Chapter 117
[The 8th Floor clear for all difficulties has been completed.]
[The Tower calls for New personnel.]
[A New Rule is added.]
[In 24 hours, the “Qualification Proof” will begin.]
[The Upper floors Climbers of each difficulty are requested to prove their qualifications as Humanity’s vanguard.]
[If there are two or more Upper floors Climbers in a difficulty, one will be drawn at random.]
[Remaining Time: 23 hours 59 minutes 49 seconds]
I was transported to the Reward Room.
I stared at the messages popping up one after another.
“…Qualification Proof?”
Since I cleared an even-numbered floor, something new popped up again.
Were they doing something targeting the Upper floors Climbers?
If so, that applied to me too.
I didn’t really have the time to care about it.
It wasn’t like I could figure it out by thinking about it now anyway.
I could just think about it when it started.
More importantly, I checked the remaining lifespan displayed on the broken scale again.
Remaining lifespan: 305 days 23 hours 16 minutes 25 seconds
Huu…
Only a sigh escaped me.
I boldly drew out and used 99% of it, though.
As a result, I now had less than a year to live.
Though it was something I had expected.
'…It can’t be helped.'
I don’t regret it.
Because if I had offered a half-hearted amount, there was no telling what would have popped out.
Perhaps even if I had offered 98%, whether the clear would have succeeded or not was unknown.
Since I couldn’t predict anything, offering the maximum amount was indeed the best choice.
Right, so there’s nothing to regret about that, but…
What I needed to think about was the future.
I’m the only one who can do the Nightmare Strategy.
And I had become terminally ill with only a year left.
I somehow put out the urgent fire that was the 8th Floor, but…
In exchange, I sold away my future.
It was my future, and also the world’s future.
…Since it had come to this, there was only one answer.
It was no longer possible to climb the Tower every year.
During my remaining lifespan, I had to proceed with the Nightmare Climb as fast as possible.
[Skill: Radiant Incarnation (Legendary+)]
This Skill borrows the power of sacred radiance to transform the physical body into light. While maintaining the skill, you take no damage, and omnidirectional movement at the speed of light becomes possible. Casting requires 1 hour of Mental Concentration. The skill can be maintained for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Category: Magic
Willpower cost: 5,000 per second
Cooldown: 72 hours
Still, well…
I did get a legendary+-grade skill.
I sacrificed all my lifespan, so at least a grade like this should come out.
I read the skill description again.
Radiant Incarnation.
I could move at the speed of light.
It said I wouldn’t take any damage while maintaining the skill.
In other words, it was a 10-minute light-speed movement skill and an invincibility skill.
The bizarre sensation of my body turning into light was still vivid.
Could I use other skills while maintaining Radiant Incarnation?
It didn’t specifically say in the description I couldn’t, so it seemed like it would work.
I wanted to test out its applications in various ways, but the cooldown was 72 hours, so that’s impossible right now.
I let out a sigh and took in the other rewards.
It was an epic-grade skill stone and an item.
[Item: Ring of Revilus]
A ring contains the power of the Demonkin Grand Duke Revilus, who subjugated ten thousand demons. The power of all familiars subjugated by the user becomes stronger in proportion to the Master’s power.
I read the description.
So… it seemed to be an effect where the familiars I handled grew stronger in proportion to my power.
I equipped the ring and summoned Flee.
Sssss.
Flee was summoned as black smoke gathered.
Its size and claws had grown a bit larger.
“Go to that wall over there and come back, Flee.”
BOOM!
Flee kicked off and returned in a flash after striking the wall of the Reward Room.
Its speed had definitely become much faster.
I stroked Flee’s head.
Even without this, Flee’s abilities remained the same while I climbed the floors, so it was bound to keep falling behind.
With this ring, Flee would also grow according to my level.
It seemed a decent item had come out as a reward.
As for the epic-grade skill stone, I could use it to enhance Hellfire Eruption or something…
Still, I didn’t use it right away.
