Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Chapter 34 Tower Entry.
'I feel like staying a bit longer... but that wouldn't be right, would it?'
In the first run, it wasn't until the 10th year of the tutorial that I could first produce visible results.
It took 48 years to acquire all the abilities I had.
But now it was different.
In the second run's tutorial, I had already accomplished many things. There wasn't just one or two visible achievements.
I created the Newbie Encyclopedia and installed the Automatic Artifact Crafting Workshop, raising the level of all players.
I analyzed the newly added avatars and based on that, improved my companions' martial arts, strengthening our fighting power.
Even throughout all those processes, I didn't neglect honing myself.
'Maybe I gained even more?'
Of course, I hadn't become as strong as the overall level increase of all players combined, but based on the current moment, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I had developed more than the combined growth of the other 996 people.
Transcendence Limitless Path, Predation, Infinite Heavenly Light Divine Art, Myriad Fierce Beast, and even Divine Blood.
Having obtained multiple things that would show monstrous performance even with just one, tremendous synergy was occurring within me.
The growth range as a pure martial artist couldn't be said to be that large, but growth in other areas was too steep.
Now I was truly becoming an All-Master. With my current self, I could really perform any role.
'Of course, there are parts I need to be careful about...'
The ability called Predation had a very high ceiling, but it was also an ability that carried risks proportional to that.
This was because potential didn't necessarily contain only positive aspects.
There were many dangerous things, like potential for training others that were useless to me, or potential needed to awaken peculiar tendencies.
They would remain as mere potential unless I intentionally tried to awaken them, but since it was also true that I carried the potential to become such a person, I needed to act more carefully.
That said, I wouldn't give up Predation. Hadn't I already gained two S-rank traits thanks to Predation?
'Divine Blood. This is quite something too.'
The effect was as follows:
[Divine Blood (S): A trait possessed by one through whom the blood of gods flows. Creates a body optimized for accepting divine authority.
① Sacred Blood: The most noble and holy blood flows through the body. Divinity naturally flows through mana. Receives high-level correction when using divine authority.
② Noble One: The unique aura of Divine Blood naturally emanates. Easily gains favor from those who serve gods. Can handle artifacts containing divine authority without penalty.
③ Exalted Status: Possesses innate status. Damage received from those of lower status decreases while damage dealt increases.]
Honestly, it's an impossible combination.
It's the body of Myriad Fierce Beast, the most terrible monster, but divine blood flows within it.
'It could be the opposite though.'
No, rather, my conclusion is that because I first obtained the body of Myriad Fierce Beast that could accept anything, acquiring Divine Blood became possible.
If I had tried to absorb the avatars right away instead of absorbing potential step by step from the bottom, I had the intuition that I wouldn't have been able to acquire Divine Blood.
Since a martial artist of Harmony has greatly expanded senses, even that intuition isn't in the realm of simple speculation.
With such intense intuition, the probability that it would actually be so was very high.
"It's fortunate. That my personality is like this."
I don't try to rush anything. Having come up from the very bottom, I liked building up the foundation step by step.
That's why I could also obtain Divine Blood.
Divine Blood's first ability matched well with Infinite Heavenly Light Divine Art's third ability, Limitless.
The combination of Sacred Blood that adds divinity to mana and Limitless that improves mana quality as it learns new energies.
As mana quality improves, Sacred Blood makes it contain more divinity, and when it contains more divinity, Limitless learns that and improves mana quality.
And the fact that mana containing divinity was exactly the domination mana that Baal handles was ironic in itself.
'A terrible hybrid has been born...'
A monster's body, divine blood and divinity, and even a Demon King's mana. I clearly lived faithfully, so why did it turn out like this?
I really don't know.
The second ability had an effect that could help with my plan. The plan to make the gods' forces feel favor toward Earthlings, putting the brakes on attacking us.
First, I could easily raise favorability toward the Earthling Han Yeong-min, so I was thinking of using that to try raising favorability toward all Earthlings once.
I didn't know if I could obtain it, but I also liked being able to handle artifacts containing divine authority without penalty.
'Well, it'll be useful someday. It's not bad to have.'
The third effect was truly an ability for bullying. I didn't know what the criteria for determining status were, but the moment I obtained Divine Blood, I did feel something inside me increase.
Something that had been growing little by little every time I became stronger, that I had been vaguely aware of. That thing that increased especially much when I gained Qualification for Transcendence.
Now I decided to call it status. My status was by no means small.
"This ability also has useful places."
Among the groups I needed to win over was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult - a group that worshipped the strong and consisted of those who hadn't made contracts with Constellations.
I had planned to go in alone and persuade them, and if I received help from Exalted Status, wouldn't my persuasion come across more sincerely?
