Chapter 45 - Asura 2 (2/2)
“It’ll be fine, at worst if it becomes too dangerous you can always use the Return Stone to escape.”
Samuel was running out of areas to prove himself, and he needed a big win to restore the team’s and alliance’s confidence in him.
He was sure of one thing.
‘Chun Woohyuk’s definitely inside the tower.’
Despite being their Commander, he had been absent for quite some time now. The only place that could catch the interest of such a man would be this Twilight Tower.
Even if he had no idea as to what they’d encounter inside, it was easy to assume that the rewards would be plentiful.
Samuel’s plan was to meet up with him inside and quietly profit from behind. He smiled to himself as he was about to give the order to enter.
[The Twilight Tower’s final floor has been cleared.]
[The Twilight Tower will disappear shortly.]
[All adventurers who are inside will be teleported out to their respective Fortresses.]
An announcement that struck them like a thunderbolt. Everyone, Samuel included, was shocked with their eyes open wide.
“He’s already reached the very top!?”
“But it’s so high…?”
Although it wasn’t like the Canyon Battle had just begun, but the idea that someone reached the top of such a high tower in so little time, was simply too absurd.
While everyone was stunned, coming to terms with the latest announcement.
“Ah ah ah!”
A woman’s shriek rang out in the air.
Panicking, Samuel looked up in the sky and froze.
‘A Griffin…’
He had almost died to one of them while out scouting the mountain ranges. Although he hadn’t been on the receiving end of any of their attacks because he had run away immediately, it had still been a traumatic experience.
However this one was a bit darker, as if it had died and been brought back to life.
“That...it’s coming this way.”
“Samuel! Quick, make a decision!”
The adventurers behind urged Samuel on as they looked up nervously.
Samuel quickly pulled out a Return Stone from his pocket.
“Everyone retreat immediately!”
Now that the Twilight Tower was no more, there wasn’t any reason for them to stick around any longer.
If he risked his party members’ lives for no reason, he would come under criticism as an incompetent leader.
Seeing Samuel’s party retreat instantly, Woohyuk could only shake his head.
‘He’s as fast as ever at running away.’
Even after they went to the continent, he had managed to survive quite long due to his timidness. Still, since he hadn’t improved his strength and influence much, eventually it caught up to him and he perished.
“Wake up, we are back on solid ground.”
“Lord...I still feel a bit dizzy.”
She murmured, half asleep.
Woohyuk sighed and hugged on to her tightly.
“No, you don’t need to do that.”
“Don’t be so shy, I have an obligation to take good care of you.”
Even while they had stayed in the Royal palace, it had been Woohyuk that stayed by her side, nursing her while she lay unconscious.
That meant that Woohyuk would wash her and change her clothes as well.
When she thought about what he’d done, her face began to heat up and turned red.
“Please put me down, I can walk by myself.”
“Okay.”
As Woohyuk released her, she quickly put some distance between them.
A women’s protective instinct.
She couldn’t control her shyness,
“Are you acting cute on purpose?”
“No way….”
Leifina, who had tried to deny it, quickly shut her mouth because she saw Woohyuk staring straight at her.
“Let’s take our time heading back.”
“... Okay.”
A man who always did the unexpected.
Leifina followed behind him with a grim look.
Quaaddek!
Large cracks began to form across the Twilight Tower, as it began to collapse into a pile of rubble.
A mysterious building left there by the Creator.
It housed countless tragedies, noting the rise and fall of many small kingdoms.
The same was true for the future of these adventurers. They would have to have to resolve different situations in this chaotic world.
Using a Return Stone, the two of them left the shifting sands behind.
* * *
Upon returning to the Fortress, Woohyuk received some updates on their current status from the Leaders.
Two years had passed for him inside of the Twilight Tower, but out here in the canyon it had only been a fortnight.
After a day’s rest, Woohyuk led his undead army to scour the mountain ranges and valleys in search of any rewards that might still be hidden.
Unfortunately, aside from the mountain tops, they didn’t encounter anything valuable. He only managed to collect some more Leadership Skill points and Teleport Scrolls.
After concluding that he had more or less pillaged everything, Woohyuk decided it was time to put an end to this Canyon stage.
There wasn’t any reason to drag it out any longer.
Just three hours later…
“Kuaahak!”
“Sa, save…Kuhuk”
The adventurers from the Blue Faction that were defending their Fortress’ entrance, collapsed to the ground in agony.
Some chose to fight to the last man, and had to be killed.
Quazizzic
Their Guardian stone was shattered with a single slash from Grandia, causing a white text to appear before everyone’s eyes.
[Chun Woohyuk from the Red Faction has destroyed the enemy’s Guardian Stone!]
[The Red Faction is Victorious!]
[A grace period forbidding any violence is now in effect.]
[All surviving adventurers from the Blue Faction have been sent to the Labour camps.]
[Red Faction members are free to travel between either Fortress.]
[The General Shop function within the Adventurer's Watches is now disabled.]
[Items sold in Taverns are now free to those from the Red Faction.]
[Any criminal acts are now forbidden, law breakers will be sent directly to prison without any exception.]
[Red Faction’s Leaders can consult and decide what to do with their prisoners of war.]
The stage had come to an end.
All the monsters across the entire map had now disappeared. Any survivors from the Red Faction had been teleported to the entrance of the Blue Faction’s fountain.
“Congratulations on your victory in this battlefield!”
Eve smiled as she looked down at the players that stared back with solemn expressions.
“What happens next?”
“Do we have to fight again?”
Seeing everyone’s anxious expressions, Eve wagged her index finger.
“No, no, with this the Canyon Battle has come to a close. This is also where we will part ways.”
Of course the trials that would continue to be forced upon them were basically endless.
They would now head to the main stage, and be forced to carve their own path. This game would not end until all the Thrones were occupied.
Hearing Eve’s description, the adventurers couldn’t help but despair.
“Eeth continent?”
“Clearly it would be teeming with monsters.”
Fear of the unknown.
As she watched their reaction with a satisfied smile, Eve waved her hand and summoned a black portal.
“I can understand your worry. One advice I’ll give you is to gather your forces!”
During this grace period, the survivors had the time to build up their forces.
The battle for the Throne.
It was a place where Crowned Leaders would face off against within a desert map.
The winner would rise in tier, absorbing their opponent’s forces. The highest tier they could reach was the tier 10 Gold Crown.
The Leaders gulped, excited at the prospect of leading a group of 10,000.
“Not to worry however, you won’t be facing off against each other since the matchmaking avoids those from the same Sector. Good luck!”
The grace period only lasted until the following night, depending on when the Canyon Battle had been brought to an end.
In order to eliminate any exploits, the Leaders ability to expel members, as well as the members ability to Impeach their leader had been temporarily disabled.
Only voluntarily leaving, or assimilating forces with the use of the Negotiation Leader skill was possible.