Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 331: Eightieth Floor, Waiting Room (1)

[Spend time in Euros’s Forest. Time remaining: 46 hours 28 minutes.]

It began as a whisper, barely more than a tickle in my ear. As the spirit expanded, that delicate noise gradually intensified.

There was no mistaking it now—it was the sound of the wind. The breeze stirred as the spirit’s presence grew, both in form and sound.

A light draft coiled around me. As time passed, the breeze sharpened into something more like a gust. Though to me, it remained refreshingly cool.

It isn’t a Spirit King.

Because I was focusing so intently, I could distinguish the difference. It lacked the sheer overwhelming force I had felt earlier. Despite that, this one’s presence was unlike the lesser spirits I had encountered before. Its energy was undeniable, too substantial to ignore.

Not quite a Spirit King, but clearly something powerful.

I didn’t know whether spirits were formally ranked, but if I had to categorize this one, I would place it a step below a king, more like high-tier.

As I pondered, the wind suddenly surged outward in a sweeping arc, as if lashing through the air. Grasses and trees around me quivered violently.

Whoooooosh—

Despite the force, the rustling of the dense leaves carried a warmth that contrasted with the stormy wind.

Then, just as abruptly as it had begun, the wind fell still. In its wake, only the spirit remained.

This one is different.

Unlike the Spirit King of Lightning, who had vanished into my chest the moment it bonded with me, the wind spirit continued to hover nearby.

Even the fine hairs on my skin responded to its presence, cool and tingling. I focused on its movements as it brushed against me while circling me. With each passing moment, I felt something gradually building within me.

In that moment of quiet communion, I began to understand why Aoshi called it bonding rather than a contract.

Not bad at all.

A faint smile tugged at my lips. The sensation was strange but deeply intriguing. As I stood there, still attuned to the spirit, I sensed someone approaching from a distance.

It was Aoshi.

He hurried over, face flushed with shock and confusion. “Hyung! What on earth was that just now?”

“It was the Spirit King of Lightning.”

“The Spirit King—” His jaw dropped. “I’ve never felt a presence like that before. Honestly, ever since the World Tree’s spirit started reaching out to you, I knew this wasn’t going to be normal.”

“But it got absorbed into me. That’s not a bad sign, is it?”

I had no real knowledge of spirits. A sliver of unease crept in.

Did something go wrong?

Aoshi pressed his lips together, inhaled slowly, and replied, “Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ve never seen a spirit absorbed like that before.”

Even Aoshi, who could perceive the natural world more deeply than anyone, was unfamiliar with my situation.

So what is happening, exactly?

Based on how I felt, it didn’t seem like a negative outcome, but I couldn’t be certain.

After a brief pause, Aoshi cautiously asked, “Did you absorb it intentionally?”

“No. It just merged with me on its own.”

“In that case, I think it’s fine. It may be the first time I’ve seen it, but we’re at the World Tree. And if the spirit acted like that, I believe it was deliberate.”

“You really think so?”

“Yes. It was their will. Nothing more.”

“Hmm.”

His answer wasn’t definitive, but something about Aoshi’s confidence reassured me. After all, he was the most attuned to this world and was able to communicate directly with nature itself.

Besides, the place where the Spirit King had entered me radiated only warmth. Apart from the surge in my lightning’s power, nothing felt out of the ordinary.

The area surrounding the World Tree remained tranquil. The goodwill it extended toward me was palpable.

“My guess? Since you already command lightning, the spirit chose to merge with it instead of splitting its power into separate forms.”

“Yeah. My lightning definitely feels stronger now.”

It made sense. There was no need to divide what was already unified.

That settled it. No further overthinking was necessary since everything pointed to this being a good thing.

I turned toward Aoshi again. “I’ve got another question. I bonded with the wind spirit, too, but it feels a little different from the others. Mind taking a look?”

“I already did. There’s a clear gap in strength compared to ordinary spirits. Likely because it also comes from the World Tree.”

“That’s not a bad sign, right?”

It seemed like a given, but with all these unusual things happening to just me, I couldn’t help but double-check.

“No, not at all.” Aoshi nodded with calm certainty.

At last, the lingering tension in my chest dissipated.

