Descent of the Starbeast
The pitch-black midnight had slipped away, giving way to a brilliant night sky brimming with azure stars. The pre-calibrated Oracle astronomical telescope hummed to life, and dozens of alchemists pressed their hands to the intricately drawn transmutation circle. The spectacle of dozens of blue mana circles whirling in unison was breathtaking. Estelle directed the ritual from right beside the Oracle, her utter focus making her look effortlessly captivating, regardless of age or gender.
That's why Han Do-yoon thought to himself: He had no idea when she'd fallen into this star-obsessed delusion, but he hoped today wouldn't be the day it all went wrong.
"Begin!"
With her resounding command, a beam of light stretched from the Oracle to Betelgeuse. It thickened into a pillar, forming a rainbow bridge visible from the Heavenly Tower—and indeed, anywhere in the Tower World. Mana whipped into a storm around them. Han Do-yoon squinted against the gale, struggling not to get blown away. Then, a Heavenly Sword appeared, shielding him from the wind.
"…Thanks."
"What the hell is appearing?"
"…Pardon?"
"Don't play dumb. You've had that warrior's grimace on your face since earlier."
Han Do-yoon dry-washed his face and continued. "A warrior's grimace…? That obvious, huh?"
-KRUUUUNG! An unidentified shockwave reverberated. It felt like an earthquake shaking the entire Tower World. Screams erupted from the alchemists. Estelle kept her hands on the circle and shouted, "Everyone, stay in position! It's almost done! Just… just a little longer!"
The ritual pressed on. As they regained their composure one by one and reached for the circle again, very quietly, very slowly—like black ink dropping onto white paper—the brilliant leg of the bridge began to darken to pitch black.
…That's…
Han Do-yoon knew exactly what that reaction meant. Failure, as expected. But not the outcome he'd imagined.
-KWAAAAAANG! A massive impact echoed from the sky, like something crashing down. The sound was enormous, but the shock was surprisingly mild. Those who registered something had fallen turned toward the center of the circle.
Finally…!
The star-calling ritual—laying a bridge to the stars to summon a great being—was a first even for Estelle. She'd agonized over whether to attempt the theoretical construct until she saw Han Do-yoon and decided to go for it. Her gaze flicked between the black speck at the heart of the shattered Oracle and Han Do-yoon. The speck grew larger; his face drained of color.
Why's he looking like that?
Suddenly, an unfamiliar weapon appeared in his hand. Seeing it, Estelle sensed something had gone terribly wrong.
A malformed arm burst from the hole.
-KWAAAAAANG! A shockwave that could be heard across the Tower World slammed into the workshop. Evelyn's forgotten coffee mug rattled on the workbench, jolting a memory to the surface.
Sound that big, but minimal mass impact? That's…
The workshop exterior grew noisy. She rushed to the rooftop and spotted the pitch-black pillar on the Heavenly Tower's roof.
That's… just like when Master vanished…
Evelyn recalled her teacher's final moments from a decade ago. Unlike most Tower residents, her alchemy master had vanished mid-experiment. That same pillar of light had appeared then.
Heavenly Tower rooftop? The Oracle… Wait, didn't that guy get dragged to the Heavenly Tower?
The Heavenly Tower Lord's sudden visit—she'd have followed if her mana circles were intact, but she hadn't wanted to reveal her current state. Instinct told her: her disciple was caught up in it. The Tower Lord was involved.
While Han Do-yoon took his alchemist exam and handled Heavenly Tower business, Isana trained in swordsmanship and pursued traces of the Tower World's three conquerors, the "Rule Breaker."
Legends said he'd left behind a martial arts manual penned by his own hand before vanishing. Even if the Elixir's perfected, I need to get strong my own way… Can't just rely on him.
She chased it on the hunch that a top-floor climber's manual would be invaluable. Tracking Rule Breaker from Floor 99 wasn't starting from scratch.
"…So, Skel. You really know nothing?"
In Gehenna, the Tower city, at its entrance stood the skeleton guard. Before regaining his memories, Han Do-yoon had met him here—a Tower resident. Isana knew him well: a living history book. No one had lived here as long as Skel. A hundred years? A thousand? Maybe ten thousand. He had to know about Rule Breaker and the other conquerors.
But as before, and now, he played coy—either pretending ignorance or truly clueless.
-Rule Breaker, Shin Tae-jun… Yeah, I know of him. Know him well? How could I? I've only stayed at Gehenna's entrance.
Tower residents pass through once and rarely return. You're the same, right? Didn't take you a month to come back.
"…True."
-So I can't claim to know much. Just hearsay about his powers and deeds. Never climbed with him, never chatted like you.
"Too bad… Let me know if anything comes to mind."
Isana had brought bone broth since Skel once grumbled about wanting some. Plus calcium, magnesium, zinc… How a skeleton would consume them was a mystery, but she'd brought them anyway.
-Ooooh! This!
Skel downed the cold broth in one gulp. It poured through his bones with a clatter. Yet he wiped his jaw with the back of a hand-bone like he'd tasted it, even belching as if he had a gut. Despite his form, it was like seeing old habits from life, stirring pity in Isana. Immortal, unable to return home, not truly alive—a hellish punishment worse than any legend.
