WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: DereKimchi
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◈ The Abandoned Tank is a Disaster-class Awakener ◈
Chapter 15
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Four chests lay side by side at my feet.
But there was something else I reached for first.
Hummm.
Where Verderaum's massive body had completely scattered into light, a single green point of light remained amid the remnants.
As I slowly approached, the light faded.
"...A skillbook."
The Guardian's reward had been determined separately.
And it was a skillbook.
It looked similar to the one I had obtained after defeating Karganon on the 25th floor.
It seemed that hidden Guardians were guaranteed to leave behind one skillbook, apart from their authority.
I opened the cover.
Hummm.
Green letters rose into view.
【Skill Book: Shell】
Grade: Arcane
Skill Information: Permanently maintains a shield with durability equal to your Health.
The shield absorbs damage received after your equipped gear's defense has been calculated.
A destroyed shield regenerates after charging for a certain period of time.
Arcane?
More than anything else, that word made my body stiffen.
Arcane grade was one step above Unique, a high grade that could never be seen on or below the 50th floor.
Yet an Arcane-grade skillbook I had thought impossible to obtain had appeared on the 26th floor.
Its effect was just as absurd as its grade.
A shield equal to my Health.
And it was a passive that was always active.
'...This is crazy.'
Even now, Health was my highest stat.
And that entire Health value would become a layer of defense.
"Ha ha."
A laugh escaped me.
Most attacks could not even reach my body with the Black-Iron Armament alone.
Now I would have a shield equal to my Health permanently layered over that.
If I used Giantification, my Health would rise another 50 percent, making Shell even stronger.
【You have acquired the Arcane skillbook "Shell."】
Fwoosh!
The book scattered into green particles.
Thousands of lights flowed through my fingertips and seeped into my body.
Then.
Hummm.
A very thin membrane spread over my skin.
It was nearly invisible, but I could feel it.
Something wrapped tightly around my entire body, less than a finger joint away from my skin.
It was sturdy.
It felt different from armor.
It did not weigh down my body or hinder my movements like equipment did.
'So this is why it's Arcane.'
I did not need to concentrate.
I did not even need to activate it.
Simply acquiring it meant it would keep protecting me.
There could not be a skill better suited for a tank.
Heh.
Thinking about it now, it was funny.
'Can I still call myself a tank?'
A hybrid?
A damage-dealing tank?
Whatever I was, I was clearly something completely different from an ordinary tank.
"Then."
I shifted my gaze.
In front of the throne, the four unopened chests still lay in a row.
The Guardian's reward alone had already exceeded my expectations.
But I had not even touched the real solo-clear rewards yet.
The first thing that caught my eye was a small chest rimmed with green metal.
『Vacant Chest』
A reward for clearing with four people or fewer.
That was why I did not expect much.
It was probably the lowest tier of additional reward.
At most, it might contain a relic suited to the 26th floor or a high-grade consumable.
Thinking that, I opened it.
Click.
Inside was a palm-sized sheet of golden paper.
"...No way."
The pattern was familiar.
I picked it up with a sense of disbelief, and an information window immediately appeared.
【Relic Enhancement Ticket】
Grade: Arcane
Classification: Consumable
Effect: Selects and enhances one relic you possess.
As the enhancement level rises, the target's basic performance and special effects will also improve.
The higher the enhancement level, the greater its power, including the unlocking of hidden effects.
My hand froze.
"...A Relic Enhancement Ticket?"
I had already recognized it from the pattern, but I still could not believe it.
Before my regression, Relic Enhancement Tickets had been among the most valuable consumables.
No matter how good a relic obtained on a lower floor was, it would eventually need to be replaced.
The higher one climbed, the more powerful relics appeared.
But Enhancement Tickets changed that.
They could improve basic performance such as attack and defense, as well as the special effects attached to a relic.
They let someone use a good relic for much longer.
The problem was that these Enhancement Tickets had only begun to appear in earnest after the 50th floor.
But this was one.
'On the 26th floor?'
And it was not even a special Guardian reward.
It was the lowest-tier chest added simply because the clear had been completed with four people or fewer.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly.
'If the lowest one is this good...'
What would be in the next chest?
"..."
I stared at the Enhancement Ticket for a moment before putting it in my inventory.
Then my gaze naturally moved to the next chest.
The second chest was made of dark blue-black metal.
『Adverse Chest』
A reward for clearing with three people or fewer.
The first chest had contained a Relic Enhancement Ticket.
Then what would a higher-tier chest contain?
Unlike before, I opened the lid with great anticipation.
Click.
"..."
It was another sheet of paper.
And it bore the exact same golden pattern.
A second Relic Enhancement Ticket.
Of course, I was not disappointed.
