Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 316: Seventy-Seventh Floor, Euros’s Flower Forest (4)

Chapter 316: Seventy-Seventh Floor, Euros’s Flower Forest (4)

[Survive. Time remaining: 54 hours 34 minutes.]

My solution wasn’t particularly grand, however—scale the trees.

Although they were scattered sparsely across the forest, their sheer size allowed their canopies to blanket the sky. Even if the crimson blooms ahead towered nearly seven meters high, the trees themselves soared tens of meters into the air.

All I had to do was cross over them.

I conjured a shadow staircase around a trunk using the Master of Shadows and swiftly ascended.

Above, the situation was much the same.

The branches, enormous in proportion to the trees, varied wildly in width and shape. Some twisted in strange directions.

To ease the journey, I forged shadow bridges between the branches and traversed them.

There was no real inconvenience to the path aside from Doppy, who seemed more than a little frightened.

“Hiiik!”

“You okay? Want me to widen the bridge a little?”

“Y-yes, please! That would help!”

Until now, I hadn’t realized it, but Doppy apparently had a mild fear of heights. He had never encountered a situation like this before, so it had gone unnoticed.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too severe.

With a small surge of mana, I broadened the shadow bridge beneath us. I could sense Doppy growing slightly more at ease.

Turning my gaze forward, I surveyed the path ahead.

Hmm.

Though the drifting pollen blurred my vision somewhat, the luminescent glow from the blossoms allowed me to roughly estimate my surroundings.

The field of crimson flowers sprawled across an expanse of land nearly two hundred fifty meters wide. We had crossed about half of the field by now.

At first, I had been concerned that the flowers could reach us, even up here, but that hadn’t been an issue.

“Hnnngh.”

“Don’t look down. Just keep your eyes on me, or better yet, just stare at my back.”

“O-okay! I’ll try.”

The pollen and spores continued to cloud the air.

Being high up didn’t mean the pollen had disappeared. If anything, since it came drifting from all directions, it made it harder to see. Whenever a breeze stirred the branches and leaves, more of the powder scattered into the air.

Still, the luminous mist beyond the colorful haze created a scene that was both mystical and deeply unsettling.

The unknown, what I can’t see, is always most frightening.

For Doppy, who harbored a fear of heights, not looking down was likely the best choice.

Besides that issue, the dense pollen was another reason that traveling along the treetops was difficult. If it were this bad at night, it would be impossible to see during the day.

In fact, moving closer to the ground, where the spores had already begun to settle and germinate, would be safer—just like it was recommended to stay low during a fire.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a universal purifier and antidote. Looking over at Doppy, I extended them toward him. “Attach this.”

“Got it!”

The haze was thickening. From here on out, we would need to take the antidote regularly.

Once I confirmed Doppy had connected it to the intake port of his gas mask, I resumed walking. We were quickly approaching the other side of the crimson field.

Beyond the glowing red blooms, the forest returned to its usual look.

Still, I should stay cautious.

I hadn’t been warned not to approach solely because of the flowers. After all, the blossoms weren’t the only threat hidden in these woods. Moreover, the boy and girl probably had their own secrets to protect.

There will probably be even more dangers from here on out.

At my command, the shadows twisted and formed another staircase for Doppy and me to descend on.

“Let’s go down.”

“Sounds good!”

“Take it slow. We’re in no rush.”

Just in case, I even crafted a handrail beside the stairs. There shouldn’t be any issues.

We descended carefully to the forest floor.

Perhaps because we were back below the canopy, the forest’s presence felt stronger. It was a strange sensation I couldn’t quite describe.

“Something... has happened...”

“What is it?”

“Their... hostility... toward you... has lessened... slightly...”

I didn’t need to ask who. It had to be the flowers.

“Is it because of the Ring of the Dawn Breeze?”

“Perhaps... it could be... or maybe... it’s because... you’re no longer... with the boy... and girl...”

“I see.”

Either way, it was a good thing.

Personally, I leaned toward the ring being the cause. Our parting with the boy and girl had hardly been amicable, and I doubted the flowers could read my intentions precisely.

In any case, it was time to move again.

***

[Survive. Time remaining: 50 hours 17 minutes.]

Over the last four hours, the darkness had deepened, and the forest raced toward dawn.

From time to time, flowers launched attacks. Unlike the crimson blooms from earlier, these weren’t clustered in clear colonies, which made them harder to anticipate.

Additionally, they weren’t distinct like Venus flytraps, making them difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.

I focused solely on defending myself since I couldn’t afford to strike back. Using Master of Shadows made that easy, however, and I just conjured barriers between myself and the flowers.

It is rather unfortunate that I can’t block them with my axe or lightning, though.

It was frustrating at times, but there was no helping it.

According to Ryun, even attacking in self-defense would increase the forest’s hostility toward me. Avoiding conflict was the wisest course.

As I pondered this, a change swept through the atmosphere.

“All of a... sudden... the flowers... are turning... more hostile...”

“What?”

A moment later, multiple presences closed in from all directions, similar to when I had first encountered the boy and girl.

Figures, unnoticed until now, had already slipped into the edge of my senses. These people had to be favored and protected by the flowers.

“It’s because of them.”

“Yes...”

We were surrounded.

I couldn’t even maneuver Doppy safely behind me anymore.

Tightening the straps of my gas mask, I prepared myself. My muscles tensed, and I was ready to manifest shadow shields at a moment’s notice.

Twing!

Bowstrings twanged, breaking the oppressive silence.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud—

Five arrows buried themselves into the ground at my feet, threading perfectly through the gaps between the flowers. Their precision was almost unnerving.

