Chapter 268 The Noble Family of Moorim (2)
He heard from Elle. Except for a few newly granted abilities as administrators, their power wasn’t much different from during their lifetime. Of course, one of the administrator’s abilities created a huge gap between themselves and the challenger.
* Sky Breaking – Can kill those who do not die.
This could make it meaningless.
‘Well, if that doesn’t work, I can just buy power and run away.’
As Yoon-seok drew his sword, a murderous aura began to overflow through the quiet mansion.
“…What are you going to do?”
Namgoong Zhe laughed.
“Can’t you tell when you see it?”
“…Are you going to kill me while you’re just a mere challenger?”
“I don’t think it’s your place to talk while you want to take the body of a challenger because you don’t like being an administrator.”
“How dare you insult me…?”
As expected of someone from Moorim, his swords were faster than words. Was this the power to dominate swords?
Whoosh-!
The seven swords tied to Nangong Zhe’s back were drawn as one. Yoon-seok trembled.
“Why? Are you afraid now? You greenhorn bastard.”
It wasn’t because he was scared, but because Yoon-seok was curious. Before they met, he felt as if this man was a celestial being.
“It was just like this…?”
“What do you mean! This old man will engrave an unforgettable lesson in your flesh!”
The seven swords rushed in swiftly. However…
—I’d rather kill you here than be your enemy!
Unlike then, when he couldn’t even react, the movement of the swords was visible. However, Yoon-seok didn’t evade. He couldn’t find any reason to. Why bother?
[Using the 8th Sword slot. The power of the swords is increased by 1.5 times.]
There was no need to wield the sword directly. Yoon-seok manipulated his mana to create seven Skywrath Swords and shoot them at the rushing blades.
Baaang-!
Fourteen swords in total began to fight fiercely with a roar. It didn’t take long for the balance to collapse.
[The rank of magic is increased by +6 for 10 seconds.]
When the effect of b Thunder Sword} activated, the Skywrath Swords tossed Nangong Zhe’s swords to the side. And that moment-
Rumbling.
Nangong Zhe was thrown to the ground by a simple kick. The shame as a warrior from Moorim…
“T-this bastard…”
Nangong Zhe quickly jumped up. However, his flushed red face showed the shame he felt.
“There is no need to be ashamed. It’s a natural result.”
“Natural result…?”
“Didn’t you end up going up to the 23rd or 24th floor?”
“H-how did you…?”
It was a reasonable guess. Through the ordeal of his mission, Yoon-seok had experienced the history of 500 years ago.
—But all the rankers from Moorim should be dead?
That was what the dwarf, a 25th-floor ranker at the time, said. Not only Moorim but also the rankers of Sheheranbad and Killian had already fallen.
Yoon-seok doubted it at the time. Clearly, the administrators said that they were the ones who tried the final ordeal but ultimately failed. But, under the circumstances, both Elle and the Heavenly Warrior died before the 25th floor? It didn’t make sense.
Until he encountered Elle on the 22nd-floor mission.
—What should I call you? My name is Elizabeth Lorwen.
From that meeting, he had cleared up a few of his questions.
Most of the rankers of Moorim, Seheranbad, and Killian were killed in the invasion by the Destructive Monarch Rick Gerssey. Elle and Namgoong Zhe, who was cornered, was forced to use the Last Bastion with their teammates to challenge the final floor and failed. When all the rankers died, the three dimensions joined forces to form an expedition team with their remaining total power, led by mission ranker Adam Zrayburn. Of course, it failed.
Given where he took the missions, Yoon-seok was sure Namgoong Zhe and Elle tore the Last Bastion ticket on the 23rd or 24th floor, and Yoon-seok was a duel challenger who was currently on the 24th floor.
“Were you on the 23rd floor? Or was it the 24th?”
This meant it was natural for Nangong Zhe to be pushed back.
“…”
However, he didn’t answer. Maybe he couldn’t say because of restrictions like Elle, or maybe it was his self-esteem.
Nangong Zhe clenched his teeth and muttered.
“We just didn’t have time.”
“…”
“The Destructive Monarch, if it weren’t for him, surely we would… no, I could have climbed higher!”
What he was trying to say was clear. Yoon-seok also sympathized with that feeling to some extent. However…
“After all, isn’t it all your delusions?”
“Delusion…?”
“Let’s confirm it. Let’s think that this is a Duel Arena, and if you win today, it will prove you were right.”
If it were the other way around, it would mean that Namgoong Zhe’s limits were just there, regardless of if the Destructive Monarch was there or not.
“Get a hold of yourself and come at me. Otherwise, you’ll die.”
