#103: Luck Vs Doom (2) — Battlefield of the Gods

The moment I prepared to dive into the black smoke and brace for the mental agony that would follow, trying to get even a little closer to Mae Young-ryeong, I suddenly felt an invisible wall rise between me and Mae Young-ryeong.

The black smoke could not approach me, and I could not get close to Mae Young-ryeong.

『Setting activation for representative protection during the training period confirmed. Talent “Luck” forcibly activated by the setting. Countering Mae Young-ryeong’s awakening power “Doom.” Mae Young-ryeong’s luck -150. Kim Han’s luck 145. Partial defense. Luck is insufficient for full defense.』

『‘Argus’s Eye’ Battlefield Analysis start. Use of luck-only points recommended.』

A message recommending the use of luck-only points. I felt reluctant at first.

Above all, it was the first time I’d seen a message that protection by a ‘setting’ had activated. Does that mean my current situation is that dangerous?

With hope that the black smoke right before me was stopped as if by invisible glass, I moved closer to Mae Young-ryeong.

Maybe it was angry at being blocked. The black smoke, as if ready to absorb even light, began to coalesce.

A hair-trigger situation.

『Use of luck-only points recommended.』

…

‘Damn it, fine. Do it, do it!’

“Use six luck-only points.”

『Using 6 luck-only points…….』

Crash―! Crash―!!

The moment I summoned the status window to use the luck-only points, something shattered everywhere and my vision darkened again.

It was Hazel. Was she finally trying to summon spirits?

After Hazel chanted a rhythm that I couldn’t tell if it was a High Elf song, I felt the whirlwind of spirit energies around her.

Ah, it seemed to be working.

But the joy was brief—the summoned spirits’ eyes looked ominous.

—How dare you summon us with filthy power!

—Get lost! You half-breed High Elf!

Tears streamed down Hazel’s turned-away face.

Hazel’s teary eyes were full of resentment.

Anger followed immediately.

“Die!”

The moment I heard her words, I snickered.

As I laughed, my vision brightened.

I knew that High Elves, in that situation, would sooner blame their own shortcomings than resent or try to kill someone who had taken the Comes vow.

So I couldn’t help but snort at the awkward-feeling nightmare.

『You have overcome the highest-grade mental attack “Doom’s Nightmare.” Luck increases by 1 unconditionally.』

『Current luck stat ‘146’. Use of luck-only points recommended.』

“Alright, fine. Use 5 luck-only points.”

『Use 5 luck-only points, confirm?』

“…Wait!”

As I opened the status window, my eyes habitually caught a small pouch in my inventory.

I quickly took the pouch from my inventory, pulled out a small soul pellet inside, and clenched it in my hand.

“Hehe. It’s unfair that only I keep swallowing the black smoke, right? I’ll feed you some too.”

I smiled innocently and opened Mae Young-ryeong’s mouth, surrounded by the black smoke, and shoved the soul pellet in.

In the meantime, the ominous black smoke attacked me fiercely, but thankfully I took no damage as the protective barrier held until the partial defense condition broke like before.

‘Confirmed.’

Name: Mae Young-ryeong
True Name: Witch of Doom
Affiliation: ―
Body

[Strength] ―

[Agility] ―

[Stamina] ―

[Intellect] ―

[luck] -145

『Talent “Luck” is active. Countering representative Mae Young-ryeong’s awakening power “Doom.” Mae Young-ryeong’s luck -145. Kim Han’s luck 146. Full defense successful!』

Now the defense succeeded.

The ominous black smoke still approached, but it could no longer pierce the invisible barrier surrounding me.

But the problem wasn’t defense. The issue was that Mae Young-ryeong’s condition needed improving.

『‘Argus’s Eye’ Battlefield Analysis start. Determining caster’s intent. For eradication rather than defense of “Doom,” use of luck-only points is recommended. Analyzing representative’s physical grade. Analyzing awakening power “Doom” rank. Recommend using at least 9 luck-only points.』

“Either way, it just tells me to use them.”

Is there no other way? Nothing else at all? Like the luck potion I gave Mae Young-ryeong a moment ago.

But the talent “Insight” remained silent.

Even if four years from now I might be able to cut Mae Young-ryeong’s throat, I’m not confident I could actually kill her.

In the end, the answer is decided.

“…Use nine luck-only points.”

『Use 9 luck-only points, confirm?』

“Yes.”

