- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Don’t take it?

Why not? Is it because of the warning?

I took another look at the elixir’s description.

[Elixir of the Ice Bug Queen]

- A highly concentrated potion formed from the ice bug queen’s toxins.

- Handle with extreme caution. Incorrect consumption could result in freezing to death.

That warning note stood out once more.

Consuming it could freeze me to death…

The freezing effect was likely a side effect from the toxins, but Ha Hee-Jeong had told me not to worry much about the bugs’ toxins, implying they wouldn't pose a significant threat to me.

The queen’s toxins shouldn’t be any different for me.

I had inhaled the toxic fumes emitted by countless bugs as if it were ordinary air. Judging by how the queen’s toxins hadn’t affected me during our battle, I didn’t think it would be a major issue either.

Also, when I examined the elixir earlier, my Sixth Sense didn’t send me any ominous warnings. My Ice Resistance and Poison Resistance were level 3 and 10, respectively. Although I had been unaware of how exceptional that was, I now knew what it meant. Compared to other climbers, my resistances were significantly higher.

Of course, that is just based on skill levels.

Other climbers likely had similarly leveled skills in different areas, but when it came to resistance against toxins, venom, poison, and ice, it was a different story.

Apart from the thirteenth floor, there weren’t many opportunities in the tower to develop a resistance to these elements. Unless someone deliberately attacked their allies with these elements, acquiring and developing these skills was difficult.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Wait, hold on for a moment.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Why? Is it because of the warning? Is it dangerous?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): No, it’s not that. It wouldn’t be that dangerous if you took it.

So my hunch was right. This elixir wasn’t harmful to me.

But if that is the case, why is Ha Hee-Jeong trying to stop me?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Then why not?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): I have an elixir too. I’ll send mine over. You should take them together.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Together?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Yeah. Didn’t you think the reward for completing such a difficult hidden mission on the thirteenth floor was a bit underwhelming? R̃ÃɴＯBĚs̩

She had a point. Though I hadn’t thought of it that way before, the hidden mission on the thirteenth floor had been structured so that a climber couldn’t clear it without luck or specific knowledge beforehand. The bug queens were positioned at opposite ends of the forest, and finding both took the majority of the time limit. However, even if a climber knew that, they still had to find the keys to proceed.

Considering how intricate it all was, the rewards for the thirteenth floor did feel a little lackluster.

After all that effort, we had only received two elixirs. Sure, the tower also awarded some extra achievement points, but something still felt off.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Sometimes, certain elixirs synergize and enhance each other, producing better effects. I think this is one of those cases. You could take just one and be fine, but it’s better to take both.

Synergistic effects?

That explained the warning about freezing to death. For climbers who didn’t have the requisite resistances, the fire bug queen’s elixir offered the perfect counterbalance to the ice bug queen’s elixir. Not to mention that other than neutralizing the toxins, the overall potency would be boosted.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Ah, I see. Are you sure you don’t need yours?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Considering what’s coming on the next floor, you should be the one to take it. I wondered why the thirteenth-floor rewards felt so stingy, and it turned out they were setting us up for the fourteenth floor.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Wait, does that mean the fourteenth floor is poison-themed?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Not exactly, but it’ll still help.

A question from the thirteenth floor resurfaced in my mind. If I could intentionally raise my skill levels by inhaling toxic fumes, could I also increase my healing abilities by self-inflicted injuries? It didn’t seem likely, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Hey, can I improve my healing skills by inflicting wounds on myself?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Huh? Don’t you check the Community?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Not all the time, why?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): I see. Well, it’s easy to miss stuff with how fast posts flood in, so I’m not surprised. To answer your question, no, that’s not possible.

I wasn’t surprised, but couldn’t help but wonder how the topic had come up in the Community.

Mmm, no. Probably nothing to be surprised about.

