Black Tower Administrator Area
Bang!
“Aaah! Lady Aileen! I apologize.”
The holy stone ice cube screamed as it was stepped on by Aileen.
When first stepped on by Aileen, it deeply resented the holy stone piercing and the Heart of Dark, the god of darkness, for betraying it.
Especially, it felt a great sense of betrayal by the holy stone piercing, a fellow holy stone…
Bang!
“Sob, sob. Please spare me. I swear I won’t betray you ever again!”
Eventually, it came to understand them. That dragon was incredibly formidable.
However,
“Hmph! How can I believe the words of a betrayer?”
Aileen was not quick to trust the words of the holy stone ice cube, given its history of betrayal.
“Please believe me! I’m serious!”
“No way! Betrayal is hard to do once, but doing it twice or thrice becomes easy. And you’ve already committed that difficult betrayal once. So, you deserve a harsher punishment!”
And then,
Crush.
She stepped on the holy stone ice cube even harder. The holy stone seemed ready to make a vow of obedience on the spot, but Aileen did not let it do so.
Hmph! How dare you betray our Sejun? Aileen planned to punish the holy stone ice cube more before making it swear an oath.
“Aaaargh!”
The holy stone ice cube screamed under Aileen’s foot.
Then,
Whirr.
A blue light began to emanate from the holy stone ice cube being stepped on by Aileen. The intense pressure seemed to have triggered its evolution.
“Oh?!”
Aileen was taken aback by this development.
“I’m stepping on you to punish you, and you evolve?”
Since it was beneficial for Sejun, Aileen continued stepping on the holy stone ice cube, aiding its evolution.
***
“What?! You think I’ll listen to you…”
Immortal, resisted Sejun’s command to summon the Black Skeletons. You’re asking for a beating.
“This won’t do. Guys, it’s time for the Meow-Meow-Kru-Storm Fist!”
Sejun ordered Theo and Cuengi to perform a combined attack.
Immortal might genuinely be destroyed, but there was no other choice since it refused to listen.
“Chairman Park, understood, meow! Cuengi, are you ready meow?”
Click.
Theo responded and placed his front paw on Sejun’s knee.
Krueng!
[Ready!]
Cuengi also responded, placing his front paw on Sejun’s knee. It was a ritual to include Sejun in their combined attack.
The two finished preparing for the combined attack.
“Here we go, meow! Meow-meow! Meow-Meow”
Kruuueng!
Theo’s meow-meow fist and Cuengi’s roar combined into the Meow-Meow-Kru-Storm Fist, launching towards Immortal.
Crunch.
Immortal’s body was pulverized to an almost invisible size. The surrounding terrain was altered as a side effect.
Ssssss.
The shattered pieces of Immortal’s body began to gather and regenerate. Fortunately, Immortal’s life was as persistent as one would expect from an Immortal King.
But,
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Immortal struggled to regenerate his body, reduced to dust.
He was thought to be immune to physical force, but it seemed even that had limits in the face of extreme physical force.
“If you so wish to die… Arise, my swords!”
Still not wanting to endure the Meow-Meow-Kru-Storm Fist again, Immortal obediently summoned the Black Skeletons. It was practically a surrender.
And then,
Boom, boom.
“At your command, Immortal King.”
Following Immortal’s command, 50 Black Skeletons emerged from the ground.
“Kill that man!”
“Yes, as the king commands!”
Swoosh.
Following Immortal’s order, the Black Skeletons drew their swords and charged at Sejun.
Then,
“Cuengi, hold them.”
Sejun, with no intention to fight the Black Skeletons directly, instructed Cuengi.
And then,
Krueng! Krueng!
[Understood! Holding them!]
Cuengi stretched his front paws forward and used telekinesis to immobilize the Black Skeletons.
“Rainfall.”
In the meantime, Sejun soaked the ground sufficiently to ensure good electrical conductivity.
“Thunder Throw!”
“Thunder Throw!”
After dropping lightning on the Black Skeletons summoned by Immortal 10 times,
Boom!
[You have defeated the fiftieth sword of the Immortal King Immortal.]
[You have gained 20,000 experience points.]
The weakest Black Skeleton began to fall.
“Thunder Throw!”
As Sejun continued to defeat the Black Skeletons and gain experience,
[Your proficiency in Rain Thunder Lv. 3 has increased, leveling up the skill.]
