Extreme Fan (3)
"...Reina!"
I realized something had gone wrong with the enemies right in the middle of slashing through them relentlessly. A powerful impact struck the sword I'd barely managed to raise, forcing my eyes wide open as I skidded backward.
"The bastards changed!"
"No, only some of them did."
The foes facing the other assault teams were the same. Looking closely, out of the dozen or so black iron specters, one or two per group were shrouded in a rippling red aura across their entire bodies.
"That one shattered my flame shield in a single hit...!"
Kim Ji-eun gripped her staff with both hands, her face twisted as she ground her teeth. It was absurd that an enemy had smashed through her high-level magic with one blow. But the impossible had happened.
In an instant, a few enemies had grown faster and stronger, surging with explosive energy as they attempted to counterattack us. It was all so sudden.
"I've heard of it before. A rare, uncertain, random anomaly in the tower. But why us, and why now?!"
Karom shouted in frustration as the rock golem he'd summoned finally crumbled under the pressure.
An uncertain, random event with slim odds—most people knew it that way. Even I, who had viewed this world through past stories, thought the same.
But in truth, this phenomenon—known to challengers as a natural trial from the tower's system—was no such thing. Certain individuals had forcibly interfered with the tower's system at an enormous cost.
'No way... it really happened?'
I'd learned this knowledge not long ago, right after discovering the fan gallery's existence. The fact that the constellations of Fate Road could do more than just watch us—that they already had been doing quite a lot—was a shock in itself.
"Regroup. Hurry."
"R-Reina! If this is happening on other paths too, it's dangerous. We could get flanked! Let's just retreat!"
As I raised my sword toward the approaching black iron specters, several voices cried out in panic. They weren't wrong—if this were truly a natural phenomenon.
But this was the work of certain constellations harboring grudges against me. I didn't know exactly who, but they surely wouldn't bother anyone else. It cost a fortune in points even once, after all.
"I'm not backing down. Conquering floor 150 comes first. Too much is riding on this."
I didn't even twitch an eyebrow. If anything, I welcomed it.
Unyielding Arbiter
8/25
Judging those who slandered me without retreat. That was the trial laid before me now. Though these were mere tower-spawned monsters, they were also my 'enemies' infused with certain constellations' insidious malice.
If the constellations dared interfere in the tower's affairs, it was only fair that I use them too. I trusted they'd credit the achievement properly.
"Reina..."
Even Kim Ji-eun stammered in shock, watching me charge forward.
"I'll hold these ones! Everyone else, handle the rest!"
There were only two mutated black iron specters. Their red auras made them easy to spot—no chance of mix-ups.
They ignored the others and lunged straight at me as I approached, as if saying perfect timing. Their targeting was blatant.
'These are basically puppets controlled by the constellations.'
Gritting my teeth, I used Phantom Shift to narrowly dodge their massive curved swords and greatswords, slipping behind them.
"---!"
The emotionless puppets ignited red glows from their masks' eye slits, swinging wildly.
No time to hesitate. I moved without pause, facing both at once. The space around our clash became a whirlwind's eye, keeping others at bay.
'They're just puppets. Get it together!'
Unlike fellow challengers like assassins, their core was different—pure constellation will. The pressure was immense.
I'd seen their petty, vulgar sides on Fate Road, but also how vastly superior their stature was to mine now. These black iron specters from floor 150 felt possessed by some unknown constellation. How many points had they burned for this?
"Kuh?!"
I could've found openings if I'd exploited gaps perfectly. But an arrow from another enemy— one our team failed to block—grazed my hair.
In that split-second exposure, blocking spear and sword above my head, I was crushed, shattering the floor as I dropped to one knee, trembling.
I could see why they were so strong. Higher-caliber foes could better channel constellation stature. What pinned me now wasn't mere physical force.
"You bastards..."
Bracing their attacks with shaking arms, I glared up at them from my knee. It felt like those glowing mask voids stared right back. The power dynamic was filthy—nothing like looking up at Serpina in her sanctuary.
And above all, this indirect stature gap kept me from going all-out. Infuriating.
"Just hold on a bit longer."
"...!"
A voice echoed in my mind then. Not Serpina or Perbas.
***
"Don't speak. I don't want others knowing I'm talking to you."
It had been ages since I'd heard it. My third constellation, who had gone silent for a while: Eternal Flame Agna.
Even outside sanctuaries, transmitting words cost points. Even Serpina, who'd been with me longest, needed gallery donations to cover it—not a small sum.
"Lots of people are moving to help you right now. Hold out a little more, and it'll bear fruit. Don't disappoint us."
'What the hell does that...'
His cryptic words confused me. But they reignited my resolve, letting me grit down until my teeth bled, finding the will to endure.
A brilliant flash erupted around me, explosively scattering the crushing fragmentary stature in an instant.
Just as malicious constellations puppeteered monsters against me, my fan gallery users pooled points for this buff.
"Yeah, fight fair like that."
I bared my rage at the enemies—or those watching beyond—and lunged, sword glancing aside.
Our weapons clashed again, shockwaves booming, but I had no intention of dragging it out. I surged my power and unleashed full-force at the foes before me.
Added to the blessing, radiant beams from my body formed massive slashes. Chain slashes channeling my swift motion—the foundation of Gale Sword I'd honed.
"---!!"
Unable to dodge or block, the black iron specters took hit after hit, their armor and magic shattering as they crumbled.
The slashes boomed and quaked, cleaving nearby ground, pillars, and ceiling. Without the stature gap, they were just tougher foes—total overkill.
But it felt damn good. Like I'd properly struck back at the true enemies behind those specters, carrying my fans' cheers.
8/25
Naturally, it registered as trial progress and achievement—doubled from 4 to 8. High risk meant solid reward.
"S-Sorry... Eek!"
"You fucking mutt. I trusted you and stepped aside, and you pull this dogshit?!"
As I felled my foes, the others barely overcame the unmutated ones. No time to catch breath.
Kim Ji-eun, panting from spell spam, unleashed a torrent of curses at someone, fuming like she'd devour him.
Her target: the beastkin squad member whose blunder let that arrow fly at me.
Knowing his greed had nearly doomed us, he hung his large ears low, head bowed, watching nervously. His golden retriever-like face made him look pitiful.
"Killed a few enemies. Was that pathetic reward worth it? Get greedy, and we all die. A top-rank ranker climbs this far without learning that...?"
"Enough."
She was furious because his mistake put me in peril. With a small sigh, I grabbed her rampaging shoulder and shook.
Tears welled in her eyes, clashing with the rage. She'd really thought I'd die.
"We're pushing forward. No time."
"Huh...?!"
"Gotta maximize this blessing before it fades."
She wiped her eyes and sniffled, while the others gawked in horror. I chuckled and pointed to myself.
"Graciously, my constellations helped out. It wasn't easy for them either, so isn't now our chance?"
Constellation blessings were rare. Direct intervention in the tower was hugely costly—hence the massive point toll.
I'd once vaguely thought it just hard, but now I knew: this boon required no small fan support.
"If you're scared, head back to start. But if you really want rewards, isn't grabbing chances like this—without reckless risks in danger—the way?"
My heart still pounded, but I could muster courage faster and fiercer than the rest. The blessing lingered in me still.