An F-Rank Veterinarian Physically Heals an S-Rank Magical Beast - Chapter 35

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 35
[System: You have entered Floor 3 of the Tower of Babel, the Casino of Desire.]
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Ding—!
The moment the elevator doors slid open, a deafening cacophony crashed over me like a tidal wave.
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“Jackpot! We have a jackpot!”
“Welcome! Here’s your chance to reverse your entire life!”
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It was the complete opposite of Floor 2’s suffocating silence. Neon signs blazed with eye-searing brilliance, crimson velvet carpets sprawled across the floor, and demon dealers in tuxedos bustled about alongside succubi dressed as cocktail waitresses.
Roulette wheels, blackjack tables, slot machines—a perfect replica of Earth’s Las Vegas. Yet the chips exchanging hands here shimmered with an unsettling, blood-red hue.
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“Kang Jin-hyuk… something feels wrong about this place.”
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Luna gripped my arm tightly. She sensed it instinctively—beneath those dazzling lights lurked a suffocating malice.
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“Gambling dens are always the most dangerous. Desire chasing that one big score is more terrifying than any blade.”
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I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the surroundings. The Hunters hunched before the slot machines looked pathetic. Their eyes were hollow, their fingernails bitten to the quick with blood beading at the edges.
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“Please! Just one more! One more spin and I know it’ll hit!”
“Take ten years of my life! Ten more years! Give me chips!”
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As one Hunter beat his chest and wailed, the dealer offered a contract with a mechanical smile. The moment he signed, a pale, spectral essence—his very life force—drained from his body and transformed into chips. His jet-black hair turned white in an instant, and his skin withered and shriveled.
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“Nooooo! A bust?! My ten years!”
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The Hunter collapsed to the floor, his body petrifying like stone. Bankruptcy.
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“Those… those people are gambling with their lives?” Luna gasped, covering her mouth in horror.
“That’s right. The currency on this floor is ‘time’ and ‘souls.'”
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I clicked my tongue. Dopamine addiction. Prefrontal cortex paralysis rendering rational judgment impossible. These were severe cases requiring urgent medical intervention.
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“Welcome, new mark—I mean, challenger.”
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A well-groomed demon in a tailcoat approached. Slicked-back hair, thin mustache. Everything about him screamed con artist—a manager reeking of fraud.
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“The Master of Floor 3, the Grand Duke Mephistopheles, has heard of your arrival and wishes to invite you to the VVIP Room.”
“Mephistopheles? That gambling swindler is the floor master here?”
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I let out a soft chuckle. Mephistopheles. Among demons, the most cunning schemer who delighted in toying with contracts.
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“Show me the way. My joints are a bit stiff anyway—might as well get some finger exercise.”
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[VVIP Room – Royal Flush Hall]
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Beneath an enormous chandelier sat a single round table. Across from it lounged a silver-haired man swirling a wine glass, his crimson eyes marked by vertically slit pupils. The Demon Archduke Mephistopheles himself.
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“Welcome, Kang Jin-hyuk. I’ve heard the rumors—you’ve turned Floors 1 and 2 into quite the wasteland on your way up.”
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Mephistopheles flicked his tongue like a serpent.
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“Wasteland? Call it a renovation.”
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I handed my burden to Luna and dropped into the chair across from him.
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“Cut to it. You’re not just handing over the key to the next floor, are you?”
“Of course not. The casino’s rules are simple: beat me.”
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Mephistopheles gestured, and the dealer swept away the cloth covering the table. Beneath it lay not cards, but an enormous [roulette wheel].
Yet it was no ordinary roulette. Instead of numbers, grotesque illustrations adorned it—body parts, lifespans, and horrifying images like “soul annihilation.”
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“The game is called [Destiny Roulette]. Whatever the ball lands on, you either lose or gain.”
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Mephistopheles explained the rules.
Red sections: steal the opponent’s wealth or skills.
Black sections: lose a body part or years of life.
Green section (0): [Victory]. Clear Floor 3 and acquire ownership of the casino.
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“But we need stakes. What will you wager?”
“My entire fortune. And 51% ownership of my Hospital.”
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I spoke without hesitation. Luna cried out, “J-Jin-hyuk! You can’t!” but I silenced her.
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“Hmm… bold indeed. Your wealth as the Human Realm’s greatest tycoon is certainly worth my entire casino.”
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Mephistopheles’ eyes gleamed with greed. He was certain—this game was designed from the start so that he could only win.
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“Very well. Deal. I’ll spin first.”
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Mephistopheles grasped the roulette wheel’s handle and spun it with force. Whirrrrr—! The white ball rotated at a ferocious speed.
Click, click, tick….
The ball’s velocity diminished as it drifted toward the red squares.
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‘Now.’
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Beneath the table, Mephistopheles subtly manipulated his mana.
