The hidden boss Seong Jihan was known throughout the cosmos for his one-hit kills, his stats were rated: EX in offense, A in defense, but F in vitality.
Among the skills possessed by the hidden boss Seong Jihan, there was only one skill for defense: the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
'The vortex is weakening…!'
'At this rate, the hidden boss will be captured!'
Once the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods faded, a creature with an F-rated vitality would surely meet its end. Down below, the players couldn't help but grow anxious.
Though they didn't understand why the fatal blow hadn't struck yet, that wasn't the issue at hand. If they left things as they were, the Black Dragon might snatch the reward.
And so,
Boom!
The giant kicked the Black Dragon away.
"What the hell are you doing!"
"The hidden boss is mine!"
"How dare you touch my prey!"
Following this collision, the players started fighting each other. Assuming Seong Jihan was already secured like a caught fish, they entered fierce battles to claim the spoils for themselves.
-Why are they fighting among themselves?
-Isn't it obvious? They're fighting over the rewards for the Seong Jihan raid lol
-This is pure chaos lol
-But these guys… They're on a whole different level compared to the players we've seen so far, right?
-The sky is practically falling;
Dragons clashed with giants.
Enormous mythical birds collided with smoke-formed figures.
The atmosphere, frozen solid by Seong Jihan's Ice Heaven Sword Rain, was shattered and melted.
The ensuing conflict caused the earth itself to tremble.
"Monsters…"
"How can we fight such beings…"
The Blue Blood Demons on the ground felt their fighting spirit wane. The players aiming at Seong Jihan were all so strong that Sword Rain had tagged them as bug-level threats.
To a third party, the scene looked like deities throwing a fit.
[Master… this is our chance. Should we escape while they clash?]
Amid the chaos of fighting players, Ariel suggested to Seong Jihan that they use this moment to flee.
Though these opponents wouldn't let them get away easily, if Seong Jihan made a full-powered escape, there was a chance.
Besides,
"Won't we manage better with that suspecting Death star constellation?"
A suspicious ally perhaps, but still a constellation that offered its assistance for now. If they could get out of this environment surrounded by bug-level players, a path would open.
Escaping was the most logical evaluation of the current situation.
However,
"Escape? Why would I?"
Seong Jihan chose to take up arms.
"On the contrary, I couldn't have asked for a better situation. I haven't had the opportunity to fight strong opponents, but now they've finally come to me."
Recent opponents, none of them became a real threat to him.
The only significant damage he received was from Longinus' Divine Spear, and even the Orc chieftain in the Space League was no threat.
Even Artemus, who was contesting the status of the hidden boss, couldn't match Seong Jihan in terms of strength.
'Now, there's a limit to improvement through training alone. I need to fight strong opponents to develop further.'
Especially, in preparation for the upcoming battle against Dongbangsak in the national representative match.
He had to keep pursuing power growth.
Crackle…
Crimson lightning gathered at the tip of Seong Jihan's spear.
Fundamental divine art, Fusion of Divine thunder and phoenix: Crimson Thunder cannon
The massive lightning bolt struck the players.
Rumble!
The dragon's body was pierced first, and the powerful bolt didn't stop there; it also perforated the giant behind it.
-Whoa, that's intense!
-But why attack… they said they'd fight among themselves 😭
-Weren't you listening earlier? He wants to fight strong opponents.
-Still, isn't that overkill? lolololol
[A.DaVVies has donated 100000 GP.]
[Player Seong Jihan..! You shouldn't aim for the first place!! Please, for the sake of humanity, for the sake of Earth, restrain yourself until the next match!!]
Seems like they're worried that if they eliminate those bug-level players, Seong Jihan will easily take first place.
Once again, Coach Davies objects while making a donation to Seong Jihan.
However, Seong Jihan just smiles faintly and points his spear towards the battlefield.
"Don't worry. Those guys aren't as easy as you think."
The sky, previously cloven by the Crimson Thunder Cannon, would have easily wiped out the enemies under normal circumstances in its intense assault.
However…
"Whoa… Is this it?"
"Is this the Hidden Boss's final skill?"
"…As expected, he's strong. There's a reason why my boys couldn't clear it."
Ssssh…
The Black Dragon quickly regenerated its body, and the giant dusted itself off, extinguishing the fires caused by the Crimson Thunder Cannon.
The power of the Crimson Thunder Cannon was indeed mighty, But It was a power that these bug-level players could withstand.
Ssssh…
The eyes of the players formerly at odds with each other all turned towards Seong Jihan together.
"It seems like the hidden boss won't be taken down easily."
"Shouldn't we try to capture him first?"