The winner was always right in this damn Tower.
* * *
Baaang-!
Dozens of swords leaped through the air and crashed together. Every time a collision occurred, dust was kicked up, and vibrations shook the ground. The mansion was destroyed in seconds as the two clashed.
However, it was Yoon-seok who stood in the end.
“C-cough, blergh!”
Namgoong Zhe coughed up blood. Still, he smiled and continued to speak.
“Hehehe… I should’ve killed you back then.”
He was probably talking about the Auction of Desire… there was nothing to say. What could be said to those who lived only by looking to the past?
Slash!
This was the end of the match. Yoon-seok shook the blood and dirt from his sword.
‘Still, he was stronger than I thought.’
Just that much.
‘I think it was harder when we fought on the 7th floor.’
It wasn’t just about power or skills. At that time, Yoon-seok had no information about Nangong Zhe. He had to fight back from a state of complete ignorance, but what about this time? His unique skill, {Azure Dragon Energy}, was once used by himself, and he had a chance to check his powers beforehand.
Thump-thump.
As Yoon-seok approached, Namgoong Zhe chuckled.
“Ahahaha! You fool!”
“…?”
“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but do you think a challenger can kill an administrator?”
Namgoong Zhe was a man obsessed with his ambition for hundreds of years. Yoon-seok wondered how he could show such a detached attitude in the face of death, and this was the reason.
“Wouldn’t it originally be impossible for a challenger to beat an administrator like this?”
“Hehehehe! Do you think you’re the only one who got that ability?”
Yoon-seok couldn’t refute. After all, that was right. Destroy the indestructible. Indeed, Nangong Zhe would know this kind of ability; he was also a challenger who was once hostile to the Queen. Moreover, he must have seen and heard many things during his years as an administrator.
“But it could also be an ability to kill an administrator.”
“Hehehe. Even though you’re a challenger who knows a lot about this and that, you’re only a mere challenger in the end.”
“…?”
“In the first place, we were recreated after death and belong to the Tower. The Tower made every single nail, every inch of skin. Do you think death would be allowed for such a being? What’s the point of losing this body?”
Nangong Zhe shouted angrily. Hearing this, a sudden thought occurred to Yoon-seok. Perhaps his ambition to steal a challenger’s body began with a desire to escape from this Tower?
“You cannot kill me.”
Nangong Zhe calmly spoke.
“Maybe you keep making a fuss like this because you can’t check it yourself.”
What he said was certainly true. But it was a little unfair to treat it like that.
“That’s why. Didn’t I tell you earlier?”
Scratching the back of his neck, Yoon-seok lifted his sword.
“I told you I have something to try.”
He would have to try to see if it worked or not.
In this damn Tower.
* * *
Pugh-!
The sharp tip of Yoon-seok’s sword dug into Namgoong Zhe’s flesh. Hot blood flowing out, muscles contracting… Yoon-seok, who had perfectly united with his sword, felt all of it through the blade as if it were his own body.
Flop.
Namgoong Zhe went limp. His eyes were locked onto Yoon-seok’s until the end.
‘Is he impossible to kill?’
Even Yoon-seok suddenly had such doubts.
[You killed the administrator, Heavenly Warrior.]
[You acquire one of the administrator’s powers at random.]
Yoon-seok stiffened as he read the message.
Swoosh.
Just like the many beings he met in the Tower, Namgoong Zhe’s body turned into fine particles and scattered. The same was true of this space that lost its owner.
Ddddddrrrrrrrr-!
It slowly began to collapse.
[You killed an entity with the trait Immortal.]
[The unique skill {Divine Ultimatum} permanently deletes the unique code of C8041J951mI61-0.]
Nangong Zhe was dead. No, he was deleted. But if asked if he was Namgoong Zhe, Yoon-seok couldn’t easily answer.
C8041J951mI61-0. Neither his real name Namgoong Zhe, his nickname Heavenly Warrior, nor the other names that would have been attached to him during his lifetime. Was it a unique code? Only this identification number now proved his existence.
“…”
Of course, Yoon-seok still thought of him as Namgoong Zhe, but…
The Tower didn’t.
‘Does Elle have a number like this, too…?’
It seemed likely.
—Betrayal, huh… how can that be possible? I’m also part of the Tower.
The conversation between Rick and the first administrator played back in his head. He recognized that he was a false being and wanted to be set free.
It was confusing.
‘If the memory, personality, beliefs, and body are perfectly the same, what is the difference between the real and the fake?’
No answer came. But even amid this confusion, Yoon-seok didn’t doubt one thing.
[You have acquired the Threat achievement.」
As expected, this Tower must be destroyed.
