Chapter 16: Nightmare 2nd Floor (4)
Chapter 16: Nightmare 2nd Floor (4)
The scenery shifted, and I was transported to the Reward Room.
“What?”
I stared at the message regarding the new rule in shock. Die if you don’t enter within three years? In other words, the Tower intended to kill off every Climber who hadn’t even attempted the 1st Floor.
“…What kind of crazy bullshit is this now?”
It seemed the number of Climbers wasn’t just going to keep increasing as we ascended. To think rules could be added like this.
I checked my status window. My level had jumped by 10, reaching Level 25. My Willpower had also increased significantly. Moving my body, I could feel my Physical Ability surging as if it had taken a massive leap forward.
Boom!
When I tried jumping forward from a standstill, the stone floor beneath my feet gouged out, and my body propelled forward with explosive force. I stopped and looked down at my feet. The soles of my shoes were completely shredded, unable to withstand the impact.
Well… how should I put this? It wasn’t exactly news, but I could clearly feel myself becoming something other than Human. If I keep getting this much stronger with every floor, just how powerful will I eventually become?
Lost in thought, I checked the other rewards. Aside from the Magic Stones, there were two glowing stones nearby. Based on their shapes, I could tell they were a Skill Stone and an Enhancement Stone.
I wondered what skill I’d get this time. Ideally, I wanted another one from the Magic category.
A passive skill. I knew that passives were generally considered more valuable than actives because they remain in effect constantly without consuming Willpower.
“Tch.”
Still, I preferred Magic. Feeling a bit disappointed, I read the description. It seemed like a decent enough skill. Enhancing physical capabilities the more I move…
I used the Skill Stone immediately. To test it out, I started moving. Since the effect would disappear if I stopped, I ran around the Reward Room without a break.
“Oh.”
I could feel it. A sense of exhilaration began to rise, like my blood was pumping faster. Accordingly, my body grew swifter, and my senses sharpened. Once I reached a certain point, I didn’t get any faster.
Is this the limit of the enhancement?
The description didn’t provide specific numbers, but it felt like a 20% to 30% boost—not quite 1.5 times. At my current level, that was essentially like gaining 5 to 7 levels worth of stats for free. It was a very solid skill.
Next was the Skill Enhancement Stone.
Last time, my only option was Flame Strike, but I had just acquired a new skill. Should I use it on Flame Strike or Exaltation? If I used it on Flame Strike, I’d likely get a third fireball. For Exaltation… it would probably just increase the limit of the physical boost. I wouldn’t know unless I tried.
My heart leaned toward Flame Strike. For me, Magic skills offered the highest efficiency. It was all about selection and focus. After some deliberation, I decided to save it for later. There was no rush.
Had it been about an hour? It was likely still the middle of the night outside. I’d worked hard enough; it was time to head out and rest.
The famous podcast The Jude Noise was a show that invited guests from various fields to discuss diverse topics. This time, the guest was Arlo, a US current affairs commentator and influencer. Known for his blunt, cynical analysis of social phenomena, he had a massive following of both fans and haters.
The theme of this episode: Nightmare 2nd Floor and the Future of Humanity.
“There will be no miracle this time. Humanity is already finished,” Arlo declared from the start, living up to his reputation.
Jude, the host, pushed back. “Many people feel that way, but is there really no hope? Even though one person failed, there are still five Nightmare Conquerors left.”
“Five people, Jude. Do you happen to know the survival rate for Nightmare Difficulty 1st Floor?”
“Let’s see. Nearly 40,000 people have challenged it, and only six succeeded. So, the probability is about 0.015%.”
“Correct. And that’s after the information for the 1st Floor was made public. Until the first Nightmare Conqueror appeared, about 25,000 people were sacrificed. If you calculate it based on the time before info was available, the survival rate is a mere 0.004%.”
Arlo gestured with two fingers.
“People need to realize how ridiculous those odds are. Do you know the probability of a person being struck by lightning in their lifetime? It’s about 0.007%. So, hoping even one of those five succeeds on the 2nd Floor is like picking five random people off the street and hoping one of them has been struck by lightning—actually, the odds are twice as bad as that. How does that make you feel?”