『Congratulations. luck has surpassed the secondary cap (150). You have achieved the astonishing feat of breaking the secondary cap in luck, a stat harder to raise than any other. You have gained 10 luck-only points.』

『Title “Beloved of Felici” acquired.』

『Passive skill “Probabilistic Instant Death” acquired.』

『A temporary luck stat of 20 has been applied for a limited time. The title and passive skill only apply when luck is 150 or above.』

Messages popped up one after another.

But more than that, what caught my eye first was the movement of the black smoke retreating as if frightened of something.

The black clouds that had been retreating as I approached had gathered around Mae Young-ryeong, stretching long behind her like a shadow cast opposite the direction I stood.

I crouched and placed my hand on Mae Young-ryeong’s forehead.

『Talent “Luck” is active. Do you wish to eradicate Mae Young-ryeong’s awakening power “Doom”?』

“Yes.”

『Representative Kim Han’s luck 155. Representative Mae Young-ryeong’s luck -145. Initiating disruption and eradication.』

『Warning!! Warning!! Because the opponent is a representative, you cannot completely nullify “Doom,” which maintains Mae Young-ryeong’s life under the representative protection ‘setting’ during the training period.』

“What?”

The message meant that just as the talent “Luck” was forcibly triggered to protect me as a representative under extreme odds, even with Mae Young-ryeong’s increased luck, I could not eradicate “Doom” because it was preserving her life.

So… is this a conflict between settings?

From the point where my hand rested on her forehead, I heard something violently clashing around Mae Young-ryeong and my body.

An invisible but unmistakably palpable clash of immense forces. A strange noise like a scream.

『Skill “Argus’s Eye” analyzing possibilities……. Option 99. Record shows history of overcoming “Doom’s Nightmare.” Attempt to ‘subdue’ awakening power “Doom”?』

“Subdue?”

It was the first time I’d heard of an awakening power, and the first time I’d seen a ‘setting’ conflict between representatives.

I thought the worst result of a setting conflict between representatives during the training period was like that week at the sparring ground when Arun and I knocked each other unconscious from the recoil.

But here, following a setting conflict unlike anything heard of before, it was recommending I subdue the opponent’s power.

‘Argus’s Eye’ and the talent ‘Insight’ were recommending that.

Should I give up on Mae Young-ryeong at this point?

I thought about it for a moment but shook my head.

The horrific things done to Mae Young-ryeong by those who harmed her. The past of Mae Young-ryeong that I’d heard from Genesis.

I couldn’t give up now.

If I did, not only I but the entire legion could be ruined. No turning back.

“Don’t.”

『Beginning subdual of awakening power “Doom.” In progress. Complete! Subdual successful.』

“Huh? That quick? Is it over?”

As if in response to my words, a stream of messages began to appear.

『The awakening power “Doom” is a living curse, a curse created by a god. It devours the luck of the infected and those who touched them, transfers misfortune, and brings about death—an apex-level curse.』

『You have successfully subdued “Doom,” which no one has handled before, using overwhelming luck.』

『Measuring achievements. Calculating rewards. An achievement never before accomplished! Check with the overseeing god for rewards.』

『50% of the luck absorbed by “Doom” will be transferred to its owner, Kim Han. Current Kim Han luck stat is 10.』

“What?!”

I hurriedly opened the status window.

Name: Kim Han
True Name: Gamer
Affiliation: ―
Body

[Strength] 126(+12)

[Agility] 130(+12)

[Stamina] 136(+12)

[Intellect] 117(+3)

[luck] 10(+27)

Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intellect dedicated points 5

luck-only points 16

Free stat points 20

…

No matter how many times I checked, luck was 10. I rubbed my eyes and looked again—still 10. Damn.

The worse part was that in about twenty hours the ‘+20’ luck from the Dance of the Dice would disappear.

How can this setting be handled so carelessly without any prior warning!

If I had been warned beforehand, would I have so readily proceeded with the subdual?

“Damn it! What a load of… huh?”

『Settling the luck absorbed by “Doom.” Subjects: 7 continentals, 3 representatives, the largest temple in Exorsus, the temple of Heavenly God Amor. Total luck absorbed is 490… 496… 502… processing. If you want an interim settlement, you can receive 251 points, which is 50%.』

『Do you accept?』

“…Wait.”

The bracelet and ring always add 7. I unequipped the bracelet and ring into my inventory and my luck dropped to 3.

Three. Lee Hyo-ju’s luck was 1 when she first entered Battlefield of the Gods, and she nearly suffered something vile because of it.

I suddenly felt anxious, my hands trembled, my mouth went dry, and I found myself glancing around nervously.

