Honestly.
This is all pretty normal!
Some regions don't have the Towers at all. They're pretty far apart.
In some cities, the Towers are right on your doorstep. Cities like Sapphire and Nagazora are obvious examples.
Everyone hopped online, chatted, shared what things were like in their area, and then someone did a tally.
And they discovered it!
108 Towers.
The Shenzhou region has the most. The rest are scattered across other countries and continents.
"So jealous…"
"Why does Shenzhou get so many?!"
"The young mistress favors their land, you fool!"
So! That's why everyone's green with envy over Shenzhou.
The young mistress lives there. She thinks of them first, no matter what.
Especially the Nordics—they're practically pickled in bitterness. I mean, the young mistress is their princess by origin, so why is she doting on you?
It was like that before, and it's the same this time too!
But. Do they dare say anything? They don't.
They figure it must be their own fault. Better look inward and figure out what they did wrong.
Did they do something to upset the young mistress? Maybe she's just… disappointed in them?
"Starting today! We're reforming our culinary industry, Shenzhou-style. Everyone, back to training! Even if we can't master it, getting seventy or eighty percent there is good enough! We're changing our menu!"
Quite a few nations actually went through with it.
Whether that's the real reason or not, they'll do it—as long as there's even a sliver of a chance it might help.
And honestly, you can really see it now.
In reality, after so many rounds of… refinement. So many rounds of self-conditioning.
The whole world has become Kiana's fanbase.
Some just admire her. But others have outright faith. Some have even become straight-up zealots.
The daily offerings from around the globe don't amount to much, but the emotional energy sent along with them? For Kiana, that's still a nice little side income.
Of course, it's naturally one of her few revenue streams aside from the Sky Screen exposés. She doesn't even need to perform miracles—they still clock in on time, like loyal devotees.
It's brilliant!
I remember back in the day, lots of people doubted the Sky Screen, questioned Kiana, questioned whether any of this was real.
But now? No more doubts.
Why even bother?!
Especially after Kiana's ascension to godhood, her return, the blessings she showered on the whole world, her phantom image embracing the planet.
After witnessing something like that, to still doubt?
You'd just look like a total idiot, wouldn't you?!
Not everyone feels the same, of course. There'll always be envy, jealousy… but when the gap gets this vast, those petty thoughts just sort of… fizzle out.
If you just grumble in your heart, fine, whatever.
But if you say it out loud, show it openly?
You wouldn't need Kiana or the authorities to do a thing. The people around you would probably tear you apart.
Especially those who suffered from Honkai sickness, or had disabilities, paralysis—even minor ailments—and were completely healed by Kiana's grace. Every single one of them, without exception, thanks her with fanatical devotion.
They're her most fervent supporters.
It's like they're bewitched. If their own father spoke a single word against her, they'd probably disown him on the spot.
And besides!
Her kindness is like a second life.No one in their right mind would actually do that.
Seriously, who'd dare badmouth the young mistress after receiving her blessing? Even those who haven't, if they tried to slander her? Their life would be over.
Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature.
With all these factors at play, no one even considers it.
So! That option simply doesn't exist.
In the futures exposed by the Sky Screen, our descendants live such prosperous lives precisely because they fervently support the young mistress, right?
Could we possibly do any worse than them?
Therefore, the authorities are promoting it heavily. And the public? They're obsessively following along.
This is the overall landscape of the main world now.
It's expected, and it makes perfect sense.
"So what if the Tower's right outside your door? Can you even get in?"
"Let's go, Shenzhou has the most Towers. We're going to Shenzhou. We'll conquer their Towers, snatch them right up!"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Brothers, charge the Towers!"
For a good while after that, the world's attention remained fixed on the Towers.
It never really wavered.
As officials, individuals, and civilians interacted with them—whether organized or not—more rules were deciphered.
Here's a quick summary:
First, each Tower might not look all that big footprint-wise, but the interior space is layered, vast, and expansive. Multiple challengers can take them on simultaneously.
No teaming up, though.
So every challenger faces their own separate instance. And the challenges themselves vary from person to person.
Second, failing a challenge isn't fatal. In other words, even if you die inside the Tower, you just get teleported out.
Then you're weakened for ten days to a couple weeks. But, similarly, they won't remember what they experienced inside the Tower.
This makes it pretty hard for anyone to learn about the Towers through others, or to try and devise strategies.
It's just not really possible.
Tower challenges rely more on on-the-spot improvisation and your own inherent abilities.
Plus, the Towers hint that both luck and ability are essential. And "ability" isn't just about combat power or physical strength—it can be something much more specific, even simple.
In theory, it's fair for everyone. You won't get a scenario where, say, a legless disabled person is forced into a Temple Run situation.
Kiana doesn't have that kind of twisted sense of humor.
Third, if anyone successfully conquers a Tower, then they become that Tower's owner.
At the same time, that Tower will no longer accept any other challengers. With only 108 slots up for grabs, they naturally get scarcer as time goes on.
Therefore!
Currently, Shenzhou has the most standing Towers, followed by Mu Continent, and then the Nordic regions.
But these Towers don't have clear owners yet.
Anyone can challenge any Tower.
In fact, every Tower is essentially the same for every person.
The only difference is their location. If you don't mind traveling far, you're free to try your luck elsewhere.
Yet even so!
Plenty of people treat it like some kind of national territory war.
They guard their own country's Towers, while also trying to conquer Towers in other nations.
Because every Tower you snatch from another country means one less Tower for their people, forcing them to travel elsewhere for a chance.
It's competition in its own right!
That's part of why the whole world is so noisy about it all.
It's lively offline.
But online? It's downright chaotic.
--+--
[To all our foreign friends: You wouldn't want to travel all this way just to end up weakened for ten days to a couple weeks, right?]
: "Just go home, go home! You've got no chance."
: "As if any of you have succeeded in conquering our Towers either."
: "LMAO, over a hundred thousand of you have 'died' and come back already. How embarrassing!"
: "So what if we have more people? In Shenzhou, we've got plenty of folks to spare!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
20+ advanced chaps on my patreon.
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.