274. Iron Blood Lord (2)
“You have entered the waiting room on the 22nd floor.”
In the blink of an eye, everything that catches your eye changes.
Before I knew it, I had returned from the guest room on the side of the American Hunter Association to the desolate stone chamber.
I wasn’t surprised in the slightest now.
It just calms down like coming home.
So, as soon as I realized that I had returned to the tower, I activated my exclusive authority.
「Exclusive authority E-0001 [Secret Shop] is activated.」
「The manager-only secret shop will be opened.」
It’s not different… … .
「Spent [300,000] points on the admin-only secret shop.」
“All stats increase by 6.”
All of the points obtained from clearing the 21st floor trials were invested in stats.
It was worth it.
There aren’t really any items to buy at the store, and… … .
Currently, the level of all stats has exceeded 1,000 and is now growing to 2,000.
So, I didn’t think it was a waste to invest all my points in stats.
Not even a little bit.
‘Even though the power of godhood comes from divine power, I still need to raise my abilities.’
It was because he remembered a certain fact while fighting to the limit against the god of battle.
Even if it’s a battle between gods, you can’t solve everything with divinity.
It was all the more so when I thought that I had been strangled by the god of battle before and was driven to the brink of death.
‘Even then, if the endurance value was low, I was the one who died… … .’
At least it was possible to endure with durability to some extent, so the depersonalization skill was activated.
If the skill activation time had not been delayed, he would have died instantly.
Revisiting the importance of stats, I immediately sat down on the floor of the stone chamber.
Originally, she responded to the ordeal as soon as she returned from Earth, but today is slightly different from the past.
‘Let’s use the rewards received from the American Hunter Association now.’
It was worth it.
Because there are rewards from Joseph at the American Hunter Association.
Even the contents are all potion items that can only be obtained in the tower.
There are things I gained even before the decisive battle with the god of battle, so if I use it in combination with that, my growth will be certain.
“You have consumed the designated stat-boosting potion (A+).”
「Choose a stat that will increase your level.」
“I took the designated stat boost potion (A+)… … .」
“Choose a stat that will increase your level… … .」
“Did you ingest the designated stat-up potion (A+)… … .」
“Choose the stats that will raise your numbers… … .」
actually… … .
“Selection complete.”
「Challenger Han Seong-yoon’s strength increases by +10.」
“Challenger Seongyoon Han’s agility increases by +10… … .」
“Challenger Han Seong-yoon’s physical strength +10… … .」
In the blink of an eye, I swallowed all of the stat-up potions, and all my stats increased by 40.
Because the random stat-up potion was also mixed, the stat increase was slightly uneven, but… … .
Still, it didn’t matter much anyway.
“Are there only skill proficiency potions left?”
There are a total of 12 skill proficiency potions currently in hand.
However, if you calculate the total amount of actual skill proficiency increase, it is about 120%.
The skill proficiency increase potions given by the American Hunter Association are all grade C+.
‘The pay is tighter than I thought, but it must be unavoidable.’
However, he could not be dissatisfied with the American Hunter Association.
This is because I robbed all the skill proficiency increase potions from the American Hunter Association.
No matter how American the Hunter Association was, there were not many special potions that could be obtained from the tower.
Even the best challengers can only get skill proficiency potions once in a while.
It is difficult to take possession of it from an individual challenger to that of the Hunter Association.
‘I can’t ask them to come up with something they don’t really have, so I have to be content with this.’
After thinking about it, I immediately drank all the skill proficiency increase potions.
“You consumed a skill proficiency increase potion (C+).”
「Select a skill to increase your proficiency.」
“I took a skill proficiency increase potion (C+)… … .」
「Select a skill to increase your proficiency… … .」
“Did you consume the skill proficiency increase potion (C+)… … .」
“Choose a skill to increase your proficiency… … .」
System messages poured in front of my eyes like a waterfall, and skill options appeared.
Originally, there shouldn’t have been many skills that would really increase the grade among these, but… … .
This time, while defeating the god of battle, many skills reached the brink of grade growth.
‘It’s rewarding to have greatly raised the proficiency of almost all skills with the divine <Transcendence>.’
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So, I was able to get a lot of benefit from investing in the skill proficiency increase potion.