There were many relics one could equip.
That meant many Enhancement Tickets were needed, so getting a duplicate was not disappointing.
Especially since I possessed the powerful relic known as the Black-Iron Armament.
It was a relic with unbelievable performance from the set alone.
If I could use Enhancement Tickets on the Black-Iron Armament, it was hard to even guess how valuable it would become.
Then I stood before the third chest.
It was clearly larger than the first two.
Silver lines intricately intertwined across its black metal surface, and a red gem was embedded in its center.
『Extreme Chest』
A reward for clearing with two people or fewer.
Click.
Its lid opened.
This time, too, there was a thin sheet of paper inside.
'Again?'
Could all the rewards be the same?
But no.
The color was different.
Blue patterns flowed across a silver background.
【Skill Enhancement Ticket】
Grade: Arcane
Classification: Consumable
Effect: Selects and enhances one skill you have acquired.
The selected skill's level increases by 1.
Depending on the nature of the skill, its existing effects may increase or new effects may be added.
"A Skill... Enhancement Ticket?!"
Naturally, it was an even rarer consumable than a Relic Enhancement Ticket.
Equipment would eventually be replaced.
Skills were different.
Especially high-grade skills did not simply grow a little more powerful.
The moment their level rose, their existing effects could change, or entirely new effects could be added.
I thought of the skills I currently possessed.
Unique-grade Giantification, and Arcane-grade Shell.
Enhancing either one would not be a loss.
No.
'Would Shell be better, since it is always active?'
With that thought, I decided to keep the Skill Enhancement Ticket as well.
Only one remained.
I looked at the final chest.
『Lonely Conqueror’s Royal Chest』
A reward exclusively for a solo clear, given only to the person who entered alone.
Its very presence was different from the previous three chests.
It was a large black chest big enough to hold a person.
The golden root patterns covering its surface pulsed slowly as if they were alive.
The number "26," wearing a crown, was engraved on its front.
The first chest had contained a Relic Enhancement Ticket.
The second had also contained a Relic Enhancement Ticket.
The third had contained a Skill Enhancement Ticket.
They had already surpassed the level of rewards that should appear on the 26th floor.
Then what would come from the final Royal Chest, which required the highest condition?
I placed my hand on it.
Hummm.
The golden roots brightened all at once.
Click.
I slowly pushed up the lid.
No dazzling light burst forth.
There was no massive piece of equipment, either.
Only a small medal lay in the middle of the wide Royal Chest.
"..."
I could not help but be disappointed.
A medal?
At least among the relics I knew, especially the good ones, there had never been a medal-shaped relic like this.
Could it be...
'Something like a souvenir?'
A medal awarded to commemorate completing a solo clear.
Something like that?
But I soon shook my head.
The Tower was a place that gave definite rewards for danger.
Pushing aside the unease that had suddenly surfaced, I looked at the medal.
It was a circular medal smaller than my palm.
A massive ancient tree was embossed on the dark green metal, its roots curling around the edge of the medal like a crown.
A familiar name was engraved on the back.
『VERDERAUM』
Verderaum, the Guardian of the 26th floor.
I picked it up.
Fwoosh!
Green light spread between my fingers.
【Verderaum’s Medal】
Grade:
Classification: Possession Relic
Bound To: Kang Seong-un
Effect: A medal imbued with the power of Ent Lord Verderaum, the hidden Guardian of the 26th floor.
This relic does not use a separate equipment slot.
Its effects apply while it is kept in your inventory.
Carry Effect: All stats +20
I could not have known.
Even before my regression, even as a member of the Vanguard that had reached the 70th floor, I had never obtained such an incredible relic.
* * *
Around the time Kang Seong-un entered the 26th floor, South Korea's Vanguard was entering the 26th floor with Retry Tickets instead of challenging the 32nd floor.
Normally, it would have been impossible.
There was no reason for the Vanguard, which had climbed to the 31st floor, to return all the way to the 26th.
Of course, they occasionally ran lower floors for the experience needed to level up, but that was usually the floor directly below, or at most two floors below.
No one went five floors down, all the way to the limit of a Retry Ticket's restriction, like this.
But this time was different.
After Kang Seong-un defeated the hidden Guardian of the 25th floor in America, the world learned of the Tower's Guardians for the first time.
And naturally, one question arose.
What did they need to do for a hidden Guardian to appear?
The exact condition had not yet been revealed.
But time was considered the most likely factor.
Kang Seong-un's party had previously recorded 4 minutes and 52 seconds.
The hidden trial had opened immediately after that record.
It was too perfect to call a coincidence.
The Korean Awakeners Association had reached the same conclusion.
Clear the trial within five minutes.
