Chapter 233
by post_apiChapter 233: The Ever-Growing Babel Tower
Bai Yan sat calmly on the sofa, idly toying with the black mobile device in his hand.
On the familiar gaming interface, a pixelated figure sat in a confined chamber. The character, a valiant man with a muscular physique reminiscent of an ancient Greek sculpture, exuded the aura of a seasoned warrior. His striking appearance was straight out of a street-fighting film, embodying the archetype of heroism found in countless tales.
This was “Fist of Duel.”
In the game Babel Tower, Bai Yan recalled that among the sinners, only he and Red Moon shared the title. However, their circumstances differed greatly. While Red Moon roamed freely between the wilderness and Heart City, Fist of Duel was bound by familial ties. In an act of love and desperation, he had smuggled medication for his sister, only to be betrayed and forced into the underground abattoir—a place of relentless brutality.
The abattoir’s boss, cunning and deceitful, had promised to ensure his sister’s well-being. In reality, she was confined and hidden, her freedom no more than an illusion.
“If I recall correctly,” Bai Yan murmured, “if Fist of Duel is drawn again after the Second Doomsday Crisis, his sister will be critically ill, teetering on the edge of death. That’s when he unlocks the Trait Determined to Kill, which amplifies his damage against severely injured enemies. It makes him devastatingly powerful…”
He paused, considering. “No, even if he’s drawn before the second playthrough, as long as his sister remains unsaved, that Trait can still be activated. A bittersweet power.”
During his first playthrough, Bai Yan had witnessed Fist of Duel succumb to corruption numerous times. Yet, back then, it had only been a game, and Bai Yan had chosen not to intervene.
But things were different now.
The game had become reality.
A Mission Unlike Any Other
Bai Yan understood his first priority: complete Fist of Duel’s introductory mission. It was a unique challenge. With his sister held hostage, brute force alone wasn’t an option. His actions would require precision, strategy, and restraint.
It was lunchtime in the abattoir.
The sinners emerged from their cell-like rooms, shuffling into a dimly lit cafeteria. The space was bleak—empty walls and cold stares from guards and chefs alike. The chief warden, a middle-aged man clad in white armor, surveyed the scene.
Once a member of the prestigious Black Raven Knights, he had risen to the rank of extraordinary being at the Awakening level. As the former chief custodian of the Black Raven, he now presided over life and death in the abattoir, second only to its enigmatic proprietor, Mr. Carol.
The sinners ate in silence, their meals bland but calorie-dense. Yet, notable fighters like Fist of Duel received special treatment—customized nutrition and medical care to maintain peak condition.
Bai Yan watched intently as he guided Fist of Duel to find his two closest companions: Steel Fist and Chloe.
Steel Fist, a towering figure
with a volatile temperament,
had long abandoned his birth
name under the organizers’
orders. Now, his two-meter
frame exuded an intimidating
presence, even as a lower-level
transcendent being.
Chloe, slender and petite, bore
a gruesome scar where her
right eye had been. Despite her
fragile appearance, she was a
budding transcendent being—
her survival in the abattoir a
grim testament to her
resilience.
As Fist of Duel approached his
companions, dialogue options
materialized on the screen:
Chloe, come to my room
tonight.
Today, I caused such carnage
that the audience could hardly
breathe from excitement!
I wish to discuss a matter of
great importance: our escape.
Steel Fist, come to my room
tonight—I eagerly await you.
Bai Yan chose the third option.
Planning the Impossible
Steel Fist and Chloe
exchanged incredulous looks.
“Escape?” Chloe asked. “And
what about your sister? She’s
still in the townsfolk’s hands.”
New options appeared:
The people of Babel Tower will
help us. The Savior is
omnipotent!
I’ve already forgotten about my
sister.
Every action has a price, but I’ll
do whatever it takes to destroy
the townsfolk.
Enough talk. Tonight, both of
you come to my room.
Bai Yan hesitated but selected
the first option.
In the scene, Fist of Duel, or
Ganis as his true name
revealed, was visibly startled.
Words poured from his mouth,
beyond his control:
“The Savior is omnipotent.
Babel Tower will guide us to
freedom.”
Steel Fist and Chloe listened,
stunned. Was this a revelation
or madness?
Chloe broke the tension with a
harsh laugh. “You’re insane,
but I’ll follow you. Why not?”
Steel Fist grinned.
“Languishing here has no
meaning. Let’s go.”
Ganis’s heart swelled with a
mixture of guilt and gratitude.
Yet, as he prepared to express
his thanks, a cold voice
resounded within his mind:
[I am the Savior.
All is done to save the past
and future. From this moment,
you are a part of Babel Tower.]
A surge of power coursed
through Ganis. His right fist
burned as a black, tower-
shaped brand emerged on his
palm. His body felt alive—
stronger, indomitable.
“Thank you,” he whispered, his
voice resolute.
The Duelist’s Rise
From behind his screen, Bai
Yan smiled faintly. He knew
Fist of Duel’s destiny: not just
his own freedom, but the
liberation of all sinners. His
strength, both physical and
moral, would make him a
symbol of resistance and
hope.
Throwing a punch against the
system, Ganis was destined to
shatter the decaying order.
Bai Yan glanced at the stats
screen.
Fist of Duel was no longer
merely a character; he was a
force of nature, ready to
reshape the world.
As Bai Yan prepared for the
next step, a quiet
determination settled over
him. With his carefully curated
team of operators and the
lessons from his first
playthrough, survival through
the looming Second
Doomsday Crisis seemed
tantalizingly within reach.