Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: 8th Hierarchy
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8th Hierarchy.
A halted world.
Havel and his group had to take another aimless path through this place.
After clearing the lower layer, what stretched out before them was yet another endless plain.
On that plain, the only thing to do was keep walking.
"This is really getting unbearable."
Was it because they'd been walking for days on end already?
Fatigue was thickly etched across Elasia's face.
Havel glanced at her and spoke up.
"That's why I told you."
"No way! I'm absolutely against that!"
Elasia shot back immediately, her voice brimming with dissatisfaction.
"We're not charging in blind and fighting like maniacs anymore!"
Perhaps because they'd jumped straight into battle the moment they entered this lower layer.
Elasia shook her head vigorously, her face pale with disgust.
"At least starting off knowing what's ahead together puts my mind at ease."
"Jeez, isn't it easier to just empty your head and fight? Why overthink it?"
Pyodor replied with an expression like he was dying of boredom.
Maybe because mages didn't need to think as much in combat as others; he seemed utterly relaxed.
As long as he could fight and grow, he didn't care how.
"Don't you have any pride as a climber?"
Climbers were those who cleared the Tower through their own power.
Though the term had lost much of its original meaning by now.
Elasia was particularly obsessed with conquering the Tower compared to the others.
It was the intellectual curiosity all mages shared that drove her.
"Does that crap put food on the table?"
Of course, Pyodor couldn't care less.
He'd climbed the Tower solely to restore his homeland, Freyja.
"I agree with Lady Elasia."
Baria, who had been listening quietly, sided with Elasia.
"With intel, I can support the rear even more smoothly."
"What good's helping those guys?"
"There's this thing called collective intelligence.
Sure, with Lord Havel, most problems get solved easily, but conquests can still hit snags."
Havel's overwhelming strength smoothed out most issues.
But it wasn't foolproof every time.
"Those trailing behind can provide the clues we need."
The Tower wasn't designed for solo clears from the start.
In fact, that was why Havel had brought these three along.
Unlike the Demonic Palace, the Tower grew increasingly bizarre the higher you went.
From the 7th Hierarchy onward, Calamity Beasts possessed intelligence, of course.
And they often faced situations that required solving specific problems.
Even Havel realized he couldn't handle everything alone forever.
As Baria explained, Pyodor just shrugged.
"As if those other guys have ever been useful."
"Think positive. Wasn't it mutual aid that got you here from your homeland, Lord Pyodor?"
"Ugh, why bring that up?"
The once-weak Pyodor from his hometown clamped his mouth shut.
Watching Pyodor, Havel suddenly recalled something.
'After the Calamities emerged, disasters multiplied exponentially for a while.'
During the time he hadn't climbed the Tower, Havel had reviewed various books.
Among that intel, he'd paid closest attention to the Calamities.
Incidents surging due to Calamities.
The most prominent were the various disasters.
Maybe even the Freyja Mountains' volcanic eruption was tied to that.
'A Calamity might have spawned inside the Freyja Mountains.'
It wasn't impossible.
'The fog is still thinning out steadily.'
Even after clearing the Primordial Three Calamities, the fog wouldn't vanish completely.
Speculation linked the fog to the distribution of continental Calamities.
'But the thinner it gets, the more openings the Calamity Lords have to slip through.'
The Gluttonous One had said as much recently.
That one of the Calamity Lords had already entered.
'No clue where that one's hiding.'
But it was certain to show up before them somehow.
Just as the Calamity Lords took interest in the new one who'd devoured Immortality.
That one wouldn't ignore them either.
'One nagging question: how does the Gluttonous One even know that?'
The Gluttonous One had offered cooperation, sure.
But Havel didn't trust the Calamity Lords one bit.
They were still riddled with suspicious traits.
'Above all, they're cooperating because they want the continent for themselves.'
Cooperating for that reason alone meant Havel had no cause to treat them as allies.
'I'd love to just wipe them all out.'
But the so-called Primordial Lords were still a problem.
'Looks like the only way is clearing the Tower and other Calamities completely.'
That was the vibe to confront those Primordial Lords.
'And one more curiosity.'
Havel clenched and unclenched his fist.
Unlike others, Havel could absorb Calamities.
A bonus ability gained from becoming the lord of the Demonic Palace's 10th Hierarchy.
He'd never tested it on humans, of course.
But what about on Calamity Lords?
Could he absorb the Calamities they wielded?
