I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 463

‘Hm..., the owner of the Spirit Realm,’ Cha Jin-Hyeok thought. ‘Is it really okay for me to claim that position? I would only grow stronger.’

Becoming the owner of even one Server accelerated growth at an exponential rate. At this point, Jin-Hyeok’s dilemma deepened. ‘Is it greedy of me to want to stop growing stronger...?’

He was getting stronger every moment, even by merely breathing. Moreover, he felt that he would surpass Level 600 soon. At Level 500, he had already hit a singularity, so he had no idea what kind of powerful abilities he would obtain when he reached Level 600. He couldn’t even fathom what lay beyond that realm.

‘Was it my arrogance to not want to grow stronger anymore?’

By now, it felt like something he should give up on. No matter how much he denied reality, nothing would change. Even if he didn’t want to grow stronger, it seemed like fate had already decided that he would. Refusing to grow stronger at this point just seemed an arrogant thought.

‘If I truly become the owner of the Spirit Realm...’

Jin-Hyeok wasn’t sure if the Spirits would agree—though, considering how easily he had connected with the Fire Monsters, it seemed likely they would all consent. If that happened, it would serve as the foundation for yet another stage of growth for him.

Jin-Hyeok’s heart raced.

‘No..., this isn’t right.’

While his mind screamed that he shouldn’t grow stronger, his heart craved more power. The hidden instinct he had suppressed with reason all this time began to stir again.

‘I can get stronger?’ How strong can I become?’ Once the thought took root, his desire swelled. ‘Should I become stronger? No, I shouldn’t. But I’m already too powerful. Would getting stronger really be an issue?’

“Alright, let’s do as you say, Elly,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“I agree with you becoming the owner of the Spirit Realm!” Elines shouted.

“But we haven’t even started voting yet...”

The Spirit King, Alkinas, snorted in amusement. He didn’t think a being that wasn’t even a Spirit King could stake a claim on the ownership of the Spirit Realm. There was no way the Spirits would allow something like that to happen.

Jin-Hyeok received a notification..

[You have activated the Achievement effect ⌜Owner of the Ownerless Place⌟.]

[Do you wish to become the owner of the ⌜72nd Fire Spirit Realm⌟?]

Alkinas also received a notification.

[A candidate has been registered for the ownership of the ⌜72nd Fire Spirit Realm⌟.]

[Please participate in the voting.]

‘Of course, I’m against it.’ Alkinas had no issue with the idea of someone becoming the owner of the Spirit Realm, but if it were to happen, the one who claimed that title should first ascend to the position of Spirit King. Alkinas had to ensure that the Spirit King’s throne was passed on before anyone else could become the owner. ‘I won’t let this happen.’

[Alkinas has voted in favor.]

Despite his will, his finger moved on its own. It was as if his reason and instinct were acting separately.

‘What the hell is going on?’

It seemed that because Alkinas was deeply connected to the Spirit Realm itself, the emotions of the Spirit Realm affected him. Still, he thought it would be fine. After all, not all Spirits would be swayed by Chul-Soo’s communication. The lower-tier Spirits, who were less pure, would have been barely affected. Fortunately, this Spirit Realm had a far greater number of low-tier Spirits than higher-tier ones.

‘The Fire Spirits will make a wise choice. Surely, there would be far more votes against Chul-Soo. Rather than someone getting the empty title of the owner, it’s far better for a new and great Spirit King to be born!’

[Approval: 242%]

[A new owner of the ⌜72nd Fire Spirit Realm⌟ has been born.]

***

“How is 242% approval even possible?” Alkinas couldn’t accept the outcome.

“It happens sometimes.”

“Chul-Soo, I haven’t studied human academia, but it doesn’t mean I lack wisdom. I may not know math, but I’m not ignorant enough to believe in a nonsensical figure like 242%.”

“When the voting gets intense, things like this can happen.”

Alkinas stared at Jin-Hyeok with a somewhat skeptical look. He summoned the Flame of Truth to see if Jin-Hyeok was telling the truth and found no trace of falsehood.

‘He’s serious!’ Alkinas couldn’t fathom how someone could truly believe such absurdity, but now, something else became clear. In Chul-Soo’s eyes was a subtle gleam of madness.

“Chul-Soo, I don’t know you that well, but I heard you didn’t want to get any stronger,” Alkinas said.

“Well, that was...,” Jin-Hyeok answered brazenly, “just a concept.”

Even after becoming the owner of the Spirit Realm, Jin-Hyeok was still thirsty for power. Having shattered the limitations that he had once set on himself, he was now rampaging.

“All Spirits will now gain triple the experience points,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Experience points....?” Alkinas was confused. Spirits didn’t have experience points. They simply grew over time, naturally.

“In return, I gain 0.1% of the experience points they acquire,” Jin-Hyeok added.

“Chul-Soo, listen to me. Spirits do not have the concept of experience points.”

“They do now.”

“No, they don’t.”

“They didn’t, but now they do.”

“What do you mean?”

“You now have the opportunity to grow.”

Jin-Hyeok was very pleased with this change. Unlike humans, Spirits were born like this and lived their lives that way. They didn’t need to strive to grow stronger; their strength and fate were determined at birth. But now that the Spirit Realm had an owner, the parameters had changed.

“You can now acquire experience points. Of course, given the conditions of this place, it will be difficult for you to grow,” Jin-Hyeok explained. After all, the only monsters that appeared here were Fire Monsters. “But if you make active contracts with summoners and venture into other Servers, you can acquire experience points faster.”

