Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 4
A roar that seemed to tear through eardrums erupted simultaneously as black lightning struck down upon the administrator's head.
KWARUNG-!
Thunder clouds and explosive smoke filled the tutorial room due to the aftermath of the powerful mana explosion.
"......Huh."
Min-young beyond the glass wall froze solid with her mouth agape at Seo-jin's sudden action.
The situation before her eyes was far too unbelievable for her brain to follow.
Regardless, Seo-jin turned his back on the frozen Min-young and silently stared beyond the explosive smoke.
"......"
The explosive smoke that had billowed up gradually cleared.
Then, the figure of a man standing perfectly fine came into view beyond it.
Seo-jin quietly bit his lips upon seeing that sight.
'Administrator.'
No one knows the true identity of that thing that calls itself the tower's administrator.
A capricious being that appears when it wants to appear, and gives tests as it pleases when it desires.
In the past, several climbers who had grown arrogant apparently tried to attack him, but none of them were able to inflict any damage.
They said it felt like he was a being from another dimension.
Seo-jin had wondered if it might work, but his black magic that ignored level differences and defense was no exception.
Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders.
'It really doesn't work on him.'
In his previous life, he couldn't test it when he met that guy due to his party members' dissuasion, but this time he had finally resolved a long-standing curiosity.
Furthermore, this was also a petty revenge carried out on behalf of humanity from his previous life, who had suffered terribly for years due to the tower's collapse.
WHOOSH-.
Nimrod, who had waved his hand to push away the explosive smoke, opened his mouth with a peculiar smile.
[Well, well. To think you'd launch an attack right off the bat. You're a very aggressive climber. I like it.]
Brushing off the dust on his shoulder with his hand, he looked Seo-jin up and down and said.
[By the way, is it alright for you to use up all your mana before the test?]
Indeed, the black lightning that had just been fired at Nimrod was a strike that used up all of Seo-jin's mana.
But Seo-jin answered confidently without caring about this.
"The test you're going to give won't require mana anyway."
Having experienced tests given directly by the administrator several times in his previous life, he could somewhat infer the content of the test.
Considering that guy's disposition and the tower's laws, mana usage would be impossible in this test.
Perhaps slightly surprised by Seo-jin's answer, puzzlement appeared in Nimrod's eyes.
[This should be our first meeting, shouldn't it? You're talking as if you know me well.]
Instead of answering, Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders.
From that guy's perspective, this would be the first time meeting Seo-jin, but Seo-jin had met him several times in his previous life.
So much so that he even felt an internal sense of familiarity.
At Seo-jin's reaction, acting as if he shouldn't worry about it, Nimrod nodded and spread both hands wide.
[Well, fine. Then let's do a simple test.]
HWAAK-.
As soon as the words ended, the space of the tutorial room expanded infinitely.
The tutorial room changed from a narrow space blocked on all sides to an infinite space stretching endlessly.
Nimrod continued speaking.
[This test is a bonus stage given only to those who cleared the nine stages of the tutorial and withstood the temptation of sweet rewards. If you pass this test, I will grant you the qualification to climb the tower along with 'what you desire' as a reward.]
"What I desire? How would you know that?"
To Seo-jin's question, Nimrod showed both hands spread with a smile.
[I am the tower's administrator. I can easily fathom the desires and deficiencies of those who wish to climb the tower. You definitely won't be disappointed with the reward. However, there is one condition.]
CHAREUR-.
Instantly, blue mana particles gathered at Seo-jin's wrist and transformed into the shape of handcuffs.
Nimrod said.
[As you expected, you cannot use mana in this test. Well, since you've already exhausted all your mana beforehand, you couldn't use it even if you wanted to. It's hardly a penalty.]
"......"
[Your black magic is certainly special. It can be used even without going through 'awakening,' and you haven't made a contract with a higher being either. Perhaps you could demonstrate that power even outside the tower. It's truly tremendous power. However.]
