Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 79: Twentieth Floor, Rest Area (2)

During Ha Hee-Jeong’s previous life, on the twentieth floor.

The Community of the Dead.

[There’s literally nothing to do now that everyone’s holed up in the rest area. Should we kill time playing word chain?]

[Sure, I’ll kick things off. Octopus.]

[lol, okay. Radio.]

[What? How the hell does ‘radio’ follow octopus?’]

[Are you guys seriously that stupid? The only reason we can communicate is because of the auto-translation feature. How on earth are we supposed to play word chain if people are from different countries?]

[I swear, the collective IQ here is in serious jeopardy.]

[But seriously, there’s absolutely nothing to do. Can’t we just get rid of these rest areas? Watching the others fight is the only remotely interesting thing.]

[Yeah, I’d love to just scrap the rest areas entirely.]

[You idiots. While you’re sitting here, laughing and shooting the breeze, those climbers are out there risking their lives and pushing themselves to the brink just to get a moment of rest. Have some respect.]

[What, like I didn’t risk my neck too? I fought just as hard as everyone else.]

[And now you’re dead and lounging around, aren’t you? Meanwhile, they’re still out there fighting. Tsk tsk.]

[...]

***

Not long after meeting up with Alexei’s party members, Seo Ho-Su and Cole had already struck up a lively conversation with them. Considering they had fought side by side during the defense of Fort Pogoren’s left wall, it wasn’t surprising that they had formed bonds of camaraderie while I was otherwise engaged.

Alexei glanced at me as a faint smile played across her lips. I nodded back at her and mirrored her easygoing demeanor.

“Sounds good, I’d love to meet them.”

“Great! Let me properly introduce you to my party. You weren’t stationed at the wall, so you probably haven’t had the chance to meet them yet.”

I had caught glimpses of their faces when I learned their names during our previous encounter at the rest area, but this was the first time we had a chance to converse freely.

I exchanged polite greetings with each of the climbers Alexei introduced—Karim, Hendrick, and Tara. Alexei’s party was comprised of two warriors, a mage, an archer, and two priests. It was a perfectly balanced, textbook party lineup.

After finishing the introductions, we moved to a more spacious area and settled in comfortably as the conversation began to flow more naturally. We covered a wide range of topics, from trivial small talk about our lives back on Earth to discussions about what could await us on the next floor. Laughter filled the air, and the mood gradually grew more convivial as the evening wore on.

Eventually, Hendrick shifted closer, cautiously sitting next to me.

What’s this about?

Although he only glanced momentarily at me, I could tell he didn’t intend to speak with me. His gaze remained fixed on Doppy, who was seated quietly at my side. I couldn’t quite discern the reason, but perhaps Doppy had awakened Hendrick’s scholarly nature and piqued his curiosity.

Giving a teasing grin, I decided to break the ice.

“Hendrick, you’re not planning to steal Doppy away now, are you?”

“Huh? Oh, no! Haha, I’d never dream of it. How could I recruit one of Kwon Su-Hyeok’s comrades? Besides, our party is already at full capacity. I just wanted to ask it a few questions about other species, that’s all.”

“I’m just joking, haha. Go ahead, ask away.”

I smiled awkwardly at Hendrick’s unexpectedly serious response. He scratched the back of his head in an awkward manner as his nervous laughter came out

“Haha...”

“Feel free to talk as much as you like.”

“Thank you.”

He lowered his head in gratitude before eagerly turning to Doppy, bombarding it with questions about its origins, its cultural background, and what life had been like where it was from. Although Doppy’s memories weren’t entirely intact, it did its best to answer each question.

As I watched the earnest exchange unfold, Alexei lightly tapped the table in front of me, drawing my attention.

“So, how did you pull it off?”

“Pull what off?”

“Taking down the dragon, of course. We could hardly see anything from our position. One moment, it was in the sky, and the next, it had crashed to the ground in a flash of lightning. What did you do? Also, what’s the story behind that new armor? Did you get it as a special reward?”

The rest of Alexei’s party immediately threw me questioning looks, their eyes glittering with interest.

It made sense. From their perspective, the dragon’s sudden demise must have seemed like some kind of divine intervention. No wonder some of the other climbers half-jokingly referred to me as the “God of Lightning.”

As I began recounting the battle in greater detail, a hush fell over the nearby tables.

Alexei’s loud voice sure can grab everyone’s attention.

The climbers at adjacent tables, likely just as curious as Alexei’s party, had started eavesdropping. I could sense their attention sharpening as I explained the sequence of events—strategic teleportation, the power granted by the Master of Shadows, and the critical role played by a few potent buff potions.

When I mentioned the potions, Alexei sighed softly and shook her head.

