NOVPUB[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
Chapter 347
The way to use the Cup was simple.
[Cup of the Void]
[Select the desired ability.]
[1. Clone]
[2. Amplification ]
[3. Manifestation ]
[4. Proliferation ]
When the Cup was held in one’s hand, one could choose from these four abilities.
First, the Clone.
[You have selected Clone.]
[Generates a clone linked to the original.]
From the Cup in Jeong-hoon’s hand, a black liquid surged upward and rapidly began to change form.
It was a clone created based on Jeong-hoon’s existence. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
A perfect clone containing mana, divine power, and the Creative Machine.
“Hooh, just as expected.”
So Abaddon had created and sent a clone using a divine relic.
Just as he had predicted.
Then, what about the second ability, Amplification?
He tried to use Amplification, but nothing happened.
“Hmm? Isn’t this supposed to raise stats?”
Since it was called Amplification, he had assumed it would naturally increase power.
<To use Amplification, you have to absorb damage. Of course, damage you inflict yourself doesn’t count.>
“That’s troublesome.”
<That’s not all. The absorbed damage is only temporarily amplified, and it disappears after a while.>
“I see.”
Though the temporary nature was disappointing, it was still an ability that could create variables through invincibility via absorption.
<And the one that returned your ability was Manifestation.>
“So it really was the divine relic’s power.”
<Right. Simply put, it doesn't amplify the absorbed attack but brings it back out and returns it.>
“Hmm? Then does that mean Amplification and Manifestation can’t be used at the same time?”
<Correct. And as long as what's in the Cup isn’t depleted, you can use it as much as you want without any usage limit.>
Indeed, if you actively use Amplification and Manifestation with the Clone, it would be tremendously powerful.
Unless it’s something unexpected like Abaddon pulling a surprise, you could practically consider it an invincible move.
As long as the original body isn’t attacked while the clone is active, no damage comes through.
Of course, if it’s something like the Wrath of the Overlord that forcibly inflicts damage, that would be a different story.
“I can see why that guy was so obsessed with the divine relic. Its strengths and weaknesses are incredibly distinct.”
Strictly speaking, this isn’t an invincible ability.
Just like the ability he used, the method to counter it is all too clear.
<He must have tried to cover for its weaknesses.>
“Right. And the relic capable of covering that must have been in the possession of one of the Seven Deadly Sins.”
Otherwise, there would be no reason to take on such a risk.
Jeong-hoon summoned the Seven Deadly Sins.
“Huh? Why did you call me?”
“Hand over the divine relic.”
Jeong-hoon reached his hand out toward the Seven Deadly Sins.
“Divine relic…?”
At the mention of the divine relic, the Seven Deadly Sins’ face stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.
So this bastard remembers.
The corner of Jeong-hoon’s mouth curled up.
“You’d better drop the idea of pretending not to know.”
“I mean… suddenly asking me to hand it over…”
“So you do have it?”
“…Yeah.”
In the end, the Seven Deadly Sins confessed the truth.
While he hadn’t regained all of his memories, after acquiring his fourth sin, he remembered a divine relic he valued deeply, and had been hiding it ever since.
“Why’d you hide it?”
“…Because I thought you’d take it if I told you.”
“Correct.”
“Ha… Master, can’t you let this one slide?”
“I need that in order to completely release your seal.”
“But Master, you can win without something like that!”
“No. I need the divine relic you have.”
To defeat Escanon more decisively, one more divine relic was necessary.
If the Seven Deadly Sins handed over the relic in this situation, Jeong-hoon’s victory would be even more certain.
“Sorry… If I could’ve taken it out, I would’ve done so already.”
“Hm? You can’t take it out?”
“Yeah. I stored it very deep inside, and I need a special ability to retrieve it.”
“So you’re saying you can’t use that ability yet?”
“That’s right.”
Well, that explains it....he hid it so thoroughly that even if he got sealed by Escanon, it wouldn’t be taken.
“So in the end, I’ll have to settle this using the Cup of the Void.”
“…Uh, once the seal is broken, are you going to take the divine relic?”
“Yeah. I’ll need it to deal with the rest of them.”
“Hmm.”
The Seven Deadly Sins crossed his arms and fell into thought.
<That bastard’s scheming is loud enough to hear from here.>
Agreed.
That guy’s face is practically shouting that he doesn’t want to give it up.
“By the way, if you don’t hand it over, I’ll erase you.”
“Erase…?”
“Yeah. And if you’re hiding it, I’ll just take it by force.”
Jeong-hoon said with a slight smile, and the Seven Deadly Sins flinched.
“Haha… When did I ever say I didn’t want to give it?”
“You think I don’t know you’re trying to worm your way out because you don’t want to hand it over right now?”
“Ugh! That’s…”
The Seven Deadly Sins stammered, unable to come up with a proper excuse.
“Choose. Are you going to hand it over quietly, or should I take it by force?”
“Ugh… Demon. You’re a demon, Master!”
“And you? The one who’s the embodiment of every sin?”
“I was chopped into seven pieces by that cursed bastard and stuck back together!”
“So you’re not a demon?”
“No… I am a demon.”
“Then I’m still better than you.”
At least I’m human.
Jeong-hoon added that as he stood up.
“…I’ll hand it over as soon as I can use the ability.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”
<Don’t just take his word for it....get a clear promise. Bastards like that are hardwired to backstab.>
Tenebris didn’t trust the Seven Deadly Sins.
He was certain the moment the seal was undone, the creature would betray them.
‘It’s fine. That won’t happen.’
<How can you be sure?>
‘If he shows even the slightest sign, I’ll erase him on the spot.’
