The Demon Cultist Cheon Yu-ra

Skilla swung her greatsword.

The red greatsword drew a crimson trajectory.

The greatsword, appearing to hold blood, demonstrated its true worth the more enemies it killed.

It wasn’t suited for duels.

The greatsword itself wasn’t originally suited for one-on-one combat.

Heavy.

Clumsy.

She made up for it with her physique.

“Hoo-rah!”

“Whoa there.”

Gospel’s captain of the guard.

Inos dove into the inner radius of the greatsword.

The greatsword touched Inos’s armor, but the inner radius was a weak zone. It didn’t inflict much impact on Inos’s armor.

Before Inos’s hand could grab something, Skilla’s foot kicked Inos.

The distance widened.

Just when it seemed she would charge,

“I can’t believe you’re level 30.”

She relaxed her stance.

Skilla wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

“Level 31.”

“Level 30 or 31. From my perspective, there isn’t much difference.”

Skilla’s level was 31.

She hadn’t raised her level yet.

The repair of her armor wasn’t finished.

It was damaged after being punched by some guy named Pacheon-gun.

Self-proclaimed level 50.

No, he seemed to really be level 50.

“Inos, what level do you think I can handle?”

“Hmm…”

Inos scanned Skilla up and down.

He also considered their previous exchange.

Red hair tied in two braids.

Simple training clothes consisting of a top and bottom.

She was sweating, but her breathing wasn’t greatly disturbed and she recovered quickly.

“If I were to convert my strength to the Hero’s level, it would be equivalent to level 45.”

Levels only appeared for Heroes.

Levels were the degree of climbing the Tower.

The level of power gained by climbing.

But levels didn’t reveal all strength.

There were many who hadn’t been granted levels, and among them were warriors who possessed strength equal to that of frontline Heroes.

Inos, in his case, possessed strength equivalent to a Hero’s level 45.

“From what I’ve experienced, I can assure you that Miss can compete evenly with level 40s, far exceeding level 30.”

“Level 40.”

“But not quite level 50.”

Pacheon-gun.

Even with maximizing equipment effects, receiving Enhancement from Nabi’s magic, and receiving assistance from Americano, she could barely hold her own.

Moreover, Pacheon-gun had faced Skilla with ease.

She, who had directly clashed with him, felt that point the most keenly.

Level 30 and level 50.

The difference of 20 levels was that great.

“Of course, even if I say you’re equivalent to level 40, you must remember that there are differences in skill even among level 40s.”

“I know that without being told.”

Levels were ultimately power.

Energy.

Levels were like tools, Skilla had been taught.

Therefore, tools must be handled well.

“Skill is level 40. Power is level 30. Level 40s will be easy enough.”

“I need to get stronger.”

“Even level 40 is a high-ranking officer in most cases, you know?”

“My goal is to climb to the top of the Tower and save the world. Don’t you dare judge my goals as you please. If you’re so strong, you should become a Hero. Why are you working as a captain of the guard in a place like this?”

“The selection of Heroes isn’t up to me. You know that the more skilled people like me are, the less likely they are to be selected as Heroes.”

If simply being strong was enough to be selected as a Hero, what about the Sword Gods?

Their strength, when converted to Hero levels, exceeded level 60.

If such strong individuals were used as Heroes, the Tower would be conquered more easily.

And the growth potential of Heroes would be easily utilized.

“I don’t understand God’s thoughts.”

“There’s a saying that new wine should be put into new wineskins.”

“….”

She didn’t doubt God’s will, but sometimes she had questions.

“Still, if you were to become a Hero, that would mean you’d be as strong as level 45 from the start?”

“I suppose so?”

Level 1 but with the strength of level 45.

The balance between Heroes would be a mess.

That raised a question.

“Then is it possible to become a Sword God by continuing to train while remaining at level 1?”

“I haven’t heard of such a case, so I can’t say for sure. It’s only been 5 years since the Tower of Trials appeared. Isn’t it too short a time for a level 1 Hero to train and become a Sword God?”

