I burned through it white-hot.
Climbed like a madman.
Tomorrow I’ll be able to enter the 60th floor.
After entering the Wyvern zone, one upper floor conquest per day.
The other entry spent on repeat conquests of the same floor to collect leather samples.
That was the plan.
I don’t intend to skin a lot of leather.
Especially with basilisk leather already piled up.
Just one hide from each.
For the purpose of sending samples.
The rest of the time for mana stone collection.
Juhyeok and his summonees were back on the 59th floor, skinning a Thunder Wyvern.
But Razix’s expression wasn’t normal.
He’d been like this since the 56th floor.
“I-I’m sorry, Supply Officer.”
“Hoek!”
A sulking, upset Razix.
Veronica apologizing to Razix while standing at attention.
Why are they acting like this?
It’s nothing.
The reason was that Veronica, while firing magic bullets to pull Wyverns, had blown holes right through their bodies.
Razix was displeased.
The leather was damaged.
Even if they were only skinning one sample.
“Hoek!… Just hit the head.”
“I-I’ll correct my approach!”
The reason Veronica was groveling to Razix:
As a soldier herself, she knew very well how terrifying supply officers could be.
What does rank matter?
Position is everything.
If you get on the bad side of the supply officer who provides most of your mana stone ammunition, your military life is over.
For this reason, the person she was most careful around after Commander Bong Juhyeok was Razix.
It couldn’t be helped.
As a commander, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
“Sergeant Veronica?”
“Sergeant Veronica Caliber!”
“At ease.”
“At ease!”
And to Razix:
“I’ll tell her to aim for the head only, so please don’t be upset.”
“Hoe, alright.”
“I’ll help prepare the leather in exchange.”
“…It’s fine, I’ll do it all myself.”
“I want to do it myself. Me.”
Wyverns are inconvenient to skin whole because of their wings.
First, you need to cut off the wings to skin them easily.
Woooong!
A blood-red translucent force gathered at Juhyeok’s fingertips.
This is Gwangma’s Blood Jade Force.
With low proficiency, he could only manifest the force at his fingertips for now.
When he placed his fingertips against the Wyvern corpse’s wing, swish!
The wing joint cut like tofu.
“How is it? Clean, right?”
The first cuts were rough, but after several attempts, he became skilled.
Razix seemed satisfied too.
“Hoeeeng?…Amazing.”
“This is nothing.”
Having learned a skill is certainly convenient.
It feels like having a well-cutting laser sword.
What would Gwangma think?
If he knew his legendary skill was being used merely for processing monster corpses.
Well, is Blood Jade Force really that great?
Using it this way might be much better than killing people.
‘I should hand over the samples this afternoon.’
Team Leader Lee Min-ah, no longer Department Head, would be coming.
It’s still not easy to talk with her.
Unlike with the summonees.
***
The next morning.
Finally, the day of the 60th floor conquest dawned.
I’ll finish it right away.
Strike while the iron is hot.
Only 5 days remain until the UAE conquest deadline.
How anxious must the people of that country be?
I researched the 60th floor in advance.
It doesn’t take much internet searching to gather information quickly.
A floor impossible for ordinary players to conquer without national support.
In fact, that’s true for the entire flying monster zone.
The floor range where ordinary players can safely maintain their livelihood through repeat conquests is below the 40th floor.
Anyway, on the 60th floor, we have to face the Wyvern Lord.
Just need to defeat it.
All types of Wyverns don’t appear here.
But does the Wyvern Lord appear alone?
No.
A peculiar monster called the Venomous Wyvern also appears.
Venomous Wyvern.
It feels like the Wyvern Lord’s summon.
The weakest Wyvern among all those that have appeared so far.
It doesn’t even count toward mission completion conditions.
Dies from just a light tap whether melee or ranged.
Weak defense and slow movement speed.
But the problem comes after death.
When killed, Venomous Wyverns fall to the ground and melt into toxic liquid.
The poison doesn’t get absorbed into the ground.
It pools on the surface, creating puddles.
Poison puddles.
Created in numbers equal to the Venomous Wyverns killed.
The funny thing is, even without being attacked, they dive into the ground on their own, creating poison puddles everywhere.
What happens if you step in one?
You get poisoned, and your body melts away.
It’s deadly poison.
Even drinking healing potions is useless.
How to avoid the poison puddles?
Even if you detoxify yourself, you get poisoned again.
Can’t you just avoid stepping in them? That’s impossible.
Because the conquest area is extremely narrow.
Imagine it like a gourd-shaped ravine.
The conquest site is surrounded by cliffs on all sides.
The movable area is about half the size of a school playground?
You have no choice but to step in poison puddles.
In this situation, state-supported elite players shine.
With inventories packed full of poison-resistant equipment, they undertake the conquest.
If they’ve come this far, they must not only be talented, but also have undergone characteristic enhancement at least twice under state support.
With substantial backing, they can ignore the poison puddles created by Venomous Wyverns and focus solely on the Wyvern Lord as quickly as possible.
That’s why even in advanced tower-climbing nations, only one or two players can conquer the 60th floor.
Shall we go in now?