「The mastery of the skill ‘Intangible Sword (SS-)’ has reached 100%.」
「The level of the skill ‘Intangible Sword (SS-)’ will rise by one level.」
「The mastery of the skill ‘Battle Acceleration (S-)’ has reached 100%.」
「The level of the skill ‘Battle Acceleration (S-)’ will rise by one level.」
「The proficiency of the skill ‘Shock Block (A)’ has reached 100%.」
「The level of the skill ‘Shock Block (A)’ will rise by one level.」
Skills that were used a lot in battle so far have grown once.
Even the intangible sword skill achieved a grade increase for the first time since learning it.
Not only that, but combat acceleration and shock blocking were now higher grades, respectively.
‘It’s wonderful.’
With this, you will now be able to easily receive the power of your skills during battle.
That’s how I smiled satisfied and then finished confirming the reward.
Now, this is the end of the reward I received from the American Hunter Association.
‘Now I can challenge the ordeal… … .’
So now it’s time to climb the tower… … .
「The manager, ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’, is looking at the challenger Han Seong-yoon.」
Suddenly, a system message popped up.
「The manager, ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’, asks challenger Han Seong-yoon to talk about a secret wish.”
In an instant, the thought of challenging the ordeal disappeared.
“… … .”
That would be too… … .
「The manager ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’ invites you to the manager’s area.」
It was detected through a system message.
“… … .”
It means that the time has come to take on the responsibilities that have been put off.
‘In the end, I’m going to do what I have to do.’
It is also a responsibility to bear as a contractor, not as a challenger.
***
The moment you accept the invitation to the admin area.
“You have entered the world of Iron Blood.”
Before I knew it, I was standing in the grave of the sword where the snow was piled up.
The air that touches the skin is cold.
It feels as if this field of snow is holding onto your body like a bog.
However, I soon cut off the hesitation that held me back and continued my steps.
And as I walked like that, I was able to enter the cabin before I knew it.
「The manager, ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’, is looking at the challenger Han Seong-yoon.」
“Are you here, Han Seong-yoon?”
As it has been so far, as I entered the cabin, the iron-blooded lord sent me a look.
However, unlike before, there was a strange desire in her red eyes.
It is the same desire as boiling lava.
and… … .
“I never expected to see you this soon.”
I then said that and sat down.
Still, to what extent did I get used to this place?
Now, the sense of distance has disappeared to the point where I feel closeness to the iron-blooded lord.
In fact, she seemed to feel some familiarity with me too.
Before he knew it, the iron-blooded lord smiled and spoke in a relaxed voice.
“I agree. I thought you’d decline the invitation again, as you’ve always done. For some reason, I received it without hesitation.”
“I know I haven’t turned down many invitations that far.”
“Hoo. Isn’t that pretty bold? Then can I be honest and tell you how many times you have turned down invitations?”
“… … .”
At that, I immediately closed my mouth, and the iron-blooded lord covered his mouth and laughed.
“It’s good that you have a taste for teasing.”
Like it’s really fun too.
“Is that so… … .”
Looking at the iron-blooded lord smiling like he was having fun, I answered quietly.
It was worth it.
Anyway, it’s because I’m used to this level of nonsense now.
I’ve heard this a lot from other women as well.
I don’t know what the hell is so funny about it.
“okay. If we had met during our Challenger days, I think we would have become friends. That’s pretty much it.”
The iron-blooded lord said that with regret.
Perhaps if we had met during our challenger days, we would have become friends… … .
It would not have been.
Except for climbing the tower, I don’t pay much attention to others anyway.
In fact, among the challengers on the Earth level, only a handful of people have met many of them.
Wouldn’t it be more intimate with her now?
Thinking so, I shook my head and opened my mouth.
“I don’t think so.”
“… … ?”
“I still think I am close enough with the iron-blooded lord.”
“Th-th-thank you for thinking so… … . Chi, intimate. okay. I-If you look closely at this, they must be close to each other… … .”
But doesn’t the iron-blooded lord think so?
She was startled, then lowered her eyes and said as if muttering.
It even dyed his face red before he knew it.
Even his fingers were fidgeting as if he didn’t know what to do.
‘Was it useless… … ?’
It was only after I saw that that I realized that I had made a mistake too late.
But as the saying goes, you can’t contain the water that overflows from the cup… … .
Since there is no way to take back what I said anyway, I quickly changed the topic.
“It looks like you both enjoyed the chat, so why don’t we get to the point?”
and… … .
“Wish. The iron-blooded lord’s unfulfilled wish… … . I want to know more.”
Soon after, the moment I talked to the iron blooded lord about my secret wish.
