China’s Black Tower (NO.3) Floor 71 had been cleared.
But China’s Level 71 Player, Bai Long, had grabbed the four gifts and fled—after brushing off even China’s newly appointed Chairman.
Public Security and the People’s Liberation Army were said to be tracking Bai Long, but how were they going to find him?
If Bai Long changed appearances with the Ring of Appearance Transformation, or used the Liberation Rune Necklace again, there was no way.
Bai Long would get out of China no matter what.
Well, they couldn’t catch him.
The countries closest to reaching Floor 71 after China were three.
Korea, France, and the United States.
Korea wasn’t a concern.
France, too, was in diplomatic negotiations with the Korean governnt.
So then what about the United States?
Minister MacMillan and Director Antonio had entered Korea to clear Floor 70, along with the Player Gerald.
“Gerald. After you clear Floor 70, you’re going up to Floor 71, right?”
“...Is that not allowed?”
“It’s not that it’s not allowed. It’s up to your will. Who could stop you?”
Gerald shrugged.
“Then what do you want to say?”
“Items.”
“Ah!”
The first-ti gifts you receive when you go up to Floor 71.
“You can have as much Rejuvenation Elixir or Potion of Disease Treatnt as you want. You can drink it yourself, that’s fine—and if you want to sell it to soone, do that. But...”
Minister MacMillan let the words hang for a mont, then continued.
“You must hand the Liberation Rune Necklace and the Ring of Appearance Transformation over to the governnt. Otherwise, sothing troubleso may happen. This isn’t a threat. I’m stating a fact.”
Right.
They were dangerous items.
The mont a Player possessed the Liberation Rune Necklace, that Player could be branded a dangerous individual.
Sa for the Ring of Appearance Transformation.
It could even change your face and body shape.
Gerald hesitated.
Any Player would be tempted.
But the risk that ca with owning them was far too great.
How would you stand against the U.S. governnt?
It was much better to do what you always did—live a wealthy Player life under Arica’s protection.
“Okay. I’ll hand them over as soon as I get the gifts.”
“Phew.”
“Good decision, Gerald.”
Only then did Minister MacMillan and Director Antonio finally breathe out in relief.
“Then when do we start clearing?”
“We entered the country today, so tomorrow—”
Right at that mont!
[World Notice : You have achieved Black Tower (Korea) Floor 71 Clear Rank S .]
“Ah...”
“Huh?”
“Hmm.”
A World Notice that wasn’t even strange anymore.
In the past, it had been a Global Notice heard only by Korean Players, but now it rang out constantly.
“There are three plus signs next to the S.”
“Good grief. How do you clear it to get that?”
“Did he get the gifts?”
“I’ll inquire with the TOWER PLAYER AWAKENING ADMINISTRATION.”
Gerald was surprised too, and seed like pride had been nicked just a little.
“I’ll clear East Coast Tower #1 Floor 68 today. Floor 69 tomorrow, Floor 70 the day after. I’ll finish in three days.”
And so the United States began climbing as well.
*****
A clear-completion ssage for Black Tower (Republic of Korea) had appeared.
As a World Notice that even ordinary people could hear.
On top of that, a record of S .
Three plus signs.
Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwangil of the TOWER PLAYER AWAKENING ADMINISTRATION imdiately summoned Team Leader Lee Mina.
“Deputy Commissioner.”
“Good, you’re here.”
The six months of Collapse ti limit—180 days—granted by clearing new, uncleared upper floors.
On the giant electronic display in the Administration’s lobby, the Collapse ti limit read 169 days. Player Bong Juhyeok had cleared Floor 70 about ten days ago.
“Can you check the progress status?”
“I already checked.”
The Status Window for Black Tower (Republic of Korea) progress that Team Leader Lee Mina had confird.
[Location] : Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Gangwon Province
[Complete] : Floor 71
[In Progress] : Floor 72
[Ti Limit] : 349 days 23 hours 51 minutes 48 seconds
“It stacked. Adding 180 days to the existing 169 makes a total of 349 days.”
Jeon Gwangil clenched his fist and spoke.
“Good! Have staff update the date on the lobby display too, and prepare a press release and send it to the dia.”
“Yes.”
“Ah! And make it that the four items are being held by the state—by the Administration.”
“Is Player Bong going to give them?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even intend to take them. But that place is the safest, isn’t it?”
“Well...”
Jeon Gwangil felt relief.
The Collapse ti limit had been extended.
