Chapter 197: Fifty-First Floor, The Female Warriors of Androctones (6)

[Survive. Time remaining: 24 hours 2 minutes.]

The same night I discovered the truth of this world and its people, I met both the Subrens and Turinas.

Surprisingly, their top-tier climbers had also convened in one place, much like us.

Uniting the four races against the minotaurs is probably a hidden mission.

Convincing them proved to be straightforward. They were already seething with anger because of the minotaurs’ violent and heinous actions. When I relayed what the Camadenus had shared, their resolve to attack only intensified.

From then on, we focused on rallying as many climbers as possible before the agreed-upon time. On my side, the Subrens tirelessly flew across the skies, while the swift-footed Kosharks worked diligently with Ha Hee-Jeong.

Of course, considering the effort needed, their enthusiasm is remarkable.

Perhaps they were excited to see all four species unite for the first time since the sixteenth floor. Regardless, every climber we encountered radiated energy and determination.

Yet, despite the contagious enthusiasm, I occasionally felt uneasy—I still had a hard time accepting the Camadeni’s fate. Though I had only just met them, I couldn’t shake my growing sympathy.

Of course, personal feelings aside, everything progressed steadily.

Two-Way Portal proved especially invaluable this time.

Thanks to it, the top-tier climbers from all four species were able to gather in one location.

Naturally, I had been chosen as the overall commander, likely due to my performance during the friendly match on the fiftieth floor. Still, when it came to devising strategies, Jimmy and Ha Hee-Jeong contributed significantly more than I did.

We talked about formations a lot.

From the get-go, everyone put an emphasis on the distribution of climbers on the battlefield. Some thought that splitting up the climbers by species would be most efficient, while others argued that combining everyone in units would utilize each climber's strength best.

Ultimately, we decided against combining the troops for the sake of efficiency. Each species would operate most effectively on such short notice under a leader who best understood their unique strengths.

Though we had limited time, we still held multiple meetings, resulting in a straightforward strategy.

Since the Earthlings have superior magical firepower, they will launch an initial attack to draw the minotaurs’ attention.

Once the minotaurs were lured in, the humans would temporarily retreat. During this opening, the Turinas, the Subrens, and I would lead an assault from the opposite direction, targeting the heart of the minotaurs’ settlement.

Caught off guard, most minotaurs would be unable to mount their bulls before we struck. As their focus inevitably shifted back toward us, the Kosharks and Earthlings would launch a follow-up attack.

Considering how little time we had to integrate the climbers, this strategy of feigned attacks was the best approach we could manage.

I waited near the minotaurs’ settlement, concealed within Shadow Veil.

Two minutes remained until our attack. It was almost time to bring the axe down on Camadenu’s neck.

However, hesitation still gripped me as I held the weapon tightly.

Sensing my reluctance, one of the Camadenus turned their head slightly to meet my gaze. “Liberator, do not falter. This moment is the most meaningful of my existence. Never before have I felt my heart stir with such anticipation.”

It smiled faintly, accepting its fate. “To face death now is the most beautiful moment of my life.”

“I see.”

The Camadenus lowered its head again. “Thank you.”

It was right. Time was running out.

Grinding my teeth, I raised my axe. The heavy blade shimmered with a steady surge of lightning.

In unison, the Camadeni bowed their heads calmly, then stretched their necks forward.

Are they trying to make this easier for me?

None of them looked at me. Instead, they stared silently at the ground.

An uneasy weight settled in my chest. I considered closing my eyes, but decided to keep them open.

This was a sacred sacrifice. While the minotaurs as a race weren’t noble, these Camadeni’s deaths were undoubtedly an act of selflessness. Therefore, I resolved to witness their end.

With that determination, I swung the axe downward. In a flash, lightning roared, and four heads fell to the ground, rolling across the silent plains. Even in death, the Camadeni bore serene smiles.

I stared into the lifeless eyes of the nearest Camadenus and clicked the signal device in my hand. Shortly after, I received a return signal in acknowledgement.

The mages would now unleash their magic.

The war had begun.

Despite that, I remained still, waiting for Ha Hee-Jeong’s next signal. Within less than a minute, the minotaurs’ settlement erupted into chaos.

***

Ha Hee-Jeong signaled roughly fifteen minutes later. By then, most of the minotaurs’ attention had shifted toward the Earthlings.

I entered the now-deserted settlement, completely shrouded by Shadow Veil and Master of Shadows, and opened a portal.

Turinas and Subrens began emerging through the portal. Once I summoned more than I could obscure, I released the Shadow Veil.

Letting out a thunderous cry, I surged forward.

The other climbers echoed me, with the Turinas followed closely behind, while the Subrens soared above like phantoms.

“Charge!”

“Ch-aar-ge!”

The five-meter-wide portal continued spewing climbers onto the battlefield. Our fierce ambush into the heart of the enemy’s half-empty stronghold had begun successfully.

The remaining minotaurs reacted confusedly, and the whole site descended into chaos.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re under attack! The prey has invaded the settlement!”

“Kill them!”

Some had turned and fled, while others charged at us.

However, with our numerical advantage, we advanced relentlessly. The Subren mages rained down spells from the sky, setting the

gers

ablaze.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Before the smoke from the burning tents could even rise fully, alarms echoed across the settlement. The real battle had begun.

They will still need some time to organize a proper defense.

