Chapter 119: Proof of Qualification (2)

The time the Tower had foretold was almost upon us.

I had been hunting in Zone 5, but I came back out before it began.

With my arms folded, I sat down in a chair and stared blankly into space.

Proof of Qualification.

From what had been announced beforehand, it seemed like the Tower intended to do something only to the Top-Floor Climbers.

And yet...

For some reason, I had a bad feeling.

After all, during the Masked Auction, something had happened that no one could possibly have imagined.

Who in their right mind could have predicted an auction where human lives were used as currency?

What was going to happen this time...?

[Time Remaining: 1 second]

[‘Proof of Qualification’ has begun.]

A message appeared.

[The Top-Floor Climbers of each Difficulty have been selected.]

[A total of nine ‘Isolation Zones,’ each with a 50-kilometer radius, have been established.]

.

.

.

[You have been selected as the Top-Floor Climber of the Nightmare Difficulty.]

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Warrior’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

[Selection Time Remaining: 58 minutes 51 seconds]

I read through the messages as they appeared one after another.

The more I read, the more my expression hardened.

What the hell is this...?

Once I had finished reading the entire explanation, I opened the Communication Channel.

I was scanning the frantic chatter as people erupted into panic when—

[Taegeuk: fuck, looks like Seoul got hit too? we’re screwed;]

I pulled back the curtains and looked outside.

A bluish veil hung across the sky.

And above it floated an enormous number ‘1,’ like a hologram.

“Ha...”

A short sigh escaped me.

The Tower was pulling another piece of jaw-dropping bullshit.

***

Nine Isolation Zones had appeared across the world.

Just as the explanation said, the Isolation Zones completely blocked all passage between the inside and outside.

In other words, everyone inside was trapped with no way to escape.

[Sodium: I’m Canadian and I think I’m inside an Isolation Zone... what do I do?]

[Anaconda: You’re trapped. No way out]

[Diamond: shit the veil came down right next to my house; survived by a hair]

[Pond: so... the Top-Floor Climbers have to take on the Penalty and clear the boss for the people inside the Isolation Zones to live? otherwise everyone dies? am I getting this right?]

[Jonathan: Yeah, you got it right. Everyone trapped is screwed]

Only yesterday, the entire world had been in turmoil because Floor 8 had taken so long to clear.

And now everything had been turned upside down all over again.

If the Top-Floor Climbers refused to accept the Penalties, every person trapped inside the Isolation Zones would die.

That much, at least, everyone understood immediately.

In South Korea, an Isolation Zone had appeared that encompassed Seoul, Incheon, and part of the surrounding metropolitan area, stretching all the way to Kaesong in North Korea.

The situation was much the same elsewhere, with Isolation Zones appearing over national capitals and major cities.

What was more, an enormous number from 1 to 9 floated above the veil of each Isolation Zone.

South Korea was Isolation Zone 1, with the number 1 hanging high above it.

Every nation affected by an Isolation Zone immediately went on emergency alert.

News outlets began running urgent bulletins.

Countless live broadcasts went online.

– I’m standing here on the streets of Central Park in Songdo, Incheon. As you can see, the veil has completely sealed the area, making all travel in and out impossible...

Inside the Isolation Zone, the broadcast showed crowds gathered directly in front of the veil, their faces frozen with fear.

“Get us out! Let us out of here...!”

Some people, seized by panic, pounded against the veil and screamed.

But for the moment, there was absolutely nothing the government could do...

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Warrior’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

[Selection Time Remaining: 20 minutes 39 seconds]

The Top-Floor Climber of Easy Difficulty was the first to choose.

[Easy]

Population: 718,956

Time Limit: 39 years 6 days 6 hours 15 minutes 1 second

Reached Floor: 46

[Normal]

Population: 655,174

Time Limit: 25 years 6 days 6 hours 15 minutes 1 second

Reached Floor: 32

[Hard]

Population: 681,549

Time Limit: 11 years 6 days 6 hours 15 minutes 1 second

Reached Floor: 18

[Nightmare]

Population: 673,620

Time Limit: 1 year 6 days 6 hours 15 minutes 1 second

Reached Floor: 9

China’s Zhang Tao held the Easy Difficulty record at Floor 46.

His Communication Channel nickname was Warrior.

And the time granted to him to make his decision—barely enough even to think it through properly—was only one hour.

[Uru: He’ll pick at least one, right?]

[Cauliflower: Who knows. This Penalty’s pretty brutal.]

[Wei: Zhang Tao! Please, pick China’s Isolation Zone! You have to save your own countrymen!]

The situation unfolded with unbearable urgency.

Then, with only one minute remaining on the timer, a message appeared.

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Warrior’ has selected Isolation Zone 5.]

Zone 5 was the Isolation Zone located in China.

Zhang Tao had chosen a single Isolation Zone.

The one in his own country.

[Upon selecting 1]

– Physical ability and Willpower reduced by 30%

And so Zhang Tao, bearing one Penalty, was transported to the Proof Room.

[Yellow Dragon: He chose China!]

