The Legendary Regressor Devours the Tower - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Subjugation of the Goblin Chief.

Truth be told, the chief had been subjugated countlessly many times.

Because defeating him was the only way to receive at least an S-grade or higher.

However, one could not reach EX-Rank through such a method.

‘Simple subjugation alone won’t do.’

Including subjugation, one must gain recognition from the village residents to reach EX-Rank.

Sungwoon obtained permission from the village chief and hung the headband in front of the village entrance.

-Wasting so much time on just the 1st floor. Are you really an EX-Rank for real?

The irritation was palpable even through the text.

Since they had placed a mission with a large sum of 50 gold, they were waiting with the intention of watching until the end, but enduring the boredom was by no means an easy task.

“You won’t regret it.”

Sungwoon smirked towards those viewers.

“Is this it?”

“I don’t know. More importantly, didn’t they say goblins kept trying to enter the village because of that headband?”

“I really hope those disgusting goblins get eradicated with this.”

Numerous residents watching from behind.

And behind Sungwoon, Jayden was standing guard on alert.

“Will the chief really come?”

Jayden whispered in a cautious tone.

“Yes.”

Sungwoon nodded while staring straight ahead.

“Th-They’re coming!”

Barely 10 minutes had passed since hanging the headband.

Goblins could be seen striding forward while trampling through the thickets.

Sungwoon didn’t even cast a glance at those goblins, staring right behind them instead.

A fellow three times larger than a goblin, with darkish skin and a far fiercer gaze.

That was the most powerful monster lurking on the 1st floor.

The Goblin Chief.

[The Goblin Chief has appeared.]

[The expressions of the village residents turn pale with horror.]

[Bonus points have been added.]

Nice.

Bonus points were added.

Sungwoon drew the Asgard Sword.

Jjirit-

A danger signal from Super-sensation coursed through his entire body.

His skin tingled as if a fine electric current were flowing through it.

Naturally so.

[Lv.15 Goblin Chief]

Because the Goblin Chief’s level was 15.

Even though it was the 1st floor, the bastard’s level was considerable.

It meant he wasn’t designed to be subjugated by a beginner in the first place.

‘Level 15 is completely manageable.’

The level difference was a whopping 9.

When level increases, detailed stats increase, and a change in just a single stat value carries such immense weight that it can break through a wall that was previously blocking progress.

Therefore, for Sungwoon, who was Level 6, avoiding the Level 15 Goblin Chief would be the wisest move, but Sungwoon had dealt with entities of even greater discrepancies countless times.

“Hand it over. That’s mine.”

The Goblin Chief spotted the headband and crooked his finger.

[Lv.15 Goblin Chief uses ‘Intimidation’.]

As the bastard activated his special ability,

Umjjil-

The village residents flinched and became petrified with fear.

Among them, some even lost strength in their legs and collapsed.

Sungwoon was not much different.

Dugeun-dugeun-

As his heart rate increased, the tingling on his skin intensified.

However, since he felt no fear, there was no trembling in his body.

Sungwoon tied the headband he had hung up around his forehead and stepped forward.

“If you want to get it back, try taking it yourself.”

The provocation was successful.

The chief pulled the goblins back and drew the axe strapped to his back.

“My father’s keepsake, I will definitely reclaim it.”

Bringing up parents so cheaply?

“Makes me look like the bad guy here.”

“Die.”

The Goblin Chief sprang forward.

It was a movement so swift that the naked eyes of a Level 6 couldn’t read it properly.

Bu-ung-

He swung the axe in his hand powerfully, but Sungwoon nonchalantly stepped back and turned his body.

Peo-eok!

The axe aimed at Sungwoon’s head slammed into the ground.

“Hmm?”

Not expecting him to dodge the attack, perplexity washed over the Goblin Chief’s eyes.

Considering it a coincidence, he slightly lifted the embedded axe and swung it sideways.

At that, Sungwoon ducked down as low as possible as if prostrating, and the axe cleaved useless air.

‘Having Super-sensation makes this easy.’

Sungwoon could clearly read the Goblin Chief’s next attack path through Super-sensation.

“Keureureureuk!”

When both attacks missed, whether angered or not, he roared and began swinging the axe like crazy.

An attack on the level of “I’ll swing wildly so you just get hit.”

Dodging such attacks, Sungwoon spotted an opening in the Goblin Chief, slashed his flank, and widened the distance slightly.

