Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 92
Seo-jin nodded without hesitation.
"Good. I'll accept that test."
He had climbed to the 12th floor prepared for a test in the first place.
Although he had avoided the test thanks to being chosen by Pandemonium, there would be no problem with taking a test now.
He was confident he could pass whatever test they gave him.
Talis patted Seo-jin's shoulder with his large hand, looking satisfied.
"KUKU, how refreshing. Good, I'll watch and see just how long that confidence of yours will last. Come."
PPIIK-.
When Talis whistled, clouds gathered and spread beneath their feet.
Seo-jin rode the clouds with Talis, passing through countless sky islands to head toward the most remote area of Valhalla's domain.
KURUNG-. KUGUNG-.
A desolate island where storms raged and fierce waves crashed.
It was an eerie place where countless weapons including swords and spears were stuck in the ground like tombstones.
Talis set Seo-jin down in front of a cave below the coastal cliff.
He pointed toward the inside of the dark cave where nothing could be seen ahead and asked heartily.
"This inside is the test site. How is it?"
CHEOLSSEOK-.
Outside the cave where wind and rain raged, fierce waves rolled in and swallowed Seo-jin's voice.
"Isn't this a tomb?"
No matter how he looked at it, this seemed like an execution ground where they brought people they wanted to eliminate and made them disappear without anyone knowing.
"KEULKEUL, calling it a tomb isn't entirely wrong either. We buried all those who failed to pass the test here. All those weapons stuck up there belong to them. Why, are you perhaps getting scared?"
"What's scary about something like this?"
It was just a 12th floor level test anyway. It wouldn't be that difficult. Rather, his pride would be hurt if it were too easy.
"Is there perhaps a more difficult test than this?"
"There isn't. At least among the tests we Valhalla give on the 12th floor, this is the most difficult test. Well, I could create a more difficult test like a life-or-death duel with me."
He pointed to himself with his thumb, showing his confidence.
His muscles rippled like living rock.
Indeed, a duel with Talis would be more dangerous than any other test.
"What do you say? Will you take the test? For reference, restrictions will be placed the moment you agree to take the test. If you rely only on your magical talent and take the test, you'll get your nose broken."
Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders.
"It doesn't matter. You didn't choose me because of my magical talent."
He became interested in Seo-jin because of what happened when he acquired the Energy Core, but that wasn't why he chose Seo-jin.
Talis wouldn't choose someone no matter how outstanding their talent was if they lacked martial talent.
From this perspective, the Five Stars that Seo-jin possessed could also be considered part of his martial talent.
Talis smiled and nodded.
"Good, then I'll consider you participating in the test and impose the restrictions."
TTAK-.
When Talis snapped his fingers strongly, Seo-jin felt as if invisible chains were pressing down on his entire body.
This was Talis's authority, wielding power close to that of an administrator on the 12th floor.
"In this test, you cannot use magic."
Seo-jin readily nodded.
"That much is nothing."
He had already prepared himself for this.
He had never expected to be able to use magic in Valhalla's test, which pursued pure martial arts.
"Also, you cannot use artifacts, magical tools, or inventory."
TUNG-.
When he tried to reach into his inventory at those words, his hand bounced back as if blocked by something.
Also, he could no longer feel mana from the Mask of Ten Thousand Forms and Tears of Siyul that Seo-jin was wearing.
This was the administrator's authority.
Under specific conditions, it could even seal mana or item abilities.
It seemed best not to challenge these beings carelessly.
Seo-jin tapped the backpack he had brought and said.
"I can use this, right?"
Survival supplies he had prepared in advance, worried about inventory sealing and such.
Talis narrowed his eyes and nodded as if he had no choice.
"......You're well-prepared. There don't seem to be any magical tools or anything, so I'll allow it."
"Ah, what's the previous shortest clear record by any chance?"
It wasn't anything special, but he wanted to know for achievements or setting new records.
To this, Talis crossed his arms and answered confidently.
"No one has passed this so far."
KURUNG-. KUNG-.
Lightning flashed along with his declaration.
"I hope your robe won't end up draped in this Sword Graveyard. Well then, I wish you good luck."
Soon Talis disappeared beyond the wind and rain, riding the clouds.
Seo-jin watched his retreating figure disappear beyond the dark storm, then took out a flashlight from his backpack and turned it on.
The cave brightened in the flashlight's beam.
Seo-jin picked up his backpack and calmly entered deeper into the cave.
How long had he walked while munching on a chocolate bar?
The endlessly continuing cave came to an end, and something like the door of a large temple appeared.
Confirming that the door was slightly open, Seo-jin stepped inside without delay.
And at the same time.
KUNG-.
The large door closed, blocking the way back.
Anyway, even if he went back out of the cave, it was just a storm-swept desolate island, so he didn't know what meaning there was in blocking the exit.
Seo-jin set down his backpack and shone his flashlight around the interior.
Hazy dust visible in the light beam.
