Climbing the Tower with Multidimensional Avatars - Chapter 167

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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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Episode 167. The Tower – Western Train (1)

Back in my main body, I checked my status window.

[Name: Han Ji-woo / Age: 21]
[Strength: 40 / Agility: 42 / Stamina: 41 / Intelligence: 55 / Mana: 60+]
[Status: Normal, Dual Mana System (60/60)]
[Abilities: Multidimensional Avatar Lv 37, Martial Arts Lv 45, Magic Lv 41, Regeneration Lv 26, Hardening Lv 1, Spirit Magic Lv 1]

During the school trip, I’d absorbed one of my clones and broken one layer of the seal.
After returning home in that state and enduring Siu’s complaints, I’d reapplied the restriction to my Dantian, so I hadn’t been able to absorb clones since then.
Still, by my main body’s standards, I’d grown strong enough to hold my own even in the middle levels.
Of course, if I used Martial Arts in this main body state, I’d keep suffering internal injuries from Heart-Qi Body Imbalance.
But thanks to all that growth, I’d left behind those days of carrying around some enormous bomb that could detonate at any moment, like when I first gained my Opportunity.
Worst case, I’d just cough up some blood.
With Regeneration, there was no real problem, but just to be safe, I’d sealed my Dantian with magic anyway.
It was a crude method compared to the restriction technique Siu used, but it would keep me from accidentally drawing on my Internal Energy and sustaining injuries.
After sealing my Dantian and checking the status window, I suddenly remembered that Multidimensional Avatar had broken level 30.
When I’d crossed that threshold, a special ability had unlocked, but I’d forgotten about it because Seong A-gyeong’s Planet Purification Punch was so shocking.
The Planet Purification Punch was unavoidable, anyway.
“Let me see—the ability that unlocked was Avatar Stacking, wasn’t it?”
Avatar Stacking’s effect was straightforward.
By overlapping a new Avatar Slot onto an existing avatar, I could improve the avatar’s inherent qualities or attach special abilities.
If I stacked the fourth slot onto my Reincarnation Clone, I could either improve my otherwise unremarkable physical attributes, or graft on my Magic Clone’s magical talents!
On a stacked Avatar Slot, I couldn’t create new clones, and if I undid the stacking, the qualities or special abilities would revert.
Making a slot that could create avatars in other worlds inaccessible during the stacking was a substantial constraint.
“I won’t be able to use this ability until I get a fourth slot.”
I couldn’t sacrifice the Tower clone, the Reincarnation Clone, or the Magic Clone.
Now that I’d perfected the First-Class Realm, I needed to climb the Tower again.
The Thunder Lightning Sword was slightly underdeveloped, but not problematic.
At worst, I might lose a limb or two in a fight.
That’s how martial artists grow—through injury.
I had Regeneration, and I could respawn my clones.
I regenerated my Tower clone and returned to the Tower.

* * *

[Name: Han Ji-woo (1st Slot Avatar) / Age: 21]
[Strength: 20 / Agility: 20 / Stamina: 20 / Intelligence: 55 / Mana: 30+]
[Status: Normal, Dual Mana System (30/30)]
[Abilities: Multidimensional Avatar Lv 37, Martial Arts Lv 42, Magic Lv 33, Regeneration Lv 26, Hardening Lv 1, Spirit Magic Lv 1, Pain Tolerance Lv 2]

Using Avatar Points, I’d adjusted my Tower clone’s stats to 20.
I’d considered bringing them up to my main body’s level, but since I didn’t know how Avatar Points would be spent in the future, I decided to conserve them for now.
Every time I switched from the Reincarnation Clone’s body—which boasted physical stats averaging over 40—into this half-destroyed Tower clone’s body, I felt a slight letdown.
But once I moved around lightly for a bit, I adjusted quickly enough.
I was alone in the Library Conference Room, studying a map of the Lower Levels.
To complete the quest the Old Witch Woman had given me—the one that expanded my Inventory—I’d used Appraisal Glasses to pinpoint the ruins’ exact location on the map.
“Still quite a bit of time before we meet up.”
I’d considered spending the remaining time learning about the Archmage who created the ruins, but decided instead to master the Lightning Thunder Demon God Technique in this Tower clone’s body.
Since I’d already begun learning it once and altered the nature of my Internal Energy, it shouldn’t take too long.
I tidied up the Map Book spread across the desk, sat down on the floor, consumed a Spirit Elixir, and began my cultivation.

