Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The S++ Conquest
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He burned through it all.
He climbed like a madman.
Tomorrow, he could enter the 60th floor.
Since entering the wyvern section, he planned to conquer one upper floor per day.
The other daily attempt would be used to repeat the same floor to collect leather samples.
That was the plan.
He didn't intend to skin too many hides.
With the Basilisk hides already stockpiled.
He'd only skin one of each.
Just to send as samples.
The rest of the time would be for gathering magic stones.
Joo-hyuk and his Summons were back on the 59th floor, skinning a single Thunder Wyvern.
But Razix's expression was unusual.
He'd been like that since the 56th floor.
"S-sorry. S-supply Officer."
"Hoek!"
Razix was pouting and sulking.
Veronica stood at attention, apologizing to Razix.
Why were they acting like this?
It was nothing.
The reason was that when Veronica had fired mana bullets to pull the wyverns, she'd ended up riddling their bodies full of holes.
Razix was displeased.
Because the hides were damaged.
Even if they were only taking one sample.
"Hoooeek!... Aim for the head."
"I-I will correct it!"
The reason Veronica was flustered before Razix.
She was also a soldier, so she knew well how terrifying a supply officer could be.
What did rank matter?
Your position was supreme.
If you got on the bad side of the supply officer who supplied most of your magic stone ammunition, your military career was over.
That's why, after Commander Bong Joo-hyuk, the person she was most careful around was Razix.
It couldn't be helped.
As the commander, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Sergeant Veronica?"
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber!"
"At ease."
"At ease!"
And to Razix.
"I'll tell her to only aim for the heads from now on, so cheer up."
"Hoeh, okay."
"I'll help with the skinning instead."
"...It's fine, I'll do it all."
"I want to do it. Me."
Wyverns were inconvenient to skin whole because of their wings.
You had to cut the wings off first to make it easier.
Woo-woong!
A blood-red, semi-transparent aura shimmered at the tip of Joo-hyuk's finger.
This was the Blood Jade Aura.
His proficiency was still low, so he could only manifest the aura at his fingertips like this.
When he brought his fingertip to the wyvern corpse's wing, Swoosh!
The wing joint was sliced cleanly, like cutting through tofu.
"How is it? Clean, right?"
The first cuts were rough, but after a few tries, he'd gotten proficient.
Razix seemed satisfied too.
"Hoooeeng?... So cool."
"It's nothing much."
It was definitely convenient to have learned the skill.
It felt like carrying a perfectly sharp laser sword.
What would the Mad Demon think?
If he knew his legendary skill was being used for nothing more than processing monster corpses.
Well, how great is the Blood Jade Aura anyway?
Using it like this was much better than killing people.
'I should hand over the samples in the afternoon.'
Section Chief Lee Min-ah, no, Team Leader Lee would come.
It was still not easy to talk to her.
Unless she was a Summoned Being.
The next morning.
The day of the 60th-floor conquest had finally dawned.
He would finish it right away.
He'd twist the bull's horn while he was at it.
The deadline for the United Arab Emirates conquest was only five days away.
How anxious must the people of that country be?
He had researched the 60th floor in advance.
It was easy to gather information with just a little legwork on the internet.
It was a floor impossible for ordinary players to conquer alone without national-level support.
In fact, the entire flying monster section was like that.
The floors where ordinary players could safely maintain their livelihood through repeated conquests were below the 40th floor.
Anyway, the 60th floor required facing a Wyvern Lord.
He just had to kill that one.
Not every type of wyvern appeared.
But did the Wyvern Lord appear alone?
No.
A strange monster called the Deadly Poison Wyvern also spawned alongside it.
Deadly Poison Wyvern.
It felt like a summoned creature of the Wyvern Lord.
The weakest of the wyverns encountered so far.
It wasn't even part of the mission completion conditions.
It died with one poke, whether from close or long range.
Its defense was weak, and its movement speed was slow.
But the problem was after it died.
Upon death, the Deadly Poison Wyvern fell to the ground and melted into a liquid state of deadly poison.
The poison liquid was not absorbed into the ground.
It pooled on the surface, creating puddles.
Poison puddles.
As many were created as the number of Deadly Poison Wyverns killed.
The funny thing was, they didn't even attack; they crashed into the ground on their own, creating poison puddles everywhere.
And if you stepped in that puddle?
You'd be poisoned, and the player's body would melt away.
It was deadly poison.
Chugging healing potions was useless.
How did you avoid the poison puddles?
Even if you detoxify, you'd just get poisoned again.
You might say, just don't step in them? That wasn't possible.
Because the conquest area was extremely narrow,
Think of it as a gourd-shaped gorge.
The conquest site was surrounded by cliffs on all sides.
The movable area was about half the size of a school playground?
You were bound to step in poison puddles.
In this situation, the ones who shone were the nationally-supported elite players.
They, with their inventories packed full of equipment resistant to poison, undertook the conquest.
If they'd come this far, they had talent, of course, but they must have undergone trait enhancement at least twice under national support.
