Chapter 78

Chapter 3. Recapture (1)

"Ooh, not only did you awaken the despair of the Black King, but Aegis as well. You're quite an interesting player."

Eveke watched Lianwoo disappear through the portal with a pleased smile.

From the tutorial to the beginner stage, Lianwoo's solo breakthrough of everything always delighted him.

The profits from the bets were also quite substantial.

"It also means that the Tower's system has started to focus more on Lianwoo."

Eveke muttered these incomprehensible words and then suddenly recalled who the managers from the 11th floor onward were.

"From now on, the Chief Manager will be Laplace."

Eveke smiled. His sharp canines protruded from his thick lips.

"I wonder what kind of reaction this guy will show. He's quite curious and often plays mischievous tricks."

His gaze was fixed on the portal, which was gradually fading.

* * *

"Monopolizer?"

Bahal, leading the Flame Beasts, stopped moving and turned his head at the sudden words from the captain.

"Yes. It seems that all the records from the 1st to the 10th floor, the entire beginner area, have been updated."

Bahal quickly swiped the air with his hand.

A window appeared before his eyes.

[1st Floor Ranking]

1st Place: Anonymous (9,345 Points)

Joint 2nd Place: Cha Jungwoo, Edo (6,566 Points)

4th Place: Pant (2,210 Points)

...

[2nd Floor Ranking]

1st Place: Anonymous (31,008 Points)

2nd Place: Pant (7,299 Points)

3rd Place: Cha Jungwoo (6,900 Points)

...

[3rd Floor Ranking]

1st Place: Anonymous (18,115 Points)

2nd Place: Cha Jungwoo (11,331 Points)

...

"Ah?"

Bahal realized that the anonymous person was Lianwoo.

Among the people who had recently stood out, no one else could have achieved such results.

"What an interesting guy."

Bahal laughed lightly.

He had felt it from the first encounter, but Lianwoo was much more capable than he had expected.

The records Lianwoo had set in the beginner area were different from those set by Cha Jungwoo, which were possible with the support of Team Artia.

But what Lianwoo had achieved was entirely different.

He had done it alone, with his own strength.

Attention to Lianwoo would inevitably become even more focused. He thought it was a good move to have laid the groundwork early.

"Isn't it a bit disappointing?"

At that moment, the captain asked, looking at him intently.

Bahal tilted his head.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"The records. Those records are also Bahal's records."

Bahal caught the meaning and chuckled.

Cha Jungwoo's records were also Artia's records, and the path Bahal had taken.

"I thought the ideological test was already over. Isn't it?"

"It's just a personal curiosity."

Bahal laughed lightly.

"Our Queen asking a personal question? Believe what you should believe. I'd rather believe a dog meowing."

The captain nodded slightly in response.

Bahal closed the record window and stroked his chin.

"Well, it would be a lie to say I have no thoughts at all. After all, Artia was also a path I took. Who would be happy to see those traces disappear?"

"..."

Suddenly, the captain's eyes flashed sharply but then dimmed as Bahal continued.

"But old things are just old things. The past should be let go. There's no reason to be bound by it. What's important to me now is only one thing."

Bahal smiled widely and added,

"How to get this rookie into our hands."

"..."

"Of course, I think he will eventually end up in our hands... but it shouldn't take too long. If there's no sign of it, we might have to consider breaking him."

Bahal didn't finish his last sentence, but the captain seemed to understand what he meant.

'Like the old Artia.'

Artia was originally a subject of love and hate for many clans.

They wanted to get it, but it never came easily.

Then, they tried to swallow the entire Tower.

The eight major clans didn't want to see that happen again. One Artia was enough.

If a sprout appeared, it should be either trampled or taken.

It had to be one or the other.

"Is this enough of an answer?"

Bahal smiled and looked at the captain.

The captain nodded calmly.

"Fortunately, the threshold has been passed."

"But you didn't need to say that. Be more careful next time."

"Haha! I thought it was time to give it a pass. It seems our Queen still doubts me. Anyway."

Bahal suddenly stopped walking, and the Flame Beasts behind him halted as well.

They had stopped at the edge of a cliff.

"Is this the place?"

"Yes, by coordinates."

"The dog hole of Cheonghwa Island. So you tried to find some dignity. In the end, people are all the same, aren't they? Haha!"

Bahal slowly walked to the edge of the cliff.

Below, a dense forest was visible. The cliff was so high that just looking at it made one dizzy.

This place, located at the outermost edge of the Tower's external area, was devoid of any human presence.

But Bahal focused his mana on his eyes and stared at one side.

His vision enhanced, and a corner of the forest became clearly visible on his retina.

Five players were on guard between the trees, cleverly disguised.

In the center, a blue portal was open.

"A portal connecting to Arangdan."

Bahal laughed lightly.

"What are you trying to hide by opening a portal in such a remote place? Leont, you haven't changed a bit."

Bahal shook his head and looked at the captain.

"It seems there's not much time left. Let's prepare."

"Understood."

The captain raised his hand. The Flame Beasts scattered along the cliff and crouched low.

They were waiting for the right moment to ambush Leont. According to the information they had, Leont's return was only a few hours away.

About two hours later.

The portal, which had been gently shimmering, suddenly started to surge. It meant that the spatial transfer was about to begin.

