Chapter 120
Seoul, where my house was located, was also caught within the scope of the Sector.
I watched the situation unfold.
“This is really vicious.”
It was somewhat similar to the Branch Tower incident.
The Tower’s Curse that would fall upon the area if the mission wasn’t completed was a concern.
The only difference was that this time, it had completely trapped people so they couldn’t even escape.
If the Upper floors Climbers selected a Sector and defeated the boss, the Sector would deactivate.
Instead, they had to bear penalties equal to the number of Sectors they selected.
[If 1 is selected]
- physical abilities and willpower reduced by 30%
[If 2 are selected]
- physical abilities and Willpower reduced by 30%
- 3 random skill prohibitions
[If 3 are selected]
- physical abilities and Willpower reduced by 30%
- 3 random skill prohibitions
- 3 random items prohibited
.
.
.
Even selecting just 1 was quite fatal.
As the number of selections increased, the number of prohibited skills and items also grew.
The skill and Item Prohibition penalties were actually nothing to me.
Because the Demon Lord could just use magic.
A boss of the same level, which in my case meant facing a level 105 boss monster…
This was Ma-wang, who on the 8th Floor instantly killed even that exceptional Ant Ghost Boss in a single breath.
With Ma-wang’s power, taking down a level 105 boss would be a piece of cake.
The only problem was…
“physical abilities penalty.”
If my physical abilities decreased, the limit my body could withstand Ma-wang’s magic would also lower accordingly.
30% reduction.
I felt like I could withstand this much.
60% reduction…?
I wasn’t sure.
I felt like I could somehow manage up to this point if I pushed myself.
90% reduction.
Honestly, I didn’t think I could withstand this.
If I selected 7 or more Sectors, I would have to bear a 90% physical abilities reduction penalty from then on.
In my opinion, the absolute upper limit I could select was at best 6.
“The ones before me need to make some selections…”
It was somewhat like a Loyalty Game.
Still, I needed to select at least a few of the other difficulties so I could shoulder the rest.
Of course, even a 1-zone penalty would be extremely tough by the standards of other Climbers…
Countless people’s lives were on the line.
If the Upper floors Climbers didn’t do it, everyone would die.
- It is reported that China’s Zhang Tao, the current easy difficulty record holder, is making his selection…
I left my room.
My family was watching the news in the living room.
“Seohyeon.”
My parents and younger sibling looked at me with anxious faces.
I spoke as if to reassure them.
“It’s okay. Everything will end safely.”
I watched the news with my family, waiting for the message to pop up.
[The easy difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Warrior' has selected Sector 5.]
It was right around the time the selection period was almost up.
The easy difficulty Upper floors Climber made his choice.
He selected one Sector in China.
…At least he selected one.
I waited, praying for his safe success.
However…
[The easy difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Warrior' has died.]
A message popped up not long after.
“…”
He died.
I bit my lip hard.
After that came the second person.
He didn’t select a Sector, but he still died.
[The easy difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Ascension' has defeated the boss Monster.]
[Number of Deactivated Sectors: 0]
It wasn’t until the third person that a success notification popped up.
I read the post that the successful Climber uploaded to the communication window.
The order moved on to the next, Normal difficulty’s turn.
[The Normal difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Freedom' did not select a Sector.]
[The Hard Difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Power' did not select a Sector.]
There are other difficulties too.
In the end, none of them selected a Sector.
I let out an inward sigh.
“Not even one…”
This is just really, ha.
I knew. I knew this was something they had to risk their lives for too.
Could anyone force a sacrifice upon someone else?
Still, feeling a faint sense of resentment was inevitable.
[Please select a Sector.]
The order finally reached my turn.
[Upon selecting a Sector, you will immediately be transported to the Room of Proof.]
[If you do not select a Sector before time runs out, you will be transported to the Room of Proof without selecting any Sector.]
[Remaining selection time: 59 minutes 59 seconds]
I stared at the notification before my eyes.
Sector numbers were displayed over an image resembling a world map.
…What should I do?
“Don’t do it.”
That was when Younger Sibling spoke.
It was a trembling, tearful voice.
“Don’t worry about other people’s lives and take care of your own life first, Oppa. Okay?”