Nimrod's blue eyes gleamed brightly.
[You must not be nothing without that power. This test is one taken with your most powerful weapon sealed. Prove to me that you can climb the tower without relying on that power.]
As soon as Nimrod's words ended.
KUOOOO-!
A massive roar that seemed to shake the earth's axis echoed through the pure white space.
KUNG-.
Following that, a gigantic being appeared before Seo-jin's eyes.
A massive quadrupedal monster whose entire body was covered in thick, tough fur.
It seemed like a large elephant, yet also like a hippopotamus, and also like a crocodile.
It had a bizarre form as if various creatures had been mixed together.
Every time its mountain-like massive body moved, the earth vibrated, and its breathing sounds were like thunder, shaking the vast space.
This was a legendary magical beast said to govern the earth.
[LV.50 Behemoth]
Its very existence was a symbol of mighty power.
Originally a boss-level monster that only appeared on the 90th floor and above of the tower, it was definitely not a monster that should appear in a tutorial.
Even if it was a test given directly by the administrator.
Although it had been downgraded to level 50, it was still impossible to face.
Seo-jin pointed at it and asked Nimrod.
"Are you crazy? You want me to face that thing?"
[Yes.]
"Is this because I blasted you with lightning earlier?"
[No. I don't particularly hold ill feelings toward aggressive climbers who launch attacks at the administrator right off the bat. Really.]
Nimrod smiled and played innocent, but all the reasons were contained within that answer.
'This petty bastard.'
He was definitely holding a grudge because he got sucker-punched.
[Also, the tower doesn't give trials that cannot be resolved. You should be able to resolve this sufficiently. I'll cheer you on.]
Nimrod cheering with a poker face.
But despite his encouragement, the following roar of the Behemoth made him realize the grim reality.
KUOOOO-!
When the Behemoth opened its massive maw wide and roared, storm-like mana shook the space.
Just hearing that roar made his mind feel distantly fading away.
Seo-jin gritted his teeth and endured the creature's roar.
'That bastard is annoyingly loud.'
Governing some kind of providence meant being a demigod-like existence that had transcended mortality.
If it had been an ordinary person, they would have gone mad just hearing that roar.
However, for Seo-jin who had always lived with madness, this level of mental attack was nothing special.
The only problem was.
KUWUNG-.
The truly overwhelming size difference.
Just from the creature extending its massive foot and stepping on the ground, the impact made his body bounce and float up.
"Kuk."
In that creature's eyes, Seo-jin would be nothing more than an ant that could be swept away with a single kick.
But that very perception was the only means to catch it off guard.
KUNG. KUNG. KUNG-.
The Behemoth slowly charged toward Seo-jin, moving its massive body.
Its enormous shadow cast over Seo-jin's head with the momentum of a tsunami.
Seo-jin gritted his teeth and looked up at it.
'Fine. If you want it, I'll become your prey.'
TATATAT-.
Then he immediately began running toward it.
KUOOO-!
The Behemoth opened its massive maw wide upon seeing Seo-jin charging toward it.
Inside its maw that gaped open like a dark cave, teeth the size of Seo-jin's torso were embedded in layers.
Seo-jin avoided those teeth and jumped precisely into the Behemoth's mouth.
CHEOLPEOK-.
The sensation of hot mucus touching his entire body and the slippery texture of its tongue.
Seo-jin slid down the Behemoth's tongue and into its throat.
"Eup."
After passing through the throat that constricted his entire body and entering the creature's stomach, a nauseating smell and digestive juices pooled in the stomach welcomed Seo-jin.
CHEOMBEONG-.
Seo-jin, who had fallen into the digestive juices, barely managed to swim and pull his head out.
"Puha."
The nauseating smell made him feel like vomiting right away, and his skin stung due to the digestive juices that dissolved his clothes.
'At least it's better than being trampled to death.'
The situation was much better than facing that creature outside where he could barely maintain his body.
