Ten days until the United Arab Emirates tower collapse countdown.
Even if the tower collapses, there will be no casualties.
Everyone experienced the terror of the Mumbai tower collapse, so by that point, people will have all fled from the collapse zone.
But the giant sinkhole?
A hole over 10 kilometers in diameter opening up in the UAE?
It absolutely must be stopped.
Assuming the conquest fails, the message the UAE's players would hear ten days from now would go something like this:
[Notice : The climb of the United Arab Emirates Black Tower is stalling.]
[Notice : The tower collapse countdown is now active.]
[Notice : The countdown will stop upon the successful conquest of an unconquered upper floor.]
[Notice : Time remaining until tower collapse : 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.]
He had no intention of letting it get to a countdown.
He'd finish the conquest before then.
By his calculations, six days from today, all told.
He could even take two floors at once per day.
That would mean the global notice ringing twice a day.
Which would cause another uproar.
There was no rush, so one floor a day was plenty.
[Entering Floor 55 of the South Korea Black Tower.]
The final stretch of the Griffon section.
[Floor 55 Mission : Defeat 50 griffons of any kind and 1 Peacock-Feather Storm Griffon.]
[Time Limit : Within 12 hours.]
[Completion Conditions : Griffons of all kinds 0/50, Peacock-Feather Storm Griffon 0/1]
The boss, the Peacock-Feather Storm Griffon—
its tail was covered in large, beautiful plumage, thick like a peacock's feathers.
But it had to be handled with care.
Its ultimate skill was a tail-feather attack.
It rained feather spears from the sky, carpet-bombing the area where players stood.
This one was hard to dodge.
The feather spears came down in an extremely dense pattern.
Conquest, begin.
Griffons filled the sky from edge to edge.
Veronica boldly targeted one flying straight through the heart of the griffon flock.
Crack!
The creature registered Veronica's presence.
Then the one beside it did too, and the one beside that, and the ones following behind...
Kreee, kree.
Five came diving down in an instant.
But Veronica pulled the trigger again, aiming at a different group.
Crack!
Five more, staggered in time.
Crack! Rat-tat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat-tat...
Small magic bullets fired in rapid succession.
Not a single one strayed off target.
But the magic stone ammunition depleted fast—
"Officer Rajix!"
Ammo reload.
"Hoeng!"
Off went Rajix at a full sprint.
Tumble, tumble-tumble-tumble.
In the repeated conquest runs, the primary target for gathering tower materials had been ore.
But ever since Veronica's summoning, he'd asked Rajix to raise the ratio of magic stones gathered.
All to resupply the magic rifle ammo of Veronica Caliber, the magic-stone-gobbling hippo.
Clang clang, clink-clank, clang clang, clink-clank.
Boom boom, bada-boom, boom boom, bada-boom.
The sharp sound of drums and bells.
As the ground drew near, the griffon flock, thrown into confusion by Gyeondarae's debuffs,
settled down on the earth like pigeons pecking at feed.
Gobang snapped the necks of the pigeon-turned griffons one by one, and Kosak danced a blade dance with his icy-blue dagger aura.
At the same time, Veronica's pulling began again.
Gyeondarae's debuffs.
Gobang and Kosak's close-range assaults—
it didn't take all that long to draw out the Floor 55 boss, the Peacock-Feather Storm Griffon.
"Kyaaaaaak!"
A colossal griffon spread its peacock plumage wide and materialized leisurely in the far-off sky.
Veronica, in a seated firing stance.
Ssssssss!
Her magic rifle, glowing white-hot—
BWAAAAANG!!!
"Kyahek!"
The Peacock-Feather Storm Griffon took a hit to the torso and came tumbling down—and simultaneously, fwududududuk! Its splendid feathers turned into spears and blanketed the ground.
Gobang, his body swollen to full size, wrapped himself around Kosak, Gyeondarae, and Veronica.
Juhyeok likewise pulled Rajix into an embrace and activated his energy barrier.
Of course, not a single feather spear flew anywhere near Juhyeok.
He was outside the attack range from the very start.
He was the rear commander, after all.
He doesn't go where it's dangerous.
Once the storm of feathers had died down, Veronica fired another large-caliber magic bullet.
BWAAAAANG!!!
THWACK!
The Peacock-Feather Storm Griffon had allowed two large-caliber magic bullets.
How was it supposed to hold on?
It wobbled down and barely managed a landing—
Pat! Pat! Pat!
Kosak leapt onto its head with Shadow Steps.
Thud! Thud!
He blinded both its eyes with his daggers, and
Gobang, enlarged to massive size, grabbed the head of the near-dead beast and twisted it a full turn around.
Krrrrrunch!
[Notice : You have achieved an S++ conquest rating for Floor 55 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
[S++ Conquest Reward : A Platinum Badge will be awarded.]
Now it was Juhyeok's time.
Even when climbing, you've got to check your perks.