The Flame Beasts pulled out the weapons from their pockets. They were bamboo tubes, about the length of a forearm, containing dozens of iron arrows and magical powder. When the trigger mechanism was pulled, they would immediately devastate the surrounding area, a one-time-use artifact.

Soon, the portal opened, and players poured out in a group.

All of them were dressed in the attire of Cheonghwa Island. Among them was Leont.

The Flame Beasts pulled the trigger mechanisms, aiming down the cliff.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion, like dozens of fireworks going off at once, echoed.

The explosion swept away the forest and the portal.

The players on guard and those who had just emerged from the portal were swept away without any reaction.

Even those who managed to survive were torn apart by the rain of iron arrows falling from the sky.

Leont barely survived amidst the explosion, the deafening noise, and the scattered light. It was a testament to his outstanding skills as a top-ranked player.

But even he couldn't completely avoid the damage.

Leont roared like a wounded beast, his body covered in black soot and red blood.

His carefully built Arangdan had collapsed, and the 'Stone' had disappeared, leaving him in a state of extreme frustration.

When his four subordinates, who had supported him and his build, were also killed, his anger reached its peak.

Then, Leont noticed figures standing at the edge of the cliff amidst the smoke and flames.

One of them stood out.

A former teammate and once his closest friend, now his worst enemy.

"Bahal-!"

"Leont, it's been a while."

Even from a considerable distance, Bahal could clearly see Leont's expression. He smiled brightly and kicked the ground forcefully.

Boom!

Bahal fell towards Leont in a large parabola. The Flame Beasts moved down the cliff to finish off the remaining players.

Leont, with his eyes wide open, leaped into the air and charged at Bahal.

Two massive currents of energy spiraled and followed like tails, then burst forward in a storm.

Leont's nickname was Storm Bringer, meaning "the one who brings the storm."

Boom!

A typhoon and a firestorm collided in mid-air. The space tore apart, and a fierce wind swept the earth, raising columns of sand.

A clash of superhumans, like something out of a myth.

Bahal and Leont, both already bringers of disaster.

The Flame Beasts had to stay far away to avoid being caught in the aftermath of their clash. Leont's subordinates who couldn't escape in time were left without a trace.

"How dare you! How dare you touch me? Do you even know what you're doing?"

Leont growled, his face twisted. The wounded beast was more ferocious than ever.

"I know."

But Bahal laughed lightly. He had expected this reaction from Leont.

Leont's so-called strategy was as flimsy as it could be.

"Does this mean war?"

Leont's face hardened.

The meaning behind Bahal's words was not light.

A declaration of war.

The Red Dragon had declared war on Cheonghwa Island!

"Wouldn't the head of one of the five gods who rule Cheonghwa Island be a fitting start for the event that's about to unfold?"

"..."

"Besides, we were once friends. I didn't want to leave it to someone else. That's why I took the lead."

Bahal smiled and struck the ground forcefully with his hand.

Skill: Firestorm. Red flames, like a divine hammer, rained down from the sky, tearing through the storm.

At that moment, Leont realized that Bahal was much stronger than he remembered.

"So, I want you to give it to me."

"What are you talking about!"

"The mana device you possess. If you give it to me, I'll send you off painlessly."

Leont's face hardened. He hadn't expected Bahal to ask about the 'Stone.'

But Bahal, interpreting his silence as refusal, clicked his tongue.

"Anyway, that kind of pride. It seems it won't work. I'll have to subdue you first and then continue the conversation."

If he kept pushing Leont into a corner, he would eventually have to hand over the mana device.

Bahal thought this as he charged at Leont again. Dozens of firestorms rained down from the sky, striking the ground.

Boom!

There was no place for Leont to run in this area.

The Flame Beasts had blocked all escape routes, and the surroundings were a sea of fire with no gaps.

Bahal's nickname was Firestorm.

No one could stand against him in a sea of fire.

Not even the leader of the Red Dragon, the Summer Queen!

Boom!

Dozens of condensed firestorms struck Leont. The storm was torn apart, and the area was turned into a wasteland several times over.

* * *

[This is the 11th floor, the realm of dreams.]

Lianwoo opened his eyes to the familiar notification sound.

A new world appeared before him.

A vast plain with several small hills rising up.

A gentle breeze blew, and the flowers and leaves trembled. The sunlight was warm, making him feel comfortable just standing there.

It was a place that gave a completely different impression from the bleak floors he had experienced so far.

Lianwoo looked around.

No one else was in sight.

'Have they not arrived yet?'

Pant and Edo would probably take a bit more time.

Without Gyes' eyes, Lianwoo wouldn't have been able to pass the 10th floor so easily, so it was understandable.

'I'll have to wait a bit.'

Lianwoo thought it was for the best.

He was mentally and physically exhausted from passing through ten floors in one go.

Moreover, the black bracelet had changed significantly, and he had unexpectedly obtained Aegis. He needed to check their functions properly.

'Both my stats and skills have changed a lot.'

He needed to conduct several personal checks.

At that moment,

Whoosh!

A large blue portal formed in the sky, and someone dropped down.

A rabbit-faced manager in a sleek tuxedo, reminiscent of the White Rabbit from 'Alice in Wonderland.'

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Laplace, the manager who will guide you through the 11th floor from now on."

Laplace's red eyes sparkled with curiosity as he looked at Lianwoo.