The Ninth Floor Trial (7)
Watching Jin-hyuk's skill, the Phoenix felt a sudden chill run down her spine.
How is this possible...?
To bypass all floors and space to summon beings from another floor entirely.
What's more, their presence was by no means weak.
But what is most terrifying...
The Phoenix's pupils trembled.
...is the power inherent in that skill itself.
The abandoned ones of the Tower—monsters.
Creatures used merely for player growth.
The power felt as though it touched the 'Great Principle' of the Tower that governed them.
It was faint, but unmistakable.
*Creeeeak... Shatter!*
Regardless of the Phoenix's awe, space itself fractured, and two figures stepped out.
"My King!"
Clad in armor-like white scales, a figure rushed forward and threw herself into Jin-hyuk's arms.
As if she could adjust the hardness of her scales at will, they fluttered like a dress the moment she clung to him.
"...You."
Before Jin-hyuk could even react, she was already nuzzling against his chest.
Why does she like me so much?
Jin-hyuk was utterly bewildered.
He had never shared such deep emotional bonds with Misty, either before or after his regression.
Yet, here she was, welcoming him with such intense affection.
"Hehe. I knew you would call me first, My King."
Ah, was that it?
It seemed Misty was less about expressing pure affection and more about gloating over winning a pride battle against the others.
Even so, nuzzling her face against his chest was a bit much, though he could tolerate this level of clinginess.
She's becoming more and more human.
Fearing she might cross the line if left unchecked, he gently pushed Misty away.
"My, my... Look at you, practically in heat..."
"...Who are you? Watch your mouth."
"Who else...? The second-in-command."
"What? Second-in-command?"
Misty frowned deeply, unable to let that slide.
"Ha. It seems you need to be taught a lesson to clear your head."
*Bzzt!*
Misty's magic circle began to flare to life.
This is...?
Jin-hyuk was inwardly surprised.
Did she grow in the meantime?
It seemed she had climbed a few floors of the Tower and reached a new realm since they last met.
Along with the golden light radiating from her body, the magic circle was completed in an instant.
Its precision and detail were on par with her peak state before his regression.
While it might be a bit slow for active combat, it would be of immense help in situations where she was given enough time.
Just like the situation they faced now.
"Sigh... Aside from My King... everyone else is just mediocre..."
Complaining lazily, Erandir also began to shift her form.
*Sssst!*
Erandir's arms began to be covered in fine threads.
An Ancient Spider?
The Ancient Spider was a prehistoric arachnid monster.
It possessed almost no physical resistance, but its magic resistance was exceptionally high.
It was even known as the natural enemy of mages and witches, as it could weave the opponent's mana into threads to restrict their movements.
This is what makes Erandir so terrifying.
As the Doppelganger Lord, she could transform into countless things.
She only needed to choose and mimic something she had seen, experienced, or devoured.
Since she possessed the trait to adapt to any environment, it was safe to say she had no limits.
In other words, she could gain a compatibility advantage against any enemy.
-Neither of them is ordinary.
One is the Swarm Empress who rules all insects and possesses outstanding magical prowess.
The other is the Doppelganger Lord who can trace power to transform into her opponent.
Seeing the two, the Phoenix wore a benevolent smile.
*Rustle.*
Soon, her feathers enveloped them, and their burning jealousy melted away like snow.
"Hmm?"
"What is this?"
Receiving the Phoenix's energy, their minds calmed, and they regained their composure.
"Stop fighting. We don't have time for this."
Thinking it was for the best since he was about to stop them anyway, Jin-hyuk looked at the two.
"Now, here is your first mission."
Jin-hyuk looked at them.
"Move all these divine beasts to the Northern Continent."
*Shring.*
"I will need your cooperation as well, Phoenix."
Divine beasts.
Sacred creatures.
Unlike ordinary animals, they possessed special powers and abilities, and their pride was correspondingly immense.
*Koo-koo!*
*Kwoo!*
As such, many of them dug in their heels, refusing to budge unless ordered by Jin-hyuk or the Phoenix, or refusing to abandon the Phoenix and leave.
Most of them were young, but since they possessed their own powers, they were not cooperating easily.
"Sigh..."
Seeing this, Erandir let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Hurry up... cooperate quickly..."
The situation was urgent, yet they refused to cooperate.
