Chapter 224: Duel with a High-Ranking Awakener
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: Duel with a High-Ranking Awakener
Kang Han-gil.
Before the meteor known as Lee Do-hee appeared, he was the streamer who held the number one spot for average viewers among Awakeners.
But he didn't just have a high viewer count. He was the only streamer who was a high-ranking Awakener, having advanced past the 50th floor. And in the past, he was the one who faced the most opposition from the giant guilds, long before Lee Do-hee.
He faced assassination threats, and people close to him were even kidnapped. He suffered immense damage, but tracking down those responsible was impossible. It was undoubtedly the work of the giant guilds, but proving it legally was out of the question. And challenging them to a duel was just as unfeasible.
It was while he was enduring this suffering and climbing the Tower that Lee Do-hee appeared.
At first, he thought she was just another Awakener who had gotten lucky, relying on her face and body to survive. But after watching videos of her fights, his opinion began to change completely.
‘She’s a good fighter. Maybe… even better than me.’
He knew all too well how much he had suffered at the hands of the giant guilds.
They hadn't just targeted him. They went after his other guild members, and even their families.
A younger member he cherished had once stabbed him in the back, apologizing as he did, and Kang Han-gil had been forced to cut that same member's throat with his own hands. It was a miracle he hadn't gone insane.
In any case, he felt a strong sense of kinship with Lee Do-hee, who had also taken a hostile route against the giant guilds.
He’d even felt a thrill when she declared that she would be the one to reach the 78th floor in their stead.
‘Perhaps she is a reflection of my past. But one thing is certain… she is my future.’
Revenge against the giant guilds.
At some point, climbing the Tower had become all about revenge.
That was why he had risked his life to protect her back in Seoul.
And now that she had obtained an EX-rank Trait.
He believed the time had finally come.
However, he ran into an unexpected obstacle.
"No, Captain! We've passed the 50th floor, but you're saying we should serve under some girl who's only just reached the 40th? Does that make any sense? Shouldn't we at least be absorbing her guild, or merging as equals? It's not that I dislike Lee Do-hee, but wouldn't that be a better way to get revenge on the giant guilds?"
Most of those who hadn't closely watched Lee Do-hee's combat footage shared this sentiment.
He tried to persuade them, but their expressions remained sour. In their hearts, they couldn't accept her. It was likely because they had only been exposed to the sexual side of her persona.
It couldn't be helped. They were good comrades, good guild members, but their reaction was understandable. He could have ignored them and proceeded, but he chose not to.
‘I’d also like to test my skills against her myself.’
And so, the 4-on-1 match was arranged.
At the edge of the 10th floor's neutral zone.
In a wide, undeveloped field overgrown with weeds, a large crowd of spectators watched from a safe distance.
"Seriously, if we lose here, I'll be your slave for life, Captain."
"I think we're going to lose..."
"Let's just do our best. We are by no means weak."
These were the three elite party members of Kang Han-gil's guild, men who had shared life and death with him for decades. Though their opinions differed slightly, they were good men.
"Let's go."
He could see Lee Do-hee up ahead.
Though it was a friendly match, it was a live-combat duel where real blades would be swung. Despite that, there was no trace of tension on her face.
Someone acting as a temporary referee stepped forward and spoke.
"Alright, this is a friendly sparring match. Everyone, please keep it clean. We will begin immediately!"
As he stepped back, the duel began.
"Engage the enemy with Bh2 Formation."
It was a tactic they had honed for decades.
Their optimal strategy for facing powerful humanoid bosses.
Kang Han-gil, with a sword and shield in hand, stepped forward.
The archer loosed a quick volley of suppressive arrows, while behind the shield, the magician laid down a magic circle and began preparing a powerful spell.
The rogue used stealth to circle around, preparing for a surprise attack.
Each of them prepared a decisive blow, fulfilling their roles perfectly.
However, Lee Do-hee simply stood still.
