“….”
It was only after recalling those words that I could finally understand them.
The one who draws the sword only one time in a lifetime.
That was because the Sword of Genesis, Ea, demanded the user’s life as the price for its use.
In other words, this was the reason it had earned the alias of the Sword of Life and Death.
Then, was this choice a success or a failure?
‘How interesting.’
It was amusing.
An ambiguous answer.
There were no other words to describe it.
‘One time, at the cost of my life, I can demonstrate a power that splits the heavens and earth, but I will surely die.’
If that were the case, couldn’t I just select someone else to exhibit that power and die in my place?
No.
-Wooooong!
The sword was speaking.
It said that petty tricks wouldn’t work.
This sword was designed so that only one who had proven their qualification could use it and as for that proof of qualification.
‘Someone who has accumulated at least as much karma as I have.’
That was in the realm of the impossible for an ordinary human.
It was inevitable, as I had lived for nearly 1,000 years through the Blessing of Immortality.
The average human lifespan is 100 years at most.
Who else but me could live for 1,000 years and accumulate such a vast amount of karma during that time?
In the end, this was a sword that chose its master, and I was the only one who could use it, for better or worse.
However, a hopeful part certainly existed.
And that was…
‘Taecho. This is a sword that can cut him.’
Ancient.
The sword that once split the heavens and the earth.
Since it could perform anomalies that could be called miracles, I was certain it could also cut the Creator.
The problem was that if I used it, I would have no choice but to perish along with him.
Therefore, I had no choice but to put the sword away.
-Slide.
My death.
That would mean the end of everything.
A noble sacrifice?
What a joke!
I have no intention of dying for anyone.
I live only for myself.
If I cannot remain alive, I would rather choose the path where everyone dies.
Therefore, the Sword of Genesis was currently as good as nonexistent among my options.
Of course…
‘I’ll have to find a way.’
Nothing in the world is absolute.
That is the lesson I learned while living for nearly 1,000 years.
Surely, there must be a way to use this Sword of Genesis without paying with my life.
Until I figured that out, I had no choice but to keep it sealed.
With that, I shifted my attention to the next reward.
It was a ruggedly shaped stone.
However, there was a special pattern engraved on its surface.
[Enhancement Stone: Greatly increases the success rate of all combinable items. Changes some uncombinable items to be combinable. There is a low probability of a Great Success, resulting in an even more powerful outcome.]
Despite its appearance, it was a precious stone that significantly boosted the success rate of combinable items.
Furthermore…
‘Great Success.’
Above regular success, there was a system for a low-probability Great Success.
That was bound to be a very interesting mechanic.
Because…
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko)]
I had opened a bundle of tickets and obtained the summon tickets for the twin knights, Jeko and Deko.
They were Knights of the Empire.
By combining and enhancing them, I would be able to obtain a ticket to summon even more powerful Imperial Knights.
Then, what would be at the end of that path?
‘Perhaps I can get him.’
To execute the plan forming in my head, I reached into my pocket.
-Slide
What I pulled out was a Purge Ticket.
I tore it without hesitation.
[The effect of the Purge Ticket is activated.]
[Floors currently available for Purge are Floor 1 to Floor 42.]
[Which floor would you like to purge?]
There was nothing to think about.
[Purging Floor 42.]
[You will obtain rewards for the difficulty level you successfully cleared.]
This Floor 42 Trial was a hidden trial that transcended the difficulty levels previously categorized by the System.
That was why I was able to obtain rewards like the Sword of Genesis, Ea.
Of course, equipment rewards like that could only be received upon the first clear, but it was still well worth purging.
[Purge Ticket (3)]
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko)]
This was because on Floor 42, it was possible to acquire Purge Tickets in addition to Knight Summon Tickets.
Just as I had been able to obtain Purge Tickets on Floor 30, having Purge Tickets included among the rewards was essentially the same as infinite multiplication.
Of course, since the probability was very low, infinite multiplication as I imagined it wouldn’t be possible.
Therefore, with the goal of securing as many tickets as possible I continued to start the purges.
[Purging Floor 42.]
[Purging Floor 42.]
[Purging Floor 42.]
The number of Purge Tickets I initially had was only thirty.
Thus, I estimated I would be able to perform the purge about forty times.
I had confirmed on Floor 30 that the probability of obtaining a ticket was roughly 20%.
Of course, that relied on luck; if I were unlucky, I might not even reach forty attempts.
However…
[Purge Ticket (3)]
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko)]
[Purge Ticket (2)]
[Purge Ticket (1)]
[Purge Ticket (3)]
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko)]
The Purge Tickets were dropping exceptionally well.
At first, I thought I could manage about forty purges, but…
[You have used Purge Tickets 100 times.]
[Due to diminishing returns, the probability of obtaining tickets has significantly decreased.]
The Purge Tickets did not decrease until I had used them 100 times.
In fact, thirty-one Purge Tickets remained in my pocket, one more than the original thirty I started with.
“….”
That couldn’t be explained simply by good luck.
‘…It seems the probability of obtaining Purge Tickets is different because it was a hidden trial.’
