Chapter 259
Chapter 259
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 259
Chapter Title: The Demon's 9th Floor (6)
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Hundred Days Tower Quest, Day 79.
Yuri, who had been lying spread-eagled, abruptly sat up.
A flat voice leaked from his hardened expression.
"This won't do."
Sitting straight, Yuri reflected on the recent days.
After Day 50.
No matter what he tried, Yuri's attacks never reached Coco.
Of course, it wasn't because he was weak.
Coco was just overwhelmingly strong.
And Yuri had fought valiantly enough for even Coco to acknowledge it.
He simply wasn't satisfied with the results.
'No matter the process, the fact remains that I'm still trapped in this damn tower.'
Yuri's gaze sank deeply.
He thought and thought some more.
About how to overcome this impasse.
And how to escape Coco and this tower.
After quite a long time pondering, he shook his head.
"At this rate... it’ll never end."
Unless something changed, it would just be a repetition of what he'd done so far.
To break through this stagnant situation, he needed something akin to a revolution.
At that, Yuri let out a small chuckle.
'Well, it's not really a revolution... What I need has been just one thing from the start.'
What Yuri needed.
It was to open his domain.
Not relying on this 'pseudo-domain' like now, but a true domain—to finally escape this accursed tower and Coco.
The problem was how to open that domain...
'Will I reach that realm if I keep going like this?'
Yuri shook his head without hesitation.
'No, continuing to fight Coco like this will just repeat the same time over and over. In that case...'
His eyes gleamed.
He made a bold decision.
* * *
Hundred Days Tower Quest, Day 80.
Rumble—!
One of the Hundred Days Tower's exits slid open left and right.
Three figures emerged step by step from within.
"Waaah, we're out!"
"I'm hungry!"
As soon as the door opened, Arin and Poppi darted outside, throwing their hands up in excitement.
Gunter slowly appeared behind the two, who were sniffing the outside air nonstop.
"Hup!"
Not as much as Arin and Poppi, but he too wore a faint smile, pleased by the long-missed outside air.
In the meantime, Arin spun around quickly and shouted.
"No more of that damn hardtack! Let's go ask Yuri to make us something tasty right now!"
"I'm hungry!"
Poppi nodded vigorously in fervent agreement with the thrilled Arin's cry.
What had tormented them most in the Hundred Days Tower wasn't anything else—it was the memory of Yuri's cooking.
Arin, assuming Yuri had of course already exited ahead of them, was about to rush off.
Then she paused, turned back, and beckoned.
"What are you all doing? Come on, both of you!"
At Arin's call, Poppi and Gunter hurried to her side.
The three ran side by side in a line.
After enduring hardships together for 80 days, their atmosphere was even softer than before entering the tower.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
"...What?"
Coco, who had come to the 9th floor as usual today, blinked and asked again.
Yuri replied in a light tone.
"I need to study for a while, so the 9th floor is off-limits."
"You think this is some young master's study room? And what study all of a sudden?"
"What else? Figuring out how to beat you, obviously."
"Hmm?"
Coco eyed Yuri with a surprised look.
His expression was calm, as if he'd already made up his mind.
And those unwavering, profound eyes—seeing them, Coco was startled.
'This guy... he's aiming to surpass me!'
The past 30 days had been a nonstop thrill for her.
Yuri had grown visibly day by day, making it feel like she was fighting a new opponent every time.
Amazed as that was, he wasn't content with it—he was preparing to leap even higher.
Her eyes gleaming, Coco asked.
"Until when?"
"Day 100."
"Hmm..."
Coco gazed steadily at Yuri.
That meant he'd make his final challenge on the 100th day since entering the tower.
Honestly, she had no obligation to grant that request.
But.
'This could be fun.'
If she gave this little monster who grew daily another 20 days.
If he succeeded in leaping forward because of it?
What kind of sight would he show her?
Her heart pounding slightly, Coco asked.
"Confident? That you'll find the answer?"
Yuri answered nonchalantly.
"Who knows? I'll find out when I try."
Though he said that, there was no anxiety or impatience in his eyes.
Only unwavering faith in himself.
Confirming it, Coco flashed a grin.
"Alright! Come find me exactly on Day 100."
With that, she turned and walked away without hesitation.
A subtle smile of anticipation played on Coco's lips.
'Don't disappoint me, now.'
* * *
Hundred Days Tower Quest, Day 85.
After declaring the 9th floor off-limits to Coco that day.
Yuri sat in lotus position, never once opening his eyes.
