CH 157

. Faction Selection (1)

Moorim and Empire.

The two great powers have been fighting for supremacy in the middle of the tower for a long time.

They possessed similar powers, so they couldn't bite each other's necks carelessly.

He knew that in order to go to the upper part of the tower, they had to absorb each other's power and inflate their size.

To go up, someone must perish.

And.

A middle-aged man from the 'Kalladium Kingdom', one of the members of the Empire.

Penheimer felt his heart beating wildly.

'After all, my eyes weren't wrong.'

In the meantime, looking at a lot of players, I was trying to find someone who could help the empire.

However, it was not easy to find a suitable talent.

It's a natural thing.

It's because the average level of the players is too low compared to the high level of eyes.

In the end, we had to pick out players with high growth potential rather than complete players.

'The Chinese guild was also coveted, but it was impossible to convince them because they shared their roots with Moorim.'

Thanks to that, thick dark clouds fell.

In particular, isn't Namgungcheon growing day by day based on his overwhelming talent and full support from Moorim?

When that tight balance is breaking down.

A ray of hope appeared in the Empire.

Jinhyuk Kang.

A player who attacked the lower floors of the tower for the first time and showed an overwhelming presence among all players.

If you can earn interest... !

Maybe the war against the damned Moorim can finally be ended.

Namgungcheon is said to be great, but Jinhyuk had much greater potential and growth potential than that.

'Other people may not know, but my eyes must be clear.'

Yes. Jinhyuk is at least a few steps higher than Namgungcheon.

Penheimer clenched his fists.

A monster who manifested Aura Blade at the age of 17 and proudly became one of the 100 Knights of the Empire.

That is why I was able to be confident enough to recognize a talented genius.

'Please, make the right choice.'

The main event of the masquerade that will start soon.

There are countless choices and consequences.

will determine the future.

A raging storm swept through.

Zhonghua and the samurai who lost their low-level manager, Kaman, suffered a lot of damage to their image as a result.

On the other hand, Jin-hyeok's stock price, which received an invitation directly from a senior manager, soared without knowing it.

Everything was just as Jinhyuk had planned.

'The atmosphere is ripe, so it will start soon.'

Even Namgungcheon and Cheonyuseong arrived at the ballroom late, and they ate and drank to some extent, and their first impressions of each other were finished.

Now is the time for the stage curtain to rise in earnest.

right then

Hmmmm. Big!

Rick cleared his voice.

Thanks to the use of amplification magic, the voice spread to every corner of the banquet hall.

Players who were spending their time in moderation stopped what they were doing.

Everyone's eyes focused on Rick.

I hope you all enjoyed it, so let me tell you a little bit about the reason we invited you. As you know, the Masquerade is an event that brings together promising people from among the many players who climb the tower.

To prevent a future that will perish if you do not conquer the next floor for 90 days.

Expecting rewards pouring in for the first player to see the top of the tower.

Or to covet something more... .

Everyone has come to this place.

Although the motives and tenacity are slightly different, the purpose is the same.

Some of you may already know this, but... Actually, the real purpose of this ball is different.

real purpose.

at that word. Everyone's eyes narrowed.

"It is a place where players choose which faction they want to join as they climb the tower. After that, the rest of the players who were not invited here will also choose their faction, but you should step into a new area one step ahead of that. Do you think you can step on it?

To put it bluntly, a pioneer.

To put it bluntly, I am a beta tester.

Without the information, all he could do was trust his intuition.

Rick finished speaking and flicked his fingers.

OK.

T-tiring!

[The main event of the masquerade begins.]

[Prove 'Your Worth']

Name: Faction Selection Battle

Difficulty: Unmeasurable

Description: Choose one of the dungeons, labyrinths, and ruins on the 10th to 30th floors of the Tower of Trials to challenge. Here, players with high Karma can negotiate advantageously in choosing a faction. To select a floor, press the red button in the center of the ballroom and tell the floor you want to challenge. However, the challenge cannot be overturned, so please make a decision after thorough discussion.

[Karma 100 points have been paid.]

[Ranking is displayed according to Karma, and you can purchase various items by investing Karma between attacks.]

[You can receive the protection of a faction only once per player.]

Status windows appearing one after another.

It finally started.

The highlight of this ball is the 'Faction Selection Battle'.

Some, including Jinhyeok and Namgungcheon, kept their composure, but not all of them.

"The force a choice game?"

What the hell is this? What kind of power do you have in the tower? Weren't we climbing together?

How are things going?

A disappointing response followed.

They just gathered here knowing that they could make friends or promote each other.

It means that they came here to fully enjoy that they are special and different from others.

But when I opened the lid, something completely different was waiting for me.