If Floor 72 was cleared, another 180 days would be added on top of that.
Korea had beco a blessed country.
All because of one Player.
But the issue of who possessed the Liberation Rune Necklace or the Ring of Appearance Transformation might beco noisy.
China was an example, too.
If it beca known that an individual—especially a Player—had them, there would be an uproar.
They had to say the Administration was holding them to prevent backlash.
In truth, those items were safest when Player Bong held them.
Would he even need sothing like the Liberation Rune Necklace?
The press release from the TOWER PLAYER AWAKENING ADMINISTRATION was distributed to news agencies.
And then news erupted all at once.
< 180 days to Tower Collapse ti limit, added to existing ti limit.>
*****
Juhyeok and the others returned to the penthouse.
The first mission of the new Season 2.
It was calr than expected.
Maybe because he hadn’t killed anyone directly, or maybe because they were villains—he didn’t know.
More than anything, before he exited Floor 71, the looks in the villagers’ eyes—the people he had saved.
He could feel it clearly.
Their gratitude.
‘That’s enough.’
If he had let the Pomlle rcenary Company mbers go, the villagers would have died instead.
Even thinking back on it, he’d done the right thing.
Let’s look over today’s rewards.
First, the weapon.
Effect : When equipped, Agility increases, chance to land a critical strike increases, Electric-elent skill proficiency improves, and upon a successful hit there is a certain chance to cast an electromagnetic-field storm.
Feature : Summons thunder and lightning. Paralyzes enemies.
It didn’t have the Tower-Only modifier.
So the option effects applied in reality too.
‘Perfect.’
A multipurpose weapon you could use inside the Tower and outside the Tower.
He’d also gotten a Multinational Tower Use Ticket.
Tickets were better the more you had.
Next...
Effect : Maintains a strong mind. Will not be shaken by external influence.
Limit : Duration 10 minutes.
‘Hmm.’
If you drink it, do you beco an alpha male?
He’d find out when he used it.
And.
Effect : When consud, you hold the power of Radiance. When sprinkled, it weakens the dark aura of undead.
Limit : Duration 2 hours. Only effective inside the Tower.
‘This is a bit...’
It was literally holy water.
A potion ant to target undead.
Could it be used as a substitute for a holy sword?
It looked like it.
If this dropped a lot, the holy sword rental business might have to shut down.
‘Well, I made plenty off holy swords in the anti.’
Lastly, he checked the perk.
It was ti for sothing good to co out.
Juhyeok checked his Inventory.
He’d handed out badges to summoned entities, so the count had dropped a bit, but the total number acquired—81—hadn’t changed...
[You will be granted a perk for accumulating 80 Platinum Badges.]
‘Give sothing good.’
[Perk : Item Conversion Dice x1 will be granted to your Inventory.]
‘...’
A die? What the hell is this?
When he took it out of the Inventory, it was an actual die.
Soft and springy rubber.
It was much bigger than a normal die, but still a colorful cube he could grip in one hand.
[If you roll the die and the text on the top face appears, it will be converted into that item. If you do not roll it within 1 hour, the opportunity will disappear.]
‘Text...’
Each face had sothing written on it.
Six faces ant six possible results.
Rejuvenation Elixir.
Tower Floor Intrusion Ticket.
Stamina Increase Elixir.
Potion of Magic Power Enhancent.
Summoned Entity Revival Rune.
Guaranteed-Rank Summon Ticket (one of SR, SSR, LSSR).
‘Trait Enhancent Runes don’t even drop anymore.’
Cheap bastards.
Do they think perks are the only way to get them?
[Warning]
[Secure sufficient space when rolling the die.]
[If any part of your body contacts the rolling die, or if external force is applied, the die will be destroyed imdiately.]
‘There’s even a warning.’
Probably a rule made to prevent loopholes.
Like, “Oops! My hand slipped,” then you touch it with your hand—or invisible qi—to make the face you want land on top.
“That looks like dice.”
“Yes. I got it as a perk.”
Cossack said it with a grin.
“When it cos to dice, that’s Cossack right there. The showdown king of the gambling den, hands faster than eyes, and if you get caught cheating you don’t lose a hand—you lose your actual head—”
Yeah, yeah. Of course there’s nothing you can’t do.
“You roll now?”
“I guess I have to.”
“Tell which item you want. While it roll, I can just—”
Now he understood why the warning existed.
Because of people like Cossack.
