Chapter 21: Rainbow Reflection!

[Breaking News! A fierce battle among Awakeners erupted near the Tower. Who were present at the intense scene?]  

[Included were major domestic guilds such as Shinhwa, Mountain Lord, Iron Wall, and Immortal.]

“The opponent was Kim Si-won, the world’s only Very Hard Difficulty climber. A fight between a colossal guild alliance and a single individual?  

[Guild alliance defeated. Over a thousand Awakeners injured and transported to nearby hospitals, most critically wounded, with many confirmed dead.]”

Breaking news after breaking news poured in, live-streaming the situation as it unfolded.  

Guild wars?  

It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, but clashes for mutual interests happened from time to time.  

However, there had never been a battle like this—between a guild alliance and a single individual.  

Such a confrontation simply shouldn’t have been possible.  

No individual could possibly stand against an entire guild unless they were suicidal.  

Yet, this impossible battle took place.  

And not only that, the guild alliance of a thousand strong was defeated by a single person—an unbelievable report to leave behind.  

Normally, people tend to root for the underdog whose odds of victory are low.  

But despite the impossible victory of one person, the atmosphere was far from celebratory.  

[One-tenth of South Korea’s Awakeners wiped out. Severe national losses due to personal revenge. How far will Kim Si-won’s revenge go? Where will this meaningless war end?]  

“The government has decided to actively discuss countermeasures regarding the current situation.”  

Battles had occurred before, but the damage had never been this severe.  

It was mostly a matter of pride—just a kind of threat.  

But this time was different.  

Shinhwa Guild, the pillar of South Korea, along with Mountain Lord, Iron Wall, Immortal, and many other guilds suffered near-annihilation.  

The loss was severe not only for the guilds but for the nation of South Korea itself.  

Even the government, which had been passive toward conflicts between guilds or individual Awakeners, had no choice but to consider active intervention this time.  

“…Nothing?”  

I scrolled through the articles, searching.  

But all I found were useless pieces—none of the information I needed.  

Just as I was about to close my phone after scrolling endlessly, a brief headline caught my eye.  

[South Korean Awakener Ha Yeon Lee transfers to Japan’s top guild, Oni. She will be collaborating with Ikeda Kaito, one of the world’s top Breakers!]  

I guessed Shin Chulwoo’s words were true.  

But I couldn’t act on just that claim.  

I wanted to verify supporting information, and I found a short article.  

“Oni. Ikeda Kaito.”  

If Shinhwa Guild was South Korea’s pinnacle, then Oni was Japan’s.  

The same peak?  

No they were entirely different.  

The difference between South Korea, a mere Awakening backwater, and Japan, one of the world’s top four powers, was vast.  

Especially Ikeda Kaito, leader of Oni—a top three Breaker in the world, famed for his devastating slash attacks perfected through extreme Trait level mastery.  

“She must have originally planned to switch hosts.”  

She was incomparable to Shinhwa or Shin Chulwoo.  

No matter how she got involved, if she was caught, it was only natural that Shin Chulwoo would be discarded without me dragging him to the bottom.  

Perhaps now she was gloating over switching from a junker to a Benz.  

“Switch as much as you want. The more you switch, the more miserable the day you hit rock bottom will feel.”  

It didn’t matter what vehicle she rode.  

Even if it was an armored vehicle, everything that woman boarded would be destroyed without fail.  

That went for Ikeda Kaito and the Oni Guild he controlled as well.  

“If necessary, I’ll bring down all of Japan too.”  

Of course, there were a few matters to settle before that.  

“Rustle.”

Dry autumn leaves crunched loudly under my footsteps.  

I seemed to walk slowly, then suddenly—  

“Pat!”  

In an instant, I pushed off the ground and leapt.  

It happened so fast.  

I reached the Japanese cedar tree far away where I wanted to be.  

And then—  

“Bang!”  

The moment my foot landed with intent on the ground.  

“Ugh!”  

I caught sight of a mysterious figure, camouflaged among the leaves, hastily rolling.  

“How?!”  

Assimilation Trait.  

The ability to blend into any terrain or object, vanishing from sight.  

But such stealth traits were useless before my Insight Eye.  

“How? That’s irrelevant. We still have unfinished business between us.”  

How I found him was no longer important.  

What mattered now was why I had provoked him.  

“I have questions.”  

I fixed my gaze on him.  

He looked to be in his thirties, dressed head-to-toe in black.  

He was clearly a Black operative, an Awakener working for the government.  

