The Legendary Regressor Devours the Tower - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The rolled die finally came to a stop.

’60!’

The face of the die pointing toward the ceiling indicated 60.

[Please select the desired stat.]

Not all stats would increase.

The stats currently possessed: Strength, Agility, Health, Sense, and Mana.

One must decide on one of these five to raise.

‘Normally, one would raise Mana.’

The reason was simple.

Mana is the source of all active and passive skills one possesses.

Without Mana, no matter how many skills one has, they are useless.

That’s why climbers place an immense importance on Mana.

However, Sungwoon was different.

‘It’s true that Mana is important. But focusing on Mana now will cause problems later.’

There was a limit to stats accumulated bit by bit through leveling up.

‘Strength.’

No matter how good a technique is, if the slashing power is weak, it is meaningless.

It would be great if distribution were possible, but if he had to choose just one, he should invest in Strength.

[Strength increases by 60.]

With Strength increasing by 60, it rose from 25 to 85.

Sungwoon clenched and unclenched his fist.

He could definitely feel that his Strength had gotten stronger.

[You have acquired Ildoyangdan.]

Simultaneously with the stat increase, he acquired an active skill called Ildoyangdan.

‘Oh, an active skill pops up here.’

[Ildoyangdan]

-Type: Active

-Grade: E

-Maximum Growth Grade: SS

-Strikes down with a sword-type weapon to cut the designated target in half.

-A probability of minimum 0% to maximum 100% is determined according to the user’s capability and consumed Mana amount.

*Cooldown: 24 hours

The maximum growth grade of the skill was SS.

‘To think I’d obtain this already.’

It was one of the ultimate skills possessed by Sungwoon, who had been called the Sword God.

In his previous life, it was a skill he could only obtain after climbing near the 50th floor.

Since he obtained it quite late, its growth stopped at SSS-grade, but in this life, he acquired it before even climbing the 3rd floor.

It was a skill that boasted destructive power beyond imagination, but what if it goes beyond SSS-grade to the grade above it?

‘It will be a huge help.’

It was a very satisfying result.

“I’m glad I boosted Luck.”

The problem was after the buff ended.

The bitterness that arrives after sweetness fades away.

If asked whether he could quell it with another sweet thing, he would answer that it’s impossible.

Because once this debuff is applied, buffs related to Luck cannot be obtained.

Since it was scheduled to last for a whopping 24 hours, he had no choice but to stay as quiet as a dead mouse for a day.

Just in case ignoring it recklessly led to unexpected variables.

The appearance of the monster rookie, Yuseong.

Due to his appearance, a wind of change began to blow.

[Congratulations! Climber (South Korea – Jeonju)-nim has finished the 1st floor of the Tower of Ruin with SS+ grade.]

That beginning started as a record one rank above Pyo Byeongwoo’s previous record of finishing with SS-grade appeared.

Having finished with SS+ grade, he appeared in the community and personally revealed that he had started his climb by supplementing his strategy guide through Yuseong’s play.

[I am the climber under the channel name ‘Little Yuseong’ who finished with SS+ grade.]

-If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Countless questions poured into his post.

└You need to get the headband, how do you solve this?

Obtaining the headband.

Yuseong used the headband he obtained to induce the goblin chief to move directly and subjugated him.

Otherwise, one had to directly invade the stronghold where the guy was hiding and subjugate him, which was a difficulty virtually impossible for beginners.

Even so, if one received help from a climber who reached higher floors to subjugate him, they wouldn’t be recognized in terms of contribution, making A+ the maximum.

Pyo Byeongwoo, who finished with SS-grade, was also known to have climbed alone.

He reached SS-grade by single-handedly seeking out the goblin chief and severing his neck.

If that method couldn’t be performed, acquiring the headband was essential; how could he reach SS+ without acquiring the headband?

└(Author): Even without the headband, there is one more item looted through the goblins. You can get it through the village chief, and if you take it out and hang it at the entrance of the village, the goblin chief will bite right onto it. If you wipe that guy out, I reckon SS-grade or higher should be smooth sailing.

The author said that after raising his level sufficiently through a Minor Tower, he carried out the subjugation alone.

