Chapter 982
Chapter 982
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 982
Chapter Title: 982. Path of Glorious Ascension
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Puk!
The sword of the Iron Five Unit's final swordsman cleaved through the scarecrow's body. It was an achievement accomplished in just one hour.
I stood up from where I'd been sitting on the floor.
"It's finally over. Time to claim our rewards and head up to the 3rd floor."
"Yes! Lord Sung Yu-jin!"
The rewards on the 2nd floor were even better than those on the 1st. As expected, I chose the spirit elixirs again. And right there on the spot, I chewed them up and swallowed.
I figured the other unit members would pick elixirs too, but surprisingly, some went for martial arts manuals.
"Check out this Flash Advance Step. Used right, it could be a lifesaver."
"I picked the Sandfish Sword Art. Saw a ronin using it last time—pretty solid swordsmanship."
"Hey, give me some silver, and let me take a look."
I tilted my head, puzzled. It didn't make sense to me. Sure, the 2nd floor's manuals were better than the 1st floor's, but they were still trash by any real standard.
"Jin Gu-eon. Why are the unit members choosing martial arts?"
"Lord Sung Yu-jin, we're ronin. Even third-rate martial arts are hard to come by for us. Not many in our group have proper training. Acquiring techniques isn't easy. So they're grabbing what they can first. Plus, unlike herbs, manuals aren't one-use—they can pass them around among themselves."
The manuals came as scrolls. Meaning they could share them with the unit or sell them outside.
"Do those things even sell?"
"They do. At least thirty silver taels per book, since the scrolls themselves are rare."
"I see."
We ascended to the 3rd floor of the Manmu Tower. The moment we entered, the stench of blood hit us.
'This is...'
The 3rd floor reminded me of that old variety show Start! Dream Team. Trap mechanisms everywhere: shifting floors, arrows whistling through the air, sharp spears, and ceilings crashing down with heavy thuds.
Unlike the show, this was brutally lethal. The bodies had been cleared, but the bloodstains on the walls looked fresh as ever.
The soldier guarding the entrance glanced at us and spoke flatly.
"See that end over there? The 3rd floor trial ends when you reach it. Simple, isn't it?"
"......"
The unit members swallowed hard, tense. Simple? The word felt like a joke when you were the one facing a trap-filled path.
"Anyone feeling the fear now, quit. More people die here than you'd think. The 4th floor's similar to this one. Just with nastier mechanisms."
A few members looked hesitant, considering giving up.
Jin Gu-eon stepped forward.
"Quitting at the 3rd floor? Forgotten why we entered the Manmu Tower?"
"Captain... but..."
"No buts. Don't chicken out over this crap. Look ahead—there's a pattern. They've already shown us how to dodge. Just jump and sprint. We came here ready to die. Destination's the 10th floor—at least we hit the 5th. That's where the real martial arts and elixirs start. Still scared? Run. But don't you dare claim you were Iron Five Unit after. The moment you tarnish our honor, I'll hunt you down and kill you myself."
"......"
No one ran.
Jin Gu-eon approached me.
"Lord Sung Yu-jin. May I take the first go at this floor?"
"Go ahead."
Jin Gu-eon positioned himself before the traps. He eyed the moving floors, incoming arrows, and spears, then channeled his inner energy and charged.
Lightness skill? Too many traps for that—it'd just tangle his feet. Instead, he ran flat-out, batting away arrows and spears with his massive blade.
He kept his tempo steady, maintaining that blistering pace all the way to the end.
"Ooooh!!"
The unit cheered. Morale soared. Seeing Jin Gu-eon breeze through without a hitch gave them confidence they could do it too.
"Next up, me."
I bolted without a backward glance. Unlike Jin Gu-eon, I didn't even swing my sword. Dodged every trap and sprinted straight through.
'Just 300 meters. Piece of cake.'
Seong Ji-gon followed me. He cleared it without much trouble. The unit members started one by one. Not everyone made it. Two died. One tripped and fell into a pit, impaled on spears. The other couldn't dodge an arrow.
The Iron Five Unit's mood sank cold.
The soldier droned on indifferently.
"Congratulations on passing. Choose your rewards and head to the 4th floor. Anyone quitting, wait over there."
And on the 4th floor, three more from the Iron Five Unit perished.
???
We entered the 5th floor.
Oddly, it was a natural landscape. Bright sky, drifting clouds, dense trees, and refreshing meadows that cooled the eyes just looking at them. Clearly crafted by a master sorcerer.
Tents dotted the plains. At least 100,000 people had already claimed spots here.
The soldier announced,
"The 5th floor trial starts in four days. Until then, do as you please. Train, rest—whatever. And a heads-up: we're not your babysitters. We don't meddle in disputes. Handle your own problems."
With that, the soldier vanished.
I and the Iron Five Unit looked around. All the good spots were taken.
