Episode 26: Intrusion (1)
In the audience chamber of the Palace of Blood on Floor 50 of the Tower of Strife, Karmar de Lavle observed countless adventurers tackling Floor 51.
His sole purpose: to find the one who destroyed his creation, Varg.
‘Caligo. And the adventurer controlling him must be here.’
To this end, Karmar had collected Varg’s blood to enhance all of Floor 51’s creatures.
By analyzing combat data from these faster, stronger beings, he aimed to pinpoint the standout adventurer.
Sure enough, one party caught his eye.
Using a surveillance tool, Karmar examined the adventurer.
And he was stunned.
‘Caligo and… Hertia!? Why are those demons here?!’
Witch of Apocalypse Hertia and Liberator of Death Caligo!
They were never allies who’d trust each other’s backs.
More bafflingly, why had these demons, who vanished with that man, reappeared?
And slaughtering his creations like it was a competition?
‘…I need to test them.’
Karmar imbued his creations with a touch of his power, curious about their response to stronger foes.
‘If they’re the demons I know, they’d never cooperate.’
But their actions defied his expectations.
- Caligo!
- Oh ho! My turn!
Hertia froze time while Caligo spread poison.
Instead of showing off individually, they were coordinating attacks…
‘…No way they could summon those beings.’
Since this Tower appeared in this dimension, Karmar had learned one thing: humans here could summon powerful figures from his world.
But even the most skilled couldn’t summon Pandemonium’s beings—those proud, mighty demons who answered only to one man: Lucifer.
‘I must confirm!’
Who was the link binding these wild horses?
Could that ominous man have returned too?
Observing further, he noticed two others besides Hertia and Caligo: a hulking golem and a scantily clad woman with a red parasol.
And a plainly dressed man.
‘That’s the summoner! Zoom in on his face!’
Seeing the man’s face, Karmar sighed in relief.
The expressionless man commanding the battlefield was not Lucifer.
Phew…
He’d worried too much.
Lucifer was dead—or as good as dead.
It had been ages since that demon and his minions, who once ruled dimensions, vanished.
Rumors spoke of divine punishment.
Yet, Hertia and Caligo were indeed being used as summons.
‘How the mighty have fallen, demons.’
Karmar smirked.
If it wasn’t Lucifer controlling them, there was no need to fear.
Their power was a shadow of their prime, likely diminished from being summoned and only now recovering.
‘This is perfect.’
Now was the chance to exact revenge on that lunatic Caligo!
The time had come to make him pay for massacring noble vampires and instilling fear.
Swish—
Karmar rose from the audience chamber’s throne.
Using Varg’s pooled blood, he created a massive warp gate to confront and kill them instantly.
At that moment—
- Lord Karmar de Lavle.
His butler, Vite, contacted him.
“What is it?”
- I sensed you using power. Is something amiss?
“I have business to handle.”
- The warp cannot stay open long.
“It’s fine. It’ll be quick.”
- Then I’ll maintain the warp.
Time was short, but it didn’t matter.
A weakened Caligo, Hertia, and a mere human wouldn’t take long.
***
《Entered Floor 59 of the Tower of Strife: Field of Silence》
《Witch of Apocalypse Hertia deals critical damage to Crimson Watcher.》
“…Annoying,” Hertia muttered, visibly irritated.
Understandable.
Despite equipping them with brand-new gear, the pace of defeating monsters hadn’t changed.
Floor 50 differed from 51, and 51 from 52.
It felt like the level design had been obliterated.
No regard for adventurers’ progression—just a sudden spike in difficulty.
‘In the game’s balance, my party could breeze through to Floor 70.’
Yet, even Hertia’s critical hits didn’t down enemies.
No wonder she was frustrated.
Iron and Temina faced the same issue.
Except for one.
“Hertia, you’re getting old! Getting mad at enemies like these?”
“Shut up before I rip your mouth off.”
“Oho, scary! I’m fine, but you’re throwing a fit! Right, Sage?!”
What’s Caligo blabbering about?
He’s breezing through this section thanks to my passive skill.
Skill 1: Most Cruel Avenger
Increases damage dealt to the “nemesis” factions of owned villains significantly.
If the enemies were elves, it’d be the opposite.
What will he say after Episode 8’s update…?
Hertia seemed to know this already.
“Caligo, are you truly clueless?”
“Clueless? About what?”
“…What can one expect from a lunatic?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?! My mind’s a treasure trove! Right?!”
I avoided Caligo’s gaze.
Despite his mad scientist vibe, he rarely showed true intellect.
“S-Sage?! Is my mind lacking something?!”
“Focus on the fight.”
“Y-Yes…”
Leaving a sulky Caligo behind, I approached Hertia and Temina.
“Hertia, Temina, how’s it feel? Comfortable to fight?”
“…My apologies. My skills are lacking,” Hertia said.
“I’m not hitting as hard as I thought! I’m stronger than before, but the enemies are tougher!” Temina added.
…I need to regroup.
Even after upgrading their gear, it’s this tough.
‘Maybe I was too complacent.’
Today’s goal was Floor 60, but I’ll clear 59 and head back.
“Plan’s changed. We clear here and leave.”
“Oh! Done already? Shame!” Caligo said.
“…My apologies, Great One,” Hertia muttered.
With an eager Caligo and a dejected Hertia leading, supported by Temina and Iron’s firepower, we cleared Floor 59 smoothly.
But the clear time was disappointing.
《Cleared Floor 59 of the Tower of Strife: Field of Silence.》
《Unbelievable record!》
《Clear time: 59:22》
《Broke Clear Time Ranking #1.》
《Clear rank: SSS》
《Broke Clear Rank record.》
In the game, this stage’s clear time was exactly 60 minutes—with a far weaker party.
To get this pathetic result with better conditions…
‘I’m furious! Past me would’ve mocked this.’
No excuse, even if the monsters got stronger unexpectedly.
‘I relied too much on my summons’ value.’
I can’t forgive myself like this.
It’s time to research more efficient, powerful combinations.
As I brainstormed dozens of strategies while exiting the dungeon—
《Floor 60 of the Tower of Strife: Execution Ground of Silence information updated.》
《Raging Battlefield opens on Floor 60!》
《An anonymous entity has intruded into the dungeon.》
‘…What?’
Legend Seven has an ‘intrusion’ system.
Tower clears are instanced, creating isolated dimensions.
You typically clear alone unless in a party, but ‘intrusion’ lets others interfere with your dimension.
It’s often used for crimes like attacking adventurers or stealing summons, strictly banned by international law.
A sudden intrusion?
‘And an “anonymous entity”?’
As I recall, intruders are labeled ‘anonymous adventurer’.
What’s an ‘entity’?
And why intrude on Floor 60 instead of 59, where I am?
《The anonymous entity’s power affects the Tower.》
《You cannot leave the Tower until ‘Raging Battlefield’ on Floor 60 is cleared.》
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
I’m already annoyed from a disrupted plan, and now I can’t leave?
‘I had reinforcement plans ready…’
Let me make this clear: I hate when plans go awry.
To me, clearing is a challenge where I pour everything.
Sure, variables happen, but I find satisfaction in accounting for and countering them perfectly.
Stopping at Floor 59 was for perfection, but…
Crack!
‘This damn Tower dares to mess with my plans.’
Whoever this is, they’ve lost their sense of fear.
“Hertia. Caligo.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Yes, Sage!”
“No more chatter from now on.”
Flinch!
Hertia and Caligo straightened up, sensing my anger.
I briefly wondered if I’d gone too far, but the burning irritation erased such thoughts.
With a furious sigh, I headed for the Floor 60 warp.