The Rain Thunder skill leveled up.
And then,
“Thunder Throw.”
When Sejun used the levelled-up Thunder Throw,
Boom!
[The power of purification contained within the thunder cleanses forces that defy the natural order.]
[The soul control exerted by Immortal King Immortal over Onik’s souls weakens slightly.]
…
..
.
Ssssss.
With the message, black smoke slightly escaped from the bodies of the Black Skeletons hit by the thunder and disappeared. The Rain Thunder skill had reached level 4 and was now imbued with the power of purification.
“Huh?”
Upon seeing the names in the message, Sejun realized that the Black Skeletons he was attacking were, until recently, his allies.
And that his attacks were actually helping them. Guys, I’ll help you attain nirvana.
Originally planning to just fight moderately and leave it to Theo and Cuengi, Sejun got enthusiastic and used his skill.
“Hey! Summon more! Thunder Throw.”
Thus, Sejun continued to drop thunder more vigorously.
2 hours later,
“Huff, huff, huff. I’m tired. Let’s take a break.”
After defeating all 50 Black Skeletons and using about half of his magic power, Sejun gasped for air.
Compared to the past when he would faint after using ‘Thunder Throw‘ three times, this was indeed a remarkable improvement.
Clank.
Immortal was temporarily placed in the void storage to prevent him from escaping.
Just as Sejun was about to take a break after putting Immortal in the void storage,
Crack.
Sejun heard a breaking sound in his ear.
“Huh?!”
Turning towards the source of the sound,
Kuehehehe.
Cuengi was chewing on the bones of a Black Skeleton.
“Cuengi, who told you to eat that?! Spit it out right now! That’s dirty!”
Sejun sternly scolded Cuengi.
Kueng… Krueng…
[Sorry… Cuengi was just hungry and wanted to taste it…]
Cuengi looked pitiful and whimpered, noticing Sejun’s angry expression.
Despite feeling soft-hearted seeing Cuengi like this, Sejun maintained a stern expression.
It was time to be strict, or Cuengi might eat human bones next time.
“If you’re hungry, tell daddy. Here, eat some honey. Don’t eat such things again, okay?”
Sejun gave Cuengi some honey he had taken out when confining Immortal.
Krueng! Krueng!
[Okay! Cuengi was wrong!]
Cuengi, realizing Sejun was no longer angry, rubbed its face against Sejun’s knee and said.
Kuehehehe.
Lick, lick.
Cuengi sat on Sejun’s lap and began eating the honey.
After a while, when Cuengi finished the honey,
“Hey. Summon them again.”
Sejun took Immortal out of the void storage and had him summon the Black Skeletons again.
“Eek! I’m not going to do whatever you say…”
Immortal seemed to have quickly forgotten the pain he just experienced and resisted again.
But,
“Guys, Meow-Meow-Kru…”
“No! I’ll summon them! Arise, my swords!”
Immortal eventually had to summon the Black Skeletons again. It would have been so much easier if he had just complied from the start.
“Thunder Throw!”
Sejun continued to defeat the Black Skeletons and gain experience points.
Boom!
As Sejun continued to rain down thunder on the Black Skeletons,
Ssssss.
[The power of purification contained within the thunder cleanses forces that defy the natural order.]
[The soul control exerted by Immortal King Immortal over Sis’s soul is completely released.]
[The soul of Sis, under the control of Immortal King Immortal, is liberated.]
With the message, black smoke slightly escaped from the weakest Black Skeleton’s body, and its black bones turned pure white.
The power of purification had completely liberated the soul from Immortal’s control.
And then,
“Thank you for granting me peace. The only thing I can offer to you, Sejun, is the modest enlightenment of my sword. Please accept my enlightenment.”
The liberated soul of the knight Sis left behind a white light containing his enlightenment and insight and then vanished into white powder, having achieved nirvana.
Floating.
As the white light left by Sis approached Sejun, he touched it.
Then,
[Knight Sis has passed on his enlightenment to you.]
[You have learned Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 1.]
[The proficiency of Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 1 has been filled and the level has increased.]
[The proficiency of Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 2 has been filled and the level has increased.]
…
..
.
[You have mastered Basic Swordsmanship.]
[You have learned Intermediate Swordsmanship Lv. 1.]
