Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 95: Twenty-Fourth Floor, Kokkari Swamp (1)

“Graaaah!”

A deep, guttural roar echoed through the swamp, reverberating through the murky waters and chilling me to the bones. The sound was so fierce that I mistook it for a tiger’s roar for a split second.

Unfortunately, the source of the ominous sound was far more dangerous than a tiger; fifteen hulking, crocodile-like beasts were emerging from the depths of the swamp. Despite their terrifying appearance, my initial reaction wasn’t fear, but curiosity.

How on earth are they balancing those massive heads while standing on two legs?

Of course, that question was irrelevant right now. Shifting my focus back to the creatures, I quickly noted their dangerous aspects. Although they weren’t wielding weapons, their claws’ sheer length and sharpness would more than serve as replacements.

Claws, teeth, and tails. I will need to keep my eyes on all of those.

Their massive forms didn’t seem built for speed, though I didn’t anticipate this being a particularly difficult battle, regardless.

As I stood there, assessing the situation, the beasts began to move and form a slow, deliberate circle around me. Finally, a notification popped up before my eyes.

[Swimming Argar]

- A predator of the Kokkari Swamp that likes to hunt in packs.

- It is encased in tough, almost impenetrable scales.

- Once it detects the scent of blood, it utilizes its keen sense of smell to relentlessly track the source of blood. If the source of the smell has slain another argar, it will pursue the killer even more aggressively.

So, they possessed a powerful sense of smell, and if I killed even one of them, they would track me without mercy. That meant that once the battle started, I would be attacked by these beasts throughout the entire swamp.

Thankfully, I didn’t need to worry since I had already prepared for this. The deodorizer would mask our scent, and even if their blood splattered on me, I could just reapply it. The fact that they found us despite the deodorizer suggested we had ventured too close to their territory.

“Doppy, can you handle the rear?”

“Kriee! No problem!”

“Good. I don’t expect any real trouble, but if things get hairy, use your protective barrier.”

“Kriee! Barrier, got it!”

The argars were now fully out of the swamp, and their hulking frames only grew more impressive as they crept closer. If I wanted, I could finish them off easily using Lightning Essence or Master of Shadows, but I thought it would be wiser to gauge the floor’s difficulty first.

Before they got too close to Doppy, I sprang forward and launched myself across the wet, muddy ground.

The swamp’s thick, squelching mud clung to my boots and slowed my pace. I shook it off before swinging my axe in a wide, horizontal arc. The lead argar raised its claw to block the blow, but its defense proved futile against the sheer force of my strike.

“Graaaah!”

Shink—

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I sliced through its thick, scaly hand, leaving a deep gash across its belly. As soon as the strike had landed, I realized the argar’s hide was firmer than I had anticipated, as the blade didn’t glide smoothly through its scales. Though I hadn’t used my full strength, the strike was still extremely powerful.

Its hide’s toughness is probably on par with a greatworm's.

Regardless, the argar crumpled to the ground.

“Graaaah!”

The others immediately lunged at me in unison. One snapped its powerful jaws toward me, another lashed out with its tail, and a third swiped at me with its claws. Although they sought to overwhelm me with their numbers, none of them could match my speed.

I should start with the closest one.

As the creature lunged at me, jaw gaping wide, I slammed my axe upward into its chin. The blade drove through its lower jaw before ripping through the roof of its mouth and penetrating the other side. Broken teeth scattered across the ground as I heard the impact echo faintly. Its broad, mangled tongue slithered down between its fractured jaws.

Without hesitation, I wrenched the axe free and pivoted sharply to deal with another argar. Its tail swung toward my waist, but I parried it and used the rebound to redirect my blow back toward the attacker. My axe landed solidly, cleaving deep into the argar’s chest.

Crunch!

The sharp sound of bone crunching reverberated as the beast stumbled, its balance lost. I kicked it viciously in its abdomen, tearing my weapon free.

“Graaahh!"

My last attacker was striking from the right. I didn’t have to do much, however, since the force from its thrashing tail sent it crashing to the ground in front of me, back exposed. With a swift, diagonal strike—from lower left to upper right—I cleaved through its neck and left its nape mangled.

In a mere breath and a half, I had slain three argars—four, if you counted the initial one.

Enough with the axe for now.

It was time to test the might of Master of Shadows and Lightning Essence.

***

[Eliminate the heretics from the Kokkari Swamp or survive. Time remaining: 47 hours 14 minutes.]

