Doomsday Countdown

The White House Situation Room.

The President of the United States, along with key government and military officials, was all gathered.

In a solemn atmosphere, everyone was focused on a large screen.

[02:46:32]

As the countdown displayed on the screen dwindled, deep shadows fell across their faces.

The Nightmare Deadline of the Tower.

The time is announcing Humanity's demise.

“What's the situation, Director Ban?”

The President spoke quietly.

Director Ban of the Newly Established Tower Climbing Management Agency responded, his gaze fixed on mid-air.

“The rate at which the number of people is decreasing is accelerating. Currently, it's around 76,000, but... if the deadline shortens further, the numbers might drop significantly all at once.”

He didn't feel like blaming them.

A difficulty level where tens of thousands had died, yet no one had cleared it.

Even with doomsday looming, would any human want to throw himself or herself into a death trap with a 0% survival rate?

On the contrary, the courage of the over 20,000 people who had challenged it so far was truly remarkable.

Who could have imagined, even a year ago?

Not climate change, not nuclear war, not a Meteor impact—it was that such a form of destruction would befall the world.

The Tower appeared; Climbers ascended it, and they brought out a new substance called Magic Stones, causing the world to change drastically.

It didn't take long for nations to realize that the future world would be reshaped around the Tower and its Climbers.

The United States was also quickly preparing for the changed world, but in the end, it was all in vain.

Even the supposedly terrible Hard Difficulty had now surpassed the 6th Floor.

What on earth was Nightmare Difficulty that not even the 1st Floor could be cleared?

Soon, the curse foretold by the Tower would descend.

When the time runs out, 99% of Humanity will perish.

It was utterly preposterous, yet how could they ignore it?

This was a prophecy delivered by a transcendent being capable of making a colossal Tower rise in the middle of the Pacific, selecting random people worldwide, and granting them special abilities.

It wouldn't be strange if it could annihilate Humanity overnight.

The only desperate measure they could take was to unleash the full might of Humanity's accumulated technology against the Incomprehensible Tower.

All preparations were complete.

If by the time the deadline was 30 minutes away, no one managed to clear it, a nuclear strike would commence against the Tower in the Pacific. That was their Last Line of Defense.

Humanity's final operation was agreed upon with China, Russia, and other nations.

But everyone present had a premonition that it would be futile.

It had long been concluded that the Tower in the Pacific, presumed to have roots reaching the Earth's core, was impossible to destroy by any means.

The unknown energy barrier covering the Tower's surface seemed to defy the laws of physics, completely blocking all external physical forces.

Thus, it was nothing more than a final, desperate struggle.

“Oh, God...”

Everyone could only pray.

That someone among the remaining people would succeed in the Floor Clear and that a miracle would happen.

“If the deadline drops to one hour, I will also enter the Tower. I will have someone else ready to report on the situation.”

All eyes turned to Director Ban's words.

He, too, was a Climber assigned to Nightmare Difficulty.

“Tens of thousands of people have sacrificed their lives. As the Director of the Tower Climbing Management Agency, shouldn't I also fulfill my final responsibility?”

“...Understood. Thank you for your dedication, Director Ban.”

The people merely nodded gravely.

The probability that one more person would turn this dire situation around was close to zero.

Ban, too, checked the remaining numbers once more with heavy eyes.

[All Difficulties 1st Floor Clear has been completed.]

The Tower calls for New Climbers.

A message appeared before his eyes.

Ban blinked, then his eyes widened as if they would tear, and he checked the status of Nightmare Difficulty.

[Nightmare]

Personnel: 175,837

Deadline: 1 year 2 hours 39 minutes 2 seconds

Floors Reached: 2nd Floor

“It... it happened!”

Ban forgot his dignity and burst out shouting.

People stared with surprised eyes.

“Holy fucking shit! It happened! It happened! The Nightmare 1st Floor Clear was successful!” “...Is that true?!” “A message just appeared saying that All Difficulties 1st Floor Clear has been completed! I also confirmed that the Nightmare Deadline has been extended by one year! Hahaha!”

Wooooah—!

People embraced each other in ecstasy. Some even shed tears of relief.

Director Ban also shared a joyful embrace with Deputy Director Samuel, laughing.

“This is truly a relief, Director!”

Thus, Humanity survived.

Although it was merely an extension of life by one year, no one was concerned about that at the moment.

“The number of people in each difficulty has increased by another 100,000. This happened along with the message that All Difficulties' 1st Floor Clear has been completed.” “Really? Could it be that the number of people increases every time an entire floor is cleared?”

Their joy was short-lived; they had to think about the tasks ahead.

The Nightmare 1st Floor Cleared, and the New Climbers.

It seemed they would be busy without a moment's rest in this new phase.

