Chapter 73
“Wow, here! Take a picture of me here, Mom!”
My younger sibling pointed at the Seoul Arts Center building, jumping up and down in excitement like a fish in water.
While Mom was busy taking pictures of my younger sibling, my father and I casually strolled around the area.
It was a Saturday, and I came with my family to watch an opera performance at the Seoul Arts Center.
Why did we suddenly come to watch an opera, something I had never seen in my entire life...
It was because my younger sibling had begged relentlessly.
Perhaps it was also slightly my fault.
The Seoul Arts Center building had been heavily damaged during the Fallen Incident.
The news had been reporting day after day that the restoration was finally complete and the site was now bustling with people.
Of course, that was the reason. The video showed my Line of Destruction piercing through the roof.
It seemed people were visiting because it was the place where Person123 fought the Fallen.
Also, somehow managing to get reservations, my younger sibling had arbitrarily booked seats for the whole family, so I was partially forced to come.
“The video was from exactly this angle, you know? A black pillar went swoosh from that roof over there—”
I scolded my younger sibling, who was chattering away without a break.
“Hey, hey, I get it, so stop talking about it.”
“Jeez, I'm talking to Mom, so why are you making a fuss, Oppa?”
“You're making too much noise for my ears too.”
Lately, it seemed like this kid was making an even bigger fuss than usual.
Actually, it wasn't just my younger sibling.
Looking at the atmosphere in Korea these days, it is a bit, how should I put it.
It felt like people were overdosing on national pride ever since it was revealed that Person123 was Korean.
Well, it was a good thing to have even one more thing to be happy about in a world like this, but...
“Hey, you're not getting interested in anything weird, are you?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“No, like the Person123 Church... there's a lot of talk about cults like that these days.”
My younger sibling snorted.
“Are you crazy? Why would I do that?”
“If not, then never mind.”
“But still, well... it's not exactly like a cult, is it? Person123 is a real savior, after all.”
“...”
I'm getting a little worried about this kid too, huh?
It was time for the performance, so we went inside the Seoul Arts Center building.
People sang on the stage. I watched while feeling slightly bored from the middle onwards.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
After the performance ended, the curtain fell and the audience's applause poured out.
It was the first opera performance I had seen in my life.
My impression was just so-so.
I guess I'm not really suited for the arts.
“Wow, that was really amazing.”
On the contrary, my younger sibling seemed to be lingering in the afterglow. She kept going wow, wow as we left the theater.
“Right, Mom? How was it?”
“Yeah, it was fun. It's nice coming to see a performance all together.”
“No, not that, how was the opera! Wasn't it really grand during the chorus in the middle?”
I also shared my thoughts with my father.
“How was it?”
As I mouthed the words, my father shrugged.
“It was just so-so.”
“Me too.”
My father and I, having silently agreed, smiled quietly and walked behind the two of them.
It was a time when the Nightmare Deadline had about 50 days left.
---
BOOOOM!
Fireballs spread and flew in all directions, blowing up the wolves.
While continuing the hunt in full swing, I took a short break.
I took a thermos out of my Subspace, crouched in the snowfield, and drank warm coffee.
\[Zone 4 (86.3%)\]
Now the Nightmare Deadline had a little over 30 days left...
And there were about two weeks left until I challenged the 6th Floor.
Catching the Zone 4 Boss was out of the question, but the reason I kept hunting here was that, if I succeeded on the 6th Floor, I would still have to catch the next boss.
It was like getting my work done in advance.
And there was also the purpose of building proficiency with my new skills.
Buzzzzz—!
At the noise piercing my ears through the sound of the wind, I raised my head.
Seeing a wasp flying in from the distance, I waited until it got close and reached out my hand.
CRACKLE!
Sparks flew as a streak of electricity shot out and struck the wasp.
The wasp, its body connection severed, flailed about before its upper half plummeted down as well.
\[Skill: Shockwave (Rare)\]
It shoots condensed lightning power forward. It requires 20 seconds of mental concentration to cast.
Category: Magic-type
Willpower Cost: 100
Cooldown: 30 seconds
My newly acquired skill, Shockwave.
It was the first lightning-attribute magic I had obtained. Of course, Billon had given it to me.
Perhaps because it was a single-target attack, the power was decent, but the range was shorter than I thought.
Now my attack magic consisted of Line of Destruction, Flame Strike, Scorching Zone, Blade Storm, Shockwave, Fairy Light Bullet, Ice Bullet...
I had gathered almost all of them by attribute.
Though my main forces were still Line of Destruction and fire magic.
And besides Shockwave, I had obtained one Rare and one Normal-grade Skill Enhancement Stone, along with a few Normal-grade Physical-type Miscellaneous Skills.