Since Jin-hyuk had ordered them to move the divine beasts safely, they couldn't just drag them by force.
They couldn't even use physical strength, as resisting with force could result in injuries on both sides.
"You little ones."
Just then, a chilly voice echoed from behind.
"You should listen, shouldn't you?"
Misty walked among the divine beasts, radiating a golden aura.
Even Erandir, the Doppelganger Lord, flinched.
*Kwoo?*
*Kwoooo...*
The young divine beasts were naturally suppressed by her aura.
"Be good and listen, okay?"
*Kwoo...*
The stubborn troublemakers followed meekly, looking like children facing a scary adult or teacher.
"Ohhh... Oh."
Erandir's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"She's weird, but she's a cool big sister, isn't she?"
The cool big sister's work didn't end there.
*Flash! Crackle!*
Using her mana, she brought over several massive runestones and formed a magic circle based on them.
A rift is being created in the Tower!
A massive amount of resources will be consumed.
*Riiiiip!*
As the magic circle and runestones shattered simultaneously, a rift in space—a gate leading elsewhere—was created.
"Is this...?"
"It's a gate to another location. The problem is that its capacity is limited, so not only does it consume a lot of resources, but it also takes quite a long time."
Normally, only items could be transferred.
However, one of the Phoenix's authorities was creating a 'gate' to other locations within the Tower.
Thanks to the Phoenix's cooperation, Misty was able to use this to create a gate leading to another floor.
-It will take quite a long time, child. Will you be alright?
"You don't need to worry."
With his equipment fully donned, Jin-hyuk nodded.
"I'll hold out somehow."
"I should... lend my strength too..."
Erandir reached out.
"Big sister. Could you lend me your hand for a moment...?"
"Big sister?"
Misty burst into laughter.
"You're more friendly than you look."
Was it because she felt like a real younger sister, unlike the rude Rakuowak or Zinkwax?
Misty laughed merrily and handed over her hand without any resistance.
Doppelganger Lord Erandir has activated a skill.
*Sssst!*
Soon, Erandir's body rippled, and she transformed into an exact replica of Misty.
"Oh my?"
Misty flinched.
"Even for a Doppelganger Lord, how can you copy me so perfectly?"
"It's all thanks to My King..."
Erandir was a unique entity among Doppelganger Lords, having bonded with Jin-hyuk and gained special powers.
She was an unrivaled existence even among the already rare Doppelganger Lords.
Normally, even a Doppelganger 'Lord' wouldn't be able to replicate the form of the Swarm Empress Misty, but Erandir was different.
"I can't replicate My King's... what do you call it... form, since he has the same trait... but someone of your level is possible, big sister..."
"You can use my power too?"
"Yes. Hmm...?"
In that instant, a portion of Misty's memories seeped into Erandir's mind.
"Ah..."
Misty's magic circles and spells were, fundamentally, pure grunt work.
It was a structure that became exponentially more efficient the more people there were to cast it.
Until now, Misty was the only one who could comprehend these magic circles, but now, another had appeared.
"What the he—..."
"What do you mean, 'what the hell'? Hohohoho."
From Misty's perspective, it was like using a cloning technique, allowing the two of them to perform the same task.
I thought she was a cool big sister who would solve all the annoying chores at once... but this just makes things more annoying...
Grumbling and regretting her transformation, Erandir nevertheless activated the magic circle beside her.
Even though she was only assisting and couldn't match the original Misty, the speed of the gate's creation accelerated frantically.
Their synergy was operating not at double, but at five or six times the normal rate.
-What peculiar children...
Watching them, the Phoenix let out a soft chuckle.
"We'll leave the divine beasts to them. Phoenix, please look after those two."
-Understood. Leave it to me. But will you really be alright?
"About what?"
-Even if the High Rankers of the Heavenly Demon Sect cannot come to the 9th floor... there will still be many Rankers.
"Don't worry."
*Thump! Rumble!*
Even as the Phoenix's nest shook more violently, Jin-hyuk curled the corners of his mouth.
"I've held out against a star before."
*Thud!*
Just when it seemed the Phoenix's nest could no longer hold, right before its complete collapse, the massive shapes of a tiger and a dragon formed above it.
*Kwoo!*
*Koo!*
Seeing this, the Haetae and Bulgasari felt a sense of familiarity and tried to approach Jin-hyuk.
