Chapter 284

Seong Jihan examined the Dragon Flame stat in the status window.

Next to the Dragon Flame that reached 197, unlike other stats, there was a + mark.

Seong Jihan pressed it.

[Do you want to attempt fusion of Dragon Flame with the unique stat, Crimson Thunder?]

The stat fusion window that was put on hold before was revealed.

[The value of stat 'Dragon Flame' is 3 lower than Crimson Thunder.]

[There is a slight probability that the stat fusion will fail.]

[Do you really want to attempt the stat fusion?]

Even a difference of 3 is still a difference, so there is a probability of failure according to the system message.

'Let's do it.'

However, Seong Jihan ignored this and proceeded forcibly.

Then,

[Dragon Flame and Crimson Thunder are fusing…]

[The fusion process is progressing deeply in connection with the user's existing abilities.]

[The existing ability, 'Martial Soul', more efficiently combines 'Dragon Flame' and 'Crimson Thunder' and transforms them to fit the current situation.]

[The existing ability, 'Void', finds traces of the Red Administrator in the two stats.]

Several lines of system messages floated in front of Seong Jihan's eyes.

Among them, what stood out the most was.

'Traces of the Red Administrator…'

The traces of the Red Administrator found by the Void.

It makes sense for Dragon Flame, as it was an ability granted by the Red Administrator to the Dragon Lord.

But in the case of Crimson Thunder, it was an ability that Seong Jihan modified for Brahma, the leader of the Thunder Gods.

How this was related to the Red Administrator was questionable.

'Am I really related to the Red Administrator?'

Is there really a secret about my birth or something?

Pondering that, Seong Jihan watched the progress of the matter for now.

The power of Crimson Thunder and Dragon Flame that was fully remaining in his body disappeared.

Chiiing!

"Ugh…"

Even for him who was used to pain, an intensely dizzying pain occurred.

Seong Jihan's chest skin burned and the flames soon gathered into a form.

A crescent-shaped, red pattern was deeply imprinted in the center of Seong Jihan's chest.

It was tiny, only the size of a fingernail, but it contained the powers of both Crimson Thunder and Dragon Flame, two unique stats.

And then,

[You have acquired the gradeless stat, 'Red'.]

The Martial Soul was the ability of the constellations.

The Void, on the contrary, was unranked.

The newly added Red stat also had no grade, just like Void.

[Stat fusion is a great success.]

[Stat 'Red' increases by 1.]

Despite being a great success, it increased by only 1.

At first, Seong Jihan thought so.

'This Red stat… The ability value is only 5. It's worthy of being called a great success.'

The result of devouring two unique stats with stat points of 200 and 197.

It was 'Red' stat 5.

Considering that it added 1 to 4, the reward for a great success was significant.

'But how do I use this?'

Red.

Judging by the name alone, it seems to be a high-grade ability related to the Red Administrator.

But there was no clue as to how to actually utilize this ability.

'I can draw out Crimson Thunder and Dragon Flame similarly to before, but…'

As Seong Jihan opened his palm.

Crackle!

A Red lightning fiercely rose from his hand.

Crimson Thunder, which definitely merged with Dragon Flame compared to when it was used a while ago.

Although the stat decreased from 200 to 5 by merging into Red, the firepower was much stronger.

'Is this the end?'

Seong Jihan had doubts.

The gradeless stat Red.

It seemed like it would have uses other than just combining Dragon Flame and Crimson Thunder…

"Looks like it's over. Then, I'll go attack now."

Meanwhile, as Seong Jihan's power grew stronger.

Vladimir, who had absorbed blood by catching the surrounding monsters, arrived in front of him.

"Yeah. Come."

In fact, there were many questions about the ability 'Red' to say it was over like Vladimir said.

But this wasn't a problem that would be concluded even if he dragged out time anyway.

'Rather, if I utilize the ability in a situation where the time has stopped like before, I might get a clue.'

As Seong Jihan nodded while thinking like that,

Swoosh!

The blood spear rose from Longinus' hand.

