220. Climber (3)
“Contractor Exclusive Store”
「SP-114800」
「Category: Skill」
「Category: Authority」
「Category: Goods」
「Contractor: Iron Blood Lord and White Crane Sword」
I stared blankly at the special points piled up in the dedicated shop and smiled.
“It was built really well.”
Up until now, I hadn’t used the dedicated shop for quite some time while climbing the tower…
Now that too ends today.
I will use all the exclusive shop points that I have obtained through the ordeal breakthrough reward and numerous achievement rewards.
So, I immediately selected and entered the power category of the dedicated shop.
「Select the authority list to browse.」
“One. Iron-Blooded Lord”
“2. White Crane Examination”
「3. Sponsorship Authority」
There was no worry about which power to buy first.
It was worth it.
I’m thinking of buying all the powers of the two currently contracted managers.
Of course, there may be powers that cannot be purchased because the dedicated shop has not been expanded…
That would be solved by climbing the tower anyway, so I didn’t care.
「I selected ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’ from the list of powers.」
「Category: Authority (Iron Blood Lord)」
“List (1/3)”
「Boss Power: Clear View Index (C-) [Possession]」
「Boss Power: Soul of Steel (A+)」
「Boss Power: King of Winter (D+)」
Iron Soul and the King of Winter.
I immediately opened the description window and looked at the powers placed on the first page of the list of powers.
「Boss Power: Soul of Steel (A+)」
「Price: 6500 SP」
「Description: This is the soul that some of the monarchs who said there was no blood or tears were born with. Increases the skill proficiency of all weapons by 2.32 times. All newly learned weapon skills start with 10% proficiency.”
「Boss Power: King of Winter (D+)」
「Price: 800 SP」
「Explanation: This is an authority that those who were rulers of the north often get. In a cold environment, your stats temporarily increase and you won’t get hurt from the cold.”
They were powers in a form close to regular activation abilities.
It’s not something that can be triggered arbitrarily, so it can’t highlight its impactful power.
However, Soul of Steel (A+) definitely had a huge advantage in increasing skill proficiency.
In addition, King of Winter (D+), although small, was not bad because it could be made stronger under certain conditions.
‘If I spread the ice with the substitution ability of divine power, I might create conditions for the activation of the authority.’
At that, I smiled and bought all the Powers.
「Purchased ‘Boss Skill: Soul of Steel (A+)’.」
「6500 SP will be deducted.」
「Purchased ‘Boss Skill: King of Winter (D+)’.」
「800 SP will be deducted.」
“…It’s strange to buy so many powers.”
Despite the fact that the special points were consumed in the blink of an eye, the points were still overflowing.
Should I say that this is the result of my efforts so far?
It felt as if I had increased my assets by using cheat keys in the game.
I immediately turned the pages of the list of powers, feeling quite happy.
「Category: Authority」
“List (2/3)”
「Boss Power: Phantasmal Metamorphosis (C+)」
「Boss Power: Iron Blooded Sword (A-) [Possession]」
「Boss Power: Hand of Death (B-)」
Previously, I had received the power ‘Sword of Iron Blood (A-)’ as a gift from the Iron Blood Lord, so I could not purchase it.
However, in addition to the iron-blooded sword, there were interesting powers such as metamorphosis of bones and hands of death.
Without hesitation, I immediately opened the description window and simply checked the authority information.
「Boss Power: Phantasmal Metamorphosis (C+)」
「Price: 1500 SP」
「Explanation: This is an authority that can transform any muscle or bone into an invulnerable bone. Regardless of your realization, you can change your musculature right away. At this time, the musculature changes and all stats increase by +2. However, you cannot purchase it if you have already undergone metamorphosis or are at a level where you can do so at any time.”
「Boss Power: Hand of Death (B-)」
「Price: 2500 SP」
「Description: The efficiency of necromantic and black magic is doubled, and slight body decay occurs when the hand touches an object. However, if the opponent has the ability to regenerate, the effect of the ability to regenerate is reduced by half.”
But after seeing the explanation, I frowned.
“Neither of these are powers that attract me very much.”
It was worth it.
The advantage that can be obtained from the metamorphosis is that it becomes boneless and increases all stats by +2…
In fact, there was no problem with learning martial arts even if there was no such thing as boneless, and all ability level increases were not attracted too much.
Even the hand of death was more serious because it had the ability to stop regeneration in addition to the double increase in necromantic and black magic efficiency.
