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Chapter 364: The Sect of Specters (1)

Chapter 364: The Sect of Specters (1)

To slay the living and offer them to a greater being.

That was……

The ideology held by ‘The Sect of Specters,’ one of the massive forces on the 20th floor.

Although they were on the 20th floor, this was not due to a limitation in their capabilities.

An endless flow of blood and a battlefield that spread across the entire tier.

A treasure trove of resources based on abundant magic crystals.

The advantage of securing an unlimited supply of sacrifices and magic crystals was why they had remained on this floor for so long.

And now.

Within a barracks piled with numerous corpses, a monster with a terrifying appearance stood.

Red blood trickled down its black lips.

The monster, in the form of an emaciated man, wore a crown stained with blood.

“……As you ordered. We’ve completely crushed the human strongholds.”

It was ‘Sloth,’ one of the Seven Deadly Sins and the leader of The Sect of Specters.

A renowned existence even among the upper echelons.

However, there was a being before whom even such a monster humbly bowed its head……

It was ‘Guntapher,’ one of the Demon Kings of the demon world.

Specifically, an avatar containing the soul of Guntapher.

“Hmmm. Well done. You’ve thoroughly ransacked the place.”

Guntapher clicked his tongue, surveying the ruins around him.

Mountains of corpses.

Hundreds of players had lost their lives without a chance to fight back.

“As you mentioned, we captured those with strong magical abilities, but a few escaped through the encirclement and scattered.”

Sloth pointed toward a prison prepared in a corner.

Instead of iron bars, a prison of blazing red flames held A-rank players captive.

“Hoh? They escaped the encirclement? How many?”

“About 30 to 40, it seems. Of course, our pursuit team is ferociously tracking them, and we should be able to find them all before the day ends.”

“With the Blood Knight and the Slaughterer at your side, you let so many escape…… Is that even possible?”

Guntapher’s lips twisted subtly.

Instantly, the temperature around them plummeted.

A chilling coldness.

“……!”

Sloth trembled slightly.

Fear and terror,

and an overwhelming aura that surpassed everything else, weighing down on the heart.

“It, it seems among those humans, there was a candidate for an ‘Apostle of Eden.’ One blonde woman who wielded strong holy power made even the Blood Knight vulnerable. But given a bit more time…… No, if I move personally……!”

“Still making excuses, I see. You, who oversees Sloth among the Seven Deadly Sins. Why do you believe you are confined to the 20th floor?”

The other Deadly Sins enjoyed their positions in the upper levels of the tower.

But only Sloth was stuck mid-tier, occupying the place of a sect leader.

“That, that’s because……”

“Because you have failed to deliver results.”

No matter how perfect the process, it means nothing.

Results, the most crucial thing is only the results.

“Don’t disappoint me this time. There are other things I may overlook, but you must surely capture the saintess.”

“I shall heed…… your words.”

Sloth bowed deeply.

“Good. I’ll trust you on this.”

Guntapher’s avatar melted into the shadows and disappeared.

Then.

Crack!

Sloth grinded his teeth in frustration.

“Gather all the disciples. Triple the size of the pursuit team.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

The massive Slaughterer knelt.

“Moreover, send messengers to the other forces and relay what I say.”

The other massive forces of the 20th floor like ‘The Red Fortress’ and ‘The Great Wing,’ and the myriad of smaller forces that were entangled with them.

It was essential to inform them all.

“What message should be conveyed?”

“I’ll put a bounty. Whoever captures the blonde saintess wielding holy power will receive 30% of the magic crystals from this mine for the next three years.”

The magic crystal mine on the 20th floor was known throughout the tower for its massive veins.

Its purity was also very high, with mid-to-high-grade magic crystals being mined in abundance.

Offering 30% was an immense proposition.

It meant a significant boost in a force’s power in an instant.

Thus, Sloth was determined to fulfill the mission at all costs.

“We shall obey the great Sect Leader’s command.”

The Slaughterer and numerous disciples began to mobilize.

＊＊＊

[You have entered the 20th floor.]

Wooong!

With a bright light, a new group appeared on the 20th floor.

It was ‘Veterans Corporation,’ led by Jinhyuk.

“The 20th floor…… we’ve already come this far.”

Under a sky where two suns hung, a dry prairie and a long ravine stretched across the landscape.

This was indeed the 20th floor.

Jinhyuk’s gaze moved skyward.

Surely around this time……

Ding!

[Clearing Conditions]

Content: Approximately 173 forces exist on the 20th floor.

About 20 of these forces have more than a thousand members. To clear the 20th floor, you must either enter the top three among all these forces or completely destroy the largest force.

A status window containing the clearing conditions appeared.

‘The largest force would be The Sect of Specters.’

True to an assembly of fanatics serving a demon king, their force was tremendous.

Especially their leader, ‘Sloth’ from the Seven Deadly Sins, who was a monster comparable to a ‘hero’ in sheer combat ability.

“We’ll have to stay on our toes. There’s too little known information here. Few people have ever reached this point……”

Cheon Yuseong stiffened his expression and twitched his hands.

“Even the Sword Saint feels fear, it seems?”

