Chapter 210

[Method?]

'What's that?'

If it fails, there's a 99% chance of destruction.

The only way to prevent destruction is the 1% chance of preservation.

But is there another way besides that?

"Yes."

A method to make the success rate of the Celestial Engraving Stone 100%.

It involves refining the Engraving stone.

'Because this is still an incomplete Engraving stone.'

The power of the Celestials is engraved on it, but it's unstable, and the recoil force is too strong.

Although the stated success rate is 50%, the actual rate is about 40%.

That means there's only a 4 out of 10 chance of success.

It's not considered extremely low, but when you realize that it gets destroyed in a single failed attempt, it's a painfully significant risk.

'If it could just be stabilized, the success rate would go up, and the chance of destruction would drop to zero.'

The process that both increases the success rate and reduces the destruction rate to 0%.

However, refining is something Jeong-hoon couldn't do himself.

Only an exceptionally skilled alchemist could handle the refinement.

If this were the New World game, it would be easier to find an alchemist after obtaining the Engraving stone, but for now, it's a difficult task.

'Because everything has been destroyed.'

The map of New World had lost its functionality and had turned into a dungeon.

Like how the dungeon where they had previously fought the demon was based on the original village.

That being said, not all NPCs were wiped out.

Some NPCs were still alive.

'If I recall correctly, the alchemist should be in that dungeon.'

Not in South Korea, but in a dungeon located in Los Angeles, USA.

Among the NPCs hiding in that dungeon, there was an alchemist who could harness celestial energy.

To do that, Jeong-hoon had to head to Los Angeles.

Jeong-hoon went to find the NPC in the city.

[NPC Information]

- Nickname: Jin Sejun

- Level: 100

- Job: Travel Assistant

An NPC responsible for helping people travel to other regions.

He was a former employee of Genesis and had traveled the country installing capsules.

"How can I help you?"

"I need to go to Los Angeles, USA."

"A round trip is 2,000 points, a one-way ticket is 1,500 points."

"I'll take the round trip."

"Yes. But remember, the round trip ticket expires in a week, so please return before then."

[Super Express Round Trip Ticket]

- A ticket that allows you to instantly travel to any desired location.

- After using it once, you must use it again within a week, or it will disappear.

A round trip ticket.

If it's not used within the timeframe, it automatically vanishes, and you'll need to purchase it again.

'LA, the place where James Marcus lives.'

The man who once invited him to join his ranks. However, in the end, he was the one who stabbed him in the back— a traitor.

He wanted to kill him right away, but before the betrayal, James had been a good man who worked hard for peace.

'I should wait and see for now.'

He might still be useful, after all.

Of course, if anything suspicious happens, Jeong-hoon won't hesitate to deal with him.

Jeong-hoon pulled out a disguise potion and changed his appearance and level.

He also altered his nickname using an identity badge, so nothing unexpected would occur.

With his disguise perfected, Jeong-hoon set the coordinates for Los Angeles, USA, and immediately used the ticket.

In an instant, his body vanished.

* * *

A video titled "The Emergence of a Rank Beyond Legendary?!" was uploaded on HoneyTube.

As Jang Dae-hwi predicted, the moment it was posted, the view count skyrocketed, and comments were pouring in by the dozens every second.

That wasn't all.

It spread across the internet, news channels, and various media outlets worldwide, making the entire globe focus on HoneyTube.

[What is the Celestial Rank?]

[Does a rank beyond Legendary actually exist?]

"Is this even real...?"

Ha-jin and Bong-Goo were watching the uploaded video together.

It had only been 6 hours since the video was posted.

The view count had soared past 100 million, now exceeding 150 million.

Considering it had spread across the world, these numbers were hardly surprising.

"This is insane..."

"Yeah, people are going nuts asking for the location of that dungeon."

Everyone was clamoring for the dungeon's location to be revealed.

In fact, many couldn't wait and had already started making their move. Foreigners from all over the world were flocking to South Korea.

Bzzzt-

At that moment, Ha-jin's smartphone vibrated.

The caller was Yeo Min-ji.

Ha-jin quickly answered.

"Hello?"

[Ha-jin, I can't get in touch with Jeong-hoon right now. Are you with him?]

"No, Jeong-hoon is off handling something else."

[We've just finished our excavation, so I was going to say it's okay to reveal the location now... Where could he have gone? Anyway, got it!]

With that, the call ended.

* * *

At the same time.

In Los Angeles, USA, there was a user watching the HoneyTube video.

"This is crazy..."

He had subscribed to HoneyTube after seeing the demon dungeon strategy video and had been keeping up with the recent livestreams.

When the Celestial rank appeared, he was so shocked that he yelled out loud.

All eyes turned toward him, but he didn't care and stayed focused on the broadcast.

"James, how many times are you going to watch the same video?"

A man nearby asked, his face bored.

"This is an incredible discovery, Louis."

"So, are you planning to go after that mineral?"

"No, not exactly. But I think I've figured out the secret behind this Heavenly energy."

"Ah, I see. You said you've already gathered up to 28%, right?"

"Yeah."

The top-ranked warrior in America.

James Marcus, who had been scouted by the WFT team as a pro, began sweeping through every tournament after joining, rising to superstardom as the best warrior.

He held a legendary class, with the hidden class of Paladin.

