[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-553":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848567,2454,"Chapter 553","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-553",553,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 553: The Aesthetics of the Circle (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sacrifice of limbs for the sake of exceeding the dungeon’s completion goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since it had to be “exceeded,” the sacrifice had to be substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Madam Kanaph’s reasoning, in order for Yeongwoo to obtain the hidden reward, he would have to send out every single participant in the dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s absurd… The required number of participants in this dungeon is eight. Even if we exclude everyone here, there are at least four more out there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Then you’ll just have to send them all out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With my arms and legs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–If you don’t like that, you can go out first, can’t you? I’d be happy to leave early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Kanaph shrugged beside Yeongwoo’s nape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, she hardly knew who Yeongwoo was, and she was practically ignorant about the dungeon, so naturally she couldn’t care less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden rewards were of no interest to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Yeongwoo, who was at that very moment steering a ship toward the black zone, the situation was quite different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There might be a catalog in this dungeon too. I can’t just leave it behind. A dungeon like this comes around once in a day—no, once in a hundred million years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Your greed is spilling right out of your eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a matter of survival, Madam. And that includes your survival too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Madam Kanaph, who had been slouching lazily, suddenly trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–W-what? How does that make sense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll be on my ship until we reach that duke or whatever he is, right? Then my survival is your survival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–…That’s…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanaph fell silent, unable to refute him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until she reunited with Duke Dalqui, this scoundrel was her only protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In fact, this dungeon isn’t even the real problem. What comes after this is a mountain of trouble waiting to kill us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Th-then just live peacefully…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not so easy. I’ve already done too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, that conversation put Yeongwoo a little more at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about all the things he’d have to do once he left this place made cutting off a few limbs to send others home seem almost trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Right. Why not? I’ve cleared advancement trials with cultivators of merit—am I going to flinch at a measly dungeon like this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo’s gaze swept around, the machine and the lizardman flinched nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–……!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–W-what now…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two—go on and live. Keep surviving out there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In exchange, each of you gives up an arm. Don’t worry, you’ll get prosthetics or replacements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo spoke and cast the Bastard’s shadow menacingly, the lizardman recoiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–What are you saying? Give up an arm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo pointed the sword toward the lizardman’s mechanical limb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You remember—the escape point requires four limbs total to activate, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–…Yeah?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you two cover two of them. I’ll take care of the other two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Yeongwoo would provide one arm and one leg, while the machine and the lizardman would each contribute one remaining limb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now you just have to decide—who loses an arm and who loses a leg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved the blade between them casually, and the lizardman protested in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–W-wait a minute! I chased that bastard here because I didn’t want to see something like this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unfortunately for you, you ran into me. Since I’m here, everyone gets to leave alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lizardman quickly pointed at the machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Look! That thing isn’t even alive. Losing its limbs won’t kill it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the machine immediately flailed its arms in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–S-sir? You’re not seriously agreeing with him, are you? Without limbs, I might as well be dead!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax. I don’t plan on taking all your parts. Don’t panic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo crouched down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, what matters is that you both get out of here. So, be fair—pick one each. Who’s giving up what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the timer in the air announced that the escape point’s appearance was imminent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[05:02:41]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–After all this, you expect me to leave empty-handed—no, one-armed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lizardman grumbled again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yeongwoo raised his sword and pointed it at the creature’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better than losing your life, isn’t it? You were supposed to die today, remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes gleamed gold as he uttered the words, and the lizardman shuddered under the oppressive aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Y-you… what are you? Someone like you doesn’t belong in a place like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly had some knowledge; just sensing that presence turned his face pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Yeongwoo’s usual opponents were cosmic beings and planetary-scale villains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone of that caliber, dominating small fry with a glance was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me? I’m the one who’ll donate arms and legs to get everyone out—and claim the extra rewards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Yeongwoo stood, pointing at the lizardman’s leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one. If it’s cut off, will it grow back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–…What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked, does it regenerate like mine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–With enough nutrition, it’ll grow back… slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slowly? How slow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lizardman, catching on, realized this lunatic was after his limb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Very slow. At least two or three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Then cutting them all off right now won’t work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–O-of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you’ll cut off one leg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–What!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said it’ll grow back in two or three days if you rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–But why the leg!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The machine here has to go to work tomorrow to earn money. He needs both legs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo gestured toward the machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lizardman’s expression turned incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t like it? Too bad. You’re not about to fight me over one leg, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, the timer had begun glowing red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Piaaat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, an hour had passed—the escape point was about to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Partial dungeon shutdown commencing.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a massive triangular pattern appeared in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo’s brow twitched, thin beams of light shot diagonally downward from each corner of the triangle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Don’t tell me—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing they marked the escape points, Yeongwoo hastily scooped up the gear he’d confiscated from the machine and the lizardman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, swinging Bastard threateningly, he shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Wha—where!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Toward the nearest beam! That’s where your lifeline is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–What are you talking about? You mean that’s the escape point?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Obviously. And if you wait, it’ll vanish when the dungeon collapses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While speaking, Yeongwoo had already sprinted ahead of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they didn’t escape, he needed to understand how the mechanism worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tatat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo dashed at terrifying speed toward the light, and soon the area where the beam touched down came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, it’s close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Just like you said, it’s on the perimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Kanaph pointed with her tiny finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo predicted, the escape point had appeared on the dungeon’s outer edge—just minutes away from being swallowed by the barrier field closing in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Are we the first to find it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the structure came fully into view: a massive cylindrical machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind it, the blue barrier was already devouring space as it advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve got maybe two or three minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo placed his hand on the surface of the device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A holographic panel flickered to life, revealing its instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Welcome to the Escape Point.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Insert two arms and two legs into the lower intake slots.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Intake slots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he murmured, the lower part of the cylinder silently opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that was it—throw the limbs in, and the machine activates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Up to four users may use this escape point simultaneously. Limbs used for activation will be incinerated.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Insane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d expected as much, but seeing it written out still hit differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that four participants had to each sacrifice one limb for everyone to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course. No one would willingly give up their own limbs—so they’d fight instead.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Yeongwoo truly grasp how difficult “exceeding the goal” would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Simply offering my own limbs won’t be enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes turned toward the other two beams across the dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll have to stop the others from killing each other too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could he create a scenario where everyone survives by sharing the loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taaat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine and the lizardman arrived, panting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–I-is this the escape point?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine asked first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lizardman glared at the device with clear disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Looks creepy as hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understandable, since he’d soon lose a leg to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo pointed his sword between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No time. Cut it off—now. You’ve done well to make it this far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barrier was closing fast, so Yeongwoo stopped talking and raised his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it. I’ll do it myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–W-what!? No! I can do it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicking, the lizardman fumbled behind his back and drew a thin, long blade—apparently he’d had another hidden weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo smiled faintly and gestured with a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knew it. Hand that over too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with one clean swing of Bastard, he sliced off the lizardman’s leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1482,"2026-06-09T07:04:15.797Z",1,"novelbin.me","c30876beb0b91aa04de8797c41375342b0665ec2bb5b068d98ce15f5b6288308","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-554","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-552",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]