Pick Me Up – Chapter 274 – Catastrophe (5)
The Night of the Next Day
In the hangar on the second floor of the Lobby, the heroes gathered to prepare for the expedition to the 80th floor.
The total number was approximately a thousand. This squadron, composed solely of heroes of at least 5 stars, represented the entire power of Taonier.
‘It seems he will leave nothing behind.’
The amount of gems invested in this squadron was equivalent to more than ten million won in cash.
It was an investment of almost half a year in training. If the conquest of the 80th floor failed, Anything would be ruined. He would have to start from scratch with the training of heroes.
‘Numerous prominent Korean masters knelt here.’
The 80th floor of Pick Me Up.
It was the demonic gate allowed only to five of the hundred million masters.
In fact, of those five, four possessed 7-star heroes, so there was only one common master who managed to complete the 80th floor.
‘It’s irrational.’
The difficulty of the 80th floor can be defined with that single word.
No matter how difficult the previous scenarios were, there were always clues to overcome them, but the 80th floor offered none. It was a mission without any hints. The masters and heroes had to find a way to complete it themselves. Of course, if the bet failed, the heroes would disappear in an instant.
‘Haa.’
I took a deep breath.
This was the final test to prove my worth.
If I fall here, I will lose the right to choose.
There would be nothing left, no place to return to.
[Pick Me Up!]
[MOBILE RPG GAME]
[Start Game]
[A link to an account is required to play.]
A game login window appeared in my right field of vision.
In the background, there was a knight with a melancholic expression, holding a sword and shield.
It was a different screen than the usual login screen.
[Warning!]
[Currently, Pick Me Up is running on ‘NUX PLAYER’. Be careful with the use of macros. If detected, you will be permanently suspended without prior notice.]
Normally, Anything played on his mobile phone, but now he was using Nux Player.
Nux is a program that allows phone applications to run on the computer. It has the drawback of requiring complex and tedious authentication procedures, but once set up, it allows playing on a large screen.
‘He’s taking all precautions.’
I imagined Anything with a solemn expression in front of the computer, with the door closed.
It wasn’t a bad choice. Playing on the computer, insignificant variables wouldn’t be missed. Additionally, playing with the mouse was more convenient than with the touch screen.
Soon, the authentication window appeared, and Anything registered his digital certificate and entered the password.
[Welcome, master Anything, to Pick Me Up!]
With a cheerful sound, a holographic window appeared.
[Loading completed.]
[TOUCH! (Select)]
Anything entered the main screen of Pick Me Up.
Immediately, the heroes waiting to depart appeared in the hangar.
[Warning!]
[This mission allows the unlimited entry of heroes without restrictions. If the group lacks personnel, use paid or free summons to complete it.]
[This mission has a ‘fleet ban’ restriction.]
[Tips/ You can form squads by grouping the groups.]
[Tips/ In missions with a fleet restriction, aircraft cannot be used.]
The mission warning window appeared.
The characteristics of this mission were twofold: it was an ‘unlimited mission’ that allowed the entry of heroes regardless of the number, and it was a ‘fleet restriction mission’ that prohibited the use of aircraft.
I clicked my tongue.
If we could utilize the fleet's firepower, the tactical range would be much broader.
The difference with the 80th floor of Niflheim was that there was no vanguard team and fleets couldn’t be used.
“It has arrived.”
Jenna looked at me while gripping her bow.
Both Jenna, Belkist, and I remained silent, without saying a word.
I observed the entire hangar.
It was filled with heroes with no room to move. Warriors, mages, archers, and various hidden classes.
Men and women of all ages prepared for battle.
“Comrades, I believe in your ability to fight well.”
Roderick, the current squad leader, continued his speech from the podium.
Unlike Edith, his voice was grave and severe but contained an indescribable strength.
“If we finish this battle successfully, we will be one step closer to returning home. In this decisive battle… the fate of your home, Taonier, is at stake.”
If they were perceptive, they would have guessed the reason they were brought to the tower and the purpose of this mission.
Everyone was gripping their weapons with determination.
[Pick Me Up! – Taonier 80th Floor]
[BJ – WindFlow]
[Viewers 107,053]
For his part, Anything also bet everything.
‘A live broadcast, huh.’
Until now, he had uploaded videos of completed missions, but now he was preparing a live broadcast.
And at the highlight of Pick Me Up, the 80th floor. The number of viewers was over a hundred thousand. Adding the viewers of other BJs illegally broadcasting Anything’s video, it would exceed double.
It was expected.
The 80th floor challenge videos of Pick Me Up were extremely rare.
