Chapter 49: Nightmare 4th Floor (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: Nightmare 4th Floor (5)
“…Gasp!”
The moment I regained consciousness, I bolted upright, a ragged gasp tearing from my throat.
Reflexively, I fumbled over my body, checking for injuries. My skin was smooth—not a single scratch remained.
I panted heavily for a moment before realizing I was in the Reward Room. The tension left my legs, and I collapsed back onto the floor.
Wow…
Holy shit…
I really thought I was dead.
Is that what it feels like to fall into the fires of hell? It was a horrific experience I never want to repeat as long as I live.
I lay there dazed for a long while before I finally gathered the strength to read the messages floating before my eyes.
[The 4th Floor has been cleared on all difficulties.]
[The Tower calls for new personnel.]
[A new rule has been added.]
[From now on, five Branch Towers will appear in random locations every 7 days.]
[Time remaining until the first Branch Tower appears: 6 days 23 hours 59 minutes 32 seconds]
“…You son of a bitch.”
Give me a damn break.
I had a feeling this would happen. The moment I nullified the 3-Year Rule, a new one popped up to take its place.
Branch Towers? Random appearances?
I didn't know exactly what they were yet, but anything involving the word "Tower" was an ill omen. Does this mean more towers are going to sprout up across the globe besides the one in the Pacific?
Rules appeared after the 2nd and 4th floors, but not after the 1st and 3rd. Just as I’d suspected, it seemed new rules were generated every two floors.
Ah, whatever… I’ll think about it later…
My body was fully healed, but the lingering sensation of being burned alive still made my skin crawl. It was on a completely different level from any pain I’d ever experienced.
Look at this. My fingertips are still shaking.
[Item: Celestial Music Box]
A lost holy relic of the Paeli Order. When used, it plays a melody that stabilizes the mind and body. Consumes 1 Willpower per second.
I pulled out the music box.
It was an item I’d obtained after clearing the 3rd Floor Hidden Route. I’d brought it along just in case it might be useful, and now seemed like the perfect time.
Hoping it would help, I activated it.
♫~ ♪~
As the melody of the music box filled the room, the static in my mind began to settle.
“Phew…”
Man, this thing isn't useless after all. They gave me a mental recovery item so I wouldn't develop PTSD while climbing the Tower. How thoughtful.
Jokes aside, the effect was undeniable. I kept the music box playing until my Willpower was nearly depleted.
Okay. Mental state restored.
I finally stood up.
[Level: 55]
My level had jumped by ten, reaching 55. I could feel the raw power surging through my veins; my body was significantly stronger.
Boom!
I threw a punch into the air, and the resulting sonic pop was deafening. At this rate, I might be able to go toe-to-toe with a fully buffed 3rd-floor boss like Phligas with my bare hands.
I checked the rewards.
Skill Enhancement Stones were scattered across the floor.
Wait… no Skill Stones? Just two Skill Enhancement Stones?
[Rare+ Skill Enhancement Stone]
Can be used to enhance one Rare+ grade skill.
Two Rare+ stones.
Since enhancement stones are rarer than Skill Stones, I suppose I should consider myself lucky. While more skills are always better, this wasn't a bad haul at all.
Actually, it was great. I knew now that reaching level 5 with a skill allowed me to acquire a higher-tier version.
[Difficulty: Nightmare]
[Floor: 5th Floor]
[Level: 55]
[Willpower: 1,800]
[Skills: Destruction Ray (Epic+), Teleportation (Rare+), Sixth Sense (Rare+), Rapid Regeneration (Rare+), Scorching Zone (Rare+), Flame Strike (Rare) (+5), Blade Gale (Rare), Exhilaration (Rare), Skin Hardening (Rare), Fairy Light Bullet (Common+) (+1), Lesser Poison Resistance (Common+), Lesser Burn Resistance (Common+), Leap (Common) (+1), Swing (Common), Stab (Common), Ice Bullet (Common)]
Come to think of it, I hadn't enhanced any of my Rare+ skills yet.
‘Which one should I pick?’
Teleportation, Sixth Sense, Rapid Regeneration, or Scorching Zone.
Enhancing Teleportation would likely increase its range.