“Fear? What fear! I’m simply being cautious. Thorough preparation before heading to unknown places is common sense, right? Especially since it’s the 20th floor.”

Well, even the seasoned Top-Stager veterans of the former Tower of Trials couldn’t surpass the 20th floor.

Even that leech-like Sword Saint had given up on climbing the tower here.

“It’s a bit difficult here. There’s just too many guys like you popping everywhere.”

“Guys like me? What do you mean by that?”

Shing!

Cheon Yuseong’s sword was half-drawn.

From here, I had to choose my words carefully.

If not, I might end up in greater danger than Teresa.

“That…… I mean, there are many talented and skilled masters. You know what I mean, right?”

Clank!

The sword slid back into its scabbard.

“Rather, you speak as if you’ve been through here before. Have you ever gone past the 20th floor?”

A probing question followed.

This guy had always been curious about how far I had climbed the tower.

“I’ve been a bit further than this.”

“As I thought. Based on the events at the Empire and the martial arts world, I had my suspicions. You went to the mid or early 30th floors, didn’t you?”

Mid-20th floor…… to early 30th floor…….

“Well, maybe around that much.”

Jinhyuk smirked.

“Answer me correctly. Is it the late 20th or the 30th?”

“Well. I don’t remember exactly how far I went.”

“You always do as you please……!”

Frustrated with the evasive answer, Cheon Yuseong was about to pry further when suddenly…

Thud.

Sounds from the reed beds ended the conversation abruptly.

Someone’s coming.

“Keke! What’s this? New residents, aren’t they?”

Out of the foliage, small daggers in hand, emerged hobgoblins.

They were a superior breed to regular goblins, larger, and more intelligent.

Furthermore, their tendency to move in numbers made them particularly tricky to deal with.

That’s right. This is befitting the 20th floor.

From the entrance to the exit, every place and time is a continual battlefield.

“Just got to the 20th floor, and it’s us you’re up against? Talk about bad luck.”

“Kekeke! That’s right.”

“You struggled to get here, which is worthy of praise, but ran out of luck.”

“If you hand over everything you got, we might just spare your lives. Start with that silver-haired and black-haired lady in the back.”

The hobgoblin’s blade points aimed at Elise and Chuhyeon Saeeum.

Of all the potential targets…… they chose these two.

It seems luck isn’t on their side, after all.

“Oh my. Are you seeking me out?”

Chuhyeon Saeeum approached with a radiant smile.

“Kekeke! Smart to come on her own.”

“Don’t be too afraid.”

“We don’t usually eat human flesh… Just… Argh!?”

The mocking voice didn’t last long.

Ssslick.

Crack…….

The hobgoblin’s head rolled off cleanly.

A white blade drew an arc too fast for the eye.

“Why are you so surprised? Weren’t you the ones who asked me to come?”

Chuhyeon Saeeum flicked her finger.

“Keeek?”

“Audaciously offering to save our lives as a favor, and this is how you repay it?”

“We’ll tear you to shreds!”

The hobgoblins immediately retaliated.

Armed with hefty wooden shields and swords, they surrounded Chuhyeon Saeeum from all sides.

Right then.

Pfooof!

Red spikes shot through the air from the flank.

“Kyaaack!”

“Craaaagh!”

In an instant, the hobgoblins ended up as skewers on the ground.

“Dirty critters like you fail to grasp the situation. Who do you think you are to offer life or death to your superiors?”

Coo-coo-coo-coo!

As Elise released her magic power, dark clouds overshadowed the sun.

A force exceeding imagination.

An absolute supremacy beyond the hobgoblins’ reach.

“Monster!”

“Screee!”

“Monstrous beings have come to the 20th floor! We must inform our leader immediately!”

Sadly, it was mere wishful thinking.

A storm of red shooting stars rained down from the sky, turning everything into ashes.

Boom-boom-boom-boom!

Bang!

They had no intention of letting live any of the vermin who dared to claim ownership of them.

“Oh my. It would hurt my feelings if you paid attention only to that lady. You should play with me too.”

And the same sentiment applied to the noble Chuhyeon Saeeum.

As she unleashed the 8th form of ‘Chuhyeon Sword,’ a beautiful trajectory carved through the air.

“……!?”

“Grr……uh?”

They had no idea how they had fallen.

Simply, they were being mercilessly slaughtered.

So it began, the tragedy unfolded.

The blood from the hobgoblins soaked the reeds.

“Do we really need to kill them all?”

Cheon Yuseong swallowed hard as he watched the frenzied Chuhyeon Saeeum.

No doubt from now on, he’ll have to treat his master with more respect.

“I’ll have to deal with all but one.”

We must imprint the fact that we’ve arrived here firmly into everyone’s minds.

By now, a battered Olympus Guild assault team is probably fleeing in panic.

It’s necessary to divert attention if we’re to rescue them.

‘While we’re at it, we should reap any benefits this place has to offer.’

Well then, shall we start the real challenge of the 20th floor?

Jinhyuk opened his spatial inventory.

The privilege received after conquering the 19th floor.

Within lies the means to smoothly conquer the 20th floor.

Wooong!

With a bright light, a small box appeared.