Chapter 53
- Commencing Fusion Reaction.
The core, filled to 100 percent with magic power.
As Iskah manipulated the device further, thin, thread-like streams of light spewed from the core and began to wrap around the surroundings.
"How on earth did you do it?"
I answered Iskah's question.
"I have my ways."
"...Regardless, thank you. Thanks to you, I can finish this safely."
Iskah's expression looked somewhat detached, yet relieved.
"You should hurry and escape. It will explode in exactly 8 minutes. The Security Force will swarm this place soon."
I checked the time on the Warp Device.
\[7:36\]
So if I hide for 7 minutes and then warp out, is it a success?
I asked Iskah.
"Couldn't people come and stop the explosion?"
"The reaction has already started inside the core, so even if they touch the device, they can't stop it. Do not worry."
"...What about you?"
"I will remain here and watch."
"Why? Is this the only Warp Device?"
Iskah shook his head.
It seemed he had no intention of fleeing elsewhere from the very beginning.
"There is no reason for you to care about me. I, too, am a Workshop Researcher who has conducted countless experiments and killed countless people. You should go now. Thank you."
Iskah pressed a button and opened the door to the Laboratory.
I was about to head out, but I looked back at him.
The clear would probably end like this, but I was still curious about his reason.
"What is the reason you're doing all this in the end? Since it's the end, please tell me."
Iskah glanced at me, then looked back at the core and spoke.
"Have you ever raised a dog?"
"...? No."
"Neither have I."
What is he talking about.
"I have devoted my entire life to researching magic cores. In the process, I conducted many experiments, and many people died."
"..."
"The reactions of the test subjects brought here are usually similar. At first, it's fear or hostility, but as the experiments repeat, their emotions wear down and they become like dolls. Then, when they outlive their usefulness, they face Disposal."
Iskah continued his story dryly.
"One day, another test subject came in. It was a little kid, a war orphan from the now-ruined South. When they were first brought in, they trembled, but when I treated them a little kindly, they smiled brightly. I only did it because the upcoming experiment required the test subject's cooperation.
The experiment went on for quite a long time. The research progressed smoothly, and during that time, the child grew quite attached to me. When they listened well, I would pet them and give them rewards... I suppose if I had raised a dog, it would have felt like that. Yes, they were no different from a pet dog.
However, as the experiment reached its final stages, that child was also slated for Disposal. All test subjects who have outlived their usefulness end up that way. I gave the higher-ups various reasons and suggested alternative treatment instead of Disposal. But it was not accepted.
In the end, the child was disposed of, and the research continued, achieving dazzling results. I became the Chief Researcher for that achievement, and after much time passed, I finally created this core.
I am now promised a Count Title officially recognized by the Emperor himself, along with all sorts of wealth and glory, and if I wanted, I could even establish my own Workshop. But suddenly, I grew tired of it all."
Iskah turned his gaze to look at me.
"That is all. There is no other reason."
Having heard the rather absurd conclusion to his story, I asked.
"So... you're taking revenge on the Workshop because a test subject you were close to died?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Even having come this far, I still don't really know."
Iskah trailed off, muttering before he spoke again.
"Is it absurd? Doing all this over a mere dog."
I shook my head.
With Iskah constantly talking about dogs, a certain movie suddenly came to mind.
"Among the people I know, there's a killer... an Assassin who wiped out his entire organization over a single dog."
Iskah let out a chuckle.
"...An Assassin? He's an even crazier bastard than I am."
"Yes. But it wasn't just an ordinary dog; it was a gift from his dead wife. To that Assassin, the dog was practically family."
"..."
"I guess it was the same for you. And why do you keep comparing them to a dog? You could just say the kid was precious to you."
Iskah's eyes widened.
\[2:37\]
I checked the remaining time on the Warp Device and headed for the Entrance.
"I'll be going then."
Iskah's voice came from behind me.
"Escape safely."
Looking back at him, he wore a slightly more relieved expression than before.
I nodded and stepped out of the Laboratory.
As soon as I came out, Iskah closed the Laboratory door again.
Two of the golems that had come out earlier stood guarding the Laboratory's Entrance like sentries.
Feeling the sound of footsteps drawing very close, I used Stealth.
Soon, the Security Force appeared from the other side of the Corridor.
I stuck to the Corridor wall and moved so as not to bump into them as they rushed past.
\[1:16\]
About 1 minute left now.
If I stay in Stealth until then and warp outside the Workshop, it's over.
By the way, I wonder what the 4th Floor's reward will be.
Could it be this Warp Device?
The Corridor became noisy as the Security Force began fighting the golems at the Laboratory's Entrance.
I paid them no mind and proceeded down the long, long Corridor. Destroyed golem fragments were scattered everywhere.
But then...
