Chapter 160: Episode 160

I began to analyze the dungeon’s structure. Crouching down, I placed my hands on the floor and examined the formulas, which were perfectly clear to my Deva’s Eye. Fortunately, the language was the same as the one from the labyrinth.

’I’m counting on you, Ea.’

-Yes, sir. Commencing synchronization for dungeon hacking.

Mana flowed from my palms, spreading throughout the entire dungeon. I’d done this once before, so it wasn’t difficult. I closed my eyes, feeling the formulas that enveloped the space. ’Characters form meaning, and meaning constitutes order.’ A dungeon is one giant magic circle, and this was no different from deciphering a new one. There was no need to get bogged down by indecipherable code; I just needed to pinpoint the conversion and resistance formulas to alter the entire framework.

I plunged into the formulas, entering a state of Over-immersion. A moment later…

-Synchronization complete. You have seized control of the dungeon.

“Huh, already?”

-Two hours have passed, Tower Master.

I thought it had only been ten minutes. I stood up, my body beaded with sweat.

-Please issue your command.

I organized my thoughts. I wasn’t sure if this would work. “Target all taves monsters connected to this dungeon. Action is suicide.”

-Inputting the trigger into the dungeon.

Ea was silent for a moment.

-Access denied.

“What? Why was it denied?”

-Rejection based on biological instinct. All living things possess a desire for survival. A unilateral suicide command without creating a special environment is impossible at the Tower Master’s current authority level.

“Hmm. So I can’t override a creature’s basic instincts?” I was synchronized with the dungeon, so I understood her instantly. “Then how about this? Target all taves monsters connected to this dungeon. Action is to add a new dietary preference.”

-Please state the dietary preference to be added.

“Their own kind, taves monsters.”

-Inputting ‘own kind’ into the monsters’ diet is possible. Would you like to proceed?

This would be the end of it. The ravenous taves would devour each other until they were extinct. There could be no better conclusion.

“Proceed…”

But like a flash of lightning, a single question sparked in my mind.

-What is it, Tower Master? Your command…

Is there a better ending? Impossible. There was no better outcome than the complete eradication of the taves from Africa. If suicide wasn’t an option, then using their own nature to drive them to extinction was the next best thing.

Scenarios flooded my mind. The taves monsters vanish from Africa. The world cheers. I return to Korea a hero, stand tall before the Association President, and go see the guild Shin Nara is building for me. A perfect happy ending. There was no better move.

So why did I feel like there was another way?

’Can’t I just end it all and be done with it?’

My mind screamed no. ’Don’t look away. Face it.’ If the taves monsters simply disappear, what really changes? The land has been devastated by living fields; not a single blade of grass will grow for centuries. Worse, once the war ends, the Alliance’s humanitarian aid will stop. The people of Tanzania will become refugees, forced to wander just like that child. What can they do in a barren Africa? Some will fall ill, some will be sold into slavery, and some will starve. And when one of them, broken by suffering, becomes a vessel for another Disaster? It would all just be a vicious cycle.

-Tower Master!

Ea’s voice cut through my thoughts.

-Your Over-immersion is deepening! Further immersion is extremely dangerous!

“Just a moment, Ea. Just a moment.”

If eliminating the taves monsters wasn’t the best ending… then what was?

My mind already knew the answer. ’There is a better ending. A better end to this story.’

I replayed my memories of the Tanzanian front. An image surfaced: the command post briefing room. Hong Yeon sat at the head of the table. Scorpion, Zhang Wei, and all my fellow hunters were there. And I was on my feet, speaking passionately.

’The taves monsters have three main strengths: their sheer numbers, produced as if from a plant; their flawless command structure, centered on the legion commander; and their constant evolution in response to human weaponry. Everything else is a weakness.’

Why was I remembering this?

Ah! No way…

“Hah, hahah.”

-Tower Master?

“Muahaha! Hah! Hahaha!”

I couldn’t stop laughing like a madman.

-Tower Master! Disengage from Over-immersion! It’s dangerous!

“…No, I’m sorry, Ea. I’m going to choose a slightly more difficult path.”

This wasn’t the dungeon’s influence. This was my own judgment. The three characteristics of the taves monsters: numbers, command structure, and evolution.

There was only one I could use.

I took a deep breath and increased my synchronization rate. “From this moment on, I will evolve every taves monster on Earth.”

-Tower Master!

My brain spun into overdrive, reveling in the new challenge. The dungeon’s vast formulas flooded my mind, and I navigated to the evolution protocols. Suddenly, Squall’s voice from that first day echoed in my head. ’What? Those things evolve every damn day!’

That’s right. Their very essence is evolution. I had always known that if left unchecked, they would become humanity’s greatest enemy.

-Accessing evolution category… Tower Master, are you really going to do this?

“Yes.”

Once I’ve made a decision, I don’t back down. This was the right thing to do, and I knew I could accomplish it. There was nothing left to consider.

“Begin. Target all taves connected to this dungeon. Action is evolution.”

-Inputting the trigger into the dungeon.