Just thinking about kicking the main gate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult while shouting 'Heavenly Demon, come out!' was already exciting... no, I'm not that kind of person.
'Agh. Damn Baal. It's you again?'
Probably all of this was because the potential of evil absorbed from the Demon King had awakened. It's absolutely not my fault.
Anyone I grab off the street would acknowledge this.
As I was getting used to the new abilities, time flew by and before I knew it, it was time to enter the Tower.
Light particles covered people and instantly moved them to the field that was the tutorial's first location.
In the first run, many people were flustered, but in this run, since everyone's average martial power level had risen, there wasn't really anyone who was greatly surprised or anything.
'Everyone seems to have achieved at least All Stats 10.'
High Intelligence and Mental Strength stats protected their composure. There were even quite a few people who were close to or had achieved All Stats 20.
It seemed quite a few people had thoroughly read the method for quickly raising to All Stats 20 that I had written in the Newbie Encyclopedia.
It would have been very boring since it was pure grinding, but those who overcame that boredom grew faster than others.
"Tower entry time has arrived!"
This time, Uriel was leading people as the representative of angels instead of Estelle.
"Soon the gate leading to the Tower will open. Those who wish to enter the Tower may go in immediately. By the way, there are rewards based on records, so I recommend entering quickly. Those who feel lacking may train a bit more before going."
If she knew there was someone who stubbornly held out for 50 years, Uriel wouldn't have added such words.
While people had grown much stronger, those who had achieved the most growth were my companions.
'Is that Baek Ran or Zeus?'
Baek Ran, who had obtained new divine arts and legendary artifacts, had risen from the beginning stages of transcendence to the realm of mastery, and even her magical skills had advanced through synergy with One Flash Lightning Divine Art.
'This one's growth rate is ridiculous. Already at this level?'
Yoo So-eun had stayed in the tutorial for the shortest time in the first run, so she started from the lowest place among us.
But with more advanced core martial arts, Sacred Light Divine Art, she had regained her martial power very quickly, and in terms of pure power increase, she could be seen as having grown the fastest among companions.
'Ryeon seems to have applied Agares's combat methods well.'
Baek Ryeon had originally reached the realm of transcendence in the tutorial before ascending the Tower, so she had considerable martial power from the moment she started the second run tutorial.
On top of that, she had achieved Harmony by filling in the last piece of the world, and had greatly increased her manifestation proficiency by applying Agares's combat methods that she learned from me.
Thinking of how much I struggled to raise the proficiency of Heaven-Shattering Flame Annihilation Heavenly Diagram, I'm glad my disciple at least grew comfortably.
All of this could proudly be said to be thanks to Zeus, Indra, Shakyamuni, Yahweh, Odin, Vasago, Agares, and Baal - my teachers, fathers, and GOATs.
'Your dedication and passion have once again led us to growth.'
Though I couldn't reveal it, all Earthlings should be grateful to those great ones.
I was even considering putting their names in Heroic-grade equipment contracts. But no matter how much they were fathers, I couldn't raise the enemy's power.
I rationally judged to maintain the current system.
'But the Demon King is in the Heroic-grade contract. Cheers.'
At least Baal, my giving tree, would gain a tremendous number of followers.
There was no reason for those choosing contracts with Demon Kings not to pick the strongest Demon King. Though there would be people who chose Agares or Vasago depending on their tendencies.
"Yeong-min-ah. We're going together this time, right?"
Yoo So-eun created a sound barrier so only we could hear, then asked with worried eyes.
Of course she'd be worried since in my previous life I said I'd follow soon but abandoned them for 10 years.
"Of course. There's nothing more to do by staying."
Honestly speaking, I had obtained everything I could obtain. While improving proficiency was possible, I had no intention of giving up the advantage of knowing the future for that.
Rather than my individual martial power becoming strong enough to face all the gods, creating a new force to face all the gods was both rationally and realistically much more correct.
"I'm looking forward to it. Just how different will the second run be."
Baek Ran seemed to have her heart swelling with anticipation. I had already changed many things, but the moment I entered the Tower, even more things would be turned upside down than now.
"I need to properly raise hell. It would be interesting if the gods regain memories of the first run later."
Because everyone would learn that a mere human could overturn the power structure of the Tower that had maintained order.
"With Master by my side, I'll be able to do anything."
Baek Ryeon was just holding my hand tightly while sending infinite trust toward me. That faith made me even more solid and strong.
"Yeah. Because you're all by my side."
I wasn't even alone. I wasn't singular.
With reliable companions beside me to cross the line of death, I feared nothing.
"Let's go."
The entrance to the Tower that I had only watched for 50 years in the first run. I confidently stepped inside with my companions.
The real chaos would start now.
Just wait and see, fathers.
This son will come to pay his respects.