Chapter 60

Chapter 60

After realizing her spells would not work on me, Wounded Ciel immediately attempted to put some distance between us, but I wasn’t about to let her do as she pleased.

I discharged the maximum amount of aura that Serpens could handle into the blade. The flowing, elegant body of the sword began to split into segments and elongated. The blade tore into her as it whipped her and wrapped around her body. This whip sword technique, bestowed upon me by Agnes, was called the [Serpent Hunt].

“I’m so happy I don’t have to shout out skill names when I’m using aura in battle.”

The beast resisted fiercely, yet the results of my tireless training came to fruition as my aura overwhelmed her strength. I could feel tears welling up as I thought back to the past two months that I spent toiling to prepare for this floor.

“It’s all over.”

Keeek!

Wounded Ciel was bound by the grip of my whip sword, rendered immobile and helpless. She maintained a poised stillness, her stance evoking the image of a mythical serpent on the cusp of transforming into a majestic dragon. I could read the fear and despair in her eyes as she looked down at me, awaiting her final verdict.

I gripped Europa, my other blade, in my left hand. It was time for our little mermaid princess to get turned into sea foam.

“Goodbye.”

Shunk.

⟬«System» Congratulations! You’ve defeated the Skyscraper of Suffering’s 298th Floor Boss, [Accursed Wounded Ciel].⟭

I removed Europa and retracted Serpens. The extended blade studded wire clicked as it fell back into its original form. Whip swords had a certain charm to them, not unlike when robots transformed and combined.

“It’s so gorgeous.”

«Yes, yes, that’s part of the reason why we wield whip swords.»

I carefully combed through the seafoam that swirled together in pastel hues to retrieve the dropped items. After searching for a while, I came across two items. They were called [Mermaid’s Tears] and [The Spirit Lord’s Harp String].

The [Mermaid’s Tears] were a coveted ingredient, known for its transformative properties in crafting the finest potions. On the other hand, [The Spirit Lord’s Harp String] served a dual purpose as both a melodious string for a harp and a formidable weapon.

They both seemed fairly useful.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World claps enthusiastically.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls happily says there are only two floors left until this monotonous training is over.⟭

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering gives a startled exclamation at the news of your 298th floor completion.⟭

⟬The Critic for Balance starts typing up a plan to make some major updates to the tower.⟭

The Transmigration Bureau was automatically notified whenever I cleared a floor in the Skyscraper of Suffering. The gods all came rushing to send me messages. All the while, the Vatican’s number one drill instructor’s assessment time was in session.

«Excellent work, Cadet Ailette. You’re now able to take care of S-class bosses with stable consistency on your own.»

“That’s quite overwhelming. A whopping S-class boss on my own.”

I checked on my power ranking through the tutorial quest page.

I found myself ranked in an impressive seventh place throughout the entire continent. It was the same rank that I temporarily reached when I used Divine Advent to defeat Ardiman. My divine power level had a long way to go before it could be comparable to what it was back then, but my powers were now synergized together. With the combined might of both my divine powers and aura, I was now able to command powers that rivaled my Divine Advent state.

«I think you can afford to be a little bit more proud of yourself. It would normally take an elite twelve-man task force to take out S-class bosses.»

“Hehe.”

It was as she said. I was a versatile all-rounder, adept at most combat skills and other support functions. I was not limited to any single role since I could just buy whatever relevant skill I needed from the transmigrator cash shop.

I could tank blows, deal damage, heal wounds, and even buff myself during battle, but I couldn’t afford to be arrogant. Soloing an S-class boss was something even a Loop Twenty Tesilid could manage. From an absolute power scale standpoint, I still had a ways to go before I could even approach the protagonist’s Loop Ninety-Nine power levels.

Nevertheless, I didn’t lose hope, for I still had an ultimate, transcendental trump card left.

I wonder what will happen if I use Divine Advent in my current state? I hadn’t used Divine Advent since I un-petrified Mom back in the Black Salt Desert.

I had spent the majority of my days fighting my way up the tower for the past seven years, and the use of Divine Advent was forbidden within the premises. If my memory serves me right, I seem to remember Lord Voice explaining to me that my power level in the Divine Advent state increased in proportion to my base state power levels.

I couldn’t wait to find out how much more powerful my Divine Advent state had become, especially considering how easily I could take down S-class bosses without it.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World raves on about how the Loop Twenty main character’s power level is nothing and that you’ll even be able to make light work of Loop Ninety-Nine.⟭

⟬The Critic for Balance argues that since she’s so OP, Divine Advent should be restricted even once she’s done with the tutorial.⟭

I was a little disappointed that Lord Critic still wanted to nerf me so badly. I decided that I really needed to say what was on my mind today. I didn’t beat around the bush and addressed the god bluntly. Lord Critic, did you forget that I’m going to be dropped into Loop Seventeen after the tutorial? Isn’t it a bit too much for you to prohibit Divine Advent when the final boss is supposed to appear from the get-go in this loop?

