novelraw Chapter 139 : Chapter 139
Chapter 139 : Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Tower of Transcendence (2)
‘It’s tough.’
The clone in the mirror held on quite well.
The guy writhed in pain that burned his whole body, gritting his teeth to endure.
However, in the end, unable to overcome the limit, he distorted and collapsed.
Thanks to that, the damage on this side wasn't insignificant either.
The price of the self-harm that brought him down remained entirely on my body.
My muscles screamed, and my nerves still boiled hotly.
“Phew.”
Anyway, I opened the door of the tower.
Swallowing the throbbing pain, I passed the entrance and entered the corridor.
A passage with long jade-colored walls continuing on both sides.
At the end of it, a door leading to the lobby was visible.
‘Should I rest for a moment?’
The thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head.
Time is not plentiful.
The time given by the Moonlight Stone is limited.
Just because I sprawl out doesn't mean my body will heal quickly either.
‘Even if I overexert myself a little, I must push through for now…….’
It was the moment I made up my mind to give up on resting.
A refreshing sensation brushed near my neck.
‘Hmm?’
A soft green light flowed from the necklace.
A refreshing touch against my skin, and simultaneously, a cooling energy like walking through a forest swept through my whole body.
‘Ooh…….’
It felt like pouring ice water on burning nerves.
The burning heat calmed down in an instant.
‘Purification?’
The necklace Do Haru made.
Unicorn hair was inside it, and the representative abilities of a unicorn were healing and purification.
The nerve pain that was burning fiercely until just now subsided to the level of a faint lingering fire.
‘It was exactly the function I needed.’
Collapsing helplessly after burning through power once was my daily routine.
With this, it seems I can offset it to some extent.
However, the green light that was overflowing until just now became noticeably dim.
It seems the energy was used up. It looked like it would take quite some time to recharge.
‘So a cooldown exists, is that it?’
Still, thanks to it, I recovered my stamina.
With this condition, I can challenge the next stage immediately without rest.
With a much lighter body, I reached the end of the corridor.
As I placed my hand on the massive door, a cold energy tickled my palm.
CREAAAK-
A new space unfolded before my eyes.
[You have entered ‘White Deer’s Hall’.]
The floor was paved with speckless turquoise jade, and countless icicles sparkled on the high ceiling.
The ice fragments embroidered in the air scattered light like the Milky Way and touched my skin with intense cold.
Standing alone in that cold and vast room, an appreciation leaked out unwittingly due to the silent atmosphere.
“……It’s damn cold.”
[You only spout impudent words]
White Deer’s voice was heard.
I couldn't find her form.
Since she conveniently creates a thought form only when she wants.
[If you possessed an aesthetic sense, you would have enjoyed the beauty of this silent space]
“Yes, I’m sorry I have no aesthetic sense.”
A mysophobic cleanliness that doesn't tolerate even a speck of dust.
The floor and walls all polished and glistening resembled the personality of the manager, White Deer perfectly.
This Hall of White Deer corresponded exactly to the lobby of the tower.
It is the only absolute safety zone between trials separated by floors.
I walked straight to the center of the hall.
According to the rules of the game, it only starts when one reaches the center of the lobby.
As expected.
VOOOM-!
Ice fragments floating in the air gathered together and created a huge panel.
Letters were engraved on it.
As unknown language was written, a system window naturally popped up.
[Challenger’s entry confirmed.]
[Proceeding with data synchronization…….]
The tower’s system recognized me as an official challenger.
[I saw well how you overcame the trial of the mirror. However, the real trial has not arrived yet]
As the tower accepted me, White Deer recited.
I guess so, I came knowing all that.
Speaking would only make my mouth hurt, so I waited quietly.
[Opening the 1st Trial.]
RUMBLE-!
The ice panel in the center of the hall split slowly.
A vertical crack was drawn in the middle, and it changed into the shape of a door.
Following that, brutal letters were engraved.
[1st Trial, Cave of Senses]
The system window expanded, and detailed contents were outputted.
[Goal: 5 corridors are placed. Break through all of them and survive until the end.]
[Special Constraint: Every time you enter each corridor, one of the ‘Five Senses’ is restricted.]
[※Warning: The restricted sense is not restored until the entire trial is cleared.]
‘Sense Restriction.’
A mission that looks ridiculously simple at first glance, saying just pass through 5 corridors.
But the important thing is just what kind of corridors I have to pass.
[Do you wish to challenge? Y/N]
And I knew very well what kind of corridors they were.
I opened the newly created door without hesitation.
[The 1st Trial begins.]
At the same time the damn message announced the opening.