“Phew, so you needed a little help from potions after all. I was beginning to think I should just give up. Well, even now, the gap between us is still far too wide to bridge...”

I understood her frustration. As someone who wielded a similar weapon, Alexei had probably set me as her benchmark, her target to reach for.

While I could have mentioned that I didn’t need the potions to take down the dragon, I chose to stay silent. There was no point in discouraging the ambitions of a top-ranked climber like Alexei. It would be a shame to crush her fighting spirit.

I pondered her words, and Alexei leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper, “Well, that’s settled. But... we’re still on for what we discussed, right?”

Almost instantly, I could practically feel Ha Hee-Jeong’s intense gaze locking onto us, her attention unwavering.

“What are you talking about?” I responded confusedly, and Alexei’s brows knitted together slightly.

“You promised to teach me your axemanship, remember?”

Ah, right. We had briefly chatted about it over messages back in the waiting room, but it had completely slipped my mind. That was on me.

I quickly apologized, throwing in a small white lie to smooth things over, “Sorry, I totally forgot. I did promise to show you how to wield an axe, didn’t I? Probably slipped my mind after a few drinks. I’ll teach you.”

I made sure to say “how to wield an axe” loud enough for Ha Hee-Jeong to catch. Her piercing gaze, which had been drilling into me, finally eased.

Meanwhile, Alexei shot me a skeptical look.

“What’s your stamina stat, if a little alcohol is enough to make you forget?”

Hmm, was my excuse a little too lame?

I couldn’t blame her for not buying it. Still, since I had agreed to keep my promise, Alexei didn’t press the issue.

“Haha. so, when’s a good time for you?”

“How about right now?”

Right now, huh? That’s... not ideal.

We were still in the middle of enjoying drinks, and I could use some rest myself. Sensing my reluctance, Alexei chuckled lightly.

“Kidding. How about tomorrow morning?”

Honestly, I wasn’t entirely convinced it was a joke. Her eyes gleamed fiercely with resolve, her competitive spirit fully alight.

I just nodded along.

“Morning? Sure, works for me.”

“Great. See you then.”

With that planned, I finally raised my glass, ready to take a sip of beer. Then, Alexei leaned in again, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone.

“And... what about tonight?”

I knew exactly what she was hinting at.

She had pulled a similar move at the previous rest area—springing these sudden propositions on me out of nowhere.

I could feel Ha Hee-Jeong’s gaze sharpening once more, her intense focus never wavering. Smiling faintly, I let the silence speak for itself. Alexei, seemingly expecting that response, chuckled quietly and raised her glass in a silent toast.

“Alright, let’s just enjoy the drinks tonight.”

“I’ve made a remarkable discovery!”

Hendrick’s sudden exclamation shattered the moment, drawing all eyes toward him. A palpable anticipation filled the air.

***

[All offensive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest at your leisure. Time remaining: 14 hours 30 minutes.]

The training session with Alexei, which had begun promptly after breakfast, didn’t draw to a close until well past lunchtime. Due to the sheer disparity in our skills, it felt less like sparring and more akin to a guided lesson. Even so, it had been immensely gratifying.

Alexei’s talent was unmistakable; she truly lived up to her status as a top-tier climber. She picked up almost every technique I demonstrated instantly, assimilating the information with astounding speed before adapting it to her own needs and preferences.

I picked up a few things from her as well.

Alexei’s axemanship emphasized raw, destructive power. She didn’t worry about strategy or intricate maneuvering; instead, she advanced aggressively, obliterating the opponent before they had a chance to react.

Naturally, I found myself learning from her fierce, unrelenting approach. By the end, I had incorporated some of her movements into my own repertoire.

It was a productive exchange, and we parted ways on good terms, promising to meet again at the next rest area.

Later, I headed to the shop with Ha Hee-Jeong, hoping to find something worthwhile. Unfortunately, nothing caught my eye. I swung a few axes around to test their weight and balance, but none felt as comfortable as the one I was currently wielding.

I did consider buying a new weapon in the next waiting room, but...

Ultimately, I decided to simply repair my current axe. Its synergy with the Bear’s Blood skill was too valuable to give up, and I wasn’t keen on spending tens of thousands of achievement points on a subpar replacement.

Besides, the Bear King’s Double-Headed Axe was still an excellent weapon. As long as I didn’t strike something like dragon scales, the blade wouldn’t be damaged at all.

I was now spending time with Ha Hee-Jeong after selling some of the miscellaneous junk we had accumulated to the general store.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Hm? Enjoy what?”

“Sparring with Alexei. Was it worthwhile?”

“Yeah, it was. I even learned a few new tricks.”

Ha Hee-Jeong’s gaze turned subtly reproachful, her eyes narrowing as if she had some unvoiced complaint.

