Chapter 115
Chapter 115
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Special Cards
-----------------------------------------------------------------
html, body { margin:0; padding:0; }
I boarded a flight bound for Egypt.
The Babel Tower was located in Bir Tawil, known as no-man's-land.
A region straddling southern Egypt and northern Sudan, it was a desert zone without owners or inhabitants.
'No, it used to be a desert zone.'
After arriving in Egypt and heading south with Dr. Roland for a few hours, the expected desert was gone. Instead, lush green meadows and vibrant flowers greeted us.
"What you're seeing is the miracle of Babel."
The Egyptian tour guide who had brought us this far began her explanation.
More precisely, she was a Babel Tower tour guide—one of the few honest professions in Egypt's scam-ridden tourism industry.
"Babel Tower has existed since the Earth was formed. But humanity was unaware of it until recently. The tower only allowed entry to those who could properly commune with the cards and hid itself until mankind's level rose."
Out of a sense of sanctity, as if daring anyone to insult the holy Babel Tower.
Even now, pride and faith shone on the guide's face as she recounted the tower's history.
"The tower revealed itself 80 years ago, during the Second World Dual War— a catastrophe that nearly produced as many dual losers as the First World Dual War. It emerged to convey its will to humanity."
Blue meadows and colorful flower fields.
Sheer cliffs and bizarre rock formations with clouds clinging to their waists.
Vast lakes and majestic waterfalls.
"Cease the war. Duels must be sacred—fought with joy and fighting spirit, not hatred or rage. Greed helps no one. But if you must indulge your greed, come to me. I shall grant a card that fulfills any wish to the duelist who reaches the summit."
And finally, the towering spire piercing the heavens.
After hearing the full history, our group headed toward the Babel Tower.
"Quite a crowd."
"Babel Tower is always swarming with challengers. There's even a stat saying 50% of Sudan and Egypt's GDP comes from duelists visiting here."
Up close, the tower was even more imposing.
Its circumference was so vast it would take hours to circle back to the start, and its height pierced the clouds, reaching into the stratosphere or even space.
"Circumference of 15 km, height of 179 km—a tower impossible for human science to build, crafted solely by the card spirits."
"Impressive."
Dr. Roland and I headed to the tower's entrance.
A village had formed around it. An attendant handed me a pamphlet, which I read.
[Duelist challenging Babel Tower, welcome.]
[Babel Tower consists of 9,999 floors.]
[Each floor is ruled by a card spirit, the floor's master. To challenge the floor master, defeat 10 other duelists on the same floor.]
[If fewer than 1,000 duelists are on the floor, challenge the master directly.]
[Lose once, and you're ejected from the tower.]
[Ejected duelists cannot re-challenge until the 1st of the next month.]
[Each floor is vastly larger than it appears from outside and has full infrastructure for living.]
Further research showed that breaking through a floor takes an average of three days.
That held for lower floors. From floor 1,000 up, you could challenge masters directly if skilled enough, climbing multiple floors a day.
'This is gonna take a while.'
All the more reason to start now.
The entrance area was packed.
"At least tens of thousands, right?"
"Haha, lower floors are always like that. But no worries."
Dr. Roland pulled something out.
A turquoise bracelet engraved with:
[Token of an Acknowledged Duelist (1,000th Floor)]
"Those acknowledged by the card spirits can resume from their midpoint even after ejection. And they can bring one approved companion. Just one person, of course."
"Oh, amazing. When did you climb it?"
"I was a hot-blooded duelist in my youth."
We entered the Babel Tower entrance with Dr. Roland.
Instantly, the tower recognized me as his party member. My body floated weightlessly, and when I came to, we were on a beautiful sandy beach.
"A sea inside the tower? Another power of the card spirits?"
"Yes. Each floor is like its own world, built around a theme with a full ecosystem—and always a human-habitable zone."
"Some people must settle on floors they like while climbing."
"Many do. Studies say it's why the population boom hasn't caused resource shortages. Conflict is human nature, though—the tower's decree hasn't ended that."
The 1,000th floor's theme was the ocean.
With 9,999 floors, themes repeated, but each had unique landscapes and environments.