[Mana: 30+ → 35+]

After taking the Spirit Elixir and transforming my Internal Energy into the Lightning Thunder Demon God Technique, my mana had increased, and about an hour had passed.
Fortunately, I hadn’t been late for my appointment with Lee Su-young and Diana.
I stood up, dusted myself off, returned the books, left the library, and headed for the City Center.
“Have you finished your business? You’ve checked all the new acquisitions?”
I nodded at Lee Su-young’s question.
“Not everything, just the things I’ll need right away.”
Diana nodded at my answer.
“True enough—you did buy quite a lot, Ji-woo.”
“With a Growth-Type Weapon, once you imprint an owner, it works like this.”
I drew a sword from my Inventory and tossed it far away.
The moment it crossed a certain distance, it teleported back into my hand as if the space itself bent.
“No matter how far it goes, it returns immediately. You grow a Growth-Type Weapon by feeding it your own mana or your enemy’s mana.”
Lee Su-young asked at my explanation.
“You tested it outside the city already?”
“Well, yes. I did some research at the Library too.”
The Growth-Type Weapons Golden Dragon had chosen for Diana were a Necklace Rosario and a Mace.
Lee Su-young’s Growth-Type Weapon was a Summoner’s Bracelet.
Summoner tools increased and amplified the mana efficiency flowing to summoned creatures.
Beyond that, I’d purchased various other items at the Golden Market.
“This upper-level Mace has so much power sealed away that it’s weaker than the one we made from the Lizardman King’s skull.”
Besides the Growth-Type Weapon, Diana had bought another Mace to use as her main weapon until the growth weapon matured.
The Lizardman skull we’d hunted ourselves could be used as-is, but the iron mace we’d bought at the Golden Market had power sealed at exactly the 23rd Floor level.
For now, we decided to make the skull mace our primary weapon and use the growth mace as a secondary.
“I’m glad I’m ambidextrous.”
The sight of her wielding maces in both hands looked decidedly violent.
Normally, if you held a weapon in one hand, you’d carry a shield in the other—but she seemed to trust her sturdy frame enough to focus on offense over defense.
“I’m also glad I got the Summoning Subspace dedicated to summoned creatures. It means I don’t have to summon them one at a time.”
The small birdcage-like ornament hanging from Lee Su-young’s belt, about the size of two finger joints, was the Summoning Subspace for creatures.
Only summoned creatures could enter a Summoning Subspace, and since summoning them consumed considerable mana each time, it was an extraordinarily useful item.
“And the bracelet that expands my summoning slots—three of those slots are sealed, so I can only use two.”
“That’s still plenty.”
“True enough.”
Lee Su-young’s summoning slots came to nine total: three slots gained climbing the Tower, one slot from the belt at Floor 14, and five slots from the bracelet purchased at the Golden Market.
However, three of the bracelet’s slots were sealed, so her maximum number of simultaneous summons was six.
Her utility as a summoner had increased by fifty percent.
Though to call it a fifty percent increase in power would be misleading—the mana Lee Su-young consumed for her summoned creatures hadn’t grown nearly as much.
“Well, now that we’re outfitted, should we head straight to Floor 24?”
Lee Su-young led the way to the Safe Zone, and Diana and I followed behind her.
Ah, while we’re at it, should I check their stats?

[Name: Lee Su-young / Age: 17]
[Strength: 25 / Agility: 28 / Vitality: 23 / Intelligence: 13 / Mana: 29]
[Status: Normal]
[Abilities: Slime Summoning Lv 25, Martial Arts Lv 20]

[Name: Diana Violet / Age: 24]
[Strength: 29 / Agility: 28 / Vitality: 28 / Intelligence: 21 / Mana: 33]
[Status: Normal]
[Abilities: Indomitable Lv 28, Martial Arts Lv 24]

After checking their stats, I removed the glasses and placed them in my Inventory, unable to help but smile wryly.
I really was catastrophically lacking in both Tower talent and physical ability.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
I smiled and placed my hand on the Safe Zone.
We headed toward Floor 24.
The quest on Floor 24 was simple—escort a merchant, much like Floor 14.
The problem was that the environment of Floor 24 was a scorching desert, and we had to traverse it completely.
Thanks to the harsh environment, monsters didn’t appear often, but when they did, giant scorpions would burst forth, making it quite dangerous.
Midway through, the merchant’s water supplies ran dry, so I had to procure water from the Galactic Martial Arts World, but with magic to escape the heat, we completed it without incident.
Since the quest involved nothing but sitting with our backs against the side of a desert carriage drawn by camels, we ascended to Floor 25 immediately after.
Unlike Floor 24, which had taken nearly five days, Floor 25 ended quickly.
The quest on Floor 25 was to hunt a dangerous monster at the 30s level, just as we’d hunted the Chimera on Floor 17.
Fortunately, these undead-type monsters were vulnerable to fire and holy power, so Diana’s holy power and Lee Su-young’s Fire Wind completely incinerated them—there was nothing left for me to do, and we cleared the floor with ease.
The only hardship was that my sense of smell was completely deadened by the stench of burning undead.
“Well, shall we take on Floor 26 right away?”
“Let’s do it.”
“I’m up for it too.”
Rather than return to the 20th Floor, we climbed directly to Floor 26.

