Chapter 66: 11th Floor. True Ancestor (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: 11th Floor. True Ancestor (3)
Kang Jun-hyeok poured every ounce of his remaining strength into the sword he had used to impale his foe.
His internal energy was bone-dry. The Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons already had a staggering consumption rate; combined with his abysmal internal energy stats, it was only natural he’d hit his limit. He could no longer manifest the Divine Art.
But it didn't matter. His opponent’s exhaustion was far worse. Above all, he still had one trump card left.
[Instant Acceleration]
The world slowed as his every movement surged with speed. He unsheathed a dagger, drove it into the enemy's throat, and ripped it sideways. He drew a greatsword, buried it in the man's thigh, and carved through his waist.
In a blurred instant, he systematically dismantled Kashan’s body. Kashan tried to resist, but having expended his True Blood, he couldn't summon his full power.
“Eeeek!”
In a desperate, final struggle, Kashan tried to release a burst of energy to blow Kang Jun-hyeok away, but even that failed.
[Balancing]
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body, which should have been sent flying, came to a dead halt in mid-air. He drew his sword once more and drove it straight through the heart.
“Gah!”
Kashan’s vitality plummeted to near zero. As he thrashed in his death throes, the realization finally sank in. He had been defeated. He was going to die here.
He let out a hollow, jagged laugh.
“Ha... hahahaha! To think I would meet my end not even by my niece’s hand, but by a mere... a mere human! Is this the karma of my bloodline?!”
“It’s nothing that deep. Just die.”
Jun-hyeok drew his dagger again and plunged it into the vampire's neck. Suddenly, Kashan reached up and gripped Kang Jun-hyeok’s head with a vice-like strength.
“I accept my defeat. But a man needs a companion for the road! Let us go together!”
Kashan’s eyes turned pitch black. Jet-black blood surged from his body like jagged spikes. Kang Jun-hyeok hurriedly raised his shield.
Rumble!
A massive explosion erupted, the force of it collapsing the passageway and completely vaporizing the doors. Kang Jun-hyeok’s body was slammed deep into the earth.
“Cough!”
The violent impact rattled his entire frame. Groaning, he checked his health.
[41/570]
“...Whew.”
It was a close call. If he hadn't raised his shield reflexively, he truly would have died.
“He was damn strong.”
Even for someone like him, who far exceeded the bounds of a normal player, he had to cross the threshold of death several times. Kashan was an opponent that couldn't be described as merely 'powerful.'
However, the rewards were just as substantial.
System windows cascaded down his vision. Kang Jun-hyeok grinned.
He had gained two levels. On top of that, his stats had increased significantly, and the proficiency of numerous skills had risen. The stronger the enemy defeated, the greater the reward—that was the fundamental law of the Tower.
“Even after a fight like that, the proficiency for the Divine Art and Mental Method didn't go up by much.”
[It was a decent enough spectacle, but you are still green. Did you really expect to master this one's martial arts with just that?]
“How demanding,” Kang Jun-hyeok groaned.
“Over here!”
“The Princess is in here!”
The voices of werewolves echoed from beyond the collapsed door. They must have pinpointed the location after hearing the explosion. Dozens of them were pouring into the passage at once.
But from this point on, it was no longer his concern. Everything was already over.
Vroom—
A powerful wave of energy resonated from deep within the altar. At the same time, a massive presence began to manifest—an extraordinary pressure that saturated the entire forest.
“It’s finished.”
Eldiria’s coming-of-age ceremony had concluded. Kang Jun-hyeok waited to be returned to Earth.
However, even after several moments, the system window announcing the end of the quest did not appear. A look of bewilderment crossed his face. The 11th Floor was supposed to end the moment Eldiria finished her ritual. That was how it had been in his past life, and it was the same for every other player.
Yet, he was not returning.
When the conditions are met but the stage doesn't end, it usually means one of two things: either the quest isn't actually over, or there is a reward left to receive on-site.
“....”
[Hold Breath]
Kang Jun-hyeok activated the skill, an action driven by pure instinct. Soon, the passage collapsed further, and a woman revealed herself.
* * *
Step.
Quiet but majestic footsteps echoed through the ruins.
Eldiria had appeared.
The lingering traces of youth had vanished from her face, replaced by a mature, lethal beauty. This was the Eldiria Kang Jun-hyeok remembered from his past life—the miracle vampire hailed as the reincarnation of the Progenitor. She was a powerful Transcendent who had survived until the very brink of the universe's destruction, fighting and killing countless Victors.
The Vampire Queen, Eldiria. She was born in this very spot.
Thousands of blood tendrils followed her, swaying as if celebrating the birth of their rightful queen.
“Ah, uh...”
“Ugh.”
The werewolves were instantly seized by a primal terror. They realized she was a being they could not hope to handle. Eldiria looked down at them coldly.
