episode_0026

Limit Break.

The sole means to overhaul the gacha system, which had only ever produced up to 2-star characters until now.

For the past three weeks, I’d been craning my neck in anticipation, wondering just when it would unlock.

“Finally…!”

At long last, it had arrived.

I abandoned my plan to stop by the training grounds and headed straight home.

After a light dinner—just enough to stave off hunger—I perched on the edge of my bed.

“Hah. Let’s take a look at this thing.”

Taking a small breath, I delved deeper into the Limit Break function.

—

[Limit Break] – Limit Break is achieved by overcoming trials. – Trials can be attempted once every 24 hours. – Completing the specified conditions clears the trial. – Even if injured or killed during the trial, your real body remains unaffected.

[Will you challenge the 1st Trial?] [YES/NO]

‘Hmm, so it’s about clearing trials.’

It seemed that by skillfully wielding the power I’d gained so far to overcome the trial, the Limit Break would naturally progress.

The fact that injuries or death wouldn’t affect my real body suggested… maybe I’d be pulled into something like a virtual reality?

Whatever it was, I couldn’t know for sure right now.

I’d have to experience it firsthand.

After all, even if I failed, I could just wait 24 hours and try again.

“…Might as well try.”

I challenged the 1st Trial while renting the Artist persona—currently my strongest combat option.

Instantly, my vision flipped, just like when acquiring a persona.

My surroundings had shifted to a barren wasteland, devoid of even a single blade of grass.

So, I was being transported elsewhere to undergo the trial.

“…..Where’s my canvas?”

Just what was the condition I needed to fulfill here—

“…..”

No message had even appeared yet to explain the trial’s objective.

But somehow, I already knew what I had to do.

“That canvas is… way too big.”

A shadow engulfing the earth.

A towering figure that could easily reach the fifth floor of an apartment complex.

A giant, standing imposingly in the heart of the wasteland, made me feel like an ant in comparison.

…You expect me to kill that?

Seriously?

[1st Trial] – Defeat 1 Corrupted Giant. – Time limit: 30 minutes.

Wow, what the fuck.

This is just—

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm me, the giant’s hollow eyes rolled toward me and locked onto my figure.

A brief moment of eye contact.

Then, soon after, the giant began to move.

-THOOM!!!

The moment it took a step toward me, the ground literally shook.

If I stood there dumbfounded, I’d be turned to paste.

I immediately gripped my scissors and carving knife and charged at the bastard.

Running away would just get me stomped in seconds anyway.

The only saving grace was that its massive body made its movements sluggish.

Dodging its grasping hand by a hair’s breadth, I drove the carving knife into its ankle.

-CRACK!

The flesh gave way more easily than expected.

Probably thanks to the “Corruption Ender” title, which boosted my attack power by a percentage when fighting corrupted beings.

But.

“…..”

No matter how much I stabbed and slashed at its massive body with my carving knife and scissors, it barely made a dent.

No, what kind of Achilles’ tendon is this thick?

I wanted to slice its heel to restrict its movement, but things weren’t going as planned.

Pure lack of firepower.

I realized it then.

Taking this thing down right now was impossible.

“…Hah.”

A wave of helplessness washed over me, but I shook my head and kept fighting.

Giving up meant it was over.

And even if I failed this trial, gathering as much intel as possible now would help me in future attempts.

I dodged the enraged giant’s attacks while collecting every scrap of information I could.

Then, exactly 18 minutes and 23 seconds after the trial began—

-CRUNCH!

My skull was crushed between the giant’s fingers.

[Clear Failed] [24 hours remaining until next trial attempt]

“…Hahk!”

The sensation of air rushing back into my lungs felt eerily unfamiliar.

I frantically touched my head.

Thankfully, it was still intact.

So the claim that injuries or death wouldn’t carry over wasn’t a complete lie.

Judging by my clothes, the persona rental had automatically ended.

‘This feels weird.’

It wasn’t my first time facing death, but that didn’t mean I’d gotten used to it.

Shaking my head quickly to dispel the discomfort, I analyzed the earlier battle.

First, the giant didn’t seem to have any obvious weak points.

