Chapter 83

Chapter 82. The Womb of the Dead 'Pendariel' (4)

A sixth sense that transcends the senses.

It's not the kind that can be blocked by simply seeing and reacting.

'Either you were born with the talent to sense the current sword strike.'

Or.

'You have become a seasoned veteran who has memorized all sword paths.'

Only one of these two can survive before this queen.

And he already knew which of the two suited him better.

A talent acquired through enjoyment and perfection, rather than a congenital one.

This is the path that a seasoned veteran should aim for.

Clang!

Blinding sparks flew.

Jinhyuk deflected a strike aimed at his heart.

Due to a single failed parry, the distance between them narrowed by a step.

"Ugh!"

Pendariel launched a second attack, frustrated by the failed assault.

['Second Sword (第二劍)']

This time, the tip of the sword split into countless branches.

The divided points scattered chaotically.

['Dispatch (派送)']

The blades, erasing the afterimages of other blades, rushed to tear the enemy apart.

From all directions.

It was a storm-like sword attack that knew no corners.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clang!

But the result was the same this time as well.

Jinhyuk moved his twin dragon sword with the precision of a ruler.

None of the many attacks landed a single effective hit.

The distance between them narrowed again.

"This time, it's my turn."

A cold chill rose from the tip of Jinhyuk's fingers.

[Lv5 'Glacial Formation (氷河造形)', 'Black Ice' activated!]

Using 'Glacial Formation' to create an ice rink and make the opponent lose balance.

"Ugh!?"

[Lv1 'Sword Demon Emperor Step (劍魔帝王步)' activated!]

Ku ku ku kung!

Using 'Sword Demon Emperor Step,' he displayed an incredibly bizarre movement even at close range.

"Raaaah!"

Pendariel roared, unable to contain her anger.

While raising her guard, she moved in a way that seemed almost impossible to catch.

A tree that resists a typhoon breaks.

But a reed that bends with the wind survives.

Jinhyuk did not resist the massive wave but acknowledged and accepted it.

Thus.

Clang!

In the end, the one who laughs last is always.

Clank! Clank! Clang!

'Me.'

Finally, the opportunity he had been waiting for appeared.

Jinhyuk planted his twin dragon sword in the ground and drew out the 'Scythe of Severed Causality.'

"Damn... it! This can't be...! Me, to a mere... human!"

Pendariel's mouth tore horizontally.

She couldn't be this strong.

How could a human, who can't even live a hundred years, possess so many abilities?

And not a single one of them had any flaws, all perfect.

But no matter how much she denied and struggled, it was too late.

The distance between them was already so close that their breaths could be felt.

Swoosh!

The first sound of flesh being cut since the battle began.

A single drop of blood flowing from the cleanly severed cut marked the end of the fight.

['Pendariel, the boss monster of the 4th floor, has been defeated!']

['The 5th floor of the Tower of Trials is now open!']

['Time remaining until the next floor is conquered: 89D 23h:59m:59s']

['Your level has increased.']

['Your level has increased.']

['Your level has increased.']

['You have successfully defended the stronghold. You have been awarded 5 A-grade random boxes based on the number of stronghold members.']

['You have obtained a 'High-level Skill Enhancement Scroll (1)' as a reward for the most kills.']

['You have obtained a '10% Coin Exchange Fee Discount (1 use)' as a reward for the popularity vote.']

['You have obtained a 'Magic Library Entry Ticket (1 use)' as a reward for defeating the hidden boss monster.']

A cascade of status windows.

Who could have predicted this?

Anubis and the Egyptian deities, who were confident of victory, were speechless.

"Still, she was much stronger than the 3rd floor boss. That Muhyun guy just hid behind his subordinates."

Jinhyuk said in a tone devoid of emotion.

Of course, the queen, whose life had already ended, couldn't hear him.

***

The intense battle on the 4th floor was over.

Considering the desperate situation, it was almost a miraculous turnaround.

And 24 hours later, at a bar in Hongdae.

Here, Jinhyuk and the others who fought together in the stronghold defense had a small after-party.

"Bro! Over here!"

Yoo Yeon-hwa waved her hand.

During the battle in the tower, she fought with a blood-dripping knuckle, using a brutal martial art that made people shiver.

But outside, she came out in a comfortable tracksuit and a hoodie.

Quite a fresh look.

"Bro! You're here?"

Lee Tae-min was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt.

A white cap worn backward was the highlight.

"Sorry, I'm a bit late."

"No, we just got here too. Still, you really seem like a completely different person. At first glance, I thought a celebrity was coming."

"Bro, can't you act like this in the tower too?"

After finally taking a break, he went to a salon and bought a few new outfits, and the reactions were completely different.

Come to think of it, the stylist also said that using wax would be much better.

At the time, I thought it was just a sales pitch, but seeing the reactions of these two, it doesn't seem to be a complete lie.

"If I dress like this, when will I have time to climb the tower?"

Jinhyuk chuckled.

And he spoke again.

"Where's Teresa?"

"Teresa said she'll be here in about an hour. She told us to start eating without her."

Unlike Jinhyuk, Teresa returned through the European gate she came from.

It would have been nice to come together, but she had important matters to handle in Europe, so she had to join later.

As a ranker, she probably has a private jet, so the journey to Korea shouldn't be too difficult.

Finally.

A man sitting in a corner of the table came into view.

The noisy surroundings.

"Did you see that guy?"

"Try talking to him in a bit."

"Wow! I just made eye contact with him."

His good looks and proportions make him stand out no matter what he wears.

Moreover, he exudes a cool and mysterious aura, as if he carries all the world's worries, making everyone's attention inevitable.

