Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Tower of Ascension (3)
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A message popped up, snapping my dazed mind back to reality. The aftermath of surviving in agony for so long, reduced to that monster's plaything, hit me hard.
My body had fully revived, but my mind was utterly shattered. Fear had burrowed deep, and dread seeped from my toes to the crown of my head.
I'm terrified. I want to kick open this damned tower right now and bask in the mental protection granted by my Supreme Soul.
The tower was probing. Was I calling it quits here? Satisfied with this paltry result? Walking out with nothing but trauma?
I'd never move forward like that. If I couldn't even avenge myself against that pathetic Hob Goblin, how could I face my real enemies in the world outside and claim true revenge?
-Is your will really that weak?
I grit my teeth. No. My resolve runs deeper than this. I can't crumble here.
I'd made a promise to myself after my regression. Never to break. Never to accept defeat like before, scraping by at rock bottom.
"Retrying."
My vision shifted, the forest reappearing. I shot to my feet and headed straight for that spot, but then...
A way to clear this godforsaken first floor had appeared.
"Isn't this a reroll?"
The term for keep resetting in games until you pull what you want. I was floored.
The tower allowed that? Suddenly, I saw a path out of this nightmare.
"Fine. Let's do this."
You or me—who wins? No matter how much my Misfortune stat rages, it'll hit once! Eventually, a good skill has to drop!
I ripped the gacha ticket right there.
I raised my sword and slashed my own throat.
"Gah! Damn it. No painless way to die?"
As if. Even euthanasia hurts.
Escape pain? Die before registering it or endure pain so overwhelming you feel nothing.
Both impossible. So suicide it is. But somehow, it felt manageable now.
"Misfortune, you son of a bitch. Let's see who breaks first."
I'd repeat this special regression endlessly. Until a good skill dropped.
By the 12th loop, as the sensation of decapitation grew familiar, I finally pulled an Advanced-F skill. Charged in cockily, got smashed. Rerolled on.
20 times. 30. 40. 50.
Around the 66th try, I finally beat my Misfortune. A Rare E+ skill!
"Rare skill secured. Time to challenge."
I opened my Status Window to check it.
📜 Skill:Triple Thrust🏷️ Rank:Rare⭐ Grade:E+📊 LV:1 (0%)
📖 Description:A swift sword technique created by a lone warrior, delivering three thrusts.
⚡ Ability:
Good enough. This skill might give me a shot. Eyes gleaming, I advanced. No more hiding for an ambush.
The Hob Goblin's nose was sharper than expected—it sniffed me out every time. So I hunted it down directly.
If ambush won't work, frontal clash it is. Rely on battle experience and data I'd amassed against it.
'Lucky its habits mirror goblins.'
Yeah. Provoke its signature Rage Burst—evolved to Frenzy in a Hob Goblin. I clutched the blood-soaked chicken in my bag and ran.
How long had I moved? There it was. It had already encountered Park Joo-cheol, slicing off his left arm. Teeth gritted, I charged.
-Kieek?!
Startled by my sudden arrival, it quickly sensed my weakness and welcomed the new toy, raising its axe with a roar.
"This time, you won't kill me easily!"
Body swift, mind ice-cold. My feet moved. This talentless husk. After Infinite stats' overwhelming ease, fighting like this felt awkward—but I'd adapted somewhat.
'Axe swings are wide.'
It wielded an axe half its body size. Such power demanded massive motions to compensate.
Dodgeable, in other words.
Whoosh~~!
Talk is cheap. Visualization easy. But in reality, this sluggish body lagged behind my mind...
Splat!
I ate a hit. A red line carved across my chest, blood erupting. Not deep. Not shallow either.
"Damn. Fail again?"
Dodged twice, eaten on the third. Who could've guessed it'd feint for the neck then pivot to my chest?
Always thought it, but this wasn't a normal goblin. A field boss in the tutorial, of all places?!
Not even the Abyss. Swallowing curses, I backpedaled.
'No angle.'
For the skill. Tongue clicking, I regripped my sword. Couldn't end so pathetically.
One chance. Just one. Breath held. Mind sharpened. Peak focus.
Not full trance, but the world felt vividly altered.
In that world, I charged. Sword in draw stance. The Hob Goblin hefted its axe.
'Left shoulder!'
No—feint.
'Fist to gut—heavy strike!'
Prediction. Roughly mimicking that Infinite-powered realm. Watch hands, feet, shoulders, muscles, eyes—synthesize.
Gamble. Success is mine. Failure, its.
Draw stance closed in; switched to thrust, spun my body once.
Whoosh!
Success! Its fist grazed my abdomen by a hair; I smirked.
Triple Thrust LV 1
100% / 110% / 120% Damage Thrusts (Cooldown: 3 min)
Full spin complete, back in stance—my sword lanced out three times in a blur. Aiming for one spot. Fatal. Survival unlikely.
The heart!
Stab! Stab! Clang!
Half success. First two pierced hide and muscle; the third clashed with its axe, denying the kill shot.
Still, the heart assault staggered it badly. I pursued, hammering relentlessly. Three minutes until skill cooldown.
Keep it from recovering wits or health.
My sword whipped into a frenzy. No forms, no styles—just pure murderous will.
Momentum had flipped. Even a Hob Goblin struggled to reverse it.
Huff... huff...
But I was going mad too. My stamina lagged far behind. Long fights favored it.
Three minutes elapsed. Final chance in my grasp. End it with this skill.
'Frenzy still in reserve.'
One-shot kill, or batter it to trigger Frenzy.
-Kiiiiieeeek!!!
Hating defeat to a weakling like me? It couldn't hold back—roared into berserk.
Flesh for bone resolve. It lunged, axe whirling murderously. Pierce through to the heart.
"Fuu."
Forcing my pounding heart to calm, holding ragged breaths to claw focus.
But this battered body wouldn't reach semi-trance. Focusing nearly cost me a hit.
Abandon it.
"Yeah. Let's go all the way."
If you're sacrificing, so am I. Did it read that resolve?
The Hob Goblin halted its assault, axe pointed at me.
-Kyek!
Acknowledging a worthy foe? That's how it rang in my ears.
I raised my sword, pointing back. One strike decides it all.
No signal needed—we charged. Fights between the doomed are fiercest, most thrilling. My first like this.
Victory forged through dozens of deaths. Impossible premise, really.
But possible? Victory was mine.
-Kkie...
Outcome sealed. Its axe hurtled for my chest, but I twisted—costing half my left arm instead. My sword surged thrice, impaling its heart.
Life drained from the Hob Goblin's eyes. Death claimed it. Victory claimed me.
"Farewell, you bastard."
Suppressing surging pain, I declared victory calmly. Excluding suicides, my 13th attempt. A battered, imperfect win.
But a win nonetheless.
I shoved the collapsing corpse aside and sprawled eagle on the ground.
The new ability settled in, erasing my wretched past body. My current one returned.
The arm severed by the axe regenerated seamlessly. Immense power surged.
The world looked... different? Experiencing that regressed body made it starkly clear. I couldn't stifle the laughter bubbling up.
What was so hilarious? I knew instantly.
Despite endless deaths and defeats, one victory felt priceless.
I nodded at the fresh message.