With ample support, they ignored the poison puddles created by the Deadly Poison Wyverns and focused on the Wyvern Lord as quickly as possible.
That's why the players who could conquer the 60th floor were few, even in tower-climbing advanced nations.
Shall we go in now?
Joo-hyuk called out his Summoned.
"Loyalty!"
"Victory!"
"Hoeng!"
Snap! Kosak's awkward salute,
Snap! Veronica's perfectly executed FM salute.
Snap! Razix's pitiful salute with his short arms that didn't even reach his eyebrows.
'Hmm...'
Should he return it? Ah, whatever.
Snap!
Joo-hyuk also quickly returned the salute.
"At ease."
Only then did Kosak, Razix, and Veronica lower their hands.
"I'm here, Summoner."
"Master. Did you rest peacefully last night?"
At least Gobang and Gyeon Dal-rae were still normal.
"We're entering the 60th floor today. The UAE Black Tower."
"When do you plan to conquer the Korean Black Tower, sire?"
"Can't we take our time with that one?"
What was the rush for Korea?
Also, for the 60th floor, he had to think about the special rewards.
Even if he didn't go as far as a ritual, he should approach the Korean Black Tower conquest with a solemn heart.
But,
"Spring Summoner. I have a proposal."
"What is it?"
"I've prepared a briefing. Please review it and give your approval."
"...A briefing?"
Had this guy gotten addicted to briefings?
"Well, go ahead."
"Yes, sir!"
Kosak was thrilled by Joo-hyuk's permission.
He explained at length, drawing diagrams and demonstrating with the other Summoned.
"...Are you serious?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You think this is possible?"
"Yes, sir!"
"And everyone agreed?"
"Yes, sir!"
This was driving him crazy.
It wasn't like they were going to the 60th floor to film a transforming mecha show.
"Can't we conquer it the normal way? Like we always do, melt it down with firepower."
"Of course it's possible. But it will be very painful. We will all be in pain."
That was true.
So he always felt sorry.
"Isn't it better for only one person to be in pain?"
"...?"
"Gobang's words."
"Wow, this sly guy..."
"Yep?"
It was astonishing.
Kosak was truly cunning beyond compare.
"It's not just me. Our lovely worker could also be screaming and dying in a poison pit while resupplying."
"...Hmm."
Razix was in danger?
Then that wouldn't do.
"And if we use this method, there will be no attack delay."
This was a dilemma.
'Should we try it?'
Picturing the conquest scenario in his head was ridiculous, but...
"Okay, let's do it as per the briefing. Shall we enter then?"
"Hehehe, it feels like going on an overseas trip."
"It is an expeditionary conquest to the UAE, so I guess it is."
Joo-hyuk took out the Multinational Tower Access Ticket.
The method of use was, of course, to tear it.
Rip!
"United Arab Emirates Black Tower, 60th floor."
"Enter."
Whoosh!
Finally, he had entered a foreign tower.
There was no particular emotion.
Just because it was a different country didn't mean the tower's environment would change.
"Victory! Commencing Wyvern Lord annihilation operation."
"Loyalty! Just trust this Kosak. Hehehe."
"Hoek! Hohehehe."
"Please take care of your body, sire."
"Everyone, trust me. I will protect you."
Leaving the narrow safe passage, a space opened up like a circular arena.
[60th Floor Mission]
📍 Objective: Defeat 1 Wyvern Lord
⏰ Time Limit: Within 12 hours
🎁 Progress: Wyvern Lord 0/1
From the distant sky, the Wyvern Lord flew in accompanied by hundreds of Deadly Poison Wyverns.
Swoosh!
Gobang enlarged his body with Gigantification.
He grew rapidly.
He became enormous.
They formed up as they had practiced.
First, Kosak climbed onto Gobang's right shoulder.
Veronica got on his left shoulder.
Razix?
He rode piggyback.
He tightly wrapped hisshort legs around Gobang's neck and hugged his head with his short arms.
His plump buttocks.
Razix's fatal backside was fully exposed.
This was the Summoned Four-Stage Transformation Combination.
Kosak's sly idea, built upon Gobang's sacrifice.
Joo-hyuk and Gyeon Dal-rae climbed up the cliff.
To avoid the poison puddles.
They couldn't participate in the battle, but they could provide buffs and cheers.
"Fighting!"
Well, they had to cheer.
What else could they do?
The conquest began.
Jingle jingle jingle jingle!
As Gyeon Dal-rae shook her bell vigorously,
Bam! Bam! Bam-bam-bam-bam!
Veronica on Gobang's left shoulder commenced firing her magic rifle.
Thud, thud-thud! Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Deadly Poison Wyverns fell like rain.
Poison puddles formed everywhere.
The core of this conquest was Gobang.
Without directly clashing with the Wyvern Lord, he maintained a certain distance, luring it around in circles.
Squelch squelch,
He stepped on the poison puddles without a care, constantly drawing aggro with his taunt skill.
The ground?
