Exterminate – Breaching the Tower's Unbreakable Wall
A room shrouded in blackout curtains so thick even sunlight dared not intrude. In the heart of Seoul, South Korea's priciest real estate—deep in Gangnam—the morning in this 300-pyeong luxury residential-commercial penthouse was utterly silent.
This absolute sanctuary, built by the Murim Alliance Leader pouring in funds rivaling a national budget, all for me—the former pinnacle of the World Murim Alliance, Sword Master Lee Gyu-yeon. I kicked off the covers from the bed in the center and slowly opened my eyes.
"Nngh... kuhnyaaa..." A sultry nasal whine slipped out unbidden, sending chills down my own spine. I clutched the blanket tight with my remaining right hand.
"Haa... This damn body still throws me off even after 15 years."
The brief morning identity crisis passed. I rolled around on the bed and casually unleashed Void Grasping.
The fridge door in the living room slid open on its own with a soft whoosh. A bunch of sweet Shine Muscat grapes and a chilled cola can floated through the air, guided by an invisible hand, landing lightly on my bed.
"Martial arts are the ultimate real-combat laziness-busting tech, after all."
Words that past-me as a man would've raged at, but current-me spat them out without hesitation. I ruffled my silver hair roughly and gulped down the cold cola. The fizzy thrill jolted my brain awake.
Five years after beheading the Heavenly Demon and entering secluded meditation, when I opened my eyes to find myself in a woman's body, there was that dark history of sobbing like the world had ended. But as they say, humans adapt. It took less than a month to accept that insane reality.
And so, for a full 15 years after. Holed up in this fortress-like penthouse, I'd collected full anime series, limited-edition figures, toured delivery food spots, and lived as a named troll on the World Murim Gallery.
Sword Master glory? Tossed that crap 20 years ago when I chucked the Heavenly Demon's head at the Alliance Leader. Now, I'm just a 20-year-old (self-proclaimed) 'Gyu-ring-ring' pickled in attention and dopamine.
Time to check how much more the internet had flipped after yesterday's Tower 3F goblin blender and surprise stream end.
I grabbed the smartphone by the bed and fired up the [World Murim Gallery] app first.
"Let's see... how much are my cute noobs missing me?"
[World Murim Gallery]
"Puhuhu! Me in YouTube Shorts?" I couldn't hold back the laughter, rolling around on the bed. Views and comments had obliterated the gallery's usual firepower. Felt like 15 years of pent-up show-off energy finally paying off.
"Kuh... the noobs' analysis skills are spot-on. Formless Sword? Half-right, actually." I popped a Shine Muscat into my mouth and giggled.
My power is Mugyeok realm Intent Qi that twists the world's laws themselves. The moment I will 'slice,' the world submits, cleaving space itself—a divine domain no mortal scrub can grasp.
"Ah... bored."
Done scrolling the gallery, I sprawled zombie-like on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Yesterday's dopamine high lingered. Thousands of viewers gasping and cheering at my every gesture—that electric thrill.
"Almost wrecked the house trying 'Exterminate' in the living room yesterday... maybe blast it properly outside?"
My eyes lit up. If I'm showboating, go big. Tower 3F goblins were kid stuff now. Needed a floor where A-rank parties grunt and sweat against high-tier mobs to properly flex 'Exterminate's' might.
"Alright, Tower 10F today. Orc Lord's head? Piece of cake."
Humming, I headed to the closet. Can't wear drab for stream. I picked an outfit that highlighted my silver hair and blue eyes. The empty left sleeve dangled, but it added a weird charisma.
Vmmm... My prized sword, Mugyeok True Sword, wailed sadly from its display case in the living room corner, begging to come along. I waved my right hand dismissively.
"Too heavy, you're benched. Fingers only today."
I launched the stream drone into the air and opened the floor-to-ceiling penthouse windows. Cloud-scraping height, but I leaped out without hesitation.
In front of the Tower 10F gate. Unlike lower floors, the air was tense. Only parties of at least B-rank hunters, 5-circle mages, and Peak realm+ murim experts prepped, checking weapons, mana, and inner energy.
I activated the drone link.
> Gyu-ring-ring Slaughters 10F Piglet (Orc Lord) Today
Stream went live, and the noobs who'd favorited and camped my channel since yesterday flooded in like a tidal wave.
"Taking a stroll on 10F today." I winked at the lens and strode boldly to the 10F boss gate.
Then—a burly guy with a massive greatsword blocked my path. A Hunter Association badge gleaming A-rank on his chest.
"Hey, little missy. This ain't a playground for kids or unregistered awakener streamers with gear. Scram to 1F."
The A-rank hunter's gruff warning. Chat exploded instantly.
I looked up at him with my blue eyes, smirking crookedly. "Uncle, grab some popcorn and watch. Gotta get those stream angles, so step aside."
"Wha— you rude little bitch!"
As his massive hand lunged for my shoulder—
Swish—
I vanished like a phantom from his sight. No—my movement was so overwhelming, it looked like his hand passed right through my shoulder.
He stumbled on empty air, and I'd already slipped lightly into the boss gate.
"Wha—crazy? What the hell just—"
He whirled in shock. From inside the boss room, an earth-shaking roar erupted.
KROOOAAARRR—!!!!
A monster over 5 meters tall. The 10F ruler, Orc Lord, eyes blazing red, hoisted its massive axe at the intruder. Overwhelming killing intent crushed the air—undesirables couldn't even endure it.
But I yawned in front of the behemoth, raising my right hand.
Chat panicked, scrolling like mad. I perfectly embodied a manga character's expression, chanting in a chilling voice.
And nailed the most important line.
I grinned mischievously at the lens one more time.
Then forcibly clashed two strands of Intent Qi.
The world's will screamed as space warped on the verge of tearing.
"Empty Formula..."
My right finger flicked.
A mass of void shot straight at the Orc Lord.
"Exterminate..."
KWAAAA—!!!!
A massive flash devoured light and sound, piercing straight through the Tower 10F boss room. The Orc Lord's upper body vanished without a scream—utterly erased.
Not enough: the 'invincible' Tower outer wall, unscratched by any attack, gaped open with a hole dozens of meters wide.
The A-rank hunter who'd yelled at me moments ago collapsed to his knees, legs giving out. Chat froze like lag for seconds, then exploded uncontrollably.
Silver hair whipping in the wind through the gaping hole, I flashed a satisfied V-sign at the drone.
"How's that? Today's stream was peak cool, right? That's it for today—surprise end~!"
Same time. Korean Hunter Association HQ, Intelligence Management Room.
"T-Team Leader Choi! Big trouble!"
Choi Team Leader's face twisted in disbelief at his subordinate's report.
"What?!"
He rushed to the monitor. The screen showed only absurd destruction.
But worse awaited.
"And... we barely traced her stream drone's IP and return coords..."
The intel analyst swallowed dryly, face pale as a ghost.
"That girl returned to... the top floor of the 'Cheonmu Penthouse'—the absolute sanctuary built 20 years ago for Sword Master Lee Gyu-yeon in central Gangnam!"
"C-Crazy...!"
Having lobbed a nuclear bombshell at the internet and Hunter Association, the true culprit Gyu-yeon hummed carefree, soaring through the night sky lest her delivered chicken get cold.