Click!
[You have selected the Happy Point usage menu.]
[In this window, you can use your accumulated Happy Points to purchase various stats.]
A delightful message appeared before his eyes.
And just beneath it, the visible total of Happy Points.
[Current Happy Points: 302]
Before he knew it, a fair number of points had piled up. Not surprising, really. He'd intentionally saved them up. For today, for this very moment, to use like this—he'd stored them bit by bit.
"...…"
Feeling a bubbling sense of satisfaction, like magma erupting from a secluded mountain spring, Kim Jangcheol lifted his gaze. Beyond the system window floating in front of him, he saw the First Star Master, Saruthul, who had taken on the exact same appearance as him.
'Enjoy it while you can.'
He was probably convinced of his victory.
Because he had flawlessly executed his secret weapon, the replication skill. He must've believed that he could now easily overpower this side—triumphantly confident in his success.
'Well.'
It was understandable.
Suddenly, he recalled the characteristics of the First Star Master Saruthul in the game.
The bastard was one who copied the opponent's abilities and equipment exactly. Like a certain Metamorph from Pokémon, if the conditions were met, it would mirror the opponent's powers and challenge them in a mirror battle.
And what's worse—he had an even more devious setting.
That was…
'He uses AI to perfectly replicate the opponent's optimal movements and responses.'
A mirror, yes—but a perfect mirror.
A battle against myself, always in peak condition.
The sheer despair, like putting a life-filtered selfie edited with lighting and Photoshop next to your real, bare face!
No wonder the first encounter was so overwhelming. It truly felt like hitting an insurmountable wall. In fact, that was nearly the moment he quit the game altogether.
'But...'
He eventually found a way to overcome it.
At first, it was a trick.
He entered the battle unequipped, let the enemy copy him, and then equipped his gear afterward, making a mockery of the clone.
Later, he defeated it with pure skill.
No matter how "optimal" its movements were, he dissected its responses down to the pixel, detected and analyzed them, and crushed it head-on.
And now?
'With even greater power.'
He would destroy it.
...Fwaash!
Through the densely packed text of the system window, he saw the First Star Master charging toward him.
"Credooooos—!"
"...!"
The First Star Master, now right in front of him, lunged.
It shouted with Credos' face and swung its index finger.
Sshraaak!
Its fingernails extended, slicing horizontally through the space. A crimson bloodline was drawn across the air. Following that line, red lightning whirled violently.
...Kra-crack!
'Hup!'
Reacting in an instant, he dodged out of the lightning's range. It was close. The smell of singed hair rose from the tips of his strands. But the First Star Master gave him no room to breathe.
Whoosh!
"...!"
It had already lowered its body and was sliding in under his waistline.
Arms raised, poised to strike.
He recognized it instantly.
'Exactly Credos' pattern.'
It made sense that the bastard was so confident. After all, Credos was the strongest among the demons, the Demon King. Having perfectly copied that form, it must have been convinced of victory.
'But you see...'
There was one thing it overlooked.
And that was—the person standing before it was the one who knew how to beat Credos better than anyone else in this world.
Swaaack!
The First Star Master surged upward, raising both arms out of sync.
At first glance, it looked like a vertical sweep attack.
But dodging sideways meant death.
Dodging backward? A guaranteed death.
Countless memories and experiences screamed it.
So this was...
BAM!
Kim Jangcheol made a split-second decision and lunged forward. With a shoulder tackle, he smashed the First Star Master in the face.
"...T-urgh!"
Perhaps it hadn't expected such a response. The First Star Master staggered back, its attack interrupted.
Taking advantage of the moment, Kim Jangcheol swiftly shifted his gaze.
And with a blink—Click!
Ding-dong!
[You have selected the Dexterity stat.]
[50 Happy Points have been deducted.]
[Your Dexterity cap has increased by 10%.]
[Dexterity: 20% → 30%]
[If your stat cap reaches 100%, you will be able to fully unleash the Demon King Credos' ability without limitation.]
[Current Happy Points: 252]
A quick counterattack had carved him a breathing space.
He took that chance to rapidly raise one of his stats.
And the effect kicked in immediately.
...Fwoosh!
His body felt as light as a feather.
Thanks to that, he could respond much more swiftly to the incoming assault from the First Star Master.
"...Graaaah!"
The enemy zigzagged in swiftly, arms slicing in a precise pattern. But now, there were wounds on the backs of its hands. Blood sprayed from those wounds, etching destructive crimson lines centered around him.
And then…
"Bloody Lightning!"
Crackle!
In that moment, Kim Jangcheol also swung his own blood-stained hand.
He purchased 10% each of Mental Strength and Magic Power.
"Bloody Lightning!"
He shouted in response.
...KRA-KA-CRACK!
Kim Jangcheol and the First Star Master.
Two beings, both bearing the face of Credos.
Two streams of Bloody Lightning collided. And Kim Jangcheol's lightning overwhelmed the First Star Master's.
Pzzzzz!
"...K-KRAAAAAAH!"
The First Star Master, wrapped in a surge of powerful lightning, trembled all over.
'How...?'
Did I lose…?
They used the same magic power for the same technique, yet… How?
