Chapter 157: Choosing a Faction (1)
Chapter 157: Choosing a Faction (1)
The martial artists' world and the Empire.
The two massive forces had been at odds over the hegemony of the middle floors of the Tower for a long time.
As their powers were quite similar, neither could recklessly bite at each other's necks.
However, they both knew that to ascend to the higher floors of the Tower, it was essential to absorb the other's forces and bolster their own ranks.
To rise, one had to fall—that was the stark reality.
And then,
A middle-aged man from the 'Kingdom of Caladium,' part of the Empire, felt his heart pounding fiercely.
'Indeed, my eyes have not deceived me.'
All this time, he had been observing numerous players, seeking out those who could benefit the Empire.
But finding a satisfying talent was not an easy task.
Of course, that was to be expected.
The bar was high, but the average level of the players was disappointingly low.
In the end, the focus had to shift from finished players to those with high potential for growth.
'The Central Continent Guild was tempting, but because their roots were intertwined with the martial artists' world, persuasion was impossible.'
Consequently, dark clouds loomed on the horizon.
Especially now that Namgung Cheon, with his overwhelming talent and full backing from the martial artists' world, was growing stronger each day.
Just as the delicate balance was tilting,
A ray of hope appeared for the Empire.
Kang Jinhyuk.
A player who stood out even among all the players by being the first to conquer the lower floors of the Tower.
If they could secure him...!
The tiresome war with the martial world might finally come to an end.
Namgung Cheon might be impressive, but Jinhyuk held far greater potential and growth values.
'Despite what others think, I trust my own eyes.'
Yes, Jinhyuk was at least several steps ahead of Namgung Cheon.
Penheimer clenched his fist firmly.
At the age of 17, he had manifested the Aura Blade and boldly joined the ranks of the Empire's 100 Knights—a true monster.
Thus, he was confident in his ability to recognize a genius talent.
'Please make the right choice.'
The main event of the upcoming masquerade.
The multitude of choices there and the outcomes that followed,
Would determine the future.
***
A storm had just passed.
With the downfall of the low-ranking manager Kaman and the image of the Central Continent and Samurai factions taking a hit,
Jinhyuk's stock, having received a personal invitation from a high-ranking manager, soared unchecked.
Everything was as Jinhyuk had planned.
'The atmosphere is ripe; time to get started.'
Namgung Cheon and Cheon Yuseong had belatedly arrived at the ballroom, and the initial impressions, alongside some eating and drinking, were complete.
It was time for the curtain to officially rise on the stage.
At that moment,
"Ahem. Ah-hem!"
Rick cleared his throat.
His voice spread throughout the banquet hall, amplified by magic.
Players who had been idly biding their time stopped what they were doing.
All eyes focused on Rick.
"Now that you've all enjoyed yourselves, let us explain the reason why we have invited you here. As you know, the masquerade is an event to gather promising players among those climbing the Tower."
To prevent a future where failing to conquer the next floor within 90 days meant destruction.
Hoping for the rewards that would pour upon the first player to see the Tower's summit.
Or perhaps searching for something more...
Everyone had come here with a purpose.
Although their motivations and determination might differ slightly, their ultimate goal was the same.
"Some of you may already have guessed... but in fact, the true objective of this ball is something else."
The real objective.
At those words, everyone's eyes narrowed.
"Today, we are here to choose which factions players will join as they ascend the Tower. Other players who were not invited will also have to make their selection later, but you have the opportunity to set foot in new territories one step ahead of them."
In other words, pioneers.
Or, less favorably, guinea pig testers.
With no information available, they had no choice but to trust their instincts.
Rick finished speaking and snapped his fingers.
Then,
Ding!
[The main event of the masquerade has started.]
[Prove 'your value.']
Name: Faction Selection
Difficulty: Undetermined
Details: Choose one of the dungeons, labyrinths, or ruins between the 10th and 30th floors of the Tower of Trial to challenge. Players who achieve high merit points during this event will have an advantage in faction selection negotiations. To choose a floor, press the red button in the center of the ballroom and then state the floor you wish to challenge. Please note, once the challenge is chosen, it cannot be reversed, so make sure to discuss thoroughly before making a decision.
[You have been awarded 100 merit points.]
[Rankings will be displayed based on merit points, and you can purchase various items by investing your points during the conquest.]
[A player can only receive the protection of a faction once.]
As series of pop-up windows appeared one after another...
...the 'Faction Selection' event of the ball had finally begun.
***
While players like Jinhyuk and Namgung Cheon maintained their composure, not everyone did.
"A faction... selection?"
"What the hell is this? What kind of factions are in the Tower? Aren't we climbing on our own?"
"How is this all supposed to work?"
Confusion ensued among the players.
They had gathered here, thinking they would simply forge friendships and alliances.
They had come to revel in the fact that they were special, different from the others.
Then, they discovered that waiting for them was an event of a completely different scale—much bigger and more significant.