"We could cut off his limbs and put them on display, then take him as the final loot."
"Huh. How can we trust you?"
"The power of that ultimate move seems like something we can handle. It's better to let the players fight it out here."
Surrounded by Seong Jihan, who they considered to be rebellious, the players convened a discussion.
Considering himself a trophy, Seong Jihan then pointed his spear at them.
"You've got something wrong in your conversation."
"…"
"The ultimate move?"
Ssssh…
The void force circulated around Seong Jihan's body. The crimson lightning at the tip of the spear became even more intense.
"This is just one of my regular moves."
Flash!
Now double in size, the Crimson Thunder Cannon struck the Black Dragon and the giant once more.
"This force… I can't endure it with just my body…!"
"Absolute Barrier!"
The giant hurriedly avoided the attack, and the Black Dragon used absolute defense magic.
However, even the barrier spread out in seven layers was pierced by the Crimson Thunder Cannon
.
It tore apart the Black Dragon's body.
"Aaaargh…!"
"Here goes another round…"
"Warp — let's get out of here!"
As the Phoenix Spear crackled with another surge of crimson lightning, the Black Dragon hastily evacuated.
Despite being one of the strongest dragonkin players, he managed to endure another blast of the Crimson Thunder Cannon infused with the power of the void and escape.
"…"
Meanwhile,
As the Black Dragon fled from the second round of lightning,
The players ceased their struggle.
"Crimson Thunder as a regular move…"
"Wasn't the hidden boss supposed to rely on a one-hit kill trait boost to be strong?"
"This isn't the time to fight among ourselves."
In battle, they were all seasoned warriors with strong bones.
They quickly realized the danger of the Crimson Thunder and swiftly changed their stance.
"Let's take him down first."
Ominous glances gathered on Seong Jihan.
* * *
The battle waged by Seong Jihan against multiple opponents. Although it had only been about 10 minutes since the battle began, the sky and the earth had already been shattered numerous times.
-Wow… Are these guys really players? Not gods?
-I'm Diamond rank, but I'm quitting the game… How do you fight those monsters?
-The Blue Blood Demons' base is completely destroyed lololol…
-Seriously, how can they withstand the chaos caused by those monsters in the sky?
-Fr, even one meteor hit would wipe out the demons.
Diamond-ranked players were considering quitting the game due to the overwhelming strength of the transcendent-level players. However, for the viewers, they were merely amazed by the scale displayed on the screen. The real astonishment was directed at the players relentlessly attacking Seong Jihan.
"This crazy guy…"
"So tenacious, so very tenacious!"
"How does he keep going?"
"Wasn't the hidden boss's defense rated A…?"
"And vitality was rated F!"
To most players from lower-tier races, humanity seemed insignificant compared to the giant entities dominating the battlefield. With their combined strength, it seemed like Seong Jihan, who would have been easily defeated, had become a formidable boss. Despite being constantly bombarded, he was holding his ground.
"Haha…"
[Are you actually finding this funny, Master?]
"Of course. They're strong, so it's fun to fight."
[Isn't your body in shambles?]
As Ariel had mentioned, Seong Jihan's physical condition was far from normal. His body, usually untouched, was scorched and torn apart. Despite wounds regenerating, they reopened, and blood continued to flow incessantly. However, Seong Jihan seemed to enjoy his battered state.
"Now I understand."
[Understand what?]
"How to use the life force stored in Eclipse."
[Is this remarkable healing factor powered by the force of life?]
"Yes."
Despite being constantly bombarded by the transcendent-level players' assaults, Seong Jihan instinctively began to utilize the life force and find ways to use it. Although it would be great if he could awaken this power through enduring such attacks…
[Nevertheless, isn't it becoming increasingly difficult to endure?]
"Yes. The life force has greatly diminished."
As pointed out by Ariel, Seong Jihan's regeneration had reached its limit. The wounds had stopped healing, and the bleeding wouldn't stop. To anyone watching, it seemed like Seong Jihan was nearing his end.
"The hidden boss…"
"Is he finally meeting his demise?"
"Don't let your guard down. Someone said that earlier and ended up dead."
"That's true."
However, the players surrounding Seong Jihan were cautious. Thinking they had all subdued him, they had lost 10 lives already. The neck of the Black Dragon, which had come back for another challenge, was severed, and the giant's body was split in half. These players, who had reigned as mythical beings in their own worlds, now found themselves in a shameful situation.
"It's come to this; he must be caught."
"A being like that has to drop diamonds… It has to!"
As strong as they were, the other players bore great expectations for the reward to come from the Seong Jihan raid.
-Is this the end now…
-You've fought well, Seong Jihan, really.