And it wasn’t just the Purge Tickets.
The probability was so high that I could obtain a Knight Summon Ticket once in every three tries.
Consequently, I was able to acquire a total of thirty Knight Summon Tickets during those 100 purges.
Holding the thirty Knight Summon Tickets in my hand, I did not hesitate.
[Combination]
Through combination, I enhanced the Knight Summon Tickets that could summon Jeko and Deko.
[You have obtained a Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko+).]
“Hmm?”
I couldn’t help but be slightly shaken by the result.
Until now, when an enhancement occurred, the summoned Knight would also change.
However, despite the enhancement, the names Jeko and Deko remained engraved.
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko+): Jeko and Deko’s Martial Power is very close to their prime.]
It was only after reading the information on the ticket that I understood.
This ticket was categorized according to the prime years of the twin knights.
This meant the regular unenhanced ticket represented the period furthest from their prime—perhaps their early days as knights.
Of course, considering the reputation of the twin knights, even when they had just become knights, their skills would have been enough to rank among the top in other kingdoms or duchies.
And through ticket enhancement via combination, I could move closer to those prime years.
If it were the twin knights in their prime, their skills would be among the few I could count on my fingers of all the knights I had ever faced.
Of course…
[Ticket combination failed.]
[Ticket combination failed.]
The same luck as before did not hold.
After experiencing several failures I managed to obtain two enhanced tickets.
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko++)]
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko++)]
However…
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko++) can no longer be enhanced.]
They had undergone two enhancements.
Naturally, I heard the message saying they could not be enhanced any further.
But what if…
What if I used the Enhancement Stone?
-Slide.
[Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko++) can be enhanced.]
[The combination probability is very low.]
[Would you like to proceed with the combination anyway?]
Jeko and Deko.
These twin knights were strong.
However…
‘He is far from enough to face Taecho.’
The same was true for the existing Knights I currently had with me.
With them, I couldn’t even handle Salmora, who stood beside him, let alone the Creator, Taecho.
Therefore, I was certain that no matter how close the twin knights were to their prime, they would not be of help in the current fight.
If there was an existence that could be of help here…
‘Only one.’
Perhaps through this enhancement, I could summon him.
Thus, ignoring the warning of the low probability I combined the two Knight Summon Tickets I had worked so hard to prepare….
[Combination]
-Woooooooong!
An energy burst forth along with a brilliant light.
At first, it was white.
That radiant light signified success.
Therefore, I was relieved.
But then…
-Flash!
Suddenly, an intense golden light erupted, as if it were about to swallow the entire room.
‘This is…?’
Lately, my emotions have been shaken frequently.
It was because I knew what this unexpected phenomenon signified.
The ticket that had been floating in the air, emitting that brilliant golden light for a moment, slowly fell into my hand.
At the same time, a message was heard.
[Great Success in combining Knight Summon Ticket (Jeko & Deko++).]
[You have obtained a Knight Summon Ticket (King of Domination Belmond++).]
As I had expected, it was proof of a Great Success.
And what I obtained through that Great Success was a truly remarkable result.
[Knight Summon Ticket (King of Domination Belmond++)]
King of Domination Belmond.
Originally, he was someone in the domain of an Emperor, not belonging to the rank of Knight.
However, through the effect of the Enhancement Stone that allowed the enhancement of unenhanceable tickets, it became possible to summon him through a summon ticket even though he wasn’t a Knight.
Succeeding in that alone would have been an incredible feat.
But through the Great Success, the King of Domination Belmond became a (++) version, having completed the final combination.
In simple terms…
[Knight Summon Ticket (King of Domination Belmond++): You can summon the King of Domination Belmond in his prime.]
It meant I could summon Belmond during his peak and that meant…
‘I’ll be able to use the Sword of Genesis.’
The problem of using the Sword of Genesis, Ea, which I had considered an unsolvable puzzle until just a moment ago, was resolved in an instant.
However…
‘There’s no reason to pull out my trump card right now.’
The opponent was none other than Salmora.
A thorough strategist who was skilled at reading moves and preparing for every possible contingency.
If he possessed a means to protect Taecho, he might also hold a hand that could neutralize my card.
Therefore, I had to keep this card strictly hidden—to prepare for an enemy attack that could happen at any time and to deliver a counter-strike.
Then, what should I do now?
[Challenging the 43rd Floor of the Tower of South Korea.]
I had obtained incredible rewards on Floor 42.
Ahead of the war with Salmora and Taecho that was fast approaching, I had to strengthen my forces, so there was no reason to hesitate in challenging the Tower.
I would strengthen my power while conquering the floors I had been putting off.
And establishing a perfect state of readiness to prepare for any potential enemy attacks—that was the only thing I had to do right now.
Not long after…
[Congratulations!]
[Kim Si-won of South Korea has cleared the 43rd Floor of the Blood Sea.]
[Kim Si-won of South Korea has cleared the 44th Floor of the Blood Sea.]
[Kim Si-won of South Korea has cleared the 45th Floor of the Blood Sea.]
The fact that I was climbing the Tower began to ring out across the world one after another.
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