It already has enough ability to block regeneration, and it doesn’t handle necromancy and black magic properly.
‘The metamorphosis is worth living for at least, but the hand of death really sucks.’
At least, you can use necromancy if you use the item ‘Ancient Emperor’s Ashen Crown (A-)’ in the inventory…
I wondered how many things I would use.
Of course, thinking that there was no other way to spend the overflowing special points, I immediately purchased both powers.
「Purchased ‘Boss Skill: Metamorphosis (C+)’.」
「1500 SP will be deducted.」
「Purchased ‘Boss Power: Hand of Death (B-)’.」
「2500 SP will be deducted.」
And after buying the two powers, something happened to his body.
Kwadde…!
Suddenly, the muscles and bones began to twist and change their shape at will.
It was a change that did not show much on the outside of the body, but nevertheless, the pain was enormous.
“…”
As I endured the pain with my mouth closed, I felt that my muscles and bones had changed.
「By the authority ‘Hwang Bone Metamorphosis’, a bone suitable for challenger Han Seong-yoon was created.」
「All stats increased by +2 due to the authority ‘Hwangol Metamorphosis’.」
“It’s not a bad effect.”
All of the powers that can be obtained from the iron-blooded lord have been obtained with this.
Satisfied with that, I immediately read the list of White Crane Swordsmen’s powers.
「You have selected ‘White Crane Examination’ from the list of powers.」
「Category: Authority (White Crane Sword)」
“List (1/3)”
「Authorization: Authority Integration (A-)」
「Authority: Battle Desire (A+)」
「Boss Power: Path of the Sword Demon (S) [Possession]」
and.
「Authorization: Authority Integration (A-)」
「Price: 5000 SP」
「Description: It is an authority that embodies the footsteps of Baekhak Swordsman as a challenger who synthesized all skills for selection and concentration. You can develop a new authority by integrating the authority you are learning, or you can raise the level of an existing authority by consuming the authority itself.”
「Authority: Battle Desire (A+)」
「Price: 7500 SP」
「Explanation: A thirst for battle is the origin of a species that started from predators. It is a power often gained by those who see only struggle as their life. When fighting an opponent stronger than you, all skill proficiency increases by up to 300%, making it easier to feel joy in battle.”
As before, I immediately read through the power descriptions and left a brief impression.
“It’s amazing.”
As the iron-blooded lord was able to obtain by focusing on powers that are activated in passive form…
Baekhakgeomseon was able to purchase active-type powers that brought tremendous advantages in battle.
The powers of the iron-blooded lord are not bad, so there is no complaint.
In terms of impact, wouldn’t the powers of the White Crane Swordsman be more intense than the iron-blooded monarch?
It was even more so because the battle craving power gave a +300% buff to all skill proficiency rates against the strong.
‘Hunger for battle is definitely conditional, but it’s an authority with the highest level of strength when it comes to growth.’
And that wasn’t all.
Power integration also possessed a good enough ability to compete with the desire for battle.
It is possible to strengthen existing powers and develop new powers…
In fact, it was a power that could be said to be an extension of the skill synthesis authority.
Considering the benefits he had gained through skill synthesis so far, it was a truly promising ability.
I immediately bought the two powers, feeling a strong desire to buy them.
「Purchased ‘Special Authority: Power Consolidation (A-)’.」
「5000 SP will be deducted.」
「Purchased ‘Special Power: Battle Desire (A+)’.」
「7500 SP will be deducted.」
Now, with this, you have purchased all the powers of the dedicated shop that you can currently buy.
「(!) You can browse the list of new powers from the waiting room on the 20th floor.」
In order to purchase new powers, you have to climb the tower and expand the list of powers.
After concluding that there was nothing more to buy at the Exclusive Store, I immediately closed the Exclusive Store.
Of course, there are things like skill categories or item categories.
I didn’t know yet what the price of the rest of the powers would be, so I couldn’t waste the special points hastily.
‘I’ll save the remaining points from the Exclusive Shop and use them later to buy new powers.’
After thinking that, I checked the current status and executed one of the tower’s dedicated commands.
“quest.”
Previously, there were managers who promised to accept quests while climbing the tower.
It was his intention to climb the tower as quickly as possible and to receive quests from them and carry them out.
If you go up the tower later, there will be no time to receive quests.
He could also get rewards that could only be obtained through quests, so accepting quests was not a loss.
‘…I want to quickly use my newly acquired powers.’
The moment he read the quest while inflating his anticipation.
