Earth No. 843, United States White House.
President Hayden and Minister of Awakening Affairs Maximus were watching the press conference.
Then, an utterly unexpected name came out of the mouth of South Korea's Martial Law Commander, Jeon Seong-il.
Lumitri?
Why was that name being mentioned there?
Kabalon.
The Curse of Averages.
Because of that incident, the United States had been cursed out by every country in the world.
How are you going to take responsibility?
Your America ruined the world.
So atone. Pay the price.
Give this up, hand that over.
You deal with the sinkhole waves.
That was how the mood of the international community flowed.
There was no choice.
They had to shift the blame onto an individual.
The U.S. government did have grounds to defend itself.
When Lumitri declared he would fully clear the tower, they had absolutely not approved it.
They advised him to climb slowly while matching the collapse deadline.
He climbed far better than expected, and eventually they told him to do as he pleased.
Then it collapsed at the 70th floor.
The worst possible outcome.
With a mind as fragile as glass, he couldn't even attempt a retry and went into hiding.
Why did the government issue a wanted order for Lumitri?
To capture him somehow and force him to clear the 70th floor.
But then suddenly—
Something no one could have predicted.
"They really stabbed us in the back. Three trait enhancement runes, and now a strategic partnership?"
"… At this rate, Lumitri might actually naturalize as Korean."
Commander Jeon Seong-il defended Lumitri to the end, insisting he was innocent.
He even mentioned the possibility of naturalization.
"What should we do?"
"What do you think? Leave it be. But keep the wanted order active."
They couldn't even protest to the Korean government.
This involved the strongest player of the parallel universe.
Wasn't he the one who saved the world?
Pick a fight with him?
Then—
Ding!
A world announcement rang out.
A miraculous 95th-floor EX-rank clear.
"Hoo… It makes me sick with envy. If only he were American…"
But what could they do?
His parallel-universe nationality was Korean, and his real-world nationality was Korean too.
"I wonder what his relationship with America was like on the other Earth."
"It probably wasn't bad. He never treated us especially—hm?"
At that moment—
Minister Maximus flinched.
"What is it?"
"… A notice just came in."
"A notice? I heard it too."
"Not a world announcement. A regular announcement."
"What?"
There were two types of announcements.
Regular announcements and world announcements.
World announcements were heard by everyone across the globe—players and civilians alike.
Like just now.
Regular announcements, on the other hand, occurred when a meaningful event happened in a specific nation's Black Tower.
The most common one was when an uncleared upper floor was cleared.
However—
Only players could hear them.
Ordinary people couldn't.
Like a system message.
Minister Maximus was a player.
That was why he heard it, and President Hayden didn't.
"What did it say?"
"The U.S. East Tower's 70th floor has been cleared."
"W-What? … Who?"
"I can only think of one person."
"Lumitri?"
"Yes."
That glass-hearted bastard?
Maximus fiddled with his phone, checking something.
"Ah! It's already on social media. He says he did it. That the American tower can now mine high-grade magic crystals. And he's thanking the top player who made it possible, dedicating all the glory to him."
He might crave attention, but he wasn't a liar.
If he said he did it, then he did.
"Anything else?"
"He says he'll clear the 71st floor tomorrow. His final goal is the 85th floor."
"I thought he was naturalizing as Korean?"
"… That doesn't seem to be the case."
President Hayden's thoughts became tangled.
After a moment of consideration—
"Withdraw the wanted order for now."
"Yes, sir."
Unbelievable.
Wasn't this a spectacular resurrection?
Well—
He was a man who started from rock bottom and became America's top CEO.
They had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Juhyeok's party entered the 95th floor of Korea's Black Tower.
Up to the 94th floor, it had been a replicated Demon Realm.
They'd just been killing copied Demon Kings.
So what about the 95th floor?
The same Demon Realm environment?
Upon entering—
It wasn't the Demon Realm.
"It's the Heavenly Realm."
"As expected, a replicated Heavenly Realm."
"They've perfectly reproduced the environment."
The mission was—
[95th Floor Mission: Defeat 100,000 Corrupted Ninth-Rank Angels.]
[Time Limit: 17 hours.]
[Progress: 0 / 100,000]
Those ultra-fine dust angels were corrupted ninth-rank angels.
But the number—
"Uh… o-one, ten, a hundred… a hundred thousand?"
Are these bastards serious?
Kill one hundred thousand?
At that moment, Rajiks's eyes gleamed as he smiled confidently.
"Nuke?"
If it were a nuke, even a million would be doable.
But would it even work?
This was inside the tower.
"Checking."
He pulled out a handgun.
Click!
Loaded and fired—
Click.
Only the sound of the hammer.
It didn't fire.
"Hm. Gunpowder reactions are blocked."
"Hooe…"
Dimensional Explosion Demon Rajiks looked disappointed.
The administrators wouldn't be idiots—they'd have prepared for that.
But then—
"My lord. Allow this one to handle it."
Huh?
Mr. Bardin?
He specialized in undead.
"They are fallen angels. Their holy power is corrupted. However, I inherited the true holy power of a Punishing Angel. Behold these wings."
