Level -99 Archmage - Chapter 45

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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 45. Orc Master Kankun
《You have chosen the ‘Orc Master Kankun’ faction.》
《Ascend the tower alongside ‘Orc Master Kankun’.》
《TIP: By placing Sacred Objects on the ‘Display Altar’, you can strengthen ‘Orc Master Kankun’.》
《The ‘Sacred Objects’ that can be placed on the ‘Display Altar’ can be obtained by overcoming the numerous trials that exist within the tower.》
《Those who place Sacred Objects on the Display Altar will have the opportunity to become ‘Orc Master Kankun’s’ trusted aide. Additionally, you will receive bonus rewards each time you clear a floor.》
《The maximum number of Sacred Objects that can be placed on the ‘Display Altar’ is 10.》
《A ‘Floor Guardian’ exists on each floor.》
《The ‘Floor Guardian’ is extraordinarily powerful.》
《Assist ‘Orc Master Kankun’ in hunting the Floor Guardians.》
《When you reach the 10th floor, a battle between ‘Orc Master Kankun’ and ‘Witch of Death Adora’ will commence.》
《Only the winning faction may ascend to the 11th floor.》
The moment the faction was chosen.
Orc Master Kankun’s voice began to echo.
―Great Witch Adora, who slaughtered my entire tribe! I will tear you to shreds.
His voice dripped with rage.
Soon another scene materialized before his eyes.
Kankun, with crimson skin and a frame three times the size of an ordinary orc.
And the witch Adora, with violet hair and pale white skin.
The two titans clashed upon a barren wasteland.
Boom!
The earth crumbled, and the sky trembled.
Power of a catastrophic caliber—the kind that would make even high-ranked demons take a step back.
There was no victor.
Evenly matched.
The confrontation between Adora, wielding Death Magic, and Kankun, who displayed the pinnacle of swordsmanship with his Sword Strength, was impossible to look away from.
Yet in the end, both suffered fatal wounds and collapsed unconscious.
And when his eyes opened once more, Kankun found himself on the 1st floor of the Tower of Arrogance.
―Warriors, rise and climb the tower with me to slay the Witch of Death Adora. But my wounds run deep. First, heal me, I beg you. Only the power of Sacred Objects can restore me.
Ding!
《The Death Magic left behind by the ‘Witch of Death Adora’ is consuming ‘Orc Master Kankun’s’ life.》
《You must restore ‘Orc Master Kankun’ by placing Sacred Objects upon the altar’s Display Altar.》
《If you fail to erase all of the ‘Death Magic’ within the next 23 hours and 52 minutes, ‘Orc Master Kankun’ will perish.》
《If Kankun dies, you can no longer ascend the Tower of Arrogance.》
《Currently, 3 Sacred Objects have been placed on the altar’s Display Altar.》
《The Death Magic has been weakened by 13%.》
The wound he sustained in his battle with Adora.
It had not yet healed.
Because Death Magic lay embedded within it, only Sacred Objects could provide a cure.
But erasing Death Magic was no simple task.
It was a spell so formidable that even ordinary Sacred Objects could not dispel it.
‘If either of them dies, the tower’s record ends.’
The past record of the Tower of Arrogance stood at 8 floors.
The confrontation had ended when Orc Master Kankun perished.
To ascend the Tower of Arrogance, both ‘Orc Master Kankun’ and ‘Witch of Death Adora’ had to reach the 10th floor safely.
The moment either of them died, the tower could be climbed no further.
The Tower of Arrogance itself would vanish, and all challengers would be summoned back to the entrance.
‘The problem is Kankun. He’s got no pain tolerance whatsoever.’
Park Chan-woo rubbed his chin.
The Tower of Arrogance was a fascinating subject.
He recalled gathering quite a bit of information about it in the past.
What was interesting was that unlike the Witch of Death Adora, those who chose to support Orc Master Kankun had directed every conceivable insult at him.
―This is supposed to be the Orc Master? Why is he such a crybaby?
―Gets a little hurt and can’t move. Takes a few steps and his legs ache. I thought my blood pressure would kill me from all this whining.
―And you have to flatter him endlessly just to get him to face the Floor Guardians.
―It’s been like this since floor one. Won’t take a single step unless every last bit of Death Magic is purged.
―I heard the Witch of Death Adora healed herself alone. That creature is truly remarkable.
―Bah! Enjoy your life. I hope we never meet again, Kankun!
It was unanimous.
Not a single person had refrained from cursing Kankun.
Some said that reaching the eighth floor itself was a miracle.
‘It wasn’t really just Kankun’s problem—Adora’s faction had strong fighters like Han Shin, after all.’
But this wasn’t solely Kankun’s burden to bear.
The forces arrayed against him on Adora’s side were simply too formidable.
Most of the strong fighters Park Chan-woo remembered had aligned with Adora’s faction.
The reason was abundantly clear.
Orcs were a race that didn’t respond to reason, and they were notorious for their stubborn nature besides.
Furthermore, the Creators who had contracted with them would have warned them.
The Witch of Death.
The sheer power of a being named Death itself.
The terror that the witch inspired.
Within the Tower of Arrogance, the Creators couldn’t intervene directly, but they could offer counsel to their Contractors.
‘Most Contractors likely sided with Adora.’
Han Shin, all the Contractors—they’d all chosen Adora’s side.
That was why Park Chan-woo had chosen to stand with Im Chang-yeol.
At the very least, he was no Contractor.
And he knew that the Seoul Alliance would bleed if it wagered on Kankun.
‘Whether Kankun or Adora matters, but the Tower itself is just too difficult.’
When Kankun died on the eighth floor, fewer than one percent of challengers had climbed that far.
