Chapter 594

Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku-ku!

A vortex of green flames roared to life.

It was a color that seemed to drag one’s soul straight into it.

An irresistible urge rose—to reach out, to step inside, to surrender.

“Don’t look at it! You’ll get pulled in!”

Jinhyuk’s shout snapped the others back to their senses.

“Damn it. I’ve never felt this much pressure before the fight even starts.”

“Even divine power… doesn’t work.”

Chun Yoosung and Teresa’s expressions stiffened.

They weren’t yet at the level to face an entity of the 50th floor.

‘I’ll stall her while they take care of the Old Guards.’

The Old Guards would surely attack the others first, giving Tulcha the entertainment she sought.

That left him with a narrow but real window of opportunity.

Jinhyuk drew the [Frost Spirit’s Spear] in one hand and the [Seventeen Snake Sword] in the other.

Beside him, the Extinguisher held his gun ready, waiting for Jinhyuk’s signal.

Tremble…

His hands and legs were shaking.

Having once fought the beings of the 50th floor, the Extinguisher knew better than anyone just how suicidal this was.

“It’s fine. I’ll take the dangerous attacks. You just fight the way you always do.”

“Can you really hold the front line alone?”

“Well… it won’t be easy.”

There were 129 instant-death attack patterns—and over 8,000 that could cause serious injury.

If not for his restored peak condition and solid foundation of stacked abilities, he wouldn’t even have considered it.

Jinhyuk smiled faintly and stepped forward.

Not a hint of fear—he closed the distance between them, step by step, toward the overwhelming monster before him.

“Kik! Just as the rumors said, you’re an amusing human. Is it that you’ve lost all sense of fear? Or do you actually believe you can win? I’m dying to know.”

Tulcha giggled from ten meters away, her tone dripping with excitement.

It had been a long, long time since anyone had dared defy them.

Most either groveled and begged for mercy or secluded themselves, refusing to challenge the Primordials.

A few fools had resisted—but even the proudest among them never dared show open defiance.

Yet here stood an irregular.

A lunatic pointing his blade directly at the 50th floor itself.

“Killing you outright would be too boring. I’ll have to draw it out, play for a while before I end it. Tell me, are that big mouth and body of yours as sturdy as they look?”

“I’ve had plenty of calcium, so I’m confident in both. By the way, you called yourself Azathoth’s dancer?”

“Ahaha! So even among humans, word of me has spread. Yes, I am the one who brings joy to the Great One.”

“How strange.”

Jinhyuk tilted his head as though deep in thought.

“What’s strange?”

“I just find it fascinating that someone so hideous could be responsible for anyone’s joy. Ah, or maybe Azathoth has a rather… unique taste. Then again, I do find it cute when gorillas dance.”

“What… what did you just say?”

Hideous?

The being known for unmatched beauty among the Primordials—called hideous?

Instantly, green light erupted from Tulcha’s body.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!

Everything the light touched withered to rot.

The land within hundreds of meters was reduced to ash.

“Say it again. What did you just call me?”

“I said, ‘Forgive this lowly fool for failing to recognize your divine beauty—’Did you really think I’d say that? No, I said your sense of beauty is something I’ll never understand, not even in another lifetime.”

“Graaahhh!”

Tulcha’s patience snapped. She slashed her hand through the air.

[Tulcha uses Lv??? ‘Vortex of Decay’!]

A whirlwind of green energy surged straight toward Jinhyuk.

Its diameter was barely two meters—but its speed was inhuman.

It struck before most could even blink.

[Equipped with ‘Crown of Swiftness’!]

The crown obtained from Zeus flared with light.

Just as the vortex closed in, Jinhyuk moved—first.

Boom!

A gust of wind streaked past.

Tulcha, who had been certain her attack would obliterate him, exposed her back completely.

Still, her instincts screamed danger.
Green mist coalesced rapidly around her body.

She intended to summon another vortex to rot away the incoming attack.

But before she could finish gathering mana—

[Unique Holy Spear ‘Nemesis’ activates!]

[Unique Ability ‘Grave of Swords’ activates!]

His body—tuned for the ultimate strike.
His technique—perfected to reproduce it.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

The Seventeen Snake Sword blurred in motion.

Kagagak!

Venomous vipers crawled across the green mist, devouring it.

Before she could fully fortify her defense, her mana was rapidly drained.

“Kh!”

Tulcha let out a metallic hiss.

Annoying, yes—but she could still defend if she focused.

That’s when—

Bang! Boom!

Two bullets struck her—one in the face, one in the heart.

The Extinguisher, waiting for the perfect opening, fired his decisive shots.

The timing was flawless.
The power was enough to kill an ordinary god.

And yet…

“…Haaah…”

His face twisted in disbelief.

Despite the precise, lethal hits, Tulcha’s body didn’t bear a single wound.