I hadn’t uploaded my video of the 80th floor conquest of Niflheim either.
Even at this moment, the number of viewers increased exponentially.
The speed of the chat was so fast that it was impossible to read each message.
[Try21: Came to see all the heroes collapse.]
[BlackCow: If he settles here, he would live as a ranker. Did he come to confirm he’s an idiot? The 80th floor isn’t meant to be conquered.]
[Praisethesun: ＼＼[+]／／ Sun! Praise the Sun!]
[Breakhead3: Haha. He’s crazy. Does he think he can conquer the 80th floor? Does he think he’s Loki?]
[Neven13: I think the first to fifth place are admin accounts. The difficulty of the 80th floor is really absurd. A normal user could never overcome it.]
[Tactical7: Let's watch all his heroes die and how he quits the game! Let’s confirm it’s a shitty game! Let’s watch his sales ranking drop!]
[LilyZzang: Please fail! Please! Please! Lose! Total annihilation! Massacre!]
Most of the viewers were here waiting for Anything to fail in his challenge.
Seeing the fall of a tower built with so much effort is a sweet satisfaction for outside observers. Although some supportive messages occasionally appeared, they were quickly displaced by the spam wave.
I stopped paying attention to the broadcast window.
Anyway, they would only see a small part of what was really happening.
The simple graphics of the game couldn’t represent even one percent of what I really saw and felt.
<It’s ready.>
Roderick’s voice sounded in my ear.
It seemed his departure speech was over.
[Warning!]
[This mission is extremely difficult and time-consuming. Make sure you have enough free time and no pending matters before playing. Once started, you cannot go back.]
[Optional Mission – 80th Floor – Do you really wish to attempt it?]
[Yes / No]
Clack.
I firmly grasped the Bifrost sheath.
[Yes (Select) / No]
Anything touched the departure button.
In the corner of the hangar, Iselle appeared, scattering stardust as she waved her hand.
[Let’s go!]
Cold sweat appeared on Iselle’s forehead.
Iselle, concentrating all her energy, extended her hand.
[Open, Dimensional Rift!]
Wuuuung.
A huge dimensional door in the shape of a mirror appeared.
<All troops, advance!>
At the front of the hangar.
The standard-bearer waved a red flag and entered the dimensional door.
Following his orders, the thousand heroes began to enter the mission one by one.
“Let’s go too.”
I took a step forward.
The objective was tens of meters ahead, the mirror.
‘Preparations are made.’
The only thing left was to conquer.
If we overcome the 80th floor, the complete conquest of the mission will not be far.
From the 81st floor onward, the difficulty is not so high.
“Remember what I told you yesterday. No matter how impossible it seems…”
“There is a way to overcome it, right?”
“More than half of those here will die. Don’t worry about that. Just focus on what we have to do.”
“Occupy the objective and eliminate the specific targets.”
Belkis murmured.
I nodded. We’ll leave the basic operations to Roderick and the master.
We must focus on what only the first group can do.
<Finally, it begins.>
Chis!
A reddish current leapt from my shoulder.
Halgion clicked his beak and spoke.
<The future of Taonier depends on this mission. We will be by your side. Make sure to win.>
Halgion turned into a flash and disappeared.
I smiled and moved forward.
[AZ: Siris-chan…]
[Nihaku: Cheer up, master!]
It seemed all kinds of people were watching.
I didn’t like being a spectacle, but there was no choice.
Soon, the light emanating from the mirror enveloped my entire body.
‘A familiar sensation of floating.’
I felt as if my body was being absorbed into the depths of the ocean.
After a while, I opened my eyes.
A clear midday sky appeared before my eyes.
Except for one thing…
[Current progress – 99%]
[When it reaches 100%, the Descent will begin.]
[Master, prepare for battle.]
The sky was fractured, as if it had been treated with CGI effects.
Beyond the crack, countless eel-like forms twisted.
I looked down.
The palace roof gleamed under the sunlight.
Below, Pria, Yoshu, and other officers of the princess's army gathered.
<To your positions!>
As soon as we arrived on the field, the heroes began to disperse quickly.
They formed a defense to repel any enemy attack from any direction. They ran towards the gates located at the east, west, south, and north of the capital, raising their weapons.
<We’ll take care of the main strategy. Please trust us.>
Roderick’s communication was cut off.
I walked towards the palace entrance.
Yoshu approached running and bowed to me.
“You have arrived, brother. We were waiting for you.”
“What’s the current situation?”
“The traitor is still entrenched inside the palace. We planned an assault operation for today…”
“Today?”
“Yes. It’s an order from Her Majesty.”