I used the Rare Skill Enhancement Stone on Shockwave right away, and after debating whether to use the Normal-grade Skill Enhancement Stone on Ice Bullet, I used it on Leap, which I had already enhanced by +1.
\[Difficulty: Nightmare\]
\[Floor: 5th Floor\]
\[Level: 60\]
\[Willpower: 2,100\]
\[Skills: Line of Destruction (Epic+), Subspace (Epic), Teleportation (Rare+), Sixth Sense (Rare+)(+2), Rapid Regeneration (Rare+), Scorching Zone (Rare+), Flame Strike (Rare)(+5), Shockwave (Rare)(+1), Blade Storm (Rare), Exaltation (Rare), Skin Hardening (Rare), Fairy Light Bullet (Normal+)(+1), Lesser Poison Resistance (Normal+), Lesser Burn Resistance (Normal+), Lesser Freeze Resistance (Normal+), Leap (Normal)(+2)...\]
So this was my current spec.
For reference, it wasn't that the 5th Floor didn't have a level reward.
As for how to get it, you just had to enter the 6th Floor.
Then, as soon as you entered, the 5th Floor's power would be absorbed immediately.
In short, the condition to obtain the 5th Floor's level reward was challenging the 6th Floor.
That was why they said quite a few Climbers died in this 5th to 6th Floor section out of greed. It felt like one of the top three causes of death for Climbers!
It wasn't that I couldn't understand it at all. The sensation of leveling up and my body growing stronger was quite addictive, after all.
Anyway, for me, who had to naturally challenge the 6th Floor, it was a reward I had already secured. As soon as I entered the 6th Floor, my level would increase by 10.
After hunting a bit more, I came out of the Tower.
Feeling hungry, I quickly mixed up a bowl of soy sauce egg rice for an early dinner and ate it in the living room while watching TV.
- The 4th Floor clear was truly a close call. If I hadn't drawn the Nullification part at the end, I might have had to use a method similar to Person123. Haha.
A foreign interview was being broadcast on the news with translated subtitles.
“That guy is on a lot these days.”
Spain's new Nightmare Climber, Alejandro.
Having recently succeeded in clearing the 4th Floor, he has reportedly cleared all Nightmare floors from the 1st to the 4th this year.
Because of that, he was called a super rookie and is a hot topic these days.
Usually, the identities of Nightmare Challengers were kept private, perhaps because their nations hid them.
Alejandro was actively revealing himself confidently to the mass media.
He was indeed an amazing person. Who else had ever cleared four Nightmare floors in just one year?
It was a very good thing that another capable latecomer had appeared.
If I failed, the chances of someone taking my place would go up even a little bit.
But it was just a few days later.
- Spain's Nightmare Challenger Alejandro makes an unconventional declaration to challenge the 6th Floor before Person123...
“Huh?”
I was surprised to see the unexpected news article.
Alejandro had declared that he would challenge the 6th Floor before me.
---
As the Nightmare Deadline drew closer, the atmosphere in the communication window always changed in the same way.
\[GrapefruitAde: I believe in you this time too, Person123. Please save humanity.\]
\[Dago: Do not doubt. There is no failure for Person123\]
\[Haruto: Could you guys please tone down the fuss a bit? It feels like a flag, so it makes me anxious\]
\[Hwabyung: Shut up and hurry up and worship him too\]
\[Fishing: Everyone, don't forget to pray hard from now until there are 20 days left\]
People who were anxious and prayed for Person123's success.
But lately, another figure is slowly being talked about by the people.
\[BaldEagle: What's up with this Alejandro guy? He climbed four Nightmare floors all in this year *shiver*\]
\[Probability: What did he do before? Ex-special forces?\]
\[Kaid: He is not special forces; they say he's a former martial arts fighter\]
\[LionOfThePlains: He's just a monster. What kind of human is he?\]
\[Sandalwood: But this guy is really active publicly\]
Spain's Nightmare Challenger is Alejandro.
A figure who appeared like a rising star, rapidly clearing up to the 4th Floor of Nightmare Difficulty, where climbing each floor was no different from hell.
Originally a martial arts fighter, he recorded an overwhelming undefeated streak in the amateur league right after his debut, drawing attention as a monster rookie and was soon scheduled to move to the pro league.
During that time, he was chosen as a Nightmare Climber, quit martial arts, and immediately challenged the Nightmare.
- My motive for challenging Nightmare Difficulty? I just felt like I could do it. I was confident.
He revealed himself to the mass media without hesitation, instantly showing off a strong presence.
Up until then, people just thought, “I guess so.”
Since there wasn't much time left on the Nightmare Deadline, the public's attention was currently more focused on Person123 and whether the 6th Floor would be cleared.
However,
“I will challenge the 6th Floor before Person123.”
At the point when the Nightmare Deadline had about 30 days left.
Alejandro suddenly made a shocking declaration.
The world was in an uproar, and the attention of the whole world was focused on him.
“Mr. Alejandro, what is the reason you intend to challenge the 6th Floor even before Person123?”
A famous talk show is broadcast in Spain.
Alejandro answered the host's question with a relaxed smile.
“Shouldn't someone share the weight he has been carrying all alone until now? That is the only reason.”
“So, you're saying you will challenge the 6th Floor first to ease Person123's burden?”
“Yes. We can't just leave everything to him and rely on him forever. I, too, wish to walk the path that Person123 is walking.”
He would take over Person123's role.
Alejandro's words were no different from those.
“But the first clear of a Nightmare floor must be on a different level of difficulty compared to clearing it with known information. What do you think about this?”
