The Heavenly Demon Destroys the Tower - Chapter 8

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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 8
The Infinite Tower appeared in the capitals of each nation.
When the Tower first emerged, people didn’t feel any particular need to become Players
or to climb it.
They saw no reason to fight, not when it meant risking death itself.
[Notice: Become a Player and earn Score.]
[Notice: If nations fail to meet their Score quota, the Infinite Towers will multiply.]
Even as the message demanding Score appeared,
not a single nation met the requirement at first.
But one month after the Tower’s emergence,
[Notice: Monthly Score quota not met.]
[Notice: The Infinite Tower will multiply.]
True to the notice, one additional Infinite Tower began appearing in each nation.
And they rose deliberately before the residences of each nation’s leaders—a direct warning.
Then came this:
[Notice: Should you fail to meet monthly Score quotas, the next multiplication will exceed the previous multiplication rate.]
[Notice: Should 100 or more Infinite Towers be generated in a nation, a Light Tower will be generated.]
[Notice: Should 1,000 or more Infinite Towers be generated in a nation, the Light Tower will detonate.]
When these notices appeared before all of humanity,
people finally understood this was no trivial matter.
A single Tower rising was merely like one building appearing,
but the warnings about 100 and 1,000 Towers were deeply ominous.
Nations scrambled to respond to the Tower crisis,
yet despite their efforts, Towers multiplied to 100 with alarming speed.
And then—
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
One of the hundred Towers suddenly began to swell,
destroying all surrounding buildings as it rose alone to a tremendous height.
It towered higher than any structure humanity had ever built,
casting an oppressive shadow over the people below.
“What happens if that detonates?”
“We must prevent 1,000 Towers from spawning!”
Yet not every nation could meet the “Score” quota mentioned in the notice.
Nations torn by civil war,
nations that had ceased to function properly—these existed in considerable number across the globe.
And so the crisis struck first in an African nation.
“We are currently reporting from the Tower in Somalia.”
“This nation, ravaged by civil conflict, has never once met the Infinite Tower Score quota. Now that Towers have exceeded 1,000 in number, the Light Tower has been completely engulfed in blinding radiance.”
“Shall we take a look?”
Somalia, its systems collapsed by relentless internal conflict,
had already surpassed 1,000 Towers by then.
The Light Tower announced in the notice was now completely swallowed in brilliant white light.
When journalists from around the world rushed to capture footage from a distance,
[Notice: The Tower detonates for the first time.]
The message blazed across the eyes of every human being,
and then—Boom-boom-boom!
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, vanished into blinding light.
Disaster followed in its wake.
Even the journalists who had positioned themselves at a distance to film the expected explosion
were swept away in an instant by the Tower’s unimaginable destructive force.
Witnessing the first detonation, humanity was struck with dread.
“Mogadishu has been completely obliterated…”
“It’s as if the city has been erased from the map.”
“There are… no survivors!”
Understanding the gravity of the threat, the international community moved swiftly to respond.
The International Player Association, FIPA, was established,
and nations worldwide declared their commitment to a unified response to the Infinite Towers.
The most pressing priority was meeting the Score quota.
This required the rapid cultivation of numerous Players,
so nations began actively encouraging their people to become Players and backed the effort with state resources.
Korea was the same way, just a few years back.
One thing.
-The Score, I mean. Isn’t this level stable enough?
-How long do we have to keep subsidizing Players who earn money hand over fist?
-This feels like a complete waste of tax money!
-We should be taxing them the same way!
Once the initial chaos settled.
As Korea consistently managed Scores in a stable manner over several years.
Toward Players receiving massive tax support.
Resentful gazes began to multiply.
And the political sphere, always following the winds of public opinion, was quick to capitalize on it.
“Tax benefits abolished, government subsidies cut back, and so on—the benefits we offered Players have deteriorated sharply over the past few years.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. That’s why everyone left.”
Korea, where treatment of Players had worsened dramatically in just a few years.
Neighboring countries seized the opportunity.
Recruiting Korean Players en masse.
As a result, recent Player statistics listed Korea as the nation with the most emigration abroad.
“But once they all drained out like that, the required Score suddenly skyrocketed about a year ago, didn’t it?”
“The Score?”
“Yeah. Even the world’s top player, the United States, got more towers, and they couldn’t meet the Score requirements.”