‘He’s not a fellow who can be taken down in one hit.’

Despite the wound on his flank, the Goblin Chief paid it no mind whatsoever and chased Sungwoon, swinging his axe.

Bu-ung-

Every time he did, the number of scratches on the Goblin Chief’s body increased.

“Kereuk……”

Under the continuous counterattacks, the Goblin Chief finally let out a groan and faltered backward.

“Why? Hurting a little bit now?”

It was bound to hurt.

Because the amount of bleeding from the right shoulder, which was targeted during a moment of opening just now, was unusual.

[For 10 minutes, healing is sealed.]

Furthermore, due to the effect of Swordsmanship Mastery, the Goblin Chief’s right shoulder fell into an incurable state.

“Human, I will never let you be.”

The Goblin Chief glared at Sungwoon murderously with bloodshot eyes.

“If you can.”

“Keureureureuk!”

[Lv.15 Goblin Chief uses ‘Intimidation’.]

The bastard activated Intimidation once more and rushed at Sungwoon.

Even with his body feeling numb, Sungwoon easily dodged the rushing axe.

The wound must have been deep, as his right shoulder gaped severely.

Seogeok-

Sungwoon swung his sword toward that shoulder once again, accurately slicing through the wounded spot, causing the Goblin Chief’s right shoulder to be half-severed and dangle loosely.

“Keureureureuk……”

Sensing a mortal danger while furiously swinging his axe as he charged, the Goblin Chief began stepping backward slowly.

‘Now.’

Seogeok-

Sungwoon swung his sword toward the Goblin Chief once more, succeeding in severing the shoulder completely.

Tuk-

“Keureureureuk!”

As his right arm fell to the ground, the Goblin Chief clutched the severed area with his left hand in agony.

At that moment, the battle was as good as over.

Sungwoon mercilessly aimed for the Goblin Chief’s neck and swung his sword.

Even though he wielded an A-grade sword, the 9-level difference was larger than expected, so it couldn’t be severed in one go, requiring him to strike the same spot multiple times.

Tuk-

As a result, the Goblin Chief’s head fell to the ground.

[You have defeated the Goblin Chief.]

[You have achieved an astonishing accomplishment.]

[Damage received is 0. Bonus points are added.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You obtain ‘5’ E-grade Magic Stones.]

[You obtain ‘2’ Goblin Chief’s Teeth.]

“Kereuk?!”

“Kereuk!”

Upon seeing their leader defeated by a human, the goblins watching from behind dropped the weapons they were holding with despondent expressions.

Sungwoon picked up the chief’s severed head with his hand and approached the goblins.

“Kereuk!”

“Keureureureuk!”

That sight must have been terrifying beyond measure, as the goblins desperately turned around and fled into the forest.

There were many whose legs buckled under them, but perhaps due to survival instinct, they somehow got up and disappeared into the forest.

Sungwoon did not chase the goblins.

[You have successfully cleared the 1st floor of the Tower of Ruin!]

Because severing the chief’s neck satisfied the clear condition.

[You have gained recognition from the residents. Bonus points are added.]

Bonus points were added once again.

This bonus was proof of having gained recognition from the residents watching in the village.

“Woah……”

Jayden and the village residents, who watched the battle from behind from start to finish, couldn’t help but marvel in admiration.

To think he would actually overwhelm that leader.

Watching the remaining goblins get scared out of their wits and run for their lives into the forest brought a thrill of euphoria and satisfaction.

[Due to the effect of the Blessing of Odious (Beginner) title, a 20% clear bonus point boost is applied.]

[You are a climber affiliated with the association. The Tower recognizes this. A 2% clear bonus point boost is applied.]

[Clear evaluation is being calculated.]

[Clear Score : EX+]

[Distributing rewards. Please wait a moment.]

In an instant, Sungwoon’s eyes widened.

‘EX+?’

A result of a higher grade than EX existed?

‘Is it because of the Blessing of Odious?’

Sungwoon obtained the headband, subjugated the Goblin Chief, and even gained recognition from the village residents.

Because of this, it meant he would have reached EX-Rank even without the title, but with the title’s bonus points added on top, a result one step higher than EX was produced.

‘This is incredible……. Choosing the Blessing of Odious was definitely the right move.’

Sungwoon cheered inwardly and checked the mission.

Clearing the 1st floor with EX was the condition, and although he didn’t hit it exact, clearing it with a higher grade meant it was practically a success.