He couldn't believe it.
He couldn't understand it.
Of course, he had no way of knowing—even in his wildest dreams.
The fact was—the body of Credos that he had replicated could only exhibit up to 20% of its original capabilities, making it a mere half-measure.
Meanwhile, the Kim Jangcheol he was facing was actively purchasing and raising those limits in real time.
"Guh… Haaak!"
The First Star Master, barely clinging to consciousness, staggered to his feet.
But Kim Jangcheol had no intention of letting him go so easily.
Grab!
Kim Jangcheol's hand wrapped around the First Star Master's throat. At the same time, he gave a subtle eye command to purchase another stat.
It was Strength.
...Crunch!
Strength increased to 1.5 times the First Star Master's. Muscles tensed with force!
"Guurgh…!"
The First Star Master struggled in pain.
At that moment, a new message popped up.
Ding-dong!
[You have successfully increased all five stats using Happy Points in a balanced manner, and used them effectively on the spot. This experience will become the foundation for your limitless growth in the future.]
[This achievement opens the door to a new level of potential.]
[Growth Quest: Boost Those Stats! – Completed]
[Reward Skill: Farming Tool Set Summon has been added to the list of Bloomable Skills. (Bloom Cost: 100 Happy Points)]
[Current Happy Points: 102]
"Eh?"
Farming Tool Set Summon?
That was unexpected.
It was the kind of skill that made you think—did someone up there know exactly what he was doing and toss this at him on purpose?
"...…."
Could it be that some absolute being was watching him?
Or perhaps this skill had been generated to align perfectly with his goals?
He didn't know.
But now wasn't the time to get lost in thought.
'That's for later.'
He could look into it more carefully another time.
Right now…
'This bastard, the First Star Master, comes first.'
It was time to wrap things up.
Kim Jangcheol pressed his right fist against his armor. He then ground it against a spiked section of the plating.
His knuckles scraped, skin tearing open, blood spilling.
A stinging pain rushed in.
And with it, surging rage.
He poured all of it into a punch aimed at the First Star Master's face.
"Thunder Punch—!"
CRACK! Pzzzzz!
Overwhelming in every way, pure dominance.
A crushing blow delivered all at once.
At last, the First Star Master's eyes went glassy.
'…Gu, guuh… why…?'
Why was Credos so much stronger than him?
It made no sense.
He was using Credos' full 100% condition. But how could Credos—who couldn't always be at full power—overwhelm him like this?
'I was supposed to win… I had to.'
Only then could everyone in the Abandoned Lands starve to death. They would die and become ghosts, ghosts who would be absorbed into his legion. With time, his army would grow stronger, and finally, he would become the true overlord, the Demon King of the Abandoned Lands.
It was unfair.
He felt pitiful.
"So, wh—why me!"
The First Star Master screamed, nearly sobbing. He swung a limp punch at Kim Jangcheol's face.
Smack.
The first hit that landed.
Kim Jangcheol's head turned slightly.
But only for a moment.
Bzzzzzzzzt…
His head slowly turned back. His eyes, cold and sunken, locked onto the First Star Master's face.
"You're thinking you're the pitiful one right now, aren't you?"
"…What?"
"Yeah, you are. You thought you were just one step away from achieving your ambition. And now it's all crumbling. You feel sorry for yourself, right?"
"..."
"I thought so. But let me ask you—do you know who the real pitiful one is, right here, right now?"
"What the…?"
The First Star Master hesitated.
What was Credos trying to say?
Was he about to say something like… That the truly pitiful ones were those 300 farming corps soldiers, who had bravely charged into this place, risking their lives?
'...…'
Maybe that was it.
They were living beings, after all.
Born in this damned Abandoned Land by sheer misfortune, and burdened by that fate, struggling to survive.
Maybe Credos was trying to say that he had no right to feel sorry for himself in front of them. Was that what the Demon King wanted to say?
'I…'
The First Star Master was lost in regret.
He had simply wanted to rule this land.
He, too, wanted to become a Demon King.
But he never had the chance.
Replicating Credos?
Just attempting it wasn't easy.
No—it was nearly impossible.
Even today's success was nothing short of a miracle, made possible only because Credos had let his guard down.
So in truth, he had been giving up on his ambition. He had started thinking he'd just live as he was told.
And then, he found an opportunity.
He thought—maybe it's possible.
Maybe he really could do it.
For a brief moment, he had dared to hope.
So was that why he forgot his assigned role and did this?
Then, all this time, I…
What have I done?
What had I been trying to do?
A small regret pierced the First Star Master's heart.
It was at that moment.
An unexpected shout slammed into his eardrums.
"Who do you think?! It's me, you bastard! I'm the most pitiful one here! Just trying to live, and getting blocked from all sides! Me! THUNDERRR—!"
BOOM!
"…!"
That was the end.
The First Star Master's head slammed into the ground.
The replication was undone, and he returned to his original form.
But that wasn't all—he was instantly left on the brink of death.
"Guuh… guhaark…!"
Soul eater transformation was rapidly progressing.
And in that moment, Kim Jangcheol triumphantly picked up a hefty potato.