"Wonder what the floor master ruling this place is like."
"Don't judge by appearances."
"Huh?"
I understood Dr. Roland's words soon enough.
"Yo! New challenger? Duelist? Welcome!"
Tanned skin and bright blond hair.
Dark sunglasses, piercings on his nose, lips, and tongue tip.
A sturdy build with consistently trained muscles.
"Blond Bastard! Another duel?"
"Yeah! Ladies! I'm a card spirit! Gotta duel steady! Playing with my girls is great, but instinct's instinct, ya know?"
And the horde of women around him.
Vulgar as he was, Dr. Roland was right—he was powerful.
'Impressive.'
A duel began with an early arrival.
The Blond Bastard's style was overwhelming special abilities.
"Heh heh! 'Blond Tanned Thug' special ability activate! Seduce female monster! Lure to my field! Lure successful!"
"Crazy! Stealing monsters?!"
A special ability that stole enemy monsters and made them his own.
It only worked on females, but he overcame that weakness with more cards.
"Hmph! Just use male monsters!"
"Continuous Spell, 'TS Master's Potion' activate! All male monsters on opponent's field become female TS for this game!"
"What!?"
One master per floor—guardians' tactics were public knowledge.
"Then use inanimate monsters!"
"Continuous Spell, 'Moe Moe Ray Gun' activate! All inanimate monsters on opponent's field moe-ify into female monsters for this game!"
"Why does a card like that even exist?!"
Search cards that fetched counters swiftly.
Spells that dominated the field once searched.
And the core that stole opponents' monsters.
"Sheesh, won again."
"Eek! You're the best! Dueling's done for today, right?"
"Ladies, hold on. One more left."
A formidable foe indeed.
I was the last challenger—a total newbie.
Theory only, and barely learned.
"Hi. Lee Seung-hoon."
"Yeah, let's make it quick. Ladies are waiting."
"One question: are all those women with you card spirits too? I heard there's only one per floor."
"Nah? They're human. No law against spirits and humans, right?"
"Love transcending species. Cool."
"You're alright, kid. Wanna join after?"
"No idea what you mean, but I'll pass."
The duel began.
"Gotta climb fast."
Duels' basics: victory using card lore.
Simple rules, but complex synergies birthed concepts and deck powers.
"My turn first. Here we go!"
But that was the old world.
In this one, where personal lives and talents forged unique special cards, duels were more intricate, vibrant, with decks boasting immense power.
"Kyoot! Turn end! Uhahaha! Luck's on my side! Field's all set! Whatever you summon, game's over—give up!"
Like this floor master.
One turn to complete his deck concept. His field turned any summon against you.
"Let's begin."
Normally unwinnable.
Only a special card could break it.
None of today's duelists had one that could.
"Draw."
Special cards varied wildly in power.
His powerhouse deck? All special cards.
"Hmm."
My deck? All special cards.
I summoned one.
A shadowy figure in conductor garb, face shrouded, appeared.
I'd worried it might link to the original's ego, but it was just looks—no train vibe.
"Uhaha! Continuous Spell effect, 'TS Master's Potion' activate! Your monster TS!"
"No."
True power special cards ignored balance.
"What?"
"Second special: 'Gaze of Portable Hell'. Reads opponent's past."
『Reveal your sins!』
The Blond Bastard's past reflected in a mirror.
"Third special: 1 damage per unit of evil karma to opponent. Karma judged by 'Master of the Hell Train''s values."
"No, what the...?"
"Total evil karma: 1,775,123,447. Take that damage."
"No fair! What evil did I even do?!"
"By the 'Master of the Hell Train', being born is sin enough."
The master extended a hand.
『Judgment of Evil Karma!』
"Total bullshit..."
Darkness stormed like a gale, blasting the Blond Bastard away.
"Eek! Blond!"
Women chased his trajectory; his cards scattered like leaves.
"...A truly powerful card. Fitting for a fixer."
Dr. Roland approached.
"First duel, not bad."
"Your sure-win card?"
I shook my head.
"Nope."
I pocketed my 30 cards.
"All of them are."
First duel victory.
"No need to dawdle. Straight to the top."