Chapter 98
Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Tower of Ascension (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As soon as entry was approved, the hunters rushed toward the massive tower-shaped dungeon without a moment's hesitation. They must be in a hurry, dying to check out what lay inside and what treasures were waiting to be uncovered.
Seeing them vanish into the tower one after another in an instant, I made my move as well.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
To think I could enter the tower that had been so famous even before my regression. The stark difference between my position as a bottom-tier hunter back then and now left me in awe.
I waited until all the other hunters had disappeared, placing my hand on the tower last.
"Yes."
A blinding light filled my vision, and when it cleared, I stood on the 0th floor of the Tower of Ascension.
It matched what I'd heard. From not truly dying upon death, to the massive rewards, and each individual facing unique trials.
I nodded and checked the next message—the most important one, in fact.
As expected of a super large special privilege. It was basically handing me a hunting ground where I could grow infinitely.
Satisfied, I closed the privilege window and reached out toward the white orb in front of me. I knew what it was—the essence of the Tower of Ascension, used to register player information.
The moment my hand touched it, system messages appeared, indicating input in progress. After a long wait...
Easy. Normal. Hard. Lunatic.
Four difficulties. My decision was swift. With infinite coins at my disposal, I'd clear it eventually no matter what.
Without hesitation, I selected the newly added Lunatic difficulty, and the tower promptly displayed a message as if honoring my choice.
I entered the 1st floor.
I opened my eyes amid another burst of bright light, greeted by a terribly familiar sight. One I could never forget.
Only upon seeing the 1st floor objective did I realize what I had to kill here—and what state I was in.
It was exactly as I was right before regression, moments from death. And in this state, I had to slay the hob goblin that killed me back then.
'Can I do it?'
My first emotion was anxiety. Could this frail, pathetic body really take down that monster? The thought consumed my mind.
'I'm scared.'
Next came fear. A fear I'd already learned once before—fear of death. If there was such a thing as a natural predator, mine was none other than that hob goblin.
It had killed me once. The memory was etched into my brain, impossible to erase.
'Damn it!'
Finally, anger surged through me. I cursed my pathetic self, drowning in negative thoughts, and pulled myself together.
I checked my equipment, steadied my body, and opened my status window to confirm my exact condition.
Pathetic stats through and through. But with only this to survive on, there was no time for complaints.
First, my title—the one and only achievement recognized by the system.
Even compared to the lowest-grade title I had after regression, it was worthless. But it was usable. A hob goblin was still a goblin, after all.
Next, stats—nothing worth checking. They were laughably weak compared to the hob goblin.
Finally, skills. My unique ability was probably Curse of Misfortune, so skip that. Skills were Basic Swordsmanship and Heavy Strike. Heavy Strike boosted damage a bit, while Basic Swordsmanship was a passive that slightly enhanced swordplay.
None were game-changers, but I'd have to combine them cleverly to survive.
"When do I get the package?"
I needed to grab that first before anything. No sooner had I spoken than the system message rang out.
"Open it."
"What the fuck!"
I barely held back a torrent of curses. A draw ticket! As if drawing for a helpful ability would work!
My luck was pure misfortune right now. Even veiled and hidden, the Curse of Misfortune still clung to me.
I sighed. It was a damn privilege, but with no better option, I had no choice but to use it.
"God. Buddha. Allah. Anyone—please, just give me anything but a common skill!"
Even a high-grade one would make me grin and clear this happily! Please!
I prayed to anyone to ward off this wretched misfortune, then used the ticket.
God is dead. Damn it all!
As expected, my luck made it impossible. Grimacing, I sighed and stood up, brushing myself off. Sulking wouldn't change anything. I'd have to clash head-on.
Gripping my sword, I moved. My only usable skills were Heavy Strike and Jump.
'I can't even remember the Solar Divine Art incantation.'
I'd hoped to cheat with martial arts, but hilariously, all memory of them had been wiped. Makes sense for a dungeon that seals even authorities—I'd anticipated and prepared for this.
In the end, frontal assault was my only option. Holding my breath, I headed to the spot where I'd encountered it before regression.
'Hide first.'
Good things come to those who wait. I crouched low in the bushes, stifling my presence, waiting for it to appear.
How much time passed? From afar, footsteps approached—accompanied by a voice laced with sobs.
My face paled, emotions turning ice-cold. I knew who that voice belonged to.
"Huff... Cough! Cough! Pl... please... spare me. Puh... please."
Park Joo-cheol staggered in, clutching his severed left arm, tears, snot, and piss staining his blood-soaked body.
I remembered him shouting for me to run, aware of his own impending death, to get me to safety.
My fists clenched involuntarily, murderous intent pouring from my eyes.
Yeah, this was revenge in a way. Revenge against the monster that killed me.
I gripped my sword tighter and held my breath. Sorry, Park Joo-cheol, but I couldn't save him this time either. Hell, I wasn't sure I could save myself.
'Sorry. I'm truly sorry.'
It'd be a lie to say there was no guilt, but my life mattered more than his.
Whish! Thud!
An axe flew from afar, embedding in Park Joo-cheol's back. That was his end. He collapsed, twitched, and breathed his last.
At the same moment, the hob goblin emerged from the bushes.
'Shit! It's even stronger!'
Its rank and level were higher than before regression. No need to ask—it was the Lunatic difficulty buff.
Cursing inwardly, I crept slowly toward it.
"Die!!!"
I leaped up, activating Skill: Jump to close the distance in one bound. Immediately chaining into Skill: Heavy Strike, I thrust my sword at it.
Thrust over slash. With no weapon, it'd panic from the surprise attack. Thrusting was better for hitting vitals.
Aiming for the heart! As my sword flew toward its left chest...
-Kik!
As if anticipating it, the hob goblin twisted aside. My blade missed the heart, merely grazing its left arm, and my wrist was effortlessly seized.
Crack!
A force several times my strength crushed my wrist. Amid the shattering bone and agony, I dropped my sword.
But I couldn't give up. I refused to die pathetically again to a goblin I could now kill with a flick.
Grabbing the fallen sword with my other hand, I thrust again. I spotted a moment of carelessness—but damn it, this bastard saw through it too.
-Kikikik!
With mocking laughter, it crushed my other hand. Overwhelming pain hit, and seeing it look at me spiked my terror.
The trauma burned into my mind tormented me. No unique ability or authority to control it.
"Ah...... Aaaah! No!"
I had to run. Far, far from that monster.
I turned and bolted, but collapsed after a few steps.
My legs had been cleanly severed. No need to guess who did it.
-Kyakyakya!!
It looked down mockingly, as if I were its toy.
And so my first attempt ended in death—as the hob goblin's plaything.