Chapter 82

082. Dimensional Invasion (1)

At first, when I heard about the "wish of sorrow" (悲願), I thought it was simply some kind of wish.

Just like how I desperately wanted to gain the ability to slay monsters before entering the tower.

I thought the iron-blooded ruler and other administrators, all of whom had died once, would have tangled relationships formed by grievances and grudges.

I thought the "wish of sorrow" must be unfulfilled or deeply held regrets from their lifetimes.

But that wasn't the case.

"…So, the 'wish of sorrow' isn't just the administrator's wish, but a trial?"

"Exactly, achieving the 'wish of sorrow' doesn't necessarily mean you climb the tower, but you're partly right."

"…."

"When the 'wish of sorrow' is achieved, the tower provides the reward to both the administrator and the challenger."

"In other words, it's a trial that doesn't necessarily lead to a higher floor even if you overcome it."

After learning the truth about the "wish of sorrow" (悲願) from the iron-blooded ruler, a sense of disappointment washed over me.

Setting aside the fact that the administrator's trial is a form of the tower's trial.

Why call it a personal wish when it's almost the same as the tower's trial?

My curiosity rose to my throat, and I soon opened my mouth to ask.

"Frankly, if it can't be called the administrator's wish, why is it called a 'wish of sorrow'?"

I thought it would be better to clearly state that it's a derivative of the trial.

However, the White Crane Sword Immortal shook her head, negating what I said.

"No. The 'wish of sorrow' must be called a 'wish of sorrow.' It's worth it."

"…?"

"Do you know why administrators, who have died once, are still subordinate to the tower?"

"Probably because they don't want to die. No one wants to die, after all."

"There might be such administrators, but we didn't become subordinate to the tower out of fear of death."

The White Crane Sword Immortal's eyes sank into the depths, becoming infinitely solemn.

"We have a wish that must be fulfilled no matter what."

"…."

"The 'wish of sorrow' is achieved through the apostle."

"But you said it's a trial. Then it's meaningless, isn't it?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Obviously, the trial is a stage for the challenger's growth set up by the tower."

The trial exists solely to help the challenger grow.

It's literally a trial, and by enduring it, one becomes stronger.

I didn't think that overcoming the trial would resolve the administrator's pent-up feelings.

"I haven't seen any trial that could fulfill the administrator's 'wish of sorrow.'"

"…You're right. The trial is just a 're-enactment' of a situation and a stage for the challenger's growth."

"Then it's meaningless—."

"But the value lies in achieving the re-enacted situation."

"…?"

The White Crane Sword Immortal stared at me intently and slowly continued.

"The 'wish of sorrow' of administrators mostly stems from past regrets."

"…."

"There might be exceptions, but most are like that. However, no one can change a past story as time passes."

"True, unless one becomes a god."

"But if the 'wish of sorrow' can be achieved, changing the past is possible. By involving my past in the form of a trial and making changes."

"…What?"

I blinked, staring at her blankly as she continued.

Can the past really be changed?

"Such an impossible thing can't be—."

"Since you've gone through the tower's trials, you should know if my words are true."

That was true.

The Tower of Trials possessed abilities beyond the norm and brought about changes more severe than the great upheavals of the past.

So, it wasn't strange that I, who was supposed to end in a miserable failure and give up my dream of becoming a hunter, had come this far.

It wouldn't be strange if the ability to change the past existed.

"I don't know about other administrators, but I want to change my past."

The White Crane Sword Immortal spoke in an uncharacteristically gloomy tone.

"But achieving the 'wish of sorrow' doesn't immediately change the past."

"…?"

"Conditions are added based on the severity of the administrator's 'wish of sorrow.'"

"Then the one who fulfills those conditions would be the apostle, right?"

If the administrator could solve the conditions themselves, there wouldn't be a need to go through the apostle.

'The challenger must meet those conditions, which makes it difficult.'

The White Crane Sword Immortal immediately agreed with what I said.

"You're right. The challenger, who holds the position of apostle, must fulfill the conditions on behalf of the administrator."

