WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

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◈ Climbing the Tower with Time-Stop Ability

Chapter 66

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Floor 5 (4)

The Peacekeeping Corps' hunt in Zone 3 was carried out by multiple teams.

Roles were clearly divided as well: combat squads handled direct hunting, while transport squads processed and moved monster byproducts.

Team 1, including Alex, was hunting near the outer edge of Zone 3.

"...Captain! Captain!"

He spotted someone running over, pale-faced and badly injured. It was a member of Team 3.

"Kevin! What happened?!"

After hearing the breathless report, Alex and the others' faces went rigid.

They rushed over at once.

What they found when they arrived was the scene of a horrific massacre.

The bodies of Team 3 Peacekeeping Corps members were scattered all over the ground.

There were some Black Star Society corpses too, but the ones still standing were Black Star Society Climbers.

The moment Alex saw his men dead, he snapped and leaped.

The surviving Black Star Climbers' eyes widened in shock.

Alex flew a long distance, landed right among them, grabbed one by the neck, and hurled him.

Kwaang!

One of their comrades slammed into a boulder, and the other Black Star Climbers recoiled in terror.

"W-what the..."

Other corps members who had rushed in behind Alex held him back.

"...Captain! Calm down first!"

Alex swept a murderous gaze across the remaining Black Star Climbers.

"How dare these bastards...!"

Then it happened.

Thud, thud, thud...

As the ground-shaking sound drew closer, another group appeared from the opposite side.

The moment Alex recognized the person running at the front, his expression hardened.

...Kuuung!

Just like Alex had, the man made a loud, dramatic leap and landed at the scene.

It was Wang Kai.

The Black Star Climbers hurried behind him like they'd just been saved.

Wang Kai gave the surrounding corpses a casual look and sighed lightly.

"What a fucking mess. What happened here?"

His gaze shifted to Alex.

Alex spoke with rage in his voice.

"Black Star Society Climbers trespassed into our hunting territory. Then they attacked first. Which side is at fault is obvious, right?"

"...Huh?"

Wang Kai frowned.

He snorted and asked one of the Black Star Climbers,

"You heard him. Did you guys attack first?"

"...N-no. They attacked us first."

"There you go."

An injured Peacekeeping Corps member shouted furiously.

"Y-you've gotta be kidding! Your side used a skill and attacked our team leader first!"

"No, Wang Kai-nim. W-we tried to settle it with words, but they ambushed us first."

Wang Kai waved his hand.

"Enough, enough. Of course the Peacekeeping Corps attacked first. Isn't that obvious?"

"...What did you say?"

"And why the hell is this your territory? Did you write up a contract and stamp it? Hunting grounds belong to all of us."

Wang Kai said,

"So how do you plan to take responsibility for this shitshow, Peacekeeper Captain?"

Alex let out a dry laugh.

"Did you just say responsibility?"

"Yeah. How many of our people died? One, two, three... This is basically a declaration of war."

Peacekeeping Corps members and Black Star Climbers gathered behind the two men and glared at each other.

In that hair-trigger situation, Alex barely swallowed his rage and forced himself to think straight.

If they fought here, it would just mean everyone dying together.

He had stepped back first, so he naturally expected the other side to back off too.

But Wang Kai shook his head and said,

"Stop spewing that bullshit."

"..."

"I asked how you're taking responsibility for killing so many of our people."

Alex frowned.

"Since you can't understand human language."

"...Are you saying we should all die here?"

"Heh, looks like your side would be the one dying. What, not confident?"

Wang Kai sneered.

Alex swallowed a groan.

'This lunatic...'

Starting an all-out battle had never been an option for Alex.

If that happened, most people here would definitely die.

But Wang Kai had no intention of backing down. The killing intent pouring off him made it clear he was serious.

Staring at him, Alex made a proposal.

"Then let's do this. You and me, we settle it in a duel. Leader to leader."

Wang Kai grinned.

"Yeah? And then?"

"The loser acknowledges fault for this incident."

"Deal. Let's do it."

Wang Kai accepted as if he'd been waiting for it.

Alex waved an arm at his men.

"Everyone, fall back far away."

"Captain... this is..."

"That madman is serious. This is the best option, so stay back. You don't trust me?"

The Peacekeeping Corps had no choice but to retreat far away. The Black Star side did the same.

Alex and Wang Kai faced each other on the vast lava plain.

Wang Kai loosened up playfully, spread both arms, and said,

"Still, since I'm higher level, I should give you first strike, right? Come on."

Alex didn't refuse. He kicked off the ground and shot toward Wang Kai at terrifying speed.

Kuuung!

Their fists collided. A huge shockwave spread out.

