Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: D-Rank Promotion
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But why does that question even come up?
Author: Space Wikier
Why does the Tower block them from telling us the standard promotion method? Honestly, it's not that big a deal. Don't they just want us to learn circles or auras like the NPCs?
There's some reason to it. If they taught that stuff, Easy and Normal climbers would never escape the Tower in years.
Wait, wait, wait—so is Yoojin going Circle or Aura???
Author: Hobby Magic User
I didn't care earlier since standard promotion was the priority no matter what. Now that she's trying it, the path matters so much. Yoojin, Circle all the way. Learning the power of lowly dirt-rolling peasants like Aura is pointless.
What if sword energy falls from the sky again?
As expected, super genius cutie Yoojin-nyang.
Author: Anonymous
Look at her spending three days sitting there already. Her focus is still insane. And she's promoting with a secret art from Climber Gallery? Mind-blowing. Plus, the process looks intense. She's intensely concentrating, slowly condensing mana and fine-tuning it into something superior. D: Is she really gonna succeed like this?? This talent is off the charts.
I watched the constellations chattering about me and thought the same.
In truth, I was slowly condensing mana using the great secret art they gave me...
Of course, I was pushing my cognitive skills hard.
If I followed their blueprint too exactly, it'd be obvious, so I needed to tweak it a bit.
Even as I accelerated my thinking to the point of headache, one thing remained undecided.
Should I engrave a circle in my heart or condense aura in my lower abdomen?
This was a tough call.
Each had pros and cons.
A circle favors magic use.
It constantly amplifies, increases, and bursts mana.
The synergy of circle, mana, magic, and cognition enables grand spells.
Honestly, it felt more optimized for me.
Most skills focus on mental power, and with clone ability, having a frontliner tank was ideal.
Aura favors body and swordplay.
It envelops the body, making it impervious to normal blades, and grants destructive physical prowess to become a battlefield destroyer.
Its biggest plus: even with dire variables, instant death was unlikely.
An aura-reinforced body had tenacious survivability.
Both were tempting.
Circle optimized for me, or aura optimized for the Tower.
Time to decide.
My choice is...
"Circle."
I won I won I won I won I won.
Author: Hobby Magic User
Yoojin, this is right. You made the best choice! No matter what barriers the Tower throws, the truth you've achieved will pierce them all. Even if you stray, I'll guide your path. Thanks for your choice—you'll feel it's correct. So smash the heads of those who ignored magic ㄱㄱㄱㄱ
But I figured it'd be this. From clone potential to intelligence to cognitive skills— no reason not to go magic.
ㅠ
I hope the wooden sword grandpa isn't too sad.
I plan to keep using the sword going forward.
Main firepower will be magic, though.
The biggest reason for this decision was the clone potential.
A lone mage in the Tower can't leverage strengths fully, but with a frontline ally, the mage role expands massively.
So, my clone will learn aura, train as a frontline warrior...
Looking closer, the clone's form is turning into what gallery thinks TOPKING looks like?
Anyway, not important. Now, condense the gathered mana throughout my body into a circle.
This required immense focus.
NPCs achieve it after lifelong training and hardship.
Normal-or-below climbers don't even dream of it.
But I could.
Overwhelming talent, Hell difficulty buffs.
Body and proficiency at F-rank peak.
C-rank mental skills.
Leveraging it all, I advanced step by step, slowly.
High-density mana enveloped my heart.
Mana eagerly found its place, absorbing nonstop.
As mana flooded this vital organ, instinctual anxiety rose, but so did qualitative evolution.
This was true standard promotion.
Not relying on elixirs—dominating mana to surpass human limits.
Blending with mana felt like shedding my mortal shell; parts of my body transformed.
Suppressing primal fear, I focused mana into my heart.
The circle began slowly wrapping in a circular form, gradually perfecting.
Heartbeat pulsed—mana surged through veins instead of blood.
Circulating mana constantly reinforced and refined my body.
Now I understood.
How a single circle fundamentally changes a person.
Pumped mana began reshaping my physical structure.
I smiled in satisfaction.
This promotion completed me.
Congratulatory messages from constellations flooded in with the alert.
"Huuu..."
I exhaled.
Blue mana flowed from my mouth.
The overwhelming mana volume pumped through the circle gave me a sense of omnipotence.
Just the first step, but the meaning was huge.
Now, I surpassed all Easy climbers, Normal climbers below 30F, and Hard climbers around 10F.
No—they promoted via elixirs, lacking circle benefits.
So, I was far stronger.
No rewards for first circle?
After giving so much, they're stingy now?
First, check the new circle details.
Effects seem modest, but it's like gaining a unique skill others lack—huge overall boost.
Just magic amplification alone...
Opened status window after ages.
"Ugh, dizzy."
Status window too long to take in at a glance now.
Lifestyle proficiencies are miscellaneous, shoved to [More].
Body ranks auto-upgraded to D, Origin added Circle.
Biggest: Rank finally D.
Even Hard climbers use elixirs for easy jumps over major floors—my feat was overwhelming.
Tower clears will be smooth now...
Smooth... right?
Even this strong and Tower still screws her over? Upvote lol
Author: Anonymous
Bet she'll get absurdly nerfed even at D-rank ;; Why's Yoojin's difficulty solo-mode? Past Hell climbers weren't like this.
Upvote.
Hmm, gallery says Tower might screw me.
Sure, harder means better rewards, higher chance past 10F wall.
Shifting gaze, saw missed message from promotion buzz.
Reaching out after doubting before?
Clearing to 4F changed their tune—probably confirmed I was taken to Tower.
Felt a bit sour, but had to reply.
Family matters.
Can't be at ease.
Daughter vanished, turns out Tower-bound.
Ideally, show them I'm fine.
Hell difficulty sounds bad, but I'm suffering less than most climbers.
"...Gotta hit 10F fast."
Only way to reassure: prove I'm safe myself.
Declined gov support.
Few appealing items, and external aid invites Tower nerfs.
Better they care for family than me.
"I'll visit soon."
Muttered as I stood.
Clear 10F faster than anyone.
Shock them all.
"This means..."
Manager Im Hyun-sik felt uneasy reading TOPKING chat log.
TOPKING, presumed close to Seo Yoojin.
Asking nothing but family care.
"No way, no way..."
Im Hyun-sik could only dread grim speculation.