The Swordsman Genius Returnee Even Swallows Immortality

32

Under the fragments of Samraman sang scattered in all directions.

Habel looked at the dawn that filled the surroundings.

The dawn that burst out of his body melted all the darkness of the 59th floor.

It was truly a wondrous dawn.

‘Has the light gotten stronger?’

And Habel also realized his own strength while looking at the dawn.

Surely, the Devil’s Palace wanted to make him stronger.

[The Tower is wary of you.]

[The achievement ‘One who killed the 5th floor master’ has been registered.]

[The malice of the ‘Tower’s 5th floor master’ sees into your body.]

― Strength has increased by 70.

―Agility has increased by 70.

― Tenacity has increased by 69.

― Aptitude has increased by 73.

― Skill has increased by 72.

― Malice has increased by 75.

Habel looked up at the sky with the rising letters.

[Your existence is becoming more solid.]

[The Snake of Wisdom has reached the first root.]

Unintelligible letters were listed again.

‘Is there anything new?’

Since leaving the Devil’s Palace, I’ve only encountered things I don’t know.

I guess I’ll get the answers to this as I climb the Tower.

Habel ignored what he didn’t know and focused on what he could know now.

[ ‘Mattjip’ Transcended in 43 Seconds ]

That was why he had played along with Samramanseong.

Dante still had a long way to go before reaching this place.

Havel finally decided to watch the Transcendence that had ended.

[ ‘Mattjip’ has completed Transcendence. ]

[ ‘Mattjip’ is Transcending to a new level. ]

[‘Geumgang’ has completed Transcendence.]

That was the moment.

‘This is it.’

Havel felt a completely different energy in his body.

He felt something completely different from before in every bit of his skin and muscle.

It was as if he had broken free from human limitations.

Havel’s eyebrows twitched.

He simultaneously raised his arm and sword.

Dawn broke over Havel’s sword.

The dawn began to condense on the sword to its limit.

As the light of dawn condensed, the surrounding atmosphere shook.

There was even an optical illusion that made the space around him seem distorted.

As if it were swallowing up all the light.

Havel’s dawn was so intimidating that it could be seen even with his eyes closed.

If he had sent this out to Samramanseong.

Samramanseong would have exploded immediately, unable to withstand the dawn.

The moment all that dawn gathered.

Havel swung his sword down at his own arm.

KWA-AAA-ANG!

Everything around Havel flew away and was annihilated at once.

It was the first time that Havel had struck with full force since leaving the Demon Palace.

He hadn’t expected to do it to himself though.

Havel stared at the arm he had struck.

‘…Not a single scratch?’

Havel was astonished as he looked at his body.

As the word ‘Geumgang’. implied

The strength of his body was now on a different level than before.

It was a Transcendence in the truest sense.

‘If that’s the case, there’s no way for anyone else to reach the same Transcendent state with the same stats.’

It was safe to say that he wouldn’t be able to harm himself.

Havel’s expression became serious.

‘There must be others out there who can absorb calamities like me.’

He was almost certain of it.

God’s Duality or the Whisperer.

At the very least, these two would likely be able to absorb the evil like himself.

And that meant…

‘They are likely to have transcended their stats as well.’

Habell realized as soon as he obtained the Diamond.

Transcendence can only be countered by transcendence.

‘That means, if you have not transcended…’

It was like saying that you would not even be able to face them.

Habell swallowed a hollow laugh.

He had found another reason to climb the tower.

Unless he transcended his stats…

Perhaps he was weak after all.

‘If that is the case…’

He just had to transcend everything.

Habell checked his stats.

[Habell Vanpelion]

[Achievements]

Master of the 10th Floor of the Archer’s Tower

Fenrir Slayer, Master of the Forest of Magic

…

Status: Time Rewind, Immortal, Challenger of the Tower

Attributes: Spirit, Darkness

Strength: 999 Agility: 961

Diamond: 1(+123) Aptitude: 966

Skill: 837 Evil: 299

Strength, agility, even aptitude.

All of them were on the verge of transcendence.

If he cleared the 6th Stage, he would surely meet the requirements for all three.

‘One transcendence for every 1000 stats, is that it?’

He had just experienced how significant the increase in stats was after one transcendence.

Habell’s eyes lit up.

It felt like he had gone back to the time before he had learned how to use a sword.

Everything was new, and all that was left were opportunities to grow.

‘This is fun.’

Now, he was curious.

Curious about how far he could climb.

Habell looked up at the tower.

From the next stage onwards, he would finally be entering uncharted territory.

It was a stage that countless climbers were challenging.

And it was also the stage where the Vanpelion name would truly take flight.

“The Five Great Clans, was it?”

In order not to raise the difficulty of the Tower, the heads of the five great clans chose other calamities.

Havel smiled, thinking of them.

‘You’ll regret not climbing the Tower yourself.’

Their arrogance must be broken.

* * *

Around the time when Havel finished conquering the 5th stage.

All over the world, people were talking about the strange incident that had occurred on the 5th stage.

