Having gained his identity, Wukong maintained his form even as the Space of Tathagata crumbled, and my party exchanged farewells.
No matter how much we had escaped the Space of Tathagata, we could not step outside the ‘Tower’ itself.
If we wanted to escape, I could put my soul into it like Gapwoo, but there was really no need to.
Wukong had decided to enjoy this moment rather than live for survival.
And so, exactly on the sixth day since leaving Wukong behind, we finally reached the 99th Floor.
“Finally, the end is in sight!”
“Waaah!”
Leo and I arrived at the 99th Floor.
This was the level we entered from the original ‘Growth’s Altar’ and the one just before meeting the Master of the Tower.
The 99th Floor resembled a gigantic battlefield and looked like a place where various spaces had merged.
Currently, we were standing on a rocky mountain filled with pale stones, and to clear this place, we needed to defeat the ‘enemy’ that existed somewhere here.
By the way, that enemy had already been subdued and sent flying into the distant universe long ago.
[Wow]
[Took you long enough lol]
[How many days has it been already?]
[Breaking News: Yena conquers the 70th Floor!]
[This never ends]
[Isn’t this taking way longer than any past attempts?]
[Is it even reasonable for there to be a tower within a tower?]
[That was long]
[I never thought 98th Floor would take a whole day lol]
[Is there seriously a real Growth Tower here?]
[? lol]
[No way]
Leo opened his arms in joy, and I felt the same elation.
No matter how important the ‘Altar’ was as a dungeon appearing after the Great Cataclysm, it was absurdly over the top.
Monsters at the Subordinate to Intermediate Angel and Demon levels swarmed the place, and the difficulty of the Trials was something that rankers under 10 couldn’t hope to overcome.
Only top-tier users like me, Leo, and Yena could even think about clearing it.
Of course, it was fortunate that they were not true Angels or Demons; if they had been, no one except me would have been able to clear it.
By the way, Zeus, who was still inside Leo, hadn’t escaped yet, but I was planning to release him once we reached the 100th Floor.
Until then, he would have to serve as an excellent teaching aid for Leo.
[The Master of Lightning feels frustrated.]
[The Master of Lightning is causing a commotion!]
“It was a long journey. The complicated Trials definitely made it feel longer.”
“I totally agree.”
[The Master of Lightning warns not to underestimate him and throws lightning.]
“Is Zeus throwing a fit?”
“Just let him be. He’ll say something eventually.”
“Got it.”
[Hahaha…]
[This is hilarious…]
[Can’t we take Zeus? That’s too funny ㅋㅋㅋ]
[Let’s wrap this up quickly]
“Aren’t we bringing Yena?”
“It would be nice if Miss Yena could clear it with us, but… time is running out.”
Leo is a ‘Returner’ who can wield immense power for only seven days.
Originally, he planned to finish the tower climb within two days, so it wasn’t a problem, but naturally, the climbing time had been delayed due to Gapwoo’s work and Yena’s ‘myth’ creation.
But this task could no longer be postponed.
Now Leo has only one day left, and he must reach the end within that time.
“We need to meet the person first.”
I raised the golden lightning I got from the raccoon.
I’ve seen the lightning from Wukong and Zeus, but the lightning the raccoon possessed was definitely different.
A lightning that feels like a different ‘Origin’ altogether.
As I released the lightning, it shot off at incredible speed, leaving a long streak behind.
Following that trail, I spotted a streak of lightning soaring as if it would pierce the sky.
“Grk… ugh…”
The raccoon was hovering in the air, gripping the neck of a huge lizard-like creature.
The raccoon glanced at us and swung its little fist, smashing the lizard.
The lizard’s head and body separated and vanished off into the distance, while the raccoon retrieved the current and floated back down.
“Did you come? You took longer than expected.”
“The timing is just right. What are you up to?”
“This guy is the last enemy of the Thunder Dragon, so I was just finishing him off. By the way, there’s no need to sympathize since he eats the Thunder Dragon clan alive.”
The raccoon said this while lifting its head slightly.
Its golden fur still glimmered, and the blue ring hovered above it.
It was clearly in a much stronger state than the last time I saw it.
At this level, it wouldn’t be strange to call itself a ‘God.’
“More importantly…”
“You’ve also become a Celestial?”
“Ah. Right.”
[The Celestial Destroyer nods.]
[The Master of Lightning seems dissatisfied.]
Celestial Destroyer.
It’s not surprising that the raccoon has this title since it was the first one to crush the enemies of the Thunder Dragon it made a contract with.
‘Unlike me, who got some weird title.’
[Oh, hahaha!]
[The raccoon is a Celestial too?]
[Let’s kill something!]
[I think that one is the shadiest.]
[Will that raccoon have a mask too when we go to the New Continent?]
[Raccoon Man!]
“Honestly, at this point, not becoming a Celestial would be weirder. No matter how much they say you can’t become one with the stories of the tower, from the 90th floor onward, the ‘Rank’ itself rises, and contact with Celestials becomes more frequent.”