[Chicken 5 Pieces: He only picked one? Guess he’s just saving his own country]

[Black Pine: Only one? Look at the Penalty, you idiot. Even picking one is fatal]

[Windmill: Is this even possible? I’ve got a bad feeling...]

The citizens trapped inside China’s Isolation Zone waited desperately for news of his success.

And then...

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Warrior’ has died.]

Only a few minutes had passed.

The announcement of Zhang Tao’s death rang out.

[Drawing a new Top-Floor Climber for the Easy Difficulty.]

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Clock’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

If a Climber died without defeating the boss, a new Climber would be selected.

Again and again, until someone succeeded.

According to the rules, the next person chosen was Henry, an Australian Easy Difficulty Climber who had reached Floor 45.

There were several Easy Difficulty Floor 45 Climbers around the world, and Henry happened to be the one selected.

Zhang Tao’s hollow, seemingly pointless death plunged people into despair.

Especially the citizens trapped inside China’s Isolation Zone.

[Radiation: What? Zhang Tao’s dead?]

[Bull: See? I told you the Penalty was insane...]

Physical ability and Willpower reduced by 30 percent.

That was practically the same as having one’s Level reduced by 30 percent.

Facing a boss monster equal to your own Level while your own strength had been cut by thirty percent?

Forget several Penalties.

By any reasonable measure, even one was absurd.

Henry, the next Climber in line, was also unable to make a decision until nearly the entire hour had passed.

Then—

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Clock’ has not selected an Isolation Zone.]

In the end, he chose none.

After all, unlike Zhang Tao, his own country had not even been caught inside an Isolation Zone.

But...

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Clock’ has died.]

Even Henry, who had taken no Penalty whatsoever, died soon after.

[Drawing a new Top-Floor Climber for the Easy Difficulty.]

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Ascent’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

The third person chosen was Logan, an American Easy Difficulty Climber who had also reached Floor 45.

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Ascent’ has not selected an Isolation Zone.]

Logan also chose none.

And then—

[The Easy Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Ascent’ has slain the boss monster.]

Only on the third attempt did a message announcing success finally appear.

The instant Logan defeated the boss and emerged from the Proof Room, he revealed everything he knew.

[Ascent: The place was a cavern much like Floor 1 of the Tower, and the boss monster was a giant Golem. Structurally, it’s basically the same as clearing a Floor. Once you bring the boss down, you move to the Reward Room and your injuries are healed.]

Logan even explained in detail how he had defeated the boss.

But whether that information would actually help anyone was another question.

The boss’s Level would naturally differ depending on the Difficulty, and it seemed unlikely that every Climber would face the same type of boss.

[The Normal Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Freedom’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

[Deactivated Isolation Zones: 0]

The turn passed to the next Difficulty.

The highest-ranking Normal Difficulty Climber was Gabriel from the United States.

He was also a public figure, serving as a director of the International Climber Association.

[Flamethrower: ...Gabriel’ll pick at least one, won’t he?]

[Buffalo Wings: Dunno. The US didn’t even get hit with an Isolation Zone]

[Honeybee: if he’s gonna pick one, pick Canada please...! the US and us are basically brother nations!]

The people trapped inside the Isolation Zones were desperate.

Truly desperate.

A death sentence had fallen upon them out of nowhere.

If the Proof of Qualification ended with all four Difficulties refusing to select any Isolation Zones, then everyone trapped inside them would die.

Even by the roughest estimate, that meant tens of millions of people.

Since communication with the outside world still worked, they listened to the reports arriving in real time, desperately praying that the Top-Floor Climbers would accept the Penalty and try to save them.

People had hoped the Normal Difficulty Climber might at least choose one.

But...

[The Normal Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Freedom’ has not selected an Isolation Zone.]

[The Normal Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Freedom’ has slain the boss monster.]

[Deactivated Isolation Zones: 0]

Gabriel also defeated his boss and emerged without selecting a single Isolation Zone.

“I am sorry. I could not make that choice.”

The moment he emerged, reporters surrounded him, forcing him into an impromptu press conference.

“It is truly tragic, but I do not possess the power to save them. No one does. It was only three hours ago that China’s Zhang Tao died. Australia’s Henry failed even without taking a Penalty.

“I nearly died as well. A beast-type boss appeared before me, completely different from the boss on Easy Difficulty. It was extraordinarily powerful. Had I accepted even one Penalty, I would certainly have died.

“A 30 percent reduction in physical ability and Willpower is effectively the same as a 30 percent reduction in Level. Do you truly believe it is possible to shoulder such an outrageous Penalty and fight a boss monster equal to your own Level?”

What he said wasn’t wrong.

But when all was said and done, it meant that he had no intention of sacrificing himself to save anyone.

There wasn’t even time to condemn him for it.

The turn had already passed to Hard Difficulty.

[The Hard Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Strength’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

Russia’s Dmitri.

A Hard Difficulty Climber who had reached Floor 18.

A few months earlier, he had cleared Floor 17, putting himself level with America’s Alex as co-holder of the Hard Difficulty record.

And now, he regretted it.