Chapter 268 The Noble Family of Moorim (2)
He heard from Elle. Except for a few newly granted abilities as administrators, their power wasn’t much different from during their lifetime. Of course, one of the administrator’s abilities created a huge gap between themselves and the challenger.
* Sky Breaking – Can kill those who do not die.
This could make it meaningless.
‘Well, if that doesn’t work, I can just buy power and run away.’
As Yoon-seok drew his sword, a murderous aura began to overflow through the quiet mansion.
“…What are you going to do?”
Namgoong Zhe laughed.
“Can’t you tell when you see it?”
“…Are you going to kill me while you’re just a mere challenger?”
“I don’t think it’s your place to talk while you want to take the body of a challenger because you don’t like being an administrator.”
“How dare you insult me…?”
As expected of someone from Moorim, his swords were faster than words. Was this the power to dominate swords?
Whoosh-!
The seven swords tied to Nangong Zhe’s back were drawn as one. Yoon-seok trembled.
“Why? Are you afraid now? You greenhorn bastard.”
It wasn’t because he was scared, but because Yoon-seok was curious. Before they met, he felt as if this man was a celestial being.
“It was just like this…?”
“What do you mean! This old man will engrave an unforgettable lesson in your flesh!”
The seven swords rushed in swiftly. However…
—I’d rather kill you here than be your enemy!
Unlike then, when he couldn’t even react, the movement of the swords was visible. However, Yoon-seok didn’t evade. He couldn’t find any reason to. Why bother?
[Using the 8th Sword slot. The power of the swords is increased by 1.5 times.]
There was no need to wield the sword directly. Yoon-seok manipulated his mana to create seven Skywrath Swords and shoot them at the rushing blades.
Baaang-!
Fourteen swords in total began to fight fiercely with a roar. It didn’t take long for the balance to collapse.
[The rank of magic is increased by +6 for 10 seconds.]
When the effect of b Thunder Sword} activated, the Skywrath Swords tossed Nangong Zhe’s swords to the side. And that moment-
Rumbling.
Nangong Zhe was thrown to the ground by a simple kick. The shame as a warrior from Moorim…
“T-this bastard…”
Nangong Zhe quickly jumped up. However, his flushed red face showed the shame he felt.
“There is no need to be ashamed. It’s a natural result.”
“Natural result…?”
“Didn’t you end up going up to the 23rd or 24th floor?”
“H-how did you…?”
It was a reasonable guess. Through the ordeal of his mission, Yoon-seok had experienced the history of 500 years ago.
—But all the rankers from Moorim should be dead?
That was what the dwarf, a 25th-floor ranker at the time, said. Not only Moorim but also the rankers of Sheheranbad and Killian had already fallen.
Yoon-seok doubted it at the time. Clearly, the administrators said that they were the ones who tried the final ordeal but ultimately failed. But, under the circumstances, both Elle and the Heavenly Warrior died before the 25th floor? It didn’t make sense.
Until he encountered Elle on the 22nd-floor mission.
—What should I call you? My name is Elizabeth Lorwen.
From that meeting, he had cleared up a few of his questions.
Most of the rankers of Moorim, Seheranbad, and Killian were killed in the invasion by the Destructive Monarch Rick Gerssey. Elle and Namgoong Zhe, who was cornered, was forced to use the Last Bastion with their teammates to challenge the final floor and failed. When all the rankers died, the three dimensions joined forces to form an expedition team with their remaining total power, led by mission ranker Adam Zrayburn. Of course, it failed.
Given where he took the missions, Yoon-seok was sure Namgoong Zhe and Elle tore the Last Bastion ticket on the 23rd or 24th floor, and Yoon-seok was a duel challenger who was currently on the 24th floor.
“Were you on the 23rd floor? Or was it the 24th?”
This meant it was natural for Nangong Zhe to be pushed back.
“…”
However, he didn’t answer. Maybe he couldn’t say because of restrictions like Elle, or maybe it was his self-esteem.
Nangong Zhe clenched his teeth and muttered.
“We just didn’t have time.”
“…”
“The Destructive Monarch, if it weren’t for him, surely we would… no, I could have climbed higher!”
What he was trying to say was clear. Yoon-seok also sympathized with that feeling to some extent. However…
“After all, isn’t it all your delusions?”
“Delusion…?”
“Let’s confirm it. Let’s think that this is a Duel Arena, and if you win today, it will prove you were right.”
If it were the other way around, it would mean that Namgoong Zhe’s limits were just there, regardless of if the Destructive Monarch was there or not.
“Get a hold of yourself and come at me. Otherwise, you’ll die.”