What did it matter if he stepped on it a bit?
If this were an RPG, he'd be excluded from loot distribution, but.
Gobang's regeneration ability was exceptional.
His body, hardened by Diamond Skin.
Almost impervious to all poisons.
The sly Kosak, dealt damage while hopping between Gobang's right shoulder and the Wyvern Lord's back.
Veronica, comfortably unloaded her magic rifle from Gobang's left shoulder.
Razix, riding piggyback was going "hoe-hoe" while resupplying Veronica with magic stone ammunition.
Our reliable Gobang.
SSRs Savage Meat Shield.
Blades sprouted from his right hand, and bullets fired from his left.
With self-resupply perfected, he was a complete transforming combination robot.
It looked ridiculous, but there was absolutely no delay in the attacks.
If aggro wavered, he just threw a punch to maintain the taunt.
'It's working.'
It was real.
The plan of the sly mastermind, the cunning Kosak, was unfolding exactly as intended.
In the end.
+ All Stats Increased
+ Skill Points Gained
Reward: Magic Stone 6kg
Easy.
The Korean Black Tower's 60th floor could also be done this way...
That's when it happened.
"Huh?"
'...I got a badge.'
You could get them from other countries' towers too?
Then would a global announcement also sound?
Could it be... special rewards too?
The Supreme Federal Council of the United Arab Emirates.
With five days left until the collapse of their nation's Black Tower, Crown Prince Binsala attended the Federal Council alongside player Omar Hassan.
A hearing and final verdict were scheduled.
The crime of handing over the Trait Enhancement Rune without an official contract.
The crime of thereby placing the UAE in the danger of tower collapse.
"Crown Prince Binsala, do you admit your guilt?"
"I cannot admit it."
"As I heard, you are too arrogant."
"It's unfortunate. You were so brilliant as a child."
Nevertheless, Binsala maintained a dignified posture.
"Will you insist until the end that you did nothing wrong?"
"It was merely an act of loyalty for the nation."
"Ha!"
Stripping him of his crown prince position and exiling him overseas was a foregone conclusion anyway.
The emirates other than Abu Dhabi had secretly been waiting for such an opportunity.
Although it was a federation of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi effectively ruled the UAE.
The difference in national power was far too great.
Therefore, the six emirates, including Dubai, had been aiming to reduce Abu Dhabi's influence and dominate their own UAE.
Given the situation, Sala Mohammed bin Aziz, the King of Abu Dhabi and also the King and President of the UAE, didn't even attend the Federal Council.
Binsala seemed resigned, but he hadn't given up.
He had bet everything on Gobang.
That he would turn the situation around.
But his heart was still uneasy.
Would he really keep his promise?
"This will make the verdict easy. Isn't that right?"
"Let's decide quickly. We must make a public announcement, and there's also the provisional naturalization contract."
The UAE Supreme Federal Council had decided to sign a provisional naturalization contract with Saudi Arabia.
The King of Dubai took the lead.
It would still come at a tremendous cost,
But one of the conditions of the contract with Saudi Arabia was the expulsion of Crown Prince Abdul Binsala.
How could they not be angry when he handed over the Trait Enhancement Rune that would have fallen into their laps to the wrong place?
"Then, gathering everyone's opinion, I shall deliver the verdict. Crown Prince Abdul Binsala leaked precious national assets abroad."
Binsala quietly closed his eyes.
Was this how it would end?
"This is a heinous crime tantamount to treason. Accordingly, the Supreme Federal Council hereby resolves to expel Abdul Binsala from the United Arab Emirates, effective today..."
At that moment!
"Huhk!"
Player Omar, sitting right next to Crown Prince Binsala, suddenly stood up and shouted.
"What are you doing? Shouting during the verdict?"
"Th-that..."
"Are you opposing the Crown Prince's expulsion?"
Player Omar Hassan opened his mouth with a trembling voice,
"Th-the UAE Black Tower's 60th floor..."
"What about the tower? Is it collapsing or something?"
"I-it was just conquered. A global announcement was heard."
"...What?"
"And with an S++ grade..."
What nonsense was this?
Suddenly?
It was out of nowhere.
It would be exposed soon...
Could it be?
The council chamber fell silent for a moment.
Then.
Aides seated in the Supreme Federal Council began whispering into ears, showing their smartphones.
The attendees' complexions changed rapidly.
Reporters and high-ranking officials who had come to observe also sprang up one by one.
They moved busily, making calls to somewhere.
The conference room turned into chaos, but no one tried to stop it.
Soon after.
"I-it's true. It's a global announcement. All UAE-affiliated players heard it."
"...The UAE Black Tower 60th-floor S++ grade conquest record, the tower conquest progress status has also been confirmed."
Murmur murmur.
Everyone wore expressions of shock.
No, it wasn't just a conquest, but an S++ grade conquest.
And this wasn't Korea.
Only then did Binsala smile faintly and speak.
"Please continue the verdict. What crime did I commit?"
Of course, no one could answer.
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