Chapter 10
Chapter 10.
Castrated Goblin Chief.
He had terrorized humanity's players for 10 years as a newbie crusher.
Unexpectedly today.
By Lee Ganghan's choice, he disappeared from the Beginner's Tower.
And.
"Heavenly Demon Eternal!!! Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!!!!!!"
The Castrated Goblin Chief, having become a unique existence, shouted.
Despite Lee Ganghan telling him to stop, he continued to bow.
Unlike before.
The chief, with one of the three horns attached to his crotch glowing softly.
As soon as Lee Ganghan bestowed the horn, without going through any separate equipment process.
The horn had changed like that.
"Stop bowing. Let's do some conquering now."
"Yes......! I will bring the goblins!"
"Right."
The chief who finally stood up.
Paaaat......!
He opened a portal on his own and brought all the goblins.
"I'll send my subordinates to find the way! Please allow me to command!"
"Alright. Good work."
Rather than one person breaking through the maze.
It would be better to have 50 goblins try.
As Lee Ganghan's permission fell.
Shuk! Shuk!
The goblins moved in unison and entered the maze.
-Wow, trying to break through the maze with numbers ㄷㄷ
-What about the person finding the way alone, how pitiful...
-But somehow the kids' movements seem to have gotten snappier.
-I feel that way too ㅋㅋ Is it because he gave them a horn?
'Definitely seems that way.'
Unlike during the previous Beginner's Tower.
The goblin horde with more agile movements.
They said that when Goblin Territory is created, opportunities for growth arise.
Is this related to that?
'This way they'll find the path faster.'
However, contrary to Lee Ganghan's thoughts.
The goblins who entered the maze showed no intention of returning.
"Did they get lost?"
"Ah. I can sense the traces of those guys. If even one of the 50 finds the way to the 2nd floor, we just need to follow that guy's footsteps!"
"Right. I'll wait, then."
"Yes. I'll work hard to get a Clear Evaluation of A!"
Just A?
Lee Ganghan, who had received SSS+ last time, was slightly disappointed with that answer.
-The maze tower is famous for giving harsh evaluations ㅋㅋ
-A... will it work with human wave tactics using 50?
-Getting C would be good enough honestly
-You have to consider it's a bonus mission
Looking at the chat window.
'A' didn't seem easy to achieve in a 'maze' either.
"When I got your horn last time, I received SSS+."
"Ah, as expected......! You gave me the horn because you received that level of evaluation."
"Yeah. That wasn't easy."
"That's right. SSS is a score that's only possible when showing excellent performance even compared to other races."
"Even compared to other races?"
Other races.
Races other than humanity that can be encountered in Gold-grade or higher towers.
Since there are more who show hostility toward humans than races friendly to them.
When a message appears saying you'll climb the tower together with other races.
That round was considered doomed.
But to think you need to show excellent performance even compared to them to receive SSS.
'It was originally difficult.'
Lee Ganghan nodded.
And looked at the Goblin Chief with fresh eyes.
"But did you also climb towers? You know it well."
"That is......"
At that question, the chief hesitated for a moment.
"Having sworn loyalty to the Heavenly Demon, what would I hide! Actually...... &$%!$!"
After making up his mind to say something.
Starting from 'actually', only beeping sounds began to come out.
Then.
Even when the Goblin Chief moved his mouth, no voice could be heard at all.
-What?
-Why stop talking midway.
-There are two ways to drive people crazy: first is not finishing what you say, and second is.
-What's the second one.
-Following what the goblin is doing ㅡㅡ
-Agh ㅅㅂ ㅋㅋㅋ
Viewers initially complained like that.
"Kreuuuk......!?"
The Goblin Chief's body suddenly swelled up.
Peo-peo-peong!
And then…It burst like a balloon exploding before their eyes.
-...Huh? What?
-But there was no need to die over that...
-I wondered why he was talking so solemnly earlier;
-Is it related to the tower? Like spoiler prevention.
-In the tower, if you spoil, they burst your body ㄷㄷ
The chief's body completely burst.
Tuk, Tuk......
At least the three horns didn't burst and were rolling on the ground.
Jjeo-jeo-jeok!
One horn broke and the chief's body regenerated again.
"Kiiiik! Do you think you can shut my mouth with this! !&&$!%$"
The Goblin Chief who died and came back to life was rather angry and tried to say more.
