Chapter 727: Eternal Spire (105)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 727: Eternal Spire (105)
Most of the guys practicing Demonic Arts had died off.
‘I mean, you can’t just kill them because you’re in a bad mood.’
‘I don’t care!’
Bi-yeon’s response was sharp; she was clearly irritated.
I sighed and picked up the documents. They contained a list of the people invited this time—mostly names from guilds that were still hostile toward me.
‘They’ll cooperate, but they won’t help when it actually matters.’
I’d been forced to pay a steep price to invite them, including Jessica and even Kang Hyun-woo from the Muwol Guild. A few leaders from smaller guilds were mixed in as well.
‘To be honest, I didn’t think Jessica would actually show up.’
The fact that he appeared despite knowing full well that Ryu Seol wanted him dead meant he was that confident in his own strength.
I watched the situation unfold from the center of the training grounds.
In the middle of the field, the blonde Jessica and the pink-haired Ryu Seol stood in a tense standoff.
“Today is the day I finally snap your neck.”
Ryu Seol’s voice was cold and low. Her eyes were filled with unmistakable murderous intent.
“Hehe, do you really think you can?”
Jessica laughed airily, glancing at his fingernails. His attitude oozed the confidence born from dozens of past victories.
“Stop talking like a girl when you’re a man, you bastard!”
Ryu Seol lunged first.
Boom!
The ground beneath her feet cratered as she closed the distance in an instant. Her fist, imbued with the power of the Purple Star, swung toward Jessica’s face. The violet energy erupting from her knuckles shrieked as it tore through the air.
However, Jessica dodged by simply tilting his head with leisure. It was a movement as natural as a dance.
“Oh my, how slow~”
Whoosh!
Jessica’s kick came flying in. Ryu Seol reflexively crossed her arms to block, but the impact sent a numbing sting through her body, forcing her back.
I watched the fight with my arms crossed.
‘As expected, it’s not going to be easy.’
She had grown a lot, learned the martial arts I taught her personally, and had been the sole recipient of various rewards. On paper, Ryu Seol should have had the overwhelming advantage.
And yet, she had never beaten Jessica once.
The reason was simple.
‘Jessica’s unique ability is the worst possible matchup for Ryu Seol.’
Jessica’s unique ability was [Perfect Mimicry]. It was a broken ability that allowed him to copy and use the opponent’s powers and techniques exactly as they were.
‘And then there’s the Super Regeneration.’
I thought of Jessica’s other ability. A fraudulent level of regenerative power that healed most wounds in an instant. The combination of these two abilities was a massive headache.
‘There’s a reason I kept an eye on that pervert.’
To be honest, I only let him live because he was obsessed with cute boys and didn't care much for power or expanding his influence. If it had been otherwise, I would have hunted him down and killed him myself long ago.
I had been monitoring his tracks for a while. Jessica had been clearing Special Dungeons and high-difficulty dungeons entirely on his own.
‘So there’s bound to be a huge gap in real combat experience.’
In terms of level alone, Ryu Seol was definitely a bit higher. But because Jessica had to survive hellish difficulties by himself every time, his combat sense was on another level. Survival instincts, judgment, reflexes—he was specialized for live combat in every way.
And above all…
‘Ryu Seol is too worked up.’
When emotions take the lead, mistakes follow. The humiliation of her accumulated defeats was shaking her.
On the other hand, Jessica remained relaxed. He was enjoying Ryu Seol’s attacks like a child playing with a toy.
Flash! Thud! Bam!
Ryu Seol unleashed a flurry of attacks. Fists, kicks, and palm strikes poured out in rapid succession, but Jessica parried them all with minimal movement.
“Haaah!”
Ryu Seol took a deep breath, drawing out more of the Purple Star’s power. The Brand on her forehead glowed even brighter, and a violet aura enveloped her entire body.
Rumble!
A powerful strike flew toward Jessica.
But Jessica took the attack head-on. No, he pretended to take it, intentionally letting it hit.
Thwack!
Jessica’s body was pushed back, his feet scraping against the floor.
“That hurt…”
Jessica laughed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. And that wound… was already healing.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Jessica’s voice dropped an octave.
Boom!
In an instant, Jessica vanished from sight. Ryu Seol’s eyes widened as she scanned her surroundings, but it was already too late.
Watching the scene, I muttered, “She lost again.”
“Seems so.”
Bi-yeon nodded in agreement.
“And after I told her so many times not to get emotional.”
This was a hurdle she had to overcome on her own.
*
Hermes descended, taking over a puppet body. He couldn't stop his body from trembling instinctively.
‘Damn it… why did Father have to give me this job of all things…?’
Following Zeus’s orders, he had secretly infiltrated the 99th floor of the Tower.
Gulp.
The only monster in this Tower who remembered her own name. The only being not under the system’s control.
The Apocalyptic Red Dragon.
“To think… a god… would dare seek me out…”
A low, sensual voice echoed from the depths. The mere sound of it made the air vibrate, sending Hermes’s heart into a frantic race.
A red light flickered in the darkness. Then, slowly, the entity revealed itself.
Long black hair flowed down to the floor, and a crown made of red thorns sat menacingly atop her head. Her glowing red eyes pierced through Hermes, and red chains were wrapped around her white skin.
She took the form of a human woman.
However, the overwhelming murderous intent and madness hidden behind that beauty made it crystal clear that this was no human.
“A-Apocalyptic Dragon…”
Hermes bowed his head as politely as possible. He had long since discarded his pride as a god. Acting arrogant before such a being was nothing short of suicide.
“What brings you here, Messenger?”
She walked out slowly. The red chains clinked with every step, and each footfall made the floor tremble.
