Chapter 167: Arrival of Tower in Earth

Tower.

There was no one left who remembered when or why the Tower was built.

It had simply existed since time immemorial, notorious only for shattering countless dimensions.

Of course, countless people had tried to conquer the Tower.

Just as many dimensions as had been destroyed by the Tower, just as many methods had been attempted.

“Groooar!”

“Guwaah-.”

In the era when wild beasts ruled the world, every kind of creature, sensing their impending doom, rushed at the Tower that had manifested in reality.

“In the name of the gods!”

“In the name of the gods!!”

During the era of divine rule, holy knights blessed by the gods ascended the Tower by divine revelation.

“In the name of the Murim Alliance Leader, I will slay that fiendish being!”

There were also those who climbed the Tower, empowered by the system, wielding powerful martial arts.

“Ice Crystal—Orb of Storm!”

And some who ascended the Tower with even stronger magic, also enhanced by the system.

So many had tried to climb the Tower, yet in the end, not a single one had completely conquered it.

In the end, all failed.

Now, the Tower had arrived at the last remaining dimension in existence, aged, worn, and rusted as its time came to an end.

This would be the last time.

And so, the final Tower began its descent into reality. 

“Rumble—”

***

It had already been a week since the Third Gate Burning.

A time that could be called short, or long, depending on one’s perspective.

During that time, some countries had completely contained the Gate Burning, while others still struggled.

Some, overrun by Monsters, had given up their countries altogether and chosen mass emigration.

– Following Greece, the Nation of Germany has also declared an end to the Gate Burning crisis.

As many nations announced the end of Gate Burning, discussions continued endlessly on how to accept the flood of immigrants.

There were also heated talks about providing aid to nations that still hadn’t solved the Gate Burning problem…….

In the midst of these discussions, one fortunate thing stood out.

– Korea’s reconstruction is progressing rapidly.

Even by global standards, it was an overwhelming pace.

– Now that the Gate Burning has been completely resolved, the nation is once again debating the dispatch of Hunters.

– With the uncertainty of when another Gate Burning might occur, citizens are anxious about reckless deployments, but the situation in allied nations is even more dire than in Korea……..

The countries that had managed to withstand Gate Burning, Korea among them, were gradually regaining stability.

Rebuilding buildings, returning to work, getting their bodies moving again.

So many Monsters and items had poured out during Gate Burning that just cleaning it all up took ages.

The damage had been great, but the loot left behind by the Monsters was a massive help.

The most common ‘Magic Stones’ became a valuable energy source, greatly aiding economic recovery, and the land where Monsters fell regained its lost vitality.

As people slowly started regaining their spirit.

As worries faded and hope began to blossom.

At the very moment when everyone let out a sigh of relief, it finally happened.

“Rumble—”

“Is, is that an earthquake?”

“Get down!”

“How long has it been since the Gate Burning ended….”

“Don’t tell me it’s Monsters? Monsters burrowing up from underground or something!”

The ground began to tremble.

Not only in Korea.

All across the globe, the earth shook simultaneously.

At first, everyone just assumed it was an earthquake or a Monster attack.

But before long, something began to appear in their vision.

“Th-That is…!”

Dust rose from the ground.

And through the haze, a gigantic structure soared upward.

It was so colossal it could swallow an entire mountain, far larger and taller than any structure on earth.

The endless Tower pierced through the clouds, rising ever higher, unsatisfied even with that.

Just gazing at it inspired awe—the Tower was that massive.

The moment it appeared humanity could only think of one word: ‘destruction.’

“Ahh…..”

“Rumble”

“It’s here.”

The instant I felt the tremor, I knew immediately that it was the Tower.

It was something I’d already seen once before, through the White Feather Fan’s prophecy.

“Nam Bora, have all Vulcanus Guild members prepare for combat.”

– “Is it because of this earthquake? If you know something……”

“There’s no time. Just get them ready.”

– “Understood.”

Where would the Tower appear, you ask?

I knew at least the direction.

In the future I saw using the White Feather Fan, I’d witnessed the Tower rising from my veranda window.

But I didn’t know exactly where the Tower would manifest.

So, even if I wanted to tell Nam Bora, I couldn’t give a precise location.

“Guess I should get ready too?”

I wasn’t as shocked as I had been in the future shown by the White Feather Fan.

Thanks to the White Feather Fan and the Tower’s manager, I’d already foreseen the Tower’s arrival and had prepared accordingly.

Once I finished my simple tasks, I immediately used ‘possession’ to transfer into my assistant’s body.

The one I possessed was Production 1.

However, Production 1 wasn’t on the floor below me.

It was on the roof of the Vulcanus Guild.

I’d sent Production 1 here to make ‘it,’ and once my possession ended, I’d instructed Production 1 to continue the work.

And finally, now—

It was time to complete ‘it.’

When the possession ended, a cool breeze greeted me.

The Vulcanus Guild’s building was so tall, the view from the rooftop was spectacular no matter how often I saw it.

Off in the distance stood the Lotte Tower.

To the side, the Namsan Tower.

And—

“Rumble—”

Even the Tower itself was rising, shrouded in dust.