"Lord Sung Yu-jin. What now? For safety, should we claim a spot by the trees?"
"Spots are taken."
"We take them."
What a bold plan.
But Jin Gu-eon wasn't the only one thinking it. The 5th floor was fully staked out. Those by the trees had fancy tents—owners clearly no pushovers.
"Starting beef over a spot from the get-go? Nah. Pitch tents in some empty field. No need to waste energy; we're not staying long."
"Fair point. You lot—head there and set up tents. Lord Sung Yu-jin and Seong Ji-gon's first!"
Personal tents, naturally. No reason for two guys to share without special circumstances.
I lounged in a folding wooden chair, watching the unit hustle.
'While others scramble, I sit and watch... That's power. That's flexing.'
Before the tents were done, fifty ronin swarmed in, surrounding us.
"Greetings. You look like a ronin unit. What's your name?"
I waved Jin Gu-eon back and stood.
"Iron Five Unit. You?"
The leader, with claw marks scarring his scalp instead of hair, grinned.
"Iron Five? Never heard of you. We're the Dire Howl Brigade."
Jin Gu-eon and the unit froze at the name. Apparently infamous in ronin circles.
"So? What does the mighty Dire Howl want with us?"
The leader eyed me like I was dirt, which soured my mood fast. Time to flex?
'...Nah. Let's hear what he has to say first.'
The leader patted my shoulder with his huge hand.
"We got a big crew, right? Big eaters too. And the tower wants us here four days? Oops, didn't pack enough grub. We'll starve! But as captain, I can't sit idle."
"I get it. Lucky you found me—I have a solution."
"Haha, glad we see eye to eye. The Dire Howl and Iron Five can be pals."
"Simple fix. Why need food? You lot! You're alive, eating it all! Kill you, no more need. Perfect, right?"
"......What?"
Crackle.
Lightning sparked around my right fist.
'Moment.'
Before he could dodge, I swung with full power. My fist smashed dead-center into his face. Puk! His head exploded.
"You bastard!"
"Captain's dead!"
"Kill him!"
The air ignited with killing intent. In this brutal place, Seong Ji-gon moved second only to me. He drew his sword and cleaved two nearby Dire Howl members in one breath.
Jin Gu-eon didn't charge recklessly; he rallied our remaining men.
"Group up! Hold the line! Lord Sung Yu-jin and Seong Ji-gon will handle them! We just survive!"
I drew my Flame Lotus Sword and carved through visible foes. No hesitation. Other ronin watched silently from afar; soldiers folded their arms, spectating.
Murder was legal in the Manmu Tower—as long as it wasn't their own guards.
"They're running!"
"That's it! What're you waiting for? Chase and slaughter! Spread the Iron Five name!"
Jin Gu-eon bellowed.
Most nearby were ronin. Get looked down on once, you're done. Better to have a rep—even infamous.
I pursued the runners to the last, butchering them all. Bonus: their loot was ours. Plenty of it. Food was short, but we scored twelve gold taels, martial manuals, and spirit herbs.
I split the herbs with Seong Ji-gon; gave the manuals to the Iron Five Unit.
"Thank you, Lord Sung Yu-jin!"
"We'll never forget this grace!"
"As expected of Lord Sung Yu-jin. Such magnanimity!"
The next four days, the Iron Five Unit would be buried in training their new arts.
"Yu-jin. Something's off here."
"What?"
"Took a walk. No water on the 5th floor."
I widened my eyes.
No water.
Serious issue. The temperature was subtly high, air bone-dry. Fine now, but tomorrow, you'd kill for a cool drink. And someone had food and water.
'Reason they park us here four days. Not just rest. Another tower trial.'
The official 5th floor trial hadn't even started.
'Tower aims to cull half from the 5th up.'
I scanned around. Countless eyes on us now. After the fight, Iron Five was on their radar.
"Ji-gon. Have Jin Gu-eon set night watches. Troublemakers incoming. And rations... especially drinking water. Guard tight."
"Got it. But do we need to obsess over food? With you..."
I raised a hand. Seong Ji-gon shut up. My near-infinite inventory food was secret.
'If the 5th trial's what I think... it'll be a golden opportunity for me.'
???
Time passed.
Chaos never stopped. Raiders after food, defenders holding it. Bloodshed in seconds. Corpses appearing hourly doubled soon after. Quitters who left the tower were smart—they knew their place.
A few challenged Iron Five. I killed and gibbeted them. Word spread: Iron Five strong and ruthless.
Four days up. General Bae Un—the 1st floor soldier—appeared with guards. Everyone held breath, watching.
"Just as I figured."
Bae Un sneered.
"......"
Silence everywhere. But survivors' eyes burned fierce.
"5th floor trial starts in one hour. The trial: survival. Last ten days. No mid-quit. Anyone bailing, do it within the hour."