“That’s absurd,” Jude said, shaking his head.
“But aren’t the Nightmare Conquerors the elite of the elite who cleared that brutal 1st Floor? Shouldn’t their chances be higher?”
“Unfortunately, no. Statistically, there isn’t a single difficulty where the survival rate for the 2nd Floor is higher than the 1st. As the floors go up, the Climbers’ abilities rise, but the difficulty rises even faster. That is the law of the Tower. Nightmare is no exception.”
Arlo continued, “The USA, which challenged the floor first, failed. The government, which bragged about betting the national destiny on clearing the 2nd Floor, has yet to release an official statement. But we can all guess what happened, can’t we? They likely invested everything they had—every Skill Stone and item they could find was poured into their challenger. And the result? That’s why I say there are no miracles. The deadline for the Nightmare is only a few weeks away. Everyone, please abandon these petty hopes. Accept the end and enjoy your remaining life with an optimistic heart. That is why I am here.”
“I see. So, Arlo, you are one of those ‘Terminalists’ people are talking about lately?”
Those who had already concluded the world was ending were now called Terminalists rather than Doomsdayers, and the phenomenon was spreading uncontrollably. Whether it was people committing crimes because the world was ending anyway, or cults emerging to promise salvation through the Tower’s god, radical groups and religious organizations were becoming a serious social problem.
“I won’t deny it, but I’m not telling people to run around like hoodlums causing chaos. I just want people to spend their remaining lives in peace. I’m already doing so.”
“How so?”
“I’ve liquidated all my assets. I’m spending money freely and enjoying my time with my family. Once this broadcast is over, I’m traveling to Asia. I always said I’d go someday but was too busy. Now, I’m going. Jude, why don’t you quit the show and do what you’ve always wanted?”
“Haha, should I? Though I’d hate to quit now—I really want to broadcast the moment the world ends live.”
As the show continued, the staff members suddenly began whispering. A frantic staffer rushed over to deliver the news.
“…We just received word that the Nightmare 2nd Floor has been cleared!”
Both men froze, their eyes wide. Jude stared at Arlo, who looked utterly stunned before clearing his throat.
“…Amazing. I suppose you can’t say miracles never happen.”
News of the Nightmare 2nd Floor clear spread, sending the world into another frenzy.
While people wondered who had cleared the 2nd Floor, there was someone who already knew. Billon Must sat in his office chair and punched the air.
“Hahaha! My gut was right! I knew it!”
Beside the jubilant Billon, his secretary Ellen continued her report.
“We received a reply immediately, Chairman.”
“Great! What did he say?”
“He confirmed that he cleared it. He said the Leap skill you provided was a huge help. He sent his thanks.”
As soon as the announcement for the Nightmare 2nd Floor clear appeared, Billon had sent a whisper to Person123 to offer his congratulations—and to confirm if it was truly him.
The reply had come back instantly. Hearing those words from Ellen, Billon felt an indescribable sense of fulfillment. The first Nightmare Conqueror had acknowledged his contribution. It had been a long time since a man of his stature felt such a need for validation from another.
But this man deserved it. He was the Messiah carrying the fate of all humanity. First the 1st Floor, now the 2nd. Once could be a fluke, but twice was no coincidence. Billon was now certain his choice was correct. He was special. He was the only one. The only being worth betting hope on.
Billon quickly calmed his excitement and organized his thoughts.
“Right. The connection is established. Now I just need the goods…”
Now that the results were in, the path forward was clear: All-in. He would invest everything into that man. He needed to secure as many Skill Stones, enhancement stones, and items as possible. By any means necessary.
Ellen spoke up. “By the way, this new rule… things seem to be taking an ominous turn.”
The rule stating that any Climber who doesn’t enter the Tower within three years will die.
“Is the Tower trying to filter out the dead weight? You’re safe, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’ve already cleared the 1st Floor.”
“The Bureau of Climbing must be having a headache right about now.”
New Climbers and those who had been avoiding the Tower would all start diving in at once; the fallout would be massive. Of course, that was the Bureau’s problem, not Billon’s.
Billon sank into deep thought, contemplating how to continue aiding Person123 and how to forge an even closer bond with him as a supporter.