“...!”
I used Time Stop as soon as I spotted a person running toward me from the opposite direction.
A woman wearing a Platinum Suit. The Workshop Master's Escort.
...Why are you here? Where did you ditch the Workshop Master?
Did she come because it's an emergency?
“Ah, damn it, of all times...”
That person was dangerous.
If I entered her range, she would definitely notice my Stealth.
The problem was that this place was a narrow straight Corridor.
Recalling when I was with the Workshop Master earlier... the distance at which that Escort notices my Stealth is about 20 meters?
It wasn't a distance I could avoid just by stepping aside.
Whether to the side or above, a 20-meter gap was impossible to achieve.
Even if I turned back, it was a dead end ending at the Laboratory anyway. And right behind me, the Security Force was fighting the golems.
There was only about a minute left until the Warp Device activated.
“I just need to hold out for 1 minute, but what terrible timing...”
I shouldn't have talked more with Iskah. I should have gotten out of here quickly.
I was full of regret, but I couldn't reverse the situation that had already unfolded.
...Should I try jumping over her as fast as possible?
If it's just for a brief moment, she might not notice.
Or she might just be unsure and ignore it as she passes by.
“Alright.”
There was no other way.
I used Time Release.
The Escort drew closer, and I ran toward her as well.
I timed it and leaped up.
Drawing a parabola with my head narrowly missing the Ceiling, I jumped high over the Escort's head.
...Did I get caught? Did I not?
The Escort was still running forward.
Just as I was about to land on the floor, thinking I had fortunately gotten past her.
Intuition's Warning.
I urgently looked back. And used Time Stop.
The Escort had already drawn her sword, and a blue Sword Aura was flying toward me at a terrifying speed.
Ah, fuck... I got caught.
My body was still in Mid-air.
If I waited for my feet to touch the floor to dodge, it would be far too late, so there was only one option.
I finished my Mental Concentration and used Teleportation to the maximum distance diagonally backward.
SWOOOOOSH!
The massive Sword Aura cleaved the center of the Corridor in half as it passed.
I dodged the Sword Aura, but using a skill broke my Stealth. It didn't matter since I was already caught anyway.
I immediately used Time Stop again.
Finishing my Mental Concentration, I cast Flame Strike.
As soon as the fireball bloomed in Mid-air, I used Time Stop again, finished my Mental Concentration, and cast Fairy Light Bullet.
In that manner, I poured out every magic I had—Flame Strike, Fairy Light Bullet, Ice Bullet, and more—all at once toward the Escort.
KABOOOOM!
The cramped Corridor.
With no space on either side, the places to dodge were limited.
From within the smoke, the Escort's body soared high into Mid-air. And that was exactly what I was aiming for.
Attacking me while I'm in the air without any manners?
See how you like it.
Toward the airborne Escort, I cast a fully charged Line of Destruction, amplified 729 times.
No matter how strong she was, surviving a direct hit from this was impossible.
The Jet-black Ray engulfed her and blasted right through the Ceiling.
"..."
But it doesn't matter if it doesn't hit.
The Escort landed back down.
One of her arms was missing. Blood poured heavily from the severed stump.
What happened was, the moment the Line of Destruction flew at her, she stepped on Mid-air and twisted her body's direction.
She couldn't dodge it completely, so one arm was blown off, but she had avoided a direct hit.
No... using Sky-Treading Steps is cheating.
Reacting to and dodging an instant-cast beam in the first place proved she was indeed a monster.
Even after becoming one-armed, the Escort's expression didn't change at all. The blood dripping from her arm soon stopped as well.
"...You are human, right?"
She was so nonchalant that I asked just in case.
The joke didn't land.
I immediately activated Skin Hardening, spread a Scorching Zone across the Corridor, and turned my back to run.
I hoped she would just give up on me and head to the Laboratory where Iskah was, but.
SWOOOOOSH!
Having blown off her arm, maybe that was a somewhat shameless wish.
I narrowly threw my body to evade the Sword Aura that flew at me once again.
With a magnetic field-like Barrier spread around her, the Escort broke through the Scorching Zone and chased after me like a madwoman.
She was terrifyingly fast.
I urgently pulled out an Ice Dagger and used it.
Cold air covered the Straight Passage.
I must have succeeded in delaying her briefly, as her pursuit stopped.
Using the Leap Skill, I cleared the long stairs in a single bound and threw my body toward the door.
Escaping to Ground Floor 1, I rolled once in the Corridor and looked back.
As soon as I looked back, I used Time Stop.
Because the Escort was already right in front of my eyes again. Holding a sword wreathed in a deep blue Sword Aura.
The difference in Physical Abilities was overwhelming.
Fighting in close combat was madness.
