Chapter 82. The Womb of the Dead, ‘Pendariel’ (4)
Beyond the senses, there was a super-sensory perception.
Not the type you could block with mere sight and reaction.
‘Either one is born with the talent to feel the current sword strike.’
Or…
‘One must become a veteran who has memorized all the sword paths.’
Only one of these two could survive in front of this queen.
And she had already figured out which suited her better.
Rather than the innate talent from birth, it was the acquired talent perfected through enjoyment.
This was the path a true veteran should aim for.
Clang!
Bright sparks scattered.
Jinhyuk had deflected a lethal blow aimed at his heart.
One feint reduced the distance between them by a step.
“Kugh!”
As the first attack missed, Pendariel unleashed a second.
[‘Second Sword (第二劍)’]
This time, the sword’s tip split into countless branches.
The divided points scattered chaotically.
[‘Dispatch (派送)’]
Blades erased the afterimages of other blades, ravaging to tear apart the enemy.
In all directions, like a storm with no corners.
Kakakakang!
But the result remained the same.
Jinhyuk moved the Twin Dragon Swords with machine-like precision.
Among the flurry of attacks, not one landed effectively.
The distance between them closed further.
“Now it’s my turn.”
A chill emanated from Jinhyuk’s fingertips.
[Lv5 ‘Glacial Sculpture (氷河造形)’, ‘Black Ice’ activated!]
Using ‘Glacial Sculpture’ to create an icy surface, throwing his opponent off balance.
“Keuk!?”
[Lv1 ‘Sword Demon Emperor Step (劍魔帝王步)’ activated!]
Kukukung!
With ‘Sword Demon Emperor Step,’ he showed ghastly maneuvering even at close range.
“Kraaaa!”
Pendariel roared, unable to suppress her anger.
Provoked endlessly, yet her prey remained just out of reach.
A tree may break in the storm, but the reed that bends survives.
Jinhyuk accepted the great wave instead of resisting it.
Thus…
Clang!
In the end, the one always smiling is…
Kakakang!
‘It’s me.’
The long-awaited gap appeared.
Jinhyuk planted the Twin Dragon Swords into the ground and drew the ‘Scythe that Severs Causality.’
“Cursed… Damn it! This cannot be! Me… beaten by a mere human!”
Pendariel’s mouth was ripped horizontally.
It’s inconceivable someone so strong.
How could a being with a lifespan of less than a hundred years possess such plentiful powers?
Powers all perfect, without any flaws.
But no matter how much she denied or struggled, it was too late.
The distance between them was now close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Swish!
For the first time since the battle began, the sound of cleaving flesh was heard.
A single drop of blood from a clean cut signaled the end of the fight.
[The fourth-floor boss monster ‘Pendariel’ has fallen!]
[The fifth floor of the Tower of Trials is now unlocked!]
[Time remaining until the conquest of the next floor: 89D 23h:59m:59s]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[You have successfully defended a base. Depending on the number of base personnel, ‘A-Grade Random Boxes (5)’ have been awarded.]
[For achieving the most kills, you have received ‘Advanced Skill Enhancement Book (1)’.]
[As a reward for the popular vote, you have received ‘10% Coin Exchange Fee Discount Coupon (1 use)’.]
[For defeating a hidden boss monster, you have received ‘Magical Library Admission Ticket (1 use)’.]
A cascade of notifications flooded in.
Who could have predicted it?
The Egyptian deities and Anubis, all confident in their victory, were left speechless.
“Still, that boss was much stronger than the one on the third floor. Muhoon only hid behind his minions.”
Jinhyuk’s voice was emotionless.
Of course, the queen would no longer hear him, her life cut short.
＊＊＊
The ferocious battle on the fourth floor was over.
Given the desperate situation beforehand, it could be called nothing short of a miracle.
And now, 24 hours later, in a pub in Hongdae.
Here, Jinhyuk and the others who had defended the base together were having a modest celebration.
“Brother! Over here!”
Yoo Yeonhwa waved her hand.
In the tower, she fought fiercely with blood-dripping knuckles, but outside…
She was casually dressed in sweatpants and a hooded shirt.
A rather fresh sight.
“Hyung! Did you come?”
Lee Taemin was also there, wearing jeans and a black T-shirt.
And he had a white cap turned backward as a stylish touch.
“Sorry, am I late?”
“No, we just got here too. But brother, you’ve really transformed, haven’t you? I thought a celebrity walked in for a moment.”
“Hyung, can’t you dress like this in the tower too?”
Having gone to the salon and bought a few outfits for a change, he was receiving 180-degree different reactions. Come to think of it, the hairstylist too had commented on the wax, claiming it looked much better, and so forth. At the time, he thought it was just a sales talk, but given their reactions, it seemed it wasn’t entirely empty words.
“If I dressed up like this, when would I climb the tower?”
Jinhyuk chuckled and spoke again.
“Where’s Teresa?”
“Teresa said she’ll be about an hour late and told us to start eating.”
Different from Jinhyuk, Teresa returned to Europe through the gate she came from. Although it would have been nice if she had stayed, she said she had important matters, so it was decided she would join up later. Being a ranker, she likely had a private jet, so the journey to Korea shouldn’t be too arduous.
Lastly.
A man sitting quietly in one corner caught his eye.
Whispers buzzed around them.
“See that guy?”
“Maybe I should talk to him in a bit.”
“Wow! I think he just made eye contact with me.”
Good stature and proportions stood out, no matter the attire.
Plus, with an atmosphere that seemed to contain all the world’s melancholy, it was natural for him to attract attention.
“Here I am.”
“I know.”
“Thought you wouldn’t come or would be hours late, but you kept the promise?”