'Come to think of it, the hidden route didn’t open.'
Normally, a message saying the hidden route had opened as a First Clear reward for a Normal Person.
This time, the message didn’t appear.
Because last time with the Sage, it was said it would be closed until the error was fixed.
But then shouldn’t they give a different reward or something… Where is their conscience?
Of course, it seemed the Sage did give me something important even while causing a bug.
If that had been a big help during the 8th Floor, I wouldn’t have felt so wronged.
But far from it being a help, I still didn’t even know what its identity was, so I couldn’t help but feel fucking wronged.
Grumbling, I finished the reward settlement.
[Difficulty: Nightmare]
[Floor: 9th Floor]
[Level: 105]
[Willpower: 6,050/6,050]
[Skill: Line of Destruction (Epic+), Subspace (Epic), Hellfire Eruption (Epic) (+1), Sixth Sense (Rare+) (+4), Teleportation (Rare+), Rapid Regeneration (Rare+)…]
[Nightmare]
Personnel: 673,620
Deadline: 1 year 7 days 6 hours 10 minutes 11 seconds
Reached floor: 9th Floor
[Will you be exiting the Tower?]
I Hwak-ined my status window and the deadline, then came outside.
Returning to the hotel room felt awkward.
13 days in the desert.
It felt like I had spent a much longer time than that.
I check my phone first.
“…”
A ton of missed calls and texts from my family had piled up.
While checking the texts, I let out another sigh.
Vrrrm.
Just then, the phone rang.
It was Mother.
I debated whether to answer it or not, but in the end, I couldn’t.
…I wasn’t mentally prepared for what to say. My mind was too complicated.
- I’m safe. I’ll head home right away.
I just sent a text and threw myself onto the bed.
I was tired.
I should rest a little bit first.
* * *
It is the 13th day since Person123 entered the 8th Floor.
The world grew increasingly chaotic.
[Absurd: It’s all over. The world is finally ending.]
[Haruku: Stop spouting bullshit. Can’t you see Person123 is still clearing it?]
[Chicken Leg: It’s the 13th day. This makes no sense.]
[Cloud: Let’s all have hope. There are still 7 days left on the deadline.]
[Thomas1: You mean there are only 7 days left.]
[MalayanBear: It’s over, you retards. Hope my ass.]
People were lamenting that it was the end.
People were trying to hold onto hope since the number in the Nightmare Communication Channel hadn’t decreased yet.
Either way, they were both despairing all the same.
With the situation having come this far, it was certain that something had gone wrong with the clear…
Now, regardless of Person123's life or death, whether the 8th Floor would actually be cleared within the remaining 7 days was unknown.
It was similar to the 1st Floor.
Crime rates surged in various parts of the world, and governments went on high alert.
- Person123 is still clearing the 8th Floor. Citizens, please do not lose hope…
Presidents of various countries even gave speeches.
However, the atmosphere hurtling toward the end of days did not calm down and only grew worse.
“…I should prepare.”
Billon closed his eyes after looking through the news in his office.
Secretary Ellen also stood beside him with a stiff face.
An unprecedented situation where the Nightmare had not been cleared for a whopping 13 days.
While Billon still believed in Person123's success, he couldn’t help but mentally prepare himself.
Mental preparation to accept the end.
Person123, Kim Seohyeon.
He knew that even making it this far had been a miracle.
Even if the world ended, Humanity was still granted a few more years of life thanks to his sacrifice.
It would have been nice if he could have at least left a final greeting, thanking him for such dedication…
“Ellen.”
“Yes.”
“Would Mr. Kim really want this?”
If the 8th Floor wasn’t cleared until the deadline dropped below one day.
Billon planned to reveal Person123's identity worldwide.
The great Hero who had saved Humanity multiple times was the likes of which history would never see again.
Even though that history itself would vanish like a handful of dust once the deadline was up…
“No, I still have to do it.”
