Chapter 249
CHAPTER 249
The End of the Black Tower, Floor 100.
Its true identity was the control room.
At least, the Black Tower of Earth No. 675 was like that.
“Then the 100th floor of the Black Tower on Earth No. 1,001 must also be the control room, right?”
“Judging by the way we entered, it seems so.”
“This girl thinks the same. Our Earth will be no different.”
From the 91st to the 99th floor of the Black Tower.
Each floor was a kind of waiting room.
A place to stay before crossing into another dimension.
But here, on the 100th floor, there was no message asking whether to cross dimensions.
It was immediately the mission area.
“So that modern-style building is the control room.”
“Truly modern. The architectural style is Earth-like. That’s how it looks to the one ranked last in the popularity vote.”
Good grief!
Ever since earlier, it’s been popularity vote, popularity vote.
Anyway, something I was curious about.
The Black Tower of Earth No. 675 is only one.
So naturally, there is only one control room.
But what about the Black Towers of Earth No. 1,001, which number 146?
Does each tower have its own separate control room?
Are there 146 control rooms?
“That doesn’t seem likely. Those guys arbitrarily connect and stitch together space anyway. No matter which tower you reach the 100th floor from, it will lead to the control room.”
…..
That seems right.
In short, the 100th floor is a unified shared space.
“We should make an announcement, right? That we’ve arrived.”
“This old man will volunteer to report.”
“Yes, sir! You’re ranked one place higher than the popularity-vote last place, so you’ll do well!”
It seems Kosak is thoroughly sulking.
Was the shock really that big from just one popularity vote?
It looks like the popularity vote talk will continue for a while.
What can you do?
I’ll just have to endure it.
Gwangma stepped forward.
Wooooong!
A crescent-shaped energy blade flew fiercely, generating a whirlwind.
Ts-piririririt!
But.
Srrrk.
Near the control room building, it disappeared without a trace.
“Huh?”
Gwangma tilted his head.
“… Why did that happen?”
Did he miss his aim?
No way!
So he shuffled toward the hill where the building stood.
Goolleong!
He bumped into something elastic and formless.
Raising his hand, he felt around here and there.
Goolleong, goolleong, goolleong.
“… A barrier. Like a balloon.”
It wasn’t hard, but soft.
Rather than deflecting external impact, it was closer to absorbing it.
“A barrier that absorbs impact, huh. Let’s see if it absorbs this too.”
Gwangma drew up his internal energy to the fullest from his dantian.
Wooooooong!
Gwangma’s body glowed red.
It was Blood Jade Energy, which shattered anything it touched.
Step, step.
Gwangma advanced with Blood Jade Energy enveloping him.
However.
Goolleong, goolleong, guuulleong!
The formless barrier blocked his advance.
“… Grrr.”
He couldn’t even take a few steps.
“Whew, in all my life, this is the first time I’ve seen such a protective barrier.”
The barrier was soft and thick.
Just in case, he let go of all his strength and walked slowly, but it was the same.
“Geez, Elder Gwang, step aside. What good is getting a few more popularity votes if this is your skill?”
“You little bastard.”
Ziiing!
Kosak drew his dagger.
Spot!
Using Shadow Step, he approached the transparent impact-absorbing barrier.
Seogeogeogeok!
He swung his blade.
Goolleong!
Like cutting water with a knife.
There was no impact at all.
“… Um.”
“Tsk tsk, pathetic fellow! So that’s why you’re last place.”
“The public’s choice is always correct.”
“Later.”
“First place, please be quiet!”
“Can’t be helped. The leader of the lower ranks, this mage will step in.”
Hwarreureuk!
A fireball from Mackenzie flew toward the barrier.
But again, goolleong.
There was no effect.
“Move aside! The warrior is going in.”
“Oooh! Popularity vote rank 3!”
Swoook!
His body enlarged through gigantification.
Thud thud thud thud!
He ran lightly.
Ssshaeeek!
Charging at a terrifying speed.
Pu-eok!
Even though his speed was reduced upon hitting the barrier, Gobang pushed forward.
Juuuuk!
He pushed inside.
The barrier was still there, but he ignored it and charged straight toward the building.
However.
Tung! In the end, he was bounced back by the elasticity of the barrier.
Shuuut!
Kwa-dang!
He was flung backward and fell.