Immediately, she opened her eyes wide once and clasped her hands tightly.
The iron-blooded lord then nodded as if he had made up his mind.
“… … do it After all, the reason I called you was about my secret wish. But before that, you should ask this.”
The iron-blooded lord asked with a worried look.
“You… … . Maybe he will die because of his longing. Will you go anyway?”
“That’s it, there’s nothing to ask—”
“Tell me carefully. Sungyoon Han. I heard about you from the top. That he killed the god of battle.”
“… … .”
“That is why I invited you here. Because now I feel like I deserve to make my wish come true. But you have the right to refuse.”
“Rejection… … .”
“So if you refuse, it’s okay to refuse—”
but… … .
“no.”
Despite her favor, I shook my head and replied that it was okay.
“I will not refuse.”
It was worth it.
“Anyway, the secret wish was something I wanted to achieve someday.”
I hated putting off time to achieve my secret wish later.
On the 27th floor, I might end up killing the administrators.
Anyway, even if it was a battle between the gods, we could predict victory enough now.
“There will be no point in postponing it now.”
so… … .
“Nothing to worry about.”
The forced growth by dragging out time is now over.
Immediately after that, she asked the iron-blooded lord to make her wish come true, and her eyes shook.
I don’t think I knew that the will to achieve my secret wish would be this big.
But that was only for a moment.
“… … i get it. Challenger Han Seong-yoon. I’ll do whatever you want. I will not stop you now.”
The iron-blooded lord continued his speech with a stiff face.
“But at least I should explain the secret wish.”
As if to listen carefully, she calmed her eyes and began to explain.
“I have said it before. My world was invaded and destroyed by evil spirits. Do you remember?”
I definitely remembered.
“I remember.”
“Then it seems easy to explain. A secret wish is a quest modeled after the trials of the tower. So this is no different from the world reproduced by the tower.”
“then… … .”
“Perhaps you are right. Sungyoon Han. You must protect the world from the evil spirits that invade my world. That would be my longing.”
“Is that so.”
After hearing the Iron Blood Lord’s words, I could clearly understand.
‘Is it to prevent evil spirits from invading the world of the iron-blooded lord recreated by the tower?’
At least, it could be said that it was not an easy difficulty.
Even the godhead intervening in the secret wish is real, not the fake one reproduced by Top.
That is why I must stop the evil spirits from invading the world in my secret wish.
It’s easy to understand if you think of it as a defense-type game you’ve played as a child.
It’s just that we have to stop the invasion of the gods with a level of difficulty that can’t even be compared to other games.
“You just need to stop the invasion of evil spirits by following the correct steps in my world.”
The iron-blooded monarch’s eyes lit up after he had said that.
“I think the explanation can be finished at this point, so I will make your wish come true as you wish.”
and… … .
「Exclusive authority #G-0711[Hope of the Depths] of Administrator ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’ has been activated.」
System messages appeared obscuring my view.
「Based on the wish of the administrator ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’, a special trial that is out of class is created.」
And at the same time, as if a high rank was pressing on his shoulders, he suddenly revealed his will.
「Determine whether to challenge the special contract ordeal <Deep Depth: Iron-Blooded Lord>.」
「Acceptance: You can enter the world of the manager ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’ reproduced with the power of the tower.」
「Rejection: Special Contract Ordeal <Deep Depth: Iron-Blooded Lord> has been cancelled.」
Before he knew it, the tower told him to decide whether or not to fulfill his secret wish.
An option not worth thinking about.
I immediately accepted and the system message blinked and disappeared.
Soon after, a certain amount of time has passed.
A system message appeared in front of my eyes as an unfathomable force began to devour my body.
「Tower of Trials <Hope of the Depths: Iron-Blooded Lord> will be entered.」
「Difficulty – Hard」
「The subject of this ordeal is ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’.」
「I hope that the desire deep inside will come true with the will of the challenger.」
It’s not different… … .
「The Special Contract Ordeal <Deep Depth: Iron-Blooded Lord> begins.」
「Remaining time – 1 year」
「Criterion to break through trials – prevent the destruction of the world by divine powers within the remaining time」
「Trial Failure Condition – Challenger’s Death or Remaining Time End」
「Reward for breaking through trials – ※ The level of reward will be determined by the Iron Blood Lord’s appraisal」
「Trial Failure Penalty – Death」
Now, the long-awaited ordeal has begun.
