Chapter 159: Choosing a Faction (3)

Chapter 159: Choosing a Faction (3)

"Ugh, it's been a while since I've left my dwelling. I was really bored, truly."

"Thanks to the intruder, we got a chance to stretch our bodies. It's fortunate."

"Umm. How long has it been since I breathed the outside air?"

"Everyone...is too noisy. Keep it down, would you?"

A wind elemental resembling an innocent girl, 'Sylphid'.

An earth elemental in the form of a small golem, 'Gnome'.

A water elemental with the appearance of a mature woman, 'Undine'.

A light elemental taking on the shape of a listless boy, 'Wisp'.

The four elemental spirits each emerged through their respective gates.

They all seemed excited for a rare outing, having been confined for so long.

Of course, their excitement was for the brutal handling and amusement of the intruder.

But then.

"Huh?"

The wind elemental, who emerged second, cocked her head to the side.

Something was off.

Before her lay a red lizard with its head buried in the ground and hands clasped behind its back.

"Ugh..."

Sweating profusely, its limbs trembling.

It was hard to believe that this was a salamander, notorious for their ferocity.

"How did this happen? Why are you like this?"

The earth elemental's eyes widened, as dirt fell from its mouth.

"Has it gone mad from being trapped for too long?"

"Pull yourself together, salamander! Where did you sell your pride as an elemental to assume such a pitiful stance?"

"Keep it down, everyone."

The rest of the elementals were equally flustered.

It was then.

"Mooogi!"

Goguma unleashed its skill, Piiel.

The roaring sound reverberated along the passageway.

A magical power rivaling Dragon Speech dominated the space.

"Aaaaah!"

"Gasp!"

"What... is this?!"

All of a sudden.

The color drained from the elementals' faces, turning as pale as the earth.

At that moment, they understood why the salamander was so frightened and had curled up its tail.

Even fully grown summons and elementals dared not encroach upon the territory of ancients.

In the presence of an 'Ancient Dragon', arguably the most special among ancient creatures, who could dare to bare their teeth?

Considering they were only intermediate elementals who had not even reached adulthood.

The fight was over before it had even begun.

"What are you waiting for? There's a spot next to that fire lizard. First come, first served; why aren't you bowing your heads?"

Jinhyuk sat on a rock, tilting his head.

None of the elementals understood why this mere human could command an ancient being, but that wasn't the important question right now.

They had to hurry.

To be faster than anyone.

And to bow their heads more passionately than anyone else.

That was the only way to survive against this overwhelming ancient creature.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Soon after, the five elemental creatures all bowed their heads in submission.

The five intermediate elementals representing the major elements.

Who would have imagined they would see such proud beings with their faces flush red?

But this was no dream or fancy; it was the damn reality.

"Well done, Goguma."

Jinhyuk gently scratched Goguma's neck.

"Mogi!"

Goguma enjoyed the strokes with its eyes gently closed, its tail swaying contentedly.

Now then...

The question was how to deal with these creatures.

Jinhyuk's lips curled into a smile.

"Though you may not know, this sweet potato here is one of the outside directors of our Veteran Corporation."

To be exact, it held the position of Sales Director.

"Just in time, our company is hiring interns for the next half of the season, any interest?"

Naturally, refusal meant death.

Failure to get hired also meant death.

"I really want to join!"

"Me too!"

"In tasks given, we're known to perform exceptionally well!"

"If it means serving with the ancient being, I'd follow to the ends of hell, hehe."

"I'd prefer you to speak more quietly. But I also want in."

The elementals clamored one after another.

True to beings who lived near-eternal lives, their attachment to existence was extraordinary.

"Hmm. While I'm proud to see such enthusiasm for our company, I personally don't like to brag without substance. I hope you all can understand."

Whoosh!

A bright flame flickered at Jinhyuk's fingertip.

The power to enforce a binding oath.

It was the 'Seal of Soul Fire'.

Once the Seal was imprinted, the elemental's bodies trembled faintly.

[The elemental spirits of the five major elements swear subservience to you.]

'It feels like picking up gold off the street.'

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Jinhyuk's heart raced uncontrollably.

It was a feat he wouldn't have dared to attempt in the past, taming intermediate elementals known for their strength and complexity.

'Our growth is becoming more efficient.'

The path to the summit of the tower.

Although the addition of characters as variables had increased the difficulty, such positive variables easily offset that part.

No matter how much more difficult it became, it was possible to cope.

'No, it's beyond that.'

At the current pace, he might surpass the records of the past, and far sooner than expected.

To prove it.

Ding!

Several status windows appeared one after another.

[You have earned 5,000 points of merit!]

[Current merit point rankings]

1st Place: Jinhyuk Kang (5,100P)

2nd Place: Nangong Chun (450P)

3rd Place: Cheon Yuseong (190P)

4th Place: Maria (150P)

5th Place: Patrick (130P)

6th Place: Yoshio (125P)

...

The gap with second place was incomparable.

Understandably, everyone else would be somewhat immobile in this situation.

Jinhyuk reviewed the rankings.

It was expected that Nangong Chun would be near the top, and it wasn't surprising that Cheon Yuseong, who disliked idleness, would also make it to the top.