WHOOSH-
The surrounding scenery changed in an instant.
The lobby of jade and ice without a single speck disappeared, and a long and wide corridor with a dark and damp aura appeared.
Old torches burned sporadically on the walls, illuminating the surroundings.
Behind me was a wall. There was no way back.
The moment I quickly grasped the surroundings.
ZING-!
A sharp sound cutting through the air from somewhere hit my eardrums.
Something rushed quickly towards my glabella from the darkness in front.
There is no time to think.
Reflexively, I turned my head to the left.
THWACK-!
A cool wind grazed past the side of my head.
What pierced the spot where my head had been was an arrow with black fletching.
The arrow embedded in the back wall vibrated with a humming sound.
‘Trap Room’
The floor gives way the moment you step on it.
A structure where blades pop out from the walls and flames pour from the floor and ceiling.
A corridor full of clichés one would see in classic games was the first trial location.
Far away, a narrow passage was visible at a point dozens of meters away.
Reaching that place means passing the first corridor.
CLICK.
But as soon as I took a step, a faint mechanical sound scratched my ears.
It’s a pressure-sensitive trap.
CRUNCH!
The tile under my foot gave way, and a gleaming blue steel spear shot up.
“Woah!”
I immediately put strength into my ankles and leaped forward.
As soon as I launched my body into the air, both walls opened as if waiting.
WHIRR- SWISH!
Roughly rotating saw blades popped out as if blocking my advancing path.
“Kugh.”
I drew my sword and drove it straight into the ceiling, then used the recoil to fling my body like Tarzan.
The saw blades cut through the empty air, barely missing the tips of my feet.
When falling to the landing point while drawing a parabola, a red light flashed.
I know what that is. A trap where flames surge out.
“Nasty, really.’
There is no way to dodge.
I have to touch the ground to do anything.
Then there is only one thing to do.
I gripped the sword properly and gathered strength immediately.
[Wind Slash]
Swordsmanship that roughly cuts through the air drawing a vertical line.
For a very brief moment, the flames split and a gap was created.
I landed while digging into that gap. Immediately, I rolled my body and escaped from the flames.
Hot heat flushed from behind my back.
Running, throwing my body, dodging popping traps like acrobatics, I kept dashing.
When I reached a point about 10m from the end, arrows and knives rushed in like a final struggle.
I adjusted my speed and twisted my body while being cautious of all directions.
My two eyes were still fine, and I could hear the flying sounds.
Reading the trajectory with my eyes and reacting to the sound was doable.
THUD.
Throwing my body one last time like that, I crossed the boundary line of the first door.
First corridor passed.
I caught my breath for a moment.
“Phew.”
Perhaps because of the momentary intense exercise, sweat trickled down.
Sweat seeped into my mouth, but it felt like drinking bland water.
‘The first one was loss of taste, probably.’
The salty taste disappeared.
‘There isn't really a problem, though.’
Actually, it’s not a very important sense right now.
At least in dodging traps.
And the second corridor followed.
This time, the moment I stepped over the boundary, I could know immediately.
‘……The smell is gone.’
The musty smell unique to a damp room, the bloody smell on the floor, and the subtle stench all disappeared completely. The second restriction was smell.
“Up to smell, well.”
As long as I have eyes and ears, there isn't a big problem.
Perhaps thanks to experiencing similar traps already, my body quickly grasped the knack.
I broke through the flying arrows, throwing knives, and other traps without difficulty.
And the moment I crossed the 3rd boundary.
‘…….’
The world became muted.
‘Ugh.’
The arrow flying from the front was now a trap approaching like a welcome greeting.
However, if there is a difference from before, it’s that it didn't make a sound.
Since sound disappeared, the importance of vision increased drastically.
The method to detect flying attacks disappeared.
Traps on the floor also operate silently, so I had to confirm and react solely with my eyes.
Giving up on advancing boldly like before.
I advanced while twisting my body as if dancing.
I watched all directions ceaselessly.
It felt like my eyes were going to spin.
Still, since the trap patterns were similar, I didn't allow fatal attacks.
Only minor wounds with leaking blood were etched on my body.
At the point leaving 1m, I threw my body.
Finally, I arrived at the 4th corridor.
‘……The 4th is touch.’
This time, my body felt afloat.
My soles were touching the ground and I was moving my body, but there was no sensation.
It felt exactly like playing a VR game.
Only scenes unfold.
Like borrowing only the gaze in the process of someone else moving.
From now on, it can only be said to be truly dangerous.
I cannot expect unconditional reflexes the moment pain is detected.
If a knife or arrow digs into the flesh, it must pierce through as is.