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[Skill: Micro Gravity Control]
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A technique that twisted the ball’s trajectory ever so slightly, bringing it to rest exactly where he desired. Less cheating than outright fraud.
Click.
The ball came to rest on
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[Red: Seize the opponent’s most precious ally].
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“Oh my, how delightful. A jackpot on the very first spin.”
Mephistopheles chuckled wickedly.
“Your charming assistant, Luna, was it? She belongs to me now. I think she’d look absolutely stunning in a bunny girl outfit.”
“What…. What did you just say?”
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Luna’s face drained of all color.
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“Wait. I have an objection.”
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Kang Jin-hyuk raised his hand.
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“Already losing your nerve? The result is absolute.”
“No, it’s not that I can’t accept the outcome.”
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Kang Jin-hyuk rose from his seat and approached the roulette machine. From his pocket, he withdrew a stethoscope.
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“The machine appears to be in poor condition. As a physician, I simply cannot overlook that.”
“What? The machine is sick?”
“Quiet. I’m conducting an examination.”
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Kang Jin-hyuk pressed the stethoscope against the roulette wheel’s axis and closed his eyes. The faint friction of the bearings. The tilt of the spinning plate. And…. even the flow of mana that Mephistopheles had embedded.
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[Skill: Precision Diagnosis Lv.MAX]
[Diagnostic Result: Artificial gravitational interference detected.]
[Rotation axis tilted 3 degrees to the right.]
[Internal magnetic device detected.]
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“As expected.”
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I lowered the stethoscope.
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“Your patient’s condition is severe. Terminal-stage Bias Manipulation Syndrome. With an owner managing it this poorly, what did you expect?”
“W-what nonsense! My roulette is perfect!”
Mephistopheles cried out in panic.
“Perfect? If that’s perfect, I’ll eat my own hand.”
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I gestured to Luna.
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“Luna, grab that from the bag. The [Surgical Hammer].”
“Yes! Here it is!”
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Luna swiftly handed over the massive medical hammer.
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“Hey! What are you trying to do!”
“Treatment, of course. If the bones are misaligned, they need to be set.”
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I raised the hammer high. Without hesitation, I brought it down against the roulette’s side.
CRASH!!!
With a tremendous boom, the roulette machine crumpled.
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“Nooooo! My national treasure-class artifact!”
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Mephistopheles shrieked.
But I didn’t stop.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
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“This part’s bent 3 degrees! Straighten out! Straighten!”
“Mana residue clogging the bearings! Clear out!”
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Though crude in appearance, my strikes were precise and calculated. With each impact, the manipulation devices Mephistopheles had installed shattered, and the warped axis was physically corrected.
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[Repair Complete.]
[The roulette has been reset to a ‘fair state’.]
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“Phew, it’s finally healthy again.”
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Kang Jin-hyuk settled into his seat, gently caressing the dented—yet now fully functional—roulette wheel.
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“Now, it’s my turn, isn’t it? Let’s have a real battle of ‘probability.'”
“You… you absolute madman….”
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Mephistopheles trembled violently. The manipulation device was completely destroyed. Now he had to rely on pure chance. But there was no way a human could overcome a demon’s luck.
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“Fine. Spin it. I’ll savor watching you draw a blank and face your ruin!”
“Well, I don’t really believe in luck, you see.”
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Kang Jin-hyuk grasped the roulette wheel’s handle. In that instant, his eyes glowed brilliant blue.
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[Skill: Hand of God]
[Skill: Hypersensory Calculation]
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At my fingertips, force control down to the 0.0001N (Newton) scale was executed. Rotational velocity, air resistance, coefficient of friction, the sphere’s elasticity—every variable was converted into equations within my mind and calculated.
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‘Now.’
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Whirrrrr—!
As Kang Jin-hyuk spun the roulette, he flicked the sphere. It rotated ferociously, then gradually decelerated, bouncing upward.
Tap, tap, tap….
Mephistopheles swallowed hard. The sphere was passing near the black (death) slot.
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‘Yes! Stop! Stop right there!’
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But the sphere, as if possessed of its own will, gently grazed the edge of the black slot and rolled onward. And then.
Rattle… click.
The sphere came to rest in the one and only slot on the roulette wheel—
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[Green: 0].
[JACKPOT].
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“….”
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Silence descended. Mephistopheles’ eyes bulged as if they might burst from their sockets.
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“This… can’t be….”
Can’t be…. A 0.1% probability. You’re telling me you hit this on the first try without any manipulation?
“Gambling isn’t about luck, Your Grace.”
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I smiled faintly and swept the chips toward myself.
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“It’s physics, mathematics, science. And, well, a bit of ‘sleight of hand.'”
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[Victory!]
[Condition Met: Ownership of the Casino is transferred to ‘Kang Jin-hyuk’.]
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With the System Message, a golden key and contract document burst from Mephistopheles’ body and flew toward me.
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“No!! My casino! My entire fortune!!”
