Chapter 169: 36th Floor. Madman (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169: 36th Floor. Madman (1)
[Title: What is up with this madman on the 36th floor?]
[Post:] It’s insane. I thought I was going to be remodeled alive. No matter how fast I ran, he just kept following me. Is surviving this guy even possible?
[Olivia Turner (52nd Floor): Ah, you met that lunatic. Since he remembers us, he seems to be an NPC like a shopkeeper or a blacksmith... but he isn't exactly friendly. He’s just completely out of his mind.]
* * *
“Wait. Just wait a second.”
Kang Jun-hyeok repeated the word "wait" twice. The situation left him with no other choice.
“The Tower is a separate world. What happens inside shouldn’t affect reality.”
[True. However, that place was created directly by the Master of the Universe. It is not a mere illusion or a fabricated fake. In a true sense, it is closer to being a world of its own.]
If that were the case, what would happen to an oath or a contract engraved upon the soul?
[As you know, a Dragon’s Blood Pact is special. It is engraved upon their name, upon the very concept of their existence as an individual. Anthonia surely made that oath by staking her soul.]
“……”
Kang Jun-hyeok couldn't find an answer. Even in his past life, he had never encountered a case like this.
“Nothing will happen.”
[There’s no conviction in your voice. This is going to be fun to watch.]
The Master of All Weapons muttered as if anticipating the fallout. In contrast, Eldiria looked strangely displeased.
[……So you’re saying it could affect the version of her in this world as well. Hmm.]
“You seem to be in a bad mood.”
[Well, from her perspective, some young brat has gone and meddled with something she’s already staked a claim on. Of course she wouldn't like it,] the Master of All Weapons said jovially. [You’d be surprised if you knew what this one was plotting behind your back.]
[Be silent.]
Eldiria hurriedly cut the Master of All Weapons off. Jun-hyeok was curious about what he meant, but she didn't look like she would answer even if he asked. More importantly, there was a more pressing matter at hand.
Kang Jun-hyeok summoned Pixie and shared his memories with her. Her eyes widened.
[……Wow. Even I didn't see this coming.]
“Pixie. You’ve traveled everywhere in the world. You must know about the Dragon’s soul oaths. And as an NPC of the Tower, you understand its structure.”
[That’s true.]
“From your perspective, what do you think? Will it affect the Anthonia in reality?”
[Hmm.]
Pixie rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. After a moment, she spoke.
[It’s possible.]
“Tsk.”
Kang Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue. Pixie continued.
[Of course, it won't be to the extent that the real-world Anthonia directly entered a Blood Pact. After all, it wasn't her own will. But…… in one way or another, there will be an influence. It could be through her subconscious, or perhaps her emotions.]
The Dark Dragon Anthonia.
One of the top five Players, a being far stronger than he was now.
And the being he had once buried.
How would she react when they finally met?
He couldn't even guess. Pixie spoke playfully.
[Ahaha. This is interesting. When you meet her later, please make sure to share that memory with me.]
“You seem to be enjoying this.”
[Watching someone else's house catch fire is always the best entertainment.]
Pixie grinned.
[350 Starlight.]
It was a significant amount of Starlight. After receiving the reward, Kang Jun-hyeok organized his thoughts.
‘It’s already happened anyway.’
There was no way to know until they actually met. In his experience, dwelling on such things was a massive waste of time. With a single breath, he cleared his mind.
The Perfect Player title had granted him an increase in affinity when facing the Dragon race.
And then there was the other Perfect Clear reward.
[Broken Dragon Heart]
• Rank: High-Rank
• A Dragon’s heart that is broken and failed to take a complete form. Despite being broken, the energy contained within is too immense to be called that of a living being.
It was only natural that it was broken. A complete Dragon Heart was a top-tier material. Even if it was damaged, the energy within was not something one could normally obtain on the 35th floor.
Jun-hyeok tucked the Dragon Heart away and went to see the Blacksmith. As if he had been waiting, the man tossed him a pair of bracers.
“Took you long enough. Here is the equipment you requested. Take it.”
“Thank you.”
[Cold and Heat Star Iron Bracers]
• Part: Wrists
• Rank: High-Rank
• Strength +5
• Speed +5
• Defense +30
• Equipment Ability: Can absorb heat and cold. Can explode the absorbed power.
• Materials made using Scorching Cold Iron and a meteor that fell from somewhere. The powers within the materials have been drawn out to their absolute limit.
“Oho.”
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a satisfied sound.
The defense itself was considerable, but it even came with a powerful equipment ability. Most heat or cold-based attacks wouldn't work on him at all. Beyond that, he could even make that power his own.
It was a thoroughly satisfying piece of equipment.
“Thank you. Also, could you take a look at this?”
“……A Dragon Heart? It’s not whole, but it’s impressive.”
Interest flickered in the Blacksmith’s eyes.
“This would be fun to work with. What do you want me to make?”
“Can you turn it into a Restoration Pill? Or perhaps an Elixir?”
A Dragon Heart.
The energy contained within was powerful. Rather than a simple piece of equipment, it was more beneficial to turn it into an Elixir and absorb it directly. The Blacksmith’s face soured.
