Chapter 134 Opportunity (1)
「Move to the 18th-floor waiting room.」
Yoon-seok, returning from his work on Earth, was momentarily lost in thought.
“…”
Tower of the Truth-seeker, a separate trial in which rewards were given for all challengers of the dimension where the floor was cleared. Why did this suddenly appear on Earth?
“Is something about to change?’
He had that hunch. Should he say that it felt like this was just the start? If so, this Tower would appear in other dimensions like Moorim, not just Earth.
‘Never mind, let’s just check first.’
Yoon-seok opened the challenger information page. After clearing the 15th floor, his stats rose by +1, but there weren’t any changes. Well, that was to be expected.
‘As expected, it must be applied like equipment or skills.’
The stat increase from skills and equipment were not specified on the information page, but the results were substantial. Currently, Yoon-seok’s magic was Rank SS, but thanks to his +9, he reached MAX, where upgrades were no longer possible.
‘If it weren’t for Transcendence, no changes would’ve taken place if I tried to rank up.’
What did it mean that his main stats had increased? He knew the answer as soon as he cleared the 15th floor. Without looking into the information page, he felt the magic flowing through his body had grown stronger.
‘It means the highest stats will increase further, right.’
And for Yoon-seok, that was his magic. His shoulders grew heavy again.
‘I didn’t know that a buff unrelated to the invaders would appear.’
It wasn’t a bad thing, but this meant a lot more to low-level challengers. It would prove a great advantage when competing with challengers of other dimensions. But the problem was…
‘It means that this can also be used against us.’
There was no way this only happened on Earth. He didn’t know how far the other dimensions had been cleared, but if they received a reward above the 15th floor, the challengers from Earth would have a handicap.
“What did they expect through creating this system?”
As the name suggested, this Tower was no different from a place built for top challengers.
“…”
He suddenly thought about Seheranbad, Moorim, Kilian, and Earth. Were the four designated dimensions in a cooperative relationship with the Tower? Or were they competitors? If it were the latter, should he go over and destroy their Tower of the Truth-seeker with {Divine Ultimatum}?
Yoon-seok smiled as if it were all useless. It wasn’t something he could predict. If he did that, a war between dimensions would break out.
‘But I should climb it whenever I have time.’
Yoon-seok felt a sense of responsibility to do so. Earth was the weakest of the four dimensions; he could see it by looking at their influence in Union Square. Most of them couldn’t even ascend to the 10th floor. In the meantime, if his attack on the Tower of the Truth-seeker lagged, the low-ranked challengers would only fall further behind.
‘Since there’s nothing urgent yet, let’s just focus on ascending the Tower.’
It wasn’t long after the Tower of the Truth-seeker had appeared. And although it was a guess, it must have been discovered early as the Earth was advanced. That was why he had to ascend the Tower now. Although the clear time was short, the difficulty was several timers harder following the 11th floor, to the point he even had to use {Demonify} on the 15th floor.
If he continued to climb the Tower of the Truth-seeker, he would soon hit a limit.
‘There’s also the precious opportunity that Elle mentioned at stake…’
Get ready. The duel will begin soon.」
When would this Tower reveal its end? He had no clue, but for some reason, he felt like he was slowly getting there.
「Countdown is starting.」
Before they collided, Yoon-seok quickly examined his foe. Unlike usual, however, he was caught by a strange sensation.
‘What’s this?’
It was still before they drew their weapons. Nevertheless, his opponent’s disciplined presence weighed heavily on the air. Yoon-seok instinctively felt it.
「3.」
That swordsman was something else. Everything about him, from head to toe, was different than the boring opponents he’d met so far.
「2.」
Should he say it was instinct? Suddenly, he stiffened. Yoon-seok belatedly realized that he was nervous.
「1.」
Yoon-seok focused more and more on his opponent. He had a sword but nothing for defense and was wearing an oriental-style gray Jangsam. Given the sword’s style, it was reminiscent of Moorim, but he felt he wasn’t from there. There was no one in Moorim like that.
「START!」
He ascended the floors as if there were almost no one on par with him on his level, but he was already nervous before starting. The reason was unknown, but Yoon-seok believed in his senses.
「Seventeen swords are used. The Phantom Energy that is ingrained in the sword becomes stronger.」
The moment the duel started, Yoon-seok immediately increased his powers. As soon as he took out both swords, he immediately activated King of All Swords to boost his stats.
「By Unique Skill {Cultivator}, all skills and powers are sealed.」
Sealing all skills and powers?