Sixth Sense… well, it would probably just make my intuition sharper. It wasn't a skill that relied on numerical values anyway.
Rapid Regeneration would increase recovery speed, and Scorching Zone would increase damage or the area of effect.
In my opinion, the safe bet was Teleportation.
While Rapid Regeneration had been a lifesaver this time, its cooldown was too long, and it was a Physical-Type skill. As for Scorching Zone, fully enhancing it might grant me an Epic-grade fire spell, but I already had a fantastic offensive tool in Destruction Ray.
Teleportation seemed like the best choice because of the increased distance, and I suspected its max-level evolution would be a top-tier movement skill. However…
‘Sixth Sense…’
For some reason, I felt drawn to Sixth Sense. There was no skill more reassuring when tackling a new floor. Plus, I was curious—what would the higher-tier version of Sixth Sense even look like?
It was inefficient to split the stones, so I had to go all-in on one.
I could have waited to decide, but I made up my mind immediately and used both stones on Sixth Sense.
[You have used a ‘Rare+ Skill Enhancement Stone’ on ‘Skill: Sixth Sense (Rare+)’.]
[You have used a ‘Rare+ Skill Enhancement Stone’ on ‘Skill: Sixth Sense (Rare+)’.]
[‘Skill: Sixth Sense (Rare+)’ has been enhanced, further strengthening your danger detection abilities.]
I couldn't feel the difference immediately. Since it only triggers in the face of danger, I’d have to test it out later.
[Nightmare]
Participants: 283,157
Time Limit: 1 year 19 days 22 hours 39 minutes 16 seconds
Floor Reached: 5th Floor
After sorting through the rewards, I saw that the Nightmare time limit had increased.
Once again, I had survived. The world had bought another year of time.
Though, it felt like a lot more had happened this time around…
‘What exactly is the Tower?’
Does it have a personal grudge against me? The way it used the 3-Year Rule as bait to offer me a penalty felt like a blatant display of malice.
And the fact that the Ability Nullification Parts never showed up in the Special Draw… was the Tower rigging the odds? Or was I just unlucky?
Thinking about it rationally, it was probably the latter. If the Tower truly wanted me dead and could interfere with the trials at will, it could just seal every exit and leave me with no way to survive.
The fact that it didn't suggested the Tower was bound by certain rules or constraints… or so I speculated.
It wasn't a question I could answer by brooding over it. The Tower was an incomprehensible entity. In the end, all I could do was keep climbing.
‘Still…’
It definitely seems like it wants me dead.
Well, guess what? I didn't die. Even after getting screwed over like that, I’m still standing.
[Would you like to exit the Tower?]
“I had a great time. See ya.”
Like hell I did. It was a nightmare I never want to repeat. But I made sure to sneer loudly as I exited, hoping the Tower was listening.
I’m exhausted… time to rest.
* * *
After Saram123 chose the penalty.
The actions of people gathered in streets across the globe were identical, as if choreographed. Men and women, young and old—everyone held their breath and prayed.
Choosing the penalty meant he was likely inside the 4th Floor right now, attempting the clear. Even live news anchors remained silent, as if forgetting their duty to speak.
One minute passed, then another.
As the silence stretched on, the faces of the people became a complex tapestry of anxiety, fear, nervousness, and desperate hope.
[Honeybee: Isn't it… taking a bit long?]
[BlackDragonHeaven: What was the average clear time for Nightmare Difficulty again?]
[Luer: About 20 minutes. But the variance between floors is so huge it doesn't mean much. Especially since this is the first clear.]
[WarriorOfStruggle: The number of people in the Nightmare Communication Window hasn't dropped yet.]
[Savanna: I’m counting on you, Saram123. Please…]
Over an hour had passed since Saram123 chose the penalty.
While the Climbers in the Communication Window could at least see that the headcount remained steady, the general public, lacking real-time information, grew more terrified with every passing second.
Some bit their nails, some bowed their heads deeper in prayer, and others frantically searched for news on their phones. Parents comforted crying children; even six-year-olds understood the gravity of the situation.
“…I knew it! He shouldn't have chosen the penalty! It’s all over!” someone screamed in despair. Others immediately turned on them.
“Shut up and pray! He’s still in there fighting!”
