Chapter 100

“Yawn…”

Riviera yawned as she sent us flying.

“3 minutes and 12 seconds.”

I announced the remaining time.

“3… 3 minutes.”

Allen exhaled nervously, understanding how difficult it would be to clear the 60th floor, filled with Minotaurs, within that time frame.

Minotaurs were tricky monsters.

They had overwhelming strength and tough vitality, making them difficult to deal with.

“I’ll leave the rear to you.”

“Uh, okay.”

“You can do it.”

“Yeah, trust the leader.”

“Believe in yourself.”

Allen looked moved, his face full of emotion from such a common phrase.

How sensitive can one be?

“Get ready.”

We were getting closer.

20 meters, 15 meters, 10 meters…

“Now.”

I shouted as we felt ourselves drop.

At the same time, a blood barrier rose, enclosing the area.

“Uwooo!”

“Woargh!”

Minotaurs screamed and exploded upon touching the barrier.

Although these monsters were tougher than regular ones, they couldn’t withstand the barrier entirely and were left crippled and disoriented.

Taking advantage of the chaos, I executed a downward slash on the boss Minotaur.

Clang!

But the boss Minotaur, having regained its senses, calmly blocked my attack with its iron axe.

As expected of a boss.

It didn’t budge an inch despite the powerful strike, proving its tremendous physical strength.

I quickly rolled back to create distance.

Thud!

An axe fell where I had been, ready to strike.

Had I been a moment slower, I would have been seriously injured.

“I won’t let a single one of you pass!”

Allen roared from behind.

I glanced back.

He had a different kind of intensity.

Not quite spirit, but a significant improvement for Allen .

He was a good listener.

With that kind of intensity, he should be able to hold out for the remaining 3 minutes.

Trusting Allen , I focused solely on the boss.

A tough opponent.

I had to use all my accumulated skills to have any chance of taking it down within the time limit.

“Moooorrr!”

The boss Minotaur charged at me with a terrifying cry.

Its movement was straightforward but fast.

Trying to dodge sideways could easily result in getting caught.

‘Here goes.’

Tap, tap, tap!

I decided to charge straight at it.

It seemed reckless, like an egg hitting a rock.

But I had a plan.

Swish!

I slid forward with all my momentum.

Aiming for the gap between its giant legs.

The Minotaur didn’t expect this move and left the gap open.

Thud, thud, thud!

Swish!

I passed through its legs easily, and it continued charging forward with its massive body and momentum.

It couldn’t stop easily.

The distance widened.

I seized the opportunity and drew my bow.

No time to waste.

I had to make these two shots count.

I activated Focus Shot.

All possible arrow paths unfolded before my eyes.

Meanwhile, the boss Minotaur turned around.

No time to hesitate.

Aim.

Ping! Ping!

I fired two quick shots.

A combination of skills.

Proof of my growth.

The arrows flew.

One aimed at the heart.

A critical spot that could end it in one shot if lucky.

But.

Tink!

The boss Minotaur deflected the arrow with its axe, as expected.

But that was within my calculations.

The second arrow was already heading for its leg.

Aiming for a spot far from the first arrow.

This was my true aim.

The Minotaur tried to react but was too late.

Thud!

“Mooorrr!”

The arrow struck its left leg.

It would be inconvenient, but my arrows weren’t ordinary.

They carried the curse of weakening that even bothered the monstrous Shadow Gulsan.

The boss Minotaur’s face contorted in discomfort.

I put away my bow and checked the time.

2 minutes and 4 seconds left.

The final moments to take it down.

“Moooorrr!”

The Minotaur let out a fierce cry.

Thud, thud, thud!

It charged again, axe in hand.

But with its injured leg and the curse, its movements were visibly slower.

This was the moment to strike.

Tap, tap, tap, tap!

I charged at it head-on.

Clang!

We clashed continuously.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

I unleashed all my skills.

The Empire’s Eight Techniques.

The Executioner’s Advanced Strike.

The Trickster’s Phantom Blade.

The boss Minotaur countered with its powerful axe swings.

A fierce battle ensued.

Clang! Thud!

I gained the upper hand.

I was faster than the slowed Minotaur.

My attacks kept hitting.

But it endured with its tough vitality.

Its axe swings were still threatening.

One hit could render me combat ineffective.

But eventually.

Thud!

The Trickster’s Phantom Blade pierced its heart.

“Uwooo!”

With a final, agonizing scream, the boss Minotaur toppled backward.

Thud!

And that was the end of it.

“Huff, huff…”

I steadied my ragged breathing.

“You… you did it, Leader!”

Allen ran over with a joyful expression.

He looked a mess, indicating he had been through quite an ordeal himself.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have any major injuries.

“Is it over now?”

Riviera, who had flown over, asked.

I chuckled.