Now, a new curiosity stirred. “So how do I actually use a spirit’s power?”

The Spirit King of Lightning had fused with me, so its energy felt like a natural extension of my own.

On the other hand, the wind spirit still floated nearby, and I had no idea how to direct it.

“Just commune. Mentally. Think about what you want, and the spirit will respond.”

“So I just have to think about it?”

I closed my eyes and focused on the spirit coiled around me.

Let me see. What would be a good first command? Ah, how about helping me move faster?

As soon as the thought formed, the spirit reacted. A crisp breeze enveloped me, and my limbs felt lighter. I moved an arm and instantly noticed the drop in air resistance. The wind not only enhanced my strength but also supported my movements.

This was clearly superior to the Wind’d Route skill I had used before, though its nature was fundamentally different. If the old technique applied its effects automatically and without distinction, this spirit was responsive, almost interactive.

That difference made it vastly more precise. Moreover, the more in sync I became with the spirit, the more efficient the technique would grow.

“It still feels a bit off. I’m not fully used to it yet. You all made it look so smooth.”

“That’s just because your bond is new. You’ll adjust quickly.”

“Is there any way to speed it up?”

“Not really. The only way is to keep moving with it and keep communing.”

I nodded, and Aoshi watched me carefully before stepping in a little closer.

“Well, since we’re out here, how about a light spar? It’s the quickest way to get used to it.”

“A spar?”

“Yeah. Not a real fight. Just enough to help you get a feel for it.”

Not a bad suggestion.

To be honest, a full spar would’ve been fine too, but Aoshi didn’t seem inclined toward anything that intense.

After a moment of pause, I slowly nodded. “Alright. Just a light one.”

“Yes, light. And since you’re using the wind spirit, let’s remain unarmed.”

“Sounds good.”

Aoshi stepped back to put some distance between us. I set Soulbound down and assumed a stance.

Since it was only a casual spar, I didn’t channel Aura into my limbs. Instead, I focused on the spirit circling me.

Our eyes met. No signal was needed. Aoshi moved first, closing the distance in a blink.

Don’t rely on strength. Use the spirit’s power instead.

In my mind, I visualized the arc of his punch. I used wind to block its path and deliberately reacted a half-beat slower than I could have.

The spirit lightened my movements, enabling me to quickly dodge. The wind slowed Aoshi’s strike slightly, making it seem like he had hesitated mid-swing.

My steps faltered subtly as well, his spirit coming into play as well. This fight wasn’t going to be one-sided.

While my spirit was stronger, his familiarity and control over their bond were far superior. The gap in experience tipped the balance, and it didn’t take him long to push me into a defensive position.

Mid-exchange, Aoshi called out to me, drawing part of my attention, “Hyung.”

It was likely intentional.

Even so, I fought to maintain focus, determined not to break the delicate thread of communion with the spirit. “Yeah?”

“You’re still getting along with Hee-Jeong noona, right?”

“With Hee-Jeong? Yeah, we’re doing fine. Nothing’s really changed. We came straight here from the past, so it’s technically all the same.”

“I see.”

“Why ask that all of a sudden?”

Even as I spoke, I kept my focus on the spirit, immersing myself as deeply as possible in our bond. As expected, nothing could beat hands-on experience.

I was starting to get the hang of it. Our communion was growing stronger, and I was beginning to discern which thoughts the spirit could respond to, and which it couldn’t.

Aoshi ducked low and dodged my kick with ease. “It may be presumptuous of me, but you two seem a little too distant. I think there’s room for something more.”

I answered with a silent punch. Aoshi leaned back, pulling his head away just in time, and my fist sliced through empty air. His counter came swiftly, but I diverted it with my spirit’s support and let the wind deflect the blow.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve lived eighty years now. In that time, I’ve learned a thing or two.”

“Like what?”

“It’s something you’ve probably heard a dozen times before, and I know it sounds cliché. But I’ve come to believe the present is what matters most. Being honest with your feelings.” A gentle smile spread across Aoshi’s face. “I know you, noona, and the others are all extraordinary in your own ways. And I get that each of you has your circumstances. I imagine the distance between you two comes from that.”

I didn’t respond.