Those below had either given up ascending or found themselves in a state where attempting it was impossible.
The number of challengers who could reach the tenth floor and witness the battle between Kankun and Adora might not even reach 0.1 percent.
Perhaps none at all.
That was how infamous the Tower of Arrogance had become.
‘I need to strengthen Kankun as much as possible.’
Kankun was a chronic complainer.
But an orc called the Sword Master shouldn’t be easily frightened.
Still, the odds were high that he understood his condition precisely.
‘Kankun simply wants to avoid fighting Adora again. He thinks he’ll lose if they clash once more.’
Having encountered Death Magic, Kankun had grown afraid.
In short.
Overwhelming power.
Only a potent Sacred Object could restore Kankun’s confidence.
“It looks like everyone’s gathered. Let’s go meet Kankun.”
The first floor of the Tower.
It was an endless plain.
In the distance, a massive altar stood visible, and beside it leaned the Orc Sword Master Kankun.
As all fifty members of the Seoul Alliance materialized, Im Chang-yeol led them forward toward Kankun.
Then Kankun turned his head.
《Kankun’s status is being updated.》
Affiliation: Aion Planet / Orc / Red Talon Tribe
Class: Sword Master (Level 83)
Name: Kankun
Age: 85
Gender: Male
Height/Weight: 271cm / 475.7kg
Level: 83
Strength (281+10)
Vitality (315+13)
Agility (228+17)
Intelligence (98) / Mana (55)
Total Attack Power: 9,620
Total Defense Power: 9,880
Applied Sacred Objects (3): Lowest-Grade Sacred Object of Strength (Strength +10), Lowest-Grade Sacred Object of Vitality (Vitality +13), Lowest-Grade Sacred Object of Agility (Agility +17)
Status Abnormality: Afflicted by Death Magic—currently dying. To nullify Death Magic, greater power from a more potent Sacred Object is required. (Death Magic currently 13% negated; time remaining: 23 hours 44 minutes)
The moment they saw that gaze.
Everyone went rigid.
‘……He’s strong.’
‘Level 83?’
‘Those stats don’t make sense…’
‘Wow, he’s absolutely massive…’
A dignity so frail that a mere breath would scatter it to nothing.
Everyone froze solid in the face of a presence far more overwhelming than imagination had prepared them for.
‘I died on the eighth floor in a state far more enhanced than this.’
Park Chan-woo’s thoughts darkened.
Level 83.
To hold both the Sword Master class and the title of Orc Master meant standing among the apex monsters of this world.
His status window proved it—immense power radiated from him even without a single piece of equipment.
When he’d reached the eighth floor in his past life, he’d been enhanced far beyond this state, and still he’d fallen, unable to push through.
The ninth floor, the tenth, anything beyond—the difficulty was beyond comprehension.
“New warriors, then…….”
Kankun spoke from where he leaned against the altar.
His voice was flat, entirely devoid of hope.
“All of you are pathetic.”
He exhaled slowly.
These humans would be useless in a fight against Adora—couldn’t even offer a shred of help.
Kankun waved his hand dismissively.
“Bring me a Sacred Object. If you help me rid myself of Death Magic, I’ll handle the rest. You’ll gain glory beyond measure for your trouble.”
Would he, though.
In the past, Kankun had never done anything of his own accord.
He’d had to be coaxed and cajoled just to lift a finger.
Sniff, sniff.
That was when it happened.
Kankun’s nostrils flared as he tilted his head, sniffing the air.
“……Wait. One of you carries the scent of a true warrior.”
Thud.
In an instant, Kankun rose fully to his feet.
His massive frame moved forward, closing the distance to Im Chang-yeol’s face.
But Kankun passed him by just as quickly.
Gulp.
No one could move.
Simply standing beside them, Kankun’s presence suffocated the air itself.
He came to a stop.
“You. That fierce scent of a warrior clings to you.”
……Park Chan-woo.
Right in front of him.
Kankun bent low, meeting Park Chan-woo’s eyes directly.
‘Orc souls walk with him.’
Kankun could see it.
Countless souls bound to Park Chan-woo.
Han Shin’s arrangement, stolen from the Divine Shrine Dungeon.
Ten thousand orc essences had been infused into the Myriad Blood Immortal Pill he’d consumed.
But mere consumption would have driven him mad with their resentment, leading to self-destruction.
What walked with Park Chan-woo now was no vengeful phantom—it was the radiant soul of a warrior.
Orc Priest Yan and the souls of ten thousand orcs!
Even the blessing of this very altar remained upon him.
In other words.
‘A human bearing the Orc’s Blessing—such a one is worthy of trust.’
This man was a friend of the orcs.
The only one in this tower.
A warrior to be believed in.
《Your Affection with ‘Kankun’ has increased by 125.》
《As your Affection with ‘Kankun’ grows, the likelihood of him granting your requests will increase.》
《By becoming Kankun’s successor, you may inherit the ‘Sword Master’ class.》
《★Raise your Affection with ‘Kankun’ and obtain a ‘Hidden Reward’.》
《’Kankun’ and ‘Adora’ are the possessors of the most precious treasures within the ‘Tower of Arrogance’.》
“Warrior! Magic is the most loathsome thing in this world, and witches who wield it deserve death. Do you not agree with my judgment?”
Kankun’s voice was heavy with gravity.
This was the final test.
Even as a friend of orcs and a warrior, he could not walk beside someone who disagreed with him.
Now Kankun was offering Park Chan-woo a chance—the opportunity to stand closest to him, to walk together.
A question that Park Chan-woo had to answer if he wanted to raise Kankun’s Affection.
There was no need to hesitate.
Park Chan-woo answered tersely.
“I don’t agree.”

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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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