"Kids?"
*Kwoo...*
*Koo...*
However, they were grabbed by the scruff of their necks by Misty and dragged into the gate.
Even if the others can leave, Kaelion and I, who are currently taking the 9th-floor test, cannot leave this place.
Kaelion had already saved Jin-hyuk once.
So now, it was Jin-hyuk's turn to protect her.
I wonder how long we can hold out.
"Attack!"
"It is the Cult Leader's will!"
"Charge!"
*Crash! Shatter!*
Armed with distorted, corrupted faith, the martial artists in black robes glared at Jin-hyuk with bloodshot eyes.
"He's just a guy who barely reached the 9th floor!"
"A greenhorn who hasn't even reached our level on the 10th floor!"
"What is there to fear from such a novice?"
"Attack!"
*Hummm!*
Instead of mana, they coated their swords in a dark demonic energy that only demons would use, swinging them wildly.
*Clang! Clang!*
Jin-hyuk didn't possess any special resistance to this demonic energy.
A skill has been activated.
However, the power that made up Jin-hyuk was fundamentally holy power.
It was not easy for demonic energy, which was its polar opposite, to pierce through his defense.
Compatibility.
On top of that, the pressure exuded by his Mythic-grade items and his anti-Constellation sword technique.
All of these combined to block their attacks.
"Ugh! Why is he so sturdy?"
If you thought I was merely sturdy...
Jin-hyuk gripped his sword tightly.
"You've made a huge mistake."
Confirming that it was firmly anchored to the ground, Jin-hyuk drew his sword.
Wings erupted from his spine.
Those wings, made of pure white flames, were on a completely different level from the ones he had previously manifested using skills.
It was literally like giving wings to a tiger.
"Cough...!"
"What on earth is this...?"
The wings of fire, far larger than before, instantly overwhelmed the surrounding flow.
*Whoosh!*
Soon, the holy flames began to incinerate all the players of the Heavenly Demon Sect with holy flames.
Ordinary players or Rankers might not have burned so easily, but these opponents utilized demonic energy.
Since they were far more vulnerable to holy power, especially holy fire, this attack was devastatingly effective.
Spread the wings like this.
*Whoosh!*
Even wider!
A skill has been activated.
The flow instantly entered his vision.
He didn't just control the flow; he used it to incinerate his opponents even more efficiently.
After blocking Baal's attack and regaining his senses, he had realized something.
Simple defense was not enough.
He had to burn the enemies and instill the fear that he was a lethal threat to them.
Only then would their morale break, weakening their onslaught.
"Ugh..."
"D-Damn it."
"What kind of monster is that...?"
"Is that even a sword technique?"
Perhaps because it was a sword technique created to slay Constellations?
The flow, which had become far more powerful than when he fought Baal, gradually consumed the members of the Heavenly Demon Sect in flames.
-Indeed...
Seeing this, the Phoenix was filled with admiration.
-He is truly remarkable.
For a player who hasn't even cleared the 10th-floor trial and obtained an epithet to show this level of performance.
-It is no wonder the Constellations covet this child.
She felt that if she were a Constellation, she too would have targeted Jin-hyuk.
Good. Just a little more like this...
The demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon Sect was being burned away, and changes were beginning to occur in the egg and Kaelion.
Even the divine beasts were safely passing through the gate, so the situation couldn't be better.
But.
"Insignificant pests."
As always, just when things seemed to be going too well, trouble reared its head.
"Struggling against a single bastard like that. It clearly looks like some backwater martial arts from the outer regions."
A man with an abnormally massive arm and an equally long sword stepped forward.
*Crack!*
Although the upper half of his martial robes had been reduced to ashes by the holy fire, the man smirked, completely unbothered.
"Get lost, all of you. Just form a perimeter so he can't escape."
-Oh dear... A formidable foe has arrived.
A formidable foe indeed.
Not only the Phoenix, but Jin-hyuk also recognized this man.
Currently ranked 4,503rd.
A Ranker stronger than the current Black Wolf General Choi Do-gyeom and the Poison Witch Dang So-wol.
A man who stood at the absolute frontlines of the Heavenly Demon Sect, slaughtering enemies with his long sword.
The Demonic Blade Divine General.
Jang Man-hong.