“Ughh…”
The doppelganger trembled.
In fact, their innate ability, ‘Copy,’ was an extremely troublesome power.
It was inevitable since they possessed the memories, personalities, and all information of their absorbed targets.
Not a fake.
Another true one.
That was why even the people of the Gritia Continent, who lived in daily battles against the Demon Clan, struggled to distinguish doppelgangers from friend or foe.
Of course, nothing in this world is perfect.
No matter how much one tries to hide, there’s always something that slips out.
That something was magic energy.
But normal people couldn’t sense it.
Even Knights, known as superhumans, couldn’t.
Only a few with exceptional senses among the Knights, or those who had reached the pinnacle of their art, could discern a doppelganger.
Naturally, I was an exception.
Having once been above the commander of the Undying Legion and able to manipulate magic energy, I could distinguish magic energy as easily as smelling a scent.
However, there was one condition: the distance had to be relatively close.
So, I requested information from the Awakening Bureau about places that manufactured Awakening Potions.
The first location was here—the Elixir Korea Branch.
By sheer luck, at my very first visit, I felt a vivid surge of magic energy, and using Umbra for stealth, I was able to uncover its secrets.
“Please, just kill me… please!”
“Gyaaahhh!”
Trapped inside glass bottles were people, their essence of pain being extracted.
‘Essence of pain…’
I recalled the words of Salmore, the Commander of the Plague Legion, who had casually mentioned it.
- Hoo. Humans are truly mysterious creatures. Their nature is fragile, yet they possess power that surpasses ours, the Demons. Heh heh. So, I researched it. What is the secret of human strength? The conclusion? Emotion. It seems a mysterious power dwells within human emotions. Heh—heh—heh. If we can harness that emotional energy, we might create something useful for our war against them.
Love, anger, fear, and more.
Research continued, using the various emotions of humans.
One such product was the essence of pain now before me.
Materializing the pain humans emit when suffering.
By simply ingesting it, Demons could gain immense power.
But this one mixed his own bodily fluids to create a new substance, known in the world as the Awakening Potion—the Demon Transformation Potion.
“There’s a mastermind behind this.”
A mere doppelganger couldn’t handle something of this scale.
There was definitely someone behind him, and perhaps that was…
“Speak.”
I asked, seeking to turn my speculation into certainty.
The kneeling doppelganger trembled once more, as if electrocuted.
His mind and body were subdued, and he neither dared to attack nor even try to escape.
“Who’s behind this?”
“Th-that is…”
Normally, he would have answered immediately.
There were two reasons for his hesitation.
My lack of overwhelming magic energy.
And that someone with even stronger magic energy than mine had subdued him first.
But this time was different.
“Arrogant!”
With those haughty words, the atmosphere froze.
“Crack, crackle!”
The coldness that seized the surroundings.
It was the unique magic energy of the Undying Legion Commander, which produced cold merely by raising its presence.
In fact, until recently, I couldn’t release this unique magic energy.
Like the Knights’ power, my magic energy had been completely lost.
But through plundering the 65th Floor, I had obtained the Legion Commander’s Bundle, recovering 5% of my magic energy.
Thanks to that, I could imitate the old Undying Legion Commander’s magic energy, at least a little.
“Hgh!”
The doppelganger’s body, exposed to the cold, began to freeze faintly.
“I-I was only ordered to manufacture the Awakening Potion…”
“By who?”
“Elixir Headquarters in America. Arch Freeman, the director…”
There were so many questions I wanted to ask.
Naturally, I thought I could resolve the mystery.
“Ughhh!”
The doppelganger’s entire body melted like jelly and vanished.
The clash between his subdued magic energy and my counterforce created a recoil strong enough to destroy him.
From this, I could conclude:
“Arch Freeman, huh. He must be a much stronger Demon than I thought.”
Arch Freeman, the one who ordered the doppelganger to make the Awakening Potion.
He was undoubtedly a high-ranking Demon beyond my initial expectations.
“P-please… kill me…”
“Please!”
The people’s cries broke through my thoughts.
I looked around.
Inside the glass bottles were those used as raw material to squeeze out the essence of pain.