Korea, which had mistreated Players when it had Score surplus and driven them all away.
Then, a year ago, when the required Score amount surged dramatically.
Only belatedly grasping the gravity of the situation, the country had begun restoring treatment for Players.
“It’s literally locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.”
“Yeah. But seeing the Phoenix Guild defect, it seems our country’s treatment is still pretty rough. That’s quite a large guild, too.”
True enough.
Other countries are also feeling the heat from increased Score demands.
Wherever our treatment improved, theirs improved that much more.
Glug-glug…
Kim Ju-yeong poured more alcohol into his glass.
“God. I’m anxious it might just explode at this rate.”
“The Light Tower?”
“Yeah. That damned tower ruined my family. We scraped together everything to buy an apartment in Gangnam, and then a tower appeared there…”
“It did.”
“I mean, hell, if a tower just appeared, I wouldn’t say a word, just treat it like one ugly building. But the tower that sprouted up in front of our place started glowing, and then it swelled up…?”
The Light Tower—which appears when more than a hundred towers are generated.
The Light Tower has been created in numbers ranging from a minimum of one to a maximum of four, depending on the country’s size and population.
In Korea’s case, with its narrow territory, there was only one.
And it happened to be the tower that rose above Kim Ju-yeong’s apartment complex.
“Well, it’s not glowing completely like the tower in Mogadishu yet, is it?”
“That’s true, but…”
The Light Tower that appeared in the Gangnam apartment complex, built on leverage.
It wasn’t completely suffused with light like the tower that triggered the Mogadishu crisis.
In terms of range, about half the tower’s surface was gleaming.
“Still, that means this is the detonation point, doesn’t it?”
“Well, I suppose so.”
“God… I mean really… Anyway, my family’s completely ruined. The apartment complex’s park suddenly turned into a Light Tower. Even putting it on the market at half price, it won’t sell.”
Kim Ju-yeong sighed and gulped down his drink.
He’d dropped out of university where he’d been doing well—was that because of this?
Now there was a reason why he’d been cursing more lately.
“Anyway, it’s good you’re a Player now. Our country’s fixing the barn door, so treatment should be pretty good, right? Or you could just go abroad anyway. Abroad will pay more.”
“Hmm.”
“Ah. If you’d signed a guild contract, you’d be buried under enormous offers… But still, you might even get a naturalization proposal from the national level. When that comes, look at the terms and try to squeeze out everything.”
“Naturalize to another country?”
Lee Kang-han let out a small laugh at that.
“No. I need to stay here and look after my house.”
“…Ah. Because of your mother?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Kang-han raised his glass.
He found himself thinking of his family.
* * *
Ten years ago.
After he’d contracted Tower Syndrome.
Every time Lee Kang-han slept, he’d scream—and even by the time they moved to a detached house, the family bond remained strong.
They’d all pulled together to treat his condition.
But the family ties were beginning to fray.
When his symptoms persisted.
His parents’ worry deepened. “Other Tower Syndrome patients have all recovered by now……”
“Why does our son’s last so long?”
As Lee Kang-han’s condition continued.
His parents’ anxiety only intensified.
And then.
His mother began: “Son, your mother got this from someone with real power……”
“Try eating this. They say it’ll make you better.”
His mother, especially.
Grew increasingly desperate as her son failed to recover.
She hunted down every supposed healer and shaman in the city.
And started forcing Lee Kang-han to consume mysterious medicines and tonics.
Out of respect for his mother’s sincerity, he drank them all.
“Kang-han, your mother found a really powerful healer.”
“I’ll be gone for a few days. Once I come back from there, you’ll definitely get better!”
When no amount of medicine helped her son recover.
His mother left the house, insisting she’d finally found someone truly gifted.
She never came back.
And then.
His father murmured: “……I filed a missing person’s report for your mother.”
“If the police call, let me know right away.”
His father quit his job and spent years searching for her.
“Son…… Your father’s taken on some debt looking for your mother.”
“I think I need to go work abroad to pay it off. You can manage on your own for a while, right?”
After he left for another country to settle the debt.
Communication became sparse.
“I should have cut it off from the start. Told her to stop bringing those miracle cures and just take care of herself.”
“……How can people be like that.”
“Anyway…… I’m staying in Korea until I hear something about my mother.”