Considering how many climbers there were it was likely someone would have come up with such an outlandish idea. If it had worked, it would have become a hot topic in the Community long ago.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Those kinds of skills can only be improved through external means. Maybe using that method during combat training would allow you to raise them slightly, but it’s not something I would recommend.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Ah, okay.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Alright, I’ll send over the Elixir of the fire bug Queen now. You haven’t showered yet, have you? Since these elixirs are toxic, it’s best to take them before you wash up.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Got it. Thanks.

Moments later, a crimson elixir materialized on my desk with a soft pop. The tower’s system allowed climbers to deliver items to each other for a small fee.

[Elixir of the fire bug Queen]

- A highly concentrated potion formed from the fire bug queen’s toxins.

- Handle with extreme caution. Incorrect consumption could result in burning to death.

The description was nearly identical to that of the ice bug queen’s elixir. It was clear now that taking them together would yield better results. Reaching to my side, I gave Mung-Chi a light tap.

“Mung-Chi, give me the blue elixir.”

By now, Mung-Chi had gotten somewhat accustomed to my gesture. With a light thud, the ice elixir popped out. Holding both the fire and ice elixirs in my hands, I fell deep in thought.

Hmm, while it probably doesn’t matter too much… which should I take first?

It seemed more sensible to consume the ice elixir first. Freezing and then thawing out seemed like the better approach.

Just as I was about to put the elixir into my mouth, a message from Ha Hee-Jeong arrived.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Oh, and don’t overtrain. While the waiting room allows a climber to recover faster, you are only completely healed after clearing a floor. You know that, right?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Yeah, I’m aware.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fourteenth Floor): Good. Then let me know when you’re up. We need to discuss the fourteenth floor.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fourteenth Floor): Will do.

I chugged the Elixir of the Ice Queen before quickly following it up with the other elixir.

One… two… three…

Exactly three seconds later, the effects hit. My insides simultaneously froze and burned repeatedly. I calmly lay on the floor and closed my eyes, allowing the intense sensations to wash over me.

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has consumed both the Elixir of the Ice Bug Queen and Elixir of the Fire Bug Queen. The queens' toxins now flow through his body.」

「Invisible message: The toxins of ice and fire combine, neutralizing one another. The mixture courses through Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s veins and permeates his body, fortifying it and bolstering his resistance to toxins.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s status as a ‘Challenger’ has been confirmed. The restrictions on the elixirs have been lifted, increasing the absorption rate. Strength and agility increased by 2. Stamina and mana increased by 3.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Fire Resistance is now lvl 7. Ice Resistance is now lvl 5. Poison Resistance is now lvl 9.」

…

「Invisible message: Combat training has raised Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s stats. Strength, agility, and stamina increased by 0.1. Mana increased by 0.3.」

「Invisible message: Combat training has raised Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s stats. Strength, agility, and stamina increased by 0.2. Mana increased by 0.6.」

「Invisible message: Combat training has leveled up Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skill levels. Axemanship is now lvl 3.」

***

A considerable amount of time had passed since I drank the elixirs. After a brief exchange with the party members who had survived the thirteenth floor, I discussed the upcoming fourteenth floor with Ha Hee-Jeong. Additionally, I spent 2,000 achievement points on combat training.

There were three difficulty levels to choose from: easy, standard, and advanced. I tried it out twice, once on the standard difficulty, and then on the advanced difficulty. The opponent I selected was the boss from the eleventh floor, and when it eventually appeared without shrouding itself in shadows, I finally learned its identity.

Lizardman guardian.

It was a humanoid creature resembling a dinosaur. The tail and leftover scales I had seen on the eleventh floor suddenly made perfect sense.

The standard difficulty wasn’t much of a challenge, although it was still satisfying.

Having already faced the lizardman guardian once before, the standard difficulty felt relatively easy. However, the advanced setting—without Flash Strike—provided the ideal opportunity to refine my axe techniques.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one who took advantage of the combat training feature. Since Doppy was also with me in the waiting room, it underwent its own training. I saw no need to engage in a 2-on-1 fight, so Doppy trained separately.

