n

n

nBeastlain became dumbfounded and looked at Jaehwan.

n“My… I was worried that you would do that. It’s the first time I’ve met someone like you.”

n“I’ve heard similar things in the past.”

nJaehwan spoke as he felt rough energy focusing into both of his swords. His immense spirit power was gathering at their tips.

n“But this is my answer.”

nBeastlain then held up his both hands.

n“Oh well, I give up. Do what you want.”

nJaehwan’s sword thrust at Beastlain. At that moment, a weird magical rune began to shine and sprouted black wood that bound Jaehwan in his place. It was the Black Iron Wood that existed on the 91st floor.

n“I should’ve done this from the beginning.”

n“…what are you going to do? You would need my agreement or you can’t end the game.”

n“Well, we’ll find a way. Won’t we?”

n“You’re going to torture me,” Jaehwan continued. “I have gone through all kinds of hell. Do you think I will lose to torture?”

n“Of course, of course. Haha.” Beastlain grinned.

n“I actually gave up on receiving any agreement from you a long time ago.”

n“What?”

n“Let me ask you this time. Why do you think this tutorial will continue forever?”

n“Wait…”

n“Haha, you should’ve guessed. It has never reached this point before, but the Tower of Nightmares terminates the tutorial 100 days after it has been cleared.”

n‘But you postponed my due date, you bastard.’

nBeastlain did not speak that out loud.

n“I wanted 10 more days just because I wished to end this game in a more natural and safer way. And also to stop you from doing anything stupid. You can now wait there until the tutorial ends and enjoy the new game.”

nIt didn’t seem he was lying. The tower had been slightly trembling since a while ago. It seemed that what Beastlain said was true. Beastlain felt some kind of victorious satisfaction as he looked at the face down Jaehwan. His plan had been disturbed but now, this human would accept his fate. However, it was then…

n“Demon Beastlain.”

n“Yes?”

n“You are called the Gentleman of Deception in the ?”

n“…Right. How did you know that?”

n“You have lived 784 years and worked on 128 worlds to Cultivate various races. Spewing your filthy lies, such as promising the Products that you will make sure they go to Great Lords.”

n“H-HOW DO YOU KNOW?!”

nBeastlain seemed in shock.

n“What’s so surprising? Is it shocking to hear this from your Product?”

n“How…!”

n“You’re thinking of selling me to the Harvester called the Lord of Darkness. For that, you will receive a great reward that you need to go on your 4th Mort.”

nJaehwan looked up to the ceiling as he spoke. His Suspicion skill that he had trained for the past 100 days was working well. The particles within the tower were chattering and Jaehwan listened. Suspicion showed him a new world. A new world that told him a new story.

n…Lord of Darkness. The first stage of Cultivate will be ending soon. The deposits will be…

n…This Product is an extra-special grade. I have never seen such a Product in my 784 years of life…

n…After this deal is done, I will be a high-ranking Demon after my 4th mort. If you trust me through the cultivation…

n“…Who are you?”

n“A Product. The Product that you raised here for over the past 30 years.”

nJaehwan felt the tree binding him becoming loose. This was another power of his Suspicion. It allowed him to deny the presence of material and dismantle it.

n“But not anymore.”

nTwo swords were thrust into the space. Beastlain barely managed to dodge the attack, but his left arm was left with a long gash. It should be impossible. The enemy was a puny Walker who just cleared the tutorial, while Beastlain was a Demon that finished the 3rd Mort. Only a being who passed at least the 1st Adaptation would be able to hurt him.

n‘Wait… Over-adapter?’

nOver-adapter.

nA Product that had grown beyond the imagination.

n‘How did an Over-adapter appear within my tower!’

nThere had been no records of an Over-adapter appearing during the tutorial. This was a top ranking talent even in the . Beastlain could imagine the Lord of Darkness being overjoyed to hear this.

n‘But he’s still at 1st Adaptation level. If I hold out for a while, the game will end.’

nBeastlain bit his lip.

n“This is pointless! You will be joining the game no matter what! Doing this to me is a loss!”

n“We will see about that.”

nJaehwan’s specialty was unleashed at the tip of the Frost Dragon Sword.

nStab.

nOr it was hard to even call it at that anymore. From the movement to its power, Jaehwan realized through his Suspicion. After countless times of using Suspicion, he realized.

n‘I have Understood the stabbing.’

nIt was no more a mere thrust.

nIt was like a flash of lighting. Beastlain’s body began spraying in blood. His eyes opened in shock.

n“2nd Adaptation?!”

nThe speed, and the power. This wasn’t possible for anyone before the 2nd Adaptation.

nAnd throughout all history, there were no 2nd Adaptations born from the tutorial.

nBeastlain was given no choice. If Jaehwan really did manage to gain the power of the 2nd Adaptation, Beastlain had to bring out his power from the material world to fight. He quickly brought his synchronization to 80% to borrow his original body’s power.

nStrong spiritual power covered Beastlain’s body as a dark aura began swirling around him.

nIt was the power of a Demon of the 3rd Mort.

nA Demon’s 3rd Mort did have similarities to the 3rd Adaptation, but there were differences. Most adapters could not defeat Demons at the same stage. Even if the stage were the same, there was a huge difference in hands-on experience from age. A huge claw raised from Beastlain’s hand swung at Jaehwan, damaging him instantly.

nJaehwan’s body began bleeding like a fountain and his health dropped by half.

n“SURRENDER NOW!”

nJaehwan felt his legs trembling from the terrible energy coming from Beastlain. It was definitely a Demon. There was no chance that he could win. The particles forming the tower seemed to be at their limit also.

n‘Is this the end?’

nJaehwan made his last attack. His perseverance was what brought him there. He kept stabbing and stabbing. How many times did he stab? 100 million times? 200 million?

nThe only one who knew the answer was Jaehwan’s body.

n9,999,999,991

n9,999,999,992

n9,999,999,998

n9,999,999,999

n10,000,000,000!

nAt that moment, Jaehwan saw some kind of weird line in front of him.

nHe had a similar experience before when he fought against the Frost Dragon on the 99th floor. Also when he had to fight to the brink of death, he found the line. And when he did, he followed the line without thinking. It showed up when he forgot about everything else.

n‘Is that it?’

nJaehwan shook in excitement. He released himself upon the line. All of his knowledge, his power, his experience. It was all thrown away at the line.

nHis body then began to crumble.

nAll the data that made up his body had been destroyed. The various status that formed his body, the power, strength, dexterity, skills, all other information.

nEverything that formed his status was taken away from him.

nState of complete void.

nWhen all those particles disappeared, his body was left with his true spirit. It seemed like if he was reborn. He was not data. He wasn’t here because of a percentage. He was a living human.

n‘This is it.’

nJaehwan thought.

n‘I wasn’t a human until now.’

nA light shone from Jaehwan’s body and Beastlain could not do anything. It was the first time he had seen such a thing in his 784 years of life.

n“What is… that?”

nBeastlain realized he had been mistaken.

nThis wasn’t Adaptation.

nThe world had something more terrifying than Adaptation.

nThe power that everyone avoided and hated to mention.

nA power so terrible that it could do more than shake up the , it could actually destroy it.

nThe beings of the called the power –

nAwakening

n