“Ehehe, that’s rank 3. Rank 3, what did you say? That the public’s choice is correct? Princess Dalrae, please say it once more.”
At this point, it was madness.
In any case, the barrier was extremely powerful.
Bardin’s shield bash, El’s destruction beam, Gyeondallae’s talisman, Jephet’s blood mist—nothing worked.
What if Mannyeon went in?
Together with Baekdana.
“Kyarrrrk!”
“Mannyeon, let’s go together.”
The twins ran forward cheerfully.
But.
Goolleong, goolleong.
The cold vanished the moment it touched the barrier.
“It doesn’t even freeze.”
“This is troublesome.”
“What about striking at high speed?”
“Major Veronica Caliber! Orders received.”
The final challenger, Major Bae.
Click!
“Loading one sub-light-speed round, selector to single.”
Jiiiiiiing!
Ppajujuzuzuk!
Chuuulleong!
The ensuing aftershock.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Still, thud!
Goolleong!
The barrier absorbed the impact.
“Ehehehe! Popularity vote rank 2—”
Click!
“Say one more word.”
Kosak fell silent.
Still, how do we disable that barrier?
Now it was clear.
Those Black Tower bastards never want the tower to be conquered.
If that’s the case, why even make tower missions?
They should’ve just collapsed it outright.
“Such petty behavior for a so-called god.”
That’s right.
That is the power of a god.
The barrier was created by the alien god who sent the Black Tower here.
A god, huh.
You think you’re the only god?
We’ve got a god on our side too.
Let’s do this.
“Let’s see which god’s power is stronger.”
Juhyeok took out the Judge’s Hammer given to him by Yama from his inventory.
He raised it high.
And threw it forcefully toward the control room building.
Whiriririt!
Thud!
Tidik!
Even the sound was different.
Whirit!
The hammer flew back.
At the same time.
Tididididik!
Centered on the point where the hammer struck, the barrier turned white.
The once-soft surface began to harden.
“Oooooh!”
“As expected of a summoner!”
“Amazing!”
“Ho-eh!”
See that?
I am Prince Bong Juhyeok of Hell!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Thunderous applause erupted.
Once more.
Whiriririt!
Pu-eok!
Tididididid….
The nature of the barrier changed.
What had been soft and elastic turned rigid.
Then?
“Everyone, attack at once!”
The hardened barrier.
Tsuchichit! Kwa-kwang! Pajujuk! Pu-eok!
As the summoned beings’ attacks landed.
Warrarrrr!
It collapsed helplessly.
“Alright! Let’s go in!”
“Ranks 1, 2, and 3, lead the way. Popularity-vote last place goes in last.”
Ah, damn it!
Black Tower of Earth No. 675 – Control Room.
[You’ve come.]
[You’re here.]
He finally reached the 100th floor.
I desperately wished he wouldn’t come, but…
[Designer, wake up! He’s here!]
No response from the designer.
[Why can’t you wake up? Open your eyes!]
Soul collapse state.
Practically dead.
[What do we do?]
[… W-what do we do? There’s no way.]
[Damn it!]
It’s a barrier created by God.
It can’t be broken.
It must not be broken.
But the anxiety surges.
It feels like it will break.
It always does.
And as feared.
Warrarrr.
[ … ]
[ … ]
All means are blocked.
We can only sit and wait.
Who knows?
Maybe the summoner will show mercy.
Juhyeok and his party entered the modern single-story building.
There were no closed doors or anything like that.
An open passageway.
Ding!
[Final Mission: Make contact with the Black Tower Crystal Core of Earth No. 675 and obtain administrative authority.]
[Time Limit: None.]
[Completion Condition: Obtain administrative authority over the Black Tower Crystal Core 0/1]
Huh?
Crystal core?
What is administrative authority?
“It’s a mission to take over the Black Tower.”
“Isn’t that the natural course? We conquered it, so we should take it.”
“Our Summoner Bong is becoming an administrator now?”
That’s a bit…
What would I even do managing it?
Still, I guess we have to do it.
Juhyeok and his party proceeded deeper into the building.
Then a round, circular room came into view.
At its center floated a small black crystal chunk, about the size of a mug.
And surrounding the crystal were three chairs.
People were sitting in them.
They looked familiar.
Bald, eyebrowless, white-skinned humans.
Not holograms, but physical bodies.