She casually deflected the suppressive arrows with her spear, a haughty expression on her face as if to say, Go on, show me everything you've got.
"The enemy is letting her guard down. We'll start with a powerful spell."
"Captain, this won't kill her, will it?"
The magician was the one who had most strongly opposed recruiting Lee Do-hee.
He was a rare, traditional magician.
Not someone who just clicked skills, but a 7th Circle Archmage and battle mage who had learned the true essence of magic by studying and practicing it for decades.
“O, primordial ember, awaken the slumbering mountains. Grant me the fury that rises from the sundered earth. Volcano Eruption!!!”
The ground around Lee Do-hee began to seethe like boiling lava, and then a crimson flame, like magma, erupted into the air.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
The spot where Lee Do-hee had been standing was engulfed in red lava, and the tremendous explosion sent a shockwave rippling out toward the spectators.
The area lit up, and the intense heat, felt even from a distance, forced everyone to back away.
A 7th Circle fire spell.
Moreover, it was the essence of fire magic, honed not for area-of-effect, but for a single target.
"It'll be a problem if she actually died."
However, after a short while, when the flames subsided…
"Ugh... that stings a little."
Lee Do-hee walked out as if nothing had happened.
The casual clothes she had been wearing were completely burned away by the intense heat, leaving her naked, but she walked out unconcerned, as if she were used to it.
The crowd murmured as they saw her.
“She’s unharmed after taking a hit like that?”
“Crazy bitch… to actually come out naked like that.”
“That’s Lee Do-hee for you.”
“Is losing your clothes during a fight common sense for her or something?”
"N-No way..."
The magician was stunned.
It might not have looked like much, but his attack, designed to shatter the opponent's defensive posture with an explosion and finish them with extreme heat, had been completely ineffective.
Of course, if they had seen Lee Do-hee's status window, their questions would have been answered. But since it was a friendly match and their opponent didn't have information on them either, they had conscientiously avoided looking up the status windows shown on her broadcasts.
The last time they had seen it, her Defense was at 2,000.
But now, after consuming another elixir, Lee Do-hee's Defense was over 7,000 and approaching 8,000.
‘Sorry about that. I’m just a little too tough…’
“Again, with more power! Everyone, focus!!!”
[Battlefield Shout]
At Kang Han-gil's cry, everyone snapped back to their senses.
Lee Do-hee still stood there arrogantly, casually deflecting arrows as if daring them to try again.
"Use it. I permit it."
“Hoo… Understood. Don’t you die, Lee Do-hee.”
What he was about to cast was a spell learned from Ignat, the Constellation of Fire, with whom he had made a pact on the 50th floor.
A magic that surpassed what humans could wield, known as Constellation Magic!
"Come forth."
A massive, crimson otherworldly rift opened in the air.
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
Behind him, a giant arm of fire crawled out of the rift.
The massive fiery forearm clenched into a fist and raised it to the sky.
Seeing the unbelievable sight, the people nearby quickly scattered.
“Is that… a high-ranking Awakener’s Constellation Magic…”
“Shit, everyone, get back!”
“Mages, maintain the defensive magic circle at maximum power!”
“That guy… did he really need to summon that?”
And Lee Do-hee stood still, as if ready to receive his magic head-on.
The magician confirmed that the spectators had evacuated to a safe distance, then gestured toward the sky.
“Don’t die.”
WHOOOOOSH…!!!
A colossal fist of fire, hundreds of meters wide, descended upon Lee Do-hee.
“This one might be a little dangerous…”
Iron Body, 20 stacks.
In an instant, Lee Do-hee's Defense neared 9,000.
The giant fist of fire crashed down on her.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!! CRASH!!!
As if a massive bomb had detonated, a shockwave spread out at incredible speed.
The force alone shattered the joint magic barrier the distant crowd had erected, sending them flying.
The barrier had absorbed most of the impact, so there were no serious injuries, but everyone felt the immense power on their skin. As a secondary cloud of hot dust spread, those nearby fled for cover.