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Mephistopheles shrieked and clawed at the floor. The golden tower he had built over thousands of years by devouring Hunters’ souls had crumbled in a single game.
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“You must honor your promise. This floor is now mine.”
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I finished signing the contract. Then I immediately pressed the interior redesign button.
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“First, let’s change those dreary red lights. Replace them with bright LED fluorescent panels. And remove all those slot machines. We’ll build a ‘counseling room’ and ‘meditation center’ in their place.”
“What…? A meditation center?”
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Mephistopheles asked blankly.
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“That’s right. All the Hunters here are gambling addicts. As a doctor, I can’t just ignore that.”
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I winked at Luna.
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“Put up a new sign. ‘Arcana Addiction Rehabilitation Center.'”
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Thirty minutes later, the Casino of Desire had transformed completely. The glittering neon signs were extinguished, and soothing classical music flowed through the air. The demons who had worn dealer uniforms now dressed in white nurse coats and assistant uniforms, sweeping the floors.
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“Come on, everyone line up! Those experiencing withdrawal symptoms, please take these ‘calming candies’ on your way!”
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Luna moved about with a basket, distributing sweets to the Hunters. The Hunters who had been frozen like statues were freed from the curse along with Mephistopheles’ defeat and returned to their human forms.
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“Did I… survive?”
“My lost lifespan has returned!”
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The Hunters embraced one another, tears streaming down their faces. To them, I was not merely the Casino’s new master—I was their savior.
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“Thank you! Thank you so much, Director!”
“I’ll never gamble again! I’ll live an honest life!”
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I nodded with satisfaction at the sight before me. Of course, nothing came free.
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“Those of you who’ve been treated should pay the [Rehabilitation Program Registration Fee] at the reception desk on your way out. Twelve-week program, three million Gold.”
“What…? We have to pay again?”
“Of course. Do you know how difficult addiction treatment is? And you’ll need to sign a relapse-prevention agreement. If I catch you gambling again, you’ll die by my hand.”
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At my sharp warning, the Hunters opened their wallets without complaint. Reform them, earn money—it couldn’t be more perfect.
Meanwhile, Mephistopheles crouched in the corner, staring blankly into empty space. His tuxedo hung in tatters. Penniless. Unemployed. Bankrupt.
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“Um… Your Grace?”
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I approached and spoke to him.
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“Get lost… Did you come to mock me?”
“No. I came to offer you a job.”
“A job?”
“Yes. You’re quick with numbers and have a gift for persuasive speech. You’d be perfect as the administrative director of our Hospital.”
“You’re telling me—a demon archduke—to work the Hospital reception desk?”
“If you don’t like it, suit yourself. Become homeless after being expelled from the Tower. Oh, by the way, Haren from Floor 1 also got hired as staff. Why don’t you two get along as coworkers?”
Mephistopheles deliberated. Pride or survival. But demons were practical creatures.
“…How much is the salary?”
“Base pay plus separate incentives. Four major insurances… ah, since I’m the insurance company here, I’ll give you full coverage.”
“Sigh… Fine. Whatever.”
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In the end, even Mephistopheles fell under my command. After the prophet from Floor 1, now the demon archduke from Floor 3. My Arcana Squad was becoming increasingly bizarre and formidable.
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“Good. Floor 3 is settled.”
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I twirled the Floor 3 key between my fingers. Now only Floor 4 remained. But the aura emanating from above was on an entirely different scale from anything I’d encountered thus far.
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[Warning!]
[From Floor 4 onward, trials of ‘Mythic’ grade begin.]
[The gods’ representatives are watching you.]
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“At last, it begins.”
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Luna approached me then.
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“Kang Jin-hyuk, but when you spun the roulette earlier….”
“Hmm?”
“Did you really calculate it perfectly? I just couldn’t believe something like that was even possible….”
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I grinned and pulled something from my pocket to show her. A small magnet.
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“Truth is, I used my ‘Micro Magnetic Force’ skill a bit. To catch a con artist, you need a better con.”
“Ah… I see.”
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Luna burst into laughter, utterly exasperated.
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“You really are something else, Kang Jin-hyuk.”
“A doctor’s work speaks through results. As long as the patient recovers, that’s all that matters.”
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Luna and I left the cleanly purified Floor 3 behind and stepped back into the elevator.
Ding—!
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[Ascending to Floor 4: Colosseum of Struggle]
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The moment the doors sealed shut, my eyes grew sharp and predatory. This was no longer a battle of wits alone. This was the true battlefield where blood and flesh would fly—raw, brutal combat. Yet I felt no dread. I had Luna, my steadfast aide, at my side, and behind me stood the reinforcements from the Third Realm, holding the line.
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“Let’s go, Luna. Time to loosen up a bit.”
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The Tower of Babel. My ascent toward its summit had become an unstoppable locomotive, barreling forward with inexorable momentum.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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