Chapter 186 : Chapter 186

Chapter 186 - Elevation (1)

The vast auditorium was unusually quiet.

Of course, in an ordinary department of any company, maintaining a quiet atmosphere at all times would be a basic professional etiquette, but at the very least, the Association's Observation Department was a far cry from such a story.

Due to the always urgent nature of the dungeons and the Tower's environment, everyone had to run around as if their feet were on fire, delivering information, so this place was almost always plagued by a noise that resembled a marketplace.

So, if everyone was in a state of dazed shock, staring blankly at the screen in a situation where an 'Omega-class' mana wave was detected, anyone involved would quickly realize how strange the current scene was.

For the observation room to be this quiet, it had to be either a truly peaceful state with nothing happening at all, or.

Something so absurd had to have happened that everyone was completely out of their minds.

“Omega-class mana wave detected. The source is the highest floor of the Tower, and the impact range is... the entire world.”

Hearing one of the employees report in a somber voice, a high-ranking official of the Association asked in a stiff voice.

“Let’s review this again. The mana wave that erupted when the great demon was released before was an omega-minus-class wave.”

“That is correct.”

“...But, now.”

The elderly man swallowed dryly and continued.

“The main event hasn't even started yet... and a mana wave exceeding that is occurring?”

“...That is correct.”

Good heavens.

That thought probably crossed the minds of everyone present.

What on earth is about to happen?

“...The predicted outcome is.”

When one of the executives asked in a trembling voice, the observing employee, sweating profusely, flipped through the documents.

Even though no one was rushing him, his trembling hands clearly showed the immense pressure he felt just in delivering this information.

“In the best-case scenario... the extermination of 90% of humanity.”

“...”

A silence much heavier than before descended upon the Association's interior.

If that was the best-case scenario, just how far could the worst case reach?

“Furthermore, the probability of the best-case scenario proceeding is only around 1%, and the cases where humanity is exterminated number over 1,000 even with a rough estimate...”

“Alright, that's enough. It seems there's no point in discussing that part any further. Rather than that, shouldn't we be looking for a way to stop it?”

Such a constructive opinion came from one of the executives who was still in his right mind, but even the person who said it couldn't elaborate on the method.

No, the rapid progress in conquering the Tower so far was ultimately achieved by just one person.

But now, with that person not even here, they were to stop a mana phenomenon occurring on the 'highest floor'?

How on earth?

“...For now, mobilize all our resources and try to contact Climber Kim Gyu-sik. How much time do we have?”

The trembling of the employee holding the documents grew even more severe.

Before, it was just enough to give the impression that he was quite nervous, but now it was at a level where one would worry he might actually faint.

Of course.

“...It's a rough estimate, but...”

“Don't beat around the bush and just say it. No one will blame you for speaking.”

What followed was a shocking figure that made such a reaction completely understandable.

“...In the future, 4 days, are left.”

“...”

“...”

Scoffs and empty laughter came from here and there.

It was clearly a number that made one want to escape reality before feeling that something big had happened.

“...So.”

Even the executive who asked the question let out a hollow laugh in disbelief and continued.

“So you're saying we have to climb to the top floor of the Tower, which all of humanity has clung to for 10 years and only managed to conquer close to 10 floors, within the next 96 hours. And I don't know what's waiting there, but we have to fight it and win.”

“...”

Seeing the employee get soaked as if he were caught in a flood, the executive let out another hollow laugh.

“Right. Unless Climber Kim Gyu-sik has the power of a god, we're all dead.”

It was a statement that everyone present had no choice but to agree with.

***

“What is the meaning of this...!”

Inside the dimensional rift.

The Guardian growled at the System.

Considering the difference in status between her and her opponent, it was an unimaginable act, but at least in the current situation, she had more than enough reasons to react this way.

“You’re telling me to break through there in 4 days? That’s impossible even for my human self! You clearly said you would calculate a fair and suitable method, but if you set the standard like this...!”

[ Administrator’s objection has been received. ]

[ Recalculating results... ]

[ Complete. ]

The System, which had impassively spewed out such a string of text into the air, once again spat out a sentence emotionlessly.

[ The currently set ‘Ordeal’ standard is an appropriate difficulty for the target ‘Kim Gyu-sik’. ]

[ The modification process will not be activated. ]

“Then at least start the countdown from the moment that man enters the Tower! At this rate, the ordeal might end before he even reaches this side...!”

[ Denied. ]

“...”

A grinding sound came from the Guardian’s mouth.

This thing, I had a feeling it approved the Elevation process a little too quickly.

Was it preparing such a trick...?!

‘Please...’

She prayed desperately in her heart.