Peo-peo-peong!
Before he could continue speaking, his body burst again.
Then another horn disappeared.
Seu-seu-seu......
The Goblin Chief whose body regenerated again.
"......"
Seeing that only one horn remained.
And that only the horn Lee Ganghan gave him was left, he shut his mouth.
Losing two horns was one thing.
But having even this one shattered would be a bit much, wouldn't it?
"Hey, that's enough. The one I gave you might break too. Don't answer."
"Ah...... Yes. I understand!"
At this, the Goblin Chief's face brightened.
He clearly wanted to protect this horn.
Then.
"Ah! They found the exit!"
Whether one of the 50 goblins sent out found the exit.
He began to guide the way.
'This is convenient.'
Since he was already bad at finding paths.
Thanks to the goblins, the maze would be easily broken through.
But if the target is A even with 50 searching for the path like this.
"How do other races get SSS?"
At Lee Ganghan's question.
"Well...... there are races capable of flight."
The Goblin Chief pointed with his finger above the maze walls.
"The walls seem to reach the ceiling, but if you look closely, there are gaps."
"Ah. You're right."
The maze walls that seemed to reach the ceiling.
However, there were gaps here and there in the ceiling.
If you somehow squeezed through, it looked like you could pass.
-If they're going to block it, they should block it properly, why are there such gaps?
-Races capable of flight just get it for free ㅋㅋㅋ
-Exactly ㅡㅡ
The tower is quite unfair.
As Lee Ganghan thought this while looking at the gaps.
"The maze exit is ultimately in a straight direction, so if you just fly that way, you'll arrive quickly."
"The exit is in a straight direction?"
"Yes."
"Is it like that for all floors?"
"Um...... probably."
He thought the exits would all be in different directions since it's a maze.
But the portal going to the upper floor is ultimately on the opposite side from the start point.
Tuk, Tuk.
Following behind the Goblin Chief, Lee Ganghan knocked on the maze walls a few times.
Stone walls that looked solid.
However, the thickness seemed thinner than expected.
'Hmm......'
As his eyes sank deeply.
"We've arrived!"
Before they knew it, the party was standing in front of the portal leading to the 2nd floor.
-Oh, fast
-Definitely good to send 50 goblins to find the path
-Is this a round where the chief carries? ㄷㄷ
-Won't they get A or higher this way?
Viewers watched Lee Ganghan break through the maze quickly.
And adjusted their expected score upward.
Jiiiiiing......
"Kiiiik?"
When they actually went up to the 2nd floor.
There were less than 10 goblins following the Goblin Chief.
This number.
Was exactly the same as the goblins who had joined the chief when breaking through.
-???
-Where did all the goblins go
-They're wandering lost in the maze ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-But shouldn't summons follow when you go to the next floor?
-That's true but... what's this?
While viewers were puzzled.
The Goblin Chief, with a flustered face, counted the goblins behind him.
Kung! Kung!
He immediately banged his head on the ground and began bowing.
"H-Heavenly Demon, I'm sorry! I thought the goblins would naturally follow when taking the portal......!"
"The rest are wandering in the maze."
"I-I think so......!"
The chief, not knowing what to do.
Lee Ganghan waved his hand at him.
"It's fine. I was going to use a different method from the 2nd floor anyway."
"A different...... method?"
"Yeah."
With that, Lee Ganghan.
Jeo-beok, Jeo-beok.
Stood in front of the wall.
***
The exit is on the opposite side from the start point.
If there were no maze.
If there weren't those towering walls, the exit actually wasn't that far.
'And the walls, though they're solid stone walls...... they weren't as thick as I thought.'
Tuk, Tuk.
Lee Ganghan knocked on the wall with his finger.
And smiled deeply.
'I wasn't just bad at finding paths.'
On the 1st floor, the Goblin Chief found the path for him.
So he could clear just by following behind him.
But even so.
In one corner of his heart, he felt frustrated.
Why make a maze when the exit is clearly visible.
Making people go round and round.
'I could just break through.'
Shuk!
When Lee Ganghan, who was knocking on the wall, extended his fist.
Kung!
The wall caved in and a fist mark remained.
-???
-What's he doing?
-He's not trying to break the wall, is he? ㅋㅋㅋ
-Come on, how can you break a stone wall with your fist ㅋㅋㅋ
-But he's strong though, look at the fist going in;
Seeing him hit the wall.
