Chapter 113: 21st Floor. God of Jealousy, Zelesi (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: 21st Floor. God of Jealousy, Zelesi (1)
[Log: The 21st Floor is unpleasant.]
[I simply… I simply moved on. I didn’t do a single thing, yet the trial was cleared. It was as if I wasn't even worth his jealousy.]
* * *
[So, it is Zelesi. Come to think of it, I heard the gods had taken up residence within the Tower as well.]
Eldiria muttered to herself. Unlike the Master of All Weapons, she had never entered the Tower before, so she wasn't well-acquainted with its internal structure or its inhabitants.
[Considering that fellow’s personality, I suppose it makes sense for him to be here. No, it would be stranger if he weren't.]
Eldiria murmured, sounding quite displeased. The Master of All Weapons spoke in a low, resonant voice.
[A god is a being that governs a concept. The God of Jealousy is the embodiment of envy. He covets all of creation.]
He envies, and he loathes. He is jealous of everything that exists. He is a being eternally hollow, forever empty.
[He is a prime example of a god with a broken personality.]
“Hmm.”
Kang Jun-hyeok slowly approached the altar. He could feel the god’s gaze beginning to settle upon him.
The first emotion he sensed was bewilderment.
The god had seen the Master of All Weapons and Eldiria standing beside Kang Jun-hyeok. Two powerful Transcendents accompanying a single Player—it was a truly bizarre sight.
But that bewilderment lasted only a moment.
The next emotion to manifest was intense, burning jealousy.
The losers who fell in the Great War of the past…
They are trying to help a Player.
Normally, that would have been the extent of it.
However, the God of Jealousy perceived the sheer amount of power Kang Jun-hyeok had accumulated while climbing the Tower. Soon, a singular, overwhelming emotion surged forth.
It was pure envy.
Jealousy toward Kang Jun-hyeok—toward a mere Player—upended the very space around them. It was an emotion so intense it shook the air and exerted physical pressure.
I hate you.
I hate you so much.
You are nothing.
You are merely lucky enough to have been granted an opportunity by the Master of the Universe.
Why does your kind receive the chance we were never given?
The manifestation of emotion was so clear it was as if the words were being screamed directly into his mind. Kang Jun-hyeok let out a low whistle. The Master of All Weapons muttered as if he had expected nothing less.
[Well, of course.]
The God of Jealousy, Zelesi.
Had he truly stayed here to help the Players of the Tower?
The answer was no.
He envied the Players.
Why were you given the chance to save the universe?
Why are you climbing the Tower when we failed?
I hate you.
Players, I hate you all.
I am so jealous.
A god who had taken up residence in the Tower solely to resolve that jealousy—to trample upon the Players. That was Zelesi, the God of Jealousy.
‘Though he doesn’t just trample on anyone.’
Players who weren't even worth being jealous of were allowed to pass without a trial.
But what about Kang Jun-hyeok?
Zelesi, staring intently at Kang Jun-hyeok, released a sudden wave of energy.
Wooooong—
A powerful resonance swept over Kang Jun-hyeok. It was an assessment, a weighing of the power he possessed.
Once Zelesi finished confirming the strength Kang Jun-hyeok had built, the space began to warp. Emotions took tangible form, exerting influence over the physical world. It was a manifestation of malice so intense that a weak-willed person would have fainted on the spot.
‘I didn’t even face this much jealousy in my past life.’
I hate you so much.
I hate you.
I’m so jealous I want to kill you.
That emotion soon transformed into a quest and appeared before Kang Jun-hyeok.
[Zelesi, the God of Jealousy, proposes a trial.]
[Condition: Clear the trial.]
[Reward: Zelesi’s Artifact.]
“I accept.”
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded. For the first time, the God of Jealousy showed a hint of twisted joy. The space began to shift and expand.
Creeeeeak.
The space in front of the altar cracked open, and a hand thrust out from the void. As a figure emerged, Eldiria muttered.
[Haltoron.]
“Do you know him?”
[He was one of the knights who served Zelesi. I heard he perished during the Great War, but it seems Zelesi turned him into a puppet to keep him by his side.]
Defeat Zelesi’s doll. That was the trial. However, there was one strange detail.
‘The outfit is the same.’
The doll’s attire was an exact replica of Kang Jun-hyeok’s. Even the sword in its hand was identical.
There was no time for a leisurely analysis. The doll lunged at Kang Jun-hyeok immediately.
Clang!
Sword clashed against sword. With a single collision, Kang Jun-hyeok realized it instantly.
‘Its Strength and Speed are exactly the same as mine.’
They matched perfectly, without a hair’s breadth of difference. The doll thrust its sword with blinding speed. It was a sharp, lethal attack, like the strike of a poisonous stinger.
It was likely the swordsmanship the doll had mastered during its life—a technique far superior to Kang Jun-hyeok’s current level.
Kang Jun-hyeok made a quick judgment.
Strength and Speed are equal. The opponent has the upper hand in technique.
In that case, he would respond with skills.
[Spear Throw.]
A single spear traced a deadly trajectory through the air toward the doll. Simultaneously, Kang Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground to attack in tandem with the projectile.
An attack coming from two directions at once. It was difficult to defend against; a gap was bound to open somewhere, and he intended to exploit it.
[[Spear Throw.]]
At that moment, a spear shot out from the doll as well.
It collided with Kang Jun-hyeok's spear in mid-air, neutralizing it perfectly.
The doll had activated a skill. Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes widened. The doll immediately followed up with a thrust.
[[Thrust.]]
With a sharp whistle, the tip of the blade aimed for his heart. He hurriedly raised his shield.
Clang!
