Chapter 264 – The Final Test

‘I don’t have telekinesis.’

Min Do-jun stared at the floating shadow.

He had already figured out the dungeon’s pattern.

It was checking whether he possessed the traits of his former revenge targets.

‘But I don’t have Shin Kyung-min’s telekinesis trait.’

Since Shin Kyung-min had been removed from his revenge list, Min Do-jun had never killed him.

Therefore, he couldn’t have stolen his trait.

‘What happens if I fail this test?’

Would the dungeon kick him out? Or would something worse happen?

‘Let me try using other skills first.’

Min Do-jun attempted to move the shadow using Gust Blade.

Whiiiiing-!

The wind blades passed right through the shadow without any effect.

‘As expected, it doesn’t work.’

He tried Hellfire, Soul Explosion, and various other magic skills, but none had any effect on the shadow.

‘It really wants me to use telekinesis specifically.’

But no matter how much he concentrated and tried to move the shadow with his mind, nothing happened.

‘I really don’t have telekinesis.’

Time was running out.

4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes…

‘What should I do?’

As he was getting anxious, Min Do-jun suddenly had a thought.

‘Wait. Do I really not have telekinesis?’

He had killed so many people that he couldn’t remember all the traits he possessed.

‘Let me check my status window.’

Min Do-jun opened his status window and carefully examined his trait list.

Among the 130 traits listed, most were familiar, but there were some he didn’t recognize.

‘Hmm… what’s this one?’

[Trait – Psychokinesis]

– Grade: A

– Description: Can move objects with mental power. The weight limit depends on magic power.

‘Psychokinesis!’

It wasn’t telekinesis, but it was a similar ability.

‘When did I get this trait?’

He couldn’t remember, but it didn’t matter now.

‘Let me try using this.’

Min Do-jun concentrated on the floating shadow and tried to move it with his mind.

At first, nothing happened.

But as he focused more intensely…

Wobble-

The shadow began to move slightly.

‘It’s working!’

With renewed confidence, Min Do-jun concentrated harder.

The shadow started moving more noticeably, floating left and right according to his will.

[Test passed.]

A message appeared, and the familiar sound of a stone door opening echoed.

‘Phew, that was close.’

Min Do-jun wiped the sweat from his forehead and headed to the next chamber.

‘How many more tests are there?’

As he walked through the passage, he wondered what the final stage would be.

‘I’ve used most of the revenge targets’ traits by now.’

When he emerged into the next chamber, it was different from before.

Instead of a platform in the center, there was a throne.

And sitting on that throne was a figure that made Min Do-jun’s eyes widen.

‘That’s…’

The figure looked exactly like Min Do-jun himself.

It was as if he was looking in a mirror.

[Final Test]

– Description: Defeat yourself.

– Combat Style: Uses all your abilities.

– Weakness: None.

‘I have to fight myself?’

The other Min Do-jun stood up from the throne and spoke.

“So you’ve made it this far.”

Even the voice was identical.

“I am you from a parallel world. A version of you that chose a different path.”

“A parallel world?”

“Yes. While you chose revenge, I chose to protect. While you killed to become stronger, I saved lives to become stronger.”

The other Min Do-jun’s eyes glowed with a different kind of intensity.

“But in the end, we both reached the same level. Level 9,999, EX-rank.”

“What do you want?”

“To see which path was correct. Your path of revenge, or my path of protection.”

The other Min Do-jun drew a sword that looked identical to Excalibur.

“The winner takes everything. The loser disappears forever.”

‘This is insane.’

Min Do-jun had never imagined he would have to fight himself.

But he had no choice.

‘If I don’t fight, I can’t clear this dungeon.’

Min Do-jun drew Excalibur and took a fighting stance.

“Fine. Let’s see whose path was right.”

The two Min Do-juns charged at each other simultaneously.

Clang-!

When their swords collided, a tremendous shockwave spread throughout the chamber.

‘He’s strong!’

The other Min Do-jun’s strength was equal to his own.

No, perhaps even slightly stronger.

‘How is that possible?’

As they exchanged blows, the other Min Do-jun spoke.

“Surprised? I may have the same level as you, but my power comes from a different source.”

Clang- Clang- Clang-!

“While you stole traits through murder, I earned them through noble deeds. Each trait I possess was gained by saving lives.”

‘Traits gained by saving lives?’

Min Do-jun had never heard of such a thing.

“The system rewards those who protect as much as those who destroy. But the path of protection is much harder.”

The other Min Do-jun’s attacks became more intense.