That was the judgment of Park Gang-sik and the other Association officials.
They immediately changed their plan.
Suspend the challenge of the 32nd floor.
Use Retry Tickets to return to the 26th floor.
Before Kang Seong-un claimed the next throne, South Korea would become the Guardian of the 26th floor first.
As a result, Park Jun-hyeok and South Korea's Vanguard were once again running through the Living Forest.
Crunch, crunch.
Five pairs of feet stepped on fallen leaves, but strangely, there was no sound.
A translucent scroll hanging from Park Jun-hyeok's waist glowed faintly.
【Silence Scroll】
A high-grade consumable that greatly suppressed noise within a certain range.
It had been prepared solely for this clear.
That was not all.
They spared no expense in using the consumables South Korea had accumulated as the strongest Awakened nation, including single-use runes, oils, and scrolls.
They had one goal.
To reduce the clear time.
"Left."
The Guide, a Supporter brought specifically for this trial, raised a hand.
One of the three massive trees ahead trembled slightly.
It was an Ent.
"We should go around it."
Park Jun-hyeok's expression immediately twisted at the Guide's words.
"Why go around?"
"If we wake it, there is a chance the entities behind it will react in a chain."
"We can kill one quickly."
"..."
The Guide fell silent.
Park Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue.
"Let's just go."
"Mr. Jun-hyeok."
The tank called out in a low voice.
"We should play it safe here. Waking even one wrong Ent could disrupt our entire route."
Park Jun-hyeok turned his head.
"Did we come here to play it safe?"
His tone was sharp.
"If we go over five minutes, none of this means anything."
"..."
No one could argue with that.
Park Jun-hyeok held out his hand.
"Wake it and push through immediately. I'll clear it quickly."
The son of Park Gang-sik, who held absolute power.
At his words, the group moved again.
Crunch.
Thanks to the Silence Scroll, the forest remained eerily quiet even as the five of them ran at full speed.
But it could not be perfect.
Rumble.
In the end, as they had feared, one massive tree opened its eyes.
"It's coming!"
The moment the Ent rose, the tank rushed forward.
Bang!
The massive tree arm collided with the shield.
The tank was pushed two steps back.
"Urgh!"
"What are you doing?!"
Park Jun-hyeok shouted irritably.
"Why are you getting pushed back by that?!"
The tank's face stiffened for a moment.
An Ent on the 26th floor was not something one person could easily withstand in the first place.
But there was no time to explain.
"Right root!"
Crack!
The ground split open.
A thick root shot upward.
The Guide immediately tore a single-use talisman.
Flash!
A blue barrier spread out and pushed the root aside.
The relic wrapped around Park Jun-hyeok's body glowed.
"Move."
Light spread along his sword.
The enhanced strike dug deep into the Ent's trunk.
The following attacks from the damage dealers widened the crack.
Boom!
The Ent collapsed.
"Time!"
"3 minutes, 24 seconds!"
There were 1 minute and 36 seconds remaining before the five-minute mark.
"Hurry!"
They ran again.
Crunch, crunch.
Only the five pairs of feet moved swiftly within the range of silence.
"Two ahead."
"Go around."
This time, Park Jun-hyeok made his decision at once.
"To the right."
The Guide changed direction.
Detection-suppression powder that had been scattered in advance faintly lined their path.
The party narrowly slipped past the sleeping Ents.
They moved quickly, and a faint light began to appear ahead beyond the darkened forest.
It was the exit.
"I can see it!"
"Time?"
"3 minutes, 55 seconds!"
Park Jun-hyeok's eyes flashed.
"Run!"
He bit down on another movement-speed potion.
Crackle!
The potion's effect spread with mana, and the five people's speed surged for a moment.
But then.
Crack.
Something broke at the rear.
Just as the Silence Scroll was nearly running out, one of the damage dealers stepped on a dry root.
It was a small sound.
But in the Living Forest, it was enough.
Crackcrackcrack!
"Damn it!"
The massive trees on both sides rose at the same time.
Four Ents woke up on the left, right, and directly ahead, blocking the exit.
"Break through!"
The tank gritted their teeth and took the front Ent's attack.
Boom!
Even a Vanguard tank had no choice but to buckle under that overwhelming mass and weight.
Of course, it was all defense meant to protect the party.
"Hold out better!"
Park Jun-hyeok barked, clearly displeased by it.
Then.
Hummm!
Light shone from the sword in his hand.
Park Jun-hyeok's Awakening ability was Weapon Master.
It was considered one of the best among Awakening abilities that grew stronger with each generation.
It granted attack power through perfect command of all weapons and the ability to draw out their hidden power.
On top of that, he did not hold back on consumables such as single-use enhancement talismans and high-grade mana accelerants.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
All kinds of light flashed and covered the forest.
