Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Tower of God (12)
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“The tower’s trial has been readjusted.”
“Looks like someone found a ‘hidden piece’ or something.”
“...This might actually be for the best. The ‘Illusion Lord’ was nothing but a hassle anyway.”
The 13th floor of the tower.
The Kirin tribesmen chimed in one by one.
They, the Kirin tribe, had been the ones to reach the tower’s highest floor so far.
But then, out of nowhere, the ‘Illusion Lord’ that had stood before them vanished.
The ‘Ancient Bengalodon’, possessing immunity traits, had newly appeared.
It was sudden, but all things considered, this was a good turn.
Dealing with the ‘Illusion Lord’ that appeared after the 12th floor had been trickier than expected.
The Illusion Lord’s legion grew stronger with each floor ascended.
Even illusions projecting the Kirin tribesmen themselves began popping up one by one.
They had been stuck wandering at the 15th floor.
And just like that, the trial’s content changed entirely.
“It’s almost like a trial made just for us.”
“Heh, to think the trial would be swapped out for something as trivial as a Bengalodon.”
“Our ‘mysteries’ have nothing to do with that lazy beast’s immunities anyway.”
A Bengalodon wasn’t even a match for the Kirin tribe.
From the start, the Kirin tribe stood at the pinnacle of all beasts.
The ‘mysteries’ they wielded were on an entirely different level from magic or swordsmanship.
Moreover, these weren’t ordinary Kirin tribesmen.
They were mid-tier warriors dispatched to reclaim the Kirin tribe’s ‘legacy’ hidden somewhere within this ‘Tower of God’.
Thanks to the trial’s readjustment, they could climb the tower even faster.
But it wasn’t just about climbing.
“This tower has patterns.”
“Seems like multiple rooms per floor.”
“Performance determines access to ‘specific rooms’.”
In that instant, the three Kirin tribesmen’s thoughts linked.
It was one reason why the Kirin tribe, among the Twelve Races, was so formidable and tricky.
True to their title as the tribe of mysteries, they wielded techniques utterly unlike other races.
They could connect lives, souls, thoughts, and visions with one another.
The moment they linked, they could perceive and think from multiple angles.
Every aspect strengthened.
Even as they climbed the Tower of God, the three remained constantly ‘linked’.
That allowed them to relentlessly analyze the tower during their ascent.
“How many rooms per floor?”
“Trials seem to run differently in each.”
“Not just trials. The ‘rules’ in place vary slightly too.”
They focused on discerning patterns with every floor climbed.
One thing was certain.
Entry to higher ‘rooms’ depended on evaluation criteria like achievement grades.
Higher and lower rooms had inherently different difficulties.
And entirely different rules.
For instance, the ‘Ancient Bengalodon’ appeared in every room.
“But shortened remaining time and dual immunity traits seem exclusive to ‘higher rooms’.”
“Lower rooms only have single-immunity ones.”
“Rewards from higher rooms are far superior, no question.”
Results from their experiments.
The Kirin tribe was cautious, testing even solid bridges before crossing.
Their strong curiosity made the ‘Tower of God’ more than stimulating enough.
Here in the ‘Tower of God’, each floor had three difficulty tiers: lower, middle, and upper rooms.
Naturally, upper rooms offered the best rewards.
High-grade spirit stones appeared only in upper rooms, especially.
But clearing them was proportionally tougher.
“Still, this tower doesn’t seem welcoming to us.”
“Feels like it’s deliberately pitting us against the other Twelve Races.”
“Does the tower have a will of its own?”
There were other issues too.
While climbing, the Kirin tribesmen encountered the Twelve Races twice.
Once they passed by, the other time they bid them farewell from the world through combat.
Proof that quite a few of the Twelve Races had entered the ‘Tower of God’, but it felt suspiciously like the tower was intervening.
Perhaps because it was built on Earth.
A world ruled by humans.
It seemed to shun other races, or maybe some undiscovered rule deliberately forced the Twelve Races to cross paths.
That meant the other Twelve Races had massive interest in the ‘Tower of God’ as well.
The silver lining: no race had committed their top warriors yet.
Just probing the waters.
Losing elites was a huge blow.
With the inter-tribal war looming, top warriors had to be preserved at all costs.
The three Kirin tribesmen stroked their chins in unison.
“This tower maintains perfect balance.”
“The balance between the Twelve Races and humans broke, causing this?”
“Or maybe all ‘upper rooms’ are connected.”
So they waited.
