Chapter 117: Nightmare 8th Floor (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: Nightmare 8th Floor (5)
[The 8th Floor has been cleared on all difficulties.]
[The Tower is summoning new personnel.]
[A new rule will be added.]
[In 24 hours, the ‘Qualification Proof’ will begin.]
[The highest-floor climbers of each difficulty are requested to prove their qualifications as the vanguard of humanity.]
[If a difficulty has two or more highest-floor climbers, one will be chosen by random drawing.]
[Time Remaining: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 49 seconds]
I was transported to the Reward Room.
I stared at the messages appearing one after another.
‘...Qualification Proof?’
Since I’d cleared an even-numbered floor, something new had popped up again.
Something targeting the highest-floor climbers, I guess.
In that case, I was one of them.
I couldn't spare it much thought.
It wasn't like I could figure it out just by thinking about it now. I could deal with it when it started.
More importantly, I checked my remaining lifespan displayed on the Broken Scales of Life.
Remaining Lifespan: 305 days, 23 hours, 16 minutes, 26 seconds
Hoo...
All I could do was sigh.
I’d boldly used up 99% of it.
As a result, I now had less than a year to live.
It was what I’d expected, though.
‘...It can’t be helped.’
I don’t regret it.
If I’d offered a half-assed amount, there was no telling what would have emerged.
Even if I had offered 98%, it was uncertain whether the clear would have succeeded or not.
Since I couldn't predict anything, offering the maximum amount was indeed the best choice.
Right, so there was nothing to regret about that...
What I needed to think about was the future.
I’m the only one who can clear the Nightmare Difficulty.
And now, I was on a one-year death sentence.
I’d somehow managed to put out the urgent fire that was the 8th Floor.
But in exchange, I had sold my future.
My future, and the world’s future.
...Now that it had come to this, there was only one answer.
Climbing the Tower once a year was no longer possible.
In the time I had left, I had to climb the Nightmare as fast as I possibly could.
[Skill: Radiant Incarnation (Legendary+)]
Borrows the power of sacred radiance to transform the body into light. While the skill is active, you take no damage and can move in all directions at the speed of light. Requires 1 hour of Mental Focus to cast. The skill can be maintained for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Category: Magic-Type
Willpower Cost: 5,000 per second
Cooldown: 72 hours
Still...
I did get a Legendary+ skill out of it.
I offered up my entire lifespan, so I’d better get a skill of this grade.
I reread the skill description.
Radiant Incarnation.
Not only could I move at the speed of light, but it said I wouldn’t take any damage while the skill was active.
In other words, it was a ten-minute light-speed movement and invincibility skill.
The bizarre sensation of my body turning into light was still vivid.
I wonder if I can use other skills while maintaining Radiant Incarnation.
The description doesn’t explicitly say I can’t, so it seems possible.
I wanted to test out its various applications, but with a 72-hour cooldown, it was impossible for now.
I sighed and checked the other rewards.
An Epic Grade Skill Enhancement Stone and an item.
[Item: Revilus's Ring]
A ring containing the power of the Demon Grand Duke Revilus, who subdued myriad demons. The power of all familiars subjugated by the user grows in proportion to the master's power.
I read the description.
So... it seemed to have the effect of making my familiars stronger in proportion to my own power.
I equipped the ring and summoned Phli.
Swoooosh.
Phli materialized from a gathering cloud of black smoke. Its body and claws were a little bigger.
“Go to that wall and back, Phli.”
Kwaang!
Phli shot off, touching the wall of the Reward Room and returning in a flash.
Its speed was definitely much faster.
I stroked Phli’s head.
Even as I climbed floors, Phli’s abilities had remained the same, so it was bound to keep falling behind.
With this ring, Phli could grow along with my level.
It seemed like a decent item for a reward.
I could use the Epic Skill Enhancement Stone to enhance Hellfire Eruption or something...
But I didn't use it right away.
‘Come to think of it, the Hidden Route didn’t open.’
