Chapter 17 – Break the Limits
That cursed devil.. he tricked me completely. I always thought I was clever, but he is on a different level. He exploited his knowledge and my ignorance simultaneously to bring me down.
"So.. let us change the rules again."
"Hahaha, have you started following in my footsteps, little egg? What are you thinking? Let me listen."
"You win.. and my life is spared.. in exchange for returning everything to you."
"A good proposal.. but.. if I don't agree, everything will return to me anyway, hahaha! And do not forget that I gave you something in exchange for agreeing to my proposal.. do you have something like that to offer me?"
"I don't believe I possess anything suitable.. but I would have accepted your proposal even without you offering me that eagle."
"And why is that? If you'll allow me to know."
The beast's voice carried a tone of clear arrogance and mockery, while I was trying to balance logic and plea to reach the best solution without crushing my dignity.
"The reason is that I am against killing. I cannot kill a breathing being. Perhaps you consider this foolish, but I am such a fool. one who believes deceivers when it comes to saving a life."
"Ooh, what words, little egg! Indeed... you are nothing but an unripe egg, haha. If this is the logic you live by, it's better I end you now. Because you will never survive in the world."
"Let me face the world, and you will see how I survive."
"Hahaha, fine.. I'll let you face the world then."
"So, do you agree?"
"Hahaha, of course.. NOT. You want to face the world? Then show me. I am one of the Ten.. I represent part of the world. Show me how you will overcome me now, haha!"
He is intentionally humiliating me.. but he is right. If it weren't for this principle I follow, he wouldn't have been able to trick me. The fault is entirely mine.
Why didn't I ask the others about Accumulation and Ranks and their relationship? Such basic information.. how was it hidden from my mind?
Damn it...
Suddenly, a different yellow light appeared beside the accumulation number glowing at the top of the space.
"A countdown timer?" I whispered to myself. My eyes saw one hour, its hands dancing downward. It warned me that this time was all I had until the game ended.
The beast fell silent again. I didn't try to speak to him. perhaps out of pride.. or hope for another solution.
But what solution did I have?
The Second Rank has conditions that can never be achieved now. None of my attributes allow me the ability to double the accumulation storage.
So what is the solution...
20 minutes.. that's the time remaining.
Oh.. what an adventure. The system, the resources, everything was like a dream. Despite the exhaustion, the achievements were grand.
10 minutes..
Time felt like eternity. Hahaha.. I actually dreamed of many warriors with me in their midst, none able to land a strike on me, and here the dream ends, hahaha.
"Do you hear me, you cursed beast?"
"Yes."
"Damn youuuuuuu!"
"Haha, don't be sad, little egg. I have never suffered defeat before. Against me, you were very close. You should be proud of that."
"Damn you... why don't you free me and become my companion in building my empire.. instead of remaining an isolated monster. Wouldn't that be good for you?"
"...."
He fell silent. Perhaps he is considering it. Well, only a few minutes left. I hope my death here is my return to Earth. If it is, I will do anything to succeed; I will never be isolated again.
{ System }
{ Food }
{ Food cannot be requested }
Even food I cannot enjoy before the end. It seems nothing works in this dimension except attributes.
Attributes!!
Well, why not.. I'll try.
{ Unique Seer - Activated }
{ Sacrifice two attributes, one of them unique, to obtain a chosen unique attribute. }
{ Activate }
{ Sacrifice Successful }
{ Type the name of the required unique attribute }
{ [ ] }
What??? Do I have to type the name? Are you joking with me.. where do I get a name from? I thought attributes would appear before me for me to choose! It seems the system itself wants to kill me too.
{ [ ] }
What do I write? Well, it's no time for fear; nothing can be worse than what came before.
{ Increase Maximum Accumulation in Rank }
It seems like a suitable name. Well, let's see if it works..
{ No attribute by this name }
Damn, as I expected. It won't wor—
{ An attribute close to the name exists. Do you wish to access it? }
{ Yes - No }
What do I do??? Do I accept? Will it be what I want?
Remaining time.. two minutes.
Sweat drenched my body; I felt as if I had run ten miles despite sitting in a spring-like atmosphere. A migraine suddenly hit me. All my thoughts were scattered. I am facing only one choice, and there is no other solution.
Damn it.. I'll accept, and let happen what may.
{ Accept }
{ Unique Attribute of the Exchanger Type Obtained }
{ Breaking Limits and Constant Tribute }
{ Upon activating the Unique Attribute of the Exchanger type, the limits restricting saved accumulation will be broken and become infinite. In exchange, the Lord is required to pay 30,000 accumulation points in the First Rank monthly.. and it doubles with every Rank. }
{ Accept - Reject }
What is this??? Is this a feature or a punishment?
Unfortunately, there is no other choice. Now I must finish the disaster before me, and later I will think about what must be done with the tax.
{ Accept }
{ Limits Broken Successfully }
Fine.. it's your turn.
I started running toward the remaining flowers. It didn't need a show, but I did it anyway. A rightward movement with accelerating steps and a flamboyant turn.. then harvest.
A long jump, a spin, another flamboyant movement.. and another harvest.
121,000
122,000
123,000
I slowed my movement to a stop. A deafening scream came from afar, but I didn't care. It was nothing more than the howl of a loser.
"HOOOOW?!" The voice was hoarse and terrified; tears almost fell from the tone alone.
And at the top, the time finally ended. The numbers indicating accumulation changed,
replaced by a sentence:
{ Game Over - The Challenger Lord Wins }
At the same time, the system flashed with urgent alerts.
[ Ding.. Ding.. Ding ]
{ Victory over an Ancient Beast achieved }
{ Rewards obtained }
{ 1,000,000 Accumulation Points obtained }
{ Services of the Demonic Farmer "Tro" obtained }
{ New Title Obtained - Lord of the Shadows }
"How did you do it, you curse?!"
"Haha, why the anger? Are you mad because the 'egg' defeated you? You should thank me for sparing your life."
The surroundings hadn't changed yet; we were still inside the beast's dimension. But it was no longer a cause for fear or anxiety. The match terms were clear, and the beast's commitment to them could not be broken.
"The day will come when I will kill you all.. I can wait decades and hundreds of years to achieve my revenge."
"Why seek revenge on me?? I spared your life. You are the one who brought me to a match wanting to devour my soul! You are the one who decided to deceive me over and over! If anyone should seek revenge, it's me—yet I won't. You must calm down and think well. Being an ancient and powerful beast doesn't give you a right you don't possess. That is hypocrisy."
The beast didn't answer, but snorted darkly in a grumble. I didn't care. I had achieved my goal.
"Now, return me to Monali's location. Now."
The beast didn't answer. In a moment, my head felt a kind of dizziness. Another moment, then I opened my eyes. I was some distance away from Monali.
As I headed toward her, she opened her eyes sleepily. The beast hadn't caused her any harm; he had only put her to sleep.
"What happened, My Lord? I fainted for a moment?"
In the sky, it was dark.. but the time was still as it had been before the beast arrived. All those hours in the other dimension were but a few minutes here.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, My Lord. What happened?"
"Haha, are you ready for a shock..?"
"What?"
"Your handsome Lord, hahaha.. has defeated the Deceptive Beast!"
"Whaaaaaaaat?!"
"Hahaha, damn it, don't scream! Hahaha.. Let's go back, and I'll tell you everything that happened."