The unexpected turn of events left them rather bewildered, but those feelings did not last long.
Fretting or complaining would change nothing.
The important thing was to create the best possible outcome for the future based on the information at hand.
Most players quickly accepted the reality of the situation.
"It seems like a hidden quest."
"Yes. After all, if the middle floors of the Tower necessitate alliance with the factions there, securing a spot in advance is not a bad idea."
"Actually, this could be taken as a great opportunity."
The players weighed their benefits with cool heads.
They were not called promising rookies for nothing.
Twenty players gathered near the stairs.
The first to speak was Maria from Europe's mega-guild 'Olympus.'
"Although the situation has taken an unexpected turn, it seems we all need to cooperate to clear the quest."
The available floors to choose from were from the 10th to the 30th.
These were floors that only massive raids of hundreds or more players could barely attack.
However, only 27 players were present here.
Regardless of their status as top-ranked players, conquering any dungeon in that range with such few numbers was impossible.
In the end, it was clear that success could only be achieved by working together.
"Hmm. Although merit points are important, pointless actions leading to failure won't mean anything."
Moon Gyu-ho, the master of the Tan'gun Guild, also showed a sign of agreement.
"Cooperation, huh..."
"Well, we have no choice."
"Yes, for this occasion, we need to unite."
Heads nodded in agreement across the board.
"Now that we have a consensus, what should we do? We should probably choose a dungeon that is close to the 10th floor, right?"
The higher the floor, the exponential risk involved.
Rewards mattered, but not as much as life.
"Around the 10th floor should be fine."
"I know of a dungeon on that floor where I'm familiar with the weaknesses of the named monsters. It should allow for relatively easier conquests."
"As long as we compete fairly for merit points, that would be our best option."
As everyone contributed their thoughts to find the optimal outcome,
Suddenly, a shrill alarm cut through the air.
[You have selected a floor.]
[The chosen location is the 'Valley of the Ancient King' labyrinth on the 25th floor.]
[All players present will be transferred to the respective area in 30 seconds.]
Flashy red status windows flickered,
And the player's expressions contrasted starkly—lost, as if they couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"Damn it! Who chose the labyrinth without consulting anyone!?"
"Not just any... it's the labyrinth on the 25th floor of the Tower. An uncharted place that no one has yet ventured into!"
"A floor where the average level isn't even 50... how are we supposed to go there...?"
Near-panicked cries echoed through the air.
Even the composed rankers couldn't maintain their calm this time.
Especially since it wasn't just any dungeon, but a labyrinth that had been chosen.
It was a situation so precarious that imagining the danger was nearly impossible.
Naturally, scornful glares turned toward the player in the center of the hall, pressing the button.
That's when they saw...
"Huh? What? I chose because no one else did, what's wrong?"
Jinhyuk stood there with a nonchalant shrug and an innocent look on his face.
At that moment,
Swoosh!
A swirl of blue magical light enveloped the players.
Spatial teleportation had begun to activate.
"Darn that damn fool, if you're not going to stop him, what the hell are you..."
"Get ready, everyone! It's starting!"
"Damn it, Kang Jin...argh!"
Leaving everyone's curses behind,
Everything around turned pitch black.
***
When their vision returned, everything had changed.
[You have entered the 'Valley of the Ancient King' on the 25th floor of the Trial Tower.]
A site reminiscent of an ancient temple spread out before them.
A series of steep, sun-reaching steeples.
Carved stone statues stood facing each other, their swords crossed above their heads.
And then,
A passage just wide enough for one person was revealed.
Therelay the entrance to the labyrinth.
"Keugh. Even if it's been a while, the scale here is truly grand."
Jinhyuk let out a small sigh of admiration.
He genuinely understood why travelers would leave the comfort of hotels to explore the wilds and endure hardships.
Such a spectacle simply could not be experienced at a holiday resort.
Just then,
"Player Kang Jinhyuk! What were you thinking when you did this!"
Maria, who had been teleported alongside him, yelled out.
Her pale face resembled...
What could it be said?
A terrified hamster?
Who would have imagined that the praised grand magician would ever be so fearful?
"Uh, you don't seem to like it here?"
"Of course not! Who would choose such an absurd floor! It would be a miracle if even half of us... No, if a single person survives..."
Maria's voice trailed off.
So, this is what a dead man's eyes look like.
"...."
"....Phew."
Other players who had been teleported with Maria also had looks of despair.
Not all showed such despair, of course.
"Hehe."
"It's Kang Jinhyuk. Brother."
The thrill-seeking siblings,
Judro and Kecy.
Their gaze towards him was far from normal.
'Hasbing mentioned crazy people with a dangerous aura, were these siblings it?'
He had heard the saying, 'not in their right mind,' but this was... quite perilous-looking.
At that precise moment,
Whirrr!
Another person emerged in a cluster of blue light.
'Oh? This guy came here too.'
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.