Chapter 151: 17th Floor (3) ————-«
―Would thee be interested in learning Blood Demon Spirit techniques?
The Blood Demon Sword engulfed in crimson energy emitted its demonic nature.
A type of energy that lured people in somehow.
Honestly, I was a bit intrigued at first, but I chose to shake my head.
“……I decline.”
―……Why is that? If you can learn the Blood Demon Spirit techniques, you will become stronger. I’m sure that you’ve realized how supreme the techniques of murim are by now.
“……I am fully aware. That compared to a small dimension, the techniques of other dimensions are far more superior.”
―So why the rejection?
“But I have no plans to learn martial arts properly.”
I was not saying this purely based on pride, but based on evidence.
“I’ve learned that once you start learning the Breathing techniques, the mana within your body will start to have an affinity of Internal Energy.”
―And who taught you tha……. No, no. But you still haven’t learned any Breathing Techniques, so it should be fin…….
“I’ve learned a bit of martial arts from an administrator before. Furthermore, if you create a special Internal Energy through Breathing Techniques, you will gain specific restrictions. Isn’t that right?”
―……yes, but you’re wrong. The Blood Demons Spirit techniques are worthy of losing all the other techniques that you’ve learned until now─.
“Is it better than this?”
I took out the Sky Breaking Sword and demonstrated one of the forms of Blue Sky Sword Style.
It was the sword technique that I learned from the final battle with Nam Gunghyuk.
Slash!
After a brief moment of slashing through the air, an astonished groan came about.
―Blue Sky Sword Style!? Just how on earth did you get your hands on the techniques of the Namgung family? What kind of nonsense……!
“It happened somehow. Of course, none of it is official though.”
―How did you……. Damn it. I didn’t know your capabilities of martial arts far exceeded my expectations.
“If you can teach me Blood Demon Spirit techniques without the Breathing Techniques, then I’ll learn it.
―…….
“And if you are willing, all you need to do is demonstrate the sword form to me. I won’t understand the explanations so there is no need to describe each form.”
―……Now that I’m looking at you, it’s a relief that you do not come from Murim. If you were, you would’ve been killed a long time ago.
“…….”
I kept my silence at that, While Dam Cheonwoo tsked at me.
―……Then if I adjusted the Breathing Techniques for you, would you learn the Blood Demon Spirit techniques as my disciple?
“Even so, it might be…….”
―Why! Why are you declining this time?!
“You can only have one disciple, right?”
―What about that…….?
“I already have a master. I am a disciple to an administrator.”
―Sigh, Truly. Even the puny entities are stealing my opportunities…….
The crimson energy that engulfed the Blood Demon Sword dispersed.
―And here I was thinking that I’d finally get a disciple after all this time.……. How absurd. I can’t teach you martial arts then. The Blood Demon Spirit Techniques are useless without the Breathing Techniques.
He spoke in a disappointed voice, and I was the same.
I would’ve loved to learn the techniques of a challenger that climbed beyond the 40th floor.
I was thinking about how the Blood Demon Spirit Techniques are useless without the Breathing Techniques, but.…….
Thinking about it now, Dam Cheonwoo learned martial arts at the Blood Demon Cult.
‘I know one more person from the Blood Demon Cult.’
The one who sponsored my Blood Demon Hole technique before, the ‘Fallen Heir of the Blood Demon Cult’ also hailed from Blood Demon Cult.
“Even if I can’t learn Blood Demon Spirit Techniques, I still learned the Breathing Technique called Blood Demon Hole.”
So I guessed that I could learn Blood Demon Spirit Techniques through Blood Demon Hole.
―……How did you? T- That technique is only passed down to the direct heir of the sect……?
“I ended up learning this somehow as well.”
―……Huff. Truly absurd. Although I’m unsure of how you managed to learn this, but
“Please just get to the point. Is it possible? Or not?”
Now this is what you call a stroke of luck.
―……It should be possible.
My theory was proven correct.
»————- ★ ————-«
To conclude, Blood Demon Spirit techniques was not a completed technique.
‘It’s closer to magic or sorcery.’
Ignoring few of the minor abilities, its focal function was this.
Swoosh……!
Blood Demon Spirit techniques had the ability to change mana into blood.