Indeed, the system was such that the challenger, not the administrator, had to complete the additional conditions.

"The conditions the challenger must meet are basically two."

The White Crane Sword Immortal slowly extended her index finger and continued.

"First, the number of floors to climb is a condition."

Then she extended her middle finger, showing two fingers, and continued.

"Second, when surpassing the 20th floor, the difficulty of all personal trials is enhanced."

I felt my body stiffen and opened my mouth.

"…Can I ask one question?"

Changing the past is almost like defying the flow of time.

If that means the number of floors to climb and the difficulty of all personal trials after the 20th floor will be absurdly enhanced.

Then, how many times will I have to repeat the insane trials to fulfill the White Crane Sword Immortal's 'wish of sorrow'?

The discomfort of this question made me decide to ask it immediately.

"To fulfill your 'wish of sorrow,' how high do I need to climb?"

The White Crane Sword Immortal smiled bitterly at the question, scratched her cheek, and turned her gaze away.

"That… to the waiting room of the final floor of the Tower of Trials, I guess."

***

Final Floor (最終層).

I knew that the target point to reach to turn the administrator's 'wish of sorrow' into reality was the top of the tower.

But, to put it simply, I ended up accepting her proposal, unable to refuse it.

"Contract has been established."

"You made a good choice! You won't regret it!"

The system message announced that I had become the White Crane Sword Immortal's contractor.

She smiled brightly, grabbed my right hand with both of hers, and shook it vigorously.

"…."

Her small stature and girlish appearance made the scene not look too bad, despite the fact that she once challenged the tower as a challenger.

However, even if it was a choice for growth, the mention of the final floor made my shoulders heavy.

In any case, the responsibility of climbing to the final floor didn't change.

Of course—

"You have been recognized as the true apostle of the administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙).'"

"As an apostle's privilege, the efficiency of martial arts dimension powers and skills increases by 10%."

"As an apostle's privilege, your mana increases by +3."

"You are recognized as an apostle by two administrators."

"As a privilege of being a dual apostle (二重使徒), your agility increases by +3."

"I don't think I'll regret this choice."

Given the many rewards I received, it would be hard to regret this contract.

Unlike the iron-blooded ruler, I wasn't the first contractor, so my stats only increased by +3 mana.

The 10% increase in the efficiency of martial arts dimension powers and skills as an apostle's privilege was not to be underestimated.

My sword energy had already become more powerful by reaching the realm of 'body and sword as one' (身劍合一).

A 10% increase in the efficiency of sword energy was almost equivalent to an enhancement in martial power.

That wasn't all.

Perhaps the tower viewed favorably that I was recognized as an apostle by two administrators.

The message that my agility increased by +3 left no room for regret.

"I'm glad you don't think you'll regret it."

The White Crane Sword Immortal smiled innocently and waved goodbye.

"I'll be looking forward to the trial on the 11th floor."

Before I could respond, the surroundings changed.

"Moving to the waiting room of the 11th floor."

I returned to the barren waiting room, not the peaceful forest.

"…."

Although I wanted to stretch after finishing the additional contract…

I suppressed my fatigue and immediately opened the contractor's exclusive shop.

"Contractor's Exclusive Shop"

"SP – 4,000"

"Category: Skills"

"Category: Powers"

"Category: Items"

"Contractors: Iron-Blooded Ruler and White Crane Sword Immortal"

"Note: Recognized as the first contractor of the administrator 'Iron-Blooded Ruler' and as an apostle of the administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal.'"

The changes were immediately noticeable.

Not only the 4,000 SP obtained from breaking through the 10th floor trial, but also the addition of the White Crane Sword Immortal in the contractor and note sections.

Honestly, I wanted to savor the growth, but my body moved mechanically.

"Category: Powers"

When I pressed the powers category to call up the list of powers.

"Select the list of powers to view."

"1. Iron-Blooded Ruler"

"2. White Crane Sword Immortal"

"3. Patron Powers"

"…So, the list of powers has grown to the point where they can be categorized?"

Previously, the list of powers was not categorized, but now it was clearly separated by each administrator.

