Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn’t

Chapter 68: Sixteenth Floor, The Battle of Fort Pogoren (1)

The first of these species was the Koshark. They resembled centaurs, having the upper body of a human and the lower half of a horse.

Following them was the Subren species, ghost-like beings with translucent, almost ethereal forms that floated just above the ground.

And finally, there was the Turina. They bore a striking resemblance to humans, though their red skin, massive builds, and curled, ram-like horns jutting over their ears marked them as something different and far more formidable.

Thanks to Ha Hee-Jeong’s briefings, I already knew about these species.

The meeting was already off to a rough start as a member of the Koshark party had already grumbled off to the side. A more composed comrade stepped in to cut him off, however.

“Turen, quiet down. This meeting is to ensure we survive the sixteenth floor.”

“Hmm? Okay.”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. All eyes turned toward the Koshark party, but they seemed entirely unbothered by the attention. Finally, the emperor broke the silence.

“It seems the reinforcements sent by the Shadow of the End have grasped the situation. Now, let’s begin the real discussion.”

“The southwestern defense line has fallen, as have the southeastern and eastern lines. Great General, is my understanding correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The emperor covered his face with both hands as if the weight of the truth was too much to bear. I could see his cheek muscles clenching behind his hands. His fingers trembled slightly, and for a moment, it almost looked like he was about to laugh.

He then sighed deeply, revealing a bitter, sorrowful grimace.

“So, the only defense line that did not fall was the western one.”

As Ha Hee-Jeong had predicted, of the four groups, only Earth had managed to hold its defense line. Unless the other species had a climber capable of fending off a dragon, it was likely impossible for them. Given they had to face a colossal army reinforced by a dragon, survival would have been their goal instead of defense.

The emperor’s words drew the three other species’ attention toward us, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

“What? They actually held their line?”

“That’s insane. No way.”

“Maybe their trial was easier than ours?”

Thanks to my heightened senses, I could hear their mutterings of disbelief. The general’s voice boomed over their whispers, cutting through the air.

“It was as we predicted, Your Majesty. The defensive lines were only sacrifices to prepare for the final battle at the fortress. It’s a miracle the Western line held at all.”

His loud voice brought the room’s focus back to the discussion at hand.

“I understand. It just pains me to think of the Imperial citizens who died defending the other lines. The Western defense holding is indeed a miracle.”

“Yes, within the fortress, they're already calling it the Miracle of the Drina River."

“The Miracle of the Drina River…”

The emperor's gaze shifted to me, assessing me with his sharp blue eyes. He clearly knew I had played a key role in defending the West.

It wasn’t surprising. After all, I had saved many important figures, from the Grand Marshal to the Commander of the Imperial Knights, and even the Night Witches.

It wasn’t surprising word of my deeds would have reached him by now.

“I hope another miracle can be achieved here at Fort Pogoren.”

The general’s voice trembled slightly as he replied, betraying a lack of confidence, “It surely w-will.”

Every climber present frowned—whether human or non-human—their faces darkening slightly.

“In what manner are our forces currently deployed?”

“The Earthlings are positioned to the left of the gates. The Turinas and Subrens are at the center, and the Kosharks are on the right.”

“Hm. The Earthlings held the West, so shouldn’t they be stationed in the center?”

“They may have held the line, but it was mostly due to one exceptional individual among them. Based on recommendations from the 588th Bombing Squadron and the Commander of the Imperial Knights, we plan to assign him as the commander of the reinforcements at the center.”

As expected, I would be the commander of the reinforcements. After my stellar performance on the fourteenth and fifteenth floors, I was best suited for that position. The role would be crucial, as it gave me the authority to command the other species during the upcoming battle.

Of course, the Empire’s commands would supersede mine, but I could act freely within my role.

This allowed Ha Hee-Jeong and me to implement our strategy to mitigate unforeseen disasters.

In Ha Hee-Jeong’s previous life, a climber from a different species had been the reinforcement’s commander, and she mentioned that things hadn’t gone well. She didn’t go into detail, but I suspected problems had arisen with their leadership.

“Additionally, wasn’t the third princess also rescued during the defense of the West?”

“Yes, the Commander of the Imperial Knights was assisted.”

The Commander of the Imperial Knights?

That must have been Selena Tonz, the woman I met on the fifteenth floor. I hadn’t realized she was a princess. She was clearly dedicated to her role as a soldier, so I wasn’t surprised she had introduced herself as a commander and not as royalty.

The emperor seemed disappointed as he sighed.

“I see. So there is no one else among the reinforcements with such talent, is there? Still…”

His voice trailed off, and a creeping sense of unease washed over me. This didn’t align with what Ha Hee-Jeong had told me. According to her, the Great General would simply nominate a commander for the reinforcements, and they would be appointed immediately.

Is one of the other species vying for the position?

No one else had contributed as much as me, so I wondered why the emperor seemed indecisive.

Unless… Did we miss a hidden mission?

As my brain went into overdrive trying to find an answer, the emperor spoke again, “If anyone among you has retrieved one of the Shadow of the End’s relics, I would like to offer them the position of commander.”

“The relics, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. I had meant to ask from the beginning, but the discussion surrounding the defensive line discussion sidetracked me.”

Well, I have Lung Shark’s Dagger.

“The Oracle stated the Shadow of the End revealed the location of his relics so that the reinforcements could use them in the coming battle.”

The Great General seemed taken aback, seemingly hearing this for the first time. He remained silent.

The emperor, however, turned to us.

“Does anyone among you possess these relics? They are said to be hidden in lakes of shadow located deep behind enemy lines, found by heading opposite the path shown by the gods.”

The room remained silent.

I glanced at the other parties, wondering if anyone else had retrieved a relic. They merely exchanged glances, looking unsure. The emperor’s disappointment grew as his gaze swept across the room.