“They’re administrators.”
“Administrators indeed.”
“Kekeke, the moment I’ve dreamed of has finally come. To think this day would really arrive.”
“One of them looks like he’s already dead.”
“You bastards! You’ve been spying on the world of souls all this time and laughing at us!”
The administrators didn’t respond at all.
They just trembled in fear.
I’d always been curious.
Those guys we’d always met as holograms.
How strong were they really in actual combat?
“No need to worry. They don’t seem threatening at all.”
Juhyeok agreed.
They looked weaker than goblins.
“Disappointing.”
“Only slightly better than an ordinary civilian.”
Meanwhile, Gyeondallae narrowed her eyes and carefully examined the administrators’ bodies.
“It feels very familiar.”
“How so?”
“These bodies are not those of ordinary humans. They are constructed bodies.”
Which meant—
“That’s correct. They are extremely similar to our bodies—that is, the bodies of summoned beings.”
“Ah!”
Originally, summoned beings wait in a soul state.
When the summoner calls them, a body is generated and they emerge.
Gyeondallae’s opinion was that those created bodies were similar to the administrators’ bodies.
“If we rank them, they’re normal-grade. Worse than the popularity-vote last place.”
In short, complete nobodies.
They posed absolutely no threat.
Let’s leave them alone.
We should focus on the final mission.
‘The final mission was to make contact with the crystal core, right?’
Juhyeok approached the crystal core.
The administrators panicked.
[P-Please!]
[… Don’t. You must not do that.]
Oh, I’m doing it.
When someone tells you not to, it just makes you want to do it more.
The black crystal was still floating in midair.
First, he tapped it lightly with the hammer.
‘Anything happen?’
Then he tapped it with his hand.
It wasn’t hot, nor was it cold.
‘In any case, I have to make contact. Might as well be bold…’
Grab!
Juhyeok firmly grasped the crystal core with his hand.
At that moment!
Ding!
[You have made contact with the Black Tower Crystal Core of Earth No. 675.]
[A portion of the Black Tower’s administrative authority has been transferred to the player.]
Yes!
Mission success.
[As of this moment, all existing administrators’ authority has been revoked.]
[The three administrators—Designer, Engineer, and Maker—have been dismissed.]
Instantly!
The administrators’ bodies stiffened, their eyes rolling back.
[Kyaaaaaah…!]
[Keugh!]
“Huh?”
Sssss—
With their screams, they turned to ash and vanished.
“… They’re dead?”
“They’re dead.”
“They’ve been erased.”
“Tsk tsk, we let them off too easily.”
No, they were just dismissed.
But for them, dismissal seemed to mean death.
And with the acquisition of administrative authority,
a Black Tower management menu surfaced in Juhyeok’s mind.
Several functions became available through the crystal core.
‘So this is the core device that manages the tower…?’
The crystal core was like a central processing unit.
However, it only allowed partial authority over matters related to the Black Tower.
There weren’t many things he could do.
Entry approval and restriction, collapse timer maintenance and deletion, tower maintenance and dismantlement, transmission maintenance and shutdown.
Still—
‘Wow!’
Not bad at all.
Worth taking over.
Among them, entry approval and restriction—
A menu related to player tower ascension.
Collapse timer maintenance and deletion didn’t need explanation.
Tower maintenance and dismantlement.
You could keep the tower as is, or erase it entirely.
Not collapsing it in reality, but safely dismantling it beyond the phase world.
And transmission maintenance and shutdown?
A menu related to dimensional energy.
The Black Tower as a tool to extract dimensional energy and send it to storage.
This had to be shut down first.
[Do you wish to shut down the dimensional energy transmission connected to the storage facility?]
No need to think.
“Shut it down.”
[Dimensional energy transmission has been shut down.]
Trying to steal, huh?
Next—
Do we maintain the tower, or dismantle it?
A function that could erase every tower in the world, leave only some, or keep them all.
On Earth No. 675, there was only one tower anyway.
“Destroy it immediately.”
“It must be destroyed.”
“Dismantle it!”
“Even one Black Tower is already too much.”
The destroy-it camp—
“We could leave it as it is. Just delete the collapse timer.”
“A good idea. Without a collapse timer, it becomes a resource generator.”
“Just skim off the benefits.”
“Ho-eh.”
The leave-it camp.