-Today, I'm convinced. Humanity just needs to ride the Seong Jihan bus blindly. That's the conclusion, whether it's today or not, lololol.
-To witness death like this… sob
Just as viewers sensed the climax approaching,
"These… creatures…!"
Wriggle! Wriggle!
Giant tentacles stretching from the earth to the sky split apart.
What appeared from within were massive teeth and blue eyes flashing within them.
The tentacles shifted the teeth around, emitting a roar.
[Why here of all times…! My grand design is ruined… I won't forgive this!]
Kaaah!
A cry of rage echoed from the tentacles.
But the players surrounding Seong Jihan indifferently watched this new development.
"What's that?"
"Why is this weak thing causing a fuss?"
"Hmm, the reward doesn't seem worth it either."
"Ignore it. Let's take down the hidden boss first."
To those who reigned as absolute beings in their own worlds, the tentacles were not threatening at all. As they turned their gaze back to Seong Jihan, the blue eye within the tentacle's mouth emitted a brilliant light.
[Possession!]
And then…
"Huh? What…?"
"Wait, why isn't possession working on me…!?"
Among the players surrounding Seong Jihan , more than half hesitated.
"Kill them all…!"
"Quick, log me out!"
Soon after being possessed, they began fighting among themselves, now on the same side.
'The effects of this possession seem… alright.'
The Blue Blood Demons' possession had been entirely random until now. However, this time, the light emitted by the tentacle's possession was showing quite effective results.
'Martial Soul cannot be breached.'
He crossed his arms leisurely, watching his opponents fall into disarray with a wistful eye.
"Tsk. If only I were not immune to possession. What a pity."
[Master… Do you want to die that badly?]
"I was considering understanding more about the life force… Huh?"
Seong Jihan, observing the enemy players fighting amongst themselves, furrowed his eyebrows.
The life force.
The power possessed by the Elves.
He could sense it even from the eye within the tentacle.
'It's odd.'
With a swift movement, Seong Jihan charged towards the tentacle's mouth.
[Possession!]
As he approached, the tentacle's eye inside the mouth gleamed once again, but Seong Jihan confidently declared, "That won't work on me."
Crack!
Seong Jihan quickly entered the mouth and tore out the shining blue eye that he could feel bursting with life force.
[No, how could you… from such a distance…!]
The tentacle screamed in disbelief.
But for Seong Jihan…
Seong Jihan's attention had already shifted elsewhere.
'What is this…?'
As soon as he ripped open the eye, the orb transformed.
From the iris, it morphed into a giant seed.
And then…
[You have obtained the 'Modified Seed of Life.']
[You have found the origin of the Blue Blood Demons.]
A system message appeared for Seong Jihan, indicating that he had found the origin.
'Modified Seed of Life, huh.'
Seong Jihan recalled the time when he first obtained the seed of life.
Clearing the experimental area map, he received the Seed of Life from the "Green Administrator."
This SSS-ranked item had the effect of increasing the remaining attribute points by 10 upon consumption.
'But more than the +10 stats, it was the life force hidden within the seed that had the biggest impact on me.'
Although this energy attempted to covertly dominate Seong Jihan, it was subjugated by him instead.
Yet it remained an unknown force that he still hadn't fully grasped.
'And to think, this is the origin of the Blue Blood Demons…'
Seong Jihan eyed the item description that popped up in the system window.
[Modified Seed of Life]
Rank: ??
-Seed of life modified by someone.
-As the origin that transformed the Blue Blood Demons, it amplifies their possession ability.
-Upon returning it to the BattleNet after logging out, a promised reward will be given.
The unique possession ability possessed by the Blue Blood Demons.
At its core lay the modified seeds of life.
Seong Jihan looked through the description, blinking at the last part.
'Log out and return it… What an unusual procedure.'
"Inventory."
Seong Jihan attempted to stash the epic quest reward in his inventory.
['Modified Seed of Life' cannot be placed in the inventory.]
For some reason, the item refused to go into inventory.
"This complicates things."
Although he was fortunate to have found the origin, storing it was now an issue.
Surrounded by enemies intent on ending the hidden boss Seong Jihan, he also faced a frenzied tentacle.
[Give it back… give it back!]
The tentacle, having lost its source, was raging madly.
[Our sacred item… Give it back now!]
Squelch! Squelch!
From the empty eye sockets, numerous tentacles emerged, emitting a blue light.
Even after the eyes vanished, the possession power seemed to persist.
"Don't log out yet!"
"First, kill this brat!"
Under the tentacle's control, the players who'd been creating havoc all rushed towards Seong Jihan.
"Look at that. It must be a good item."