The 5th stage’s Dark Zone, where there was nothing but darkness.

A sudden rumor spread that all the darkness there had disappeared.

Everyone reacted the same way, saying it was nonsense.

Those who had experienced the darkness of the Dark Zone said it was even more ridiculous.

However, people who had seen the dawn began to appear one after another.

And they knew who had brought about that dawn.

Dante of Van Pellifon.

And Havel.

They were the ones whose names had been mentioned the most recently.

“Dante again?”

“He’s broken through the 5th stage now? What kind of monster is he?”

“That’s not all! The Gehenna party was completely wiped out by them!”

Along with the success of their 5th stage conquest.

News of Gehenna’s annihilation spread like wildfire.

This makes it impossible for people to remain indifferent.

The emergence of a new giant rookie truly shook the Tower.

They will now challenge the 6th stage.

No one has ever broken through to the 6th stage in such a short amount of time.

Naturally, the eyes of the world were all on them.

And people were curious.

“What will happen if they break through the 6th stage that even the five great clans couldn’t conquer?”

“The balance will be destroyed.”

“Will they become the sixth greatest clan now?”

“Sixth great clan, my foot! Van Pellifon might become the only one standing.”

What was once considered just the emergence of a rookie.

It is possible that the emergence of a clan that would change the era.

Amidst such attention.

At a time when people’s heads were filled with various thoughts.

Havel arrived at the 5th stage safe zone with Dante, who had come late.

“The 5th stage safe zone is called Soltron.”

Dante’s explanation followed briefly.

There was no town like the previous safe zones.

On a vast plain that stretches out endlessly.

There were only large tents set up temporarily.

The reason was obvious.

There weren’t many who could break through the 5th stage dark zone.

The same went for engineers who could build structures.

So the safe zone for the climbers running at the forefront was always like this.

There were only several tents for each family.

There was just a desolate area.

Of course, there was just one.

There was definitely something special.

It was the existence of a large stone tablet that wasn’t there before.

Numerous names were densely written on the stone tablets.

The names were of those who challenged the first stage and died.

Unconquered stages bring many dangers.

That’s why the first challengers are great and called heroes.

It was a hero’s stone tablet engraved to honor them.

“I never thought I’d see this in person.”

Dante exclaimed briefly, looking at the stone tablet.

Habell also looked at the stone tablet in silence.

‘I don’t know who engraved it, but it’s quite a nice idea.’

Habell also liked this stone tablet because the names of those who climbed the tower with him had faded.

It was bitter to have one’s name forgotten forever.

“Dante-nim, Habell-nim.”

At that moment, Dorris approached them.

When the two looked back at him, Dorris put his fist on his chest.

“Although I was not able to properly follow you to the end. I am proud to have climbed the tower with you two.”

It wasn’t just Dorris, it was the same with the other two.

They climbed the tower with two people who would become legends someday.

It could be called an honor.

“So I will accept any outcome of this test.”

Habell belatedly recalled.

The reason he brought the three of them here was because of the Dawn Knights.

‘I forgot for a moment because of Dante’s treatment.’

Habell looked back at Dante.

“You decide, Knight of Banpellion.”

Those three came here after hearing rumors about Dante, not Habell.

He handed the decision over to Dante and he looked back at the three.

Dorris, Lonslot, and Blen.

They were skilled enough to reach the 5th stage.

However, not even Habell…

It was still far from Dante’s level.

That was why they were just following him without doing anything.

Dante thought of himself while watching them.

Didn’t he also like that in Havel’s eyes?

However, they didn’t give up until the end like he did.

Instead, when they saw the dawn, they cherished Banpellion’s will even more.

And that was the most necessary mindset.

“All three of you, come to Banpellion.”

The eyes of the three widened at the same time.

“Really?”

Even Blen, who was usually silent, was surprised enough to ask back.

To be honest, they thought they had passed the test.

“Yes, the final decision will be made not by me, but by Sir Arthur, the Lord of Banpellion.”

Of course, if he told Arthur about the three of them, he would welcome them.

Because Banpellion had only one knight.

However, Dante didn’t say anything more.

Because there was no need to tell them everything.

The three of them, who didn’t know that, expressed their joy.

“Thank you so much!”

“Haha, I thought I was going to die. Somehow, I made it.”

“Thank you.”

Dorison said it with passion as always.

Ronslot said it with a relieved laugh.

And Blen said it quietly while bowing his head.

“I’ll be going now.”

In the meantime, Pelevan showed his intention to leave.

He was from Astria.

It was natural that he had no intention of joining Banpellion from the beginning.

Instead, he handed a piece of paper to Havel.

“If you write on this paper, you can contact me. Please contact me when Dante’s future is decided.”

“Okay.”

Havel took the paper and saw Pelevan off.

Then Havel looked back at Dante.

Now, there was only one thing left.

To hear Dante’s decision.

And Dante, who faced Havel, also knew that fact.

“Havel.”

That was why Dante spoke first.

“Could you please have a duel with me just once?”

He said it with an earnest plea.