With most of their forces lured away by the Earthlings and Kosharks, we had ample time to inflict damage before they could regroup.

I no longer needed to monitor the signal device. If any minotaurs turned back to defend the settlement, the Earthlings and Kosharks would pursue them.

Tucking the device into my belt, I carved through the battlefield with relentless determination.

As time passed, however, the tide of battle shifted.

A booming voice cut through the chaos. “Stop right there, you scum!”

Standing nearly four meters tall, the minotaurs’ chief appeared. Her body was covered in jagged scars, and she was the largest minotaur I had seen by far.

Behind her, hundreds of minotaurs charged forward—likely as many fighters as they could gather on such short notice.

A smirk tugged at my lips.

She was no match for me.

The fifty-first floor had been designed to test the combined might of the climbers against large numbers of moderately strong foes. For someone like me, only an enemy as powerful as myself would cause issues, not facing hordes of middling opponents.

Naturally, taking on tens of thousands of minotaurs alone would be a daunting task—it would be a piece of cake with other climbers by my side, however.

Besides, any being strong enough to stop me would have to be an apostle, and the chief wasn’t one—Camadenu’s apostles had already willingly surrendered their lives to my axe.

Who does she think she is, ordering me to stop?

Smirking even more broadly, I propelled myself forward. “Stop? Why should I?”

I didn’t even need Flash Strike. The chief’s expression betrayed her confusion and panic as she couldn’t even respond to my speed without Flash Strike.

She desperately swung her one-handed axe in a wild arc, but it was futile.

Clang!

I effortlessly deflected her weapon upward before springing into the air.

About three meters off the ground, I put my full strength into a horizontal slash, slicing the chief’s neck. A chilling sound followed as a thin crimson line emerged on the chief’s thick neck, and a stream of blood trickled down her throat.

Gravity did its work within seconds, and her head separated from her body, tumbling to the ground. Cries of anguish erupted from the surrounding minotaurs.

“The chief!”

“Kill him!”

“That bastard has to die!”

I unleashed a surge of lightning at the enraged minotaurs as I opened a portal leading to a predetermined meeting point with Ha Hee-Jeong.

As if eagerly awaiting her opportunity, she emerged almost instantly. Our eyes met briefly before she ascended into the sky.

Turning to the climbers, I shouted, “Fall back for now!”

We had planned this retreat in advance, so the climbers withdrew in an organized manner. Since I was at the forefront, the process didn’t take long.

Simultaneously, Ha Hee-Jeong’s haunting incantation descended over the minotaurs’ settlement like a chilling fog.

“―――――――.”

A surge of raw mana rippled through the air, palpable even to those who couldn’t normally sense it.

I had never seen her channel such a powerful spell before—her fury raged even stronger than I could have imagined.

As her incantation concluded, black flames began raining down from the heavens, engulfing the settlement.

The chaos and destruction reminded me of white phosphorus bombs from war films. Consuming everything it touched, the dark inferno raged onward.

Agonized wails echoed through the chaos. After about a minute, half the settlement lay in ruins.

Ha Hee-Jeong began chanting once more.

“―――――.”

Another spell? Surely she has wrought sufficient destruction.

Once again, the depth of her anger surprised me.

While unfortunate for the minotaurs, the relentless waves of fiery devastation continued without pause. A second, massive wave of flames emanated from Ha Hee-Jeong, surging forward like a tsunami and consuming any small bit that had been missed by the previous spell.

Mages are truly terrifying.

Though she was a regressor, this had been a stark reminder of why mages were often considered overwhelmingly powerful in large-scale battles.

Ha Hee-Jeong glanced down at me from above and signaled it was time.

I nodded and bellowed, “Charge!”

The next stage of the plan would be to pursue the minotaurs who had gone after the Earthlings.

I dashed across the settlement, which was now little more than an unrecognizable wasteland. Swinging my axe wildly, releasing arcs of lightning, and summoning shadow spears, I carved through the battlefield.

How much time passed, I couldn’t say.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

We were near enough to hear the pounding hooves echoing from the plains ahead.

“

Waaahhh!

”

The Kosharks’ triumphant cries reverberated across the battlefield.

We had claimed victory.

Echoing the sentiment, the climbers from Turina and Earth erupted into cheers of their own. Even the Subrens joined in, their voices resounding from the skies above.

The collective roar of tens of thousands of climbers blanketed the plains.

***

[Congratulations. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has conquered the fifty-first floor of the Tower of Ordeal: The Female Warriors of Androctones. Achievement points will be calculated.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has completed the hidden missions ‘The Breeding of the Camadeni,’ ‘Cattle Thief,’ and ‘The Prey’s Merry Rebellion.’]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been awarded 24,382 achievement points. Total achievement points: 75,830. He will now enter the waiting room.]

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has completed the hidden mission ‘The Prey’s Merry Rebellion.’ All stats increased by 2.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Wind’s Route is now lvl 8. Ghost Step is now lvl 4. Two-Way Portal is now lvl 5. Thousand-Pound Mace is now lvl 4.」

...

「Invisible message: The second-class god ‘Mother of All Cattle’ Camadenu is enraged.」

「Invisible message: Deities awaiting Amrita delivery are protesting.」

「Invisible message: The second-class god ‘Mother of All Cattle’ expresses her intent to submit to the first-class god ‘Sky of the Nine Heavens.’」