“It would be even stranger if you couldn’t become a Celestial by now. No matter how you say that you can’t become a Celestial because of the Tower’s stories, once you reach the 90th Floor and above, your ‘rank’ itself increases, and your contact with Celestials will naturally increase.”
“Hmm?”
“At least reaching from lower to intermediate level is basic…”
“So what about me?”
Leo tilted his head and asked.
Leo had a power strong enough to suppress even the God himself, let alone the highest grade Celestials.
Of course, he would lose if he fought the God head-on, but at least he could fight equally with the highest grade Celestials.
However, until he reached the 99th Floor, Leo was just a ‘Contractor,’ not a Celestial.
“I’ve gotten somewhat stronger, though. The contracts with the Celestials are pretty solid.”
“And that’s the problem.”
“Huh?”
“Is your strength derived from the Celestials? Or from yourself?”
Leo scratched his chin, pondering the raccoon’s question.
Of course, Leo’s original self was quite strong.
But at least in this ‘Tower,’ he had gained enough strength to overshadow his original abilities, and among that, he possessed the power of ‘Bonchobul,’ which was equal to the Master of the Tower.
“…Half and half?”
“A Contractor who has made a contract with a Celestial can be seen as having the path to ‘the Stars’ almost closed off. Unless you do something absurd like me or the One Who Denies the Light, it’s nearly impossible to become a Celestial.”
“You can’t become a Celestial if you make a contract?”
“The myth of the stars must be built on one’s own. It’s best to minimize assistance from others.”
In the end, a myth is a ‘story’ that becomes the foundation of that God.
Since one must solidify the existence of God and become the main agent, one cannot rely on others’ help.
Leo glanced at the countless stars blooming above his head and puffed his cheeks in gloom.
When I approached and grabbed his cheeks, they deflated with a “Puhuu~” sound.
“Did you want to become a Celestial?”
“Not so much that I wanted to… I just thought it would be fun to try at least once. Well, it can’t be helped!”
“You can still do it now.”
With Leo’s abilities, it’s not impossible.
Without the powers of the Celestials, Leo is still strong enough.
Although he may not reach the level of ‘God,’ at least becoming a high-level or lower Celestial shouldn’t be out of reach, right?
“It’s really okay. I’m focusing more on multi-God than becoming a Celestial.”
“Oh, if that’s the case.”
That was Leo’s intention in submitting himself to Zeus just a moment ago.
To encompass all the two Spirit Kings he contracted in one body, a high level of enlightenment and understanding of the world was required.
I shouldn’t interfere with the purpose he’s concentrating on now.
[Yena?]
[Celestial Yena?]
[Then could Yena possibly…?]
“So, it means that a Challenger who hasn’t made a contract with a Celestial has it much easier.”
“Are you saying that challengers without a name are much easier?”
“Are you talking about that woman you’re raising? It’s not impossible. In fact, it might be more likely.”
“Of course, that’s assuming she can come up here.”
“I don’t think it looks easy.”
“Miss Yena can do it.”
“How can you be so sure? I’ve seen her after becoming a celestial, and she’s not stronger than you all.”
“Strength isn’t that important.”
Once you reach a certain level, strength isn’t a critical factor.
What’s important is the heart that doesn’t give up.
In that regard, with Yena’s ‘perseverance’ after months of training under Myeosin, despite using cat language, it’s definitely possible.
“I believe in Miss Yena.”
[LOL]
[Wow]
[Yena, are you watching?]
[Yena will probably burst into tears if she sees this LOL]
[I believe in Miss Yena) Threatening all the celestials in the universe not to contract with her]
[That kind of person doesn’t do contract scams…]
[Breaking news) Yena, who was dodging attacks, is currently having a fit]
[LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[Hang in there, Yena…]
“…If that’s the case. Anyway, since we’ve reached the 99th floor, I suppose we can call this the final one.”
Since you all have the ability, it shouldn’t be too difficult to conquer.
Hmm…
“Thanks to you all acting wild, it was easy for me to move, so I guess I should repay you. Do you have any questions?”
“I’m curious about the origin of the Tower.”
“The origin of the Tower?”
“Yes.”
The origin of the Tower of Growth, which Tathagata was so curious about.
It may only be Tathagata’s question, but it could also be mine.
‘The altar originated from the Tower.’
If I follow this trace, I can also uncover the secrets of the raccoons’ master and Deoen.
The raccoon pondered, placing its small furry hand on its chin.
“…Well. The Tower.”
“You don’t know either?”
“No. I do know. I’ve heard roughly about this place from you… no, Rika.”
Crackle…
“Rika referred to this place as the ‘Growth Realm.'”
“Growth Realm?”
“A place where those chosen by the great being’s mandate continue to grow, guided by the Agent. This Tower is probably one of the places born from the Agent’s touch long ago.”
“Are there more than just this Tower?”
“Of course. I’m not the only one chosen. The number is by no means small.”
Though the survivors are a mere handful.
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