Chapter 82: Pendariel, Mother of the Dead (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 82: Pendariel, Mother of the Dead (4)
A sixth sense that transcended ordinary perception.
This wasn't the kind of attack one could block simply by seeing and reacting.
'Either you're born with the talent to sense this strike...'
Or.
'You're a veteran who has memorized every single sword path.'
Only one of those two could survive in front of this queen.
And he already knew which of the two suited him better.
Acquired skill, perfected through enjoyment, rather than innate talent.
This was the path a true veteran should strive for.
Clang!
Dazzling sparks flew.
Jinhyuk parried the First Sword, which had been aimed straight at his heart.
With that single missed strike, the distance between them closed by a step.
"Urgh!"
When her attack came to nothing, Pendariel unleashed her second strike.
['Second Sword']
This time, the tip of her blade split into countless paths.
The divided points scattered in a dizzying blur.
['Dispatch']
The blade erased its own afterimages, sweeping forward to tear the enemy to shreds.
Front, back, left, right.
It was a tempest of sword strikes with absolutely no blind spots.
Clash-clash-clash-clang!
But once again, the result was the same.
Jinhyuk moved his Twin Dragon Sword with mathematical precision.
Not a single one of those countless attacks managed to land a clean hit.
The distance between them closed once more.
"My turn."
A chill rose from Jinhyuk's fingertips.
[Lv5 'Glacial Shaping', 'Black Ice' has been activated!]
Using 'Glacial Shaping', he created a sheet of ice to throw her off balance.
"Wh-what?!"
[Lv1 'Sword Demon Emperor Stepss' has been activated!]
Rumble!
Using 'Sword Demon Emperor Stepss', he executed a bizarre, mind-boggling movement even at point-blank range.
"Aaargh!"
Pendariel roared, unable to contain her rage.
His movements were infuriatingly elusive, always just out of reach.
A tree that resists a typhoon will snap.
But a reed that bends with the wind survives.
Jinhyuk did not fight the massive wave; he accepted it and flowed with it.
And so.
Clang!
The one who laughs last is always...
Clash-clash-clang!
'Me.'
Finally, the opening he had been waiting for appeared.
Jinhyuk drove the Twin Dragon Sword into the ground and drew the 'Scythe of Severing Causality'.
"D-damn it...! This... this can't be! Me... to a mere... human!"
Pendariel's mouth ripped open wide.
He couldn't possibly be this strong.
How could a human, who couldn't even live for a hundred years, possess so many different abilities?
And every single one of them was flawless, without a single opening.
But no matter how much she denied it and struggled, it was too late.
The distance between them was already so close they could feel each other's breath.
Slash!
For the first time since the battle began, the sound of tearing flesh echoed.
A single drop of blood flowing from a clean cut signaled the end of the fight.
[The 4th-floor boss monster 'Pendariel' has been defeated!]
[The 5th floor of the Tower of Trials is now open!]
[Time remaining until the next floor must be conquered: 89D 23h:59m:59s]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have successfully defended the base. 'A-Rank Random Box (x5)' has been distributed based on the number of base members.]
[You have acquired 'High-Grade Skill Enhancement Scroll (x1)' as a reward for the most kills.]
[You have acquired 'Exchange Fee 10% Discount Coupon (x1)' as a popularity vote reward.]
[You have acquired 'Magic Library Admission Ticket (x1)' as a reward for defeating the hidden boss monster.]
A flood of status windows poured in.
Who could have predicted this?
Anubis and the Egyptian deities, who had been absolutely certain of victory, were left utterly speechless.
"Still, she was much stronger than the 3rd-floor boss. That guy Muhon just hid behind his underlings," Jinhyuk said in a flat voice.
Of course, there was no way the dead queen could hear him now.
* * *
The fierce battle on the 4th floor was over.
Considering how hopeless the situation had been, it was a miraculous turnaround.
And now, twenty-four hours later, at a pub in Hongdae.
