Chapter 19 (2/2): So, who’s the rat trapped in the poison now?

I broke through Shinhwa Guild’s strict guards and approached the Tower.  

Of course, they had prepared well, with several possessing Detection and Search Traits scattered around.  

But I confirmed their patrol range through the Soul-Reading Mind’s Eye, avoiding detection to safely reach the Tower entrance.  

[Kim Si-won, you may enter the 5th floor.]  

[Warning! Starting from the 5th floor, party formation is mandatory on the Union Floor.]  

[Currently available party members: 1. It is advised to conquer this floor with companions.]  

The warning came as soon as I stepped forward.  

I resisted the power pushing me lightly away.  

“Step.”  

I took another step.  

[Entering the 5th floor, Union Floor, alone.]  

[Very Hard difficulty selected.]  

[The Very Hard Trial of the 5th floor begins now.]  

Of course, I chose Very Hard.  

The surroundings started to shift immediately upon selection.  

What trial awaited this time?  

As I glanced around with questions, I recognized a familiar scene.  

‘…Training ground?’  

An open space with a maintained floor.  

It resembled the common training grounds of Gritia Continent.  

In front of me stood several wooden training dummies.  

But these weren’t ordinary dummies.  

[You have overcome your inner Nightmare and gained the right to choose your opponent.]  

[Select one of the wooden dummies to choose a sparring partner matching your level.]  

Each dummy bore an inscription: Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Nightmare.  

Five dummies, representing a choice of opponent difficulty.  

‘Is this a reward for overcoming the Nightmare on the 3rd floor?’  

Seems like it was a reward for defeating the Nightmare, Malice Krenkel, on the 3rd floor.  

I had already selected Very Hard upon entry.  

But now, with these five difficulty options, it meant the upcoming trial could be as brutal as usual—or even deadlier than Very Hard.  

Most would seriously hesitate at this choice.  

But—  

“Step.”  

I moved forward without hesitation.  

“Swoosh!” 

I cut the dummy labeled ‘Nightmare.’  

[Nightmare selected.]  

[One of the deepest fears within your mind will be summoned.]  

The Tower guarantees better rewards at higher difficulties.  

So I didn’t hesitate.  

To hasten my day of revenge.  

Of course, I chose this confidently because of my skill.  

“Tsutsu, tsutsutsu!”  

The dummy colored over.  

Like a 3D printer creating something, legs, torso, and head formed in an instant.  

“Huh?!”  Unease surged through me.  

Replacing the dummy was a middle-aged man with a terrifying scar on his face, as if worms crawled beneath his skin.  

“Malice Bastide!”  

The one who ordered the annihilation of the Malice Family.  

The enemy who, after achieving his goal, pinned all the blame on me and exiled me from the Asran Kingdom.  

“Flash!”  

His sinister crimson eyes, wide open, stared directly at me.  

[We wish you success in this reckless challenge.]  

The message echoed in my ears.  

Apparently, the Tower considered my challenge reckless.  

And he said,  “Come! I, Malice Bastide, will deal with your arrogance!”  

He didn’t recognize who I was.  

Well, of course.  

He was a replica generated by the Tower to fight Awakeners climbing it, lacking full past memories.  

Just a copy.  

But—  

“Hahaha ha ha ha!”  

Who cares if he’s a replica?  

Here before me, the lingering nightmare I could only bury deep in my heart appeared.  

“Swoosh.”  

I drew my sword.  

There was no need for words between him and me.  

The only conversation to be had was through blades.  

“Come, traitor of the Malice Family!” Just one phrase.  

“Noooom!”  

That struck his nerve.  

“Clang, clang!”  

***

It was over in an instant.  

Blades clashed with a thunderous shower of sparks.  

[Congratulations!]  

[Kim Si-won of South Korea has cleared the 5th floor on Very Hard difficulty.]  

[First to achieve a 3-star rating on the 5th floor Very Hard difficulty.]  