That was true.

“What about Summoned Heroes?”

“It’s been 1 year since Summoned Heroes appeared. If there’s someone with Sword God-level skills from their original world, they should be showing up soon.”

Inos imagined such a scenario and had a terrifying thought.

“A Sword God at level 1. It’s scary to think about when they level up.”

“Hmm.”

Skilla thought of someone.

Someone whose face and name she didn’t know.

Anonymous.

‘Could that person be such a case?’

No.

She shook her head.

Anonymous was a beginner from the start.

He had innate talent, but his skills were meager.

He climbed from the first floor step by step, and his skills improved accordingly.

The Anonymous who struggled on the first floor and the Anonymous who reached the 30th floor showed a different level of skill and technique.

It would be amazing if there was someone who was a Sword God while remaining at level 1,

But Anonymous, who grew beyond his level from level 1, was even more incredible.

Comparing the two like this,

‘I see.’

Skilla realized.

Only then did she understand God’s will.

That was it.

If a Sword God became a Hero, if their strength was level 60, the Sword God would quickly level up to level 60.

And then they would be stuck at level 60.

Even though Heroes had their own way of growing.

They wouldn’t be able to show growth beyond their level.

In the first place, there was no way a Sword God at level 60 could do training tailored to a level 1 Hero.

Training had to be difficult. Growth came from applying a burden, and for a level 60 Sword God to be burdened, they would have to be on the 60th floor.

That was the problem.

If a Sword God climbed the Tower, wouldn’t that mean the Tower’s 60th floor would be wasted without any gains?

It meant they couldn’t show growth potential beyond the first floor.

That was why God didn’t select strong individuals as Heroes.

‘In that sense, Anonymous is the one who most closely embodies God’s will?’

God must have been waiting for someone like Anonymous.

His level was 81, but the Heroes who hadn’t proven their strength through solo climbs all had to emulate Anonymous.

Skilla picked up her greatsword again.

She couldn’t become a lazy Hero.

“Fight again.”

“Yes. I’ll play along until you get tired of it.”

───It was cut.

An arm flew off.

It happened in an instant.

Americano’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

The sword wielded by the Demonic Cultist Chun Yura deeply passed through her neck.

Thwack.

Thud.

Bang.

Thud.

Pat.

Dozens of minutes had passed since Americano started fighting the Demonic Cultist woman.

Fists exchanged.

[Heavenly Destruction Fist]

[Ink Wheel Fist]

Pacheon-gun wasn’t the only one who could use that technique.

The Demonic Cultist woman also used the same technique to confront Americano.

If Pacheon-gun was a tank,

He used [Ink Wheel Fist] to minimize movement, pull the opponent in, and draw strong destructive power from his firmly supported legs.

But this Demonic Cultist woman’s style was completely different.

Softness.

Yes, she was soft.

Why was she so soft?

She couldn’t understand the soft impression she was getting from the Demonic Cultist woman.

[Ink Wheel Fist]

No, Ink Wheel Clan?

She used the same principle on her feet to stick to the ceiling.

“….”

“Haa… haa…”

She was heating her body to the maximum with Heater Magic, cooling the chill as much as possible, and pouring out an immense amount of maximum Magical Power.

Just getting close would scorch the skin and burn the body, but

“Hmm.”

The Demonic Cultist woman stood as calmly as at the beginning.

Stuck to the ceiling, standing upside down.

The Demonic Cultist woman asked with interest.

“My name is Chun Yura. I’m interested in your name. I’ll remember it, so tell me.”

Wow, arrogant.

“Ask that after you beat me, you, know?”

Americano opened her Inventory.

The sword was still there.

She took out the sword.

From the moment she gripped the handle to prevent it from melting, she strongly infused it with cold Magical Power.

She pointed the sword’s tip at the Demonic Cultist named Chun Yura.

Chun Yura chuckled and shrugged.

“It’s an arrogant remark, but it’s an answer I like.”

She came down from the ceiling and landed on the floor.