Reached the 19th floor to test if other Twelve Races would show.
Casual chatter passed during the wait.
“...No way the Dragon Tribe climbed the tower, right?”
“Those god-deniers tackling the ‘Tower of God’?”
“Haha. Isn’t their one true god Sepiro?”
The Kirin tribesmen inwardly shook their heads.
No signs of Dragon Tribe entry into the Tower of God yet.
Arrogant bunch wouldn’t bother.
Their sole god was Dragon God Sepiro.
They recognized no others.
Same reason they’d likely ignore a tower named after a ‘god’.
And after that brief wait...
...They ran into them.
Speak of the devil.
The Dragon Tribe appeared.
Of all things.
‘Ataraxia of Despair...!’
‘The Dragon Tribe sent an upper dragon?’
‘Ataraxia’s one of their elite warriors for the inter-tribal war!’
...It was Ataraxia of Despair, ancient dragon of the despairing lineage.
They knew at first sight.
No one from the Twelve Races could mistake him.
Ataraxia was a powerhouse who’d appeared in multiple inter-tribal wars.
A warrior with near-undefeated records since ancient times.
The Dragon Tribe always vied for 1st or 2nd in those wars.
Their elites were natural targets to avoid.
However.
“Alone?”
“Mana seems depleted.”
“Even transforming to true form, he can’t handle all three of us at once.”
A golden opportunity.
Ataraxia was visibly weakened.
He’d clearly overused mana climbing the tower.
‘...I can take them.’
They could kill a Dragon Tribe elite!
That fact alone excited the three Kirin tribesmen.
In the last inter-tribal war, the Kirin tribe took 3rd.
Slay Ataraxia and exploit the gap right, they could hit 2nd or better this time.
Becoming the strongest tribe was the Kirin tribe’s long-cherished dream.
If there was even 1% chance, they had to seize it.
Plus, devouring his heart would elevate them to elites too.
“...You whelps dare spout nonsense from your safe perch.”
Ataraxia said heavily.
Of course, the Kirin weren’t wrong.
He had expended considerable mana against the Twilight Tribe whelps.
But the Kirin before him dwarfed those kids.
True heavyweights he couldn’t face without transforming.
‘Three Kirin tribesmen.’
Ataraxia tensed inwardly.
Why send three mid-tier warriors?
He had a hunch.
【Avoid three Kirin tribesmen gathered together. It’s the wise choice.】
A famous adage among the Twelve Races.
Kirin were strongest in trios.
Bonds amplified their power beyond the next level.
In short, those three might match or exceed him right now.
That was when it happened.
“Ataraxia. I permit your transformation to true form.”
Welcome words emerged from His Greatness’s mouth.
A smile crept across Ataraxia’s lips.
“...As you command.”
Finally!
A chance to show Sepiro his true power at last.
Meant to teach these three the Dragon Tribe’s dignity, surely.
He couldn’t betray that expectation.
“......?!”
“Another one?”
“Absolute magic?!”
The three Kirin tribesmen recoiled in shock.
They hadn’t imagined a fourth presence.
Linked, they shared all visions.
Hidden, concealed, invisible—Kirin mysteries should reveal all.
Even ‘Wish Users’ couldn’t escape their sight.
Yet they’d detected nothing.
Only one reason.
Absolute magic.
Even ancient dragons like Ataraxia couldn’t wield it!
Rumors said only the ‘Primordial Dragons’, dubbed ‘First Dragon Tribe’, and Sepiro could.
So this sudden human was either a Primordial Dragon or Sepiro?
‘Kirin horns. Items of astronomical value.’
Meanwhile, Park Chan-woo eyed them greedily.
Like dragon hearts, Kirin horns brimmed with incomparable ‘mysteries’.
Brewed into medicine, they rivaled the Water of Life from Arkham.
Crafted into gear, they added unique mystery effects.
Not to mention high utility in magical engineering.
‘Could use as golem material too.’
A must-have ingredient in every way.
How could he not covet it?
He’d never obtained one before.
Kirin always moved in groups, requiring massive forces to challenge.
But Park Chan-woo was a thorough ‘outsider’.
Unsuitable for asking aid or teaming up.
No one wanted him along either.
Thus, Kirin horns were a pipe dream.
But now was different.
At his side stood the ancient dragon of despair, Ataraxia.
In a flash.
“Kirin whelps, behold.”
Ataraxia rumbled deeply.
“The Dragon Tribe’s true power.”
...And began transforming to his true form.