Thirty minutes had passed since my battle with the argars.

I sprayed more deodorizer and kept walking, my thoughts growing deeper.

Heretics, monsters, dark mages, criminals...

Despite what the notification had suggested, I hadn’t seen any enemies since the initial attack. Maybe the heretics were gathered at their base, given that they supposedly ruled this swamp.

I would go and find them, but the problem is, I don't know where their base is.

Even Doppy wasn't able to guide me this time. My Sixth Sense was usually sharp, but it wasn’t offering any guidance either.

This situation was rare, but not completely unheard of. Doppy didn’t always know the way, and my Sixth Sense wasn't always on point.

This swamp was said to cover half of the eastern continent. I couldn't be sure of its exact size, but it had to be massive to warrant a description like that. I worried whether I could find the heretics' base in this endless swamp in only forty-seven hours.

Of course, considering the original time limit...

The heretics' base should be within a day's journey from where I was summoned. Unfortunately, that didn’t solve the real issue—I still had no idea in which direction to head.

Maybe I should pick up the pace a bit.

Currently, I was heading west from the summoning point, and if I was heading in the wrong direction, I would have to change course and waste a lot of time. Additionally, if luck wasn't on my side and I had to search in all four directions, I would need to move quickly.

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Clack—

Coming from somewhere in the now-familiar mud, I heard the distinct sound of a mechanism activating. I instinctively knew it wasn't an arrow or projectile trap, so I immediately activated Flash Strike, spun around, and scooped Doppy into my arms before sprinting away from the trap.

“Doppy! Barrier!"

“Kriee! Barrier!"

Boom—

A heartbeat later, an explosion erupted from where I had just been standing. Black smoke filled the air, and clumps of mud flew skyward.

Thanks to Doppy's barrier, I didn't feel the heat, but the fierce shockwave pressed against the barrier as mud fragments rained down onto us.

That was close. However, that explosion is bound to draw the heretics in now that I think about it.

Enemies would soon arrive, and I found myself smiling. The reason was simple: a trap meant the heretics' base was likely in this direction. Of the four initial directions, I had chosen to head west based on a gut feeling, and it seemed to have been a good choice. Now, all I needed to do was hide and observe the heretics.

I activated Shadow Veil.

“Shh, don't say anything until I tell you to."

“Kriee! Okay!"

I extended my senses as far as they would go. Amid the sounds of insects and small animals moving about, I caught faint signs of a person in the distance. I also felt ripples in the swamp, similar to the ones caused by the hidden argars. And finally, I sensed hurried footsteps approaching—clear and unconcealed.

A scout, maybe? A heretic patrolling this area?

If they were moving alone, it meant they were confident in their abilities. They had to be someone important in the cult.

Tracking this heretic seemed wise and could help me avoid running into argars again. I turned toward the approaching presence.

“We're moving. Follow me quietly."

Doppy nodded, tension etched on its face.

The heretic’s presence came from an area hidden by thick, overgrown bushes. I carefully moved forward, ensuring not to leave any trace. The presence was closing in, moving even faster now, almost as if they were running.

Have they picked up on us somehow?

I tensed and readied for battle. At their current pace, they would reach us in about twenty seconds.

And soon enough, a figure burst out of the underbrush.

“Huh?"

Just as I instinctively moved to swing my axe, I recoiled in surprise.

A heretic hadn’t emerged from the bushes—it was Comet. Thin and frail, he looked like he hadn't washed in a while and was covered with mud. I only recognized him because of his eyes, his necklace, and the sword he carried.

I dispelled Shadow Veil, and Comet immediately fell backward in shock.

“Whoa! Mr. Kwon Su-Hyeok?"

“Comet?"

“What are you doing here? No, wait, we need to get moving, fast. The heretics will be coming here to check on the explosive trap."

“Okay. Let's catch up later."

Comet quickly scrambled to his feet, scanning our surroundings before turning around. He led us through a rough path hidden in the swamp. I assumed it wasn’t frequented often, due to the thick bushes that brushed against our faces.

As I instinctively pushed aside the bushes, Comet turned to stop me.

“Don't. If we leave traces, they'll follow us."

“Ah... But I already cleared the bushes on the way here."

“It's fine. We still have to take a long detour to reach my hideout anyway."

***

[Eliminate the heretics from the Kokkari Swamp or survive. Time remaining: 46 hours 14 minutes.]

