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Chapter 61
My Dark Past Is Too Strong
The Elf Tower (2)
As I stepped into the lobby of the Elf Tower, I started seeing the mental status next to each summoned creature.
[Team 1 Summon List]
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Hertia, Witch of the End – 50
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Caligo, Liberator of Death – 50
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Theo, Dark Prince – 50
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Azas, King of Afterimages – 50
“Ah… the variation of the fatigue system.”
I need to check exactly what effect it has.
[Mental Breakdown]
Description: If a summoned creature’s ‘Mental Power’ is depleted, their mind collapses from extreme fatigue and fear. ‘Mental Power’ is consumed by various factors, such as taking hits, failed attacks, and traps.
Wow, that’s vicious.
With a system like this, a single setup won’t suffice.
I’ve prepared multiple equipment setups for variables like this, so I’m fine. But I wonder how the others will fare.
《Entered the Abandoned Forest, 1st Floor of Elf Tower.》
Oh! The Abandoned Forest—this is a place I know well.
Its original name was the Elf Forest. According to the lore, Hertia burned the World Tree, and the forest was renamed the Abandoned Forest.
“Huh… the atmosphere is already uneasy.”
Sure enough.
Something squirmed on the floor, and black, grotesque ents began to appear.
《Rotten Ent has been summoned.》
《Rotten Ent has been summoned.》
⁝
《Rotten Ent has been summoned.》
Ents poured out right from the start. And in the distance, a massive tree roared.
《Korahan, the Decayed Tree, screams.》
“Kraaahhh!”
As soon as I saw it, a frown unconsciously appeared on my forehead.
“This is at least twice as hard as the 100th floor of the Tower of Fierce Battles.”
The elf summoning ents means they’re serious about this fight. They consider ents extensions of the World Tree.
“Ah… brings back memories, doesn’t it.”
I immediately checked the terrain and memorized the positions of the ents, just like Lucifer had done in the past.
The Record Tower was in a complete state of emergency.
As soon as the Elf Tower opened, a new system update was announced.
All staff collaborated internationally to understand the system. First, information was gathered from adventurers who had experienced it firsthand.
“So! What’s the report from France?”
“They all escaped before even understanding the system.”
“What?!”
“Apparently, the difficulty from the first floor is extremely harsh.”
“…What?”
The staff sighed as they watched footage from adventurers who had entered with body cams.
“This… how are we supposed to tackle this with just four summons?”
“At least a guild-level attempt is needed.”
Monsters poured out the moment players entered. The numbers were unimaginable, and the attack power made you question a patch error. Most adventurers, attempting with just a party, were stunned.
“Ahhhh!”
“Heal! Why isn’t the heal working? Is there a debuff preventing it?!”
“Get a grip! Even if you healed, you would’ve died anyway!”
A hero-grade knight-type summon lost half its HP in a single blow and retreated.
If the tank melts like that, it’s the prelude to total annihilation. Leaving the battlefield early is the best choice before the worst occurs.
“This could actually get everyone killed…”
Team Leader Jeon Myeong-il sensed the severity and ran to the Record Tower scoreboard.
Real-time entries were being tallied worldwide.
“Thousands entered immediately… but in just ten minutes, fewer than 2,000 remain. Elimination rate: 95%. The worst initial collapse in history. Not the time for ranking bragging.”
“Team Leader! Any intel from Gwanghui side?”
“Yes! Just came in. They observed that mental power decreases the longer the battle continues.”
“And after that?”
“They couldn’t confirm directly due to danger.”
“…Makes sense. Better than risking it.”
Some adventurers die after losing all their summons inside the dungeon. But without information, a dungeon break is only a matter of time.
“What about progress from other countries? Who’s the fastest?”
Staff quickly reported server situations by country. Everyone was stuck at the early part of the first floor, not even surpassing 5% completion.
“…Even the major powers are like this.”
Jeon Myeong-il’s gaze fell on the scoreboard:
[Elf Tower 1st Floor Progress]
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DE – Tobias Schultz: 5.34%
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JP – Haruki Saito: 5.17%
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ES – Miguel Delgado: 5.13%
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KR – Yoon Hae-jun: 5.09%
⁝
“…Yoon Hae-jun?”
People were surprised to see an unexpected name in the top five. How could a Korean adventurer reach top 5? And not the usual suspects, but Yoon Hae-jun from Gwanghui.
“Yoon Hae-jun? The Yoon Hae-jun we know?”
“Looks like it, seeing the KR server listed first.”
“Wait… the US and China are fighting over 6th and 7th.”