Even if the list of powers was mixed, it would have been annoying to check, so this was a good change.

"Selected the list of powers 'White Crane Sword Immortal.'"

"Category: Powers (White Crane Sword Immortal)"

"List (1/3)"

"Power: Power Integration (A-)"

"Power: Battle Desire (A+)"

"Power: Path of the Sword Demon (S)"

Seeing the list, which included an S-grade power from the start, I smiled wryly.

I was convinced that the choice I made would lead me to the final floor of the tower.

"(!) Currently, only the powers in List (1/3) can be viewed."

"(!) The powers in List (2/3) can be viewed from the waiting room of the 20th floor."

Of course, the second page of powers, like with the Iron-Blooded Ruler, was not yet open.

Since everything was never open at once, I silently examined the available powers.

"Power: Power Integration (A-)"

"Price: 5,000 SP"

"Description: A power that embodies the White Crane Sword Immortal's footsteps as a challenger, who integrated all skills for focus and concentration. It allows the integration of acquired powers to develop new powers or to consume powers to enhance the level of existing powers."

Starting with a power that could be seen as a skill synthesis version.

"Power: Battle Desire (A+)"

"Price: 7,500 SP"

"Description: The desire for battle is the origin of the species, starting from predators. It is a power that those who see only struggle as life often obtain. When fighting a stronger opponent, all skill proficiency rates increase by up to 300%, and it becomes easier to enjoy the battle."

Examining a power that was a form of absurd growth assistance.

"Power: Path of the Sword Demon (S)"

"Price: 10,000 SP"

"Description: A power that those who become strong to survive and then live to become stronger, often obtain. It allows the development of independent skills related to the sword and makes it easier to embody independent insights."

Finally, the first S-grade power listed.

All the powers were so outstanding that they left me speechless, but I couldn't afford any of them.

'The requirements for the White Crane Sword Immortal's powers are high.'

Without any powers to buy immediately, it felt like a pie in the sky.

However, these powers would eventually be acquired after breaking through a few more trials.

Instead of feeling disappointed, I immediately switched the power list to the patron powers.

"Power: Steel Wings (C+)"

"Price: 1,500 SP"

"Description: A power that allows the creation of steel wings using mana. High-speed flight is possible using the steel wings created by mana. To maintain the wings, a steady supply of mana is required, and they automatically deactivate when mana is insufficient."

This was to buy a power that would enable aerial combat.

I thought about buying the Iron-Blooded Ruler's power to become an apostle, but I didn't.

'I need to choose a power that allows me to get the most benefit while using the least SP.'

True to form, the powers possessed by the White Crane Sword Immortal, a martial arts dimension administrator, were all excellent.

Therefore, it would be best to save as much SP as possible and buy at least one of her powers after breaking through the 11th floor trial.

With the decision made, there was no need to hesitate.

"Power: Steel Wings (C+) purchased."

"1,500 SP deducted."

I immediately bought the Steel Wings and decided to check the exact abilities of this power.

"Steel Wings."

At that moment,

"The power 'Steel Wings' is activated."

Swish!

A sharp sensation rose from my back, and a new sense emerged on my back.

"…!?"

It was the sensation of the wings attached to my back.

When I reached out to touch my back, I could feel the wings protruding.

I could even feel the natural connection between my skin and the steel wings.

"Wow, they're completely connected to my back."

Since this was a power granted by the tower's administrator, I thought it might be based on magical principles.

But it was just a matter of injecting mana into the wings that sprouted from my back to enable flight.

As soon as I injected mana into the Steel Wings and flapped them, my body rose into the air.

"…."

Surprisingly, rising into the air was easy, and since the flight was powered by mana, the wings didn't need to flap much.

I wanted to check how long I could fly and how fast I could move, but the waiting room was too small.

"Can't help it."

In the end, I had to deactivate the Steel Wings and land.

"The power 'Steel Wings' is deactivated."

It's hard to check the inherent abilities of the Steel Wings here.

"Then I need to change the stage."

I immediately opened the shop and bought the same low-grade return stone as before.

"Return Stone