It took us an additional forty minutes of brisk walking to reach Comet's hideout. It was a small dugout, well-concealed between the towering trees, and it appeared far too cramped for the three of us to fit comfortably.

I considered suggesting that we remain outside to talk, but seeing Comet anxiously scan our surroundings, I felt compelled to follow him inside.

The dugout was so narrow that we had to crouch down to enter. I handed Comet some water and food, and his eyes began to well up with tears. Now hidden from the outside, Comet began recounting everything he had experienced thus far.

“Not long after I was appointed the Great Warrior, the heretics started to reveal their true nature."

“You mean they began to act openly?"

“Yes, and there were far more of them than we had anticipated. They didn’t waste the fifty years they had spent preparing."

Comet's voice was thick with sorrow.

“Three of the seven kings even betrayed us. They haven’t announced it publicly, of course, but they labeled His Holiness the pope as an apostate. They claimed the disappearance of the goddess was his fault... and then they declared war."

“So that’s how the Holy War began."

I had heard about it from Ha Hee-Jeong. The twenty-fourth floor’s trial—at least for the other climbers—consisted of small-scale skirmishes against the heretics. It seemed like, out of all of the believers of the goddess, only Comet had ended up in this swamp.

Yet, his story only caused more questions to arise within me.

“The betrayal of the kings, hmm... The people still have faith in the goddess, so wouldn't revealing yourself as the Great Warrior help to resolve some of these issues?"

“I wanted to do that, but the heretics moved too swiftly. By the time I escaped the desert, the three traitorous kingdoms had already turned against us."

“I see."

Comet fidgeted nervously as he recalled the recent events. I wondered why, in the midst of a Holy War, Comet was here instead of the front lines.

Just as I was about to ask, Comet continued, “Ironically, it was the three kingdoms surrounding the Dumie Desert that betrayed us."

“It must have been incredibly challenging to make your way back to the Order."

“Indeed. While I was traveling along the border, the goddess granted me a revelation."

“A revelation?"

“Great Warrior, go to the Kokkari Swamp."

So that was why he hadn't returned to the Order but came here instead.

Comet had appeared subtly worried as he relayed the goddess's message, but he smiled faintly as he turned to look at me. “At first, I couldn’t comprehend it, especially with the Holy War about to break out. I knew there were heretics in the swamp, but it seemed impossible to deal with them alone."

I fell speechless upon hearing his remark.

“But now, seeing you here, Mr. Kwon Su-Hyeok, I finally understand why the goddess gave me that revelation."

Having heard his story, I decided it was time to address the core issue. “The goddess sent you here to eliminate the heretic forces, right?"

“Yes, that must be her intent. Unfortunately, after spending a week in this swamp, I began to lose hope. I couldn’t see any clear path forward."

So he had been here for a week. Given the distance between the desert and the swamp, roughly two weeks must have passed since the twenty-third floor ended. For me, it had only been twelve hours in the waiting room, but evidently, quite some time had elapsed.

This reminded me that the flow of time in the tower differed significantly from that of other realms—planet Soborn and the master craftsman from the Dimensional Forge for example.

“A week, you say. You must have endured quite a lot. I can't even pretend to say you look well, not even as a formality."

Comet let out a curt laugh. “Haha. I covered myself in mud to avoid argars and have just been hiding from the heretics."

It wasn't exactly a humorous statement, but it didn’t really matter. After spending a week in this tiny dugout, he had to be genuinely relieved to see me.

Having realized that, I felt a sudden wave of sympathy wash over me. This time had likely been exhausting for him, lost in enemy territory and unable to wield the goddess's power.

“While I was conducting my usual reconnaissance, I heard the explosion. The animals and heretics here never set off traps, so I knew an ally had to have triggered it."

“So you rushed over."

“Yes. Anyone who made it this far into the forest wouldn't be weak, and if an ally had survived the explosion, I thought I could maybe provide them assistance." Comet paused for a moment, swallowing hard. “And to think it was you, Mr. Kwon Su-Hyeok! It felt like discovering a ray of light amidst the darkness."

Comet looked up at me, his eyes brimming with hope. The brightness in his gaze was almost overwhelming.

I scratched the back of my head and offered a somewhat awkward smile. “Comet, could you explain the cult’s base layout?"

“Oh, I got carried away. I don’t know every detail, but I’ll tell you everything I do know."