The Frenzy of Alliances
【Until Alliance Confirmation: 1 day, 6 hours, 3 minutes, 3 seconds】
Until Alliance Confirmation: 1 day, 6 hours, 3 minutes, 3 seconds
After Korea's official statement, the leaders of nations around the world sprang into frantic action.
"Korea has decided not to form an alliance with any other nation."
Korea's solo entry?
It was completely unexpected.
Even taking just two or three powerhouse nations along would have virtually guaranteed first place this round.
But in reality,
There weren't many countries that had confidently believed they could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Korea.
On the contrary, most nations had been preparing contingency plans in case of alliance failure with Korea, while quietly working behind the scenes with other countries.
The Alliance War.
Individual scores accumulated by each nation are combined under the alliance name and displayed on the rankings.
One obvious factor was the strength of the allied nations.
Is the partner nation a tower superpower?
It was only natural that alliances of superpowers would have a higher chance of topping the rankings.
But there were restrictions.
Rewards based on final rankings will be divided among alliance members upon round end.
Massive benefits have been added to this round's ranking rewards.
The division of rewards.
What was the exact division method?
What were the added benefits?
The uncertainty gnawed at the heads of state worldwide.
And then,
Until Alliance Confirmation: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds
Additional conditions will be revealed.
Score acquisition amplified proportional to the number of adjacent nations in the alliance.
A new condition was added.
In other words?
Allied nations clustered together geographically would gain a massive advantage.
Connected by long land borders.
Or within a certain maritime distance.
If an alliance filled the maximum of 15 adjacent nations?
A whopping 3x score multiplier.
The theoretical maximum.
And it didn't end there.
Until Alliance Confirmation: 11 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds
Upon round end, one random nation in the 1st place alliance will be selected as Earth's ── Nation.
The System alternately added conditions that made alliances profitable or risky, amplifying the dilemma.
The world's nations?
"Another condition added!"
"Right now! Contact every embassy in Eastern Europe immediately!"
Every time a new condition dropped, they scrapped existing plans and started over.
Total chaos.
A storm sweeping the entire Earth.
But amid the uproar, one nation remained uniquely calm.
The Hitchhiker's nation, Korea.
Why worry about alliances after deciding on solo entry?
It was simply quiet.
Like the eye of the storm.
Of course, there was surrounding noise.
The penalties for going solo were too severe.
Even for Korea.
But there was no reversal.
As time ticked down, Korea made no further announcements.
Of course, internally, there were some voices of concern.
But opposing articles were few.
And even those were quickly suppressed.
Faith in the Hitchhiker and Korea's Management Agency had reached religious levels.
And so,
In this frantic global landscape, some nations were being weeded out.
China and Japan.
"......"
"......"
Osaka's temporary government building.
The large conference room where leaders from both nations gathered.
In the heavy atmosphere, Ma Chingdong, the Chinese deputy director, spoke first.
"We must reveal our hands to build even minimal trust. I'll be direct about China's situation."
At his glance, an aide projected a screen.
Beep.
Live footage from Tartarus in Beijing.
Japanese officials, recalling their own Tartarus in Tokyo, let out sighs.
Ma Chingdong suppressed his rage and continued.
"All treatment serums China possessed have been completely incinerated. Tartarus's lava sphere engulfed the shop warehouse. We dispatched Awakeners, but not a single vial was salvaged."
The consequences were catastrophic.
The ongoing trials of the towers still lingered.
High-rank Awakeners' climbs had ground to a halt.
Subjugating Tartarus?
That wasn't feasible either.
They'd immediately contacted the US after Japan's Z3 relay stream, but
"We do not sell to China."
Flat refusal.
China's notoriously disastrous diplomacy made relations with the US especially poor.
In summary, China desperately needed Korea's holy water.
Status immunity and stat buffs.
It would allow tower climbs to resume and even aim for Tartarus subjugation.
Watching other nations punch through untouched upper floors daily was infuriating.
But
'No intention of bowing my head.'
This was a matter of national pride.
How could a great power bow to a small nation in front of the world?
Steal the holy water if anything.
No thought of mending ties to request it.
And for now,
Until Alliance Confirmation: 5 hours, 57 minutes, 2 seconds
There was a far more urgent fire to put out.
"To the point: China has failed to form an alliance."
They'd persistently sent alliance requests.
To European tower superpowers,
And even to weaker nations on the verge of vassalization.
All rejected.
Grind.
"After seeing the alliance war notice, they've gotten all high and mighty. The very ones who've survived rampages thanks to our mercenaries."
It was true.
If 15 nations allied?
Even lower ranks could easily hit 20 million points.
Top spots might be tough,
But rampage risks would vanish.
A painful blow to nations like the US, China, and Japan profiting big from mercenary business.
"As for Japan's situation—"
Not much different from China.
Tartarus's staggered arrival.
They'd managed to siphon serums from Tokyo shops.
But ongoing subjugation ops,
High-rank Awakener casualties.
National tower climbs weren't functioning properly.
Above all,
"Japan has also failed to form an alliance."
A somber mood hung heavy.
Exhausted, bitter glances exchanged.
China and Japan, who had cooperated covertly but dreamed different dreams.
The moment they first felt genuine camaraderie toward each other.
"High-rank Awakeners, serum stocks. We can fill each other's gaps."
"Agreed. For both our futures, official cooperation—"
Then, an incoming call.
Soon, a group arrived.
"The United States will devote all national resources to bringing Korea down."
Elliot Hesson and US officials, faces twisted in fury.
Planet Nosferatu.
Central tent in Sector 5.
Click! Click! Click!
Dopamine addict Carmina was diligently web-surfing again today.
