Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Tower's Trials #4
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"Little one. Our precious little one."
A black-haired woman spoke with a grin.
However, the emotion hidden within was far from gentle.
It was the ferocious aura of a beast that could snap the opponent's throat at any moment.
It was no sister's gaze toward her sibling.
"...H-How did you get here, sis?"
"What's this? Can't even greet family properly?"
"No, that's not it. Upper-floor Hunters aren't supposed to interfere with the lower floors..."
"Little one. Our innocent little one. Do you really think we can't do it?"
The truth that Rakiya Bells, still in the lower stages, didn't know.
A truth there had been no need to tell her.
"A few penalties are all it takes to come down here~"
"...!"
Rakiya Bells gasped in shock at those words.
They never came down unless it was something major, so she hadn't worried about interference.
"Then."
"Isn't it funny if you think about it the other way around? Smashing a few low-rank Hunters is no big deal... so why didn't you consider us coming down the floors?"
She couldn't comprehend it from start to finish.
The fact that she had to face her sister here, of all places—
Rakiya Bells's vision went dark.
"Our little one seems so touched to see her big sis~ Right?"
The Hunter who had come down wasn't just her.
Five high-ranking Hunters adorned with tribal ornaments and gear stood beside her.
The destructive auras emanating from each confirmed they were the top warriors of Rakiya Bells's tribe.
"Well, greetings are over."
"...Impossible."
"What?"
Her sister, 'Rakiya Serbel,' smiled sweetly as she turned to her foolish little sister.
"Do you still hate your big sis that much?"
"Th-That's not what I mean! You think a few penalties are nothing? I know plenty! Just being here puts several times the mana strain on your body..."
"Oh my."
Interrupting Rakiya Bells's rambling, her sister struck a pose as if deeply moved.
"Are you actually worrying about your big sis right now? My goodness... our little one is finally growing up...!"
Rakiya Serbel looked around dramatically, as if truly touched.
Rakiya Bells hadn't said anything wrong.
Descending to already-cleared floors imposed massive strain on a Hunter's progress, depending on their rank.
"Your mana, physical abilities... they're probably close to mine now..."
"So you think you can take on your big sis here?"
"N-No, that's not...!"
"Hehe, surprised you. But our little one isn't wrong. The penalties are making my body feel so heavy right now."
Mana capacity, physical prowess, mental burden.
It felt like regressing to a fragile lower-floor Hunter—
a sensation affecting Rakiya Serbel and the others as well.
But they had 'experience.'
Experience surviving far worse hells.
They possessed transcendent mental fortitude beyond mere Hunter talent.
"...Because of that man...?"
Rakiya Bells cautiously probed her sister's intentions.
"And if it is?"
"Why... why go this far...? Even for you, acting so openly—other Hunters will..."
The Tower's structure might be stupidly simple, but the relationships among its Hunters were incredibly complex.
A web where Hunters from different worlds checked each other like spiders.
Thus, Rakiya Bells was certain her sister's actions were being watched.
By other mid-to-upper-floor Hunters, no less.
"What if the other Hunters agreed?"
"Wh-What...?"
"Little one~ Our little one. You think I'd do this to please those bastards~?"
Especially not her, with her fierce competitive streak.
She'd never do anything to make other Hunters happy.
But this was different.
Rakiya Serbel's eyes gleamed with intense interest.
"Rumor has it a Hunter from some underwhelming world flew through this theme stage."
"....."
"Took down our little one in seconds, and even."
The power of the Object.
Whatever ability it held, that extraordinary power was dangerous enough to draw urgent attention from Rakiya Serbel's group.
"The Council has started paying attention to him. Name was... Do-yoon? Unusual name~"
"Th-That's."
"Probably fighting hard in the 7th-floor boss room right now?"
"...."
"No need to answer~ Our silly little one just needs to follow where big sis leads~"
Overwhelmed by her sister's presence, Rakiya Bells thought of Do-yoon battling right now.
-Gulp.
And unwittingly, she imagined it.
Her current self, under penalty, fighting him.
'Dangerous.'
It would be extremely risky for both.
Rakiya Bells had never doubted her sister's strength, but under this level of penalty, it was different.
"Let's see~ Should we wait at the 8th-floor entrance? He won't die to a mere 7th-floor boss mob, right? Since he caught our little one's eye."
Rakiya Serbel turned.
Her glossy black hair fluttered, revealing the toned, powerful figure of a warrior woman.
"Everyone, wait upstairs first~"
"Yes."
"As planned."
The Hunters acknowledged the great warrior and turned in unison.
All waiting for the Hunter named Do-yoon.
An unimaginable future approaching the moment they met him.
"S-Sis."
"Hm?"
So Rakiya Bells had to find out.
What scheme her sister was plotting.
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Do I have to report to our little one?"
"...Ugh!"
-Rumble!
A crushing pressure bore down on Rakiya Bells, shaking the air itself.
Yet she pressed on undaunted.
"D-Do... No. That Hunter is my prey...!"