“...If I’d known things would turn out like this, I should have delayed my attempt.”

Dmitri did not want to die.

Facing a boss monster equal to one’s own Level while having one’s stats reduced by 30 percent...

If there had been information on the boss beforehand, and enough time to develop a strategy, perhaps it wouldn’t have been completely impossible.

But right now, there was no information at all.

Of course, if enough Climbers kept throwing themselves at the challenge over and over, perhaps eventually one of them would succeed by sheer luck.

But that possibility required someone to sacrifice himself first.

And Dmitri, once again, did not want to die.

If anything, precisely because he was one of the Top-Floor Climbers, he understood the odds better than anyone.

Accepting the Penalty meant throwing his life away for nothing.

He knew there would be fierce public criticism once this was over.

His conscience wasn’t exactly clear, either.

But what else could he do?

His own life mattered more.

The one consolation was that Russia’s Isolation Zone had not appeared over any major urban center.

Dmitri made his decision.

He would value his own life.

The Russian government had also made its position perfectly clear in the message that had just reached him.

They would rather abandon one small city than allow Dmitri, Russia’s finest Climber, to gamble his life on a challenge he was almost certain to lose.

[The Hard Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Strength’ has not selected an Isolation Zone.]

[The Hard Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Strength’ has slain the boss monster.]

[Deactivated Isolation Zones: 0]

In the end—

Hard Difficulty, too, chose not to save a single Isolation Zone.

The citizens trapped inside them watched everything unfold in real time and fell into despair.

“H-how can this be happening...?”

“You sons of bitches! Are you even human?!”

“Are we really all going to die like this...?”

Back on Floor 4, Person123 had willingly chosen a Penalty.

And somewhere deep in their hearts, people had clung to the hope that at least one other Climber might show that same kind of heroism.

But that hope had been in vain.

Aside from Zhang Tao choosing his own country’s Isolation Zone at the very beginning, not one of the Climbers had selected even a single Zone.

[Pig: and those pieces of shit are supposed to be Top-Floor Climbers ha...lol]

[Shooting Star: how does not one of them even think about giving it a try?]

[Mask: but the Penalty is pretty damn harsh tho... is saving even one Zone actually doable?]

[Bard: only Nightmare left now]

In the little time they had left, governments tried everything they could.

They bombarded the Isolation Zone barriers with military weapons.

They dug tunnels beneath them.

But of course, none of it worked.

The veil enclosed everything perfectly, extending even underground.

“Every citizen inside the Isolation Zones is going to become one of the Fallen...!”

Once the Proof of Qualification was over, the Tower’s Curse would descend upon everyone remaining inside the Isolation Zones.

And to die from the Tower’s Curse meant becoming one of the Fallen.

All those millions of people...

Every last one of them turning into monsters?

The scale of the catastrophe was almost impossible to comprehend.

[Remaining Isolation Zones will be maintained forever.]

The one small mercy was the notice that the Isolation Zones themselves would remain permanently.

The nations where those Zones had appeared would still suffer devastation severe enough to shake them to their foundations.

Even so, having the Isolation Zones remain intact was the lesser evil.

Because the Fallen would not be able to escape beyond the barriers either.

Still, there remained the faintest possibility that something could go wrong.

The leaders of the world hastily convened an emergency video conference.

Preparing even for the possibility that the barriers might disappear once the Proof of Qualification ended, they urgently discussed measures including nuclear strikes.

Meanwhile—

[The Nightmare Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Person123’ is currently selecting an Isolation Zone.]

At last, the turn had come to the final Difficulty.

Nightmare.

[Swan: will Person123 choose a Penalty...?]

[Poseidon: at the very least he’ll pick South Korea, right]

[Davis: but is choosing it even something we should be hoping for?]

[Icicle: he can’t push too hard... even for Person123, this is...]

Knowing Person123’s character, people believed there was at least no chance that he would choose nothing at all.

But that meant Person123 would have to fight the boss while bearing a lethal Penalty.

And if Person123 died, the world itself would be doomed.

Even so, the people trapped inside the Isolation Zones prayed desperately for him to accept the Penalty.

The end of the world or not, they were the ones facing death right here and now.

“B-but Person123 will choose South Korea, won’t he?”

“We’ll survive... please...”

The people inside South Korea’s Isolation Zone 1 clung desperately to their final hope.

The citizens trapped inside the Isolation Zones of other countries, however, found it almost impossible to hope at all.

Even Person123 was not an omnipotent god.

No matter how far his abilities surpassed those of every other Climber, the Penalties were simply too absurd.

There had to be a limit to how many Zones he could possibly choose.

In the end, countless people were still going to die.

– All that remains now is Person123’s final choice. What decision will humanity’s savior make...?

News broadcasts around the world showed the people trapped inside the Isolation Zones.

People overcome with despair.

People pounding against the veil and begging to be saved.

People clasping their hands together in prayer.

People closing their eyes as though preparing themselves for death.

Everyone waited for Person123’s decision.

And then...

A message appeared.

[The Nightmare Difficulty Top-Floor Climber ‘Person123’ has selected Isolation Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.]