[Would you like to open the ‘Sanctum Archive of the Divinities’?]

A single line of text.

When Jinhyuk first saw the third privilege for conquering the tower, he had to struggle to calm his pounding heart.

It was inevitable.

The privileges he had obtained so far were already incredible, but this was something that transcended those entirely.

“Yes.”

Jinhyuk nodded.

[The third privilege has been revealed.]

[Unique Sanctum Chant – Corruption.]

• You can replicate the corrupted version of a unique sanctum chant owned by higher beings. Activation is only possible while sharing magical power with a higher being. (Depending on proficiency, the duration of the replicated corrupted version will vary, and once a unique sanctum chant is used, it cannot be reused through the third privilege.)

The ‘Sword of Judgement’ shown by Goguma’s true form.

The ‘Sanctum Archive’ felt like a lesser version of universal sharing, but the activation condition was simpler.

You didn’t need to maintain a deep bond; merely sharing magical power was enough.

‘It’s regrettable it’s only once, but it’s the best ability for instant use.’

Jinhyuk immediately gathered all his magical power.

Kukukuku!

His already dark claws began to darken even further.

[The unique Sanctum Chant of ‘Berial, the Rotting Heart’ is being replicated.]

A spear of bizarre form emerged between the claws.

An absolute verdict of a nightmare that no armor or thick shield could stop.

The Black Spear ‘Kishan’.

That was Berial’s unique sanctum chant.

The air transformed drastically.

The divinities were the first to realize the anomaly.

[That ability…!?]

Shiva’s voice resounded deeply.

How could they not know?

Only a thousand years ago, during the grand war of the divinities, this was the power held by the Demon Lord Berial.

The most notorious of all demonic spears, the Black Spear ‘Kishan’.

The power felt was not even a tenth of what it had been, but the mere fact that this ability was being reproduced through a player was shocking in itself.

[You… what on earth…]

Even Berial couldn’t hide his astonishment.

The look that reached Jinhyuk’s nape was one of fear, transcending mere interest.

But, there was no time to entertain their reactions.

Crack! Crunch!

Already, fissures were appearing on Kishan’s blade.

It was disintegrating.

Even the corrupted version contained too much powerful magic.

‘There’s only one chance.’

Jinhyuk gripped the spear as if to break it.

Maintaining Kishan for even 30 seconds was challenging under these conditions.

In an instant.

Psscht…

It felt as though the air itself was being compressed.

His shoulders pulled back and the magic condensed.

The suffocating silence was no illusion.

Runes of ancient language meaning ‘Acceleration’, ‘Maintenance’, and ‘Penetration’ began to appear along the gathered black energy at the spear’s tip.

“…Kuk!”

Nirasha reconstructed the golden shield she had created moments before through Mandala.

Almost simultaneously.

Kwaang!

Jinhyuk hurled the half-broken ‘Kishan’.

It felt weightless, as if devoid of mass.

But more astonishing than its speed was the spear’s inherent ability.

[Mandala won’t work! Evade it!]

Shiva shouted, but the spear had already penetrated the outer wall of Mandala and burrowed inside.

“How can this be!?”

Nirasha urgently drew up her magical power to its maximum.

Kwakwakwakwa!

One layer, two layers, then three.

Complex formulas and holy powers overlaid in spells were all shattered.

The last barrier reached was the core of Mandala, known for its utmost solidity.

Dangerous.

That was the moment Nirasha realized it, and she unleashed her unique ability.

[The Millennial Oath ‘Supreme Mandala’ blossoms!]

Twelve petals resembling a lotus blossomed.

Resisting the spreading darkness from the spear tip, the fully bloomed Supreme Mandala emitted a golden radiance.

Kukukuku!

A clash of magical powers beyond imagination.

The entire tomb shook violently.

Unable to withstand the weight, Nirasha’s legs began to sink into the ground.

“This… just this much…!”

Nirasha gritted her teeth.

The granddaughter of India’s wealthiest conglomerate family.

She had preempted information about the Tower of Trials with her immense financial resources.

The day the Tower of Trials appeared, she had monopolized replicas infused with magic from the tower.

‘There can’t be anyone stronger than me.’

She was confident she had pleased the divinities and obtained the best route and the strongest power.

But.

‘…I’m being overwhelmed.’

Crack! Crunch!

The lotus was breaking.

The spear was also disintegrating visibly, but the Mandala was collapsing faster.

[The absolute verdict ‘Breath of Decay’ erodes the target.]

The lotus was tainted by the spear.

A spear striving to penetrate, and a shield trying to block.

The outcome of that battle was decided in this moment.

Puhak!

The spear, half its blade gone, pierced through Nirasha’s abdomen.

A grisly sound of flesh being torn followed by a gush of blood.

“Kuh…!”

Nirasha’s body bent like the letter ‘L’.

Or so it seemed until the image of Nirasha impaled by the spear blurred and disappeared.

Jinhyuk’s eyes narrowed.

“Quite impressive. To have reached the realm where you can synchronize the Vajra and the Supreme Mandala.”

To think she could manifest the mental world through Mandala.

Indeed, she was a player fully backed by the Indian side.

Of course.

Using such a power to distort space meant the aftermath was bound to be severe.

“Huh… Huh. Huh. Huh.”

A few meters away, Nirasha gasped for air.

Her face, dripping with cold sweat, was twisted with rage and humiliation.

To think her ‘Supreme Mandala’, believed to be the strongest shield, couldn’t last even a few seconds.

Her expression was one of someone who never dreamed she could lose.

