Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Tower of Pride 10th Floor
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―Death is the end and the finale.
―Strongest, worst witch who monopolizes the Abyss's love.
―I shall call you 'Adora'.
Death Witch Adora.
The one who named her was the Black Witch.
To her, born with the fate of 'death', the Black Witch paradoxically gave the name 'Adora', meaning 'love'.
All while convinced she would become the strongest, worst witch to monopolize the Abyss's love.
Naturally, the Black Witch never taught her how to control death.
Instead, she brainwashed her to maximize it.
Death is the end, the finale.
―No one shall dare stand by your side.
Even if the foe is a lord of the Abyss.
She insisted no one could escape the 'death' Adora wielded.
And so she shaped her into a solitary, lonely being.
Adora accepted it without a shred of doubt.
Such is the karma of the supreme.
She believed only death filled the path she walked.
But.
"...I'm curious. What do you think 'death' is?"
Adora began rethinking the definition of death.
The human clasping her hand, standing at her side.
One who knew neither end nor finale.
She grew curious about Park Chan-woo's take on 'death'.
To her abrupt question, Park Chan-woo shrugged and replied.
"Noble."
"Noble...?"
Another answer utterly beyond Adora's expectations.
Death, noble?
We reserve 'noble' for the sublime and beautiful, the excellent and precious.
Yet the death the Black Witch taught her was meaningless. The pinnacle of nothingness.
To wield death meant standing at the end.
Where was the nobility in that?
But Park Chan-woo spoke from the heart.
He knew best, having died once.
Perhaps the closest to 'death' in this world.
No other could have returned from its brink.
"Precisely because it lacks meaning, it gains meaning. Death isn't an end but a settlement. That's why it's noble."
His death had been just that.
Dragon God Sepiro.
When that transcendent foe brought his futile demise.
Humanity crumbling to dust on a whim, all his efforts turned to vapor.
Amid endless regret came an inexplicable relief.
A settlement to his bitter life.
Ridiculous, isn't it?
We chase meaningless pursuits knowing death awaits.
Yet that's what imbues it with meaning.
Without that settlement, he wouldn't be here now.
Through death, he blazed fiercely, forging a sturdier soul.
"...You speak like one who's died before."
Adora spoke up at his unflappably calm reply.
With the conviction of experience.
Park Chan-woo chuckled softly.
Adora gazed at him quietly.
'...Not an end, but a settlement.'
She had overcome death, mastering it somewhat.
But solely thanks to Park Chan-woo.
She'd striven desperately to keep him alive.
Yet if death was settlement, not end—as he said.
...Her fate shifted.
No longer a harbinger of doom.
No longer condemned to walk alone.
'One who walks with all fates.'
Teaching the moment's preciousness.
A bridge in the middle, proclaiming nothing lasts forever.
With that realization, her shoulders lightened.
No longer alone, it struck her suddenly.
Adora surveyed her surroundings.
The horde of undead trailing her.
Not summoned or turned by her hand.
It happened naturally, beyond her intent.
The very reason witches shunned her.
Adora spoke slowly.
"Return to where you belong."
Shrrrr!
In an instant, every undead shattered into dust and scattered.
Attaining true, complete death at last.
And with it, Adora confronted a new facet of 'death'.
'Memories.'
Theirs.
Tales of joy and regret from days gone by.
They twinkled like stars before her eyes.
Myriad starlights wove into a galaxy, vast as the ocean.
"...Beautiful."
Adora murmured despite herself.
Overwhelmed by the memory galaxy.
Memories settled one by one; stars faded away.
Regrettable.
Yet she understood.
'Noble.'
Park Chan-woo's words clicked.
Why death was noble.
...How did he know?
The realm beyond death.
That fleeting instant.
He knew, without doubt.
A truly wondrous, enigmatic man.
'Climbing the tower will reveal it.'
One conviction bloomed.
Reaching the summit would unveil Park Chan-woo fully.
Swaaaaa!
Adora unfurled her death realm across the entire floor.
And simultaneously.
Krunch!
The thick exoskeleton of the massive, moth-like insect tore open.
Kankun then swung his greatsword to smash its head, ripping off its wings with bare hands.
Green blood laced with venom sprayed everywhere.
But Kankun paid it no mind.
He even opened his maw to guzzle it down.
