A sense of befuddlement permeated my consciousness as I came to grips with my current situation. "What's happening?" I whispered into the engulfing darkness, my voice bouncing back like an echo in an empty cavern.The assumption that I was dead seemed to crumble, leaving me confused and disoriented. I found myself secluded in an empty space, an abyss of darkness that stretched on infinitely in every direction.I was alone, surrounded by nothing but the void. The only exception to this was a shining anomaly that suddenly appeared before my perplexed eyes.In the midst of the darkness, a golden window manifested, casting a warm glow that sharply contrasted the black void around me. “What on earth could this be?" I mused, my voice barely above a whisper.[System Alert]- Will You Proceed?[Yes] [No][..]I was presented with a choice— a job. I remembered having a slot for it in my Status Window, although it had been blank up until now. This must mean that I was now eligible to select a p
During my tenure at the Sacred Hall, one of the most significant lessons I learned was the mechanics of the Demon Core 'explosion method.' This understanding was gleaned from closely observing the struggles of the Gifted, in their fierce battles against the Demons.Demon Cores are intriguing as they are the physical manifestation of a Demon's energy, condensed into a tangible form. This energy is distinctly demonic, and it inherently rejects any form of interaction with energy that originates from humans. Attempts to amalgamate these two contrasting energies have invariably led to an energy clash, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.Utilizing this knowledge to my advantage, I channeled my recently harnessed magic power, conveniently stored as 'MP', into each of the Demon Cores. This task was simplified by the fact that all of my possessions bear my unique 'Signature', enabling them to readily accept my infusion of Magic Power.The outcome of this strategic move was nothing short of
The broad grin on my face was a mirror reflecting my sheer delight as I surveyed my plentiful collection of Demon Cores. After a brief period of unconsciousness that I used to rejuvenate my weary body, I found myself still surrounded by the deserted expanse of the ground floor, a stark reminder of the grueling battle I had recently endured.Re-examining the items stored in my [Subspace], a grin crept across my face, almost involuntarily. The progress I had made within a mere couple of days was astonishing. I was no longer the terrified boy I had been a few weeks ago when I first stepped back into the world; my growth was undeniable."Yet, there's more to come…" I muttered, glancing at the entrance not far from where I sat. The sweet aroma of freedom was intoxicating. However, my journey was far from over."Patience is key! I can't rush this!" The external world surely held more dangers than I could possibly predict, and my only source of knowledge was my time spent in the Sacred Hall.
With an expression of distinct discomfort, a young woman groaned, "Urgh! I still can’t get used to this…” She seemed to be in her early twenties and was garbed in a form-fitting outfit studded with various pieces of survival equipment. Alongside her were four other figures, three males and another female, their clothes varied but their gear echoing the practicality of their apparent leader's.One of her crew swiftly admonished her, “It can’t be helped, also keep your voice down!” His voice echoed a little too loudly for his liking, earning him a swift, scathing glare from the leader. Sheepishly, he fell silent.“You’re the one making noise, stupid. Take your own advice…” she retorted, her voice trailing off as she scanned their surroundings. The scene before her was distressing, to say the least, with collapsed buildings and raging fires, but by now it was a familiar sight. The stagnant air was stifling, exacerbated by the sweltering sun and sporadic gusts of wind that only added to t
With a wide grin, I mused, "This has been well worth setting up. Now then… let's see what they're capable of!" [Flashback to Earlier]Upon conquering the entire building and stepping into the outside world, I was welcomed by a deathly silence. The tangible sensation of solitude seemed to permeate my very being, causing a peculiar tingling sensation on my skin.I scanned my surroundings, and even with my heightened senses, I couldn't detect a single sign of life for miles around. It led me to question, “Am I the sole survivor in this area?”I had barely walked a short distance from my apartment building when I surveyed the surrounding structures. Some stood defiantly against the sky while others lay collapsed, their once formidable heights reduced to rubble. Surprisingly, my surroundings were eerily devoid of any monstrous presence.What made my apartment so distinct, I wondered? The answer was already forming in my mind, “It must have been due to the Gate that had materialized in the
Chapter 4: An Unforeseen RevelationContemplating my next move, I recalled an intriguing strategy I had conceived for such situations. The approaching group was part of an expedition team, inherently implying their superior combat capabilities. My understanding of the expedition teams' ranking, courtesy of the knowledge I gained in the Sacred Hall, made me tread carefully. I had to assume they were on par with my strength, no matter their rank. One wrong move could give away my presence.The expedition team drew closer, their attire and gear strikingly different from what I had encountered before. Their lack of visible enhancements baffled me. The most potent energy I could sense emanated from the woman who seemed to be leading the group. Shrouded in mystery, their true strength remained an enigma. But the answers were imminent.With ten Skills at my disposal, a few of which I acquired after becoming a thief, I no longer needed to manually access my Subspace to use items. Conjuring th