Doppy did better than I expected.

Facing goblins and orc warriors, Doppy managed decently. The Physical Enhancement Potion it had taken played a significant role in its improvement, along with the training I provided.

Well, I had to step in when it faced the goblin paladin.

It still had a long way to go. Despite being a priest, Doppy needed to hold its own as a warrior if it wanted to keep up with me. With systematic and structured training, perhaps a day would come when I no longer had to worry about it.

Yes, Doppy should improve gradually.

When the time was right, maybe I would consider getting it full plate armor like the goblin paladin had. But that could wait. For now, I shifted my focus back to Doppy.

“Doppy, are you all set?”

“

Kriee!

Goblin ready!”

Time to double-check its gear. I see its leather armor, belt, sword, and staff... Hmm, something’s missing.

“Your gloves! Where did you put the gloves I bought for you earlier?”

“

Kriee!

Not comforty! Goblin left them! On the desk!”

I had gone to the trouble of getting Doppy decent gloves to go with its sword, but seeing that it had discarded them out of discomfort was mildly frustrating.

“Hey! With so little time left, why would you leave them behind? Put them on, quickly.”

“

Kriee!

Okay!”

Doppy turned, looking guilty. I wasn’t being harsh without reason. It needed to get used to the gloves, especially since it would be wearing them often.

Plus, there wasn’t much time left before the fourteenth floor began.

[The fourteenth floor of the Tower of Ordeal requires all climbers to enter simultaneously.]

[10 minutes 28 seconds until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

There were only about ten minutes left. The party chat, which had been unusually quiet until now, suddenly sprang to life.

- Seo Ho-Su (Fourteenth Floor): Heh, starting to feel the tension.

- Seo Ha-Rin (Fourteenth Floor): Dad, since it’s a floor where everyone participates, what do you think we’ll face this time??

- Seo Ho-Su (Fourteenth Floor): Well, considering the notification didn’t mention anything about pairs or parties, and every climber is involved…

- Seo Ha-Rin (Fourteenth Floor): Maybe it’s another survival scenario, like the sixth floor with all the zombies?

- Seo Ho-Su (Fourteenth Floor): Nah, that’s unlikely. I doubt the tower would repeat a scenario we’ve already overcome. If the tower is bringing so many people together, it could be a base defense, a hunting mission, or even a large-scale war. I’m not entirely sure, though.

Wow, really?

I found myself genuinely impressed. He had been spot-on with many of his predictions and now was no different. We couldn’t underestimate the insight that sprung from years of reading fantasy novels and gaming experience.

***

[Welcome to the fourteenth floor of the Tower of Ordeal: Drina River Defense.]

[Planet Soborn, located in Sector B-35872, has been invaded. Half of the continent has already fallen. The surviving Sobornese have gathered under the banner of the Deiorne Empire, preparing for a final stand at Fort Pogoren.]

[To safely transport the remaining Sobornese from the western front to Fort Pogoren, the Deiorne Empire has established a defense line along the Drina River.]

[Hold the Drina River defense line. If the line is breached, survive. Time remaining: 11 hours 59 minutes.]

As my vision cleared, the first thing that became apparent was the dark sky in the dead of night. Thankfully, the moon shone unusually bright, casting enough light to illuminate the surrounding expansive plains.

A vast river stretched before us, shimmering under the moon’s glow, its breadth spanning miles. Across it, I could barely make out what I assumed to be the silhouettes of hundreds of thousands of enemies advancing toward us.

“Kiiieeeek-!”

And filling the sky above the river were creatures resembling dragons—winged beasts that blackened the sky.

Black wyverns.

That was what the message called them.

Then, a commanding voice thundered from behind, shaking the plains.

“The reinforcements sent by the gods have arrived! In five hours, the 588th Bombing Squadron, the Night Witches, will be here! Hold the line until then! Everyone, prepare for battle!”