Lee Kang-han raised his glass with a bitter smile.
Whether she was doing well or poorly.
Or whether she was…… dead.
Any information at all.
Only after hearing something about his mother.
Would he finally be able to leave this place.
“……Right. I’m fine with you not going abroad—I get to keep my drinking buddy, after all.”
Kim Ju-yeong drained his glass in one go.
Then he poured himself another drink.
“Hey…… wait! I just had a brilliant idea.”
The idea struck him.
“What?”
“Why not become a Super Named Player?”
“……A Super Named Player?”
“Yeah! I saw you hit fifty thousand viewers the other day. Your potential is limitless, I’m telling you. Why not go for it this time—become a Super Named Player on Tower Tube. Then, once you find your mother, wouldn’t it be easier? Wouldn’t people come forward with information?”
He was saying Lee Kang-han should gain fame.
That wasn’t a bad idea at all.
“All right. Should I use the channel opening right now?”
“Yeah, yeah. Do it now? Better to do it before we get any drunker, don’t you think?”
“Huh? Drunk? On this?”
Watching Lee Kang-han’s complexion show no change whatsoever, Kim Ju-yeong clicked his tongue.
“I mean, how are you so composed after drinking that much whiskey? Do Cheonma Players not even feel drunk?”
“I’m steadier than usual, actually.”
“Damn. I’m jealous…… I want to knock my boss around with alcohol too.”
With the most sincere envy he could muster from all the “envy” he’d expressed that day.
Kim Ju-yeong lent a hand in opening Lee Kang-han’s channel.
“You should definitely play up the Cheonma identity. You already revealed the name Lee Kang-han to fifty thousand people last time, so you might as well use it.”
“So you’re saying I should call it Cheonma Lee Kang-han?”
“Yeah…… that’s probably best. With your abilities, you don’t need to bait for attention anyway—people will notice regardless. Better to skip the flashy channel name and keep it simple and clean.”
“Alright.”
They opened the channel under the name “Cheonma Lee Kang-han.”
As they deliberated over what videos to upload first, Kim Ju-yeong found himself taking the lead on the problem.
“Hmm. The channel’s up and running, but the content library is pretty thin. You didn’t record the last climb, did you?”
“Could you even record it?”
“Ah…… right. That was the 10 Promising Players, so it aired on the official channel—you didn’t film it yourself. So we can’t grab highlight reels from that. Starting tomorrow, let’s record a full content pool.”
The “Cheonma Lee Kang-han” channel was created, but.
There was nothing to actually upload.
Lee Kang-han stared at his channel for a moment, then.
Opened his mouth without hesitation.
“When can I enter the Tower?”
“Uh…… twenty-four hours after the last game ends, I think? It’ll show up in the system window. Why?”
“Then I can go in at seven. I’m heading there in a bit to make some content.”
“Huh? After drinking?”
A drunk Tower climb.
He’d never heard of such a thing.
“Yeah. I’m bothered by the lack of content. I’ll wrap it up quick and be back, so want to order some chicken here?”
“Uh…… then I’ll take half-and-half, extra radish.”
“Got it.”
Tap. Tap.
Lee Kang-han placed the chicken order, and.
Before the food even arrived.
“Alright, it’s time. I’m heading out.”
Lee Kang-han entered the Tower, claiming it was for content.
“Man. He just left his friend alone at home to climb the Tower. This guy’s got a real screw loose…….”
Scratch. Scratch.
Scratching his head.
Kim Ju-yeong, who accepted the chicken delivery in the owner’s stead.
Opened his phone and logged into tower.zz.
The “Cheonma Lee Kang-han” channel already had nearly 124 subscribers.
‘Cheonma Lee Kang-han’ channel.
‘……What’s going on here?’
He’d thought it wouldn’t even crack the top ten.
As the 125th subscriber, Kim Ju-yeong.
Tore into his chicken while watching Lee Kang-han’s “content creation.”
At first, he simply watched without much thought.
But soon.
“Wow, this guy’s absolutely insane……?”
Praise.
Came flooding from his lips.
Cheonma Shatters the Tower (Serialized)
Author │ Yeom Bi
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyeong
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ 204, 288 Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Daeryung Posttower 1st)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒ Yeom Bi 2025
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder, and the contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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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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