Soon, when the Tower was fully risen, monsters would pour out from it, flooding the world.

Even though I’d prepared, if as many Monster Waves came as in the future I saw with the White Feather Fan, it’d be impossible to stop them all.

Hoping all my efforts climbing the Tower so far would pay off, I looked over my handiwork.

“Took quite a while.”

What was prepared on the Guild’s rooftop was a cannon.

Not just any cannon—so massive, it would put even the ‘Char Cannon’ to shame.

It must have weighed over 40 tons, the barrel over 6 meters long, with a caliber approaching 100 centimeters.

“Well, for this size, it needed all those materials.”

A cannon of this scale needed a huge amount of materials.

No wonder it took so long to build.

Compared to the trebuchet I’d once built to clear a Rank 8 Gate, this siege engine was on another level.

But that’s not all.

For this cannon, I’d used a magical mechanism instead of gunpowder.

Using Magic Stones, Firestone, Explosive Ore, and even Rune Script, I’d made it so cannonballs could be fired without gunpowder.

It looked simple, but I’d put a lot of thought into it.

And also—

‘I even added SS-Class Material.’

A precious SS-Class Material had gone into this cannon.

Hoping it would be classified as Legendary Grade, I began the finishing touches.

I couldn’t predict exactly when the Tower would appear, but thanks to Production 1 staying behind and working continuously, all that was left was the final step.

“Clang!”

I swung my hammer.

As the transferred flame from the possession spat blue fire, the Rune Script engraved on the cannon became even deeper.

As the vibrations grew, and the Tower pierced the clouds, I hit my final strike—

[Production complete.]

[You have acquired the ‘Black Shatter Cannon’.]

The item was complete.

I wanted to shout for joy.

Since it was nothing like a normal item, I worried it might not be classified as Legendary Grade, but—

“Good.”

Thankfully, the cannon was rated Legendary Grade.

Its attack power was immense.

With the cannon complete, I picked up one of the cannonballs piled beside it.

There was an enormous number of cannonballs.

Because I’d used a variety of materials, each one was unique.

Using S-Class materials I’d collected leisurely while climbing the Tower, as well as high-grade materials from the recent Gate Burning, I’d made these cannonballs.

Among them was a cannonball made from SS-Class Material, for emergency use.

I loaded one of these cannonballs into the barrel.

I could fire it myself, but since aiming wasn’t really my specialty, I summoned Production 2 for targeting.

Then, to carry the cannonballs during combat, I called up Guild master 1, who was waiting below.

With that, preparations were complete.

At that moment—

“Groooo—”

The air trembled.

It was as if the Tower itself was roaring.

As if announcing its arrival on Earth.

As if declaring that its work was about to begin.

And then—

“KYAAAAAAH-!”

“Grraah.”

“Karrk!”

Monsters began to pour out from the Tower.

Just like the future I’d seen with the White Feather Fan.

Goblins, Zombies, Kobolds, Orcs, Ogres, and more were pouring from the first floor’s exit.

A wave of Monsters, all different, never stopping.

As if they intended to destroy this world immediately.

A Monster Wave that screamed of annihilation.

But even so—

A smile rose to my lips as I watched the Monster Wave.

“It made a difference.”

There were fewer Monsters.

Of course, it was still an overwhelming number, but compared to what I’d seen in the White Feather Fan’s vision, the number was clearly reduced.

The two statues had said the White Feather Fan was more prophecy than prediction, that it could be wrong, but even so, the Monster Wave was smaller than in that future.

That alone filled me with satisfaction.

This much—I could handle it.

A vague confidence welled up inside me.

– “Vulcanus, I’ll deploy all Guild members.”

– “Did you…… know this would happen?”

“First, let’s take care of that.”

– “Yes.”

I could hear the Vulcanus Guild members deploying below.

No doubt, the Hunter Association and large guilds like Changcheon and Mir had also noticed the Tower and Monster appearances and were sending their members.

“WEEOOOW~!!” Sirens blared.

Just as I’d heard in the future from the White Feather Fan.

I heard people screaming, saw them fleeing from the Tower and Monsters.

So far, there was little difference from the future I’d seen.

If things played out as before, the Monsters would attack, and tremendous casualties would follow.

“Hold the line!”

“Boom!!”

As soon as they arrived, the prepared Vulcanus Guild members began intercepting the Monsters.

Other Hunters joined as well.

Even though the Gate Burning had ended, Hunters were still on standby, just in case—now they rapidly mobilized to stop the Tower’s Monsters.

It was barely, but a standoff was forming.

But this wasn’t all the Monsters there were.

“KYEEEAAAK!”

Wyverns took flight.

A massive serpent coiled down the Tower.

Though the scale of the Monster Wave was reduced, the number of Monsters was still immense.

And now, I am too ready for battle.

“Fire—.”

Even though my real body was still holed up inside my room.

Even if I wasn’t personally fighting the Monsters, just making and operating the cannon—

I was a blacksmith.

I simply did what I could as a blacksmith.

“Begin!”

“Boom!”

The cannon fired, and the cannonball soared toward the Monster Wave.