I had activated Skin Hardening, but it didn't seem like it could block this monster's attacks at all.
\[0:31\]
The time on the Warp Device in my hand had about 30 seconds left.
Teleportation was still on cooldown, and I couldn't summon Flee either.
Could I hold out while dodging attacks during that time?
I wasn't very confident.
If my life was truly in danger, I could just make an emergency escape, but...
“Ah!”
I suddenly thought of the Shop.
Points Held: 500P
The 500 points left over after doing 5 Consecutive Draws.
With this, I could use Force Field 10 times.
But is Force Field usable here too?
I'll know once I try it.
\[Purchased “Force Field (50P)”.\]
As soon as I used Time Release, I used Force Field between myself and the rushing Escort.
"...!"
The Escort crashed her body into the suddenly appearing Force Field.
I didn't miss the split second the Force Field bought me and hurriedly bolted.
“It works!”
With this, holding out for 30 seconds might be possible?
Slow and Stop probably wouldn't work since the description said they only applied to golems.
But Force Field alone was enough.
I fired Mana Bullets backward again and bolted, intending to widen the distance to at least 20 meters and use Stealth again.
I broke the Corridor Window and escaped outside.
The Escort quickly caught up from behind, and I used Force Field again.
This time, the Escort swung her sword.
The Sword Aura cleaved the Force Field in half and flew at me.
I used the Leap Skill to throw my body and dodge.
Briefly hindering the Escort's movements with Force Fields, I ran away with all my might.
The Escort was disgustingly persistent.
I just needed to widen the distance again to use Stealth, but she stubbornly kept chasing me down.
As soon as the cooldown finished, I scattered Flame Strikes in all directions.
I immediately used another Force Field against the Escort bursting out of the smoke, then ran toward the Exterior of the Workshop.
\[0:05\]
The Workshop floating in the sky; its edge was a sheer cliff.
I jumped toward Mid-air.
Then, using a Force Field, I used it as a foothold to jump one more time with the Leap Skill.
A massive Sword Aura flew in right behind me.
But I swiftly dodged it with Teleportation, which had already come off cooldown.
\[0:05\]
The remaining time was a mere 5 seconds.
I plummeted downward, having even deployed Stealth again.
Phew, it was close, but it's my victory.
If I just waited for the warp to activate while falling like this, it would be over.
Turning my body to look at the Escort standing at the edge of the cliff...
"...Uh."
She was preparing another attack.
The Escort thrust her sword continuously at such a terrifying speed that her arm was invisible.
Like a machine gun firing wildly, sharp Sword Auras rained down in droves toward my falling figure.
I used Time Stop.
Because I used Stealth, the Escort couldn't pinpoint my exact direction either, so it was an indiscriminate barrage of attacks.
But with my rotten luck, there was one Sword Aura flying precisely toward me.
...What do I do?
I couldn't dodge it completely.
If I twisted my body, I might be able to get away with just giving up an arm.
Then I'll just give it up.
Once Clear Complete happens, all injuries are fully healed anyway. I even have Rapid Regeneration.
Should I take this chance to test if Rapid Regeneration can regenerate severed limbs too?
I had used Rapid Regeneration amplified 27 times, but I didn't know how effective it originally was.
After recovering all my consumed willpower, I used Time Release and twisted my body.
SLAAASH!
"...!"
Skin Hardening was, as expected, useless against that monster's attack.
My left arm flew right before my eyes.
Blood sprayed, and agonizing pain rushed in.
It hurts! It hurts like a bitch, but...
It's still bearable!
Compared to the pain of my entire body being scorched by fire, this was mild. I guess this is why experience is important in everything.
I gritted my teeth and immediately used Rapid Regeneration.
Then I checked the remaining time on the Warp Device.
\[0:01\]
As time ran out, the space before my eyes distorted.
When the distortion returned to normal, I was already on The Surface.
"Ugh."
I picked up my fallen body and looked down at my arm.
The severed left arm was rapidly sprouting out as if bubbling and boiling.
I tried clenching and unclenching my soon fully regenerated left hand.
"It regenerates perfectly fine."
Rapid Regeneration can also regenerate severed body parts. New Knowledge Acquired.
RUMBLEEEEEE...!
Just then, the sound of an explosion echoed from afar.
Looking across the sky, a massive explosion was taking place.
I realized that was where the Workshop I had been in until just a moment ago was.
Phew... That was a lot of trouble.
As I stared blankly at the explosion, messages popped up.
\[Successfully Cleared the Nightmare Difficulty 4th Floor Hidden Strategy.\]
\[Completely absorbing the Floor's Power.\]
\[Level Increased.\]
\[Level Increased.\]
\[Level Increased.\]
\[Level Increased.\]
\[Level Increased.\]
\[Moving to the Reward Room.\]