Anyway, he's putting on a show.

"I'm here."

"I know."

"I thought you wouldn't come or would be hours late, but you kept your promise?"

Jinhyuk chuckled, remembering the process of getting this guy to come to this place.

- Come to the bar in front of Hongdae Exit 3 by 7 PM tomorrow. We'll have a beer together.

- Ha, that's a joke. Why should I participate in such a gathering?

Chun Yu-sung frowned,

- You'll learn how to get what you want from the random box if you participate in that gathering.

Jinhyuk's one sentence made him promise to come to Hongdae.

He actually kept his promise.

Still, this guy.

From his tone and actions, I thought he was a complete neighborhood thug.

Turns out he's a medical student. At Korea University, no less.

I'm genuinely worried about the safety of his first patient in the future.

If something goes wrong during surgery, I can see him using a sword instead of a scalpel.

"If I get hurt, call a healer or just kill me."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Compared to entrusting my body to you, I'd rather just die..."

"Don't worry. Business is business, and personal is personal. I'll do my best to save any patient I'm responsible for."

Damn, I can't even joke with you.

Jinhyuk clicked his tongue and took a sip of beer.

The cold ice beer seeped into his body, which was heated from the intense battle and running.

He immediately tore off a piece of spicy chicken.

The outside was crispy, and the inside was juicy.

"Ugh."

A sigh of admiration escaped Jinhyuk's lips.

To truly enjoy this taste, a proper amount of sweat and fatigue is essential.

But right at that moment.

[Give me some too. Don't be so selfish and eat alone!]

An annoyed voice came from the ring.

It was Ellis.

After the battle on the 3rd floor, she had been resting to recover her magic power, but she somehow knew it was time to eat and made her presence known.

Well, having been sealed in a corridor for eons, she must be curious about the outside world's food.

This might be a way to save on drinks and even make some extra money.

"I really want to let you eat with me, but this is quite expensive. Even for me, it's a burden on my wallet."

[Expensive? How much?]

Jinhyuk deliberately put on a serious face.

"At least a diamond the size of a thumbnail. It's a small amount compared to the total drink bill, but considering our relationship, I'll only charge you that much."

As if he was being generous.

As if he was caring for a comrade.

The key is to use Ellis's psychological burden appropriately.

[That much I can afford. I'm not the type to freeload.]

Ellis answered in a dignified tone.

Indeed, a generous and wealthy person is always welcome.

Especially at a drinking party.

***

"Wow. Is this what the lowly creatures make?"

Ellis's eyes sparkled.

She was dressed in a black dress with elaborate lace and a necklace adorned with rubies and gold.

Excited to finally be outside, she had dressed up to the nines.

"This is called draft beer."

"Mmm! Not bad! It can't compare to the finest blood or wine aged for centuries, but it's good enough to quench one's thirst. It must be made by a craftsman passed down through generations."

What a pretentious thing to say.

This is a 2,500 won beer mass-produced in a factory.

Especially today, there's a 1+1 promotion to celebrate the conquest of the 4th floor.

"Try this too."

"What is this...?"

"It's called chicken. It's marinated in soy sauce and spices."

"Meat... I don't particularly like it, but since you're insisting, I'll try it once."

Ellis elegantly picked up a chicken drumstick with a fork.

As she started to chew,

Her eyes changed.

It was like the eyes of a predator that has spotted its prey.

When Jinhyuk tried to take a piece of chicken,

Clang!

Ellis defended with her fork.

"..."

Absolutely. She had no intention of giving even a single piece.

Right. Meat dishes probably only involved boiling or roasting, so it's natural that she would be captivated. Spices were probably a luxury, with salt being the most extravagant.

"Eat a lot. I'm paying for you specially."

"Thank you. I won't forget this."

Ellis held the beer glass tightly with an excited expression.

Looking at her, she seems like a very innocent girl.

Who would think this kid is one of the strongest in the tower, Jinjo?

"Everyone! I'm here!"

A little later, Teresa joined, and the party atmosphere heated up even more.

They enjoyed delicious food, reminisced about their time in the tower, and savored their victory.

But while everyone was in the middle of a lively conversation,

Sizzle!

The volume of the TV in the center of the bar was turned up.

People's attention was drawn.

It wasn't entertainment gossip or sports, but a special feature related to the Tower of Trials.

[With the successful conquest of the 4th floor, interest in the upcoming 5th floor is intensifying.]

[Yes, that's right. Despite many ups and downs, thanks to the Korean ranker, Jinhyuk, we can now proceed to the 5th floor.]

A man and a woman continued their conversation.

[Before we talk about the 5th floor, is there a simple summary of the information that ordinary citizens can understand?]

[Of course. The table below shows the players who played the biggest role in defeating the boss monsters from the 1st to the 4th floors and the countries they belong to.]

Patrick of the American Titan Guild, who cleared the 1st floor.

Maria of the European Olympus Guild and Namgung Cheon of the Chinese Guild, and the independent player Teresa, who cleared the 2nd floor.

The unknown player who cleared the 3rd floor.

Jinhyuk, the Korean ranker, who cleared the 4th floor.

Top-tier rankers from various countries and the hope of humanity.

The names of the pioneers who will conquer the future tower were listed.

[Wow! Just hearing their names makes my heart swell.]

[Ha ha. I feel the same way. With these people, I believe they will somehow lead humanity to the next floor.]

[Then, please explain the 5th floor.]

The female announcer handed the microphone.

[Understood.]

5th floor.

The main theme of the place where players will spend the next 90 days.

[The 5th floor is...]

Was revealed.