Chapter 164 - Episode 22. Climbing the Branch (6)
Chapter 164: Episode 22. Climbing the Branch (6)
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“Waaaaah! We made it!”
Runald was the first of the Allies to reach the Ninth Floor.
His Skin had been torn to shreds all over his body. The moment he opened the Ninth Floor’s Door and stepped through, he collapsed from exhaustion. Manri Shintong came through next.
“Impressive. How did you get here so quickly?”
“If you Stab at the stairs, you can fly forward really fast.”
Runald added with a grin,
“During the last stretch, I thought I was going to suffocate to death just from walking. What was that place?”
“It was likely an area with an unusually high density of space-time. There are occasionally places like that in the 《Abyss》.”
Rene and Martis crossed through the Door next.
Most of them had only minor injuries. Considering who they had been fighting, that was nothing short of a miracle. Rene smiled.
“Looks like coming all this way was not for nothing.”
“We finally landed a real blow on those Lord bastards.”
The ‘Naked Group’ that followed Jaehwan, as well as the ‘Black Shop’ led by Manri Shintong, had played their parts. Above all, the support from the 「Rupture」 had been crucial.
Had the 「Rupture」 not helped, the Allies would all have fallen to Shiyu on the Eighth Floor.
Manri Shintong checked on everyone’s condition and asked,
“What about Rayray?”
“They are fighting right in front of the Door. They will hold out until the rest of the Allies arrive.”
“Uncle Rayray...”
Runald, who had grown close to Rayray in the meantime, looked worried. Manri Shintong asked again,
“What happened to Pilgrim and Gale?”
“Unfortunately, both of them were eliminated.”
The mood among the Allies instantly turned somber.
Pilgrim was Drake’s Vicegerent, but Gale was a mid-grade god who had fought harder than anyone despite having no personal stake in this.
They likely had not been hit by a special technique like 「Soul Erasure」, so they would not be dead. Still, losing a Vicegerent or Doll alone would be a serious blow to a mid-grade god.
“I should buy them a drink when we meet again.”
As Manri Shintong murmured, two more people entered the Ninth Floor.
Jin Eunsae and Karlton.
Manri Shintong asked once more,
“Are you two the last ones?”
Jin Eunsae nodded.
“What about that Third Division Commander?”
“They are still fighting in front of the Door.”
It was easy enough to understand the situation.
Among the pursuers was Shiyu, the God of Aging and one of the Seven Heavens. Among Jaehwan’s Allies, only the Third Division Commander, Imai, could face Shiyu.
Imai had chosen to remain on the Eighth Floor with Rayray to buy time.
[All eight successful applicants for ‘Climbing the Branches’ have been selected!]
[Successful applicants for ‘Climbing the Branches’ will receive ‘Ninth Floor admission tickets’!]
[All successful applicants have entered the Ninth Floor.]
The Ninth Floor had a capacity of nine.
Jaehwan, the Leader, and Andersen had already entered the Ninth Floor, leaving room for six more people.
Runald, Rene, Martis, Manri Shintong, Karlton, and Jin Eunsae had filled those six places. The Ninth Floor was now full.
[〈Metaverse〉’s Ninth Floor has reached its maximum capacity.]
Martis looked deeply moved.
“I spent my entire life trapped on the Sixth Floor. I never imagined I would live to see the view from the Ninth Floor.”
“I feel the same. I thought I was destined to spend my whole life making dumplings on the Eighth Floor.”
“I am much the same. I thought my fate was to serve as a checkpoint chief, yet I have come all the way here...”
At that, all the Allies turned to Karlton at once.
“By the way, who are you?”
“Ah, I am the Fortress Lord’s...”
A flash of light accompanied by a deafening explosion erupted in the distance.
The Allies looked at one another, then ran toward the light without even exchanging a word.
Before long, they found Jaehwan and the Leader.
“Fortress Lo...”
Karlton, who had been about to call out to Jaehwan, urgently shut his mouth. He was afraid that his voice might disrupt the duel.
The naked Jaehwan was locked in an all-out battle against the Skin-clad Leader. Every time Dokbul moved, the air sounded as though it were tearing apart. Whenever the Leader swung his fist, a massive crater formed.
It was a battle between two gods who had reached the level of the Seven Stars, perhaps even beyond it.
Manri Shintong murmured with a sigh,
“A duel one will not easily witness again.”
They all knew they should help Jaehwan. Yet no one could.
Part of them wanted to watch the battle without interfering, but even if they tried to join in, they would likely only get in the way.
The two gods fighting there must have been seeing an entirely different battlefield through their eyes.
Rene quietly sent up a drone.
No matter who won, this battle would be recorded in the history of the 《Abyss》.
The moment Rene started the broadcast through the drone, numerous gods entered the channel.