Juhyeok summoned his summonees.
“Chung!”
“Victory assured!”
“Hoeng!”
Snap! Kozak’s awkward salute,
Snap! Veronica’s perfect military-regulation salute.
Snap! Razix’s poignant salute with his short arms not even reaching near his eyebrows.
‘Hmm…’
Should I return this? Ah, whatever.
Snap!
Juhyeok quickly responded with a salute too.
“At ease.”
Only then did Kozak, Razix, and Veronica lower their hands.
“I have arrived, Summoner.”
“Young master, did you rest well last night?”
At least Gobang and Gyeon Dallae are still normal.
“Today we’re entering the 60th floor. The UAE Black Tower.”
“When do you plan to conquer the Korea’s Black Tower’s 60th floor, young master?”
“We can do that slowly, can’t we?”
What’s the rush with Korea?
Besides, at floor 60, we should also think about the special reward.
Even without performing a ritual, we should enter the Korea’s Black Tower conquest with reverence.
But then,
“Summoner Bong, I have a suggestion.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve prepared a briefing, please review and approve it.”
“…Briefing?”
Has this fellow developed a taste for briefings?
“Well, go ahead.”
“Yes!”
Kozak, excited by Juhyeok’s permission.
While drawing pictures and demonstrating with other summonees, he explained elaborately.
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes!”
“Is this really possible?”
“Yes!”
“Everyone agreed?”
“Yes!”
This is driving me crazy.
It’s not like we’re shooting a transformation combination scene on the 60th floor.
“Can’t we conquer using regular methods? Melt everything with firepower like we always have.”
“Of course that’s possible. But it would be very painful. All of us would be in pain.”
That’s true.
And I always feel sorry about it.
“Isn’t it better if only one person suffers?”
“…?”
“I mean Gobang.”
“Wow, you slippery…”
“Pardon?”
This is ridiculous.
Kozak, cunningly devious beyond compare.
“It’s not just me. Our lovely worker could also die a sudden death in a poison pit while supplying.”
“…Hmm.”
Razix in danger?
That can’t happen.
“Plus, using this method, there’s no attack delay.”
This is a dilemma.
‘Should we try it?’
Imagining the conquest in my head, it seems absurd, but…
“Alright, let’s proceed according to the briefing. Shall we enter then?”
“Hehehe, it feels like going on an overseas trip.”
“It is a foreign expedition conquest, so in a way, yes.”
Juhyeok took out the Multinational Tower Usage Ticket.
The usage method is, of course, tearing it.
Rip!
[You have used the Multinational Tower Usage Ticket.]
[Please state the country name and floor number of the tower you wish to enter.]
“United Arab Emirates Black Tower, 60th floor.”
[Entry conditions have been met. Would you like to enter now?]
“Enter.”
Spot!
[Entering Black Tower of the United Arab Emirates, Floor 60.]
Finally entered another country’s tower.
There was no special feeling.
The tower environment doesn’t change just because it’s a different country.
“Victory assured! Proceeding with the Wyvern Lord extermination operation.”
“Chung! Trust this Kozak. Hehehe.”
“Hoek! Hoehehe.”
“Please take utmost care of yourself.”
“Trust me, everyone. I’ll protect you.”
Leaving the safe zone of the narrow passage, they entered a circular arena-like space.
[Floor 60 Mission: Defeat 1 Wyvern Lord.]
[Completion Time Limit: Within 12 hours.]
[Completion Condition: Wyvern Lord 0/1]
From the distant sky, the Wyvern Lord approached, accompanied by hundreds of Venomous Wyverns.
Swoooosh!
Gobang enlarged his body using Gigantification.
Growing rapidly.
He became enormous.
They formed a formation as rehearsed.
First, Kozak climbed onto Gobang’s right shoulder.
Veronica on the left shoulder.
And Razix?
He rode piggyback.
With his short legs tightly gripping Gobang’s neck, and short arms embracing Gobang’s head.
His fluffy bottom.
Displaying a fatally attractive rear view.
This was the 4-level summonee transformation combination.
Kozak’s cunning idea based on Gobang’s sacrifice.
Juhyeok and Gyeon Dallae climbed up onto the cliff.
To avoid poison puddles.
Though they couldn’t participate in combat, they could still provide buffs and encouragement.
“Fighting!”
Well, I should at least cheer them on.
What else can I do?
Conquest begins.
Jingle-jangle-jangle-jangle!
As Gyeon Dallae vigorously shook her bells,
Pashook! Pashook! Pashshshshshook!
Veronica, on Gobang’s left shoulder, began firing her magic gun.
Patter, patter-patter! Patter-patter-patter-patter!
Venomous Wyverns falling like rain.
Poison puddles forming everywhere.
The key to this conquest was Gobang.
Without directly confronting the Wyvern Lord, he maintained a constant distance while drawing it in circles.
Splash, splash,
Fearlessly stepping in poison puddles while continuously using provocation skills to draw aggro.
The floor?
What’s the big deal about stepping on it?
If this were a roleplaying game, he would be excluded from loot distribution.
But Gobang’s regeneration ability is exceptional.