While viewers were wondering 'surely not'.
"As expected, this won't work."
Lee Ganghan grinned.
"Heavenly Demon Divine Art."
He uttered Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
[Skill, 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' is activated.]
Then a message appeared.
When the power of the 'Heavenly Demon' that had blown off the Goblin Chief's head in one hit activated.
Lee Ganghan felt the power throughout his body explode.
'Let's see.'
Kung!
When his fist touched the wall again.
Thump......!
Cracks appeared in the solid stone wall.
Clearly a different power than before.
However.
'Not enough.'
Lee Ganghan, with a dissatisfied face.
Kept extending his fist.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three times.
Four times.
Furthermore, hitting the same spot more than ten times.
[Skill, 'Heavenly Demon Divine Fist' is activated.]
The skill he had obtained before, Heavenly Demon Divine Fist.
Activated on its own.
A red aura flickered around Lee Ganghan's fist.
And then,
Boom......!
The solid stone wall burst apart completely.
"Finally worked."
When a space was created that one or two people.
No, even the Goblin Chief who was over 2 meters tall could pass through without difficulty.
Lee Ganghan grinned and stood in front of the next wall.
The duration of Heavenly Demon Divine Art was 10 minutes.
Within 10 minutes, he had to break through all the paths.
Kwang! Kwang!
Sounds like bombs exploding echoed.
As holes were punched through the walls.
-No way ㅅㅂ;;
-Are you crazy?
-Wow, he really is the Heavenly Demon...
-When he said Heavenly Demon Divine Art, he used a skill, right?
-Seems like it; he's just breaking walls ㄷㄷㄷ
Viewers seeing the power of Heavenly Demon Divine Art for the first time.
Doubted their own eyes even while watching.
What, in a maze map.
He's advancing by breaking walls with his fists?
And those solid stone walls at that.
"......Uh."
Meanwhile, the Goblin Chief also lost for words at the sight and stood there dumbfounded.
Swish.
Lee Ganghan looked back.
"Hey, if we clear, the kids trapped in the maze can come out too, right?"
"Yes. That's correct......"
"Then let's break through. Let's go."
And so Lee Ganghan.
Broke through with his fists.
At first, even with Heavenly Demon Divine Art, he needed to extend his fist several times.
'Should I extend it like this?'
As the repetitions continued.
Lee Ganghan's movements became more concise.
'The power...... seems better used like this.'
The red aura contained in his fist became denser.
Then when he reached the end of the 2nd floor, the stone walls shattered in one hit.
-No, he got stronger than before? One hit?
-They said flying races were cheating, but there's a bigger cheater here...
-Wow, is he going to the 10th floor like this? ㄹㅇ???
Viewers watched Lee Ganghan pass through by just breaking walls.
Wondering if he'd really go to the 10th floor like this.
"We're all here."
"......Yes."
Lee Ganghan really did.
Go up to the 10th floor breaking through walls.
[Heavenly Demon Divine Art's activation ends.]
Sheu-u-u-u......
When they arrived at the last floor, Heavenly Demon Divine Art ended right on time.
[Skill 'Heavenly Demon Divine Fist' rises to 1-star.]
Lee Ganghan saw the upgrade message for Heavenly Demon Divine Fist.
And looked around the last floor.
Last time there was a sparkling star-shaped gem.
But this time the top floor was completely empty.
Only a blue clear portal was rippling beyond.
"There's no star?"
-That only appears in tutorials, doesn't it.
-Sometimes it appears in other cases though...
-Still, can't see it when climbing regular towers.
Chat flowing up in response to Lee Ganghan's question.
Was that star only visible in tutorials?
'Then I should clear.'
Lee Ganghan entered the clear portal.
Then.
[Calculating Iron Tower No.31 performance......]
[You broke through the maze within 1 hour.]
[You achieved a new clear time record for the 'Human' race.]
[You ranked in the top 10% of all clear time records.]
[Clear Evaluation - SSS+]
[Clear rewards are given proportional to evaluation.]
[Beyond SSS grade evaluation, special rewards are additionally given.]
'SSS+ came out again.'
This time, will they give something other than a horn?
Preferably something I can equip.
While Lee Ganghan was thinking this.
[You acquire 3 entrance tickets to 'Iron Tower No-777'.]
As a special reward.
Three entrance tickets entered his inventory.