Before long, the massive Ent fell.
But there were still Ents left.
To deal with several Ents, South Korea's Vanguard poured out every remaining consumable they had.
The Silence Scroll had already been torn apart and vanished, and the forest was no longer quiet.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Light and explosive sounds erupted one after another.
The more Ents woke, the more consumables disappeared.
At last, the Ent blocking the final path collapsed.
"4 minutes, 51 seconds!"
"It's over!"
Just as they achieved the five-minute mark and emerged from the forest.
[The International Ranking record is being updated.]
"Huh...?!"
They had not even fully come out yet.
Had the system acted a step early?
As that question arose.
[A new first-place record has been registered.]
[1st Place. America: Kang Seong-un (3 minutes, 53 seconds)]
The messages appeared.
But it was not the record they had updated.
"What is this...?"
As one question led to another.
[The 26th-floor International Ranking has been updated.]
[The previous 2nd-place record has been surpassed.]
[South Korea: Kang Seong-un Party (55 minutes, 15 seconds) → South Korea: Park Jun-hyeok Party (4 minutes, 51 seconds)]
Then all their questions were answered.
The first record that appeared had not been their updated record in the first place.
Kang Seong-un had reclaimed the first-place record just ahead of them.
[The right to challenge the hidden trial is currently bound to another challenger.]
[No new challenger may enter until that trial has concluded.]
They had also earned the qualification to challenge the Guardian, but they had no choice but to be pushed back in the order.
"...!"
No one in the party could speak after realizing it too late.
Park Jun-hyeok stared at the number for a long time.
3 minutes, 53 seconds.
He needed time to understand what it meant.
"...What?"
Only moments ago, he had been smiling as he looked at the 4 minutes and 51 seconds they had achieved.
They had broken five minutes.
They had met the condition.
South Korea had reached the throne first.
But one name had already risen above theirs by the narrowest margin.
And the problem was not just the record.
"W-Wait."
The tank noticed something, and the tank's face stiffened.
Park Jun-hyeok turned sharply.
"What is it?"
"...The notation."
"What about it?"
The tank pointed into the air.
[1st Place. America: Kang Seong-un (3 minutes, 53 seconds)]
Only then did the party members notice the strange detail and fall silent one by one.
Park Jun-hyeok noticed it late as well.
His own name clearly had something after it.
Park Jun-hyeok Party.
But there was nothing after Kang Seong-un's name.
"N-No way..."
His voice lowered.
"No."
Park Jun-hyeok shook his head.
"That can't be possible."
At that moment, a new message descended as if answering his question.
[Kang Seong-un, an Awakener affiliated with America, has succeeded in a solo clear of the 26th floor.]
"...!"
Park Jun-hyeok's face twisted.
They had used a Silence Scroll for this second attempt at the 26th floor.
They had spread detection-suppression powder.
They had drunk movement-speed potions.
They had poured out consumables worth hundreds of billions of won.
And the five people who had undertaken the clear were South Korea's finest Awakeners.
They had recorded 4 minutes and 51 seconds.
But Kang Seong-un had done it alone in 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
"This..."
Park Jun-hyeok's lips trembled.
"...Does that make any sense?"
"..."
No one answered.
That silence was even harder to bear.
"Does that make any sense?!"
Bang!
Park Jun-hyeok slammed his fist into the ground.
Dirt flew in every direction.
"Fuck!"
A harsh curse burst out.
"How much did we use here?!"
He tore off and threw away an empty potion bottle hanging from his waist.
"How can he be faster alone?!"
His shout echoed through the Living Forest.
"They're Ents!"
Park Jun-hyeok's face flushed red.
"Not Lizardmen, Ents!"
Ents could not be gathered and killed all at once.
Each one was strong.
They could not make noise.
They had to choose their route carefully.
The party's division of roles was important.
That was why Kang Seong-un could not do it easily either.
That was what he had thought until just moments ago.
But the result was the exact opposite.
He had succeeded in a solo clear.
And he had done it while setting the astonishing record of 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
Then.
[The hidden trial on the 26th floor has been completed.]
[The hidden Guardian, "Ent Lord Verderaum," has fallen.]
[The throne of the 26th floor acknowledges a new owner.]
[26th-floor Guardian: America, Kang Seong-un]
At last, even the Guardian had fallen.
Everything was over.
They had arrived within five minutes.
They had finally achieved the condition they so desperately wanted.
But they were too late.
The record, the hidden trial, and the throne.
"..."
Park Jun-hyeok glared at the messages floating in the air.
Then.
"...Fuck, Kang Seong-un!"
In the end, unable to hold it in any longer, he cursed.
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