Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Clearing the 1st Floor
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Title: The gallery's full of wimps, huh
Author: Anonymous
Are these the same guys who were shaking in their boots over a single D-rank? That girl alone is getting more support than those who've climbed higher in the hell-difficulty tower solo.
I hadn't had time to check the gallery.
I had to deal with the blue windows overwhelming my vision first.
Challenger's Double-Edged Sword - Rank D (Low-grade)
Classification: Weapon (Sword)
▶ A sword of fine quality with strong durability.
▶ Against strong foes, the 'Challenge' effect activates. Physical Rank increases by one step. Maximum increasable Rank limited to D Low-grade.
Guardian Bracelet - Rank D (Low-grade)
Classification: Bracelet
▶ An elegant bracelet that wraps around the wrist.
▶ Blocks one fatal attack of D Low-grade or below. Reuse cooldown: 10 minutes.
Elixir of Body Strengthening - Rank F
▶ Raises Physical Rank to the F-rank limit.
Caution: Elixirs cannot be consumed repeatedly. Consuming an elixir two ranks above your own will cause unbearable side effects.
Healing Potion - Rank D
▶ Regenerates non-fatal wounds.
Mana Cultivation Manual - Rank D
▶ A manual for acquiring mana.
▶ Acquire mana upon full reading. Item will be consumed.
"...!"
I couldn't help but gape.
Once climbers appeared, items belonging to the tower began flooding the world.
Some were unremarkable depending on the type, but others were truly priceless, unobtainable even with money.
Because they were worth it.
While I was flustered by the sudden influx of items, the constellations were chattering away in the gallery, closely watching my reaction.
Title: Look at the cute newbie
Author: Anonymous
(Several photos) Eyes sparkling!! lol She looks like a startled cat. But it's a shame about what she got. Would've been better to give it to talented apostles.
Apparently, the people laughing and chatting on this screen were the tower's gods... the constellations.
Their speech didn't match at all.
But the nicknames felt vaguely related.
...But is this really okay?
Receiving the undivided attention of these beings, none of whom could be taken lightly?
"Th-thank you."
Anyway, I should do what needs doing.
As I expressed thanks to the constellations who had showered me with gifts, messages poured in one after another.
Shing-
At some point, I quietly drew the sword at my waist.
The sharp, beautiful blade brimmed with intense will.
The will to challenge the stronger.
I could feel the spirit of the craftsman who forged this sword.
"Wow..."
As I gripped the sword, detailed paths on how to swing it appeared in my mind.
Miraculous sword techniques were etched into my entire body.
Confidence I never had welled up.
With this, clearing the 1st floor should be doable?
And the gifts I'd received weren't over yet.
Its listed rank was F, but its actual value could be rated C-grade without issue.
F-rank peak might sound lame, but it represented a kind of human limit.
Even top athletes entering the tower would have their physical abilities reflected at upper F-rank.
As such, when it appeared outside the tower, it caused a huge stir.
Because anyone who drank it would attain the peak of human physique.
"Come to think of it, there's a status window, right?"
The situation was so bewildering that I hadn't checked it yet.
I muttered briefly, and the status window appeared right away.
"Already F Advanced rank?"
F Advanced rank was basically what average climbers got from clearing Easy difficulty.
Easy gave F top-grade, some surpassing to D.
Normal could reach D top-grade at clear, with a tiny few hitting C.
Hard and above had no known clearers, but top-floor climbers were said to be overall C top-grade.
Having a rank reachable only after clearing even Easy right from the 1st floor of the tower would drop jaws.
Plus, I hadn't drunk the elixir yet, so room for more growth was endless.
Of course, that didn't make me overly happy.
This was the hell-difficulty tower.
I remembered from the info screen earlier: [Tower of the Apocalypse #Hell (1/213)].
The 212 who entered before me were all dead.
And with only the 1 remaining, I was the sole survivor just starting.
No matter the massive backing, survival wasn't guaranteed.
With a sinking feeling, I gazed up at the towering structure.
What could I do? I had to climb.
First, before going up, I decided to ask.
Since the constellations were interested, I should take any help available, right?
"So, constellations, is it okay to climb the tower now?"
Ah, right, that.
No matter how good the weapon, if the body couldn't keep up, it was useless.
I decided to heed the advice and drink the elixir.
- Gulp gulp
I downed it in one go.
This single elixir cost billions outside the tower, which felt wasteful, but considering I'd die if I couldn't climb now, it wasn't the time for such thoughts.
Especially when return might not even be possible.
After some time passed since drinking, a message appeared.
But outwardly, there was no visible change.