***
Trait reinforcement had also been achieved.
And there was still a good while left on his next random summon cooldown.
So the bonus reward wasn't quite as desperately anticipated as before.
Well, it'd be nice if a Summoned Being Rank Ascension Rune came out at least.
Get our supply officer Rajix promoted and pin an SR insignia on him.
But getting too hung up on bonuses wasn't befitting a real man.
He checked it coolly.
He didn't even do the ritual this time.
He'd used it twice already; the novelty had worn off.
Who needs a trance-dance ritual anyway!
It would ruin his image.
Please, please... pray to whom, for what?
Like a true tower real man, he opened his inventory.
Checked the Platinum Badge, and even if the bonus wasn't what he wanted, without a word of complaint, with generous magnanimity—
"Confirm!"
[A bonus is being granted for an accumulated total of 55 Platinum Badges.]
Well, well.
Hand it over, then.
A bonus item would be nice, a Summoned Being Rank Ascension Rune to promote our Rajix to SR would be even nicer, and a Trait Reinforcement would be a mega-mega-mega jackpot.
[Bonus : You may copy one skill possessed by a summoned being.]
[Please select a target.]
[Targets : John Kosak / Savage Meat Shield / Gyeondarae / Rajix / Gwangma]
'Hm.'
Is this good?
'It's good.'
It's genuinely good.
One usable skill beats ten items.
You only need to look at Kosak's Shadow Steps, the first thing he ever copied.
So, whose skill would he copy out of the five?
Too many options...
Juhyeok absolutely hated having a wide range of choices.
Ugh, what a headache.
He preferred it when someone decided for him.
That's why he wore the clothes his mom bought him, and only went to the barbershop he always went to.
When the skill-copy bonus came up before, he'd been lucky the range of choices was narrow.
There had only been Kosak, after all.
But not anymore.
Kosak, Gobang, Gyeondarae, Rajix, Gwangma, Veronica Caliber.
Let's take our time and look through them.
Kosak first.
[Kosak's accumulated star rating is above average.]
[Your range of choices has expanded.]
[List : Blade Burst, Shock Break, Vile Ambush, Poison Dagger, Disruption, Stealth, Invisibility, Polymorph, Lock Picking, Pickpocketing, Beatdown, Back-Pocket Picking, An Offer You Can't Refuse...]
...
What is this one?
The further down you go, the more it's just a pile of criminal techniques.
What about Gobang?
[Savage Meat Shield's accumulated star rating is above average.]
[Your range of choices has expanded.]
[List : Diamond Skin, Rapid Regeneration, Enlargement, Taunting Roar, Steadfast Soul, Steel Head, Silent Taunt, Last Stand, Shockwave, Iron Grip...]
Beefy tank through and through.
Sorry, but excluded.
As much as he wanted to be a real man, getting beaten around was where he drew the line.
Next, Gyeondarae.
Her accumulated star rating was high too, so a wide variety of choices.
[List : Bell of Encouragement, Bell of Weakening, Bell of Confusion, War Drum of Fighting Spirit, Talisman Craft, Blade-Walking Ritual, Fortune Telling, Death Qi Tossing, Karma Cleansing, Dignity, Scolding...]
He didn't want to become a mudang shaman.
And our trusty workhorse Rajix?
[List : Subspace Backpack, Skinning, Mining, Tanning, Herb Gathering, Blacksmith Repair, Survival Cooking, Cleaning, Camp Construction...]
Skills specialized for grunt work, as expected.
And Veronica's list?
[Veronica Caliber's accumulated star rating is above average.]
[Your range of choices has expanded.]
He hadn't given her ratings many times, but he'd steadily given her nothing but 5 points.
[List : Magic Rifle Marksmanship, Magic Bullet Focus, Speed Step, Fade Magic Bullet, Magic Bullet Enhancement, Magic Bullet Volley...]
Everything except Speed Step was magic-rifle related.
He'd probably never get to use it even if he learned it.
Not like he had a magic rifle.
And last of all...
[Gwangma's accumulated star rating is the lowest.]
[Your range of choices has become extremely narrow.]
'Hm.'
Gwangma.
He'd given a 1-star rating both times, so lowest rating was only natural.
Then were there no skills to copy at all?
Fortunately—
[List : Blood Jade Gang Qi (血玉罡氣)]
There was one.
Just a single one, though.
Choosing the LSR over the SR was the rational pick, anyone could see that.
But here came the indecision again.
Learn it or not?
He needed to be careful.
'Learn it?'
But to properly use Blood Jade Gang Qi, you had to fight barehanded, trading blows up close.
Covered head to toe in blood and gore...
Besides, even if he learned it, there was no telling whether he could match Gwangma's power.
'Then don't learn it?'
Not learning it wasn't a wise choice either.
Honestly, if not now, when would he ever learn it?
Gwangma might be mad, but the skill had done nothing wrong.