“……I am a blacksmith. A maker of weapons. Go find an alchemist for a request like that.”
“Understood.”
‘I guess I really do have to find an Enchanter or an Alchemist for this.’
It was a material he couldn't use right away. Kang Jun-hyeok put away the Slime Worm Body and equipped the Cold and Heat Star Iron Bracers.
“Is that the equipment of the Victors?”
The Blacksmith showed interest upon seeing the Slime Worm Body.
“Would you mind if I handled that for a bit?”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. The Blacksmith smacked his lips in disappointment.
“Is that so? Well, it’s your property, so I can’t force you.”
“I’m sorry. I have a use for this as it is.”
“Fine. Come back again next time.”
There had been several issues, but he had succeeded in clearing the floor without any major problems. He had also obtained appropriate rewards.
That was enough. Kang Jun-hyeok immediately thought of his next plan.
‘The 36th floor.’
That was where he had to go next.
It was no ordinary floor. It was a distorted, broken battlefield of the Victors and the Losers. The goal of the 36th floor was simply to survive.
For him as he was now, it shouldn't have been a difficult floor. However, Kang Jun-hyeok knew better.
He knew that a certain special existence resided there. A being of the universe who had become fascinated by the Victors.
The Madman was there.
* * *
[36th Floor Quest]
• Survive in the abandoned world for one week.
Kang Jun-hyeok arrived on the 36th floor.
The place felt alien. Everything was broken and destroyed. However, it was different from the world swallowed by Slime Worms or the world devastated by the Empire from Somewhere.
Squeltch.
Bizarre substances, seemingly belonging to the Victors, were spread across the entire world. At the same time, objects and concepts of the universe remained, mixing with them to form distorted shapes.
This was a world where no conclusion had been reached. It was a battlefield abandoned after an endless war between Victors and Losers.
Splurt!
Something wriggling suddenly lunged at Kang Jun-hyeok. As it tried to swallow him, Jun-hyeok threw a light punch. With a thunderous boom, the thing exploded.
Sizzle.
Reacting to the aftermath of that power, the surrounding materials rose up. A massive mass of slime swept through the area like lava, attempting to defile everything.
Kang Jun-hyeok lifted his foot.
[Thousand-Pound Weight]
BOOM!
The earth was crushed. The boiling mass of slime was flattened like a dried squid by the immense force. The turbulent ground gradually grew still.
This was an abandoned battlefield. All sorts of dangerous substances and entities remained. There were threats here distinct from the Slime Worms or the Empire. If anything, a place like this was more dangerous because it was unpredictable. Even Kang Jun-hyeok couldn't predict everything perfectly.
But that was as far as it went.
Even if there were threats, they were only threats by the standards of ordinary Players. To him, they weren't much of a menace. Surviving here for a week was something he could do even if he just lay still.
Naturally, he had another purpose.
The Madman. He had to find him.
‘I wonder where he is.’
The planet was quite large—likely about half the size of Earth. Since the Madman moved around freely, it was difficult to pinpoint his exact location.
In that case, he would make the opponent come to him.
Kang Jun-hyeok lightly snapped his fingers.
[Glory of the Lost God]
Vroom!
A brilliant light illuminated the world. The writhing things were instantly incinerated by the Glory and vanished. Eldiria asked in a puzzled tone.
[Why did you suddenly use the Glory?]
“Because they were getting in the way of my movement.”
Kang Jun-hyeok gave a casual answer and waited. A few minutes later, a thunderous roar echoed from the distance.
Thump! Thump!
Someone was approaching.
Even though they weren't in sight yet, the pressure was palpable. Every time a footstep rang out, the earth shook as if an earthquake were occurring.
A powerful being. The kind of being that could kill the likes of those monsters in an instant.
‘He’s here.’
[Hmm?]
[It’s a familiar energy…… but it’s broken.]
After thinking for a moment, Eldiria let out a sound of realization.
[Ah. I wondered where it had gone, and it turns out it was here. Come to think of it, this is the perfect place for it.]
BOOM!
And with a final roar, the thing arrived in front of Kang Jun-hyeok.
“Yahoo!”
It was in the shape of a human, but it couldn't truly be called human. Bizarre tattoos were engraved across its entire body. To be precise, they were more like physical substances than tattoos. They squirmed on the person's body as if water and oil, which could never mix, had been forced together.
Disheveled hair. Eyes that were half-turned upward.
This was not a sane person. As if to prove it, a system window appeared.
[The Loser of the Great War, the Madman, has appeared.]
“Uwahaha! A Player. It’s a Player! Wow! It’s been a long time!”
The Madman was aware of the existence of Players. It meant he was a being tied to the Tower.
“Hello! Nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“Right. Then, can I ask a small favor?”
“What is it?”
“Can I remodel you?”
The upturned eyes fixed on Kang Jun-hyeok. Jun-hyeok suppressed a laugh.
‘He’s exactly the same as in my past life.’
The Loser of the Great War. The Madman.
He was, quite literally, insane. He was a being with whom normal conversation was impossible, one who sought to dissect Players at his whim.
But Kang Jun-hyeok needed this man. The reason was simple.
The Madman was the only being in the universe capable of processing the materials of the Victors.