Chapter 251: #Tower of Gods First Floor: Trial of Rock? (1)

The towering white structure, approximately thirty meters tall—Tower of Gods—soared into the sky with an imposing grandeur.

Tzzz!

Its exterior exuded a white sheen, resembling a sharp spear.

Ant Emperor looked up at the majestic building, smiling smugly. “It is indeed worthy of being called the Tower of Gods. Follow me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

He led the way as if born to do it. Following behind him were the Ten Swords and Il-Ho. I stayed at the rear in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. I’d assembled the strongest party imaginable in this life! We’d surely be able to overcome the suspicious tower together!

Ant Emperor placed a hand on the door into the Tower of Gods.

"By my will, open—Tower of Gods!"

However, the tightly-shut door didn’t budge.

Ding!

[Emperor’s entry has been denied.]

[Malevolent beings are barred from the sacred Tower of Gods.]

Everyone stiffened.

“

Bwahaha!

So, I can’t enter because I’m a malevolent god?” Ant Emperor’s shoulders shook as he laughed.

Meanwhile, the Ten Swords went pale.

“

Keke.

This piece of junk dares to refuse me? Carnage Flames of God.”

Crackle!

Furious, Ant Emperor unleashed his power, engulfing the Tower of Gods in flames.

“C-calm down, Friend!”

“Y-Your Majesty! Please stop!”

“

Aaargh!

Everyone, run!”

Chaos ensued.

Citizens at the square screamed and ran from the rain of sparks.

“

Kekeke!

Accursed tower! I’ll smash you into pieces!”

Like a black-bellied male lead in a drama who’d be like,

“If I can’t have you, then no one can!”

Ant Emperor displayed the wicked nature of a malevolent god. Arachne and I had barely managed to restrain him. Even then, his furious eyes were fixed on the tower, as if shooting lasers.

Ding!

[Buttor, Mosto, and Killerbee’s entry has been denied.]

[Kamikiri and Il-Ho’s entry has been denied.]

[Only gods may enter the sacred Tower of Gods.]

And so, I was the only one left.

“Give it a go, Yu Il-Shin.”

Everyone’s expectant gazes fell upon me, who stood before the tower entrance. I couldn’t help but have a sense of foreboding. But since Ant Emperor and Il-Ho couldn’t enter the tower, I probably wouldn’t be let in, right?

Thus, I gently touched the door...

Ding!

[Calculating the Karma of Mid-tier Benevolent God and Lowest-tier Malevolent God Yu Il-Shin.]

I became a Mid-tier Benevolent God while accepting the imperial citizens as my followers during my mission to amass a hundred billion Godcoins. On the other hand, I’d refrained from mass murder as much as possible, which was why I was still a Lowest-tier Malevolent God.

Ding!

[You have met the requirements to enter the Tower of Gods.]

Creaaaak! Clunk!

The entrance, which hadn’t budged even at Ant Emperor’s rage, flew open as if welcoming King Sejong the Great.

Roooooar!

In contrast to the tower’s exterior, which radiated pure holiness, darkness as ominous as a black hole lay beyond the entrance.

I instinctively gulped dryly. Everything about this felt foul, suspicious, and eerie.

Booooom!

Just then, something violently flew, throwing itself into the black-hole-like entrance. It was Belzeebul, one of the Ten Swords.

“Your Majesty! Noble One! Let me, Beelzebul, scout out the place—!”

Splat!

The bug that stepped loftily was rejected by the darkness and flung away as if hit by a fly swatter.

“

Ugh! Aaaargh!

”

The rest of the Ten Swords attempted to enter the tower as well, but fared no better.

“Interesting.”

Smiling menacingly, Ant Emperor reached toward the darkness.

Pzzz!

He wasn’t flung away, but back sparks burned the back of his hand.

[Emperor’s entry has been denied.]

[Malevolent beings are barred from the sacred Tower of Gods.]

“

Tsk

.” He licked his burned hand, looking at me. “I don’t know who they are, but there are at least two Top-tier gods involved in this darned tower. Trickery doesn’t work on it.”

There are more than two Top-tier gods? W-who could they be? Could it be Silently Crawling Nightmare and Infinite Abundance? Or maybe All-Cutting Heavenly Sword? Or Eternal Seeker, who was wiped out in my past life?

In the worst case, God of Destroyer and Despair could be inside.

Roaaaar!

Looking at the swirling darkness by the entrance, it seemed more likely that God of Destroyer and Despair was involved.

Ant Emperor sighed. “There’s nothing we can do now. You’ll have to go on alone, Yu Il-Shin.”

I have to head in alone to a place we know nothing about?

“Friend, I believe in you.” Ant Emperor placed a hand on my shoulder. “You will conquer that dastardly tower in my stead,

right?

”

“Friend, hold on...”

While it was great to know that he thought so highly of me, wasn't he overestimating my capabilities? Couldn’t he see me trembling?

Suddenly, Ant emperor’s eyes flashed fiercely. “Why are you shivering? Are you afraid of that tower?”

