Chapter 33: Can’t Let the Finishing Blow Slip Away!

“……”

The arena, once filled with joyous anticipation of victory, fell into an eerie silence.

It was only natural—beside the dying Death Knight appeared a living, breathing Death Knight.

“Goooooo!”

The terrifying martial aura radiating from that being instantly turned cheers and joy into despair.

Lu Hong, enraged by this unwanted 1+1 event, spat out a curse.

“Damn bastard!”

And the target of all his rage was none other than Kim Si-won, who had used the Named Summon Ticket.

Attack?

Of course, it was somewhat expected.

Even if the opponent tried to strike during a moment when they couldn’t climb the Tower, they must have stockpiled some tickets.

Moreover, China had suddenly intervened, so it was reasonable to think Kim Si-won might attack out of anger.

Still, the reason for rushing the 65th Floor assault was because he had a Defense Ticket.

The one obtained from conquering past the 60th Floor, it protected the user from attacks that reduced stats, traits, and rewards.

Because of that, he thought he could handle any retaliation sparked by a moment’s anger.

But, to his surprise?

Kim Si-won used a Named Summon Ticket that rendered Lu Hong’s Defense Ticket useless.

A ticket he didn’t even know existed.

Naturally, he was unprepared and was exposed defenselessly.

But, he stopped those trying to pull out their Return Stones.

“Don’t retreat!”

Return Stones were useful items that allowed escape from the Tower’s crisis and a return to the real world.

But using a Return Stone would undo all the efforts made so far.

You could say, just try again later?

True, even if a Return Stone was used, waiting out the 10-day cooldown meant the 65th Floor could be challenged again.

Yet now, the situation was complicated.

His gaze fixed on Ikeda Kaito and Ha Yeon Lee, who were preparing Return Stones.

In exchange for attacking the Republic of Korea, he had borrowed the power of Japan’s top Awakener Ikeda Kaito and the exceptional Supporter Ha Yeon Lee.

But the promise was for one use only.

‘This is already agreed upon; if not now, conquering the 65th Floor will be near impossible.’

How often would he get the chance to borrow the strength of Japan’s top Awakener and Supporter?

If he missed this opportunity, he would likely lose second place to Russia by a hair.

He had to conquer the 65th Floor this time to claim second place.

“Stubborn, Lu Hong.” Ikeda Kaito spoke, seeing through Lu Hong’s greed.

“We came to lend strength, not to risk our lives in a dangerous gamble. So it’s time to back off.”

That was all.

The party’s current strength was enough to defeat one Death Knight.

But two was a different story.

Even if one was nearly down, facing two Death Knights was excessive ambition.

“No. It’s possible.”

“You…” Ikeda Kaito was about to rebuke Lu Hong’s continued greed.

But in the next moment, he was left speechless.

“Divine Possession.”

Lu Hong’s specialty—divine possession.

A powerful trait that called upon a specific spirit to inhabit his body, allowing him to manifest the abilities of that spirit.

Sometimes a tank.

Sometimes a dealer.

Sometimes a Supporter.

An all-around versatile trait.

And now, Lu Hong had chosen.

Overlord of Chu.

Xiang Yu, called the Overlord of Chu.

Originally, it was his ace card, saved for emergencies, but now he possessed it through divine possession.

“Swoosh!”

He transformed into a towering figure over 2 meters tall.

“Huuuu!”

With a fierce shout, he thrust off the ground and charged at the two Death Knights.

“Kwang!”

“Woooosh!”

Reaching out, a milky white crescent blade appeared, rushing toward the Death Knights.

“Kaang!”

Blue flames lingered on the sword as it was blocked, sparks flying.

“Uoooooo!”

But even though the attack was blocked, he did not stop.

Thrusting with tremendous force, he began to push the Death Knights back with raw strength.

“Kgrak, kgrak!”

This was none other than.

‘Power that can shake mountains and cover the world’.

The monstrous strength of Xiang Yu.

“Weak humans!”

To aid the pushed-back Death Knights, Deloffin swung his sword.

“Hwa-reuk!”

Wrapped in Return of Spirit Fire, that sword contained powerful corrupt energy.

“Kaang!”

Yet remarkably, Lu Hong took the blow barehanded.

No flesh was torn, no wounds visible, not even a scratch.

Of course, it wasn’t that he was unharmed.

‘Backwater Formation’.

One of Xiang Yu’s divine possession abilities that disperses incoming damage over time.

For example, if he received 30% damage, it would be spread out at 1% every 30 seconds.

Naturally, Yan Lingshin, a talisman specialist Supporter from Pacheon Guild, flew a healing talisman toward him.

‘Healing Talisman’.

“Fwaaak!”

The pale green talisman inscribed with Chinese characters glowed on Lu Hong’s body, easing the recent damage.

Backwater Formation allowed even the strongest attack’s damage to be dispersed, so combined with healing, it made for incredible tanking.

Lu Hong was showcasing the epitome of a tank by using Xiang Yu’s power to endure against the Death Knights.

“Attack!” At the sight of Lu Hong’s valiant defense against two Death Knights, Ikeda Kaito could no longer insist on opposing.

‘Damn it. He was hiding this move all along.’

While amazed at Lu Hong’s overwhelming tanking power, he was naturally wary.

They had temporarily joined forces, but Lu Hong remained a mountain to be overcome someday.

That was why he urged him to give up.

But now that things had come this far, there was no choice.

