Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 100
"WAAAAAH!"
The day of the tournament.
Valhalla's Colosseum was boiling with the cheers of the spectators.
For the climbers staying on the 12th floor, this tournament was undoubtedly the hottest topic.
It was the official stage where climbers who had received teachings from each faction competed in skill, and it was also the event that announced the end of this cycle.
Through this tournament, rankings would be determined among the climbers, and according to the rankings, they could receive different rewards and the right to ascend to the 13th floor.
The environment of the 12th floor where they could focus only on training under the protection of the four major powers was also coming to an end, which felt somewhat regrettable, but they couldn't end such a finale gloomily.
The Colosseum was heated up with the fervor of the tournament.
The VIP seats with the best view of the arena.
The leaders of the four major powers who were in charge of managing the 12th floor this cycle gathered together and engaged in conversation.
The first to speak was Rosaria.
She lay comfortably on the VIP sofa, chewing on grapes that a servant put into her mouth.
"Mmm, this tournament isn't that exciting. The championship is a foregone conclusion, isn't it?"
The side that took the greatest rookie of this cycle, the Supernova, was Rosaria and Pandemonium.
Moreover, since she had watched Seo-jin's training process from the side, she knew his talent better than anyone else.
In fact, she wasn't even interested in the championship.
She was just curious about what moves he would show in the future, and furthermore, how far he would reach in this Tower.
This tournament was significant in that she could see that first move with her own eyes.
On the other hand, Gabriel, who had the Supernova stolen from right under her nose, answered calmly.
"Well, you have to compete to know what's long and what's short. Even if humans make plans, the success of affairs depends on heaven."
Losing the Supernova was regrettable, but Pantheon had also accepted a fairly good prospect.
Climber Zieg, who possessed the qualifications of a Holy Sword user.
His talent was somewhat lacking compared to the Supernova, but that much could be overcome with the compatibility between Black Magic and Divine Arts.
Hearing this, Rosaria shot back with mockery.
"The success of affairs depends on heaven's will, you say. With that attitude, that's why you're still doing messenger work even after living for thousands of years~"
"What did you just say?"
"Never mind if you didn't hear it."
While the two were having a lively bickering match, Talis also added a word.
"Our little one won't be easy either, you know? If you underestimate her, you'll be in trouble."
Se-yeon's talent hadn't fully blossomed yet, but when it came to combat, it was a talent that brooked no comparison.
That outstanding talent had been forged by Talis's hands, so she could be called this cycle's greatest dark horse.
At Talis's words, Rosaria tilted her head.
"Oh my, isn't that little one like a pet that our baby takes around? It would be troublesome if it bites its owner~"
"Keke, even after getting severely beaten by Fenrir before, you still don't know to fear dogs. And this one is more of the scratching type than the biting type."
"If it scratches, then it's not a puppy but a kitten?"
"Excuse me, please include me too?"
"If you're going to do it, make it a lion or tiger."
"Don't change the subject. What's wrong with being a messenger who conveys the will of the gods?"
"Excuse me?"
Narcissus, who was sitting in the corner, tried to add a few words, but the personalities of the three were too strong for him to find a gap to interject.
Just as the adults who didn't act their age were chattering away.
[The preliminary round begins. From 256th place, please follow the guidance and enter in order!]
With the host's booming voice, the preliminary round began.
***
"Whether you're really the Supernova or whatever, I don't care. I'll defeat you here and..."
"Noisy."
Seo-jin shot Black Lightning at his babbling opponent and roasted him on the spot.
"KWAAAAAK!"
"Medic!"
The opponent, having become a well-done Mage roast, was transported to the medical room.
'To think he's chattering in front of the enemy even after the battle has started.'
He was someone who didn't even have the basics of combat down.
He could understand the desire for revenge after suffering great humiliation in front of Rosaria before, but with such a mindset, entering actual combat would result in death before long.
Looking toward the VIP seats, Rosaria waved her red fan toward Seo-jin with a satisfied smile.
Even after that, many people rushed at him to defeat the Supernova and raise their fame, but only climber tempura kept increasing.
"Is that person really the Supernova?"
"Look at the magic casting speed. It can't be explained unless he's the Supernova."
"But did he originally look like that?"
"Photos always make you look better."
Meanwhile, Se-yeon also continued her victories smoothly, piercing through enemies with Nameless.
Her body movements, forged through a month of hellish training, were clearly different from before.
The appearance of attacking based on instinct could no longer be found.