“Yeah, great job, everyone. We’ve conquered the 60th floor.”

I looked at my pocket watch.

The final countdown.

7, 6, 5, 4, 3…

0

We were ejected outside.

* * *

“…”

The faces of the students in the Royal class were stone-cold.

They had failed to complete the 100-minute climb and had to escape.

Naturally, their scores were disappointing compared to their expectations.

They had hoped to reach the mid-to-high 50s, but in reality, they barely made it to the early 50s.

Some groups hadn’t even reached the 50th floor.

Their low ranks were already disheartening, but what made it worse was knowing they had come out before Max’s group from the Common class.

It was humiliating.

Especially for those who couldn’t acknowledge Max’s growth.

Even those who did recognize Max’s improved skills felt humiliated.

The Infinite Tower climb wasn’t something one could accomplish alone.

Without evenly skilled party members and teamwork, it was impossible to climb high.

They had been confident they wouldn’t fall behind in that regard.

In fact, they hadn’t even considered Max’s group as competition.

They saw the other two members of his group as mere dead weight.

But now, it seemed that dead weight was about to smash their heads.

“Are you telling me even those two are better than us?”

Someone lamented in a self-deprecating voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous. That can’t be…”

The voice of denial trembled.

“Then what is this?”

“That… that…”

They were at a loss for words.

“Sigh…”

A sigh that seemed to come from the depths of the earth.

What they feared most wasn’t just losing this evaluation.

It was demotion.

Nothing was more stressful and terrifying.

They would have to give up all the privileges of the Royal class and start over from the bottom.

Many students had testified to how awful that experience was.

It wasn’t just about the uncomfortable environment.

Their unparalleled pride as members of the Royal class would be shattered.

And not just by one, but by three of Max’s group?

On top of that, the Noble class students were eagerly looking for opportunities to advance.

“They’re suffering from the fear of being overtaken.”

Professor Karen, who was watching, smiled.

“You seem to be enjoying this?”

Lapit asked, tilting his head.

“A little anxiety is a good stimulus for students.”

“That doesn’t seem like a little anxiety.”

“Haha, you don’t seem like the type to say such soft things.”

“Really? Do I really seem that way? That’s news to me.”

Lapit was inwardly startled.

He thought he had done a good job playing the bookworm professor who loved research, but her words caught him off guard.

“Yes. It’s written all over your face.”

Written all over my face?

Lapit seriously considered whether he should start wearing sunglasses.

“Why do you look so serious? I was joking.”

“Oh… a joke… right…”

This woman was really exhausting to deal with.

Lapit decided to avoid her as much as possible in the future.

“By the way, there’s about a minute left.”

Professor Karen said with expectant eyes.

99 minutes.

It had been that long since Riviera and Max, those two oddballs, had entered.

‘She’s even counting the exact time.’

The fact that she was keeping track of the exact time showed how much she was paying attention to them.

As their homeroom teacher, Lapit didn’t have much to think about.

Well, to be precise, he did have some thoughts.

‘she should have listened to me…’

I told her not to stand out.

It’s not good for Riviera to draw attention.

Especially not Riviera.

Her 4D mental state made her unpredictable.

‘Just stop at the 50th floor.’

He didn’t even expect them to go below the 50th floor.

It was a given that they would use the full time.

But up to the 50th floor was fine.

It was a level where Max could blend in.

But the 60th floor was different.

The weight of reaching the 60th floor was significant.

It was an outstanding score.

‘No, not the 60th floor.’

No matter how much Riviera had changed because of Max, would she really go all out?

No, that couldn’t be.

Her laziness was top-notch.

As Lapit was confidently thinking this, Professor Karen’s voice reached his ears.

“Don’t you think they’ll reach the 60th floor?”

“Well, I think they’ll be above the 50th floor but below the 60th.”

“Ah, the 50s. Not bad. But I still think 60.”

“Well, I hope it turns out the way you think.”

Though I doubt it.

“Let’s see, then?”

Professor Karen smiled and continued.

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6…”

Why is she even doing a countdown?

Lapit chuckled in disbelief.

Meanwhile, the numbers continued to decrease.

And finally.

“0.”

With those words, three figures emerged from the magic circle.

“Yawn—”

Riviera yawned as soon as she appeared.

“Oh, we’re back!”

Allen shouted excitedly, his voice loud just from the excitement of returning.

And then.

Snap.

Max pointed to the board where the numbers would appear.

It was a confident gesture, unthinkable for someone who had just gone through numerous battles.

But such a gesture would be laughable without the results to back it up.

However, no one was laughing, except for one person.

Professor Karen, who was smiling with satisfaction.

“6, 60th floor?!”

“What…! They reached the 60th floor with that group?! That group?!”

“Is this real?!”

The students’ voices were filled with shock.