Along with the messages, Sejun instantly acquired Intermediate Swordsmanship Lv. 1. As a knight who had practiced swordsmanship all his life, Sis had profound insight into the art.
“Wow!”
When Sejun took out his dagger, he felt a different sensation than before.
This gave Sejun even more reason to liberate the Black Skeletons.
“Thunder Throw!”
So Sejun continued to cast thunder late into the night.
“Ah. I’m exhausted.”
Completely drained of magical power, Sejun was worn out.
However, during that time, he managed to liberate two more Black Skeletons, his Intermediate Swordsmanship skill reached Level 5, and he also learned Intermediate Spear Technique Lv. 1 and Intermediate Shield Technique Lv. 1.
Immortal, who provided both experience points and skills, was a complete treasure trove for Sejun.
“Eek! My swords!!!”
Meanwhile, Immortal, who could only watch as the souls it controlled attained nirvana and escaped its grasp, was grinding its teeth in frustration towards Sejun.
But then,
“Kyoot, kyoot, kyoot. I’m back!”
Swoosh.
As Iona, who had burned down the entire fourth-floor experience farm, returned, Immortal suddenly became silent.
Being a magician himself, Immortal feared Iona more than Theo and Cuengi, who attacked physically. Thanks to her, Sejun could spend his time quietly.
***
99th floor of the Tower.
[Here. Eat this.]
Flamie’s roots handed a drop of liquid to Podori’s roots. Although it was just a drop, it contained tremendous nutrients.
[Um… Flamie~nim…]
Podori hesitated to accept the liquid.
[Huh?! Oh, don’t worry. I’m eating much more than what I’m giving you.]
Flamie reassured Podori, thinking it was hesitating to accept the gift out of concern for her.
[Ah… It’s not that… I’m just full.]
[What?!]
Flamie was taken aback by Podori’s response. Did I hear that wrong?
But,
[I’m really full.]
Gathering courage, Podori conveyed its feelings. With Flamie providing such nutrient-rich liquid incessantly, Podori was suffering from indigestion.
Fwoosh.
You are so full?! I never had anyone to give me such things!!! Flamie’s roots began to heat up with anger at Podori’s unexpected response.
[Um… Flamie~nim, please calm down… I’ll eat it! I will!]
Startled by Flamie’s fiery reaction, Podori hurriedly tried to calm Flamie down.
[Podori, how can you become the World Tree like this? Huh?! Eat it quickly! I’ll make you the World Tree in no time.]
Flamie spoke as if to assure complete trust in herself.
And then,
[Yes… ]
Podori, under Flamie’s insistence, was forced to absorb the liquid.
‘I shouldn’t have said I was a candidate for the World Tree…’
Podori regretted it too late.
***
The next morning.
“Alright!”
After building an mud house using Myler’s hoe and taking out a mattress from the void storage for a good night’s sleep, Sejun woke up refreshed.
Then,
“Guys, time to wake up.”
Sejun woke up the animals. He needed to take out food ingredients from the void storage for breakfast, but couldn’t open it alone since Immortal was also locked inside.
“Meow…”
Krueng…
Kyoot…
After spending 10 minutes waking up the animals,
“Puhuhut. Leave it to me, meow!”
Krueng!
[Cuengi is hungry!]
They were ready to open the void storage.
After having a quick breakfast,
“Thunder Throw.”
Sejun made Immortal summon Black Skeletons and then dropped thunder on them.
Boom!
Sejun started off with a strong thunderbolts, using a lot of magic power. Although this method quickly exhausted his magic power, this time he had something to rely on.
“Kyoot, kyoot, kyoot. Power of magic, heed my command and transfer my magic power. Magic Power Transfer.”
Iona used her own magic power to replenish Sejun’s.
Although it was an inefficient spell, consuming 100 of her magic power to restore only 5 of Sejun’s (efficiency 5%), it was perfectly suited for the situation.
Thanks to Iona’s help, Sejun could use his skills liberally without worrying about his magic power,
[Your proficiency in Rain Thunder Lv. 4 has increased, leveling up the skill.]
The level of the Rain Thunder skill increased again, strengthening the power of purification in the thunder and weakening Immortal’s soul control more rapidly.
Day 356 of being stranded. The morning before the Black Rabbit’s wedding passed like this.