‘What kind of crazy Unique Skill is that?’
It was ridiculous. Wouldn’t it be impossible to release it with Dispel or Lady’s Commandment? With that one Unique Skill, Yoon-seok’s numerous unique and general skills were pointless. Fortunately, however, his most important weapon remained.
「Unique Skill {Divine Ultimatum} remains.」
The effect of Rank C is that it existed no matter what. Ironically, it also helped to deal with other challengers and not just the Tower.
Whikkk-!
Yoon-seok fired a wave of energy at his opponent. Since the effect of King of All Swords had disappeared, it was a waste to create swords only for buff purposes.
Slash.
The fast wave broke into two on the opponent’s sword, turned into particles, and scattered. He was an 18th-floor challenger, so he didn’t expect to be pushed hard. Yet the wrinkles on Yoon-seok’s forehead deepened.
‘…Huh?’
Even if he wasn’t using other skills, the sword energy didn’t even wrap around his opponent’s sword. How did his energy disappear so helplessly? Yoon-seok watched his opponent, hoping for an answer, but it was the same for his foe.
“It’s been a while since I’ve met such an interesting guy.”
“Same here…”
Yoon-seok ran forward with his sword raised. It was just a prelude, as neither knew the other’s cards. However, he had no choice but to find out on his own.
Whoosh!
Yoon-seok’s body was divided into two with Shifting. However, the man read and reacted to his movements as if he were familiar with them.
Cla-clang!
Again, the sword energy wouldn’t wrap around his foe’s blade. He couldn’t understand at all.
“…”
Yoon-seok instilled magic into his eyes, activating the way to see what he learned on the 14th floor.
Zzzzzzzz.
There were dizzying lines colored black and white before him. Yoon-seok regarded his opponent in a world made up of edges.
“…No magic?”
No magic existed in his opponent’s body. Usually, a living creature was bound to have some power, but this man had none.
“Oh, did you figure that out already?”
The opponent didn’t deny it and wore an amused expression.
“I was originally unable to use magic. And that fact hasn’t changed here either.”
“…”
“But I didn’t lose, even in my original world. Even in this false Tower. Do you know why?”
He wasn’t that curious. But, the man continued, quietly pointing his sword at Yoon-seok with one hand.
“Because I’m real.”
He had no idea what he was talking about. However, the man’s aura changed, growing heavier.
Whoosh!
The opponent swung his blade with that weighty spirit.
‘Blunt sword?’
It was slow but unavoidable. Yoon-seok blocked it by crossing his dual swords.
Klangggggggg.
His swords were pushed away.
‘He pushed it using strength?’
Currently, Yoon-seok’s strength was Rank S. Of course, if the opponent focused on investing in it, it could be higher than this, but Yoon-seok had strengthened his body with magic.
“Now that I see it, you’re a fake pretending to be real.”
Was Yoon-seok different from his expectations? Disrespect began to fill the man’s eyes. It was both familiar and awkward to Yoon-seok. He lived under that kind of gaze for half of his life, but he hadn’t seen it since he entered the Tower.
Yoon-seok clenched his jaw.
‘Says the fake recreated being of the Tower.’
Whoooosh!
When Yoon-seok swung his sword, the opponent stepped back and widened the distance. As a result, he just cut thin air, but it didn’t matter. Traverse, the short sword technique that ignored space. Yoon-seok’s target range was the entirety of the arena that he could see.
Slashhhh!
More than a hundred slashing sounds boomed simultaneously with that one swing. However, he failed to land a single cut on his target.
‘He didn’t avoid it but blocked?’
It was hard to believe, but Yoon-seok had watched it. The man’s sword blocked them all.
“It’s a fairly deep sword, but I feel sorry because the one who has it is fake.”
At least when it came to his swordsmanship, this was the first time in his life that he had been treated like this. Even Cheon-ma acknowledged and admired Yoon-seok’s talent. What was this guy?
“…”
Yoon-seok briefly glanced at the bracelet on his wrist. Purity of the Trejan Cult’s Holy Trinity. If the Annihilation option was used, he could probably beat this opponent and ascend. Far from Rank A Magic, the opponent had no magic at all. However, Yoon-seok decided not to do so. Aside from saving it as it could only be used three times…
“Interesting.”
He was curious what this man’s definition of real was. If he could find out, he thought he could become stronger.
‘Predator.’
Like the nickname, he chose when he first entered the Tower, just as he had always done.
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