Chapter 20
“There are quite a few other climbers around.”
‘It’s similar to the 3rd floor.’
Even with a rough count, there were well over dozens of people.
‘It’s not easy even coordinating with ten people. Is it really possible for this many to cooperate?’
—The theme of the 10th floor isn’t cooperation, it’s protection. So cooperation itself probably isn’t overwhelmingly important.
That made sense.
Looking around, there were just as many practitioners as climbers.
“Icha, do you happen to know this place too?”
“……”
When I turned my head to look at Icha, he was staring blankly into the air with an expression that didn’t suit him at all.
—It’s a look filled with regret, longing, and a bit of fear.
Lucy unnecessarily broke it down for me.
“Icha?”
“……Sorry. It suddenly reminded me of the past.”
He composed his expression and let out a light sigh.
“And one more thing I’m sorry about. Would it be alright if I acted separately on this floor?”
“Sounds like you have something to do.”
“Yeah… Even if I do better here, it won’t change the past, but…”
“Alright. I’ll be cheering you on.”
—We don’t know what he’s planning to do, but since Icha’s achievements get recorded as ours too, it’s actually better if he acts alone with motivation!
‘Lucy, are you a T-type?’
—I’m artificial intelligence. You could say I’m extremely T. Feel free to call me a cold-blooded T.
Icha soon drew his weapon and walked toward where the practitioners were gathered.
—Judging from context, I think Icha existed in the background setting of this floor.
“Yeah. Maybe I should’ve said I’d help him.”
—Wouldn’t being alone be more comfortable? He’s moving to correct his own mistakes. Accepting help would feel strange. And the one climbing the Tower isn’t Icha, it’s you, Master. He can’t drag you into his personal business.
I pulled out Lucia for now.
I had learned various routes from the Monkey Sage, but for the time being, using Lucia was still the most efficient.
‘If you ask whether it’s the strongest, the answer would be slightly different.’
In terms of striking first from a distance enemies couldn’t attack me from, sniping was the strongest weapon. But in pure combat power, using Assimilation and engaging in close combat would be the most powerful.
[Enough participants have gathered.]
[The story will now proceed.]
[If you complete the main mission or a personal mission, you will be revived and considered to have cleared the 10th floor even if you die.]
[Based on your climbing data up to the 9th floor, personal missions will be assigned. Rewards increase with difficulty.]
[Protect the practitioners’ tower from the hands of the Corrupted.]
[If you endure for one week until reinforcements arrive, the main mission is cleared.]
[If you eliminate all Corrupted before that, the main mission is cleared.]
[If the Corrupted flee, the mission is also cleared. As long as the tower is not occupied by the Corrupted until one week passes, the mission is cleared. Use your creativity.]
This seemed like a reasonable mission.
Not so difficult that everyone would abandon the main mission to focus solely on personal missions.
<Personal Mission 1>
[Learn the practitioners’ secret technique and fight the leader of the Corrupted, , and win.]
[Reward: All accumulated rewards will become twice as powerful, and additional rewards will be granted.]
<Personal Mission 2>
[Save the boy Icha and his parents.]
[Reward: A powerful reward usable on the 11th floor.]
‘Why are there two missions?’
And Mission 1 was clearly not ordinary in difficulty.
—It’s practically three objectives. You have to learn the secret technique and defeat Amental.
It was obvious the additional rewards would be powerful given the difficulty.
—And Personal Mission 2 will probably succeed even if we leave it alone.
Lucy was right.
Icha had gone to save them personally. Of course they would survive.
‘Learning the practitioners’ secret technique seems like the biggest problem.’
Saving Icha’s family wouldn’t be difficult if I joined. And defeating a boss named Amental didn’t feel completely impossible with my current specs.
A mission to beat something up was honestly easier. Learning a secret technique meant I had to befriend practitioners, receive instruction, and fully master it.
—Mastering it won’t be hard. You have me.
‘The real problem is finding out what the technique is in the first place.’
I didn’t have time to think long.
“The enemy is approaching!”
The surroundings quickly grew chaotic.
—I’ll initiate Sniper Support Protocol.
“No. Switch to Combat Support Protocol.”
I put Lucia back into my inventory and began circulating Da Jue Tian.
—Sniping would be much more efficient against large numbers.
‘Lucy. Your Master isn’t that dumb.’
—Then why fight with your body?
‘So I can leave an impression.’
Using Lucia would certainly be more efficient and rack up more achievements.