「Read the quest of challenger Han Seong-yoon.」
“A total of 4182 managers have requested quests.”
―The manager ‘The Last Trainer’ has requested the quest < Training of Eternity >.
―The manager ‘The Swordsman Who Doesn’t Believe in God’ requested the quest < The Path of the Unbeliever >…
―The manager, ‘The Explorer of All Things,’ is on the quest < Finding Immortality Magic >…
….
I then blinked at the feast of system messages that seemed to obscure my vision.
“…what is this again?”
I don’t know why….
「The achievement ‘Brilliant Challenger’ has been achieved.」
“Your physical strength increases by 1.”
「You achieved the achievement ‘Aggro’…」
“Agility increases by 1…”
「Accomplished the achievement ‘The one who attracts the manager’s attention’…」
「All stats are 1st place…」
…Anyway, I seem to have become popular with the administrators.
***
「The manager ‘iron-blooded lord’ frowns and is wary of the managers who are interested in the contractor.」
「The manager ‘Baekhak Geomseon(白鶴劍仙)’ bites her nails, feeling the intent to kill the worms that are attracted to the contractors.」
It was unexpected.
I never thought the admins would pay so much attention to me.
Just looking at the number of quests currently requested, I could tell how much I had increased my position in the tower.
‘Could some of my information have been released?’
It didn’t feel too good.
Being noticed by managers means that others know about me.
Of course, it’s not like they have perfect divinity, so there’s no way administrators with pseudo divinity are dangerous.
Still, since there was a “what if,” I felt the need to get the managers’ attention now.
“It’s good that you got permission to block gaze.”
From now on, I planned to proceed with all trials with the gaze blocking permission turned on.
That way you’ll get less attention from the manager.
So I immediately went down the quest list and found one of the quests I wanted.
Not different…
―The administrator, ‘The Defeated Heir of the Blood Demon Cult’, requests the quest < Blood World Ceremony >.
*Success Reward (1): Acquire the special power ‘Ghost Magic (SS-)’.
*Success Reward (2): Acquire the exclusive authority ‘#E-0001 [Secret Shop]’.
*Success condition (1): Be recognized by everyone as the next leader of the Blood Demon Church in the blood system ceremony.
*Success condition (2): Be recognized by everyone for your martial arts skills in the blood system ceremony.
It was the quest of the manager, ‘The Defeated Heir of the Blood Demon Cult’.
After reading all the contents of the quest, I touched my chin and narrowed my eyes.
The quest rewards were more than I thought.
Not only ghost magic, but also ‘#E-0001[Secret Shop]’, which is presumed to be the Tower’s exclusive authority…
It was indeed a series of amazing rewards.
“Isn’t it enough to be a loss not to do quests?”
even….
-Ghost Goddess. It’s not the main school’s martial arts… but it’s the martial arts of Dark Emperor, who was once notorious as an assassin.
One of the rewards for success, Ghost New Art, was not so much in the Moorim dimension.
―I never thought I would see the main school again in this form.
Damcheonwu kept his mouth shut as if he hadn’t expected to see the blood demon cult through the quest.
He deserved it.
Even if it was a fake reproduced by the tower, it was an event to return to the group to which it originally belonged, so there would be many thoughts.
But I didn’t really care about that.
“I chose the quest < Bloodline Ceremony >.”
“The 19th floor individual trials are replaced with the < Bloodline Ceremony >.”
「Observation of trials by other administrators is restricted, and only a few authorized administrators can view the trials.」
What’s important to me is the rewards you can get from this quest.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to be considerate of Dam Chun-wu’s feelings.
In response, I immediately responded to the ordeal that was replaced by a quest and then moved to the portal that appeared.
“Enter the 19th floor of the Tower of Trials.”
「Difficulty – Hard」
“The theme of this ordeal is ‘victory.’”
“I hope that the challenger will have a satisfactory result at the end of his or her chosen penance.”
next moment.
“The 19th floor trials begin.”
「Remaining time – 1 hour」
「Criterion to break through the trials – complete all quest success conditions within the remaining time」
「Trial Failure Condition – Challenger’s Death or Remaining Time End」
「Trial Breaking Reward – Special Power ‘Ghost Magic (SS-)’ Exclusive Permission ‘#E-0001 [Secret Shop]’」
「Trial Failure Penalty – None」
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
In the blink of an eye, I was transported to a square stone arena.
I glanced around at the tremendous roar that resonated as if my ears were being struck.
