WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: DereKimchi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Abandoned Tank is a Disaster-class Awakener ◈
Chapter 13
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A week passed.
During that time, I, America’s Vanguard, did not attempt to clear the Tower.
Instead, I consumed every Elixir the American Awakeners Association had gathered.
You could call it greed.
But thanks to Super Novice’s trait, the benefits I gained from consuming Elixirs were twice those of anyone else.
In the end, every Elixir I consumed increased our strength for climbing the Tower, so it was always worthwhile.
I drank dozens of bottles and finally finished preparing.
“...”
After checking my condition, I raised my head and looked around.
The 26th floor.
It was, quite literally, a forest.
Dense woodland filled every direction.
Massive trees soared high enough to block out the sky.
Vines tangled around every trunk.
Damp moss and fallen leaves reached up to my ankles.
A pale mist hung low beneath the trees, and even the birdsong coming from somewhere in the forest sounded strangely warped.
The scent of trees was thick, and the smell of earth was damp.
But it lacked the peculiar tranquility of a living forest.
From the moment I stepped inside, there was only one thing I could feel against my skin.
Whoooooosh!
Hostility.
The entire forest was wary of me.
And the trial for the 26th floor was:
[Trial: Safely pass through the Living Forest.]
I had to cross the forest.
Of course, getting through it would not be easy.
[Checking the number of challengers.]
But the following system message left me no time to think about that.
The message, which should have ended already, continued.
[Checking the current number of challengers.]
[Four or fewer challengers confirmed.]
[You are challenging the trial with fewer than the standard number of participants.]
[Clear rewards increase according to the danger adjustment.]
Of course, this was not a four-person clear.
[Three or fewer challengers confirmed.]
[Additional danger is applied.]
[The clear reward grade increases.]
Then once again.
[Two or fewer challengers confirmed.]
[Classified as a high-risk clear.]
[The probability of rare rewards appearing greatly increases.]
I see.
The increased rewards the disasters had mentioned were appearing before my eyes.
[A solo clear has been confirmed.]
Hummm.
All the previous system messages vanished.
Then new messages slowly appeared against the black screen.
[Clear danger is adjusted to the maximum level.]
[Experience gained on this floor is adjusted to 300%.]
[The final reward grade greatly increases.]
[Solo-clear-exclusive reward pools are unlocked.]
[We pay respect to the challenger who has undertaken this trial alone.]
The benefits of a solo clear were incredible, going beyond merely increased rewards.
First, there was a threefold increase in experience, allowing me to level up faster.
Then there were hidden rewards that could not normally be obtained.
It was exactly as the disasters had said.
Only then did I take in the dense forest surrounding me.
Enormous trees.
Damp soil.
Branches blocking out the sky.
At a glance, it looked like an ordinary forest.
But the Living Forest mentioned here was not a metaphor.
Step.
I took one step forward.
At that moment.
Crackcrackcrack!
One of the massive trees in front of me tore itself from the ground and rose.
Its thick trunk twisted like a spine, and its roots ripped free from the earth.
The huge branches jutting out from either side bent like arms, while two thick roots beneath it planted themselves against the ground like legs.
Rumble!
What had looked like an ordinary massive tree only seconds ago rose into a living monster.
Its enormous body was so thick that even two or three people linking arms could not encircle it, and its surface was covered in tough bark like armor.
Scrape.
Where its face should have been, black hole-like eyes and a long slit of a mouth appeared. From inside its mouth came the sound of dry wood rubbing together.
An Ent.
A race of the forest.
A living, moving giant tree and the main monster of this floor.
Their traits were clear.
Overwhelming mass.
Tremendous strength.
They were not the type to shake the battlefield with magic.
They were monsters that swung their massive bodies, trampled the ground with root-like legs, and smashed everything with their thick arms.
In other words.
‘The opponent I’m most confident against.’
The Black-Iron Armament specialized in physical defense.
That was why I chose this place for a solo clear.
Grrrrr.
The Ent’s body rumbled in several places.
It seemed to have recognized me as an intruder.
One huge arm slowly rose, casting a shadow over me.
That movement alone was intimidating enough.
But without retreating, I activated my skill.
