The Player Who Can't Level Up

The shadow Gi-Gyu was using El’s power, so Gi-Gyu decided to counter with Life. Like Death, Life had also grown significantly, so he used it to make a sword for the first time. As his eyes shone gray, he held the powerful sword forms of Lou and El. The shadow, holding a copy of Lou and El, attacked. The four swords clashed with each other, sending sparks flying everywhere.

“Hahahahaha!” the creature laughed loudly. He sprinted forward like a madman, screaming, “This is exciting! This is so fun!”

The wounds caused by Life and Death refused to heal, but the creature didn’t seem to care. He fought as if he were an immortal.

“Ugh!” Gi-Gyu groaned in pain when a large gash opened on his stomach. His organs would have spilled out had the cut been any deeper.

The creature grinned and growled, “If that’s all you got, I should be able to eat you up!”

“Shut the fuck up!” Gi-Gyu screamed at the taunt.

The scream only made the creature laugh even louder.

The shadow’s swords moved even faster as he yelled, “I would never sacrifice myself and live like you! I will do things the way I want! I won’t suppress myself!”

The creature’s words were like knives. “I will not sacrifice myself for my family! Ha! Do you really think those people are your family? Do you really believe you’re related to them at all?”

Was the creature only trying to confuse Gi-Gyu? Or did it know something? The shadow Gi-Gyu continued to scream. Gi-Gyu didn’t want to hear it, but he had no choice. He wanted to cover his ears, but that wasn’t an option mid-battle. He acted like it didn’t bother him, but confusion and doubts were eating him up.

Based on the memories he had seen in the Tower and the things he had learned about his father…

‘I can’t deny my suspicions,’ Gi-Gyu thought as he stepped back. He stopped fighting and mumbled, “It’s true that I don’t understand everything happening around me. I admit that I have my doubts.”

“But!” For the first time, Gi-Gyu grinned, showing off his teeth. “I don’t want to doubt my life. And I certainly don’t want to deny my existence. No matter what happens, I will accept it. I will try my best to understand and accept whatever past I may have to face.”

The gray in Gi-Gyu’s eyes became even darker, and the creature gave him a mysterious smile.

The shadow stepped forward and snarled, “Kekeke. Whatever.”

The creature’s step caused a loud blast, indicating his incredulous power. Then, it took a step back, creating another explosion.

Boom!

“I guess it’s meaningless to drag this on any longer. You want to defeat me and find out the truth, don’t you?” The shadow asked, its two swords shining brightly. Holding the copies of Lou and El, he spread his wings with a loud sound. Gi-Gyu could feel incredible energy from them.

Gi-Gyu’s lips became rigid as he replied, “Of course.” He lowered his Death and Life swords, pointing their sharp tips toward the ground. This change wasn’t as noticeable as the shadow’s transformation. Still, Gi-Gyu’s focus sharpened as he suppressed his anger, sadness, and confusion. Slowly, his consciousness and emotions were sucked somewhere much deeper.

Whir.

Gi-Gyu’s eyes shone in gray, but his face remained blank. The shadow smiled at this as if this was exactly what it wanted.

“This is perfect,” the shadow purred and simultaneously flew toward Gi-Gyu with its two swords holding the unbelievable power of Chaos. The moment one of its swords touched Gi-Gyu’s neck…

The shadow muttered, “I guess I lost this time. Is this something you’ve created yourself? Will you tell me its name?”

The creature was sputtering because it knew its end was near. Gi-Gyu was supposed to be holding a black and a white sword in his hands. However, the sword that had pierced the shadow’s neck was neither black nor white—it was gray.

“It’s the Sword of Chaos.” Gi-Gyu smiled and replied.

***

[You have passed the test.]

[Seal has been strengthened.]

[You have obtained the Sword of Chaos.]

[Your shell has become stronger.]

[Your physical attributes are improving.]

The system continued.

[You can now control the seal.]

The system announcement continued, and Gi-Gyu kept his eyes closed until the last one. After an unknown amount of time, the system announcements stopped, and Gi-Gyu opened his now normal-colored eyes.

Gi-Gyu remained quiet as he fell deep in thought. After a while, he asked, “Please answer me now.”

He was now inside a pure white place. Since he had passed all the tests, Gi-Gyu guessed this was the reward chamber. Something happened when Gi-Gyu asked for an answer. His sync to his Egos was still broken, but white smoke began wafting from his chest, where his shell was located.

“You’re such an arrogant bastard.” The voice came from the smoke, which was taking shape. Soon, it took the appearance of the shadow Gi-Gyu. “I told you I’ll give you the answer if you defeat me.”

Gi-Gyu remembered the last announcement the system had made.

‘You can now control the seal.’ 

It appeared that he could summon this creature hidden inside him through his seal.

‘He didn’t die.’ Gi-Gyu realized the truth. His secret weapon, the Sword of Chaos, was made of Life and Death. The creature didn’t die even after getting stabbed with it. It seemed that the only way to kill it was…

‘I have to kill myself.’ Gi-Gyu knew this was the truth. This creature was Gi-Gyu himself. This was why it would be useless no matter how many times he defeated him. As long as Gi-Gyu didn’t die, the creature would remain alive.