My father and mother also opened their mouths with dark expressions.
“Seohyeon, please… You can’t overdo it.”
I looked at my family’s faces and nodded.
“We’re inside a Sector too. I have to select the Republic of Korea at the very least.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. One zone is nothing to me. I’ll only select as much as I can handle.”
I used Time Stop.
And I pondered.
I felt like I could handle up to 6.
Selecting 6 meant 60%.
Since they said injuries would be healed upon defeating the boss just like a floor clear, it should somehow be possible even if I pushed myself.
However…
There would still be 3 left.
“Demon Lord.”
I asked Ma-wang.
“Would it be possible? A 90% penalty.”
Could my body really withstand it?
Even if just until I killed the boss.
- You won’t be able to withstand it. Give up on what you must give up on. Don’t act foolishly.
…I suppose so.
It was a situation where I had no information on what kind of boss would appear.
Bearing a 90% penalty was an impossible task.
'It’s like the 4th Floor.'
I had made a truly dangerous gamble back then too.
It felt like a similar choice was laid out before me once again.
No, the risk might be much greater now.
'…As expected, I can’t.'
What if I died while acting out to save everyone?
That would be the end of the world.
Let’s reduce the risk and at least save the citizens of 6 sectors.
That was indeed the right choice.
My mind leaned toward selecting only 6.
I used Time release.
I intentionally waited until the selection time was almost up.
Because it would be better to give the governments even a little more time to prepare for the chaos.
On the TV, the appearances of the people inside the Sectors were being broadcast.
Watching the despairing people, I closed my eyes.
[Remaining selection time: 59 seconds]
As the time was almost up.
“I’ll be back.”
I said my goodbyes to my trembling family.
Now, let’s make the selection.
My mind was already made up.
I would choose 6 Sectors, including the Republic of Korea.
I had to do that. That was the best option.
“…”
Ah, fuck.
I don’t know.
“Demon Lord.”
- You crazy bastard. Don’t do it.
“I believe in you.”
I tapped my finger into the void.
Sectors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. All of them.
[The nightmare difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Person123' has selected Sectors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.]
[The following penalties will be applied.]
[If 9 are selected]
- physical abilities and Willpower reduced by 90%
- All skill prohibition
- All items prohibited
Along with the message.
My vision immediately flipped.
[You have entered the Room of Proof.]
[Please defeat the boss Monster.]
I immediately used Time Stop first.
The location was a dark and vast common area.
I saw the boss in front of me.
A human-type monster… a Demon?
Its appearance was similar to the boss of the 7th Floor.
However, it was more massive.
And it even had three pairs of wings attached to its back.
An imposing appearance that naturally brought the word 'archdemon' to mind.
Now…
Let’s give this a try.
I had already committed to it; there was no turning back now.
- are you truly an idiot?
Ma-wang cursed as if he was fed up.
I immediately handed my body over to Ma-wang.
“Please take care of this. We have to make it out alive.”
A 90% physical abilities reduction.
I felt my body weaken drastically, as if all my energy had been drained.
I tried to formulate a strategy.
First of all, the fact that it was a human-type boss was somewhat good news.
If it had been something with multiple heads like the Frozen Hydra or something like the 3rd Floor Blob Boss, I would have been confused about where to aim.
There was a high probability that the head of the boss in front of me was its weak point.
'Isn’t it worth a try? If we aim for the head with the absolute minimum amount of power.'
Before the boss could act.
We would take the first strike and destroy its head in a single blow.
Then my body could withstand… no, maybe it would collapse slower than the boss dying.
I just needed to somehow stay alive until the boss died.
- Tsk.
'Right? Wouldn’t it work?'
- release time.
Fighting, Demon Lord!
I cheered for the Demon Lord and used Time release.
Grrr-
The boss turned in this direction, its red pupils glowing.
Ma-wang reached his hand out toward the boss.
Swaaaaa-!
The energy of bitter cold gathered within his hand.
[Willpower: 0/605]
Willpower that bottomed out in an instant.
As soon as it bottomed out, I immediately used Time Stop.
Due to the current penalty, my Willpower was also reduced by 90%.
