Chapter 163

Groooan!

The massive barricades of the fortress parted.

Lofty overhead vaults. Pillars carved from pristine white alabaster.

The sheer incredulity of the environment hit him fresh every single time.

To think a location he knew so well from the screen actually materialized in the real world.

Thud, thud.

The sovereign monarch vanished into his private study, re-emerging moments later cradling a pair of items.

Had the man gained a bit of bulk recently?

His pace outward was painstakingly sluggish.

His gaze was heavy with palpable reluctance.

He bore the look of someone bracing for a painful parting.

That stubborn old fellow.

He was dragging his feet on purpose to delay the moment.

“Phew, take them. Haaaaah……”

Exhaling a continuous stream of weary sighs, the sovereign monarch extended two radiant, azure-tinted gemstones.

He granted one to Baek Jinwoo and the other to Rachel.

A wide smirk spread across Baek Jinwoo’s face as he offered a respectful incline of his head.

“Much obliged. With the blessings of Your Holiness, reclaiming the citadel will be far less of a chore.”

“Save your breath. Since when did you care to address me as ‘Your Holiness’?”

“On a side note, could you perhaps arrange a place for us to rest? Charging straight into battle right this second seems a bit excessive……”

He waved his hand with a relaxed air.

Baek Jinwoo indicated the gathering of the Paladin Commander and his subordinates.

“The Holy Kingdom’s knights and the Royal Guardians require an interval to recuperate.”

Pop.

A prominent blood vessel throbbed against the sovereign monarch’s temple, yet he found himself entirely powerless to argue.

The young man standing before him might truly be an emissary of the heavens, sent down to execute a sacred decree.

With his hands clasped firmly behind his back, the sovereign monarch gave a dismissive flick of his right wrist.

“Eila.”

“At your service, Your Holiness.”

“Escort our guests to their temporary quarters.”

“Understood.”

Clink!

The female warrior snapped into a perfectly rigid posture of obedience.

She was none other than the premier powerhouse of the entire Holy Kingdom.

The Champion. S-rank.

Her identity was Eila Lunares.

Her stature was exceptionally towering.

She stood nearly eye-to-eye with Baek Jinwoo.

Roughly 183 centimeters tall, perhaps?

Cascading silver tresses framed her sharp, frosty facial features.

Nevertheless.

Maintaining an amicable relationship with her was crucial for a multitude of reasons.

Driving the Champion’s sacred lance squarely through the heart of Asmodeus was the absolute shortcut to conquering Floor 60 without a hitch.

Naturally, in his past experience, he had managed to clear that hurdle without relying on the Champion.

But that strategy wouldn’t suffice under the current circumstances.

The scale of everything had been drastically magnified across the board.

“Follow me, if you please.”

Eila initiated the trek, her countenance utterly devoid of emotion, while the group strolled leisurely in her wake.

The secondary compound tucked within the fortress walls.

Situated to the right side of the sovereign monarch’s grand residence was a detached, smaller manor, which remained in remarkably pristine condition.

He had braced himself for a dusty, cobweb-laden storage room, but it appeared the hosts possessed enough decency to extend a modicum of respect.

“This is where you will be staying.”

The armor of the Champion rattled softly as she pivoted on her heel, departing the premises without uttering another syllable.

It was glaringly obvious she harbored no fondness for their presence.

Ah well, it hardly mattered.

It was time to examine the properties of the talismans they had just acquired.

[True Soulguard Stone]

[Rank: S-rank]

[When utilized by a summoned entity, grants a permanent boost of 100,000 to VIT.]

“Hold on a second.”

Baek Jinwoo’s gaze expanded in sheer disbelief.

“What on earth is this?”

“What’s wrong?”

Rachel stepped closer, her expression clouded with confusion.

“Take a look at the parameters of this gemstone.”

“What about them?”

“……The potency is tenfold compared to the standard version.”

“Are you serious?”

“Completely.”

The specific artifact Baek Jinwoo had obtained during his time in 「Battle of Summoners」 possessed the following description:

[Soulguard Stone]

[When utilized by a summoned entity, grants a permanent boost of 10,000 to VIT.]

It was identical in function, save for the absence of the prefix ‘True.’

“Incredible.”

This changed everything.

Under normal parameters, an entire array of top-tier Rare runes would only elevate total health by an approximate average of 10,000.

Only specialized defensive runes, such as LG’s Resolve rune, were capable of elevating total health by a margin of 100,000.

“This is…… completely unhinged.”

The sheer arithmetic behind it was staggering.

Providing a single one of these gems to a summon yielded the exact same defensive value as stacking half a dozen top-tier defensive Rare runes simultaneously.

“Here is my take on the matter.”

Rachel offered her analysis.

“To be perfectly blunt, the only reason we are managing to navigate this difficulty is because of our specific capabilities. The baseline power requirement here is utterly absurd, wouldn’t you agree?”

“……That is true.”

“Consequently, the rewards have been scaled up to match the stakes. That is the only logical method to maintain game balance.”

Her logic was flawless.

Baek Jinwoo found himself nodding in agreement.

That stood as the most plausible deduction.