I quickened my pace.
It didn’t take long to meet Pria, dressed in her commander’s uniform.
“Han.”
Priacis spoke without looking at me.
“Have you made a decision?”
“Of course.”
Priacis spoke in a low tone.
She firmly grasped the sword at her waist.
No further explanations were needed.
“You arrived just in time. In an hour, we will initiate an assault operation with the elite troops. The objective is to capture and subdue the prince before the situation worsens.”
Priacis looked up.
The cracks in the sky were not visible to common NPCs. The mercenaries guarding the area had no idea what was about to happen.
“I will go too. Han, help us. If we act in advance, we can minimize the damage…”
「It is not necessary.」
Crash!
With an explosion, fragments of glass and stone flew everywhere.
“Duck!”
“Ugh!”
“Your Majesty!”
I crouched.
Marble fragments brushed past my head.
Soon after, a cloud of dust accompanied by wind rose.
I opened my eyes.
Beyond the collapsed palace wall, I saw Pryos sitting on the throne.
Next to him stood a young man and a girl.
“Finally showing that disgusting face.”
Yoshu, covered in debris, jumped up.
His sword was aimed at the prince’s face.
“Do you think you can escape your punishment for committing such atrocities just because you share the same blood as Her Majesty? Tens of millions of citizens have cried tears of blood for your tyranny. No more…”
“No more forgiveness?”
“That’s right.”
Yoshu growled.
Pryos spoke in an indifferent voice.
“And what will you do if you don’t forgive me?”
“I will hang you on the gallows with my own hands. The entire nation will celebrate your death…”
“The entire nation?”
“Look around you, Pryos.”
Pryos turned his head.
At the palace entrance and in the streets, mercenaries were everywhere.
With their weapons in hand, they looked at the prince with eyes full of hostility.
“To me, they are nothing but dust that needs to be cleaned.”
Pryos stood up with his cape billowing.
<Finally, I can put an end to this.>
<Fulfill the contract, Pryos.>
The young man and the girl spoke with clear voices.
The prince smiled as he raised his fist to the sky.
Crack! The cracks in the sky became even more prominent.
[Current progress – 99%]
[When it reaches 100%, the Descent will begin.]
Ooooooh!
An unpleasant scream that seemed to pierce my brain.
The sky seemed on the verge of collapse.
“I won’t allow it…”
Priacis raised her sword.
A bright golden halo enveloped her body.
[The dimensional sword Lusrada is awakening!]
Priacis’ sword began to emit a brilliant glow.
I couldn’t forget it. It was the fusion item of the three keys that instantly defeated the chaos egg on the 50th floor. Priacis gritted her teeth as she brought down the dimensional sword forcefully.
Flash!
The sword’s glow sealed the cracks.
“Do you see, traitor? This is the power of the rightful heir.”
“A dimensional sword?”
“It’s the sword that the first emperor gave to Her Majesty. With this, we will bring peace to all Taonier…”
“Bring peace?”
Pryos smiled.
Yoshu frowned.
“What is so funny?”
“The essence of the sky, the vessel of the earth, the chalice of the sea. Three things, right? Lusrada certainly was Taonier’s secret weapon. Without it, they wouldn’t have lasted a month.”
Jenna murmured next to me.
“So, do we just have to watch?”
“What can we do? That’s the mission.”
I sighed deeply.
Even if I wanted to strike first, there was no way to do it.
We were completely immobilized, as if trapped by an invisible hand.
Until the event was over, we were mere spectators.
‘A secret weapon?’
Pryos spoke in the past tense.
As if he had already used it before.
<Ha, ha, ha. Peace? What insignificant words.>
The young man, Lantia, smiled.
At the same time, Pryos extended his hand.
「A dimensional sword…」
Wuuuuuung.
A dazzling light concentrated in his right hand.
「After crossing seventeen worlds…」
A light much more intense than what Priacis held.
It was a glow so bright that it seemed to tint the entire sky golden.
[The dimensional sword Lusrada is awakening!]
[The dimensional sword Lusrada is awakening!]
[The dimensional sword Lusrada is awakening!]
[The dimensional sword Lusrada is awakening!]
[The dimensional sword Lusrada is awakening…]
Pryos slightly wielded what he had in his hand.
「I made it more than ten times.」
Crack!
[Current progress – 100%]
Ooooooh!
Through the collapsed sky, a scream resonated.
[Chaos Fragment Lv.113] X 795
[Despair Fragment Lv.108] X 931
[Rancor Fragment Lv.121] X 674
‘They are coming.’
I gripped my weapon tightly.
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