A body hardened with Diamond Skin.
Almost completely poison-resistant.
The slippery Kozak dealing damage while moving between Gobang’s right shoulder and the Wyvern Lord’s back.
Veronica comfortably firing her magic gun from Gobang’s left shoulder.
Razix riding piggyback, making “hoe-hoe” sounds while supplying Veronica with mana stone ammunition.
Our dependable Gobang.
The SR Savage Meat Shield.
Blades shoot out from his right hand, bullets fire from his left.
A transformation combination robot with perfect self-supply capabilities.
Though it looked ridiculous, there was absolutely no attack delay.
If aggro shifted, he’d throw a punch to maintain provocation.
‘This actually works.’
It was real.
The plan of Kozak, the King of Clever Schemes, unfolded exactly as intended.
Eventually.
[Wyvern Lord defeated 1/1]
[You have succeeded in the 60th floor mission.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Reward: 6kg of mana stones]
Easy.
For the Korea’s Black Tower’s 60th floor too, this method…
That’s when it happened.
[Announcement: You have achieved S++ grade conquest of Black Tower (UAE) Floor 60.]
“Huh?”
[S++ Conquest Reward: Platinum Badge awarded.]
‘…Received a badge.’
So you can receive them from other countries’ towers too?
Then does the general announcement sound as well?
Surely not the special reward too?
***
The UAE Federal Supreme Council.
With just 5 days remaining before their country’s Black Tower collapse, Crown Prince Bin Salah attended the Federal Council meeting alongside Player Omar Hassan.
A hearing and final judgment were scheduled.
The crime of handing over the Characteristic Enhancement Rune without an official contract.
The crime of putting the UAE at risk of tower collapse because of that.
“Crown Prince Bin Salah, do you admit your guilt?”
“I cannot admit it.”
“As I’ve heard, so arrogant.”
“How unfortunate. You were so bright as a child.”
Yet Bin Salah maintained a dignified posture.
“Will you claim innocence until the end?”
“It was merely an expression of my sincere loyalty to the country.”
“Ha!”
The revocation of his crown prince title and foreign deportation were already predetermined outcomes.
The emirates, excluding Abu Dhabi, had secretly been waiting for such an opportunity.
Although it’s a federation of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi effectively governs the UAE.
The disparity in national power was too great.
That’s why the six emirates, including Dubai, had been aiming to reduce Abu Dhabi’s influence and gain control of the UAE themselves.
Given the situation, Salah Mohammed bin Ajiz, the King of Abu Dhabi and concurrent King and President of the UAE, didn’t even attend the Federal Council meeting.
Bin Salah appeared resigned, but he hadn’t given up.
He had staked everything on Gobang.
All he needed was for him to turn the situation around.
But his heart remained anxious.
Would he truly keep his promise?
“Thanks to you, the judgment will be easier. Don’t you think?”
“Let’s make a decision quickly. We need to make a public announcement, and there’s also the temporary naturalization contract.”
The UAE Federal Supreme Council had decided to conclude a temporary naturalization contract with Saudi Arabia.
The King of Dubai had taken the lead.
The enormous price to be paid remained unchanged.
One of the conditions in the contract with Saudi Arabia was the expulsion of Crown Prince Abdul Bin Salah.
How could they not be angry when he had given away a Characteristic Enhancement Rune that would have naturally come to them?
“Then, gathering everyone’s opinions, I shall deliver the judgment. Crown Prince Abdul Bin Salah has leaked a valuable national asset abroad.”
Bin Salah gently closed his eyes.
Is this how it ends?
“This is a shameless crime akin to treason. Therefore, the Federal Supreme Council resolves to expel Abdul Bin Salah from the United Arab Emirates as of today…”
Suddenly!
“Gasp!”
Player Omar, seated right next to Crown Prince Bin Salah, sprang to his feet and shouted.
“What are you doing? Shouting during the judgment?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Are you expressing opposition to the crown prince’s expulsion?”
Player Omar Hassan opened his mouth with a trembling voice,
“T-the UAE Black Tower’s 60th floor,”
“What about the tower? Is it collapsing?”
“I-it has just been conquered. I heard the general announcement.”
“…What?”
“And with an S++ grade…”
What nonsense is this?
All of a sudden?
It was completely out of nowhere.
Words that would soon be exposed as lies…
Could it be?
The meeting hall fell silent in an instant.
Then.
Attendants present at the Federal Supreme Council meeting began whispering while showing their smartphones.
The complexions of the participants rapidly changed.
Journalists and high-ranking officials who had come to observe also jumped to their feet.
They moved busily while making calls.
The meeting room turned into chaos, but no one tried to stop it.
Eventually.
“I-it’s true. It’s the general announcement. All UAE-affiliated players heard it.”
“…The S++ grade conquest record of the UAE Black Tower’s 60th floor and the tower conquest progress status have been confirmed.”
Murmurs all around.
Everyone wore expressions of astonishment.
Not just any conquest, but an S++ grade conquest.
And this isn’t even Korea.
Only then did Bin Salah smile faintly and say,
“Please continue with the judgment. What was my crime again?”
Of course, no one could answer.