Chapter 62
The Tower of Arrogance went bankrupt.
It wasn’t merely destruction or collapse—it was ‘annihilation.’
When a Creator goes bankrupt, it’s the same as losing their qualification forever.
A truly permanent loss.
It meant the name ‘Tower of Arrogance’ would disappear forever.
However, this ‘bankruptcy’ far surpassed the limits of ordinary enforcement.
The maximum number of Arrogance Chests the Tower of Arrogance could accommodate was 200.
That number only applied if a single person collected 200.
It didn’t matter if multiple challengers gathered a few chests each.
Only individuals.
If someone collected more than 200 alone, it became a problem.
But, if you ask whether such a number was possible, the answer would be a definite ‘impossible.’
―……
The deepest part of the Abyss.
The center of the space called the Abyssal Depths.
There, the Black Witch was looking down at her own hand.
She was the owner of the future-seeing eyes, ‘Ten Thousand Eyes on the Bay Flow,’ and something had occurred that even she could not foresee.
When the tower went bankrupt, her pinky finger was ‘forcibly executed.’
The value that the Tower of Arrogance was supposed to pay out had been compensated with her own body.
It was something that should never happen, something that must not happen.
No matter how much value was left to be paid, one could not touch the body of the mightiest witch.
The Black Witch.
She was the pinnacle of all witches, the master of the Abyss that even the Lords of the Abyss feared.
She was the Abyss itself, and her body was equivalent to the entire Abyss.
Thus—
It wasn’t just a pinky finger—this ‘forced execution’ had taken a piece of the Abyss itself.
…Even for the Black Witch, who had lived for countless eons, this was the first time experiencing such a shock.
No one had ever laid a hand on the Black Witch in this way before.
The depths that even devils hesitated to enter.
And yet, someone had cut a part from the Black Witch’s body at the very center.
―Is this a being outside ‘Providence’?
If such a being existed, it would be one that defies the laws of nature.
Something had been greatly distorted.
But no matter how twisted things had gotten, even the Black Witch herself found it hard to believe such an absolute limit could be surpassed.
The number of Arrogance Chests a person could gain from the Tower she created was clear.
Gathering 50 was hard enough.
Even that required becoming the closest aide of Kankun or Adora and displaying all sorts of relics.
100?
If you managed to find all the hidden elements throughout the entire tower, gathering 100 as an individual was possible.
150… If you achieved all the above and hidden achievements, there was a faint chance.
But from 200 onwards, it was the realm of the impossible.
To reach 200, one would have to display all 10 relics by oneself, climb the tower, constantly swap for better relics, accomplish all hidden achievements and factors, and never use a single chest—then you might reach 200.
And reaching 200 meant a guaranteed [Eternal] grade reward.
Beyond that. If you gathered around 250 and bankrupted the tower, you could get the final relic, the ‘Star of Arrogance,’ but the Black Witch would never allow someone to just take that treasure.
The only reason she couldn’t stop it was because of the sudden ‘forced execution.’
An unforeseen, abrupt event.
Because her pinky finger was cut off, the ‘Star of Arrogance’ leaked out as a reward.
―…The ‘Star of Arrogance’ has been stolen.
It was stolen.
Naturally so, since even she who built the tower couldn’t have imagined a single human would collect 320 chests alone.
The value of Arrogance Chests multiplied the more you gathered.
Even if a hundred people each had a hundred chests, and ten thousand chests leaked out that way, it still wouldn’t compare to the value of one person collecting 320.
It was not even close.
But 320 could never be collected from just one faction.
Kankun and Adora.
Only someone who was the ‘top priority’ to both could achieve this.
Yet, Kankun and Adora had fundamentally opposing natures.
Becoming the top priority to both was nearly impossible.
Let alone Adora, who would never allow anyone at her side.
In other words—
The one who went beyond Providence had not only surpassed the inexplicable but had even touched the Black Witch’s body.
And thus, took the Star of Arrogance from her.
Who could it be?
Who could take her star and pinky finger?
The Black Witch touched the witch’s orb.
And above the orb, the face of ‘Adora’ appeared.
―Adora…
That wasn’t even the most surprising thing.