At first glance, it was a moderately sized room with nothing particularly unusual.
It was made of closely fitted bricks, with no special patterns or unusual triggers visible.
There was just an exit across from the entrance he had come through.
However, it didn't seem wise to walk toward that exit without any suspicion.
While pacing near the entrance, Seo-jin soon discovered some writing on the floor.
[The wind silently brushes past spear tips, and shadows flow like water across the floor. Life and death are divided every seven steps, so read the flow of the Big Dipper.]
It seemed like a hint, but he didn't understand what it was saying.
"Hyeon-wol, are you there?"
SWIK-.
Hyeon-wol appeared again after hiding at Seo-jin's call.
"How is it? Do you think Talis noticed you?"
[Yes, he seemed to have noticed my existence.]
She had hidden temporarily to avoid Talis's eyes, but it seemed she was discovered anyway.
[But he's not saying anything? Is it okay to participate in the test together?]
"It means you won't be much help in this test."
[Shut up.]
"If you don't like being treated that way, try interpreting this writing."
Hyeon-wol also read the writing at his feet, but she didn't seem to have figured anything out.
[......What is it saying?]
In the end, you're not much help. Talis's eye for judgment was accurate.
"Never mind if you don't know."
There was no need to play along with the creator's intentions. He would just go his own way.
Seo-jin took out a can from his backpack and threw it forward.
PUSIK-.
Instantly, the floor bricks moved as if coming alive, writhing, and sharp spears shot out from within, piercing the can.
The can burst, pierced by the spear.
Afterward, the spear disappeared below the floor bricks as if nothing had happened, sinking quietly.
The room with the same desolate scenery as before.
The only difference was the miserably pierced can and its spilled contents.
Seo-jin cupped his chin and fell into thought.
'Is this the test of the Fighting Demon Talis?'
A mechanism trap formation.
It was a trap room that turned everything passing through into skewers.
"Hmm."
In that case.
Seo-jin briefly stroked his chin, then took out several camping tools from his backpack and threw them.
A folding chair, thermos, tent stakes, lighter, and such.
Then.
PABABAK-.
Spears matching the exact number of thrown tools shot up from the floor, piercing each item.
The tools soon became rags scattered on the floor.
[Did you figure something out?]
Seo-jin, who had been carefully observing the trap's activation sequence, speed, positions, and reaction radius, nodded.
"Yes. Basically, it reacts to the object most likely to touch the ground first. If the falling speeds are similar, it reacts to the denser object first."
Falling speed wasn't affected by weight, but it varied slightly depending on the object's shape, air resistance, and such.
[So? What's the method to get through?]
"Since I don't have anything bulkier than my body among what I have, I have no choice but to find a way to make myself touch the ground last."
He had also confirmed the reaction area of each spear. About 50 centimeters in width and length.
If two or more objects overlapped within that area, it would only react to the one that touched first.
He would exploit that reaction algorithm and structural limitation.
CHIRIK-.
Seo-jin stepped in the Shadowless Steps and drew up his energy.
And.
CHWARALAK-.
He threw the magic stones from his backpack one after another at different speeds according to his direction of progress.
PABABAK-,
Spears shot up from the floor in sequence, reacting to the magic stones.
Seo-jin aimed for the timing when the spears pierced the magic stones and went back into the floor, then advanced forward.
SEUROK-.
His figure spread like a shadow, and Seo-jin reached the exit on the opposite side without any particular danger.
"Easy."
[But...... was your method of passing what the person who made this mechanism trap formation intended?]
"Who knows."
He only thought that it didn't matter how you got there as long as you reached Seoul, so it was a thoroughly black mage-like approach.
Still, if he were to guess the creator's intention, several things came to mind.
Moving fast enough that the spears couldn't react, or using lightness skill performance to step on spear tips and pass through.
Or he could attack and destroy the mechanism trap formation itself.
However, Seo-jin's footwork wasn't that fast, and he hadn't learned lightness skills that could make his body light or allow him to run long distances lightly.
Also, if he used Mixed Origin Energy enough to destroy this space itself, he would lack the internal energy needed to pass subsequent tests.
Since he also wasn't leisurely enough to spend time figuring out and breaking the mechanism trap formation's structure right away, ultimately passing the test with cunning was the best option.
Seo-jin exited through the exit and headed to the next room.
"The intention is clearer here."
Seo-jin shrugged and set his backpack down on the floor.
Standing in the circular room were eight wooden dolls.
When Seo-jin took one step forward.
BEONJJEOK-.
The dolls that had been drooping began to move, supplied with mana.
PABABAK-.
The dolls rushed at Seo-jin with bizarre movements like mannequins in horror movies.
"HUUU."
Seo-jin exhaled once and drew up the Mixed Origin energy sleeping in his lower dantian.
And.
JJEOJJEOK-.
He launched a Mixed Origin Palm at the charging wooden doll, directly bursting its head.
Fragments of the doll scattered, destroyed by the fierce energy.
"First, one."