The rest of the people who had fought alongside Jinhyuk in the base defense battle had gathered for a modest after-party.
"Oppa! Over here!"
Yu Yeon-hwa waved her hand.
When fighting in the Tower, she wore blood-dripping knuckles and used martial arts so brutal it made onlookers shudder...
But out here, she was wearing a comfortable tracksuit and a hoodie.
It was a rather refreshing sight.
"Hyung! You're here?"
Lee Tae-min was also dressed casually in jeans and a black T-shirt.
A white cap worn backward was his signature touch.
"Sorry, am I a bit late?"
"No, we just got here too. By the way, Oppa, you look like a completely different person! For a second, I thought a celebrity was walking in."
"Hyung, can't you dress like this in the Tower too?"
Since he was taking a rare break, he had visited a hair salon and bought a few new clothes, and the reaction was a complete 180.
Come to think of it, the hair stylist had said something about how much better he looked with hair wax.
At the time, he thought it was just sales talk, but seeing their reactions, it seemed it wasn't entirely empty flattery.
"If I spend all my time dressing up like this, when am I going to climb the Tower?" Jinhyuk chuckled.
Then, he asked, "Where is Teresa?"
"Teresa said she'll be about an hour late. She told us to go ahead and start eating without her."
Unlike Jinhyuk, Teresa had returned through the European Gate she originally came from.
It would have been nice if they could have traveled together, but she had urgent business to attend to in Europe, so she had no choice but to join them later.
As a high-ranking player, she likely had a private jet, so traveling to Korea wouldn't be too difficult for her.
Finally, his eyes fell on a man sitting in a corner of the table.
The surrounding area was buzzing.
"Did you see that guy?"
"Go talk to him in a bit."
"Whoa! I think I just made eye contact with him."
With his tall height and great proportions, he stood out no matter what he wore.
On top of that, he exuded a chic aura, looking as if he carried all the worries of the world, naturally drawing everyone's attention.
Always trying to look cool.
"I'm here."
"I know."
"I thought you wouldn't show up, or at least be hours late, but you actually kept your promise."
Jinhyuk let out a dry laugh.
He recalled the process of dragging this guy here.
– Come to the pub near Hongdae Station Exit 3 by 7 PM tomorrow. We're all going to grab a beer.
– Ridiculous. Why should I attend such a gathering?
Cheon Yu-seong had frowned, but...
– Because attending 'such a gathering' is the only way you'll learn how to pull what you want from the random boxes.
With that single sentence from Jinhyuk, he had no choice but to promise to come to Hongdae.
And he actually kept his word.
By the way, this guy...
Based on his tone and actions, Jinhyuk had assumed he was some local gangster.
But it turned out he was a medical student. And at Hankuk University, no less.
He was sincerely worried about the well-being of this guy's future first patient.
It was all too easy to picture him swinging a sword instead of a scalpel if things didn't go his way during surgery.
"Do me a favor. If I ever get hurt, call a healer or just kill me."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"I feel like dying would be more comfortable than entrusting my body to you..."
"Don't worry. I keep my professional and personal lives separate. I will do my absolute best to save any patient under my care."
Damn. You can't even joke with this guy.
Jinhyuk clicked his tongue and took a deep gulp of beer.
The freezing cold draft beer seeped into his body, which was still hot from all the frantic fighting and running around.
He immediately took a bite of a piece of chicken coated in spicy sauce.
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.
"Ahhh."
An exclamation of pure satisfaction escaped Jinhyuk's lips.
To truly appreciate this taste, a decent amount of sweat and fatigue was absolutely essential.
But just then.
[Give me some too! Don't be so stingy and eat it all by yourself!]
A highly pouting voice echoed from his ring.
It was Alice.
She had been quiet to recover her mana after the battle on the 3rd floor, but she had somehow sensed the perfect timing to eat and made her presence known.
Well, having been stuck in the Corridor for eons, she was bound to be curious about the food of the outside world.
Wait, maybe I can save on the bill and make a little side profit here.