⟬The Critic for Balance is startled by your sharp response.⟭

Look here. Even Lord Critic didn’t have an argument against my point, which just proves how scary and powerful the final boss is. It was no wonder he was able to swat the protagonist like a fly in the Loop Seventeen. Thinking about the final boss motivated me to grow even stronger.

«Hm? You’re headed straight up to the next floor?»

“Yes. We’ve no time to waste.”

I stepped up to the stone stairwell leading to the 299th floor. Already aware of the upcoming grind session, the gods of the Transmigration Bureau each imparted words of encouragement before resuming their duties.

Just when I thought everyone had left, an unexpected individual stayed back.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering watches you with anxious eyes.⟭

Hmm? Whatever business could Lord Architect have with me? All nervous and anxious like this.

Lord Architect.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering jumps back in surprise.⟭

You’re hiding something, aren’t you?

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering waves their hands about in panic, feigning ignorance.⟭

Aw, come on now. The system already told me that you’re pretending. Now, can you please tell me?

Lord Architect remained silent for a good minute. I was beginning to wonder if they’d just left when a message finally popped up.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering desperately pleads with you, asking if you can go up to the 299th in a month.⟭

What’s the reason? I stood there waiting, with my hands on the door leading to the 299th floor.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering says they would like to plead the fifth.⟭

Then I guess I’ll just have to go in and find out myself. It probably won’t be that hard to figure out once I’m in the dungeon. Now I really want to know. Even Agnes urged me to move forward.

«We only have two floors left. Let’s hurry in.»

“Yes ma’am!”

I pushed open the towering arched steel door.

Creeeek!

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering screams silently.⟭

Light streamed out of the crack I made. I could feel my entire body slightly levitate as I shielded my eyes from the blinding light. This feeling...

Teleportation? Just as I realized what was happening,

⟬«System» You’ve entered [Slime Farm Cave], an S-Class Dungeon.⟭

How strange. I know I opened the doors to the 299th floor of the Skyscraper of Suffering. How did I end up inside a dungeon? I squinted my eyes and scanned my surroundings. It was a classic, original cave setting found in many beloved games and shows. It wasn’t too difficult to see, thanks to the natural phosphorescent stones embedded in the walls and ceiling.

Colorful, glowing slime globs merrily bounced around the cave. The sheer number of them made me feel like I was in a ball pit.

Ting! Tong! Boing!

I effortlessly swat them away with the back of my aura-enhanced hands. The slimes I knocked away hit the cave wall and exploded.

“Agnes, it looks like we’re really in a dungeon.”

«You’re right. What happened?»

I sort of already suspected what was going on, but I still wanted a solid answer.

Lord Architect, what’s going on?

They finally gave in and explained.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering says the 299th floor is still under construction, so the door was just connected to some random S-class dungeon.⟭

Breaking News! Skyscraper of Suffering, first introduced seven years ago, revealed to still be incomplete and under construction! It was as I thought. I shook my head and gave a curt reply.

Looks like you’re going to have to write up a formal report explaining why the 299th floor isn’t complete.

The words “formal report” seemed to have triggered something in him.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering says this is all your fault for being too OP. They say they didn’t have enough time to come up with something decent.⟭

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering cries out that expending 300 floors’ worth of content in seven years should be virtually impossible.⟭

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering says they secretly raised the difficulty levels for a few bosses, but it didn’t even phase you.⟭

I see. So there were a few secret patches, huh? My eyes narrowed.

Lord Architect finally realized that they’d spilled too much and quickly stopped mid-rant. Judging from the situation, Lord Voice and the other gods weren’t exactly aware of this situation. Then there’s only one way to save Lord Architect from having to write up a report on this incident.

Okay, fine. I just need to find the exit gate and leave this place quietly, right?

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering looks at you skeptically and asks if you’d really do that.⟭

I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to explore this dungeon, but I decided to forgo the opportunity to stay on good terms with Lord Architect. I stuck both of my blades back into the satchel since it didn’t look like I’d need to defeat the boss here anyway. As they all say, actions speak louder than words. Lord Architect finally began to relax as I put away my swords.

“Agnes, it seems the Skyscraper of Suffering has a bit of a problem. We need to find the gate and get out of here.”

«It’s just a dungeon filled with slime. It’s probably not even C-class. Why don’t we just quickly close it?»

“We can’t let our guard down here.” I thought of the dungeon’s grade and name provided by the system. “It may not look like it, but this is an S-class dungeon. The slime globs here are just bred by the actual master of this dungeon as snacks.”

«Ah, I suppose you’re right. We should tread lightly.»

S-class dungeon boss monsters were totally within the limits of my powers, but I still needed to be careful outside the tower. Multiple attempts were allowed within the tower, but the dungeons outside were actual life-or-death battle situations. A single mistake could prove fatal.

Agnes was probably thinking along the same line as me because she readily agreed without much pushback. I suddenly became curious.

Lord Architect, I’m only asking, just in case. Is Divine Advent use still forbidden out here?

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering says the tower’s limitations apply to anywhere that it’s connected.⟭

I sighed. Disadvantageous rules and regulations always seem to apply everywhere I go.