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If I stay still, I’ll die anyway.
Dojin, who only attacks with the mindset of ‘killing before dying’.
Kusa responds with a one-sided attack, thinking, ‘I cannot back down with the title of the strongest guardian on the 9th floor.’
The confrontation between a proud human and a spirit created a truly rare scene.
Where would you go to see a mere magic user and a boss monster ‘fighting’?
What was even more surprising was that the tide was turning in favor of humans, not the large snakes.
【Burn to death, human!】
Kusa spits fire and speaks like a patient suffering from chuunibyou.
Even though it was an attack that should have left the tank in a near-death state with just a passing glance, Dojin’s health was slowly drained.
The trio of fire itself + high magic + high stamina stat for a wizard gave Dojin a body that was close to invincible.
On the other hand, the water and ice magic that Dojin fired consistently inflicted very honest damage on Kusa, who was born with the fate of fire.
Do that for a while.
【Okay, wait a minute!】
Kusa, whose size had noticeably shrunk, shouted urgently.
However, from Dojin’s point of view, there was no reason to accept the ceasefire request.
《Ice Sphere》
Dojin who randomly launches a rotating “ice sphere” that continuously spews out cold air.
Kusa swung her tail and spun around, shooting a blast of hot air at the incoming ice balls.
Ice that meets fire melts.
It looks like it melted away in vain, but Kusa had to expend some of his own power to get rid of it.
The evidence of this was the very slight reduction in size of the Kusa.
【Hey, this guy!】
When his cry for a moment, which he had cried out while enduring the humiliation, was ignored, Kusa, who was upset, poured out a considerable amount of his remaining strength and created several fireballs.
That was when.
“for a moment!”
Dojin stopped attacking and shouted “Time.”
Kusa, who was about to launch an attack, felt a little resentful and shook the fireball he had created back and forth as he spoke.
【Why should I, why should I stop!】
Regardless, Dojin secretly covered his mouth with the hem of his robe and drank the healing potion and mana potion.
Hmm… Since the tick damage is coming in little by little, the recovery efficiency is not good.
Still, it might be enough to postpone death a little.
Dojin, who cowardly tried to recover alone… … .
《Ice Arrow》
《Ice Sphere》
《Ice Window》
They immediately started attacking again.
Talking while fighting for your lives? That’s funny.
It’s better to take the time to breathe in and out and use one more spell.
Kusa was very angry and started talking, but Dojin couldn’t hear him.
Dojin just kept using magic over and over again.
And then at some point.
The scorpion stopped.
The gaze that had seemed slightly light and frivolous had completely calmed down.
At that moment, Dojin was unable to use magic.
Not only that, but the vitality that was gradually decreasing was fixed, and the mana level was also fixed.
It has become a state where nothing changes, or rather, nothing can change.
‘what?’
Dojin was nervous.
I thought it might be a sign of entering a new phase.
But it wasn’t.
【… It’s funny. I never thought someone would pass this test. And I never thought that person would be someone like you.】
Dojin had passed the Guardian’s test.
If it was vain, then it was a vain result.
It was the same for Kusa, and he shook his head as if something was bothering him.
On the right side of that Kusa, the gust of wind that had been extinguished by Dojin appeared along with the gust of wind.
【No, that’s enough. The author has proven his skills sufficiently.】
【… … .】
To the left of Kusa, who had his mouth tightly shut, a stone rose up and took the shape of a bird.
It was open.
【I also think the same as Sakpung. It is clear that the method by which Kusa passed the test was close to a shortcut, and also unsophisticated and radical… … . Sometimes, in order to overcome a difficult wall, it is important to not be picky about the means.】
He glances at the dojin while picking at the stone feathers, then snaps his beak.
As if that was all he had to say.
【… I know that even if you don’t say it. And since he passed the standard set by the rules anyway, the fact that that human passed the test cannot be changed.】
Kung. Kusa hit the ground with her tail, Sakpung with her sword, and Munda with her leg.
And all three spoke at the same time.
【Choose, you who are the first human to pass our test by challenging the Tower of Challenge.】
[You have cleared the 9th floor of the Tower of Challenge.]
——————
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A message appears.
Among the three standing side by side, Sakpung took a step forward.
【Human, choose.】
“Munda,” he said, flying up with a whoosh.
【Here you must choose one of two rewards.】
This time it’s Kusa.
【One is to receive something that can make you stronger and return to your world along the path you came from.】
Another one.
【Having the opportunity to see what’s beyond here.】
What will you choose? The voices of the three spirits overlap and ask.
With a whoosh, a door rose behind the three spirits.
It was the door you pass through when going to the upper floor of the Tower of Challenge.
[Reward Upgrade User Benefits.]
[You will be given the opportunity to enter the 10th floor.]
[If you choose to receive a 10th floor entrance ticket, all rewards will be replaced with a 10th floor reward upgrade.]
[When you select the 9th floor reward, the Tower of Challenge challenge ends.]
System messages that appear while doing so.