Jinhyuk smirked. The process of dragging that fellow to this place came to mind.
-Tomorrow evening at 7 PM. Be in front of the pub near Hongdae’s exit number 3. We’ll have some beers together.
-That’s ridiculous. Why should I attend such a gathering?
Cheon Yuseong frowned, but…
-You might want to show up if you want to know the best way to get what you want from the random box.
A single line from Jinhyuk and he had no choice but to promise to come to Hongdae.
And he actually did.
But that guy…
He thought he was some neighborhood thug with the way he spoke and acted.
Turns out he’s a medical student. At Hanyeol University, no less.
He seriously worried for the safety of his future first patient.
If things go south during surgery, he could all too easily imagine him swinging a sword rather than a scalpel.
“Just let me die if I get hurt, or better yet, kill me yourself.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“If I have to trust my body to you, I might as well just die…”
“Don’t worry. Duty is duty, life is life. If I’m responsible for a patient, I’ll do everything I can to save them.”
Damn, can’t even joke around.
Jinhyuk clicked his tongue and took a gulp of beer.
The icy-cold beer chilled his overworked body.
He then bit into a piece of spicy seasoned chicken.
Crispy on the outside and juicy inside.
“Kuh.”
A sound of satisfaction escaped Jinhyuk’s mouth.
To truly appreciate this flavor, sweat and fatigue were crucial.
But then…
[Give me some too. Stop being stingy and don’t eat it all yourself!]
A voice full of petulance streamed from the ring.
It was Ellis.
After the third-floor battle, she had been quiet, conserving her magic power, but as soon as it came time to eat, she always managed to assert her presence like a ghost.
Indeed, having been stuck in the corridor for eons, she must have been curious about the food from the outside world.
He could even save on the drinks and earn some extra if he played his cards right.
“I really wish I could share with you, but this stuff is quite expensive, you know. Even for me, it’s quite a burden on my wallet.”
[Expensive? How much are we talking?]
Jinhyuk purposely adopted a grave expression.
“It would require at least one diamond the size of a thumbnail. It’s peanuts compared to the total cost of the drinks, but considering our relationship, I’ll only ask for that much.”
As if doing a favor.
As if concerned for a friend.
The key was subtly using Ellis’s psychological sense of obligation.
[Fair enough. It’s not in my nature to freeload without offering anything in return.]
Ellis’s response was dignified.
Indeed, a generous and wealthy mark was always welcome.
Especially at a drinking table.
＊＊＊
“Hmm. Is this what the lesser beings call alcohol?”
Ellis’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Dressed in a black gown with fancy lace and adorned with a ruby necklace and gold.
The excitement of being outside had her all dressed up.
“It’s draft beer.”
“Umm! Not bad, not bad! Not quite like the finest blood or wine aged over centuries, but decent enough to quench thirst. Must be made by a lineage of masters over many generations.”
What a load of… That’s mass-produced beer for 2500 won a pint from the factory.
Especially since they are doing a 1+1 promo today in celebration of the fourth floor’s conquest.
“Try this too.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s called chicken, seasoned with soy and spices.”
“Meat, huh… Not exactly my taste, but since you insist, I’ll deign to try it just this once.”
Ellis elegantly scooped up a chicken drumstick with her fork.
She chewed pensively and then…
Her eyes changed.
Like a predator having spotted its prey.
As Jinhyuk reached for a piece of chicken…
Clang!
Ellis’s fork parried his move.
“……”
A resolution shone in her eyes. Not a single piece would she forfeit.
Of course, being familiar with meat only as boiled or roasted and seasoning luxury being just sprinkling salt, it made sense she’d lose her mind over this.
“Eat up. It’s all on me today.”
“Thank you. I shan’t forget this favor.”
Ellis clutched her beer glass with flushed excitement.
Seeing her like this, you’d think she was an innocent young girl.
Who would believe this little one to be Jinjo, one of the most formidable beings in the tower?
“Everybody! I’m here!”
With Teresa joining in, the atmosphere around the table got even livelier.
Amidst delicious food, they shared memories of the tower, basking in the joy of victory.
Then, amidst the bustling conversation…
Crackle!
The volume on the TV in the center of the pub rose.
Everyone’s gaze focused.
Instead of celebrity gossip or sports, a special broadcast on the Tower of Trials was on.
[With the successful conquest of the fourth floor, all eyes are now on what comes next with floor five.]
[Yes, that’s right. There were many ups and downs, but this time, it was thanks to Kang Jinhyuk, a Korean ranker, that we safely made it to the fifth floor.]
The male and female anchors exchanged banter.
[Before we discuss the fifth floor, can we see a brief summary that even ordinary citizens can understand?]
[Of course. The chart you see below shows the players who played the most significant roles in defeating the boss monsters from the first to the fourth floor and the countries they represent.]
Patrick of the American Titan Guild cleared the first floor.
Maria of the European Olympus Guild and Nangong Tian of the Central China Guild, along with the unaffiliated player Teresa, cleared the second floor.
The mysterious Unknown cleared the third floor.
And the ranker from Korea, Kang Jinhyuk, conquered the fourth.
Elite rankers and beacons of hope for humanity.
Names of the pioneers destined to conquer the Tower’s future were listed.
[Wow! Just hearing the names gives you a feeling of grandeur.]
[Ha, I feel the same way. With them, it feels like humanity will be guided to the next floor no matter what.]
[Now, could you please explain about the fifth floor?]
The female anchor passed the microphone.
[Certainly.]
The fifth floor.
The main theme for the next 90 days where the players must spend their time was…
[The fifth floor is…]
Revealed.