"This is the last time. This avatar can't endure any more than this."

"I understand."

"If you can't overcome the aim of the blood spear this time too, you will definitely die by my hands. Because the main body's spear is much stronger than this."

Longinus said that since the main body's spear is stronger than the avatar's, Seong Jihan needs to overcome at least this much.

Seong Jihan smiled at those words and gestured to him.

"Thanks for worrying. I'll overcome it, so hurry up and aim."

"Hmph! Then…"

Drip! Drip…

Longinus, whose form began to collapse, aimed the spear tip and,

"This time, I'll go all the way."

Swish!

The spear slowly began to fly towards Seong Jihan.

At the same time, Vladimir's whole body collapsed and shed blood on the floor.

Unlike when he aimed the first spear, maybe because he threw the spear the second time, Longinus couldn't maintain the avatar any longer.

And then,

'It stopped again.'

Tap!

The body was motionless once more.

The only things wriggling were the three forces within him.

The power of Martial Soul, Void, and the Red imprinted on his chest.

They tried to somehow create movement even in the completely frozen world.

And

Wriggle!

Unlike a moment ago, Seong Jihan's body moved slightly.

Maybe because the power of Red was added, he finally escaped from the complete restraint of time stop, but…

'Even so, I can't move enough to avoid the spear.'

It was impossible to block the Spear Of Judgement slowly flying over towards him.

Is this the limit even after obtaining Red?

'…I can't even utilize Enkidu.'

The summoning of Enkidu that Gilgamesh taught him to throw instead at the Spear Of Judgement.

But unless he could overcome this time stop, summoning Enkidu was impossible.

If he can't even block the avatar's spear, can he really overcome it when the constellation Longinus descends?

'I have to overcome this somehow.'

As Seong Jihan was thinking of a solution to the current situation.

Sizzle…

The Spear Of Judgement slowly flew over and emitted smoke from the tip.

[Target condition have been partially matched]

[Destruction code manifested]

Then, like before, unknown letters floated on the Spear Of Judgement.

However,

There was a difference from a moment ago.

'Hmm…'

[Target Lock Code Execution in Progress]

Below the emerging letters,

a crimson text that hadn't been seen before appeared.

[Do you want to retrieve the command?]

A system window with a red background that had never been seen before appeared.

* * *

Crimson letters, and a system window with a red background.

'Did I acquire the abilities of the adversary, revealing hidden codes?' Seong Jihan pondered, attempting to press 'yes,' but his body remained motionless due to the time-stopped state.

However,

[Retrieving the command.]

Maybe because it was possible with just willpower, the system entered the retrieval process.

Swoosh!

The third line, [Target Lock Code Execution in Progress], flew from the spear tip towards Seong Jihan.

It went into the pattern where the power of Red gathered, near his chest.

Then, as the time stopped, the state was released.

[Command recalled.]

[Red capacity reached its limit. Unable to recall commands any further.]

A portion of the letters that had entered Seong jihan's chest pattern emerged again, quickly darting towards the window.

With his Red's stats only at 5, there seemed to be a limit to absorption. Despite the command being recalled, Seong Jihan could move freely, except for:

'I can still move.'

Even though the letters were retrieved, Seong Jihan could move freely.

However,

'The Target Stop Code letters are being written again.'

The crimson letters that entered the bottom line again.

They were summoning the front letters that Seong Jihan had absorbed.

When that sentence is completed, it will enter a time stop like before.

"Where…"

Seong Jihan drew his Phoenix Spear and aimed it at the slowly approaching blood spear.

Fundamental divine art, Fusion of Divine thunder and phoenix: Crimson Thunder cannon

Crackle!

The Crimson Thunder Cannon, which naturally contained the power of Dragon Flame and became much stronger than when it was used a while ago, directly hit the blood spear, but…

'Its not working.'

Before the Crimson Thunder Cannon could even touch the blood spear, the Red's presence vanished entirely.

The Destruction code embedded in the Spear Of Judgement eradicated anything blocking its path.

