Chapter 592

Step.

Beside Nyarlathotep appeared a lithe dancer.

At first glance, her beauty was breathtaking—so much so that it felt almost unreal.
But the energy emanating from her body was something no ordinary dancer could ever possess.

She was strong.

As strong as any of the absolute beings.

‘Tulcha.’

One of the Primordial Beings who ruled the 50th floor—a dancer of death who entertained Azathoth within his palace.

Her role was unique, for she was the only one capable of amusing Azathoth, who found everything in existence dull.
Because of that, Tulcha’s standing within the 50th floor was remarkably high.

“…What brings you here? Even with the system’s restriction eased, this isn’t a place you’d usually come to.”

Nyarlathotep’s brow furrowed immediately.

Tulcha was not someone he was pleased to meet—on several levels.

“Ah, why I’m here? Rick helped a little. Said I must be suffocated, cooped up in the palace all the time.”

“Rick…?”

“Yup. He said since you were struggling, I might as well lend a hand. He even said he’d release some of my restrictions so I could manifest here.
Oh, but of course, he did ask for one favor in return. Said he wanted one of the saplings from the palace. Wanted to try growing it himself.”

The trees in Azathoth’s palace were no ordinary flora—they radiated purple mana, ancient lifeforms that were never meant to exist outside the palace.

And yet, he dared to ask for one?

Sensing Nyarlathotep’s thoughts, Tulcha added lightly, as if to calm him.

“I know what you’re frowning about, but don’t worry. The sapling won’t ever fully grow. You know that too, don’t you?”

“…That’s true.”

The [Sapling of Ennui] could only grow when the environment, soil, and water of the 50th floor achieved perfect harmony.

Not even Rick could recreate those conditions.

As a high-level administrator and collector who ran the Object Guild, he likely only wanted to possess it—nothing more.

“Don’t worry about things here. Go to the Fool’s Valley instead. I’ll take care of that Kang Jinhyuk guy. Even if you’ve used up a lot of strength, you can still easily wipe out those intruders.”

The Red Dragon Clan, the Sin of Sloth, the bounty hunters led by Mother, and the other players forming the attack squad—strong, yes, but nowhere near his level.

If he went to the valley, it would be an easy slaughter.

‘Feels like I’ve completely lost the initiative here.’

But he had no choice.

Rick’s scheme still left a sour taste in his mouth, but this was the best move for now.

With Tulcha, the Extinguisher, and the Old Guards combined, even if an entire army arrived, they would be obliterated.

“…Very well. I’ll leave this place to you.”

Nyarlathotep reluctantly nodded.

—

The enemy’s command post had changed.

From afar, Jinhyuk sensed the massive wave of mana vanish.

‘So Nyarlathotep’s gone to the valley.’

That meant Mother’s final command had gone through properly.

The first hurdle was cleared. Finally, a moment to breathe.

Next…

Jinhyuk looked toward the Extinguisher, who was firing wildly.

Driven to the edge, the Extinguisher was now rampaging with pure fury.

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

Boom!

The ground shattered, and walls disappeared.

His rune bullets—renowned for their unmatched destructive power—were tearing through Jinhyuk’s [Lingering Moonlight] duplicates one by one.

“Tch!”

Clicking his tongue, Jinhyuk kicked his speed up another level.

At the same time, the [Crown of Tyranny] appeared.

“…That’s!?”

A spark flickered in the Extinguisher’s eyes.

A sacred relic symbolizing the pinnacle of the Tower.

Only High Deities or Absolute Beings commanding vast upper-floor forces could possess such a thing.

In an instant, the barrage of bullets—both in quantity and quality—changed.

Kakakakakang!
Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

“Kieeeek!”
“Kreee!”

Ghosts were struck through their brows and vanished with shrieks.

Now, Jinhyuk’s rapid fire outpaced even the Extinguisher’s shots.

Flames, once centered between them, began flaring closer and closer to the Extinguisher’s side.

Thud!
Splurt!

Red lines were slashed across his skin.

This won’t do.

Realizing that, the Extinguisher finally moved.

Tap—!

He moved like a feather through the air.

A hundred meters.

That was the new distance between them.

And the aura radiating from the Extinguisher shifted completely.

Cold.
The air across the entire village froze solid.

“What the…?”

“So he’s finally using that.”

Even Alice and the Old Guards, who had been locked in combat, paused momentarily at the immense surge of mana.

A dark, ominous energy gathered into the revolver.

It felt as if all the mana across the entire floor was being drawn into it.

Jinhyuk also froze in place.

“A [Unique Holy Spear], huh?”

“Oh? You could sense it just from the atmosphere?”

“When mana’s density changes that drastically, it can only be a Unique Holy Spear. And at this distance, that’ll maximize its firepower.”

“Fitting for one who bears a Crown. Seems you have quite the interesting toy. But you won’t survive what’s coming next.”

“It’s an honor to face the strongest gunman at full power.”

“The pleasure’s mine. It’s been too long since I’ve fought a worthy opponent. Life like this… isn’t so bad after all.”

A faint smile formed on the Extinguisher’s lips.

Jinhyuk didn’t miss that small shift in emotion.

Time to push.

“You think there’s meaning in living chained to the Primordials? You’re just a hunting dog with a leash around your neck.”

“……”

The Extinguisher stiffened.

“What do you know, to speak so freely?”