On top of that, he had slowly been accumulating Heavenly energy, having reached 28% so far.

However, what exactly Heavenly energy meant was still unclear—until this video confirmed it.

'If you gather 100% of the energy, you can advance to Celestial rank.'

The Celestial rank had surfaced, making things clear.

"Amazing... I'm only at 2%."

Louis Verdan, also a legendary class holder with a hidden class.

The Judicator of Divinity.

Ranked number one among priests in America, he was, like James Marcus, a member of WFT and had helped dominate the various tournaments.

"Louis, don't you think this guy looks pretty good?"

James Marcus pointed at Bong-Goo on the video.

"Hm? Bong-Goo, you mean?"

"Yeah. You know it too—New World isn't just a game anymore."

"..."

Capsules had malfunctioned, the game had become reality, and the stats of the characters they had nurtured were inherited directly.

"I'm thinking of gathering comrades from now on."

"Comrades?"

"Yeah. Although we're still lacking, we'll recruit those with great potential and move forward with them."

"Do we really need to go that far?"

Louis Verdan couldn't quite understand him.

It wasn't just because James Marcus was a Paladin that he had become a superstar.

His keen intellect, combined with exceptional leadership and decisiveness, had made James Marcus who he was today.

That's why Louis had never questioned his orders until now, but he couldn't understand this particular plan.

Was it really necessary to go to the trouble of gathering comrades?

"Penalties. Someone has been clearing the penalties so far, but those penalties are surely meant to destroy the Earth."

When New World became reality, monsters had ravaged the land.

That's why there had to be a connection to the penalties.

The penalties would likely intensify, and the conditions to clear them would become more stringent.

James Marcus was planning to form an elite force to maintain the peace on Earth.

* * *

Los Angeles, USA.

Jeong-hoon appeared in the middle of the city.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

Although the place had been devastated by monsters, the restoration efforts were progressing quickly since no penalty had been imposed.

[Oh, the atmosphere here is different, isn't it?]

Mukho seemed to be quite taken with the sights of LA.

'Hmm, if it's not going to be destroyed, I might as well do it first...'

Anima was still dissatisfied with its choice.

It had put things off out of fear of destruction, not expecting there would be a way to avoid it.

"I'll upgrade you all soon, so just wait."

Mukho may not know, but Anima truly shines when it levels up to a higher grade. It's impressive now, but when Lee Hwa-Rang handled Anima at the Celestial level, it was awe-inspiring.

'Well then...'

Just then.

"Hey."

Five men approached and surrounded Jeong-hoon. They were typical delinquents, swaggering while smoking a cigarette.

'So I disguised myself as level 160, and now I'm being picked on.'

Their levels were all close to 200.

Jeong-hoon quickly unleashed the Celestial technique and subdued them with his fists.

"Cough!"

"Ugh!"

They couldn't withstand it and fell out cold.

In less than ten seconds, Jeong-hoon had subdued them, leaving the onlookers in shock.

"What!"

"Wow... Is that really level 160?"

Jeong-hoon glanced at them and then headed toward his destination, the dungeon.

Not far from downtown LA was a green portal.

There was no one in front of the portal.

"Fortunately, it looks like there won't be a fight."

Jeong-hoon stepped straight into the portal.

[Do you wish to enter the Alchemist's Street at Lv.160?]

*Only levels below 161 may enter.

Alchemist's Street. To enter this street, one must not exceed level 161. However, Jeong-hoon had lowered its level to 160 using a disguise potion.

'Is this why the disguise potions are becoming scarce?'

For some reason, the disguise potion worked at the green portal.

The green portal indicated a special dungeon that includes monsters and NPCs, meaning it was a dungeon where existing New World NPCs could be found.

'Entering now.'

As it declared its intent to enter, Jeong-hoon's body was pulled into the portal.

* * *

[Alchemist's Street]

The street was so destroyed that it was almost unrecognizable.

No one could have expected that people could live in such a place.

[Is there really someone here?]

'Huh... This is serious.'

Mukho and Anima also seemed speechless at the scenery around them.

"Yeah."

Originally, this place was a city where alchemists resided in Reas. Some towns inhabited by NPCs had survived in the form of special dungeons.

However, even those are expected to disappear as time passes, with special dungeons vanishing one by one.

This dungeon, too, would not last a year before it vanished.

The standard for destruction is the death of NPCs.

NPCs are being killed off by continuous monster attacks.

Jeong-Hoon strode forward with purpose.

He soon spotted a few alchemists.

Among them was someone familiar.

[NPC Information]

- Nickname: Ligriner

- Level: 210

- Job: Alchemist (Enhancement)

So he's a disciple of LeBlanc.

He had previously received help from LeBlanc regarding deciphering ancient recipes.

Thanks to that, he acquired the transcendent enhancement skill.

"Uh...? Is that you?!"

Ligriner, staring blankly at the sky with his pupils dilated, finally noticed Jeong-Hoon.

His eyes sparkled with recognition.

"It's been a long time."

Upon hearing Jeong-Hoon's greeting, Ligriner hurriedly came out from behind a pile of rocks and ran towards him.

"Hey! You're alive?!"

"Yes."

"Please! Help us!"

Above Ligriner's head, a red question mark was flashing as he cried out desperately.