Chapter 205
The Tower of God appeared all across Earth.
It rose in various locations, divided by country and population density.
The Tower of God that appeared in Korea stood in the middle of the flatlands of Gapyeong.
Due to the nature of the Transcendent Abyss, bizarre phenomena occurred throughout the surrounding area.
However, since the phenomenon was limited to the tower’s immediate vicinity, there were no reports of major damage.
Neither the military nor the government needed to intervene.
Since the Third Night had already passed, governments around the world—including Korea—were entrusting everything to the free will of humans.
…It wasn’t like they could stop it even if they tried.
An Awakened One’s strength blooms from their own will.
All they could do was keep armed forces and paramedics on standby nearby, just in case.
That didn’t mean they were doing nothing.
“Can the tower be climbed solo?”
“It has been confirmed that up to four people can enter.”
“And you get a rating when you clear a floor?”
“That’s right. If you achieve a high rating, you can acquire a Spirit Stone along with a Trace.”
“Spirit Stone? What’s that?”
“It’s a stone containing a high concentration of energy. It appears to be deeply related to Alchemy or Magical Engineering, Your Excellency.”
The man receiving the report stroked his chin.
Spirit Stone. Even the name sounded like an extraordinary resource.
Alchemy and Magical Engineering were still fields with immense room for advancement.
Humanity had uncovered less than 0.1% of their secrets.
What if Spirit Stones replaced future resources?
Or what if they could be used to create weapons to counter the Abyss?
It was a resource that had to be secured first.
“…All right. Then what does it mean to collect traces, create an epic, and complete a Stigmata?”
Stigmata. In the dictionary, it meant the wounds of Jesus, and in Catholicism it was classified as a miracle.
Paul saw the Stigmata as the mark of Jesus.
But—
“We believe it’s highly likely to be some kind of blessing.”
“Blessing?”
“Humans in the region or country where the Stigmata is engraved may be strengthened… or it could be a divine miracle that benefits all of humanity. Or—”
“Or?”
“It could be used to prevent an invasion of the Abyss.”
“…Then we must complete it.”
An invasion of the Abyss.
To date, there was no way—no technology—to stop it.
All they could do was flee with coins.
If an Abyss invasion could be prevented in a designated area, it wouldn’t be strange for that place to be called a sanctuary.
Governments around the world were doing everything they could to understand the intent behind the Tower of God’s creation.
At the very least, since it bore the name “God,” they assumed it wouldn’t be harmful to humanity—but you never knew.
“However, Your Excellency. There is one problem.”
“Tell me.”
“There seems to be a strange time limit inside the Tower of God.”
“Time limit?”
“The initial time engraved on the first floor was 24 hours. And the higher someone climbs, the more the remaining time increases.”
“Is it a time bomb or something?”
“We believe it’s the time the Tower of God can remain on Earth, or the time remaining until something happens inside the Tower of God.”
“So there’s nothing good about it reaching zero.”
“That’s right. What is certain is that the Tower of God can rapidly strengthen humanity’s power.”
“Then there’s only one conclusion. The state should take the lead in recommending entry and provide support if necessary.”
“Yes. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to create a task force as well.”
“Good. Proceed immediately.”
Countries that recognized the Tower of God’s value began to move quickly.
It might be an even more astonishing place than the Abyss of the Night.
And no one knew what would happen on the Fourth Night.
Ahetta had caused a large-scale summoning on the Third Night.
As the nights passed, more powerful enemies would appear.
Humanity had to prepare as much as possible.
And—
Some Transcenders who knew about the Tower of God laughed at Lil’s choice.
-It’s not a tower mortals can handle.
-Lil. You’ve made a foolish decision.
-The Tower of God will destroy the Earth.
—
Ting!
[First connection.]
[Park Chanwoo, the contract with the Tower of God has been completed.]
[From now on, you can enter the Tower of God anytime, anywhere, as long as you are on Earth.]
[Floor 1: A group of Black Priests appears.]
[Capture the Black Priests to acquire a Trace and proceed to the next floor.]
[If you give up the trial, you will be expelled from the Tower of God.]
[You will not be able to re-enter for the next 24 hours.]
As he entered the tower, a dark cavern greeted Park Chanwoo.
“Black Priests… I’ve heard of them. They’re bugs that followed an Evil God in ancient times.”
Ataraxia muttered.
There were beings in the Abyss classified as Evil Gods.
Like evil spirits—when many people followed something evil yet powerful, it was called an Evil God and despised.
The Black Priests were one such group.
“I will handle it, oh Great One.”
Ataraxia moved.
He couldn’t let the Great One touch such filthy bugs.
He would deal with such trivial matters himself.
Thump!
Rumble!
A series of explosions erupted in the distance.
Ataraxia’s abilities—without sealing his Mana—were unquestionably top-class.
The Mana he exuded was dense, and his magic was uninhibited.
