Chapter 018
[Chapter 018]
< Start of the Gap (2) >
Before I knew it, the floor was the 6th floor.
“This was the Labyrinth of Darkness.”
From here, the situation changes a bit.
“Sonic attacks won't work.”
Shadow Stalkers.
They were monsters I had only seen through data during my Bureau days.
Assassin-type monsters that hid in shadows and approached without a sound.
“Gorani, look closely. Those guys are weak to light.”
Wondering if such a thing would work, I infused Internal Energy (Naegong) into the old sword.
The sword began to glow brightly like a fluorescent lamp.
“Oh, it works.”
The shadows squirming in the darkness flinched and backed away as they saw the light.
“Those shadows are the main body. Not the fangs, ram those glowing cores over there!”
I gave accurate instructions on the weak points using the monster data I had memorized during my Bureau days.
The Gorani understood my words perfectly and charged toward the shadows' cores, following the glowing sword.
Swish!
The Gorani’s sharp fangs cut through the darkness.
The shadows scattered while emitting a scream-like energy, but the Gorani did not stop and accurately pierced and burst the glowing cores.
[Successfully cleared 6th Floor by completing raid goal ‘Destroy Labyrinth Core’!]
[Clear Time: 45 seconds]
[Raid Grade: EX]
[Earned Gold: 40 G]
7th Floor Blade Wind Canyon.
“Do you see that nest on the cliff over there? We’ll have to go up there. Let's see.”
A staircase for the Gorani to step on was needed.
Bang!
“Done. Go up.”
With my hands tempered by Golden Bone Grass, I broke rocks and created an impromptu staircase for the Gorani to step on.
“Hi-hing!”
The Gorani kicked the foothold I made and leaped up the cliff like a storm.
The Harpies guarding the nest rushed at it while emitting sharp screams, but it fended off everything with its heavy body and rammed the nest, smashing it to pieces.
[Successfully cleared 7th Floor by completing raid goal ‘Harpy Warrior's Home’!]
[Clear Time: 1 minute 15 seconds]
[Raid Grade: EX]
[Earned Gold: 50 G]
8th Floor Room of Mirrors.
“This is a bit annoying. Let's just cry.”
“PE-E-E-E-CK-!!!”
The Gorani once again let out a hellish scream toward the fakes that popped out from dozens of mirrors.
The illusions were torn by the scream, and the position of the only real doppelganger that was enduring was revealed.
The Gorani did not miss that moment.
As it charged toward the real doppelganger whose location was revealed while kicking the ground.
Bang-!
It could be smashed into the wall with just one headbutt.
[Successfully cleared 8th Floor by completing raid goal ‘Slay Real Doppelganger’!]
[Clear Time: 40 seconds]
[Raid Grade: EX]
[Earned Gold: 60 G]
9th Floor Magma Cave.
“The mission for the 9th floor was a bit unique.”
I looked around and said to the Gorani at a place ahead.
“Wait here. This time, I’ll go.”
A cave where hot magma flowed.
It was too dangerous for the Gorani to enter.
Protecting my body with Internal Energy, I crossed the cave in a single bound and stole the hot eggs.
[Successfully cleared 9th Floor by completing raid goal ‘Secure 10 Salamander Eggs’!]
[Clear Time: 1 minute 2 seconds]
[Raid Grade: EX]
[Earned Gold: 70 G]
In that way, cleared up to the 9th Floor in an instant!
“There should be something good on the 9th floor, right?”
The latter half of each floor's difficulty increases and becomes harder than the first half, which is the same as saying the probability of good rewards appearing is higher.
The Gold gathered while raiding up to the 9th Floor was 310 Gold.
In the Dimensional Shop of each floor, I bought without hesitation whenever I found mysterious items that would be helpful for the garden.
[Item: Lazy Fairy's Sweatdrop] [Price: 50 G]
[Description: A miraculous sweatdrop shed by a lazy fairy who tilled the field only once. If you drop a drop of this water on the soil, the soil begins to till itself and changes into the most optimized state for planting seeds.]
