Episode 135
135. 99th floor
[You have entered the 99th floor of the Tower of Trials.]
[If you face the final ordeal, you will receive a reward that cannot be obtained anywhere else.]
[When successfully conquering the 99th floor ▶ ????]
Ryumin walked forward without looking at the message.
A large dump site with a diameter of 150 m and a fault can be seen.
As I go down the stairs and walk toward the center, a message comes to mind.
[Scan the information of the 99th floor entrant.]
[Player: Black Scythe (Lv89 Reaper)]
[Please wait a moment. The player’s information is being scanned and copied.]
… … … … … …
… … … …
[Scanning and copying completed. The final trial begins in 10 seconds.]
After exactly 10 seconds.
Parts ugh-
A man wearing black barding appeared in front of Ryumin, holding a sickle.
[Fight with the enemy in front of you.]
The enemy in front of you.
That was himself.
‘A fight with myself. That’s the final ordeal on the 99th floor.’
Ryumin, who already knew, was not embarrassed and picked up the sickle.
The other person, a guy who looks exactly like a black scythe, also approaches holding the Death Scythe.
The strongest players ranked first in the entire district clashed at one point.
Kaan-! Kang!
The scythes clash in the air, making a clear metallic sound.
Kagagak-kagak-!
Sometimes there is a sound of scythes scraping against each other.
Giggling geek-
When fighting with scythes, the sound of metal, like a scream, can wake you up.
The two people, who had exchanged dozens of attacks in a short period of time, stepped back.
‘It’s not just an illusion. It’s really a clone of me, exactly like me.’
Whether it’s strength, agility, or speed, there’s nothing that doesn’t resemble him.
Perfect yourself.
They look so similar that it’s safe to say they’re mirrors.
Ryumin’s eyes were colored with tension.
The strongest player was in front of him, so it was natural.
At that time, the guy took a step back and took a stance to swing the scythe.
Kiiiiing-
‘Moonlight Island?’
Ryumin immediately jumped.
but.
One second later, Moonlight Island flew in the direction I jumped as if I had expected it.
An angle that cannot be avoided.
However, Ryu Min was already taking a stance in the air.
‘Moonlight Island.’
Two blades bathed in moonlight clashed.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-!
When the huge energies collided, a chain explosion occurred.
Ryumin was blown away by the wind pressure.
The distance between them widened and dust filled the space between them.
The clone stopped while running to kill Ryumin.
This is because the presence of Ryumin, which was felt as a presence detection, disappeared.
There was no way it could be found because complete invisibility was possible thanks to the rune of stealth.
yet.
Wow!
Ryumin’s scythe appeared through the dust and cut off the clone’s head.
Although the surprise attack was successful, Ryu Min couldn’t smile.
This is because the body disappeared in a mushy state.
‘Self-immolation… … !’
In a short moment, a clone wearing an alter ego appeared behind Ryumin.
The deadly scythe was aimed at the waist.
Suddenly!
Ryumin’s waist was cut in two, but this was also an immolation.
Conversely, Ryumin, who was behind the clone, swung his scythe.
However, as if anticipating this, the clone narrowly avoided it and responded with a scythe.
Kaan-! Kaan-! Kang!
After exchanging three attacks in a short moment, the clone disappeared.
Slurp-
Ryumin also cast invisibility.
The two of them disappeared.
A quiet silence engulfed the surroundings.
‘As expected, it’s not that easy.’
Perhaps because he is the opponent, his skills are not average.
Rune of alter ego, invisibility, moonlight island, etc.
The usability is quite high.
Since he is already looking several moves ahead, he blocks all attacks.
‘It has to be that way. Because there is a rune of future poetry.’
Ryu Min also sees the opponent’s future 7 seconds in advance and moves. Isn’t that true for a clone?
‘This is why I jumped when using Moonlight Island. If the distance increases due to wind pressure, you may escape the range of the future rune.’
Ryumin didn’t jump into the air for nothing.
I already knew that if the Moonlight Islands collided with each other, they would be blown away by the wind pressure.
If you are that far away and your vision is blocked by dust, you will no longer be able to read the future runes.
‘But this operation was also a failure. I can’t handle his brains and quick wits.’
Everything is the same, including titles, runes, and stats, as well as items worn, items held, and combat sense.
It’s literally like facing a mirror.
It is natural that Ryumin is struggling.
‘But I can’t back down like this.’
There is a 99th floor reward, so how can you give up?
Ryumin’s scythe moved toward where the opponent was likely to be.
* * *
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-!
Kku-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-!
Explosions enough to shake the earth explode one after another.
Flashes of light appearing here and there light up the darkness.
The Night of Death, Red Moon, and Moonlight Island combo was unleashed on the opponent.
‘If I just touch this once, I’ll die?’
Ryumin, who was blocking Moonlight Island with Moonlight Island, grinned at his opponent.
“Five times. “You wrote everything, right?”
“… … .”
“So do i.”
The guy was his clone, but he didn’t say anything.
He didn’t even show any emotion on his face.
It just silently runs towards me swinging its scythe with a machine-like face.
Kaan-! Kaan-!
Perhaps because they know each other’s movements 7 seconds later, the attack and defense continues as if they are coordinated.
Even the stats match perfectly, so you can’t press it with force.
‘It’s been an hour and there’s not a single hurt on either side.’
I could tell because the opponent’s health bar was visible as a mark of death.
The guy wasn’t tired or hurt at all.
The same goes for Ryumin.
Slurp-
Slurp-
As the two used invisibility at the same time, silence came again.
If you use transparency, your location cannot be determined.
Although he couldn’t let go of the tension, this was the only time of rest given to Ryumin.