Alkinas was confused. The world he had known for so long had suddenly been turned upside down. “Chul-Soo... what have you done...?”

Alkinas didn’t welcome the winds of change now sweeping through this once-stable and peaceful Spirit Realm. He had no idea what kind of consequences this would bring to the Spirit Realm.

“Some Spirits will genuinely want to grow stronger,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Spirits are made of pure elemental essence. They have no desires.”

“Considering how eager you were to dump the throne on me, you seem pretty motivated to me.”

“Th-That’s...”

Jin-Hyeok grinned. “Don’t think about it too negatively. If they keep growing stronger, won’t a Spirit emerge who surpasses even the Spirit King?”

‘Huh, maybe that isn’t such a bad idea after all.’ Alkinas decided to accept this change more willingly.

***

The winds of change swept across the universe.

“I’ve successfully summoned a Spirit!”

“R-Really?”

“Our son seems to have a remarkable talent for Spirit summoning! What kind of Spirit?”

“A Fire Spirit, Dad!”

“Oh!” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Fire Spirits were notoriously difficult to contract compared to other Spirits. The very nature of fire was destructive and intense, making it hard to handle. However, if one could properly control a Fire Spirit, its versatility and power were enough to make a Player indispensable anywhere.

“I’ve finally succeeded in summoning a Spirit!”

“What?”

“See? I told you I could do it!”

“But you’re not even a Spirit Mage?”

“That’s right. I’m a Martial Artist. But if an Eltuber can tame a Thunder Dragon, then why can’t a Martial Artist summon a Spirit? Haha, maybe I had a hidden talent for Spirit summoning all along.”

Suddenly, Spirit Mages started appearing in droves across the universe. Many experts were baffled by the phenomenon and offered a flurry of opinions.

[Recent solar flares from Alpha, the massive sun governing the universe, are concerning. Scholars have predicted for the past fifteen years that these flares could have a profound impact on the Fire Spirit Realm.]

[Melvin Delance said that once the climate disaster begins, Fire Spirits will go on a rampage.]

[Repent! The power of fire has engulfed the universe, signaling the end of the world!]

In the midst of this, Encyclopedia, the online analyst who was currently at the height of his popularity, chimed in with his theory.

[If there has been a major change in the world, we have to consider the possibility that Chul-Soo is behind it.]

People laughed at Encyclopedia since he offered no evidence.

-This isn’t a place for an internet commenter.

-Isn’t it a bit too much for Encyclopedia to join a meeting of scholars?

-He’s overstepping now. Haha!

However, the conversation shifted drastically when Jin-Hyeok began releasing videos related to the Spirit Realm. It became clear that the surge in Spirit Mages was due to him. Surprisingly, the one most taken aback by this was Encyclopedia himself.

“Wait... I was right?”

Encyclopedia had initially suspected Chul-Soo, but he didn’t think it would be true. Regardless, this event only bolstered Encyclopedia’s reputation even further.

***

Choi Gap-Soo and Director Jang Michelle set off fireworks.

“Congratulations on your entry into the Trinity Club!” Gap-Soo said.

“Well, thank you,” Jin-Hyeok replied.

“The 1,000th Trinity Club member... It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Ever since you appeared, it feels like the universe’s order, as I knew it, has been unraveling. It’s both mysterious and exhilarating,” Gap-Soo added.

Michelle clapped along as well and said, “You’re right. I never imagined the birth of the 1,000th Trinity Club member. They used to joke that the world would end when the 1,000th member was born.”

Jin-Hyeok’s expression darkened. “I need to discuss something with both of you.”

“The Kim Chul-Soo has something to discuss with us?” Gap-Soo said, surprised.

“You have something to consult us about?” Michelle was also surprised.

They both straightened up in their seats.

“If you’re saying that, it must be something serious,” Gap-Soo added.

“I’m afraid it is.” Jin-Hyeok hesitated for a moment before sharing a screen with them.

[(29) To the one who finally holds the true Reflective Mirror. You have vanquished the powers of darkness and planted the seed of true peace. I revere your breathless and desperate journey. Though the arduous trials have torn apart your body and soul, you will not stop. Your grand footsteps are not yet finished. Soon, the Final Abyss will open. Only you can fill it. Your name shall be praised forevermore.]

“You’re familiar with this, right?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Of course, it’s the universe-level Scenario. Many people are curious about when it will progress further,” Gap-Soo replied.

“Actually, I reached Stage (30) recently. I haven’t made it public yet, though...”

“Hold on a moment.” Michelle noticed something odd. One phrase stood out to her. “The Final Abyss? Does Stage (30) have something to do with that?”

“Yes.” Jin-Hyeok let out a light sigh. “As you mentioned, Director Michelle, I do seem to be disrupting the order of the universe. I think this might be part of the final chapter of the universe-level Scenario.”

The universe-level Scenario was about the birth of an absolute being who would shake the foundations of the universe. However, that wasn’t the end.

“At first, I thought it was just something Garbinu had set up for his resurrection, but it turns out the scale is much larger. It seems the universe itself used Garbinu to orchestrate this Scenario,” Jin-Hyeok continued.

“Stop dancing around the point and get to the core of the matter, Chul-Soo.”

“To put it in gaming terms, I think I’ve ended the game.” Jin-Hyeok had reached the end. There was no more content left in this world. “The appearance of the Final Abyss seems to signal a reset. The end of the world we live in.”