60th Floor Base Camp and the Sudden Intruder
—SSS Item Puller: But who knows when we'll actually see it. Nobody might show up until the year-end gacha season.
"Still, waiting months at a time is a problem too..."
Always so extreme.
Remember that one fixed-nick who climbed 7 floors in a year? That guy filled three whole pages of the gallery by himself.
At this climbing speed, the newbie's already beyond average, right? Lmao.
'7 floors in a year.'
In this Demon King Tower, where breaking even one floor takes years as a baseline, pushing through 7 in a year is worthy of legend.
On the other hand, me breaking 60 wasn't anything special.
The theory that monsters below 100 floors are weak was basically confirmed. And precisely because of that, it was dangerous.
Intruders who entered the tower could climb it easily too.
But now I was pretty far from 1F, and it wouldn't do to overexert and collapse just because some hero might show up anytime.
I had the painful experience of pushing 25 floors a day and then crashing for three straight days. With one fatigue recovery potion left, I could reach 84F... but
No need to burn it right now.
The longer I dragged it out, the more value I got from the fatigue recovery potion.
The next Golden Carriage was a month away anyway. I took it easy and clicked the next post.
But that 2~60F review the newbie just posted? Way more spectacular than I thought...
Fatigue bullshit, sniper shots from range, status effects;; Felt like a 1 HP run? ;;;;;;;
The posts were full of worry. The gist was to slow down on promotion battles.
And the next post.
I'd have dipped to Death Realm the second I saw a skeleton with a bow or whatever.
Just go now, learn Instant Death skill, pick up black magic properly? Gotta save Death Absolute Realm for invincibility?
One suicide doesn't halve your Death Realm stay time...
As the post said, the situation was awkwardly ambiguous.
I figured a crisis would hit by now, then I'd use Death Absolute Realm to dodge, Instant Death the floor, clear it, and learn black magic.
'But no timing yet.'
Would a crisis come in the remaining 40 floors?
Or would growth items let me steamroll boringly?
Couldn't help thinking that.
And rightly so—my stats from climbing were mostly Intelligence, Magic Power, Senses.
"And still 59 straight wins..."
Not even pumping Strength or Agility, yet winning melee fights? Confidence was natural. 100F breakthrough felt comfy.
"Alright, decided."
In this Demon Army gallery that never saw a hero in history, the lowest floor had a user in early 100s.
Once I reached that safe zone, proper training starts.
"Learn Instant Death after clearing 100F." I typed lightly.
That was it for today anyway. Got the unique item I aimed for, stocked up on essentials from the Golden Carriage.
"Time to set up camp."
I stood, rolled my shoulders. Opened the hologram inventory, dumped everything from [Soldier Custom PX] onto the marble floor.
Folding chair.
Camp table.
One-touch mini tent. And food, daily goods.
Set up the big stuff, unfolded the chair last.
"Phew."
Felt like a real campsite.
Later I'd have more furnishings. "Hope a bed drops."
No sleeping bag yet. Set burner on table, pot on top. Poured water, boiled, dumped two mix coffee packs into paper cups. Added clean water, tossed in whole sausage and frozen fried rice, heated.
"Microwave would be nice."
Need a generator first.
If I got strong enough, maybe crank one by hand for small power plant output.
Assuming such items hit Golden Carriage.
"No game consoles tho..."
Varied fantasies.
Gallery pics of customized floors made it feel like I could build my own villa climbing up.
Clink, clink. In the 60F chamber of Demon King Tower, delicious smells and coffee aroma filled the air. Setup done.
"Itadakimasu."
Before that. Sat in folding chair, tent backdrop, snapped pic of steaming food.
Uploaded to gallery right away.
Camping on 60F for now.
Snickered reading comments.
"Slurp."
Sweet mix coffee slid down my throat.
"Whoa... insane."
"What the...?"
Ecstasy.
This female reaper body—first sugar too?
Bit into heated sausage, leaned deep into chair back.
"So freaking good."
Devoured fried rice too, then surrendered to fullness and drowsiness. Swung floating feet idly, read gallery's fun comments.
"Heehee."
Smiling before I knew it. Felt simple happiness.
Yeah. Stuck in a place like this—what can you do.
Embrace the little joys. No need to beat myself up for not agonizing over max efficiency.
When I park above 100F someday, today's 4 days might seem laughable decades later.
'What was the rush? I was a total maniac lol.'
Once past 100F, full gallery info access—no need to rush.
Take every little comfort, breathe, advance one step at a time.
Hummed a tune.
"~♪"
"~♫"
[Intruder has reached this floor.]
[Defense battle begins.]
"♭𝄽 shit?!"