“Are you an agent sent by the government?”  

“If you refuse to answer—”  

“Swoosh.”  

Rapid sliced his neck.  

“Drip—”  

Bright red blood gushed from the wound.  

“Eek!”  

Startled, he raised his arms defensively.  

“Yes, yes! Department Chief Kim Chaun, age 31, affiliated with Black! Sadly a lifelong single. Under orders to only monitor Kim Si-won, no hostile actions taken or…”  

He babbled words I hadn’t even asked for.  

“Well, that works out nicely.”  

“H-How dare you…?!”  

Some unease flitted across his face.  

“Plop.”  

He immediately dropped to his knees.  

“Please spare my life! I have a cunning fox-like wife and rabbit-like children…”  

He’d just claimed to be a lifelong single but quickly changed his story.  

Regardless of his smooth lies I said,  “Escort me.”  

“…Yes?”  

“To your government.”  

***  

Before dealing with Ha Yeon Lee, there was something to resolve first.  

Negotiations with the South Korean government, which was actively considering my disposition.  

Inside the conference room.  

Ahead of me sat a neatly dressed middle-aged man in a brown suit.  

At first glance, he looked like any typical office worker from the neighborhood, but his position was far from ordinary.  

Jeong Hosik, Minister of the Awakening Bureau.  

Nominally, he was the head of the institution overseeing Awakeners.  

Now, he sat directly before me.  

Though, clearly sensing a threat to his life, he was accompanied by numerous Awakeners as bodyguards.  

“So…” After a brief silence, he spoke.  

“You are asking for immunity from all past actions and a guarantee of active support moving forward?”  

Thanks to Chief Kim Chaun’s escort, I secured this meeting with the minister.  

Of course, it was to push through my demands.  

The demand was simple.  

A pardon for everything I had done so far, along with a promise of active support for my revenge from now on.  

“Yes.”  

I nodded, acknowledging his words precisely.  

He furrowed his brows, deep in thought.  

“So, what benefits will the government gain from this?”  

After all, negotiations require mutual benefit.  

What I stood to gain was clear.  

Turning public opinion around, I would realize my revenge under the active support of the South Korean government.  

Though I could do it without government aid, that path would only create troublesome complications.  

The life of a fugitive was no easy thing.  

I couldn’t hide forever.  

Though I had grown used to it, the mental strain was immense.  

That’s why I came—to settle things once and for all.  

Having already crushed Shinhwa and other large guilds, only the government’s decision remained.  

“A powerhouse Awakening nation.”  

His question about what benefit the government would receive had a simple answer.  

“A powerhouse Awakening nation?”  

“Yes. I will make it into a powerhouse that surpasses Japan and eventually be recognized as the world’s best.”  

If I hadn’t said those words, if I weren’t the world’s only Very Hard Difficulty climber, this negotiation would have collapsed instantly.  

But considering what I had done so far—  

Climbing Very Hard Difficulty alone.  

Single-handedly destroying Shinhwa and major domestic guilds.  

Seizing control of the Tower’s 4th Floor in Japan.  

With such achievements, trust in my words was inevitable.  

“As you can see from the weekly rankings, it’s only a matter of time before South Korea stands at the world’s summit.”  

Hearing the phrase “world’s summit” seemed to dry Minister Jeong’s throat.  

He swallowed thickly.  

“Is it really possible? No matter Kim Si-won’s achievements, alone… is it truly…”  

But I wasn’t offended or unsettled.  

He had no grand backing or affiliation, and yet claimed to reach the world’s peak alone.  

They needed reassurance.  

Especially since this was a negotiation, not a fight for domination and slaughter like with Shinhwa.  

So I prepared to present my proposals and plans to explain.  

[Ikeda Kaito of Japan has used an Ability Weakening Ticket on the nation of South Korea.]  

[Ikeda Kaito of Japan has used a Trait Weakening Ticket on the nation of South Korea.]  

[Ikeda Kaito of Japan has used a Reward Reduction Ticket on the nation of South Korea.]  

[Without defense measures, all designated South Korean Awakeners will receive Ability, Trait, and Reward penalties (72 hours).]  

“What?! What?!”  

The sudden message caused an uproar.  

No wonder—Japan had just used a Nation Attack Ticket against South Korea.  

Three times, in a row.  

“Good.”  

No need to bother explaining my vision now.  

“What is this…?”  

Minister Jeong frowned at my words that it was good Japan had attacked South Korea.  

I said nothing in reply.  

“Screech.”  