It is also time to plan a strategy.
‘Whoa, how should I attack myself now?’
I’ve tried all the attack patterns, but they don’t work.
It was only natural that he predicted it with the runes of future vision.
If you raise even a little dust unexpectedly, it escapes like a loach, as if it has already thought of a way.
Therefore, surprise attacks do not work and instead provide an opportunity for a counterattack.
Of course, Ryu Min is not taken lightly and takes out the next card.
‘There’s no progress like this.’
They have the same stats, same skills, and the same abilities.
How can we defeat such a mirror-like being?
Ryu Min, who had conquered the 99th floor, already knew the answer.
‘If you can’t win, hold on. That’s all there is.’
This fight cannot last forever.
Although you can’t see it, there is a time limit.
‘It took a whopping 24 hours.’
The real strategy for the 99th floor is to survive against yourself for 24 hours.
The system only told you to deal with the enemy in front of you, but did not tell you to kill it.
‘In other words, the main purpose of the 99th floor is to test your mental strength by fighting yourself.’
It is impossible to overcome yourself.
I’ve tried dozens of times, but I’ve never beaten myself.
‘Of course it would be nice to win, but based on my past experience, my ability to endure is the limit.’
If you can’t win, hold on.
However, if you lose, it will be difficult.
If he can’t maintain his mental strength and shows even a moment of weakness, he will kill Ryumin himself.
Then you will be eliminated without mercy.
The 99th floor reward is gone forever.
‘The means to fight against angels are disappearing? ‘That’s just not possible.’
This is why Ryumin grits his teeth and holds on.
Of course, it is not difficult yet.
‘It’s only been an hour now.’
Although the time is not written, it feels like there are 23 hours left.
It’s like a long marathon.
It may be difficult because you can’t see time, but Ryu Min felt fortunate.
‘When you see the time, your heart can be shaken. ‘I feel more comfortable not being seen.’
Until now, I checked the time, but now I decided not to be conscious of it.
For the remaining 23 hours, I exchange sums with the clone in front of me as if I were running a marathon.
If you hold on and hold on like that.
‘Time will run out and you will be able to clear the 99th floor.’
I gathered my strength again and picked up the scythe.
Only for the final reward on the 99th floor.
* * *
Kaaang- Kaaang-!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-!
Ga-ga-ga-ga-gak! Let’s go!
Ryumin endured, using the sound of blades clashing as music.
I held on until the 99th floor completion message appeared.
I don’t know how much time has passed.
Because I haven’t counted since the first hour.
Because he was thoughtless and only dealt with the enemy in front of him.
‘Did you say your best enemy is yourself?’
It wasn’t just a metaphor, it really was like that.
The best opponent right now is that guy.
A crazy man with a scythe who looks the same as a mirror.
‘Oh, if I curse at you, does that mean you’re spitting in my face? It doesn’t matter. ‘Because it’s true that I’m crazy.’
The only thought in that crazy guy’s head is that he should kill himself.
He swung his scythe like crazy and used a different pattern of attack every time.
‘If I were to appear as an enemy, I would look like this.’
Perhaps because the stats at level 89 are the same, I never get tired.
There is no way to rest for more than 5 minutes.
‘It really feels like I’m fighting a mirror.’
tired.
Is there any reason to continue this fight?
I don’t know anymore.
I just want to let it all go.
‘It’s simple. Just allow him to attack once and that’s it.’
It’s easy to give up.
The damage of the black scythe was fatal even if it was a normal hit.
‘Because the luck stat is high, the critical hit will be high. Ah, maybe I can defend myself with the black barding effect.’
There is a 67% chance of avoiding the attack, so if you’re lucky, you might not die at least once.
‘Then will you give me just one hit? ‘You might not die, right?’
And what if you die?
‘It’s just a return to reality.’
Should I drop everything and end this tiresome fight?
Whenever such carefree thoughts occurred to Ryumin, he recalled memories of his own experiences.
Dying people.
People who couldn’t protect themselves.
Even the only younger brother I had to leave behind in reality.
Flash!
The enemy’s Moonlight Island appears before your eyes.
Ryumin, who had already prepared instinctively, responded with the same skill.
Kku-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-!
As soon as I heard the explosion, I came to my senses.
‘You must protect it. Unless you want to see the world fall apart again.’
If you die here, the 99th floor reward will be lost.
If you lose the means to fight against the angel, there is no hope even if you attack for 20 rounds.
‘I lost my mind for a moment.’
Ryumin’s consciousness came back as if cold water had been poured on him.
Kagagagak-!
There was a struggle of strength as he blocked the scythe that came to split his head.
It’s like a tense tug-of-war, a battle of power in which no one is pushed back.
Ryumin’s body lurched forward.
Sharalalak-
The clones that were competing with each other just a moment ago suddenly disappeared like a mirage.
[You have survived the 24-hour time limit.]
[Cleared the 99th floor of the Tower of Trials.]
[It has been confirmed that the player is the first to clear the 99th floor of the Tower of Trials.]
[We have set an unprecedented record in the history of the Tower of Trials!]
[Your achievements will be registered in the Akashic Records.]
I ended up reaching the 99th floor, which I wanted so badly.
I was finally able to let go of the tension.
dump-
Ryumin fell to the floor as if he had used up all his strength.
“Whew, wow.”
That time when I was so out of breath that the message became invisible.
[The Tower of Trials is amazed by the player’s amazing mental strength.]
[Your physical strength and mental strength have been fully restored.]
[Obtain the title ‘Supreme Being’.]
As my physical and mental strength recovered, a message caught my eye.
‘I finally got it. A title to rival the angels.’
Ryumin opened the title’s information window.