[The God of Flames ‘Ignis’ is engrossed in the thrilling battle.]
[The Dragon God ‘Droyan’ watches a battle between dragons.]
[The God of Gambling ‘Baccarat’ is conflicted over whom to bet on.]
[The God of Mortality ‘Thanatos’ feels truly alive.]
[The God of Flash ‘Rayray’ cheers for Jaehwan.]
······
[Multiple gods are watching the battle.]
The outcome was not decided easily.
Whenever Jaehwan advanced, the Leader retreated. Whenever the Leader advanced, Jaehwan withdrew. It was an evenly matched exchange.
Runald, who had been anxiously stomping his feet, asked,
“What should we do now?”
“Um, did anyone receive a Task?”
At Rene’s question, the Allies blinked as though they had suddenly come to their senses.
They had become residents of the Ninth Floor too, but they had completely forgotten that while watching the duel.
“Not yet.”
“Maybe the Task notice is a little late.”
Normally, a floor’s Task was issued the moment one entered it.
Why had the Ninth Floor’s Task not appeared?
Runald’s excited shout cut through their thoughts.
“Wait, I think Jaehwan-nim is going to win!”
The course of the fierce exchange was gradually turning in Jaehwan’s favor.
They were still landing and taking a similar number of blows, but the Leader was clearly suffering more damage from each hit than Jaehwan. Jaehwan’s naked body was unharmed, while the Leader’s Skin was becoming rags.
Manri Shintong spoke.
“It is too early to be optimistic. There is a saying in the 〈Metaverse〉. ‘No one can defeat the Leader one-on-one.’”
“Does that mean the Leader is that strong?”
“It does not only mean that.”
“Then...”
In the distance, the Leader’s World Force began to form a new current.
Manri Shintong lightly stroked his beard.
“You will see soon.”
* * *
After thirty minutes of fierce battle, the Leader’s Metallic Skin began to crumble with a dry rustling sound.
It was the effect of Jaehwan’s active 「Naked」 Setting.
A Setting that displayed nearly invincible power against enemies wearing ‘clothes.’
Andersen had been able to contend with the Leader five hundred years ago because she possessed this Setting as well.
The Leader looked down at his ruined Skin and muttered,
[It has been a long time since my Skin was damaged.]
With a faint bitter smile, the Leader did not hesitate to strip off and throw away his Skin. His muscular body, covered in black tattoos, was revealed in full.
At the same time, the golden light around Jaehwan’s body gradually faded.
The condition for the 「Naked」 Setting was that the enemy had to be wearing clothes. It had almost no effect on an opponent who was naked as well.
Andersen spoke tensely.
―Be careful. He is going to use the second of his ‘Three Divine Artifacts.’
The Leader’s gauntlet had somehow transformed into a long sword.
Lowering his stance slowly, the Leader gripped the sword with both hands and stared at Jaehwan. The ominous ash-gray aura wrapped around the blade gradually thickened, and the Leader’s eyes turned ash-gray as well.
Jaehwan wondered what technique he was preparing. Then another light flashed from the Leader’s sword.
「Soul Erasure」.
It had been a long time since Jaehwan had seen someone else use that technique.
As expected, the fact that the Leader could use it meant he was no ordinary god.
That was when the Leader’s figure vanished. Though he was not wearing a special Skin, his movements became unnaturally fast in an instant.
Smoke rose with a thunderous roar.
Jaehwan barely parried the flying sword and realized what technique the Leader had used.
Just as Jaehwan could accelerate through 「Earth Stab」, the Leader had exploded ash powder from beneath his feet to gain a sudden burst of speed.
Kwang!
An explosion erupted before his eyes, wiping out his vision for a moment.
By the time he recovered, the sharp sword had already grazed his chest.
The Leader’s grip was ragged from the explosion.
Jaehwan had not expected him to do something as insane as coating the blade in ash powder and detonating it.
What?
It was not a bad attack, but it was far too crude and inefficient for a god like the Leader.
Even if Jaehwan touched a blade wrapped in 「Soul Erasure」, he had nothing to lose.
He was an Awakened One, both a god and his own Vicegerent.
His link with his physical body had already been severed, so there was no reason for him to fear Soul Erasure...
Wait. Could it be?
It felt as though something inside him had been cut away.
At almost the same moment, Andersen let out a horrific scream and was thrown out of his Unique World.
―Aaaaaaah!
As if fleeing from a disaster, Andersen changed into a crow and flew into the sky.
―No! Jaehwan!
The fact that 「Soul Erasure」 had been used now meant there was a reason Andersen could not stay with him.
Law-type Setting, 「Ash Pentagon」
As the Leader’s Setting activated, a hexagonal ring formed around Jaehwan and the Leader. At the same time, a small hourglass appeared in the air.