Jeong-hoon didn’t fully trust the Seven Deadly Sins either.
He was a demon.
Like Baal, demons could betray you at any moment....there was no way to trust one completely.
If he even hinted at betrayal, Jeong-hoon would erase him without hesitation and take the divine relic.
<Never lower your guard. He’s the bastard who stole and hid the divine relic. Betrayal is just part of who he is.>
‘That’s true.’
After sending the Seven Deadly Sins away, Jeong-hoon turned his attention back to the Cup of the Void.
“By the way… what is this ‘Replication’ mentioned on the cup?”
<Replication? What kind of ability...ah, that must be the upgraded ability it gained after absorbing the Genesis Engine.>
“Right.”
What kind of power did Replication possess?
Jeong-hoon activated Replication.
But unlike before, nothing happened.
‘What? Does it need a condition?’
Otherwise, there’s no reason it wouldn’t react.
[Set a target.]
While he was pondering, a message appeared in front of Jeong-hoon.
‘A base? Ah, I get it.’
Jeong-hoon walked toward the fallen Abaddon and brought the cup close.
<Huh? What are you doing?>
“Even if he’s been drained, maybe the cup can still absorb something.”
<That won’t work. To use it, the target has to attack....wait, what?!>
Tenebris couldn’t finish his sentence.
Black liquid poured from the Cup of the Void and engulfed Abaddon’s corpse.
The viscous fluid devoured it completely, then flowed back into the cup, returning to stillness.
“So it does work?”
<Could it be thanks to the Genesis Engine?>
Replication, newly added through the Genesis Engine.
Jeong-hoon nodded.
“Yeah. I just gave it a try on a hunch, and I’m glad I did.”
When he brought the Cup of the Void close to Abaddon, the Genesis Engine extended like threads and began to scan Abaddon.
After the scan completed, black liquid poured out and activated Replication.
Replication consumes the opponent’s existence to feed itself.
Unlike Amplification or Manifestation, the absorbed energy isn’t depleted.
‘The Genesis Engine is accumulating.’
A small amount of the Genesis Engine energy, previously used to create a clone, was restored.
It was similar to how a Named’s power slowly accumulated when hunting monsters.
Of course, that power was different from the Genesis Engine, and aside from breaking Tenebris’s seal, it hadn’t been of much use....but the Cup of the Void was different.
Even if it was faint, the Genesis Engine had been restored.
In that case, hadn’t it just compensated for its greatest weakness?
And that wasn’t all.
[Extracting memories from the target.]
[‘Four Seasons of the Apocalypse’ has been added.]
In this way, it absorbs and adds the abilities the enemy had used.
That was Replication.
‘Now then… time to go carry out the episode.’
The reason he came here.
It was to complete the episode successfully.
* * *
“He’s late……”
Escanon muttered with a grim expression.
By now, he should’ve taken care of the human and returned.
“Don’t tell me… he’s betrayed me?”
Given the complete lack of news, that possibility couldn’t be ruled out.
This would also explain why he hadn’t handed over the promised sin.
If he gave it first, he might’ve been stabbed in the back.
But now it feels like he’s the one who got stabbed in the back.
“Did he side with the human?”
Escanon’s fist clenched tightly.
What the bastard wanted was the sin he possessed.
It was the sin he coveted so much, even defying the will of the Named. If he sided with the human instead, he wouldn’t need to defy anyone....and he could still obtain the sin.
“How dare he weigh his options like that… between me and a human…?”
If the betrayal turned out to be true, he would never let it go.
* * *
[Secret Episode: All of ‘Fall’ has been completed.]
[The episode’s rating was ‘EX+’.]
Finishing the episode was simple.
It was merely assisting Escanon, who had shed his human disguise, in ascending to the Seat of Heaven.
He felt utterly disgusted, but there was no other choice if he wanted to proceed with the episode.
When he reached the end of the episode, Jeong-hoon was killed by Escanon’s hand.
It was an illusion, so he hadn’t actually died, but the episode ended with his death without even having a chance to resist.
“Ha… this is so annoying.”
Jeong-hoon let out a sigh laced with frustration and scratched his head roughly.
<Why? What happened in there?>
Since the episode had progressed as an illusion through the NPC, no one besides Jeong-hoon knew what had happened.
“…I got killed by that bastard.”
<Escanon?>
“Yeah.”
He accessed the code and checked the episode’s details and rewards.
And he had significantly lowered the difficulty.
Even so, he had rushed through the episode, but the ending remained death.
<Hmph, nothing to be done about it. Looks like it played out from someone else’s perspective.>
“Correct.”
<Were you unable to use your abilities?>
“Yeah. I couldn’t even resist.”
<It’s fine. It was just an illusion anyway. Just eliminate him for real.>
“Yeah.”
Jeong-hoon obtained two Sin Boxes through the NPC.
[Episode completion has reached 100%.]
[Hidden reward cannot be claimed due to unmet conditions.]
“So only the third Cataclysm remains.”
That hidden reward was surely going to be a meeting with Escanon.
‘Just wait. I’ll be coming to see you soon.’
Grinding his teeth inwardly, Jeong-hoon took out all the Sin Boxes he had obtained.
It was time to further release the seal of the Seven Deadly Sins.
It was only a hunch, but if he obtained two more, the ability to draw out divine relics would likely activate.
If that happened, he would be able to eliminate Escanon with certainty.
[Would you like to open the box?]
[*Once selected, this action cannot be undone. Please be cautious.]
“Open.”
When he opened the box, the sealed container opened and black light began to seep out.
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