“The system is telling us to bulk up here so we don’t perish in the trials ahead?”

“Precisely. The challenges of the upper structure are bound to grow progressively brutal—Floor 70, Floor 80…… I can already sense the impending scale.”

“Hmm.”

No matter the underlying motivation of the system.

Amassing greater power was never an unwelcome development.

If they spent some time accumulating strength in this environment before returning to the ordinary world, even the global elites would look like mere toddlers by comparison.

Not that they were particularly difficult to handle as things stood……

Regardless, the chasm separating them from the rest of the world was about to widen exponentially.

To an unimaginable degree.

“At any rate, this first specimen belongs to LG.”

• Gwor?

Thump, thump!

The massive form of LG, which had been standing quietly at a respectful distance, came lumbering forward the instant it recognized its designation.

“Go ahead, dig in.”

• GWOOOOOR!

LG erupted in pure jubilation.

The gemstone must have appeared incredibly appetizing to its senses.

The ingestion process mirrored the exact manner in which they had previously administered the Ice Heart Jade Blood Salve.

He extended his flattened palm before the creature.

“……Here.”

The very instant the True Soulguard Stone settled onto his skin, LG leaned down, lowered its jaws, and crunch, CRUNCH! ground the artifact to pieces.

“……”

No matter how frequently he witnessed the display, it remained a jarring sight to behold.

He could only wonder how the sovereign monarch would react to such a scene.

The old ruler would likely hyperventilate and lose his mind, screaming bloody murder about the sacrilege of destroying a priceless holy relic.

Shwaaaaa!

The total health bar visibly ballooned upward by a massive 100,000 points.

Ah.

With this, it had truly transformed into a terrifying, unyielding bulwark.

If they managed to unlock an automated health-regeneration passive for the creature down the line, it would become completely unstoppable.

After all, self-healing mechanics almost always calculated their efficiency based on a percentage of maximum health.

“Listen, Baek Jinwoo.”

Right at that moment, an unexpected development occurred.

Rachel reached out, presenting her own True Soulguard Stone resting upon her open palm.

Baek Jinwoo’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“The health augmentation. It is entirely redundant for my current roster. Baekho functions as a hybrid brawler-tank, certainly, but…… this utility yields far better results when paired with LG. These modifications are cumulative, correct?”

Ah.

She was willing to part with an asset of such immense value?

Baek Jinwoo was rarely a man to be swayed by sentiment.

Yet, this gesture struck a genuinely profound chord within him.

In all honesty, had they chosen to bestow this boon upon Baekho, the great beast would have effectively transformed into an immortal, indestructible feline juggernaut.

“You preserved my existence back there, and if we intend to survive the trials ahead, we must prioritize maximizing our primary vanguard. Take it before I reconsider my generosity.”

“My thanks.”

Baek Jinwoo scooped up the gem without a single moment of hesitation.

This was hardly the time to engage in polite refusals.

If he dragged his feet and she decided to withdraw the offer, it would be an absolute tragedy.

Undoubtedly.

Rachel was focusing entirely on the grand scheme of things.

Securing the absolute peak of the Global Rankings?

Amassing vast fortunes to wallow in extravagance?

Such objectives ranked incredibly low on Rachel’s personal agenda.

Her singular, overriding focus was the conquest of the Tower of Trials.

Her strategy was transparent: fortify Baek Jinwoo’s primary assets immediately to guarantee a significantly higher probability of conquering the more treacherous upper thresholds later on.

Furthermore—it was Baek Jinwoo who possessed the foresight to demand the True Soulguard Stones from the sovereign monarch in the first place.

“LG.”

Rachel rested her palm gently against the massive leg of the golem.

“This big sister is gifting you this asset so you can transform into an absolute mountain, understood?”

• GWOOOOOOOOR!

LG bellowed a resonant roar of profound appreciation.

Just like that.

The total health of LG had spiked by an incredible 200,000 points within the span of a single afternoon.

Furthermore?

As any seasoned veteran would comprehend, a massive expansion of baseline health meant that percentage-based rune modifications yielded drastically inflated returns.

[Rune]

[Rank: Top-tier (Rare)]

• Global supply restricted to 100 units.

[Set Bonus: Resolve]

• 6 pieces active: Health +100,000, Mana +100,000.

• If the equipped ability is a passive trait, the overall efficacy scales up by 100%.

[Level: Maximum]

[Attribute Enhancements]

STR +48%, VIT +48%, Health +60%, Mana +60%

With an entire set of six currently slotted into the creature:

Evaluating the health attribute alone, that translated to a staggering 360% multiplier.

Completely preposterous.

[Summon: Little Giant]

[Species: Golem]

[Rank: EX-rank (Isolated)]

• Placed under isolation protocols due to the identification of balance-shattering attributes under specific parameters.

[Level: 50]

[Attributes]

STR: 58, INT: 10, VIT: 58, AGI: 10

Health: 1,610,000, Mana: 460,000

Critical Strike Probability: 20%

Critical Strike Multiplier: 20%

[Abilities]

• Indomitable: Converts 20% of all sustained damage directly back into Health.

