"Yes, my friends."
Gray pondered for a moment in response to Seo Jun-Ho's confident answer.
"Hmm... There seems to be a big misunderstanding here."
"A misunderstanding?"
"Yes. It seems like you need to grasp and understand the concept of Stages in a new way. First, you should already know what the five stages are, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know the criteria that determine the stages?"
"Criteria…” Seo Jun-Ho pondered for a moment then shook his head. “I am not sure. Is it not just about strength?"
"Strength… In a way, yes, but then how would you explain the World Tree?"
"Uh..."
Seo Jun-Ho was at a loss for words. As far as he knew, wasn't it just a big tree? Although the World Tree had an incredible ability to influence time, it was hard to imagine it possessing the power to destroy someone.
"The Disaster Stage is simple. It’s a level that can be reached by anyone simply based on the logic of increasing one’s strength, like you said."
More training, more magic, more experience, more wisdom—anyone could reach the Disaster stage with enough effort and accumulation of these qualities.
"Even the legendary heroes recorded in Earth's history could be considered to be at the Disaster Stage."
"Oh..."
The explanation was straightforward enough.
"However, it's different from the Liberation Stage onward. From there on, enlightenment becomes not just a choice but a necessity."
"What kind of enlightenment?"
He wondered if he had experienced something like that.
"Think about it carefully. Jun-Ho-nim, you definitely had a significant bout of enlightenment when you reached the Liberation Stage." Gray added a hint. "We believe that you reached the Liberation Stage around the 5th Floor."
"Ah!"
At that moment, he felt like he knew when it had happened—it was the moment he fully grasped the Black Moon Martial Arts left behind by the Great General Cheon-Gwang.
‘Just because there’s a wall doesn’t mean that it has to block you. If you change your perspective, that wall can protect your back instead.’
That was the only time he had gained enlightenment on the 5th Floor.
"Now that I think about it, the demon I met on Floor 5.5 mentioned something like that."
Seo Jun-Ho considered himself to be only at the early stages of the Liberation Stage. The timing seemed to match perfectly.
"Yes. And to achieve the Star Destruction Stage..." Gray's long finger lightly tapped Seo Jun-Ho's left chest. "You need to harbor something here."
"Harbor something? What do you mean?"
"Different people in different places have different names for it, but I call it 'Star.'"
"Star?"
Seo Jun-Ho lowered his gaze and looked down at his chest. There was nothing visibly different from before. It wasn't shining or anything like that.
"Of course, it's not something that can be identified by the naked eye."
"Ah, I see..." Seo Jun-Ho had a puzzled expression as he asked, "Then, what does this Star represent? I do not quite understand."
"Simply put, you can think of it as the ideal each person harbors within themselves."
"The ideal each person harbors..."
He pondered for a moment, and Gray smiled warmly.
"Each person's Star could represent freedom, peace, or things like that. What is essential is that you establish your own sense of existence and goal to pursue in this vast universe. That is the first step toward the Star Destruction Stage."
"Then what Star do I harbor inside me?"
"No one knows. Even a Transcendent cannot know."
Tap, tap.
Gray's finger gently tapped his chest once again.
"Only you yourself know."
"..."
The Star he harbored…what could it be?
Seo Jun-Ho was curious about it, but he couldn’t figure it out on the spot. He then asked, "So…do you need something like that to reach the Transcendent Stage, too?"
"Of course. But you wouldn't understand even if I explained it."
"Still, please tell me. I'm curious."
"Well, if you insist." Gray shrugged his shoulders and gave a wry smile. "Boom. You need to explode yourself."
"... what?”
"Exactly as it sounds. You need to blast yourself to pieces. Shatter the small Star that resides within you and imprint your existence—who you are and what you pursue—onto the entire universe."
"..."
Gray was right. Even though he had just explained it to Seo Jun-Ho, the latter couldn't fully comprehend it.
“If I had just met you on the streets, I would have thought you were some kind of cultist.”
“Hahaha! It’s only natural that you don’t understand right now.” Laughing cheerfully, Gray gave him a small piece of advice. "Well, you don't need to rush or be anxious. You are doing well as you are now."
"Thank you."
"Anyways, your friends are just at the early Liberation Stage. The Star Destruction Stage is still far away."
"So, will they be immediately deployed to the battlefield?"
"Yes. Because we have high expectations for some Players, including your friends… we'll guide them and help them grow a bit more."
If those guys could become stronger, they’d follow without any complaints.
Seo Jun-Ho asked, "How long do you think it will take?"
"Well, it depends on each star’s flow of time, but in Earth time, about one or two years."
"One or two years..."
He couldn't wait for that entire duration. Seo Jun-Ho smiled gently and said, "Please tell them to come back stronger. And that if they're too late, I'll go ahead."
"All right. Well, Jun-Ho-nim, what is your plan moving forward?”
“Hmm.”
The goal he had coming here had already been exceeded. Originally, he had just come to meet the administrator and inquire about how to enter the 8th Floor. However, now, he had already conquered the 8th Floor and even opened up the way to the 9th Floor.
"How do you feel about me going up to the 9th Floor alone?"
"Hmmmm~ That's a bit iffy," Grey slightly wrinkled his nose. "If it were someone else, I would have stopped them with all my might, but... I'm not sure about you, Jun-Ho-nim."
"Even though I reached the Star Destruction Stage?"
"Yes. All four Counts residing on the 9th Floor are at the Star Destruction Stage."
