Chapter 53 - Retribution (2)
“Hoo...”
In the end, I couldn't sleep that night. I'd tried forcing myself to rest so I could check the message boards later, but it only left my mind more unsettled, so I gave up on that too. There was no change from the original plan anyway, now that I'd made my declaration. Serpina, who could now talk to me without any restrictions, had gone quiet as well—which suggested there weren't any special issues worth worrying about.
“Are you that pissed off? About owing Jeong Chan-su a debt.”
Kim Ji-eun, who'd wormed her way into my bed for the first time in ages claiming she wanted to sleep together, looked at me with concern over my behavior. But I couldn't tell her the details. It was weird enough that a possessor like me, who'd been peeking at the original protagonist and tailing him, was now bold enough to aim higher.
'Guess my head's gotten a bit bigger now.'
More than anything, I'd been living as a warrior for quite some time myself. The intense life in the tower had been more than enough to transform a mere college student into a fighter gunning for the top spot in just eight years. Should I really settle for simply climbing the tower? Ever since I'd discovered the fan gallery, I'd learned the truth about the wider world beyond it—and the hordes of beings who snickered that even Jeong Chan-su was just another challenger.
“I dunno. Let's think about it later or whatever.”
In the end, I shook my head roughly to clear out the stray thoughts. I greeted the morning in a somewhat dissatisfied state, with only a few hours left until the duel that evening.
“Are you really planning to smash everything to pieces?”
Everyone close to me—my guildmates and aides—could tell my mood was at rock bottom. They flinched and watched me nervously the moment they saw my face.
“Edmond, how the hell did you know to come here?”
“Come on, why act surprised? Everyone who needs to know already does—like with that assassination attempt last time. You're drawing every eye in the tower these days.”
On the other hand, there were those who either ignored it knowingly or toed the line so precariously it was hard to tell. Edmond, the tower's reporter, was one of them.
“It's not a bad thing, is it? Stepping up personally to rescue a poor junior challenger like this—the story could spread far and wide, and it'd only help your image, right?”
“Your self-preservation game's still top-notch.”
True to form, the guy always left himself an out. He tried persuading me that his coverage would benefit me. I didn't deny it. If he could broadcast how I wrecked this place today, it could serve as a warning to others.
“And now, the moment has arrived.”
Just like that, hours flew by, and it was time to head to the arena. As everyone said, interest was at an all-time high. Maybe because I'd come down personally, but in this moment, no one could call this place part of the shadows anymore. A huge chunk of the audience filling those seats—looking down on the arena—were the tower's core figures.
“The rules are simple. Garbart, who's reigned as tower boss all this time, will step up as the challenger and fight at full power.”
Kaelson—his injuries from yesterday apparently healed with potions—took the stage in a suit and kicked things off. There stood Garbart, heavily armed with gear and items, gripping his massive greatsword.
'Is he enjoying this?'
Unlike usual, with a bunch of rankers stronger than him watching, Garbart raised his hand to hype the crowd, acting all confident. Come to think of it, this could be a huge opportunity for him. If he put up a good show against me and proved his strength, factions might try recruiting him with better terms. Fame alone would bring benefits, and for a showboat like him, that might be enough.
“In return, Lady Reina will demonstrate the dignity befitting a ranker.”
Kaelson spun my casual clothes—no gear handicap—as a mark of ranker poise. Better than admitting outright I was going easy.
“But even without equipment, the power of a top-ranked fighter is like a pillar holding up this tower... So, we're adding one more proposal.”
And that's when their scheme—meant to catch me off-guard with a surprise announcement—turned into a rehearsed act. Masked staffers brought out chains. I had to feign surprise. It was supposed to be my first time seeing them.
This was one of the conditions I'd demanded from them. Overcoming an on-the-spot proposal beats handling something you knew about ahead of time—gets you way better reviews.
“They're pulling some funny shit.”
I smirked after hearing the explanation and glanced at the chains. Through this scripted show, the real winner was now me, not them. Assuming my acting sold the 'desperate' bit properly.
“For the ranker at 14th place, key player in conquering Layer 150, it should be doable, don't you think?”
The onlookers murmured at Kaelson's words, mostly with anticipation and excitement. Most of them had come for the spectacle anyway. They'd prefer a fight with some uncertainty over me steamrolling him.
Ranker vs. bait wasn't just fodder for the constellations' galleries.
“You think this'll be enough? Hilarious. Whatever, lock 'em on.”
Of course, I accepted their proposal as pre-arranged.