└That’s fascinating? Minor Towers are really popular right now, so it must have been tough.

Because an SS-grade hidden encounter was discovered in a Minor Tower, Minor Towers were still bustling with climbers.

└(Author): I was running it since before the hidden encounter was discovered, so it was fine yup.

└Holy shit lol Great perseverance.

Finding a Minor Tower suitable for one’s level is difficult, and since it gives less experience than the Tower of Ruin, leveling up is not easy.

For that reason, the majority of climbers choose to climb the tower quickly with the help of guilds.

└True, since there are people who deliberately run Minor Towers first.

Even so, there were those who challenged it reliably after leveling up through Minor Towers.

“Isn’t it impressive?”

Pyo Byeongwoo asked the driver sitting in the front seat while keeping his eyes fixed on his smartphone.

“Yes. Because of Yuseong, a change has occurred in the mechanism of climbing.”

“Right. It’s like returning to the early days again.”

Long before systems like guilds were established.

Those with brilliant talent like Pyo Byeongwoo moderately raised their levels through Minor Towers before challenging the tower to finish with high grades.

Of course, this was also something possible only if talent backed it up, but he never dreamt that an NPC who had items looted by goblins actually existed.

“That NPC named Hudin was an NPC who refused to engage in any conversation whatsoever with climbers, so it’s quite fascinating.”

As the saying goes, ‘it’s dark right under the lamp.’

If one had contacted that NPC and succeeded in persuading him, they could have aimed not just for SS-grade, but SS+-grade, or even higher.

“Regretting things that have already passed won’t change anything, but I can’t stop feeling regretful either.”

After a few light conversations about the 1st floor of the Tower of Ruin, they arrived at the Association.

As Pyo Byeongwoo stepped out of the car, bodyguards got out of the vehicles in front and behind to assist him.

“Welcome. Was there any inconvenience on your way here?”

The Association executives came outside to greet Pyo Byeongwoo.

“No.”

“Then please step inside. The Association President-nim is waiting for you.”

Following their guidance into the VIP room, over half of the seats were already taken.

All of these people were leaders who led guilds.

Pyo Byeongwoo naturally walked past them and sat in an empty seat next to the head of the table.

“It’s been a while.”

Association President Choi Hyuk extended his hand with a smile, and Pyo Byeongwoo smiled faintly as he shook it.

“Yes. Thank you for setting up this meeting.”

The reason this meeting was arranged today was because of the monster rookie.

Because as the monster rookie’s active achievements continued, the judgment was made that they couldn’t just stand by and watch.

“As you know, the monster rookie is currently in a state registered under our Association.”

As Choi Hyuk opened his mouth, everyone’s eyes focused on him.

Silence fell over the VIP room, and a sense of tension hung over the guild leaders’ faces.

Choi Hyuk savored the silence for a moment, brought his teacup to his lips, set it down, and continued speaking.

“And the United States is expressing a very strong desire to recruit him.”

“Mmm…”

Though expected, hearing it directly from the Association President’s mouth, groans of concern could not be suppressed.

“Association President-nim, does that mean you are asking us to become a defensive wall?”

Choi Hyuk nodded and got straight to the point.

“Yes. Cutting to the chase, I ask of you. I hope the monster rookie remains in South Korea and focuses on climbing.”

“Very well. However, there is a condition.”

Guilds are not charities.

Everyone gathered here held the same opinion as Choi Hyuk, but they could not move without any gain.

“A condition, you say?”

“I would like you to allow us to launch recruitment operations.”

Pyo Byeongwoo made a deal.

This was not simple greed, but meant asking for the driving force to move.

If he really intended to be greedy, he would have asked to share the monster rookie’s information rather than permission for recruitment operations.

Choi Hyuk, quick-witted as he was, answered without hesitation.

“The padlock period is 120 days. When 120 days pass, I will allow the guilds present here to recruit the monster rookie.”

“Understood. Jingeom will do its utmost to thoroughly block foreign interference according to the Association’s will.”

As Pyo Byeongwoo stated his intention, the remaining guild leaders also stepped up one by one to lend their strength, and the meeting concluded successfully.