There was only one thing I could offer them.
“Thud!”
Stamping my foot with force,
“Crackkk!”
Cold began to spread from around me.
It froze the glass bottles and the people trapped inside.
[Pimbolvete]
An intense, great, and perilous winter.
All those exposed to the cold here were freed from pain and entered eternal rest.
[How is it? Did the information we gathered help at all…?]
A rare call from Minister Kim Chaun.
He called, partly to boast about the information they had provided this time.
“It was quite helpful.”
[Kuh! I knew it. I pushed the entire Awakening Bureau to deliver this critical, top-secret info…]
I let those words wash over me.
Though we had agreed to cooperate with the government, I considered whether to share information about the Demon Clan.
‘Not yet.’
Though there was substance, it remained vague.
Sharing such information now would only sow confusion and harm.
At least until I meet Arch Freeman, the mastermind behind this, I would keep silent.
And that moment wouldn’t take long to come.
I had already laid the bait he couldn’t resist.
‘If he has any sense, he’ll investigate the doppelganger’s death.’
Whether it was Arch Freeman himself or one of his subordinates.
Either way, they couldn’t help but move.
[…That’s why I wanted to make sure you recognized our efforts.]
Minister Kim Chaun’s voice pierced through my thoughts.
“Looking forward to close cooperation moving forward.”
I appreciated his hard work.
At that, he replied.
[Of course. Just say the word anytime. Whether it means jumping into the fire, I—Kim Chaun—will use any means necessary…]
Having gotten what each side wanted, we ended the call.
I picked up the transparent vial resting on the table.
The Awakening Potion.
An item worth over a billion in cash—something ordinary people could only dream of.
But its true nature was:
‘A Demon Production Demon Transformation Potion.’
Something once researched by Salmore, the Commander of the Plague Legion, to dominate humans.
Even knowing this, I swallowed it without hesitation.
Colorless, odorless, tasteless.
Only the feeling of liquid passing down my throat.
But then.
“Sssss!”
Cold naturally emanated from within me.
It was clearly denser than the magic energy I had felt recently at the Elixir Research Lab.
“…Impressive.”
Usually calm and composed, I unconsciously muttered in surprise.
“Buzz!”
Magic energy swelled around my heart.
The essence of pain was both a Demon-strengthening enhancer and a crystallization of magic energy.
Just as I absorbed magic energy from Demons, I could convert that energy into magic energy.
Of course, the increase wasn’t huge.
About 0.2% more.
‘The easiest way to increase magic energy.’
Without climbing the Tower or facing Demons.
Just by consuming something, one could increase their magic energy.
That was power.
Power.
No matter how much one desired strength and force, it was never enough.
Especially now, with the Demon Clan as an enemy, it was even more necessary.
Several sharp thoughts flashed through my mind.
Like Minister Kim Chaun hoped, I’d probably need the government’s and Awakening Bureau’s power again.
But that was for later.
***
“Swoosh.”
I pulled out a blue ticket from my pocket.
A National Movement Ticket obtained from conquering the 21st Floor.
Japan had not yet withdrawn from the frontlines.
Another weapon to suppress those who could attack anytime was control over the Tower.
Though I was still unrestrained for a few floors, if it became the 10th or 20th Floor?
‘They’d have no choice but to surrender.’
If I could halt the Japanese Awakeners’ climb alone, they would have to raise the white flag.
And climbing the Tower was also the most reliable method of increasing power.
Through the rewards there, I could strengthen my Knight and magic energy.
“Blansia Bellamin, Agamemnon Saglayer.”
As soon as I called their names, two Knights clad in red and blue armor appeared in the room.
“Chung!”
“Chung!”
Since they lacked stealth abilities—and their flashy armor made them highly conspicuous—I couldn’t bring them to the Elixir Research Lab.
But the Tower was different.
I could use their power however I wanted, a sort of loophole, to climb the Tower.
[You have used a National Movement Ticket.]
[Moving to the selected Tower (Japan), 22nd Floor.]
Without hesitation, I moved.
I arrived on the 22nd Floor.
The first thing visible was a circular arena.
