The Omniscient Thunder Axe's Orchard, on the fifty-second floor. “Sir, I believe we’ve already crossed a point of no return. Moreover, on the fifty-second floor—” “You’re worrying too much.” “Too much? Absolutely not. Didn’t you witness what happened on the fifty-first floor? Even Kwon Su-Hyeok is bound to end up like that one.” “But, killing the Camadeni? His hatred for the divine is undeniable! Because of him, even the Mother of All Cattle, who had no interest in the Tower, has submitted to Kal-Lain!” “Barkhan, my decision remains unchanged. If you cannot trust him, then trust me instead.” [17 hours and 59 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.] [Climbers may request to enter the fifty-second floor at any time.] The familiar sight of the waiting room’s pristine white walls greeted me. There had been rumors circulating among the climbers that the waiting room would undergo another upgrade after the fifty-first floor. However, Ha Hee-Jeong had already spoiled that nothing would change—she had been right. Without prompting, Doppy headed off to the shower. I watched his retreating figure for a second before excitedly opening my status window. [Kwon Su-Hyeok (Earthling, C-66432)] Title: Seeker of the Crossroads Patron Deity: First class, Omniscient Thunder Axe (Share percentage: 0.00%(-?.??%) / 100.00%) Skills: Sixth Sense lvl 14, … Savior lvl 6, Master of Shadows lvl 12, Two-Way Portal lvl 5, … Wind’s Route lvl 8, … Ghost Step lvl 4, Demon Slayer lvl 5, Thousand-Pound Mace lvl 4. Thanks to the hidden missions, my overall stats had grown significantly, although Agility particularly so. I remembered it had used to lag behind Strength, but it now surpassed it. My frequent use of skills during the final battle had also contributed to many of my skills leveling up; some more than once, even. As I stared at the status window, a peculiar sense of detachment crept over me. There was a time, maybe up until around the thirtieth floor, when watching my stats rise filled me with excitement. Perhaps I had grown too accustomed to it. Now, an increase in stats or skill level-ups merely felt like a matter of course. This detachment partly came from the fact that many of my skills had integrated into me and no longer appeared on my status; Dragon’s Blood and Bear’s Blood, for example. Even though these skills still technically existed, the stats displayed on the status window didn’t perfectly align with my actual physical capabilities because of the merge—they didn’t take the boost of the integrated skills into account. Having passed the tower’s halfway point, constantly checking my status window seemed unnecessary. Maybe I will only glance at it when something feels off or when I am bored. For now, I sank into one of the chairs provided in the waiting room. I wasn’t particularly tired. The final skirmish had been the only real battle on the fifty-first floor, and it hadn’t lasted long. Even Doppy seems to be in high spirits. Since he had stuck with our party the entire time, he hadn’t needed to do much. Outside of sleeping and providing buffs, he had mostly run around. My original plan had been to shower, visit the training hot springs, and then proceed straight to the fifty-second floor. Instead, I reached into the mimic and retrieved a single bottle of Amrita. I should probably consume this first. Although I had used my original five bottles of Amrita to restore the Camadeni’s reason, they had managed to produce one last bottle before I killed them. The drink of the gods. Even the Camadenus I had spoken to hadn’t explained its effects, simply urging me to look forward to it. What benefits does it offer? Even Ha Hee-Jeong said she didn’t know. Is it even listed in the shop? Curious, I opened the shop and searched for Amrita. Contrary to my expectations, not a single result appeared. It was truly a divine drink, and its radiant glow alone hinted at something extraordinary, far beyond any elixir I had encountered. Turning to Ryun, I asked, “Do you know what this is?” “I… do not. I have… never seen it… before…” I had assumed Ryun would know the answer, but disappointment overtook me as he shook his head. Honestly, what should I even do? I had no idea what effect it would have, but considering gods drank it, there was no way it would be intended to be harmful. Ultimately, I would have to drink it and experience its effects firsthand. Just holding the Amrita in my hand stirred an overwhelming urge to consume it immediately. It was as if it whispered sweet nothings, tempting me. Shaking my head, I tried to dispel the thought. Calm down. Just hold on a little longer. Drinking it now wouldn’t be the smartest decision. Consuming an elixir would plunge me into a deep sleep for at least thirty minutes, and the training hot springs’ effectiveness diminished as time passed. Since the next floor would be an individual challenge floor, even a fractional increase in my stats could prove critical. My wisest course of action would be to shower first, visit the hot springs, and only then consume the Amrita. Suppressing my desire, I sat quietly and waited for Doppy to finish his shower. 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has consumed Amrita, an elixir born from the Chaotic Abyss.」 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has acquired the Authority of Agelessness. He will no longer age.」 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s purified blood vessels and mana pathways have significantly expanded. Absorption efficiency has greatly increased.」 「Invisible message: Strength increased by 3. Agility and Stamina increased by 2. Mana increased by 5.」 [15 hours 13 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.] When I came to my senses, I realized that over two hours had passed. Immediately, a sense of unparalleled freshness struck me. I felt remarkably light, overflowed with energy, and my mind seemed sharper than ever. Even without opening the status window, I could tell my stats had improved significantly. Lying down, I raised my hand and inspected it. Wow. My skin looks even more flawless. After my previous transformation, my skin had already turned a pristine shade of porcelain, but it now seemed even more radiant, almost unnaturally beautiful. This is getting ridiculous. Too perfect can be boring. From across the room, Doppy lounged on the bed with a book. He turned to glance at me. “Su-Yeok! You’re finally awake!” “Yeah. What about you? Did you get enough rest?” “I slept so much yesterday that I don’t even feel sleepy now!” Ever since his evolution, he needed less sleep with each passing day. Well, good thing I took the elixir. I feel energized. As I stretched and rolled my shoulders to loosen up, I turned to Doppy. “You’re not feeling tired, right?” “Great. Then get ready. We’re heading straight to the fifty-second floor.” Doppy jolted upright as if its world had just ended. “Wha-what? Already?” Nodding firmly, I reiterated, “You’ve had plenty of rest, and you just said you’re not tired. No point lying around.” “Quit stalling. Finish up and prepare. We’ll do some combat training in the hot springs first.” Doppy stared pleadingly at me for a second, then finally gave up and simply uttered, “Fine.” He reluctantly got to his feet, then walked across the room in a deliberate and slow manner. I could see his discontent written all over his face. Is he really trying to protest? Just as I was about to reprimand his attitude, Ryun remarked, “Doppy... is still... young. Give him... a little more... time to... adjust...” “Sure, he’s young from your perspective, Ryun. But we’ve already given him ample time. Plus, Fenrike is working hard to support him. If Doppy wants to survive, he needs to step up.” Still within earshot, Doppy had to have heard every word. His sulking demeanor vanished, and he quickly started putting on his armor. Did Ryun’s words snap him out of his mood? On reflection, I realized Ryun had spoken up intentionally to steer the conversation. When I glanced at Ryun, he gave me a sly wink. Well, I guess he’s not all talk. Watching Doppy equip his armor, I began gearing up as well. “Ready!” Doppy responded cheerfully, indicating he had regained his energy. I gave him a quick once-over, inspecting his helmet, armor, weapons, and belt. Satisfied, I thought to myself that taking care of Doppy always felt like raising a child. Leaning against the desk and pondering my next step, I glanced at Ryun. How do I transition to the next floor? Do I simply say it aloud? Tilting my head toward the waiting room’s ceiling, I made sure to enunciate as I said, “Take me to the fifty-second floor.” The tower’s system responded almost immediately. [The rest period has not yet ended. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok, do you wish to proceed to the fifty-second floor?] [This choice is irreversible.] As soon as the word left my lips, the world around me turned upside down. [Welcome to the fifty-second floor of the Tower of Ordeal: Penance.] [Climbers’ skills and items have been restricted or removed for the duration of this trial.] [Climbers are unable to express their intentions. Additionally, all aggressive actions are strictly prohibited.] [Climbers are required to reach the mountain’s summit.] [Reach your destination. Time remaining: 47 hours 59 minutes.] As soon as I regained my senses, a wave of scorching heat greeted me. The oppressive air clung to me, making each breath feel heavy and laborious. Whew, I bet the temperature is over two hundred degrees. Having never encountered such intense heat before, I couldn’t say for sure. However, it definitely surpassed the scorching heat of the Indian deserts I had once traversed. Fuck, I shouldn’t have rushed Doppy. Even without glancing around, I could tell Doppy and Ryun weren’t here. All my gear—armor, weapons, and accessories—was gone as well. The only things on me were tattered cloth garments and a shabby robe. Even my feet were bare, almost burning against the searing ground. Looking ahead, I spotted a mountain towering amidst the shimmering heat. Its snow-covered peak gleamed starkly in contrast, with a brilliant beam of light descending straight onto its summit. I felt like I understood the goal of this trial clearly enough. I would have to ascend the mountain while enduring the merciless heat. With the prohibition on aggressive actions, that meant there would either be no enemies or that running away would be my only option. Moreover, with a two-day time limit, this wouldn’t be an easy task. The heat would likely grow even more intense, forcing me to face both mental and physical duress. One thing puzzled me, however. What does the tower mean when it says I can’t express my intentions? Does that mean I will be interacting with others? Regardless, I couldn’t say for sure until I began climbing. Clenching my teeth, I turned toward the summit. “Alright, let’s get started.” Though the peak would be my ultimate goal, I decided to start by checking behind me. In trials with defined destinations, something was often hidden in the opposite direction. 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok is the second climber to attempt Penance.」 「Invisible message: The hidden mission ‘Companionship, The Phantom of the Predecessor’ has now commenced.」