Flap!
Radiant wings fluttered proudly.
The origin of those wings—
In the past, they had fought a Punishing Angel, Ronseraphim, in the real Heavenly Realm, not a replica.
They had wiped out the corrupted divine land with a nuclear strike.
And then the Punishing Angel appeared.
He spoke of raining down purifying flames, of the veil of deception being lifted, of gratitude for granting a chance at atonement, of saving the Heavenly Realm.
And what did he give in return?
The authority of self-sacrifice.
A blessing of holy power.
A shower of holy power.
The one who benefited most back then—
Was Bardin.
Wasn't that why wings had grown from his back?
"O Light!!!"
Bardin soared into the sky.
Brilliant radiance spread in all directions.
"O Light!!!"
Hallelujah!
Well done, Bardin!
Right.
Corrupted angels or undead—it's all the same.
Fwoooosh!
The moment they touched the true radiance, the ultra-fine dust fallen angels melted away.
[Corrupted Ninth-Rank Angels 4,756 / 100,000]
Like moths flying into a flame.
[Corrupted Ninth-Rank Angels 10,877 / 100,000]
Ten thousand in an instant.
[Corrupted Ninth-Rank Angels 54,254 / 100,000]
Fifty thousand erased.
[Corrupted Ninth-Rank Angels 81,698 / 100,000]
Past eighty thousand—
Ding!
Mission clear.
The reward?
[You have completed the 95th Floor Mission.]
[Reward: 950 kg of Supreme-Grade Magic Crystals.]
'That'll do.'
Next floor.
[96th Floor Mission: Defeat the Authority Angel Lauraphim.]
It wasn't difficult.
Honestly, the 95th-floor dust trash had been more annoying.
One enemy?
Thirty deceased summons ganging up—done.
Mission clear.
Next—
[97th Floor Mission: Defeat the Power Angel Heterphim.]
Power Angel—cleared.
[98th Floor Mission: Defeat the Throne Angel Ezerphim.]
Throne Angel—cleared.
[99th Floor Mission: Defeat the Wisdom Angel Lucerphim.]
Wisdom Angel—cleared.
The whole Phim family wiped out.
'No Tinyphim or Hachuphim?'
Anyway, today's schedule was over.
Back to the White Tower for a day of rest.
Let's finish this quickly.
Repeating the same thing every day was starting to get boring.
The reaction to clearing the 99th floor didn't need explanation.
Global media went into an uproar.
<100th Floor in Sight—Will He Succeed?>
Mostly praise—but not only that.
If things went well, trait enhancement runes might come pouring in.
Well—only time would tell.
And the next day—
Juhyeok entered the 100th floor.
At the same time, Commander Jeon Seong-il was holding another press conference at the Joint Chiefs briefing room.
All he had to do was touch the crystal core.
No need to bring many.
Just a handful of veteran deceased summons.
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower, 100th Floor.]
The environment of the 100th floor is the same in every Black Tower.
A modern, single-story building stands atop a lush green hill.
[Welcome to the Black Tower Administration Room of Earth No. 843.]
"Come to think of it, we've never actually seen the administrators of this Earth's Black Tower."
"Is there even a need to? They probably all look the same anyway."
Ding!
[Final Mission: Make contact with the Crystal Core of the Black Tower on Earth No. 843 and obtain administrative authority.]
After receiving the mission, they entered the administration room.
What they saw was a circular chamber.
At its center floated a mass of black crystal.
But—
"Huh?"
Three chairs were placed around the crystal.
Administrators were sitting in them.
Yet they didn't move at all.
Eyes closed. Heads tilted to the side. Arms hanging limply.
"… Are they dead?"
"Looks like they were already fired."
Already?
"Though I feel a bit of pity, considering the crimes they committed, they deserved to die."
"They died too easily. Think of how many lives were lost to the sinkhole waves."
Juhyeok agreed.
He had no intention of praying for the dead.
Now, the final step.
Touching the Crystal Core.
Juhyeok slowly approached.
He raised his hand to touch the crystal—
At that moment!
Fwaaah!
Ts-papapat!
An invisible barrier blocked his hand.
"Huh?"
What is this now?
[As of this moment, entry to and exit from the Black Tower's 100th floor is prohibited.]
What?
At the same time—
Pop!
A hologram appeared in front of the Crystal Core.
"What?"
The image showed a spherical light source.
Like a huge lightbulb.
But it kept expanding and contracting.
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
Extremely threatening.
"Gah!"
Terrifying.
His legs went weak.
To think something so simply shaped could feel this frightening.
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
Though it was just a sphere, its presence was overwhelming.
An irresistible force poured out.
'I can't move.'
He was completely restrained.
His feet were glued to the floor.
He couldn't raise his hands.
He couldn't speak.
Even though he was holding the Judge's Hammer.
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
The deceased summons were the same.
With stiff expressions, they could only stare at the holographic sphere.
[Truly… ]
A voice finally flowed out.
A mechanical tone, impossible to determine age or gender.
[You are an astonishing human. This is the first time my predictions have been so wrong.]
