Savior (2)
‘Strange.’
Was it echoing in his head? A voice rang out without his lips moving. If not for the man bending at the waist toward him or their eyes meeting, Yun-seok wouldn’t have known who said it.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes. I’ll guide you.”
As Yun-seok departed with the black man who had spoken to him, the scouts around them clicked their tongues in disappointment.
“What? He’s already affiliated somewhere?”
“Why would a Duel Trial challenger pick Earth of all places?”
Yun-seok wondered what kind of system the United Plaza operated under to prompt such talk, but…
He simply followed the black man. His questions would likely be answered soon enough.
Clunk.
About ten minutes’ walk from the plaza, on the second floor of a building. The black man led Yun-seok into a room about 100 square feet and closed the door behind them.
Then he extended a hand for a shake.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Eshton Jackson. I work with the American Challenger Management Bureau.”
“Yes. Choi Yun-seok.”
“Would you like to sit?”
As Yun-seok took a seat, Eshton sat across from him. There was no tea or formalities. Perhaps accustomed to these meetings, he smoothly opened the conversation.
“Did you know? You’re the first person who’s shown no reaction at all to my telepathy.”
It was probably meant to lighten the mood by subtly flattering Yun-seok, but…
Unfortunately, Yun-seok showed no interest in such things and cut straight to the point.
“Who were those guys in the plaza when I arrived?”
Did that one question reveal Yun-seok’s temperament? Eshton immediately shifted his attitude to match.
“Clan scouts.”
As expected, his hunch was correct. But the root of his curiosity remained.
“Clans?”
“Simply put, they’re challenger factions.”
“Do you really need factions in the Tower?”
“The more challengers there are to protect our homeworlds from invaders, the better.”
“There sure were a lot of scouts for something like that.”
“There are four dimensions, but clans don’t split neatly into four. Even on our side, our forces are divided by nation, aren’t they?”
“I see.”
He didn’t bother asking if all clans shared the mission of stopping invaders. Yun-seok now understood how the world worked.
Instead, he asked something else.
“I overheard earlier—they knew I was from the Duel Trial and seemed shocked I chose Earth. Why?”
“The plaza you arrived at is where Duel Trial challengers first enter the United Plaza. And…”
Eshton continued in a self-deprecating tone.
“Among the four dimensions, Earth has the weakest forces. In simple terms, it means we have the highest chance of destruction.”
Eshton cited the lack of Duel Trial challengers as the primary reason for Earth’s weak power.
“Do you know how many Duel Trial challengers are above the 10th floor right now? Fewer than a thousand. And among them, as far as I know, you’re the only Earthling, Mr. Choi.”
He understood why Duel Trial challengers were so prized. He’d realized it during the last mission trial too—Duel Trial folks were far stronger than those from other trials.
But…
“No one else…?”
This was unexpected.
“Yes. You’re not just the only survivor—you’re the first. So the scouts probably assumed you were from another dimension. That’s why they were surprised when you came with me.”
Did working as a scout here build up some resentment? He sincerely thanked Yun-seok.
“You arrived a bit later than Pahur predicted, so we were really worried. Setting aside national or political stances, thank you truly. This gives our side hope.”
Yun-seok tilted his head. Aside from assuming he’d stay on Earth…
Something in his words caught his attention.
Later than predicted?
“Hold on… what’s today’s date?”
“March 9th, Korean time.”
March 9th. That meant 16 days had passed since his last return to Earth.
Considering the waiting room and Earth time flowed 1:1, it was an absurd gap, but…
‘Time must’ve passed during the mission too.’
He’d spent a total of 45 days on the mission. If it flowed at a 3:1 ratio like the Adventure Trial, the dates lined up.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing. So, what was the thing you absolutely had to tell me?”
Eshton took a breath before speaking.
“To ask you to keep your promise.”
Yun-seok had made three requests to the American challenger group: Secretly protect his parents. Publicly disclose Tower of Heaven information. Ensure his name didn’t leak from that incident.
In exchange, he’d agreed to help them someday, as long as it wasn’t too burdensome.
‘Looking back, it was insane.’
It looked like a deal in hindsight, but…
It was basically blackmail. He’d threatened to come after them if they didn’t comply.
But he’d had no choice then. He couldn’t return to the Tower leaving his parents in Korea unprotected.
So, as long as it wasn’t an unreasonable demand, Yun-seok intended to honor it.
Of course, after confirming a few things first.
“Can I check if my requests were fulfilled?”
“Of course. But is it alright to hear it from me?”