Kugugung-

Sungwoon, who was resting on the sofa, felt a small earthquake.

Kugugung-

The earthquake rumbled repeatedly, and as time passed, he could feel the intensity of the earthquake growing stronger.

“Phew, I guess passing through without anything happening was out of the question after all.”

Sungwoon got up from his seat and went out to the balcony.

Below, Jang Byungjun and the staff members had also sensed the earthquake, guarding the surroundings with serious expressions.

It was at that moment.

Pwisuuuuk!

Along with the sound of cutting through the air, something was shot right in front of Sungwoon.

“!”

Sungwoon’s Super-sensation reacted to this, and Sungwoon ducked down.

Something that would have pierced his head had he not ducked passed by rapidly.

At this rate, it should have collided with the living room wall.

However, strangely, there was no aftermath from a collision.

“As expected.”

As if he had anticipated it, Sungwoon slowly stood up and turned his head with a stiff face to identify its identity.

The identity was none other than a fragment of the tower.

The fragment stuck to the living room wall and began wriggling, rapidly growing in size.

To think that the misfortune debuff would bring about the worst outcome: the apartment he was residing in corrupting into a Minor Tower.

“What to do about this.”

In the process of corrupting into a Minor Tower, external intervention is thoroughly blocked.

So those residing inside the apartment had no choice but to eliminate it beforehand, but that wasn’t an easy task.

“Kireureureuk-”

Precisely because of the monsters pouring out during the corruption process.

[Lv. 26 Blood Ant]

Blood Ants poured out from the black fragments that had now covered the living room.

Bastards with bodies far larger than normal ant monsters.

To compare them to animals, they were the size of a fully grown Jindo dog.

Even with a rough count, a number exceeding 30 filled the living room to capacity.

Sungwoon slowly drew his sword.

‘They’re bastards 8 levels higher than me.’

Glad the gap isn’t severe.

Level 8 is not a small figure, but in the Minor Towers currently occurring, monsters of various levels from 30 to 50 take root and live.

On the other hand, the Blood Ant in front of his eyes is level 26.

Meaning this is relatively gentle.

“Kireureureuk!”

The Blood Ants regarded Sungwoon as prey and lunged forward.

Because the space was cramped, movement was restricted.

‘I’m glad I used the dice.’

Currently, Sungwoon’s Strength was 85.

It was an overwhelming figure unbelievable for a level 18.

Sungwoon vigorously slashed his sword horizontally.

“Hup!”

Seogeok-

Three Blood Ants charging at the head had their torsos slashed, spewing green blood as they collapsed.

“Kireureuk?!”

When 3 of their comrades were severed in a single clash, the charging Blood Ants all came to a dead stop.

“Getting scared already.”

Sungwoon smirked and stepped one pace forward.

At that, the Blood Ants spewed fire simultaneously.

Wiing- Wiing-

The fire alarm triggered and an alert sounded.

However, as fragments covered over it, the sound was completely blocked.

Simultaneously, Sungwoon kicked the ground forcefully and shot forward.

Seogeok-

Spinning his body wide, he once again slashed his sword horizontally with a wide arc.

Huddled in a narrow space, the Blood Ants, unable to dodge, took his strike head-on, their torsos severed as they perished.

Hwareureuk-

Sungwoon could not be entirely unharmed either.

Although putting everything into Strength left no issue in killing them, his defense did not exceed the level 18 standard.

Furthermore, having had no time to put on armor, he was currently in ordinary clothing, making it impossible to ward off the flames.

‘It’s fine. It’s bearable.’

Though terrible pain arrived as his entire body suffered burns, Sungwoon’s expression overflowed with composure.

In his previous life, he had entered places worse than this countless times.

Near-death crises had been beyond count, and to Sungwoon, who had overcome every single one of them, the Blood Ants’ attack was at a laughable level.

[Traces of One Who Endured All Things]

On top of that was Traces of One Who Endured All Things acquired on the 1st floor.

Even though it was currently E-grade, all elemental resistances were at 15%.

Flames of this degree could not stop Sungwoon.

“I’ll slash every last one of you.”

Sungwoon began sweeping away the remaining Blood Ants.