'They really have no idea Kaelson got busted last night.'
One by one, the devices clamped onto my neck, wrists, ankles. I clicked my tongue seeing Garbart smirk through it. He probably thought I was clueless. In his sensory confusion state, he figured he had a shot.
“Then... let's begin.”
With all preparations done, the starting flare went up—and my body, which had been standing still, suddenly wobbled.
'This is sensory disruption?'
The activated chains spewed mana all at once, twisting my senses into knots. Balance crumbled like I was drunk, vision spun wildly, and a droning buzz drowned out all sound.
“---!”
In the chaos of my focus drifting on its own, Garbart charged straight at me, swinging his sword in one brutal stroke. No doubt about it—in this messed-up state, even his much weaker assault was hard to block. Body and mind out of sync, his weapon grazed me, shoving me toward the arena's corner.
“---?!”
Crushing with raw power is easiest. Remembering the solution I'd glimpsed in the gallery, I detonated my mana in that instant. My body accelerated behind him; his panicked swing sliced empty air.
“Not bad, huh?”
Grinning, I exploded forward at breakneck speed. Huge mana drain, but it nullified the penalties weighing me down. Just like the fan gallery users said. Screw strategies—sometimes brute force is quickest.
“N-No way!”
“Know your place, punk. You were just farming Layer 40 scrubs—where do you get off climbing higher!”
Garbart barely blocked my blade in horror. Gone was the warrior enjoying the fight; now he was the typical scrub scrambling to survive.
“Guhk?!”
“You think you're the only one who enjoys a fight? I love it too.”
I flicked his sword aside lightly, kneed his leg to drop him to one knee. Our eye levels flipped in an instant. Terror shook his gaze looking up at me.
“Can't dodge? Then die.”
Grinning, I raised my two-handed sword overhead. A massive surge of light blazed along the blade, scorching up to the ceiling. I unleashed it in a full swing.
“Radiant True Strike... you mad bitch!”
“Everyone, evade! The arena's collapsing!”
Truth is, this wasn't aimed at Garbart. The goal was smashing the arena's blessing. The tower system built the underground facility, but we residents modded it into this fight pit. If they made it, I could break it.
“Oops, got so dizzy it veered off. Oh well, guess you can't operate here for a while.”
Garbart screamed surrender, ditched his weapon, and dove away desperately. No rankers in the stands got hurt—they could handle it—but the blessing guarding the arena shattered under my strike.
I snorted at Kaelson's blank face.
“...I never imagined you'd know how to nullify the sensory chains. No wonder you accepted knowing full well. So, feeling better now?”
“Watch your mouth. The 'accidental' arena smash cooled my anger a bit, but you still owe compensation. If you'd crossed the line just a tad more, I'd have killed you right there... but looks like your lives aren't worth that much.”
I stepped out of the wrecked arena. Cleanup wasn't my problem—that was on the arena and Lexion. Different folks would see it differently with the crowd, but this duel ended up etching a lesson: what happens when a ranker goes berserk.
The loser Garbart and manager Kaelson knelt before me like cattle at the slaughterhouse, awaiting judgment.
“Lady Reina...!”
Above all, this duel had been to pay off Shadis's debt. Finally free from the underground prison, Shadis fidgeted awkwardly in front of me. He wanted to rush in but held back out of timidity.
“Gonna have to leave this to you.”
Fatigue hit me all at once; I turned to Kim Ji-eun in a weary voice. Aftermath always fell to her anyway.
“Don't worry. I'll squeeze 'em dry and chew the bones... er, handle it perfectly.”
Kim Ji-eun slammed her oversized staff down, grinding her teeth—enough to give me chills. Bet Garbart and Kaelson would prefer facing me over her.
“You should head back and rest today. I'll help Shadis, so get some real sleep.”
What the hell were they up to? As the heavy door shut, Garbart's pitiful scream faintly echoed. Mark blocked the door, grabbed Shadis's shoulder, and urged me to return to the hotel first.
“Yeah. We'll talk tomorrow.”
Shadis couldn't even speak, just nodded. With a wry smile, I left the building and headed back to the hotel. After two days, I'd finally get proper sleep—and check the boards.
'Handled it pretty well, right? That's a satisfying ending, yeah?'
With that in mind, I figured even the bikini armor whiners would be happy with today's show.
Play around here now, you mobs included. Enough already!
“...What?”
But the gallery I'd returned to with bated breath was in flames—reduced to scorched earth. And over a horrific topic I hadn't even dreamed of.