Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: White Tower Ruins (5)
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“An envoy from the Pantheon?”
Keratosucus nodded at Lodbrok’s question.
“Originally, the <Guardians> are beings who protect this world on behalf of the Pantheon, which cannot carelessly interfere in mortal affairs due to the laws of causality. But a mediator is needed to connect them.”
“That would be you?”
“Exactly.”
Keratosucus turned his gaze toward Theo.
“The ‘white’ in White Tower signifies whiteness. Whiteness is what’s created when all lights converge into one. In other words, it’s a place where the gaze of every god seated in the Pantheon can reach.”
“So gods really do exist.”
With demigods like Kyle or Hilda around, Theo didn’t outright deny the existence of divine beings.
But he had never properly witnessed a true miracle from the gods.
This world did have religions, but their influence was minimal, largely for that reason.
“They do. Though probably not in the form you imagine.”
“……?”
“The common image humans have of gods—omniscient, omnipotent—is actually quite distant from reality. Most don’t even have proper physical forms. They’re generally on the level of ■■ ■■■■ ideals infused with ■■■ ■■■ ■…… Hmm, looks like filtering kicks in. Can’t say more.”
Keratosucus gave a wry smile, stroking his chin, then winked at Theo with one eye.
“But here’s a hint: the ‘things’ you’re seeing are connected to the Pantheon.”
“……!”
“‘Things’ your companion is seeing? Companion. Do you know what he means?”
Thump thump thump!
Theo couldn’t properly answer Lodbrok’s question.
His heart was racing.
‘He knows about the messages!’
The strange blue messages invisible to other selectors.
They resembled the ‘game system’ from his first life in form and interface, raising many questions.
To think they were linked to the Pantheon?
“Then this……!”
“Ah, I can’t say more. Filtering would block it anyway. But you’ll learn naturally as you go through the ‘cycles,’ so no need to worry.”
Keratosucus raised a hand to stop Theo as he tried to ask further.
“Something’s there, huh. So you really are different from the other companions.”
Lodbrok seemed intrigued from the side.
Theo clenched his fist.
He felt certain: gathering the ancient dragon relics might be the only way to uncover the secrets tied to him and his family.
“Anyway. As for this White Tower: think of it as one of the rare sanctuaries where the gods’ will can be projected through me as the mediator.”
Theo listened quietly to the explanation.
“That’s why the myriad gods can observe your every move here.”
“The gods…… are watching me?”
“Precisely. And……”
Clap!
The moment Keratosucus lightly clapped, countless message windows appeared behind him.
[■■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■.]
[■■■■ ■■■ ■■!]
[■■■■■ ■■■ ■ 입장■■■■■.]
[Interest ■■ ■■■■■ ■■ ■■■.]
[■■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■. ■■■■■? ■■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■ ■■■■■.]
.
.
“Already this many are <watching> you right now.”
The messages endlessly popped up and vanished, making his eyes spin.
“Unpleasant gazes.”
Unlike Theo, who couldn’t see the messages directly, Lodbrok seemed to sense them as stares.
Theo felt a strong aversion too, as if someone was peeking at him from somewhere.
Like sticky ticks that clung and wouldn’t let go.
“Please bear with it. It’s been ages since these folks saw a proper visitor. And it’s not all bad. The evaluation and rewards for the relic trial here will come from them.”
“So they’re the patrons we need to impress?”
“……A bit too blunt, but yes.”
“Creations bow to creators, but patrons top creators, and landlords top them all. Ahem! Nice to meet you all.”
Lodbrok cheerfully waved at the messages.
[Hearty welcome ■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■.]
[■■ ■■■■■ ■ ■■■■■. Enjoy■■■! ]
[Thrilled■■ ■■■ ■■■■■! ■■■ ■■.]
.
.
“Whatever it is, they seem thrilled?”
“They’re saying it’s an excellent performance…… This is a first for me too, so I’m a bit flustered.”
“I’ve never met the Pantheon gods face-to-face, but they don’t seem as stiff as I thought. If they were down here, they’d make great drinking buddies.”
[Dragon’s ■■ approval■■■■ ■■!]
[■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■ ■■■■■!!]
Theo sensed the once-indifferent gazes now brimming with enthusiasm, realizing gods were far more emotional than he’d imagined.
‘No. Maybe because they’ve stepped away from worldly affairs, they’re even more fervent and true to their feelings?’
In any case, Theo felt his preconceptions about gods shattering.
“So what’s the trial I have to face?”
The White Tower’s mysteries had opened in his previous life, but Theo suspected the trial he’d faced then differed greatly from this one.
“Self-exploration.”
“Self?”
“Yes. Into the unconscious, the instincts etched in your genes, deeper into the collective unconscious, the archetypes…… You’ll explore not just your soul, but the <roots> beneath it.”
Keratosucus stroked the tower wall as he continued.
“The ‘white’ in White Tower also signifies the visitor’s soul. Climbing the tower paradoxically means descending toward your roots.”
Ding!
[Guardian Keratosucus proposes a self-exploration to you. A time for reflection and uncovering your soul’s secrets.]
[But the unconscious is another world. Dive too deep without emerging, and you risk autism. Proceed with caution.]
“The tower has 13 floors total. Evaluation and rewards match the floors you climb. What do you say? Will you do it?”
Theo nodded without hesitation.
If he’d resolved to gather all the relics, he couldn’t skip this.