Of course, that was not the extent of it. The blood created by mana could reinforce the body.
And like the Truth-seeker of Blood, it could completely get rid of exhaustion.
It did have a side effect of corrupting the mind when overused, but…….
「Activating the power ‘Calm’.」
With Calm, the mental penalty was nonexistent.
“……Can this really be considered martial arts?”
Aside from that question, there was truly no use for it.
Now if I didn’t have Truth-seeker of Blood or Ashy Blood, this technique would’ve been useful to learn.
After all, I use both of the aforementioned quite frequently.
But at this point, where I’ve already mastered both skills,
‘To think that I had very similar abilities to Blood Demon Spirit Techniques.’
The Blood Demon Spirit Techniques had no merit to me.
―Since Blood Demon Spirit Techniques has its basis on techniques of higher beings, it can’t be helped that it’s not like martial arts.
“……Honestly, it looks useless. I could only use it when I need more blood.”
―Y, You! There’s more to it than that……!
“So are those extra abilities better than the sword form I demonstrated earlier?”
―You-! Stop talking back……!
“So is it better?”
―T-This Brat! How impudent!
“I’m just being honest.”
Although it was useless as a martial art, its blood replenishing ability was rather interesting.
‘If I were to increase my mana capacity with Dragon Transformation, get rid of mana consumption by Punishment, and replenish blood with Blood Demon Spirit Technique, I think it would synergize well.’
I theorized that I would be able to use Truth-seeker of Blood and Ashy Blood infinitely.
Of course, Punishment only activated when facing demons and monsters, so it was not a combination I could use every time…….
But it was plenty.
“Although it’s lacking…….”
―Stop that! You atrocious brat! How long do you plan on mocking Blood Demon Spirit techniques?!
“Is it really considered mocking if I’m saying the truth, and only the truth?”
―…….
“Accept reality.”
―T- This Brat……!
After a moment of bickering, Dam Cheonwoo spoke in a weary voice.
―……Sigh. It seems that the martial arts techniques of this great one won’t be of use to you. Good. Then instead of martial arts, This great one will give you all the information that is permitted.
And Dam Cheonwoo revealed several pieces of information.
From detailed information of the Murim dimension, to the other dimensions like Ares and Callian.
To sum it up, one thing was certain.
‘……From here on, the challengers from Earth will have to climb the tower along with these monstrosities.’
Iron Blooded challenger told me before.
That from the 20th floor, I will start competing with challengers from other dimensions.
And I was certain after hearing Dam Cheonwoo’s information on other dimensions.
The challengers from Earth dimension will not be able to climb the tower properly.
Even the ones of Hunter background, even the challengers who recently gained power.
Unless they’ve experienced anything and everything under the sun like I have, they won’t be able to handle what’s about to come.
But…….
―why are you concerning yourself with other challengers? You can barely handle yourself right now.
Dam Cheonwoo spoke as if I had nothing to worry about.
―Challengers are ought to have skills befitting the floor that they’re at. If they don’t, then they’re simply paying the price for overestimating themselves. That’s the way of the tower.
That the ones that continue to climb the tower are not doing so from imposition but from their own volition.
And their decision of climbing the tower is rightly followed with accountability.
I agreed with that.
“…….”
In the end, I was not in a position to be worried about someone else.
With the truth revealed, my previous sense of responsibility completely vanished.
―What will you do now? There’s no more reward. Will you rest a bit? Or will you talk with an administrator?
“Neither.”
―Then what will you do?
“Climb the tower.”
―……Right now?
“Yes.”
Dam Cheonwoo asked in surprise, but I halfheartedly ignored him to speak out the command.
「 Do you accept the 17th floor trial? 」
“I can’t remain here.”
After all…….
“I have to get stronger.”
I made a choice to become stronger.
Until no one can oppress me.
Even if the opponent is a divine entity.
So I decided to forgo accepting quests for a while.
It’s not like I could receive additional rewards like the quest <savior of="" the="" end=""> that the administrator ‘Hero of a Fallen World’ has commissioned.
I had no plans of accepting quests despite all the risks.
‘Right now, I have to focus on my growth.’
So…….
</savior>
「Entering Tower of Trials floor 17.」
It was time to climb the tower again.