Alejandro still answered leisurely.
“That's true. But I believe in myself, and I can definitely do it. I was able to clear the past four floors with that belief, after all.
Above all, in clearing the Nightmare, brilliant ideas and sense are the most important, rather than simple specs like level and skills. I believe I have sufficient capability in that regard.”
“...Those are truly reassuring words!”
The host nodded and asked the next question.
“Then I would also like to ask this. During the last Nightmare 4th Floor clear, there was an unprecedented event where the Tower proposed a penalty to Person123 in exchange for the 3-Year Rule nullification.
If a similar event happens this time, may I ask what choice you would make, Mr. Alejandro?”
Alejandro answered as if it wasn't even worth pondering.
“If the Tower proposes a penalty again using people's lives as an excuse, of course I will also choose the penalty. I never run away. Let it do whatever it wants.”
At his answer, cheers and applause rang out from the audience.
Alejandro smiled and said.
“I will challenge the 6th Floor when the Nightmare Deadline has exactly 21 days left. Person123, are you perhaps watching this broadcast? This time, I will save humanity in your stead. Please watch me.”
Alejandro's interview caused a massive ripple worldwide.
\[Sohaengseong: Alejandro declares he will challenge the 6th Floor one day before Person123!\]
\[Pidapida: Has he gone crazy? The first clear will be on a whole different level\]
\[Blackhole: Back on the 2nd Floor, there was a guy who said he'd challenge it before Person123 and ended up dying\]
\[Hella: With Alejandro, you never know, right? Given how he rapidly cleared four floors, his performance is definitely extraordinary\]
\[Socrates: Could a second Person123 really be emerging *shiver*\]
\[Hood: Even so, comparing him to Person123 is crossing the line\]
\[Knight: I'm rooting for you, Alejandro! Stay strong!\]
People wondered, “Will he really be able to do it?” but the general atmosphere was supportive for now.
What if another figure running at the very forefront of the Nightmare emerged after Person123?
That would be no different from a great cause for celebration for humanity.
\[Nightmare\]
Participants: 378,823
Deadline: 21 Days 13 Minutes 36 Seconds
Reached Floor: 5th Floor
Time passed.
The remaining Nightmare Deadline approached right up to the 21-day mark.
---
“How is your body feeling?”
People from the Spanish government agency checked Alejandro's condition by his side.
Alejandro smiled and said.
“Absolutely perfect.”
Numerous cameras and people surrounded him.
Currently, the moment of his Nightmare 6th Floor challenge was being broadcast live worldwide.
The Spanish government actually didn't want him to challenge the 6th Floor.
After all, there was no way any nation would want a precious Nightmare Challenger, especially a Climber with overwhelming abilities who had succeeded in rapidly clearing four floors, to shoulder the risk of a first clear.
However, Alejandro insisted that he would challenge the first clear unconditionally, and the government failed to break his will.
There was no way for the government to stop a Climber who wanted to enter the Tower. So now, it had no choice but to simply pray for his success.
And besides, you never know, right?
If it were Alejandro, who had shown overwhelming results so far, he might actually succeed.
“Good.”
*Meanwhile, with the 6th Floor challenge right in front of him, Alejandro was enjoying the current situation.*
At this very moment, the eyes of the world are entirely focused on him.
It was a thrilling sensation that was hard to describe. Alejandro absolutely loved this kind of attention.
The reason he was trying to challenge the 6th Floor first.
To save humanity? To share Person123's burden?
Putting aside such lip service, it was simply because he wanted to be revered as a savior, just like Person123 is right now.
‘You're not the only chosen human.’
Alejandro thought. He, too, was a chosen human.
First clear? Of course it would be difficult, but he had the confidence that he was fully capable of doing it. That was the conclusion he had reached after clearing four Nightmare floors.
Person123 was quite timidly hiding his identity and not revealing himself to the world. But he was different.
He would confidently clear the 6th Floor, stand before everyone, and be worshipped as the Savior of Humanity.
“One minute left!”
\[Nightmare\]
Participants: 378,822
Deadline: 21 Days 59 Seconds
Floor Reached: 5th Floor
Alejandro checked the deadline.
If there were one thing he regretted, it was that it would have been nice if a much more dramatic situation had unfolded, like when Person123 challenged the 4th Floor clear...
It seemed the Tower's proposal wasn't coming again after all.
Well, whatever.
As long as he cleared the 6th Floor, he would now be the protagonist of the world anyway.
The time remaining until the 21-day deadline dropped below one minute.
The remaining count started to be displayed on the giant screen behind Alejandro.
Amidst the pouring spotlight, Alejandro opened his mouth for the last time.
“For humanity.”
Long words were unnecessary.
At that single phrase, people sent a barrage of applause.
10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8 seconds...
It was 1 second, and it was the moment Alejandro was about to enter the 6th Floor.
“...!”
Alejandro suddenly stopped entering upon seeing the message that popped up before his eyes.
“...Gah!”
“Huh?”
The people at the scene were also startled and murmured while looking at the empty air.
\[The Tower proposes to 'Person123'.\]