Crack, crack!
The bones throughout my body groaned.
My muscles swelled, and my arms and legs lengthened.
My shoulders spread wide, and my eye level rapidly rose.
The Black-Iron Armament also changed to match its owner.
Hummm!
The black armor trembled low as it expanded.
The Black-Iron Armor wrapped around my swollen chest and shoulders, while the greaves and gauntlets thickened and stretched to fit my enlarged limbs.
When the change stopped, I was nearly three meters tall.
【Kang Seong-un (Super Novice)】
Level: 34
Strength: 261
Agility: 256
Health: 364
Skills: Transcendent Body
Stats so absurd that they did not suit my level.
As I checked them, I raised my head.
Rumble!
The Ent in front of me was raising its massive arm.
A giant tree more than three meters tall.
A moment ago, it would have looked quite large.
But now.
“About the same.”
Our eye levels were nearly equal.
The Ent brought down its arm.
Rumble!
The thick branches collided with each other in that single motion, making a sound like thunder.
Then an arm thicker than a human torso tore through the air toward me.
A simple swing.
No technique and no trickery.
But it had mass.
The force from a body weighing several tons was carried directly to the end of its arm.
I did not dodge.
I stepped my left foot half a pace forward and raised the Black-Iron Shield.
Baaang!
My ears rang from the collision.
The earth beneath my feet sank in a circle, and the leaves around me burst into the air.
The bark on the Ent’s arm cracked apart where it struck the shield.
But I was not the one pushed back.
Hummm!
Its body staggered.
The moment I blocked its attack, I understood.
It was strong.
It could not be compared to the Lizardmen of the 25th floor.
In the past, there had been many times when an Ent’s attack nearly tore my body apart.
In terms of an individual’s strength alone, it was several times heavier and several times tougher.
But.
‘Weak.’
I was not who I used to be.
Strength overflowed through my body, enlarged by Giantification.
Keeping my shield raised, I took a step forward.
Boom!
The ground sank beneath that one step.
The Ent drove its roots deep into the earth.
Thick roots churned through the soil and gripped the ground.
As if it refused to be pushed back, it even bent its huge upper body forward.
But I pushed anyway.
Crackcrackcrack!
Strength collided with strength.
The balance did not last long.
One by one, the Ent’s roots were torn from the ground.
Crack!
I drew strength not from my arms, but from my legs.
I pushed against the earth with the soles of my feet, sent that power through my waist and shoulders, and gathered it at the tip of my shield.
Then I thrust forward sharply.
Baaang!
The shield slammed into the Ent’s torso.
Crackcrackcrack!
Its hard bark caved inward, and the next moment, spiderweb-like cracks spread across its entire trunk.
Its huge body was lifted from its roots.
I took half a step into the opening.
Dragging my greatsword low, I cut.
Riiip!
A black line split open from the Ent’s waist.
Its thick trunk slid apart at an angle.
Boom!
When a giant tree fell, the entire forest stirred.
Crack!
Massive trees that had stood like ordinary trees twisted their bodies at once.
Roots tore out of the ground, and branches tangled together to form limbs.
Three stood before me.
I could feel vibrations from farther away as well.
This was not a battle where hundreds rushed in at once like on the 25th floor.
Instead, each one was as massive and sturdy as a fortress wall.
Two of them blocked my path at the same time.
Boom! Boom!
The earth shook each time their huge feet stomped on the forest floor.
I let my greatsword hang diagonally.
The one in front moved first.
Its shoulder turned.
Its torso twisted before that.
I could clearly see where its strength began.
Whoosh!
The huge arm swept past right in front of my nose.
I was already inside its reach.
I did not even raise my greatsword.
Keeping the tip low, I rotated my body.
Riiip!
The blade flashed past its waist.
It hesitated.
Instead of pulling back my sword, I took another step forward.
The second Ent, which had been following behind, charged at me with its entire body.
I held the shield in my left hand sideways.
Then I pushed.
Crackcrack!
No, I crushed it.
The Black-Iron Shield dug into the thick bark.
Its trunk bent inward, and its roots scraped across the ground as it was pushed back.
I did not miss that momentum.
