NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 170
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
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< Chapter 170: White Tower Ruins (5) >
「An envoy of the Pantheon?」
Keratosuchus nodded in response to Lodbrok's question.
「Originally,
「And that’s you?」
「That is correct.」
Keratosuchus shifted its gaze toward Theo.
「The ‘White’ in White Tower symbolizes purity. White is created when all light converges into one. In other words, it’s a place where the gazes of all the gods seated in the Pantheon can reach.」
“So gods really do exist?”
Since there were demigods like Kyle and Hilda, Theo didn’t outright deny the existence of divine beings.
However, he had never truly witnessed a divine miracle firsthand.
While religions existed in this world, their influence was minimal—most likely for that very reason.
「They do exist. Though they might differ greatly from what you imagine.」
“……?”
「The typical image humans conjure of gods—omniscient and omnipotent—is somewhat distant from the reality. Most of them lack a proper form. They are generally ■■ ■■■■ level of Ideals, ■■■ ■■■ ■... Oh, it seems there’s a filter preventing me from saying more.」
Keratosuchus let out a bitter laugh, scratching its chin before winking at Theo.
「Still, here’s a hint: the ‘things’ you’ve been seeing are also related to the Pantheon. That’s all I can tell you.」
“……!”
「The ‘things’ my companion sees? Companion, do you understand what this one is saying?」
Thump thump thump!
Theo couldn’t properly answer Lodbrok’s question.
His heart raced rapidly.
‘He knows about the messages!’
The strange blue messages that were invisible to other Selectees.
They resembled the ‘game system’ he experienced in his first life, both in form and interface, raising countless questions.
Could it really be connected to the Pantheon?
“Then this is……!”
「Ah, I can’t explain further. Filters will activate anyway. However, as you progress through ‘iterations,’ you will naturally come to understand, so there’s no need to worry.」
Theo tried to ask another question, but Keratosuchus extended a hand to stop him.
「So, there really is something. As expected, you are different from the other companions.」
Lodbrok appeared intrigued as she watched from the side.
Theo clenched his fist tightly.
He became certain that gathering the relics of the Ancient Dragons was perhaps the only way to uncover secrets related to himself and his family.
「In any case, if I were to explain this White Tower, you could consider it one of the few sanctuaries where the gods' will can be projected due to my role as an intermediary.」
Theo listened quietly to the explanation.
「Because of that, every move you make here will be closely observed by the gods.」
“The gods… are watching me?”
「That’s correct. And—」
Clap!
The moment Keratosuchus clapped lightly, countless message windows floated behind him.
[■■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■.]
[■■■■ ■■■ ■■!]
[■■■■■ ■■■ ■ has entered ■■■■■.]
[Interest ■■ ■■■■■ ■■ ■■■.]
[■■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■. ■■■■■? ■■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■ ■■■■■.]
.
.
「As you can see, quite a number of them are currently
The sheer number of messages appearing and disappearing repeatedly was dizzying to look at.
「What unpleasant gazes.」
Unlike Theo, who could see the messages directly, Lodbrok seemed to sense the gazes.
Theo, too, strongly felt as if he were being watched from somewhere, filling him with discomfort. It was as though sticky mites were clinging to him, refusing to let go.
「I ask you for your understanding. It’s been a very long time since they’ve had the chance to see a proper candidate. Also, you shouldn’t view them entirely negatively. After all, the evaluation and rewards for the relic trial here will ultimately be decided by them.」
「So, we need to appeal to our investors, huh?」
「...I’d say that’s a bit too direct.」
「There’s always a hierarchy, from creators to patrons to landlords. Hmm-hmm! Please take good care of us.」
Lodbrok cheerfully waved her hand toward the messages.
[A fervent welcome ■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■.]
[■■ ■■■■■ ■ ■■■■■. Enjoy■■■!]
[Delighted■■ ■■■ ■■■■■! ■■■ ■■.]
.
.
「I’m not sure what they’re saying, but they seem quite pleased.」
「They’re praising your excellent performance... though this is also my first time experiencing something like this, so I’m a bit flustered.」
「I’ve never personally faced the gods of the Pantheon, but they don’t seem as rigid as I’d imagined. If they were here in the lower realm, they might’ve been good drinking companions.」
[Agreement from the dragon’s■■ ■■■■■■■■!]