Body movements that flowed like water to deflect the opponent's attacks, and used innate senses to dig into weak points and deliver precise strikes.
"Who is she?"
"I've never seen her before."
At the appearance of an unexpected dark horse, the climbers couldn't hide their tension.
"She looks familiar though..."
During the 4th floor Lich King subjugation, Se-yeon had briefly appeared in the video that became a hot topic, but no one could definitively identify her.
"AHEM."
At Se-yeon's consecutive victories, Talis stroked his beard with a satisfied expression and gave a low cough.
In addition to that, Holy Knight Zieg and Narcissus's disciple Spiritualist Austin also crushed other climbers without difficulty and achieved consecutive victories.
All four passed the preliminaries showing an overwhelming difference in skill without a single crisis.
[The semifinals will begin shortly!]
"WAAAAAH!"
As their names and affiliated factions appeared one by one on the Colosseum's giant electronic board, the audience fell into a cauldron of enthusiasm, anticipating their next matches.
Under breathtaking tension, the semifinal matchups were announced.
[Pantheon's Zieg, and Valhalla's Nameless!]
"!"
[Following that, the match between Pandemonium's Supernova and Avalon's Austin has been arranged!]
The matches between Se-yeon and Zieg, and Seo-jin and Austin respectively were set.
"Oh my, this is unexpected."
"Tsk."
"Keke, if things go well, we might get to see a good show."
"Oh no, this can't be."
Rosaria just shrugged her shoulders as if it didn't matter who came, but Gabriel frowned unusually.
She had hoped the Supernova and Zieg would clash directly, but a variable had arisen in between.
On the other hand, Talis was in a mood to enjoy the sword-to-sword battle that would take place first.
Finally, Narcissus was in despair that his disciple Austin would face the Supernova directly.
[First, we'll have the match between Nameless and Zieg. Contestants, come forward!]
***
Contestant waiting room.
Seo-jin encouraged Se-yeon before her match.
"Win and come back. I'll face you."
Trust that Se-yeon would definitely win, no.
An extremely calm statement as if winning and coming up was a matter of course.
That single statement gave Se-yeon more strength than any advice or strategy guide.
Se-yeon nodded silently and left the waiting room, heading toward the arena.
"WAAAAAH!"
The cheers of the spectators echoing throughout the Colosseum.
It felt like hot passion and vitality were pouring down like a waterfall.
In a situation where so many gazes and attention were focused, Se-yeon felt as if her vision was becoming distant and her mind was becoming confused.
Se-yeon pressed her hat down deeply, worried it might stand out, and glared at her opponent.
"WAAAAAH!"
Cheers that echoed as if the sky would fall.
"Zieg! Zieg!"
With Zieg's entrance, priests and templars belonging to Pantheon chanted his name.
They weren't simply climbers, but a community of destiny moving forward together under the name of god.
Unlike other factions, they had a strong tendency to unite with each other rather than compete.
Eventually, Holy Knight Zieg stepped up onto the arena.
CLANK-.
A German boy heavily armed in pure white armor.
Holy Knight Zieg, who received the call of Pantheon and trained under Gabriel's command.
His appearance, holding a large shield with a golden cross drawn on it, was like an impregnable fortress.
[Then, let's start the match!]
The match began with the host's shout.
DING-.
Along with the bell sound, the 10-minute time limit appeared on the electronic board.
Zieg looked at Se-yeon from beyond his shield and spoke to her.
"I'll give you the first move."
CLANK-.
Rather than goodwill toward Se-yeon, it was a judgment that there was no need to move first.
As long as he was protected by the large shield and sacred armor, there was no need to break his defensive stance.
Se-yeon looked him over with sharp eyes, searching for weak points.
"......"
There were none.
The Holy Knight before her was literally an impregnable fortress.
He was a massive wall itself, seeming to have no way to break through.
'First...'
Se-yeon took her stance and slowly closed the distance.
The thought of dealing a big blow at once was forbidden.
The priority was to gradually weaken his defense through continuous attacks.
Taking advantage of that gap, she would thrust attacks into weak points.
Having made her decision, Se-yeon dyed her eyes red and contracted all the muscles in her body.
SWOOSH-.
In an instant, Se-yeon's form shot forward like a beast, lowering her posture and springing forward.
In the blink of an eye, her staff shot out like a ray of light as she rushed to Zieg's front.
"......"