In a situation like this, the only one she could pin her hopes on was that man.

Please, I beg you, realize this urgent situation and come here as fast as you can, even a minute, a second earlier...!

***

Hmm.

So.

It should be enough to enter the ordeal tomorrow.

Thinking so, I looked up.

“Oh, it's started.”

I said indifferently and scratched the back of my neck.

The sky was flashing yellow.

Of course, the area around the Tower is always a zone where mana rages, so natural phenomena that make people's eyes widen frequently occur, but the place I was currently at was quite far from the Tower.

If such a phenomenon could be observed with the naked eye from here, it would be safe to say that the full-fledged 'hidden phase' had begun.

It meant that the Guardian had also finished all the rituals to start the Elevation, and that in turn meant that a decisive battle with the Platinum Knight was waiting not too far off.

And to prepare for that, the first thing I had to do was.

Rummage through junk in an old building heavily covered in dust.

“Certainly, around here...”

Muttering so, I searched the wooden makeshift warehouse as if I were looking for lice.

Since they were all buildings I had built, I had a thorough grasp of their structure.

The warehouse, set up in a quiet backyard, was filled with all sorts of junk, but there were bound to be valuable things here too.

For example.

“That’s right.”

Even this old-model PC that looks like complete scrap.

In the eyes of someone who knows its value, it could be a treasure more precious than gold.

“...”

I accepted the gazes of the people who were blankly watching from inside the house, wondering what on earth I was doing, with a sigh.

Well, it's understandable that I'd get such looks if I came out with a broken computer, saying it's a 'necessary task' on the verge of a decisive battle for the fate of the world.

But, as always.

I am not a person who does useless things.

“What is... this?”

Seo Ah-in, who had walked out to the yard at some point and was loitering nearby, asked such a question.

Well, it’s nothing special.

“Let's see. The creator god, maybe?”

“...Excuse me?”

Seo Ah-in looked back at me with an expression that said, ‘What kind of crazy nonsense is this man spouting now?’

But there is no more appropriate expression than that.

Because this is what Kim Sojin and I used when we were 'developing' Conqueror.

-...

Despite being so old, as soon as I gave it a decent cleaning and connected it to a power source, the PC started running smoothly.

“It's amazing that it still works even though it's such an old model. It looks like it's over 10 years old based on the model.”

“...Do you know a lot about computers?”

“I've been studying a bit recently. I found it so fun while playing games.”

Come to think of it, I think there were a few times when I passed by this girl's room and heard her screaming while making a loud racket.

Like 'Jungle diff-!!!' or 'What is our bot lane doing-!!!'.

I don't really know what it means, but I can tell she's really into games.

“...”

Although for someone who's into them, I think there were more times when she got excessively angry.

So much so that Ms. Meirin, who sometimes played games with her, once ran to me with teary eyes saying, 'Ah-in is scary'.

What on earth are you doing while playing games...?

“...Wow. But I can't understand any of this.”

Seo Ah-in clicked her tongue and shook her head as she looked at the string of code that appeared on the monitor I had turned on.

Well, that's understandable.

If you haven't studied programming professionally, this will just look like hieroglyphics.

In other words.

To someone who can understand what this means, they can immediately see how 'amazing' this information is.

“Hmm...”

I scanned the string of text with my eyes and typed a few times.

After a short while of deciphering the 'information' inside.

I nodded and said.

“Alright. It’s done.”

“Excuse me? What is?”

“Calculating the ending strategy.”

“...?”

I smirked at Seo Ah-in, who was tilting her head.

Well, it's nothing special.

“It was always the same story. So it's going the same way this time too.”

Saying that, I turned to Lee Si-yeong and Ms. Seo Hye-in, who were still blankly staring at this side from inside the house.

“Hey, Guild Master. Ms. Seo Hye-in. Could you please contact the Magic Tower and the Association, respectively? I think they're all desperately looking for me by now.”

“...Hm?”

“...Excuse me? What's the sudden occasion...?”

Saying so, the two of them fumbled to take out their phones.

They were both startled when they saw the records on them.

“E-heeeeek...! Calls from heads of state...!”

“From the supreme chairman of the Association too...!”

“A message from the Master of the Magic Tower too...!”

Right. Those calls were probably all to find me.

I wonder if any dignitary in history has ever received such treatment.

“What do you mean, occasion.”

I tucked the PC under my arm with a cynical laugh.

Let's see.

As far as I know, the maximum clear standard for this route was about 4 days.

Well, for me, who has even obtained the 'cheat code' now, even that is a ridiculously long time.

Why take 96 hours.

Let's go easy.

“It's the occasion of saving the world in two days.”

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