Alex stamped the ground again and drove forward.

At the same time, Wang Kai kicked off and used Leap to spring backward. Alex stuck to him instantly.

A battle between the two highest-level Climbers in the world.

Their bodies moved so fast they left afterimages.

Watching from far away, Peacekeeping Corps members and Black Star Climbers couldn't properly track the exchanges. Only the endless blasts of shockwaves kept roaring out.

Alex kept getting faster.

[Skill: Heightening (Rare)]

The more you move your body, the more heightened you become, strengthening physical abilities. If movement stops, the effect gradually fades.

Classification: Physical-Type (Passive)

Willpower Cost: None

Cooldown: None

The more you attack the same target, the more damage keeps stacking.

Classification: Physical-Type (Passive)

Willpower Cost: None

Cooldown: None

Kwaaang!

Wang Kai blocked Alex's fist with his forearm and was blasted backward.

As Alex's skill stacks rose, his strikes grew stronger.

He gave Wang Kai no breathing room, pouring out a storm of chained attacks.

'There's almost no gap...!'

For now, Alex looked like he was overwhelming Wang Kai.

Even with a 4-level difference, Heightening was covering that gap.

Of course, Wang Kai still hadn't used Frenzy, his known main skill, or his other skills.

As Alex was about to keep pressing while accounting for that.

"...!"

Wang Kai's eyes turned red.

He instantly knocked Alex's fist aside and countered.

Alex hastily crossed both arms and blocked Wang Kai's punch.

The impact was beyond anything he expected. Alex's body was thrown backward.

Wang Kai closed the distance in an instant with Leap and slammed his leg down. Alex rolled on the ground to dodge.

"Here!"

But another kick from Wang Kai came flying in right away.

Alex couldn't evade it and took the hit.

"Kuugh...!"

As if everything until now had been just play, Wang Kai suddenly went berserk.

It made no sense. Even if he'd used Frenzy, the gap shouldn't have widened this sharply.

Alex could no longer keep up with his speed.

Kwaaaang!

With an impact that nearly shattered his sternum, he was blasted away, bounced, and rolled across the ground.

"...Captain!"

Wang Kai brushed off his hand and walked toward the fallen Alex.

"Pathetic. Did you really think you could match me head-on?"

Alex coughed blood, trembling as he lifted his head and said,

"You... you're not level 60!"

Wang Kai smiled.

"You noticed? I went up one more not long ago. I'm level 64 now."

Alex had been completely defeated.

Despair spread across the Peacekeeping Corps members' faces. On the other hand, the Black Star Climbers cheered.

"Wang Kai! Wang Kai! Wang Kai!"

Wang Kai smiled in satisfaction and raised his hand, and the chant stopped.

Alex barely pushed himself up, ground his teeth, and spoke.

"I... lost. I'll keep my word."

He couldn't even face his own men. Crushed in defeat, and now forced to admit fault too.

The moment Alex said that, Wang Kai lunged at him.

A Peacekeeping Corps officer rushed in and blocked between them.

Kwaang!

The officer flew away like a rag doll, along with his crushed shield.

Peacekeeping Corps members shouted in horror.

"W-what are you doing?!"

Wang Kai gave a nasty grin.

"What else? Now your captain takes responsibility with his life."

"...!"

"Or... should I just wipe all of you out while we're at it? If you all die here, that's the end of the Peacekeeping Corps' core forces, right?"

At Wang Kai's absurd words, Alex shouted in shock.

"What are you saying...! You think you can handle the consequences of that?!"

Wang Kai cackled.

"Handle it? Our Party will handle it. What, is the whole world gonna attack China or something? Either way, Floor 5 is gonna be fully ours from now on."

Alex could only feel sick when he realized Wang Kai was serious. The man was completely insane.

"I'll kill you first, then think about the rest."

The moment Wang Kai lunged at Alex again.

Jjeong!

A man who burst out of thin air suddenly blocked him.

Wang Kai flinched and stepped back.

The man was pushed back a little too, then planted himself in front of the fallen Alex.

Alex saw his face and couldn't hide his shock.

"...Hyeon?"

The young Korean man he'd met at Drake's Diner.

It was him.

* * *

I had been roaming around Zone 3 for a while, hunting.

"...?"

A faint roar came from far away.

I tilted my head.

This... sounded like people fighting each other.

And if the impact sounds were carrying all the way here, they had to be seriously strong.

It wasn't something I could ignore, so I moved toward the sound to check it out.

By the time the noise started dying down, I reached the scene.

What I saw was...

'...What?'

What kind of situation was this?

While in Stealth, I moved closer to the people gathered in the distance.

They looked like Peacekeeping Corps and Black Star Society Climbers.