'No matter how hard I try to avoid it, it eventually follows.'

Whoosh!

Even when he went up to the sky using the Flashing Steps to the extreme.

The Spear Of Judgement was slowly flying with its tip aimed at Seong Jihan.

If he doesn't get hit by the time stop, the spear is slow, so he won't get hit if he keeps running away.

'If the red letters are completed again, it will be the same as before.'

As long as time remained unstopped, continuously evading might work, but it wasn't a long-term solution.

'I'll have to use that.'

Thud!

Seong Jihan, who had gone up to the sky, landed on the ground again.

"Summon Enkidu."

He used what he learned from Gilgamesh.

And then,

Swoosh!

Steel chains stretched out from behind Seong Jihan.

Clank! Clank!

They clumped together and transformed into an existence wearing steel armor.

Not as big as the one Gilgamesh summoned but still, it was a steel giant more than twice the size of a human.

"Go."

Whoosh!

At Seong Jihan's command.

The steel giant leaped up and stood as if protecting his front.

With just one jump, the life force was noticeably consumed.

'I can't use this guy as a summon in the current state.'

The power Enkidu possessed was tremendous, but the consumption of strength to operate it was too severe.

Seong Jihan decided to use it for its original purpose for now and.

Swish!

He stood next to Enkidu.

Then,

[Target condition have been completely matched]

[Target changed]

[Destruction code manifested]

The letters rising from the Spear Of Judgement changed.

The spear tip aimed at Enkidu now and not Seong Jihan.

Then, unlike a moment ago, the Spear Of Judgement flew at a fast speed.

'Enkidu… This is how it works.'

Seong Jihan watched this from the side.

This time, maybe because he wasn't the target, he didn't become the subject of the time stop.

He looked at his freely moving body and,

'I've confirmed the target changes, so I should get hit.'

Swish!

Before the spear pierced Enkidu, he threw his body in front of it.

Anyway, this is not reality, but inside the game.

He had experienced dying by the Spear Of Judgement before, but,

He decided to get hit one more time to increase his experience.

And

Poof!

"Wow…"

The blood spear, right before piercing Seong Jihan.

It curved upwards and only pierced Enkidu, not him, and disappeared.

The blood spear that accurately eliminates only the target.

'There was a reason Gilgamesh taught me to use this when facing the Spear Of Judgement.'

Making it impossible to die even if you want to.

Enkidu was really effective in dealing with the Spear Of Judgement.

As the blood spear disappeared like that.

=Uh…

=Th-the screen is visible again!

=But match 2… is over?

=What on earth happened?

=Tsk. Seriously. This always happens when only player Vladimir comes out…!

Match 2 ended with that.

***

[South Korea won against Russia 3:0.]

[South Korea's national team advances as the 1st place in the Champions League group!]

[Vladimir, who had a constellation descend again, "He said he won't descend anymore because I didn't listen," he said with a tearful face.]

[Still with overwhelming Seong Jihan and the noticeably stronger Yoon Sejin, The South Korean national team rises as the top contender for the championship!]

Defeating Russia 3-0, the South Korean national team secured their spot as the 1st place in the World Champions League group.

Although the Champions League's status was somewhat diminished compared to before due to the Space League.

Nevertheless, perhaps due to securing their Champions League spot with overwhelming strength, South Korea was in a festive mood.

"Uncle. Where are you going?"

"I have to train."

"Ugh, training maniac… We're celebrating securing 1st place, aren't we? Can't you take a break today?"

No matter what, training even on a day like today.

Yoon Seah grabbed Seong Jihan, who said he was going to train, telling him to take a break.

On a special day, it would have been enough to grant his niece's request for a day, but,

"I'll be back in a bit."

As soon as he returned to Earth, Seong Jihan had no room for that due to the message that popped up.

[Fully absorb and conceal the stat 'Red'.]

[If concealment fails, the Great Constellations aiming for the position of the Red Administrator will detect you.]

[Time remaining 24:00:00]

Seong Jihan waved his hand and immediately entered the Void training room.