Four Counts at the Star Destruction Stage were indeed a formidable lineup. In addition, although it would require further experimentation to know for sure, Seo Jun-Ho didn't expect the Seasonal Knights to fully exhibit their former strength.
"Demons are very sensitive about their territories and don't easily intrude on each other's lands. So, in normal circumstances, you wouldn't have to face more than two Counts at once. However..."
"However, there’s that very small possibility they might join forces and make it dangerous."
"Exactly. They might do that if they feel you are a threat to their lives..”
Seo Jun-Ho nodded. Even though they were holding each other in check normally, they might join forces when facing a formidable enemy.
"I will have to think about going up immediately."
"Yes, I also think it's best for you to take some more time. Both physically and mentally."
"Thank you for the advice."
It wasn't just empty words; Seo Jun-Ho was indeed considering it to some extent. For Players, rest and recovery were crucial aspects of their activity.
"Then rest comfortably," Gray said and left the room.
Seo Jun-Ho approached the bed where Frost was peacefully sleeping, covered her up, and then headed toward the sofa. Sitting down, he checked the system logs.
‘I got two new titles.’
‘Master of Four Seasons’ and ‘My Contractor.’
He received these as rewards for hidden accomplishments.
‘I think this is the first hidden accomplishment since I received the Helper of Ascension.’
The first new titles since the conquest of the East Sea Gate! He took a deep breath and examined the titles.
[Master of Four Seasons]
Grade: S
Description: A title given to the one who leads the Season Knights.
Effect: All attributes of subordinate knights are increased by 30%. Magic consumption is refunded upon every successful summon.
"Huh?"
Seo Jun-Ho's eyes widened in surprise. The first title was amazing even by itself.
‘Since the Frost Knights are technically my subordinates, this will apply to all of them. That’s good, and…’
And what was even more impressive was the fact that he would get back the magic consumed when summoning knights.
"Phew, that saved me.”
He let out a sigh of relief. He had been struggling to figure out how to handle the Season Knights.
‘Even with the Black Moon Heart Method to replenish magic, 402 Frost Knights are a whole lot to handle.’
Even if he summoned only a portion of them, it still required a significant amount of magic.
"But with this title..."
The situation changed entirely. If he prepared the framework beforehand, he could instantly summon the entire knight corps.
‘For the time being, I better get to the training room and start working on the Frost Knights.’
If he managed to create bodies for all of them, he could ascend to the 9th Floor by himself without any problems. He imagined a bright future where he fought alone but was not alone in battle.
Then he checked the second title.
[My Contractor]
Grade: S
Description: A title given to the one recognized by the Frost Queen, the Frostbringer of Worlds, as her contractor.
Effect: When the Frost Queen shouts ‘My Contractor!’ the stats of both parties increase.
Seo Jun-Ho's eyes clouded over as if they were covered with dark clouds. This was the first time he had seen such a crazy effect for a title.
‘The increase in stats is good, really good... but…’
The phrase 'My Contractor' felt rather cringy.
‘Why did I even find it moving earlier? I probably got swept into all that emotional stuff.’
Well, with that increase in stats, he could even listen to it a hundred or a thousand times no problem. He wasn’t sure if Frost’s body had recovered properly, and as for her memories…
"Nggggg~~"
Just as he finished checking the titles, a faint whimpering came from the bed; it was as if a small puppy was crying.
"What's wrong? Already awake?"
"Hwaaaaaah..."
Frost opened her mouth slightly and let out a sigh. She looked at the ceiling, then turned her gaze toward Seo Jun-Ho.
"..."
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid. He was afraid to confirm whether she had changed and, if so, how she had changed.
Frost slowly opened her mouth and said, "Confess."
"What?"
"Confess what you did to me."
"I…haven't done anything?"
"Really? You seemed so nervous, like a guilty puppy."
"What are you saying? How's your body?"
"Hmph." Frost sat up abruptly and reached out her hand. After staring at it for a moment, she said, "I am not sure. My body is fine. No, I even feel more energetic than usual."
"Then... what about your memories?"
"They are still there."
"Ah..."
It seemed that the Frost he knew had disappeared. Just as he was unconsciously biting his lip, however...
"They're still there… but in bits and pieces." Frost smiled, with a hint of bitterness in her expression. "It seems that I... I did not want to burden myself."
She had left behind not a single memory of the days she spent guarding the throne. Being with Seo Jun-Ho with incomplete memories was enough for her. She didn't need to share the sadness and pain she had experienced.
"I probably judged that they were not necessary for the current me." Her hand fell onto the blanket with a soft thud. "I feel like the half of me that was always empty, indescribably empty, has been filled."
"..."
Well, she probably didn't feel all too happy about it.
Seo Jun-Ho patted her head gently. As she looked up and clumsily stared at his hand, Frost asked, "Huh? What is this? It feels familiar."
"Ahem."
It seemed that the 8th Floor Frost had not shared any of their conversations or memories with her. Perhaps, for that short time, she wanted to keep it all to herself.
‘That means this Frost probably doesn't have any memories of Sung-Jun either.’
It was both a relief and a bit of a shame at the same time.
Seo Jun-Ho patted her head gently and said, "Oh right, I obtained a new title and want to try something. Can you cooperate?"
"Tell me."
"Can you say 'My Contractor' to me once?"
"..."
Then Frost looked at him with the same cloudy eyes he had when he read the title's description.
"I do not wish to."
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