[Obtained dominion over the 5th floor of South Korea’s Tower.]  

[Kim Si-won appointed as administrator of the 5th floor.]  

[By administrator authority, entry to the 5th floor is prohibited until entrance conditions are reset.]  

The Tower’s message struck South Korea like a thunderclap.  

It even overturned everyone’s expectations: he had cleared the 5th floor, the Union Floor, alone.  

Naturally, this was deeply unpleasant news from Shinhwa Guild’s perspective.  

“The time has come!” Shinhwa Guild executives and Shin Chulwoo, guarding the Tower’s entrance, brightened with excitement.  

“Bring him in!”  

At Shin Chulwoo’s calm order- 

Space Gate.  

Trait: Space Gate.  

A kind of portal connecting spaces.  

An oval-shaped Space Gate opened.  

“Step, step, step.”  

From there, a large number of troops appeared.  

‘Kim Si-won. I knew you would try to conquer the Tower.’  

With Kim Si-won’s successive exploits, Shin Chulwoo and Shinhwa Guild weren’t just twiddling their thumbs.  

They couldn’t let him grow or spread his wings freely, so they prepared thoroughly to guard the Tower.  

That was just the first step.  

Even if he sneaked in using entrance tickets or the like, it wouldn’t matter.  

Because after conquering a floor, one always returns to the Tower’s entrance—so they set a trap to prevent escape.  

Through the pre-connected Space Gate, they summoned all personnel from Shinhwa Guild, allied Guilds, and subordinate Guilds.  

“Surround him so not a single ant can escape. Those with Detection and Search Traits, position them at designated points.”  

Nearly a thousand Awakeners formed an impenetrable Heavenly Net of Earth and Sky.  

Once preparations were complete, from the darkened Tower entrance emerged a figure. 

“Ssshhh.”  

Of course, he was—  

“Kim Si-won!”  Shin Chulwoo’s shout echoed thunderously through the hall.  

Kim Si-won, the pesky fly who had disturbed Shinhwa Guild’s affairs, finally showed himself.  

[Barrier: Forest of Thorns]  

“Tsutsu, tsuttsutsu! ” 

With the activation of this Trait, the surrounding environment rapidly changed.  

A forest filled with sharp, steel-like thorns sprouted everywhere.  

An illusory space created through the barrier Trait.  

A powerful barrier that restricted movement and range of action through thorns that inflicted unbearable pain upon contact.  

They had called in a Barrier Master specifically to trap Kim Si-won and created a perfect stage.  

“No matter who you are, you won’t move freely in this barrier.”  

Shin Chulwoo looked ahead, triumphant.  

But—  

No change in expression.  

As if all this didn’t concern him at all, he maintained his indifferent calm.  

“Ha ha ha ha! Don’t pretend to be calm. You’re already a rat in a trap. You’ll pay for the torment you caused me and the Shinhwa Guild.”  

That was all bluff.  

Who wouldn’t be shaken facing a barrier with a thousand Awakeners guarding it?  

At this point, Kim Si-won’s fate should have been sealed.  

But—  

“Thunk!”  

He slammed his sword into the ground.  

That single action changed everything.  

[Sword’s Tomb]

“Ziiiiiiing—”  

A ringing in the ears.  

The Barrier Master’s Forest of Thorns shattered utterly.  

Then—  

“Tsutsutsutsu!”  

The gray-shrouded surrounding space transformed.  

In a flash.  

When the instant passed, what surrounded us was countless swords.  

Thousands of rusted, blood-stained, half-broken, yet still emanating energy blades.  

“Answer the call.” Kim Si-won muttered quietly.  

“Wooooong!”  

The surrounding swords began to react.  

As if they possessed their own will, thousands of blades emitting sword spirits rose and they hovered in midair.  

And in this unbelievable sight, pointing at the surrounding Guild members, Kim Si-won’s indifferent words struck everyone’s eardrums like thunder.  

“Now, who’s the rat trapped in the poison?”