In other words, did he trust his word? But there was no reason not to.
Unless Eshton’s Magic was higher than Yun-seok’s, the Executioner’s Eye would detect any lies.
Yun-seok nodded, and Eshton summarized concisely.
“Your parents are safe. We’ve disclosed this place’s existence to the public. But blocking your name from spreading was only half successful.”
“Half?”
Yun-seok feigned ignorance.
“Yes. Civilians don’t know, but… each nation’s governments are aware of you. Given it was a tough condition, please understand.”
The Earth challenger he met in the mission trial knew him. And he’d said the info was already widespread.
He wondered if America had no intention of keeping the promise, but…
From what he heard now, that wasn’t the case.
“Got it.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“So, what’s the request?”
Eshton paused before saying,
“I’d like you to kill one challenger.”
* * *
Before the details, Eshton first recounted the 16 days since Yun-seok returned to the Tower, in chronological order.
“First, we consulted the Korean government and reported the hospital incident as a fire.”
But it couldn’t end as a simple fire. High-profile figures had died en masse.
Korea plunged into chaos. But no one knew greater turmoil was coming soon.
Three days later, Tower of Heaven info was disclosed to the public.
America had planned a more gradual rollout. There were treaties between nations and other complications.
But there was a reason they couldn’t.
“It was because of that challenger I just asked you to kill.”
A presumed Killian challenger arrived on Earth. Or rather, revealed himself then.
His floor wasn’t confirmed, but he was Duel Trial. For some reason, he destroyed everything in sight—people, animals, terrain.
“That day alone, 300,000 died in the UK.”
The city massacre spread worldwide via SNS, video sites, news—every medium.
As rumors of alien invasions swirled, America disclosed the prepared Tower info per Yun-seok’s condition.
Governments faced backlash and protests, but with it public, there was nothing to hide.
Earth’s challengers united against the killer.
“And as if mocking us, he vanished.”
If he’d returned to the Tower, it would’ve been a relief, but…
A week ago today, satellites spotted him. He was up to something on a Pacific island.
“We don’t know how, but a massive rift—never observed before—opened there.”
Rifts are tears in space from invaders. Challenger groups handle them by eliminating invaders and closing rifts before civilian harm.
“The invaders from that massive Pacific rift were unlike any we’d seen.”
It coiled around the island, endlessly devouring and multiplying.
All 5th-floor-plus challengers mobilized, but containment failed. They couldn’t even touch the rift-maker.
It wasn’t surprising. Pahur, a 6th-floor Duel Trial, was top-tier on Earth…
Even several at that level, Yun-seok could handle alone.
“That’s when talk of you came up. Pahur mentioned it in a strategy meeting.”
As the world watched helplessly while ‘it’ grew, Yun-seok was proposed as a counter.
Pahur was confident he’d reach the 10th floor soon. Few believed him fully, but they agreed a 10th-floor Duel Trial might find a way.
Those who reached the 10th were all monsters.
“……”
Yun-seok, who’d been asking questions, clamped his mouth shut.
Sensing unease?
“It’s natural to feel burdened. But if we leave it, the world might end. Then, even your cherished family…”
“Enough.”
Eshton froze at Yun-seok’s words. But his face brightened at the follow-up.
“No need to worry. I’m not running.”
He didn’t know the challenger’s goal. But some weirdo was wreaking havoc on Earth while he was away.
Family aside, Yun-seok had no intention of sitting idle.
300,000 dead in the UK alone? That bastard would regret it to his bones.
* * *
Return Ticket (Rank E) used.
Returning to Earth.
A day might not be enough. So he bought a week-long Rank E ticket.
Back on Earth, Yun-seok checked his surroundings. He’d wandered Seoul aimlessly before settling at the base of Bukhansan Mountain.
“……”
It was midday, yet no hikers in sight.
“Avatar.”
Transforming into Avatar form and spreading his wings tore his clothes. They weren’t Tower gear that auto-adjusted to the user’s body.
‘If only I could bring gear too…’
Yun-seok smacked his lips in regret. He’d once hoped reaching the 10th floor might allow it, but…
According to Eshton, Shin Sang-hyun’s gear came via his unique skill.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Yun-seok soared into the sky on spread wings, heading to the location Eshton mentioned.
Looking down at Seoul, he sensed the chaos of the past 16 days. Most people seemed to carry on with daily life, but…
Proving their anxiety, convenience stores and marts were shuttered. Shelves empty on closer look, some with shattered windows like looting had occurred.
It really felt like the end was near.