Step, step—
The group began their ascent of the tower.
"Let's go."
"...Understood, Akumo."
"Wait... are we really just walking in that boldly?"
"There seems to be no other way but to ascend, comrade."
On the very first floor, they encountered a certain presence.
"You there!"
""""?""""
A man called out to them with a cheerful voice.
"You seem to think you're quite strong, don't you? Why not try proving your skills in this tower?"
"What are you talking about...?"
"The name of this tower is [Babel]. If you reach the top, I'll give you something amazing!"
"[Babel]...?"
It was a name far too familiar to them.
"My name is Carissa. Congratulations on becoming a Climber of the tower."
Despite their confusion, Carissa simply smiled and guided them further inside.
Step, step—
"There are no gimmicks in this tower. It simply stands here."
"...So you're saying we literally just have to climb?"
"Just as the Elf lady said—climb. That's all there is to it."
At Carissa's instruction, Ryu Lion fell into brief thought before addressing the group with a plan.
"I will use [Luminous Wind] to scout the exterior. The rest of you should search the—"
Swoosh—!
"Wha—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a silver blade lunged for Ryu's throat.
Clang—!!
"Who are you?"
"...A knight who has taken root in this tower."
Even though his attack was blocked by Mikoto, the knight before them calmly raised his shield.
"Kion."
A renegade knight who had fled into the tower.
Nothing more than a failed climber bound to this place.
"Level 5...? No, is he around Level 6...?"
"He doesn't seem to have any hidden cards. I'll provide the opening, so let's attack together!!"
Whish—!!
""!!""
With orthodox swordsmanship and a steadfast posture, Kion, having somehow recovered his arm, charged at them.
Clang—!!
Boom—!!
"...!?"
'He's tougher than I thought...! His speed and power are well-balanced... this is troublesome!'
"Are you also Climbers?"
Kion spoke calmly to the flustered Hedin Selland.
"Who are you! What exactly is your identity to be in a place like this..."
Screech—!
"If you are Climbers, then simply climb."
"...You have good strength."
"If you cannot, you will simply be bound here."
Kion showed his superior strength by pushing back Hedin's sword head-on.
Crackle—!
"!!"
'Magic...!?'
"[Varian Hild]."
However, the Elf before him was a magic swordsman.
He was a being capable of using powerful magic while simultaneously possessing elite swordsmanship.
"Level 6 from the very first floor..."
"This is not good..."
Hedin had cleared the floor alone, but that was only possible because he was a high-tier Level 6 powerhouse.
Ryu, who would have been decapitated in a single blow before her growth, and the others who didn't even reach Level 3, couldn't help but be tense.
"...Regardless, we cannot back down."
Schwing—
"Let's go up."
Despite the danger, they had to ascend the tower.
"Artemis... surely this place is..."
"It's likely the tower you know better than I do... that tower..."
The Goddesses were reminded of the tower built by humans that they themselves had once brought down in the past.
"But how...?"
If so, why was that tower standing here now?
Step, step—
To find out, they had no choice but to keep climbing.
Slight nod—
"I wish you an enjoyable climb."
Carissa watched their retreating backs with a smile.
"O [Hero]."
Grin—
"Or should I say... [Heroes]?"
The group began to systematically conquer the tower.
Boom—!!
"...!!?"
'He's strong...!!'
"Human!! You are soft!!"
A giant stood before them, radiating a pressure even greater than Kion's.
"My name is Harpu!! A proud warrior of the Giant race!"
He possessed massive strength, enough to break through even the strengthened Akumo's defense in a single blow.
Crash—!!!
Crackle—!!!!
"Urgh...?"
In that opening, green arrows and yellow light orbs enveloped the giant's body.
Sizzle—!
"Useless!"
Harpu's regeneration rendered those attacks meaningless in an instant.
"Just draw his attention!! I'll be the one to pierce through!!"
Slash—!!
Akumo, however, possessed the offensive power to overcome that regeneration.
Thud, thud—!!
"You annoying...!!"
Crack—!!
"!!"
'His legs are...'
While his attention was drawn by Hedin and Ryu's attacks, damage accumulated from Akumo's strikes faster than he could regenerate, and Harpu's legs were severed.
"Sleep."
Slash—!!
Soon, the group was able to proceed to the third floor.
Step, step—
Moving forward without delay, they immediately encountered their next opponents.
""Are you the [Climbers]?""
Twitch—
"Chianslopes...?"
"Two opponents this time..."
Two men stood there, twitching their beast ears and clenching their fists.
"My name is Regado."
"My name is Resado."
Tighten—!!
Two brothers who had sought strength through their own fists.
""We are [Beast Martial Artists].""
Swoosh—!
Their fists instantly filled the group's vision as a barrage of attacks rained down.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—!!!
"""!?"""
'So fast...!! In terms of attack speed alone, they're faster than Allen Fromel...!!?'
'I can't react...!!'
'They're too strong!'
Regardless of their Level, their fists were incredibly fast. Trusting only in their own durability, the group was forced to endure the pummeling.