Something about it felt strange.

From what I knew, the tribes that appeared on the seventy-seventh floor wielded ancient weaponry.

Though “ancient” didn’t necessarily mean anything extraordinary. Just relics from a bygone civilization, like laser rifles or beam swords.

Ha Hee-Jeong had mentioned that this floor had stuck with her because the world itself lacked a monarchy and was more backward than the medieval era, yet its weapons were strangely advanced.

She called them remnants of an ancient civilization.

From the figures closing in now, however, I sensed none of that.

They were only equipped with bows, swords, and similarly primitive arms. Perhaps it was because they lived deep within the forest, so closely entwined with the flowers’ protection.

As I mused briefly, several individuals emerged from the underbrush. Masks, adorned with strange, intricate markings, covered their faces.

From behind their mask, one called out, “Outsider of the flower forest! Turn back!”

“I don’t know where you came from or why someone of your caliber is here, but this place is off-limits! Turn back!”

From their voices, I sensed they weren’t eager for a fight.

Perhaps those who lived in the forest shared a similar nature. The boy from earlier had given me the same impression—gentle by disposition. Although that could change if I pressed further, for now, they seemed inherently kind.

This was the moment I had been waiting for. I believed this was the turning point, my chance to forge a connection with this mysterious tribe.

Just then, a familiar presence stirred nearby.

The boy.

I quickly turned my head. He stood far off in the underbrush, aiming at me.

Unlike before, he was now fully equipped. Even his mask bore more ornate markings, and from his attire alone, he clearly held a position of some importance.

Right. No matter how high the floor, it wouldn’t make sense for a random child to be that strong.

Perhaps he was the successor to the tribe’s leadership.

I remained silent.

The others continued urging me to turn back, though none had directly targeted me yet. The moment I acted, arrows would fly.

It looks like I don’t have another choice.

I decided not to retaliate, just defend.

Let me take the boy hostage.

Capturing someone important would give me something to bargain with, and it would surely deal a blow to the others’ morale.

Besides, our earlier encounter didn’t feel like a mere coincidence.

I softly called out, “Doppy.”

“Why are you calling me?” he responded cautiously, still scanning our surroundings.

“Raise a barrier.”

We had to be on guard against any surprise attacks. Doppy still wasn’t capable of deflecting arrows with his sword.

He immediately began murmuring an incantation.

They hadn’t moved yet and were still in the midst of assessing us. Doppy’s chanting caused them to stir slightly, but they made no move to engage.

It was a spell I recognized well.

Just as Doppy neared the end of his incantation, I kicked off the ground and activated Flash Strike.

I didn’t want to use this if I could help it...

It was my only real option, however. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

They were under the forest’s protection, and I also had Doppy to think about. It was better to act decisively than risk disaster by overly hesitating.

Everything around me began to slow, and the suspended particles brushed against my cheek. I could see the spores erupting from buds in midair, each delicate filament crystal clear.

Just as I thought.

The moment I moved, the flowers began to show hostility. Even the grass underfoot clung to my shoes, and the leaves shifted subtly as if attempting to block my path.

Regardless, within the slowed world of Flash Strike, nothing moved faster than I did.

I charged straight toward the boy. Roughly five people responded to my movement, including him.

However, reaction alone wasn’t enough. None could match my speed.

Still, reacting while Flash Strike is active is worthy of some praise.

The boy loosed his arrow. It flew in a direct line, the arrowhead glinting sharply.

I twisted my shoulder slightly, dodging it with ease. He had to have known it wouldn’t land because almost immediately, he drew his sword.

Too late.

I was already standing before him. I seized his arm, stalling the blade, pulled him into my arms, and pressed the blade of my axe against his throat.

Time resumed flowing normally. Arrows pierced the space I had just crossed, a beat too late.

Voices erupted as chaos spread.

“What-what’s going on?!”

“He vanished!”

Amid the commotion, the boy struggled in my grasp. I tightened my arm, pulling him closer.

Rustling sounded through the underbrush as people finally spotted us.

“Aoshi!”

“Stop right there!”

Silence fell over the clearing. The axe blade hovered just beneath the boy’s throat, but he continued to squirm.

“L-let go of me!”

“Hold still. Here, look.” With a small twist of my wrist, I brought Ryun into view, right before the boy’s eyes.

Simultaneously, Ryun opened his eyes, and I felt the boy stiffen.

“Calm your people, and lead me to your village. I have no intention of harming anyone. I, too, am protected by nature. I mean no harm to the forest.”

***

[Survive. Time remaining: 49 hours 31 minutes.]

The village was neither close nor far, only about a forty-minute walk away.

If I had searched alone, I would never have found it. The village was completely hidden.

How would anyone think to look beneath the forest?

The passageway leading underground was concealed beneath a dense cluster of blossoms. Until they had stepped into the entrance, I hadn’t sensed a thing.

Strangely enough, even though flowers surrounded the village, I didn’t spot a single trace of drifting pollen. None of the villagers wore gas masks, either.

Additionally, there weren’t any visible flames, but the luminous blossoms cast a soft glow throughout the settlement.

I could feel eyes on me from all directions. There were no children, only adults.

It seemed the entire village had gathered, no doubt alerted by those who had gone ahead. Still, it wasn’t a large crowd.

Maybe eighty people, give or take.

As expected, the atmosphere was tense. Many looked at me with visible hostility, while others looked on in fear. Despite that, everyone seemed to be filled with concern and sympathy toward the boy held in my arms.

Hmm.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had become the villain here.

That isn’t exactly fair. I don’t have malicious intentions.