[Item: Singing Scarecrow (Assembly Kit)] [Price: 30 G]
[Description: Sings a beautiful lullaby every night to relieve plants' stress and prevent the approach of pests. (Caution: Occasional off-key notes may occur.)]
[Item: Old Giant's Heart Fragment] [Price: 100 G]
[Description: A stone made of the hardened heart of an ancient giant said to have controlled time. It has an effect of minutely influencing the flow of time nearby, shortening the growth period or increasing the aging period of plants.]
Investing a total of 180 Gold, my inventory was filled with mysterious farming tools.
Remaining money 130 Gold.
With a satisfied smile, I stood before the door leading to the 10th floor.
[Entering the 10th Floor, ‘Fallen and Powerless Ogre's Banquet Hall’.]
In the center of the giant space, an ogre as big as a house was sitting holding a mace.
That heavy frame and thick skin with high magic resistance would likely endure an average attack.
This time, the Gorani alone might not be enough.
And since there was also something I had to check.
“I’ll do it.”
“Kkiing?”
The Gorani cried as if disappointed that it couldn't step forward, but I stroked the Gorani’s head once and stepped forward.
The ogre discovered me and charged while the ground shook.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
I pulled out the old steel sword.
And I concentrated all my Internal Energy on the blade.
Flash-
The rusty sword began to emit a sharp Sword Qi of blue light.
And I dug into the chest of the charging ogre.
Aiming for the very split-second gap as the ogre swung its mace, I plunged the sword toward its heart.
Slice-!
It was clearly a steel sword, but a soft sensation as if putting a knife into hot tofu was transmitted to my fingertips.
The Internal Energy gathered at the blade pierced through the fellow's thick skin, bone, and even the disgustingly squirming heart without resistance.
Shick!
It was a clean cut.
“Ugh, a...?”
The ogre stared down at the sword stuck in its chest as if unable to believe it, then collapsed forward as it was.
Thud-!
[Successfully cleared 10th Floor by completing raid goal ‘Slay Fallen and Powerless Ogre’!]
[Clear Time: 1 minute 20 seconds]
[Raid Grade: EX]
[Earned Gold: 100 G]
“...As expected.”
I muttered quietly while pulling out the sword.
I was strong.
I was clearly overwhelmingly strong.
But at the same time, a clear limit was also felt.
“Kugh....”
The Internal Energy itself didn't decrease.
However, because I concentrated all my strength on the blow just now, the flow of Internal Energy circulating in my body temporarily fell into a depleted state.
I needed a bit of time to gather energy again.
If the enemy hadn't been just one, I might have allowed a fatal attack during this short defenseless state.
‘The total amount of Internal Energy might rival an S-Rank, but the skill and experience in handling it are still at a beginner level.’
I had a giant dam, yet it was like I was emptying half the dam because I couldn't properly adjust the floodgate to let out water.
The fact was that with current Internal Energy alone, it was far from sufficient to face the strong enemies of the 20th and 30th floors.
‘If I am to continue climbing the Tower like this without difficulty and without effort.’
The rise in more powerful spiritual medicines, and the stage of handling Internal Energy more efficiently, will inevitably be necessary.
Creak-
The door to the 10th floor Dimensional Shop was made of heavy obsidian, unlike the ones on previous floors.
As I opened the door and entered, it wasn't a white rabbit that greeted me.
Slowly.
Behind the counter, from atop a pile of ancient books as high as a mountain, an old turtle slowly raised its head.
Mysterious patterns like the nebulae of the universe were engraved on its shell, and its eyes of unknowable depth seemed to contain far-off ages.
“....”
The turtle was just staring at me blankly without saying a word.
Looking through the display stand, it was full of items imbued with bizarre and powerful energy, incomparable to previous floors.
[Item: Spirit's Sand (Fragment)]
[Item: Steel Tooth Whetstone]
But what caught my eye was a single small seed placed preciously on a velvet cushion at the very back.
