Chapter 717: Eternal Spire (95)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 717: Eternal Spire (95)
“I have no intention of killing you. Instead, the two of you will live the rest of your lives as broken shells.”
I slowly placed my fingers over the chests of Austin and Yoon Jae-ho.
Immediately, I channeled my Divine Power. The moment the energy—bolstered by the divinity of Zeus I had absorbed in reality—began to swirl, golden lightning flickered at my fingertips.
Crackle!
The thunderbolt seeped into their bodies.
“Aaaargh!”
“Gwaaaaah!”
A pain that transcended ordinary electricity tore through the depths of their bodies. They let out screams of pure agony. It was more than just pain; it was the sensation of their entire nervous systems collapsing.
The crowd filling the plaza watched the scene in breathless silence. The two men’s screams gradually weakened until their bodies went limp.
I had used Divine Power to strike at their very souls. Austin gasped, his body convulsing.
“Auh... buh...”
He began to drool, unable to speak properly, his mind reduced to a blank slate.
Yoon Jae-ho was the same.
“Eb-ba-bu...”
He had turned into an idiot, babbling and drooling.
Even if someone were to treat them, they would never be able to use their abilities normally again.
This power is quite convenient in many ways.
The lightning-attribute power, in particular, exceeded my expectations. It wasn't just about manipulating electricity; it allowed me to interfere with the soul itself—the very source of life.
I guess I have that bastard Zeus to thank for this ability. Not bad.
I pointed at the now-useless Yoon Jae-ho and Austin and gave an order.
“Drag them away.”
“Yes, sir.”
Guild members appeared and took the two down from the crosses.
I scanned the plaza.
Countless participants were looking at me, trembling with fear. Even those who had been cheering moments ago were now terrified by the display of power I had shown.
“Don’t worry, I don’t have any particular feelings toward the rest of you.”
I declared as I slowly looked around at them.
“As long as you don’t oppose Night Bloom, it doesn’t matter to me.”
A moment of silence followed.
I spoke again.
“As of this moment, Night Bloom will open the Inter-floor Movement Device to the public.”
“An Inter-floor Movement Device?”
“What’s that?”
A stir went through the crowd.
The Inter-floor Movement Device was a facility that allowed one to travel quickly between the floors of the Tower. Having discovered it in the 7th-floor ruins, it was finally time to unveil it.
“Tia, set it up in the central plaza.”
“Yes.”
As Yekaterina nodded, the Night Bloom guild members began to move with military precision. Equipment they had prepared in advance was brought out and quickly installed in the center of the plaza.
The people watched the scene with bated breath.
Before long, a massive, portal-like structure stood tall in the middle of the plaza. It was a translucent circular gate with a faint blue glow flowing through it.
“Is that... the Inter-floor Movement Device?”
“So, what exactly does it do?”
I slowly stepped down from the platform and walked toward the device.
“As you can see, this is the Inter-floor Movement Device. Using this, you can freely travel to any floor you desire.”
I lightly placed my hand on the surface of the gate.
“It’s very simple to use. Just place your hand on it while thinking of the floor you want to go to.”
Whir!
The gate reacted to my touch, emitting a bright light.
“Of course, it’s not free.”
I looked up at the people gathered in the plaza.
“I will charge 1 Gold for each use.”
A small murmur broke out among the crowd.
“Isn’t 1 Gold incredibly cheap?”
“But is there really a need to use that?”
“Of course there is. To move between floors, you have to pass through the Gatekeeper Boss room. That means fighting monsters, and if the distance is far, it could take a whole month...”
The expressions of the people gradually turned positive.
I smirked.
1 Gold is practically a steal.
But I hadn't set the price that low because I was a pushover. Once they became accustomed to and addicted to this convenience, my position would only become more unshakable.
Moving between floors usually took days. However, with this device, it took only seconds.
Whether they were in a hurry or just wanted to move quickly, everyone would eventually be forced to use it.
I clapped my hands.
“And one last thing.”
The plaza fell silent.
I spoke slowly.
“The Holy Cross Knights are disbanded as of today.”
“...!”
The faces of the participants belonging to the Holy Cross Knights turned pale.
“However, I don’t hold you individuals responsible. It was the Guild Master and the executives who committed the crimes.”
The members of the Holy Cross Knights whispered among themselves, glancing at each other.
I addressed the entire crowd once more.
“Now, that’s all. Everyone, go back to your business.”
*
The Gods convened an emergency meeting.
“You all saw it. That power Jin Seo-yun just showed...”
Odin led the meeting as the representative.
Inside the massive temple, numerous Gods sat in a circle. The atmosphere was heavy and thick with tension.
“That was undoubtedly the power of a God. Moreover, it was a power very similar to Zeus’s authority. I don’t know how a mere human can wield divine authority, but what’s most serious is that a participant of the Tower possesses such power.”