"Urgh...!!"
Whoosh—!
'I have to create distance somehow!'
Slash—!
In the interim, Hedin managed to swing his sword and sever one of Regado's arms.
Thud, thud—!
"Creating distance only benefits us."
Sizzle—!
"""!!"""
Regeneration was a basic trait for them as well.
Lightning-fast fists and a regeneration that allowed them to ignore incoming damage.
It was a unique martial art they had forged by combining their strengths.
Grab—!
""...Huh?""
The strategy to beat them was surprisingly simple.
"You both have pillow fists."
Unlike Harpu, who focused on raw power, their fists could not pierce Akumo's durability.
'Standard attacks won't work.'
"Everyone, prepare to attack."
Grip—!!
""!!""
Akumo firmly grabbed both of their hands.
He surged his energy and gave the signal to everyone.
"[Futsu-no-Mitama]!!!!!"
"My body is...!!!"
"So heavy!!!"
While Mikoto's gravity magic pinned them down along with Akumo.
Crackle—!!
Hum—!
Swoosh—!!!
The group's combined attacks targeted the brothers along with Akumo, successfully clearing the floor.
Sizzle—
"Where on earth did these guys come from...?"
The party felt a sense of doubt as they looked at the fallen Resado and Regado.
No matter how wide the world was, why were they here? Why did this tower appear before them?
"There's no need to overthink it. Regardless of the reason or how it was made."
Step, step—
"There are enemies before us, and if we can win, that's enough."
Mysterious opponents. Why did they all exist in this tower?
Flare—!
"[Hajin]. No further explanation is needed."
A woman conjured dozens of fireballs, powerful flames blooming from her hands.
"Whew..."
There was no room or reason for thought.
Boom—!!!
"...Lukewarm."
"!!"
'Is my attack power not enough to pierce through...? Even so!'
She would never let them approach, keeping them at bay with an inexhaustible supply of fireballs.
With that thought, she surged her mana once more.
Swoosh—!!
But she wasn't fighting just one person.
Thwack—!!!!!
Clang—!!!!!!
The higher they climbed the tower, the more difficult the opponents became.
"To think you can trade blows with me!!"
One who had shattered the limits of humanity.
He traded punches with Akumo using monstrous physical abilities.
Thud—!
"Haah... haah..."
'We only went up one floor...'
The regeneration was impossible to pierce unless it was Akumo himself, and the strength was a match for his own.
"Good work... Akumo."
Pat—
"I should be the one thanking you. Thanks for healing me."
Even so, they climbed.
Grind—!!!
"Is this for real...!!!?"
A small person, no larger than a speck of dust.
Yet, the warrior clearly had a form, dodging every attack and dragging the battle out longer than any other opponent.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!!!"
Smack—!!!
"One hit!?"
Compared to the ten minutes it took just to find him, the creature's durability was pathetically weak.
"Incredible! To think you've climbed this far, how surprising!"
"...The reward?"
"Haha! If the tower were this short, why would it be named [Babel]?"
Carissa, appearing out of nowhere, simply laughed and opened another staircase for them.
Rumble—!
"Since I've set it so you won't be able to climb this time, do your best to go up."
As if refusing to take any questions, Carissa vanished.
Clang—!!!!
"Everyone get back!! This one is strong!"
"For a fate destined to vanish meaninglessly."
Tighten—!!
'He gets even stronger here!?'
A warrior consumed by a black aura.
In the past, he was a hero called a [Braver], but he was a being who had fallen due to some circumstance.
Slash—!!
"Since you've entered this tower, life is a luxury."
Clang—!!
"My name is the Fallen Hero, [Sigil]."
Of course, neither had any reason to tell or listen to the story behind it; Akumo and Sigil simply swung their swords at each other.
Rumble—!!
"!!"
'The sword's form changed—'
However, Akumo also had a hidden card.
"[O Black Holy Sword, spread your wings.]"
The Black Holy Sword, having sprouted wings, cut through Sigil's neck.
"Haah... haah..."
Akumo had conquered the floor once again, but in his mind, the situation was not good at all.
"Akumo..."
"I think it would be best to take a short rest."
Despite Ryu and Mikoto's concern, Akumo's head was filled with questions about where the end of this tower lay.
'That guy just now was the limit of my pure strength... If this tower is the same as the Babel in Orario...'
There was no chance of victory.
"...It's fine. It's not like I didn't expect this."
Even so, he had to climb the tower.
"My name is [Elmeraad]!"
Clang—!
An eccentric warrior clad from head to toe in emerald-colored equipment.
Yet his skill was first-rate; the power of the being before them did not pale even in comparison to Ottar.
"[Paidun]."
A master of many weapons, unleashing a barrage of attacks with dozens of armaments at once.
Thud, thud—!!
"It will be different from those stray dogs."
"Die, Climber!"
[Lucina] and [Luciner].
The Lamina sisters, who attacked with even greater speed and power than the brothers despite wearing small shields on both hands.
'Are they mocking us...?'
Even against such powerful foes, Akumo couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.
========================
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