»————- ★ ————-«
「 Entering Tower of Trials floor 17. 」
「 Difficulty – Hard 」
「 The objective of the following trial is ‘Annihilation’. 」
「 We wish the challenger a satisfactory ending to their choice. 」
The stage of this trial was engulfed with complete darkness.
My sensations and even Aura Sense have been paralyzed to void me of any perception.
―……This will be strenuous. To think you’d get a trial like this. Make sure to be wary. You never know where an attack will occur.
It was good advice.
In this situation, I’d never know where I’d be attacked from.
Fortunately, I had an ability on par with Aura Sense and my perception stats.
「Activating skill ‘Fire Dragon’s Eyes’.」
The skill, Fire Dragon’s Eyes.
Almost as if I was seeing the world from an omniscient third person point of view, all the surrounding information was embedded into my mind like a panoramic picture.
And
‘The stage is a pretty large cave with about 6 people.”
「The 17th floor trial is starting」
「 Remaining time – 7 day 」
「 Trial success condition – Kill every enemy within the time limit and reach the end of Heavenly Armory.」
「 Trial fail condition – Challenger’s death or the end of remainder of time.」
「 Trial success reward – Grand Rejuvenation Pill(S+) 」
「 Trial fail penalty – Death 」
Fwoosh─!
The very moment the trial message appeared, the center of the cave emitted a blinding light.
And the ones that I’ve already perceived through Fire Dragon’s Eyes revealed themselves.
At the same time…….
「Activating skill ‘Fire Dragon’s Eyes’.」
Once the light was turned on, the man wearing a black robe swung his sword silently behind me.
Seeing his attire of a typical martial artist, I concluded that this stage must be based on the Murim dimension.
‘How absurd.’
For a man that looks like on the path of righteous ways to launch a sneak attack…….
Just like that lunatic of Murim based challenger, this stage must be of similar attribute.
Furthermore, this martial artist used techniques that could barely be detected by Aura Sense.
‘Every time I see the Murim dimension, I wonder just how rough it is in real life.’
Now, with my multiple encounters with murim challengers, attacks from blind spots had no meaning.
The Fire Dragon’s Eyes detecting the arc of the sword, I lowered my stance to avoid the strike.
Slash.
The blade of the martial artist that lost its target swung through the empty air.
“……W, Where?!”
Once I disappeared from the martial artists line of sight, he was taken aback.
And that was his final moment.
Slice!
「You’ve eliminated Mudang Demon Sword, Lee JongHak.」
「You’ve eliminated a strong opponent.」
「All stats raised by +1 temporarily within the 17th floor.」
「Kill every enemy.」
I got an incomprehensible message, but I had no time to pay heed to it.
「You have absorbed the soul of the Murim individual ‘Lee JongHak’.」
「Proficiency increased by 0.04%.」
After absorbing the soul of Lee JongHak, I immediately followed it by stabbing the Blood Demon Sword into his corpse to activate Blood Eat.
「Activating True Blood Demon Sword(A-)’s exclusive skill ‘Blood Eat’.」
「Item’s rank raises to A rank (3,241/4,800) from absorbing Murim individual Lee JongHak’s blood.」
Considering how fast he died, the rewards were rather generous. But there was no time to relish in it.
After all…….
“E-Elder Lee JongHak! How could this be……! You! I won’t forgive you!”
“Namu Amita Bul……! To think that there’s a demonic practitioner among us!”
“Hahahah! To think that there’d be a monster that can kill that old man! Interesting! Truly fascinating!”
The others were pointing at me on the verge of starting an all out battle.
―……Mount Hua sect, Shaolin Temple, Mudang Sect, Sect of Heavenly Demon, and Heishehui. What a chaotic combination. The one that you just killed is from the righteous faction of Mudang─.
“Ah, no need for formalities.”
Before Dam Cheonwoo finished talking, I spoke while shaking the blood off the Blood Demon Sword.
“If you plan on fighting, hurry up.”
With an expressionless face.
“Since you will all die here.”
I did not lie.
―You crazy bastard! A lunatic! A psychopath……! I- I knew you’d do this……!
After all, the only one who will survive in this place, will be me.
[To be continued.]
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