[The dungeon has been cleared: Current number of people: 2; Time taken: 1 hour 4 minutes]
[Experience gained: 100,000,000]
[Unused experience: 13,973,745,000]
The experience points from the black dungeon were lower than from the Great Dungeon, likely due to the raid being suspended.
Of course, "lower" in comparison to the Great Dungeon still meant it was an enormous figure.
[Dungeon Clearing Most Valuable Contributor: Yoon Seo]
[Dungeon Contribution: Yoon Seo 9 / Others 1]
"Wow. They even give me 1. Why did they give me that? Just because I took it out of my inventory?"
"They probably thought you looked cute smiling next to me."
"I'm glad I'm cute."
Kwon Jihan stood up with a pretty smile. Yoon Seo got up as well, and as the two of them left the house, the safe house gradually disappeared. It seemed that things made with vanished after their effectiveness was spent.
The black dungeon remained still, as if time had frozen, and a portal appeared again in the place where the original entrance had been.
This time, it was a color he had never seen before… a dazzling white that was so brilliant it would be recognized as something special by anyone who laid eyes on it.
[The Gaia System presents a special gift to the most valuable contributor, Yoon Seo.]
[The Gaia System gifts you the item 'Ticket for Meeting the Watcher.']
['Ticket for Meeting the Watcher'
Rank: L-class
A ticket that allows you to converse with the Watcher, who protects the universe from the cosmic boundary today.
The chosen one who has passed the final gate will receive answers to their questions.]
When Yoon Seo furrowed his brow, Kwon Jihan asked.
"What did you get?"
"It's called the 'Ticket for Meeting the Watcher'…"
As Yoon Seo explained the item, Kwon Jihan frowned.
"What the hell? Are you kidding me? After all that trouble to clear the black dungeon, you mean they're not even going to let us have a meeting and are just sending us back to Earth without any explanation? And it's only given to the most valuable contributor? What about me? Ugh, this is so annoying. Hey, Gaia! Give me one too. I worked hard as well. Just because my Hyung is a munchkin doesn't mean I didn't struggle hard! Give me mine too! I want to hear the explanation!"
Kwon Jihan pouted into the air.
Yoon Seo nodded beside him.
[The God of Life states that Kwon Jihan is correct.]
[The God of Death fiercely criticizes Gaia.]
[The Watcher approaches Gaia.]
The supportive gods chimed in one by one. Soon, Gaia raised the white flag.
[The Gaia System presents a gift to the Earth's humanity, which has passed the final gate using a method that has never been attempted in billions of years.
Please check your inventory.]
"Oh, I got a ticket too."
Kwon Jihan pulled the ticket from his inventory. The two were satisfied and prepared to enter the white portal. However, the supportive gods stopped them.
[The God of Life argues that the most valuable contributor should receive a separate gift.]
[The God of Death says that the Gaia System is being stingy.]
[The Watcher clicks their tongue at Gaia.]
[The God of Death calls Gaia a miser.]
[The God of Life shouts if they are just going to watch the miser.]
[A certain God, who had been watching over 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo,' expresses disappointment in the miser.]
Kwon Jihan blinked and looked at Yoon Seo, as if he had received the last message too. Yoon Seo felt the same way.
A certain god who had been watching over them…?
[A certain God, who found 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo' interesting, demands a gift for the most valuable contributor.]
[A certain God, who was crying while watching 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo,' criticizes Gaia.]
[A certain God, who had been cheering for 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo,' suggests they should seize the gift from the miser.]
[The Gods watching the two shout that a gift for the most valuable contributor must be given.]
[… Gaia says to wait a moment.]
Yoon Seo felt dazed. So many gods were watching over them… It was overwhelming and a bit embarrassing. Was it remarkable that the inhabitants of a remote planet had entered the final gate?
On the other hand, thinking that these gods must have witnessed the demise of countless beings, including Lee Kangjin, made his heart feel complicated.
[The Gaia System has prepared a separate gift for the most valuable contributor.
This is truly a great gift.
There won't be anything better than this.
Please check your inventory.]
Receiving a message full of confidence, Yoon Seo opened his inventory, and there it was… a single round, white jewel. Inside the jewel were sparkling small particles. Yoon Seo took out the jewel.
['Soul Powder'
Grade: B
Contains the soul of a certain human who chose to perish in the Black Dungeon ten years ago. If this is scattered, the soul will be reborn as new stars. This is a gift personally prepared by Gaia for the heroes of Earth.]
Yoon Seo looked back at the white jewel in his hand. Then, he suddenly collapsed. Kwon Jihan, who had checked the jewel with
So many people had unjustly died because of this final gate.
While it was true that humanity had triumphed, when they returned to Earth, they would celebrate with festivities, cheering and rejoicing every day. They would eagerly prepare for the future as they welcomed a new era after hearing the Observer's words.
But their comrades would forever remember those deaths.
They would mourn for a while, and even when they forgot, they would suddenly be overwhelmed with grief. Long after, those memories would continue to torment them.
The death of a comrade was just like that.