“If you’re going to talk shit, get lost!”
Just as the atmosphere was turning increasingly toxic…
“Oh!”
“Look…!”
Exclamations erupted from several people in the crowd. They were Climbers—the ones who could see the message announcing the 4th Floor had been cleared on all difficulties.
“He—he did it! The 4th Floor is cleared!”
That shout was the signal. The restless crowd suddenly erupted into a roar that shook the streets.
Waaaaaaaah!
— This is a breaking news report. We have just received word that the 4th Floor of Nightmare Difficulty has been cleared!
— Uh… additionally, the Tower has reportedly added a new rule. Branch Towers will appear in random locations every seven days…
The news outlets scrambled to broadcast the update.
People embraced one another, weeping tears of joy. The relief was as immense as the long hours of agonizing tension.
[ProudStride: We’re alive! Another year of life!]
[KimchiStew: Saram123 is a god! He is a god! He is a god! He is a god! He is a god!]
[Kensyong: No, seriously, how did he do it?? He cleared it even after picking one of those insane penalties?]
[Megaphone: You’re still doubting Saram123? You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.]
[Poseidon: Phew… my heart literally stopped when he picked the penalty.]
[Beast123: But what are these Branch Towers? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.]
Though a new rule had appeared, no one cared about it at that moment. They needed to savor the joy.
Saram123! Saram123! Saram123!
His name was chanted in every street. It was the name of the hero who had saved humanity multiple times and refused to abandon even a small group of people.
“Haha… You really are something…”
In Villon Must’s office.
Villon let out a hearty laugh and sank deep into his chair, his body finally relaxing. He had hoped Kim Seo-hyun wouldn't choose the penalty. From a risk-management perspective, the correct choice had been painfully obvious.
But Kim Seo-hyun chose to save everyone. And as a result, he gained everything.
Even Villon, a man who had always lived by the mantra of "high risk, high reward," knew that he would never have chosen the penalty if he were in Seo-hyun's shoes.
…It was incredible. Beyond incredible—it was awe-inspiring.
Villon closed his eyes and silently celebrated his partner’s safe return.
* * *
At the Climber Association office.
[The 4th Floor has been cleared on all difficulties.]
“…Yes!”
The moment the message appeared, Shin Su-jin shouted before she could stop herself.
Kang Ju-hyuk, who was standing beside her, jumped twice—once at the message and once at her sudden outburst. Shin Su-jin cleared her throat, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Phew, he did it after all. To clear Nightmare after picking one of those penalties… he really is an extraordinary man.”
Kang Ju-hyuk stared at the message in constant admiration. The man had taken on a fatal penalty and cleared the floor as if it were nothing. He couldn't even begin to fathom the extent of Saram123's capabilities.
Shin Su-jin felt her heart racing and rejoiced inwardly. She was truly glad he had returned safely.
* * *
“…And so, he has delivered the Fourth Salvation.”
Inside a dimly lit cathedral.
The space was much larger than it had been a year ago, and it was packed with far more people. The man standing on the podium spoke with a voice that sounded like it was on the verge of tears.
“The wicked Tower attempted to deceive us. It tried to use his benevolence against him, holding lives hostage to block the path of salvation he walks.
Oh, why did he not turn away? Why did he not yield even an inch? He is a being who cannot ignore even a single pitiful life. He willingly shackled his own feet and dove into hell to save us all.”
The man was nearly sobbing now. The congregants, listening in solemn prayer, couldn't hold back their tears either.
“This proves that no matter what vile, cowardly, or petty tricks the Tower employs, it can never stop him. We will believe and follow him until the glorious day he saves all of humanity.”
“We believe, we believe…”
“Please, rejoice to your heart’s content tonight, everyone. Give thanks that we can live another year through his grace. Give thanks for his endless devotion and sacrifice…”
As the prayer ended, the people let out a deafening cheer.
That day, the name Saram123 and the sound of cheering echoed in every corner of the world.
* * *
The moment I got out of the Tower, I passed out and slept until dawn.
Feeling hungry, I ordered room service for a late-night snack. I sliced into a tender, perfectly cooked steak and stuffed a piece into my mouth.
“Mmm, delicious.”
Food always tastes best after a successful clear.