“It says if you touch it while it rolls, it breaks. You can’t move it with magic power or inner power either. So step back. If you try to rig it and we lose the perk...”
“Eh? Ah—got it.”
Luckily, the penthouse living room was fairly spacious.
The summoned entities ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ backed off to the edges of the room.
As for Veronica, who was sprawled out sleeping, atshield picked her up and set her against the wall.
“Alright. Here goes.”
With a light flick—WHIICK! THUMP!
Maybe because it was rubber, the die bounced up off the living room floor.
THUMP, THUUUMP, THUMP! THUMP! THUMP...
It had plenty of spring.
Honestly, it was like a coil spring.
THTHUMP! THUMP! THUUUM! THUUUMP! THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP!
The bounces got higher and higher.
It was bouncing like crazy.
Like it would hit the ceiling.
It even ricocheted sideways, hit the wall, and changed direction.
“It like a bouncy ball.”
“Yeah.”
When was it going to stop?
The direction was impossible to predict.
And the speed kept getting faster.
Then—THUUNG! THUNGTHUNG!
“Huh?”
The die flew toward Rajix.
At this rate he was going to get hit.
‘Wait!’
The warning flashed through his mind.
If the die touched a body—
“Gasp!”
This was bad.
“Worker Rajix—m-move! If it touches you, the die will break!!!”
Rajix flinched at Juhyeok’s shout.
“Ho-e?”
Rajix scrambled away, but—
THUUUMP! THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP!
The die chased after Rajix as he rolled away.
“Hoo-ee?”
Rajix’s eyes went round.
“M-move!”
“Ahh, top farmhand...”
“Hang in there, worker!”
“Radiance!”
“Your presence has been weak lately—if you even break the die, it’s over!”
“Hoo-eeeng?”
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
Rajix rolled a full lap around the living room like a madman to dodge it.
He had to.
The speed of its bounces was lightning-fast.
“...What is this, a guided missile?”
“It a bouncy-ball guided dice missile.”
THUUNG!
The die bounced high again.
“Uh—direction changed!”
“This fucking—!”
“E-Excuse ?”
It was headed for Gyeon Dallae.
“Princess!”
“Kyaaahhh!”
The die pursued her as she ran.
“N-No!”
This insane bastard die.
At that point it was a suicide bomber.
Was it trying to make soone touch it so the perk would vanish?
“KIYOOOOT!”
A shriek burst out.
So close—almost touching.
In that instant!
SHHHHRK!
Gyeon Dallae slid under the dining table.
“Oh!”
That worked?
Then—
“Everyone, get into the rooms and close the doors!”
But would a crafty die allow that?
THUUNG! A sinister bounce.
The easiest prey here.
Who else?
“ATSHIELD!!!”
“Gah! It—it cos for warrior.”
“Goddamn it!!!”
atshield panicked.
He looked so terrified he couldn’t even move.
Then.
“A warrior does not submit.”
He lay down right there in the living room—
And SNATCH!
He lifted the heavy sofa and covered his body with it.
“Feet—your feet are out!”
His foot slid out from under the sofa.
THUUNG!
The bouncy-ball die struck the spot where the foot had been and rebounded.
It nearly touched him.
“Hey! You cheap-ass die bastard!!!”
Right then!
THUUNG!
“...Holy shit.”
Was this die actually alive?
Now it was coming for Juhyeok.
“C-Cancel. Sorry.”
A quick apology didn’t help.
The die ca after him.
SPOT! SPOTSPOTSPOTSPOT!
Shadows scattered through the living room as Juhyeok used Shadow Step.
“It follow! R-right—no, left—Aaaah!”
Veronica, who had been sleeping, jolted upright.
“Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber! Is it ti for guard duty?”
THUUNG!
“Uh—Staff Sergeant V! Move!”
“...Did I hear wrong?”
“Don’t get hit by the die!!!”
“Kyaaahhh!”
THUUNG!
It was chaos.
Juhyeok and the summoned entities fleeing in total panic from a tiny die.
“Get away! Why is it coming at ?!”
“Aah! I-it coming!”
“I said get into the rooms!”
“Dice blocking! This bastard not normal dice!”
“Move!”
“Kyaak!”
“HURK?!”
THUUNG!
That damned bouncy-ball guided dice.
It went to Cossack.
“W-we were wrong. Please forgive. Eheheh—HUH?!”
THUUNG!
Then it went to Bardin.