He thought it was the last thing he could do for such a Hero.
Billon simply wished desperately.
It was hoped that it wouldn’t come to that, and that Kim Seohyeon would perform a miracle once again.
US Climbing Bureau headquarters.
“Then I will enter.”
Taylor was preparing to enter the 7th Floor.
Staff members of the Climbing Bureau, including Max and Director Liam, looked at her with stiff faces.
Originally, they had decided to do it after a long period of time, even if they were to challenge the 7th Floor…
But now, such things were meaningless.
The 8th Floor wasn’t being cleared even as the Nightmare Time Limit was almost up.
The Climbing Bureau’s opinion was to wait a little longer.
Taylor judged that there was no more time to hesitate.
She had to clear the 7th Floor and then challenge the 8th Floor after fully preparing herself again.
Of course, the probability of succeeding on the 7th Floor was extremely slim, but she intended to fulfill her duty as a Nightmare Clearer until the very end.
[Squirrel: This is the United States' Nightmare Climber, Taylor Miller. Thank you for your dedication, Person123. And I respected you.
I am leaving you my first and last whisper before entering the 7th Floor. I sincerely hope you clear the 8th Floor and come out to see this message.]
She also left a whisper for Person123 through the communication channel.
He might succeed and come out clear within the remaining 7-day deadline.
“I wish you the best of luck, Taylor.”
Having finished her final checks, Taylor took a deep breath.
And the moment she was about to enter the 7th Floor.
“…!”
Taylor stared at the message in surprise.
* * *
Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Street.
Countless people were gathered, leaving no room to step, and praying.
A rally that had been continuing for 13 days, spearheaded by the believers of the Person123 Church, was ongoing.
Even while ruminating on despair and fear, everyone was still praying for the 8th Floor to be clear.
“Savior, please save Humanity…!”
They cried out and called his name until their voices went hoarse.
It wasn’t just Korea, but also worldwide.
The moment when all humanity once again realized that the clears had not been a given until now, and that Humanity was in a position no different from a candle in the wind.
They simply wished desperately for a miracle to happen just one more time.
And then, it happened.
[The 8th Floor clearing for all difficulties has been completed.]
A miracle truly happened.
When the nightmare deadline had 7 days, 6 hours, 16 minutes, and 50 seconds left.
The message popped up.
A cheer more massive than ever before echoed through the streets worldwide.
Waaaaaah-!
It was truly a narrow escape from death.
- He did it! Person123 did it! After 13 days of struggle, the Nightmare 8th Floor has been cleared…
Feeling as if they had been pulled out of hell, people went wild and cheered again and again.
Family, friends, lovers, and even strangers hugged each other, sobbing and rejoicing.
[BearTrap: We lived! We lived!]
[FighterJet: Fuck, I really thought we were gonna die this time lmaoooo kkiyaaaangradrd]
[Tuyou: Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god!]
[Chameleon: I told you! I said he’d succeed in the end!]
[Fluröbig: My heart is beating so fast right now. I feel like I’m gonna die.]
[Kim Cheol-su: Just how terrible was it that it took 13 days, seriously…]
[Knight of the Sky: As expected, Person123 was Person123.]
[Heavenly Demon: I was foolish for lacking faith. I simply worship you.]
Person123! Person123! Person123…!
All humanity rejoiced, shouting the name of the great triumphant Hero.
The world was once again gifted a precious year of time.
* * *
I stood in front of the front door.
I nervously pressed the door lock and went inside.
The surprised faces of my family came into view first.
All three of them were standing in front of the front door.
“…I’m home.”
I hesitated, about to say something more.
I just couldn’t bring myself to speak, not knowing what to say first.
Just then, Mother approached.
She hugged me without a word.
Father also came over and stroked my back.
“You’ve worked hard, son…”
My tearful Younger Sibling also approached and hugged me from the side.
Miscellaneous words were not needed.
I simply smiled at my family welcoming me.
“I’m back.”