The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

<Is he… dead?>

Baal muttered with a face full of disbelief.

<He's dead. There's no way anyone could survive a hit like that.>

At Tenebris's certainty, Baal slowly nodded.

<I-I see.>

<More than that, why does that guy look so grim? He should be overjoyed now that he finally took down the so-called Architect.>

Just as Tenebris said, Jeong-hoon's expression wasn't bright.

'So taking this guy down wasn't the end of it after all.'

The Architect of New World.

Because of that, he had hoped that killing the bastard might trigger some kind of change.

But even without the Architect, the game continued running.

'Should I just be satisfied with obtaining the final Sin Box?'

In Jeong-hoon's hand were the Sin Box and the divine relic the enemy had controlled.

This made three divine relics in his possession.

However, there were no other rewards.

No achievement points, no energy, no items—nothing he had naturally expected to receive.

He hadn't had high expectations, but this was downright disappointing.

[You have achieved a Myth-grade Achievement!]

[You are the first player to eliminate an Architect! As a result, you are granted a choice!]

It was then.

A moment later than expected, the achievement notification appeared before his eyes.

Not just any achievement—Myth-grade.

As Jeong-hoon tilted his head, another line followed saying he'd be given a choice.

[To check the choices, you must move to a different location.]

A location transfer.

It was his first time achieving a Myth-grade achievement, so he had no sense of what kind of reward might await.

"Tenebris."

When Jeong-hoon called him, Tenebris ran up as if he'd been waiting.

<What? Got something you're curious about?>

"Do you know anything about Myth-grade achievements?"

<Ah, that? You earned it because, as a human, you defeated Escanon who ruled over a dimension.>

"They say I'll be given choices."

<Hmm, rather than me telling you, it's probably faster to just see it for yourself.>

"Yeah?"

<Yeah. It'll vary depending on what you choose, but… anyway, what's our goal again?>

"To end the game."

<That's the ultimate goal. First, we need to wreck those bastards!>

"Alright, we'll talk later."

<Huh? Are you trying to change the subject now?>

"We don't have time."

<Ah… right.>

They had to get out of this space before the named bosses caught wind of it.

Of course, he would make sure to collect all the accumulated rewards as well.

Jeong-hoon approached Escanon, whose breath had ceased, and placed his hand on him.

It was an empty death for someone who had wrought so much destruction.

[Using the Devouring Absorption Technique.]

[You have gained experience points.]

[All stats have increased.]

As always, he used the Devouring Absorption Technique to significantly raise his level and stats.

Since Escanon was also at the God level, Jeong-hoon's level soared past 10,000, approaching 11,000.

His stats also saw a major boost, rising into the mid-40,000s.

Jeong-hoon then brought the Chalice of the Void close to Escanon.

Just like with Abaddon, threads of the Creator Device extended outward and began scanning Escanon.

Once the scan was complete, black liquid poured out as the Replication process was triggered.

Starting with the depleted Creator Device, both mana and divine power quickly recovered.

[Extracting target's memories.]

['Rebound Conversion' has been added.]

'Oh.'

This one he liked.

He had regretted losing the Rune of Counterattack, but Rebound Conversion was more than a worthy replacement.

It even amplified counterattacks, making it a superior alternative.

* * *

The reward for stopping the Third Annihilation.

The method of claiming it was simple.

As Escanon's life ended, the previously closed door behind him slowly opened.

In front of it stood the statue of a goddess he had seen in the sanctuary.

[Secret Quest: The End of Trials]

– Requirement: One who stopped the Third Annihilation

– Reward: ???

– Description: Rewards from the Second Annihilation will be combined and given. Would you like to claim the reward?

Of course he would.

When Jeong-hoon accepted the quest, the eyes of the statue—previously closed—slowly opened.

The blue pupils gazed at Jeong-hoon, and the statue slowly spoke.

"I shall grant you a choice."

"A choice?"

"Yes. Whether to receive a material reward, or to add to the choices granted to you."

"A choice… You mean regarding the achievement?"

"Yes."

Jeong-hoon furrowed his brow.

Since the rewards for the Second and Third Annihilations were being combined, it meant the resulting reward must be considerable.

Which meant that merely adding to the choices was of immense value in itself.

"If I pick the material reward, what would it be?"

"That I cannot say."

"Is that so? Then I'll add to the choices."

Without hesitation, Jeong-hoon chose to expand his available options.

With three divine relics now in his possession, and by obtaining the final Sin Box, he could now fully unseal the Seven Deadly Sins.

There was no reason to covet an item.

"You are wise. Very well. Then I shall add to your choices."

[Additional choice has been granted.]

"Then I wish you good fortune. May blessings guide your path."

With those words, the statue of the goddess vanished.

"Wishing me good fortune, huh……"

That must mean the battle isn't over yet.

Even after eliminating Escanon, the one who designed it all, the end was nowhere in sight… It weighed heavily on his chest.

<Now, if you're done, let's get out of here!>

Prompted by Tenebris, Jeong-hoon turned around.

* * *

"We've been had."

As that voice echoed through the chamber, the entire grand hall fell silent.

The seven Gods seated at the front silently looked up at the screen on the ceiling.

'We've been had……'

'You mean that Escanon?'

They were Gods just like Escanon.

Normally, each should have remained at their post, but by Logos's command, they had all gathered in one place.