[You’ve surpassed human limits… Berial, how did you acquire such a monster?]

[I didn’t know he’d be such a monstrous player… Ahem. See? This is the level of a player pushed by the underworld. He’s especially precious to me.]

Exclamations of disbelief erupted from the divinities.

Although they were prematurely enjoying their victory, what mattered now was finishing the fight.

“You seem quite strained. What will you do? Continue?”

Overloading her whole body with magic under such conditions could lead to self-destruction.

A phenomenon often called ‘demonic possession’ in martial circles.

Losing sanity while blood sprays from the Qi points is not a pleasant sight.

Nirasha knew this too well to dare continue.

“…It seems this fight is yours.”

Nirasha conceded with a short click of her tongue.

“A wise decision. I have no interest in expending more effort on a decided battle.”

His primary target wasn’t Nirasha, nor was it feasible to take on all the rankers of the Gandhara Guild alone.

Though he appeared composed, he too had used power beyond his limits.

As the situation took an unexpected turn, Bainstul became desperate.

“Ni, Nirasha! You’re giving up? What are you saying? We have a… deal, don’t we? Are you planning to abandon that?”

“I do want that item, but it’s not worth my life. Opportunities will come again.”

“How can this be… Wait. Just wait a moment.”

Bainstul reached out desperately, but Nirasha had already made up her mind.

“Today we lost. I honestly didn’t expect to lose so cleanly, but I’ll have to let things proceed as you wish regarding the empire.”

Nirasha raised the white flag.

With that…

The battle within the tomb came to an end.

…

At least for now.

The nobles’ rebellion was quelled within a day.

The statements of the first Reinhardt put the self-serving nobles in a difficult position, losing their fighting spirit out of shame.

The significant incident was resolved swiftly.

Reinhardt III, acknowledging that some responsibility for the rebellion lay with him, pardoned most of the nobles.

As the first had said, it was more important to prosper the empire and protect the welfare of its people than to dwell on anger and wounds.

It was a given, but not everyone was eligible for such mercy.

“These… who do you think I am! Let go. I said let me go! I am Duke Bainstul of the empire. Aaaaaah!”

“Please, spare my life!”

“We only did as he told us. Please!”

“Exactly. It’s all the duke’s… that damn traitor’s doing.”

“These? What do you mean these?”

“Weren’t you the snake-tongued one who plotted to assassinate His Majesty?”

Duke Bainstul, a ringleader of the rebellion, and other high-ranking nobles squirmed as they were bound.

They blamed each other, desperately trying to save their own lives.

But their excuses were not enough for the executioner.

Rough hands shoved a portly noble onto the block.

Clank!

“No…”

Druruk… Kwaang!

“No no nooooo…!”

With each drop of the guillotine, the pleas for life gradually faded.

As the scars of the rebellion were mended, Reinhardt organized a grand party under the guise of unity and consolation.

All expenses for the party were covered using funds confiscated from the Duke Bainstul’s estate.

Hundreds of nobles, all dressed to impress, filled the grand banquet hall.

“Hahaha.”

“Hohoho.”

Laughter and chatter filled the air.

Then, at that moment.

“Ahem! Ahem! Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to introduce the heroes who saved the empire!”

With that announcement, the doors on the second floor swung open.

“It’s Miss Alice von Ataraxia!”

“Miss Teresa du Laurentia!”

“Miss Andrea!”

Following the butler’s announcement, the three ladies began to descend the staircase into the banquet hall.

Instantly, the breath was sucked out of the room.

The attendees’ senses, dulled by countless parties and social gatherings, were hard to impress.

Especially since the heroes were merely invited for a brief moment. Weren’t they just outsiders from beyond the tower or from its lower levels?

Lacking the finesse and grace of nobility, they thought.

Thus, they were convinced of their superiority in social graces, even if not in battle.

But.

Their high and mighty pride was shattered in that instant.

“Gasp!?”

“The outsiders from beyond the tower… they look more noble than some of the noble families here.”

“How beautiful they are…”

With dresses and accessories of differing themes.

Yet, each outfit perfectly suited its wearer, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd.

It was as if three goddesses had descended to grace the mortal realm, making their first sophisticated steps into society.

“Next, Mr. Kang Jinhyuk and Mr. Chun Yoosung will make their entrance!”

Following this, the appearance of Jinhyuk and Yoosung created another spectacle.

“Sigh. I find these things suffocating. You seem surprisingly at ease, though. Did you have many parties like this in med school?”

“Maintain some dignity in formal settings. You look decent enough when you keep your mouth shut.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“It means you clean up well.”

Yoosung, naturally impeccable, made the outfit shine just by being in it.

Jinhyuk, thoroughly dressed up for once, also captured everyone’s attention.

“My goodness…”

“Oh my.”

“My, just looking at them is a pleasure. Hehe.”

Noble ladies glanced over at them, admiring the clean back hair and the elegant black formal wear.

The attire that pursued harmony and balance was beyond reproach.

It was some time later that the two men finally had a moment to breathe in the bustling banquet hall.

“Here.”

Jinhyuk handed over a wine glass from the table.

He then lowered his voice significantly.

This atmosphere was probably right for starting a sensitive conversation.

“Don’t react, just listen. I’ve set up a barrier, but there might be someone eavesdropping. We can’t let what I’m about to say get out, especially considering it involves entities trickier than Shiva or Berial.”

What he was about to discuss was crucial, and it must not reach the ears of the beings above. Considering the complexity of dealing with entities more temperamental than Shiva or Berial, secrecy was paramount.