The Gods nodded at Odin’s words.
Thor chimed in.
“I checked the logs, and his status window values don’t match his actual strength at all.”
“Is it a bug...?” someone asked, looking puzzled.
“Or is he deceiving the System?”
“Is such a thing even possible?”
The Gods murmured in agitation.
One of them spoke calmly.
“...We can no longer just watch. He must be eliminated immediately.”
“I agree.”
“That human is dangerous.”
“He must be banished from the Tower.”
The opinions of the Gods began to converge.
However, two goddesses who had been quietly observing the debate, Tiamat and Cheonwol, exchanged glances.
Tiamat let out a small sigh.
“This is bad. Even I cannot easily step forward this time.”
Cheonwol also nodded with a worried expression.
“I know, it’s a disaster. Our man is about to be banished.”
The two goddesses looked grim. The current situation was impossible to cover up.
There’s no justification to help him.
Tiamat was especially troubled.
Jin Seo-yun’s strange strength was one thing, but the fact that he used an authority similar to Zeus’s was the most bizarre part.
There’s no way those two, who hate each other, would cooperate, and I haven’t seen anything strange while watching him.
Above all, the power he currently possessed posed a serious risk of collapsing the Tower. It could provoke the things sealed within.
This is why the Gods restrain their power when manifesting in the Tower...
It was a major problem.
I haven’t even had sex with him yet! I can’t let him go like this!
Tiamat screamed inwardly.
They hadn't had a proper relationship yet. If Jin Seo-yun was banished now...
No. Absolutely not!
Cheonwol was thinking along the same lines.
I have to help him somehow...
But neither goddess could think of a clever solution.
Just then, Odin spoke.
“The sooner the banishment, the better. Jin Seo-yun’s current power might provoke those things in the Tower.”
“Correct.”
“Leaving him be will only lead to greater problems.”
The Gods nodded.
Odin made a solemn declaration.
“Then we shall decide by vote. Those in favor of banishing Jin Seo-yun from the Tower, raise your hands.”
The Gods began to raise their hands one by one.
Most of them cast a vote in favor.
Tiamat and Cheonwol did not raise their hands, but the majority was already overwhelming.
Odin nodded.
“It has been decided by majority. I declare the banishment of Jin Seo-yun from the Tower!”
Odin raised his hand toward the void.
“System, banish the participant Jin Seo-yun.”
A moment of silence followed.
And then.
[Request Denied]
“What...?”
All the Gods were stunned by the System’s refusal.
Odin’s face hardened.
“System, I command you again. Banish the participant Jin Seo-yun.”
[Request Denied. There is no valid reason to banish participant Jin Seo-yun.]
The Gods looked at each other in shock.
“The System is refusing?”
“Is this even possible?”
Odin furrowed his brows.
“System, explain yourself. Why do you refuse the command?”
[Participant Jin Seo-yun has not violated the rules of the Tower. There are no grounds for banishment.]
Odin issued the command once more.
“System, I am using Administrator Authority.”
[Request Denied]
At that moment, Thor shouted urgently.
“Father! The System logs are strange! Our authority is...!”
The moment Thor checked the screen he had manifested in the air, his face twisted in horror.
“Our System Administrator Authority... is being restricted!”
“What?!”
Odin also hurried to check the System logs. In that instant, his face turned pale.
“What... is this...!”
The authority of the Gods had fallen far below that of the Tower’s System.
Then, someone who was looking deeper into the logs cried out.
“W-wait... Who gave the System a name?”
All the Gods stared at the log window in bewilderment.
“T-this... what on earth...!”
The name ‘Luna’ was clearly registered to the System, which was supposed to be nameless.
“Luna...?”
Odin gritted his teeth and declared firmly.
“We are heading to the 100th floor immediately.”
The Gods stood up, hurriedly summoning their armaments. Tension flooded the entire hall.
Just then, a playful and mocking voice echoed through the temple.
“It won’t be that easy, will it?”
“Loki!”
In an instant, a massive barrier unfurled across the entire meeting hall.
Loki smiled leisurely and waved his hand.
“Honestly, you have no idea how nervous I was that this barrier might be discovered. I’ve been preparing this meticulously for 500 years, but fortunately, you all were pathetic enough to be complacent, allowing me to get this far.”
“Lokiii!! You wretch!”
Odin growled in a voice full of rage.
Loki pretended to cover his ears and replied nonchalantly.
“Oops, you’re going to burst my eardrums. You know, Father, if you hadn't locked my children in the Tower just because you claimed they were dangerous, things wouldn't have turned out like this.”
Odin trembled with fury.
“Your children were ferocious and dangerous monsters. It was unavoidable!”
Loki didn't hide his mockery.
“Isn't that all because you were obsessed with some ridiculous prophecy and pushed my children for no reason? Why don't you take a look at who created this situation for once?”
With those words, Loki vanished without a trace.