“D-Don’t you think Lady Do-hee is dead?”
“Holy shit… there’s no way a single person could withstand that kind of power…”
"This is a friendly match? Not a fight to the death?"
Everyone wore expressions of despair, predicting that Lee Do-hee must be dead.
But, as the dust settled and the ground was revealed…
In the center of a massive, circular crater, Lee Do-hee was groaning as she slowly got to her feet.
“That one hurt a little.”
It hurt a little.
That was it.
After being hit by such a transcendent spell, all she had to say was, ‘That one hurt a little.’
“Ah…”
The magician from Kang Han-gil's guild lost his will to fight and collapsed to the ground.
Kang Han-gil looked at him with an expression that said, I knew it. But the duel wasn't over yet.
“Everyone, are you going to give up just because the enemy is strong?! Give it your all!”
“…Yes!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Kang Han-gil.
His words were filled with resolve. He reignited the fighting spirit in the other two members, who had looked ready to surrender at any moment.
“I’ll draw her attention with close combat. Everyone, attack when you see an opening! Don’t give up!”
The battle shifted to close quarters.
Kang Han-gil charged into the massive crater, his shield held high.
“Against you, I’m sure I can go all out and you won’t die.”
[Shield Charge]
CRASH!!
“Ugh… what is this.”
The powerful shield bash threw her off balance, pushing her back.
And through that opening came the sharp thrust of a one-handed sword.
Swish!! Ting!
She parried it with the shaft of her spear and kicked his shield away.
In that brief moment he was airborne.
The rogue from Kang Han-gil's party suddenly appeared behind Lee Do-hee.
‘A skill?’
Sensing the killing intent from behind, she created a foothold in mid-air, kicked off it, and executed a spinning back kick.
THWACK!!
“Aargh!”
At a glance, it looked like he was simply hit and sent flying, but in that instant, he had managed to slash her calf with a dagger.
“Poison?”
Unfortunately for him, the poison that should have penetrated her skin couldn't even pierce her hide and simply evaporated.
And in an instant, black shadows swarmed over Lee Do-hee.
Dozens, hundreds of masked shadow troops rushed at her with daggers drawn.
“Clones…?”
She swung her spear in a wide arc.
The shadows vanished, but in the gap, other shadows rushed in to fill the space.
‘If physical force won’t work…’
[Divine Power Release]
BOOOOOM!!!
Just as the massive explosion of divine power blew the shadows away, Kang Han-gil was charging in again.
[Shield Charge]
CRASH!!
“Ugh, seriously… did you only level up this one skill?”
For reference, Kang Han-gil's Shield Charge skill was a whopping level 55.
He had diligently cleared the weekly repeatable dungeons for over ten years to continuously raise its level.
There were occasional psychos who only leveled up basic skills, and he was one of them.
His Shield Charge sent her stumbling back again, and over his shoulder, a powerful arrow flew toward her. At the same time, the rogue, back on his feet, stabbed at her back.
‘They’ve got some great teamwork.’
Their relentless combination attacks unfolded.
With Kang Han-gil holding her in place, the rogue and archer attacked her one-sidedly.
That Shield Charge skill, in particular, was classified as a basic skill, but it was more deadly than most attacks. It didn't hurt, but it shattered her balance.
And the magician, having regained his senses, began pouring fire magic on Lee Do-hee as well.
“Men, we have never lost to any foe! Are you going to back down now?!!”
“NO, SIRRRR!!!”
“DIIIIIIE!!!!!”
“Ignat, grant me strength!!”
Fire magic rained down from above and erupted from below.
From behind, the rogue struck with surprise attacks, while from the front, a barrage of powerful arrows poured down.
Whenever she found an opening to counterattack, Kang Han-gil's Shield Charge would come in at the perfect moment, breaking her rhythm completely.
‘They really are good fighters.’
This person-to-person combat felt like watching the coordinated attacks of the old giant guild masters.