Forgetting to eat, drink, or even sleep, he continued endless review.
'I need to absorb every bit of experience so far.'
He had gained much from fighting Coco.
The meaning behind her movements.
How she handled mana.
How she created and chained moves on the fly depending on the situation, and so on.
Every action of an absolute powerhouse contained vast information—an invaluable experience money couldn't buy.
The problem was that Yuri hadn't had time to fully digest it.
Daily repeated battles and endless reviews.
The massive information and insights gained from them.
But before he could fully internalize it all, the next fight with Coco began.
And the day after brought yet more new information and insights.
He had absorbed only a fraction of that enormous hoard of experience, yet still grown daily.
The issue was that it had been too abrupt.
Because of that, Yuri could easily recognize his own foundations were shaky.
So he changed direction.
He had filled himself to overflowing with information and insights—now it was time to solidify them.
'I've seen everything there is to see from Coco.'
Through her, he'd gained a key to opening a domain, creating the move: Upper Domain.
Yet he still hadn't opened a true domain, meaning there was another issue.
'The key to opening a domain isn't just one. I got one from Coco, so now...'
Yuri's gaze deepened wistfully.
'I need to find the other inside myself.'
The key to opening a domain.
One of them was surely within him.
Convinced of it, Yuri continued ceaseless introspection.
In that silence...
Time flew by.
* * *
Hundred Days Tower Quest, evening of Day 99.
In the Demon King's Castle cafeteria, Teresa, Arin, Poppi, Gunter, and Muchi were gathered.
A gloomy atmosphere hung over them around the square table in the center.
Thud.
Teresa split a hard, dry ration in half and muttered in a depressed voice.
"Yuri... when's he coming back?"
"Haa..."
Arin, slumped over the table, let out a sigh.
"I'm hungry..."
Even Poppi sighed while fiddling with her ration pouch.
Gunter's face was equally dark.
Seeing his seniors like this, Muchi spoke sympathetically.
"Don't worry too much. Senior Yuri will be fine."
No sooner had he spoken than four pairs of eyes turned to Muchi.
Followed by four voices tossed out casually.
"Worry? What worry?"
"Hey, you didn't think we were actually worried about Yuri, did you?"
"Hungry?"
"Hmm... the kid's misunderstood."
Teresa, Arin, Poppi, Gunter's voices in sequence.
Muchi tilted his head.
"Huh... Weren't you all worrying about Senior Yuri just now?"
Muchi had heard the gist of it.
That Yuri had entered the quest tower—that hellish difficulty one—and still hadn't come out.
So seeing his dejected seniors, he'd assumed they were worried about Yuri...
"Why would we?"
"Kid, anything but worrying about Yuri in this dorm—that's the dumbest thing."
"Very accurate."
"Hungry."
...He'd gotten it completely wrong.
Muchi blinked and asked.
"...Then why are you all so down?"
The four answered in sequence.
"We're just"
"craving"
"something tasty."
"Hungry!"
From Teresa to Poppi, the answers strung together. Muchi nodded slightly.
'Ah, I see!'
As if realizing something, he pulled a notebook from his pocket and scribbled.
[Yuri Holland Senior: Better to worry about dinner menu than him.]
A strangely twisted insight was added to Muchi's black notebook.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Hundred Days Tower.
Among the 50th Cohort, the only one still trapped inside.
He sat with eyes closed.
If not for his rising and falling chest, Yuri might have seemed like a statue, so still was he.
He remained unmoving for a long while longer—then an anomaly occurred.
Shimmer.
A soft light spread from Yuri's entire body.
The light drifted like mist through the 9th floor before vanishing.
How much time passed after that.
Sigh— sigh—.
The quiet breathing suddenly cut off.
Flash—.
Two golden eyes snapped open vividly, gleaming.
* * *
Hundred Days Tower Quest, Day 100.
Step step—.
Coco headed to the 9th floor, a cheroot clamped in her mouth.
A hint of anticipation mixed on her face.
A hint of anticipation mixed on her face.
'How deliciously has it ripened?'
She'd endured a full 20 days.
She was dying to know if what she'd left on the 9th floor had truly matured tantalizingly—or spoiled.
The moment she stepped onto the 9th floor, curiosity in tow.
"......!"
Coco froze in place.
As if time had stopped, her gaze fixed ahead.
There, a boy stood silently.
Whatever starvation he'd endured, his frame was far more emaciated than 20 days ago.
Sallow skin, sunken cheeks.
His eye sockets bulged from extreme desiccation.
