Chapter 158: Who Said My Mission Failed?

Novak opened the No. 001 chat group.

His original intent was to ask how much time had passed since he entered the dungeon of the secret realm. While it seemed like it hadn't been long due to the time distortion, Novak still needed an accurate understanding of how much the doomsday had progressed, right?

However, the moment he opened the chat, Ian's message caught his eye.

Novak smiled faintly.

Naturally, he had no intention of flaunting his new "Scourge of Life" job transfer scroll in the public forum. That would be far too petty. Even if he wanted to show off, he wouldn't compare himself to the ordinary, low-level evolutionary.

After all, he had already garnered enough attention with his appearances, especially from the first live broadcast of White Emperor City's construction. That alone had made him famous!

For those low-level evolutionaries, even the difference between S-level and SSS-level equipment or professions meant little—because they were far removed from ever accessing such things.

But for the members of chat group No. 001, things were entirely different!

Every pioneer in this group was someone of remarkable standing, individuals who truly understood just how immense the gap between each level above S was. 

And while Novak had shown his strength in the past, as the group's evolution progressed, they would begin to comprehend even more clearly the extent of his power as their leader. Gradually, that initial sense of awe might fade.

Novak had no intention of subjugating them, but maintaining absolute authority was crucial.

Suddenly, Ian's message popped up again.

[JustIan]: Holy crap, White Emperor, you scared the life out of me—why did that mission fail?!

[White Emperor]: Cut the nonsense. How long has it been since that day?

[JustIan]: About three or four days! Why, what's up?!

Novak exhaled slowly.

Only three or four days!?

It still felt unreal to him.

It didn't make sense.

Why was this happening?

Even in secret realms with altered time flows, the distortion was rarely 'this' exaggerated.

He had spent nearly a full year in that western continental world.

A year that felt like a century.

Especially during the early days of the apocalypse, when every day brought new changes and unknown opportunities.

Yet, when he returned, only three days had passed?

How was that possible?!

Novak shook his head—maybe the power of the Plague Saint was truly extraordinary, and the secret realm dungeon formed around him had such an extreme time distortion.

Wait.

A sudden thought struck Novak, and he conjured the Hourglass of Time into his hands.

Diamond-like dust fell steadily from the hourglass. The abstract concept of time slipped through his fingers with every shimmering grain of dust that fell.

Every notion of time was encapsulated within this delicate object.

The diamond sand—or the sand of time—seemed endless, perpetually flowing, never ceasing in its descent.

"Is this the ability of this thing?"

Novak frowned slightly as he gazed at the Hourglass of Time in his hand. He stared at it for a long time, but found nothing unusual. With a sigh, he reluctantly reabsorbed it into his soul.

However, this brief pause had already stirred up the No. 001 chat group, making it extremely lively.

[Lotte]: I knew White Emperor would be fine!

[Vince]: We were all worried for nothing.

[Overlord]: @White Emperor, Brother White, what mission did you take on? Ian's keeping quiet, but can't you share some details?!

[Crow]: SSS-level profession or not, White Emperor is still the strongest, no contest!

Amid the flurry of group messages, private chats started to flood in as well.

It was clear that Meimei had finally woken up from her Dream Shuttle ability and hurriedly sent a message to check on Novak. After exchanging a few reassuring words, her worry subsided, if only a little.

Novak turned his attention back to the group chat.

By now, thanks to Crow's reminder, the tone of the chat had shifted to comforting Novak, as though he had suffered some sort of loss.

He couldn't help but chuckle at this.

[Ruby]: A profession's strength doesn't define a person's strength, right? I have absolute faith in White Emperor!

[Heaven Wings]: I believe in White Emperor, too! I heard that some of the group bosses who obtained job scrolls said that professions can be upgraded later, right?!

[Overlord]: Exactly! So even if your first profession isn't top-tier, it's not the end of the world!

Though the sincerity of some remarks was questionable—whether genuine or laced with schadenfreude—Novak found the group's reactions amusing.

But…

[White Emperor]: Who said I failed the mission?

[Crow]: ???

[I'm Really Not a Sword Fairy]: ???

[Whiplash of the Skies]: ???

[Overlord]: ???

[The Only Garbage in the Group]: @JustIan, come out and take your beating!

[Vince]: Wait, was I the fool here?! @White Emperor, wait, did you actually succeed?!

Watching the chaotic reactions unfold in the chat, Novak smiled in satisfaction. The effect was just as he'd hoped.

[White Emperor]: As for the mission, yeah, the A-level one with Ian did fail. But my own task, despite some hiccups, was completed—barely, but it's done.

[JustIan]: Huh?!

Suddenly, the once lively group fell into an eerie silence.

After a long pause, Crow, who had previously teamed up with Novak to clear a dungeon, cautiously broke the quiet:

[Crow]: Was the reward for the mission… a profession?

At that moment, all the pioneers in the chat, seasoned as they were, held their breath.

A suspicion crept into their minds—a terrifying realization was just about to come to light.

But they didn't have to wait long.

After only half a minute, Novak sent another message.

This time, however, it wasn't a text. It was a sticker.

A simple image, not even providing detailed information or abilities. Only one affix and a single level.

Yet, in that instant, everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.

The entire chat group fell into complete, stunned silence.