Chapter 5: Tower Gods & World-Class Hunters

Chapter 5: Tower Gods & World-Class Hunters

-----

[The Tower God {Wielder Of The God Slaying Spear} says that you’re perfect to become his Avatar!]

[He offers you great amounts of items, equipment, skills, and much more that will make it easy for you to climb the tower until you reach his world, where you can join and become his second wife.]

[He is confident you would make a wonderful heir with the strength you possess.]

“You’re one of the first ones I’m killing.”

[The Tower Goddess, {Queen of the Frozen Sea}, is disgusted by the remarks of the {Wielder of the God Slaying Spear} and offers you to become her sister in her own world, governing the Ice Titans.]

“Oh, the Titans? Is that so? Well, it’s the same response either way. No.”

[The Tower God {Snake That Circles The World} wonders if you could become his Avatar instead. He can offer you an egg that will hatch a mighty pet that can carry you through all the floors of the tower until you reach his world!]

[He honestly just wants a friend...]

“You’re lying; you’re just greedy. Nothing escapes my eyes.”

[The Tower Gods are slowly growing angrier about your remarks! Many of them have developed a terrible impression of you.]

[None of them wants to give you a gift or a sponsorship anymore!]

[Some of them have begun to plot your demise.]

“Already? Well, I guess you’re not so different from the old men of Murim then.” I laughed. “I’ll welcome every single challenge you throw at me with open hands. But be aware; the more you anger, the more painful your death will become.”

[Some of the Tower Gods who are more aware of what you truly are capable of have begun cowering in fear! They have quickly decided to leave.]

[A few others are still looking at you.]

“Enough with you, creeps.” I quickly waved my hand as I sat down in front of Nicholas, releasing a veil of Photon Essence combined with my Primordial Nine Heaven Fragment’s power within my Inner Realm.

[You have conjured a strange, powerful veil that is fueled by foreign energy!]

[The System Broadcast Function has been completely disabled.]

[It can be disabled once the veil is taken away.]

[Because of the incredible feat of stopping the Constellations from watching over you, you received the [Mirage Veil (A): Lv1] Classless Skill!]

[The Skill [Mana Manipulation (C): Lv3] has Leveled Up.]

Another Skill, huh?

“Much better; it was getting very annoying.”

“Were you talking to the Gods of the Tower, Lady Bing Xue?” Wondered Nicholas. “With the level of power you possess, I am sure you must be the Avatar of one, right? How far have you advanced in the Tower?”

“Advanced in the Tower? I have not done any of such things.” I said, sighing. “For your information, I am still only at Level 37. This system thing was something I acquired an hour ago.”

“Wait, what?!” Nicholas gasped. Mortals these days. “Y-You don’t have a Sponsor, yet you possess a power that can surpass S Rank Hunters?”CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

“What is an S Rank Hunter anyway? A feeble label to simply measure your Realm of growth? Because it is very inaccurate.” I said. “To begin with, if there are Levels for everyone, how come there are fixed Ranks for people? Wouldn’t everyone eventually get to S Rank? Then what makes it such a unique of a Rank? At that point, you will be forced to make higher tiers, making everything increasingly convoluted.”

“Huh, I suppose this is fine. That's a nice and quick response. It reminds me of my times in the Heavenly Court when I had to control every new little monster that wanted to join us, fufu.” I laughed. “Well, I will amuse your little game for now. But I won’t be wasting my time with all of you more than that, alright? After that is done, I hope I am no longer bothered. Those who attempt to do so will receive great punishment and, perhaps, a merciless death too. I am merciful and have great patience; I would not have lived eleven thousand years without them, but such virtues have limits. Is that okay with you, Nicholas?”

“Y-Yes...” Nicholas nodded. “It is perfectly good. I understand. We will not bother you anymore once tomorrow's gathering is done...”

“Perfect. I also expect some compensation for taking away my time, yes?” I asked with a gentle smile. “It is the least you could do to pay respects to me, as your great immortal venerable.”

“Immortal... Venerable? Ah, yes, of course, ma’am.” He nodded obediently. “And I apologize once again for what I did to you before... We all panicked; you kicked that man, so we thought."

“He was very rude, so I had the right to be rude to him as well,” I said. “But when someone treats me with kindness and respect, I will do the same to them. I hope we can get a better understanding from now on.”

“We will.” He nodded with a gentle smile. “Thank you for being so understanding about this entire ordeal. I wish you a good day. And this is your Hunter Association License. You’re now an A Rank hunter, Lady Bing Xue. Tomorrow, you might even become America’s first World Class Hunter.” The man handed me a very lame-looking silver card with my name and rank.

“So that was it? This card? Honestly, maybe I shouldn’t even have bothered with this!” I laughed. “Oh well, fine, fine. I will play along. Goodbye, and see you tomorrow, Nicholas. Make sure to behave, son, and tell your girls I say hello! Here, give them these things. I am sure they will like them.”

I handed him a box of cookies and chocolates I had crafted using ingredients inside my Inner Realm, a small show of generosity that Immortals often gifted to one another to keep formalities and respect with one another.

“Oohh! Yes, of course.” He nodded obediently as I walked away. “A-And thank you for the sweets. I am sure the two will like them.”

“Goodbye.”

I walked away and moved downstairs, where my mother and my little sister greeted me. Well, now that was quite a long conversation we had there. But this gives me a better understanding of how the world has changed.

“Katherine, you’re finally back! Did you register?” My mother asked, looking very exhausted and slightly stressed. I have made her feel this way; I should apologize.

“I’m sorry for worrying you so much, mother. I have brought shame to our family for making such a huge fuss about these feeble little mortals and their lack of mannerisms. Perhaps I should have simply ignored the barking dog.” I apologized.

“Barking... dog?” My mother was confused. “A-And well, you’re not too well yourself; you were away too long. I am sure you must be very tired and stressed. Let’s go back home now, honey. You need to rest.”

“There’s no need to apologize, big sis; you kicked ass!” Ruby said. “You’re so cool! It's been a while since I’ve seen such a strong awakening. Most of the time, they’re just lame-looking dudes that think they’re gods and are so cocky and annoying.”

“Hahaha! Murim was also full of arrogant men like that.” I laughed. “Do you know what I did with those arrogant men who thought that because I was a woman, I had to kneel before them and obey them? I crushed every single one of them. And I will do the same here if any of them, men or women, dare to stand before my new, peaceful life with my family.”

“A-Ah, ahahaha...” My sister didn’t take that too kindly; it seems she got a bit scared.

“Anyways! Let us go eat something, yes?” I smiled back at her, giving her a head pat and a kiss on the forehead. “Big Sis wants to spoil her little sister. How about we have a delicious feast inside my Inner Realm? I will show you all kinds of things there! You will be really amazed.”

“S-Sure?” My sister said, “What’s an Inner Realm though?”

“I am so confused right now." My mother wasn’t in the right place either.

I suddenly noticed that the man named Juan was not around.

“Is Juan gone?” I wondered.

“Ah yeah, he has a night shift in his job, so he left already.” Said Ruby. “He works as a porter and gatherer in low-level dungeons inside the tower’s first floor. It’s the only thing F Rank Hunters can do without risking their lives.”

“Is that so? I should visit that tower soon; I am quite interested in how everything works there.” I said.

“Ah, Katherine, so what’s your Rank?” My mother wondered.

“A Rank for now, sadly. Tomorrow maybe World Class.” I said.

“What?!” Both had the same shock in their reactions.

-----