The Murim people, dressed in military uniforms all covered in red, were screaming with eyes wet with madness.
and….
─Thank you so much for your support!
A middle-aged soldier standing in the center of a stadium-like place shouted with magical energy in a flirtatious voice.
─The blood lineage ceremony is a ceremony to select the most suitable person to become the next leader among the successors of the Blood Demon Cult!
─From now on, you will see the carefully selected successors fight for the future of the school!
──As long as it can prove its strength, it doesn’t matter, it’s a team that aims for thorough meritocraticism, so you won’t be disappointed!
Could it be an explanation of the background knowledge of the 19th floor quest stage?
The middle-aged soldier pretended to be pleasant and chattered about words he was not curious about.
I quietly listened to the words and organized the information.
This blood relationship ceremony was the place to decide the next head of the blood demon cult, and it didn’t matter what you used, so you just had to prove your strength.
‘It’s intuitive.’
Still, I liked the fact that he was a magician and that it didn’t matter if he used witchcraft.
Even if it wasn’t, I thought it would be quite disappointing to use only martial arts…
A smile spread across his lips at the thought of using this opportunity to use the abilities he had acquired in the waiting room.
As I quietly smiled at him, the explanation ended before I knew it.
─Now! The explanation was long… and that’s over! From now on, the blood system ceremony will begin…!
At that time, the middle-aged soldier smiled and pointed at me out of the blue.
─The one with the lowest rank among the successors of the Blood Demon Cult! I am Dam Yu-jun, the inferior swordsman of our school!
I felt a slight annoyance at him and narrowed my eyes.
You openly insult the successor of the Blood Demon Religion in a position to choose the next leader?
It is the Moorim dimension where everything is controlled by the strong, so it is a mortal sin that cannot be opened even if the head is cut…
The middle-aged soldiers as well as the audience all burst into laughter.
“Huh hahaha! Inferior Sword Dam Yu-Jun! After all, you are the heir and participated in the bloodline ceremony!”
“Foot! Uselessly muddying the blood-type water. It’s only going to end in one blow anyway.”
“flaw. There is no background, no skills, no notice. Tsk tsk. After the blood ceremony, I will be kicked out.”
「The manager, ‘the defeated successor of the Blood Demon Cult’, gnashing her teeth, has the intent to kill the crowd.」
Only then did I understand the situation.
‘…They said he was the defeated successor of the Blood Demon Cult. I can understand why he has such a nickname.’
It was explained that the quest was to recreate a part of the manager’s life.
So this must be the most miserable moment in the life of the defeated successor of the Blood Demon Cult.
Presumably, even the nickname of the defeated successor of the Blood Demon Religion might have played a big role in his defeat at this spot.
He must have asked me for a quest because he wanted to overturn that miserable past, even if it was a reenactment.
―…This is one of the descendants of the principal. It is truly a pitiful feeling. I feel depressed now.
Damcheonwu said that in a droopy voice, and the commentator, a middle-aged soldier, continued.
─And another successor to the main school’s inferior sword, Dam Yu-jun… is the blood dragon sword, Dam So-cheon!
And a pretty young man with red eyes, who was standing at the spot pointed by the middle-aged soldier, smiled.
“I never thought I would participate in the Blood Ceremony. aww You still don’t know the subject, and you are interfering here and there.”
According to the setting of the 19th floor quest stage, this young man could be my brother…
─I hope both of you will fight with all your might! Then I’ll just go downstairs!
Not very interesting.
A middle-aged soldier who played the role of commentator gauged Damsocheon’s skills while going down the stage.
However, not only was the amount of mana stored in his body insignificant, but even the quality of that mana was insignificant.
“Dam Yoo-jun. Indeed, like a foolish younger brother. Now, I will put an end to the actions that I do not even know about.”
so….
「Authority ‘Sword Spirit Strength 劍气成罡’ is activated.」
I had no intention of wasting time with this guy.
“…Gee, geez, geomgang (劍罡)! How can you use it like you—”
Squeak-.
With a rough swing of the sword, Damsocheon’s head was cut neatly and fell to the floor.
In the blink of an eye, the clamor of the crowd died down.
But that was only for a moment.
Soon after, a middle-aged unmanned person who played the role of a commentator who went down the stage opened his mouth.
─…Uh huh? What is this…?
At that, I roughly brushed off the blood on my sword and muttered.
“We don’t have time, so why don’t we go as fast as we can?”
And in a very calm tone.
“Come next time.”