“Settle the luck from ‘Doom.’”

『To date, “Doom” has absorbed a total of 516 luck. 50%, equal to 258 luck, will be transferred to Kim Han.』

『Adding the settled 258 luck to Kim Han’s current luck of 3(+20). Transfer and application will take 5.2 seconds……. Complete. Current Kim Han luck stat is 116(+20).』

“Phew……. That was a close one.”

I poured another potion into the mouth of Mae Young-ryeong lying on the ground and collapsed beside her.

I’d rather go mano-a-mano with Martial Star; I could never do this twice.

‘But who does it keep absorbing luck from while they’re unconscious?’

“Is that… even possible?”

“This is a hundred times more surprising than when ‘Doom’ first appeared.”

“Genesis! Say something.”

Even with the three goddesses urging her, Genesis couldn’t speak. Doom, of all things!

The creator, unable to abide the luck goddess’s reckless behavior, had given an order about the uncontrollable curse she made—how could something she had never released be on her representative…….

“Doom went out only once, when the luck goddess’s status fell, as you all know. And at that time, Doom remained in the body of that woman who later became a luck fairy.”

“That’s right. We confirmed it not long ago.”

A short reply from Mors. Then the space was filled with silence as everyone fell into thought.

Is it such an immense worry that the beautiful foreheads of the four goddesses furrow? What is the Doom that makes them fret like this?

“Then where did that come from? Well, Genesis can look into that the next time she visits the Garden of Gods. But how much luck does Kim Han have such that he could subdue a Doom that even that arrogant woman couldn’t handle?”

“You should ask Ludicer that.”

As soon as Genesis finished speaking, Ludicer suddenly appeared in the space.

“What is it?”

Ludicer’s voice was razor-sharp. No god failed to understand it.

Especially Genesis, despite her status as a High God and Ancient God, was watching Ludicer nervously.

“I have something to ask.”

As it would be the same with any god, Aetas, who was at least on familiar terms, stepped in to mediate.

“Let’s hear it first and then decide.”

“From what I see, Kim Han used points? He used them to raise his luck. How much luck does Kim Han have?”

Ludicer pondered for a moment and then immediately set one condition.

“I have something I want to ask as well. Will you answer first?”

“…About the Doom, I suppose? Fine, go ahead.”

“No. I already have some information about the Doom. Rather, can you explain how my representative nearly died under the protection of a ‘setting’?”

Ludicer’s words actually provoked curiosity on the four goddesses’ faces, as if a question mark hung above each of their heads.

“What do you mean? Kim Han nearly died?”

“Didn’t you know? That ‘Doom’s Nightmare’ almost killed Kim Han?”

The four goddesses still looked bewildered.

“Ah! Did you think Kim Han would have died if he hadn’t overcome the mental attack of ‘Dooms Nightmare’?”

“Yes.”

“Hohoho. Interesting. Now you seem a bit like novice gods. Hohoho. I’ll say it outright: the ‘setting’ is absolute. Doom? Even Deicide and Destruction cannot kill a representative, so Doom is nothing. Why do you think the Doom gives nightmares?”

“Eh? That’s… to painfully kill the target within the nightmare, isn’t it?”

“An illusion taken to its extreme is indistinguishable from reality. But the Doom’s Nightmare isn’t that kind of illusion. Its main role is to make the victim renounce their own luck while floundering in the nightmare. I’m saying ‘Doom’s Nightmare’ is not a power meant to kill someone. There is a separate power for killing.”

At Aetas’s words, Ludicer nodded as if struck by a realization.

“If Kim Han hadn’t woken up, what would have happened? I don’t know what nightmare he had, but would the wounds he received in the dream have appeared outside too? It’s possible—very shallow wounds. If that were the case, when humans wake from such a dream, what do most of them think?”

After Aetas’s twenty-questions-like speech, Ludicer pondered a moment and then opened her mouth with a disbelieving look.

“They have bad luck?”

“Exactly. ‘What rotten luck.’ That’s what they’d think. That’s the reason ‘Doom’s Nightmare’ exists. Funny? Think it’s trivial? Like a butterfly’s wing causing a typhoon, a small murmur born in the unconscious can demote a luck god to a mere fairy.”

“…….”

“And if the Doom truly wanted to kill Kim Han, it would have spread another power, ‘Misfortune.’ But it didn’t. No, judging from the circumstances so far, it seems it couldn’t. That means Kim Han’s luck must have been that high, right?”

“…….”