but the System acknowledged it and redetermined the reward.
If nothing unusual happens, the chances of recognizing the horns this time are very high.
Normally, there should be a lot of materials like the Blue-Red Stone, but I was able to open the door with just my holy power from the 4th turn.
Jeoksa, after thinking for a moment, handed back the five horns.
I immediately added the horns I had to make a total of six and tossed them into the space.
As soon as I did, a loud explosion echoed, and the world shook.
Swish!
[Current Loop Gauge – 100%]
[Looping.]
The world turned upside down.
■
“Okay, that was a mistake…”
“Stand up straight.”
As soon as the loop started, Jeoksa quickly dragged the Wind Rapid Blade from far away.
Had he already taken everything before coming? All the decent equipment was stripped away, including the sword.
The tunic of his bragged-about samurai was covered in dust from getting hit a few times.
“How many times do you want to get hit?”
“…Three hits?”
“Thirty hits?”
“…Ten hits.”
[Hahahahaha]
[Three hits? LOL]
[Hahaha]
[You child…]
[You’ve gone too far]
[Already stripped all the gear]
[No chance, LOL]
Jeoksa sighed and gave the head of the Wind Rapid Blade a punch.
“Ah!”
“The remaining thing is to log out and settle things. From now on, just stay still. Don’t do anything.”
“…No.”
“If you pull any tricks, I’ll never return it. Be thankful it’s just two months.”
If he were a regular guild member, he would be immediately expelled and marked for public disgrace.
As Jeoksa said this, he glared at his younger brother, who was all hunched over.
The Wind Rapid Blade hung his head low.
“Alright, I got it…”
Yet, amidst this, he’s still thinking of getting it back.
If it were me, I’d never return it.
“Lady Lily. Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
Even after the dungeon looped, the six horns of the Red Horse still existed in the Space of Despair.
Knowing that the horns would remain even after the loop, I could gather 100 just by repeating the loop without logging out.
“Alright. Let’s go right away.”
■
Taking off the horns basically increases by 3%, and considering the hourly increase, the maximum I could get per loop is about 31 to 32.
I would need to loop at least three times, but to open the Space of Despair, I must reach the 4th turn.
To open the Space of Despair, one must definitely reach the 4th state.
Even if there’s no logout, there’s a time limit.
Jeoksa and I quickly gathered the horns up to the right amount and tossed them into the Space of Despair, then fiddled with the ring to repeat the loop.
After doing this three times.
[00:00:21]
21 seconds.
Just barely managing to gather all 100 horns with 20 seconds left.
“20 seconds left… This is going to be tight.”
When facing the boss, we’ll be at the 3rd state, so it’ll likely be useless, but you never know.
From what I checked earlier, the composition of the horns felt like an alien power was strongly present.
Surely, there’s something that can only be done at the 4th state.
[Is it finally over?]
[Gathered all 100!]
[Oh]
[Feeling uneasy with just 20 seconds left]
[Let’s go]
[If Jeoksa betrays me, that would be hilarious, lol]
“If you’ve gathered all the horns, please take them out. The ‘selection’ will begin immediately.”
Nodding at Jeoksa’s words, I activated the 4th state.
[00:00:20]
As the Holy Power surged back into my body, the time counter swiftly dropped.
I opened the Space of Despair.
As if it was waiting, 100 horns scattered across the grassland.
Ding!
[Unconfirmed fragments of circulation detected!]
[The circulation ring is twisting.]
[Current circulation gauge – ■□]
Dududududu!!
Once again, the world shakes.
The circulation ring trembles, and as if it was waiting, the Circulation’s Red Horse appears in the distance, scattering red lights.
The story flows.
Life and death.
The fate of circulation, something every living being must experience.
The Red Horse was not there from the start.
He rejected the circulation ring rooted in the world and led astray the lambs that circled above it.
Then, he created his own circulation ring and granted them ‘eternity.’
The beings freed from death would live forever without dying in the new circulation ring…
[Tip. What is circulation? Is it a cycle of life and death? Or is it life everlasting itself? Regardless, didn’t the master of circulation need friends? Beware! Your choice will define the fate of circulation.]
Woooon!!
Along with the tip window, Jeoksa, and something muttering Wind Rapid Blade rose into the air.
[Oh]
[That’s insane, lol]
[?!]
[Lily is coming]
[It’s huge?]
In the air, the massive body of the Red Horse comes into view.
At this size, it’s at least twice as big as the Mature Dragon.
As I keep my eyes on that spectacle for a moment, two message windows pop up in front of me.
[Persuasion – The Circulation’s Red Horse tries to persuade a threatening existence. If chosen, you will receive the ‘Persuasion’ reward, and the dungeon will end. The dungeon will remain active.]
[Refusal – You reject the Circulation’s Red Horse’s persuasion. If chosen, the Circulation’s Red Horse will rage, and you will receive the ‘Subjugation’ reward upon its defeat. The dungeon will disappear.]
Persuasion and refusal.
It’s almost a no-brainer, but I have an inkling about the Jeokwol Guild’s choice.
Jeoksa glances back at me.
“There’s no way it would agree if I ask for persuasion, right?”
“Of course not.”
This boss belongs to me. There’s no way I’m letting it go without a fight.
It might be a shock for Jeoksa, but I need to take what’s mine in trade.
I was about to hit refuse when I suddenly looked back at the tip window that had popped up earlier.
I’ve seen tons of dungeon tips so far, but they haven’t been all that helpful.
Most of what happens in dungeons is something I can handle just fine, and tips are just ‘minor assistance’ at best.
But this time, there’s a particularly troubling phrase.
‘Perhaps the master of Circulation needs a friend?’
I erased both message windows and drew out the White Guardian made of hammer.
[Eh]
[????]
[What happens if I don’t choose?]
[Huh?]
[Why the hammer…]
[Hammer?]
As all message windows disappeared, the Circulation’s Red Horse flinched unexpectedly.
“Lady Lily?! What…”
“Both choices seemed terrible. To die if it’s not persuasion? How cruel can you be?”
Such a cruel choice. I can’t pick that.
“I don’t think someone who cracks heads should say that.”
“Do you want to get cracked?”
“No.”
The Wind Rapid Blade remained silent.
[Hahaha!]
[Lol!]
[What then?]
Clank!
The White Guardian radiates pure holiness.
“I’m planning to make it a friend.”
Just the perfect friends are right here.
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