"I really want to share it with you, but this is incredibly expensive. Even for me, it's a heavy burden on my wallet."
[Expensive? How much?]
Jinhyuk intentionally put on a serious expression.
"At least a diamond the size of a thumbnail. It's practically pocket change compared to the total bill, but considering our relationship, I'll let you off with just that."
As if doing her a favor.
As if acting out of camaraderie.
The key was to subtly exploit Alice's sense of obligation.
[I can pay that much. I am not the type to shamelessly freeload.]
Alice replied in a dignified voice.
As expected, a generous and wealthy sucker was always welcome.
Especially at a drinking party.
* * *
"Oh? Is this the alcohol made by lesser beings?"
Alice's eyes sparkled.
Wearing a black dress with elegant lace and a necklace adorned with rubies and gold, she had dressed up to the nines, thrilled at the rare opportunity to come outside.
"It's called draft beer."
"Mmm! Not bad! While it cannot compare to the finest blood or aged wine, it is decent enough to wet one's throat. This must have been brewed by a master craftsman whose family has passed down the technique for generations."
Master craftsman, my foot.
It was mass-produced in a factory and cost 2,500 won a glass.
And today, they were even running a 1+1 promotion to celebrate the clearing of the 4th floor.
"Try this too."
"This is...?"
"It's called chicken. It's coated in soy and seasoned sauces."
"Meat... It is not quite to my taste, but since you insist, I shall try a single bite."
Alice elegantly speared a drumstick with her fork.
She chewed on it for a moment...
And her eyes instantly changed.
It was the look of a predator that had spotted its prey.
When Jinhyuk reached out to grab a piece of chicken.
Clink!
Alice blocked him with her fork.
"..."
He could feel her absolute determination not to yield even a single piece.
Well, back in her day, meat dishes were probably just boiled or roasted, so this was bound to blow her mind. Even for seasoning, salt was likely the ultimate luxury.
"Eat up. It's my treat, especially for you."
"Thank you. I shall not forget this favor."
Alice tightly gripped her beer glass, her face flushed with excitement.
Looking at her like this, she seemed like such an innocent girl.
Who would ever look at this kid and think she was a True Ancestor, one of the strongest beings in the Tower?
"Everyone! I'm here!"
A short while later, Teresa joined them, and the atmosphere grew even livelier.
They enjoyed the delicious food, reminisced about their experiences in the Tower, and savored their victory.
But just as everyone was deep in conversation...
Static!
The volume of the TV in the center of the pub went up.
Everyone's attention was drawn to it.
It wasn't entertainment gossip or sports, but a special broadcast related to the Tower of Trials.
[With the successful conquest of the 4th floor, attention is now focused on the upcoming 5th floor.]
[Yes, that's right. There were many twists and turns, but thanks to the Korean ranker, Player Kang Jinhyuk, we can now safely proceed to the 5th floor.]
The male and female anchors continued their conversation.
[Before we discuss the 5th floor, could we take a look at a brief summary of the data so that the general public can easily understand?]
[Of course. The table shown below lists the players who played the biggest roles in defeating the boss monsters from the 1st to the 4th floors, along with their respective countries.]
1st Floor cleared by Patrick of the US Titan Guild.
2nd Floor cleared by Maria of the European Olympus Guild, Namgung Cheon of the Chinese Guild, and the unaffiliated player Teresa.
3rd Floor cleared by the unidentified player, Unknown.
4th Floor cleared by the Korean ranker, Kang Jinhyuk.
The top rankers of each nation and the hope of humanity.
The names of the pioneers who would conquer the future of the Tower were listed.
[Wow! Just hearing those names makes my heart swell with pride.]
[Haha, me too. It feels like these individuals will somehow lead humanity to the next floor, no matter what.]
[Then, could you please explain the 5th floor for us now?]
The female anchor handed over the microphone.
[Certainly.]
The 5th floor.
The main theme of the place where players would spend the next 90 days...
[The 5th floor is...]
...was finally revealed.