A tremendous sea of data crashed into my mind.

“Ugh!”

I collapsed, dry-heaving. My head felt like it was going to explode. ’The disconnect is too severe!’

I was trying to artificially induce the evolution of an entire species—a power that was not meant for humans. In that case, I would willingly abandon my humanity for a moment. I let go of my consciousness and plunged deeper into the dungeon.

-Tower Master!

Ea’s voice grew distant. Yes, this was it. The same state I had reached in the Lava Cave.

[Over-immersion has reached Lv.10.]

The moment it hit max level, I felt myself become one with the dungeon.

’…Ack!’

I was connected to tens of millions of monsters across Africa. I felt everything. Their hunger, their screams, their pain. The gnawing emptiness of devouring flesh only to vomit it out as a living field. I felt the hunters of Tanzania hunting ’me’—slashing my neck, piercing my heart. ’Stop. Please, stop.’ The sensations were vivid, agonizing. That poor child had endured this hell for years.

My sanity was fracturing in real time. To escape the pain, I had to let go of myself even further.

[The trait Over-immersion has evolved. Over-immersion Lv.10 -> Unification Lv.1]

Strangely, the more I let go, the more the pain receded. In the brief respite, I resumed my work. Evolved forms of the taves flashed through my mind: Reptilian, Sensor, Amphibious, Frost-breathing, Giant, Winged… As I synchronized further, the possibilities expanded.

[Warning! You have reached a power beyond your authority.]

[Warning! ‘Moros, God of Fate,’ is wary of your approach.]

[Warning! ‘Lacheno, God of Fate,’ is wary of your approach.]

[Warning! ‘Atrotes, God of Fate,’ is wary of your approach.]

Who the hell are you to tell me what to do? I ignored them and pushed on. More forms appeared: Basilisk-form, Citadel-form, and even Humanoid-form. Was this their ultimate evolutionary path?

[Warning! You have reached a power beyond your authority.]

[Unification has reached Lv.3.]

“Meshara. Meshara.”

[Warning! ‘Moros, God of Fate,’ is wary of your approach.]

[Warning! ‘Lacheno, God of Fate,’ is wary of your approach.]

[Warning! ‘Atrotes, God of Fate,’ is wary of your approach.]

“Meshara. Meshara.”

I wish they would all just shut up. I gritted my teeth and pushed the evolutionary stage even higher. Phantasmal-form, Fortress-form, Dragon-form. I advanced to the final stage. The pinnacle of a living being. It was…

The scene changed. I saw green leaves swaying in the wind. A great otherworldly tree stood on sturdy roots, its branches heavy with luscious fruit. Birds soared through the air, perching on its limbs. This was the apex of evolution: to exist as a part of the world, merely observing and accepting. The highest state a being could reach.

[Target – All monsters connected to this dungeon.]

[Action – Evolve to the corresponding stage.]

[Do you consent?]

I grinned. “I consent.”

[Commencing process for the corresponding action.]

An infinite list of adjustments streamed into my mind. I would evolve the taves wholesale. Those already dead would become flowers and grass. The living fields, itself a living organism, would evolve into rich fertilizer, nourishing the otherworldly trees and transforming the land of death into a land of life. The animal kingdom would become the plant kingdom. I would change it all.

[Unification has reached Lv.4.]

Then, at some point, ’I’ disappeared.

“…….”

My perspective became omniscient. I was looking down on Tanzania.

’Crrrack! Crrrunch!’

The monsters’ legs became roots, anchoring them to the earth. Their organs transformed into structures for photosynthesis. Useless limbs atrophied.

Stems grew, branches spread, and green leaves sprouted. Dead monsters became flowers, and the living field became fertile compost. Trees grew on the barren plains.

Africa was being covered in a blanket of green.

’Ah.’

If I could have cried, I would have. It was that awe-inspiring. The fruits on the trees swelled with water and nutrients. This wouldn’t end famine in Africa overnight, but it was the best ending I could create.

’Time to go back.’

How? By focusing on the one sensation that still bound me to my body. Hunger. The taves, still transforming, felt it. I unified with that feeling, maximizing it until it became my own.

I was starving. Insanely so. That feeling was coming from my brain, from my body. I latched onto it, immersing myself in the hunger before I could lose myself completely. Slowly, my other senses returned.

-Tower Master! Get a grip! Tower Master!

My partner’s voice. Ea. She had been calling for me this whole time. I focused on her voice, holding onto my sense of self. And then…

I was back, lying on the floor. I wiggled my fingers, feeling life return to them, then moved my arm. Slowly, I lifted my eyelids.

-Tower Master! Tower Master! Are you all right?

’Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you.’

-…Ah! I’m so glad you’re safe!

I rubbed my eyes and found them wet with tears. As my vision cleared, I pushed myself to my feet.

“Let’s go home, Ea.”

-Yes!

Ea opened an exit gate. I stood, took one last look at the dungeon filled with red rose petals, and walked toward the light.

’That was a truly insane experience.’ A thrill shot through me with every step.

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