Normally, a message saying the Hidden Route had opened should have appeared as a First Clear reward.
This time, no message appeared.
Last time, with the Sage, it said they would be closed until the error was corrected.
But if that’s the case, shouldn’t they give me a different reward? Where’s their conscience?
Of course, it seems the Sage gave me something important, even if it meant causing a bug.
If it had been a big help on this 8th Floor, I wouldn’t have felt so wronged.
But far from being helpful, I still had no idea what it even was, so of course I felt fucking ripped off.
Grumbling, I finished organizing my rewards.
[Difficulty: Nightmare]
[Floor: 9th]
[Level: 105]
[Willpower: 6,050/6,050]
[Skills: Destruction Ray (Epic+), Subspace (Epic), Hellfire Eruption (Epic)(+1), Sixth Sense (Rare+)(+4), Teleportation (Rare+), Rapid Regeneration (Rare+)...]
[Nightmare]
Personnel: 673,621
Time Limit: 1 year, 7 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, 12 seconds
Highest Floor Reached: 9th
[Would you like to exit the Tower?]
After checking my Status Window and the time limit, I went outside.
Returning to my hotel room felt strange.
Thirteen days in the desert. Subjectively, it felt like I’d spent a much, much longer time there.
The first thing I did was check my phone.
“...”
It was flooded with missed calls and texts from my family.
I sighed again as I checked the messages.
Vrrr.
Just then, my phone rang. It was my mother.
I debated whether to answer but ultimately couldn't bring myself to.
...I wasn't mentally prepared for what to say. My mind was too much of a mess.
– I’m safe. I’ll head straight home.
I just sent the text and threw myself onto the bed.
I was exhausted.
I needed to rest, just for a little while.
* * *
On the thirteenth day since Saram123 entered the 8th Floor, the world descended further into chaos.
[Absurd: It’s all over. The world is finally ending.]
[Haruku: Don’t talk shit. Can’t you see Saram123 is still clearing it?]
[Chicken Leg: It’s been 13 days. This is ridiculous.]
[Cloud: Let’s all have hope. There are still 7 days left on the clock.]
[Thomas1: You mean there are only 7 days left.]
[Malayan Bear: It’s over, you morons. Hope, my ass.]
Those who lamented that it was the end.
Those who tried to hold on to hope, since the number on the Nightmare Communication Window hadn't dropped.
Either way, both sides were despairing.
With things having come this far, it was clear something had gone wrong with the clear...
Now, regardless of Saram123’s survival, it was uncertain whether the 8th Floor could even be cleared in the remaining seven days.
It was similar to the 1st Floor.
Crime rates surged across the globe, and governments were on high alert.
– Saram123 is still in the process of clearing the 8th Floor. Citizens, please do not lose hope...
Presidents of various nations gave speeches.
But the atmosphere, hurtling toward apocalypse, was not calming down; it was only getting worse.
“...I suppose we must prepare.”
Villon closed his eyes as he watched the news in his office.
His secretary, Ellen, stood beside him, her face grim.
An unprecedented situation: for thirteen days, the Nightmare had not been cleared.
While Villon still believed in Saram123’s success, he couldn’t help but prepare himself mentally.
Prepare to accept the end.
Saram123, Kim Seo-hyun.
He knew it was a miracle they had even come this far.
Even if the world ended, humanity had been granted a few more years of life thanks to his sacrifice.
If only he could leave a final message, to thank him for his devotion...
“Ellen.”
“Yes.”
“Would Mr. Kim truly want this?”
If the 8th Floor wasn't cleared by the time the deadline dropped below a day, Villon planned to reveal Saram123’s identity to the entire world.
A great hero, the likes of whom would never be seen again in history, who had saved humanity time and time again.
Though once the time limit ran out, even that history would vanish like a handful of dust...
“No, I suppose I must.”
He felt it was the last thing he could do for such a hero.
Villon simply prayed fervently that it wouldn't come to that, that Kim Seo-hyun would perform a miracle one more time.
