The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player

The conditions for the 14th round’s sub-quest are simple.

Eliminate the Devouring Parasite within 5 minutes of its appearance.

The reward for the sub-quest is given to the person with the highest contribution.

‘It’s not as easy as it sounds.’

When Ryu Min first learned about the sub-quest, he was just as bewildered.

How could anyone kill a creature that reflects 90% of the damage dealt to it in under 5 minutes?

‘To kill it in 5 minutes, you’d need at least a hundred Master-level players attacking non-stop.’

That might bring it down in 2 minutes. But as long as the special rule of reflecting 90% of the damage exists, that scenario is impossible.

‘The moment anyone strikes, they’d die from the reflected damage.’

On the other hand, if you hold back, there’s the time limit of 5 minutes to consider.

‘I eventually realized it. This 14th round sub-quest was designed to be impossible for ordinary players.’

Ryu Min had tried all sorts of strategies, but none worked.

The reflected damage was unavoidable and unblockable, dealing a guaranteed hit.

Oh, there was one way to block it.

‘You just have to use Invincibility. That’s the only way to complete the sub-quest.’

By using the invincibility he had received as a special reward in the previous round, he could even block the reflected damage.

Having already tested it, he knew this for sure.

Thus, Ryu Min confidently approached the Devouring Parasite.

“Grrr? Grrrrk!”

The monster, having noticed Ryu Min, made an eerie sound.

It flicked its tongue at him, as if pleased that its meal was walking straight towards it, launching its attack without any preparation.

Pa-pak-!

At a speed that would be impossible to evade for anyone with agility below 1,000.

‘Too bad my agility is close to 300,000.’

Ryu Min easily dodged the attack and in the blink of an eye, leapt to the top of the parasite’s head.

‘There’s no need to hold back when I’ve got invulnerability.’

Still, it would be a bit embarrassing to use his full strength on such a small fry.

‘I’ll finish this with one Moonlight Slash.’

But first, Ryu Min activated his invincibility.

[The temporary skill ‘Invincibility’ has been activated.]

[You are immune to all damage for 60 seconds.]

[This one-time use skill has been consumed.]

[It has disappeared from your skill window.]

The moment he felt his body shielded, he unleashed Moonlight Slash.

Kiiiiiiiing—

A bright flash descended upon the parasite’s head.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-!

“Gyaaaaah!”

As the Devouring Parasite’s massive body exploded, a tremor akin to an earthquake shook the ground.

The startled players struggled to stay upright on the trembling plains.

And then, through the fading dust, they saw a man standing.

It was none other than the Black Scythe.

[You have slain the Devouring Parasite!]

[A hidden sub-quest has been discovered!]

└ Eliminate the Devouring Parasite within 5 minutes.

└ Reward ▶ Rune of Devour.

[You have completed the sub-quest!]

[As a reward, you have received the ‘Rune of Devour’!]

[The acquired rune will be automatically engraved on your body!]

Rune of Devour

Effect: Experience points and gold from slain monsters are doubled.

Depending on the level of the slain monster, you also receive stat points and devour stacks.

Additional effects are granted based on the number of stacks accumulated.

└ 100 stacks or more ▶ ?????

└ 300 stacks or more ▶ ?????

└ 1,000 stacks or more ▶ ?????

└ 3,000 stacks or more ▶ ?????

└ 10,000 stacks or more ▶ ?????

‘Finally, I’ve got it—the Rune of Devour.’

A similar rune had once been held by the [Black Flame Dragon on the Right Hand].

‘That rune gave stats for killing both players and monsters.’

The only difference was that the Rune of Devour applied only to monsters.

‘But it’s not a weaker version. You gain additional effects as the stacks accumulate.’

Unlike other stacking mechanics, the devour stacks don’t get consumed. They accumulate endlessly.

Thus, the effects of the stacks function as a sort of permanent buff.

‘The reward for killing the Devouring Parasite will be tallied during the results calculation.’

Ryu Min grinned and turned around, noticing the gaze of the players fixated on him.

Each wore a stunned expression.

“He took down that giant monster in an instant…”

“Maybe it wasn’t as tough as we thought? Haha…”

“But it looked so powerful…”

The players were shaken as they stared at the mutilated corpse of the parasite, parts of its body completely obliterated.

None of the players present believed they could have defeated it in a single blow like the Black Scythe did.

Just then, the rule for the Devouring Parasite’s defeat was finally revealed.

[You have successfully completed the main quest by defeating the Devouring Parasite!]

[The special rule for the 10th wave is now revealed.]

“What? 90% damage reflection?”

“So the Black Scythe defeated it with only 10% of his power?”

“…That was just 10% of his strength?”

“But wasn’t there reflected damage? Why does he look completely fine?”

The astonished and confused gazes of the players fell on Ryu Min, but he felt no obligation to answer their questions.

They should be thankful he saved their lives, after all.

‘If I hadn’t stepped in, there would have been thousands of casualties.’

[The temporary skill ‘Invincibility’ has worn off.]

It seemed the minute had passed, and the Invincibility buff had ended.

In truth, Ryu Min hadn’t even needed the full minute.

He only needed a second to withstand the reflected damage.

‘Now then…’

Ryu Min’s gaze shifted to the helpless Soso who was restrained by four men.

‘Time to return to reality and beat him senseless.’

Seeing Ryu Min’s sinister smile, Soso’s cheeks began to tremble uncontrollably.

‘W-What is this… What’s happening…?’

When Soso was surrounded by four men, he had been furious.

Unable to move and being stared at as if he were a criminal, it felt unbearable.

Though unjust, he managed to hold on.

The 10th wave was just around the corner, after all.

In the ensuing chaos, he was sure an opportunity to escape would arise.

But that hope was utterly crushed.

‘They said there’d be chaos when the 10th wave started, but damn it, there’s no chaos at all…’

When the boss-level monster, the Devouring Parasite, appeared, Soso thought that this was his chance.

It looked incredibly powerful.

He had imagined it would massacre countless players and create the chaos he needed.

‘That must have been the “chaos” the Archangel was talking about. But…’

There wasn’t even a moment of opportunity.

The Black Scythe stepped in and cleaned up everything without a hitch.

‘It’s all over. Everything’s ruined.’

The Devouring Parasite was dead, and the 10th wave had ended.

The men holding his limbs showed no sign of letting him go.

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