Dojin was embarrassed.
‘What is this? I have to gamble again to get to the 10th floor?’
Dojin had promised.
Let’s stop gambling with rewards here.
Dojin’s plan was to receive the 9th floor rewards that he had bet heavily on and then challenge the 10th floor with an easy mind.
Unlike the 9th floor, where we had information and prepared strategies to conquer it, the 10th floor was truly unknown territory.
But if you receive the compensation, you won’t be able to enter the 10th floor at all.
‘So, in reality, the 9th floor is the last floor of the Tower of Challenge, and the 10th floor is like a hidden floor.’
In less than a second, tremendous agony swirled inside Dojin’s mind.
At that time, Kusa spoke to Dojin.
【Are you worried, human?】
Still, Dojin nodded, as Kusa had become a little more friendly with him after exchanging a few words.
“Of course I’m worried. If I want to go to the 10th floor, I have to give up a lot of things.”
【Isn’t it something that can be done by passing the test on the 10th floor?】
Dojin chuckled.
“I had a hard time here, so will the 10th floor be easy? If anything, it’ll be even harder.”
Kusa twisted the corners of his mouth as if he was laughing.
【You seem to lack confidence. The guy who came at me without fear. Then you should just run away with your tail between your legs like a scared animal. What are you worrying about?】
In response to Kusa’s question, Dojin pointed to the door behind Kusa.
“I’m wondering what’s in there, so I’m thinking about it.”
【You’re curious.】
“okay.”
【Then let me tell you what’s beyond that door.】
“… … ?”
Dojin looks at Kusa, who is suddenly being kind, with a puzzled look.
Kusa, who was looking at him with thinly opened eyes, laughed, “Hahaha!”
【That’s a lie! No, I can’t tell you that in the first place. I don’t know what’s out there either!】
“This is revenge for the cowardly act you committed earlier!” said Kusa, laughing even louder.
Looking at such a savage, Sakpung shook his head.
【I’m sorry. But don’t misunderstand. Of all the spirits I know, that guy is the only one like that.】
What? What about me? Kusa expressed her discontent with her eyes. However, Sakpung and Munda ignored her.
【Your concerns are valid. Curiosity can be the driving force behind progress, but it can also be the beginning of disaster.】
Moon-da, who started speaking in a polite voice, looked back and forth between Do-jin and the door leading to the 10th floor.
【Let me just tell you one thing that will weigh on your choice.】
“What is that?”
【If you don’t open that door, the power to suppress the Star of Destruction will soon run out. However, if you open that door, the Star of Destruction will not shine until this tower disappears.】
To summarize this simply:
‘If I clear up to the 9th floor, the buff will end after a few days and the debuff will start. If I enter the 10th floor, will the buff remain until the end of the world event, regardless of whether I clear it or not?’
The experience of the entire world depended on Dojin’s choice… but unfortunately, eating more or less experience of other people was not something Dojin was interested in.
but.
‘It’s an important choice that will determine the direction of buffs and debuffs spread throughout the world.’
At this point, my curiosity grew to the point where I couldn’t stand not checking to see what was beyond that door.
‘…Compensation is important. It’s important.’
Reason, my head is spinning. Go back and get the 9th floor reward right now.
But my heart and emotions are racing, so I grab the hair of my partner and pin him to the floor.
Are you going to run away from an adventure like this?
‘Haa… Is this how it ends up happening again?’
Dojin, who had decided what to choose, closed his eyes and thought.
‘It’s a gamble where the bigger the stakes, the bigger the rewards.’
As the risk you have to take increases, the stakes you win when you succeed in gambling against slim odds also increase.
So it might not be a bad gamble.
‘That’s not always the case, though.’
Dojin clicked his tongue and met the eyes of the three spirits.
“I will choose.”
The three spirits’ gazes stared intensely at Dojin.
“My choice is a challenge.”
【A choice fit for those who have reached the Tower of Challenge.】
【Reckless, but also brave.】
【Huh, they say if you’re stupid, you’re brave.】
The wind blew, the moon blew, and the clouds blew at the same time.
Dojin nodded to Sakpung and expressed his gratitude to Munda.
“Thank you. For helping me make my choice. If my challenge can prevent disaster from befalling all of Rostania, then this choice will be worth it.”
【I said this out of the belief that if you faithfully take our test, you will choose challenge over stability for the sake of others.】
Kusa ignored him.
Kid, you were upset about something earlier and you’re just picking a fight for no reason.
Dojin didn’t even glance at the narrow-minded snake.
[I salute you for giving up guaranteed wealth and stable growth and choosing the path of great challenge.]
[The light of the destruction star Laves shining on the world of Rostania is fading. It is moving away. The light of the creation star Bella is flashing brightly!]
[The 10th floor of the Challenge Tower is opened.]
The world before my eyes turned white.
The last thing Dojin saw were three spirits watching him disappear.
And when the vision that had been turned pure white returned to normal, Dojin was there to greet me.
It was something I could never have imagined.