The creature replied, “Your sync to the others hasn’t returned… I think the system stopped for a moment. It must be giving us time to talk.”

Evidently, the system, originally named Gaia, had given Gi-Gyu and the creature a chance to speak.

‘But I shouldn’t summon it wantonly outside,’ Gi-Gyu decided. The creature was uniquely powerful and dangerous, so it was best not to summon him lightly for both Gi-Gyu and others’ safety.

The creature muttered, “Hmph! Since I made a promise, I will answer your questions.”

It seemed that the creature was bound by the system too. Or else, Gi-Gyu would have had to battle it again. Based on what Gi-Gyu had seen, the system had the combined power of Gaia, God, Chaos, and the essence of every dimension.

‘It’s basically God.’ Organizing his thoughts, Gi-Gyu asked, “Let’s get you a name first. What should I call you?”

The creature answered smoothly, “I’m you, so is there really a need for a name?”

“I don’t have the time to argue with you. Just answer my question,” Gi-Gyu grumbled with a frown.

The creature clicked his tongue, but he had no choice but to obey since the system would force him to otherwise.

The creature opened his hand and wiggled his fingers and thumb. Folding one of them, the creature offered, “What about Lucifer?”

When Gi-Gyu bit his lips, the creature folded his second finger and suggested, “Michael?”

Gi-Gyu refused to answer, and the creature smugly offered two more suggestions, “God? Maybe Chaos?”

Satisfied that he had succeeded in annoying Gi-Gyu, the creature asked playfully, “What do you think? What is my real name?”

Gi-Gyu frowned, unable to understand what the creature was trying to do.

Suddenly, the creature groaned in agony, “Ugh!”

It appeared that the system was punishing him for his disobedience. Since the creature had lost the battle, he had to keep his promise. He was obligated to tell the truth.

The creature muttered, “Fine… It’s Jupiter.”

“Jupiter?”

“You can call me Jupi. That’s the name closest to my current self-image,” Jupi answered smoothly. Gi-Gyu didn’t like the tone of his voice, but he didn’t bother protesting.

‘I don’t have much time.’ Gi-Gyu knew he wouldn’t be here much longer. The axis of time here was askew from the real world. He had no idea how much time had actually passed on earth.

Gi-Gyu asked quickly, “It’s your job to answer my questions truthfully, right?”

Jupiter put his hands behind his back and replied, “I can’t answer your every question.”

He looked exactly like Gi-Gyu, except more arrogant. “Remember, I am basically you. The only difference is that I have more memories than you. I’m talking about the things buried deep inside you, ones that you can’t remember. Apart from that, I only know what you do. So just think carefully before asking me anything.”

Jupiter looked up before adding, “That annoying woman you believe in so much didn’t allow me too much freedom. The imprint on your shell has been erased. Now that you have crossed the 50th floor, you have become something beyond human. You were also permitted to hear certain information. However, that just means you have a different type of restriction now.”

Jupiter smiled, which looked uncharacteristically innocent. “You will face limitations until you conquer the Tower and sit on the throne.”

Gi-Gyu thought carefully, trying to decide what he should ask. According to Jupiter, he would get to ask a limited number of questions. After some thought, Gi-Gyu finally asked his first question, “You said my family isn’t really my family. What did you mean by that?”

Perhaps this wasn’t the most important question to ask, but it was important to Gi-Gyu. He didn’t care if his mother wasn’t his real biological mother, but he needed to know the truth.

As if he had expected this question, Jupiter grinned and replied, “I don’t know what your definition of family is. Do you mean if you’re related by blood? Or…”

Jupiter gave Gi-Gyu a naughty grin before adding, “Are you talking about those silly emotional ties?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Jupiter paused before he answered, “You are their family. I only said what I said to confuse you. Those two women you call sister and mother are indeed your real family.”

Gi-Gyu felt both confused and relieved. “In the memories I saw, I learned that Kronos is my father. I knew this since he had my father’s face… But how is that possible? I’ve been told that my father was one of the Forerunners, but… I never knew he was the Tower’s ruler. Well, I suppose it’s possible I’ve never heard about it because of the penalty, but…”

Gi-Gyu had seen that his father was in love with a woman other than his mother. In addition, the description Su-Jin gave of his father was completely different from what he had witnessed. Kronos was an egotistical madman, while Su-Jin had told Gi-Gyu that his father was a warm and kind person.

“That was definitely your father, but I can’t tell you anything more about that yet,” Jupiter walked closer to Gi-Gyu as he answered.

Gi-Gyu felt like a mirror was approaching him. He was displeased, but he didn’t move away.

Jupiter added, “Everything obeys the law of cause and effect. I need to be mindful of how I answer your last question.”

It sounded like Jupiter knew what Gi-Gyu was about to ask. Jupiter offered, “So go ahead and ask your last question. I will give you an answer accordingly. I will provide an answer that follows this law.”

Gi-Gyu gulped audibly. Just as Jupiter had claimed, there was only one question Gi-Gyu could ask. His lips twitched before he asked, “Who am I?”

This was the last question he was allowed to ask.