[You have succeeded in the mission.]

[50 Gold is rewarded.]

[30 Gold is rewarded.]

…

As he succeeded in the mission, the gold staked by the viewers came into Sungwoon’s hands.

Nice.

580 gold, which wasn’t even in the plan, had come into his hands.

-No, what the fuck is this? EX+?

-?

-?

-?

-??

Checking now, the viewers were exceeding 300 people.

Every single one of them was astonished by the result Sungwoon achieved.

“I told you. You can look forward to it.”

-Wow……. No, I’m speechless. Did you really clear the tutorial with EX?

“Yes. Please spread the word. There will be plenty of surprising things ahead.”

-Where did you get information about EX? Doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

Sungwoon’s 1st floor climbing process was extremely smooth.

If there had been even a slight stumble, he might have feigned it as coincidence, but Sungwoon acted as if he knew everything.

“I cannot tell you.”

-Come on, can’t you just tell us? I’ll pay 1,000 Gold—no, 2,000 Gold.

2,000 Gold.

It was a considerable amount, but Sungwoon shook his head without even contemplating it.

“I refuse.”

[Would you like to end the broadcast?]

The moment the 1st floor subjugation ended, it was possible to end the broadcast at any time.

There were climbers who revealed their reward results, but there were also climbers who ended the broadcast without revealing them.

-Then can’t you at least reveal the rewards?

“Come back next time.”

-Wait!

[Ending the broadcast.]

The broadcast ended.

[You are the first across all races to conclude your climb with an EX+ grade result. We will grant a ‘truly special’ reward to the climber who achieved an astonishing result.]

The message appeared right on time.

First across all races.

Meaning an evaluation no one had ever received until now.

Sungwoon waited for the reward with a pounding heart.

[You acquire ‘Traces of One Who Endured All Things (SS)’.]

SS-Rank!

Sungwoon cheered inwardly.

Traces of One Who Endured All Things.

It was a skill capable of growing up to SS-Rank, but what mattered was the effect the skill possessed.

[Traces of One Who Endured All Things]

-Type : Passive

-Grade : E

-Max Growth Grade : SS

-All Elemental Resistances +15%

-Instant death, critical hit, and abnormal status effect chances decreased

-When HP is 20% or lower, damage taken is additionally reduced

Upon clearing the 1st floor, one can basically acquire a passive skill based on elemental resistance.

Fire, ice, lightning, etc.

Usually, one acquires a single elemental resistance skill, which lands around 1% if performance is poor.

If finished with a score equivalent to S-Rank, it comes out up to 5%.

Yet Sungwoon got a whopping 15%.

If it grew to SS-Rank, he could aim for up to 60%.

‘Upgrading the grade later on, transcendence will be right around the corner.’

The grade Sungwoon could currently obtain was SS.

Stepping up to a higher grade required additional work.

A step granted exclusively to SS-Grade.

[Level increased by 5.]

[755 Gold is rewarded.]

[The skill grade of ‘Super-sensation’ increases by 1 stage.]

[The skill grade of ‘Swordsmanship Mastery’ increases by 1 stage.]

[The title ‘First Climber’ is awarded.]

The rewards were not over yet.

‘I got another title?’

He hadn’t expected a title; was it because he finished with EX+?

[First Climber]

-Type : Title

-Grade : ?

-Title duplicate equipping allowed (Unique)

-When successfully clearing with a grade that is first across all races, the title’s effect is upgraded.

-Damage +1%

-Critical +1%

-All Stats +1

-‘Aura of God’ automatically activated (Effect increases or decreases depending on the user’s level)

*The title previously granted for the previous grade (EX) has vanished.

Sungwoon’s eyes widened in amazement.

Duplicate equipping is possible?

Duplicate equipping of titles, something that had never appeared even once in his previous life.

Seeing ‘Unique’ attached to it, this seemed to be a first.

Seeing that the title previously granted for EX-Rank vanished, did it replace it?

‘At any rate, this is insane.’

Because it meant if he finished with EX+ in the future as well, upgrades would be possible.

However, there was a problem.

‘The lower floors seem possible because of the Blessing of Odious, but what do I do after that?’

Without clear bonus point adjustments, achieving EX+ would be practically close to impossible.

‘……No. Come to think of it, there’s that.’

The hidden encounter sleeping on the 12th floor.

Since it gets discovered two years from now, if I obtain it, I can set aside my worries for what comes after.