"Indeed, it is no ordinary matter… Between the hidden boss's diamond and that eyeball, I'll take everything!"
"Don't be rash. We can't afford to play solo here. Let's overpower him together, and we'll share the spoils afterward."
Players who had been fighting against the possessed quickly realized the situation and began to move.
It was a situation similar to when they surrounded him before.
'I've found the origin, so I can't just die.'
Before finding the seed, Seong Jihan was content to have engaged in a life-threatening fight to discover how to utilize life force.
Now the circumstances have changed.
He had to survive and receive the reward.
'Maybe I should break through on one side.'
Seong Jihan attempted to leave through the relatively weak side of the tentacle's wrath, but things did not go smoothly.
"Use all your might! Don't hold back any longer, unleash everything you've got!"
The players, who had been conserving their strength during their encirclement of Seong Jihan, in anticipation of victory, now intensified their efforts in response to the tentacle's order to go all out.
-So, the possessed enemies are making things worse…
-Here we go again with another round of trouble.
-Seems like the situation's worse than before… The possessed ones are attacking without any regard for their lives?
-Exactly. The ones who were surrounded earlier at least knew their lives were at stake…
Wait, isn't that Artemus?
During the previous standoff, Artemus remained neutral, neither assisting nor participating, but now, under the influence of the tentacles' wide-scale possession, he was heading towards Seong Jihan with all his might.
"Die…!"
Woooooom!
Artemus's iron body glowed red hot and then instantly engraved with glowing yellow letters as a whirlwind of powerful spells began to swirl.
"Crazy…"
"Such immense magical power!"
"Get away for now!"
The sane players all dodged while the possessed ones threw themselves into the onslaught, trying to ensure the success of their suicide attack.
'Damn…'
Boom!
Artemus exploded gloriously in the sky, sweeping all possessed players around him.
The blast eventually engulfed Seong Jihan's side as well.
It was the most powerful attack amidst the siege today.
[I can't… handle this blast.]
Even Ariel, who had been blocking attacks with the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods, conceded the attack was too powerful.
Swoosh…
The black vortex settled, and light flames took its place, completely engulfing Seong Jihan in a flash.
"Such a tremendous suicide attack. Even a constellation wouldn't survive that."
"So this is how the hidden boss ends…"
[My sacred item! What about the diamonds? What about the eyeball? Is everything okay?]
"That tentacle… Such ignorance. Would there even be an eyeball left after such an explosion?"
"We went through all this trouble for nothing."
Players threw comments from afar as they watched the flames of light, convinced that Seong Jihan was finished.
That's how powerful Artemus's suicide attack was.
However…
"Phew…"
The light ceased.
And there stood Seong Jihan, unscathed.
"No way…"
"…He survived that explosion?"
As gigantic and monstrous as it was, the players blinked in disbelief as they stared at him.
* * *
Artemus's suicidal attack.
The immensely powerful explosion crafted as the last resort by the universe's greatest blacksmith obliterated nearby kindreds who were also in possession, leaving no trace behind.
Yet how could Seong Jihan, the low-ranked species survivor, remain so intact despite the defensive skills being blocked?
"I… I give up on hunting the hidden boss."
"HP F? The system's playing tricks. With that level, it should at least be SSS."
[Note- Changing Vitality to HP in this context.]
"Even elves can't handle that…"
"I need to level up. This won't do."
Seeing the immortal-like Seong Johan, players lost their morale. One by one, they left the siege and focused on their original mission: destruction.
When all the possessed players vanished in the aftermath of Artemus's self-destruction, the Seong Jihan raid became impossible to continue.
'As expected of veterans. Quick decision-making.'
Seong Jihan watched from above with a relaxed expression.
Ariel asked incredulously,
[Master… how on earth did you survive that attack?]
"Oh, that?"
Ssssh!
Seong Jihan opened his right hand, which had been tightly clenched, revealing the Seed of Life that had notably decreased in size, now fitting comfortably in his palm.
Earlier, it was filled with an abundance of life force.
[Did you absorb it?]
"Yes."
When the explosion occurred, Seong Jihan made a choice.
'I can't… stop this.'
Was this the end of the epic quest?
After finally discovering the origin, such an anticlimactic end seemed a waste.
'Just putting this seed in the inventory wouldn't matter even if I died.'
Seong Jihan looked at the problematic seed just before the explosion.
Why was it being treated specially?
Although it contained various peculiar energies…
'Ah, right. If it's the vitality contained in the Life Seed…'
The vitality that regenerated the body.
Wasn't this seed where he first obtained it?
'Anyway, if I die, it's over. Might as well absorb it.'
Seong Jihan absorbed the force contained in the modified seed, feeling the life force replenishing his body quickly.