“But maybe precisely because of those circumstances, it’s even more important to be honest about what you’re feeling right now.” Abruptly, Aoshi stopped moving.

I drew back the punch I had just thrown.

“That’s just my perspective. I hope it didn’t come off as meddling.”

Honestly, it didn’t feel like he was overstepping. His sincerity had come through clearly.

His voice and expression had remained careful and thoughtful, even in the middle of sparring. The way he was watching me closely and measuring my reactions wasn’t out of hesitation, but out of genuine concern.

It wasn’t idle advice as it was a reflection of eighty years of life experience. It struck a chord inside me, touching on a truth I had quietly wrestled with myself.

“Someday, in the distant future, I think you will regret letting these moments pass without saying what you really felt.” Saying no more, Aoshi stepped back, a soft smile playing across his lips.

For just a moment, I glimpsed the boy he used to be beneath the man he had become.

A breeze drifted in from somewhere.

***

[14 hours 43 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

“Ugh, why do I feel so sore? Is it just me?”

“Nope. Same here!”

“Is this what reverse acclimation feels like? Man, it was so nice near the World Tree.”

Doppy nodded emphatically. “Totally! This doesn’t feel like resting at all!”

We had returned to the waiting room about a day and a half ago.

Everything felt different, even the air. Despite the time that had passed, I still couldn’t adjust. Since the World Tree purified the air and enhanced the density of mana in it, every breath had felt restorative.

A faint chuckle escaped me as I recalled the seventy-ninth floor.

On the first day, I bonded with my spirit and spent a carefree afternoon in the village. I had simply wanted to relax and had done exactly that. We—my former party members and I, along with Aoshi’s family—spent the second day training near the World Tree, since everyone had bonded with a spirit by then.

That ended up being everything we could feasibly do. When the floor’s timer finally began to run out, and the moment of parting came, I found my eyes growing damp without even realizing it.

Let good memories stay as memories.

Now, it was time to keep moving forward. What I had learned on the seventy-ninth floor had shifted my mindset, if only slightly.

Regardless, it was a welcome change.

Smiling faintly, I absentmindedly scrolled through the Community. As expected, nearly every post was about the same thing.

Spirits.

Since every climber had formed a contract with a spirit, the entire Community was flooded with discussion. Some were chatting about how to use them efficiently, while others discussed whether there were ways to strengthen their abilities further.

Worthwhile conversations, I thought. Ha Hee-Jeong had even posted some insights Aoshi had shared.

It felt like our time was nearly up. I glanced at the notification window to confirm.

Rest always ends too soon.

The scheduled break was nearing its end. Only about thirty minutes remained.

I rose from my seat. There was still one thing I wanted to do with that time. Something I had been reminded of after meeting Aoshi and Ferel.

It was time to go see Natalie.

I wonder how she has been.

She was probably doing fine. Last I had seen her, she had completed her own world, and there hadn’t been any signs of instability. Moreover, she had mentioned that all she needed was time to grow.

As I stood up, a sigh quietly slipped from my lips. “Huuu.”

To be honest, I was a little anxious. It had been a long time, and I had left her waiting for far too long. I had been thoughtless. She had asked me to visit, but I hadn’t. Even though I had known she would be waiting for me, I still hadn’t gone.

She was still young. There was a chance I had hurt her without realizing it. Maybe she would want to scold me.

Dolls, snacks, a wand, a necklace...

I had no idea what she would like, so I brought a bit of everything. Even still, I was worried that she wouldn’t be happy with even one of those things.

Honestly, even if she hated them all, I wouldn’t blame her. I owed her an apology.

Still, better late than never, right?

That was what I told myself as I opened the portal.

Vwooom—

Is it because I absorbed the Spirit King of Lightning?

The portal shimmered more intensely with lightning, its hue was a little bluer, and it pulsed far rougher than usual.

I swallowed hard and stepped through. My destination was a small garden nestled in a castle courtyard, filled with blossoms just beginning to bloom. It felt nothing like the pristine, snow-white world I remembered.

It has changed a lot since then.

At the center of the garden stood Natalie. More precisely, she was staring straight at me as if she had known all along that I was coming.

Her voice cut through the stillness, sharp and unyielding.

“What are you doing here?”