“By the way, who could it be? The Hero who cleared Nightmare Difficulty.”

“We'll have to find that out now.”

The achievement of being the first to clear Nightmare Difficulty, from which, until now, not a single person has returned alive.

Regardless of their nationality, an announcement would likely be made soon. Unless, of course, they were an Unregistered Climber who hadn't reported to the Government.

One thing was certain, no matter what.

That person has saved Humanity from the brink of destruction, at least for now.

* * *

My eyes opened.

I sat up and looked around.

“...?”

*I'm alive?*

I checked my body.

The arrow that had pierced my stomach was gone, and my neck was fine too.

There were no bloodstains, and my torn clothes were intact. It was as if everything had been completely restored.

I think I saw a message about clearing it right before I lost consciousness... Did I do it?

Since my body had recovered after a successful clear, it seemed I had indeed succeeded.

Checking the progress of Nightmare Difficulty, I soon confirmed it.

[Nightmare]

Personnel: 175,830

Deadline: 1 year 2 hours 38 minutes 31 seconds

Floors Reached: 2nd Floor

The floor number had changed to the 2nd Floor, and the deadline had increased by one year.

For some reason, a hollow laugh escaped me.

“Haha...”

I really succeeded.

*So the world isn't ending?*

Joy, relief, a mix of complex emotions.

It felt like I had succeeded in an all-or-nothing bet. And indeed, I had.

...But why did the number of people increase?

Not only Nightmare Difficulty, but all difficulties had seen their personnel increase by 100,000.

I tilted my head, then looked around again.

A round, spacious area, like the Cavern I was in earlier.

I think I knew where this was.

*Is this the Reward Room?*

Climbers didn't just exit immediately after a successful clear; they definitely received their rewards in a place called the Reward Room.

Ah, the messages that appeared right before I lost consciousness were slowly coming back to me.

I murmured quietly.

“Status Window.”

[Difficulty: Nightmare]

[Floor: 2nd Floor]

[Level: 10]

[Willpower: 100]

[Skills: - ]

A simple window appeared before my eyes.

*So this is the Status Window.*

The common reward that Climbers received who successfully cleared the 1st Floor for the first time.

Through this, Climbers would grow stronger and become Superhumans as they ascended the Tower.

And there was also something called a Communication Window... I'll check that later.

I stood up.

Feeling a surge of power in my body, I tried jumping in place.

My body effortlessly shot up several meters.

“Oh.”

My Physical Ability is strengthened by leveling up.

I ran around and threw punches, experiencing my completely transformed body.

This is pretty awesome.

But why is my level so high? Is it 10?

I knew that the higher the difficulty, the more levels you gained. Was it because it was Nightmare Difficulty?

I decided to stop testing my body and check the rewards.

Two stones, emitting different lights, lay haphazardly on the floor nearby.

I approached the golden-glowing stone first to examine it.

This is a Magic Stone of the highest quality.

Information appeared as I picked it up.

“So this is a Magic Stone.”

One of the rewards obtainable from the Tower.

Climbers apparently sold these to earn a lot of money.

They said it could greatly advance Humanity's civilization and was treated as an incredible resource, but I didn't really know much about it.

I put it back down and examined the other stone.

A teardrop-shaped stone emitting a green light.

Skill Stone: Flame Strike (Rare Grade)

Upon use, you can acquire 'Skill: Flame Strike (Rare Grade)'.

[Would you like to use 'Skill Stone: Flame Strike (Rare Grade)']

*Ah~ So this is a Skill Stone.*

A stone that grants a skill upon use.

But I thought Skill Stones weren't supposed to appear from the 1st Floor. And Rare Grade?

“Flame Strike... Does it shoot fire?”

I had a rough idea of what kind of skill it was just from the name.

I immediately acquired the skill.

[You have acquired 'Skill: Flame Strike (Rare Grade)'.]

The Skill Stone I held in my hand dissolved into light, scattering and absorbing into my body.

[Skill: Flame Strike (Rare Grade)]

Launches a Condensed Flame forward, causing an explosion. Requires 20 seconds of Concentration to cast.

Category: Magic

Willpower Consumption: 100

Cooldown Time: 30 seconds

I read the description.

*Should I try using it right here?*

“Ah.”

I belatedly remembered the outside world.

I shouldn't be here; I need to go home quickly.

Looking at the deadline, I realized that more than 30 minutes had passed since I entered.

[Would you like to exit the Tower?]

“Exit.”

The scenery changed before my eyes.

I was back in the Alleyway where I had entered.

I put the Magic Stone in my pocket, left the alley, and headed home.

*Will my family be relieved when I get back?*

The alarm I set probably hasn't gone off yet, so they wouldn't have seen the will I wrote.

Right, for now... I need to rest.

I wanted to go home and just collapse onto my bed.