Once more.
Bang!
I struck upward with the shield.
The Ent’s massive body rose into the air.
Once it was airborne, it had no roots to grip the ground.
The greatsword rose from below.
Slice!
Its torso split diagonally.
Before the second Ent could even collapse.
Crackcrack!
The waist of the first Ent I had passed earlier split apart belatedly.
Thud, boom!
The two Ents fell almost at the same time.
But it was not over.
The forest floor to my left swelled.
A sign that roots were about to rise.
I turned my head.
The third Ent was extending its roots underground.
Bam! Bam! Baaang!
Thick roots shot upward like spears.
I stepped to the side.
I avoided the first.
Twisting my feet, I passed between the second.
As the third shot toward my chest, I slashed down with my greatsword.
Crack!
The root split.
Without letting go of my sword, I charged forward.
Boom!
My massive body crossed through the forest.
The Ent hurriedly raised its upper body.
With only my right hand, I pulled the greatsword back.
Waist.
Shoulder.
Arm.
My strength formed one line.
Whoosh!
I swung the sword horizontally.
Riiip!
The Ent’s chest split completely open.
The blade did not stop there.
It cut through the giant tree standing beside it as well.
Rumble!
The two severed trees tilted together.
[You have gained sufficient experience.]
[Level increases from 34 → 35.]
[You receive 5 Status Points.]
Thanks to the tremendous experience, my level rose.
As I looked at the welcome system messages, another Ent rose.
I removed the Black-Iron Shield from my left arm.
Grip.
Holding its handle, I lowered my body.
The edge of the shield pointed behind me.
Thud.
I planted my foot.
I twisted my waist.
Then I threw it.
Whoooosh!
The black shield spun through the air.
It was closer to a massive iron blade than a disc.
The first Ent blocked it with its torso.
Crackcrack!
It was useless.
The shield’s edge dug halfway into its trunk and pushed straight through.
Riiip!
The first giant tree split in two.
But the shield did not stop.
It continued into the waist of the second Ent rising behind it.
Baaang!
Its huge body folded to the side.
I was already running toward it.
Boom!
I stepped on the trunk of the first falling Ent.
Crack!
Using the rebound, I launched myself upward.
The handle of the shield embedded in the second Ent’s trunk came into view.
I reached out in midair.
Grip!
I grabbed the shield.
Then I pulled it free.
Crack!
As the shield came out, one side of the Ent’s waist was torn away completely.
The moment I landed, I lowered my body.
Whoosh!
The greatsword in my right hand followed.
One step.
One breath.
And one sword path.
Slice!
The rest of its trunk split apart.
Boom!
The sound of trees falling continued behind me.
The enormous Ents fell one after another.
And because of that loud disturbance.
Crack, crackcrackcrack.
The deeper forest began to awaken.
Two on the left.
One on the right.
Three in front.
Even vibrations from behind.
In truth, this was not the proper way to clear the floor.
Normally, whenever an Ent awakened, you had to lure it backward and prevent as many other Ents as possible from waking up.
But.
[You have gained sufficient experience.]
[Level increases from 35 → 36.]
[You receive 5 Status Points.]
Ents were monsters that gave a great deal of experience because they were powerful.
And the more noise I made, the more of them appeared.
The monsters on this 26th floor gave triple experience.
There was no reason not to make a commotion.
And then.
Bang!
I charged straight at the foremost one.
Boom!
It swung its arm too.
This time, I did not even raise my shield.
I twisted my body.
The moment its huge arm swept past my chest, I moved in deeper.
Inside its reach, where it was hardest for it to exert strength.
Crack!
I grabbed its trunk with my left hand.
Turning the greatsword in my right hand upside down, I pressed not the tip, but the flat of the blade into its side.
Then I rotated my entire body.
Crackcrack!
The Ent’s body was pulled out by its roots.
I held that massive body up like a shield.
Baaang!
Another Ent’s fist, coming from behind, struck the body.
The back of the Ent I was holding caved in.
The moment I released it, I swung the greatsword upward from below.
Riiip!
The blade cut through the first Ent and dug into the jaw of the second behind it.
The two massive bodies staggered at once.