No one expected a Korean adventurer to reach 4th so early. But while Yoon Hae-jun is performing well, where is ‘that adventurer’?
“Team Leader, where is Oh Hyun-woo now?”
“He’s far down the ranking.”
“What’s his progress?”
“…0.55%.”
“What?”
0.55%. He’s barely started.
“Has he not progressed at all?”
“…Looks like it.”
Jeon Myeong-il’s lips trembled. With Hwasin and Geomgye essentially against this country, if Oh Hyun-woo collapses…
“Korea is finished.”
He clasped his hands in front of the monitor, murmuring as if praying.
“Please… please, Oh Hyun-woo…”
Hmm…
I calmly sat and analyzed the positions of all the ents across the map. I memorized the terrain as well.
Finishing this before battle makes the strategy smoother.
“Hmm…”
There’s a lot to consider for this strategy: my movement path, plan B to F for various variables, and monster distribution. The map isn’t flat, so monsters won’t appear uniformly. Observing their density is crucial.
“But I can’t just go for low-density areas either.”
The enemy isn’t stupid. They might deliberately place strong monsters in low-density zones, making it harder than high-density areas. I actually prefer such areas—there’s more to gain.
“Ready. Let’s move.”
I stood up and approached Azas, waiting behind me.
“Rest for now. I’ll call when needed.”
“Yes!”
《King of Afterimages Azas is recalled.》
Next, I need to summon a new creature… one I really don’t want to summon. But I have no choice. In a battlefield full of plant-type monsters, this one is the perfect mower.
“Looks like I’ll see you again after a while.”
Hertia, Caligo, and Theo stared at me intently.
“Everyone, cover your ears.”
The three grimaced. I know, this one is loud. But against ents, nothing beats him.
《Summon Chattering Gardener Serphilia.》
Her twin-tailed hair gleams like sunlight. Sprout-shaped ribbons at the tips, always smiling. Dirt-stained gloves, checkered apron down to her knees, bag filled with gardening tools, and her weapon: a huge, ornate golden scissor.
Clang! Clang!
“Kyaa! Finally out! Sunlight at last… huh? Always summoned from caves, and again it’s a cave?!”
She’s loud from the start.
“What?! There are so many plants to cut over there?! Sniff sniff! Oh-ho, they smell of rot and spirits?! My summoner! You’ll let me cut them, right?!”
She’s instantly overwhelming.
[Chattering Gardener Serphilia]
Attribute: Water
Level: 100
Rank: Legendary
Class: Rogue
…I nearly bled from the ears leveling this one to 100.
Some might wonder why I use a water-attribute summon against an earth-attribute ent. But this one is special.
[Chattering Gardener Serphilia – Description]
A talkative gardener. Even louder since communicating with plants. When she trims plants, her scissors hold transcendent power.
“Serphilia. You are permitted to manage the garden.”
“Really?!”
At my words, Serphilia’s eyes lit up like lightning.
“Pe-permitted…?! My plants!! This isn’t a dream, right? I can really cut them?! Those huge root monsters! Snip snip! Right?!!”
She’s been idle until now. Finally excited, she scans the area. I pointed her in the right direction.
“Over there.”
“That way?! But where to start? Roots? Branches? Or the rotten moss-covered faces first? Ahahaha, let’s move! I’ve been dying to cut these! I’ll make a perfect cut! Kyaaha!”
As Serphilia dashed off, the Seven Deadly Sins glanced briefly at me.
“Serves them right.”
Considering their past mischief in my room, this is nothing.
“Complete this task well, and I’ll lift the restriction on Gangrim.”
A carrot thrown, and the three immediately followed Serphilia.
“We’ll move at once, Master!”
“Even if our ears explode, we obey the sage’s will!”
“Master, I’ll take even that crisp chocolate, then!”
Good, they’re motivated. Killing trash mobs should go smoothly.
《Chattering Gardener Serphilia uses Bold Scissor Snip! Skill.》
“You’re lifeless! So I’ll cut it all! Rotten parts must be removed for new growth! Kyaahaha!”
…Is it really okay to let her loose like this?
In the tower, Guiding Light Iruan watched adventurers attempting the Elf Tower.
“Hmm. Weak abilities. Not this one either.”
Thunk.
She removed statues of adventurers she didn’t like. A few statues remained.
Seeing a particularly black statue, Iruan smiled with interest.
“Hertia is really alive. So, is the author Lucifer? Or Hertia’s new master?”
She watched the adventurers’ progress with great interest, hoping the one she sought was among them.