[Until all the sand in the ‘Hourglass’ has run out, no one can escape the ‘Pentagon’ or receive assistance from outside.]
[The caster of ‘Ash Pentagon’ must kill the target within the time limit.]
[If the caster fails to kill the target, the caster will suffer a fatal blow.]
It was a technique that effectively isolated their battle from the outside. The Setting resembled the Sanctuary 12 o’clock had used not long ago.
The Leader’s sword began to emit a strange aura.
[This is the sword that made others call me the ‘God of Ashes.’]
He was relaxed enough to reveal the name of his sword. Jaehwan could not tell whether it came from confidence that he would not lose or madness that wanted to savor every phase of the duel.
[The Leader has revealed the name of his ‘sword.’]
[The effect of the Part ‘Ash Sword’ has activated.]
[The ‘Ash Sword’ displays a special ability in ‘one-on-one duels.’]
Only then did Jaehwan understand why the Leader had blocked outside assistance.
That sword was a Part specially designed to be used only in a one-on-one situation.
Watching the long sword emit its ominous aura, Jaehwan felt a strange sense of familiarity.
“Was that Part made with an Ancient God as its motif too?”
[Can you recognize it?]
The Leader’s battle stance reminded Jaehwan of a familiar being he had seen before.
The strongest being Jaehwan had ever encountered.
The ruler of the Deadmans and the Sole King of 《Chaos》, Catastrophe.
Andersen’s voice called out from beyond the ring.
―Do not let that sword cut you! You will be infected by the Leader’s World Force and turn to ash!
‘I know.’
That Part was surely an imitation of Catastrophe’s 「Void Sword」.
Perhaps because he had already seen the first Part, Jaehwan quickly grasped the essence of the 「Ash Sword」.
“It is a sword with troublesome conditions of use.”
Like Andersen’s 「Naked」 Setting, Settings and Parts with powerful abilities often had equally difficult conditions.
For example, the Leader’s 「Ash Sword」 was a Part bound by the limiting law of ‘one-on-one only.’
Simply put, the 「Ash Sword」 lost all effectiveness against two or more enemies.
[That is right. That is why this ‘ring’ is necessary.]
A Part that displayed terrifying power only one-on-one, combined with a Setting that allowed only one-on-one combat.
That was what gave the Leader his invincible power in one-on-one duels.
―Jaehwan, get out of the ring somehow. We need to follow the first plan. Otherwise, you cannot win!
Andersen had a rough understanding of the Leader’s Three Divine Artifacts.
The first plan was to join the Companions and fight whenever the Leader used a one-on-one strategy.
‘The plan is cancelled.’
―What?
‘Leave this one to me.’
The Ash Sword and Dokbul collided, releasing terrifying World Force.
Yet Jaehwan looked unfazed even before the threatening blade.
“I was expecting more from the Three Divine Artifacts. Frankly, I am disappointed.”
[What do you mean?]
“I mean every one of them feels like a Setting I have seen somewhere before.”
Perhaps Jaehwan’s taunt worked. The Leader’s sword trembled slightly.
Jaehwan did not miss the opening. Dokbul aimed for the Leader’s abdomen.
It was an unavoidable Stab meant to throw him off rhythm.
Yet the Leader made an unexpected choice. With a wet sound, he allowed the sword to pierce his stomach, then swung his own sword directly at Jaehwan.
Normally, the point was to take a cut of flesh in exchange for breaking bone. The Leader’s method of fighting this time was different. In exchange for allowing Jaehwan to strike his abdomen, the Leader made only a shallow cut across Jaehwan’s forearm.
Andersen shouted in alarm.
―Jaehwan!
Any being cut by the 「Ash Sword」 would turn to ash.
The Leader, already certain of victory, smiled faintly.
Yet Jaehwan launched his next attack as though nothing had happened. As Jaehwan’s continuing attacks battered him, the Leader frowned in confusion.
After several exchanges of clashing blades and landing blows on each other, the Leader came to his senses.
Deep wounds covered his body.
[What did you do?]
“What?”
[I clearly cut you.]
Jaehwan gave his wound an indifferent glance.
“I did get cut a little.”
[Why are you not turning to ash?]
“That is...”
Jaehwan thought for a moment before answering.
“Because I am tough.”
The Leader looked visibly flustered.
Every god cut by his sword until now had turned to ash.
Those who caught on quickly had sometimes survived by cutting away the wounded flesh before the Setting activated, or by cutting off part of their soul. Yet Jaehwan had taken no measures at all.
Still, he was completely fine.
[What...]
There was, of course, a reason.
For some reason, the moment Jaehwan saw the Leader’s Setting, he knew.
The Leader’s second Divine Artifact would not work on him.
Footnotes:
Chapter discussion