Just as he was about to give up, I spoke up, “I have Lung Shark’s Dagger.”

“Oh? Oh!”

The emperor's expression instantly transformed, his eyes widening in shock. He looked upon me with a mix of joy and astonishment. His reaction struck me as overly dramatic, seeming like a parched wanderer stumbling upon an oasis after days in the desert.

Is this relic truly worth that much?

The emperor stood up abruptly before striding toward me with great urgency. The Great General and a knight hurriedly followed. He stopped in front of me, hesitating before speaking reverently, “Could I... perhaps examine the relic for a moment?"

“Of course."

I unsheathed the dagger from my belt and handed it to him. His hands trembled as he accepted the blade, turning it slowly in his grasp. I spotted a glimmer of raw, uncontrollable desire within his eyes as he inspected the dagger. Even an emperor couldn’t suppress their lust for a divine artifact.

“This was originally a holy relic of our church. During the war with the invaders, the church failed to secure it. The Shadow of the End personally reclaimed it, but when this battle concludes, would you return it to the church? Rest assured, you will be well rewarded."

“Yes, I would be glad to."

“Thank you."

I bowed slightly in response. The weapon would vanish once the sixteenth floor was cleared anyway, so exchanging it for something more tangible only made sense. After all, a continent’s emperor would surely reward something worthwhile. Even if the fortress fell, I would make it a point to find him and hand over the dagger in return for compensation.

“I appreciate it. From this moment on, you are the commander of the reinforcements."

“Thank you, Your Majesty."

“No need to thank me. A hero should be rewarded. For the glory of the Shadow of the End."

He returned the dagger, though I noticed his hand lingered on the hilt for slightly longer than necessary, and his grip tightened ever so slightly.

***

[Defend the fortress until the invaders are defeated. If the fortress falls, survive for six hours. There is no time limit.]

The military council adjourned after outlining a broad strategy. The plan, to my surprise, was rather simplistic. While the enemy approached, we would bombard them with arrows and magic. If they reached the walls, we would drop stones and pour boiling oil on them. If all else failed and they breached the fortress we were to fight until the very end as there was no future for the continent if we retreated.

Even though I had little to no military expertise, I could tell this session offered little substance. Perhaps the fact we weren’t a professional army led to our lack of cohesive strategy.

Honestly, my earlier discussion with Hee-Jeong was more productive.

The climbers from other races also seemed mildly disappointed.

Fortunately, the Imperial army’s subsequent meeting was more structured and inspired a bit more confidence. We planned the tactical use of our bombardment units and mages, but even then, it was clear hope was thin.

In the end, we left the room and headed toward the fortress walls under the command of the Great General. I exchanged a few words with him as we walked, his grim attitude remaining the entire time.

“I see. So, the Commander of the Western Legion, no wait… She was promoted to fortress commander. Anyway, Kartrey Monaca will be positioned at the center. Ensure you coordinate well with her.”

“Understood."

It seemed Kartrey Monaca had been promoted after her victory at the western front. While the achievement was certainly impressive, a promotion to fortress commander seemed like an extraordinary leap.

Well, they did call it the Miracle of the Drina River.

The emperor likely pinned his hopes on Kartrey Monaca to deliver another miracle. While my efforts had played a large role in the victory, she had been the commanding officer on the field, so it made sense that she would receive the glory.

The Great General fell silent as we finished our exchange, and I slipped toward the back, hoping to speak with Ha Hee-Jeong.

Before I could, however, a Koshark climber bluntly addressed me, “You're the one who held the line?"

His blunt tone irked me, so I replied in kind, “Yes. Why?"

The Koshark who had spoken seemed unfazed by my sharpness. I recognized him as the same warrior who had voiced his complaints earlier—Turen, if I remembered correctly.

His hooves echoed rhythmically as he approached, the clopping making his centaur-like form all too obvious.

“You look frail, almost like a mage. But you wield an axe, so you must be a warrior. Hmm, interesting."

“So what?"

His dismissive attitude grated on me, but I kept my temper in check. He seemed intent on provoking me, and my patience was wearing thin.

He sneered, his voice ringing out skeptically, “I find it hard to believe someone like you defended a front. How could a small, weak body like yours take down a dragon?"

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. Ha Hee-Jeong had warned me about the Kosharks' arrogance. The Kosharks revered physical power, dismissing everything else as inconsequential. They believed themselves to be superior and settled every conversation through displays of power.

Well, beating up an ally on the eve of battle wasn’t wise, but I could only tolerate so much bullshit.

Technically, I should punish him for insubordination and insolence toward a commander.

But Turen’s arrogance grated on me too much to give him a simple punishment.

Powerful individuals could recognize each other, but the weak were often blind to the signs of strength. Turen was no match for me, and he didn’t even realize it.

If our power was more evenly matched, sure, someone could get hurt, potentially causing problems for the team. But him? I could knock him down without breaking a sweat or hurting either of us.

“The commander claims he saw it, so I guess you’re not lying. Still, did you just fight the weakest dragon?”

“You seriously can’t shut up, can you? If you’re so curious about my strength, let’s settle this right here, right now.”

“Oh? You mean it?”

Turen’s face lit up excitedly, and a smirk spread across his lips.

“Yeah, I’m serious. If I lose, you’ll become the commander. But if I win, you’ll shut up and follow orders.”

“Hehe, a duel for the position? That’s more like it!”

He looked almost too eager, and I guessed this was exactly what he had been hoping for all along. Although his attempts to provoke me had been rather obvious, that didn’t bother me in the least.

I turned my gaze toward the climbers from other species.

“Anyone else got an issue with me being commander? Speak up now, or forever hold your peace.”

I paused, letting the weight of my words settle.

Then, I added, “Unless you’ve got a death wish.”