The winner was always right in this damn Tower.
* * *
Baaang-!
Dozens of swords leaped through the air and crashed together. Every time a collision occurred, dust was kicked up, and vibrations shook the ground. The mansion was destroyed in seconds as the two clashed.
However, it was Yoon-seok who stood in the end.
“C-cough, blergh!”
Namgoong Zhe coughed up blood. Still, he smiled and continued to speak.
“Hehehe… I should’ve killed you back then.”
He was probably talking about the Auction of Desire… there was nothing to say. What could be said to those who lived only by looking to the past?
Slash!
This was the end of the match. Yoon-seok shook the blood and dirt from his sword.
‘Still, he was stronger than I thought.’
Just that much.
‘I think it was harder when we fought on the 7th floor.’
It wasn’t just about power or skills. At that time, Yoon-seok had no information about Nangong Zhe. He had to fight back from a state of complete ignorance, but what about this time? His unique skill, {Azure Dragon Energy}, was once used by himself, and he had a chance to check his powers beforehand.
Thump-thump.
As Yoon-seok approached, Namgoong Zhe chuckled.
“Ahahaha! You fool!”
“…?”
“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but do you think a challenger can kill an administrator?”
Namgoong Zhe was a man obsessed with his ambition for hundreds of years. Yoon-seok wondered how he could show such a detached attitude in the face of death, and this was the reason.
“Wouldn’t it originally be impossible for a challenger to beat an administrator like this?”
“Hehehehe! Do you think you’re the only one who got that ability?”
Yoon-seok couldn’t refute. After all, that was right. Destroy the indestructible. Indeed, Nangong Zhe would know this kind of ability; he was also a challenger who was once hostile to the Queen. Moreover, he must have seen and heard many things during his years as an administrator.
“But it could also be an ability to kill an administrator.”
“Hehehe. Even though you’re a challenger who knows a lot about this and that, you’re only a mere challenger in the end.”
“…?”
“In the first place, we were recreated after death and belong to the Tower. The Tower made every single nail, every inch of skin. Do you think death would be allowed for such a being? What’s the point of losing this body?”
Nangong Zhe shouted angrily. Hearing this, a sudden thought occurred to Yoon-seok. Perhaps his ambition to steal a challenger’s body began with a desire to escape from this Tower?
“You cannot kill me.”
Nangong Zhe calmly spoke.
“Maybe you keep making a fuss like this because you can’t check it yourself.”
What he said was certainly true. But it was a little unfair to treat it like that.
“That’s why. Didn’t I tell you earlier?”
Scratching the back of his neck, Yoon-seok lifted his sword.
“I told you I have something to try.”
He would have to try to see if it worked or not.
In this damn Tower.
* * *
Pugh-!
The sharp tip of Yoon-seok’s sword dug into Namgoong Zhe’s flesh. Hot blood flowing out, muscles contracting… Yoon-seok, who had perfectly united with his sword, felt all of it through the blade as if it were his own body.
Flop.
Namgoong Zhe went limp. His eyes were locked onto Yoon-seok’s until the end.
‘Is he impossible to kill?’
Even Yoon-seok suddenly had such doubts.
[You killed the administrator, Heavenly Warrior.]
[You acquire one of the administrator’s powers at random.]
Yoon-seok stiffened as he read the message.
Swoosh.
Just like the many beings he met in the Tower, Namgoong Zhe’s body turned into fine particles and scattered. The same was true of this space that lost its owner.
Ddddddrrrrrrrr-!
It slowly began to collapse.
[You killed an entity with the trait Immortal.]
[The unique skill {Divine Ultimatum} permanently deletes the unique code of C8041J951mI61-0.]
Nangong Zhe was dead. No, he was deleted. But if asked if he was Namgoong Zhe, Yoon-seok couldn’t easily answer.
C8041J951mI61-0. Neither his real name Namgoong Zhe, his nickname Heavenly Warrior, nor the other names that would have been attached to him during his lifetime. Was it a unique code? Only this identification number now proved his existence.
“…”
Of course, Yoon-seok still thought of him as Namgoong Zhe, but…
The Tower didn’t.
‘Does Elle have a number like this, too…?’
It seemed likely.
—Betrayal, huh… how can that be possible? I’m also part of the Tower.
The conversation between Rick and the first administrator played back in his head. He recognized that he was a false being and wanted to be set free.
It was confusing.
‘If the memory, personality, beliefs, and body are perfectly the same, what is the difference between the real and the fake?’
No answer came. But even amid this confusion, Yoon-seok didn’t doubt one thing.
[You have acquired the Threat achievement.」
As expected, this Tower must be destroyed.
