Chapter 132 Challenger (2)
—This is a military area where civilians are prohibited. Please turn the ship around.
At the sound of the loudspeaker, Yoon-seok’s eyes turned downward. Ten warships surrounded the Tower in a standoff with dozens of civilian fishing boats.
“Get out of my way, you bastards! Seoul already became that. Do you think we will stay put and trust you?!”
A man on one of the fishing boats at the forefront shouted. Judging from his stern voice, it didn’t appear like he came all this way here to take a picture to post on SNS.
“What’s going on? And what is he saying?”
Ashton replied in a bitter tone to Yoon-seok.
“Probably civilians who came after hearing the rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. Rumors are spreading rapidly on the Internet that touching the Tower can turn you into a challenger.”
Ashton then explained that the number of people who believed the rumors had increased rapidly since the outbreak in Seoul. It was their idea to become a challenger to gain the power to protect themselves. Still, since the world was ending, it was natural for such people to emerge. However, the problem was…
“Is it just a rumor?”
Yoon-seok met Ashton’s eyes before he asked the question.
“Yes, it’s a ridiculous rumor. I think that kind of rumor came from the phenomenon that people disappear once coming into contact with the Tower….”
“Wait, disappear?”
“That’s right, but that doesn’t mean the rumor is true. No one who touched the Tower could be found inside.”
“Then, nobody’s figured out what this Tower is?”
“Yes. At least until this morning.”
This morning, the first survivor returned. He was a challenger-turned-agent sent by the U.S. government, and his statement shed light on the Tower’s identity.
“Tower of the Truth-seeker.”
“…?”
“It’s different from the Tower of Heaven. Anyone from Earth can challenge, share floors, and receive a common reward if they pass the trials.”
“Common reward?”
“Yes, that’s what we predicted. I don’t know what it’s like going further, but the reward on the first floor was to weaken the invaders by 10%.”
After hearing the reward, he clearly understood what purpose this structure had and why Ashton brought him here urgently.
“You don’t have time to give a lecture.”
“I already reported that you refused.”
Yoon-seok smiled. He felt that Ashton had no intention of sending him in there in the first place.
“They’re all politicians, after all. They have no idea what’s important and what your day is worth.”
He thought he was originally a deep sense of patriotism, so when did he change so much? He sounded like Yoon-seok’s loyal subject. Although his attitude was very burdensome, it wasn’t that bad to have someone like this serving as a mediator between him and the government.
‘It’s an extreme way of thinking, but if I make that part clear, it’ll be fine to have him around.’
“Ashton, if something happens in Seoul again, will you let me know right away?”
“But…”
“Just deliver the information. I’ll be the judge.”
“…Okay. I will do that next time.”
As a result, the Ashton problem ended. Of course, he may not keep his promise and prioritize his beliefs, but, there would be no second chances if that happened. Yoon-seok wasn’t that soft.
“Who was the challenger that passed the first floor?”
“It’s Jovan Trosian. I was told that you have met him before.”
“Oh, the 13th-floor mission challenger…”
For reference, his combat power was measured to be 11 million. But since their conversation in the helicopter that day, he had been making a constant effort to grow.
“Now he’s reached the 15th floor. It took about 46 hours to clear the first floor.”
Anyway, Ashton was very quick to catch on. He didn’t even ask yet, but he figured out what Yoon-seok’s intention was and quickly explained.
“It took two days…”
Yoon-seok, who was muttering quietly, nodded.
“Then let’s go.”
They would find how much Yoon-seok’s day, which was highly regarded by Ashton, was worth.
「You have entered the Tower of the Truth-seeker.」
When he jumped off the helicopter and touched the Tower, his eyes flashed. He found himself in a space full of black emptiness a moment later, reading the words that casually appeared.
「Please specify a nickname.」
Although he didn’t know why this was necessary, since they asked, Yoon-seok wrote down the nickname Predator he used in the Tower without much thought. Then, the status of the challenge appeared.
-1st floor Base Defense completed (Jovan Trosian) 46:21:31.
Jovan used his real name.
「 2nd-floor trial is Breakthrough.」
「Break through the trap and reach your destination.」
His vision darkened as his surroundings changed once more. An area similar to the Great Labyrinth from the exploration trials appeared around him. However, the difference was that not only monsters but numerous traps now blocked his path.
Whooosh! Slice! Slice! Slashh, Slashhh-!
Bars periodically shot up from the floor as arrows whizzed by from the walls. A sharp double-edged ax swung like a pendulum from the ceiling. This alone was quite brutal, but countless ghost-like monsters were also roaming the halls.
‘Even if I just stay put, my durability is rising?’
He had a sudden thought, but he didn’t plan to enact it. Unlike the duels, this was a space where time likely flowed 1:1 with reality.
「Traps and landmarks are impossible to destroy.」
Yoon-seok smiled and pulled out his sword. Impossible to destroy? He would have to confirm that.
Slip.
Yoon-seok gently stretched his sword forward. Whether it was a wall, monster, or trap, that was enough.
Booooooooooom—!
A whirlpool formed from the sword’s tip, smashing through everything in a straight line before subsiding. A shining portal could be seen past the carnage.
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