Though mechanical, the voice carried immense power.
An overwhelming pressure beyond imagination.
Unmeasurable.
Like a natural disaster.
Like facing Yama himself.
'I know who this is.'
He realized it instantly.
'A god.'
The ruler of the Black Tower.
An Outer God possessing the Authority of Devouring.
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
[Even as a savior, you have crossed the line. Your greed has gone too far.]
Greed?
Was there ever a clearly defined line to begin with?
[Why wouldn't there be a line? You should have stopped at Earth No. 1001. For what reason did you extend your hand to another parallel world?]
The reason?
There isn't one.
It just happened that way.
[Do not expect help from the foolish White Tower virus. She has been blocked.]
She?
So Whitey was female after all.
Come to think of it—where did Whitey go?
Come out already.
[Even so, I must acknowledge you, Summoner. Calling you the strongest within the category of humans would still be insufficient.]
Yes.
Please acknowledge that.
[Which is precisely why, no matter the cost, I intend to eliminate you.]
Hmm.
Can't you acknowledge me and let me live?
I'll just deal with this one Earth—No. 843—and stop.
I'll go home and never come out again.
I'm actually an extreme introvert.
My MBTI is ISFP, you know.
[I abandon Earth No. 843. That should be sufficient payment.]
No, wait—
Don't give up so hastily.
Let's talk a little more—
[World Announcement: The strongest player of Parallel Universe Earth No. 1001 has entered the Black Tower's 100th floor on Earth No. 843.]
What? A world announcement, all of a sudden?
[World Announcement: Due to the intrusion of a player from another world, the Black Tower's self-destruction system will be activated.]
What the hell?!
Self-destruction system?!
We're screwed.
…
[World Announcement: One minute after system activation, all Black Towers on Earth No. 843 will temporarily collapse. Afterward, tower monster waves will be deployed from every sinkhole.]
'Fuck! That's cheating!'
[It is indeed cheating. However, without cheating, I cannot eliminate you.]
Shameless bastard.
Things don't go your way, so you decide to self-destruct?
[Is this what humans call burial alive? Summoner, may you collapse together with the Black Tower of Earth No. 843, which you were so eager to conquer.]
Burial my ass!
I'll survive, no matter what.
There was one remaining option.
Transcendent Summoning.
But something bothered him.
This wasn't a problem that could be solved by brute force—
Suddenly!
Beeeep!
[World Announcement: The self-destruction system has been activated.]
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 59 seconds.]
No choice.
Use Transcendent Summoning.
There were two chances.
If one wasn't enough, he'd use both.
He couldn't open his mouth—
But he focused his mind.
'Transcend… Beyond… Random Summon.'
He recited silently.
One of the two transcendent summons was consumed.
At that moment—
Ts-ts! Ts-ts-ts! Ts-ts-ts-ts-ts-ts!
Unknown patterns began carving themselves into the floor of the administration room.
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 52 seconds.]
Swoong!
A white-bearded old man appeared atop the patterns.
"Huh?"
A familiar face.
A familiar presence.
It felt like meeting the Sword Immortal again.
'An immortal…'
Yes.
Definitely an immortal.
The white-bearded immortal blinked, looking around repeatedly, until his eyes met Juhyeok's.
"Huh… Could it be… Hero Bong?"
Yes, yes, that's me.
But I can't talk.
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 45 seconds.]
"Huh? What's collapsing?"
The Black Tower.
At that moment—
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
The Outer God of Devouring grew even more violent, expanding and contracting.
"… Hm?"
Seeing this, the immortal tilted his head.
"You carry a very familiar aura."
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
"I see. Now I understand. I thought many things were mixed together… I wondered why this immortal was summoned, but it turns out it was fate. But how did you acquire that aura…?"
Woooong, woooong, woooong, woooong!
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 30 seconds.]
'Um, Immortal sir? Thirty seconds left?'
The immortal turned his gaze to Juhyeok.
"Greetings. Hero Bong. This immortal is called Qixian, or Guiguzi—commonly known as the Immortal of Guigu."
Ah!
So that's who you are.
Immortal Guigu.
"Let's take care of the urgent matter first. So this is the famed Crystal Core!"
Swoosh!
Guigu reached through the barrier and placed his hand on the Crystal Core.
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 19 seconds.]
He felt around, examining it.
"Ho! So that's how it works. Interesting. Very interesting. This will aid my research."
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 11 seconds.]
"They hid the management menu quite well. Did they think no one would find it?"
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 8 seconds.]
"If I do this like so…"
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 5 seconds.]
"Huh? No?"
Oh no.
Immortal Guigu?
Please—
"Then maybe like this?"
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 3 seconds.]
"Eh? Why won't it work? Not this either?"
Oh come on.
[World Announcement: Time remaining until the temporary collapse of all Black Towers: 1 second.]
…
"… How about this?"
At that very moment—
Ding!
A clear, melodious system message rang out.
Then—
[World Announcement: The self-destruction system has been halted.]
'… Holy shit.'
I almost pissed myself.
Snatched back from death.
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