Not realizing it while bleeding profusely and losing consciousness due to excessive bleeding was the main elimination factor of the 4th corridor.
Therefore, from now on, I had to use full power again.
‘Going with a blitzkrieg.’
If imperceptible traps are activated, finish before they touch me.
Moreover, I was actually waiting for this moment.
Touch disappears? Rather good.
[Pain: Electric Shock]
Truly irresponsible pleasure.
Pain is converted to pain, but my body is in a state where it doesn't feel pain.
A good opportunity to skip the pain and gain only power…… thinking that lasted only for a moment.
ZZZT-! CRACKLE-!
‘No wait, what is this.’
I experienced the pain filling my body.
You said touch is restricted, that it disappears.
It’s in the terms and conditions, but why does it hurt.
But there is no leisure to argue.
My body was already in a state of intense acceleration.
I had to run with clenched teeth.
The moment I kicked off the ground, my vision opened up wide.
Neither sound nor touch is felt. Only pain like electric current flowing through the body fills it.
Flames surged, spears popped out, rotating saws, knives, and arrows—all sorts of projectiles caught my sight.
But it was all someone else's business.
The moment I thought I saw the trap, I had already passed that point.
The last section, dozens of throwing knives filled my vision.
But it’s a strange thing.
The flying weapons stuck in my eyes like slow motion.
‘I see perfectly.’
A path was revealed between the flashing blades pouring down.
As if ready, my body flowed while digging between the obstacles.
For a moment, an illusion arose whether my body had become a fluid.
When I came to my senses again, I had already reached the end of the 4th corridor.
My chest heaved up and down repeatedly.
Steam rose from my skin.
As if it had become heated iron.
‘I should get ready slowly now.’
Now one remains.
The last, 5th corridor.
I still have one of the five senses left.
I am seeing this world with my eyes.
In front of the last boundary, which looked slightly crooked, I looked inside.
The same scenery as the corridors I had seen so far.
However, that place is completely different from the previous corridors.
Because the moment I cross the line, I won't be able to see ahead anymore.
Then, one might wonder how to break through the corridor when eyes can't see, but.
‘Actually, that corridor is a corridor you shouldn't pass through.’
Drawing the sword at my waist, I entered the last room straight away.
CLICK-
The moment I crossed the boundary line, it felt like the power of the world was turned off.
Only darkness filled my eyes.
Complete blackout, I was engulfed in the illusion of being abandoned alone in outer space.
Following taste, smell, hearing, and touch, even the last sense, vision, was blocked. All five senses were cut off.
Generally, a situation where one has no choice but to be terrified.
However, that is a useless worry.
The last room is the same as before but completely different at the same time.
There was not a single thing to dodge.
What is needed is burst damage without wasting even 1 second.
‘3.’
I counted numbers inwardly.
‘2.’
I know very well what I have to do.
‘1.’
It was now.
I flipped the switch without hesitation.
A strange energy flowing through my veins exuded presence.
[Hundred Night Yaksha]
I couldn't see with my eyes, but I knew.
Probably my right hand has changed into a hideous appearance, into the pale and eerie hand of the Hundred Night Yaksha.
Though invisible, somehow the form was drawn vividly in my head.
Then the task to do was set.
If I drew the sword, I must cut.
Whatever that may be.
[Yaksha Style: White Lotus Dance]
The strongest skill among those I can use was activated.
Simultaneously, pure white lines were engraved in the pitch-black void.
Sharp straight lines embroidered around me.
Just like a meteor shower scattering over the quiet night sky.
‘…….’
Looking at the scene full of black background and white lines, I thought.
‘……Salty.’
At some moment, a fishy taste full of saltiness lingered in my mouth.
Following that, a terrible stench piercing the nose and the smell of blood vibrated.
Taste and smell had returned in order.
HISS-!
Along with the sound of air escaping, a strange squelching noise followed.
A sticky sensation clung to the skin on my face.
Gradually, the light of the world poured into my eyes.
“Ugh. It got on me.”
The first thing seen was a sticky liquid.
Green saliva-like stuff was clumped together with blood.
And that too, on my head and shoulders.
Damn, no wonder the smell was strong.
As the walls tore more and more, the original appearance of the corridor began to be seen.
The surrounding scenery was far different from the appearance of the corridor I had seen.
Roughly torn and cut muscles and red flesh dripping with blood.
Where I was standing wasn't a corridor but inside the maw of a giant larva.
‘Jade Silkworm’
A phantasmal beast that steals the senses of prey that entered its mouth one by one and digests them at the 5th stage when they become most helpless; this was the true identity of the first trial.