They hadn't broken through the 50th floor by crossing countless lines of death for nothing. They were all talented individuals.
However, when it comes to talent, there's always someone better.
“Now, I’ll get serious.”
She started by lightly casting Haste 10 times.
She blunted the tip of her spear so as not to kill them.
Her eyes met the rogue's as he tried to stab her from behind.
Fourth Form: [Continuous Hammer]
TH-TH-TH-TH-TH-TH-THWACK!!!
In an instant, her spear joyfully tenderized his body.
“Gahk!! Wh-what, ugh!!”
His body wasn't pierced, but all his major joints were shattered, and his muscles were destroyed.
“Damn it!”
Kang Han-gil rushed in to cover, pushing forward with his shield, but…
Third Form: [Horn Break]
KUNG!!!
She struck his shield, infusing it with an explosive burst of energy.
POW!!!!
“Huh?”
His precious, prized shield shattered into pieces and scattered.
‘Whoops, I didn't mean to break it. Was his gear a bit cheap? I guess I can buy him a new one later.’
He calmly unleashed a series of rapid one-handed sword thrusts, but…
Second Form: [Shattering Flow]
His sword met the tip of her spear and was flung aside, instantly exposing his upper body.
“Ugh… You think I can’t hold on just because I don’t have a shield?!”
[Indestructible Vajra]
[Deep-Rooted Great Tree]
His body became incredibly hard, firmly rooting him to the ground, but…
POW!
A single powerful kick from her sturdy thigh sent him flying high into the sky.
‘He’ll be okay… right?’
Subduing the remaining two ranged fighters, now without their protector, was a simple matter.
They tried to fight back, using every countermeasure and skill they had, but she simply strode up to them and gave them each a flick on the forehead, sending them clutching their heads and rolling on the ground.
It was over.
The moment she went on the offensive, the battle ended.
The spectators, who had crept closer again, watched the scene in silence.
“A high-ranking Awakener… defeated that easily?”
“Was Lee Do-hee always this strong?”
"Naked Do-hee is strong Do-hee."
“Wasn’t she getting her ass kicked just a little while ago?”
An overwhelming difference in power.
This was no longer the Lee Do-hee who struggled against high-ranking Awakeners.
Her stats, her skills—everything had grown strong enough to surpass them.
Ju Cheon-gang, the holder of a unique stat who was said to have killed multiple high-ranking Awakeners above the 50th floor before escaping.
The giant guild party, who, despite being on the 38th floor, were decked out in items from a guild master.
Both were opponents whose combat power was difficult to measure by normal standards. But the ones she had just dueled were typical Awakeners who had broken through the 50th floor.
Weaker than the truly talented, but a cut above the contribution-slaves who had climbed on their guild's coattails.
This should resolve any doubts about Lee Do-hee's strength.
Just then, all eyes focused on me, and the crowd fell silent.
An atmosphere naturally formed, one that demanded I say something.
"Hoo..."
‘What I have to do hasn't changed.’
I caught my breath and spoke in a slow, deliberate voice.
"Everyone, I will climb the Tower. No matter what happens, no matter what I face, I will climb the Tower."
These were words I was also saying to myself. A promise that even if I were to fall into lust along the way, I would never lose sight of my goal.
"My goal is to see the end of the Tower. I'm not just aiming for the Korean or world rankings. I will press forward to see the end of the Tower. No matter what."
Honest and simple words.
Lee Do-hee's heartfelt declaration reached the ears of countless people.
Yes, revenge was ultimately a secondary objective.
I had to see the end of this damn Tower.
"Wow..."
"Lee Do-hee!! Lee Do-hee!! Lee Do-hee!!"
"How can she say something like that while naked..."
"That's our Do-hee, always serious about the Tower!"
In the future, this day would be remembered as the historic "K-Cup Tower-Serious Woman's Naked Declaration."
And people would say…
This was when the real story of Lee Do-hee truly began.