In a dimension distinct from the familiar laws of time and space, the Sacred Hall stood. This realm, ruled by God Himself, was a breathtaking marvel untouched by worldly concepts and constraints.In this domain, mere thoughts were transformed into tangible reality. Fatigue, discomfort, and hunger were foreign, replaced by an endless stream of entertainment that kept boredom at bay. The primary spectacle was the Golden Screen, aptly known as the World’s Mirror. It was a divine conduit through which one could observe any person, place, or event occurring within the earthly realm.Observing the daily unfolding of life from this privileged vantage point, I realized that God's famed omniscience was enabled by this all-seeing mirror. Time, an illusion in this realm, allowed me to immerse myself fully in humanity's last struggle, presented without restriction on the screen before me.With an unsettling fascination, I watched the desperate battles, the rivers of spilled blood, and the mounting
Anne was gasping for breath, her lungs straining with every inhale and exhale. Her eyes were wearied, and her body trembled on the brink of collapse. However, she clenched her fists, determined to persevere in her struggle, banking on a miracle to unfold. The previously fierce look on her face melted into a soft one as the monster bore down on her, its oppressive aura advancing relentlessly. Her comrades lay incapacitated on the battleground, moaning in agony as their lifeblood drained away, leaving them powerless."How did we end up here...?!" Ana seethed through gritted teeth. She had harbored some hope of overcoming the beast, but the creature’s overpowering ability that allowed it to withstand their combined assault was something she hadn’t accounted for.The ogre grunted, its mouth watering as it savored the intoxicating mixture of Anne’s sweat and blood. The scent only fed the monster's perverse thrill.Drained as she was, she had enough strength left for one final activation o
In the quiet aftermath of the tumultuous ARMAGEDDON, I found myself standing at the precipice of a new reality. The remnants of the battle lingered in the air, and I could feel the residual power and (G) Essence coursing through the fabric of existence. As I gazed upon the aftermath, a solemn determination settled within me – a resolve to forge a reality free from the influence of both Demons and Gods.With newfound purpose, I raised my hands, drawing upon the remnants of power that swirled around me. As I concentrated, the very fabric of existence seemed to warp and bend to my will. The Demons and Gods, the Administrators of this chaotic universe, were to be left behind in the debris of ARMAGEDDON.In a surge of cosmic energy, I began to shape a pristine reality, one untouched by supernatural forces. The skies cleared, the land became fertile, and the seas calmed. I meticulously crafted a world where the laws of nature reigned supreme, untouched by the meddling hands of higher bei
"Oh well, there's nothing else I can do…" Even if I was annoyed about the whole thing with Arthur, it was still a fact that he lost.Thanks to their emergency escape, the Pariah party missed their chance to challenge the Hidden Floor of the Tower Of Conquerors.Not only that, but their plan to use Leah and the others as hostages didn't work. They were in my [Subspace].'It's not like they matter to me at this point…'I could simply keep them as (G) Karma Point banks.Now that I could once again resort to farming (G) Karma from people, wasn't this the perfect opportunity to gain as many points as I could?'Ah, but I need quite the number of Points to advance to B Rank…'My Gift was currently in C Rank. While the abilities were pretty broken at this point, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me if I could get a higher Rank.'With this whole gods business, I need to get as strong as possible…'With a smile, I gazed upon the warbling portal in front of me."Speaking of stronger… I sh
What happens when a person keeps climbing the Tower?Yes, with each Level Up, wounds heal and the body is restored. However, mental fatigue is something that piles up. The strain a person has is something that gathers over time.The Rankers knew this quite well, so they all agreed to climb together. It was very obvious what they were planning on doing.—Letting the other person die!In this world, there were many ways to get stronger. It was also possible to use certain loopholes in the System—especially if one wasn't an Evil Aligned yet.Since the Rankers were in a Party, they must have been very certain of their Alignments, making them completely 'trust' one another.But, these things could be deceptive.Just as I managed to kill a bunch of people without a change in my Chaotic Neutral Alignment, the same applied to a lot of people—especially in a dangerous place like the Tower.As they fought monsters, it was certain that Rankers would get weakened. Then… if, by chance, some 'accid