[Item: Primordial Fleeceflower (Hasuo) Seed (Legendary)]
[Price: 200 Gold]
[Description: The seed of a legendary fleeceflower said to have sprouted in the very far-off past when the world first came to be. No one knows what can be harvested by planting this.]
‘Primordial seed?’
My total assets were 230 Gold.
Without hesitation, I paid most of the money I had and took that legendary seed into my hand.
“And please give me this too.”
I did not forget a gift for the Gorani who had made great contributions.
* * *
When I returned from the Tower, the outside world was already setting.
My body was not even slightly fatigued.
Rather, the fierce battles I experienced while breaking through 10 floors felt as if they had further activated my body strengthened by Golden Bone Grass.
The minute impurities remaining between the muscles were all gone, and clear and powerful Internal Energy was filling that space.
I sat on the veranda and quietly spread my palm.
“....”
The sensation of piercing the ogre's heart.
That sensation was still vivid at my fingertips.
The sensation of crushing the thick skin and bone and hot blood spurting out.
It was close to a thrilling pleasure that had completely liberated the power dormant within me for the first time.
‘I am no longer weak.’
Inside my body, the Internal Energy imbued with the energy of the earth and the flesh imbued with the energy of steel were resonating with each other as power quietly squirmed.
The helplessness and sense of defeat that always weighed me down during my E-Class days were nowhere to be found.
‘Do you want to become strong?’
This was a very primal desire.
Right, I was also an Awakener.
Suddenly, the memory of the first time I received the awakening judgment a long time ago came to mind.
Before I was frustrated by the wall of talent as an E-Class, I was also someone who had dreams like others.
The dream from my rookie days of reaching the top of the Tower and becoming a hero who saves the world.
Now, I have neither the purpose nor the passion to have such a pure dream.
Rustle-
Holding the [Primordial Fleeceflower (Hasuo) Seed] bought from the 10th floor, I headed to the field.
“What I have to do now is this.”
* * *
Next day.
The Hun-Tube bulletin board was literally a battlefield.
[Breaking News] ‘Muryong’ sweeps 1st place in comprehensive rankings for all sections up to Tower 10th floor!
[Tower Raid Comprehensive Rankings (1st Floor ~ 10th Floor)]
- 1st Floor: Muryong (EX) - 12 seconds
- 2nd Floor: Muryong (EX) - 20 seconds
- 3rd Floor: Muryong (EX) - 30 seconds
- 4th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 45 seconds
- 5th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 55 seconds
- 6th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 45 seconds
- 7th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 1 minute 15 seconds
- 8th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 40 seconds
- 9th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 1 minute 2 seconds
- 10th Floor: Muryong (EX) - 1 minute 20 seconds
Overnight, all the history of the Tower's lower floors was rewritten.
The 1st place positions in the rankings that S-Rank Hunters had taken turns holding over the last 20 years were all handed over to an unidentified E-Class Hunter named Muryong.
Furthermore, the fact that all these records were broken in only a single day.
It was common sense that even for a normal top ranker, it would take at least several weeks, including maintenance and recovery time, to raid from the 2nd to 10th floor.
Yet this person named Muryong broke through 9 floors and smashed all records in only a single day.
ㄴ This is for real··· 1st floor might be a bug or luck, but up to the 10th floor it's real skill.
ㄴ Isn't this crazy? EX Grade in all sections? SSS and above really existed.
ㄴ Does it make sense for an E-Class to be above an S-Rank ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ How is the world turning.
ㄴ What is that time? Cleared the 10th floor ogre in 1 minute 20 seconds? Even if it's a fallen ogre, it's an ogre? S-Rank Yu Jin-hyuk took over 3 minutes?
ㄴ My dad is B-Rank and it took him a week to clear the 8th floor··· Feeling a reality check.
Now all powers existing in South Korea began to keep an eye on Muryong.
< Start of the Gap (2) > END