However, Zieg didn't miss that movement and slightly adjusted the angle of his shield to block the staff.
RATA-TA-TA-TANG-!
Nameless striking the shield with clear sounds.
What started as a simple collision of steel against steel soon changed into an exchange between red Energy and pure white barrier.
KWAAA-!
Se-yeon's red Energy pouring down along the trajectory and the solid divine barrier blocking it.
Se-yeon analyzed the situation while maintaining her reason even in a state where she had drawn up Blood Lineage Energy.
'There's almost no movement.'
SWOOSH-.
His shield only moved to the optimal angle suitable for blocking the staff.
He showed no weak points at all.
If this exchange continued, Se-yeon would be the first to tire and collapse.
To think he was just hiding inside his shell like a chrysalis.
'If that's how you're going to play it.'
There was no choice but to smash the shell.
POP-.
Se-yeon stopped her attack and retreated far back.
Then she took a charging stance and infused Energy into her staff.
WOOOOM-.
As she injected energy, Nameless glowed red hot.
What Se-yeon learned from Talis wasn't just softness.
The teaching that you shouldn't lose your strengths when you need to compensate for weaknesses.
Therefore, she had also learned how to maintain unbreaking strength.
[Flash Strike]
FLASH-.
Se-yeon became a single ray of light and shot toward Zieg's shield along with her staff.
"......"
Zieg clearly watched the faint beam of light rushing toward him.
He had already grasped the power through the previous attacks, so he could definitely block it.
Zieg adjusted the angle of his shield and prepared for the coming impact.
However.
TAP-.
What touched the shield was only a powerless contact.
Wondering what it was, when he checked beyond the shield, her staff was stopped, touching the surface of the shield.
'What?'
Just as Zieg tilted his head and let his guard down for a moment.
[Heart-Crushing Strike]
THOOM-!
Se-yeon's following fist strongly struck the back part of the staff.
Simultaneously.
BZZZANG-!
"!"
The tremendous impact traveled through the staff and was transmitted directly beyond the shield, piercing through Zieg's defense.
The shock that penetrated the divine barrier and the shield's defensive power and was transmitted to his bones.
"KUGH!"
Using the staff as a nail and the following fist as a hammer.
The Energy contained in the fist and staff was driven into his body like a wedge.
The arm bone of Zieg, who was holding the shield, shattered completely, and the aftermath even caused his posture to collapse.
"Kuk. Holy Lord, healing...!"
Zieg hurriedly straightened his posture and tried to heal his arm with Divine Arts, but.
POKE-.
Se-yeon's staff, which had approached at some point, blocked Zieg's mouth.
"Surrender?"
"...UMP."
If he refused, it seemed like she would smash all his teeth, so Zieg had no choice but to nod.
[Player Zieg surrenders! Player Nameless wins!]
"WAAAAAH!!"
The victory achieved by the nameless player who defeated Pantheon's promising star.
The underdog's victory always provided thrills. The spectators passionately chanted the pseudonym Nameless.
"Nameless! Nameless! Nameless!"
"......"
Se-yeon looked around with bewildered eyes.
Though it wasn't her real name, many people were chanting her name.
The cheers and passionate gazes she had never felt in her life.
She had always thought that others' gazes were only burdensome.
'...It might not be such a bad feeling.'
Se-yeon shook hands with Zieg and came down from the arena, heading to the waiting room.
Seo-jin was waiting in the waiting room.
"I won."
At Se-yeon's words, which sounded like a report, Seo-jin nodded.
"Well done. See you in a bit."
Seo-jin patted Se-yeon's shoulder once and headed toward the arena.
[Now, right to the next match! We have the match between Pandemonium's Supernova and Avalon's Austin!]
"WAAAAAH!"
Cheers that shook the arena once again.
However, these cheers soon quieted down as if cold water had been poured on them.
BZZZOOM-.
The sky tore open and tremendous energy poured out from beyond it.
"......"
Not only the climbers in the Colosseum but even the faction representatives in the VIP seats instinctively looked up at the sky.
The overwhelming presence felt from the sky that didn't even make them think of resistance.
A figure descended above the Colosseum, revealing an overwhelming presence.
"Well, well."
Pure white hair and blue eyes, an arrogant smile as if he could see through everything in the world.
Administrator Nimrod.
He swept his gaze once over the tens of thousands of spectators and the four faction representatives, then soon raised the corners of his mouth slightly as if finding it interesting.
"I couldn't possibly miss such an interesting event."