"Tastes good."
He even critiqued the flavor.
A spine-chilling spectacle.
Lim Chang-yeol and the other union members watching from afar were struck speechless.
'Monster...!'
Yet their thoughts aligned.
Orc Master Kankun.
He was an overwhelming monster unlike any they'd seen before—or would again.
Not just because of his bizarre antics.
His power defied comprehension.
Strength, agility, sword mastery.
Not a single flaw.
How could that hulking frame move so swiftly?
But what baffled them more.
'Telekinesis?'
'That dropped sword flew right back to his hand...!'
'He waved, and distant monsters split in half.'
'Insane. The greatsword's flying around!'
Impossible feats unfolding nonstop.
Slicing distant foes without touch.
Stomping to halt incoming monsters midair.
His fallen greatsword rampaging on its own, massacring enemies.
Common sense shattered repeatedly.
That was Kankun's strength.
'Beyond the heavens.'
A 'heaven beyond heaven' he embodied without hesitation.
They reached Floor 9 in a flash.
No one could stand against awakened Kankun.
Even left alone, he'd climb the tower effortlessly.
Honestly, why tag along with them at all?
"...Aren't we freeloading too hard?"
"Coins are duplicating just by standing here, though..."
Seoul Union's members muttered softly.
Lim Chang-yeol had no real retort.
They were right.
Kankun soloed the monsters, collected and placed relics.
Even guardians fell without aid.
Union members just reaped the windfall.
No need to place relics—just watch Kankun slay guardians for at least one coin each.
And not just coins.
Pride Boxes piled up too.
'35 already.'
Lim Chang-yeol amassed 35 'Pride Boxes' climbing to Floor 9.
As Seoul Union's leader, he'd placed plenty early on.
"Heh. 42 boxes already."
Kim Byung-han grinned slyly beside him.
He'd outdone Lim Chang-yeol.
Chipping at every monster and guardian.
If direct hits failed, he threw his pet into the fray for the last hit.
Classic finisher-sniping.
By claiming Kankun's kills at the end, Kim Byung-han scored more rewards.
Utterly shameless, yet his face was thickest there.
'Rewards from Tower of Pride alone: 10 Coins, 42 Pride Boxes. Stepping out means I'm on Royal Road.'
A bright future beckoned.
Thick skin? He'd wear it a thousand times over.
Those who couldn't were the fools.
A free ride like this?
Maximize gains while Kankun humored them.
"Speaking of... Park Chan-woo. That idiot must've chickened out and bailed."
Tsk tsk.
Kim Byung-han clucked his tongue.
Scornfully shaking his head at Park Chan-woo, vanished early on.
He'd half-hoped for a return, but no sign by Floor 9.
Definitely quit the tower.
"Park Chan-woo got us recognized as Kankun's aides, Kim Byung-han."
Lim Chang-yeol defended him.
They owed it to Park Chan-woo entirely.
He'd provoked Kankun from the start, won the relic bet.
Why bail suddenly? Unclear.
Without him, they wouldn't be here.
Kim Byung-han glared.
"Pfft. Defending the coward who fled in fear?"
"That's the truth."
"He fled, didn't he?"
"...Maybe circumstances."
"What circumstances? Let's go ask him outside, then."
Kim Byung-han's face brimmed with certainty.
Lim Chang-yeol's darkened.
He too wondered if Park Chan-woo really fled.
―Rooooar!
That moment.
The blazing colossal beast fell to Kankun's slaughter.
Hacked to pieces wildly.
Gruesome, but familiar now.
Kankun ascended to Floor 10 without pause.
The union followed up the stairs.
Simultaneously.
They beheld her.
The Death Witch, far off.
Brr!
Just sighting her set their bodies quaking.
This witch outclassed every monster Kankun felled.
But she wasn't alone.
'Who's that?'
'Another one?'
'Adora faction aide?'
'Just one?'
All tilted heads.
If an aide, one from her faction.
Yet solo, unlike them.
And not distant like them from Kankun—he stood right beside Adora.
A stranger.
Mage-like garb.
Had such a guy climbed the tower?
"...!!!"
Then.
Kim Byung-han shuddered violently.
And.
Thud!
He dropped to his knees.
Clasped hands raised like to a god.
"P-Prophet-nim...!!!"