I muttered puzzled.
"Did the strengthening work?"
Senses felt a bit sharper, body brimming with vitality, but no dramatic transformation into super-athlete physique.
Test?
I turned my head slightly and spotted a pile of rubble scattered far from the tower wall.
I went there and grabbed a large rock about my size.
"Hup."
Crack-
The massive boulder lifted effortlessly into my hand.
...Is this for real?
Even if peak human ability was upper F-rank, this was absurd.
Especially for this young girl's body—it was earth-shattering.
The me who trembled lifting a few books was gone.
"Insane."
With this, clearing the 1st floor should be easy?
I gripped the sword at my waist, bolstering my confidence, and stepped toward the grand, antique tower.
The moment I entered, a message appeared.
1st Floor Clear Begins
Difficulty: Hell
Objective: Extermination
▶ Kill all enemies
The serene, comfortable atmosphere changed drastically.
Cracked floor tiles, ominous, dim, damp space welcomed me.
True to "extermination," what I had to do was fight for my life.
I slowly drew my sword and calmly scanned the surroundings.
A faint malice emanated from the not-so-wide space.
Monster or beast.
The name given to hostile creatures spawning from the tower.
- Kieeek.
Green-skinned monsters smiled at me as they approached one by one.
The same as those common in fantasy novels.
Goblins.
Common mob that tests new entrants on the 1st floor.
Whether you're qualified to even struggle here.
But unlike regular goblins...
"...Weapons and armor."
Easy: naked goblins.
Normal: club-wielding goblins.
Hard: armored goblins.
Even naked goblins on Easy are tough for first-timers.
Climbers enter bare-handed too.
Normal ups the ante: climber bare-handed, goblins armed.
Real life-or-death from here.
Hard: no wonder if you die.
Goblins fully armored vs. climber.
And Hell...
Goblins wielded swords, wore iron plate armor.
Behind them, archer goblins drew bowstrings taut.
"They want me dead?"
Without support, even the extraordinary would die.
No, even extraordinary couldn't survive.
I swallowed, feeling the heavy sword's weight.
Facing an elite goblin pack in darkness, my mind was clear.
Probably the C-rank skill 'Endurance' effect.
The giver called it trash, but it was a boon for me.
Panicking was most dangerous here.
Even with strong weapons and power, matching mentality was needed.
Keeaaak-!
A goblin charged.
Simultaneously, a taut bowstring released with a faint twang!
The arrow pierced the air toward my eye in an instant.
My elixir-enhanced body precisely tracked the impossibly fast arrow.
Swoosh-!
I twisted my head—dodged.
As the arrow passed, the front goblin thrust its sword.
Rust- and blood-stained blunt blade lunged; my sword moved in sync.
Clang-!!
Swords clashed; goblin recoiled from sheer power gap.
Same size, but my elixir-boosted physique was incomparable.
Before goblin recovered, I thrust my sword.
Puuk-!
Blood sprayed.
Fetid stench filled the cramped space.
Impaled through chest, unable to scream properly, I twisted the blade, destroying innards—dead.
Thud-
Chest-pierced goblin rolled on floor, lifeless eyes puking blood from wound.
Gazing at it, I felt my heart pounding uncontrollably.
"Huff, huff."
Breath ragged.
Body reacted fast, but mind lagged.
Stabbing a green monster felt awful.
Fearless red eyes glaring, fellow goblins charged.
Lucky my mature mind in this frail young body?
- Kieeek!
- Kyaak!
"Fine, I'll send you all off together."
I raised the bloodied sword and moved.
Puuk!
-Keeeeeak!
Second spray of blood, fetid gore splashed my face.
Hot, fishy smell made me pause.
Pewng!
Then, a sharp arrow from behind flew before I could react.
Watching goblins smirked wickedly; I tumbled back desperately, but no dodging.
Thankfully, constellation item saved me.
Ting-!
Blue barrier from bracelet.
Bold arrow rolled harmlessly on floor; awkward silence blanketed the bloodthirsty fray.
"Ha."
Close call.
Bracelet saved me.
I stepped forward at stunned goblins.
Bloodied blade still gleamed pale.
It didn't take long to cut them down.
Title: Impressive, huh?
Author: Anonymous
They give enough support to clear the 1st floor guaranteed, but weaklings still fail from the start. But she sliced them clean. Dodged arrows from behind perfectly too.
Title: Love this cutie beauty
Author: Anonymous
(Several blood-soaked photos) So pretty fr Falling for her expressionless face drenched in blood.
"..."
Blood-soaked and slumped, checking the gallery left me baffled.
The reactions felt off somehow...