“That’s why there are so few who choose it. Most, like you, choose the easy path of taking from others.”

‘Easy path?’

Min Do-jun felt anger rising within him.

“Easy? You think what I went through was easy?”

“Compared to saving the same number of lives you took? Yes, it was easy.”

Min Do-jun activated Rampage, his stats increasing dramatically.

But to his surprise, the other Min Do-jun did the same.

‘He has the same skills too?’

“I told you, I’m you from a parallel world. I have access to the same abilities.”

The battle intensified as both fighters used their full power.

Magic flew through the air, swords clashed with incredible force, and the very chamber shook from their combat.

‘This is a stalemate.’

No matter what Min Do-jun tried, the other version matched him perfectly.

‘Wait… he said he chose protection over revenge.’

An idea formed in Min Do-jun’s mind.

‘If he chose protection, then he wouldn’t have the traits I gained from my revenge targets.’

Min Do-jun suddenly changed his strategy.

Instead of using his basic abilities, he began using the specific traits he had stolen from his revenge targets.

‘Mind Control!’

His eyes turned purple as he attempted to control his other self.

But the other Min Do-jun just smiled.

“That won’t work on me. I have Strong Mind too, remember?”

‘Right, he would have that.’

Min Do-jun tried a different approach.

‘Berserker!’

He channeled his anger and pain into his weapon, multiplying his damage.

This time, his attack broke through the other Min Do-jun’s defense.

“Ugh!”

The other Min Do-jun staggered back, blood flowing from a wound on his shoulder.

“Interesting. You’re using abilities I don’t possess.”

‘That’s it!’

Min Do-jun realized his advantage.

While the other Min Do-jun might have similar base abilities, he wouldn’t have the specific traits gained from revenge.

‘One-Hit Kill!’

Min Do-jun activated Justin Walker’s trait, multiplying his next skill’s damage by ten.

‘Soul Explosion!’

The massive black beam engulfed the other Min Do-jun.

When the light faded, the other Min Do-jun was on his knees, severely wounded but still alive.

“Impressive. You’ve found the difference between us.”

“It’s over.”

“Yes, it is. But before I disappear, let me tell you something.”

The other Min Do-jun looked up at him with sad eyes.

“Your path of revenge has made you strong, but it has also made you alone. My path of protection may have been harder, but it brought me companions, love, and true happiness.”

“I’m not alone. I have Ye-rin.”

“Do you? Or do you just possess her, like you possess those stolen traits?”

The words hit Min Do-jun like a physical blow.

“Think about it. When was the last time you truly connected with another person without using your power to control or manipulate the situation?”

The other Min Do-jun began to fade away.

“You won this battle, but have you won at life? That’s for you to decide.”

With those final words, the other Min Do-jun disappeared completely.

[Final test completed.]

[Dungeon cleared!]

[You have proven your strength, but at what cost?]

A portal appeared, leading back to the outside world.

But Min Do-jun stood there for a long moment, the other version’s words echoing in his mind.

‘Have I won at life?’

For the first time in years, Min Do-jun felt truly uncertain about the path he had chosen.

But there was no time to dwell on it now.

Ye-rin was waiting for him.

He stepped through the portal, back to the world he had fought so hard to protect.

Back to the woman he loved.

But the other Min Do-jun’s words followed him like a shadow.

‘Do you possess her, or do you love her?’

The question would haunt him long after the dungeon was cleared.

As he emerged into the night air of Pyeongtaek, Min Do-jun made a decision.

He would find out the answer to that question.

And he would make sure that his path of revenge hadn’t cost him the very thing he had fought to protect.

His capacity for true love.

His humanity.

His soul.

The dungeon was cleared, but Min Do-jun’s greatest test was just beginning.

The test of whether he could still be human after becoming a monster.

Whether he could still love after learning only how to take.

Whether he could still live after spending so long focused only on death.

Time would tell.

But for now, he had someone waiting for him at home.

Someone who had something important to tell him.

And for the first time in a long time, Min Do-jun felt nervous about what that might be.

Not because he feared for her safety.

But because he feared for his own soul.

The soul of a man who had gained everything but might have lost himself in the process.

The soul of a hunter who had become the very monster he once fought against.

The soul of a lover who might have forgotten how to love.

But there was still hope.

As long as Ye-rin was waiting for him.

As long as there was still something human left inside him.

As long as he was willing to fight for it.

The way he had once fought for revenge.

But this time, he would fight for redemption.

For love.

For his humanity.

For his soul.

The real battle was just beginning.