"Oh my."
Serbel turned to her sister with a surprised expression.
A child who had never rebelled in her life.
From birth, instinctively aware of strength's scale, always submitting before her.
That child had grown in an instant, now questioning her will and even defying her.
"Surprising~ I never knew our little one had this side~?"
-Heh.
Thus, Rakiya Serbel's belligerent nature couldn't ignore her little sister's retaliation.
"Great Warrior. Not here."
"I know, I know. She's just so cute~?"
Rakiya Serbel was aggressive, but not stupid enough to rampage on a lower floor under penalties.
She glanced at her hand.
Just a brief surge of mana had it trembling from the strain.
'Annoying.'
The feeling of weakness was something she could never get used to.
No, it was utterly repulsive.
"I came down myself out of personal interest... anyway."
Saying no more, Serbel fully turned and left the scene.
-Whoosh.
Rakiya Bells could do nothing as their presences vanished in an instant.
"...."
#
-Kwaaak!
In the center of the battlefield.
A massive claw swept in.
The spot where Do-yoon had stood moments ago was crushed by the Lizardman Champion's brute force.
"Eira!"
At Do-yoon's command, two chains surged toward the Lizardman Champion instead of a reply.
-Shweeeek!
"Krwaaak!"
They latched onto its body, halting it briefly, but immense strength soon flung them off.
"Eek! So tough!"
"Good job."
Do-yoon praised the struggling Eira and pondered his next move.
Eira's chains were his most aggressive tool.
But if they only stalled briefly, his patterns became limited.
Moreover, the Lizardman Champion had long noticed his reliance on them and was adapting skillfully.
'Annoying.'
Ideally, it'd fall on its own like on the 6th floor, but it seemed determined to uphold the 7th floor's pride.
'Need a variable.'
In the end, Do-yoon opted for his reliable standby method.
"Eira."
Chains shot toward the Lizardman Champion once more at his will.
"Krarrarara!!!"
The 7th-floor boss mob swung its greatsword with confident roar.
But this time, there was a hidden aim.
-Kwagak!
Instead of its torso, the chains targeted—
"Kruk?!"
Its greatsword, wrapping around the blade entirely.
For a moment, the Lizardman Champion let out a bewildered cry as its attack was blocked.
'Now.'
Seizing the perfect opening, Do-yoon charged the massive frame.
-Tadak!
Dodging the thrashing thick tail, he swung the Goblin Warlord's curved sword.
-Shaaak!
A smooth sensation, followed by a dark red gash across the black scales.
"Krarak!"
Enraged by the sudden pain, the Lizardman Champion glared at Do-yoon.
"What're you looking at."
Its greatsword was bound.
The chains trembled, about to snap, but time remained.
"One more."
Do-yoon calmly regulated his breath and eyed his next target.
Mobility denial seemed most efficient.
Naturally, one of its ankles.
-Swipe.
Aiming at the leg bracing the ground, Do-yoon swung the Goblin Warlord's curved sword.
Or tried to.
"Kring!"
"What the hell."
Releasing the greatsword, the Lizardman Champion threw a massive boxer-style punch.
Caught off-guard, Do-yoon hastily activated a skill.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Tyrasilis's Skin (C) A defensive skill earned from a lower-floor reptile boss.
-Thudkwang!!
With a clash like metal on metal, Do-yoon's body flew far and slammed into the wall.
"A-Aaaah...!"
His head rang piercingly.
Eira's anxious, trembling voice reached him.
'Things were going too smoothly.'
Do-yoon hadn't had a proper fight lately.
Or perhaps he hadn't bothered.
Like a pig fattened on grain.
Clearing stages like a shut-in relying on strong skills.
'You pathetic bastard.'
Do-yoon harshly berated himself once more, shaking his trembling legs to stand.
"O-Oppa...!"
Guilt laced her teary voice.
"Sorry. I'll focus."
"Does it hurt...? Hic..."
"No, I'm fine."
Why had he thought he could manage like this?
Why hadn't he gone all out?
He confronted the ugly emotions buried deep inside.
He just hadn't wanted to show his hand.
Fear that it wouldn't work once fully revealed had led to this.
Thus.
"Eira."
"Y-Yes...?"
"Will you come?"
-Crackle.
Do-yoon squeezed out his last mana for a decisive blow.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Skill: Memory of the Progenitor (???) activates. Skill 'Memory of the Progenitor (???)' resonates with hidden perk: 'Progenitor's Contractor (EX)'! -Shaaa...
A bloody aura of death brushed past his feet.
-Thud! Thud...
The harbinger of Do-yoon's death approached.
The Lizardman Champion closing in.
But Do-yoon didn't evade.
What changed was—
-Grip...
A gentle presence settling softly on his shoulder.
Glancing down revealed dainty white legs peeking from his armpit.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Eira' temporarily manifests. "Kraaaaa!!"
"Heard of phase 2?"
The first brush with death since tackling the Tower.
Do-yoon, with Eira, challenged the Lizardman Champion once more.