Chapter 47: Gripping and Shaking (2)
“Oh no, this is dangerous!”
The incident happened near the 35th floor. It was while Shadis was tackling a dungeon to achieve one of the still-unrevealed achievements, following Reina's hint.
Shadis paled as she saw an enemy charging at her comrades while she was pushed back by sheer force. Fortunately, luck and her teammates' quick reactions saved their lives, but that near-death experience by a hair's breadth was more than enough to reawaken her trauma—the trauma of surviving alone after her entire party was wiped out.
No... I need more, more power.
Gritting her teeth, she blamed her own lacking talent and strength. Another opportunity had opened up after meeting Reina, but Shadis was still too weak to seize it.
“The 150th floor has been conquered!”
“In the end, the rankers pulled it off.”
In the midst of such circumstances, news of the raiding party—including Reina—conquering the 150th floor spread like wildfire throughout the entire Tower. As everyone buzzed about it,
Shadis was also staring at Reina's face scrolling across a massive electronic billboard.
Clad in pitch-black Hermetica and surrounded by radiant glory, that figure embodied the true beauty of a hero that Shadis admired—a beacon that saved countless others, not someone waiting to be saved.
But I...
She knew she was already far behind, that their seeds were different. Even though she longed to reach even Reina's heels, the reality that even that was impossible kept her from lifting her head.
“Don't worry too much. If you meet the right constellation, your blood channels could open all at once.”
“Yeah, they say what really matters in the Tower is which constellation you contract with.”
Her comrades tried to comfort her, saying that finding good constellations might let her sprout new wings and soar.
Right. There's still hope.
Constellations—noble transcendent beings who provided indispensable aid to those climbing the Tower. Shadis had heard endlessly about how immense their help could be. Those with talent had already soared long ago under their sponsorship. Since fewer than half of challengers could even contract with one, the opportunity itself was precious and rare.
“Please, grant me your aid.”
At the sanctuary, Shadis prayed with all her might, as always. Even if her talent was meager, she hoped some constellation would take interest first. Some bold souls even proposed to constellations themselves, but Shadis lacked that caliber.
“Do you truly desire power?”
And in that moment, Shadis heard a stranger's voice brushing her ear for the first time in this sanctuary.
“I am the Whispering Serpent of the Pitch Black. It seems no one else has taken interest in you besides me.”
“Th-thank you... thank you for coming.”
Amid the crackling noise, the clear sound of a tongue clicking made Shadis prostrate herself flat. To her, this was a golden opportunity, just like the moment she first met Reina—one she couldn't predict when it might return if missed. It was natural for her to want to please it somehow and secure the contract.
“You know your talent isn't great. And I have no need for contractors who don't obey my words. How far would you go for power?”
“I-I...”
Even if the constellation demanded a near-slave contract, Shadis had no choice. Clenching her eyes shut, she nodded. She believed such a noble being wouldn't demand anything beyond common sense.
“Heh, this fate is one you chose yourself.”
Reina, who knew exactly what constellations were, would have been horrified. But the contract between Shadis and the constellation happened in their private space alone, and from that day, Shadis began receiving its interference.
“Th-this is...!”
“A contract gift is the least I can give.”
The interference began with a random reward box appearing before her eyes under the guise of a contract gift—a symbol of those who had contracted with constellations.
Her hands trembled as she accepted it, yielding an A-grade item.
A-grade Equipment
A kind of cursed item, but fulfilling the conditions will grant power beyond your current level.
Shadis's hands shook as she held the thin pearl-colored fabric scraps. Too skimpy to call battle gear—it barely covered her upper and lower privates. The fluttering decorations and the face veil actually took up more area.
“It's a kind of cursed item, but if you meet the conditions, it'll give you power you couldn't have at your level now.”
Contracted constellations couldn't forcibly interfere with challengers. Thus, some imprinted 'stigmata' in various ways—disadvantages if disobeyed, forcing compliance.
His gift, Wings of the Fallen Dancer (A), was the same. It lost power without periodically activating tokens supplied by the constellation.
“Does it not please you?”
“N-no, it's fine.”
Unaware of the lecherous intent, Shadis blushed and changed into it with trembling hands. True to A-grade, she marveled at her stats surging the moment she equipped it—oblivious that her constellation was recording every bit.
Right. For power, some things must be endured.
The shame was quickly offset by the rising power. Endure a little, and she'd achieve her dreams, meeting Reina with pride. Hope swelled instead.
“Shadis, congrats on the constellation contract, but are you really okay?”
“It's fine. It's all for us.”
From the moment it confirmed she was trapped in an inescapable yoke, the constellation—the Whispering Serpent of the Pitch Black—began full interference. Not limited to battle.
It intruded into her daily life. In days, her rapid changes worried her comrades.
I have to endure. I must endure this much.
Shadis quickly realized her constellation wasn't normal. But she bore it for the rewards. She had a greater goal than such things.
“But that place...!”
“That's where battle-hardened fighters gather. Rolling there will greatly boost your lacking skills.”
Her eyes widened, unsure if she understood right, as it demanded she fight in underground arenas staking her body.
“Win, and it's all solved. You can win.”
The constellation knew she couldn't, yet sent her underground—to watch her lose, her body collateralized, for voyeuristic pleasure.
It's been a while since I had good entertainment.
The Whispering Serpent of the Pitch Black—true name Kedus. Its reality: one who tormented contractors and shared the footage in Fate Road's dark underbelly.
Same tastes, same users reacted well, lifting his mood further.
“Re-Reina...!”
And that was the exact moment Reina rushed to the 40th floor without warning.
The moment Kedus uploaded Shadis's photo to Fate Road, their relationship was exposed to other users. Some Reina Gallery users scoured the community for her whereabouts and instantly found Kedus's post.
These crazy bastards.
Witnessing it firsthand, Reina burned with rage—and rubbed her goosebumped arms.
This was Fate Road, the constellations' community. Beings from across the universe, existing as constellations for years to millennia, gathered here. Some respected Tower climbers as future peers or living persons worthy of dignity; others saw them as disposable game characters, raised and deleted at whim.