Adora was—smiling.
She was smiling as she looked at someone.
A face she’d never seen before.
A witch smiling.
Especially Adora, the Witch of Death.
She was the farthest from smiling.
But that was the end.
The vision ended with Adora’s smile.
‘Everything has been stolen.’
The tower, the star, even Adora.
All stolen by the ‘thief.’
She wanted to confirm the thief’s face, but not even the witch’s orb could reveal it.
It meant that this person was protected by something absolute, unseeable even by Ten Thousand Eyes or the witch’s orb.
―Adora. You will never escape from me.
A small light flickered in the Black Witch’s otherwise emotionless eyes.
Surprisingly, it was the light of emotion.
Obsession, or perhaps a desire for control.
Not only that.
―Whoever you are, one who has gone beyond Providence, you as well.
At some point, a staff appeared in the Black Witch’s hand.
She swung the staff once.
At that moment—
Sssssss!
[We pay our respects to the great Black Witch.]
With a swirl of smoke, an enormous ‘black dragon’ appeared.
―Ataraxia. Ancient dragon of despair.
This black dragon wasn’t merely in appearance but a true member of the dragon race.
One of the highest bloodlines among dragons, the clan of Despair.
Among them, an ancient dragon.
Though sunk to the depths as the Black Witch’s servant, its status and hierarchy were recognized by both the Abyss and the Twelve Species.
―There is something you must do.
When the Black Witch spoke, Ataraxia bowed its head.
[If it is within my power, I will do anything.]
The ancient dragon of despair was a loyal servant to the Black Witch.
Whatever she commanded, it would carry out.
Never having failed or made a mistake, the Black Witch gave her orders without hesitation.
―Adora has awakened ‘Wish.’ Retrieve it. Together with the ‘Star of Arrogance.’
At the same time, the ancient dragon Ataraxia’s gaze wavered slightly.
Wish.
Even his own clan longed for it.
Among the clan of Light, an ancient dragon who awakened Wish had entered the ‘Dragon Shrine.’
Ascending the Dragon Shrine gave one a chance to serve the Dragon God.
Because of this, the clan of Light gained unparalleled prestige.
It was a matter of pride.
To possess Wish was an honor of the highest order among dragons.
‘Star of Arrogance!’
And now, the Star of Arrogance as well!
The Black Witch’s most treasured possession was the Star of Arrogance.
For someone to have taken it.
The Witch of Death, Adora.
Or one of her associates.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Ataraxia spoke solemnly.
[…I will retrieve them without fail.]
—
Along with the news that the tower had gone bankrupt—
Park Chan-woo gazed at two rewards floating in midair.
One was in the shape of a necklace.
A blue diamond-shaped gem was set in the pendant.
‘Star of Arrogance.’
A treasure called the final relic.
Even he, who had seen countless priceless treasures, had never seen anything like it before.
[Star of Arrogance – ‘Unknown’]
He examined it closely, but not a single detail came to mind.
‘Is there a condition required to reveal its information?’
It happened sometimes.
There were treasures or relics that could only be used once certain conditions were met.
The Star of Arrogance seemed to be an item that would reveal itself once specific conditions were fulfilled.
Park Chan-woo naturally moved his gaze.
Floating next to the Star of Arrogance was something else.
It had a somewhat grotesque appearance.
‘…Black Witch’s pinky finger.’
A pinky finger floating in the air.
That was the Black Witch’s pinky finger.
As a result of the tower’s bankruptcy, the remaining debt was forcibly executed from the Black Witch.
Name: Black Witch’s Pinky Finger
Level: ???
Grade: ???
Description: Pinky finger of the master of the Abyss, the Black Witch. Using the pinky finger, one may grant a specific qualification to another, bypassing all requirements.
“That finger…”
Perhaps it was the effect of the overwhelming magic radiating out.
At some point, Adora opened her eyes and spoke.
A hint of disbelief was mixed in Adora’s gaze as she stared at the pinky finger.
Park Chan-woo grasped the finger and shrugged.
“It belongs to the ‘Black Witch.’”
“…!”
A name she never expected spilled from Park Chan-woo’s lips.