* * *

The moment we arrived on Floor 26 through the Crystal, the landscape that greeted us looked like something straight out of a Western film—a rundown tavern with an adjoining inn.
Besides the three of us, there were four other climbers on Floor 26.
“Wow! King Kong!”
Lee Su-young exclaimed upon seeing a powerfully built white climber.
Now that I thought about it, we’d seen this climber before on Floor 18.
If I recalled correctly, he was an American martial artist whose nickname was King Kong.
At the time, there were six of them together, and I’d thought they were a party, but seeing him alone here suggested otherwise.
Then again, I’d also spoken with and greeted people who weren’t part of my own party back on Floor 18, so this must be one of those cases.
When Lee Su-young recognized him, the muscular man’s expression softened slightly.
“Are you a fan of mine?”
“Yes! Do you have paper, by any chance? Paper and a pen?”
I’d brought paper and a pen from Tower Floor 1.
“Would it be okay to ask for your autograph? I’ve been a fan since elementary school!”
“Hmm, really?”
The martial artist known as King Kong’s lips twitched upward as he willingly signed the paper.
His fan service wasn’t bad at all.
He looked older, and perhaps having passed his prime made fans all the more precious to him.
Athletes in combat sports rarely maintain their popularity once they pass their career peak and enter the aging curve—unless they’ve achieved legendary status.
According to Lee Su-young’s account on Floor 18, this fighter had never quite reached that legendary tier.
“Eek! Thank you so much! Actually, I wanted to ask for your autograph when I saw you on Floor 18, but there were so many people and the situation seemed serious, so I didn’t dare approach you.”
“Ah, so you were one of the climbers on that city wall back then? Then you’re trustworthy.”
A familiar face wearing a large-brimmed hat chimed in at King Kong’s words.
“I was there too. Would you mind signing something for me as well? Not for myself, but my little brother is a huge fan of yours—he wouldn’t stop raving about you, talked my ear off about it.”
Bogard Dellington smiled sheepishly as he greeted me and begged for paper.
I handed over another sheet, and King Kong readily signed it as well.
Once King Kong finished signing, a young East Asian man—more precisely, a Korean youth—stepped forward and spoke.
“There are quite a few people from Floor 18 here. The person in combat boots over there was on that city wall too, weren’t they? You’re the one who turned the atmosphere around when everyone was ready to give up, right? The one who shouted about an opportunity to earn Shop Points?”
The Korean youth was looking directly at me as he asked.
Now that he mentioned it, I did remember seeing this person wandering alone on Floor 18.
“Yes, that’s right. With twenty-five people present, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. And fortunately, we earned quite a few Points from it.”
At my response, King Kong nodded as if he’d recognized me too.
“Let’s go around and introduce ourselves. My name is Park Jeon-bin.”
This man had a strong air of social butterfly about him.
One Lee Su-young was already more than enough to handle.
Under Park Jeon-bin’s lead, we gave our introductions.
There was me, a martial artist; Lee Su-young, the Slime Summoner; Diana, the holy healer; Park Jeon-bin, a Korean with Blood Flow Control; Bogard, an American werewolf; Kong McGree, nicknamed King Kong, wielding Space Remote Punch; and Quan Van Thuong, a Vietnamese with Lucky Dice.
As my intelligence increased, my memory had improved dramatically as well, and I noted that Quan Van Thuong was a climber I hadn’t seen on Floor 18.
“Lucky Dice? I know it’s rude to pry into someone’s abilities, but could you explain it a little more?”
At Lee Su-young’s question, Quan, who possessed the Lucky Dice ability, hesitated before speaking.
“…I designate a target and cast an imaginary die. Then, depending on the die result, stats or abilities are enhanced. It’s somewhat gambling-oriented in nature.”
Something about his explanation struck me as odd, and I asked.
“If it’s gambling-oriented, does that mean there’s also a risk?”
At my question, he averted his gaze slightly.
When everyone’s eyes turned toward him, he surrendered to the pressure and spoke.
“As long as I don’t roll a 1, it’s fine. If I don’t roll a 1, there’s no problem.”
That statement essentially meant there was a problem if he rolled a 1!
As the atmosphere grew awkward, Quan spoke in a panic.
“It’s a twenty-sided die, so the probability of rolling a 1 is low! And if I roll a 20, I could become several times stronger in an instant!”
At that, Kong McGree spoke up.
“If you use that ability on me and I roll a 1, I’ll smash your head in with my fists, so be careful.”
At his words, Lee Su-young let out an exclamation of admiration.
“Truly a safety-first boxer.”
Lee Su-young must have been a genuine Kong McGree fan.
Just then, a frail-looking man wearing spectacles leaned out quietly from the corner of the bar counter.
“Ah, might you all be the Climbers I’ve only heard tales of?”
They’d been introducing themselves to one another and hadn’t yet even confirmed what the quest on Floor 26 entailed.

[Assist Northern Military Vice Minister Elliott in transporting the treaty seal to the negotiation venue.]

A task had fallen to them: to deliver that frightened man—or more precisely, the official seal he carried.

(To be continued)

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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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