Hati perched on her lap like a stuffed toy.
Munching nachos floating in a line and slurping cola through a straw.
Was this the final evolution of a shut-in otaku?
Always wondered how the internet even worked here.
"Master! Everyone in the world is worried about Korea! They say solo entry is too reckless even with the Hitchhiker!"
I replied indifferently,
While inspecting antiques gathered by residents with metal detectors.
"Aigoo, their concern is appreciated, thanks everyone."
"You think it'll be okay? What if Europe does a 15-way combo transformation! Or the US, China, Japan fuse into a chimera!"
15-way combo was kinda threatening.
But US-China-Japan alliance?
What kind of horrific hybrid would that be.
"If it actually happens, it'd be a sight."
Purely in terms of possibility, it could happen.
US options were mainly two.
Solo like Korea,
Or somehow form an alliance.
"After that big L, going solo to save face is practically impossible."
But the latter wasn't easy either.
Korea was sanctified.
Global checks would naturally target the next powerhouse, the US.
"They'll avoid allying with the US to not piss off holy water owner Korea."
Even succeeding with other tower superpowers would bring inevitable discord.
From the US perspective,
Desperate China and Japan were perfect leashes.
Pull them from the swamp, and they'd make useful cards.
Anyway, conclusion.
"Not confident."
"Confident you'll win?"
No.
"Confident I'll lose."
To any alliance, not just US-China-Japan.
"Ooooh!"
"Krrrng! Krrrng!"
Carmina clapped.
Hati mimicked with paws.
—Nation! Got it! My home had packs too. Fox kin, owl kin, deer kin, etc.!
Slightly different concept,
But seemed to understand by blending System knowledge with experience.
Back to the topic.
My confidence had basis.
Observation results first.
Nosferatu tower scores don't drop even on repeats.
"I know what this is!"
"What?"
"Guild leader scam map! Total jerks! Minerals at 50k just for them! Is winning fun like that! Not talking about Master, obviously!"
Carmina venting.
Probably got wrecked in some ancient Korean folk game tradition.
Anyway, huge advantage.
Unlike Earth, scores never bottom out no matter how much you mine.
Plus, found another way to support other planet climbers.
Ding!
Detected rare item from planet of sufficient rank.
Consume 3 item transfers to convert to tower item.
"Oh, found another one."
A rusty old sword.
Converted to tower item.
◈ Perfectly restored longsword.
A pristine longsword.
"That one from the book! The longsword used by Count Chepetra thousands of years ago!"
Packed with swordsmanship and physical skill options.
But Carmina couldn't wield swords.
White elephant? Far from it.
Told Kasabla, who entered to share tower status.
"Kasabla, take this."
"Hm? What is it?"
Kasabla's eyes widened.
"Th-this! How is this here! And restored so perfectly!"
"Aren't you an S-rank Awakener, Kasabla? You need gear to match."
Grateful-faced Kasabla pulled me aside and whispered.
"From today, call me Father. Or Father-in-law if you wish."
Isn't that jumping the gun?
"Haven't entered the tower yet today! I'll test it now!"
Kasabla vanished, ecstatic like a guy gifted a top graphics card.
Moments later.
Whoa, 9550 points?
Nearly 10k on floor 3.
Beats even US's Killdragon?
Then Yulia emerged from the open Lumentia portal.
"Your Holiness, preparations complete! All personnel assembled, not a single one missing!"
"Let's go."
Through the portal to a high podium in a city under restoration.
The vast square teemed with Lumentia's residents.
Exactly 73,655.
About 20 times Nosferatu's.
Insane. Filled a large stadium.
Into the voice amplifier:
"The day of reckoning has dawned. The day we strike back at the tower that stole our lives. From today—"
Basically, revenge on the tower.
Thought about keeping it plain,
But
「This is way more effective, right? Rage is the best battle stimulant.」
Yulia had a point.
Clear motivation meant more aggressive climbs.
Period landed, and roars filled the air.
Rooooaaar—!
—War! No mercy! War! No mercy!
—The Pontiff commands war! It's a holy war!
—God demands blood and slaughter!
—Offer the demons' heads and blood as tribute!
Didn't say it that extreme.
But effect was explosive.
Overwhelmingly so.
Then flew carpet to restart 6 nearby towers.
Doooong—!
Bell-like chime echoed across Lumentia, reawakening all residents.
Quick survey:
S-rank: 15.
A-rank: ~2,000.
B-rank: ~71,000.
No C-rank or below, like Nosferatu.
—Charge forwaaaard!
—Topple the towers!
—I'll give my life for the Pontiff!
Residents entering towers, vanishing.
Scores began skyrocketing in small increments.
Even with S-A ranks driving points,
That many B-ranks couldn't be ignored.
No repeat limits.
Firepower never dips.
'Perfect.'
Korea solo?
Not really.
Allied with two nations: Nosferatu and Lumentia.
Solidly prepped for the real competition.
Watched a bit, then returned to my room.
Backlog cleared.
So today,
"Spiritia, time to crack it."
"Ready!"
"Let us proceed, Your Holiness."
"Krrrng!"
Hati's home planet, Spiritia.
Multiple entry attempts, but scouting barely started.
Why?
Endless darkness, couldn't see a step ahead.
Even Yulia's light orb barely lit 1 meter.
Progress impossible.
But
Ding!
Sun Summon Lv. 40
Installs an artificial sun that eradicates tower's dark energy and promotes all life regeneration.
Size, output, and simultaneous installs proportional to SPI and INT.
Fusion increases size/output.
Max installs: 2
With this, maybe different?
Opened portal to Spiritia.
Wonder what restoration bonus awaits this time?