-…Thanks for the meal. Feels like my bones are sturdier already.
"Glad it suited you."
-Hmm… Now that I've eaten, something's jogging my memory. Heard about Shin Tae-jun's 'guild' once.
"Guild…?"
-Gehenna's underground holds remnants of the old city. Ask the dwarves or other artsy types… Might be old-timers who know about guilds.
Isana vaguely knew the tales: Long ago, Tower city's guilds gathered folks from worlds and dimensions, treating same-race as family.
Was that Shin Tae-jun's guild…?
That's when she learned about it.
-KWAAAAAANG! A deafening blast-wave rattled their ears.
Isana reflexively drew her sword, whirling north toward Gehenna. A black pillar had appeared at the so-called Heavenly Tower.
-Hoo… That's…
Old memories furrowed his nonexistent brow… But he sheathed his guess that it involved Han Do-yoon and put away his blade.
-No acquaintances nearby? That's dangerous.
"It's fine. No issue."
Isana pictured Han Do-yoon. …No need to worry about star-related problems. No matter if it was a god from the outer world. No power or peril could beat the one who devours gods.
…A malformed arm emerged from the black void. It forcibly widened the narrow gap, prying it open left and right. What squeezed through—body folded to fit—was a monster with eight arms, a watermelon-sized head studded with dozens of eyes.
Han Do-yoon glanced at Estelle. Even a Star Bishop wouldn't admire such a horror. Sure enough, her face had gone ghostly pale.
This is… a star?
"Run, Estelle!"
He bellowed at her stunned form. That sparked the crowd's mass exodus from the Heavenly Tower.
"Everyone, evacuate!"
"Hiiik! What the hell is that…?!"
"That's… the voice we heard?"
Chaos engulfed the stairs down from the summit. Tower trials heal all wounds on clear, but severe injuries outside trials were no joke. Those who valued their lives fled fast.
But the outer-world "beast" wouldn't allow it.
No screams, no sounds. It raised its dozens-eyed head stiffly, forming a purple orb. The orb pulsed and expanded, gravity crushing down harder… Everyone collapsed without exception. Escapees piled atop each other, wailing.
"Kaaaaak!"
"Guhuk! Gr-gravity!"
"Can't move!"
They struggled to break free. Arachne's Heavenly Sword party was no different, drawing weapons and trying skills—but even basic system functions failed.
Skills aren't activating!
Why no equipment effects?!
As they confirmed even thrashing required permission, the giant's skull split, revealing dozens of tentacles. Instinct screamed its intent.
Predation!
G-gonna get eaten like this?!
…The aberrant giant chose its first meal: the nearest woman. Estelle Argent.
Its grotesque hand seized her. Skull-tentacles reached for her.
Like the rest, crushed by gravity, she could only wait to be devoured… until she saw a man rise.
Han Do-yoon…?
A crimson-black mana circle spun above his head. Amid the alien entity's chaos, he moved freely. He drew Last Wish from inventory and aimed at the purple orb—the Starbeast's creation.
"…When your body frees up, move immediately."
-Bang!
The gunshot rang out. The Tower World's anomaly snapped back to normal. Gravity lifted, skills and gear reactivated. Arachne, Sword God master, swiftly acted on her duty.
Tower Lord!
Human torso, spider lower body—the Heavenly Sword leaped. She fired webs, swinging like Spider-Man. Her moniker came from such aerial mastery; her blade knew no highs or lows.
-Slash! Thwack!
…Flesh is ordinary. Just some otherworldly creature, then.
She severed an arm, rescuing Estelle. Han Do-yoon fired mana bullets at the giant's body… Fiery comets struck, but no damage. Not even a mark.
"My attack power can't hurt it."
"Stay hidden. If that aberration power kicks in again… we're immobilized."
"Hey, alchemist buddy. What is that thing, and why are you free? Questions later… Tower Lord! Can we handle this beast?"
The centaur—human upper, horse lower—from Arachne's party spoke. Estelle glanced at Han Do-yoon.
This was for you… why did it turn out like this…?
Feeling her gaze, he said, "…So, is that what you intended, Tower Lord?"
"N-no… I expected something entirely different…"
What had she expected? Her mind reeled in sudden confusion. Why hadn't she considered what an "outer-world god" might look like or bring? She'd hoped summoning Betelgeuse would change Han Do-yoon.
How did I even learn that transmutation circle?
Static noise filled her head—an incomprehensible voice. No meaning, yet it suggested tasks.
I… from that giant… a child…
A gust blew then. Han Do-yoon caught a scent from Estelle: the Star Bishop's signature smoky aroma, not unpleasant but one to avoid—like burnt toast. It intensified over time… Sensing something amiss, he gripped her dazed shoulder.
"One thing's clear now. That's no star—it's a monster. We have to kill it, right?"
"Eh…?"
His touch banished the whispers from her mind, traces gone. The scent too.
…What was I just thinking?
Regaining herself, she opened her usually closed eyes. "…Experiment terminated. Unidentified lifeform. Hunt authorized."
Her slate-gray eyes flashed wide as she uncorked a potion. Mercury-slime poured out, forming five clones of herself. The five Estelle Argents drew staves, aiming at the aberrant giant.