Chapter 877

Climbing the Tower of Eternity was anything but easy.

Kyaah!

Kikik! Kikikiii!

The chimeras came in droves and attacked relentlessly without showing any signs of ceasing.

Siegfried and Hamchi’s only relief was that the spiral staircase leading to the second floor was narrow. It was just wide enough for four or five adult men to pass through side by side, making it a natural funnel.

“Hey, Hamchi! Forget about killing them! Just knock them over the staircase!”

“

Kyuuu!

Got it!”

Rather than defeating the chimeras, Siegfried and Hamchi opted to push and shove their enemies off the staircase. —

This was indeed a smart decision.

The chimeras lunged at Siegfried and Hamchi, only to tumble off the stairs, crash to the ground, and attempt to climb back up. In the meantime, Siegfried and Hamchi continued climbing higher and higher.

Of course, the Experience Points gained was a bonus whenever the chimeras they shoved off the staircase died from fall damage.

[Alert: You have gained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have gained Experience Points!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: You have gained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have gained Experience Points!]

The chimeras found in the Tower of Eternity gave an enormous amount of Experience Points. This tower would be a treasure trove of Experience Points if it were possible for Siegfried to use skills and hunt them en masse.

Each chimera probably provided double the Experience Points given by champion monsters in most dungeons.

[Alert: You have leveled up!]

[Alert: You have reached Level 308!]

Thanks to this, Siegfried gained another level, bringing him to Level 308.

“Nice! Let’s keep this up, Hamchi!”

“

Kyuuu!”

They continued to climb the tower while collecting Experience Points.

When they ascended about one-third of the way up...

Flap! Flap! Flap!

Winged chimeras appeared and began to attack.

“Damn it!” Siegfried cursed. He gritted his teeth and swung his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp in an attempt to fend off the flying chimeras as he climbed higher.

But...

Kyaaaak!

Gwuuu Aaaagh!

The increasing variety of chimeras swarming them made it impossible to advance. Their overwhelming numbers surrounded him easily and completely restricted him from venturing onward.

“

Argh...

Damn it!”

“

Kyuuu!”

Siegfried and Hamchi desperately struggled against the overwhelming waves of monsters. It would have made things so much easier if he could use his mana, but the tower was not so kind to him.

“Damn it!”

In the chaos, Siegfried happened to strike the tower wall with his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp by mistake.

Kwachik!

“Surprisingly, the impact created a prominent crack in the wall.

“Huh?”

Seeing this, Siegfried realized that the tower’s walls were not indestructible, contrary to what he had initially assumed. While it was true that the walls were solid enough to withstand most attacks, the immense power of the +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp, coupled with his stats was on a whole different level.

The +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp was powerful enough to kill chimeras ranging from Level 250 to Level 350 with just basic attacks. Thus, it was also possible for him to break through the wall.

‘

If I can break through and climb up the outer wall... I won’t have to bother with these stairs!’

The barrier surrounding the tower still prevented flight, but climbing should be possible. Ironically enough, Siegfried already had experience scaling a tower, the Sky Tower, in the past.

‘

Let’s do it!’

Siegfried decided to spring into action.

“Hey, Hamchi! Buy me some time!”

“

Kyuuu!

Got it!”

Siegfried transformed his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp into a pickaxe and began striking the tower wall with all his might while Hamchi held off the chimeras.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

The pickaxe dug deeper into the wall with each strike.

‘

This is going to work!’

Siegfried thought, grinning from ear to ear.

If the pickaxe could embed itself into the wall, then it could also serve as a foothold for climbing later. This meant that the next part of his plan would be quite straightforward as long as he managed to break through the wall.

“Hold on a bit longer, Hamchi!”

“Don’t worry, owner punk! Hamchi is strong!”

Siegfried continued hammering away at the wall while Hamchi fought valiantly to buy time.

After about ten minutes...

“

K-Kyuuu...!

Hey, owner punk!

Huff... Huff...

Hamchi is getting tired! How much longer?!”

“Just a little bit more! Hang in there!”

Siegfried kept striking the wall while encouraging his trusty companion.

After roughly another minute...

Krwaaang!

The wall crumbled, sending chunks of debris tumbling outward.

‘

Finally!’

Siegfried cheered inwardly before immediately striking the edges until it was wide enough for him to pass through.

“Let’s go, Hamchi!”

“

Kyuuu!”

Hamchi immediately transformed himself into a smaller version that fit just right in Siegfried’s pockets and hopped on.

The duo slipped through the hole and emerged outside the tower.

Kyaaaak!

Gwuuu Aaah!

The chimeras tried to chase after them, but they could not fit through the narrow hole just wide enough for a single human to pass through. All they could do was thrust their heads out and flail in frustration while watching their prey get away.

Ironically, their massive size, which was far larger than an average adult human and gave them their destructive physical prowess, made it impossible to pass through the narrow opening.

***

C-Crack...! Craaaack!

The narrow hole Siegfried had escaped from began to fracture. The chimeras forced their massive heads into the gap even at the cost of damaging their own bodies, and the sheer force of them forcing themselves through the opening caused overwhelming strain even on the tower’s durable structure.

‘

I can’t waste time.’

Siegfried assessed the situation and realized it would not take long for the chimeras to smash through and pursue him.

‘

Maybe...?’

He attempted to channel his mana on the off chance he might be able to use it outside the tower, but his proximity to the tower prevented him from doing so.

‘

Nope. No luck.’

Siegfried was forced to accept the restriction and climb vertically.

“

Kyuuu!

Climb faster, owner punk!”

“Shut up! You’re not helping!”

