Chapter 194: The Trial Is Over! Satan's Plan!

[Level 600: The evil incarnation of the devil race, Satan, has been slain! The 600th level trial has been passed!]

[You have defeated all the incarnations of the Abyss Lords and completed the Abyss Trial!]

In the endless darkness, a raspy, strange voice announced the victory. Yet Novak paid it no mind. His attention was entirely fixed on the Hourglass of Time deep within his soul. 

It was a massive gamble. He feared that with the trial's end, the hourglass—his ability to rewind time—might reset into a cooldown state. If that happened, it would be disastrous. 

But to his relief, it wasn't. The hourglass was still in (None) as expected, allowing Novak to breathe easier.

That's right. Novak had agreed to cooperate with the King of Hell. There was no surprise or excitement in him after completing the task, because he had anticipated this outcome. He knew the King of Hell would have an ace up his sleeve. 

No devil would make a deal where both parties truly benefitted equally. 

If not for Novak's ultimate trump card—the ability to return to the past—he wouldn't have taken the risk. He'd have rather perished in Hell's flames than trust Satan.

But now, curiosity gripped him. He truly wanted to see what scheme Satan had in store.

In the blink of an eye, the boundless darkness began to swirl and coalesce. Novak remained inside the Well of the Abyss, still enveloped by the oppressive blackness.

Then, the darkness gathered around Novak, wrapping him tightly. Before him, a form began to take shape—a phantom of a scroll slowly materialized.

It resembled the apparition of the Scourge Of Life job transfer scroll he had seen back at the plague factory. But this one felt different. Less real. 

The scroll was a purplish-black hue, emitting a dark light that seemed capable of devouring everything around it. 

The entire Well of the Abyss shuddered and trembled at its appearance. It felt as though the very foundation of the abyss was destabilizing.

Abyss Ruler.

This job transfer scroll, never before seen in all realms, was now materializing in front of Novak. Once denied by the highest heavens, it had been thought an impossible trial. Yet here it was—finally appearing.

The swirling darkness traced intricate patterns across the scroll. Just gazing at it felt like being pulled into an endless void.

Novak exhaled slowly, forcing himself to tear his gaze away from the scroll's allure. He spoke softly into the stillness, his voice calm yet firm:

"Your Excellency, you may reveal yourself."

The abyss trial had ended. 

It meant Satan had achieved his goal. He had successfully resurrected his life mark and freed himself from the abyss's grasp.

In the pitch-black void, a faint flicker of flame suddenly appeared, growing brighter. From within the fire, a face emerged—a human visage, smiling serenely.

Even after achieving his goal, even after resurrecting through his final life mark, Satan appeared just as poised, just as elegant. It was as though everything had gone exactly according to his plan.

"Look at it, the authority of the Abyss—the Master of the Abyss! What an extraordinary profession this is," Satan exclaimed, his voice filled with nostalgia. "Back then, my first profession was called a Fraudster! Tsk tsk…"

His tone was tinged with emotion, as if recalling distant memories.

"Novak, your strength is worthy of praise across the heavens and all worlds. You've completed a trial the gods themselves declared impossible. You've achieved an unparalleled feat!"

In response to Satan's flattery, Novak offered a smile, but he shook his head slightly.

"It's not quite what you say," Novak replied. "I didn't truly defeat you, nor did I plan to. All of this—it was your design from the start, wasn't it?"

Satan's response was unbothered, almost dismissive. "No, no, you've already proven your strength by defeating Meikanxie. That alone is a tremendous accomplishment."

Novak pressed further, his expression sharpening. "Aga Reiss—is he really one of yours?"

Aga Reiss, the Abyss Lord of the 500th floor, a true Divine being—The King of Eternal Night.

Satan smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Among my subordinates, the seventy-two demon gods were the most distinguished. Beelzebub, the first, managed hell on my behalf. The second? His true name was Aga Reiss."

Novak nodded thoughtfully. "So Aga Reiss pretended to be influenced by the will of the Abyss and withdrew from the final battle, all to ensure I could meet you, revive your life imprint, and complete your resurrection? All of this was planned by you and Aga Reiss from the very beginning?"

Satan's smile widened as he stepped gracefully out of the shadows, his hands spread in a grand gesture of self-satisfaction. "How could the will of the Abyss interfere with its own trials? The will of the Abyss has no emotions, no consciousness—it's simply the most perfect tool."

Novak's eyes narrowed. "So, is your body truly dead?"

"Of course it is," Satan replied smoothly. "You don't understand yet. As your power grows, certain things will start to pull at you, irresistibly. Even when you know you can't grasp them, you're drawn to them like a moth to the flame. I was consumed by the dark side of the universe, realizing too late that to control such power, I needed a stronger vessel. The Abyss... it's the perfect medium."

He gazed at Novak, a smug sense of triumph radiating from him. "All these years of planning, Novak, and you're the one who completes it. You should feel honored. I will use your body to ascend to the highest realm!"

Satan spread his arms wide, as though his outstretched hands could engulf the entire world. His presence was vast, domineering, as if he already possessed everything he desired.

At that moment, the full weight of Satan's plan fell into place in Novak's mind.

Satan's laughter echoed throughout the Abyss, wild and triumphant. "The Abyss—it's finally mine! The Master of the Abyss—that's my new profession. My new identity when I return to the heavens and worlds again. And it's the path I will take to become…"

Suddenly, dark flames surged along the Hell King's Ring, the life imprint within the fire plunging directly into Novak's soul.

Satan's manic laughter reverberated in his mind, a maddening cacophony that threatened to drown out all thought. It was as though the devil's voice had seeped into the deepest recesses of his brain, suffocating him.

But Novak had already prepared for this moment. His ability to return to the past was primed, ready to activate at any second.

Yet just as he was about to trigger the ability, Satan's laughter came to a screeching halt.

A deafening, hysterical scream followed. "No! This is impossible! How can a mortal's soul... What is this!? No!!!"

In the midst of nothingness, an hourglass materialized—an intricate work of art, its sands shimmering like diamonds and stardust. With each turn, the grains rushed through, erasing the echoes of time.

As the chaotic sounds faded, Novak blinked in surprise. 

Had he just won? Had he avoided the need to go back in time altogether?

What happened?