Much bigger and more important, such an event.

I was a bit embarrassed because things went differently than I expected, but those feelings didn't last long.

Being embarrassed or complaining doesn't change anything.

The important thing is to create the best results for the future based on the information you have today.

Most quickly accepted reality.

You could say it's a Hidden Quest.

Yeah. If the middle part of the tower has to be with the powers in the tower anyway, it wouldn't be a bad idea to pre-empt the position.

I'd rather take it as a big opportunity.

It's a cool way of weighing profits.

Not everyone is called a prospect for nothing.

Twenty players gathered at the stairs.

The first to speak was Maria from the large European guild 'Olympus'.

Suddenly the situation has come to this, but I think we should all work together to clear the Quest.

The currently selectable floors are from the 10th to the 30th.

It is at a level that can only be challenged by mobilizing a large-scale raid of at least hundreds of people.

However, the number of players here is only 27.

It would be impossible for even the most humble rankers to attack the dungeons there on this scale.

In the end, everyone must work together to succeed in this Quest.

Hmm. Karma is important, but it doesn't mean anything if you play and fail.

Master of Dangun Guild. Moon Kyu-ho also showed a positive meaning.

It's cooperation...

I can't.

Yeah, we'll have to work together this time.

Then you both nodded.

It seems that opinions have been gathered, so then, what should we do? We must choose the nearest one among the dungeons on the 10th floor, right?

As the floor goes up, the risk rises exponentially.

Rewards were important, but not as important as lives.

I think the 10th floor would be fine.

"There is one dungeon I know of on that floor, and I know the weaknesses of the named monsters, so it will be relatively easy to attack."

Karma, we should compete fairly and fairly, that's the best way.

It was a time when everyone was reinforcing opinions and looking for the best results.

Beep profit!

Suddenly, a sharp alarm pierced the eardrums.

[You have selected the floor.]

[The place you chose is the labyrinth 'Valley of the Previous Kings' on the 25th floor.]

[After 30 seconds, all players here move to the area.]

A blinking red status window.

The players who looked as if they had lost their country were contrasted.

What a madman! Who picked up the labyrinth without consulting!?

That, too... It's a labyrinth on the 25th floor of the tower. It's a place no one has been to yet!

The average level is less than 50, but I have to go there...

A scream that was close to a scream resounded.

Even the rankers who regained their composure could not maintain their composure this time.

After all, didn't you choose a labyrinth rather than a dungeon?

I can't even imagine how dangerous it would be.

Naturally, the point where the resentful arrow was directed was aimed at the player who was holding the button in the center of the banquet hall.

Then there... .

Huh? Why? No one picked it, so you picked it first?

There was Jinhyuk shrugging his shoulders with an innocent face.

And at that very moment.

Pants... !

A blue light mana bounced around the players.

Space movement began to activate.

Really, what are you doing without stopping that damn bastard...

Everyone get ready! Let's start!

Damn it! Gangjin... heh!

Leaving behind everyone's swear words.

The surroundings turned black.

When my vision returned after a while, everything had changed.

[You have entered the 'Valley of Previous Kings' on the 25th floor of the Tower of Trials.]

A place reminiscent of an ancient temple unfolded.

Several spires soaring as if they could touch the sun.

A pair of stone statues stood with their swords crossed over each other's heads.

And.

Between them was a passage large enough for a single person to enter.

That's the entrance to the labyrinth.

Great. It's been a long time since I've seen this place, and the scale is so grand.

Jinhyuk let out a small exclamation.

Heartily.

He seemed to understand why travelers leave their comfortable hotels and go through hardships exploring the backcountry.

Such a spectacle was something you would never see in a resort.

right then

Kang Jinhyuk player! What were you thinking of doing this!

Maria, who was teleported together, shouted.

The white face... What?

Like a scared hamster?

Who would have expected that the great mage, who was praised by everyone so much and was so terrified, would be so terrified?

Um. You don't seem to like this place?

Everyone, of course! Who chooses such a nonsensical floor! Even half... no, it would be a miracle if even one person survived...

Maria blurred the horse's tail.

That's how the eyes are dead.

" "

...whoah.

Some of the players teleported with Maria also looked full of despair.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

Hehe.

"This is Jinhyuk Kang. My brother."

Pleasure battle enthusiasts.

Jude Law and Casey.

The eyes looking at this are not serious.

'Hasting said there are people who smell dangerous, but it was these guys.'

I've heard many times that I'm crazy, but this is... It looks pretty dangerous.

But at that very moment.

huuuuuuoooooooooooooooooooo

Another figure appeared with a group of blue lights.

'Oh. Did this guy come here too?'

Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.