I tore up the tickets obtained from capturing the 5th Floor.  

***

Japanese Prime Minister’s residence.  

“Hahaha!”  

Unlike last time, laughter blossomed there.  

The ministers’ faces remained the same.  

But there was a new figure—a swordsman dressed in attire reminiscent of a samurai.  

“Indeed, Mr. Ikeda Kaito! Your presence saves Japan’s honor.”  

He was no one the Prime Minister, Yamada Goro, would speak to casually.  

Ikeda Kaito.  

The pinnacle of Japan’s Awakeners and leader of Oni, one of the world’s top five guilds.  

“Great Japan cannot bow to mere Joseonjing [Koreans].”  

The statement was absolutely true.  

However, all eyes in the room shifted to the woman sitting beside Ikeda Kaito.  

Adjusting her hair delicately.  

She was none other than Ha Yeon Lee, recently recruited from South Korea to Japan’s Oni Guild.  

She was the exception.

Soon to change nationality to Japan and become his wife, after all.  

“Ah…”  

Silence fell over the room.  

Ha Yeon Lee was quite famous—not just in South Korea but worldwide.  

A rare Supporter with Battery and Proof abilities.  

Her connection to Chulwoo Shin was also known.  

“Ah!”  

“Congratulations.”  

“What joyous news!”  

The ministers, including the Prime Minister, offered their congratulations.  

It was a matter of the past.  

No foolishness about mentioning the past, for Ikeda Kaito’s dignity’s sake.  

Ha Yeon Lee smiled shyly.  

Ikeda Kaito looked at her with love.  

Everyone present was certain.  

To approach Ikeda Kaito, one must go through her.  

“Then…”  

“Yes. We shall begin immediately.”  

At the Prime Minister’s word, he smoothly pulled several items from his inventory.  

Red, blue, and yellow tickets.  

“So those are the Nation Attack Tickets!”  

The reason the Japanese ministers gathered at the residence—  

To avenge the humiliation suffered previously.  

After suffering an unexpected strike from South Korea, they had backed down to assess the situation.  

Though justified for national interests, it was a blow to their pride.  

In the meantime, Ikeda Kaito requested a meeting.  

Believing it was important, the Prime Minister and his ministers gathered.  

The meeting’s content was finally revealed.  

It was a declaration of war.  

Just as Kim Si-won attacked Japan, Japan would launch an attack on South Korea.  

Using these Nation Attack Tickets.  

“You can obtain Nation Attack Tickets above the 50th Floor. Of course, since we have them, the U.S., China, and Russia likely have them too.”  

Nation Attack Tickets were not limited to Very Hard Difficulty.  

From the 50th Floor and above, even on normal difficulty, they could drop, though at a low rate.  

Only Ikeda Kaito and his Oni Guild members could acquire them in Japan.  

Though these facts were not shared with the government for security reasons, they willingly kept this secret to preserve Japan’s pride.  

Eyes met in midair—Ikeda Kaito’s and Ha Yeon Lee’s.  

Of course, it couldn’t be denied that Ha Yeon Lee’s efforts were behind this.  

She, jealous of South Korea and Kim Si-won’s success, had provoked Ikeda Kaito.  

“From now on, South Korea will be reminded of the past—the glorious times under Great Japan’s rule.”  

Saying that, she tore the tickets in her hand one by one.  

“Screech, screeaaaach.”  

[Ikeda Kaito of Japan has used an Ability Weakening Ticket on the nation of South Korea.]  

[Ikeda Kaito of Japan has used a Trait Weakening Ticket on the nation of South Korea.]  

[Ikeda Kaito of Japan has used a Reward Reduction Ticket on the nation of South Korea.]  

[Without defensive measures, all designated South Korean Awakeners will receive Ability, Trait, and Reward penalties (72 hours).]  

The effects lasted for 72 hours.  

With this, South Korea was to once again bow to Great Japan’s power…  

[Kim Si-won of South Korea used a Defense Ticket.]  

…But that would never happen.  

No one expected this turn.  

“D-Defense?”  

“Huh!”  

Who would have thought a Defense Ticket existed?  

But it was too soon to be surprised.  

[Due to the Defense Ticket’s effect, all designated Japanese Awakeners receive Ability, Trait, and Reward reduction penalties (144 hours).]  

[Defense Ticket’s effect doubles the penalty.]  

It wasn’t just a simple Defense Ticket.  

Its effect reflected the penalties twice over, causing all Japanese Awakeners to suffer instead—an utterly absurd situation.