This was something that needed consideration.
What’s the right choice?
I can’t decide right now.
“Let’s decide slowly.”
For now—
“Delete the collapse timer.”
[World Announcement: The collapse timer for 1 Black Tower entity on Earth No. 675 (Germany) has been deleted. The tower will not collapse even if the conquest time limit is exceeded.]
A system message broadcast worldwide.
The tower would not collapse.
If the people of Earth No. 675 were still alive, how happy would they be to hear this?
Suddenly!
Ding!
[Crystal Core Contact 1/1]
[Final mission successful.]
[Maximum level reached.]
‘Mission success?’
But then—
[World Announcement: Black Tower (Germany) 100th Floor Conquest Rank EX … chzzk! EX … chzzk!]
‘What is this now?’
[Black Tower (Germany) … chk! 100th Floor Conquest … chzzk, EX … chzzk! chzzzzzzk.]
‘System error vibes?’
Ding!
No way—
[Judgment reversed. The player’s mission completion is not recognized.]
What?!
Judgment reversal?
You cheating bastards!
[Error: This is not the player’s native Earth. The tower was conquered as an outsider.]
Ha!
Because I’m an outsider, it doesn’t count?
Then you should’ve blocked it from the start.
Why now?
“Hey, you scammy piece of—”
Then it happened.
Ding!
[Requesting reassessment of mission completion.]
“Huh.”
A system message suddenly intervened.
The tone was different from before.
Which meant—
[Grounds: Records of nationality acquisition and inheritance from a player of Earth No. 675 have been recognized.]
Oh!
[Therefore, the conquest of the 100th floor of the Black Tower of Earth No. 675 is valid.]
It’s on our side.
The White Tower—Whitedog!
But—
Ding!
[Request denied.]
[Grounds: Due to the absence of government offices in Germany on Earth No. 675, the heir’s nationality qualifications cannot be verified.]
Huh?
[Rebuttal: Entry into the Black Tower of Earth No. 675 itself constitutes proof.]
Oh!
[Error: Backdoor entry records detected. Entry method was not standard.]
Huh?
[Rebuttal: Entry up to the 95th floor was legitimate. Resistance against illegal entry blockage from the 96th floor onward constitutes self-defense.]
Uh—
[Error: Authority of an Outer God has been detected in the player. This is an exploit-based conquest.]
What?
[Rebuttal: The tower itself is powered by an Outer God. Is there a problem?]
They’re arguing?
No idea who’ll win, but—
It’s clear the White Tower’s influence has grown.
Enough to wage a message battle against the Black Tower.
“It’s evenly matched. A fierce battle.”
“We must win. White one, please lend us your strength.”
“Go, Whitedog!”
“You can’t lose!”
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The system-message war continued.
Whenever the Black Tower cited errors to deny recognition, the White Tower immediately rebutted.
Neither side was easy.
Both seemed to have the power to interfere with the system,
yet neither had an overwhelming advantage.
The Black Tower, fine—
but what exactly is the White Tower?
Black and white.
One seems intent on destroying the world,
the other on saving it.
“Don’t worry. Whitedog will win.”
“On what basis?”
“We cleared the 100th floor anyway. The result is right there—how can they deny it? Even the popularity-vote last place knows that.”
True.
No matter what, we climbed it and cleared it according to the mission conditions.
They have to accept it.
[Recommendation: Judgment deferred until full conquest of the Black Towers of Earth No. 1,001.]
The Black Tower backed down slightly,
suggesting a deferral.
[Rejection: Violates the principle of causality. Grounds for deferral invalid.]
The White Tower’s will was firm.
Ding!
[Command: Requesting recognition of player’s mission completion.]
Again.
Ding!
[Command: Requesting recognition of player’s mission completion.]
And finally—
[… The success of the final mission on the 100th floor of the Black Tower of Earth No. 675 is … recognized.]
Ding!
[World Announcement: You have achieved EX Rank for the conquest of the 100th floor of the Black Tower (Germany).]
[EX Conquest Reward: Player traits strengthened.]
[Additional EX Conquest Reward: 100 Platinum Badges granted.]
In the end—
The Black Tower surrendered.
“Hooray!!!”
“We won!!!”
“It’s been recognized!”
“The White Tower pulled it off.”
“I knew it would.”
Our White Tower!
Its influence is massive!