Of course, since infinite recovery was possible, the drop in maximum capacity didn’t matter.
“Damn it…”
I could already feel my body freezing over.
It was like this just from drawing out a mere 605 Willpower.
“Is the Frozen Hydra Blood Effect being applied?”
I couldn’t tell if the effects of consumable items were also prohibited.
If at least that was maintained, it would be much more bearable.
I fully replenished my Willpower and used Time release.
As soon as I used Time release, Ma-wang used all the Willpower again to compress the cold energy.
And I stopped it again, repeating the process.
Still, I could feel Ma-wang pushing the strain down to the body below the head as much as possible.
Craaack.
When we drew out Willpower for the third time, my frozen left arm snapped off.
On the fourth time, my side crumbled away like cookie crumbs.
On the fifth time, one of my legs shattered, and my body staggered and collapsed.
CRASH!
I crumbled down just like that.
Only my upper body remained, everything below the waist completely smashed.
Up to this point, about 3 had seconds passed in real time.
…This is truly the limit now. I’m going to die, aren’t I?
“Demon Lord, is it still not ready?”
If we drew out Willpower one more time, my body would completely collapse…
'…!'
At that moment, the boss moved.
The boss flew toward us at high speed.
It was at the exact same time.
The cold energy that Ma-wang had compressed to the extreme stretched out as thin as a thread…
Flash!
A blue, thread-like line cleaved through space.
And following that line, the boss’s neck was cleanly severed.
The boss, its head and body separated, stopped mid-flight and crashed into the floor, freezing over starting from the severed surface.
At the same time, my upper body also tilted and fell to the floor.
Even my remaining upper body shattered into pieces like glass.
In my fading consciousness, as if facing death…
[The nightmare difficulty Upper floors Climber 'Person123' has defeated the boss Monster.]
[Moving to the Reward Room.]
I saw the messages.
My consciousness cut out for a brief moment, and when I opened my eyes again, it was a familiar scenery.
The Reward Room.
I lowered my head.
My body, which had been completely blown away below the neck, was rapidly regenerating.
Soon, the regeneration was completely finished.
I sprang up.
“…Phew!”
I lived, right?
I really thought I was going to die.
“Great work, Demon Lord.”
Ma-wang looked thoroughly disgusted.
- You got lucky. You crazy bastard.
“Haha, as long as I lived, it’s fine.”
Operation: Survive 1 Second Longer Than the Boss was a success.
[Sectors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 have been Deactivated.]
Since I defeated the boss, all the Sectors I selected were also Deactivated.
Anyway, everyone lived because of this.
I let out a sigh of relief and tried talking to the Tower.
“What a shame, huh? I almost died, what a pity for you.”
You have talent. Keep it up.
No, cancel that. Don’t keep it up.
With my tension released, I had some silly thoughts before looking around.
There was a skill stone.
A reward?
I approached it and checked it.
[Skill: Sky-Treading Steps (Epic)]
You step on the void to move.
Category: Physical
Willpower cost: 50
Cooldown: None
A very brief skill description.
It was Sky-Treading Steps.
“Oh…”
It was my first time getting a Physical category epic grade skill.
But it wasn’t a skill that would be all that useful to me right now.
Since I also had Ma-wang’s flight ability.
Still, it was better than nothing.
[Acquired “Skill: Sky-Treading Steps (Epic)”.]
I immediately acquired the skill and tried using it.
Thump!
I stepped on the void and ran around freely.
Every time I used the Skill, the willpower cost was 50.
And there was no cooldown.
In short, I was now able to move freely through the void.
['Qualification Proof' has ended.]
[Number of Deactivated Sectors: 9]
[All Sectors have been Deactivated.]
[A special reward is given to the Upper floors Climber who Deactivated the Most Sectors.]
Just then, another message popped up.
I came back down.
They did say they would give a special reward if all Sectors were Deactivated, right?
It seemed to be separate from the reward for defeating the boss.
The Upper floors Climber who Deactivated the Most Sectors was naturally me.
[A special reward is given to 'Person123'.]
[Please select one of the following as your reward.]
I stared at the options before my eyes.
“…”
And I was completely shocked.
Crazy…
What the hell is this?