His body shook from the impact. He had succeeded in blocking, but the opponent’s assault did not stop. Another Thrust was activated instantly.
C-Clang!
“Ugh!”
With a groan, Kang Jun-hyeok was pushed back. He barely maintained his balance by scraping his sword against the floor.
Screeeech!
“…What is this?”
Kang Jun-hyeok frowned as he regained his stance.
It wasn't just that the doll could use skills. Their power and proficiency were also perfectly identical to his own. That doll had copied everything Kang Jun-hyeok had gained while climbing the Tower.
“I see what you’re thinking.”
Kang Jun-hyeok looked past the doll toward the altar.
The abilities and power you gained while climbing the Tower…
They are all merely things given to you.
It is not that you are special; it is merely the mercy bestowed by the Master of the Universe.
If we…
If we had that power, we could have climbed the Tower even better.
We could have changed the past.
That was the core of Zelesi’s jealousy.
Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body was pushed back again. The opponent’s stats were a perfect match for his. The only difference was swordsmanship. Although Kang Jun-hyeok possessed the knowledge of the Master of All Weapons, he was still gaining experience. He could not easily defeat a knight whom a great god had personally chosen as a follower.
Objectively, the opponent was stronger than Kang Jun-hyeok.
Zelesi watched with delight. He seemed to be anticipating Kang Jun-hyeok’s miserable defeat.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok looked disappointed.
“What? Is this all?”
* * *
Kang Jun-hyeok was disappointed.
Zelesi was momentarily taken aback by that emotion.
The doll he had created was a perfect match for Kang Jun-hyeok. Since the doll held the advantage in swordsmanship—the only variable between them—there was no way for the Player to win.
And yet, he was disappointed?
Bewilderment soon turned into cold rage.
Arrogant.
That arrogance is only possible because the Tower bestowed power upon you.
I hate you.
Following its master’s emotions, the doll moved instantly.
[[Stealth.]]
The doll’s body vanished completely. It intended to close the distance in an instant and drive its blade into Kang Jun-hyeok’s throat.
[Block.]
At that moment, Kang Jun-hyeok's sword moved. It perfectly parried the invisible attack.
Zelesi was momentarily stunned. How? Stealth should have erased its presence perfectly.
That thought wasn't wrong. The Stealth skill perfectly erased one's presence from the world for a brief moment.
However, the [Block] skill allowed one to defend against an attack the Player couldn't normally see or react to. Even an invisible one.
[Stealth.]
This time, Kang Jun-hyeok activated Stealth. His form vanished. The doll reflexively responded exactly as Kang Jun-hyeok had.
[[Block.]]
However, Kang Jun-hyeok did not attack while Stealth was active. He had quietly moved behind the doll. The moment the effect of the Block skill ended, he thrust his sword.
Slash!
The doll twisted its body reflexively, but the blade grazed its shoulder.
Kang Jun-hyeok continued to press his advantage. The doll activated [Instant Acceleration] to respond. At that moment, Kang Jun-hyeok widened the distance.
The doll tried to switch back to the offensive a moment too late; the duration of Instant Acceleration had already expired.
[Spear Throw.]
Without missing the opening, a spear flew in. The doll hurriedly defended.
Kang Jun-hyeok began to overwhelm it. Panic began to flicker in Zelesi’s gaze. Eldiria muttered.
[You made a mistake. You intended this as a trial to prove that the power received as a Player is everything… but you chose the wrong answer.]
Kang Jun-hyeok’s ability as a Player was exceptional.
Another Player had once visited Eldiria's domain. That person was certainly a "stronger" Player than Kang Jun-hyeok, yet Kang Jun-hyeok had won through pure skill utilization and intuition. There was no way Zelesi could win simply by copying a man like him.
[It would have been harder if you had made him lose everything instead. No… even then, this guy would have won.]
Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok continued his relentless assault.
A battle between Players is like a game of cards. The path to victory lies in baiting out the opponent’s best cards with your weaker ones, or exhausting their hand to create a favorable opening.
Swish!
[[Rift Movement.]]
The doll used Rift Movement to appear behind Kang Jun-hyeok. It intended to use [Repulsion] to push him away before thrusting its sword. The doll activated Repulsion for defense.
[Rift Movement.]
Kang Jun-hyeok used Rift Movement to force his way back in, countering the push.
Both had consumed the same skill, but Kang Jun-hyeok’s positioning was superior. He gained the upper hand bit by bit, as if following a perfect strategy.
He kicked off the ground and thrust his sword. The doll blocked. He activated [Air Jump] and thrust once more from above. The doll barely blocked that as well.
[Balancing.]
He neutralized the recoil with a skill and drove his sword into the doll’s neck.
Crack!
Finally, unable to endure any longer, the doll collapsed. Kang Jun-hyeok sheathed his sword.
[Level Up.]
[Stamina +20]
[Strength +1]
[Speed +1]
[Proficiency in Rift Movement has increased.]
[Proficiency in Thrust has increased.]
[Proficiency in Spear Throw has increased.]
“That was too easy.”
To think this was the extent of the trial. Zelesi lacked the qualifications to judge a Player.
Zelesi did not argue. He remained silent. He had no choice but to admit it—that Kang Jun-hyeok was more than qualified as a Player.
But because of that…
Because of that, he envied him all the more.
Why only you?
Why are you the only one who is special?
If we had been given the chance, we could have been like you.
Do you truly think you can reach the end?
Zelesi felt like he was going mad. Jealousy pushed to the extreme began to consume the god. Ultimately, Zelesi made a decision.
He would offer himself.
[Zelesi, the God of Jealousy, proposes one more trial.]
[Condition: Clear the trial.]
[Reward: Zelesi’s Authority.]