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
Clad in my dark, hooded cloak - check! Donned in my sleek gloves and boots - double-check! My exquisite sword at the ready - triple-check! And, to top it all, the fox mask that I had eagerly purchased online, inspired by one of my favorite anime - quadruple check! A rush of thrill surged within me as I stood poised before the mischievous Ogre. Enveloped in an aura of charisma, my mysterious persona brought a smile to my face. 'I must admit, I've always yearned to have an experience like this!'I had to credit God for this opportunity. This world was the perfect canvas to paint my fantasies upon, and I planned on creating a myriad of colorful memories.I summoned my Core-5 blade from the [Subspace] and brandished it at the Demon, a grin etched beneath my white mask. The sword, once belonging to an erstwhile ally, was tightly grasped in my hand. After losing my previous weapon to the Hell Kobold King and depleting my arsenal of daggers due to their frailty against its mana shield, t
As the day steadily transitioned into the evening, countless hours had elapsed since the taming of the monstrous ogre. My gaze remained fixed on the group from earlier, now on their feet and seemingly rejuvenated, though the trauma of the encounter with death still clung to their faces.While her comrades sought solace in rest, the leader, identified as Anne, decided to retrieve their coveted prize. A sense of wonder took hold of me; despite their earlier peril, they hadn't abandoned their quest. Was it purely the prospect of precious resources that anchored their resolve?Their ultimate aim, it seemed, was a Vending Machine. A banal device, but one laden with potential nourishment and items to bring back to their camp. Anne approached it eagerly, a palpable sigh of relief escaping her as she considered the dual victory - the fulfillment of their quota and the acquisition of a new skill from the defeated monster's Demon Core.'Ah, she's planning to transpo
"...My second reason is anchored in hope. I believe that these seemingly barren buildings still hold potential resources. It's likely that food, clothing, and other invaluable materials are hidden away within them. So, while we secure shelter in one of these structures, I will personally undertake a search to uncover anything we can use back at the camp," Anne articulated with conviction.A wave of awe washed over the group as they absorbed her words. Indeed, they couldn't imagine a more fitting leader among them. Anne's assertiveness and pragmatic outlook were undisputed.Her words were undeniable; the logic, indisputable. Anne was not just thinking about the immediate wellbeing of the group, but also contemplating the long-term sustainability of the camp.The man with the glasses, named Peter, was the first to break the silence. "I-I see… I apologize for my earlier misunderstanding," he admitted humbly.Anne dismissed his apology with a casual s
Anne, the group's leader, leaned in closer to the young girl, her voice low and coaxing, "...Do you see now, Katie? We must stick together as a unit. It's the surest way to guarantee our safety." She was doing her best to convince the visibly uncomfortable girl.Katie, as she was referred to, seemed to grapple with Anne's rationale. Her hesitance hung palpably in the air, a weak protest on her lips before she swallowed it back down. She seemed to understand that arguing would only paint her as selfish."In any case," Anne continued, "I will be setting out soon to scrounge for supplies. You simply can't be alone, Katie. Leaving you here by yourself would unsettle me deeply."The gravity of Anne's words hung heavily in the room, effectively silencing any retort Katie might have had. To speak out now would be a sign of ingratitude for Anne's heartfelt concern for her safety. It would also indicate an unreasonable stubbornness that could potentially put the te
'Oh, this is far more entertaining than I anticipated!'From my vantage point, I could feel the young woman's palpable fear resonating a few meters away from me.I had been discreetly observing her as she embarked on a futile quest throughout the building, searching for any useful resources, only to be met with disappointment.Finally, she crumbled to her knees, heavy breaths escaping her lips. It was clear that fatigue had finally overwhelmed her.'This is my opportunity,' I mentally prepared myself.Within a few moments, I silently traversed the distance between us, approaching her from the nearby stairs. Aware that my presence would soon fall within her sensory range, I steeled myself for the impending encounter.I had taken the necessary precautions beforehand. I'd altered my clothing and smeared my face with dirt to give myself a ragged appearance. My hair was tousled into a disheveled mess, and a thrilling grin spread acros
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