“W-well…”
“I don’t even need to look to know. You’re on an errand for Zeus, aren’t you? That coward wouldn't have the guts to come here himself.”
“T-that is correct. Lord Zeus… wishes to borrow your strength.”
“Hehe… Borrow?”
She laughed mockingly. Her red eyes glinted dangerously.
“Zeus wants to borrow my strength? How amusing. Just what has happened that the almighty Zeus is reaching out to a monster trapped in this prison?”
Hermes swallowed hard. The closer she came, the more his nerves screamed at him. Run. Right now.
But he couldn't run. If he failed to complete Zeus’s command, he wouldn't escape punishment either.
“The thing is… he plans to tear down this Tower and create a new one…”
The red eyes stared sharply at Hermes.
“Tear down the Tower? Zeus is doing that?”
“Y-yes…”
“How interesting.”
“For him to do such a thing while ignoring the other gods. Are the others just standing by?”
“That is… currently, the other gods are unable to move at all…”
“Oh?”
Her interest piqued visibly. She leaned forward, looking down at Hermes.
“Explain in detail.”
“Loki… fell into a trap… and is currently incapacitated.”
“Loki?”
She seemed surprised for a moment, then burst into a loud laugh.
“Hahaha! That trickster finally pulled off something big!”
her red chains swayed in time with her laughter.
“It seems something quite entertaining is happening outside. Ah, I’d love to go out and see for myself.”
She clicked her tongue as if disappointed.
“So Zeus… intends to rebuild the Tower alone? Behind the other gods’ backs?”
“That is correct. And…”
Hermes hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“A tempting sacrifice has been prepared as well.”
“A sacrifice?”
The corners of her mouth curled up even more dangerously.
“And what might this sacrifice be?”
With trembling hands, Hermes pulled a small crystal orb from his robe. Inside the orb, a violet star glowed faintly.
“It is… the Purple Star…”
In an instant, her gaze changed. The playfulness and leisure vanished, replaced by pure greed and desire.
“Ho… The Emperor’s Star.”
Her finger reached toward the crystal orb. But she didn't touch it directly. She hovered around it carefully, as if handling a precious treasure.
“The star that symbolizes the Emperor of the Heavens.”
Her red eyes were dyed violet.
“A sacrifice worthy of me.”
“Y-yes, indeed.”
Hermes breathed a sigh of relief. Her showing interest meant there was room for negotiation.
“Who is the owner of the Purple Star?”
“A woman named Ryu Seol. Currently…”
“Currently?”
“She belongs to a guild called Night Bloom.”
“Night Bloom…”
She repeated the name and nodded.
“And so.”
She looked down at Hermes again.
“What is it you want from me in exchange for offering the Purple Star?”
“That…”
Hermes couldn't finish his sentence and stammered. He pursed his lips and avoided her gaze.
Seeing this, her expression soured.
“It’s annoying, so speak quickly.”
The red chains swayed threateningly. The temperature of the entire cave seemed to skyrocket.
“…We would like you to deal with a human named Jin Seo-yun, along with Vortel.”
Hermes spoke in a trembling voice.
“And after dealing with that human… we seek your help when we face the System.”
The red eyes narrowed dangerously.
“You bastard, have you forgotten why I am voluntarily trapped here?”
“I-I am sorry…”
Hermes bowed his head, sweating profusely.
“I can leave whenever I wish. At any time.”
Her finger traced the air. Suddenly, the wall split open, revealing the landscape outside.
“But I do not leave. Do you know why?”
“To recover your strength…” Hermes answered shakily.
“Yes, to recover… but also because the moment I step outside, it becomes difficult to maintain my sanity.”
Her voice turned cold. Anger and hatred seeped into her red eyes.
“Two of my heads… were devoured by that bitch above. And yet you ask me to help seal her? Not kill her?”
Suddenly, the entire space vibrated. Her rage distorted the surrounding air, and the floor began to crack.
Hermes instinctively backed away. Every nerve in his body screamed. Run. Right now.
“To dare make such a request of me.”
Her voice was deathly quiet.
“It seems Zeus no longer wishes to live.”
The red chains swayed threateningly, lashing out toward Hermes.
“I-I’m sorry…!”
Hermes scrambled to his knees.
“I will ask Lord Zeus if there is any other request! Please…!”
“No need.”
She waved her hand, retracting the chains.
“I was planning on heading out of the Tower soon anyway.”
“Pardon…?”
Hermes looked up. A strange smile played on her face.
“Most of my power has returned.”
“What do you mean…?” Hermes’s voice trembled.
“It took thousands of years… but I have recovered most of it.”
She smiled slowly. It was a beautiful smile, but at the same time, it was chillingly dangerous.
“Now, I only need the final piece to be perfectly restored.”
Her hand brushed against the back of her own neck. In that moment, Hermes saw something glowing faintly on the nape of her neck.
A wound.
An unhealed, thousand-year-old wound.
“The Purple Star.”
Her eyes gleamed with greed.
“Thank you for letting me know of its existence.”
Hermes’s face turned pale.
“As a reward, I will kill the human you requested, and I will grant you and Zeus a merciful death.”
In an instant, the red iron chains moved as if they were alive.
The chains wriggled like snakes, lunging toward Hermes. Like living creatures with a will of their own, they flew toward his limbs.
“Ugh…!”
Hermes reflexively backed away, but the chains were faster.
Clang!
“Guh…!”
Hermes struggled, but the chains only tightened. His skin tore, and the sound of creaking bones filled the air.
“Aaaaaagh!”
“Quiet.”
She snapped her fingers.
Snap.
Instantly, Hermes’s mouth was gagged by a chain. He could no longer make a sound.