“Then I’ll also go all out.”

She also took out a sword from her Inventory.

It was a black sword.

The blade was jet black.

A beautiful sword with a sense of luxury was held in Chun Yura’s hand.

The Demonic Cult Clan.

They must also be Hunters.

Just hearing the name Demonic Cult, one could tell it was a famous group in the world of martial arts.

She must have a fairly noble status.

She immediately dashed out.

White sword and black sword.

Clash.

The white sword broke.

‘…What?’

That easily?

It broke in an instant.

She was surprised, but she didn’t stop.

She raised the broken sword and plunged down with [Execution Sword].

Clang! The sword was cut.

By the black sword.

Wow…

“Cheat item.”

“It’s that difficult to handle. I did say I’d go all out, didn’t I?”

Then die now.

As if saying that, the black sword cut Americano’s arm.

The arm that was about to use [Heavenly Destruction Fist] was severed.

The black sword immediately plunged towards her neck.

She was going to die.

She was going to lose.

Was this really happening?

She didn’t want to lose at all.

She turned her Magical Power to the maximum.

She used her Awakened Ability.

Worry about revealing her identity?

The cloth covering her face had already been torn off a long time ago.

She had shown her face, so there was no need to hide her identity.

She converted the mana stored in [Mana Hole] into her Awakened Ability and used it.

The black sword was also metal.

She would push it away the moment it touched her neck.

She would turn it into charcoal in an instant!

Crackle.

Crackle crackle.

In a moment less than 0.1 seconds.

Magical Power changed as quickly as lightning, creating a strong current.

[Magical Power] was the river of mana.

[Mana] was the lake of mana.

The reason why Awakened Abilities were weaker than the real thing was because the total amount of that power, whether it was mana or Magical Power, was small, so the water pressure was weak.

But [Nine Yin Severed Meridians] didn’t run dry.

Thanks to [Mana Hole], her Awakened Ability also became stronger.

It still fell far short of the real thing, but it could emit enough power to repel the black sword.

Maximum output.

Maximum discharge.

Maximum power.

Crackle!

The black sword touched her neck.

───It was cut.

Her head flew off.

Her vision spun rapidly.

Oh.

Was she losing?

Was she going to die?

After coming this far?

Until now, she had cut down players and NPCs of unknown identity, but her confidence, which had been invincible even against humans, was shattered miserably.

Before she could even realize that.

[Berserk] didn’t accept the fact that she had lost.

The Avatar would turn into a Polygon and disappear only when the life activity of that body was completely cut off.

But even with only her head remaining, her mind was still intact.

Not yet.

It wasn’t.

Over.

The head that was spinning rapidly dyed its eyes red.

Crackle.

Crackle crackle!

Crackle crackle crackle!!

Kwajijijijik!!!

Bang bang!!!!!!!

Kwajireureureuk!!!!!

Her Awakened Ability was electricity.

Electricity created magnetism.

Head and body.

The cut surfaces of the neck displayed positive and negative electrodes, and the head stopped in mid-air.

Strong magnetism connected the cut surfaces of the neck.

The severed surface was healed by [Heal].

Blood circulated in her blurred vision, gradually becoming clearer again.

“Huh…”

Chun Yura stared with wide eyes as if she had seen a ghost.

She had blood in her mouth.

She spoke in a water-filled voice.

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“Cough…!”

Americano also lost strength in her legs, fell on her butt, and vomited blood.

Chun Yura.

A sword was embedded in her chest.

It had been cut off while facing the black sword and had become shorter, but it was a sufficient distance to reach the heart.

Chun Yura was careless the moment her neck was reattached. It wasn’t that she aimed for that gap, but she was stabbed in the vitals.

No sound came out.

Her neck was in terrible condition.

Still, she gestured to Chun Yura, who was staggering backward, and raised her thumb before pointing it down.

‘Go to hell.’

“You impudent little thing.”

The Demonic Cultist Chun Yura fell forward, shattering her Polygon body into pieces.

The black sword fell on the pile of Polygons.