‘I even stabbed the back of its neck with my scissors, just in case.’

Not just the nape—its heart, head, everywhere.

I’d tried stabbing every conventionally weak spot on a human, but the bastard wouldn’t go down.

Maybe my strength was just too low to deal meaningful damage.

Either way.

One thing was certain.

With my current specs, killing that giant was impossible.

Not nearly impossible—just flat-out impossible.

‘Should I take my time, grow stronger, and try again later?’

That did seem like the intended approach.

The Limit Break function had just unlocked today, so it was likely designed for players to slowly grow stronger over months before clearing the trial.

But I didn’t like that.

If I only cleared the trial months later, I wouldn’t be able to rent 3-star personas in the meantime, meaning I couldn’t snowball my growth.

My progress would slow to a crawl.

“There’s gotta be… some way….”

Collapsing onto the bed, I stared at the ceiling, racking my brain.

Was there any way to grow stronger quickly in the short term?

—

[Name – Park Jeong-hyun] Race: Human Mana: 100% Status: – Fate Points: 1250

Skills – Persona Rental – Shop

—

Staring at my status screen, I spent five minutes in silent deliberation.

Then.

“…Ah.”

It hit me.

‘That might work.’

Like in most games, Infinite End also had hidden dungeons scattered around.

Dungeons were naturally found in places untouched by human footsteps, and even in the academy city of Providence, such areas existed—albeit rarely.

Undeveloped Zones.

Commonly called the Outskirts.

Technically part of Providence, their sheer size meant they hadn’t been fully developed yet.

Unsurprisingly, compared to the well-equipped city center, the population here was nearly nonexistent, and the poor public order made it a hotspot for villains.

If I remembered right, the black market Underground was usually held in the Outskirts.

Anyway, Providence’s Outskirts housed ancient ruins that had slumbered for years.

And I knew exactly where to find a dungeon that dropped the item I needed.

‘Pretty sure… it was in G District 12.’

But there was one problem.

‘Even that’s pushing it with my current specs.’

In the end, my lack of strength was the issue.

But I couldn’t think of any other way besides dungeon diving.

Was there really no other option?

Was I doomed to spend months grinding before attempting the trial again?

“Ah!”

Then, a brilliant idea struck.

The Limit Break trial had to be cleared using only my own power, but dungeons didn’t have that restriction.

So, what if I teamed up with someone stronger than me to clear the dungeon?

The first person that came to mind was Erin.

But bringing Erin along had too many complications.

For one, she wasn’t exactly swimming in free time.

‘And if she asks how I knew about the dungeon, I’m screwed.’

Erin was my homeroom professor.

If she started probing my knowledge, I’d either have to spill the truth or come up with a flimsy lie.

Neither outcome was great.

Someone stronger than me, who wouldn’t grill me with questions.

“There’s exactly one person.”

I’d have to meet her first thing tomorrow.

—

As usual, Karen was filling her stomach with water from the water dispenser in the corner of the main building.

“You really love drinking water, huh?”

When I spoke, Karen flinched before slowly turning around.

“…Just say what you want. Why’d you come find me after being quiet for so long?”

“First, take this.”

Shrugging, I handed her a bag stuffed with snacks—bread, cookies, drinks, sausages, and the like.

“…..”

For a second, the corners of her lips twitched upward, but I refrained from teasing her to save her pride.

“You want something, don’t you? Spit it out. I hate wasting time.”

“This is just a gift. Whether you refuse or accept my request, you can keep it.”

“You do want me to do something. Let me make this clear—whatever you’re thinking, I’m not doing it.”

Karen glared at me with wary eyes, growling.

“Obviously, I’m not asking for free. I’ll pay generously.”

“…Are you trying to buy me with money right now?”

For a moment, Karen froze. Then she let out a hollow laugh, her expression turning icy.

“You’d need an insane amount to even dream of hiring me.”

The atmosphere grew tense, like a single spark could set everything off.

Slowly, I opened my mouth.

“Ten million Mihan.”

“……”

Karen stiffened again.

“…W-well, that does change things a bit.”

The earlier chill vanished as she averted her gaze, scratching her cheek and muttering.

Apparently, the amount was too big to refuse.