What’s that look for?

I silently raised an eyebrow questioningly, and she sighed, rummaging through her pocket before pulling out a folded piece of paper.

“Here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“Supplies you should buy before entering the twenty-first floor.”

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

Curious, I unfolded the note to find a meticulously detailed list of items—potions, herbs, ignition stones, and other essentials, each one annotated with a brief description.

“Well, I never really needed these kinds of things before, but I used to always carry useful supplies with me. Since you’re moving solo now, you’ll probably need them more than I do.”

“Thanks. This really helps.”

“That list should cover you up to the thirtieth floor. I don’t know what kind of trials you’ll face during your solo floors, so I’ve included everything that could be useful. Just store it all in your mimic.”

Her consideration genuinely moved me. She had thought through every potential scenario and prepared accordingly, making sure I had everything I needed as a solo climber.

When I glanced up and spotted Ha Hee-Jeong’s gaze, it evoked memories of my mother’s worried face on the day I left for the military.

Hmm, there’s no need to be that worried.

Well, I supposed the fact that the upcoming floor was an individual challenge floor had her on edge.

“Thank you. Really, I mean it. I appreciate this.”

“Just... try not to get hurt, okay? Not that I think you will, but still.”

***

After purchasing all the supplies Ha Hee-Jeong had recommended and safely storing them in the mimic, I stepped onto the twenty-first floor. I found myself in a dead-end chamber—a vast cavern with a single visible exit.

[Welcome to the twenty-first floor of the Tower of Ordeal: The Only Path.]

[Survive. Time remaining: 23 hours and 59 minutes.]

I focused intently on the tower’s message and dissected its meaning. The instructions were brief, but brevity didn’t mean they lacked significance—there could always be more hidden between the lines.

The phrase that stood out the most was “The Only Path.”

The name of the floor often hinted at deeper implications, with some examples being the sixth and eighth floors. True to the floor’s title, a colossal tunnel stretched out directly before me, carved deep into the cavern wall. The corridor was roughly five meters wide and seemed to be the conduit through which enemies would flood in, just as the message suggested.

I don’t think I am going to just be holding a choke point. It’s more like a tower defense game, isn’t it?

The task seemed straightforward and uncomplicated: eradicate every enemy that poured through this passageway. However, the time limit gave me pause. Twenty-four hours. I would have to hold out for an entire day.

I had never needed to endure such a prolonged assault before, but physically, I doubted it would be a major issue.

Be that as it may, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. I had no idea how difficult the twenty-first floor would be, but from my experience of the last individual challenge floors, it wouldn’t be easy. The enemies here were bound to be far more powerful than the lizardmen I had faced previously.

No matter how much I had grown, individual challenge floors demanded constant vigilance.

Wait... is this really just a defense mission?

I inspected the area thoroughly but noticed no hidden passages or secret mechanisms. The only way out was through the tunnel ahead.

Ok, the enemies will come from this tunnel, but what’s at the end of it?

The floor’s name—The Only Path—suggested that something awaited me at the very end of the passage. It could be a hidden mission, a reward, or something else entirely. I couldn’t be sure, but it was a possibility I couldn’t dismiss.

Alright. Time to see what lies at the end of this path.

Doppy, who had been standing silently behind me, spoke up cautiously while gauging my expression, “Kriee! Su-Yeok! Finished thinking?”

“Yeah, thanks for waiting.”

I raised Doppy well.

After all that training, it had learned to read my moods and hold its tongue when necessary.

Watching Doppy now, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. After countless hours of combat drills and battle simulations, I no longer felt burdened by the idea of tackling an individual challenge floor with just the two of us.

“Stay close and don’t fall behind.”

“Got it! Stick right with you!”

“Kwaaaaah!”

No sooner had Doppy replied than an ear-splitting shriek echoed through the tunnel. It was followed by the thunderous rumbling of heavy footsteps that echoed along the stone walls.

So it begins.

I gripped my axe more tightly before slowly advancing toward the mouth of the tunnel.

“Graaah! Human!”

The moment I stepped into the passageway, I spotted them in the distance—a massive horde of armed creatures. Goblins, orcs, seraphim, and even several species I couldn’t identify.

Despite being different species, they moved together in a cohesive formation, resembling a well-disciplined army. More than five hundred of them surged forward like a tidal wave through the narrow corridor.

To an ordinary climber, this sight would be utterly terrifying.

But to me, it didn’t matter in the slightest.

After enduring countless trials on the planet Soborn, I had come to the simple realization that numbers no longer held any meaning. The only thing that concerned me now was the strength of the enemies, not their quantity.

I needed to focus on uncovering the hidden mission within this stage, not the enemies themselves.

With that in mind, I steeled myself for what lay ahead.