Only her expression had changed—her once beautiful face now twisted with irritation.

“As expected… this won’t even scratch her.”

The Extinguisher backed away.

No matter how accurate or powerful, it was useless if the target didn’t even bleed.

Meanwhile, Jinhyuk’s eyes gleamed at the sight of a new system window.

A chance to copy a Primordial Being’s ability!

With that kind of opportunity, retreat was not an option.
The thrill—the sheer rush—was addictive.

‘Let’s see… what’s the condition this time?’

His eyes darted across the screen.

[‘Tulcha, the Dancer of Death’]

Level: ????

Stats: Strength ???? / Mana ???? / Agility ???? / Endurance ????

Skill Info: Only fragments can be analyzed upon use.

Unique Ability: Plague Outbreak
Unique Holy Spear: Primordial Dance

[Copy Condition:
Tulcha, the Dancer of Death who exists to entertain Azathoth, embodies Cthulhu’s divine authority over decay and decline.
To copy her power, you must overwhelm her in a Dance Battle.] (T/N: WTF. I swear, the system only exists to make fun of Jinhuyk. HAHAHA)

A… dance battle?

Just reading the condition made his shoulders twitch—

Then froze.

A dance battle? In this situation?

He nearly cursed aloud.

He was already risking his life fighting her—now he had to dance?

Dancing in front of a raging Tulcha was like tugging a sleeping lion’s whiskers—and yanking them out in one go.

‘Copying the Extinguisher’s skill was a headache, but this is worse.’

For the first time, he seriously considered giving up.

But then—

He imagined it: dozens of green whirlwinds under his control, sweeping away entire armies.

His body tingled with anticipation.

Jinhyuk dismissed his weapons and drew two lightweight daggers instead.

At the same time—

He played a sweet melody.

And placed a rose between his teeth.

It was time for a life-or-death dance battle with Azathoth’s dancer.

—

At that same moment—

Elsewhere in the Tower, another anomaly stirred.

Click. Click.

Footsteps echoed down a dark corridor.

A silver cane tapped rhythmically against the floor, each step crisp and measured.

The old gentleman in a fedora—Rick Hennessy.

Floating beside him, a purple sapling levitated under psychic control, radiating dense mana.

After a long walk, a faint light appeared at the end of the tunnel.

He was almost there.

Then—

“……”

Just before the exit, Rick stopped.

Not because he’d reached his destination—but because someone stood blocking his path.

“Hm… so you actually made it here. Honestly, I thought no one would ever notice this place. Guess I miscalculated.”

The backlight obscured his face, but his tone was lazy—playful, yet heavy with weariness.

“I’m surprised as well. I didn’t expect anyone else to be here.”

A strange glint crossed Rick’s eyes.

He had spent countless ages in the Tower, yet he had never encountered this presence before.

The power radiating from the man was alien, ominous—utterly unlike anything else he had faced.

“Who are you?”

“Nothing worth introducing. Just a wandering specter drifting through this tedious tower.”

The man slowly raised a hand.

A black barrier materialized between them.

“You’ve come far, but I’m afraid I can’t let you pass. This place isn’t open to visitors.”

A clear rejection.

But at that moment—

Boom-boom-boom-boom!

A wave of blue light obliterated the barrier instantly.

Rick, cane raised, stared the man down.

“I don’t need your permission to go where I intend.”

“Hahaha… yes, that’s exactly what I’d expect from Rick Hennessy. Always so bold.”

“…So you do know me.”

“I know enough. About the caffeine-addicted man weighing two choices on a scale.”

“I have no idea who you are, but… I think I’ll start by seeing your face.”

[High Administrator Authority activates!]

[‘Wind That Ends the Eclipse’ activates!]

Vwoooom!

A powerful gale surged forth.

It nullified all barriers and status effects—meant to reveal anything hidden behind them.

Yet—

The wind faded into nothing.

“What…?”

Rick’s eyes shook.

His authority—completely nullified.

He had seen countless powers and unique abilities—but never anything that could outright negate an Administrator’s privileges.

Not even the gods.

Not even Nyarlathotep or Azathoth could do that.

“Getting that sapling from them was clever. But that’s as far as you go. It’s not time yet.”

“……!!”

Rick’s expression darkened.

“You know what I’m trying to do…”

“That’s why I’m letting you live. You’re like him—one of the few toys that can still entertain me.”

The shadows peeled back just enough to reveal a grin.

White teeth. Twisted lips.
If laughter itself had a shape—it would look like that.

“Use everything you’ve got. Climb the Tower. Crush the administrators and the monsters of the 50th floor.”

“And after that…”

“When it’s all done…”

He smiled wider.

“…we’ll continue this conversation.”

When you reach the top of the Tower—you’ll meet me again.