Chapter 256: Antagonist of Earth (1)

Words : 1566 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 256: Antagonist of Earth (1) The next day, I met up with the others as planned. Finally, we had escaped the dungeon and the underground, and made it to the surface. We had climbed with intense momentum until then, and I didn’t plan on letting it slip. It started with the Sixteenth Floor, a surprising continuation from directly where we had left off―passing through the stone door at the end of the crystal golem’s chamber, we emerged near the top of an incomparably tall, wintry mountain. The Objective was simple: to find an item hidden somewhere along the mountain. Naturally, we already possessed the knowledge that the required item was in reality a drop from a rare monster found typically near the mountain’s peak, as well as how to effectively hunt it―an easy task thanks to a quick snipe by Nina’s arrow. After that, the Floor’s secondary Objective required us to proceed with the item to a specific location near the base of the mountain, a trek which surely would’ve been perilous for a team of regular humans, but one that we made with haste regardless. Arriving at the destination before too long, it turned out to be a small shrine carved into the side of the mountain. Placing the item atop the shrine, likely dedicated to a person or thing we would never encounter, the Floor Boss was summoned, our final Objective being to slay it. The Spirit of the Mountain, an elemental being of ice and wind, possessed a clear vulnerability to Cassano’s Flare, making quick work of the ethereal thing before any major concerns arose. In such a manner, the Sixteenth Floor was cleared, and we forthwith transported ourselves to the next. From that point on, we proceeded to clear the Tower one Floor after the other, taking brief respites only when rest or recovery was utterly necessary. Through forests and jungles; through marshes, swamps and bogs; through mountains and valleys. The Floors counting Sixteen through Twenty-Nine consisted of all of these. Aside from my own continued practice on the side of manipulating my magic energy as I wished, which progressed as sluggishly as it had done from the beginning, I couldn’t say the same for the growth of the others. I wasn’t aware if this was something common among all Awakened, but at least for the two of the individuals in our party who were ‘proper’ Awakened, it certainly rang true. A swelling of magic energy, a strengthening of the bones, the muscle fibers, the bodily tissue, of the physical form itself, and more. If Mana Corruption ever stopped working for whatever reason, I would have immediately plummeted back to the patheticness of my old, ordinary self. That’s because my body itself was still ordinary. The same did not go for Awakened. Furthermore, I began to notice more and more techniques, more skills, more abilities――more power, and intensity, and vigour, and breadth and depth of class. I would not label myself as someone who possessed much rigour. Someone who was meticulous or thoughtful, or methodical. However, there were certainly cases where I was cautious. Not that I was particularly prudent perhaps when I sometimes should be... but I did like to take the future into consideration. And this, this didn’t give me a very well-tuned feeling in the slightest. Perhaps it was just me. Perhaps it was mere paranoia. Or perhaps it was influenced even by Heightened Senses. Regardless, and whatever the case, the truth of the matter was simply that it elicited from me the feeling that it was undoubtedly something to be concerned with. Why that was, exactly... Well, was it something that required much thought to begin with? They were growing stronger just by clearing the Tower. As far as I was concerned, that was not natural. Even if it was, it wasn’t good for me. By the time they climbed higher, could they then become stronger than me? It was a definite, real possibility, even though I wasn’t sure it was true as of the present. For insurance, I would need to keep them as allies, for ideally as long as possible. They couldn’t turn against me. Not until that time, and if I was able to play my cards right, maybe even until after. And, if all other Awakeners were the same, what would that make of John Pierce? At present, he had reportedly made it to Floor 36. “...” “So this is Floor 30... We’ve seriously come a long way in such a short amount of time...!” “It looks tragic.” Before us, a desolate cityscape fanned out in all directions. A scene of countless crumbling buildings, many that had already succumbed to one force or the other to be brought to ruin, a scar on the land itself. To me, it was just a familiar sight, but I could well understand how maybe some others would be bummed out by the scary similarity to a very real possibility for Earth. “Uh, right... I can see why no one bothered to set up a proper camp around here...” Muttering that, Cassano looked around from atop the roof of the multi-storey parking facility. Just like the one I recalled from the Apocalypse-gripped Illusory World, this one too was made from thick concrete, and so remained standing throughout whatever nasty event ravaged this place to such an extent. It was, truly, antithetical to the jubilance of the First Floor Hub. “It’s a lot of effort. Frontliners don’t care about anything but ascending the Tower. Why would they care to work clean-up around here?” With crossed arms, Nina stated the obvious. It was also clear from her frank tone that she would act the same way as described. I wouldn’t blame her. I’m the same. Who would bother taking the time, effort and resources to fix up this city to be used as a proper second Hub Floor when there was no point? If you needed or wanted something from other Challengers, just go to the First Floor. Besides, even if this place looked like this, it’s not like Frontliners couldn’t carry out whatever business they may have with each other unless the city was in tip-top shape. Whether the buildings are all functional or razed to the ground was irrelevant. “I understand... Anyway, shall we continue to the next Floor? I think I can do one more before I have to hurry back home...” Saying that, Cassano turned to us, eliciting a natural response from Nina. “You’re leaving the Tower?” “For a while... Sorry, it’s just that there are important things going on... I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back, so it might be a while until we can climb together again.” Now that was abrupt news. Although the total amount of time the three of us have spent together wasn’t all that much in the grand scheme of things thanks to our rapid progress, it’s definitely true that bonds could be established quickly in life or death scenarios, and though our situation never quite got that bad, it nevertheless remained fact that fighting alongside each other could, to an extent, accomplish the same effect. Despite not once revealing my identity to them, it had been enough to despite that, to the point that his white eyes directed towards me at this moment were filled with good will. And it wasn’t just for my own benefit―if I had the choice, I also would like to remain on friendly terms with the both of them, despite the sheer unlikeliness of it staying that way for long. ‘...Maybe it’s about time.’ Raising my hand while the other two faced each other in front of me, talking about something I was too unfocused to hear, I silently grabbed the front of the Villain’s Vizard adorning my face. “―Before you leave.” Interrupting their conversation, my distorted voice cut through. I’m sure they were somewhat used to it at this point, but at the same time, it would definitely have been difficult to see it as familiar in a positive light. In any case, at my call, they simultaneously turned to face me. Seeing my hand on my mask, Cassano’s eyes blatantly widened. Though clearly attempting to maintain a straight face, Nina’s eyebrows also shifted and rose. Their hearts were worn plainly on their sleeves like so, but even still, I wondered what internal thoughts were running through their minds at that moment. To put it bluntly, this was a gamble. ...Well, I say that, but thanks to Recognition Disruption, it shouldn’t be too bad even in the worst case. “I never introduced myself. I apologise.” “...” “...!” “――My name is Enki.” For the first time, they heard my voice without the magical distortion of the mask. Revealing my bare face to these two, the companions who had joined me in my journey through the Tower thus far, letting them see finally who I truly was, I continued. “I know it’s something selfish to ask after I’ve been hiding my identity from you for so long, but I have a request. As mere fellow party members, as familiar companions, or as friends―whichever you wish to see it as.” And, with shamelessness unbound, I asked them. “Can you help me save the world?”

Chapter 256: Antagonist of Earth (1)

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