‘But in the practitioners’ eyes, I’d just be a climber using some strange technique.’
If I used techniques similar to theirs while sweeping through enemies, they’d at least look at me twice and wonder who I was.
—Wooooong.
Using minimal Assimilation and circulating Da Jue Tian, I could feel my physical abilities strengthening.
‘Sa Xue really was something.’
Compared to circulating mana with Sa Xue open earlier, normal Da Jue Tian felt lacking.
—Executing Physical Enhancement Protocol.
Though Lucy handled the learning, the experience from the Monkey Sage remained. Even minimal Assimilation let me clearly control the flow of qi.
Mana flowing along the Da Jue Tian route began moving through more detailed subpaths.
‘Still feels lacking.’
—Of course. You can’t compare a technique that requires risking death to a normal one.
One unfortunate thing was that my only close-range weapon was a dagger.
—Thud!
As I stepped forward, my body shot ahead.
‘This is on a completely different level.’
Compared to Sa Xue it felt lacking, but this was my first time moving while circulating qi.
Each step propelled me forward like I was driving a supercar for the first time.
—Whoooosh!
Enjoying the sound of splitting wind, I found myself face-to-face with the Corrupted.
—Ssssss.
Lucy’s projected movement lines tangled before my eyes.
Without Assimilation I wouldn’t understand, but now I did.
—Whirl!
Focusing mana lightly into my legs, a Corrupted’s neck was suddenly before me.
—Slash.
No strength was needed.
Among the minor circulation routes the Monkey Sage taught was one that sharpened blades.
—Shrrrk!
Each swing of the dagger dropped another Corrupted.
As every Corrupted in my path fell, I felt gazes gathering on me.
—Everyone’s watching you, Master.
More precisely, Lucy was observing them.
‘Nothing special for the first wave.’
After about an hour of fighting, with everyone working together, the Corrupted tucked their tails and fled.
‘Thankfully, this isn’t a floor where enemies attack nonstop for a week.’
Even after fighting nonstop for an hour, I wasn’t even breathing hard.
My mana was barely consumed.
‘Partly because my stamina and mana recovery improved…’
But the biggest reason was that my specs far surpassed the Corrupted.
“……”
As I approached the tower, I noticed the climbers watching me warily.
‘The practitioners’ reactions are better than the climbers’.’
—I don’t think “better” is the right word. They’re looking at you like you’re a god.
That was true.
Most practitioners were staring at me with reverent eyes.
“May I ask the honorable one’s name? We had not heard rumors of such a master nearby… If this question is rude, please forgive me.”
A clean-cut, handsome practitioner approached cautiously.
He was so polite it was burdensome.
“Sorry, but I’m not a practitioner. I’m a climber.”
“What? But the techniques you use are clearly…”
“I learned them from the Monkey Sage.”
“……From the Monkey Sage?”
Judging from his reaction, the Monkey Sage was famous even among ordinary practitioners.
“In that case, you could be considered one of us. If you have time, would you honor us by speaking inside the tower?”
—The bait worked perfectly.
‘Yeah.’
I didn’t expect it to work this well.
—Of course it did. You practically announced “I’m a practitioner!” while showing off techniques. And you were far stronger than the others.
‘Was I?’
Following the practitioner inside, I felt climbers’ eyes on me.
—They probably didn’t hear the conversation. They seem to think you’re some special NPC.
‘Thanks for the info.’
As expected of Lucy.
‘That might be useful.’
The tower’s interior was old-fashioned, but the frantic movements of practitioners ruined the atmosphere.
‘There are a lot of patients.’
It seemed I had joined during ongoing attacks. Many were injured; some were on the brink of death.
—There are people we can probably save.
‘How can you tell?’
—The Monkey Sage didn’t only teach combat. If we stabilize their internal qi and keep their lifeline intact, their natural healing can take over.
As expected of Lucy.
I honestly didn’t understand a thing.
‘Really?’
“Excuse me.”
I stopped the practitioner and headed toward the patients.
‘What do I do?’
Increasing Assimilation, I instantly understood.
—Whooooosh.
Placing my hand on a dying practitioner’s forehead, I infused mana.
Following Lucy’s guidance, I stabilized his qi. His complexion immediately improved.
“This is impossible…”
The practitioner tending them looked stunned.
Shock, disbelief—and relief.
—Whoooooosh.
After saving about half of those on death’s door, the practitioners’ gazes changed.
No longer the look given to a strong climber.
Now they looked at me as though I were a god who had come to save them.