'Who knows.'
Not until he tried.
"Ah, Lord Havel!"
It was then.
Elasia, fed up with bantering with Pyodor, suddenly shouted.
The moment Havel looked up following her voice.
There unfolded a scene eerily similar to one he'd seen before.
A city was being projected there, just like last time.
But strangely, the city's appearance shifted every time they looked.
As if entry led to a random destination.
"Looks mighty suspicious just from the visuals."
Baria shared Havel's thoughts.
The entrance to the 8th Hierarchy's mid-layer screamed red flags to anyone.
But having come this far, they couldn't just ignore it.
"We move forward."
Havel turned toward it without hesitation.
The three had no complaints about his call.
Results came from trying, after all.
Soon enough, the four arrived before a city shrouded in a translucent barrier.
Up close, the city was changing even faster than from afar.
It was impossible to predict which one they'd land in.
"Mind if I analyze the pattern for a bit?"
"I'll help too."
The sharp-minded Baria and Elasia stepped up.
Havel nodded, and Pyodor promptly plopped down on the ground.
"Finally, less walking."
Those unrelated to brains could sit it out.
Before long, the two wrapped up their analysis and returned.
"From what we've grasped, there are twelve cities in total."
"Not bad."
"Yes. Different architectural styles and environments confirm they're all distinct."
Havel stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Havel could probably enter his desired city.
But what about syncing with the other three?
'Even entering together might drop us in different ones.'
Havel glanced at the trio.
'These guys made it here, so maybe worrying's pointless.'
"We go in. Picked a good city yet?"
"We avoided deserts and jungles as much as possible."
"Then we sync to that one."
"Understood."
Baria replied and refined the timing analysis.
Moments later, having nailed the pattern, he called Havel and Pyodor over.
"Hold hands first. Enter on my signal."
He was assuming they'd all go in together.
"I'm not holding your hand."
"Who asked you to?"
Predictably, Elasia and Pyodor started bickering.
Havel approached the two and lightly swung his fist.
They instantly quieted after a quick knuckle-rap.
Discipline worked wonders.
Havel grabbed their hands and dragged them over.
Felt like parenting bratty kids, but he shoved that aside.
Baria took Pyodor's hand.
"Signal coming right up."
With that, all four stepped forward.
Aiming for perfect sync.
How long did they wait for Baria's cue?
The instant the city shifted before their eyes.
"Now!"
Baria shouted, and the four stepped through simultaneously.
The moment they pierced the translucent barrier into the city.
Havel realized both his hands were empty.
He quickly scanned around.
Naturally, no sign of the three.
"Separated, huh."
Was his timing off?
Or was it structured that way?
No way to know, but they'd split up regardless.
Still, Havel didn't dwell on it.
Collective smarts were nice, but he was fine solo.
So he lifted his head and casually surveyed the scene.
First off, surroundings were jungle.
Regrettably, one of the spots Baria had tried to avoid.
"Tch."
Humid air brushed his face as Havel started to move.
Then he noticed his body had changed.
He glanced down at his hand.
Lo and behold, it was green.
And notably smaller.
"Hmm."
Havel clenched and unclenched it.
Then patted himself down to check his state.
Soon, he reached a conclusion.
"Goblin."
One of the weakest classified Calamity Beasts.
His form had become a goblin.
Green skin, long ears.
Prominent hooked nose.
Awkward height.
The only remnant of his original self was the near-white hair faintly on his head.
What an absurd sight.
"Annoying."
No way he'd stick with goblin looks.
In that instant, his aura and Calamity swirled, activating manifestation.
He'd overwritten the goblin transformation.
And his new form differed vastly from before.
Skin tone and ears remained, but height and facial features reverted to normal.
Then.
"Gobek?!"
A startled voice rang out from somewhere.
Havel turned to see a single goblin there.
It had clearly been shocked by him; its beady eyes were wide open.
"G-G-Goblin changed!"
And bizarrely, it spoke language.
In that moment, Havel's figure blurred.
"Gobrik!"
He snatched the goblin in a flash and hoisted it upside down by the leg.
"Hey."
From Havel's transformation to being grabbed instantly.
The goblin, overwhelmed by this bewildering turn, froze in terror.
True to its weakest Calamity Beast nature, gripped by fear.
Havel grinned before the goblin.
"Guide me to your village."
The conquest of the 8th Hierarchy mid-layer had begun.