“A carefully planned strategy is in place and our victory is assured as long as we make up for our lack of numbers… so, as fellow Camp Members, I will ask you… who is willing to join forces with the expedition force in order to form the appropriate subjugation team and protect the camp?!”
Absolute silence filled the air. The once noisy mob shut their mouths and ceased moving.Charles was stunned by the response of the crowd. In all fairness, he had expected this much to happen, but seeing something occur before your very eyes is always the best way to confirm it.“Anyone?” Charles repeated, his voice echoing through the vast building.No one dared to meet his eyes, looking uncomfortable by his declaration. Even in the absence of words, the Camp Members made their stance clearly known.‘No one is volunteering… because they don’t want to die!’ I smiled, watching Charles’ expression turn sour.Surely, he had realized it“Damian, what exactly did you do to them?” Charles’ voice trembled with seething rage, and his expression wasn’t the best either. His question made me startled for a second.“What do you mean?” I asked.“Don’t take me for an idiot!” The annoyed Camp Leader banged his hands on his desk, rising to his feet.I shot him a glare, not appreciating the attitude he was displaying. He was a little shaken by it, but his fear was diminished by the anger swirling within him.“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? My Gift allows me to see the Status Information of everyone, or did you forget?” He burst out, still raising his voice in anger.“What’s your point?” I asked flatly.“You did something to them, didn’t you? The Camp Members. All their Intelligence Stats were less than usual. Stats don’t just vanish into thin air, so it had to be caused by something… or someone.” His eyes narrowed as he eyed me with disgust.I was impressed, to say the least. It was one thing to be able to see the Status Infor
“Fine. You can have her.” I shrugged in surrender.After considering both sides of the scale, it would just prove to be more troublesome if I didn’t indulge him. Using , I brought out the woman within my [Subspace]. As soon as she materialized in Charles’ office, her dear husband’s eyes bulged in shock and relief.I wasn’t just going to let him have her, though. The woman was unconscious and was still in the exact state she had been in when I had taken her into [Subspace], so it was easy to hold her in a submissive position while staring at Charles.“W-what are you-?!” Charles asked as he glared at me.I rubbed my hand around her neck, using my fingers to slightly press on it. The woman’s body was directly rubbing against mine, and I gripped her throat with my second hand.“I control whether or not she dies, Charles. Remember that.”He clenched his teeth while glaring at me. As long as my point had gotten across, there was no need for further discourse. “Here…” I pushed her slumped
“Ha! Don’t worry, everyone. Just trust me!” Larry said in a loud voice to raise the spirits of the 28 people who were with him.Many of them looked dispirited and unmotivated. Their countenance had fallen and they were looking fearful.Now that they were out of the confines of the Camp, they were forced to travel through the destroyed roads and bear witness to the destroyed properties all around them.Most of them had not been outside for weeks, so taking all this in at once was too much for their minds to bear.“M-maybe… I should have stayed behind…” Some of them muttered to themselves in regret.They often turned their heads back, looking at the Camp’s building a distance away, and felt abandoned. Their only source of hope and defense was Larry, a member of the Expedition team. Or rather, former member.Larry noticed the atmosphere around him and was annoyed by the fools that surrounded him.‘Tsk. These weak-minded idiots!’ He groaned internally.‘I managed to take 28 people away fr
The traitors also recognized the intruder as they knew him quite well. It was the newest member of the Camp, the harmless boy that Ana had personally vouched for.“Oh, you all look surprised. Well, I don’t blame you…” The boy smiled, placing both hands in his pockets.His expression was different from what everyone remembered. His bulging eyes were filled with excitement, and a sadistic smile, the boy descended from where he stood and landed from a tall height effortlessly.This was a feat not just anyone could achieve. His sudden appearance, his expression, and the sudden feat he just accomplished made everyone who witnessed it wonder if it was truly him that stood before them.Larry’s lips were forced to open as he let out sounds of puzzlement.“Damian… Stark?!”-------------------------------------‘Pfft, these losers!’ I mused, looking at the bunch of dumbfounded idiots before me.They all displayed shock by my feat, though their reactions were only normal since I had jumped from
“Uarghhhhhhh!!!” The wounded man’s voice still filled the air, and it was ticking me off at this point.Who would have thought that he wasn’t even the real deal and was just some faker who most likely wanted to impress Larry with his bravado.He must have thought that doing so would secure him a higher standing with their ‘hero’ when they got to the Camp of their dreams. ‘I can be useful when it counts, so watch me, Larry!’ That must have been what he was thinking at the time.Looking at him now, though, he had no semblance of dignity left.Using my superhuman speed, I swiftly closed the distance between us, tapping him lightly.He instantly vanished, disappearing into [Subspace] in a flash.This caused even more shocked cries from the crowd. ‘Good grief, will the noise of this stupid mob ever end?’“W-what did you just do?!” The people cried, widening their eyes as they stared at me fearfully.“Oh, I suppose you guys don’t know about it… my Gift, that is.” My eyes moved to Larry w
“Let’s stop fighting.” Larry suddenly said, rising from where he crashed.He had a few bruises from the impact, but they were nothing spectacular. “Why don’t you hear me out?”Judging from his countenance, Larry was pretty confident about whatever he was about to say. Curiosity began welling up within me, but I also knew I didn’t have a lot of time to spend.“What makes you think I’ll want to listen?” I asked, rolling my eyes.For all I know, he could just be trying to stall until the Cooldown time of his Skills had passed, or he might be looking for an alternative way to escape. After our brief clash, it was obvious to everyone who the superior one was.“Larry, just kill him!”“There’s no use reasoning with someone like that!”“He’s a monster! Please don’t go easy on him.”Apparently, not everyone watched the match closely. To them, did it seem like Larry was holding back in his fight against me?‘I take it back. It wasn’t obvious to everyone!’“Will you losers just quiet down?! I d
“… Disappointing… It appears I overestimated you.” I smiled, bringing my face closer to Larry.The moment I said this, a deep glare appeared on his face.As someone who had killed another before, he must have been familiar with human nature. An unmerciful person wasn’t going to bite no matter how many pleadings or deals one tried to make.Realizing that it was pointless to make further deals or argue with me, Larry knew he had to fight or escape.Larry’s glare suddenly turned into a smile, and a dim light emanated from his body. Perhaps it was a stroke of luck on his end, but his skills were now ready for use.“Finally!” He beamed, covering his body in the shadowy ability that made him intangible for some time.‘I knew it. He was also stalling for time.’ I mused.Larry took this opportunity as his cue to leave. He couldn’t take the people behind him as his prize, but at least he would be alive! Dashing swiftly at me, his body passed through me as he ran ahead in order to escape.Larr
Larry was still recoiling from my words, but I didn’t have any time to waste on him. Raising my hand to tap him, I drew even closer.He must have taken this as a window of opportunity, because he swiftly launched his arms at me, generating spikes through them. I watched as the sharp-bladed arms lunged at me, but his futile attempts at survival were such a letdown.Using , I blocked off his assault and proceeded to touch him.“The only reason you’re not dead is because I need you for something… remember that!” I whispered in his ears.He shivered and nodded slightly, glad that I was sparing his life. Unknown to him, though, the fate I had planned for him was much worse than death by my hands.Larry instantly disappeared into [Subspace] and became my property as well. Curious about something, I called out to my Gift and the [Subspace] window.[SUBSPACE]Name: Hell Kobold King’s ToothRank: F+Level: 1(Upgradable)Strength: 600Durability: 5,900Core Power: 1,200Core Energy: 100%[.]Na
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