And there was no guarantee the skill-copy bonus would come up again.
As Juhyeok scowled and deliberated, the summoned beings each offered their two cents.
"Young Master Bong, pray learn Talisman Craft. In the beginning, your attainment will be low and you cannot expect much effect, but with practice it shall improve in time."
A decent idea.
"Aww, better Stealth or Invisibility than talismans, sir. Slinking around hidden inside the Tower'd be way safer, sir."
There was merit in that.
"I recommend Diamond Skin or Rapid Regeneration. A sturdy body doesn't die easily."
And Rajix?
"Hoeng, I don't need to learn anything, sir. I'll do all the work myself."
Right.
Steal Rajix's jobs and he'd get mad.
The look on Rajix's face, beaming with joy when the electronic servant Rocheong was executed, was still vivid in his memory.
And Veronica?
"Gohtong... gororong."
Nodding off, head bobbing.
Sleeping very soundly, she was.
So, their opinions on copying Gwangma's skill?
He gingerly broached the subject—
"...Gwangma's Blood Jade Gang Qi, you say? Ah, this girl is frightened. Pray, restrain yourself, I beg you."
"Th-that's absolutely not okay, sir. It's blood, sir. Blood—the skill's got 'blood' in its name. Gives me goosebumps, sir."
"Summoner. You're fine without it."
"Hweeeeeeh,"
"Kool, cool, hrulup! Smack, smack."
Every last one of them opposed.
Nothing to be done, then.
Taking everyone's opinions into consideration—
"Yes, I'll learn Gwangma's skill."
A classic real-man trait.
Timid, but rebellious when it counts.
To show them he was no pushover himself.
What? This is just who I am.
I won't be dragged along obediently exactly as you all want!
"...".
"...
Eh."
"Haa."
"Hweh."
Faces full of worry.
He knew what they were fretting over.
Learn the skill, and he'd want to try it out, which meant he'd end up joining the fights, which meant he might end up in danger.
[Skill : You have acquired Blood Jade Gang Qi (血玉罡氣).]
[Blood Jade Gang Qi has been registered in your status window.]
Skill : Blood Jade Gang Qi (血玉罡氣)
Description : Emits formless qi to weaponize the body. Its power grows in proportion to the mana of your level. With proficiency, the area of the body covered by gang qi expands.
'Status window?'
[Name] : Bong Juhyeok
[Affiliation] : Black Tower (South Korea)
[Level] : 56 LV
[Trait] : Summoning (Simultaneous Summons : 5)
[Catalog] : John Kosak / Savage Meat Shield / Gyeondarae / Rajix / Gwangma / Veronica Caliber.
[Trait Skills] : Designated Summon / Random Summon / Release Summon
[Universal Skills] : Tower Entry (2 times per day) / Tower-Exclusive Inventory
[Combat Skills] : Shadow Steps / Hunyuan Thunder Rod / Blood Jade Gang Qi (血玉罡氣)
So densely packed—my chest swells grandly.
He'd try out Blood Jade Gang Qi inside the Tower later.
He wouldn't be facing monsters directly just yet, but he could at least raise his proficiency with practice.
Tower entry, twice a day.
With two entries, there was plenty of time to practice.
Now, the Wyvern section.
Floor 56's Earth Wyvern, Floor 57's Flame Wyvern, Floor 58's Frost Wyvern, Floor 59's Lightning Wyvern, and Floor 60, uniquely, instead of all the wyverns, featured the Venom Wyvern and the Wyvern Lord.
Onward, straight ahead.
All the way to Floor 59.
The media had showered him with coverage for the first time in a while.
Being a journalist in Korea was so easy.
The whole country was a daily geyser of breaking news anyway.
└ Didn't I say so? Who's South Korea's—no, the world's greatest player?
└ Still, think he can really handle the Wyvern section? Sounds rough.
└ Kkk, there's more than one or two board users who talked big like that and then vanished.
└ Don't underestimate the Floor 56 Earth Wyvern's defense. Took ages just to kill one.
└ I watched someone's video—wasn't that Yu Cheolmin's conquest video?
└ Nam Ga-eun said the same thing.
└ So what? They're playing a completely different game as players anyway.
Just as the board was heating up—
└ Oh!
└ Gasp!
└ What?
└ It's up.
└ Again?
└ LET'S GOOO!
The global notice that rang out for the player of South Korea—
as if to say wyverns and griffons made hardly any difference at all.
[Notice : You have achieved an S++ conquest rating for Floor 56 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Nine days remaining until the United Arab Emirates tower collapse.
[Notice : You have achieved an S++ conquest rating for Floor 57 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Eight days remaining.
[Notice : You have achieved an S++ conquest rating for Floor 58 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Seven days remaining.
[Notice : You have achieved an S++ conquest rating for Floor 59 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Down to six days remaining.
He just kept running.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────