But the moment she saw that sturdy, blazing gaze contrasting his appearance, Coco couldn't help smiling.
'It ripened perfectly.'
Thrilled, she quickened her halted steps.
The closer she got to Yuri, the more she shivered.
'This guy...'
His body had definitely shrunk.
But the aura emanating from him was several times more immense than 20 days prior.
Finally standing before Yuri, Coco.
Step—.
She grinned and opened her mouth.
"Find the answer?"
Yuri shrugged lightly at the question.
"Who knows?"
"......?"
"Not sure?"
Coco tilted her head at the unexpected reply.
"Not sure?"
"I found something... but haven't confirmed if it's the answer I was looking for yet?"
"What?"
As Coco stared in disbelief, Yuri smirked and drew his sword.
"Alright, let's check if it's right now."
Coco chuckled at the sight.
She lit her cheroot and drew her three-section staff.
Sigh—
A deep inhale.
Fwoosh—!
The pale smoke from her exhale scattered between them, and their smiles vanished.
"......"
"......"
The two stared at each other expressionlessly, about 5 meters apart.
They sensed it simultaneously.
'This...'
'Ends in one go.'
The past 99 days.
80 of them filled with exhausting clashes.
The remaining 19, endless boredom.
And on the final day of that long march.
It would all be decided in 'the time to burn one cheroot.'
Both felt it at once.
Whooo—.
In the quiet stillness.
Their auras clashed evenly.
Flash!
Yuri's form turned into a streak of lightning and vanished.
A blue bolt crashed down before Coco.
Boom—!
Amid branching electricity, a white blade thrust out.
In response, Coco's arm whipped, her staff whipping up a gale.
Clang clang clang—.
Yuri's sword sparked and trembled drrr—.
Pulling his blade free from the staff's barrage, he immediately unleashed Upper Domain, thrusting at Coco's chest.
All of it predicted her actions already.
Faced with it, irritation flashed in Coco's eyes.
'This isn't all, is it?'
Yuri's movements were far cleaner than 20 days ago.
Faster and stronger, too.
But it wasn't the level Coco wanted.
She'd waited 20 whole days.
Shouldn't he show more for her patience?
'More... a bit more!'
Fwoosh—!
Coco's staff blazed as if aflame, wrapped in dark crimson energy.
The flames condensed, leaving red afterimages in the air.
'Ugh!'
Against Coco's spirit energy, Yuri instantly drew his holy sword.
Then blood-red and golden trails tangled chaotically in the air.
Boom— boom—!
Consecutive explosions rang out.
Seeing his holy sword crumpling with crunches, Yuri gritted his teeth.
'This... might kill me.'
Even 20 days ago, Coco had held back somewhat.
Not anymore.
Back then it was 'mess up and I might die?'; now it was 'fail to endure and you're dead!'
The ceaseless crimson trails looked like reapers delivering death.
Yet Yuri calmly observed Coco amid it all.
'Once... just once.'
One chance.
That would suffice.
And the answer he'd found would create it.
Assuming it was the right one.
'Alright, let's confirm.'
Fearless of the oncoming crimson reapers, Yuri thrust his golden holy sword into the fray.
Crunch—.
His holy sword warped in an instant.
But the golden blade stubbornly endured the crimson barrage, pressing forward.
'A bit more!'
After enduring and enduring, Yuri's blade tip neared Coco's chest.
Seeing it, Coco scoffed.
'Think that'll do it?'
Already knowing everything via her domain, she casually twisted away.
Just as Coco slipped free so easily.
'Now!'
Yuri's world slowed.
With it, he discarded.
All the sensations he'd felt until now.
No—precisely, he excluded the senses his brain perceived.
Instead, he accepted what began appearing as he let go.
But it wasn't his brain accepting them.
It was... his mana core.
'Aah...!'
Thump—.
The moment he felt his mana core pulse, Yuri sensed his world expanding.
Similar to the super-sensation from Upper Domain, yet utterly different.
Similar to the super-sensation from Upper Domain, yet utterly different.
A new world sensed not by the brain, but the mana core.
No—like having two brains in his body!
Yuri exulted.
'I found it!'
Upon confirmation, what he'd found was indeed the right answer.
And as if to prove it.
Crack crack—.
Yuri's golden holy sword, enduring the crimson barrage, shattered into fragments scattering.
Amid the flower-petal shards of the holy sword.
Silently surging between them, the tip of a pristine white blade...
Slice—.
Severed the cheroot's glowing red ember.