“I know enough. That you were once a climber who challenged the Primordials. That you were defeated and fell. And that now you live, pitifully, in borrowed flesh.”

Grrrk….

The grinding of teeth filled the air.

Veins bulged around the Extinguisher’s eyes.

This wasn’t just anger.

It was despair from facing overwhelming power.
A resignation so deep it had killed his will to ever fight again.

“So you’ve heard of me. But if you oppose them, you’ll meet the same end. You’ll learn soon enough how worthless pride and arrogance are.”

The Primordials were beyond reach—beings above the heavens themselves.

Even a High God or an ultimate climber couldn’t defy them.

From the beginning, they had drawn the line no one could cross.

However—

“No.”

Jinhyuk slowly shook his head.

“I’m different.”

He wouldn’t give up. Wouldn’t despair. Wouldn’t regret.

His confident eyes said it all.

“I once thought that way too, young climber. But as someone who’s already walked that path, I can tell you—you won’t find what you’re seeking at the end.”

“Well, guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. I still plan to see it through.”

“…I see.”

For the briefest moment, the Extinguisher thought—he was jealous.

And then—

“Are you… satisfied?”

That was the question Jinhyuk wanted to ask.

All those long years.
All those eternities, spent as a slave to those monsters.

Was there really nothing left of the proud climber he once was?

The Extinguisher’s lips clamped shut tighter than ever.

How could he not have thought of it?

His body was rotten, his soul stuffed into a corpse like a puppet.

That was the fate of the Ranker known as the Extinguisher.

He’d never once imagined a life without freedom.

But…

It couldn’t be helped.

This nightmare was eternal.

Nothing could change that.

And this man… would meet the same fate.

The place he dreamed of reaching—no one could ever go there.

“Your mouth runs well. Enough. I’ve no reason to listen to the dying any longer.”

The Extinguisher placed his hand on the gun’s grip.

Crimson and azure mana flared in dazzling streams.

But then—

Right before him, Jinhyuk mirrored the same gesture, radiating identical mana.

The same stance.
The same motion.
The same aura.

Impossible.

This was a Unique Holy Spear—crafted solely for him, by and for the Tower itself.

A power born of inborn talent and years of grueling mastery.

It was impossible for anyone else to possess it.

“A cheap imitation…!”

The Extinguisher roared, unleashing his full mana.

Jinhyuk unleashed his as well.

[Unique Holy Spear—]

[Unique Holy Spear—]

Light connected between them as a hexagram appeared beneath their feet.

A grand magic circle etched with runes of rapid fire, precision, and power.

So familiar.

It was the Extinguisher’s own Unique Holy Spear.

The problem was—

[…‘Billy the Kid’ activates!]

[…‘Billy the Kid’ activates!]

It wasn’t just one.

They mirrored each other like reflections.

No—
That thought shattered the moment the next message appeared.

[‘Billy the Kid’, ‘Daylight’, and ‘Crimson Bullet’ are fusing!]

Two additional emission-type powers merged atop the existing ability.

Four pentagrams formed around the central hexagram as the status window flashed again.

[Fusion successful!]

[Unique Holy Spear – ‘Chrono Spear’]

Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable

Description: A mythical weapon named after an ancient ruin. Its bullets can wound even Primordial Beings. The strongest existing ancient rune bullets, requiring a compatible gun to unleash their full power. (Without one, power is reduced by 80%.)

[Fused ability stored in ‘World Memory’.]

One Unique Holy Spear…

…erased by an even greater one.

The vast magic circle cracked apart.

Fragments of shattered mana scattered around the Extinguisher.

“I will surpass them.”

Jinhyuk spoke plainly, emotionless.

“And in the tower I climb, I won’t let slaves like you exist. Anyone with skill will be free to climb as high as they wish.”

[Veteran Corporation Pirate Crew proposes a new crew member’s recruitment.] (T/N: Jinhyuk’s really busy recruiting slaves lol. )

Jinhyuk reached out a hand toward the Extinguisher.

Inviting him—to finally look up from the long darkness.

—

Nyarlathotep reached the place where the intruders had gathered.

At the entrance stood several men and women waiting for him.

“How laughable. You entered this valley with just this group?”

The insane twin murderers.
The Sin of Sloth.
The bounty hunters.

Just as Tulcha had said—all the enemies were gathered.

Compared to Jinhyuk and Alice, this was nothing.
Even under his current restrictions, he could crush them easily.

In fact, it was baffling that such a weak group had even made it this far.

No Pesis.
Once they entered, they’d be corpses within hours.

Even the Red Dragon Clan—who should have been the most troublesome—were nowhere to be seen.

Tremble… tremble…

“Ugh…”

“T-that monster again…”

Most bounty hunters were already on the verge of mental collapse just from seeing him.

“Kyaaa. Weird-eyed monster, huh?”

“Heh, looks tasty. Bet he’s red inside too. Full of guts and blood.”

Of course, the truly deranged ones felt no fear at all.

‘Still… something’s off.’

Jinhyuk’s smirking face flashed through Nyarlathotep’s mind.

That cunning human was arrogant, yes—but never reckless.

He was the type who loved calculated mind games.

An unpleasant suspicion crawled along Nyarlathotep’s spine.

Then—

Vwooom!

[A Gate is opening.]

A Gate appeared right behind Nyarlathotep.