I did not miss the opening.
Boom!
I stepped forward.
When my left foot pressed against the ground, the earth burst apart.
My waist turned.
My shoulders followed.
The greatsword swept sideways again.
Crackcrack!
This time, the two were cut apart at once.
One had its chest split open, while half the other’s body was blown away.
The remaining Ents rushed in from both sides.
Rumble!
Branches flew at me like whips.
I knocked them away with the Black-Iron Shield.
Bang!
I grabbed another one.
Then I pulled.
Its body lurched forward.
My raised knee struck it.
Crack!
It drove into the center of the Ent’s trunk.
The thick wood bent inward.
Its entire body arched like a bow.
In that state, I grabbed its head and slammed it down.
Boom, crack!
Its body folded in half and broke.
My body was hot.
Whenever my enlarged body moved, far more strength than usual ran through my joints and muscles.
Yet I felt more freedom than strain.
Because there was no reason to hold back my strength.
I was not fighting people, and there were no companions behind me to protect.
Everything before me was an enemy I could destroy.
And enemies that gave an incredible amount of experience at that.
‘This.’
I adjusted my grip on the greatsword’s handle.
‘This is much better than I thought.’
Crackcrackcrack!
As if in answer, the massive trees in every direction rose.
Roots embedded in the ground tore through the soil, and thick branches tangled together into the shapes of arms and shoulders.
In an instant, Ents filled my entire field of vision and leaned toward me.
I let my greatsword hang diagonally.
Then I took a step.
Boom!
My body shot forward like a cannonball.
Before the Ent in front could react.
Riiip!
The blade flashed through the air, and its giant trunk split diagonally.
The Ent behind it raised its roots and turned its body.
I did not stop.
Using the first Ent’s falling body as a foothold, I launched myself upward.
Whoosh!
I twisted my waist in midair.
The greatsword drew a circle.
Crackcrack!
The second Ent’s upper body was cut off completely.
Thud.
I landed.
The moment my toes touched the ground, I surged forward again.
Hummm!
The third one blocked my path.
It spread both arms and drove its roots deep into the ground.
Like a huge gate.
I charged straight ahead with my shield raised.
Baaang!
Its body bent like a bow from the collision.
The roots gripping the earth seemed to hold, but only for a moment.
Crack!
The roots tore free.
An entire giant tree was pushed backward.
I stepped deeper into its reach.
I pulled back the shield and gave a short cut with my greatsword.
Riiip!
The blade passed through the center of its trunk.
Boom!
Its trunk split in two and collapsed belatedly.
Crack!
A presence from the left.
I did not even turn my head.
I only shifted my body half a step.
Bang!
A thick root pierced the spot where I had just been.
I placed my foot on it.
Then stomped down.
Crush!
The root burst.
The impact made the Ent’s body flinch for an instant.
That moment was enough.
I swung my greatsword from below.
Slice!
A black line appeared across the center of its thick trunk.
Then, the next moment.
Crackcrack!
It split apart from the crown of its head.
[You have gained sufficient experience.]
[Level increases from 36 → 37.]
[You receive 5 Status Points.]
Another level-up.
By this point, even they hesitated.
Ents were monsters called the masters of the forest.
Giant trees that could hold down an ordinary Awakener all by themselves.
But now...
They were simply falling in the order they stood before me.
“If you won’t come...”
I took a step forward.
Then the remaining Ents moved at once.
Rumble!
The earth overturned.
Roots rose.
Thick trunks came crashing in from every direction.
I entered the middle of them.
I twisted one step to deflect the roots and lowered my body to pass beneath the trunks.
Then I swung as if drawing my sword.
Slice!
One Ent’s leg was cut off.
I pushed its tilting body with my palm.
Boom!
The falling giant body crashed into the Ent beside it.
I slipped through the opening.
Crack!
Every time my sword flashed, wood split apart.
Massive bodies tilted one after another.
Boom, boom!
There was no longer any need to count how many had fallen.
Every swing of my sword split a giant tree, and every step I took brought down an Ent.
Before I knew it, a path had opened through the middle of the dense forest.
It was not a path that had existed before.
It was a new path created wherever I passed.
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