But knowing how fearsome the Black Witch was, Adora’s eyes wavered even slightly.
The pinnacle of all witches.
The Black Witch was known as the progenitor of all witches.
“I think I know what kind of power the Black Witch possesses.”
Park Chan-woo turned the pinky finger over and spoke.
Each witch wielded a different type of power.
Just as Adora wielded ‘death.’
The Black Witch also possessed a unique power.
But nothing about it was known.
Information about the witch who lived in the deepest part of the Abyss was extremely rare. The ‘Black Witch’ was only known by name.
For the first time in human history, Park Chan-woo discovered the Black Witch’s power.
“The power to turn lies into truth.”
“…To turn lies into truth?”
Even Adora seemed not to know much about the Black Witch.
If she didn’t, the other witches likely didn’t either.
Park Chan-woo slowly explained.
“The Black Witch can grant false qualifications. Even the title of ‘Creator’ can be bestowed.”
Qualification.
It’s the condition required to perform a certain act.
Even the qualification of Creator could, under certain conditions, be fabricated.
“But, a sacrifice is required. To create a qualification like Creator, part of the Black Witch’s body is needed.”
The pinky finger was for that purpose.
Tremendous magic was concentrated in it, but the Black Witch’s entire body was almost like a sacrifice.
So then.
‘A body that serves no purpose except as a sacrifice.’
Isn’t it astonishing?
A being born solely to serve as a sacrifice.
Offering itself to turn falsehood into reality—a monster.
He’d never seen a monster like this before.
Perhaps ‘anomaly’ was more fitting than ‘monster.’
It was, literally, a being that caused phenomena that couldn’t be explained.
The Black Witch herself was no different from a rift.
“What do you plan to do with that pinky finger?”
Adora asked.
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
“Who knows.”
Honestly, he didn’t know.
The Black Witch’s body was a sacrifice that made lies into truth.
Even a single pinky finger could create a ‘Creator.’
However, Park Chan-woo had no intention of becoming a Creator.
He even considered offering it to the God of Offerings.
[‘Black Witch’s Pinky Finger’ cannot be offered as a sacrifice.]
[‘Thing of the False Image’ is not recognized as a sacrifice.]
It seemed the pinky finger was deemed worthless.
Even if it turned a lie into reality, in the end, it was still a lie.
The God of Offerings considered the Black Witch herself to be worthless.
“In that case, would you make me a ‘Creator’?”
“…?”
An unexpected statement.
Hearing Adora’s words, Park Chan-woo tilted his head.
Adora continued.
“To oppose the Black Witch, you need the qualification to enter the Abyss. And I want to become the master of the Abyss and help you.”
“You’ve decided to become the Black Witch’s enemy?”
“Yes.”
A direct answer.
It seemed Adora had resolved to destroy the Black Witch.
She was convinced the Black Witch was behind everything.
She was responsible for annihilating Kankun’s tribe, for nearly killing him again in this tower.
And for trying to make her the ‘Lord of Arrogance’ without permission—Adora had no reason to follow the Black Witch.
Park Chan-woo considered for a moment.
And decided.
“So be it.”
Adora could become a ‘Trojan Horse.’
A weapon Park Chan-woo could use to strangle the Creators from within.
It wasn’t a bad idea.
Moreover, if she could learn about the Creators’ movements, the benefit would be infinite.
Having decided, Park Chan-woo acted at once.
[Using ‘Black Witch’s Pinky Finger.’]
[Granting ‘Creator’ qualification to ‘Adora.’]
[‘Adora’ has been promoted to ‘Creator’!]
[Acquired the title ‘Death’s Creator.’]
[‘Death’s Creator’ forms a soul contract with ‘Park Chan-woo.’]
[This is an absolute covenant, incomparable to an Incarnation contract.]
[From now on, ‘Death’s Creator Adora’ is the companion of Park Chan-woo’s soul and his ally.]
Fwoooosh!
In that moment.
Suddenly, the Star of Arrogance began radiating blue light all around.
[The ‘Star of Arrogance’ is starting to shine.]
[The ‘Star of Arrogance’ reveals itself!]
From within, something appeared.