It was far from the elaborate Colosseums one might imagine.
Constructed roughly from interwoven wood, the arena was surrounded by—
“Wooooah!”
“Arrrrrgh!”
Spectators.
But these spectators had green skin, belonging to one of the monsters renowned for their brute strength—the Ogre.
[You have visited Blademo, the Sanctuary of the Ogre, as a representative of the Blood Warrior Clan.]
This was not merely a contest of brute strength.
It was an important trial to select the Demon King’s Legion.
[Stage.]
[Win the tournament matches! Rewards increase with each victory, and the ultimate prize upon winning the tournament is beyond imagination.]
Surprisingly, I was no longer human here.
I was one of the Blood Warrior Clan, among the Ogres.
I was set to participate in the tournament that selected the Demon King’s Legion.
‘This should be easy.’
Tournaments were even better.
I was not alone.
The two Knights, Blansia Bellamin and Agamemnon Saglayer, stood with me.
Though called a tournament, since they entered the Tower with me, we could fight together.
Even if an unforeseen powerful enemy appeared, the chance of my defeat was practically zero.
As I awaited my turn in the match, the situation took an unexpected turn.
[China’s Kwon Liang has used a large-scale Invasion Ticket on the National (Japan) Tower’s 22nd Floor.]
[Regardless of floor progress, Kwon Liang and his party have invaded the National (Japan) Tower’s 22nd Floor.]
“Flash!”
Light erupted from the center of the arena.
Appearing alongside it was a swarm of dozens of Awakeners.
‘China?’
Though the ticket user was China, there were many who seemed to be Japanese Awakeners among them.
“Kim Si-won!”
They shouted angrily.
Their purpose was clear.
A China-Japan alliance.
It had been quiet for a while, but clearly, a conspiracy had been brewing.
A Sino-Japanese collaboration.
“Do you really expect to live after insulting the great nations?”
It was obvious there was some kind of item observing me, just as when I killed Lu Hong.
And their preparation was thorough.
[China’s Kwon Liang has used an Ability Weakening Ticket on individual (Kim Si-won).]
[China’s Kwon Liang has used an Ability Weakening Ticket on individual (Kim Si-won).]
[China’s Kwon Liang has used an Ability Weakening Ticket on individual (Kim Si-won).]
A relentless barrage of ticket usage echoed.
Truly China.
As a long-standing pillar of the top four and ranked 3rd strongest nation, they tore through countless tickets.
[Current Ability Weakening level on individual (Kim Si-won): 50%.]
An enormous penalty to my abilities had accumulated.
But it didn’t end there.
[China’s Kwon Liang has used a No Return Ticket on National (Japan) Tower’s 22nd Floor.]
Immediately, a restriction preventing Return Stone use was applied.
I was now in a situation where, with 50% lowered stats and no access to the Return Stone, I had no choice but to fight them head-on.
And yet, it wasn’t over.
[The Tower’s trial has been changed.]
[Use any means necessary to eliminate the enemies (Kwon Liang and his party) before you.]
[Additional rewards can be earned based on the time taken to defeat the enemies.]
The Ogre spectators filling the stands—
“Pop”
Vanished.
The trial changed with the arrival of the China-Japan alliance.
Now, in the arena were the invading Sino-Japanese forces, myself, and two Knights.
But it was an overwhelmingly disadvantageous battle.
A 50% drop in abilities meant even I would face a tough fight.
‘Use any means necessary.’
My focus was on the change in the trial.
Realizing what that meant, I faced the enemy charging fiercely at me head-on.
“Hahap!”
Their well-prepared momentum was like a fierce wave.
It was a level even I found difficult to handle.
But that was fine.
“Sssht!”
I tore a purple ticket from my chest pocket.
[Republic of Korea’s Kim Si-won has used a Forced Ejection Ticket.]
[The target, Kwon Liang and his party, do not have Forced Ejection Protection Tickets.]
[Kwon Liang and his party have been forcibly ejected from the 22nd Floor.]
[Due to forced ejection, all ticket effects used so far have been nullified.]
I could bid them an unregrettable(?) farewell.