‘Then minimize the damage as much as possible.’

They fought with all their might to bring the enemy down.

His hand moved to the sword at his waist.

Grasping the hilt tightly, he bent his knees slightly.

Like a spring ready to leap.

Draw.

“Swoosh!”

A streak of energy extended from his fingertips.

“Smash!”

It pierced the Death Knight’s abdomen, slicing through the martial aura and sturdy armor alike.

“Guhk!”

The noble bloodied blade dealt fatal damage to the undead.

The powerful strike caused the Return of Spirit Fire on the Death Knight’s eyelids to slowly fade.

If they could just take down this one, defeating the newly summoned Death Knights would be easy (as they had assessed them to be weaker than the 65th Floor Death Knights).

They could do it.

Just as Lu Hong and everyone began to feel hopeful, Deloffin, the summoned Named, swung his sword and shot out a green cluster.

“Circle of Corruption.”

The tense Lu Hong party flinched, but it wasn’t aimed at them.

“Sssrk.”

The Circle of Corruption, a skull-shaped mist, drifted toward the weakening 65th Floor Death Knight.

In the next moment, the fading Return of Spirit Fire flared again.

“Flash!”

The Return of Spirit Fire, filled with dark energy, signified the revival of corrupted power.

Amazingly, Deloffin was a rare type of Death Knight capable of healing.

“For the plan of the Great One.”

“Punish all that live.”

Regaining his corrupted energy, Kraize , the Death Knight, began radiating his deathly aura once more.

***

‘It won’t be so easy.’

They had no idea that I was watching the isolated 65th Floor.

Right before my eyes, as if a hologram, the scene of the 65th Floor was being broadcast in full.

Thanks to the Observation Ticket, a new item obtained from conquering the 21st Floor.

This ticket allowed the user to observe any place they wished, like watching through CCTV.

Thanks to it, I could see what was happening on China’s 65th Floor as clearly as if looking at my palm.

‘Stronger than expected.’

Honestly, I thought a Named Summon Ticket would be enough.

But unexpectedly, Lu Hong’s party was strong.

Even with one more Death Knight, they were still fighting valiantly.

“Don’t give up. You can do this!”

But their opponent possessed outstanding leadership.

Though driven by greed.

Yet his excellent tanking and ability to keep the party from despair, standing at the front to boost morale.

Thanks to that, even in a situation ripe for retreat, the party maintained formation and fiercely battled the two Death Knights.

“Attack!”

“Don’t falter.”

‘Yes. Don’t give up.’ I smiled watching their stubborn fight.

Grasped tightly.

The white ticket in hand.

It was a powerful weapon that would strangle their enemies’ lifelines.

***

“Haaaaaah!”

Lu Hong’s booming shout.

But it was no mere roar.

A Lord’s Cry.

The Overlord Xiang Yu was renowned not only for his brute strength but also his exceptional leadership.

His shout raised the morale of his allies, temporarily enhancing their stats.

Following his cry, the party members were temporarily boosted and unleashed a fierce assault.

“Bam, bam!”

The Death Knights were pushed into a corner.

Deloffin, summoned through the Named Summon Ticket, was spent of his Circle of Corruption energy and lay rolling on the ground in ruins.

The party had focused their assault, having realized this Death Knight was far weaker than the previous one.

Thanks to that, the lone was now trapped.

All this was a miracle brought about by Lu Hong’s divine possession of Xiang Yu, granting him incredible tanking.

He was an immovable mountain.

Deloffin and Kraize couldn’t surpass that mountain and suffered continuous damage from the powerful attacks of Ikeda Kaito.

With only 20% HP restored, the Death Knight faced grim odds.

“Haaaah!”

It thrashed wildly, trying desperately to escape.

“Thud!”

The holy energy-infused sword scattered the corrupt energy.

“I am the Great One’s, the Legion Commander’s sword. I shall not fall here…”

“Die!”

The fading Return of Spirit Fire.

Sensing that this was the end, all party members simultaneously surged forward for the finishing blow.

Though exhausted from fighting two Death Knights, they charged Kraize drunk on the joy of impending victory.

They had won.

Everyone was sure of it.

[Kim Si-won of the Republic of Korea has used an Invasion Ticket on the 65th Floor of the Tower belonging to the nation of China.]

[Regardless of the floor’s conquest, Kim Si-won has intruded into China’s 65th Floor.]

Named summons, healing—none of this had been anticipated.

But this invasion ticket was something no one could have dreamed of.

Right before their victory.

‘Rain Thunder God’

“Flash!”

A burst of blinding light exploded.

And the next moment.

“Crackle!”

A time-warping trajectory pierced the crown of Death Knight Kraize ahead of the party.

“Thunk.”

Kraize’s head, devoid of Return of Spirit Fire, fell limply.

[Kim Si-won of the Republic of Korea has acquired the rights to the rewards of the 65th Floor of the Tower belonging to China.]

Originally, Kim Si-won had no rights to the 65th Floor rewards.

But by delivering the decisive finishing blow—what is called the ‘final hit’—to the Named Kraize, he gained the claim to the rewards.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Two parties held rights.

Lu Hong’s party and Kim Si-won.

“If you attack others, you should expect to be attacked yourself.”

With a face that seemed void of emotion, Kim Si-won, holding the lightning rod emitting white sparks, coldly glared at the exhausted Lu Hong party after their battle with the Death Knights.

“Crackle, crackle!”