Park Chanwoo began moving through the cavern at an unhurried pace.
‘Traces.’
Once the Black Priests vanished without a trace, countless Traces remained behind, emitting faint light in every direction.
Ting!
[If you select one of the Traces left after capturing the Black Priests, you can proceed to the next floor.]
[You can only acquire one Trace per floor.]
[Choose carefully.]
The traces had no shape.
They were simply scattered lights, each a different color.
Gray, white, yellow, orange, red…
A name hovered above each light.
[Trace of Ancient Iron]
[Trace of Ancient Karkana]
[Trace of Ancient Seya]
All of them began with “Ancient.”
They seemed to represent beings, cities, or traditions from ancient times.
‘Everything destroyed by the Abyss becomes ancient.’
That was how ancient beings were born.
The Immortal King contracted with Lee Hyuk-soo had also been the last survivor of a destroyed race.
A powerful monster that hid from the demons of the Abyss—and hated them.
Likewise, these traces implied ties to destroyed races.
It seemed the Tower of God was deeply connected to destruction.
“I have taken care of everything.”
Ataraxia, who had annihilated the Black Priest group in an instant, appeared before him and bowed.
Frankly, it was impressive speed.
The cavern was enormous, its passages intertwined like a maze.
It would take at least an hour just to find the route.
‘As expected of the master of pursuit.’
Finding him on the Third Night, and locating Ahetta’s Secret Laboratory—those must have been Ataraxia’s work.
With this level of ability, it was no wonder the Black Witch had favored him.
Thanks to him, getting lost wouldn’t be an issue.
However, even after scanning the cavern, there was no Trace that caught Park Chanwoo’s eye.
‘Why did it have to be the Black Priests?’
That was what he kept circling back to.
Ancient traces.
And the Black Priests appearing on the first floor.
There was definitely a connection.
There had to be intent.
Was it really meant to be this simple—just “defeat them”?
Pick any Trace and move on?
Lil wouldn’t have given him such an easy trial.
From the Mana stage awakenings alone, Lil always gave him trials that bordered on impossible.
He had survived multiple near-death crises.
That was the legacy she left behind.
Of course, that didn’t mean he should climb the tower the “easy” way.
So—
[Radiant Sage’s Stone (Eternal) discovers a hidden path.]
‘Bingo.’
…There it was.
The Radiant Sage’s Stone granted the Sage’s eyes and wisdom.
A tool that let you see what you couldn’t see, and sense what you couldn’t sense.
In a corner of the tangled cavern—
At the very end—
There was a cave that shouldn’t exist.
“There’s a hidden path.”
“…My apologies. I didn’t notice it.”
Even Ataraxia looked stunned when he saw it.
It definitely hadn’t been there.
It hadn’t even appeared in his search magic.
But the moment Park Chanwoo stood before it, the cave appeared as if it had formed out of nothing.
[Black Death King appears!]
-You dare awaken me!
-Foolish human!
-I will repay you with death… Gguk!
Swoosh!
Kwaaaang!
Ataraxia gestured, and a massive fireball swallowed the Black Death King.
[Black Death King has been defeated.]
That was it.
Even if it was the first floor’s final boss, it was no match for Ataraxia.
Where the Black Death King disappeared, a single trace remained.
[Trace of the Ancient Black Evil God]
…As expected.
That was why the Black Priests had appeared on the first floor.
Because the relevant trace was here.
The trace radiated black light violently.
Park Chanwoo took the Trace of the Ancient Black Evil God without hesitation.
Then—
Ting!
[Acquired Trace of the Ancient Black Evil God (1).]
[Eliminated all Black Priest groups on the 1st floor in the shortest time.]
[Completed Hidden Clear Condition.]
[Completed the Tower of God 1st floor with S+++ rank.]
[You can now enter the 2nd floor.]
[Acquired 3 Platinum Boxes.]
[Acquired 10 coins.]
[Acquired 1 Superior Spirit Stone.]
[Acquired a large amount of experience.]
[The Achievement Score of the entered tower increases, and the remaining time of the Tower of God increases by 10 hours.]
[Remaining time: 186 hours 38 minutes 12 seconds]
[Additional tips are revealed for clearing with S+++ rank.]
[TIP: If all remaining time is consumed, the monster Balmung on the 99th floor will appear on Earth.]
[Balmung is summoned from the tower with the lowest Achievement Score and will destroy everything around it until it dies.]
[To increase remaining time, you must reach the highest floor or satisfy special Clear Conditions.]
Messages poured in endlessly.
Yet Park Chanwoo could only tilt his head as he looked at something that appeared in front of him—something that hadn’t been mentioned in any of those messages.
Neither Ataraxia nor even Chronos reacted, which meant they couldn’t see it.
‘What is this?’
Park Chanwoo could see it clearly.
‘…Easter Egg?’