Moreover, since there was no need to penetrate its tough hide and magical protection, this place was efficient in both offense and defense.
Of course, the fact that he had entered the creature's stomach didn't guarantee Seo-jin's victory.
PPAK-.
He tried pounding the Behemoth's stomach wall with his fist, but all that returned was pain and wounds from the strong recoil.
Seo-jin looked at his bleeding hand and narrowed his eyes.
'Currently, I'm in an unawakened state.'
He had neither the power and abilities that transcended ordinary people that regular climbers possessed, nor their recovery ability.
If he stayed still like this, far from defeating the Behemoth, he would melt in its gastric juices and become nutrients.
But he also couldn't target the creature's weakness with black magic.
CHAREUR-.
It was because of the mana handcuffs fastened to his wrist.
Seo-jin looked at the mana handcuffs that dimly illuminated the darkness for a moment, then closed his eyes.
'It doesn't matter. Only the use of mana is sealed.'
The use of magic itself wasn't sealed.
People commonly think that when mana is sealed, magic cannot be used, but that's not necessarily the case.
'Magic that doesn't use mana.'
Although that category is very limited, it's magic that definitely exists.
"Whoo."
Seo-jin calmed his mind and lightly licked the wound on his hand with his tongue.
Simultaneously.
PAREURER-.
Several drops of blood spurted from the wound on his hand and floated up.
The blood droplets floating in the air moved here and there according to Seo-jin's will and bounced around in all directions.
Seo-jin looked at those blood droplets and smiled.
'Blood magic.'
Blood magic was a type of black magic that required blood and life.
It had different advantages from black magic in that it could utilize blood instead of mana.
Normally, such characteristics would be no different from a penalty, but in situations like now where mana was sealed, there was nothing like blood magic.
After confirming that blood magic was working normally, Seo-jin concentrated his mind, extracted more blood, and condensed it in the air.
KKUYUK-.
Since a reasonable amount definitely wouldn't work, Seo-jin pressed around the wound area and extracted blood to his limit.
JEUEUIK-.
Blood droplets gathering together and floating in the air.
If he extracted more blood, his head would spin and he could feel abnormalities occurring in his internal organs.
But the amount of blood was far insufficient.
'Just a little more.'
JEUEUIK-.
Seo-jin gritted his teeth and continued extracting blood.
Tremendous blood loss. Toxic gas filling his lungs and the Behemoth's gastric juices slowly dissolving his entire body.
Due to the harsh conditions, he felt like he would lose consciousness at any moment, but Seo-jin slapped his own cheek to maintain his composure.
The amount of blood he extracted while maintaining consciousness was approximately 1 liter.
"Haa, haa."
Seo-jin coagulated the blood at the wound site and slowly caught his breath.
Having extracted enough blood, Seo-jin bit down hard and continued the blood magic.
What he would create using the extracted blood was an artifact - the only weapon that could deal fatal damage to the Behemoth in the current situation.
Having researched this in the past, Seo-jin remembered its structure and mana formation exactly.
Even though he couldn't use mana.
Even though he had returned to the past and become an ordinary person with all stats reset.
The knowledge in his head wouldn't disappear.
JEUEUIK-.
Soon it formed a sharp conical shape and began emitting a fierce aura.
GOOOO-.
[Leviathan's Fang]
Leviathan, the monster governing the oceans, which was said to have battled Behemoth, who governed the earth, for a thousand days.
The fang of that legendary monster had revealed itself in Seo-jin's hand.
Although this fang was a replica that didn't possess Leviathan's divinity and ferocious mana, right now the 'concept' it possessed was sufficiently useful.
'There's a legend that Behemoth suffered great wounds from Leviathan's fang.'
Conceptual weaknesses passed down through legends cannot be blocked by anything.
Seo-jin gripped the completed Leviathan's Fang tightly with both hands.
"Obediently become my experimental material, monster."
PUYUK-.
Then he strongly stabbed the fang into the Behemoth's stomach wall.