Chapter 21 – Continuous Bloodbath (3)

Яｅαԁ οո Καţ​Ｒεａԁί​ηցＣаϝε​

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[I went scouting, and Sylvia has already finished her rest and is climbing again. It feels like we’re falling behind. What should we do? ㅠㅠ]

ㄴ“Ah, I keep telling you, time isn’t that important.”

ㄴ“Looking at your profile, you haven’t posted a single thing… I see what you’re trying to do.”

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[Did Reina’s guild members steel their resolve? No one’s dropped out yet.]

ㄴ“Please, let’s give it our all.”

ㄴ“Reaching stage 100 is definitely possible. It’s all about how you approach it.”

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Just by browsing the gallery, I could roughly keep up with the news about the others. Regardless of the source, news was news.

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[Jung Chan-soo, that crazy bastard, has broken through stage 120.]

ㄴ“That guy’s on a whole different level.”

ㄴ“There’s nothing we can do about that.”

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Jung Chan-soo at stage 120. The moment I saw that news, it felt like the air was knocked out of me. I didn’t really care that Sylvia was climbing ahead of me.

In the end, it was a battle of endurance, and I had a slight advantage over Sylvia, a spirit mage, when it came to stamina.

‘Damn it, damn that talent monster…’

What I cared about was Jung Chan-soo. He was the real talent monster I’d been openly trying to catch up to. The protagonist of this world—or at least of this tower.

Honestly, I had no choice but to admit it. The gap between him and me was like heaven and earth.

The only reason I’d become strong enough to be called a ranker was because I knew everything about his past exploits from before I possessed this body.

But as I gradually gained my own strength and pride as a warrior, I couldn’t help but keep my attention on Jung Chan-soo.

A comment from a user flashed in my mind: “If you’re training with a sword, shouldn’t you aim to be the strongest?”

Now that I was sneaking a peek at the constellations’ gallery, I wondered if it was even possible to surpass him—the one I’d set as my guiding light and milestone for so long.

Even Serpina had said I had a talent for following someone, not for leading.

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[Do you guys think Reina will ever catch up to and surpass Jung Chan-soo?]

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Embarrassingly, I posted the question directly in the gallery.

Unlike the comments from internet ghosts lurking in their basements, these were constellations—beings far stronger than me and Jung Chan-soo. Their words carried weight.

I wanted their acknowledgement, even if it was just words, to keep my hope alive.

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ㄴ“This isn’t the time for this. Reina’s taking a bath right now. Hurry up and take some pics!”

ㄴ“Oh, here we go!”

ㄴ“Are the people asking for pics insane? We’re trying to get a request from someone precious here. So make them take the pics according to the rules.”

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“Answer seriously, dammit!”

Most of the comments flooding in were just asking me to take pictures.

For a moment, I felt a pang of self-loathing for seeking comfort from these people, but thankfully, there were some sane ones.

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ㄴ“Reina’s speed at absorbing strategies is unusual. With 50 floors left, I think it’s entirely possible within that time.”

ㄴ“Really?”

ㄴ“You’ve reached the top of the tower too, so you should know. Nothing is surprising anymore. It’s entirely possible for someone who entered the 1st floor when others were at the 199th to reach the 200th in just a year.”

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The user’s nickname was Unfading Ember. The calm tone matched the name well.

“Ah, this feels good.”

The heart is fickle. Hearing what I wanted to hear made me feel better again.

As a reward, I uploaded a picture of my face during the bath, making sure it was tasteful. I didn’t want to see the overly enthusiastic reactions, so I logged off and woke up from my rest.

I was finally getting the hang of using this community to my advantage.

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「Continuous Bloodbath Stage 110 Clear」

「Stage 95 Reward: High-Grade Random Stat Fragment, Potion Selection Box, Random Equipment Box」

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“Whew.”

The reward for clearing every 10 stages past stage 100 in the Continuous Bloodbath was a high-grade random stat fragment.

Even though it was random, it was an insane item that increased one stat by a whopping 500 points.

[Insight: 750 > 1250]

“Damn it.”

Of all things, it had to be Insight, which wasn’t particularly useful for me right now.

Of course, the high-grade stat fragment I got at stage 100 increased my Stamina, and a 500-point boost was nothing to scoff at.

Insight allowed me to perceive the flow of mana, improve intuitive decision-making speed, and understand the hidden meanings behind items or mechanisms.

Like all stats, there was no downside to increasing it.

[Garron’s Wrath (A)]

‘This one’s useful.’

Another reward was the random equipment box. Even the lowest grade was B-grade, making it an excellent reward.

It was no wonder these rewards were called the main income source for rankers.