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT!][The Tower Of War Has Been Cleared!]Torrents of thoughts flowed in my mind as I looked at the System Window displayed in front of me.'What the hell…?'Why?How?Who?It didn't make any sense.The average Level for the current denizens of the world was 50. The strong ones were about to reach Level 100, but I didn't expect anyone to have attained Level 150 talk-less 200.The Levels and Grades of the monsters climbed as one advanced through the Floors, and since the Towers had similar difficulty, I expected others to receive the same treatment I experienced.No one could have succeeded in that venture, but me. It wasn't pride… but reality!However…'Could it be.—?!'Perhaps it was something I failed to consider. I had always suspected it, but after the Tutorial ended and I kept a watchful eye on the Leaderboard, Auction, Tower Updates, and several other elements of this new world, my doubts were cleared.There shouldn't have been anyone else who was granted somet
"Rise and shine, sleepy head." A voice greeted Abhoth as he opened his astral eyes.His vision blurred, but it only lasted for a moment.Soon, he could see everything around him. It was the exact scene he remembered before dying—the underground room where he was brewing his Elixir.Did he not die? Had he managed to survive?Countless thoughts lurked in Abhoth's ghost-like body… until he realized the fact… that he was in a ghost-like body.He nearly shrieked, seeing as he had a near-transparent form, and floated like a ghost. A purple aura emanated from him, and his body was incorporeal—well, nearly.He was made of energy, and he could even see his actual body—his corpse—lying on the ground.Abhoth didn't need a prophet to tell him that he was dead.'Ghost Magic…?!' His thoughts rang, and imaginary cold sweat broke out on his forehead.He was a ghost, so he couldn't really sweat.Still, Abhoth understood the implications of what had happened to him. As an expert in Magic, he knew of th
The audience was astonished!Sweat fell from their brows and their bodies shuddered. Even though they were protected by the sturdy pink layer, none of them were immune to the chill that coursed through their bones.The group had thought they saw the full extent of the Masked Man's powers—or at least close to it. However, his current actions shattered their preconceived notion."I-impossible…""This can't be real… right?""I can't believe this… is he really human?""Masked Hero! You're so amazing!"They all had different ways of expressing their shock.For starters, the group didn't know how it was possible to clear the battlefield of corpses. They had seen so many dead bodies—like an insurmountable sea—yet, in an instant, the Masked Man cleared them all.It was a feat like none other.As if that wasn't amazing enough, a massive Dragon suddenly emerged from a dark cloud and soared into the sky. The Demon—a being that far surpassed anything they had seen up until that moment—charged bri
There were many ways to win.I knew that from the get-go. I could use [Subspace] to shave off parts of the Dragon's body, reducing its health until it completely fell apart.I could use my purification to severely weaken it and blast the monster to kingdom come. An easy solution would also be to use the seventy-one Treasures OF War to impale the beast on all ends. If I added my Mana to them and increased their efficiency, the monster stood no chance.I could keep going on and on as to how I could win, but what was the point?Once in a while, a person needed some excitement in their life—I was no exception."COME!"My declaration prompted the Dragon Of Storms—or rather, what was left of him—to charge at me with frightening speed.>WHOOOOSSHSHHH
The area around the beast was charred, and nothing but black, sooty grounds surrounding it. Impaling it were several weapons; ranging from spears to blades.They all looked very powerful and valuable.There were seventy-one of the weapons that pierced the monster's body… most likely what killed it.My eyes narrowed on the dead beast, and a wry smile appeared on my face. It now made sense why I sensed such powerful energy from beyond the gate back then.This monstrosity was the cause.Laid on the ground, surrounded by destruction and carnage was one of the most powerful races of Demons that existed.—A Dragon!Judging from the battle scene, I had a fair idea of what transpired here… at least what the narrative of this Floor was.A battle occurred, and the several races combined forces. They had a common enemy, and that was the fallen beast at the center of the battle. I had an idea of the difficulty if seven hundred thousand individuals ganged up on the creature.'It's at least a Grade
I realized my childish body was too inefficient.In so many ways, the fact that I was below average in height and build was going to impede my future plans… which was why I decided to solve the problem.Using Lara’s Gift, now my Skill, I could shape-shift into any form I desired. However, it consumed Mana, and it also had a duration despite how much I maxed it out. Since I couldn't maintain it for too long, the ability was useless as a permanent solution.Scouring for a solution in the SHOP, I finally found my answer. It was a Potion known as the Perfect Growth Compound. After reading its description, I understood its function.The potion simply elevated whoever drank it to their ideal, most perfect physical state. As a result, it could take me to the peak I could ever attain physically.I was a little worried that I was going to remain short, but seeing as there was also a Reversal Potion being sold, I decided to take my chances.Who would have thought… it actually worked!I grew to