“Perish.”
At the Queen’s command, the blood tendrils lashed out. In an instant, the werewolves were skewered. They screamed and struggled, resisting with all their might, but it was meaningless. Dozens of werewolves were annihilated in a heartbeat.
Then, as if they weren't even worth her attention, Eldiria waved her hand. The debris of the collapsed passage was cleared away, revealing Kang Jun-hyeok buried within the rubble.
“....”
Eldiria bit her lip. Kang Jun-hyeok was not breathing. He had fought her uncle for her sake and seemingly perished with him. The last person on her side was dead. She was now completely alone in this world.
“I did not trust you. I doubted you, mistrusted you, and tried to push you away. I should not have done that; I should have talked to you more... I should have known you.”
She lamented her own foolishness. As she stood there in despair, Eldiria suddenly froze. She could feel the flow of blood within Kang Jun-hyeok’s body. She hurriedly rushed to his side.
She felt the blood flowing, yet he wasn't breathing. It was a bizarre sight she had never seen before, but one thing was certain: Kang Jun-hyeok was alive.
But he was also in a state close to death. As Eldiria pondered how to save him, a single method came to mind. She looked down at him—the loyal vassal who had risked his life to fight for her.
“...You said you did not want to become a vampire. That you liked yourself as a human. Therefore, I shall seek your forgiveness.” She bit her lip. “All of this is merely my own selfishness, for I do not wish to be left alone.”
Blood flowed from her lip. It wasn't red, but a deep, shimmering black.
“Your complaints, your grumbling, and even your anger—I shall accept it all. For I am your master.”
With those words, she lowered herself.
Kang Jun-hyeok almost opened his eyes in spite of himself. He felt a soft, moist sensation against his lips.
Eldiria was kissing him.
Her blood flowed into him through the contact. At that moment, the system windows finally erupted.
[Universe Announcement]
Please offer your congratulations, Citizens of the Universe! A Perfect Player of the 11th Floor has appeared. This is a feat that no one has ever achieved before!
Kang Jun-hyeok returned to Earth. However, he couldn't check his rewards with his usual composure.
“...What the hell?” he grimaced.
* * *
[If my senses are correct, it seems Eldiria kissed you.]
“Probably.”
[Crazy.]
The Master of All Weapons let out a hollow laugh. Even to him, this was a shocking event.
[That haughty and arrogant Eldiria kissed you? Anyone who knows her would scoff at the very idea.]
“That’s all in the past. It doesn't matter now.”
The Tower was a severed timeline of the past. Whatever happened there had no connection to the current universe.
[Theoretically, yes. But that Eldiria... the Eldiria who is pride itself. Well, I suppose if one lives long enough, they see everything.]
Kang Jun-hyeok was also stunned. The Eldiria he knew was not someone who gave anything more than basic affection to anyone.
‘I’m going through all sorts of things.’
Still, it happened inside the Tower. It had nothing to do with the current her. He just had to forget about it. Kang Jun-hyeok forced his thoughts into order and began checking his rewards.
[Robe of the True Ancestor]
• Part: Top
• Rank: Mid-Rank
• Stats: Strength +2, Speed +3, Defense +8
• Description: A robe that only noble True Ancestors can wear. Made by skinning a special beast and soaking it in noble blood, it does not tear easily and does not get dirty.
[Leather Pants of the True Ancestor]
• Part: Bottom
• Rank: Mid-Rank
• Stats: Strength +3, Speed +2, Defense +8
• Description: Leather pants that only noble True Ancestors can wear. Made by skinning a special beast and soaking it in noble blood, it does not tear easily and does not get dirty.
The basic rewards were the top and bottom pieces. Though they were called "basic," their value was immense. The higher the clear rate, the more superior the basic rewards became. 5 stat points and 8 defense—these were phenomenal numbers. In his past life, he had only barely managed to obtain rewards of this caliber after the 20th floor.
Next was the Perfect Clear reward. But before that, there was something else Kang Jun-hyeok had to check.
“...This is a reward I’ve never seen before.”
[You have obtained the Special Reward: Ruby Ring.]
A special reward. He had never seen such a thing, even in his past life. Kang Jun-hyeok touched the ring. It was set with a dark red gemstone that looked priceless even at a glance.
It was likely a magnificent reward, but something felt off. It felt as if it were binding him. With a hint of anxiety, he checked the ring’s information.
[Ruby Ring]
• Part: Ring
• Rank: High-Rank
• Stats: Health +100, Strength +4, Speed +4, Defense +5
• Description: A ring given to the noble True Ancestor, Vampire Princess Eldiria, by her father during her childhood. Eldiria’s father told her: "In the future, give this ring to the man who will become your husband."
“...Huh?”
After reading the description, Kang Jun-hyeok’s face twisted into a massive scowl.