But the price for such good rewards was enduring 10 harsh trials past stage 100 before the next reward cycle.

My previous best record was stage 115. In other words, I’d only gotten this reward twice.

‘Let’s go.’

This time, I couldn’t stop there. Stage 120, where another reward awaited.

And to aim for what had once been a dream—something beyond that.

“Long time no see, you bastard.”

「Continuous Bloodbath Stage 115」

Clenching my teeth, I fought my way to the enemy who had dealt me a severe injury in the previous cycle, forcing me to give up—the Specter Knight Darkus at stage 115.

With my sword at the ready, I bit my lip as I watched the massive knight, comparable in size to an orc warrior, slowly emerge from the swirling black mist.

This was an enemy fit to be a boss at the 130th floor of the tower. To clear this trial, I had to face such an enemy alone.

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[Darkus’s passive, Call of Annihilation, is nullified by Radiance. How can she lose?]

ㄴ“She’s trying to fight a strength battle. Of course, she can’t win, especially when she’s already exhausted.”

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The gallery users watching my every move wouldn’t have stayed silent when I lost to Darkus in the past.

Naturally, strategies for defeating Darkus became a hot topic in the furious gallery.

The scolding I got from Serpina was nothing in comparison.

In exchange for angering them, I was called talentless, unprepared, and a stubborn idiot who kept trying the impossible. But at the same time, I also learned how to deal with him.

‘No. I can’t let the gallery get flooded with “Is Reina okay?” posts again.’

“—-!!!!”

With wide eyes, I leapt into the air as Darkus swung his massive mace with a terrifying roar.

The mace’s power was insane. Honestly, just being able to block it was impressive.

At the same time, the holy light emanating from my body neutralized the curse mixed into his roar.

It was an annoying curse that slowed movement and dulled nerves, but thanks to my S-grade ability, Radiance, I was almost immune to such curses.

In the past, I would’ve blocked his strike and countered with a standard technique, but this time was different.

I leapt into the air, dodging his mace, and went on the offensive.

“As expected.”

Darkus, unwilling to let me counter, retracted his mace and cast a spell with his other hand.

This was also a move I already knew about.

Instead of swinging my sword to continue the attack, I kicked off the air to dodge again.

‘Tch.’

The black lightning he shot grazed past me. Just the graze was enough to activate Hermetica’s defensive barrier, sending a crackling shock through me.

If I hadn’t been fully defended, a direct hit would’ve killed me instantly, let alone injured me.

The natural air jump was also a result of the synergy between the Form of Transcendence and abilities I’d worked so hard to master.

Thanks to that, I seized the opportunity in that split second. Darkus’s exposed back was visible for a brief moment.

S-grade ability, Annihilation Spear.

A surge of mana erupted from my sword, and the spear of mana I launched pierced through Darkus’s back, beginning to destroy him.

“That feels good.”

I landed on the ground and smirked as I watched Darkus stagger, his body almost completely shattered.

As if refusing to die, he raised his mace, now swirling with black mist, and swung it at me, but there was no way it would hit me now.

I lightly stepped back, avoiding the need to waste energy blocking his final attack.

It was a stark contrast to the past, where I’d barely escaped after he crushed my body, coughing up blood. Now, I was the one looking down at him as he collapsed.

「Continuous Bloodbath Stage 115 Clear」

Finally, Darkus’s body completely crumbled, and the notification appeared.

It was clear proof that the enemy who had handed me my last defeat had now been slain by my hand.

‘I did it.’

I took a deep breath, feeling my heart pound.

It wasn’t just about defeating an enemy I’d lost to before.

As I’d told my guild members, it was only natural to grow stronger with continuous training.

Losing to the same enemy in the same way was abnormal and shameful.

But now, I had defeated the same enemy in a completely different way.

This was a new path, one even the constellations in the fan gallery couldn’t fully predict.

Proving it countless times would be my mission, but at least for now, I had succeeded.

The joy of proof. I couldn’t see the results immediately, but I could easily imagine the gallery’s atmosphere.

「Continuous Bloodbath Stage 116」

Not long after, a new stage and a new enemy I’d never faced before unfolded.

“Come on, bring it.”

But even as I gasped for breath, I smiled.

[Current Reina’s Stats: A Guide to Stage 116]

What I’d seen wasn’t just the strategy for stage 115.

Even though this was my first time facing this enemy, it felt familiar because I’d memorized the gallery’s strategy posts down to the comments.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for reading.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Unfading Embers is totally not who you think~

Speaking of which, maybe Agna was the one who granted her the ability to access, considering she couldn’t see him in the community.