Siegfried climbed using his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp, an artifact he looted called +11 Nelsia’s Talons, and the Brainwashing Tortoise Rope. His inventory was full of random items, many of which proved invaluable for scaling the tower.

The climb was arduous, but it was still manageable. Also, it was way faster to climb the tower from the outside rather than charge through the staircase filled with a horde of chimeras.

However, a single slip meant that he would fall from a height that could kill him instantly.

Kwachik! Kwachik!

Siegfried bravely climbed the tower’s exterior with pinpoint accuracy every step along the way.

While he was scaling the tower, chaos erupted within the royal palace.

The Resistance members launched a systematic all-out attack, subduing the guards, securing most of the gates, and sealing them to prevent the Proatine Kingdom’s soldiers from coming into the palace.

They almost instantaneously gained control over the palace.

With most of Verdandi’s personal royal guards absent, the palace lacked any formidable troops capable of defending against elite warriors. Capitalizing on this, the Resistance quickly took command of the palace grounds and prepared for Verdandi’s return.

They left the main gates unlocked and lined the entire area around it with cannons, traps, and resistance fighters. They waited in tense anticipation, ready to ambush Verdandi and her loyalists the moment they approached the palace gates.

“Your Majesty...” Oscar muttered under her breath while gazing at the Tower of Eternity.

Siegfried had already climbed so high that his silhouette completely disappeared, shrouded by the night clouds.

“I have no doubt that you will succeed. I will be waiting for you.”

The idea that Siegfried would fail and disappear once again didn't cross Oscar's mind at all.

Why?

It was all because even the thought of it was too much for her to bear.

Oscar and the Resistance members staked everything on this coup. Nothing else was on their mind aside from successfully overthrowing Verdandi, so none of them could even afford to think about anything else—especially doubt their success.

***

While Siegfried was climbing the tower, he rummaged through his Inventory, hoping to find something that could aid his climb.

Unfortunately, searching through his inventory was no easy task, as there were just so many items packed in it.

It was then.

“Hmm?!”

His eyes widened after he found something unexpected.

[+3 Kraken Suction Palms]

[A pair of gloves with Kraken suckers attached to the palms. It was crafted from the skin of a Kraken.]

[Type: Gloves]

[Rating: Unique]

[Durability: 488/500]

[Note: Extremely strong suction, making it extremely effective for clinging to surfaces.]

Siegfried acquired the +3 Kraken Suction Palms during his activities in the Green Isles. Of course, with the countless random items he had looted over time, he barely remembered where or when he had even obtained it.

“Perfect!”

He quickly equipped the gloves and pressed a hand against the wall.

Squelch! Squelch!

A slightly grotesque and disturbing sound rang out the moment the suckers clung to the surface.

“

Kyuuu?!

It’s sucking! It’s really sucking, owner punk!” Hamchi exclaimed.

“All right!” Siegfried cheered in delight.

He secured his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp at his waist and began climbing using the +3 Kraken Suction Palms.

He moved with the agility of a spider, and he scaled the tower so quickly that it took less than five minutes to reach the top.

“Time to break in!”

Upon arriving at the top, Siegfried once again transformed the +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp into a pickaxe and got to work on the wall.

About ten minutes later...

Rumble!

The wall finally crumbled, leaving a gaping hole. Siegfried did not waste time and entered the tower once again.

“Darling?”

Waiting for him inside the tower was none other than Brunhilde.

She had been pacing nervously near the wall after hearing repeated striking sounds from the outside, but she couldn't have imagined, even in her wildest dreams, that the man whom she been desperately searching for would emerge from the wall.

Thud...!

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Brunhilde collapsed to the ground the moment she saw Siegfried.

“Darling!” Siegfried cried out and rushed to her side, helping her to her feet.

“I-Is it really you...? My darling?” she asked, her eyes brimming with tears as he gazed at him.

Siegfried smiled warmly and pulled her into an embrace, “Yes, it is me. I’m sorry I took so long. Everything is fine now.”

“D-Darling...!

Sniff! Sniff!”

Overcome with emotion, Brunhilde clung to him and sobbed uncontrollably.

Siegfried gently patted her back, soothing her.

Unfortunately, there was no time to enjoy their reunion.

“You must’ve been through so much. I’m sorry, but I had my reasons for being—”

Just as Siegfried was about to say—well, a half-truth, explosions interrupted him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

‘Huh? What was that?’

Siegfried wondered and peered through the hole in the wall to investigate.

The clouds obscured most of his view from this height, but his enhanced vision easily pierced through them. He focused his gaze on the royal palace below the tower, and what he saw sent a shiver down his spine.

“W-What the hell is going on?!”

The reason he was so surprised was that a relentless barrage of artillery fire rained down upon the palace.

In other words, the Proatine Kingdom’s royal palace was under siege.

The Proatine Kingdom’s army had surrounded the palace and was bombarding it mercilessly.

Siegfried was horrified by the Proatine Kingdom’s ruthlessness.

To reduce the royal palace, which was no different from the kingdom’s national symbol, to rubble while knowing full well that it had countless innocent people such as maids, servants, workers, knights, soldiers, and many more living in it...

This was nothing short of cold, brutal, and heartless.

However, it was also undeniably efficient.

By annihilating the enemy stronghold at the expense of the civilians in it, the Proatine Kingdom would minimize casualties for their forces before they moved in to occupy the palace.

‘Who would command such a thing...?’

Siegfried was stunned. He desperately wanted to know who had issued such a cruel order.

This strategy was something only someone cruel and ruthless could issue, but the one who devised it clearly possessed extraordinary strategic insight as well as nerves as cold as ice.