Elise, who found everything bothersome, wouldn't care about passing through the traps, hence not being within the ranks.

And the rest.

'They must be watching each other, paralyzed by the penalty of the defense nerf.'

It's hard to rashly enter traps when a slight graze could mean severe injury and a direct hit, death. Even the ones with strong hearts might reluctantly hesitate.

Using this psychological gap, he had been siphoning off the rewards. But this stalemate couldn't last forever.

'At best, in a few dozen minutes, they'll gather their wits and start moving.'

That would be inconvenient.

If players started dying en masse, all the blame would be directed at him for choosing the 25th floor.

Before those with valiant stupidity embarked on their reckless challenge, he needed to wrap up 'the next step' quickly.

Jinhyuk closed the merit points window.

'About time they start showing some interest...'

Just as he thought that.

[A number of factions are showing great interest in you!]

[The 'Empire' sends you their admiration for your overwhelming performance.]

[The 'Martial World' feels fear towards your existence.]

[The 'Elemental Realm' finds the presence of the 'Ancient Sweet Potato' extremely intriguing.]

[A total of 13 minor factions would like to join forces with you.]

[The 'Third Faction' expresses a very strong affinity for you.]

Indirect messages from various factions poured in.

The Empire, the Martial World, the Elemental Realm.

Just as expected, the prominent players had entered the fray.

Including the numerous minor factions, quite a few powers had taken a strong impression of him.

'Well, if they're not interested after seeing this, they must be out of their minds.'

Overwhelming performances, the ability to find solutions in adverse situations, and even meticulous planning of the overall game.

He had all the qualities that factions eager to expand their territory could wish for.

They must be drooling at the sight.

But what caught Jinhyuk's attention wasn't the Martial World, the Empire, or the Elemental Realm.

The Third Faction.

To think even they would reach out.

Things were getting more interesting.

Maybe it was possible to make the situation even more complicated.

***

"Heh..."

A hollow laugh came from the lips of Penheimer, the Sword Master of the Caladium Kingdom.

Even when the character of interest had chosen the 25th floor of the tower, the atmosphere in the banquet hall heated up rapidly.

It had to.

At the current level of player skills, they would never breach the labyrinth on the 25th floor.

Especially the debuff effect, negating all defense, was a formidable shackle, even for a Sword Master.

But then.

'...Not scared, is that it?'

His relaxed demeanor with a smile on his face, even amidst the panic of everyone else.

It was like he had chosen this floor not without reason but with conviction.

The expectation turned into reality when, shortly after, there was the discovery of a hidden route leading to the labyrinth's entrance followed by the revelation of doors representing the five elements.

Then, anticipation grew about which elemental to fight next.

But, to think he'd choose to fight against all five...

'What is he thinking?'

Penheimer clenched his fists without realizing.

Each one of the elemental spirits was a powerful named character, taking on all five simultaneously was akin to suicide.

Of course.

All those worries turned out to be unfounded.

"This can't be..."

"Those damn elementals are cowering..."

"And to think there's a player who owns an ancient being. We haven't secured an ancient creature on our side yet."

"What kind of method did he use..."

The faces of the residents on the second floor were contorted in shock.

The supreme life forms were hard to come by even in the middle levels of the tower.

Just witnessing one was astonishing, but the creature under scrutiny had completely tamed an ancient being.

The purity of the ancient being, eager for its master's attention, was a never-before-seen occurrence.

As the head of the Muyong family representing the Martial World, Muyong Soo also felt a chill run down his spine.

'...He's far more dangerous than I thought.'

He had been aware of Jinhyuk since the fifth floor's Elven Forest, but that was solely related to combat.

'Not just military strength, but knowledge about the tower too, is off the charts.'

Perhaps...

He could even bring significant changes to the entire tower, not just the middle layers of power.

But all the shock was merely a prelude.

"Huh?"

"What's that?"

"Wait a moment!"

What followed...

Caused the residents to run out of words to say.

***

"Alright. Begin!"

Jinhyuk nodded.

Then.

"Earth!"

"Fire!"

"Wind!"

"Water!"

"Light!"

With shouts echoing.

The elemental spirits leaped from all directions, coming together in one place.

Due to intimidation and fear, there was no hesitation or awkwardness.

'Excellent!'

Their movements were near perfect, swelling pride in one's chest.

But that was not the end.

The real climax was starting right now.

"When the five powers combine!"

The voices of the elementals merged into one.

"Elemental Special Forces!"

Just like superheroes making their entrance, the five elementals gathered together.

"Wow!"

Jinhyuk rose to his feet with exuberance.

Even Goguma's eyes sparkled, repeating 'Mogi, mogi'.

"That's it. Everyone's passed as interns!"

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Jinhyuk applauded, seemingly truly impressed.

There was no way to deny them. They had a debut befitting the Veteran Corporation.

Just then, as Jinhyuk continued to marvel.

[The 'Empire' wishes to speak with you.]

[The 'Martial World' wishes to speak with you.]

Both factions' representatives sought him out at the same moment.

They took the bait.

Hook, line, and sinker.

...Now the real game begins.

Jinhyuk steadied his breath.