“My lord! Please save this servant.”
“How am I supposed to save you?”
THUUNG!
Even the sound of it bouncing was pure fear.
“Huh?!”
“Don’t cling to !”
“Then where I go?”
“I don’t know either!”
THUUNG!
All because of one die, they scattered in panic.
Afterimages of Shadow Step flickering across the living room.
Rajix rolling nonstop.
Bardin trembling behind the curtains.
atshield frozen under the sofa.
THUUNG!
PSHA-SHOT!
Veronica crawling fast across the living room floor, belly to the ground.
The warning.
Do not let it touch your body.
Do not apply external force.
THUUNG!
That simple sentence turned the penthouse living room into a battlefield.
THUUNG!
Noise between floors? Was that really the problem right now?
Then—THUUUUUNG!
It bounced up high one last ti.
And—
TAP!
As if nothing had happened, it stuck to the floor.
“...”
Was it over?
Seed like it.
“Phew.”
“Haa.”
“My god.”
“No, what kind of die—”
When he checked the top face of the stopped die—
“Huh?”
“It’s a ticket?”
“It ticket.”
“Guaranteed rank?”
It was.
A ticket that guaranteed one of SR, SSR, or LSSR.
In that instant!
FWOOSH!
The die vanished in light.
And in its place, a single sheet of red paper lay there.
‘Hmm.’
A ticket, sure, but...
“What kind?”
If it was only an SR guaranteed summon ticket, it was basically a dud.
At minimum, it had to be SSR.
Gulping, Juhyeok swallowed his dry saliva and lifted the ticket to check the information.
The result?
[You have obtained a Guaranteed LSSR-Rank Summon Ticket.]
“Gasp!”
What was that supposed to an?
He checked again.
“...LSSR! A legend dropped!”
Juhyeok threw both arms up.
“Kyah! Aweso!”
“My congratulations.”
“Warrior is also glad.”
“WAAH!”
“My lord! Radiance!!!”
“Commander, congratulations on reinforcing your forces.”
But then...
“Is it good?”
“Hm?”
“Soone decent will co, right?”
“...Uh, w-well. I don’t know.”
Thinking about it calmly, maybe it wasn’t sothing to celebrate too much.
You only know once you open it.
‘No way soone like the Mad Demon shows up again.’
What was the random summoning cooldown?
[Random summoning reuse cooldown ti remaining: 19 days 12 hours 45 minutes 15 seconds.]
‘Still a long way to go.’
*****
The next day.
After discussing it with the summoned entities, Juhyeok decided to climb to Floor 72.
The mission structure and reward system on Floor 71 yesterday.
It really had changed enough to call it a new beginning.
Missions divided into Basic, Additional Choice, High-Difficulty Choice, and Extre-Difficulty Choice.
‘It seems like clearing just the Basic mission gives you a completion judgnt.’
And the additional missions seed tied to different rewards and the Clear Rank evaluation.
Then what about Floor 72?
Would it work the sa way?
Would humans be mission targets here too?
He was about to find out.
He still hadn’t used a Tower Clear Mission Reset Ticket.
Even if a truly troubleso situation hit, he could nullify it once.
So Juhyeok—
[You are entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea) Floor 72.]
SPOT!
It was dark.
Not a single speck of light ca in.
“Radiance!!!”
Bardin manifested Radiance on instinct. The area brightened.
A room sealed with stone on all sides.
It felt like an underground stone chamber.
A corridor lay ahead.
If they went out that way, the mission would probably appear.
“Shall we go?”
Juhyeok and the others stepped into the corridor.
And.
[Floor 72 Basic Mission : Defeat 30 Necromancer’s Dungeon Chiras.]
The mission appeared.
At least the Basic mission target wasn’t human.
[Floor 72 Additional Choice Mission : Defeat 10 Dungeon Reinforced Chiras.]
The additional mission too.
[Floor 72 High-Difficulty Choice Mission : Defeat 5 Dungeon Ruin Chiras.]
The high-difficulty one as well.
But then?
[Floor 72 Extre-Difficulty Choice Mission : Defeat 8-circle Necromancer Norma a]
The last mission was human.
And what was “plus a”?
[Completion Condition : Necromancer’s Dungeon Chiras 30 0/30]
[Completion Ti Limit : Within 11 hours.]
‘Necromancer Norma...?’
That was yesterday’s target’s master.
Kate’s.
‘So this is a chained mission.’
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