"Tenebris has awakened."

Those were the first words Logos spoke when they assembled.

Tenebris.

A being equal to Logos, but who had fallen and become an evil god, sealed away—so the story went.

It was said the Names combined their strength to barely manage the seal. But who was it that undid that seal?

"Most likely a human."

With those words, Logos brought up the screen.

Escanon was being broadcast in front of them.

'Escanon?'

'Don't tell me Escanon betrayed us……?'

Logos said nothing.

As if to say—just watch.

The chamber quickly fell silent, and the Gods, reading the room, focused on the screen.

Not long after, the screen turned blue and went completely dead.

"As expected, it was a human."

At the word "human," the brows of the Gods twitched.

From a dimensional standpoint, humans were considered a lower-tier race.

There were races with far greater intelligence than humans, and others with both intelligence and overwhelming strength.

Yet not any of those—but a mere human had broken Tenebris's seal.

And if he had confronted a God one-on-one, then it wouldn't be wrong to say he had already transcended humanity.

About an hour passed.

The previously dead screen returned, and Escanon's cold corpse came into view.

"I trust you've all seen enough."

With a snap of Logos's fingers, the screen vanished cleanly.

"……."

The seven Heavenly Lords gathered in one place.

What they all had in common was that they had once lived as mortals.

Like Escanon, they were chosen by the Named, betrayed their own races, ascended as Transcendents, and ousted the previous Heavenly Lords to take their seats.

And the one who chose them was none other than Logos.

"That human killed a Heavenly Lord using the same method as you all did. Though, he has not taken a Transcendent's seat."

In other words, this was the first time a mortal had ever killed a ruler of a dimension.

"What would you have us do?"

"Give the order."

They expected Logos to command them to find that human and kill him immediately.

"Observe him."

Though he wished to erase him right away, Tenebris was guarding him, making it extremely difficult to locate him.

Whatever method he had used, the traces of that human's movements had been completely erased.

However, it wasn't that there was no way to find him.

"The Great Rift will soon occur. Depending on the choice he makes, we will decide whether to eliminate him."

"Yes, sir!"

The seven Heavenly Lords responded firmly.

* * *

At that moment.

An astonishing change had arrived on Earth.

"T-The dungeons are disappearing!"

"What the hell is going on?"

All the dungeons that had settled on Earth were vanishing simultaneously.

Those who had been rapidly growing stronger due to Jeong-hoon's code tweak couldn't hide their disappointment.

But the thought of no longer having to fight monsters brought them joy as well.

"What is this? Is it because Escanon was defeated?"

Jeong-hoon, stepping outside to observe the situation, tilted his head.

<I don't know what to say. This is the first time a mortal has eliminated a ruler.>

"Yeah, I figured."

Heavenly Lords weren't beings that could be taken down with mere strength.

When he faced Abaddon, immense luck had been on his side, and if he hadn't possessed a divine relic, he never would have been able to defeat Escanon.

Jeong-hoon glanced at the message in front of him.

[Would you like to view the available choices?]

As soon as he stepped outside, the message window appeared before his eyes.

Now it was time to check what choices had been given to him.

"Confirm."

[15 minutes remaining until the Great Rift.]

[Your fate will change depending on your choice.]

The Great Rift.

Was the disappearance of the dungeons due to the dimensional system breaking down?

Perhaps it was set so that if the master vanished and there was no replacement, the dimension would be erased.

Jeong-hoon hurried to check the choices.

[1. Return everything, including myself, to nothingness.]

[2. Ascend to the ruler's seat. The rest return to nothingness (無).]

[3. Sacrifice myself to forcibly transfer the remaining beings to another dimension.]

Jeong-hoon let out an irritated sigh and ruffled his hair.

"Fuck. What kind of choices are these?"

<…Choose number 2.>

At Tenebris's words, Jeong-hoon glared at him as if he would kill him.

"What bullshit are you spewing now?"

<I know full well you don't want to ascend. But do you see any other option?>

"……"

<Only by taking the ruler's seat and completing your revenge can you break this damn cycle.>

"Shut up."

<So you're just going to die like this?! Are you going to break your promise to me?>

"……"

<Damn it… I didn't think it would turn out like this. I didn't expect that bastard Logos to rig things this way!>

"…Not yet."

<What?>

Jeong-hoon looked down at a small, glowing square box.

These weren't the only options.

He had added a new option through the Goddess Statue.

Tap.

As he touched the box, it opened, and one more choice appeared.

[4. Become the master of a new dimension and erase the Great Rift.]

Become the master of a dimension?

<Good! With that, you can stop the Great Rift and save everyone!>

"Master of a dimension……"

It wasn't something to be taken lightly.

To become the master of a dimension meant becoming the same kind of being as those repulsive ones.

But there was no other way.

The only way to save everyone was the newly appeared option, number 4.

'Yeah. This is the only way.'

Before regression, he lived for revenge.

After regression, he lived to protect his family.

Now, there were more people he wanted to protect.

If it meant protecting them, he would become a damn Transcendent or whatever it took.

[You have selected option 4.]

[TL/N & PR/N: Holy shit we have finished the first part, this was our first ever series we did. There may have been a few mistakes and blunders but you readers were there to fix my (tl) mistakes and I'm utterly grateful for that. All-master will be on a break for a month after that we will start again! Thank You again from the bottom of our hearts!]

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]