• Magic Absorption: Converts 20% of all sustained damage directly back into Mana.

“Hey.”

Baek Jinwoo pivoted toward Rachel, a thoroughly dazed look plastered across his face.

“Are you aware of the exact health pool LG possesses right now?”

“What is it?”

“1.61 million.”

“……That is utterly terrifying.”

Rachel was completely stunned.

Throughout a decade of navigating that particular simulation, she had never once encountered an attribute pool of that magnitude.

Even Baek Jinwoo himself had never witnessed such a threshold, not even during his ultimate conquest of Floor 100.

“It simply… cannot be slain.”

“Exactly.”

One conclusion was entirely undeniable.

When the moment arrived to confront Asmodeus, they would possess the perfect opportunity to subject this unbelievable vanguard to a rigorous practical evaluation.

Yubaek City.

“……Haa.”

Strength completely deserted Yu Jia’s fingers as she turned the pages of her ledger.

With every passing day, she made a point to visit the primary threshold of the Tower of Trials to inspect the transit logs.

There remained absolutely no documentation indicating Baek Jinwoo’s return.

As a direct consequence, the central command center had transitioned into a state of maximum readiness, positioning exclusively elite operatives as a permanent garrison under a draconian security detail.

This was because Yu Jia had demanded the tightest possible information blackout.

Jinwoo remains among the living.

She clung to that conviction with absolute, unyielding certainty.

For that exact reason, she had chosen to withhold the situation from Baek Jinwoo’s mother and father.

She had no desire to inflict unnecessary distress upon them.

Shouldering the weight of anxiety was a burden she and the core members of the association could bear on their own.

The vast majority of the administrative staff and his relatives had been informed that he was currently dispatched to a prolonged, overseas labyrinth campaign.

Additionally.

She had attempted to deploy the Desperate Call capability, praying for a breakthrough……

[Activation of ‘Desperate Call’ has been aborted.]

[The designated target is either non-existent or resides beyond acceptable geographic parameters.]

The system returned the identical error message every single time.

It refused to provide even the slightest clarification regarding whether his life force persisted or had faded entirely.

Sigh.

It was best to submerge herself entirely in administrative duties.

If she kept her focus pinned to her desk and ground through the paperwork, he would surely make his way back within six months at the very latest, right?

It was nothing more than an intangible intuition, but she could not afford the luxury of overthinking.

If she allowed her mind to wander, her productivity would crumble entirely.

Flip.

As Yu Jia shifted her gaze across the array of folders, a specific briefing caught her attention.

[Evaluation Status and Subsequent Recommendations for the Second-Generation Association Membership Candidates]

Oh.

Her gaze sharpened with sudden interest.

Having reached the three-week threshold, the preliminary third phase of testing ought to be concluded by this point.

Phase One: Vitality and Perseverance Assessment

• Total Candidates: 100

• Disqualified: 50

• Retained: 50

Phase Two: Collaborative Synergy Assessment

• Total Candidates: 50

• Disqualified: 30

• Retained: 20

Phase Three: Mechanical Proficiency Assessment

• Total Candidates: 20

• Disqualified: 10

• Retained: 10

The identities of the surviving prospects are appended below.

A smaller percentage of applicants than initially projected have successfully navigated their way to this concluding phase.

Every single individual listed exhibits exceptional capability.

We request your directive on whether to proceed with further winnowing of the group as per the original framework, or if we should permit all 10 surviving individuals to engage in the fourth and final phase before determining the successful inductees.

Hong Ari.

Lead Proctor.

Yu Jia turned the leaf to inspect the accompanying index of names.

Several specific identities that had been repeatedly highlighted in her regular briefings appeared on the sheet.

Seo Iyun, Jeong Siwoo, Kang Daehyuk, Han Yuna…… alongside a few others.

Every single one of them had managed to endure until the bitter end.

It was entirely within expectations.

It wasn’t as though Yu Jia was oblivious to their progress.

Whether it was Hong Ari or Hwang Juwon, both instructors would frequently wander into her office to ramble endlessly concerning the performance of the trainees.

Their conversations invariably revolved around those exact four individuals.

Which indicated?

The instructors had already reached a consensus.

Those specific four were effectively locked in for formal induction.

The true purpose behind their current inquiry was to ascertain whether they ought to accommodate the remaining individuals who were hovering right on the edge of the threshold……

“Phew.”

A brief, weary breath escaped Yu Jia’s lips.

The training staff had already grown overly attached to their charges.

Yu Jia was capable of maintaining a cold, objective viewpoint simply because she was physically insulated from the daily routine. But the proctors—they had spent three grueling weeks sharing the physical agony, lifting the candidates up through grueling labor, perspiration, and hardship.

Even if professional decorum forced them to mask their emotions.

They were transparently hesitant to cast anyone aside at this late stage.

And yet, despite that sentiment, they had deferred the final executive decision to her desk?

They are counting on me to enforce the standard.

To provide the stability their emotional attachments are compromising.

She gave a firm nod of comprehension and gripped her writing instrument.

Without hesitation, she inked a solitary digit onto the parchment.

4

Precisely four. That would be the absolute limit of their intake.