Even though his body was about to turn to dust in Artemus's flames…
The life force contained in the seed continued to revert Seong Jihan's body to its original state.
After repeating this process tens or hundreds of times…
"Artemus's self-destruction ended first."
[Huh. That seed had so much life force?]
"Yeah. Compared to the last time, what I received before was just a handful."
[You planned to absorb it that way. It looked like a dangerous force from the start.]
"Dangerous force?" Seong Jihan chuckled at the comment.
Dangerous force.
He's had a fair amount of that already.
Especially the power of the void, which even limits lifespan.
Compared to that, life force even healed his body.
"Later, I'll refine the power I've obtained into your sword. I'm preparing a place for it."
[Guh… You're going to add more life force? There's already so much! What are you going to turn Eclipse into?]
"Stop exaggerating. At most, it'll just have a bit more green."
[Ugh… My identity…]
"Okay, let's do it."
Seong Jihan injected more life force without listening to Ariel's complaint to the end.
"E… Eeek…!"
Swoosh!
From the center of the Eclipse, green spread out.
As Ariel clamped up dealing with the incoming surge of life force…
Wriggle! Wriggle!
[No. No… this can't be… My sacred item… My longing to live eternally in BattleNet…!]
Beneath Seong Jihan's feet, the tentacle that had bragged of its tenacity, surviving even Artemus's blast, surged up again.
It wailed at the sight of the significantly diminished Seed of Life in Seong Jihan's hand, then its tone shifted.
[Let's compromise, Player. Could you still hand it over to me? We.. together…can enjoy eternity.]
"Eternity?"
[Yes. By possessing these players, tethering to body after body. When one host's life ends, moving onto a new body… Repeating this process, to relish an eternal life. I can impart to you this ability of the Blue Blood Demons! Let's share this power!]
Possessing and switching hosts was how the Blue Blood Demons intended to achieve immortality in BattleNet.
'Can this potent power in the modified seed really make it possible to switch hosts eternally?'
As Seong Jihan contemplated the life seed, the voice of the tentacles softened even more.
[Come on now, will you not hand over the sacred item? Your flesh… it's insufficient for your talent. If you were a dragon-kind… Or a giant-kind… You'd have already conquered BattleNet and become the 'Fifth Administrator'! Fine, I will help you on that path! So…!]
The tentacle babbled, trying earnestly to sway Seong Jihan.
But…
[That's enough. Your kind has failed.]
Flash.
A light twinkled in the sky, and an elf wearing a white half-mask landed atop the tentacle.
[Begone.]
A slight tap.
With a simple kick from the elf, the tentacle was sucked into the ground and vanished entirely, unlike its previous tenacious survival of Artemus's blast.
['The Blue Blood Demons have been annihilated.']
The system message indicated the extinction of a race.
'Was that tentacle the last of the Blue Blood Demons?'
The being, which sought eternal life by possessing other beings and switching bodies in BattleNet, met an exceedingly dismal end.
It disappeared with just one kick from the elf.
Seong Jihan briefly observed the ground before quickly withdrawing his hand.
In that instant,
"Ah…"
A wooden sword grazed the spot where his hand had been, emanating light.
"That was close."
As Seong Jihan dodged the sword attack, the masked elf appeared taken aback by the miss.
[You're a talented kid. Hand over the seed. Then I might spare you.]
Seong Jihan responded to the elf's presumptuous demand by casually raising his middle finger.
[You're offering it?]
"No. I'm saying get lost, understand?"
[Ha!]
Flash!
As the elf's wooden sword sparkled with light again,
Ssssh…
A gigantic skull appeared in front of Seong Jihan.
"Crazy old elf. We agreed not to intervene with the bosses, so why are you messing with our leader?"
[You… Became a star constellation and still acting snobby? Out of my way. Now.]
[Can't do. This friend here is going to be my leader.]
Karlein, who did not intervene in Seong Jihan's previous crises, showed himself this time, perhaps treating the situation with the masked elf differently.
Then…
Ssssh…
Darkness descended from the sky, and ranks of the undead began to appear one by one.
The elf, clicking his tongue, glared at Seong Jihan with scorn.
[I promise you this. If you hand it over to BattleNet, I will go to your world and personally take your head.]
Flash!
With those words, the masked elf disappeared.
Seong Jihan watched him vanish and thought,
'That makes me even more eager to hand it over.'
The epic quest reward was alluring, and doing anything the elves disliked brought Seong Jihan joy.
[The game will soon conclude.]
As Seong Jihan saw the end message appearing, he resolved to return the seed, having consumed all its force immediately after the game's conclusion.