[■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■ ■■■■■!!]
Theo could sense that the previously indifferent gazes were now brimming with enthusiasm, leading him to realize that gods were far more emotional beings than he had imagined.
‘Or rather, maybe it’s because they’ve detached themselves from worldly affairs that they’re even more passionate and driven by emotions?’
In any case, Theo felt many of his preconceived notions about gods shattering.
“So, what is the trial I’ll be facing?”
Though the mysteries of the White Tower had opened in his previous life, Theo felt that the trial he would experience now might differ greatly from what it had been back then.
「It’s a journey of self-exploration.」
“Self?”
「Yes. You will delve into your unconscious mind, into what is imprinted in your genetic bond. Deeper still, you’ll traverse the collective unconscious, towards the archetypes... You will explore not only your soul but the
Keratosuchus continued explaining while stroking the walls of the tower.
「The ‘White’ in White Tower symbolizes the gods, but it also signifies the souls of the candidates. Ascending the tower is paradoxically a journey downward, towards one’s roots.」
Ding!
[A Guardian, Keratosuchus, has proposed a journey of self-exploration. It involves reflecting on yourself, taking time for introspection, and uncovering the secrets of your soul.]
[However, the unconscious is another world. If you delve too deeply and cannot escape, there is a high risk of self-imposed isolation. Proceed with caution.]
「The tower consists of 13 floors. Your evaluation and rewards will be determined by how many floors you ascend. What do you think? Will you attempt it?」
Without much hesitation, Theo nodded.
Having resolved to gather all the relics, he couldn’t back down from this either.
Rather than whether he could climb all 13 floors, his concern lay in how he would conquer them.
Keratosuchus smiled.
「You’ve made the right decision. Let’s begin.」
Clap!
As Keratosuchus clapped once again, his figure vanished.
In his place, the White Tower began to transform.
Rumble—
The spiral staircase that had been lining the walls now converged toward the center.
At the end of the staircase, it settled directly in front of Theo.
A red carpet was laid out as if inviting him to step on it and ascend.
「The world of the unconscious is not something to be taken lightly. It’s the realm of imagination, where the laws of the real world don’t apply. What’s illogical here becomes the norm there. You must be careful.」
“Actually, there’s something you don’t know, Lodbrok.”
「Something I don’t know?」
“To be honest, few things are as easy for me as the illogical.”
How could anything be more illogical than experiencing a fantasy world while retaining fragments of an Earthling's memories or enduring regression?
With Lodbrok seeing him off in the background, Theo passed through the first floor and ascended to the second.
As he did so, the first floor of the White Tower lit up brightly, and Lodbrok’s figure vanished without a trace.
This was the exact moment when the first floor of the White Tower had illuminated in the outside world.
Fwoosh!
[You have entered the second floor.]
When Theo fully passed through the curtain of light, he saw a man seated on the wide marble floor with his back turned toward him, sitting cross-legged.
Unlike Theo’s white attire, this man was dressed entirely in black. His short white hair contrasted with Theo’s long black hair.
The man, seemingly deep in thought, didn’t react to Theo’s presence.
Theo hesitated for a moment, as if he knew who this figure was.
[To fully enter the world of the unconscious, you must first unlock the ‘Door of Consciousness.’]
[Defeat the person in front of you to open that door.]
At that moment, the seated man slowly rose to his feet and turned toward Theo.
Just as their attire and hair color were opposites, the man’s blue eyes shone in stark contrast to Theo’s.
However, the face was identical to Theo’s—like a twin.
Flash!
The blue-eyed Theo stomped hard on the ground, launching himself forward.
In his hands were a white Moon-White Sword and a black Dragon Slayer Sword, the opposite of the real Theo’s weapons.
Clang!
Theo swiftly drew his own Moon-White Sword and Dragon Slayer Sword, blocking the attack.
That’s when he realized it.
The strength, the skills, the techniques—everything about this opponent was exactly the same as his own.
So that’s why the trial required him to defeat himself.
“This looks fun.”
When else would he have the chance to face such an opponent?
Theo smiled, but the blue-eyed Theo did not.
[‘All Buff’ state initiated.]