I had no clue what had happened, but there were several bodies around too.

'Alex...'

The badly injured man lying there was someone I recognized.

Alex, the Peacekeeper Captain I'd met at Drake's Diner before.

And the East Asian man on the opposite side...

The man said that line.

I assessed the situation briefly and could easily guess who he was.

'Wang Kai, huh.'

Were the Peacekeeping Corps and Black Star Society fighting each other?

...To the point people were dying? Why?

Anyway, it was obvious Alex had lost to Wang Kai. And then...

"Or... should I just wipe all of you out while we're at it? If you all die here, that's the end of the Peacekeeping Corps' core forces, right?"

Wang Kai kept talking.

What the hell was this madman saying?

He was saying he'd kill everyone here right now?

"What are you saying...! You think you can handle the consequences of that?!"

"Handle it? Our Party will handle it. What, is the whole world gonna attack China or something? Either way, Floor 5 is gonna be fully ours from now on."

With killing intent rolling off him, he stepped toward Alex.

"I'll kill you first, then think about the rest."

He really was going to kill him.

...I had no choice.

I stepped between Alex and Wang Kai and blocked Wang Kai's attack.

Jjeong!

A heavy impact rang through my arm.

I got pushed back a little.

Wang Kai also stepped back, blinked at me in surprise, and said,

"...Who the hell are you? Where did you pop out from?"

Everyone's eyes turned to me.

Ah, fuck... what a mess.

I spoke to Wang Kai first.

"Please stop. Are you really going to kill all these people?"

"...Huh?"

Wang Kai tilted his head and stared at me for a long moment.

Then he suddenly looked shocked, like he'd just realized something.

"You... is it you? No way?"

"..."

"Person123! It's you, right? Right?!"

Wang Kai's booming voice rang out everywhere like a loudspeaker.

The Peacekeeping Corps and Black Star Climbers stirred.

"What? Person123...?"

"Did he just say Person123?"

...And it ended up like this after all.

I sighed inwardly and spoke to Wang Kai again.

"Please stop here. I don't know what happened, but..."

At that moment, Wang Kai suddenly charged at me.

"...!"

His fist grazed my nose.

I kept retreating as I dodged his attacks.

Fast, and strong. His physical abilities were above mine.

I crossed both arms and blocked his punch, and the impact was much heavier than before.

After I retreated far back, Wang Kai finally stopped attacking.

"...Why are you attacking me?"

Even with Skin Hardening active, the force still punched through.

Whether it was a skill or something else, Wang Kai's eyes were red.

"Hey."

Wang Kai laughed like a madman and said,

"I really, really wanted to meet you, you cute little bastard. My wish finally came true today. Wow."

I had no idea what nonsense he was talking about.

I told him again I had no intention of fighting.

"I don't know what you're talking about... but can you stop?"

"Stop? Stop what?"

"Trying to kill Alex-ssi and the Peacekeeping Corps people. I don't know why you're fighting, but you've already won."

Wang Kai curled his lips into a nasty smile.

"Yeah? You want me to stop?"

"..."

"Then get on your knees and bow your head. Do that and I'll stop."

I frowned.

"Hm? If humanity's savior bows his head too, then of course I should stop, right?!"

Wang Kai snickered and looked back at the Black Star Climbers.

The Black Star Climbers, who had been standing there blankly, burst into laughter to flatter him.

Not at all amused, I spoke to Wang Kai again.

"Stop joking around."

"I'm not joking. Bow your head and ask politely."

"...And if I can't?"

"Then I kill them all. Ah, don't worry about yourself. I'll beat you just enough that you won't die."

In that short exchange, I understood exactly what kind of person he was.

There was no way words were going to work on him.

If words didn't work, the only thing left was a fight.

He was a level-60s powerhouse, and if I fought him half-heartedly, I was in danger too.

I had no intention of taking that risk, so if I fought, I'd go all out.

And going all out meant...

"...I'm saying this one last time, Wang Kai."

I let out a breath and said,

"Stop here. This is your final warning."

Wang Kai sneered.

"Warning? Scary, so scary. What happens if I ignore it?"

"You die."

"..."

"I don't have confidence in just suppressing you halfway. No one..."

Wang Kai grinned, leaking killing intent.

"...I listen quietly and you keep spouting bullshit. Fine, don't kneel. My..."

...Right.

Then I had no choice.

Before Wang Kai could attack, I stopped time.

I finished 300 seconds of concentration.

Then I released time and fired Destruction Beam at the same moment.

The pitch-black ray shot out in an instant and swallowed the spot where Wang Kai had been standing.

Psssss...

Wang Kai was no longer there.

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