He pondered instead how to conquer all 13 floors.
Keratosucus smiled.
“A wise choice. Then let’s begin.”
Clap!
Another clap, and Keratosucus vanished.
Instead, the White Tower began to change.
Rumble-
The spiral stairs along the walls converged at the center.
Their end now lay before Theo.
A red carpet unfurled atop them, urging him to step up.
“The world of the unconscious isn’t to be taken lightly. As a realm of imagination, it operates on entirely different laws from reality—absurdities become commonplace. Be careful.”
“There’s actually something Lod doesn’t know.”
“Something I don’t know?”
“Nothing’s easier for me than the absurd.”
What could be more absurd than experiencing a fantasy world with Earth memories, or living through regressions?
Theo ascended past the first floor to the second, leaving Lodbrok’s farewell behind.
A brilliant glow lit the first floor, and Lodbrok vanished from view.
This was when the light shone from the White Tower’s first floor outside.
Whoosh!
[Entering Floor 2.]
Once Theo fully passed through the light veil.
On the vast marble floor sat a man in lotus position, back turned toward him.
Unlike Theo’s white attire, he wore only black clothes, and unlike Theo’s long black hair, his was short and white.
He showed no reaction to the presence, deep in thought.
Theo paused briefly.
He had a feeling who it was.
[To fully enter the unconscious world, first open the door of ‘consciousness.’]
[Defeat the me before you and open that door.]
At that moment, the seated man slowly rose and turned.
Like his clothes and hair—opposites of Theo’s—his eyes gleamed blue.
But his face was identical to Theo’s.
Like twins.
Flash-
The blue-eyed Theo kicked off the ground fiercely.
In his hands: the white Moonwhite Sword and black Dragonslayer Sword.
Reversed forms of Theo’s actual weapons.
Clang!
Theo swiftly drew his Moonwhite and Dragonslayer Swords to block.
He understood now.
Strength, skill, technique. The foe was identical to him.
So that’s why: defeat ‘himself.’
“Interesting.”
When else would he face such an opponent?
Theo smiled. But the blue-eyed Theo did not.
[All buffs activated.]
[Time limit: 10 minutes.]
[Countdown begins.]
Thump thump thump thump!
Dragon’s Heart and dantian raced in resonance.
The extended Dragon-Man Mode activated, and Theo dropped the Moonwhite and Dragonslayer Swords from his hands.
‘If this guy truly matches my skills and techniques, a head-on fight won’t settle it. Then……!’
He’d try his newly devised combat style.
All or nothing.
But Theo bet on all.
Flash! Flash!
The Moonwhite and Dragonslayer Swords streaked through the air mid-drop.
The Spiritfiend Sword at his waist detached from its sheath and leaped up too.
The three swords converged and rained down on the blue-eyed Theo.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With each backward step, a sword stabbed the ground.
Dust clouds rose; cracks spiderwebbed the floor.
Once he dodged all three, the blue-eyed Theo’s back hit the wall.
No escape forward or back.
Swoosh-
Theo seized the opening, drawing Drake’s Blade and charging.
The blue-eyed Theo twisted sideways.
The greatsword slammed where he’d stood.
“Where to.”
Theo ran sideways, sword still embedded in the wall.
Scraaaape!
The wall cracked massively.
Amid flying debris, lightning flashed.
Rumble-
Crash!
A wave of thunder crashed over the blue-eyed Theo.
He rolled desperately across the floor.
The greatsword narrowly missed overhead again.
But Theo’s assault didn’t stop.
The three embedded swords—Moonwhite, Dragonslayer, Spiritfiend—floated up via psychokinesis and moved once more.
He’d only used Sword Control briefly before, but with his vastly improved mana control, even long-range was feasible now.
And the Thunder Dragon born from it—
Crackle!
Nothing like his old Deathbeat Thunder Dragon.
Roooaaar-!
Three far larger, fiercer Thunder Dragons burst forth, jaws agape.
The Moonwhite Sword was ruthless.
Bearing the Griffin Rite fully, it crushed everything in reach, pursuing the blue-eyed Theo.
Boom!
His greatsword shattered instantly.
Shock etched his face.
The Dragonslayer Sword was sharp.
Infused with Kriemhild’s swordsmanship, too fast for the blue-eyed Theo to react.
Slash!
Spurt-
His right arm severed, arcing through the air.
The blue-eyed Theo gritted his teeth, retreating.
His left hand crackled with lightning in an instant.
Magic if swordplay failed.
Lightning Bolt.
Thunder surged before him, flooding Floor 2 with blinding light.
The Spiritfiend Sword met it head-on.
Twisting massively, its breath deflected the spell vertically, slashing wildly at the ceiling.
The shockwave hurled the blue-eyed Theo back.
Now charred black, over half his body was wrecked.
His handsome face twisted grotesquely from burns.
But the dominant emotion wasn’t pain or rage.
Doubt.
“Wondering why you’re losing despite identical specs?”
The blue-eyed Theo hit something hard.
Looking up, the real Theo loomed coldly.
“Unlike you, ‘fixed’ in place, I crave ‘change.’ That’s the difference.”
The blue-eyed Theo tried to speak.
But Drake’s Blade sliced his throat first.
Spurt!
Beneath the crimson fountain, stairs to the third floor appeared.
Theo dashed up without pause.
‘One floor per minute.’
[00:09:17]
[00:09:16]
.
43 seconds.
Time spent slaying another self.