[Time limit: 10 minutes.]
[The countdown begins.]
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Dragon’s Heart and Theo’s lower dantian pulsed rapidly, resonating with one another.
As his Dragonborn mode activated—taking much longer than before—Theo released his grip on the Moon-White Sword and Dragon Slayer Sword.
‘If this guy truly has the same skills and techniques as me, a head-on confrontation won’t lead to a decisive outcome. In that case…!’
He decided to test a newly conceptualized combat strategy.
It would either succeed completely or fail utterly.
But Theo bet everything on success.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The Moon-White Sword and Dragon Slayer Sword didn’t just fall but surged through the air as if racing ahead on their own.
The Spirit Mausoleum Blade, which had been hanging at Theo’s waist, detached from its scabbard and shot upward as well.
Now, three swords—Moon-White, Dragon Slayer, and Spirit Mausoleum Blade—converged, falling toward the blue-eyed Theo.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each time the blue-eyed Theo retreated, one sword embedded itself into the ground.
Dust clouds rose, and cracks spread across the marble floor.
By the time he had dodged all three swords, the blue-eyed Theo found his back pressed against the wall.
He was trapped with no escape.
Screech—
Seizing the moment, Theo drew Drake’s Blade and charged.
The blue-eyed Theo twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike.
The greatsword pierced deep into the wall where he had just stood.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Using the embedded sword for leverage, Theo sprinted sideways along the wall.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Large fissures formed across the surface.
Amidst the countless flying debris, flashes of lightning surged.
Boom!
Rumble!
A wave of thunder enveloped the blue-eyed Theo, forcing him to roll across the ground in haste.
Another greatsword barely grazed him as it swung past.
But Theo’s relentless assault showed no sign of slowing.
The three swords—Moon-White, Dragon Slayer, and Spirit Mausoleum Blade—that had been embedded in the ground were now floating again, moving through the air under telekinetic control.
Previously, Theo had only been able to utilize short swords for this technique, Death Beat, but with his greatly improved magic control, even long swords were now manageable.
And the lightning dragons created from this technique—
Crackle!
They were on a completely different level compared to the lightning dragons of Death Beat.
Roar!
Three massive, fearsome lightning dragons surged forth, their maws wide open as they bared their fangs.
The Moon-White Sword was ruthless.
The lightning dragon, embodying the fierce instincts of a griffin, trampled over everything in its path as it relentlessly pursued the blue-eyed Theo.
Boom!
The greatsword in the blue-eyed Theo’s hands shattered instantly.
A visible expression of astonishment spread across his face.
The Dragon Slayer Sword was razor-sharp.
It moved with the precision of Kriemhild’s swordsmanship, its speed too overwhelming for the blue-eyed Theo to react in time.
Slash!
Thud!
His right arm was severed and flung into the air.
The blue-eyed Theo clenched his teeth and retreated, his left hand instantly glowing with lightning energy.
If swordsmanship wasn’t enough, he seemed intent on turning to magic.
Lightning Bolt!
Lightning surged before him, filling the second floor with blinding light.
Yet the Spirit Mausoleum Blade met the magic head-on.
As the lightning dragon twisted its massive body and exhaled its breath, the spell veered sharply upward, raking across the ceiling in a chaotic burst.
The blue-eyed Theo was flung back by the resulting shockwave.
By the time he landed, his body was more than half destroyed, scorched completely black.
The once-handsome face was now grotesquely disfigured with burns.
Yet neither pain nor fury dominated his expression.
Instead, there was something else—confusion.
“You’re wondering why you’re losing even though we’re identical in specs, aren’t you?”
The blue-eyed Theo collided with something hard.
When he raised his head, the real Theo was standing over him, gazing down coldly.
“Unlike you, who is ‘fixed,’ I constantly strive to ‘change.’ That’s the only difference.”
The blue-eyed Theo tried to say something, but Theo moved faster.
Slash!
Thud!
Drake’s Blade sliced cleanly through his neck.
Beneath a fountain of crimson blood, the staircase leading to the third floor revealed itself.
Theo didn’t hesitate and immediately dashed toward it.
“One floor per minute.”
[00:09:17]
[00:09:16]
...43 seconds.
That was the time it had taken Theo to kill this other version of himself.