His maw fell open, revealing teeth that gleamed like weapons. I could sense imminent danger. He’d definitely swallow me whole if I admitted to being scared!

“

Hahaha!

No way! It’s just my shoulders! Stiff shoulders and back aches are a writer’s chronic ailments! It’s like a badge of honor!”

“

Keke,

yes.

My

friend wouldn’t tremble over such a thing. Yu Il-Shin, conquer that tower and punish those who dare to mock us! Got it?”

“Y-yeah! Leave it to me, Friend!”

He chuckled, then slapped my shoulder with such force I thought it would break.

“

Mwahaha!

That’s my friend! I believe in you, Yu Il-Shin!”

I wasn’t crying from fear, but from the pain he gave me.

“Lord Yu Il-Shin! Please don’t forget to train your muscles while you're there!”

“Lord Yu Il-Shin! You must return safely! I will carefully take care of the Divine Beast egg and the Bud of the World Tree that you have bestowed upon me!”

“Noble One! I pray for your safe journey!”

“

Keke!

Leave matters on Earth to me, Yu Il-Shin.”

“

Hic...!

”

As the group saw me off, I reluctantly took a step forward to the entrance of the tower.

Swoooosh!

Then, the darkness sucked me in, reminiscent of a horror movie.

“

Waaaah!

”

Ruuuuumble—baaaam!

Just like that, the door slammed shut behind me, like the jaws of a carnivorous plant that had devoured its prey.

***

Messages from the tower echoed through my ears.

[You have challenged God’s Trials.]

[The First Floor of the Tower of Gods: Trial of Rock]

[Clear conditions: Overcome the trial and save the world, Rockstone, from destruction.]

[The trial begins now.]

Trial of Rock?

Oh, I remember now!

In my previous life, Il-Ho had also undertaken this trial! A massive rock rolled down a narrow passageway, crushing him like a piece of dried fish...

“But where am I?”

Instead of an enclosed location like in the Tower of Warriors, I found myself in a vast, open plains. At the center of the plains, an inconspicuous rocky mountain towered like the majestic Mount Halla.

I pondered for a moment. Did I have to conquer that mountain?

Demon Lord let out an urgent shout.

-Disciple! Look up into the sky!

I hastily looked up, and saw a meteorite piercing through the sky with a red streak, plummeting toward us.

Baaaam!

It directly struck the side of the mountain, and the earth shook as if hit by an earthquake. But that wasn’t the end.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

More gigantic meteorites, over dozens of meters, rained down with terrifying force on that mountain.

Oh!

I could immediately grasp the situation with my clear mind. I had to protect that mountain from the meteorites! The scale of the trial was on a whole new level! As expected of the upgraded version of the Tower of Warriors! Shouldn’t it be called the Trial of Meteorites...?

Regardless, I didn’t panic. After all, I’d saved an octopus princess by stopping the meteor shower with my swift fingers, honed from playing Beat Games in my past life!

“Thank you, sir!”

-Alright, disciple!

I grabbed Demon Lord and leaped toward the raining meteorites.

“

Hyaaa!

Demon Lord’s Descent! Crushing Forefinger of God!”

Baaaaam!

Demon Lord’s skill and my divine power shattered the meteorites in the sky, turning them into a dazzling display.

***

-

Keke!

You’ve done it! You’re truly my disciple!

“

Huff puff!

It’s all thanks to you, sir!” I collapsed on the top of the mountain, gasping for breath.

After blocking the meteorites for half a day, I couldn’t feel my legs. The clear autumn sky stretched out before me, as if nothing had ever happened. Thanks to our combined efforts, we managed to protect the mountain. This was my first time challenging a trial, so I was nervous, but I managed to pass it.

Still, something was off. I’d protected the mountain, so why weren’t we moving onto the next floor? Did the system change?

-

Grrr!

Just then, a strange sound rumbled through the sky. I tensed up, wondering if it was another wave of meteorites.

-

Grrrr!

The strange sound grew louder by the second.

Thud! Thud! Baaam!

An earthquake even stronger than before happened, causing the mountain to shake violently.

Gosh! What is happening!

Panicking, I looked around in a hurry and saw something. Before I knew it, two enormous stone pillars had appeared in front of the summit! No, upon closer inspection, they were actually the ankles of something made out of rock!

The incomprehensible reality sent chills all over me. I raised my head up until it almost broke to look up at the owner. They towered like the sun itself, their head a colossal mass of stone. Its lips parted like the gates of hell.

-I’m hungryyyyy!

“Uuugh!

”

That roar alone made my eardrums burst, and blood flowed down my ear holes. Their eyes, made of rock, made contact with mine. To be precise, it wasn’t me it was looking at, but the mountain I’d been protecting!

-Oh! There’s one more left!

They reached toward the mountain where I stood, plucking it out like weed.

“W-wait!” I screamed, but they seemed to be oblivious to my voice, flicking the mountain into their mouth.

“

Waaaah!

”

I saw it just before darkness swallowed my view.

Huh? T-that’s—!

[Mountain-Gnawing Titan]

A familiar title glowed atop the giant’s head.

Crunch crunch! Gulp!