US Climbing Bureau Headquarters.
“I’ll be entering now.”
Taylor was preparing to enter the 7th Floor.
The Bureau staff, including Max and Director Liam, watched her with grim faces.
Originally, they had planned to take a long time preparing before challenging the 7th Floor... but now, that was meaningless.
The 8th Floor remained uncleared, with the Nightmare deadline nearly upon them.
The Climbing Bureau’s opinion was to wait a little longer, but Taylor judged that there was no more time to hesitate.
She had to clear the 7th Floor and then, after making full preparations again, challenge the 8th.
Of course, the chances of succeeding on the 7th Floor were extremely slim, but she intended to fulfill her duty as a Nightmare Climber to the very end.
[Squirrel: This is Taylor Miller, the US Nightmare Climber. Saram123, thank you for your devotion. I respected you.
Before I enter the 7th Floor, I’m leaving you my first and last Whisper. I hope you clear the 8th Floor and see this message.]
She also left a Whisper for Saram123 through the Communication Window.
There was a chance he might succeed in his clear and come out within the remaining seven days.
“We wish you the best of luck, Taylor.”
Having finished her final checks, Taylor took a deep breath.
And just as she was about to enter the 7th Floor, a message appeared before her eyes.
“...!”
Startled, Taylor stared at the message.
* * *
Gwanghwamun Street, Seoul.
Countless people were gathered, packed so tightly there was no room to move, all praying.
It was a rally, led by the followers of the Church of Saram123, that had been going on for thirteen days.
Even as they stewed in despair and fear, everyone was still praying for the 8th Floor to be cleared.
“O Savior, please, save humanity...!”
They shouted his name until their throats were hoarse.
It wasn't just Korea; the whole world was the same.
It was a moment when all of humanity was once again forced to realize that the clears up to now had not been a given, that they were in a situation no different from a candle in the wind.
They simply prayed desperately for a miracle to happen one more time.
And then.
[The 8th Floor has been cleared on all difficulties.]
A miracle truly happened.
With 7 days, 6 hours, 16 minutes, and 50 seconds left on the Nightmare deadline, the message appeared.
A cheer, greater than any before, echoed through the streets of the world.
Waaaaaaaaah-!
A true narrow escape from death.
– He’s done it! Saram123 has done it! After a 13-day struggle, the Nightmare 8th Floor has been cleared...
Feeling as if they’d been pulled back from the depths of hell, the people celebrated wildly.
Family, friends, lovers, and even strangers hugged each other, sobbing with joy.
[Bear Trap: We’re alive! We’re alive!]
[Fighter Jet: Fuck, I really thought we were dead this time, hahaha. Kyaaaaaaangradld]
[ToYou: Saram123 is a god! Saram123 is a god! Saram123 is a god! Saram123 is a god! Saram123 is a god! Saram123 is a god!]
[Chameleon: I told you! I told you he’d succeed!]
[Fleureubig: My heart is beating so fast right now. I think I’m gonna die.]
[Kim Cheol-su: Just how horrible was it that it took 13 days...]
[KnightOfTheSky: Saram123 is Saram123, after all.]
[Heavenly Demon: I was foolish for my lack of faith. I can only worship him.]
Saram123! Saram123! Saram123...!
All of humanity rejoiced, chanting the name of the great triumphant hero.
The world had once again been gifted another precious year.
* * *
I stood in front of the door to my home.
I nervously pressed the keypad on the door lock and went inside.
The first thing I saw were the surprised faces of my family.
All three of them were standing in the entryway.
“...I’m home.”
I hesitated, about to say more.
I couldn't bring myself to speak, not knowing what to say first.
Just then, my mother came over.
She hugged me without a word.
My father came over too and patted my back.
“You’ve been through so much, son...”
My younger sister, who had been on the verge of tears, came and hugged me from the side.
No other words were needed.
I simply smiled at my welcoming family.
“I’m home.”